Hollywood is mourning the death of veteran actor Clarence Williams III. He died in Los Angeles from colon cancer on Friday at the age of 81.

According to The Associated Press, Williams III,  shot to fame after his starring role as Lincoln “Linc” Hayes, an undercover police officer in the crime drama series, The Mod Squad. Comedian Bill Cosby suggested that Williams play the role of Linc to the show’s executive producer, Aaron Spelling, and the rest, as they say, is history. The actor also played the role of Prince Nelson’s father in the 1984 hit movie, Purple Rain.

Rusty Cundieff, who directed the storied thespian in the movie, Tales From the Hood tweeted out his condolences on Sunday.

My sadness at the passing of Clarence Williams III cannot be overstated. His artistry and sheer coolness was extraordinary. I will forever be in his debt for his brilliant performance in Tales From the Hood. Loved working with him! Blessed travels good sir! pic.twitter.com/xRj6JlY5aX

— Rusty Cundieff (@RustyCundieff) June 6, 2021

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the actor started his career as a stage actor and earned a Tony nomination in 1965 for best-featured actor in a play for the work he performed in the three-person drama “Slow Dance on the Killing Ground”. He returned to Broadway decades later when he starred opposite Maggie Smith in the original 1979 production of Tom Stoppard’s “Night and Day.”

Some of the roles he’s been recognized for include playing the drug-addicted father of Wesley Snipes and Michael Wright in Sugar Hill (1993),  The Legend of 1900 (1998), I’m Gonna Git You Sucka (1988) and in the classic Half-Baked (1998) which starred Dave Chappelle.

Williams is survived by his sister Sondra Pugh, daughter Jamey Phillips, niece Suyin Shaw, grandnephews Elliot Shaw and Ese Shaw, and grandniece Azaria Verdin.

A West Virginia senator has set fire to the Democratic push to pass the For The People Act, a sweeping voting rights bill and doubled down on his opposition to destroying the filibuster.

Manchin defended his position Sunday saying that he is not willing to change Senate rules to help Democrats push through much of President Joe Biden’s agenda.

“I believe that partisan voting legislation will destroy the already weakening binds of our democracy, and for that reason, I will vote against the For the People Act. Furthermore, I will not vote to weaken or eliminate the filibuster,” Manchin, a moderate Democrat from West Virginia, wrote in an op-ed published in the Charleston Gazette.

Manchin added “the fundamental right to vote has itself become overtly politicized,” and called out other Democratic lawmakers who have “attempted to demonize the filibuster and conveniently ignore how it has been critical to protecting the rights of Democrats in the past.”

Manchin might believe he’s saving Democracy with his position, but other members of his party waste little time lashing out at the West Virginia Democrat.

Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) compared Manchin to Mitch McConnell and added Manchin is trying to thwart the Democratic agenda.

“Joe Manchin has become the new Mitch McConnell. Mitch McConnell during Obama’s presidency said he would do everything in his power to stop (then-President Barack Obama),” Bowman told CNN’s, John Berman. “He’s also repeated that now during the Biden presidency by saying he would do everything in his power to stop President Biden, and now Joe Manchin is doing everything in his power to stop democracy and to stop our work for the people, the work that the people sent us here to do.

“Manchin is not pushing us closer to bipartisanship. He is doing the work of the Republican Party by being an obstructionist, just like they’ve been since the beginning of Biden’s presidency.”

In his op-ed, Manchin cautioned those trying to get rid of the 60-vote filibuster, mentioning Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid‘s move in 2013 to remove the 60-vote filibuster standard for presidential nominees other than those on the Supreme Court.

The move by Reid allowed Republicans to install a conservative majority in the Supreme Court during the Trump administration.

Because he doesn’t support eliminating the filibuster, Manchin urged the Senate to update and pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. Although it is a narrower election bill, it does reinstate vital pieces of the 1965 Voting Rights Act and has the support of at least one Republican, Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski.

Since President Trump’s election loss, more than 100 bills restricting voting have been introduced. Election restriction bills have been passed in Georgia and Florida.

• Technology

by Black Enterprise Shop

June 7, 2021

With The Sunsetting Of Quickbooks, Now’s The Best Time To Switch To A Cloud-Based Service

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Each year, a QuickBooks desktop version stops receiving support from parent company Intuit, and this year, it’s 2018’s time to join the sunset list.

This isn’t much of an issue to those who typically switch to the latest update, but for professionals looking to switch to a more sophisticated, cloud-based accounting and resource planning software, this is the one.

According to NetSuite’s eBook “Eight Signs QuickBooks is Holding Your Business Back,” a cloud ERP like Oracle leads to smoother operating. As opposed to QuickBooks, which takes up too much of your time when it comes to managing spreadsheets and carrying out manual processes, NetSuite automates many of the rules.

Outdated software only leads to errors and inaccurate data, preventing stakeholders and employees from making informed decisions. But with a cloud-based platform like NetSuite, everyone has access to the data they need at all times. Everyone can make more informed, faster decisions, thanks to the built-in automated tools that weed out inefficiencies.

Carrying out manual processes on QuickBooks takes time and costs money, resulting in the loss of productivity altogether. The good news is that NetSuite automates any type of report pulling or data analysis to speed up the time to make decisions and deliver reports which can lead to more revenue.

By making data easily accessible, automating core functions, and ensuring proper controls, NetSuite allows entrepreneurs, business leaders, managers, and IT professionals to act quickly to changing conditions.

You no longer have to worry about getting slowed down by manual tasks or insufficient information. You can continue innovating your business, make more informed decisions, and achieve your goals.

If you’re looking for a sign to make the switch, let this be it. QuickBooks is just a stark reminder that times are changing, and you’re better off upgrading to a cloud ERP solution that is more suitable for today’s unpredictable work environment.

• Technology

by Black Enterprise Shop

June 7, 2021

Build A Successful Career In Digital Design With This 12-Course Bundle

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In an increasingly digitized world, it’s likely that your career as a designer will involve a lot of digital design. Whether you’re a UX designer or a graphic artist, getting a firm grasp of the basics of designing for digital platforms will help you take your work to the next level.

You can now gain all the skills you need to build a successful design career, thanks to the Ultimate Adobe Designers Bundle. With 12 courses, 534 lessons and over 42 hours of content on Photoshop, XD, InDesign, Lightroom and more, you’ll learn to boost your design game. You will create better icons and UI/UX and build amazing digital projects in just a few weeks. Valued at $2,400 — this bundle is on sale for just $44.99.

Are you looking to become the next Adobe Lightroom pro? Trying to get your web design skills to expert level? Learn UI/UX design from scratch.

This bundle has all you need to get started. It includes lessons on how to improve your life by designing a digital productivity journal for your iPad, creating a motivational watch face for your Apple Watch, designing custom stationery and create personalized merch using Photoshop.

The world of graphic design is filled with many budding creatives. You can make your work stand out by taking the Affinity Designer Fundamentals course in this bundle. It’s just like Adobe Illustrator, but without the subscription. It has a lot of new features and improvements to speed up your journey to becoming the next best graphic designer.

The Adobe Designers Bundle instructors are highly-skilled digital entrepreneurs with many years of experience in web design. Their 4/5-star ratings are solid proof that you’ll gain top-notch design experience. Start building a successful design business with these 12 courses in the Ultimate Adobe Designers bundle, now available for only $45, a 98% savings on the original value of $2,400.

Prices subject to change.

• Business

by Andrea Blackstone

June 7, 2021

Whiskey Brand Announces $50 Million Fund to Help Other Minority-Owned and -Founded Spirit Brands

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A $50 million fund has been created to invest in rapidly growing, minority-founded and -owned spirit brands by whiskey brand Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey. The New York Times also reported that the Fawn Weaver- founded company is now the nation’s fastest-growing whiskey brand, according to the drinks-market analysis firm IWSR.

“It’s a testament not just to the quality, but also to the power of an inclusive brand with a compelling story,” The New York Times observed.

In Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey’s press release, Weaver said her company’s funding announcement came on the 100th anniversary of the destruction of Black Wall Street. On June 1, 1921, an entire community of wealthy and successful African Americans was wiped out in a matter of hours.

“We are talking about 35 square blocks known as Black Wall Street,” Weaver added in the announcement. “As an African American, learning about that history broke my heart because we, as a people, were really onto something in Tulsa, Oklahoma. We were lifting one another up and creating wealth within our own community, and then showing others how to do it for themselves. We cannot go back and undo the past, but I do believe we have full power over our future, and that recreating a Black Wall Street of sorts within the spirits industry is a great place to start.”

The New York Times reported that the fund already has two investments lined up. One is a $2 million stake in Jack from Brooklyn and second a $2 million investment for Equaino Rum Co.

Although Black-owned spirits brands will be the first investment priority, the fund will consider any brand founded or led by a woman or a person of color. According to its Instagram account, the Uncle Nearest’s leadership team consists of all women.

According to the company’s website, the Uncle Nearest Venture Fund was created to invest in minority (BIPOC and women)-founded, -owned, and -led brands with the greatest potential to grow into long-standing legacy brands.

According to another Instagram post, Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey is officially the best-selling African American owned and founded spirit brand of all time. Click here to learn more about the Fund.

A judge has apologized to a 24-year-old single mother during a hearing on May 26 because she was charged with two counts of disorderly conduct child endangerment.

Ohio mom Shaina Bell, who once worked at Little Caesars, was charged in February for leaving behind her then 9-year-old and a 3-year-old at a Motel 6 while she worked at a pizza restaurant down the road.

Although Judge Jeffrey Adler said the matter should have been handled through a relevant social services agency, he did not believe Bell committed a crime, WKBN reported.

The charges were dismissed.

Related stories: JUDGE FINDS A SINGLE MOTHER NOT GUILTY AFTER LEAVING KIDS IN A HOTEL WHILE SHE WORKED

“When the matter arose, I was personally offended that this young woman was arrested and taken to jail instead of just being served with a summons. That should never have happened. People with more serious offenses are not being taken to jail at this time,” Adler said. “Based on everything I know about the case, it could have been handled a lot differently. I think Miss Bell learned a lesson here.”

The mother of three received more than $165,000 to an online fundraiser to support her family since her arrest became public.

Her campaign because mainstream once supporters like Quality Control Music Label co-founder Pierre “Pee” Thomas and NBA player JaVale McGee chipped in.

“My mom used to have to do the same thing when we were young, not cause of abandonment issues, it’s because people can’t afford child care working at a pizza shop,” Thomas commented on Instagram. “She wasn’t hanging out at a club. She was at work.”

The children’s father called the police, and after authorities found the two kids—10-year-old Faith, and 3-year-old Jade, on Feb. 11, 6 p.m.—at a Motel 6 in Liberty Ohio, Faith told the police their mom would be coming home around 10 p.m.

That is why Bell was charged with two misdemeanor counts of endangering children. The kids were turned over to their father.

In Bell’s defense, she said her elder kid was capable of looking out for the smaller sibling, and in addition, someone did check on them every hour while she was away.

“My kids bring me joy. They make me laugh. They’re my world. I would never do anything to harm my kids. My kids are everything to me,” Bell told WKBN in February. “That’s all I do is go to work and take care of my kids. That’s all I do.”

“I had to go to work. My daughter decided that she wanted to stay here. My daughter told me that this is where she wants to be, and I felt that she was old enough to be able to stay here with her sister for a few hours because my job is right down the street,” Bell added.

Bell is living comfortably with her children at their new house.

• Entertainment

by Christian Spencer

June 7, 2021

Diddy Teams With Salesforce To Give More Exposure To Black-Owned Businesses

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Sean “Diddy” Combs and Salesforce are launching a “curated digital marketplace” for Black business owners called Shop Circulate this fall.

The hip-hop mogul and the marketing, sales, service, commerce, and IT service are trying to empower Black businesses in a “collective pursuit of economic justice,” as Diddy puts it, Celebretainment reported.

Related stories: DIDDY CREATES INITIATIVE TO HELP MINORITY-OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES IMPACTED BY COVID-19

The project has a mailing list for those interested in when the curation officially comes out.

“[Shop Circulate] is curated digital marketplace that allows consumers to discover and buy products exclusively created and sold by Black entrepreneurs, [which] provides Black businesses with a platform to reach global audiences and empowers consumers to shop the world’s best Black-owned brands,” according to a press release.

“Building Black wealth starts with investing in Black-owned businesses and giving entrepreneurs access to the consumers needed to build sustainable companies that can thrive. I’m excited to partner with Salesforce to create a platform that will advance our collective pursuit of economic justice,” Diddy said.

Chair and CEO of Salesforce, Marc Benioff said their efforts will “help close the unjust wealth gap” and make Black businesses more competitive to their white counterparts.

“Salesforce is honored to collaborate with Sean Combs and Combs Enterprises to help close the unjust wealth gap that prevents too many Black Americans from achieving economic equality,” Benioff said. “Shop Circulate will empower us all—as individuals, communities and companies—to support Black-owned businesses, amplify the talent of Black entrepreneurs, and move us closer to true equality.”

According to San Francisco Business Times, the venture will be owned by Combs Enterprises, with Salesforce providing technology and advisory services. It is now seeking a seed financing round.

Additionally, Shop Circulate has acquired The Nile List, a digital community that connects consumers with Black-owned brands, on undisclosed terms. The Nile List’s founder Khadijah Robinson has been named head of product and will oversee Shop Circulate’s development. Shop Circulate has also formed a partnership with Official Black Wall Street, a directory of Black-owned businesses, with its founder Mandy Bowman joining as an advisor.

• News

by Derek Major

June 7, 2021

Vice President Kamala Harris Visits Guatemala, Discusses Migration With President Giammattei

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Reuters – The Biden administration is expected to announce steps to combat human smuggling and corruption in Guatemala as U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris visited for talks with President Alejandro Giammattei on Monday.

The visit is Harris’ first overseas trip as vice president and is part of her mission of tackling root causes of migration from Central America to the United States.

Speaking briefly at the start of the meeting with Giammattei, Harris said her presence in Guatemala reflected Biden’s focus on re-establishing ties with allies around the world.

The decision to visit Guatemala was “a reflection of the priority President Biden placed on this region,” she said.

Guatemala is seen as Washington’s most stable ally in the “Northern Triangle” that also includes neighboring Honduras and El Salvador.

“It is in our collective interest that we work together,” Harris said.

However, disagreement is likely over the best way to tackle corruption, with the United States giving recognition to anti-graft fighters the conservative government and its allies see as politically biased.

The Biden administration push to strengthen the rule of law in all three countries has already suffered setbacks, with a series of moves against independent judges and prosecutors.

Harris and Giammattei have scheduled a news conference at 12:35 p.m. ET (1635 GMT). She will also meet civil society leaders and entrepreneurs and then fly on to Mexico. Priorities include economic development, climate and food insecurity and women’s issues, White House officials said.

The visit will emphasize cooperation with non-government organizations, advisers and experts said. That focus could ruffle feathers in Guatemala, where the top court has cleared the way for a law that increases political oversight of civil society groups.

In Mexico too, the subject of U.S. funding for NGOs is a sore spot, after the government complained in a diplomatic note to Washington that USAID was financing a group it considers close to the opposition.

There has been criticism from some officials in Guatemala and Mexico over the timing and thrust of Harris’ mission to curb migration to the United States from the region, with the Mexico leg following mid-term elections at the weekend. https://reut.rs/3uYUW1o

Harris will also discuss sharing COVID-19 vaccines with Guatemala during the meeting, chief spokesperson and senior adviser Symone Sanders said last Wednesday.

Last week Giammattei said the United States would supply half a million COVID-19 doses to Guatemala.

(Reporting by Nandita Bose in Guatemala City; Additional reporting by Sofia Menchu in Guatemala CityEditing by Frank Jack Daniel and Grant McCool)

At 24 years old, Simone Biles just won her seventh national title in the U.S. gymnastics championships.

The reigning world champion took home the all-around gold after dominating the vault, balance beam, and floor events at the 2021 U.S. Gymnastics Championship on Sunday, People reported. With a total score of 119.650, Biles beat out second-place winner Sunisia Lee by five points.

Biles’ floor routine included a “never-been-done-before” move called “The Biles,” CBS News reported. The decorated title holder beat out Clara Schroth Lomady’s previous record of six and is now tied with Alfred Jochim for the most titles by any American gymnast.

She teased her eagerness to compete in the upcoming Tokyo Olympics during her floor routine by performing to a song from Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift. At the next Olympic Games, Biles will compete to become the first woman to win back-to-back Olympic championships.

“I feel like I did try to enjoy it because it could be one of my last championships that I’ll attend,” Biles said. “But it’s also the road to Tokyo, and after this we have trials, so we just have to really embrace the moment.”

She also teased her goat status by donning a custom leotard that featured a rhinestone goat design on her shoulder.

Built different 💪@Simone_Biles wins her 7th AA US Championships title. pic.twitter.com/7mHa6dKekE

— Octagon Olympics & Action Sports (@OctagonOAS) June 7, 2021

Her win comes a few weeks after she successfully landed the challenging Yurchenko Double Pike and became the first woman to complete the vault at the U.S. Classic.

“Before it was just kind of working on that vault for my block, for my other vaults,” Biles said of practicing the move for the last year. “And then we got a little bit more serious. I was like, ‘Ok, I think I can compete this.’ And then that’s where it landed us to last week and me competing it in competition.”

The Tokyo Olympics will take place from Jul 23 to Aug 8.

Posting post-baby snapbacks have become all the norm in Hollywood. Fans are often blown away at how fast many famous women jump back into having flat and toned tummies so quickly after childbirth.

However, How to Get Away With Murder actress Aja Naomi King kept it all the way real when sharing a photo of her “gorgeous” all-natural post-baby body. The 36-year-old took to Instagram on Sunday to share a transparent photo that celebrated her entering motherhood.

“No, this is not a pregnancy Before picture. This is the After. After days of labor. After experiencing what felt like my insides being ripped apart, no lie,” she captioned a makeup and filter-free post-baby photo slide. “After experiencing the unimaginable beauty of childbirth, this is what is left behind. This Gorgeous Body,’ she added.

She shared the post as a celebration of her becoming a new mom and promoting body positivity for other women who might feel pressure to hide their healing bodies after welcoming a child.

“So in celebration of myself and my body for “Doing the Damn Thing,” I wanted to share this photo,” she continued. “No make-up, no editing, no filters (and you know I love a filter!)…Just Me…a woman in awe of her Body and her Baby!”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Aja Naomi King (@ajanaomi_king)

Her husband, Dan King, followed up her announcement by sharing the first photo of their son.

“Whoop, there he is,” he captioned the adorable father-son photo.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Dan King (@frontrowpapa)

Back in March, the Birth of A Nation actress first revealed that she was pregnant with her first child after previously suffering two miscarriages.

“This is my beautiful little rainbow baby. I’ve been so deeply moved by the women who have openly shared their miscarriages. It brought me solace in a time that was incredibly painful to know I wasn’t alone,” she revealed in the lengthy caption. “I suffered two miscarriages, and even now, trying to capture what it felt like in words is simply absurd to me because I will never have language enough for it.”