Rock and Roll has truly lost a legend today. Richard Penniman, better known as Little Richard, died on Saturday morning in Tullahoma, Tennessee according to The Associated Press.
Little Richard, who called himself the “architect of rock ‘n’ roll” died Saturday after a losing battle with bone cancer. The legendary musician was 87.
Pastor Bill Minson, who is a close friend of Little Richard’s, had told The Associated Press that Little Richard died Saturday morning. Little Richard’s son, Danny Jones Penniman, has also confirmed that his father has passed away.
Bill Sobel, Little Richard’s attorney for more than 30 years, told The Associated Press in an email that the musician had died of bone cancer at a family home in Tullahoma, Tennessee. “He was not only an iconic and legendary musician, but he was also a kind, empathetic, and insightful human being,” Sobel said.
Born in Macon, Georgia as Richard Wayne Penniman on December 5th, 1932, he was one of 12 children and grew up around his uncles who were also preachers. “I was born in the slums. My daddy sold whiskey, bootleg whiskey,” he told Rolling Stone in 1970. The musician used to sing at a nearby church, but, like many people in the church during those times, his father Bud, didn’t support his son’s music. He also accused him of being gay, which resulted in Little Richard leaving home at 13 and moving in with a white family in Macon.
He also grew up with and was childhood friends with another music great, Otis Redding. He sold more than 30 million records worldwide and was very influential on many musicians from the Beatles and Otis Redding to Creedence Clearwater Revival and David Bowie.
In 1956, he released his classic “Tutti Frutti” and the song landed in the Top 40, setting off a string of hits that included “Lucille,” “Keep A Knockin’,” “Long Tall Sally,” and “Good Golly Miss Molly.”
The music legend, along with Elvis Presley, Berry, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis, Sam Cooke, and others, were among the charter members when the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame opened in 1986.
Macon, Georgia has named a street after its favorite son and Little Richard was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Nicholas Johnson, who is an operations research and financial engineering concentrator from Montreal has been named valedictorian of Princeton’s Class of 2020. Princeton University plans to hold a virtual commencement for the Class of 2020 on Sunday, May 31, 2020. An in-person ceremony will be held in May 2021.
“My favorite memories of my time at Princeton are memories of time spent with close friends and classmates engaging in stimulating discussions — often late at night — about our beliefs, the cultures and environments in which we were raised, the state of the world, and how we plan on contributing positively to it in our own unique way,” Johnson said in a written statement.
The 2020 valedictorian says he plans to spend this summer interning as a hybrid quantitative researcher and software developer at the D. E. Shaw Group before he starts to begin Ph.D. studies in operations research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the fall of 2020.
In addition to Johnson serving as a writing fellow at Princeton’s Writing Center, he is also editor of Tortoise: A Journal of Writing Pedagogy. He is a member of Whitman College, where he has served as a residential college adviser. He is also a member of the Princeton chapter of Engineers Without Borders and served as its co-president in 2018.
During his junior year, Johnson conducted an independent research project, “Generating Privacy Preserving Synthetic Datasets,” supervised by Prateek Mittal, associate professor of electrical engineering, in which he developed a machine learning system to more robustly anonymize datasets than existing alternatives. He presented this work at the spring 2019 Electrical Engineering Symposium and the 2019 Center for Statistics and Machine Learning Symposium.
Among his other professors, William Massey, the Edwin S. Wilsey Professor of Operations Research and Financial Engineering, and Dannelle Gutarra Cordero, a lecturer in African American studies, were influential for Johnson.
“Professor Massey inspired me by sharing his ever-present love for operations research and through his advocacy for black and African American students in STEM fields,” Johnson said. “He encouraged me to pursue increasingly ambitious research projects and to share my work at academic conferences. Professor Gutarra introduced me to academic writing during my first-year Writing Seminar. She was instrumental in helping me develop my skills as an effective academic writer and communicator, and she motivated me to become a writing fellow.”
Johnson is a graduate of Selwyn House School and attended Marianopolis College, both in Westmount, Quebec.
Nicholas Johnson, an operations research and financial engineering concentrator from Montreal, has been named valedictorian of #Princeton20.
The Hip Hop world is in mourning as one of the architects of some of the best Hip Hop sounds has passed away. Music executive Andre Harrell has died at the age of 59 according to Billboard magazine.
Andre Harrell, who started Uptown Records in the late 1980s, was instrumental in the arena of Hip Hop and R & B with early acts such as Heavy D, GUY, Al B. Sure, Father MC, Mary J. Blige, Christopher Williams, and many other luminary artists during that time. He is also the person who put his faith in a young budding executive named Sean Combs who has blossomed into one of the most important figures in Hip Hop and R & B.
DJ D-Nice, while playing music on his Club Quarantine Instagram Live series, had announced the passing Friday night (May 8). Combs‘ REVOLT company has confirmed the death of Harrell where he served as the vice-chairman at REVOLT.
REVOLT CEO Roma Khana had released a written statement confirming the news about Harrell. “We can confirm the passing of Andre Harrell. Everyone in the REVOLT family is devastated by the loss of our friend, mentor, and Vice-Chairman. Andre’s impact on the culture and on us has been immeasurable and profound. May he Rest In Peace.”
Just this past December, Black Entertainment Television had announced it was working with Harrell to bring the Uptown Records story to life. They’ve recently held auditions to cast the many people that were instrumental in the success of Uptown Records. There are plans to turn this into a three-night scripted miniseries.
At the time of the announcement, Harrell put out a statement on the upcoming production, “I am thrilled to partner with BET Networks and Jesse Collins Entertainment to share my story, the rise of Uptown Records and successful black entrepreneurship, and the management and cultivation of some of the most iconic artists to come out of the late ’80s and ’90s hip-hop, R&B, and soul music era.”
Def Jam co-founder, Russell Simmons, who hired Harrell in his ascent to successful executive expressed words for him via Instagram.
Adorable New Gerber Baby Is First Adopted Gerber Spokesbaby
Meet the newest Gerber baby! Magnolia Earl, from Ross, California, is the winner of Gerber’s 10th annual photo competition. She was chosen as the 2020 Gerber spokesbaby from more than 300,000 entries.
Baby Magnolia, who has a lot to celebrate this week as she also turns 1 today, won over the judges with her “joyful smile and sunny personality.”
But beyond being a cute face, this Gerber baby is making history as the first-ever adopted Gerber spokesbaby.
“Magnolia has brought so much joy to everyone she meets. Her personality is beyond happy and joyful,” said Magnolia’s mother Courtney Earl, in a statement.
“On May 9th, 2019 we received a call from the Adoption Agency that there was an expectant mom that was in labor and wanted to talk to us! We pulled off the highway, got a chance to connect with her amazing birth parents, and a few hours later, this sweet baby girl was born,” Earl said. “Adoption is incredibly special to our family’s story. Winning Photo Search is an opportunity to tell Magnolia’s story and shed light on all the beautiful and different ways families are made.”
It’s a heart-warming story made all the more special by the challenges of the current coronavirus pandemic.
“At a time when we are yearning for connection and unity, Magnolia and her family remind us of the many things that bring us together: our desire to love and be loved, our need to find belonging, and our recognition that family goes way beyond biology,” said Gerber President and CEO Bill Partyka.
As the 2020 Gerber baby, Magnolia will be featured on Gerber’s social media channels and marketing campaigns throughout the year. She and her family also won a $25,000 cash prize, $1,000 in Gerber Childrenswear, $1,000 from Walmart, and phones with a year of free unlimited service from Verizon.
NYC Healthcare Worker and COVID-19 Survivor Is Urging Women to Stay Away From Their Moms on Mother’s Day
The COVID-19, or novel coronavirus, pandemic has caused healthcare systems in states to work at max capacity just to take care of the growing number of new patients entering the emergency rooms from the viral outbreak. With Mother’s Day coming up this weekend, many may be tempted to see their mother on Sunday. After a big scare, one New York City healthcare worker and COVID-19 survivor is urging you to stay home.
Charrell Cooper works as a pediatric physical therapist for children with cardiac and pulmonary needs at New York Presbyterian Hospital. Despite the health risks, Cooper still went into work knowing the importance of her work at the hospital.
“Working as a physical therapist is a deeply challenging, but rewarding role. Encouraging and motivating people to start moving directly after complex medical conditions, surgeries or transplants can be extremely difficult,” said Cooper in an interview with BLACK ENTERPRISE.
“Physical therapists are constantly in close contact with patients during mobilization, which may include transferring patients to/from bed to a chair or during ambulation (walking). You can imagine that when initially treating COVID-19 patients we had fear about protecting the patients and protecting ourselves. Not only were we concerned with getting COVID-19, we were nervous about spreading COVID-19 to our fellow co-workers, patients, and families.”
When she received a positive result from her COVID-19 test, she was caught off guard because she had no underlying health conditions. She stayed in her New York apartment for more than a month in quarantine, where she had the virtual support of her family, especially her mother and Nana, to keep her going.
As she moves toward a full recovery, Cooper wanted to do something special for others on this upcoming Mother’s Day in quarantine. Cooper is urging others to practice social distancing in light of the holiday to protect others who are vulnerable to the virus. She created the #MakeTheCall initiative in collaboration with shapewear marketplace Shapermint, dedicating the rest of her recovery to spreading the word about the importance of social distancing.
“The best way that I could give back to my family was to encourage as many people as I could to stay home for Mother’s Day. I wanted a larger platform and even got in touch with Shapewear marketplace Shapermint after seeing its #MakeTheCall initiative for people to continue social distancing guidelines no matter how their states’ stay-at-home rules have changed,” she explained.
“I would encourage families to use this time to be creative, celebrate life, and have fun with their family! Have a zoom/virtual dance party, karaoke, or a fashion show of what outfits they would’ve worn for Mother’s Day. Families can have a virtual dinner together or play games. Share your favorite memories of your grandmothers or mothers.”
Facebook Portal Honors Women on the Front Lines Amid COVID-19 for Mother’s Day
There’s more than one type of front-line worker nowadays amid the COVID-19 pandemic. And there’s certainly more than one hero. To honor some of the hero’s many call mom, Portal from Facebook launched a new campaign honoring moms on the front lines—those at work and those sheltering-in-place at home.
Just in time for Mother’s Day, we were able to touch base remotely with two brave women in the medical field who are showing up for their communities and their families as front-line workers who have been spotlighted by Facebook. Dr. Kiarra King, MD, is a board-certified Obstetrician-Gynecologist, and Dr. Dianah T. Lake, MD, an emergency medicine doctor, are mothers who have dedicated their careers to helping others and promoting wellness.
As COVID-19 impacts the world as we know it, these mothers share the ways in which they show up for others and stay motivated.
Mother’s on the Front Lines
Tell us more about you and your work! What has it been like showing up for others?
Dr. Lake: It’s been very rewarding to show compassion and care for people when they are experiencing medical emergencies. People typically show up in the ER in the least preferred condition, they are sometimes having a stroke, heart attack, miscarriage, domestic violence, intoxicated or in severe pain from a broken bone, infection, or some other inflammatory process. In recent weeks, most people are concerned that they may be infected with the coronavirus. My job is to evaluate, test, diagnose, and treat them in the most effective way.
Dr. Dianah Lake, MD (Image: Dr. Lake)
Dr. King: My mission in life and professionally is to educate and empower women to live their most optimal lives. I am grateful to have a platform that allows me to share tips for healthy living and give insight to living outside of the box! I’m currently home with my little one amid the COVID-19 pandemic. This has allowed me to continue to create content in the women’s health space. I have participated in social media partnerships with colleagues and local media that raises awareness on black maternal health, coronavirus myths, and more. It’s important that I use my voice for good in times that are uncertain for many.
Has motherhood inspired you during this time? If so, how?!
Dr. Lake: Absolutely. Since my boys are not staying with me during this time, I’ve created new ways to stay connected with them. Video chats are fun, we are also reading books together over the phone. I’m a quality time person, so I’m finding new ways for quality time with them. I visited with my son at the park last weekend and saw him in-person for the first time in 6 weeks. It’s been difficult not having my kids at home with me, but their safety is more important. I’ve become even more grateful for my boys and the wonderful times we’ve shared as a family during this time in the absence.
Dr. King (Image: Courtesy of Dr. King)
Dr. King: Being a mom during this pandemic has absolutely inspired me. My daughter, Kai, is 4 and is as inquisitive and bright as they come. She understands that due to the coronavirus we can not operate in our normal fashion. She misses her teachers, friends, and all of her activities; she had quite a busy weekly schedule including ballet, gymnastics, and swimming before the shelter in place orders took effect. Through it all, she has remained beautifully resilient. Her spirit is contagious. That alone inspires me to do all I can to make this moment in history one that she remembers in a positive light. We have had so much spontaneous fun during this time. We’ve taken impromptu field trips to see deer at a local forest preserve.
We’ve been exploring new recipes and even started a garden! Kai recently gave me a “mommy makeover,” it was quite interesting but she had a ball! I’ve always valued education for myself and Kai and love providing opportunities for her to learn and grow. As a result of school closures, I’ve had to push myself into the formal role of a teacher. The way her mind works inspires and challenges me to create new ways to teach her materials. It’s quite rewarding to see her flourish in spite of the circumstances. Her innocence and infective energy are a constant reminder to be grateful for every moment big and small.
Filling Your Cup
What keeps you motivated?
Dr. Lake: Providing a person with emergent medical care and pain management goes a long way. They leave with immediate gratification and mediation for their condition, and I feel like I’ve made a difference in someone’s life experience. It’s a beautiful exchange. This motivates me to continue working and providing quality care to patients in the community.
Dr. King: My faith in God, hope, my family, friends, and even patients keep me motivated. Knowing I am on this earth for a purpose keeps me motivated. I know there are great things in store for me, there are an abundance of opportunities with my name on them and rooms that are waiting for me to enter and bloom. I know that my purpose in life is connected to someone else’s destiny; so, I’m driven to continue to excel because a life literally depends on it. Even in our darkest times, life is always giving if we pay attention, it’s really a beautiful thing.
We See You
What message of encouragement do you have for other moms on the frontlines?
Dr. Lake: In addition to my ER practice, I am also a fitness, wellness, and weight loss coach. I’ve used my holistic self-care practices as a fitness coach to successfully get through this time.
I’d encourage front-line moms to make self-care a top priority. Attend to your emotional and spiritual well-being. Get adequate sleep, eat healthy nutritious foods, exercise regularly 4 to 5 days a week, stay well hydrated, get support from other moms, friends, romantic partners, and family members, improve your gut health and immune system with probiotics and anti-inflammatory foods and drinks, meditate, read a book, pray, be grateful for the good that’s still happening in our lives and appreciate all that is still working in our lives. Self-care is essential for frontline workers, making it a priority is self-preservation. Stay well so you can continue to share your gifts with the world.
Dr. Lake and her sons (Image: Courtesy of Dr. Lake)
Dr. King: To my colleagues, the times in which we now live are unprecedented for most of us. When we went to medical school and ultimately residency to train for our respective specialties, we probably never thought “front line” would describe our jobs. The shift that has taken place in the world has impacted every fiber of our being. Some of you are spending extended periods away from your families to protect them. Others have ventured into telehealth visits while homeschooling little ones in between calls. It’s not what you signed up for but you always persist against the odds.
So, in times like these, show yourself some grace. It’s OK to be scared. It’s OK to cry. It’s OK to ask for help. It’s OK to put your needs first, although as physicians and moms we are so used to prioritizing everyone else. As the saying goes, you can’t pour from an empty cup. So, as you refill your cup, remember it’s OK to laugh and look forward to the future with hope. I see you, momma, you are not alone in this. If no one has told you, you are needed, you are vital, and you are loved. We will get through this, we will come out on the other side.
To all of the mothers on the frontlines at work and home, BLACK ENTERPRISE wishes you a Happy Mother’s Day!
Wanda Durant Shares the Importance of Putting Yourself First and Giving Back as a Mother
Many people know Wanda Durant, inspirational speaker, entrepreneur, advocate and philanthropist, affectionately as “the Real MVP.” What many do not know is her story.
As a single mother who set her sons on pathways to success, “Mama Durant” now helps others do the same through the Wanda Durant The Real MVP Foundation. In a sit-down interview with BLACK ENTERPRISE Digital & Events Editor Lydia T. Blanco, Durant shared her journey of self-rediscovery, the importance of mental wellness, and advice for parents in the time of COVID-19.
Having raised two sons–Anthony and Kevin Durant (basketball superstar and provider of her now-famous nickname)–as a single mother, Wanda Durant knows what it is like to sacrifice, go without, and show up for children relentlessly. She also knows how to adapt once there’s an empty nest. Now, she’s highly regarded for her no-nonsense parenting advice.
During the conversation, Wanda Durant spoke candidly about the challenges she faced as a young mother and lessons she learned about herself along the way. With sons over the age of 30, she offered sound advice to those still parenting young and adult children.
This Mother’s Day, Durant wants to encourage women who are parents and guardians to take a moment to themselves and celebrate all that they have accomplished in relation to motherhood and their personal journeys.
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, while families are home together, Wanda Durant touched on the importance of creating healthy bonds that promote mental wellness. The Wanda Durant The Real MVP Foundation focuses on education and empowering children and their families. During the pandemic, she and her team have made it a priority to support students by providing them with an online curriculum to make remote learning accessible.
Do you see why she’s the real MVP? And she’s not the only one. There are countless mothers who have laid it all down for their children who are being celebrated for their selfless commitment.
At BLACK ENTERPRISE, we celebrate you all. Happy Mother’s Day!
Joe Biden, Erykah Badu, Vanessa Williams, Tina Knowles-Lawson, and More to Deliver Virtual Commencement Speeches at This HBCU
The global COVID-19 pandemic has upended the economy, brought the nation to a standstill, and disrupted the lives of millions of people, including students. As a result, graduating seniors across the country will not be able to participate in milestone events like proms, senior class trips, and traditional graduation ceremonies. However, to help alleviate the disappointment, Delaware State University (DSU) has called on 25 cultural influencers—from hip-hop stars to a former Ms. America to a former vice president—to deliver a star-studded virtual commencement to remember.
The HBCU announced an all-star lineup of speakers who congratulate the class of 2020 during its May 16 virtual commencement celebration. A few of the notable guests include Joe Biden, Grammy-Award winning artist Erykah Badu, businesswoman Tina Knowles-Lawson, and actress Vanessa Williams. Other speakers include political commentator Angela Rye and Bryan Stevenson, the founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative and the New York Times Best-Selling author of Just Mercy.
“When I confer degrees on the Class of 2020, it is more than a credential that will get them to their next goal. It is a reminder that each of them is now and always ever-present with us,” said Delaware State University President Tony Allen, reflecting on the commencement celebration in a statement to BLACK ENTERPRISE.
The University announced in March that students would receive their degrees in an online ceremony due to the coronavirus crisis. As a result, a team of faculty, staff, students, and friends of the University began planning the virtual celebration immediately.
“We knew better than to try to copy the traditional ceremony at Alumni Field,” said Dr. Francine Edwards, co-chair of the planning committee. “So we set out to create a memorable and surprising experience that the Class of 2020 will treasure forever as their own unique celebration.”
According to the statement, Nicole Dye-Anderson, a Delaware State alumna and Barclays Bank executive, played a major role in securing a number of featured guests. “DelState gave so much to me. Whatever I can do to show my appreciation will be done. I am proud to work for a company that knows the value of HBCUs and gives me the freedom to help showcase them around the world,” she said.
The University’s commencement, which will be broadcast on the ESSENCE Studios platform, will be followed by another virtual event sponsored by the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), which will combine 75 HBCUs for a joint commencement ceremony.
“We are excited that graduates from our member-schools will receive the public recognition that they earned and deserve. This celebratory event is an effort to lift-up all HBCU students and to let them know that we are proud of their hard work and perseverance, especially during these difficult times,” said TMCF CEO and former DSU President Harry Williams.
Graduating DSU senior Usman Tijani, whose mother has been diagnosed with COVID-19, said she is looking forward to the event.
“In an instant, I went from graduating senior trying to complete everything to get to the finish line, to head of household trying to take care of my son, little brother, and mother. As a Hornet for life, I’m looking forward to this year’s commencement and, more importantly, what happens next.”
Actor Michael K. Williams and The Cast of “The Wire” Are Helping NYC Youth Find Summer Jobs
Michael K. Williams knows first-hand how tough it can be to get through a New York City summer. Growing up in Brooklyn’s notorious Vanderveer Projects (today known as “Flatbush Gardens”), the Emmy Award-winning actor faced more than the sweltering heat and smog.
“The summer is almost here, y’all. And everybody from the hood knows that when school gets out, the murder rate goes up,” said Williams, referring to the correlation between heat and crime in a video posted on Twitter. “It was true when I was a kid growing up in Brooklyn and it is still true today.”
The Wire star continued, speculating that crime rates may be even higher in the Big Apple this summer due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has forced New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio to slash funds originally allocated towards its summer youth program. Nearly 75,000 young people mostly from low-income communities of color depend on the program to find work in both the private and public sectors each summer.
“With all of the city budget cuts gutting all of the opportunities for kids in my community to have something to do or to earn a couple of dollars to take care of themselves and sometimes even their families over the summer, I’m afraid this year it’s going to be even worse,” said Williams.
To help curve the rate of violence, the Boardwalk Empire actor teamed up with NYC Together to launch a program that aims to keep inner-city youth off the streets by giving them jobs. The virtual summer youth employment program will hire teens from across New York’s five boroughs to provide education and information to the nearly 500,000 residents living in New York City Public Housing. “The program will consist of culturally appropriate and informative campaigns that educate members of the Black and Latinx community about Covid-19 and will give youths the opportunity to work in tandem with health experts, law enforcement, and community-based organizations in an immersion program to produce creative solutions to challenges presented by the health crisis,” reads a statement.
To fund the program, NYC Together launched a GoFundMe charity campaign to raise $75,000. All donors will qualify to win a private Zoom call with the cast of The Wire, a Zoom lunch with actress Lana Parrilla, or a Master Class with comedian and actor George Lopez.
“Money is freedom,” said Williams, “and money will help ease the burden on their parents to pay for things like food, medicine, and all other costs that come with this COVID outbreak. So let’s flatten the curve.”
Here with an important message for y’all about Covid & its impact on NYC’s Black and Latino youth.
To help them stay safe & healthy this summer, DONATE to @NYCTogetherOrg & you could win a private Zoom with me & other folks from The Wire!
Armed Volunteers Escort African American Lawmaker to State Capitol After Anti-Quarantine Protest
An African American female lawmaker was escorted to the Michigan Capitol Wednesday by an armed security detail of volunteers following an anti-quarantine protest.
According to Blavity, Rep. Sarah Anthony (D-MI), was escorted to the capitol by an all-black entourage, at least three of whom were carrying rifles. Anthony said she didn’t ask for the escort but felt comforted by the presence after what happened last week.
“We were all just appalled by the lack of support and lack of security that I had, that other legislators had,” Anthony said to Blavity. “And the fact that a lot of the demonstrators last week were adorning many racist, anti-Semitic signage. I think it just triggered a lot of folks, especially African Americans.”
On April 30, anti-quarantine protesters stormed the capitol, and in a recording Anthony posted to Facebook, many of the protesters were carrying rifles and assault weapons. The protesters were organized against Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s stay at home order.
Many of the protesters were pushing the governor to reopen the economy in the wake of job losses and store closures. However, the protests have also attracted a wide variety of groups dedicated to other causes, such as gun-rights activists and white supremacists.
Michael Lynn Jr., a firefighter and community activist, organized the armed detail for Anthony after watching the video she posted to Facebook. Lynn said the Neo-Nazi and white supremacist signs he saw bothered him.
“I could hear the fear in her voice during that protest,” Lynn said. “It was the visual of her being that scared to go to work. It meant we had to do something. We came out here today to make sure we could provide some protection, even if it’s only just to make her feel better.”
According to the Detroit Free Press, the Michigan Capitol Commission is now investigating whether guns should be allowed inside the Capitol. Open carry is currently allowed inside the building.
Healthcare workers and anti-quarantine protesters clashed last month in Denver, and Facebook has begun removing anti-quarantine events from its site.
“Unless government prohibits the event during this time, we allow it to be organized on Facebook,” spokesman Andy Stone said. “For this same reason, events that defy government’s guidance on social distancing aren’t allowed on Facebook.”
