by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

June 24, 2021

Panasonic Signs Naomi Osaka as Brand Ambassador

Panasonic Corporation has recently announced that it has signed a brand ambassador agreement with professional women’s tennis player Naomi Osaka. The contract for this agreement is for two years which started on April 22, 2021.

Naomi Osaka Panasonic
(Image: Panasonic)

The young tennis champion was selected by Panasonic after the company observed that her values and perspectives deeply resonate with its own management philosophy, especially with regard to the following three points:

“Osaka takes social issues seriously, looking beyond tennis to share her views on what a better society would look like in her own words. The founder of Panasonic, Konosuke Matsushita, held the notion that a stable state of happiness comes only when both mental stability and material prosperity are secured. Based on this idea, the company endeavors to create an ideal society where all of us can enjoy lives that are both mentally fulfilling and affluent in the material sense.

“Second, Osaka’s intense and powerful playing is a source of energy and courage for people all over the world. Panasonic has passed down the founder’s view that the mission of an enterprise is to achieve a prosperous society and to make people happy, and continues to work toward fulfilling a strong aspiration not only to provide products needed by society but also to make customers who use them feel happy and uplifted.

“Third, Osaka continues to grow and evolve as her magnificent track record being one of the world’s top athletes is the result of her tireless efforts to refine each and every move in the course of her daily training and matches. Panasonic also continues to grow and evolve in a range of fields, aiming to elevate its expertise for the benefit of customers and society and achieve constant evolution.”

Osaka is currently on hiatus from playing tennis.

“Naomi won’t be playing Wimbledon this year,” a statement shared by ESPN stated. “She is taking some personal time with friends and family. She will be ready for the Olympics and is excited to play in front of her home fans.”

Woman Loses Fiancé to Violent NYC Robbery
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

June 24, 2021

Woman Loses Fiancé to Violent NYC Robbery

A fiancée will not have her wedding day after her husband-to-be was killed following a fatal robbery.

As crime continues to spike in New York City, 34-year-old Milton Grant lost his life in one of the eight shootings that plagued the city on Monday, CNN reported. Grant was shot in the head while trying to get away from a car full of robbers in Manhattan’s Inwood community.

Surveillance video shows Grant seated inside of his car with another 33-year-old unidentified victim when three gunmen approached them and demanded their property. After being shot, Grant’s car crashed on the side of the street and the robbers came to remove his watch, ring, and a chain from his neck.

The other person riding in the car with Grant was shot in the groin while trying to flee the scene. The robbers took the other victim’s chain, CBS2 in New York reported.

“My husband liked nice things, Grant’s fiancée, Nixia Jordan, said. “He worked hard for his jewelry, his shoes, his clothes, his cars. and for someone to just murder him for his belongings, instead of working hard for getting his own, it’s just, it’s a slap in the face, to take a life–just for his jewelry, just for his things.”

The three suspects ran into a gray, four-door Honda Accord that was driven by a fourth individual and fled the scene,” police said. Authorities are asking for the public’s help in identifying the suspects.

“I never thought that my husband would be taken from me in this way,” Jordan said.

“We talked about having forever together about raising our kids, we just put them in sports, so now I’m thinking how am I supposed to take them to practice without their dad accompanying me, how am I going to do family vacations without him,” she added.

Grant’s murder comes amid a nationwide surge of violence and crime. On Wednesday, President Biden announced a plan to slow down all the violent crime plaguing cities across the country, the Associated Press reported.

R. Kelly Transferred to Brooklyn Detention Center Ahead of Federal Trial
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

June 24, 2021

R. Kelly Transferred to Brooklyn Detention Center Ahead of Federal Trial

R. Kelly was transferred to the Brooklyn Detention Center from Chicago as he awaits the start of his federal trial.

The disgraced singer and accused sex trafficker’s trial is set to begin in August, NY Daily News reports. As a result, he was transferred from the federal jail in downtown Chicago that he’s been serving time since his 2019 arrest and sent to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Sunset Park, Brooklyn.

It was last week when the judge presiding over his NYC case said she wanted to question Kelly in person about a potential conflict of interest involving one of his lawyers, as noted by the Chicago Sun-Times. The singer had recently told the judge that he no longer wanted to move forward with his Chicago-based lawyers, Steve Greenberg and Michael Leonard.

He instead, wants to be repped by Thomas Farinella of New York and Nicole Blank Becker of Michigan. However, the judge wants to examine a potential conflict involving Becker.

Since his arrest, the “Ignition” singer has endured an attack from a fellow inmate and the COVID-19 pandemic all while awaiting trial in Chicago’s downtown Metropolitan Correctional Center. During the pandemic, Kelly’s attempts to be released from jail while awaiting trial were rejected.

Last August, Kelly was attacked by a gang member within the Latin Kings who said the motive behind the attack was “in hopes of getting spotlight attention and world news notice to shed light on”

In NYC, Kelly faces racketeering charges over claims he led an “enterprise” made up of his employees who allegedly helped him recruit women and underage girls for sex. The trial in that case is set to begin on Aug. 9. In Chicago, Kelly is facing charges related to child pornography and obstruction of justice, CNN reports. It alleges the singer beat his 2008 prosecution by using threats, gifts and six-figure payoffs to thwart the plaintiffs.

Annette Nance-Holt Makes History As The First Black Woman To Lead The Chicago Fire Department
by Derek Major

June 24, 2021

Annette Nance-Holt Makes History As The First Black Woman To Lead The Chicago Fire Department

The Chicago City Council confirmed Annette Nance-Holt Wednesday as the first Black female Commissioner of the Chicago Fire Department.

Nance–Holt has been a member of the CFD for more than three decades. She was named first deputy commissioner in 2018 and has served as acting commissioner since former commissioner Richard Ford retired earlier this year.

Nance-Holt was nominated for the position by Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot at a graduation ceremony for a new class of fire department paramedics in May.

“Commissioner Holt has more than three decades of proven leadership and a passion for public service that makes her the perfect fit for this role,” Mayor Lightfoot told reporters last month. “Furthermore, in a time where more work remains in order to eliminate discrimination, racism and sexism from the firefighter profession, Commissioner Holt’s history-making appointment as the first woman and Black woman to lead as Fire Commissioner couldn’t have come at a better moment.”

During her long career, Nance-Holt has had to deal with a wide range of issues including tragedy. In 2007 her son Blair was shot and killed on a local bus while shielding a classmate from gunfire.

Nance-Holt along with Pam Bosley, who also lost her son to gun violence created Purpose Over Pain, a support group for Chicago area parents who lost their children to gun violence.

Nance-Holt will now take over a fire department city Inspector General Joseph Ferguson noted was “overwhelmingly male and white with a history of mistreatment towards minorities and women,” in an audit  released in April.

According to the audit, of the 45 female employees who responded to a workplace survey, 26 reported sexual harassment. Of 285 overall respondents, 132 reported racial discrimination and 28 of 32 Black respondents also reported racial discrimination.

In 2011 Chicago paid out $45 million to compensate thousands of African Americans who lost a shot at becoming a Chicago firefighter because of a discriminatory hiring test. In 2016, the city paid $3.8 million to a separate group of African American women who as part of their hiring were forced to try to pass a Fire Department physical strength test that was unfair.

Telethon for Documenting Black Birth Experiences Slated for June 25
by Andrea Blackstone

June 24, 2021

Telethon for Documenting Black Birth Experiences Slated for June 25

Giving birth to a child should mark a positive memory in any mother’s life. But Black birth experiences can be less than pleasant, and even traumatic.

BLACK ENTERPRISE recently reported a story in which baby Kyanni needed 13 stitches to fix a cut on her face, following an emergency C-section procedure. Sometimes a lower quality of care may be provided to Black women who utilize hospitals that serve a high number of Black populations, per a fact sheet provided by the National Partnership for Women & Families. If experiences about these Black birth experiences are not shared amongst women of color, exposing these situations will be harder to prevent in the future.

Kimberly Seals Allers also experienced an unpleasant birth experience. Instead of simply letting the event leave a negative memory, she created the app Irth, “the #1 “Yelp-like” platform for the pregnancy and new motherhood journey, made by and for people of color.”

Allers’ movement has progressed to include an “Irth A Thon” on June 25. Irth, means Birth but the “b” is removed for bias, according to the site. During the Irth-AThon, callers who are expectant or new parents of color–“who have given birth in the past two years”—can dial 855-450-IRTH, according to @theirthapp’s Instagram account. The goal is to provide Ob/Gyn, birthing hospital or pediatrician reviews.

These data will be used for the Irth app. Phone lines will be open from 12 p.m- 8 p.m., according to Black News.com.

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Seals Allers has a passion for improving birthing experiences for people of color, because she was once an unmarried, pregnant woman on student insurance who gave birth days after wrapping up a master’s degree program at Columbia University.

” At the hospital, which was supposedly one of the best in New York City based on all the mainstream ranking services, I was completely disrespected, my wishes were ignored and I left feeling traumatized and violated. I was treated like an unwed Black woman with basic insurance and I always wondered why a hospital that had treated others so well, treated me so poorly,” Seals Allers said.

You may learn more about “Irth A Thon” or the app by following @theirthApp on Instagram or Facebook.

 

9-Year-Old White Girl Goes Viral Scolding Her School About Black Lives Matter Posters
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

June 24, 2021

9-Year-Old White Girl Goes Viral Scolding Her School About Black Lives Matter Posters

A 9-year-old white girl turned into a viral sensation this week with her passionate speech against all the Black Lives Matter posters on display inside of her school.

While Black lives do matter, the girl, who is only identified as Novalee, complained to her Minnesota school board about the Black Lives Matter posters staying up despite her school’s “no politics” policy, NY Post reports.

The young student brought attention to what she feels is a double standard centered around the school district’s policy and the BLM and Amanda Gorman posters she sees on display at her school.

“I do not judge people by the color of their skin. I don’t really care what color their hair, skin, or eyes is. I judge by the way they treat me. I do not care or look at the color of skin, but you make me think of it.” Novalee told the Lakeville Area School Board.

The meeting took place on June 8, but the video of Novalee’s speech has just started to make rounds on social media.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCD3bRvKsRg&t=25s

“The other day I was walking down the hallway at Lakeview Elementary School to give a teacher a retiring gift,” Novalee said in the video shared by News 4 Antonio. “I looked up onto the wall and saw a BLM poster and an Amanda Gorman poster.”

“In case you don’t know who that chick is, she’s some girl who did a poem at Biden’s so-called inauguration,” she continued. “I was so mad. I was told two weeks ago at this very meeting spot: no politics in school. I believed what you said at this meeting.”

After telling her principal that she wanted the posters taken down, she was told they could not be removed since the school board put them up, News 18 reports.

“It is a political message about getting rid of police officers, rioting, burning buildings down,” she said before calling out Minnesota Governor Tim Walz who she said “just sits on his throne and watches.”

“You expect me to believe that you did not know what you were doing by making these posters? Come on, people,” Novalee quipped.

She ended her speech by telling the board that they lied to her, “and I am very disappointed in all of you,” she added.

Demoted School Principal Felt Offended By The Word ‘Whiteness,’ Then Said The N-Word
by Christian Spencer

June 24, 2021

Demoted School Principal Felt Offended By The Word ‘Whiteness,’ Then Said The N-Word

Principal Laura Roblee of Brennan-Rogers Magnet School in New Haven, CT, was demoted to assistant principal by the school district board last Monday after it was revealed she used the n-word, according to The Stamford Advocate.

While attending an anti-racism workshop in March, Roblee took offense to the way the instructor used phrases “whiteness,” “White privilege,” and “White people.” She turned to a colleague and said the usage of “White people” is “something to the effect that if I had said ‘Blacks” or [ n-word], we would have an issue with it,” according to The Stamford Advocate.

Related stories: A BLACK MOTHER AND HER CHILDREN CALLED N-WORD AND ASSAULTED BY A PEPPER SHAKER AT PIZZA JOINT 

“I wasn’t understanding it and was taking it personal,” Roblee said to the colleague, according to a written statement obtained by Superintendent Iline Tracey, who is Black.

The incident happened March 16. Investigators say it was possible the principal said the “n-word” a second time three days later.

Roblee apologized for the awkward moment, but that did not stop the launch of a lengthy investigation, a four-page summary with attachments, on March 31, and her demotion and transfer to another school, The New York Post reported.

“I realized I did something wrong and I understand there have to be consequences. I wish I could take it back and find a logical reason that it came out of my mouth,” Roblee said in a statement.

Roblee starts at her new school in July, where she is expected to earn more than $137,000 as a 20-year employee.

The decision to keep Roblee employed in the school district and have her transferred has caught the ire of people like the leaders of the Greater New Haven Clergy Association.

“Somebody has got to go,” said the Rev. Dr. Boise Kimber, president emeritus of the organization. “…There has to be some transparency here.”

Tamiko Jackson-McArthur, a board member who was against Roblee’s reassignment, said district officials were not transparent in the investigation.

“I don’t agree with keeping this hush-hush,” she said. “Black people have been conditioned to take things and say, ‘Oh, it’s OK, that person didn’t mean it.’ Anybody leading a school is old enough to understand what they are saying.”

Black Teen Found After White Man Kidnapped Her From Atlanta
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

June 24, 2021

Black Teen Found After White Man Kidnapped Her From Atlanta

A White man in Georgia has been arrested and charged with kidnapping a 14-year-old Black girl after he started an online relationship with her.

According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Robert David Fyke, 33, was arrested on June 17. On Wednesday, police officers from DeKalb County obtained a warrant that accused Fyke of one count of interference with custody–that he  “knowingly or recklessly” took a child away from the person who “has lawful custody of such child,” according to Georgia code.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has also accused him of taking sexually explicit photos of the girl for which he is also facing a federal child pornography charge.

KBCD 11 reported that Fyke has been accused of starting an online sexual relationship with the girl and transporting her from Georgia to Texas. Fyke had communicated with the minor through an online group for people looking for a relationship with an age gap of 17 years or more.

According to the complaint, Fyke told law enforcement that he exchanged sexually explicit images with the 14-year-old before meeting her, and continued to take photographs of her when he brought her to Lubbock, Texas.

Initially, Fyke told police authorities that she claimed to be 19. Later, he admitted during a polygraph interview that he knew she was 14 when he picked her up. (Authorities have released the girl’s name, but BLACK ENTERPRISE is not revealing it per its editorial policy.)

On June 17, investigators determined that the girl’s phone had been used at Fyke’s home, according to the complaint. Neither Fyke nor the 14-year-old girl was at the place when police officers arrived, but Fyke was tracked down at his job and interviewed.

“While interviewing Fyke, a (Lubbock Police Department) officer began a forensic examination of Fyke’s cellphone,” the complaint said. “The forensic officer found numerous sexually explicit images of [the girl] on Fyke’s cellphone.”

Rudy Giuliani’s New York Law License Suspended Due To False Election Claims In Support Of Trump
by Derek Major

June 24, 2021

Rudy Giuliani’s New York Law License Suspended Due To False Election Claims In Support Of Trump

Reuters – Rudy Giuliani’s law license in New York state was suspended on Thursday, as a state appeals court found he had lied in arguing that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from his client, former U.S. President Donald Trump.

Giuliani, 77, a former U.S. Attorney in Manhattan and New York City mayor, was sanctioned for making unsubstantiated claims in court, testimony before lawmakers, press conferences and other media appearances about electoral fraud.

The five-justice Appellate Division in Manhattan found “uncontroverted” evidence that Giuliani made “demonstrably false and misleading statements to courts, lawmakers and the public” in trying to overturn the election, which Democrat Joe Biden won.

“These false statements were made to improperly bolster (Giuliani’s) narrative that due to widespread voter fraud, victory in the 2020 United States presidential election was stolen from his client,” the court said. “We conclude that respondent’s conduct immediately threatens the public interest and warrants interim suspension from the practice of law.”

Giuliani could not immediately be reached for comment.

The court said Giuliani made numerous false statements about the voting in Arizona, Georgia and Pennsylvania, including that hundreds of thousands of absentee ballots or votes, including from dead people, had been improperly counted.

It highlighted a Pennsylvania court hearing on Nov. 17 where Giuliani alleged widespread voter fraud — though his formal written complaint on Trump’s behalf made no mention of it.

The court also rejected Giuliani’s argument that the investigation into his conduct violated his constitutional right to free speech and suggested the suspension may become permanent.

“We find that there is evidence of continuing misconduct, the underlying offense is incredibly serious, and the uncontroverted misconduct in itself will likely result in substantial permanent sanctions,” the court said.

Giuliani’s suspension takes effect immediately, pending further proceedings before an attorney grievance committee that had recommended it.

The suspension adds to the legal problems for Giuliani, who as New York City mayor won wide praise for his response to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

Federal prosecutors in Manhattan have been examining Giuliani’s dealings in Ukraine, including whether he violated lobbying laws by acting as an unregistered foreign agent while working as Trump’s lawyer.

Giuliani got his law license in 1969.

He began representing Trump in April 2018 as Special Counsel Robert Mueller was probing Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York and Jan Wolfe in Washington; Additional reporting by Karen Freifeld; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)

Tulsa Residents Want A Say in Bridge Cutting Through Black Wall Street
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

June 24, 2021

Tulsa Residents Want A Say in Bridge Cutting Through Black Wall Street

Leaders in Tulsa, OK, are arguing that residents should be allowed input into a bridge that cuts into the area where Black Wall Street once stood.

Just on the heels of the centennial anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre, the community is rallying together to discuss a bridge that cuts through Greenwood. Tulsa City Councilor Kara Joy Mckee is working with other councilors to coordinate town hall meetings to receive public input on the I-244 bridge, according to Newsbreak.

The city leaders are looking to meet with Black residents and possible descendants of the massacre victims and get their thoughts on what should be done with the bridge.

Suggestions include closing the bridge and turning it into a boulevard or demolishing it. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg is in talks with councilwoman Vanessa Hall-Harper as the city plans to schedule meetings for this fall, the Black Wall Street Times reported.

“So much has been done to Greenwood, from destruction to assistance, but all of it can feel paternalistic,” Councilor McKee said. “It’s essential to me that we remember what you do for us, without us, you do to us. So while I have thought it’s an excellent idea to remove this leg of I-244, I want to make sure that the Greenwood community wants that, before we take further action.”

Talk about the bridge comes weeks after the Tulsa City Council apologized for the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre and promised plans for repair amid demands for immediate reparations for survivors and descendants of the attack.

Earlier this month, Tulsa city councilors unanimously passed a resolution to “acknowledge, apologize, and commit to making tangible amends for the racially motivated acts of violence perpetrated against Black Tulsans in Greenwood in 1921.”

“This resolution is an acknowledgement and apology and a commitment from the Tulsa City Council. It is not a reparations proposal,” Hall-Harper said at the time.

“It’s about equity. The resolution is solely a vehicle to create infrastructures, or good policies that will benefit Tulsa citizens who are and who have been adversely affected from long-term systemic racism,” she added.

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