Ohio Community Wants Answers On What Caused George Floyd Mural to Collapse
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

July 14, 2021

Ohio Community Wants Answers On What Caused George Floyd Mural to Collapse

A collapsed George Floyd mural in Ohio is receiving a number of mixed reasons as to what caused the artwork to crumble.

On Tuesday, a large mural honoring the memory of George Floyd collapsed to the ground in Toledo, Ohio, Insider reports. Community members have spewed out a number of different reasons as to what caused the collapse including disrepair, vandalism, and even a lightning strike.

The commemorative artwork was painted on the side of a building’s brick wall last July by David Ross amid nationwide protests following Floyd’s murder by former police officer Derek Chauvin. Now the artist says he will be looking for a new location to recreate the original piece.

Eyewitnesses have credited a lightning strike for the collapse. A WTVG weather radar even detected a lightning strike on the block of the mural at about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, NY Post reports.

“Right before that storm hit, I just pulled in my driveway and it wasn’t down,” said eyewitness Susan Keller. “I would’ve noticed it right away. I noticed it when they put it up, I would’ve noticed it when it came down.”

Police were later seen setting up barricades to control all of the fallen bricks within the mural.

Keller said she hopes the “beautiful” piece gets restored as city officials differ on what exactly caused it to come down.

City building inspector Hugh Koogan said the collapse appeared to be a result of natural deterioration within the building, noting how the painted brick wall had started to bow in recent weeks.

“It was just age,” Koogan said. “It just came away. It happens to the older buildings.”

Now the city’s mayor confirms that the mural will be replaced, WTOL reports.

“What we do know is that the mural will be replaced,” Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz said on Wednesday. “We will work with the Arts Commission and the artist to make sure that a new mural can replace the old, so that the message at the core of this artwork can be heard.”

Cedric the Entertainer Will Host This Year’s Emmy Awards, ‘I Can’t Wait To Take The Stage’
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

July 14, 2021

Cedric the Entertainer Will Host This Year’s Emmy Awards, ‘I Can’t Wait To Take The Stage’

The Television Academy has announced that Cedric the Entertainer will be doing the honors of hosting this year’s 73rd Emmy Awards. This year’s award show will take place live and in front of a limited audience this fall on Sept. 19, 2021.

“Since I was a little boy huddled up next to my grandmother, television has always been my reliable friend, so it is an enormous honor for me to host this year’s Emmy Awards,” said Cedric the Entertainer in a written statement.

“Throughout the roller-coaster of a year that we have all lived through, television has helped us stay connected as a society like never before. It not only entertained us, but as it always has, it helped to open our eyes, educate us, and hopefully brought about a better understanding of who we are as a people. I can’t wait to take the stage to celebrate all of the great shows and performances that made us laugh, cry, dance, and sing over the past year.”

Emmy Award-nominated producers Reginald Hudlin and Ian Stewart have been brought on to executive produce, and Hamish Hamilton will direct the 73rd Emmy Awards for production companies Done+Dusted and Hudlin Entertainment. The telecast will return to a live, in-person ceremony at the Microsoft Theatre with a limited audience of nominees and their guests.

“I’m very excited to be returning to the Emmys,” said Executive Producer Reginald Hudlin. “Last year, the restrictions of Covid freed me and the awesome talents at Done+ Dusted to do a show that was different than any other award show. We don’t plan on repeating ourselves, but we certainly want to try some new ideas that could only be done on the Emmys.”

This will be the first time that Cedric the Entertainer is hosting this prestigious event. The live ceremony will take place on Sunday, Sept. 19 (8:00-11:00 PM, live ET/5:00-8:00 PM, live PT) on the CBS Television Network and available to stream live and on-demand on Paramount+.

“Cedric the Entertainer has been a wonderful friend to the Television Academy and our Foundation, and we are thrilled that he will bring his unique comedic perspective to the Emmy ceremony and telecast that marks our return to celebrating nominees and presenters live and in-person,” said Frank Scherma, chairman and CEO of the Academy.

DaBaby Schooled Teens On How to Be a Boss After They Tried to Scam Him While Selling Candy
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

July 14, 2021

DaBaby Schooled Teens On How to Be a Boss After They Tried to Scam Him While Selling Candy

Rapper DaBaby had to take a moment to switch from lyricist to tutor after he schooled two young boys who tried to scam him while selling candy.

DaBaby posted a video of two young boys approaching him selling candy and his interaction with the young entrepreneurs.

According to HipHopDX, DaBaby asked one of the boys, “How much for the whole box?” The young boy then responds, “$200,” although he is selling the candy for $2 each.

Then DaBaby asks the other boy selling candy how much he wanted for his box of Gushers and the boy gives the same answer.

“These ni**as,” DaBaby says. “You made $400 off that and you selling them for $2? Let’s count ’em. What’s 34 times two? It ain’t $200. It ain’t even $100 [laughs]. That’s $68.”

He then proceeds to pay $2 for the package of candy.

 

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Based on this interaction, social media went into a frenzy for several reasons. Back in October 2019, DaBaby gave 23-year-old Amanda Rose, a white woman who had been living in her 1999 Nissan Maxima with her son, a $1,000 and a mention in an Instagram post.

People felt that since he obviously has the money, he should have contributed more to the boys. But, some also felt that the boys were trying to game DaBaby by trying to get $200 for a box that would generate $68 in sales.

Twitter took notice:

Do you think Da Baby should have given the boys a break?

by Andrea Blackstone

July 14, 2021

Teen Battled Diabetes and Homelessness, Beat the Odds And Was Accepted to More Than 50 Colleges

According to The National Foster Youth Institute, which “is a youth development organization that lifts up foster youth voices to transform the child welfare system,” under 3% of “children who have aged out of foster care earn a college degree at any point in their life.”

Despite these grim statistics, Destiny Jackson—from Philadelphia—proves that being in the foster care system and experiencing homelessness does not mean that you can’t beat the odds and overcome life’s challenges.

The determined teen, a member of the class of 2021, was accepted into more than 50 colleges. She opted to study at Spelman College in Atlanta, according to CBS Philly and her Instagram account.

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Jackson told the news that she “had been accepted into “56 colleges around the United States.”

A North Philadelphia- based nonprofit called New Options More Opportunities that “assists at-risk youth” helped Jackson for the last four years, per CBS Philly.

“I’ve been in the foster care system for my second time since the age of 13,” Jackson also said in the interview. “I’ve been homeless for three years. Oh wow, it’s been a lot. Thank God to my support system and the community. They have helped me along the way and been by my side.”

Per Good Morning America’s report, Jackson “ran away from an abusive home in Philadelphia when she was just 13 years old.”

Her tumultuous situation led to couch-surfing and landing in various “foster care and group homes.” Plus, Jackson experienced another obstacle: diabetes.

“I did struggle with finding homes because a lot of people do not want someone who’s Type 1 diabetic,” Jackson told Good Morning America. “But then I was a teenager as well. It wasn’t something that was good.”

Despite the odds being stacked against her, Jackson’s resilience is not going unnoticed.

“God Gives To Us, To Give To Others! And I’m GOING TO Support My Spelman Sister’s Journey In Any Way Possible,” a GoFundMe donor who posted as “Princess India” said on Jackson’s GoFundMe account.

The GoFundMe team chipped in $500 to help Jackson move forward with her academic goals, too. Click here to find Jackson’s fundraiser.

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Senate Democrats Release Draft Bill For Federal Cannabis Legalization
by Derek Major

July 14, 2021

Senate Democrats Release Draft Bill For Federal Cannabis Legalization

Reuters – Three top U.S. Democratic senators on Wednesday unveiled a discussion draft of a bill that aims to legalize cannabis, a move that would allow adult Americans to buy and possess up to 10 ounces of marijuana without facing criminal penalties.

The Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act floated by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Finance Chairman Ron Wyden and New Jersey Senator Cory Booker, would expunge federal non-violent marijuana crimes, further medical research and allow cannabis companies access to essential financial services.

While adult use of cannabis is legal in 18 states, and allowed medically in 37 states, it remains illegal under U.S. federal law, deterring banks and others from dealing with companies that sell marijuana or related products.

The draft set the minimum age required to buy cannabis at 21 and limited retail sales transactions at the state level to 10 ounces of cannabis at a time or the equivalent amount of any cannabis derivative.

The draft also states that a new definition of cannabis would be established and proposes moving cannabis oversight to the Food and Drug Administration and regulators that overlook alcohol and tobacco, away from the Drug Enforcement Administration.

States will control the possession, production, or distribution of cannabis, the draft says, while shipping marijuana into states that have not legalized it will be prohibited. However, such states can not stop shipments going to other legalized regions through their borders.

Senator Chuck Grassley, the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee, said “This new bill puts the cart before the horse.” He added that marijuana use needs more research.

A final legislative draft will be introduced later and feedback on the discussion draft can be provided until Sept. 1.

To become a law, the measure will have to pass both the Democratic-controlled Senate and House of Representatives and be signed by President Joe Biden.

“It is hard to see how this can pass, but nonetheless it is positive to see progress and momentum,” said Greg Hayman, founder of cannabis investment firm Beehouse partners.

A major cannabis banking reform bill that was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives in April has failed to make any progress in the Senate.

“Our main concern over this current legislation (Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act) is around the ability to get it passed in the Senate,” private equity firm Poseidon Managing Director Michael Boniello said, adding it may hinder other federal cannabis reforms, including the banking act, from being passed in 2021.

(Reporting by Arathy S Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli and Bernard Orr)

by Charlene Rhinehart

July 14, 2021

Scottie Pippen is Opening His Chicago Mansion to Airbnb Guests During the Olympic Games

Scottie Pippen announced that he is listing his Chicago home on Airbnb to give fans a chance to “live like a champion” during the Olympic Games.

The six-time NBA champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist will host three one-night stays for up to four people. The base rate is only $92 a night, representing the year that he and his teammates became gold medalists at the Olympic Games Barcelona 1992.

“Being able to represent the United States as an Olympian twice was an incredible honor as an athlete,” said Pippen in a statement. “Playing alongside the best of the best with Team USA will always be a career highlight for me, and I’m excited to host basketball fans at my home to witness the next generation of athletes performing at the top of their sport.“

This exclusive Airbnb stay will take place on August 2, August 4, and August 6. Booking for Pippen’s home begins Thursday, July 22 at 1 p.m. EDT on Airbnb. You can view Pippen’s Chicago home here.

Airbnb is a Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic partner. The vacation rental company is honoring the achievements of past, current, and future athletes. To support Team USA, Airbnb will make a donation to the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Foundation.  

Scottie Pippie Lists Chicago Home on Airbnb for Olympics

Scottie Pippen Chicago Home
(Image Credit: Adam Planas)

Pippen is rolling out the red carpet for fans during the Olympic Games.

According to a news release, lucky fans will receive a virtual greeting from Pippen as soon as they check in. There’s access to the indoor basketball court, outdoor pool with television, arcade room, and indoor sauna.

Guests will also have the opportunity to watch the basketball competitions from Pippen’s home theater. From the comfort of Pippen’s home, fans can indulge in sports history and cheer on athletes at the Tokyo games.

If you’re wondering about food, there’s an opportunity to enjoy pre-game snacks. But the ultimate Pippen entrée – steak, a baked potato, and asparagus – may take your taste buds to new levels.

To top it off, guests will gain access to view Olympic Games memorabilia and take home Team USA’s 2020 Medal Stand Collection.

This will be Pippen’s first time as an Airbnb Host. If you miss this opportunity, there are more chances to explore experiences hosted by other Olympians and Paralympians. You can visit Airbnb Olympics starting on July 15 to book your stay.

Senior Black Walmart Employees Say It’s Not An Ideal Company To Work For
by Derek Major

July 14, 2021

Senior Black Walmart Employees Say It’s Not An Ideal Company To Work For

A Walmart internal survey showed several Black supervisors, senior managers, and directors would not recommend the company to others.

According to a Bloomberg report, employees surveyed said they faced barriers when trying to advance their careers. Those barriers include unequal access to growth opportunities, internal politics, and favoritism. The survey’s findings, which 56 high-ranking Black employees took, were presented to the retail giant’s senior leadership members.

According to Bloomberg, some Black employees were very critical about working for Walmart.

“I have been here 10 years and I have never recommended Walmart to a person of color. I have recommended others to leave,” one Black director said in the survey. “Pay, benefits, not bad—but recommend? NEVER. EVER.”

A Walmart spokesperson told CNBC in a statement the survey was “early research,” and the survey had an “unscientific and limited sample size.”

Walmart, the countries largest employer, has been vocal about its diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts amid the Black Lives Matter resurgence last summer. The retail giant committed $100 million over the next five years in grants through its Center for Racial Equity. It also teamed with North Carolina A&T to launch an initiative for Black STEM graduates and has donated more than $10 million to the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Black employees make up 21% of Walmart’s workforce, which’s higher than the percentage of Black employees in the U.S. population (13.4%). However, the higher up the corporate ranks, the lower Black representation gets. At the management level, just 12% of employees are Black, and at the officer level, just 8% of employees are Black, according to Walmart’s 2020 equity and inclusion report.

In comparison, Target’s 2020 Diversity Report revealed half of the company’s 350,000 team members are people of color, and 58% of team members are women. Additionally, nearly half (42%) of Target’s leadership team are women, and nearly a quarter (24%) are people of color.

Sha’Carri Richardson Being Courted By Vape Company With $250K Deal To Be Ambassador
by Kia Morgan Smith

July 14, 2021

Sha’Carri Richardson Being Courted By Vape Company With $250K Deal To Be Ambassador

Rising Track and Field star Sha’Carri Richardson is turning lemons into very sweet lemonade.

TMZ reported that she was offered a lucrative deal with a company that sells vapes. 

Dr. Dabber, a company whose main focus is cannabis and its accessories, wants Richardson to become one of their ambassadors and is willing to pay her a quarter of a million dollars to do so. 

The country came to know Richardson after her blazing performance in this year’s Olympic trials where she breezed past the other competitors with the fierceness of Flo Jo, and without her hair, nails or eyelashes out of place. 

The country came to love her after her victory was struck from the record and she was disqualified from this year’s Olympics for a positive drug test that showed marijuana in her system. 

Nike, her sponsor, celebrities, and even politicians such as Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez came to her defense, as she used the drug in a state where doing so is legal and cannabis is not shown to have any performance-enhancing effects. 

Dr. Dabber clearly supports Richardson as well. 

“Considering your talent and grace over these past weeks, we would love to offer you the opportunity to work with our team as a spokesperson for Dr. Dabber,” the company said.  Her official duties would be to test dab rigs and vape pens as one of the company’s “doctors.”

But no so fast! (no pun intended)

Sha’Carri Richardson is slated to run in August after her ban is lifted. 

Oregon’s Prefontaine Classic is happening on August 20-21 and Richardson is preparing to remind the world that although she was left off of the Olympic team this time around, she is still the sprinter to watch. 

“I’m looking forward to running fast and putting on a show,” Richardson said.

We have no doubt that she will do just that. 

 

Suspended Baltimore Officer Accused Of Choking Stepson To Death and Hiding Body, Charged with Murder
by Christian Spencer

July 14, 2021

Suspended Baltimore Officer Accused Of Choking Stepson To Death and Hiding Body, Charged with Murder

The Baltimore police officer who hid his stepson inside a hole in the wall at their townhouse has been formally charged with first-degree murder.

As BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported, Eric Banks Jr., 34, allegedly moved his dead 15-year-old stepson, Dasan Jones also known as D.J., on July 6.

Now, that the officer is charged with first- and second-degree murder, as well as child abuse, new details have emerged from the investigation, according to The Baltimore Sun.

Related stories: BALTIMORE POLICE OFFICER’S DEAD STEPSON FOUND IN A HOLE IN THE WALL; COP HELD WITHOUT BOND 

Documents show that D.J.’s death was ruled as a homicide by asphyxiation, the act of depriving one of oxygen or suffocating a person until one is unconscious or dead, as the teen has visible injuries on his neck, face, and mouth.

Investigators also found wet and stained clothes that smelled of bleach; police are convinced some of the stains are blood.

“Based on a combination of the evidence collected at the scene, the timeline of events, statements provided by Mr. and Ms. Banks, as well as the ruling of the [Office of the Chief Medical Examiner], there is sufficient evidence to demonstrate that Mr. Banks killed Dasan Jones and attempted to conceal his body from law enforcement,” Det. Kelly Harding wrote in a statement of probable cause.

On the contrary, Banks has denied killing his stepson, according to his attorney Warren Brown who told The Sun that Banks said he had found D.J. already dead in a bathtub from an apparent suicide.

On July 6 at the family home, Banks told responding officers that D.J. was not home, which was false because the 15-year-old’s body was disposed of by Banks – the suspect already admitted it.

When Banks consented to a house search,  an officer found the teen’s body in a bedroom on the top floor in a “hole in the wall with a white cover leaning on it,” the charging documents previously described.

“Mr. Banks denied harming Dasan Jones and claimed not to know what caused his death. Mr. Banks could not provide a reasonable explanation for hiding the victim’s body,” police said.

After D.J.’s body was discovered, Banks, who was being arrested, requested to say goodbye to his other children before he reached for an officer’s gun. It was then that Banks told the officer “[you] gonna have to end this,” The Sun reported.

Prosecutors said Banks made “homicidal and suicidal” comments.

As BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported, Latrice Banks, D.J.’s mother, wanted a protective order against her estranged husband who shared a 15-year-old son from her previous relationship and two biological children with Eric.

She accuses her husband of stalking and intimidating her, and she wanted Eric to stay away from her and her children.

The first request was denied by a judge, and her second order, was filed hours before her son’s death.

D.J. was a magnet student at Glen Burnie High School who played the violin.

Eric was already suspended from his police role, but the department did not give an explanation for what triggered his suspension.
Lowe’s Announces Return Of Making It Entrepreneur Pitch Program With Shark Tank’s Daymond John
by Derek Major

July 14, 2021

Lowe’s Announces Return Of Making It Entrepreneur Pitch Program With Shark Tank’s Daymond John

The home improvement giant Lowe’s and Shark Tank star Daymond John have announced the next round of Making it…With Lowe’s, a nationwide pitch program for diverse entrepreneurs.

The program will give diverse entrepreneurs the chance to sell their product on Lowe’s.com and in its stores. During the coronavirus pandemic Black and minority businesses have struggled to stay afloat and open. Making matters worse is the fact that many of these businesses are also falling behind in the recovery.

These factors have led Lowe’s to bring back its Making It program to provide opportunities for entrepreneurs and small business owners to grow their businesses and overcome the obstacles the pandemic presented.

John said in a release that Lowe’s Making It program gives diverse business owners who are traditionally overlooked the chance to tell their stories.

“Making It…With Lowe’s shines a light on the remarkable stories of diverse small business
owners who are often overlooked and underrepresented,” John said. “Last year’s program underscored the importance of giving them an opportunity to break through traditional processes. This year, as so many diverse small business owners begin the recovery process, it is even more important to provide them with a much-deserved space to succeed.”

The first round of Making It received more than 1,300 product submissions and allowed minority business owners to get invaluable advice and mentorship from John and Lowe’s merchants to help them grow and expand their businesses.

Entrepreneurs and small business owners can apply now through midnight July 30 and women, minorities, veterans, people with disabilities and members of the LGBTQ community are encouraged to apply with innovative products both in and beyond the home improvement spectrum.

Lowe’s has led several initiatives to help business owners during the coronavirus pandemic. Last summer, at the height of the pandemic, Lowe’s committed millions to keep small businesses afloat.

In June, the home improvement giant committed $25 million in minority small business grants and in August committed another $30 million in grants to minority businesses.

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