by Andrea Blackstone

June 24, 2021

Gabrielle Union And Dwyane Wade Launch Skin-Care Brand for Melanin-Rich Babies

Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union have become parenting goals with their cute videos of Kaavia aka “Shady Baby” on Instagram and the admirable way they support their transgender child Zaya.

Now the dynamic duo has launched a baby skincare line called Proudly, a “first-of-its-kind sustainable baby care brand” that focuses on melanated skin tones.

“We’re so excited to officially announce our new baby company, Proudly. As we continue to work on new endeavors together, our goal is to always center our work around being the change we want to see while championing diversity, equity and inclusion,” the couple said in a statement.

“With Proudly, we’re proud to have a range of products that caters to the unique skincare needs of children of color that are so often overlooked in the mass market.”

Wade is a former basketball player. His wife, Union, is widely known as an actress and author.

“Today @dwyanewade and I are announcing our newest baby: PROUDLY. @theproudlyco is an everyday baby care line created specifically for melanated skin tones. We are truly diverse and representative and couldn’t be prouder about it. 🙏🏾 #proudly,” @gabunion announced on Instagram.

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@ProudlyCo’s Instagram account is parked in social media, in preparation of content additions. The brand is described as “an everyday baby care line created specifically for melanated skin tones.”

Taking an Internet trip to the website, proudlycompany.com, leads to a message informing visitors that a Proudly launch will occur in the future. The Wades are keeping many details under wraps, but teasers are being dropping around the Internet, here and there.

The couple’s journey to become parents together has not been easy. In 2017,  Union-Wade ‘s book called “We’re Going to Need More Wine” was released. The topic of infertility struggles were included in the memoir.

Image – Facebook

“I have had eight or nine miscarriages,” Union, 44, writes in the book,  as reported by People. “For three years, my body has been a prisoner of trying to get pregnant — I’ve either been about to go into an IVF cycle, in the middle of an IVF cycle, or coming out of an IVF cycle.”

The couple now shares a child named Kaavia James. Wade is the father of other children, too.

Tamir Rice’s Mom Blasts Shaun King; Calls Him Clout Chasing, ‘White Man Acting Black’
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

June 24, 2021

Tamir Rice’s Mom Blasts Shaun King; Calls Him Clout Chasing, ‘White Man Acting Black’

Tamir Rice’s mother, Samaria Rice, is continuing to speak out against popular social justice activists she feels profits off the pain of police brutality victims, and embattled social justice advocate Shaun King is at the top of that list.

Rice has been using her platform to speak out against the leaders within movements like Black Lives Matter as she fights to have her son’s case reinvestigated. She recently took aim at King after he went on his podcast and revealed a little too much about a private conversation they had, according to a podcast he posted on his site, but has since disabled.

In an Instagram post she shared on Tuesday, Samaria blasted King in an open letter. “For anyone that wants to know the truth,” she captioned the post. “Why do you think it’s so important to tell folks we had a conversation,” she said in the statement. Samaria went on to detail how “toxic and uncomfortable” their recent conversation was.

“For me to hear that you raised money and then say you did not want to bother me. Personally, I do not understand how you sleep at night,” she wrote.

In 2014, Samaria lost her 12-year-old son Tamir after police in Cleveland gunned him down within seconds of seeing him playing with a toy gun inside of a park. The following year, King was put on blast after a Washington Post article said it couldn’t account for $60,000 King allegedly raised for Tamir’s family. But according to Samaria, “I never gave you permission to raise nothing,” she wrote.

 

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A post shared by Samaria Rice (@sam_i_am815)

In recent years, Samaria has become a vocal advocate against activists like Shaun King, Tamika Mallory, and Patrisse Khan-Cullors for being what she deems as “clout chasers” who reap fame and fortune while the family members of the victims are left heartbroken.

In her statement, she called her “cop and donut conversation” with King to be a bunch of  “all lies.” She also told him to stop presenting himself as an ally to the Black community. “As a white man acting black you are an imposter that can not be trusted,” she wrote.

“Please stop thinking we’re on the same page,” Samaria wrote. “As a white man acting black you are an imposter that can not be trusted.”

She ended her statement by bringing attention to her current fight to have Tamir’s case reopened after Donald Trump silently closed it before leaving office. After accusing King of making her son’s death about him, she called him a “selfish self centered person” and “God will deal with you White man.”

Ensure Your Team’s Protection Online With This Top-Rated VPN
by Black Enterprise Shop

June 24, 2021

Ensure Your Team’s Protection Online With This Top-Rated VPN

By now, you most likely know how important it is to have a VPN whenever you hop online. Since it encrypts your internet traffic and disguises your online identity, it makes it all the more difficult for third parties to keep tabs on your online activity and get ahold of your personal information.

But most VPNs focus on personal use, when in fact, it’s also very much useful in business environments. Not only does it give you access to foreign markets, but it also helps your team, especially remote workers, secure their connections and protect business assets.

VPNs are also ideal for small businesses that don’t always have enough resources for managing security. If you’re looking for a reliable VPN service to deploy to your team, SurfShark VPN is an excellent choice, and for a limited time, you can grab a 2-year subscription for 80 percent off.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars by TechGadgetCentral, Surfshark boasts military-grade AES-256-GCM encryption and IKEv2 and OpenVPN protocols to keep you safe online. It protects your true IP from websites with WebRTC protection, as well as mitigates risks with IPv6 leak protection, kill switch, and zero-knowledge DNS features. Meanwhile, CleanWeb works to block ads, trackers, and malware while you browse, making you and your team fully protected when you connect to the internet.

With 1,200+ torrent-friendly servers and unlimited data, Surfshark also lets you sidestep geo-restrictions and enjoy your favorite content at incredible speeds anywhere. It also happens to be the only VPN that offers unlimited simultaneous connections, delivering true browsing freedom to your entire team and household. And thanks to its strict no-logging policy, you can rest assured that your data stays private.

Keep a secure company network with Surfshark. A 2-year subscription would usually set you back $290, but for a limited time, you can snag it on sale for only $56.99.

Prices subject to change.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

June 23, 2021

Soulja Boy And Bow Wow Exchange Insults on Twitter Ahead Of Upcoming Verzuz Battle

The build-up to the next Verzuz battle has led to two rap artists going back and forth with each other on Twitter.

Soulja Boy and Bow Wow are the next artists to gear up for the competition, which is taking place this weekend on June 26. But right now, all of social media is getting quite the show as the rappers debate and challenge each other while cranking up the ante on a daily basis. Although it may all be in jest, it has also taken quite the personal turn!

Here are some of the tweets that rocked social media on Monday.

According to Complex, this tit-for-tat, back and forth banter is nothing new between the two rappers as they have exchanged words previously in the past. Both rappers claim to actually be friends as evidenced by the songs they’ve recorded together, as well as a collaboration on a joint mixtape, and they have even shared the stage, performing shows together. Yet, the two have had also had words between them as rival artists.

Back in 2016, the two artists officially “on record” set the record straight that they were friends and the back and forth beef was over, and in an interview,  Soulja Boy previously stated that the two had worked out their differences. Soulja said that the beef was due to being young and in a different mind space. “We straight now,” Soulja said about his relationship with Bow Wow, according to Complex. “That shit crazy. That’s like one of my best home boys.” He also added, “I was just in his crib like two days ago. I’m telling you, once years go by, you get some experience in this industry. You get you some real money, you get off of that shit.”

You can check out the timeline of their history together at “Soulja Boy vs. Bow Wow: A Complicated History”

The two are headed on the Millenium tour together this fall.

White Man Faces Life In Prison After Pleading Guilty To Stabbing A Man ‘Because He Was Black’
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

June 23, 2021

White Man Faces Life In Prison After Pleading Guilty To Stabbing A Man ‘Because He Was Black’

A man’s racist ways and views have landed him in jail with the possibility of staying there for the remainder of his life.

The Department of Justice for the District of Oregon has announced that a white Colorado man has pleaded guilty to a federal hate crime for stabbing a Black man from Ontario, Oregon. He did so while the man was sitting in a fast-food restaurant.

The white man, Nolan Levi Strauss, 27, pleaded guilty to a hate crime involving an attempt to kill.

“The defendant is being held accountable for his vicious, racially motivated attack on a Black man who was targeted because of the color of his skin,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division in a written statement. “Racially motivated acts of violence must not be tolerated in our country today. The Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice will continue to work with our federal, state, and local partners to ensure that individuals who commit bias-motivated crimes are brought to justice for their actions.”

According to official court documents, on Dec. 21, 2019, a Black man walked into an Arby’s restaurant in Ontario to provide documentation for a pending job application he placed at the restaurant. He sat in a booth alone and while waiting to meet with the restaurant manager, Strauss entered the building and approached the man from behind.

Without warning, Strauss reportedly stabbed the Black man twice in the neck. The victim tried to grab Strauss’s hands and take away the knife and managed to prevent Strauss from stabbing him again. A maintenance worker approached Strauss and directed him to drop the knife several times. After being subdued, the worker asked Strauss why he stabbed the man and Strauss replied, “Because he was Black, and I don’t like Black people,”  according to reports. He then later admitted he was trying to kill the man just because he was Black.

“This crime serves as a horrifying reminder that racism and bigotry still exist and threaten the safety of communities of color,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Scott Erik Asphaug for the District of Oregon. “Hate crimes not only hurt victims, but spread fear across entire communities. This conviction should send a strong message that federal law enforcement will not tolerate hate-motivated acts of violence and will move swiftly to hold those responsible accountable.”

Strauss faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. He will be sentenced on Sept. 9 before U.S. District Court Judge Michael J. McShane.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

June 23, 2021

Trina Distances Herself From Trick Daddy After He Dissed Beyoncé and Jay-Z

Miami rapper and reality TV star, Maurice Samuel Young, known to the world as Trick Daddy, rubbed folks the wrong way with his unpopular and critical analysis of Bey’s vocal abilities.

“Beyoncé ain’t trying to give back to music, and Beyoncé don’t write music,” he said. Before adding his kiss of death declaration: “Beyoncé can’t sing.”

After committing social media suicide with that last line, Trick Daddy was attacked and stung by the bevy of fans who think otherwise. Meanwhile, the person most connected to Trick Daddy, Katrina Laverne Taylor, also known as simply Trina, didn’t waste any time distancing herself from Trick Daddy and posted a message to her Instagram in support of Bey and Jay.

Simply writing “ALL day, Everyday… The Queen 👑🐝🧡,” Trina drew the line in the sand by posting a video montage of Beyonce, along with Jay-Z, on the Instagram post.

 

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A post shared by katrina (@trinarockstarr)

Trick Daddy followed up his comments by making an appearance on 99Jamz Miami to discuss the reason he made the statement about Beyonce and Jay-Z that placed him in the path of very angry Beyonce fans.

“What I said was I don’t think Beyoncé could sing and that Beyoncé is to R&B what Jay-Z is to the state of hip-hop in New York at the time that Jay-Z began considering himself as the king of hip-hop, the G.O.A.T. of rap, which is my opinion,” Trick stated. “And opinions like buttholes: Without them, you’ll be full of doo-doo. That’s my unpopular opinion. Who are you? How you feel? If you gotta walk around here worrying about how somebody else feel about how you feel, then you ain’t who you are. That’s my opinion.”

 

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Newborn Receives 13 Stitches After Emergency C-Section Cut Baby’s Face
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

June 23, 2021

Newborn Receives 13 Stitches After Emergency C-Section Cut Baby’s Face

A family in Denver, Colorado reached out for help after their newborn had their face sliced open during an emergency C-section.

The Williams family didn’t experience all the joy new parents typically possess after welcoming a child into the world because their baby came out with a cut across her face, KDVR reports.

“To have your granddaughter born to come out to see the plastic surgeon, to get 13 stitches, is devastating, it’s heartbreaking,” the baby’s grandfather, Walter Williams, said.

Kyanni Williams was delivered at Denver Health. The parents expected to deliver her naturally but hospital staff said the mom needed to undergo an emergency C-section.

“They gave me a pill to speed up my labor and a few minutes after that I was being rushed into an emergency C-section,” the baby’s mother, Reazjhana Williams said.

“They said our baby made a sudden movement they couldn’t hear her heartbeat or find it and they took her into an immediate C-section,” the baby’s father, Demarqus Williams said.

However, Kyanni came out of the C-section with a massive cut across her face that required 13 stitches.

“It’s upsetting, she’s not comfortable,” Demarqus said. “They said her face was close to the placenta wall.”

The family is demanding answers as to how this happened.

“I tried to be understanding about what happened, but on top of the fact her face got cut and a plastic surgeon had to come do it, there’s just a lot of things I’m not understanding with the C-section,” Reazjhana said. “I’ve never heard of anybody having to deal with their baby’s face looking like this after a C-section.”

Medical professionals say babies coming out of C-sections with lacerations is extremely rare, WGN-TV reports.

“I’ve done over probably 2,500 deliveries and I assisted on C-sections, that’s the first time I’ve ever seen that,” Advance Practice Nurse Lisa Merck said after we sent her the photos. “That is kind of one of the things that can happen, but it is really, really rare.”

Denver Health has released a statement following the media exposure but the Williams family say they still haven’t heard from the hospital.


“Denver Health has been in touch with the family directly. While this is a known medical complication in emergency C-sections, our focus is always on providing care in the best interest of the mother and child. At Denver Health, the safety and well-being of our patients is our number one priority.”

A GoFundMe has been set up for the Williams family.

White Man Sent to Jail For Tormenting His Black Neighbor, Burning Cross On His Lawn
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

June 23, 2021

White Man Sent to Jail For Tormenting His Black Neighbor, Burning Cross On His Lawn

A white man in Indianapolis was sentenced to 46 months in prison after he admitted to harassing his Black neighbor.

Shepherd Hoehn, 51, was sentenced on Friday for making racially-charged threats to intimidate and interfere with his neighbor, WRTV reports. U.S. District Court Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson issued out the federal prison sentence for violating the criminal provision of the Fair Housing Act and unlawfully possessing firearms.

Last summer Hoehn was arrested and charged after tormenting his Black neighbor by burning a cross, displaying a swastika, and posting up a sign that displayed racist slurs toward his neighbor’s property. Hoehn also repeatedly blasted the song “Dixie” and threw eggs at the neighbor’s house.

Hoehn’s gripes with his neighbor stemmed from them cutting down a tree on their property. He was upset at the decision and resorted to making their life “miserable,” according to what he told the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He pled guilty to the harassment charges in February.


“Every person in the United States has the right to live in their home free from the threat of violence based on race,” Kristen Clarke, the assistant attorney general for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division said, Indy Star reports.

“The federal government will not tolerate, and will prosecute to the fullest extent the law allows, the sort of race-based threat that this defendant engaged in. We will continue fighting against racially motivated conduct, too often used to drive people from their homes and their communities,” she added.

“Mr. Hoehn was held responsible for his vile conduct,” Acting U.S. Attorney John E. Childress, of the Southern District of Indiana said. “We are a diverse nation, bound together by shared values and beliefs. We are also a nation of laws. Those like Mr. Hoehn who would betray our shared values and beliefs through behavior such as this rightly suffer the penalties our laws prescribe.”

by Christian Spencer

June 23, 2021

Vanessa Bryant And Others Settle Lawsuit Involving Helicopter Crash That Killed Kobe, Gigi Bryant

The families of the victims who died in the January 2020 helicopter crash that took the life of NBA Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, along with seven others, have reportedly settled a wrongful death lawsuit against Island Express Helicopters, the operating company of the helicopter that transported the passengers.

Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and seven others were killed in a helicopter incident where the pilot is said to be at fault, ABC News reported.

Related stories: SPORTS ILLUSTRATED RELEASES SPECIAL ISSUE HONORING KOBE BRYANT 

Passengers Alyssa Altobelli, John Altobelli, Keri Altobelli, Payton Chester, Sarah Chester, and Christina Mauser were all killed in the crash with longtime helicopter pilot Ara Zobayan, The New York Times reported.

However, in the suit, Zobayan, who was employed by Island Express Helicopters, was accused of not caring for his helicopter, which led to poor and insufficient choices like flying through thick fog.

According to legal documents filed in court on Tuesday, the terms of the settlement are confidential and the parties involved are still finalizing the paperwork, obtained by Access Hollywood.

The Bryants were seeking punitive, economic, and non-economic damages in addition to prejudgment interest, with their suit stating, “other relief as the Court deems just and proper. Kobe Bryant’s future lost earnings equals hundreds of millions of dollars.”

The lawsuit was initially filed in February 2020, with her attorneys stating back then that the company broke visual flight rules.

Conditions were also unsafe when Zobayan ignored weather data before taking off, “a direct result of the negligent conduct of Zobayan for which Defendant Island Express Helicopters is vicariously liable in all respects.”

The announcement of the settlement came two days prior to Father’s Day where the surviving Bryants honored the day of celebration without the famed Lakers player.

 

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A post shared by Vanessa Bryant 🦋 (@vanessabryant)

“Defendant Island Express Helicopters authorized, directed and/or permitted with full knowledge that the subject helicopter was flying into unsafe weather conditions,” the complaint read, “[The company] promoted and engaged in unnecessary and needlessly risky means of transport under the circumstances.”

Black Campus Police Officers At The University Of Washington File Multimillion Dollar Claim Due To “Unbearable” Racism
by Derek Major

June 23, 2021

Black Campus Police Officers At The University Of Washington File Multimillion Dollar Claim Due To “Unbearable” Racism

Five Black rank-and-file police officers in the University of Washington’s (UW) campus police department have filed multimillion-dollar damage claims against the school, alleging a culture of entrenched racism.

Dozens of incidents are detailed in the filings including claims of vicious comments and open hostility towards them and members of the public. Officer Karinn Young said in her claim she’d find bananas at her locker, including one with a note calling her a monkey. Officer Hamani Nowlen said a white supervisor hit him with a stick-like object and responded “you people should  be used to being hit with these.”

Another officer, Damien Taylor, said he heard a group of White officers discussing George Floyd say: “His Black a** got what he deserved.”

In a series of legal notices filed with the state, the officers did not name who specifically made the comments, but said the comments made their jobs “unbearable” and added supervisors were well aware of the conduct and participated in it.

I can’t sleep sometimes,” officer Russell Ellis said in an interview with the New York Times. “This has affected me in ways that I couldn’t have imagined.”

Amid last year’s Black Lives Matter and Defund the Police movements, many cities have tried to diversify their police departments. However, many Black police officers across the country have also taken legal actions for the racism and discrimination they’ve experienced.

Black police officers in Ohio, Maryland and Pennsylvania  have filed lawsuits against their departments claiming discrimination in hiring, disciplinary actions  and racism from other officers and supervisors.

Seattle, where UW calls home, is constantly touted as a progressive and welcoming city, although less than 10 percent of the city is Black and on campus, less than 3% of the student population is Black. UW officials expressed shock at the allegations and added they had not been made aware of the incidents.

“Any one of the incidents described here would prompt an immediate investigation and appropriate disciplinary action based on the investigation’s findings,” Victor Balta, a university spokesman, said in a statement.

This is not the first time UW has had to defend itself against discrimination and racism claims. In 2008, a group of former and current employees filed a Civil Rights lawsuit against the school claiming discrimination and harassment against Black, Jewish and female officers. A jury rejected the claims and sided with the University in 2011.

The legal notices, which were filed Monday are the first steps toward a lawsuit. UW has 60 days to pay or settle the claims, before the officers can go to the courts. Balta said the school is planning its own investigation.

 

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