Radio Announcer Dan McNeil Fired for ‘Degrading and Humiliating’ Tweet Directed at ESPN’s Maria Taylor
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

September 17, 2020

Radio Announcer Dan McNeil Fired for ‘Degrading and Humiliating’ Tweet Directed at ESPN’s Maria Taylor

Radio host Dan McNeil has been terminated due to a degrading and humiliating social media post that was directed at a ESPN reporter Maria Taylor earlier this week, according to The Chicago Tribune.

McNeil, who was working for 670 The Score in Chicago, wrote a message on Twitter directed toward ESPN’s Taylor. On Monday, in a since-deleted Tweet, the former radio host wrote “NFL sideline reporter or a host for the AVN annual awards presentation?” along with a photograph of Taylor reporting from that night’s Pittsburgh Steelers/New York Giants game.

AVN is an abbreviation for Adult Video News.

Deadspin Senior Writer Julie DiCaro captured the tweet.

Entercom, the parent company of 670 The Score in Chicago, announced that they fired McNeil after he tweeted and then deleted the sexist and misogynist tweet about Taylor.

Regional President Rachel Williamson announced the firing with an internal memo to staff.

“For each one of us our words have power. For our brands and on-air personalities that is amplified and brings increased responsibility in how we chose to use our voices. Last night’s tweet, and its degrading and humiliating tone to a fellow female broadcaster, was unacceptable.

We have the best teams in Chicago, and we must hold ourselves to high expectations to continue to be leaders in our organization, our industry and our community. We apologize to all who were offended by Dan’s words, especially Maria.”

Taylor didn’t back down and offered McNeil a challenge.


by Derek Major

September 17, 2020

Former NFL Quarterback Peyton Manning Creates Scholarship For Students At 6 HBCUs

Former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning will sponsor six endowment scholarships at at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in Louisiana and Tennessee.

Manning grew up in Louisiana and attended the University of Tennessee. Both states have several HBCUs which are vital to the state’s cultural identity and economy.

The scholarships are named after influential individuals who have made an impact not only on their specific institutions but on the nation.

Grambling State University, located in Louisiana, will have a scholarship named after Doug Williams, who was a quarterback at the school from 1974 to 1977. Williams was also the first Black quarterback to lead his team to a Super Bowl win when he led the then-Washington Redskins to the 1988 NFL title.

Williams, now a senior vice president for the Washington Football Team, found out Manning had made the donation to the school after making a few calls to the school.

“When I asked who did this, I was told the donor wished it to be anonymous,” Williams told ESPN. “I have my connections at Grambling. I made a phone call and found out it was Peyton Manning’s foundation and it was endowing a half-dozen scholarships at historically Black colleges and universities.”

The scholarship at Tennessee State University will be named after track legend  Wilma Rudolph, the first woman to win three gold medals in the Olympics. Southern University’s scholarship will be named after Hall of Fame wide receiver Harold Carmichael, who played for the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1970s and early 1980s.

Fisk University’s scholarship will be named after Dr. Reavis L. Mitchell Jr., who taught history at Fisk for four decades and was a trusted voice on Black history before he passed away this June.

Dr. Norman Francis, who was instrumental in rebuilding the New Orleans community after Hurricane Katrina and was awarded the Presidential Medal Of Freedom, will have the scholarship at Xavier University of Louisiana named after him. Francis served as president at the university for almost 50 years.

Last, but certainly not least, is Dillard University, which will have its scholarship named after former university president and current United Negro College Fund President Dr. Michael Lomax.

Williams said that Manning should be praised for his donations to HBCUs, which could help expand the number of scholarships to HBCUs.

“I know he’s given to a lot of wonderful causes without publicity, but this was a most pleasant surprise for me,” Williams told ESPN. “I think Peyton needs to be recognized so we can expand the circle of potential donors out there for a great cause.”

by Jeffrey McKinney

September 17, 2020

Shaq and AMEX Team Up to Launch $10 Million Grant for Small Black Businesses

Black businesses could score big time by gaining $10 million in grants from a fresh program financed by credit card giant American Express and supported by former NBA player Shaquille O’Neal.

A mega-successful entrepreneur himself, O’Neal, and American Express are teaming up on “Coalition to Back Black Businesses.” It is geared to help Black-owned small businesses recover and grow after COVID-19.

Some 280 Black business owners with three to 20 people employees that are eligible will each get a $5,000 grant from the program. Applications for the grants must be submitted by  Sept. 21. Applicants must meet eligibility requirements outlined here as well.

In an interview with Business Insider this week, O’Neal talked about the program and his history of partnering with American Express on entrepreneurial and philanthropic efforts.

“They’re giving $10 million over four years to small businesses, and I think it’s a great program,” O’Neal stated. “We’re not only giving money but also guiding them and helping them with what they need to get to the next level.”

The program was announced in June by American Express. It is a first-of-its-kind collaboration between four major Black chambers: the National Black Chamber of Commerce, the National Business League, the U.S. Black Chambers Inc., and Walker’s Legacy, according to a news release. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation is among the collaborators.

Details of how Black small businesses can pursue the grants as well as the extensive eligibility guidelines were not detailed initially.

‘”Small businesses play a crucial role in our communities, and when the pandemic hit, Black-owned small businesses were hit the hardest,” stated Anré Williams, Group President, Global Merchant & Network Services, American Express. “The Coalition is aimed to provide eligible Black-owned small businesses with much-needed capital to help recover from the devastating impacts of the pandemic and help them rebuild their businesses.”


Minority-owned small firms are more likely to report trying and failing to secure a loan to help survive the economic turmoil (13% vs. 8% of non-minority businesses) and, most recently, 66% of minority-owned small businesses reported concerns about having to permanently close their business, research from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and MetLife reveals.

 

by Black Enterprise Shop

September 17, 2020

Learn How to Conquer the Stock Market Like a Wall Street Pro With This $30 Course

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by Dana Givens

September 17, 2020

Baker Botts and Official Black Wall Street to Provide $10 Million in Legal Services to Support Black Entrepreneurship

Embarking on the path of entrepreneurship, one of the most expensive costs that business owners can incur is legal expenses. In efforts to help Black entrepreneurs amid the COVID-19, or the novel coronavirus, pandemic, the Official Black Wall Street organization, a platform and directory for Black-owned businesses across various sectors within the United States, is teaming up with Baker Botts, an international technology and energy firm, to provide financial support for legal service for Black-owned businesses.

Baker Botts announced the news this week with the firm promising to commit $10 million in free legal services over the course of three years for members within the organization. “Over the past several months, we have had the opportunity to conduct a series of listening and learning sessions across our offices and with our colleagues,” said Baker Botts Managing Partner John Martin in a press statement.

“We must acknowledge the pervasive racial inequality in our society, take ownership of it, and take action to contribute something enduring to solve the problem. This strategic collaboration is one small step in that direction. Providing equitable access to legal services is a necessary part of ensuring that Black-owned businesses thrive.”

“We are excited to work with Baker Botts and their extensive network of talented attorneys,” said Founder and CEO of Official Black Wall Street, Mandy Bowman in a press statement. “Black entrepreneurs often lack the exposure and resources needed to grow a business. Familiarizing Black-owned businesses with these services will benefit them and empower the Black community through economics and ownership.”

 

 

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We’re proud to announce today that we entered a strategic collaboration with @officialblackwallstreet, an organization with a membership of more than 5,500 Black-owned businesses globally, to provide legal support to the organization’s member businesses. The firm has committed to providing $10 million of free legal services over the course of three years, contributing to the growth and development of the organization and its member businesses. “We must acknowledge the pervasive racial inequality in our society, take ownership of it, and take action to contribute something enduring to solve the problem,” said Managing Partner John Martin. “This strategic collaboration is one small step in that direction. Providing equitable access to legal services is a necessary part of ensuring that Black-owned businesses thrive.”

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Black Pastor Asks Trump ‘When Has America Been Great For African Americans?’
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

September 16, 2020

Black Pastor Asks Trump ‘When Has America Been Great For African Americans?’

ABC News hosted a town hall with President Donald Trump on Tuesday night, called “20/20” event— “The President and the People” from the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, which was anchored by ABC’s George Stephanopoulos.

According to ABC News, President Trump was given the chance to take questions from uncommitted voters in a 90-minute special from the battleground state of Pennsylvania.

One interesting moment of the town hall occurred when a Black pastor, Carl Day, questioned Trump regarding his campaign slogan “Make America Great Again.”

“You’ve coined the phrase Make America Great Again,” said Day, Raw Story reported. “When has America been great for African Americans in the ghetto of America? Are you aware of how tone-deaf that comes off to African American communities?”

Trump sidesteps the question by responding, “Well, I can say this. We have tremendous African-American support. You probably have seen it in the polls. We’re doing extremely well with African American, Hispanic-American, at levels that you’ve rarely seen a Republican have.”

To which Day says, “I mean, your statement is make it great again. “So, historically, the African American experience — especially in these ghettos that have been redlined, historically these ghettos that have systemically been set up and treated like they have been, the conditions of the drugs, the guns, and everything else that actually created the symptoms for what we see, that you profess to just be Democratic cities themselves — these things have historically been happening for African-Americans in these ghettos and we have not been seeing a change.”

“Well, I hope there’s not a race problem,” said Trump in response. “I can tell you, there’s none with me, because I have great respect for all races, for everybody. This country is great because of it. But when you go back six months and you take a look at what was happening, you can’t even compare that with past administrations.”

Watch the exchange below.

Man Who Trump Called “My African American,” Says His Life Was Upended As A Result
by Derek Major

September 16, 2020

Man Who Trump Called “My African American,” Says His Life Was Upended As A Result

Back in June 2016, then-congressional candidate and Black Republican Gregory Cheadle was at a Trump rally when one joke changed his life.

Cheadle was watching the rally from the VIP section when Trump began a soliloquy about a Black supporter who had assaulted an anti-Trump protester at an Arizona rally.  When Trump asked the crowd where the supporter was, Cheadle decided to play along and shouted, “I’m here!”

“Oh, look at my African American over here,” Trump cheerfully responded as he pointed at Cheadle. “Look at you. Are you the greatest?”

Cheadle laughed along with the crowd at the joke. Eventually, Cheadle left the rally and took a nap at a friend’s house. By the time he woke up, Cheadle’s moment had gone viral.

Cheadle told CNN when he woke up, his phone was full of messages and texts seeking interviews. But Cheadle’s phone was also full of messages from disgruntled family and friends that wanted to know why he had allowed Trump to publicly degrade him.

Both Black and white people also posted insulting remarks on his Facebook page, calling him “Uncle Tom” and the N-word and threatening to hurt him.

Cheadle soon realized one of the worst places for a Black man to be in the U.S. is as a well-known friend of Donald Trump. Cheadle told CNN the moment has completely turned his life around. Friends and family have abandoned him, he was forced to go into hiding and his girlfriend, a staunch Democrat, broke up with him, saying she no longer wanted to be seen in public with him.


Cheadle has since admitted to being bothered by some of the things Trump has done during his four years in office, including telling The Squad to “Go back to where you came from,” but still says the president is not a racist. Instead, Cheadle believes Trump has a “white superiority complex.”

Missing Alabama State University Student Adam Dowdell Found Dead
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

September 16, 2020

Missing Alabama State University Student Adam Dowdell Found Dead

A missing Black HBCU student, who hadn’t been seen since Sept. 8, has been found dead, according to Birmingham Real-Time News.

Adam Dowdell, who was 22-years-old, was attending his second year at Alabama State University in Montgomery, Alabama, and was reported missing last week when he never returned to his dorm room. His body was found on Monday.

At around 2:45 p.m. on Monday afternoon, Montgomery and ASU police responded to a report of a possible body found at the 800 block of Hutchinson Street. The body was then taken to the Alabama Department of Forensic Science for an autopsy. After further investigation, Montgomery police Capt. Saba Coleman stated that the body was officially identified as Adam Dowdell Jr.

Central Alabama Crime Stoppers on Tuesday announced a reward starting at $1,000 for information leading to an arrest in the student’s death. Coleman said the circumstances of Dowdell’s death remain under investigation. They currently have no suspects and no arrests have been made at this time as no additional information has been released.

Alabama State University President Quinton T. Ross Jr. released a statement late Monday night about Dowdell’s death. “We all had hoped for a different outcome,” Ross said. “Losing a student is always difficult, and the Hornet Nation is in mourning over his death. Our thoughts and prayers are certainly with Adam’s mother and the rest of his family and friends as they face this tragic loss.”

His mother, Toya Cohill, had been searching for Dowell for nearly a week. She and other family members had been in Montgomery since last Wednesday and remained there until learning of his death Monday.

“I’m not good,” Cohill told AL.com Tuesday. “I’m not good at all.”

Upon returning to her hotel room, she had gotten a phone call from investigators. “They said they had something to speak with me about and I could go to them or they would come to me,” she said. “I knew when they said they’d come to me it wasn’t good.”

She said she is heartbroken. “We are all so lost, our hearts have just crumbled,” she said. “I didn’t expect this. My mind is blank.”

by Dana Givens

September 16, 2020

Simone Biles Stands in Solidarity With Olympic Runner Caster Semenya After Controversial Ruling

Last week the Associated Press reported that Olympic runner Caster Semenya had lost her appeal against the Swiss supreme court over high testosterone levels that affected her eligibility to compete in major tournaments. The judges dismissed Semenya’s appeal against the Court of Arbitration for Sports‘s ruling last year that upheld the rules pertaining to the differences of sex development for female runners.

The most recent ruling was met with outrage from critics, with Olympic champion gymnast Simone Biles defending the track and field star and two-time Olympic gold medalist. Biles took to her Twitter account to express her disappointment in the court’s ruling after the news broke.

The court responded to its decision, explaining that “implicated female athletes are free to refuse treatment to lower testosterone levels. The decision also does not aim to question in any way the female sex of implicated female athletes,” according to the Associated Press 

The 29-year-old South African runner, who plans to fight against the ruling, expressed her frustration over the decision. “I am very disappointed by this ruling, but refuse to let World Athletics drug me or stop me from being who I am,” Semenya told the Associated Press..

“Excluding female athletes or endangering our health solely because of our natural abilities puts World Athletics on the wrong side of history,” she added.

Semenya also took to Twitter to declare her determination to keep going.

Black Votes Matter Fund To Deploy Voter Outreach Caravans In 12 States
by Derek Major

September 16, 2020

Black Votes Matter Fund To Deploy Voter Outreach Caravans In 12 States

The Black Voters Matter Fund (BVMF), has announced a massive voter outreach initiative seeking to engage Black voters and boost turnout as the presidential election inches closer.
BVMF said it will use radio advertisements and digital public service announcements in addition to voter caravans in order to rally and register Black voters. LaTosha Brown, who co-founded the nonprofit organization in 2016 along with political strategist Cliff Albright, believes Black Americans have a voice and part of that voice is their vote.

“We are in the midst of a historic election year, one where Americans — particularly Black Americans — face the compounding crises of a global pandemic, record-high unemployment, police brutality, and rampant voter suppression,” Brown told The Hill.

“But with the power of our votes, we can hold leaders accountable and create a path toward change in our communities. Today, we are launching this initiative to continue building that power and to help Black voters use the power of the polls this November,” added Brown, who talked about the power of the Black vote during a recent episode of Be Heard Talk.

Brown also said the radio ads will run until the day before Election Day and the group will deploy 15-passenger vans that will cover major metropolitan areas in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

The group is also teaming up with BET Networks and the National Urban League for the first-ever National  Black Voter day, which Brown described as an “effort to demystify the voting process for Black citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

BVMF will also co-host the Hip-Hop Political Education Summit, featuring Sen. Cory Booker  (D-N.J.), Princeton University professor Cornel West, and Georgetown University professor Michael Eric Dyson later this month.

Black athletes, celebrities, and musicians have started voting initiatives to increase Black voter turnout as many feel Black Americans choosing not to vote in the 2016 election is one of the ways President Trump won the election. Trump even bragged the low Black turnout in the 2016 election helped him win.

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