As the country continues to struggle with the crippling effects of COVID-19, a number of celebrities are stepping up to help essentials workers fighting on the frontlines of the public health crisis. On Thursday, Bel-Air Athletics, the streetwear brand created by Hollywood icon Will Smith, announced a partnership with legendary rapper and producer Jermaine Dupri to launch a capsule collection in honor of essential workers called “Bel-Air Essentials.”

According to a press release, 25% of proceeds from the collection will be donated to Frontline Foods, an organization that supports restaurants that have been impacted by shelter-in-place measures, and that feeds healthcare workers.

“It’s important that I recognize our front-line workers out there that are working to keep us all safe— they are the real heroes,” said Dupri in a statement sent to BLACK ENTERPRISE. “I’m grateful to have a part in celebrating their courage with this Bel-Air Athletics launch. Together, we look forward to supporting Frontline Foods, so we can give back to those in need.”

Each item in the collection features graphics honoring different frontline workers, from doctors and nurses to teachers to postal services workers to restaurant employees to childcare workers. The message “To All On The Front Lines, We Appreciate You” is also printed on each piece.

Products in the collection range from $40 to $75 and include the Essential Workers Tee ($40), Thank You Long-Sleeve Tee ($55), and Bel-Air Essentials Hoodie ($75).

The capsule will be available for purchase for a limited amount of time, starting Thursday evening to  Monday, May 11 on belairathletics.com.

To help spread the word about the collection, Dupri will be spinning a live DJ set on Bel-Air Athletics’ Instagram on Friday, May 8, starting at 7 PM EST.

Just days after Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp announced that he was reopening certain businesses, Dupri urged people to continue to stay home and practice social distancing in the state.

“Y’all know the love I have for this city and what I pour into the city and how much I care about Atlanta,” said the Atlanta resident in a nearly 8-minute message posted on Instagram.

“So this message is really for us in this city,” he continued. “The image that we have in this city, I don’t like. I don’t like the way people think our minds move and the way people are like basically shortchanging us to make us look like we just a bunch of dumb a– n—-s out here running around happy to spend money [on] drugs, strip clubs and you know, just blow s–t.”

• Politics

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

May 8, 2020

Ohio Lawmaker Refuses to Wear Mask Because He Believes It Dishonors God

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When you have faith in your beliefs, sometimes you can’t make room for anything that may get in the way. This is what an Ohio lawmaker thinks as he declines to wear a mask because it dishonors God, according to NBC News.

“This is the greatest nation on earth founded on Judeo-Christian Principles. One of those principles is that we are all created in the image and likeness of God. That image is seen the most by our face. I will not wear a mask,” Rep. Nino Vitale, a Republican, wrote on Facebook. “That’s the image of God right there, and I want to see it in my brothers and sisters.”

“People want to wear masks, they can. But mandating it, that’s a whole different story for me,” Vitale’s post said. “No one is stopping anybody from wearing a face mask. But quite frankly everyone else’s freedom ends at the tip of my nose. You’re not going to tell me what to do and there’s a lot of people that feel that way.”

“If someone is that scared, that they do not want to go out into the public because 100 percent of the people are not wearing masks, then that person should stay home, not tell everyone else what they should be doing,” said Vitale.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, who is also a Republican, had previously said on April 27 that wearing masks was one of the “essential tools” to fight the spread of the coronavirus and ordered that shoppers wear them in stores at all times. “To not wear masks would be negligent and a mistake. We have to protect these employees,” he wrote on Twitter.

But DeWine backed down the next day after receiving backlash over the mandate and decided to reverse the order.

“Though it is not a mandate, it is clearly in the best interest for Ohioans to wear a mask in retail settings. This gives added protection to others,” DeWine said. “When I go out in public and go into a business, I will wear a mask. And, I have recommended to my family members that they wear masks.”

• News

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

May 8, 2020

Mississippi Welfare Scandal: Audit Shows Luxury Cars Among $94 Million in Questionable Spending

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A 104-page audit of the Mississippi Department of Human Services exposed spending not being used for the purposes the money was earmarked for, according to USA Today.

Money that was meant to assist poor residents was used to purchase luxury cars, sponsor a college baseball tournament, and encouraged nepotism by hiring family members of a top state official, according to a report from State Auditor Shad White.

The audit, which was released earlier this week,  shows how federal welfare grant funds flowed from DHS into two nonprofit groups, which allegedly spent money in inappropriate or questionable ways.

In a written statement, White said the report “shows the most egregious misspending my staff have seen in their careers at the Office of the State Auditor.” He continued, “If there was a way to misspend money, it seems DHS leadership or their grantees thought of it and tried it.”

White said his office will forward the information it found to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the welfare program. He said this could lead to cuts in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) allotments or other sanctions placed on the state.

The audit found these items questionable:

• The two nonprofit groups used welfare money to hire lobbyists, often without paperwork describing the work they were supposed to do.
• One of the groups, Mississippi Community Education Center (MCEC), gave contracts to, and hired, family members of former Department of Human Services Director John Davis, sometimes making lump-sum payments. The payments and salaries to his nephew and brother-in-law totaled more than $1 million over the past several years, auditors said.
• Both nonprofit groups gave welfare money to a trio of wrestlers, Ted DiBiase, Ted DiBiase, Jr., and Brett DiBiase—some of it for work never performed, some for “unreasonable” travel costs.
• MCEC paid Victory Sports Foundation with welfare money to run fitness programs, some of which Mississippi legislators and other officials or staffers participated in, free of charge. The trainer who runs Victory said he did not know he received welfare money.
• MCEC bought three cars with welfare money, each worth more than $50,000, for Nancy New, the head of MCEC, and two sons. Salaries, cellphones, and other expenses were paid using welfare money. The vehicles included a 2018 Nissan Armada, a Chevrolet Silverado, and a Ford F-250. In each case, the vehicle was registered to MCEC, but in each case, auditors said the vehicles were for personal use.
• MCEC used welfare money for sports-related purposes, including sponsoring a college baseball tournament and other NCAA events.
• MCEC cut a $3,000 check to a bookkeeper of MCEC, though a handwritten note says “$3,000 cash was given to” Davis, the DHS executive director.
• MCEC moved $6 million to a private school and organization run by New and bought supplies for the school.

• News

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

May 7, 2020

Former Green Bay Packer Brett Favre Agrees to Repay $1.1 Million in Federal Welfare Money

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Retired Green Bay Packers’ quarterback Brett Favre is in the middle of a government welfare scandal currently taking place in Mississippi.

According to the Associated Press, a nonprofit group that is caught up in an embezzlement scheme in the state used federal welfare money to pay NFL legend Favre $1.1 million for several speaking engagements, but Favre did not show up for the events, State Auditor Shad White said earlier this week.

White released an audit of spending by the Mississippi Department of Human Services and it showed that the former NFL player had been paid by Mississippi Community Education Center, a nonprofit group whose former leader has been indicted in a welfare embezzlement scheme.

The audit released this past Monday said the center paid Favre Enterprises $500,000 in December 2017 and $600,000 in June 2018, and he was supposed to make speeches for at least three events. The auditor’s report stated that “upon a cursory review of those dates, auditors were able to determine that the individual contracted did not speak nor was he present for those events.”

Favre, who lives in Mississippi, doesn’t face any criminal charges.

White said his office received $500,000 from Favre on Wednesday, plus a commitment that he will repay the remaining $600,000 in installments over the next few months.

“I want to applaud Mr. Favre for his good faith effort to make this right and make the taxpayers and TANF families whole,” White said in a written statement Wednesday. “To date, we have seen no records indicating Mr. Favre knew that TANF was the program that served as the source of the money he was paid.”

TANF stands for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program.

In a Facebook post on Wednesday night, Favre released the following statement.

“My agent is often approached by different products or brands for me to appear in one way or another. This request was no different, and I did numerous ads for Family First,” Favre wrote.

“I have never received moneys for obligations I didn’t meet. To reiterate Auditors White’s statement, I was unaware that the money being dispensed was paid for out of funds not intended for that purpose, and because of that, I am refunding the full amount back to the state of Mississippi.

“I have spent my entire career helping children through Favre 4 Hope donating nearly $10 million to underserved and underprivileged children in Mississippi and Wisconsin.

“It has brought a ton of joy to my life, and I would certainly never do anything to take away from the children I have fought to help! I love Mississippi and I would never knowingly do anything to take away from those that need it most.”

White said the money being repaid by Favre will be sent to the Department of Human Services.

• News

by Derek Major

May 7, 2020

Suspected Racist Jailed and Charged For Shooting Unarmed Black Driver In Road Rage Incident

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A suspected racist white driver has been arrested and charged after shooting and killing an African American man in Minnesota last Friday.

According to NewsOne, police arrested Anthony Trifiletti and charged him with the murder of Doug Lewis, a 39-year-old African American man, in a road rage incident.

The two men were involved in a minor accident Friday. Trifiletti, who had a concealed carry permit, said he shot Lewis because he was  “reaching toward his waistband as he advanced.”

Trifiletti also said that Lewis identified himself as a gang member saying he was a “GD,” meaning a Gangster Disciple.

However, Valerie Lewis, Doug’s sister, argued that Trifiletti’s attempt at a self-defense rationalization for the shooting is only happening as part of an effort to obscure what actually happened. Police also said that Lewis was unarmed.

Trifiletti’s social media accounts also show him and friends making racist statements. According to the Minnesota Star Tribune, Trifiletti’s Facebook shows a video from 2016 in which he uses the N-word while getting his hair cut.

“He said [racial epithet]. That’s racist.” Trifiletti then laughed before someone in the background makes a disparaging remark about Jews. A second video includes a male friend mocking Asians while he finishes shaving Trifiletti’s head.

“White people can get away with killing a black man by saying they were afraid,” Valerie Lewis, told the Star Tribune.

Trifiletti is being held on a $1 million bond for the shooting.

The incident follows an incident in February in Georgia where two white men shot and killed an African American man.

The two men, a former district attorney investigator and his son, have yet to be charged in the death of 25-year-old Ahmaud Arbery, who was killed while jogging. Gregory McMichael, 64, and Travis McMichael, 34, say they suspected Arbery of being a burglar and chased him in their pickup truck, armed with both a handgun and a shotgun.

Featuring a broad cross-section of women who have distinguished themselves across a rich variety of careers, our Portraits of Power series is a celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Black Enterprise, and of black women. It’s a place for today’s businesswomen to share their own favorite images and their own stories, in their own words. Today’s portrait is Africa.com CEO Teresa Clarke.

Teresa Hillary Clarke

Chairman & CEO, Africa.com

My first job was working as a cashier at McDonald’s.  My first professional job was as a financial analyst at an investment bank in Beverly Hills.

My big break came when I was admitted to Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO), which is a summer internship program on Wall Street for exceptional students of color.

I’ve had to work hardest at self care in the face of a busy professional, family, and social life.

I never imagined I would live and work in Africa.

I wish I’d learned sooner to focus less on what other people think.

The risk I regret not taking is letting someone know that I loved him.

If I could design my fantasy self-care day, it would be spent doing yoga, sitting in a whirlpool, eating fresh Mexican food and dark chocolate, swimming in warm tropical waters, sailing into the sunset, and praying outdoors under the stars.

Menopause keeps me up at night.

When I’m struggling, I say to myself what my grandmother taught me: “You’ve got to keep on keeping on.”

I am unapologetically proud and braggadocious about my wonderful son.

Portraits of Power is a yearlong series of candid insights from exceptional women leaders. It is brought to you by ADP.

• The New Norm

by Selena Hill

May 7, 2020

Chris Spencer Talks About Using Comedy and Virtual-Reality in Times of Crisis

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At a time when nearly 30 million Americans are unemployed, entire industries are shut down, and much of the world has come to a standstill, there’s one thing many of us could use right now: a laugh.

To give the world much-needed comic relief in this time of crisis, D.L. Hughley, one of the original Kings of Comedy, tapped three fellow comedians for a new comedy series with an innovative twist. Hugely, Chris Spencer, Ryan Davis, and Bo Dacious teamed up with Ceek to produce a virtual reality series called “The Laugh Experience,” which marks the first-ever virtual reality comedy special.

During an interview on BLACK ENTERPRISE’s The New Norm With Selena Hill, Spencer opened up about “The Laugh Experience,” his life in quarantine, and new-age comedy. “It’s some futuristic stuff. I’m very excited to be a part of it,” he said.

Spencer, whose 30-year-long  career in Hollywood includes writing and producing Grown-ish, creating Real Husbands of Hollywood, starring Kevin Hart, and writing for The Emmys and SNL, is also planning to launch his own channel on CEEK. Some of the original content that will air includes his upcoming talk show that aims to bridge the gap between veteran standup comedians and funny social media stars.

“A lot of them think we don’t like them and we think that they don’t like us,” he said. “I want to put them into a room together and let’s have some conversations about how we can help you because your stand up sucks and how you can help us because our social media sucks.”

Outside of CEEK, Spencer is working on a new talk show called Still Standing, featuring famous standup comedians who’ve gone under the radar, like Bruce Bruce, Alex Thomas, Tony Woods, and George Wallace.

“You’re going to get a chance to see all the comedians you grew up with and are wondering what they are doing now,” he said. “Some of them are doing other things besides stand up. Some of them become writers. Some of us are heavy in the stock market…I want to bring that out and let people know where the hell these people are and what they’re doing.”

In addition, Spencer talked about why many people are just now getting hip to VR platforms like CEEK, which launched in 2015 by Mary Spio, a rocket scientist born in Ghana.

Watch Spencer’s interview on The New Norm with Selena Hill below.

I have to admit, for nearly two months I have been skeptical about the lack of reporting on black lives beyond stories about the disproportionate impact COVID-19 is having on black communities. In deep thought and during conversations with others, I have posed questions about the oddity of not hearing about black people being brutalized or killed in racially motivated attacks.

Not to my surprise, a number of my questions were answered last week when the news of an unarmed black man being killed gained national attention.

On February 23, 25-year-old Ahmaud Arbery’s life was stolen in Georgia by two white vigilantes who pursued, shot, and killed him after accusing him of a number of home invasions in the Brunswick community in Georgia.

More than two months after he was slain, a message was sent to black people as America opens its doors after months of being closed: be safe. While that’s something most black people know, the question I have is, once America opens its doors again, will black people be welcomed?

An interesting piece by NBC dives deeper into a number of my thoughts and provides insight given by experts.

Last week, during a gathering in Brownsville, residents were met with calamity once they stepped foot outdoors, while non-black New Yorkers hanging out in city parks were given protective essentials and greeted by NYPD.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by amandaseales (@amandaseales) on May 3, 2020 at 7:37pm PDT

And this is not the only incident that has made headlines. Suspended NYPD officer Francisco Garcia, was caught on camera assaulting a 33-year-old black man during a social distancing stop—which sounds like the  COVID-19 era’s version of stop-and-frisk.

Since joining the force in 2012, Garcia has cost the city $200,000 in lawsuits. And prior to COVID-19, black people were already being marginalized.

Arbery’s name is now added to a long list of men, women, and non-gender conforming individuals who have been brutalized and killed. And it’s hard to think about what new norms and opposition black people will face when shelter-in-place mandates are lifted nationwide.

The ideas and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author’s and not necessarily the opinion of Black Enterprise.

• News

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

May 7, 2020

Indianapolis Police Kill Black Man, Laugh About It Not Realizing It’s Being Recorded On Facebook Live

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According to NewsOne, Indianapolis police officers shot and killed what appears to be an unarmed black man last night and the victim was streaming the incident on Facebook Live.

The victim, Sean Reed, was live-streaming himself on Facebook when he was shot. Unknown to the police, Reed was recording as he was gunned down and the officers had no clue that after shooting him, they could be heard sharing a laugh over his dead body.

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department released a statement (in full below) stating that gunfire was exchanged between the officers and the victim. “There was an exchange of gunfire between the driver and the officer. The driver was struck by the gunfire.”

Yet, in video clips that went viral, there was no evidence that Reed had or fired a gun.

The following clips suggest that the circumstances are substantially different from the statement written by the Indianapolis Police Department.

I can barely get past #AmaudArbery today..then my heart is broken once again with #SeanReed. What is happening in our society? pic.twitter.com/h78wO0xEoS

— Ariel (@heyarielouise) May 7, 2020

‘That’s gonna be a closed casket homie’ – pig, after executing a black man..

Yet another hashtag.. sickening.. #SeanReed pic.twitter.com/XMMo21I3BH

— Oskaer (@Oskaer__13) May 7, 2020

He can’t even get the damn story straight smh pic.twitter.com/J5enltUGha

— .♛ (@disbeatis) May 7, 2020

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department released a written statement:

On May 6, 2020 at approximately 6:00 p.m. Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) Deputy Chief Kendale Adams was traveling northbound on Interstate 65 at West 30^th Street when he observed a vehicle, described as a grey Toyota Corolla with four doors, driving recklessly. The vehicle had almost struck other vehicles while it exited the interstate. Deputy Chief Adams was in an unmarked police vehicle and Chief Randal Taylor was in a separate vehicle directly behind Deputy Chief Adams. Deputy Chief Adams asked for other officers’ assistance as he began a pursuit on the vehicle. Chief Taylor continued to assist Major Adams. The vehicle continued driving at a high rate of speed and disobeying all traffic signals.

As marked cars arrived in the pursuit, Chief Taylor and Major Adams removed themselves from the pursuit as is standard procedure. At 6:10 p.m. the pursuit was terminated by the Sergeant monitoring the pursuit. Officers immediately backed away from the vehicle and disengaged their emergency equipment.

Just before 6:16 p.m. a Northwest district officer observed the grey Toyota Corolla pull into the rear of a business in the 6200 block of Michigan Road. The driver then jumped out of the vehicle disregarding the officers verbal commands to stop. A short foot pursuit occurred east bound from the location. Initial information indicates the officer deployed his taser. At which point there was an exchange of gunfire between the driver and the officer. The driver was struck by the gunfire.

Indianapolis Emergency Medical Services (IEMS) responded to the scene and pronounced the driver deceased at the scene.

The Indianapolis-Marion County Forensic Services Agency responded to the scene to collect forensic evidence.

IMPD closely scrutinizes all uses of force, as we hold every officer to our high standards. While we are withholding judgement on the actions of the involved officer at this time, the officer has been placed on administrative leave pending further investigation. The shooting is being investigated by IMPD’s Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT).  A separate and independent internal investigation will be conducted by IMPD’s Internal Affairs Unit to ensure compliance with departmental policy, as is standard procedure in an officer-involved shooting. The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office is involved and will be consulted throughout the investigative process, which includes up to or including the Grand Jury, with civilian oversight. In addition, the IMPD Firearms Review Board will determine whether the departmental use of force was reasonable.

Anyone with information about this incident should call the IMPD Homicide Office at 317.327.3475 or Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317.262.8477 or (TIPS).  Citizens can also download the mobile P3tips app for Apple or Android phones to submit a mobile tip, or go to www.CrimeTips.org to submit a web tip. You will remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1000 if the information leads to a felony arrest.  Only tips submitted directly and anonymously to Crime Stoppers are eligible for these cash rewards. This release may be updated as more information becomes available. Information given via Crime Stoppers should be considered anonymous.

• News

by Derek Major

May 7, 2020

Joe Biden Says Ahmaud Arbery ‘Was Killed in Cold Blood’

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Joe Biden is speaking out about the death of an African American man in Georgia by a former district attorney investigator and his son.

Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old African American man, was jogging through Brunswick, Georgia, when Gregory McMichael, 64, and his son, Travis, confronted him. The two men told police they suspected Arbery of being a burglar in the suburban neighborhood.

After stopping Arbery in their truck, an argument ensued and Travis shot Arbery twice, killing him immediately.

According to BET, the presidential hopeful and others are speaking out after a graphic video of the incident was released Tuesday by Lee Merritt Esq. an attorney for Arbery’s family,

“The video is clear: Ahmaud Arbery was killed in cold blood,” Biden said on Twitter Tuesday. “My heart goes out to his family, who deserve justice and deserve it now. It is time for a swift, full, and transparent investigation into his murder.

BET also reported that Tom Durden, the District Attorney for the Brunswick Judicial Circuit, is now recommending the case be “presented to the grand jury of Glynn County for consideration of criminal charges against those involved in the death of Mr. Arbery.”

Some may see this as a sign that justice will prevail. However, Georgia ACLU political director Christopher Bruce told an Atlanta CBS affiliate that “we have been down this road before with grand juries and it has not brought justice.”

Merritt noted that two other district attorneys refused to prosecute Gregory and Travis McMichael. One of the district attorneys was recused due to a conflict of interest.

African American celebrities have also expressed their concerns regarding the incident including LeBron James, sportswriter Jemele Hill, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

African Americans had already expressed fear for their safety during these times, particularly when it comes to wearing face masks in public due to the negative reaction they may get from cops and white Americans. Sens. Kamala Harris and Cory Booker sent a letter to the Justice Department asking for guidance for local law enforcement to follow.