by Andrea Blackstone

June 16, 2021

A Tik Tok Teen Becomes A Viral Sensation For Her Hair Bonnets With Pockets Creation

Mo’Nique,  the comedian and recent critic of wearing bonnets outside, might not approve of this, but a creative teen named Ariel Williams is making waves on social media for her head bonnets featuring a side pocket for stashing.

And she’s displayed it in a video while standing outside.

The young entrepreneur went viral, after social media users got wind of it and the retweets and likes started pouring in. BuzzFeed News reported that Williams is a 19-year-old from Indianapolis who crafted the idea of including a storage pouch for housing small items, like lip gloss, because she could not find any bonnets like it.

“I loved the thought of me keeping my hair ties and bobby pins inside of my bonnet,” Williams told Buzz Feed News.

 

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The story mentioned that Williams had been selling her creation under her Barbiana Collections brand. It can be worn inside or outside of the house, for two years. A video featuring her special bonnet caught on after a business friend posted and shared Williams’ video on Twitter.

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Supporters responded favorably. Now, Williams is urging potential customers to give the trendy bonnets a try.

“What made us start the Pocket Bonnets 💞 Make sure you grab yours!! Pocket bonnets are LIT!! Not only can they carry Bobby pins, Hair ties & lip gloss!! You can put your phone in there & other Important things!!” she said on her Instagram account. Williams’ creativity was especially evident in 2020, when Instagram users can see a dog wearing a matching bonnet. Additionally, she has sold bonnets for little babies, too.

 

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The recent bonnet craze has garnered some criticism, because some Black women choose to wear them in public. The comedian, Mo’Nique turned to Instagram to have a heart-to-heart talk with her followers who may wear bonnets publicly. The ‘Internet Auntie’ gave wearing bonnets in public a thumbs down.

In a video, the comedian remarked that she has seen “young sisters” wearing in head bonnets, scarves, slippers, and pajamas  while walking through the airport. However, Mo’Nique is sticking to her opinion that this kind of look is not way to leaving the house, despite some backlash that followed her firm comments.

“I’ve been seeing it not just at the airport. I’ve been seeing it at the store. At the mall. I’ve been seeing sisters showing up with these bonnets and headscarves and their slippers. And the question that I’ve having to you my sweet babies: When did we lose pride in representing ourselves?” @therealmoniqueworldwide asked on Instagram.

“Represent Yourself With Pride  Hey my sweet babies! Show YOURSELF that you deserve the best for YOURSELF! I LOVE US 4 REAL!” the comedian also said.

But for Williams, she continues to make entrepreneurial moves. Click this link to learn more about  Barbiana Collections.

 

 

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by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

June 16, 2021

After Kodak Black Received Shocking Honor, Broward Commission Changes Rules

A man named Bill Kahan Kapri, who we collectively know as Kodak Black, was honored in Florida last week and it was as shocking to Broward County commissioners as it was to the rest of the world.

According to Local 10, Broward County commissioners say they were caught by surprise when the pardoned by President Trump rapper received a proclamation last week that was issued by Commissioner Dale Holness. The problem is, Kodak Black, who has been involved in his share of legal issues, was recently sentenced to probation this past April for assaulting a teenage girl in a South Carolina hotel room in 2016.

The controversial rapper was also sentenced to 46 months in prison on federal weapons charges back in 2019 after he had admitted that he falsified information on federal forms to buy four firearms. He had his sentence commuted by former President Trump just before he left the White House in January.

Due to Kodak Black being honored at Tuesday’s county commission meeting, the rules for issuing proclamations were changed to make sure certain protocols are followed moving forward.

“I think that if we were to allow individual commissioners to present proclamations to anybody, to whom they desired,” said Commissioner Nan H. Rich, “I think that it really diminishes the impact and the importance of the proclamation.”

Holness said the proclamation was in support of Black’s philanthropic efforts. He also stated that he believes in redemption and that Kodak Black’s criminal troubles shouldn’t outweigh the good.

“I believe in redemption,” Holness said. “I believe every human being has the ability to redeem themselves from whatever wrong they’ve done. It (the proclamation) wasn’t about naming a day for him either, if anyone took the time to read it.”

Kodak Black took to Instagram to thank Holness for the proclamation.

“Thanks To Dale Holness @lawronin @iamfranckypierrepaul This Means More To Me Than Going Gold Or Platinum 💙❤️ Every Year June 11th We Gone Have A Good Time And Do Something Special Within Our Community 🦅🦅🦅”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Kutthroat Bill (@kodakblack)

The Florida rapper also thanked the man who released him from incarceration via his Twitter account.

Who’s next to get an honor? R. Kelly?

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

June 16, 2021

Kanye West’s Sunday Service Has Been Registered as a Tax-Exempt Non-Profit Amid $50M In Lawsuits

Despite the fact that Kanye West is being sued for upwards of $50 million by his former Sunday Service employees and executives at MyChannel Inc. who claimed that they helped the rapper maximize the revenue made from his Sunday Service, he recently got his church approved for a tax exempt status.

The Sun has obtained documents showing that Kanye hired San Francisco-based attorney Karl F. Mill, who specializes in non-profits. Sunday Service church has now been granted 501c3 tax-exempt status.

The newspaper recently discovered documents dated March 23 showing details of the corporation, including West’s $2.2 million home that is located in Calabasas. The documents also indicated that the corporation is not allowed to “participate in, or intervene in [including the publication or distribution of statements], any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office.”

So, fingers crossed, that means no more West for President political stunts.

Churches are typically exempt from federal, state, and local income and property taxes as they are considered to be public charities.

This comes on the heels of a lawsuit filed in August 2020 by MyChannel Inc. in California District Court claiming that its employees were stiffed for six months of work on technology. The company is suing for $20 million in damage for helping Kanye “maximize revenues for his Yeezy merchandise.”

Coupled with that, West is facing a $30 million lawsuit, according to The Sun, by former employees of his live Nebuchadnezzar Opera. Workers claim that West owes “unpaid wages” and that he failed “…to pay minimum wage and overtime.”

“Defendants oversaw, controlled and ran the production, and the aggrieved employees worked many hours on the production and were not timely paid for their work, or paid at all,” the court documents state, according to The Sun.

Kanye West has been busy with attorneys as of late. West’s latest suit stems from executives from MyChannel Inc. claiming that they not only helped Kanye maximize the revenue made from his Sunday Service but also helped with his Yeezy merchandise. They claim West failed to follow through on an agreement to invest in their business. During deposition, Kanye reportedly went “H-A-M” put on a “full-face hood and head covering adorned with Jesus Christ’s image which obscured his face and muffled his voice.”

MyChannel Inc. reportedly invested $7 million into a Yeezy project. Not only did Kanye cut ties, but MyChannel also claim he stole its technology for his Sunday Service. The company had also moved its headquarters from Pennsylvania to California and then to Chicago after Kanye promised to invest $10 million and reneged on that as well.

According to AllHipHop, the mercurial entertainer is currently recording new material at a recording studio in Honolulu, HI.

U.S. Senate Passes Bill Making Juneteenth A Nationally Recognized Holiday
by Derek Major

June 16, 2021

U.S. Senate Passes Bill Making Juneteenth A Nationally Recognized Holiday

The U.S. Senate has passed legislation making Juneteenth, which commemorates the end of slavery, a nationally recognized holiday.

On June 19, 1965, two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, union ships docked in Galveston, Tx and Major General Gordon Granger told enslaved African Americans they were free.

The measure is expected to pass easily in the House of Representatives and President Joe Biden is sure to sign it. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said in a statement, recognizing Juneteenth is a major first step but changing the wrongs of the past will take more work.

“Making Juneteenth a federal holiday is a major step forward to recognize the wrongs of the past,” Schumer said in a statement. “But we must continue to work to ensure equal justice and fulfill the promise of the Emancipation Proclamation and our Constitution.”

The legislation gained traction last summer during the Black Lives Matter protests and racial equity movement. However, Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) blocked the legislation because he felt another day off for federal employees would cost US taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars.

Johnson dropped his objection this year, but he hasn’t changed his mind.

“Although I strongly support celebrating Emancipation, I objected to the cost and lack of debate,” Johnson in a statement according to CNN. “While it still seems strange that having taxpayers provide federal employees paid time off is now required to celebrate the end of slavery, it is clear that there is no appetite in Congress to further discuss the matter.”

Juneteenth became a state holiday in Texas in 1980 in the years since it became recognized by every state except South Dakota. While many see this is a historic moment, others see it as an empty gesture, considering the Senate hasn’t taken up the anti-lynching bill, the For the People Act or the John Lewis Voting Rights Act.

by Christian Spencer

June 16, 2021

Middle Tennessee Black Gun Club Takes On New Importance As The State Goes Permitless

Permitless gun carry becomes official in Tennessee on July 1, so the Middle Tennessee Black Gun Club is training and welcoming new members on their Second Amendment rights.

The group was formed in December of last year, with James Johnson being its latest member, according to WKRN, an ABC affiliated television station licensed to Nashville, TN.

Related stories: BLACK AMERICANS PURCHASING GUNS AT RECORD PACE TO PROTECT THEMSELVES

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OX4yvu6oF7E

“If you’re in a situation where you do have to disburse your firearm, you want to make sure you’re on the right side of the law when you do that,” Johnson said. “So if you’re going to carry a gun, then it behooves you to know what the laws are before you’re carrying a gun.”

The permitless carry law is both a good and potentially fatal thing for the Tennessee’s Black community. On one side, the permit system prevents certain Black people from legal ownership due to its associated costs. However, law enforcement could easily kill a misidentified person.

“As we know in this country, not all laws are enforced proportionately, especially when it comes to African Americans, and so it’s really important that we understand what qualifies as legal possession, training, and usage of firearms so we can remain safe,” MTBGC Sergeant at Arms Denzel Caldwell said.

JC Shegog, a consultant and adviser to the club, thinks the club’s classes will prevent Black people from shooting the police if tensions were to rise.

“People pulling guns as a first resort instead of a last resort. You’re going to see people getting shot by the police because they don’t know what to do when they come in contact with police because they haven’t been trained; they haven’t attended classes,” Shegog said.

 For president Tanea McClean, she believes there needs to be a cultural reevaluating with it comes to gun ownership and safety.

“Culturally, over time we’ve been more taught to stay away from guns: ‘Guns are dangerous, don’t play with that.’ Where we just need to go into it more about ensuring people understand how to handle it properly, how to be safe with i,t and how to use it in a self-defense situation,” McClean said.

Prada’s Diversity Initiative Is Rebranding The Company
by Christian Spencer

June 16, 2021

Prada’s Diversity Initiative Is Rebranding The Company

Prada is trying to diversify its company, making amends for its blackface scandal years ago.

By hiring more diverse interns at its designer program and setting up a diversity council, it appears the Italian luxury fashion house is deeply taking into consideration what Black people think, according to Forbes.

Related stories: FASHION HOUSE PRADA BRINGS IN AVA DUVERNAY TO HELP WITH PR DAMAGE CONTROL

In December 2018, Prada was accused of racism after the company, which, at the time, did not have a single Black employee at its headquarters, attempted to sell a collection of monkey figurines that resembled blackface.

The backlash prompted a worldwide protest, with the company saying back then it would donate proceeds from the products to an organization for racial justice, NBC Todayreported.

Since then, the company has had a make-over with the formation of its Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Council in February 2019. Prada’s Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Co-Chair, Theaster Gates, created design labs in marketplaces such as Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles where diverse designers and artists are from.

Ava DuVernay, best known for her work on Selma and being the first Black woman nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Director and the first Black female director to have her film nominated for an Academy Award, is Prada’s other diversity and inclusion advisory chair.

Prada is also giving diverse communities opportunities through its create internship and apprenticeship programs, with its Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer of North America, Malika Savell, saying, “Prada Group is taking real and significant actions that will expand career and professional opportunities for people of [color] in the fashion industry.”

Savell was appointed for the role in October 2020, with her responsibilities including developing policies, strategies, and programs to help ensure that diverse perspectives and experiences are represented at Prada.

Man Goes On Shooting Spree To Kill White Men Who Had ‘Taken From Him All His Life’
by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

June 16, 2021

Man Goes On Shooting Spree To Kill White Men Who Had ‘Taken From Him All His Life’

A 39-year-old man with an ax to grind against white folks, went on a shooting spree in Georgia and Alabama on a quest to reportedly kill only white men.

Justin Tyran Roberts, a Black man, allegedly admitted to Columbus police that his weekend shooting binge was racially motivated. Roberts said his motive was to “target white men” who had “taken from him all his life,” a detective testified Monday, according to The Ledger-Enquirer.

During the two-day crime spree, Roberts reportedly shot five people across the two states on Friday and Saturday in Columbus and Phenix City. There were reported six victims in four shootings, On Saturday, he attended a court hearing in Columbus Recorder’s Court to answer to one of those incidents. Roberts reportedly shot a man in the back around 2 p.m. Saturday in a parking area under the Oglethorpe Bridge at Broadway and Fourth Street, as the man was exiting his car, Detective Brandon Lockhart, told the outlet. The man survived.

Roberts allegedly told the police of his desire to murder, saying, “I had to have him.” He reportedly shot five people, WRBL reported.

“Basically, he explained throughout his life, specifically white males had taken from him, and also what he described as ‘military-looking white males’ had taken from him,” the investigator Lockhart said Roberts revealed during a police interrogation.

Roberts also asserted that white men were “shooting at him in a wooded area with a slingshot,” and the wounds caused a skin infection, but police saw no evidence to substantiate those claims, Lockhard said.

About two hours after the shooting, Roberts was found casually sitting on steps outside of a building in Columbus, armed with a stolen Taurus 9-millimeter pistol, the detective said. Roberts faced his first set of charges in Columbus.

Roberts’ public defender, Robin King, asked the judge to order the suspect to undergo a mental health evaluation. “The officer’s testimony has demonstrated that Mr. Roberts is having delusions and a disconnect from reality,” she said.

King’s request was granted and Roberts’ case was sent to Muscogee Superior Court.

Roberts is facing aggravated assault charges, as well as charges for using a gun to commit a crime and for being a convicted felon with a firearm. He is being held without bond.

Google for Startups Launches $5 Million Black Founders Fund for Black-Owned Startups
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

June 16, 2021

Google for Startups Launches $5 Million Black Founders Fund for Black-Owned Startups

Google for Startups announced its second Black Founders Fund where $5 million will be allocated to aiding Black startup companies around the U.S.

Last October, Google for Startups teamed up with Goodie Nation, a nonprofit aimed at serving diverse founders, to unveil the Black Founders Fund. The fund came as part of a series of inclusion commitments Google made in June amid heightened racial tension following the killing of George Floyd.

The $5 million initiative awards up to $100,000 in cash rewards to Black-led startups in the U.S. with no strings attached. The company announced that 76 recipients were selected last October and would each receive between $50,000 and $100,000 in capital along with hands-on support to help their startup grow.

“Since unveiling the initiative, the selected founders had received ongoing support from Goodie Nation through weekly “Accountability Checks” and one-on-ones with portfolio managers. Recipients also enjoy monthly themed therapy sessions and can schedule time with experts across Google for technical mentoring.

“Our Google for Startups team is solely focused on helping underrepresented founders grow their businesses and succeed in a space where the odds are often stacked against them,” Jewel Burks, Head of Google for Startups, U.S. told Black Enterprise.

“The Black Founders Fund embodies that mission. We’re sharing network connections, business mentorship, technical expertise, and funding to Black founders who traditionally are disproportionately locked out of access to capital. We’ve heard time and again from the 2020 Black Founders Fund recipients how the money combined with the community that they’ve built with each other, Google, and Goodie Nation has been essential to their success. They’ve been able to pivot business models during COVID, connect with new investors and lean on each other during an incredibly tough year.”

Last year’s recipients took part in a virtual reunion last month where they shared testimonials from how the Black Founders Fund has aided in their business growth and strategy.

“As a Black founder myself, I know the pain and frustration when, despite evidence your startup is promising, seed funding and coaching is difficult to come by,” Joey Womack, CEO of Goodie Nation said in a statement.

“That’s why seeing the impact of this initiative over the past year has been so great. We know that the social capital gap is a solvable problem, and one that can get smaller on a daily basis when large, influential companies like Google stand behind these startups and are intentional about extending their expertise, connections, and resources. This is tech done right.”

Black Woman Cashier Shot And Killed After Asking Customer To Wear Face Mask
by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

June 16, 2021

Black Woman Cashier Shot And Killed After Asking Customer To Wear Face Mask

A Black woman who was a cashier at an Atlanta area supermarket was shot and killed for asking a customer to put on a face mask.

LaQuitta Willis, 41, died on Monday in a triple shooting at the Big Bear Supermarket in Decatur, GA., according to DeKalb County police. The suspected shooter, 30-year-old Victor Lee Tucker Jr. of Palmetto, has been arrested and charged with murder and aggravated assault, according to ABC News.

A community is reeling after the fatal turn of events and people have gathered outside of the store in the suburban community to offer their condolences and show support.

According to reports, Willis and Tucker got into a heated exchange after she asked him to cover up his face with a mask – a protocol to avoid COVID-19 contamination.

Tucker argued with Willis, then reportedly left the store without buying anything, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. But the irate offender soon returned, headed straight for Willis, pulled out his gun and commenced to shooting her, reports the GBI.

A security guard, DeKalb County Reserves Deputy Danny Jordan, 54, sprang into action, and fired back at Tucker who fired off several shots and was also shot and injured. Jordan was wearing a bulletproof vest when he was shot twice. Jordan was off-duty but working that particular day, according to the GBI. The sheriff’s office said in a release that Jordan was in stable condition and is hospitalized.

Tucker was also injured and remains in a hospital but was expected to survive, police said.

Another cashier was grazed by a bullet.

In a show of support, members of the community showed up at the supermarket, still in disbelief over the latest wave of supermarket shooting violence.

“I always felt safe coming here, so that had to (have) been a very angry person,” said Helene Mapp, who knew Willis, according to WSBTV.

“I am devastated as to what happened in this community,” Mapp said.

“Every one of these ladies up here real sweet. Real sweet ladies, man, and it really don’t make no sense, you know what I mean? Senseless,” Mapp said.

A GoFundMe has been set up for Willis to help pay for funeral costs.

This Beginner’s Course Will Teach You The Best Techniques In Data Visualization
by Black Enterprise Shop

June 16, 2021

This Beginner’s Course Will Teach You The Best Techniques In Data Visualization

Data visualization is important in any industry as it makes it easier to identify patterns, trends and outliers in large sets of data. Whether you’re a teacher, a computer scientist or a businessperson, translating data to visual form is a great way to size down chunks of information into small bits.

If you’re looking to become a data artist, then the Qlik Sense for Beginners Course is a good way to learn great visualization skills. Stream Skill, a software training instructor platform that has taught over 600,000 students, has put together a comprehensive course that shows you how to become a data visualization expert. Qlik Sense is a one-of-a-kind data analytics tool, and the techniques involved can put you several steps ahead in the world of data art.

In this course, you’ll start by learning all you need to know about loading data into Qlik Sense, creating cool apps on the platform, creating and editing your first visualization, and using the various charts, graphs, and tools available.

After you master the basics, you’ll advance to lessons about more advanced techniques.You will use scripting in Qlik Sense, numeric functions, string functions, date and time, and Geo Analytics. By the time you’re done with the course, you’ll be familiar with the tricks of this analytics and Business Intelligence platform.

A subscription to the Qlik Sense beginner’s course comes with lifetime access. We also believe it’s never too late to learn a new skill. And anyone can become a Qlik Sense designer, dads included. So, for Father’s Day, you’ll receive 20% off the already discounted sale price to purchase get this beginner’s course for $31.99 (originally $99), with the code WELOVEDAD.

Prices subject to change.

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