Walmart Bans White Couple Wearing Swastika Face Coverings From Stores For A Year
Many businesses mandate customers to wear face coverings in order to enter their stores. One white couple in Marshall, Minnesota, felt compelled to adhere to that protocol by wearing face coverings emblazoned with Nazi swastikas while casually shopping at a Walmart. As a result, Walmart banned the couple from its store for a year, according to ABC News.
This past Saturday, Facebook user Raphaela Mueller, posted a video showing the customers freely wearing the face coverings at Walmart.
“I was speechless,” Mueller told ABC News of the incident. “I couldn’t believe my eyes. I turned to my partner and said, ‘Wow, did I just see that right?'”
Mueller said she felt the need to say and do something based on her own personal family history.
“My great-grandmother fought in the Underground Resistance against the first wave of Nazis and risked her life for other people,” she said. “I had that underlying knowledge in my head of, ‘Wow, if I don’t say anything now, what did she risk her life for?'”
In a statement to CNN, Delia Garcia, a spokeswoman for Walmart, said that the couple has been banned from the store for at least one year.
“What happened at our store in Marshall, MN is unacceptable,” Garcia stated. “We strive to provide a safe and comfortable shopping environment for all our customers and will not tolerate any form of discrimination or harassment in any aspect of our business. We are asking everyone to wear face coverings when they enter our stores for their safety and the safety of others and it’s unfortunate that some individuals have taken this pandemic as an opportunity to create a distressing situation for customers and associates in our store.”
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz reacted via Twitter.
Disgraceful, plain and simple. Thank you to the bystanders who stood up to this unacceptable, hate-fueled behavior.https://t.co/KaGfGFywuA
Republican Sen. Tom Cotton Writes That Slavery ‘Was the Necessary Evil Upon Which the Union Was Built’
A Republican senator from Arkansas described the enslavement of Africans in the United States as “the necessary evil upon which the union was built,” according to CNN.
“The entire premise of the New York Times’ factually, historically flawed 1619 Project … is that America is at root, a systemically racist country to the core and irredeemable. I reject that root and branch,” Cotton said. “America is a great and noble country founded on the proposition that all mankind is created equal. We have always struggled to live up to that promise, but no country has ever done more to achieve it.”
“We have to study the history of slavery and its role and impact on the development of our country because otherwise, we can’t understand our country. As the Founding Fathers said, it was the necessary evil upon which the union was built, but the union was built in a way, as Lincoln said, to put slavery on the course to its ultimate extinction,” he said.
Cotton later backtracks a little on his original statement via his Twitter account when he stated that the view of the founders “is not endorsing or justifying slavery.”
More lies from the debunked 1619 Project.
Describing the *views of the Founders* and how they put the evil institution on a path to extinction, a point frequently made by Lincoln, is not endorsing or justifying slavery.
You said, quote: “As the Founding Fathers said, it was the necessary evil upon which the union was built.” That “as” denotes agreement. Further, if by path to extinction you mean growing the enslaved poP from 500k to 4 million at Civil War, a war fought over slavery, then, ok. https://t.co/22c94wWhni
Gospel Singer Kierra ‘Kiki’ Sheard on Building A Legacy and Making Bold Moves In Business
When you hail from a powerful lineage of gospel royalty, preserving and protecting your legacy can never be taken lightly. Grammy and Stellar Award-winning gospel artist, actress, and fashion designer Kierra “KiKi” Sheard is no exception. The Detroit native is the daughter of renowned gospel singer Karen Clark Sheard of The Clark Sisters and the granddaughter of legendary gospel choral director Mattie Moss Clark.
Sheard co-starred and portrayed her mother in the hit Lifetime movie The Clark Sisters: The First Ladies of Gospel. The biopic premiered earlier this year with 2.7 million viewers, making it Lifetime’s highest-rated movie since 2016. Sheard, however, almost passed over the role, but thankfully with the sound advice of those closest to her, she decided to go forward.
Musically, she recently dropped her latest album KIERRA (Karew Entertainment / RCA Inspiration) which garnered more than 3 million streams in its first week and debuted at No. 1 on several industry charts. As always, she’s bossing up with her fashion line, Eleven60, available at Macys.com. As a full-figured woman, Sheard designs from the consumer’s perspective. “Full-figured consumers have often complained that it is difficult to find quality clothing in their size.” The brand celebrates its fifth anniversary this year. And speaking of celebratory milestones, the recent announcement of her engagement to Jordan Kelly only confirms with overwhelming evidence that indeed she’s blessed and highly favored.
Kierra Sheard and her fiance Jordan Kelly (Photo Credit: Mel B. Elder, Jr.)
During this unprecedented time in our history—it is necessary to nurture healthy and meaningful conversations around issues like inequality, injustice, and systemic racism. Moreover, we need to include conversations that under-gird the progression and perpetual advancement of our culture and that is—legacy.
The late Dr. Mattie Moss Clark was creating a legacy through the music ministry of her daughters. Some may recall (in the Lifetime movie), the isolated incident when the oldest Clark sister (Twinkie) sold her music catalog to purchase a car. Thankfully, the catalog was retrieved several years later. Today, their music has inspired millions and has been sampled by Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter and others in the industry, according to Sheard.
Generational progression is important, especially as African Americans. “I would like to have things for my unborn children, nieces, and nephews so that they don’t have to work as hard as I am working.”
She references other family legacies like the Marriott’s in how they established their business, positioned their family, and build a legacy so that each generation can be covered. She believes that the next generation can be covered if the “now” generation handles it well. When these principles are instilled and passed down in our businesses, it helps the family to be recession-proof, stabilized, and less apt to stress and angst. “The suffering will not have to be so heavy when we can think about and plan for tomorrow and not just today.” Her grandfather taught her a valuable principle in economics: “if you spend a dollar, keep a quarter.” In other words, do not spend every dime that you have but prepare for tomorrow (the future).
Sheard says that this goes beyond money and emphasizes that building legacy gives your family something to stand for and on. For example, she was able to identify her gift with the legacy that was already set in her family. Here are some legacy-building qualities that I gleaned from the award-winning gospel singer.
Tenacity
The relentless spirit of Dr. Mattie Moss Clark is unequivocal and unapologetic. Sheard witnessed her mother and grandmother stick to their guns when it came to their passion and creativity and did not let anybody sway them.
Honor
Making sure that everyone is honored and that there is a standard. When it comes to her music, she is not just out there performing for herself but always keeping top of mind of those who paved the way for her. It is not a selfish, but selfless act.
Covering
In doing business with family, there may be some disagreements here and there, but the beautiful aspect is, depending on how healthy your family relationships are, no one is going to cover you like each other. It is a different kind of closeness when you share the same blood.
Collaborate
If you are building a legacy in business, learn how to stay in your lane and do not get off track. Embrace the unique opportunities to stretch and grow together. Adopt effective ways to communicate because with family, if things get “too personal,” then that can present a larger problem within itself.
As we concluded our interview, this is additional advice that Kiki shares on life, business and legacy:
Count The Cost
My grandfather always asked if I really needed it, or was it just a fleeting trend. Today, I am still often teased about the amount of questions that I ask! I do this because I desire to gain enough knowledge to make an informed decision.
Stay Clear Of Competition
This holds true especially in the era of social media because we’re always comparing ourselves. “Comparison is the thief of joy”—you can completely get off track and feel that you are inadequate or don’t have what it takes to be successful. My grandmother (Dr. Mattie Moss Clark) wanted it big for her daughters but always encouraged them to be true to who they were.
The Right Relationships
Although my grandmother experienced two failed marriages, currently there are strong marriages in my family—such as aunts and parents. For me personally, it is not about what a spouse would look like; but more so, does he have God in his heart. Choosing the right one can catapult you and choosing the wrong one can plummet you quickly. Therefore, surround yourself with destiny-driven and supportive relationships.
The Chamber of Commerce Urges Banking Committee To Pass Diversity Bill
The Chamber of Commerce has sent a letter signed by more than 15 banking groups to the Committee on Banking Housing and Urban Affairs urging them to pass H.R. 5084.
The Act will require certain issuers of securities to disclose the racial, ethnic, and gender composition of their boards of directors and executive officers and the status of any of those directors and officers as a veteran. The bill would also require the disclosure of any plan to promote racial, ethnic, and gender diversity among these groups.
The bill passed the House with bipartisan support in November, less than a week after it was introduced, but has been stuck in the Senate since.
According to PricewaterhouseCooper’s 2019 Annual Corporate Directors Survey, 94% of board directors surveyed indicated a diverse board brings unique perspectives, 87% responded that diversity enhances board performance, and 84% responded it improves relationships with investors. Additionally, 76% of directors agree that board diversity enhances the performance of the company.
“Our associations and members support efforts to increase gender, racial, and ethnic diversity on corporate boards of directors,” the letter states. “As diversity has become increasingly important to institutional investors, pension funds, and other stakeholders.”
The Chamber added the bill “would establish a model to organically boost diversity on boards through disclosure,” and would also establish an advisory group to conduct a study and provide recommendations on private sector strategies to increase gender, racial, and ethnic diversity among boards of directors.
The letter comes two weeks after the Chamber launched its Equality For Opportunity Agenda, calling for immediate, bold actions to close race-based opportunity gaps in finance.
“Closing opportunity gaps will require a large-scale, coordinated effort bringing together businesses of all sizes and sectors, leaders at the local, state, and federal levels, and academic and nonprofit partners,” said Suzanne Clark, president of the Chamber. “Two weeks ago, we convened the business community to listen and learn—now it’s time to act. We believe the business community can serve as a catalyst for addressing these longstanding, systemic challenges.
Serita Jakes, Wife of T.D. Jakes, Launches Home Collection Line to Help Others Create Sacred Space
With a calming presence that quietly and confidently commands peace, strength, and grace, Serita Jakes, wife of Bishop TD Jakes, is internationally beloved. As a parent, grandparent, ministry leader, and entrepreneur, she has had to learn how to thrive as an introvert in an extroverted world. The wave of her leadership impact has rippled into millions of lives around the world. Her voice is relevant, welcomed, and offers peace-filled solutions. Serita Jakes Home is an inviting and refreshing lifestyle brand that reflects and captures her core values, authentic persona, and all that she holds dear.
“I have always loved coming home and as our family grew, my goal was to always ensure that our home was a sanctuary—a sacred space of happiness and serenity.” ~Serita Jakes | Serita Jakes Home
As her husband would travel for ministry throughout the years, she would tuck a little token away in his luggage—a candle, loving note, or some simple reminder of home to put his mind at ease. In the wake of heightened panic and accelerated uncertainty, it is reassuring to know that there are inspired solutions that support and serve the total person—particularly the soul (mind, will, and emotions.)
Now with Serita Jakes Home, she has opened her home through an inspirational line of decor and accessories curated to introduce an aura of domestic excellence and give others the opportunity to create their own sacred spaces of serenity and style. The collection offers a sensory delight and lifestyle experience through smell, touch, and texture, ushering in an inviting presence that soothes the soul and invokes tranquility. The newest candle, “Adoration,” boasts a sweet and feminine aroma derived from hibiscus floral, freesia, vetiver, and peony that empowers any room or space.
In an interview with BLACK ENTERPRISE, Jakes shared briefly why sacred spaces are especially important, especially during the present pandemic and time of quarantine and how to nurture those sacred spaces in business and in life. According to her, no one else can create and control this space but you.
“It’s important that everyone has a sense of rest no matter where they are in life. We need to always have a place where we’re safe.” ~Serita Jakes | Serita Jakes HOME
Centering – the ability to be at peace within yourself. And for me, it is the ultimate sacred space where I can simply commune with God. Your sacred space is not limited by physical location—it can be transported to your car or while you are “masked up” while grocery shopping.
Finding – a quiet space inwardly so that it will radiate outwardly. This applies within those of your own household (that you live with every day) or even conducting a Zoom call online as you’re engaging in business activity.
Creating – a circle of love and peace, not creating harm or terror. This applies to personal and business relationships alike. Our world is riddled with symbols and acts of hatred—now is always the time to perpetuate love and promote peace.
Gathering – this includes your thoughts, your tears, your laughter—and bringing them into an internal place within (sacred space.) There is where you are giving your soul permission to process change and embrace healing.
Lastly, Jakes left us with some sound words of wisdom and practical advice on how to nurture and protect our sacred spaces such as:
Acknowledge Your Sacred Space – you are allowed to have a sacred space. Therefore, you have to guard it. Do not allow just anyone to come in and evade your territorial bubble.
Decide Who’s Worthy of Access – your space is comprised of layers. Therefore, use wisdom and invite people in with caution. For example, I do not develop deep, deep relationships with anyone that I cannot nurture through their hard times.
Without question, these are unparalleled times but may peace, serenity and sacredness remain a permanent resident in your heart and soul.
Sen. Chuck Schumer Calls to Extend $600 Weekly Unemployed Benefits To 2021
Sen. Chuck Schumer wants to see the $600 a week federal unemployment insurance extended until Jan. 31, 2021, but added Senate Democrats have been ignored.
According to Forbes, Senate Democrats have been left out on what the future of federal unemployment will look like. Senate Republicans are still working on their second coronavirus relief bill Monday, in which the federal unemployment benefit would be cut from $600 to $200.
“Leader McConnell—stop the dithering, start negotiating. Put a bill on the floor of the Senate ASAP,” Schumer said Sunday during a briefing, adding that Democrats will fight “tooth and nail” to make sure there are no cuts to Social Security or Medicare in the bill.
Schumer said, “there have been no negotiations” whatsoever between Democrats in the Senate and Republicans over what will be put into the next stimulus package. The $200 figure comes from Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin who said that future unemployment payments will be based on a “70% wage replacement.”
The House has already passed and released its second coronavirus relief package. In it, the $600 weekly benefit will be extended through January 2021.
The eviction moratorium established by the federal CARES Act also ran out last week, meaning as many as 24 million U.S. families are behind on rent are at risk of losing their housing. White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow said Sunday the Senate’s proposal for the next stimulus bill, CARES 2, includes “plans to lengthen the federal eviction moratorium.”
Republicans have also announced a second $1,200 stimulus check will be included in the bill. The first stimulus check was sent in March. The total package is expected to cost around $1 trillion, a third of the price tag for the bill that passed the House. The White House announced it will meet with Democrats on the bill to discuss the package, but the parties differ significantly on specifics they’d like to see in the bill.
Black Trump Supporter Killed Execution Style in Milwaukee
A Milwaukee Black man, who was well-known for his support of President Donald Trump, was shot and killed by an unknown person in Wisconsin late last week, according to The New York Post.
Authorities have said that political activist, Bernell Trammell, who was 60, was sitting outside his publishing company when a vehicle pulled up in front of his storefront and someone shot and killed him execution-style. Despite being an avid Trump supporter, Trammell advocated for the Black Lives Matter movement reports the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. He also supported progressive Democrat Lena Taylor in her run for mayor.
“It is tragic to learn of the senseless murder of Bernell Trammell, and I offer my sincere condolences to his family and friends. Because of Trammell’s well known political activism and the possibility that his murder could be politically motivated, I respectfully request that United States Attorney Matthew Krueger open an investigation into this heinous crime. No American should fear for their personal safety because of where they live or their political affiliation.”
Milwaukee police officials have confirmed that the fatal shooting took place at 12:31 p.m. on the 900 block of East Wright Street, near North Bremen Street. Trammell had been running his store, eXpressions Journal, a political and spiritual publication with an office at 915 E. Wright St.
Fox News’ conservative commentator Laura Ingraham has suggested that Black Lives Matter supporters were overlooking Trammell’s death.
Where’s Rev. Al? Where’s BLM? “Black Trump supporter Bernell Trammell shot dead in Milwaukee” https://t.co/9pGF6wjb5V
Video Shows White Woman Blocking Black Postmates Driver From Los Angeles Apartment Building
Another white woman has been caught on video confronting a Black delivery worker and questioning his existence at an apartment building where he was making a delivery for a resident, according to NewsOne.
This latest viral incident has occurred in the City of Angels, Los Angeles. The white woman was seen stopping a Black food delivery man from entering her apartment building.
The Postmates delivery worker, Jordan Myke Gipson, posted the clip of the encounter on his Instagram page where he is seen being confronted by the white woman.
Video footage of the encounter shows Gipson making a Postmates delivery to a resident in a building in LA’s Westwood neighborhood when he was confronted by the woman at the entrance.
The delivery company, Postmates, responded to the action of the woman via its Twitter account.
Like others seeing this video, we’re completely appalled by this event that took place. Postmates denounces racism, and is committed to the safety of everyone using our platform. Please know we are looking into this incident and in the process of reaching out to the courier.
Gipson, who never lost his cool during the whole ordeal, stated that he really filmed the interaction to protect himself in case the woman called the police on him.
“I didn’t want to get arrested,” he said. “It was a white woman, and just how things are going now, I didn’t know how it would transpire.
“Situations like the situation I was in…they don’t make you. They don’t break you,” he said. “They should just be something you went through. Resilience is power.”
BET, the NUL, and Other Civil Rights Orgs Announce National Black Voter Day
BET, the National Urban League, and other key civil rights organizations, announced the first-ever National Black Voter Day on Sept. 18.
According to the cable channel, the day will aid Black citizens against suppression tactics and ensure that their vote counts in the various elections taking place in November. The event is part of BET’s #ReclaimYourVote campaign and the announcement comes exactly 100 days from Election Day on Nov. 3, 2020.
“We are rallying all the resources and relationships we have to mitigate the undeniable efforts being made to disenfranchise the African American community, a voting bloc ubiquitously understood to influence elections. We will use the current momentum of the fight against systemic racism to galvanize those marching in protest to march to the polls in November,” BET Networks President Scott Mills said.
Launched this year, the #ReclaimYourVote campaign focuses on easing the voting process for Black Americans during the coronavirus pandemic. With help from the National Urban League, the campaign will break down the necessary steps to register as a voter. This will include securing and checking voter registration, making a voting plan, and encouraging friends and family to vote.
BET will also launch a wave of content, programming, and initiatives leading up to National Black Voter Day to increase awareness of the power of the Black vote. In 2017, Black people were four times more likely than their white counterparts to report experiencing racial discrimination when trying to vote or participate in politics, according to the Center for American Progress.
“We have witnessed attempts to exclude Black Americans from the voting process through the purging of registration rolls, restrictive voter ID laws and other forms of voter suppression, a legacy of Jim Crow,” said BET’s Chief Social Impact and Communications Officer Jeanine Lilburd.
The #ReclaimYourVote campaign also includes the NAACP, Color of Change, When We All Vote, Black Voters Matter, and others.
ESPN’s Ryan Smith To Host Burrell Communications Virtual Town Hall
Burrell Communications Group announced it will host a virtual town hall titled, “Black Lives Have Always Mattered to Us.”
According to a release, the town hall will take place Thursday, July 30 at 2 p.m. EST and will be hosted by ESPN/ABC News correspondent Ryan Smith. The town hall will serve as an open forum to generate further dialogue around issues that not only impact Black marketing and communications professionals but the African American community at large.
“Now more than ever, the importance of multicultural marketing cannot be denied,” McGhee Williams Osse, co-CEO, Burrell Communications Group said in the release.
Panelists for the event include Tracy Anderson, Burrell Communications vice-president/account director; Jeffery Fortune, senior account planner for account planning/research; Brandi Rand, associate social media director; Brittny Pharr, account director and Corey Seaton, vice president, and creative director.
The town hall comes at a time where police reform and brutality are at the forefront of topics in America. The police killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor have sparked protests nationwide and abroad. The protests, which started in May, are still going and have only gained momentum as President Trump sends federal troops to Portland and Seattle.
The virtual town hall, hosted by Burrell Communications, will hit on all these topics as well as what’s next for Black-owned businesses and how to market and succeed in a tumultuous time.
The panelists will also discuss the coronavirus pandemic, which is disproportionately affecting Black Americans. A survey by the Census Bureau shows, more than 45% of Black and Latino respondents have no chance of paying their rent for the month of August.
Additionally, the infection and death rates from the coronavirus are higher for Latinos and Black Americans due to societal issues such as lower-income jobs, an inability to work from home, and more reliance on public transportation.
