Get To Know Your Dog Better With This On-Sale DNA Test Kit
by Black Enterprise Shop

June 23, 2021

Get To Know Your Dog Better With This On-Sale DNA Test Kit

A good dog parent loves their pet for what they are, but if you happen to have adopted your precious pup from a shelter or perhaps a friend or relative, you might be curious as to what their breed actually is. If you don’t want to guess forever, there’s an easy way for you to get to know your furry friend better—a dog DNA test.

It may seem like a funny concept, but DNA tests for animals have existed for years. The only difference is, they’re now more accessible than ever. DNA My Dog’s DNA My Dog Breed Identification Test is a kit that you can purchase online, and it’ll help you find out your dog’s exact breed mix, their personality traits, and more. For a limited time, you can get it on sale for 24 percent off.

This easy and painless cheek swab package will help you understand your favorite four-legged friend on a whole new level. All you have to do is swab their cheek, mail in the DNA sample, and in two weeks or less, you’ll receive detailed reports that offer insight into your dog’s unique characteristics. You can expect to learn more about your furry pal’s breed mix, DNA composition (complete with a custom photo certificate), unique personality traits, and so much more. You’ll even get to uncover your dog’s genetic health concerts and risk for certain diseases, helping you look after them better.

“What a great idea–learned so much about our rescue. Thought she was a Lab. She is a Boxer/Golden Retriever mix plus two other breeds,” said satisfied pet parent Ian Brock. “How can you beat that?”

DNA My Dog’s DNA My Dog Breed Identification Test normally retails for $79, but for a limited time, you can grab it on sale for only $59.99.

Prices subject to change.

This Company Makes Short Work Of Applying For Life Insurance
by Black Enterprise Shop

June 23, 2021

This Company Makes Short Work Of Applying For Life Insurance

The prospect of starting and growing a business is, without a doubt, exciting—until you remember that you have other responsibilities to worry about. Budding entrepreneurs are a passionate bunch, but many don’t know the sacrifices building a business entails. Before diving headfirst, it’s of the utmost importance to channel your energy into the right things, like ensuring that your family’s finances are in order. You have to see to it that your loved ones will be taken care of.

The quick solution to this is securing a life insurance policy, but getting one often involves weeks of sales calls, meetings, blood tests, and dealing with agents selling you things that you don’t need. Many shy away from getting insurance because of this very reason, so much so that only 27 percent of American adults have sufficient life insurance coverage.

Life insurance made easy

Life insurance policies get increasingly more costly as you age, so it can be better to lock in a price sooner rather than later. Fabric has devised a way to make short work of applying for life insurance, streamlining the process to just under ten minutes, and you can do it all online.

If you fit the criteria, there’s no need to subject yourself to a long-winding process. No more sales calls, unnecessary medical exams, and meetings with agents. Applicants who qualify from the get-go could go from click to covered in minutes

Technology-driven insurance

To shorten the underwriting process, Fabric utilizes proprietary technology. It has an automated underwriting algorithm that approves a high number of applicants without a medical exam and without charging the high rates of typical no-exam policies. Qualified applicants are free to customize their term length or reduce your coverage amount to arrive at a monthly premium that fits their unique needs. It doesn’t matter whether you’re purchasing a 15- or 20-year term or coverage of $100,000 or $1,000,000, Fabric can help ensure you and your family are covered.

Once you’re covered, you can keep tabs on your policy using the app, where you can also organize your finances and create a will—all at no additional cost.

Protect your family. Get started with Fabric.

Democrats Call A Procedural Vote On For The People Act, But Republicans Unite To Block Bill
by Derek Major

June 22, 2021

Democrats Call A Procedural Vote On For The People Act, But Republicans Unite To Block Bill

The U.S. Senate tried to hold a procedural vote on whether to advance an amended version of the House passed H.R. 1, the For the People Act, however, Republicans blocked the vote Tuesday night.

The legislation is co-sponsored by every Senate Democrat except West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin, who told NBC News he’d vote for a debate on the amended bill after he received assurances that the Senate would consider a compromise version he helped draft.

The Democratic-led Senate needed all 50 Democratic votes and at least 10 Republicans to clear the 60 votes threshold. So far 14 states have introduced and passed voting restriction bills limiting everything from mail-in voting, absentee voting, ballot drop boxes, voter ID requirements and even laws limiting food and beverages near polling sites.

Many of these bills were introduced and passed based on former President Donald Trump’s false elections claims after he lost the 2020 Presidential Election. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said the bill is an effort to respond to the restrictive voting bills that has been passing through Republican-led states.

“They don’t even want to debate it because they’re afraid. They want to deny the right to vote, make it harder to vote for so many Americans, and they don’t want to talk about it,” Schumer, (D-N.Y.,) said on Tuesday. “There is a rot — a rot — at the center of the modern Republican party. Donald Trump’s big lie has spread like a cancer and threatens to envelop one of America’s major political parties.”

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said in a press conference Tuesday it’s a lie that Republican-led states are involved in a systematic effort to restrict voting.

“The biggest lie being told in American politics…has been that the states are involved in a systematic effort to suppress the vote.”

Former President Barack Obama called the filibuster “a tool for obstruction” and urged Republicans not to use it.

“Think about this: In the aftermath of an insurrection, with our democracy on the line and many of the same Republican senators going along with the notion that somehow there were irregularities and problems with legitimacy in our most recent election, they’re suddenly afraid to even talk about these issues and figure out a solution on the floor of the Senate,” Obama said. “That’s not acceptable.”

by Andrea Blackstone

June 22, 2021

Mike Epps Tapped To Portray Richard Pryor in HBO’s L.A. Lakers Drama Series

Mike Epps will portray the late comedian, Richard Pryor, in an untitled 1980s-era series about the Los Angeles Lakers, according to HBO’s breakdown of characters.

The series is based on “Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers of the 1980s,” which was written by Jeff Pearlman. On HBO’s website, Pryor was described as a “prolific and boundary-breaking comedian who lived the Hollywood dream, sometimes in excess.”

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Per Pryor’s official website, the funny man was said to be one of the most influential comedians in comedy’s history. He reportedly experienced rape—at the hands of a teenage neighbor—at just six years old. According to reports, Pryor was also molested by a Catholic priest and watched his mother engage in sexual acts.

Some of Pryor’s fans may also not realize that the late comedian escaped early traumatic memories by going to the movies. He also performed in amateur comedy shows, during his brief stint serving in the Army, according to his biography. His eclectic life experiences explain some of his raw stand-up flavor. Although he died in 2005, Pryor remains an icon.

Deadline reported that Epps currently stars in and produces the Netflix comedy  called The Upshaws.

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Epps was supposed to play Pryor in a biopic, but it was put on pause button after filmmaker Lee Daniels, who was producer, exited the project titled, “Richard Pryor: Is It Something I Said?” It was backed by the Weinstein Co., per The Hollywood Reporter.

To complicate matters, Harvey Weinstein—a once highly acclaimed film producer who was convicted of rape and was co-owner of Weinstein Co.— became wrapped up in bankruptcy and a settlement issue with his accusers. However, the Hollywood Reporter  noted that Epps will portray Pryor in a supporting role in a biopic called” Nina” about acclaimed singer Nina Simone.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

June 22, 2021

Trailer For ‘Karen’ Movie Has Twitter Making Comparisons to Jordan Peele’s Movies

Comedian and Oscar-winning director Jordan Peele has made his mark with the hugely popular thrillers Get Out and Us, which have already become cult classics.

But they say with great success comes some form of imitation and people online are calling out a movie titled “Karen” that many are saying is a carbon copy of Peele’s movies but with a little flip of the script.

“Karen” stars “Orange Is the New Black” alum Taryn Manning as a racist white woman who makes sure she does what she has to do to terrorize her new Black neighbors.

By the way, the name “Karen” is the moniker given to white women who go out of their way to harass a Black person (or any person of color). As noted in wide-ranging news events, a Karen usually tells lies to anyone, including law enforcement, property owners, and basically anyone in a position of power in order to get a Black person punished.

The reactions to the trailer have left many making comparisons to the two movies Jordan Peele has already directed, “Get Out” and “Us.” It didn’t take long for Jordan Peele to be a trending topic on Twitter.

What do you think?

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

June 22, 2021

OutKast’s Big Boi Invites Fans to Stay at ‘The Dungeon’

There’s a dungeon that is located in Atlanta, Georgia and you won’t be considered an outcast for wanting to visit.

In fact, Antwan André Patton, better known as OutKast’s Big Boi, has announced that he is the owner of The Dungeon and it has recently been placed as a listing on Airbnb.

To celebrate Black Music Month and highlight the distinct impact of Atlanta’s music scene, the six-time Grammy winner is has become a host on Airbnb for the first time. Next week, Big Boi will be hosting three overnight stays at “The Dungeon” starting on June 29, July 1, and July 3, and the overnight stay will only cost $25 a night. This will coincide with the 25th anniversary of Outkast’s release of “ATLiens.”

“Atlanta is my home, and I grew up with The Dungeon Family in this house,” says Big Boi in a written statement. “We would spend hours hanging out in the basement, writing rhymes and putting together beats at all hours of the night. Since purchasing the home, I’ve been excited to open its doors and welcome the next generation of artists to the space that inspired countless songs.”

Fans will be able to live similar to how The Dungeon Family once did and will even get the chance to record their own sounds at the home where southern classics like “Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik,” “Spottieottiedopaliscious” and “Elevators” were recorded.

OutKast is part of a collective named The Dungeon Family. Amongst some of the people involved were OutKast, Goodie Mob, Sleepy Brown, Killer Mile, Cool Breeze, Slim Calhoun, and the production team of Organized Noise. The studio they recorded out of was aptly named “The Dungeon.”

Included on the nights of June 29, July 1, and July 3 at The Dungeon:

  • Guided access to the basement of the house, a ‘90s relic where Outkast and Goodie Mob recorded some of their breakout hits. The walls still bear the signatures of the artists who got their start there!

  • Kicking back and playing records in rooms styled to commemorate key Atlanta locations that inspired The Dungeon Family’s tracks.

  • Access to a state-of-the-art in-home studio, outfitted with Yamaha audio equipment.

  • Arriving in style with local transportation (within Atlanta city limits)** to and from the house in an Escalade.

  • Discovering surprises throughout the house that are remnants of The Dungeon Family’s illustrious past and lasting impact on music today.

Airbnb is making a one-time donation to Atlanta Public Schools Music Department to expand resources and increase access to music education for kids aged K-12th grade.

For those who would like to book a stay at The Dungeon, it can be done starting Friday, June 25 at 1 p.m. EDT. To book this overnight and explore more stays and Experiences inspired by Black Music Month, visit airbnb.com/blackmusicmonth.***

Tavis Smiley Attempting Comeback Bid Three Years After PBS Firing
by Derek Major

June 22, 2021

Tavis Smiley Attempting Comeback Bid Three Years After PBS Firing

Three years after workplace misconduct allegations led to his firing at PBS, veteran TV and radio talk-show host Tavis Smiley is speaking out.

Smiley, who to this day denies the allegations made against him, purchased KBLA 1510, a Los Angeles radio station that will offer a Black and progressive perspective on the city and nation. The station made its debut last weekend to coincide with Juneteenth.

“While I was watching this racial reckoning last summer, it was so clear to me that people were being heard to some degree, but there were no African American-owned platforms where people had their voice on a regular basis,” Smiley said according to USA Today. The media can lose interest when protests stop, he said, but the issues “that matter to us don’t go away.

Smiley added another reason he bought the station was due to the isolation he experienced after he left PBS. The former radio host sued PBS for breach-of-contract after his firing. Smiley lost the case, but even worse, PBS countersued and won a $1.5 million judgment, which was increased to about $2.6 million by a judge last August according to The Washington Post.

Court filings from CBS stated Smiley subjected several subordinates to unwanted sexual advances — including requests for specific sex acts — and made lewd jokes.

“Over a dozen individuals reported that they were either subjected to or witnessed unwelcome, inappropriate sexual comments or conduct or otherwise inappropriate behavior by Mr. Smiley or were informed of the misconduct contemporaneously,” the court filing said according to the Associated Press.

Smiley admitted he went on several “consensual” dates with co-workers before he joined PBS, but doubled down that he never harassed anyone and called PBS’ investigation into him sloppy and biased.

Although he’s in charge of the station and enterprise, Smiley said the station is not about him.

“This is not about Tavis Smiley. I’m only on (weekdays) three hours a day,” he said. “We are live 24 hours a day, seven days a week. … So there are a lot of other voices on the station that will be talking about a lot of local, national and international issues.”

IKEA Store Sells Controversial Chicken and Watermelon Juneteenth Meal
by Andrea Blackstone

June 22, 2021

IKEA Store Sells Controversial Chicken and Watermelon Juneteenth Meal

IKEA, the Scandinavian furniture chain store giant, served a controversial menu to customers and employees in Atlanta to honor Juneteenth, according to CBS46.

According to the news station, the menu options in question were fried chicken, watermelon, mac and cheese and collard greens. Food like chicken and watermelon became a racist trope after the Civil War and slaves won their freedom and grew and sold the fruit as they gained self-sufficiency. It also became a symbol used largely by Southern whites to call Blacks lazy, unclean heathens.

But someone at IKEA apparently didn’t get that memo.

“They sent the menu to us in emails,” an anonymous employee said.

Although employees in the interview did not want to appear on camera, they told the news station that management should make an effort to expand their knowledge about Black culture.

“You cannot say serving watermelon on Juneteenth is a soul food menu when you don’t even know the history–they used to feed slaves watermelon during the slave time,” another anonymous employee told CBS46.

After 33 people called out from IKEA’s work schedule, according to the account of events provided by employees at a store in Atlanta, an internal email response was sent with an apologetic tone from the manager.

According to CBS News, employees felt the menu’s creation should have been inclusive of  voices of color, before it was given the green light. Collard greens, corn bread, mashed potatoes and meatloaf still appeared on the amended menu. Customers  shared the sentiment that the menu was offensive.

In contrast, The Food Network went to greater lengths to teach about Juneteenth menus, while integrating food into the conversation. The company consulted with African American content producers, too.

“Today is Juneteenth! In honor of this important holiday, host Michiel Perry (aka Black Southern Belle) and some of her favorite chefs have been building a menu for a Lowcountry Juneteenth, the celebration of freedom and heritage,” The Food Network’s Facebook page explained.

Black Southern Belle’s website identifies Perry as the developer of a lifestyle brand which integrates African-American women and the Southern connection.

IKEA has faced backlash before.

In 2020, the company removed a catalogue image, because it could have been construed as racist. It was assessed internally, then IKEA took action. According to the New York Daily News,  an employee pointed out that numbers which were included on the back of a t-shirt worn by a young Black male in the advertisement could be associated with prison. In response, IKEA erred on the side of caution and modified the image, causing the 2021 catalogue to be delayed.

 

President Biden To Host Barack Obama For White House Portrait Reveal
by Derek Major

June 22, 2021

President Biden To Host Barack Obama For White House Portrait Reveal

President Joe Biden will host a White House ceremony later this year to unveil the official White House portraits of Barack and Michelle Obama.

According to an NBC News report, the portraits of the Obamas are “virtually done.”

Former President Donald Trump refused to participate in the White House’s unveiling of Barack Obama’s portrait when he was in office, breaking the tradition. It wasn’t the first White House tradition Trump broke as he also refused to attend Biden’s Inauguration.

It’s likely Trump won’t participate in a similar ceremony with Biden in the future. However, according to NBC News, Trump is working on his portrait.

The National Portrait Gallery paintings of the Obamas, which was unveiled in 2018, are the only part of the collection currently outside of the White House. They’re also the only portraits created by Black artists.

One of the reasons the reveal will happen later this year is the unveiling typically take place in the East Room and includes a couple hundred guests, but the White House is currently not holding events of that size due to the coronavirus pandemic. A person familiar with the process told NBC News “it would be a shame to do it and have only six or seven people there.”

The portrait unveiling is a time-honored tradition among presidents. Former President George W. Bush hosted Bill and Hillary for their portraits and the Obamas hosted George W. and Laura Bush. In addition to Trump not unveiling the Obamas portraits, he replaced Bill Clinton’s and George Bush’s portraits with ones of former Republican Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and William McKinley. Biden put the portraits of Bush and Clinton back on display in March, according to USA Today.

The process of the portrait can take up to four years and includes several discussions between the artists and the subjects.

White House Admits Its Likely U.S. Will Miss July 4 COVID-19 Vaccine Target
by Derek Major

June 22, 2021

White House Admits Its Likely U.S. Will Miss July 4 COVID-19 Vaccine Target

Reuters – The White House is preparing to acknowledge it will not meet President Joe Biden’s goal of delivering at least one COVID-19 vaccination dose to 70% of U.S. adults by July 4, U.S. Independence Day, NBC News reported on Tuesday.

It said the administration is poised to meet the target for those 27 and older but will fall short of Biden’s goal for adults 18 and older.

White House COVID-19 senior adviser Jeffrey Zients is expected to announce the United States already has vaccinated 70% of adults age 30 and older, NBC said, citing a copy of his remarks. Zients and other top White House health officials are expected to hold a news conference at 12:30 p.m. ET (1630 GMT).

Representatives for the White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Fifteen of the 50 states and Washington, D.C., have delivered at least one COVID-19 vaccination shot to 70% of adults 18 and older.

The rate of U.S. vaccinations has increased by less than one percentage point over the past two weeks and would have to more than double over the next two weeks for the United States to hit Biden’s target.

Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and other top officials have deployed a campaign-style push encouraging more Americans to get COVID-19 vaccination shots in order to protect public health as well as reopen the economy and return the country to a path of normalcy.

Ongoing racial imbalances in vaccination rates, the new Delta virus variant and the challenge of convincing young American adults that they should protect themselves with the vaccine remain roadblocks.

In his remarks Tuesday, Zients will acknowledge it will take a few more weeks to get those ages 18-26 on board, NBC said.

“The reality is, many younger Americans have felt like COVID-19 is not something that impacts them and have been less eager to get the shot,” he will say, according to NBC.

(Reporting by Susan Heavey and Steve Holland; Editing by Howard Goller)

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