My Black Receipt Campaign Generates $5 Million For Black Businesses
The ongoing protests against police brutality and racial injustices have pressured major corporations to address these issues by using their massive fortunes to advance social change and provide more opportunities for marginalized groups. In addition to corporate accountability, Kezia M. Williams, the CEO of The Black upStart, is calling for those aligned with the Black Lives Matter movement to protest with their dollars.
Williams partnered with Torrence Reed, the CEO of Zoom Technologies; Darryl Perkins, the co-founder of Broccoli City; Talib Graves Manns, CEO of Knox Street Studios, and thought leader 19 Keys to launch the My Black Receipt campaign, which encourages protesters to spend their money with Black-owned businesses and post their receipts on social media.
According to Williams, the My Black Receipt movement generated over $5 million in revenue for Black-owned businesses. The initiative has recorded over 18,000 consumers participating in the social media challenge since its launch on Juneteenth this year.
“We are starting to talk about how this technology can incentivize buying Black long-term, not just in response to protests, and how we can build community around the recirculation of the dollar using technology,” said Williams, according to Because of Them We Can.
She added that she hopes to use the data collected to learn more about spending habits, sectors, and cities as well as consumer preference between online and traditional shopping to aid Black businesses.
White Bar Owner Pulls Gun On Black Man Chastising Patrons for Not Wearing Face Masks in Philly
A White Philadelphia bar owner was caught on video pulling a gun on a Black man yelling at people for not wearing a face mask at a restaurant, according to NewsOne.
The video clip, which was shared on social media, shows Jamie Atlig pointing a gun at an unknown Black man who was chastising customers at Nick’s Roast Beef for not wearing face masks on South Second Street over the weekend.
My intern, @Dj__Torney, just shared this upsetting story with me.
After a weekend of too much gun violence, more guns is not the answer.
— Councilmember Isaiah Thomas (@CMThomasPHL) July 6, 2020
Atlig, who drew his weapon and pointed it toward the unnamed Black man, owns a bar named Infusion Lounge. Through an attorney, Atliq stated that he pulled his gun because he was being threatened.
“Mr. Atlig is licensed to carry a firearm. He has extensive firearm training. He’s a business owner and he was being threatened,” criminal defense attorney Robert Gamburg said. “The individual reached behind his back for an object, Mr. Atlig unholstered his licensed firearm, defused the situation, and sat back down.”
The woman, who got between the Black man and Atlig, defended the action of the Black bike rider.
“The Black man doesn’t need to be killed for this to be a story,” Liz Krieger said. “A man had a gun pulled on him for speaking the truth. We weren’t social distancing. He was completely in the right to be yelling at us—and if I hadn’t been there, this is how Black people are shot, and it’s claimed later that he had a bike lock on him and people thought it was a gun. But let’s be clear: The bike lock was never pulled out [until after the gun was].”
The Philadelphia police released a statement via Twitter.
We are actively investigating this incident. If you were a witness, or have any information, please contact Central Detectives at 215-686-3093. You can also report information anonymously at 215-686-TIPS, or on our website – https://t.co/ZgOrozPRovhttps://t.co/z9jwH6dKIN
— Philadelphia Police (@PhillyPolice) July 6, 2020
Civil Rights Groups: Mark Zuckerberg Offered “Same Old Defense of White Supremacist” on Facebook During Ad Boycott Meeting
Facebook’s top executives Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg met with civil rights groups to discuss the ad boycott against the company. It did not go well.
According to the New York Times, Zuckerberg and Sandberg met with leaders of the Anti-Defamation League, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Color of Change, and other groups in a Zoom conference for more than an hour Tuesday.
The civil rights groups discussed 10 demands to help prevent vitriol and hate from spreading on the social media platform. The demands included hiring a person of color with a civil rights background to an executive position and submitting to regular independent audits.
However, outside of hiring a person of color to an executive position, the pair largely ignored the demands, according to the groups.
“It was abundantly clear in our meeting today that Mark Zuckerberg and the Facebook team are not yet ready to address the vitriolic hate on their platform,” NAACP President Derrick Johnson said in an email to BLACK ENTERPRISE. “Zuckerberg offered the same old defense of white supremacist and other hateful groups on Facebook that our coalition, advertisers, and society at large have heard too many times before.
“Instead of actually responding to the demands of dozens of the platform’s largest advertisers that have joined the #StopHateForProfit ad boycott during the month of July, Facebook wants us to accept the same old rhetoric, repackaged as a fresh response.”
Other civil rights groups called the meeting“very disappointing” and blasted Facebook for being “functionally flawed.”
Rashad Robinson, the head of Color of Change, said in a media call after the meeting that Facebook executives “showed up to the meeting expecting an A for attendance. Attending alone is not enough.”
Facebook said in a statement the groups “want Facebook to be free of hate speech and so do we.”
The social media giant reiterated it was taking steps to “keep hate off of our platform” adding, “We know we will be judged by our actions not by our words and are grateful to these groups and many others for their continued engagement.”
#StopHateFroProfit Campaign
A group of civil rights groups began pressuring major brands to stop advertising with Facebook until it promises to do more to stop hate speech, a movement they deemed the #StopHateForProfit campaign.
The social media giant said it’s taking steps to curb hate speech, but has not gone as far as other rivals like Twitter and Snap. Both social media sites have recently moved to label or play down untruthful or incendiary posts from President Trump on their platforms.
Zuckerberg has stuck to his guns, stressing the importance of free speech and arguing that Facebook is not an arbiter of posts. Last week, Zuckerberg told Facebook employees in a meeting last week he would not change his mind and that “My guess is that all these advertisers will be back on the platform soon enough.”
His stance has only created more of a backlash.
Facebook employees staged a virtual “walkout” last month to protest Zuckerberg’s position. After a flurry of companies pulled advertising last week, Zuckerberg personally lost $7 billion as shares of the social media company fell 8.3% on Friday and eliminated $56 billion from Facebook’s market value.
The companies that joined the ban included Adidas, Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, Chobani, Clorox, Coca-Cola, Denny’s Restaurants and others, which led to the meeting.
Don Lemon and Terry Crews Debate the Meaning of the Black Lives Matter Movement (Video)
The Black Lives Matter movement has been spreading throughout the world with more awareness after the police killing of George Floyd back on May 25. According to the organization’s website, the mission of the movement “is to eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes.” In a heated discussion on CNN, Don Lemon and actor Terry Crews had differing views on what the organization is and should be doing.
Crews has taken a stance that critics equate with those who shout “All Lives Matter” in response to those who are fighting for the exact purpose of being specific to the lives of Black people who are continuously fighting racial injustice on a daily basis. More specifically, police brutality against Blacks and what seems like the killing of Black people with no regard for the lives of Black people. Crews seems to have an issue with the movement not concentrating on other matters such as Black people killing each other. Late last month, he also tweeted his concerns that the movement would transition into black supremacy. His tweet sparked backlash.
If you are a child of God, you are my brother and sister. I have family of every race, creed and ideology.
During an appearance on CNN, Lemon tried to explain to Crews that the main focus of the movement is combating police brutality. In response, Crews noted the recent killings of Black children killed by Black people.
“It’s [the movement] got to be all black lives matter,” Crews said, stating that “black people need to hold other black people accountable.”
To which Lemon responds by telling Crews that the BLM movement’s focus is not Black-on-black crime. “If you want an all Black Lives Matter movement that talks about gun violence in communities, including Black communities, then start that movement.”
The newly-formed partnership will focus on telling scripted and unscripted stories that explore race, social injustice, and the quest for equity. This collaboration will also provide a new platform to showcase the work of Black and Brown directors and producers.
“I am excited to announce this historic partnership with Disney across all of its platforms to elevate Black and Brown directors, creators, storytellers, and producers, and to inspire the youth with compelling and authentic perspectives,” Kaepernick said in a statement. “I look forward to sharing the docuseries on my life story, in addition to many other culturally impactful projects we are developing.”
The first-look deal will extend across all Walt Disney Platforms, including Walt Disney Television, ESPN, Hulu, Pixar, and The Undefeated. Kaepernick plans on working closely with The Undefeated, which is expanding its portfolio across Disney, to develop stories from the perspective of Black and Brown communities.
Bob Iger, Disney’s executive chairman, said: “During this unprecedented time, The Walt Disney Company remains committed to creating diverse and inclusive content that resonates and matters. Colin’s experience gives him a unique perspective on the intersection of sports, culture, and race, which will undoubtedly create compelling stories that will educate, enlighten and entertain, and we look forward to working with him on this important collaboration.
There is already a project in development as part of this deal. It is an exclusive docuseries chronicling Kaepernick’s journey, in which he has enlisted the help of Jemele Hill as a producer on the project. Hill is no stranger to the Walt Disney Co. as she previously worked for both ESPN and The Undefeated.
They will be using extensive new interviews and never-before-seen footage that documents the last five years from Kaepernick’s perspective. Libby Geist, Kevin Merida, and Connor Schell will executive produce for ESPN.
Jimmy Pitaro, president, ESPN, said in the press release: “Developing exceptional storytelling told through a wide array of voices is at the core of who we are at ESPN. Colin has had a singular path as both an athlete and an activist, and, as the nation continues to confront racism and social injustice, it feels particularly relevant to hear Colin’s voice on his evolution and motivations.”
Kevin Merida, SVP and editor-in-chief of The Undefeated, stated: “The Undefeated exists at the juncture of race, sports and culture, which is exactly where Colin has often found himself as he has navigated his career and activism. We’re looking forward to working with Colin to elevate important stories of lives too often unseen and to deliver them to a vast audience across The Walt Disney Company. We want to continue to call attention to the issues of racial injustice that America is wrestling with, and do that in new, compelling ways.”
White Woman Who Tossed Molotov Cocktail At NYPD Van Blames 3 Blacks For Supplying Her With It
A White woman who has been accused of throwing a Molotov cocktail at a New York Police Department police car in Brooklyn during a protest against police brutality claims she was given the explosive device by Black protesters, according to The New York Post.
Samantha Shader, a 27-year-old from the Catskills in upstate New York, told officials that she was given the weapon by several Black people. She is accused of hurling the makeshift explosive at an NYPD van that was occupied by four police officers on May 30.
She is caught red-handed throwing the Molotov cocktail at the police vehicle.
The thrown bottle shattered two of the police vehicle’s windows; the car was occupied by four cops inside. Because toilet paper instead of a rag was used in the device, the gas inside the bottle didn’t explode — neither the vehicle nor its occupants caught fire.
According to court papers, Shader “was approached on the street and given ‘the bottle’ by a black male, who was in a group with one other black male and a black woman.” She described them: The man who handed her the bottle was a “thicker guy” with hair in “skinny dreads” of different colors; the other man was smaller and wore a hat; the woman was thin with “poofy” hair in a ponytail.
She also claims “the man who handed her the bottle told her that they were going to prove a point,” and that “she felt important at the time [so] she took the bottle because she was the only white person in the area.”
Shader was indicted on June 11 on seven counts: use of explosives, arson, using an explosive to commit a felony, arson conspiracy, use of a destructive device, civil disorder, and possessing and making a destructive device. Shader faces up to life in prison on various charges.
Pentagon Considering Confederate Flag Ban Setting Up Battle With Trump
The Pentagon is considering a ban on Confederate flags at all bases, an official said Monday, setting up yet another battle with President Donald Trump.
According toThe Washington Post, a Pentagon official said a draft policy is being considered at the agency’s highest levels. The move would build on recent moves by military services to bar the Confederate flag and symbols on facilities they control. If the move is approved, it would be the first Defense Department-wide prohibition of such symbols.
The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.
States, localities, colleges, universities, and organizations have responded to the nationwide Black Lives Matter protests by removing statues of Confederate leaders and renaming buildings that were named in honor of Confederate leaders and slave owners.
President Trump said in June he would “not even consider” renaming Army bases named after Confederate soldiers. Trump also blasted NASCAR’s decision to ban the Confederate flag.
“You do what you do. It’s freedom of speech,” Trump said according to The Hill. “NASCAR can do whatever they want, and they’ve chosen to go a certain way, other people choose to go a different route.”
The situation could set up yet another battle for Trump at a time where he is losing battles to the coronavirus pandemic, Black Lives Matter protests, and a reelection bid that is being challenged by members of his own party.
Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy have said they are willing to consider the issue.
“The secretary of defense and secretary of the Army are open to a bi-partisan discussion on the topic,” Belinsky said in a statement in June, according to Politico.
Trump’s stance could set up a clash on the issue. The Senate is currently debating the National Defense Authorization Act, which includes a provision to rename the bases. A bipartisan group of House lawmakers is also looking to add a provision changing the names as part of its defense legislation.
How This Nurse Used The COVID-19 Pandemic To Pivot Into The CBD Business
The spread of COVID-19 has caused many people across the country to make huge pivots in their careers due to the economic ramifications and long-lasting societal effects. For Katrina Thompkins, who was working as a cardiovascular ICU nurse at the time of the COVID-19 health crisis, it was an opportunity to become an entrepreneur and open a CBD business.
Thompkins’ interest in CBD, an active ingredient in cannabis derived from the hemp plant, started after hearing patients’ testimonials about using it to relieve pain. According to a recent survey, 84% of people believe CBD can replace opioids, which are highly addictive. “As a [nurse], I have always focused on the health and wellness of my patients. I became interested in CBD as a treatment for chronic pain, after learning about some of my patients using it to help them find relief,” said Thompkins in an email interview with BLACK ENTERPRISE.
She started K’dara CBD for both humans and pets while still working as a nurse. “After that initial interest, I began doing extensive research into the industry, products, and more, and as I continued to learn about CBD, the ideas behind K’dara CBD began to form. K’dara offers organic, full-spectrum CBD products, developed in part with a pharmacist, for both humans and pets,” she continued.
“Over the years, the No.1 thing that I have always believed in is the value in investing in your health. It’s the best thing that one can do for themselves,” explained Thompkins. “As I worked as a nurse, I felt the need to continue to contribute to society with my passion for health and wellness. Starting a CBD business allowed me to continue to focus on health and wellness and also learn about a startup business and grow my passion for entrepreneurship.”
Rep. Ilhan Omar Calls For The “Dismantling of America’s System of Oppression”
Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar called for dismantling U.S. economic and political systems that serve as a “system of oppression.”
According to Fox News, the Minnesota Democrat said during an outdoor press conference Tuesday, most conversations around police brutality and racial injustice do not go far enough in their call for change.
“We can’t stop at criminal justice reform or policing reform,” Omar told reporters. “We are not merely fighting to tear down the systems of oppression in the criminal justice system. We are fighting to tear down systems of oppression that exist in housing, in education, in health care, in employment, [and] in the air we breathe.”
The Minnesota People of Color and Indigenous Caucus joined Omar at the press conference Tuesday. A bevy of local progressive politicians is calling for the dismantling of the Minneapolis Police Department in the wake of George Floyd’s death, calling it “rotten to the root.”
The politician also promoted the Green New Deal saying environmental racism is real.
“As long as our economy and political systems prioritize profit without considering who is profiting, who is being shut out, we will perpetuate this inequality,” Omar added. “So we cannot stop at [the] criminal justice system. We must begin the work of dismantling the whole system of oppression wherever we find it.”
Omar, is one of four progressive minority lawmakers known as the squad. The other three members are Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI). The group has become a target for Republicans and conservatives across the country including Sen. Marsha Blackburn, (R-Tenn.), who called on Omar to resign over her remarks.
“Ilhan Omar took an oath to defend and protect the Constitution, not shred it,” Blackburn wrote on Twitter Tuesday. “Omar and her Marxist comrades are a threat to our Democracy. Omar should resign.”
When asked by CNN’s Jake Tapper to clarify her position, Omar said the conversation has been misconstrued.
“No one is saying that the community is not going to be kept safe. No one is saying crimes will not be investigated. No one is saying that we are not going to have a proper response when community members are in danger,” Omar responded. “What we are saying is the current infrastructure that exists as policing in our city should not exist anymore and we can’t go about creating a different process with the same infrastructure in place.”
Mary Trump’s Tell-All Book Reveals Pres. Trump Paid Someone To Take His SATs For Him
The niece of President Donald Trump wrote a tell-all book about the president and his family that reveals that Trump paid someone to take the SATs for him.
Titled Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World’s Most Dangerous Man, the book claims the president paid a proxy to take the test for him, according to a New York Times report on the book.
“The high score the proxy earned for him, Ms. Trump adds, helped the young Mr. Trump to later gain admittance as an undergraduate to the University of Pennsylvania’s prestigious Wharton business school,” the Times reported.
Although the book will not be published until next week, the Times obtained a copy of the book.
White House Deputy Press Secretary Sarah Matthews was quick to deny the allegation.
“Mary Trump and her book’s publisher may claim to be acting in the public interest, but this book is clearly in the author’s own financial self-interest. President Trump has been in office for over three years working on behalf of the American people—why speak out now?” Matthews wrote in an email to Insider. “Also, the absurd SAT allegation is completely false.”
The self-proclaimed “stable genius” attended Fordham University for two years before transferring to Penn’s Wharton Business School after his brother Fred Trump Jr. solicited the help of his longtime friend James Nolan, who was a Penn admissions officer at the time. Three of Trump’s children also graduated from Penn.
Nolan said in a Washington Post article published last July that it “was not very difficult” to get into Penn’s Wharton School when Trump transferred in 1966. Like his taxes, Trump has kept his college transcripts close to the vest. He has claimed he graduated first in his class and described his time at Wharton as “super genius stuff.”
