Germany’s Olympic soccer team walked off the pitch during a test game against Honduras after Jordan Torunarigha was allegedly racially abused, ESPN reported. The team confirmed the news on Twitter.

“The game has ended 5 minutes early with the score at 1-1,” the team said in a tweet. “The Germany players left the pitch after Jordan Torunarigha was racially abused.”

However, the Honduras Football Federation released a statement claiming the accusations were just a misunderstanding.

“Game ended in the 87th [minute] due to abandonment because of a German player alleging a racist insult from a Honduras team member.” the Federation said. “Regarding this matter, the Honduras Football Federation states that the situation was a misunderstanding on the pitch.”

The German players left the field together and received the support of their coach, the Associated Press reported.

“If one of our players is racially abused, it’s not an option for us to keep playing,” Germany coach Stefan Kuntz said.

“It was hard to get him in, he was terribly upset because he said he was repeatedly racially abused,” Kuntz added. “For us it’s clear, this violates our values, we cannot tolerate it. We’ll take our player completely under our protection.”

Torunarigha’s club, Hertha Berlin, responded by saying “ that’s the only correct decision!” Kuntz said the feud was squashed after the Honduras team came over and apologized for the alleged racist abuse.

“After the situation calmed down a bit, the whole Honduras team came over to us on the bench and apologized,” Kuntz said. “That was the end of the matter for us.”

This isn’t the first time Torunarigha has faced racism. The 23-year-old soccer star, who is carrying on his Nigerian father’s legacy in the sport, was previously attacked with racist monkey chants by some Schalke fans during a German Cup game on Feb. 4, 2020. Schalke was fined 50,000 euros ($54,600) for the racism that it seemingly supported.

• Lifestyle

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

July 21, 2021

Viola Davis Releasing Memoir ‘Finding Me’ in Spring 2022

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Academy award-winning actress Viola Davis is ready to share her life story with the world by releasing her first memoir.

The How to Get Away With Murder star is working on a memoir that will be titled, “Finding Me,” to be released on April 19, 2022, as noted by The Hollywood Reporter.

According to Davis, the new book will be “straight, no chaser” and will follow her story from growing up in poverty in Rhode Island surrounded by family drama to becoming one of the world’s most acclaimed actors.

She has been acclaimed for her standout roles in films like Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Widows, The Help, and many more. Her work has garnered her prestigious accolades including an Oscar for her starring role in the 2016 film Fences, an Emmy for her lead role in Shonda Rhimes’ How to Get Away with Murder, and Tonys’ for Fences and King Hedley II.

“I believe that our stories, and the courage to share them, is the most powerful empathetic tool we have,” Davis said in a statement. “This is my story … straight no chaser.”

Davis has been transparent about her rough upbringing that included homelessness and digging in the garbage for food, Daily Mail reports.

“Although my childhood was filled with many happy memories, it was also spent in abject poverty,” Davis said while accepting a philanthropy award at the Variety Power Of Women in 2014. “I was one of the 17 million kids in this country who didn’t know where the next meal was coming from. And i did everything to get food.”

She went on to recall the drastic measures she has taken to get a meal.

“I’ve stolen for food, I’ve jumped in huge garbage bins with maggots for food, I have befriended people in the neighborhood who I knew had mothers who cooked three meals a day for food,” Davis shared. “And I sacrificed a childhood for food… and grew up in immense shame.”

HarperOne describes Davis’ upcoming memoir as her life story through her eyes, Deadline reports.

“Viola Davis’s story in her own words, and spans her incredible, inspiring life from her coming-of-age in Rhode Island to her present-day career,” the statement said. “Hers is a story of overcoming; it is a true hero’s journey. Deeply personal, brutally honest, and riveting, Finding Me is a timeless and spellbinding memoir that will capture the hearts and minds of Ms. Davis’s legions of fans around the world.”

Australian WNBA player Elizabeth Cambage has bowed out of the Summer Olympics due to mental health struggles.

Cambage revealed in an  Instagram post on Saturday that a series of events pushed her to the “breaking point” and led her to quit the Opals. She confirmed that she was in a physical altercation during a private warm-up game against Nigeria this week. Cambage said she’s been “losing her mind” trapped at a Las Vegas hotel room under strict biosecurity protocols for the past week.

Also the Las Vegas Aces basketball player said via Twitter that she isn’t partaking in the Olympics due to battling anxiety symptoms.

“Anyone that knows me knows one of my biggest dreams is winning an Olympic gold medal with the Opals,” she said.

“Every athlete competing in the Olympic games should be at their mental and physical peak, and at the moment, I’m a long way from where I want and need to be. It’s no secret that in the past I’ve struggled with my mental health and recently I’ve been really worried about heading into a ‘bubble’ Olympics. No family. No friends. No fans. No support system outside of my team. It’s honestly terrifying for me. The past month I have been having panic attacks, not sleeping and not eating.

 

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“Relying on daily medication to control my anxiety is not the place I want to be right now. Especially walking into competition on the world’s biggest sporting stage. I know myself, and I know I can’t be the Liz everyone deserves to see compete for the Opals. Not right now at least. I need to take care of myself mentally and physically. It breaks my heart to announce I’m withdrawing from the Olympics, but I think it’s best for the Opals and myself. I wish them nothing but the best of luck in Tokyo and I hope they go forth and win a gold medal. Love and light.”

Earlier this year,  Curt Miller, head coach and general manager for the Connecticut Sun, was suspended and fined $10,000 due to inappropriate and offensive comments he made about Cambage.

• Women

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

July 21, 2021

Mo’Nique Smells Sunshine After Using Tabitha Brown’s Caribbean Seasoning

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Leave it up to Mo’Nique to give Tabitha Brown’s new seasoning the rave review we were all waiting for.

The Oscar-winning actress took to Instagram to share her experience with using Brown’s new all-purpose Sunshine seasoning.

“A LITTLE BIT OF SUNSHINE,” Mo’Nique captioned her four-minute video testimonial. “Hey my sweet babies. CHICKPEA HASH. Now that is what it turned out to be.”

In the comical review, Mo’Nique explains how she intended on making the same chickpea scramble that Brown made in one of her cooking videos. However, after Mo’Nique made the executive decision to add tomato paste to her version of the recipe, it ended up becoming “chickpea hash.”

“Ohhhhh y’all talking about something delicious. @iamtabithabrown I am minding your business. I LOVE US 4REAL,” Mo’Nique added in the post.

In her video, Mo’Nique expressed her love for Brown’s new seasoning. While she mistakenly added an ingredient the recipe didn’t call for, she noted how good it still tasted because of Brown’s McCormick spice.

 

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“And that’s your business. I love you!!! Thank you!!!” Brown commented on the supportive post.

It was earlier this month when Brown revealed that her signature spices sold out within 39 minutes of its release.

“Family!!!!! Y’all did it!!!!! SOLD OUT in 39 minutes,” Brown captioned a July 8 Instagram post. “Thank y’all so much for your support!! OOHH GOD I THANK YOU.”

 

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“I am overwhelmed by the response to #SunshineSeasoning,” Brown added. “Unfortunately, it is all sold out, but we’re working to blend another batch! Stay tuned for updates this Fall.”

Now with Mo’Nique’s testimonial, even more consumers are looking to get their hands on Brown’s Caribbean-inspired seasoning made with garlic, ginger, and with flavors of pineapple and mango.

• Lifestyle

by Andrea Blackstone

July 21, 2021

Daughter of Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon Pays Tribute to Her Mother In Clothing Campaign

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Monroe Cannon, the daughter of songstress Mariah Carey and actor Nick Cannon, made her modeling debut in OshKosh B’gosh’s new back-to-school campaign entitled “Today is Someday.”

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OshKosh B’gosh, the well-known children’s apparel brand, spotlighted “Muhammad Ali, Carey, and Outkast as children, dressed in OshKosh B’gosh, encouraging the next generation to dream boldly about who they’ll become someday,” according to a press release.

Monroe’s advertisement features the 10-year-old appearing as her mother at the same age. Mariah’s daughter pays tribute to her mother’s own “childhood, her songwriting, and her profound impact and influence on generations of young dreamers,” according to the announcement.

“This campaign represents a new, fresh take for OshKosh B’gosh–one that bridges past to present and champions the dreams, courage and determination of children,” said Jeff Jenkins, executive vice president, global marketing, for Carters Inc.

“OshKosh has been a childhood staple for generations. As we look to the future, we want to celebrate these inspiring trailblazers with a nod to who they were before they were icons–aiming to encourage children everywhere to dream big as they head back to school.”

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Monroe unofficially honored her mother before, while illustrating that she is becoming empowered to confidently dream big, too. In 2017, the little girl belted out a duet with her mother onstage. The cute performance foreshadowed Mariah’s current sentiments which she expressed in the current campaign announcement.

“As a little girl, I was determined to realize my dreams. Now as a mother, it brings me so much joy to see my children visualize and develop the dreams they hold in their own hearts. We did the campaign because we love the message of empowering kids to dream boldly and blaze their own path,” said Mariah Carey.

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• Business

by Derek Major

July 21, 2021

Eunice Cofie-Obeng Is The True Queen Of Skin Care Innovation

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This installment of Black Enterprise’s Empathetic Modern Leaders Series sponsored by Lexus focuses on Eunice Cofie-Obeng, the President and Chief Cosmetic Chemist of Nuekie – an innovative health and beauty company for people of color.

Born to Ghanaian parents, Cofie-Obeng’s upbringing was a cultural convergence of a proud African heritage. However, she was also teased and ridiculed growing up for her dark skin. As a result it would take years for her to appreciate her natural beauty.

After college, Cofie-Obeng spent a decade doing product research and development for Nuekie, which seeks to fill the increasing need for products on the market that cater to people of color and solve their distinct skin-related problems.

“At Neukie, we combine traditional African medicine with modern science to be able to address common skin disorders in skin of color,” Cofie-Obeng told Black Enterprise.

Cofie-Obeng began her journey as a skin care expert at the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, where she received a Bachelor of Science degree. She went on to receive a Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences with an emphasis in Cosmetic Science from the James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy.

Additionally, Cofie-Obeng has a deep commitment to social causes across the world and has used it to make a positive impact. While in college, Cofie-Obeng spent her summers working in a village community in Ghana, West Africa implementing the Save a Million Lives HIV/AIDS Education and Prevention Program. She also spent a year promoting her platform Preventing Childhood Obesity and Diabetes through Education and Life Transforming Habits as the former Miss Black Florida USA.

In 2012, Cofie-Obeng was honored by the World Economic Forum as a Young Global Leader for her professional accomplishments and commitment to society, She was also named one of the 20 Youngest Power Women in Africa by Forbes Magazine.

Cofie-Obeng’s commitment to Black beauty as well as her charitable efforts in Ghana and the Philippines is why she’s a Black Enterprise Empathetic Modern Leader.

According to ASU, April Ross, an Alabama State University (ASU) alumna, owns a television station where she once interned.

Ross purchased WJCN TV-33 in May of 2021. The LaGrange, Georgia-based station is “on-the-air through Spectrum, 24 hours a day, throughout 600,000 households and seen in 11 counties in both West Georgia and East Alabama,” per the news article. The “Bee-TV Network” is the name of Ross’ parent company.

“What is ironic is when I was a student at Alabama State University, I actually interned at WJCN, and now, I own it,” Ross also told ASU.

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The industrious entrepreneur majored in communications and gained “television industry” experience as “a low-level, behind-the-scenes production assistant,” per the news article.

“I want to create something in this television market that has never occurred before, and that includes creating and producing great local programming for our community that’s full of home-area content…,” Ross also said to ASU.

Ross’ key phase that sparked a career change unfolded in 2017, when she utilized “her cellphone and Facebook Live,” according to WTVM.

A young woman informed Ross that she needed to come to a Troup County deputy shooting scene to report on the incident. Bee TV was developed that day—after Ross realized that she needed to put her journalism degree to use, WTVM reported.

A time later, Ross received a call to fill in at WJCN’s morning program. After her appearance, Ross’ husband gave his wife favorable feedback that led to Ross asking the owner if he wanted to sell the station. After delays and “roadblocks,” the journalist “and her husband signed off on the deal recently and renamed the station BeeTV,” according to WTVM.

“Don’t ever give up on yourself. I don’t care what it looks like. It was crazy for me to go out with, literally, a cellphone, but it’s not crazy no more. It’s an actual network,” Ross also stated in the article.

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Click here to locate BeeTV Network on Facebook.

With the latest release of the LeBron James-led Space Jam: A New Legacy making noise at the box office 25 years after the original Michael Jordan-led Space Jam was released, there has been some interest in the merchandise from the series.

According to a posting on Sotheby’s, the auction house has announced that a Jordan signed Nike Air Jordan sneaker featured in the original Space Jam movie would be on the auction block at the end of the month. The sneaker is listed as a Michael Jordan Signed ‘Player Sample’ Deadstock Air Jordan 11 ‘Space Jam’ | Size 13.

The estimate for the sneakers is anticipated to be purchased between $150,000 to $200,000 with a current bid at $110,000 as the bidding will end on July 26.

The original Space Jam movie not only featured the Chicago Bulls’ Jordan but also starred animated Looney Tunes characters like Bugs Bunny and also a variety of other NBA superstars (Boston Celtics player, Larry Bird, the Houston Rockets’ Charles Barkley, New York Knicks player Patrick Ewing, among others).

The film’s plot has Jordan going against the alien ‘Monstars’ as he is wearing the same model of Air Jordans’ that is being auctioned off. The movie earned a cumulative worldwide gross of over $230 million.

According to the Sotheby’s website, “The pair on offer is a ’Player Sample,” meaning that it was cut with Mr. Jordan in mind. It is in deadstock condition and never used. At the time, this particular colorway was only produced for Michael Jordan, and not sold in retail stores.

“The Jordan 11 style was worn by Michael Jordan during the 1995-1996 NBA Playoffs and Finals. This season would prove an iconic one for Michael, winning his fourth NBA MVP title (leading the Bulls to 72 wins), with an additional NBA Finals MVP title after the Bulls defeated the Seattle Supersonics in the Finals.”

At the time of the release, Nike’s Brand President Trevor Edwards stated that the 2016 Retro Air Jordan 11 Space Jam was such a success that “The Space Jam 11 was the largest and most successful shoe launch in the history of Nike.”

• Business

by Derek Major

July 21, 2021

Gerald Moore Sr. Is The Pied Piper Of STEM Careers

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This installment of Black Enterprise’s Empathetic Modern Leaders Series, sponsored by Lexus, focuses on Gerald Moore Sr. who is helping  to create the next generation of Black tech workers with his Mission Fulfilled 2030 nonprofit organization.

Moore has more than 20 years of experience as a federal government contractor and as an information technology and cybersecurity engineer. He has also worked as an educator in the public school system teaching technology.

His nonprofit works to introduce information technology and STEM to Black boys in America. According to Moore, Black men represent less than 5% of the high tech and STEM workforce and his nonprofit is working to change that.

Moore is also a motivational speaker who uses his life story as an example that anyone can achieve their dreams. Moore had his first police encounter at 12, was kicked out of school at 14, was part of the Scared Straight program at 15, and was a father at the age of 17. However, by the age of 23 he was a graduate of Norfolk University in electronics engineering technology.

Moore told Black Enterprise he was always interested in electronics but he got lost in the educational cracks and was missing one valuable resource.

“I never had a Black male educator and that was one of the things I was missing in my educational experience,” Moore said. “And I was also not included in my educational experience and I just kind of became a product of my environment and I thought like most young, Black boys today; it’s either going to be through football, basketball or hip-hop or drugs.”

Additionally, Moore leverages his experience with racism in corporate America as a diversity and inclusion speaker focusing on how to discuss race in the workplace. Moore is also a bestselling author of “Motivate Black Boys — How to Prepare for Careers in STEM.”

Moore’s dedication to his nonprofit and showing Black boys how to improve their lives and make successes of themselves using education and technology is what makes him a Black Enterprise Empathetic Modern Leader.

• News

by Andrea Blackstone

July 21, 2021

Meet Mimi Dixon: The Black Woman Who Spearheaded Developing Crayola’s 24 Diverse New Colors

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Representation matters, even when it comes to having access to diverse crayon colors.

Mimi Dixon — manager of brand equity and activation at Crayola — “spearheaded Crayola’s 24 new colors representing 40 global skin tones,” Forbes reported.

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Have you seen the Crayola Colors of the World crayons launched last year?

Thank you to @dstinc1913 Member Mimi Dixon for this! Mimi Dixon is a member of @SJAC_DST who was initiated into Xi Nu Chapter at Rutgers University! https://t.co/b8bg3y2ouP

— EasternRegionDST (@easternregdst) July 20, 2021

In 2020, the company which is known for the “iconic Crayola Crayon” launched “24 new specially formulated crayons” which were “designed to mirror and represent over 40 global skin tones across the world,” according to a press release.

“With the world growing more diverse than ever before, Crayola hopes our new Colors of the World crayons will increase representation and foster a greater sense of belonging and acceptance,” Rich Wuerthele, Crayola’s CEO, said. “We want the new Colors of the World crayons to advance inclusion within creativity and impact how kids express themselves.”

Dixon “spearheaded the initiative that has won multiple awards, including Toy of the Year award for most creative,” according to Forbes.

Dixon reflected on a time when she grew up unable to find a color which represented herself, while using crayons. Now, children can feel represented when they color themselves in drawings. It was “important” to her to be able to offer a better experience for youth.

“So to be able just to take one crayon, it seems very simple, but to make that difference for kids today was invaluable,” Dixon told Forbes.

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Victor Casale — who was previously the chief chemist and managing director, R&D of MAC cosmetics — was added to the team which sought to create the inclusive crayons. He brought more than “30 years of experience” with him, according the press release.

“His expertise, candor and guidance throughout the development process was invaluable and brings an enhanced level of credibility and authenticity to the Colors of the World product,” Dixon said.

Crayons, markers, colored pencils and even a coloring book are now a part of the inclusive line.

Click here to learn more about Crayola’s Colors of the World.