Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris promised that if she and Joe Biden are elected, they would make college free for low-income students.

Harris made the promise Thursday at a roundtable discussion held at Florida Memorial University, saying students whose family makes less than $125,000 a year will receive free tuition and pledged student-loan debt forgiveness for some graduates of HBCUs.

“In relation to the history of HBCUs, [students] decide to take on a profession of service, which often does not pay as well as if they go into the private sector and do other things,” Harris said, according to MarketWatch. “So for those students who come out and have jobs that pay less than $125,000, student-loan debt will also be forgiven.”

Harris also promised to invest $70 billion in HBCUs and make two-year college programs free for low-income Americans.

“We want to support our young people for whatever they pursue by way of education after high school,” Harris said. “For some that will be a college and university, for some, it will be a two-year program, or an apprenticeship, or something of that nature, and we want to make sure that we support them in that quest.”

The coronavirus pandemic has wreaked havoc on universities, college students, and their families. Universities are struggling with containing the virus while dealing with significant budget shortfalls.

Jaffus Hardrick, president of Florida Memorial University, told Harris the university is “literally working on a shoestring budget,” due to the economic decline caused by the pandemic.

Meanwhile, college students have had to deal with returning to campus, studying from and living at home, taking gap years to help family, and watching the career they’ve been working toward fall apart due to the pandemic.

Several companies, including McDonald’s and Hewlett-Packard as well as former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, have donated money or resources to help HBCUs this fall.

• Business

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

September 14, 2020

National Black Farmers Association Calls for Boycott of John Deere

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Update: John Deere reached out to us with the following statement about the National Black Farmers Association and to share this press release announcing a coalition with the National Black Growers Council and the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund to “preserve heirs’ rights in rural communities, while also expanding additional work needed to improve the livelihoods of Black farmers”:

“In the past six years, John Deere has supported the NBFA through equipment donation, attendance at conferences and sponsorship of the 2019 annual conference. John Deere is committed to invest resources to eliminate systemic barriers facing Black farmers and communities, and will continue to do so through our continued partnership with organizations like the National Black Growers Council, Minorities in Ag, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANNRS), and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF).”  

“We remain committed to these organizations, the additional partners with whom we work, as well as Black farmers and the communities they represent.”

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John Deere, the world’s leading manufacturer of farm equipment, takes pride in its corporate values of “integrity, quality, commitment, innovation.” But the nearly 200-year-old American industrial giant apparently cares little for equality and inclusiveness.

Year after year the National Black Farmers Association (NBFA) has invited the Deere company to display its equipment at the NBFA’s annual conference. Repeatedly John Deere executives have curtly declined the invitation.

“John Deere has shown throughout its history that it has little respect for Black farmers. The company seems to view our invitations as a nuisance,” said NBFA President John Boyd. “I have reached out to Mr. John May, president of John Deere, numerous times to discuss the issues raised by the NBFA. Mr. May’s response is ‘I decline your invitation,'” which is unacceptable.

With 116,000 members in 42 states, the NBFA represents a substantial customer base for John Deere. Many farmers would relish the opportunity to see firsthand the new and emerging farm technology that is developed to enhance their performance and productivity. But the company continues to participate at predominantly white farm shows and events while snubbing the black farmers’ events. Deere has never displayed any of its equipment—not even a lawn mower. John Deere denies Black farmers the respect and dignity they deserve, reflecting the level of disdain that is still widely prevalent in agricultural industries.

Since the racial unrest spurred by the merciless killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police on Memorial Day and the shooting of Jason Blake in Wisconsin last month, many sectors of American society have recently taken actions to address the shameful racial disparities in treatment and opportunities that plague people of color. Needed change seems to be rising, especially in this year of the nation’s racial reckoning, when protests have roiled cities and towns. But not at John Deere.

The National Black Farmers Association (NBFA) members deserve the very same treatment as the Farm Bureau, whose members enjoy discounts on John Deere purchases. “Service call inquiries to John Deere equipment from Black farmers is much slower than their white counterparts,” said Boyd. “We buy tractors and John Deere parts as well. We deserve to be treated with dignity and respect not as a nuisance.”

“We announce a boycott of John Deere. We are asking all NBFA members to stop buying John Deere tractors, implements, mowers, and parts,” Boyd said. “We are now open to new relationships with companies who value the work of NBFA members.”

Source: National Black Farmers Association via PRNewswire

In his latest podcast, retired Harvard professor Steven Rogers departed from his usual format to focus on “the business” of helping Black people respond to the alarming number of casualties from police shootings.

“I do not believe there is any value at this time to tell Black people to suppress their anger and hurt until the voting booths open in November,” asserts Rogers, discarding recent statements made by numerous Black politicians and entertainers. “My advice is that Black people should be authentic and own these feelings. Continue to march and protest.”

In dealing with the “multi-step grieving process,” the leading Black business authority and BlackEnterprise.com contributor urges African Americans to “not let any one hoodwink you into trying to skip important steps in the process of grief when a Black man has been lynched by a white cop.”

Rogers usually uses his incisive, witty “Lessons on Black Excellence in Business” podcast to offer advice on areas such as startup financing, operational excellence, and strategic management. A recent episode aptly titled, “Say it Loud, I’m Black And I’m Proud…And I’m Angry And Hurting“—merging the lyrics from R&B legend James Brown’s 1968 classic with a statement from his daughter and co-host, Ariel, that echoes the sentiment of Black people nationwide—was designed to help listeners cope with the painful history of brutal and systemic acts of racism.

He shares his own unshakeable anguish over examples of inhumanity: “I still hurt and grieve from hearing as an 11-year-old my mother crying in her bedroom 52 years ago when the news reported that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had been murdered. I still hurt and grieve from attending a church service at Mother Emanuel Church in Charleston, South Carolina, 100 days after a white man murdered nine black parishioners during a prayer service meeting in 2015. And I still hurt and grieve from the photo that I saw of a black family—a father, a mother, and two children—lynched, hanging from a tree by their necks when I visited the lynching museum last year in Montgomery, Alabama.”

In the podcast, Rogers suggests listeners engage in four actions to help African Americans find spiritual upliftment, combat racism, and gain economic empowerment. For instance, he encourages them to “love the Black community” by patronizing those firms that develop products and services that benefit Black consumers and donate to Black causes. “Remember the greatest private sector employer of Black people are Black-owned businesses.”

Real estate investor Lisa Phillips says the 70% of Black investors who feel that their race affects their real estate opportunities is startling to some but very accurate. She says it means that most Black investors are actively navigating the racial burden of trying to invest in addition to the complexities of building a portfolio. “The consequences of that is a much higher burden to obtain just even the same results of bridging the wealth gap,” she says.

Phillips says it is a big deal because it shows that Black investors need to ensure they are deliberately going to sources for funding, education, and opportunities, such as funds and investment groups that understand these nuances. These are generally Black-owned investment platforms that will speak to these issues in a way that mainstream real estate investing platforms cannot articulate. She added this is one way of ensuring the racialized component does not inhibit the accessibility of the Black investor.

• Lifestyle

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

September 13, 2020

Meet the All-Black Female Fishing Team From North Carolina Who Are Making History

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The Ebony Anglers, an all-Black female fishing team from Morehead, North Carolina, have recently made history after winning in the King Mackerel division of the Spanish Mackerel & Dolphin Tournament. This is the first major tournament that they’ve ever competed in.

Gia Peebles, a salon owner and entrepreneur, first thought of the idea of forming the group after she and her husband watched the annual Big Rock Fishing Tournament last June.

“When I saw women of all ages coming from their fishing boats with fish and winning prizes, I noticed that there were no women of color competing,” Peebles told Spectacular Magazine. “I said to myself, ‘We can do this. I already know accomplished women who are leaders and know how to win in other aspects of their lives. We can do this.’”

She then reached out to the women who are also entrepreneurs including festival owner and educator Lesleigh Mausi, nail tech entrepreneur Glenda Turner, digital marketing specialist & editorial model Bobbiette Palmer, and Gourmet Catering Company owner Tiana Davis.

As a competitive women’s fishing team, they reeled in a 48 lb. King Mackerel in their first competition, earning them the coveted citation from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.

Now, they are preparing to compete in qualifying events until 2021 and hopefully join the Big Rock Blue Marlin Fishing Tournament in June 2021.

This article was originally published by BlackNews.com.

• Lifestyle

by Dana Givens

September 13, 2020

How This Riding Club Is Preserving The Legacy Of Black Cowboys

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When one thinks of a cowboy or a cowgirl, a Black person may not be the first image that comes to mind. Despite being erased from most history books, the legacy of the Black cowboy and cowgirl has a strong culture throughout the country, particularly the South.

One group is continuing its fight to preserve the heritage of these unsung heroes, even through the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Circle L Five Riding Club is the oldest Black riding club in Texas and a staple within the Fort Worth community for over 70 years. Founded in 1951, the founders wanted to create a club where they ccould keep their cowboy traditions alive during Jim Crow.

“They came up with the club name as they were sitting in a circle talking about organizing a riding club. [Ed] “Pop” Landers (one of the founders of the riding club) had a stick in his hand and made a circle in the dirt,” said Marcellous “Mo” Anderson, president of Circle L 5, in an email interview with BLACK ENTERPRISE. 

“They decided on ‘Circle,’ and, as it was Lander’s idea, they used his last name’s initial ‘L.’ Since it was just the five of them, they came up with the name Circle L 5 Riding Club. ‘Pop’ Landers had the vision and desire to create the riding club’s existence because he wanted to be able to ride as a Black cowboy in any parade or rodeo he desired.”

Despite numerous attempts to derail the group, including an incident during the Fort Worth Stock Show during segregation where many of the riders faced discrimination from their White counterparts, the members are committed to preserving their culture while showing others in the Black community that riding horses and being a cowboy or cowgirl isn’t just in White culture.

“Black Cowboys go back to the very beginning of American cowboy history when groups of men on horseback would take months-long trail drives from their hometowns–usually in Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, California, North Dakota, or South Dakota–to connect with Midwestern railroads, herding their cattle along the way,” Anderson explained.

“The journeys were long and dangerous, and whether you were Black, White, or Mexican, you slept in the same spaces, ate the same food, performed the same tasks, and took the same risks. Those who survived the journeys formed bonds that would last a lifetime.”

Although the spread of COVID-19 has canceled all club events for the rest of the year, Anderson says that still hasn’t deterred riders from spending time with their horses.

“Once we get down here, we wear our masks and social distance while taking care of our horses,” he says.

• Health and Wellness

by Dana Givens

September 12, 2020

Dr. Anthony Harris On How Employers And Managers Can Support Employee’s Mental Health Issues Amid COVID-19

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For Mental Health Awareness week, BLACK ENTERPRISE is interviewing numerous individuals within the wellness community to talk about the racial disparities that affect the Black community in the hopes of creating a safe place to talk about mental health. 

According to the World Economic Forum, 1 in 4 Americans has reported issues with depression and anxiety as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The rate of cases of adults dealing with mental health-related issues since COVID-19 climbed to 27.8% by mid-April 2020. Finances have been attributed to one of the leading causes of driving their depression as a result of job loss from the viral outbreak.

Dr. Anthony Harris is the chief innovation officer and associate medical director for WorkCare, a physician-directed occupational health company aimed at helping businesses practice healthy procedures and attitudes in the workplace, including mental health. In an interview with BLACK ENTERPRISE, Dr. Harris discusses how businesses and managers have had to learn to work with their employees who may be struggling internally due to the public health crisis.

BE: How can business owners be there for employees who are dealing with mental health issues?

• Black Lives Matter

by Derek Major

September 12, 2020

A Judge Asked Harvard To Find Out Why So Many Black Residents Are In Prison, Guess What They Found

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When a judge tasked researchers at Harvard University to explain why Massachusetts’ Black and Latinx incarceration was so high, a four-year study came up with one conclusion: systemic racism.

In 2016, Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Ralph Gants asked Harvard researchers to “take a hard look at how we can better fulfill our promise to provide equal justice for every litigant.”

Harvard researchers gathered the raw numbers from nearly every government agency in the state’s criminal justice system, examined the data, and researched the disparate outcomes to reach a conclusion Black and Latino men and women in the state already knew.

Harvard Law School’s Criminal Justice Policy Program found that Blacks and Latinos defendants in the state received more severe charges, harsher sentences, and less favorable outcomes than their white counterparts.

Researchers looked at more than one million cases, from the initial charges through conviction and sentencing and discovered disparities that blew their minds.

“White people make up roughly 74% of the Massachusetts population while accounting for 58.7% of cases in our data,” the study explained. “Meanwhile, Black people make up just 6.5% of the Massachusetts population and account for 17.1% of cases.”

Researchers found those numbers are the result of a criminal justice system that treats Black and Latino people unfairly on every level.

Cops in the state are more likely to stop Black and Latino drivers and search or investigate Black and Latino residents. Police charge Black and Latino suspects with infractions that carry harsher penalties and are less likely to offer a plea deal or pre-trial intervention. Judges also sentence Black and Latino defendants to longer prison sentences.

The study also found the average White felon in the state has committed a more severe crime than the average Black inmate.

Researchers also looked at poverty rates, the family structures of convicted felons, and the neighborhoods they lived in. Eventually, they decided systemic racism was the only explanation.

One thing the researchers could not figure out through the data was why Black people are always initially charged with more serious crimes than white people.

Researchers initially thought it was because Black suspects commit worse crimes than white people, but the data disproved that assumption. They also thought prosecutors may be overzealous when it came to convicting violent cases but the data debunked that theory as well.

When they looked at convictions however, they found Black people were surprisingly less likely to be convicted than white people. Basically, a white person has to have done something egregious to be charged while a Black person just has to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

• Business

by Derek Major

September 12, 2020

Starbucks Has Officially Abandoned Plastic Straws For Iced Beverages

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Starbucks is following up on its commitment to get rid of plastic straws and is bringing in its long-awaited “sippy cup” lids for iced beverages.

The coffee giant announced in July 2018 it would begin phasing out plastic straws from all its stores by 2020, the modified plastic lid with a drinking spout is now making its official debut.

However, blended beverages, including frappuccinos, and other drinks with whipped cream will still come with a domed lid. In places where plastic straws are prohibited by local law, straws with alternative materials will be used.

The straw-free lids will be fully adopted in company-operated and licensed Starbucks stores in both the United States and Canada by the end of the month. The new lids contain 9% less plastic than Starbucks previous flat lid and straw combination. The lids are also made of polypropylene, a commonly accepted recyclable plastic.

“Recyclable, strawless lids for customers across the US and Canada is another step in our journey to reduce our environmental footprint,” Michael Kobori, Starbucks’ chief sustainability officer told CNN. “As we move closer toward our 2030 target of a 50 percent reduction in waste sent to landfills, the long-standing history of innovation within Starbucks, partnership across the industry and changing consumer behavior remain fundamental to our purpose and our prosperity as an organization.”

Plastic straws have been known to increase ocean pollution and microplastics can harm marine wildlife. Starbucks say it’s trying to eliminate more than one billion plastic straws per year.

Miami Beach, Florida; Monmouth Beach, New Jersey, Oakland and Berkeley, California, have all banned the use of disposable plastic straws.

A 2020 study by the academic journal Science Advances said that as of 2015, only 9% of plastics are being recycled, 12% is incinerated and the other 79% ends up in the environment.

Meet 51-year old Lashawn Flowers and her 35-year old daughter, Shanita Vickers, the new owners of the only Black-owned gas station in Hollywood, Florida, and possibly the only Black-owned gas station in all of South Florida. As Shell franchisees, they are making history as women entrepreneurs and causing quite a stir on social media.

Lashawn and her daughter, who both grew up in Deerfield Beach, Florida, began their roots in entrepreneurship as the owners of a local hair and nail salon called Girlz Collectionz and later a local bar and nightclub called Groove City Bar & Lounge, which is currently closed because of the pandemic. Having to pivot sparked the idea of purchasing a gas station.

“We actually purchased two Shell gas stations,” says Lashawn. “We were able to negotiate a two-for-one deal.”

She says the process of purchasing two franchises was not hard, but it was a fairly tedious process. After completing a credit application, she had to prove that financially she really did have the capital to complete the purchase. The whole process, however, took just three weeks.

Keeping it in the family

Lashawn says that she and her daughter are partners in this business, and are partners in their other businesses as well.

“I really value having a family-owned business because family is who you can trust,” she says. “My daughter, Shanita, is a wonderful mom of two beautiful children and also a phenomenal entrepreneur who is awesome to work with. We work well together because we understand each other.”

Hard work pays off

But having her daughter at her side doesn’t mean that she underestimates the value of hard work. “I don’t believe in failing in anything I do,” Lashawn adds. “If you don’t work your business, it won’t be a success. You absolutely must put in the hard work.”

Their work ethic is already paying off because they are already receiving on-air shout outs from the likes of Rickey Smiley, not to mention that their story has already gone viral on social media which has sparked a huge influx of new customers.

Their Shell gas station is located at 2501 North University Drive, Hollywood, FL 33034, and they are already planning to open their second gas station in early 2021 possibly in West Palm Beach.