The U.S. women’s gymnastics team made the wise decision to leave the Olympic Village, reported NBC News. 

After several reports of athletes testing positive for COVID-19, Simone Biles and the rest of the team found it prudent to seek accommodations outside of Tokyo’s village. 

One of the earliest cases of one of the Olympic competitors testing positive was, in fact, a U.S. gymnast. Kara Eaker, an alternate who tested positive, and another alternate is currently in quarantine. 

One of the coaches, Cecile Landi, tweeted on Sunday that the team had made the decision to relocate to safer boarding out of caution. 

“We know it isn’t ideal during a pandemic. We feel like we can control the athletes and our safety better in a hotel setting!”

USA Gymnastics said that the team had always planned to stay at a hotel instead of the Olympic Village which is hosting 11,000 athletes and is highly contained. 

COVID-19 infection was of particular concern. In early July, a state of emergency was announced in Tokyo due to the increasing number of cases. At that time, the decision was also made to bar fans in the stands at the events. 

The games were already delayed a year due to the pandemic and many questioned the prudence of holding them this year as well. 

Last Saturday, the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the Olympic Village came from a non-athlete. As of yesterday, the Associated Press reported that there are now 71 confirmed cases of COVID-19 from athletes to staff. 

Toshiro Muto, chief of the Games, has still refused to rule out canceling the Olympics altogether if COVID-19 infections continue to rise. 

• Lifestyle

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

July 21, 2021

Kanye West Gifts Thousands of ‘Donda’ Listening Party Tickets to Atlanta HBCUs

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The billionaire businessman rapper known as Kanye West will be previewing his latest project in the Peach State on Thursday to fans who will pay the admission fee of $20.

But there are plenty of students who will get to attend the listening party on Thursday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta at 8 p.m. for free, thanks to Ye gifting area HBCUs 5,000 tickets to faculty, staff and students of Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Morehouse School of Medicine, Spelman College, Morris Brown College and ITC, according to Page Six.

• Lifestyle

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

July 21, 2021

WATCH: Kanye West Enlists Sha’Carri Richardson For New ‘No Child Left Behind’ Commercial

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Sha’Carri Richardson might not be going to the Olympics but she’s got plenty of opportunities coming her way.

The track star is now the new face for Kanye West’s new song “No Child Left Behind” from his upcoming album “Donda,” which is slated to be released on Friday. Richardson is featured in West’s new video running the 100m in slow motion with red Beats Studio Buds earphones and her signature bright red hair.

West himself, scored and edited the minute-long Beats commercial, according to People.

Richardson posted an inspiring message to Instagram about her new gig:

“There will be ups and downs in life, but it’s important to remember to RUN YOUR OWN RACE. Love to @beatsbydre and @kanyewest for the support. Another commercial and another new Ye song dropping tomorrow! DONDA out on Friday! Let’s goo”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by ShaCarri “FGTX” Richardson (@carririchardson_)

The tagline reads, “Love Your Truth.” West announced his “Donda” listening event which will be on Apple Music’s livestream on Thursday before the official release.

The Dallas native became a nationwide trending topic, with many in the Black community coming to her defense amid heightened public scrutiny over her marijuana use.

Richardson was considered one of the fiercest competitors to represent Team USA in the Tokyo Olympics when she had her opportunity snatched away after marijuana showed up in her system. The 21-year-old won the women’s 100 meters with 10.86 seconds at the U.S. Olympic for track and field in Oregon in June.

She owned up to her marijuana use and credited it to the recent passing of her biological mother.

Richardson’s suspension ends on July 28, but she was not selected by USA Track and Field to compete at the women’s 4x100m relay, starting on Aug. 5, Oregon Live reports.

Good to see her still rising!

• News

by Kia Morgan Smith

July 21, 2021

Brawl Breaks Out On Frontier Airlines Flight After ‘Racist’ Calls Passenger the N-Word

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On a flight from Philadelphia that landed at Miami International Airport at about 9:30 p.m. on Sunday, what began as an annoyance became an argument when “the N-word” was uttered. Then the situation quickly devolved into a physical altercation. 

According to a woman who recorded the melee, the brawl broke out on a Frontier Airlines flight when a passenger became irritated after another passenger took too long to retrieve his belongings from an overhead compartment. In response, the slow passenger used a racial slur against the irritated passenger and then punched him. 

Kiera Pierre Louis, who prefers her rap name Milli Miami, recorded the brawl and explained what she witnessed to Local 10.

“You can see the white man on top of the Black passenger just beating him between the seats. The flight attendant got involved. The white man’s wife got involved. His son, I believe, and his son’s girlfriend — everyone was just involved.”

Police disputed reports that the Black victim was held on the plane while his racist attacker was allowed to leave carte blanche. Instead, officials say that the victim wanted to file a report but later decided not to press charges. 

Airline violence has risen sharply. Through May, there have been about 2,500 incidents recorded of bad behavior among passengers compared with fewer than 200 for the previous two years. One of the reasons that have been offered to explain this is “pandemic fatigue” where people have forgotten how to at least pretend they have home training. 

Frontier Airlines offered a statement that differed somewhat from that of the Miami-Dade police department. They claimed that one of the parties disobeyed requests from the flight crew to remain on the aircraft. It is clear which party they meant. 

Pandemic fatigue notwithstanding, white rage is the eternal epidemic. Passengers should try their best to avoid conflict but if they cannot, they should make sure they are recording.

• Lifestyle

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

July 21, 2021

Marla Gibbs Receives Her Star On The Hollywood Walk of Fame, Almost Faints In the California Heat

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On Tuesday, the incomparable actress Marla Gibbs of “The Jefferson’s” and “227” fame, received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame along with all the flowers and praise giving honor to the TV legend and her long and storied career.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Hollywood Walk Of Fame (@hwdwalkoffame)

Gibbs, who is well remembered as George and Louise Jefferson’s feisty maid who shot side-splitting one-liners on The Jefferson’s sitcom, back in the 70s and 80s, was surrounded by family and friends like famed TV producer Norman Lear, the force behind icons 70’s TV shows like The Jeffersons, Good Times, and All In The Family.

During the ceremony, Gibbs seemed to have a slight fainting spell. While giving her acceptance speech in the sweltering Cali heat, the acclaimed actress started to slump over a bit while giving her speech before her son stepped in and helped his 90-year-old mom straighten up, KTLA reports.

Medics were called to the scene, but the former “227” star declined to be transported to the hospital, drank some water and after a brief break, picked back up the pace and continued her celebration.

“Thank you to all of you who have been fans of ‘The Jeffersons’ and ‘227,’” she said in her acceptance speech. “We love you, and this is because you watched us that we were able to excel, and I’m able to be here today.”

Gibbs is a Chicago native who achieved the status of becoming “a five-time Emmy-nominated actress.”

“Marla got overwhelmed with all the excitement and heat but doing very well,” the actress’ agent, Garry Purdy, later said in an email. “She’s enjoying the after party now!”

Celebrity friends like Tisha Campbell and Anthony Anderson were on hand to celebrate Gibbs.

• Technology

by Black Enterprise Shop

July 21, 2021

Storage And Security Showcased With Degoo’s Premium Mega Backup Plan

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In many cases, the data and photos we store on our computers are some of the most personal things we possess. Therefore, you should take extra steps to ensure you have enough storage capacity to archive your critical data and heartfelt memories. Luckily, cloud storage is easy to use and more affordable than ever.

For just $149.99, a lifetime subscription to a Degoo Premium Mega Backup Plan gives you peace of mind knowing you’ll have 15 terabytes of cloud-based storage space for all of your data demands. Furthermore, with malware and hackers finding new ways to crack barriers and safeguards protecting your data, Degoo’s service comes bolstered with ultra-secure 256-bit AES encryption.

Degoo’s 15TB of backup space packs more than Google Drive, OneDrive, and Dropbox combined, and you’d be hard-pressed to push its limits. Besides ample storage space, Degoo’s servers provide high-speed transfers for files, so you can easily share photos and videos from your vacation with family and friends.

In addition to storing your files, Degoo offers backup on all of your connected devices, supporting desktop and mobile devices with iOS 10.0 or later and Android 4.1 or later. Degoo can also replicate backups as you perform them to give you even more confidence in your storage. Automatic file change detection keeps your scheduled backups up-to-date. These features earned Degoo 4 out of 5 stars from users on G2, and TechRadar describes the service as Snappy, simple backup with an emphasis on photos.”

If 15TB of storage isn’t enough for your data needs, Degoo offers storage options for 25TB ($199.99), 35TB ($249.99), and 50 TB ($299.99). Whatever your needs may be, Degoo is more than capable of providing enough data and security to fit them. You can purchase a lifetime Degoo Premium Mega Backup Plan today starting at just $149.99.

Prices subject to change.

• Politics

by Derek Major

July 20, 2021

John Kerry: We Cannot Wait For The Pandemic To End To Tackle Climate Change

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Reuters – The world cannot wait for the COVID-19 pandemic to end before dealing with climate change, U.S. envoy John Kerry said on Tuesday, underlining how “pivotal” this year’s United Nations’ climate conference was to press ahead with action.

Addressing an audience at London’s Royal Botanic Gardens, Kerry said nations must step up at the summit, COP26, to not only meet the pledges made six years ago in the Paris agreement, but to go beyond them.

COP26, to held in Glasgow, Scotland, in November, is seen as a critical opportunity for countries to make more ambitious commitments to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 and keep the global average temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius this century, which was set under the Paris Agreement in 2015.

“I am very sorry to say, the suffering of COVID will be magnified many times over in a world that does not grapple with, and ultimately halt, the climate crisis,” he told an event hosted in partnership with think tank Chatham House.

“We don’t have the luxury of waiting until COVID is vanquished to take up the climate challenge.”

Since U.S. President Joe Biden announced his country’s return to the Paris Agreement earlier this year, Kerry has been active in trying to restore U.S. leadership in combating global warming, and he called on countries to make COP26 a pivotal summit.

After being postponed last year due to the coronavirus pandemic, the summit will be the first time nations will review their climate targets and try to strengthen them.

But current countries’ plans put the world on track for a 2.4 degrees C average temperature rise by the end of the century, according to analysis by Climate Action Tracker.

“(The world) must make COP26 in Glasgow, this year, a pivotal moment for the world to come together to meet and master the climate challenge,” Kerry said.

“After our absence for four years, my friends, we approach this challenge with humility. But let me be clear, we approach it with ambition.”

(Reporting by William James, Kate Holton, Elizabeth Piper; Editing by Bill Berkrot)

• News

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

July 20, 2021

Family Asking for Help in Locating Black Woman Who Went Missing in Germany Two Years Ago

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The family of a Black woman from Birmingham, AL is asking for help after she went missing following a trip to Germany two years ago.

Nicole Denise Jackson was only 21 years old went she set out for Munich, Germany in 2018 with a guy she met online, WRBC reports. But the family says Jackson’s calls started to decline before stopping altogether after just a few months in the foreign country.

“Last time I heard her voice was around Christmas of 2018,” Jackson’s sister Ela Vaughn said.

The last time Jackson’s father, Antonio Jackson, communicated with his daughter was on July 14, 2020, after he sent her a text message saying, “Hello Nicole.” After getting no response, he sent a follow-up text on July 28, 2020, to wish his daughter a happy birthday.

“Thank you Dad I hope you had a nice birthday too [sic],” Jackson replied. Her father responded just a few minutes later telling her, “Love you You need to call me are you ok [sic]”. But, he never got a response.

“I know this is not like her,’’ Vaughn told AI. “When I say no one has talked to her, I mean no one.”

Now Vaughn and her father are heading out to Munich to locate their lost family member. The family launched a GoFundMe to help with their travel and search.

Vaughn has been in communication with the U.S. Consulate in Munich and has filed a missing person’s report with police in Germany.

“The embassy has been trying to locate her. They do have an address for her, but they haven’t been able to reach her at all,” Vaughn said. “I have a few officers that have been searching for her but, up until this point, nothing. She hasn’t left Germany because they have no records of her leaving.”

Vaughn said she spoke with a psychic medium and was told the situation is not good.

“It wasn’t good. I know deep down something’s not right,” Vaughn said. “It could be human trafficking. There’s a lot of that going on over there. If that’s the case, it’s going to be very hard to track her down. I might not ever find her, but I just know she wouldn’t be off the grid like this.”

• Men

by Derek Major

July 20, 2021

President Biden’s Former Director Of Strategic Communications, Kamau Marshall, Is Tapped As Deputy Assistant At USTR

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Kamau Marshall, who previously served as President Joe Biden’s Director of Strategic Communications, has been appointed to the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR).

Marshall will now be the Deputy Assistant United States Trade Representative for Media and Public Affairs at the USTR in the Executive Office of the President. The Texas Southern University graduate has spent more than a decade working in various roles in government including working for Rep. Al Green (D-TX) and the late Rep. Elijah Cummings.

Marshall has extensive communications experience having served as the Director of Strategic Communications for Biden’s presidential campaign, from its beginning in April 2019 through the campaign’s victory in November 2020. Additionally, he also served as a senior advisor and spokesperson for the 59th Presidential Inaugural Committee. He also served in the Obama-Biden administration as the communications advisor and speechwriter at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The former Biden aide also worked for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC). Marshall was a key figure during his time at the DCCC, working directly with the late John Lewis and helping the Democratic Party take the House of Representatives for the first time since 2006.

Marshall called the appointment an honor.

“It’s an honor to serve the people while being a public servant in this space, working for President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris under the leadership of Ambassador Katherine Tai,” Marshall told BLACK ENTERPRISE in a statement.

During Biden’s run for the White House, Marshall was tasked with reaching out to Black Americans for the campaign and unlike previous campaigns on both sides of the political spectrum, Marshall made it a point to reach out to different segments of the Black community.

“The African American community is not monolithic. We know that the Black community is diverse within its own race,” Marshall told BLACK ENTERPRISE last October. “Also, I think that goes for other races as well. You have to reach out to those different constituencies within that constituency. We saw that at the very beginning and that all came from listening to people.”

• Men

by Derek Major

July 20, 2021

Three Cops Arrested In Haiti As Ceremonies Begin For Assassinated President Jovenel Moise

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Haiti is honoring its assassinated President Jovenel Moise while arresting three police officers and installing a new interim leader.

Designated Prime Minister Ariel Henry is now set to be sworn in Tuesday. Interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph, who assumed leadership of Haiti after Moise’s assassination, announced Monday he will step down.

A group of Haitian officials and lawmakers commemorated Moise’s life in the yard of the National Pantheon Museum in Port-au-Prince Tuesday, according to Yahoo News.

Joseph, who spoke at the ceremony, called out criminals and oligarchs for murdering Moise and called on Haitian residents to unite.

Police Chief Léon Charles announced the arrest of four more people including three police officers. Haitian authorities are now investigating how and why the attackers were able to reach Moise without a single member of his security staff being injured.

Henry, a 71-year old neurosurgeon who was educated at France’s University of Montpellier School of Medicine and at Boston University, according to Haiti Libre, is set to replace Joseph.

Henry was paramount in the country’s health response to a deadly cholera epidemic that killed at least 10,000 residents and infected another 800,000 following a 7.0 earthquake that hit the country in 2010. According to NPR, Henry became the country’s interior minister in 2016.

Henry was closely associated with Moise and has deep relationships with those currently in power. One positive is that Henry is calling for unity of the country’s civil society and private sector and has said he will continue conversations with both sides that Moise started.

However, some do not believe Henry can unite the country, especially considering there hasn’t been a sitting parliament in the country since January 2020.

“Ariel Henry is a known entity to Haitians, given his former role as the coordinator of the country’s public health response to the 2010 cholera outbreak,” Paul Angelo, a Latin American Studies Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations told NPR. “But for many Haitians, he represents an unsatisfactory option to lead the country out of its current crisis.”