Former Cop Eric Adams Wins NYC Democratic Mayoral Primary In Loaded Field
by Derek Major

July 6, 2021

Former Cop Eric Adams Wins NYC Democratic Mayoral Primary In Loaded Field

Former NYPD police officer Eric Adams has won the New York City Mayoral Primary Tuesday according to the Associated Press

Adams held a slim lead of one percentage point over Kathryn Garcia Tuesday afternoon according to new count of votes which included tens of thousands of absentee ballots. Maya Wiley finished in third place. Wiley, who previously worked for current Mayor Bill de Blasio, was still in the race as of today but fell in the final stretch.

The news service called the race for Adams after the city Board of Elections (BoE) announced he led Garcia by more than 8,000 votes. There are still a few thousand ballots to count, but more than 110,000 ballots to counted Adams leads by a margin Garcia can’t overcome.

The first mayoral primary featuring ranked-choice voting was a memorable and crowded field featuring billionaire Andrew Yang, who led the race early, Ray McGuire, a former Citibank executive, and Non-Profit executive Dianne Morales, the candidate furthest to the left who was done in by staff issues.

The win for the former officer a year of the Black Lives Matter protests and riots hit the city is significant. In a statement

“While there are still some very small amounts of votes to be counted, the results are clear: an historic, diverse, five-borough coalition led by working-class New Yorkers has led us to victory in the Democratic primary for Mayor of New York City,” Adams said in a statement according to the Washington Post. “Now we must focus on winning in November so that we can deliver on the promise of this great city for those who are struggling, who are underserved, and who are committed to a safe, fair, affordable future for all New Yorkers.”

Adams will now face Guardian Angels founder and Republican Curtis Sliwa in the general election. Adams is the heavy favorite and if he wins will become the second Black mayor in New York’s history, David Dinkins who served one term from 1990 through 1993, was the first.

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

July 6, 2021

Black Olympic Swimmer Challenges Ban on Swim Caps for Natural Hair, FINA Reconsiders Decision

The International Swimming Federation (FINA) has announced that it will look deeper into the issue surrounding swim caps made for natural hair that became the topic of contention over whether it enhanced performance, according to The Times.

Alice Dearing, 24, who became the first Black female swimmer to represent Britain at an Olympics, was one of the first people on the frontlines protesting FINA’s decision when she received word that the British-brand Soul Cap could not be worn to cover her natural hair, according to Sport Sky News.

Dearing, the co-founder of the Black Swimming Association, took to Soul Cap’s website to offer support and sound off saying: “People used to tell me my hair was ‘too big’ for the cap — never that the cap was too small for my hair,” she wrote.

“The issue with this story is I don’t want little Black girls and little Black boys to look at elite swimming and think it is not open to them because that is completely the wrong idea,” she told Sky News.
“It is open to them, I really hope that with it being under review that some agreement will come about, I’m sure it will.

“But I don’t want people to look at elite level swimming and think: ‘It’s not open for me, I can’t wear my hair the way I want to and I’ll go and find another sport’, because that’s not what we want.
“Change is happening at least, Soul Cap has been made and even something as simple as that wasn’t around when I started out swimming.

As BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported, the creators of SOUL CAP Michael Chapman and Toks Ahmed, decided to submit approval for Olympians to be authorized to wear them, but the request was denied by FINA, per METROUK’s report.

Earlier this month, FINA issued a statement saying the caps could not be work because they did not fit the “natural form of the head.” The caps were made to secure braided styles, dreads, and afros.

On Friday FINA released a media statement announcing that it is reconsidering the ban.
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“FINA is committed to ensuring that all aquatics athletes have access to appropriate swimwear for competition where this swimwear does not confer a competitive advantage. FINA is currently reviewing the situation with regards to “Soul Cap” and similar products, understanding the importance of inclusivity and representation.

There is no restriction on “Soul Cap” swim caps for recreational and teaching purposes. FINA appreciates the efforts of “Soul Cap” and other suppliers to ensure everyone has the chance to enjoy the water. FINA will also speak with the manufacturer of the “Soul Cap” about utilising their products through the FINA Development Centres.

FINA expects to make its consideration of “Soul Cap” and similar products part of wider initiatives aimed at ensuring there are no barriers to participation in swimming, which is both a sport and a vital life skill.”
Soul cap founder Toks Ahmed encouraged the federation to reexamine the issue.
“We feel the rejection comes from lack of thought, without full consideration for diversity and the different requirements non-white athletes may have,” Toks said. “We feel there’s always room for improvement, but there’s only so much grassroots and small brands can do – we need the top to be receptive to positive change.”

Russell Wilson Woos Wife Ciara On a Romantic, Anniversary Surprise Getaway to Venice
by Andrea Blackstone

July 6, 2021

Russell Wilson Woos Wife Ciara On a Romantic, Anniversary Surprise Getaway to Venice

Love looks good on couples who genuinely seem to embrace the sweetness of life and partnership.

Singer Ciara Wilson knows what the princess treatment feels like thanks to her athletic husband, Russell Wilson who whisked her away to Italy for a surprise anniversary celebration.

The power couple celebrated their fifth anniversary on July 6, but the NFL player took his talented wife to Venice Italy well in advance. Both of their social media accounts were adorned with stunning photos which oozed romance.

Four days ago, Ciara posted a clip of the pair dressed in stylish attire, holding hands with shade-topped eyes, while giving the camera something worth remembering.

“He said ‘Pack your bags….We’re going to Italy,”” Ciara posted on Instagram with the clip.

Ciara did just that.

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A post shared by Ciara (@ciara)

 

Ciara’s husband nailed the romantic effort by arranging a romantic gondola ride for his wife complete with Italian singing and live accordion playing. Russell definitely leveled up for his boo. The celebrity couple wore black shades and ended the video with a few words spoken in Italian.

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In another post on Ciara’s account, she and her beau dressed in casual outfits, while leaning against a brick and concrete looking wall. Ciara tagged her husband, while mentioning that he always makes her “feel like a princess.” Other photos which followed ended with a photo of Princess Diana and Prince Charles and Russell and Ciara posing just like them.

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A post shared by Ciara (@ciara)

“5 Years & Forever To Go. There’s no place I’d rather be. Cherishing every step of the way. #HappyAnniversary My Love @DangeRussWilson. You Are My Everything! Ti Amo Tanto Mi Amore. ❤️🇮🇹,” Ciara posted on her Instagram account, along with another stunning photo.

Russell was not shy about showing his romantic side a bit more. He had something to say, too.

 

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“5 years of Love as husband & wife, mom & dad, best friends, business partners and more. You leave me speechless. There are no words that could ever describe my love for you. Only Heaven knows. 5 years & Forever to go! Andiamo! ❤️🇮🇹 @Ciara,”Russell posted on Instagram on the couple’s anniversary.

 

by Andrea Blackstone

July 6, 2021

Big Willy Style: Will Smith Does a Good Deed in New Orleans; He Paid for July 4th Fireworks

Actor Will Smith revived patriotic plans in New Orleans on Independence Day by doing a good deed.

Per the AP, when Smith discovered that the town did not have a 2021 plan to light up the sky with a traditional bang, Smith footed the pyrotechnics bill of approximately $100,000. The big show was held on the Mississippi Riverfront, following the cancellation of “last year’s fireworks because of the coronavirus pandemic.”

 

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New Orleans’ Mayor,  LaToya Cantrell, publicly shouted out Smith for his generosity on the city’s Instagram account, while urging attendees to show up for the exciting show with safety in mind.

“A fireworks display produced by “Go 4th on the River” will take place in New Orleans along the Mississippi Riverfront at 9 p.m. Sunday, July 4, 2021.🎆🎇🎉 The gift of city fireworks was made possible by actor and producer @willsmith along with his company @westbrook. The City also wishes to acknowledge the support of the Riverfront Marketing Group for helping to make the event happen. THANK YOU!🙏,” Cantrell wrote. “ A safe Fourth of July celebration starts by getting vaccinated. 💪💉 Please encourage family and friends to get vaccinated before they join in holiday plans, so COVID-19 doesn’t get invited to the party.🎉”

 

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Deadline Hollywood reported that “the city’s annual municipal display had been in jeopardy because of a lack of funds, and — after having to cancel amid the pandemic in 2020 — the outlook was bleak that it would return this year.”

Smith happened to be in the area for work-related reasons. Smith is currently filming a thriller called “Emancipation” in the “Big Easy,” although it was not the first place where the production was underway. CNBC previously reported that Georgia was the initial filming location of the “slave drama directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Will Smith,” but filming of it was pulled there because of “the passage of a restrictive voting law there.”

“We cannot in good conscience provide economic support to a government that enacts regressive voting laws that are designed to restrict voter access,” Smith and Fuqua in a joint statement, according to CNBC. “The new Georgia voting laws are reminiscent of voting impediments that were passed at the end of Reconstruction to prevent many Americans from voting. Regrettably, we feel compelled to move our film production work from Georgia to another state.”

 

Caring Coworkers Donate Their Kidneys to Each Other’s Husbands
by Andrea Blackstone

July 6, 2021

Caring Coworkers Donate Their Kidneys to Each Other’s Husbands

Sometimes the kindness of strangers can evolve into a lifechanging experience.

Tia Wimbush and Susan Ellis are examples of this truth. The women shared a tough personal issue because of an impromptu conversation. According to CNN, the coworkers who chatted in a restroom at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta ended up building an impactful friendship which revealed that both of their husbands needed kidneys. USA Today added that both women’s’ husbands experienced renal failure during similar time periods.

Upon realizing that Ellis’ blood type matched Wimbush’s husband’s, and Wimbush’s blood type could be compatible with Ellis’s spouse, Wimbush wondered if kidney donation would be possible for their spouses. Rodney Wimbush and Lance Elllis had a stroke of luck. Everyone was a match.

 

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“It is very rare for two immunologically incompatible pairs to propose their own paired exchange and actually be a match for one another,” Christina Klein, a transplant nephrologist at Piedmont Atlanta Hospital, said in a statement provided to CNN. “I have been a transplant nephrologist since 2008 working in active living donation and paired kidney exchange programs, and I have personally never seen this happen before.”

Two women who once passed each other at work took a journey to share a live-saving bond for their husbands. Their families are no longer casual acquaintances.

“It’s beyond friendship. They really are family,” Tia told CNN. “We all took a leap of faith in doing this and now we are forever connected, always rooting each other on in both the recovery process and in this second chance of life.”

Tia Wimbush also shared the story of kindness and hope on Facebook, back in March.

“Kidney transplant and donation complete! 💚💚💚💚 Thank you Susan Ellis for giving my husband Rodney a second chance at life by donating your kidney to him, and it was my honor to do the same for your husband Lance by donating my kidney to him in our paired kidney exchange,” Wimbush said.

After explaining that her husband, Rodney, was diagnosed with kidney disease and kidney failure in 2019, she added how Susan and Lance’s journey aligned with the same dynamic.

“Long story short, we discovered we could be potential matches for each other’s husbands. And this weekend, the donation and transplant operations were complete for all of us. What a mighty God we serve! 🙌🏾🙏🏾,” Wimbush explained. “Thank you for all of the prayers and support from our family and friends!! We’ll continue to need them as the recovery process begins.”

How prevalent is kidney disease in the U.S.?

“I7,600 kidney transplants were performed in the United States in 2013,” according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). The statistics also revealed that “more than 661,000 Americans have kidney failure. Of these, 468,000 individuals are on dialysis, and roughly 193,000 live with a functioning kidney transplant.”

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July 6, 2021

NADJA Y. WEST

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LT. GEN. NADJA Y. WEST

COMPANY
Former., U.S. Army; Army Surgeon General, and the Commanding General of the U.S. Army Medical Command from
BOARD
Johnson & Johnson, Nucor Corp.

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Jay Z’s Wealth Portfolio Expands, Acquires Certified Collectibles Group
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

July 6, 2021

Jay Z’s Wealth Portfolio Expands, Acquires Certified Collectibles Group

Jay-Z was among a group of investors who worked with Blackstone Group Inc. in purchasing Certified Collectibles Group, a company that verifies popular trading items like sports cards, stamps and coins.

Certified Collectibles is now valued at $500 million after Blackstone acquired a majority stake in the company, Bloomberg reports.

Jay-Z’s Roc Nation along with Daryl Morey, the president of basketball operations for the Philadelphia 76ers, Michael Rubin, founder and executive chairman of Fanatics, NBA player Andre Iguodala, and others are now stakeholders within Certified Collectibles while founder Mark Salzberg and Chief Executive Officer Steven Eichenbaum will keep a significant minority stake.

Looked at as one of the world’s largest private equity firms, Blackstone focuses its investments on companies within the realm of software, social gaming, defense and health care. Blackstone’s plans for Certified Collectibles include boosting the company’s growth by hiring and training employees and enhancing its online presence.

Collectibles estimates it has certified over 62 million items, with a combined fair market value approaching $50 billion, Insider reports. Their authentication services have turned popular items like comic books, banknotes, magazines, concert posters, stamps, trading cards, and sports cards into forms of collectibles.

They started the company 35 years ago by authenticating coins before expanding into other genres. After the acquisition, shares of CCG jumped 0.3% on Friday.

This is just the latest of a series of investments Jay-Z has made in recent months including his investment into the vegan chicken company DISCS (via VegNews) and LA-based fitness company LIT Method, via Page Six.

After launching his cannabis company Monogram back in December 2020, the Brooklyn native penned a letter in support of New York making marijuana legal in the state.

“The news of cannabis legalization in New York is incredibly exciting,” Jay Z told The Grio. “It represents a long overdue opportunity for New Yorkers, for the cannabis industry, and for social equity and social justice.”

With everything he touches turning to gold, time will tell if he’ll have the same effect on Certified Collectibles Group.

Houston’s Turkey Leg Hut Accused of Having Anti-Black Dress Code
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

July 6, 2021

Houston’s Turkey Leg Hut Accused of Having Anti-Black Dress Code

Houston’s popular Turkey Leg Hut has been under fire on Black Twitter over its new dress code.

The soul food restaurant became somewhat of a staple among young party-goers for serving up delectable dishes, tasty cocktails, desserts, while they enjoy hit music and hookah services. But on Friday, Turkey Leg Hut was trending for all the wrong reasons after the public learned of the eatery’s new dress code policy.

Those now looking to attend the Third Ward-based restaurant will have to adhere to the new guidelines the establishment says are necessary to ensure all customers and staff are dressed appropriately, Click 2 Houston reported.

Owner Nakia Price said the new policy came from other patrons who complained about how some of the other guests were dressed.

“Unfortunately, due to the attire of some guests, we were forced to put this new policy in place as we remain committed to ensuring all guests are comfortable while visiting us,” Turkey Leg Hut announced on Instagram.

“We are not a club. We are a family-friendly restaurant and will continue to maintain our standards as we welcome everyone to the Turkey Leg Hut.”

After making the announcement, the Turkey Leg Hut became a trending topic with Black Twitter making a mockery of the new dress code policy, The Houston Chronicle reported. Some even accused the dress code of being “anti-Black.”

“Who tf getting all the way cute to go to the turkey leg hut?” one Twitter user Wrote. “This anti black as hell.”

But the restaurant stood firm in their decision and even got in on the fun by reposting one of the hilarious memes to their Instagram page.

Despite the jokes, the message is clear, in that attendees need to put on their Sunday’s best in order to enjoy the Hut’s services.

 

Delaware State University Becomes First HBCU To Acquire Another University With Takeover Of Wesley College
by Derek Major

July 6, 2021

Delaware State University Becomes First HBCU To Acquire Another University With Takeover Of Wesley College

Delaware State University (DSU) finalized the acquisition of a private college Thursday in what the university says is the first case of an HBCU acquiring another higher education institution.

DSU, a public HBCU, has purchased Wesley College and will take over the college’s 50-acre campus in Dover as well as capital assets worth about $32 million. DSU will also gain 14 new academic programs, including an occupational therapy master’s program.

The school will now be known as the Wesley College of Health & Behavioral Sciences within Delaware State and the school will offer programs in disciplines including allied/public health, kinesiology, nursing, occupational therapy, psychology and social work.

No money was exchanged in the sale. In lieu of a transfer of funds, DSU will take on Wesley’s liabilities and will accept all Wesley students in good standing. However, DSU will not honor Wesley scholarships. The average cost differential between the two schools is approximately $200,000.

Wesley’s undergraduate tuition rate for last year was $26,934. DSU’s tuition rate was $7038 for in-state students and $16,960 for out-of-state students. Earlier this year, DSU cancelled more than $700,000 in student loan debt to graduates hurt by the coronavirus.

Wesley College had a majority Black student population. According to the U.S. Department of Education, in 2019, 39% of Wesley’s undergraduate students were Black, 37% were white and 8% were Hispanic or Latino. According to a DSU release, 77% of Wesley students have signed on to continue their education at DSU.

“This is a historic moment,” Delaware State University President Tony Allen, said in a statement. “In our view, that point is noteworthy, but it is not the reason this is such an attractive opportunity. To serve more students who need our brand of excellence, education, and care, we needed to increase the size of our footprint, build on our key academic programs, grow our research base and enhance our economic impact on the State of Delaware.  We could not be any more pleased about adding the incredible Wesley brand legacy, so many continuing students, and dozens of dedicated employees to our own family.”

According to Inside Higher Education, more than a dozen Wesley University professors sued the college in an attempt to block the acquisition arguing the university breached its obligations to tenured faculty members by failing to give them adequate notice of the discontinuance of their programs

 

Parents Grieving After Amusement Park Accident Claims Son’s Life, Leaves Other Son in Coma
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

July 6, 2021

Parents Grieving After Amusement Park Accident Claims Son’s Life, Leaves Other Son in Coma

Two parents had their world shattered after losing their youngest son in an amusement park accident that also left their eldest son in a medically induced coma.

David and Sabrina Jaramillo’s 11-year-old son died in a water raft ride, ABC News reported. The family was enjoying a day at the family-owned amusement park Adventureland Park in Altoona, Iowa in celebration of their eldest son’s 16th birthday. The family was hoping to “have a good time”–then they went on the Raging River ride.

The parents entered the raft with their 15-year-old son, David; their 14-year-old son, Gus; their 11-year-old son, Michael; and their niece, Nyla. After buckling their seatbelts and going out into the river rapids ride, their tube somehow flipped over, leaving them all trapped underwater.

Both parents, one of their sons, and their niece broke free and swam to the surface. However, David and Michael were stuck underwater and no one could reach them, People reported.

“I’m drowning. The river was so intense, it was like a suction,” the father said. “I see the silhouettes of my sons trying to grab each other, grab us. They want us to help them. We couldn’t do it.”

The family cried out for help as witnesses jumped into the water to help get the other kids out of the tube. David Jr. and Michael were both transported to a local hospital in critical condition. Michael died from his injuries on Sunday, while David remains hospitalized in critical condition, the Altoona Police Department said.

“He was a baby, and I feel like Adventureland robbed me of my baby,” Sabrina said.

“He was just taken from us. Love your kids,” the father added. “You just don’t know when they’ll be taken.”

Adventureland has launched an investigation into the accident and the ride remains closed amid a “thorough inspection” into what went wrong.


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