Indiana University Closes DEI Office To Comply With Federal Mandates
The change echoes across all nine of IU’s campuses.
Indiana University has shut down its diversity, equity, and inclusion office in response to new federal mandates that harshly target programs and entities that continue to uphold DEI-aligned policy. IU’s DEI office closed its doors May 22, according to IU Today.
The change echoes across all nine of IU’s campuses, which are being urged to follow in the footsteps of the university due to recent federal policies.
The announcement stated that all campuses have been instructed to comply with President Donald Trump’s push to eliminate DEI nationwide.
The university said in its May 22 statement, “As Indiana University prioritizes initiatives to provide students with universal access to resources, programs, and services that support their success, it is also taking steps to ensure the university is fully compliant with state and federal laws and guidance regarding diversity, equity and inclusion.”
IU alleged that it would continue to ensure all students are supported adequately to succeed both in their classrooms and post-graduation, but did not detail how it would compensate for the hole left by the closing of the DEI office.
IU continued in the statement, “The university continues to update and enhance student success initiatives. This includes efforts related to academic advising, engagement, and student well-being, among other efforts to make a robust array of resources available to all students.”
The Office of the Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Indiana University previously offered students a wide range of services. The DEI office provided scholarships and on-campus resources and helped to retain diversity on campus.
The IU stated, “To further ensure compliance with state and federal guidance, the Office of the Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion will sunset, effective today. The university is also directing campuses, schools, and units to take necessary steps to ensure compliance with state and federal policies and guidance.”
They additionally announced that the university’s Office of Institutional Equity would transition into the Office of Civil Rights Compliance.
“Where necessary, the university will communicate directly with relevant students, faculty, staff, and other stakeholders to provide additional information and support. IU will continue to affirm its fundamental goal of ensuring every student is equipped to thrive in the classroom and after graduation.”
The DEI office closed on May 22, but a timeline for the dissolution of its more widespread services was not outlined.
Academic advising for individuals affected will continue to be provided, and the student programs in the office will be shifted to different offices.
Black Doctors Question Eliminating Diversity From Medical School Accreditation Criteria
Doctors warn removing DEI standards may harm efforts to improve healthcare equity.
On May 19, the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) voted to remove diversity partnerships and programs from its evaluation criteria for medical schools awarding “MD” degrees, citing growing state-level crackdowns on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
According to USA Today, the committee indicated that those crackdowns conflict with the accrediting body’s standards, and dropping the diversity standards would allow them to establish “a single set of accreditation expectations with which all schools, regardless of their location and current legislative environment, must comply.”
A liaison committee spokesperson also told the outlet that the committee arrived at the decision following “thoughtful and careful consideration and discussion,” but regardless of what facilitated their arrival to eliminate diversity from their evaluation criteria, doctors who have been working to increase diversity in the medical field told the outlet that it represents a setback in their efforts.
Dr. Virginia Caine, the president of the National Medical Association, an organization representing Black physicians, said the decision left her “dumbfounded.”
“We’re just dumbfounded by this decision made by LCME,” she said, before pointing to studies that indicate that Black patients often have better health outcomes and engage more when treated by Black primary care physicians.
“We have such a rich and incredible history of talented Black physicians,” Caine, who is also the public health department director of Marion County, Indiana, told the outlet. “If we knock out the access before they even are entering medical schools or academic schools, we’re just going to be a nation that’s not as creative, not as innovative, and not as successful.”
To her point, although the percentage of Black doctors has risen from 2.6% in 2019 to 5.2% in 2022, according to numbers from the Association of American Medical Colleges, it still lags behind Black Americans’ 13.7% share of the American population.
On May 22, the National Medical Association also released a statement condemning the federal government’s attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
“The federal administration’s orders to cut diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is negatively impacting access to medical education for the next generation of Black physicians. The Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), an accrediting body for medical education programs leading to a Doctor of Medicine degree, and jointly sponsored by the Association of American Medical Colleges and the American Medical Association, voted to eliminate its diversity programs and partnerships. These changes will have detrimental effects on qualified students, further limiting their access to a career in medicine,” the association said.
There are more than 150 medical schools in the U.S., but to this day, two HBCUs, Howard & Meharry medical schools, still produce the MOST Black physicians. It’s past time for PWIs to step up & commit to educating a diverse workforce. HBCUs can’t continue to do the heavy lifting.
In addition to this, although there are over 150 medical schools in the United States, medical schools at four HBCUs, the Howard University College of Medicine, the Morehouse School of Medicine, the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, and Meharry University outperform predominantly white institutions when it comes to producing Black doctors, which further underscores Caine’s point.
According to Dr. Osose Obeh, who completed her residency in internal medicine at Johns Hopkins University after completing medical school at Michigan State University, the move from the LCME, along with the crackdown on diversity, equity, and inclusion, is “disheartening.”
“There is an attack on something that is actually good,” Oboh said. “Diversity has been rebranded as giving unqualified folks opportunity, when in reality, it’s increasing exposure to qualified people.”
Corroborating Dr. Caine’s earlier statements about how Black patients engage with Black doctors, Dr. Oboh recounted an instance when she had to give her Black patients bad news.
“They (the patient’s family) were so appreciative to receive it from me,” Oboh said. “They understood why we were taking the steps we’re taking and why we were going to do the interventions we were going to do. They felt like nobody else had explained it to them.”
Special Analysis: Top 20 Franchises For Black Owners In Various Business Sectors
Understanding a franchise's upfront costs, business system, and financial performance are some critical factors to know before investing in such an enterprise.
A push to boost entrepreneurship in their communities, an appetite for self-employment, and a chance to perhaps bag more money are just some factors why Black franchising is in demand.
Per this account. the International Franchise Association (IFA) declares Black franchise ownership has risen by 40% in the last 10 years. Roughly 26% of franchises are owned by people of color, versus 17% of independent businesses.
Franchising can be fruitful for Black entrepreneurs. Those franchisees, on average, generate 2.2 times more in sales than Black-owned non-franchise businesses. Yet, potential franchise owners should be aware that running such a business is not a cinch. The reality: Franchising can come with challenges and requires ample diligence from owners.
A leading national independent market research firm serving the franchise sector, Franchise Business Review (FBR) supplied BLACK ENTERPRISE the “Top 20 Franchises for Black Owners.” All the brands were on FBR’s annual Top 200 Franchises ranking earlier this year. FBR Founder and CEO Eric Stites says the owner satisfaction data for these 20 brands was based solely on the Black franchisees within those brands.
Stites declares that the No. 1-ranked mobile shaved ice franchise, Kona Ice, has made great strides in cultivating a diverse and inclusive franchisee community. He disclosed Black franchisees recently rated the brand an impressive 93 on the Franchisee Satisfaction Index (FSI), which is 35% above FBR’s satisfaction benchmark for all franchise brands.
He added that this high level of satisfaction underscores Kona Ice’s effectiveness in creating an environment where franchisees of diverse backgrounds can thrive.
Kona Ice Founder and CEO Tony Lamb said that ownership starts to look like everyone when the barriers come down and the support shows up. He shared that 16% of franchisees who have joined Kona Ice over the past three years belong to the Black community.
“Affordable startup costs, in-place structured financing, and a franchise model that thrives outside the brick-and-mortar system remove traditional roadblocks. Add to that a culture built on mentorship, community giving, and franchisee-first support, and you’re not just creating small business owners, you’re building a movement that reflects the communities it serves.”
Stites stated that the new FBR franchisee satisfaction research was completed in May 2025. Some 1,240 franchise business owners who identify as Black or African American participated. He says the rankings were based on franchise companies with the highest satisfaction among their Black owners out of over 370 franchise brands participating.
Overall, the list revealed franchises in numerous industries with a sizeable concentration on food, real estate, senior care, and business services/technology, to name a few. Others represented include travel, child services, cleaning & maintenance, health & personal services.
“For anyone researching franchise business opportunities, satisfaction among current franchise owners is one of the most important factors to consider,” Stites says. “The brands that make our awards lists each year are some of the top franchise opportunities available today. And these 20 franchises in particular have the highest satisfaction among Black owners in the franchise industry.”
So, what good opportunities can the brands listed (see below) perhaps bring Black franchisees?
“Successful franchising is built on strong brands with solid business systems, training & support, and a proven business model,” said Stites. “The most successful franchise companies also treat their franchise owners as true business partners, and they do everything in their power to help these owners be successful. That’s a big part of the reason brands like Kona Ice, NextHome, and 360clean stand out among their Black franchisees.”
Based on FBR’s newest research, over 35,000 franchisees across nearly 350 leading franchise companies were analyzed, with about 4% Black-owned. According to Stites, after removing franchise brands with below-average satisfaction among Black franchise owners, FBR weighted satisfaction scores for more diverse brands based on the total number and percentage of Black owners.
David Smith, IFA Director of Diversity Programs, shared via email some virtues franchising offers. Instead of reinventing the wheel, he says franchise owners benefit from proven business models, built-in customer recognition, and operational systems that can take years to develop on their own. As such, the established model reduces risk and allows entrepreneurs to avoid certain pitfalls because the franchisor has already tested and proven the model.
Simultaneously, Smith noted that for Black business owners, one of the biggest challenges can be accessing capital. Whether startup capital or operating capital, he says many Black business owners simply don’t know where to begin. He says the information gap inspired us (IFA) to establish educational programs like Pathways to Franchising.
In partnership with VetFran, Smith says the program ensures information reaches diverse communities. “We provide direct educational information on franchise fundamentals, selecting the right brand, and accessing capital to start your journey. The IFA Foundation is eager to help build awareness about franchising and educate motivated individuals on how to be successful and build generational wealth through franchising.”
The IFA provides more support on diverse franchising at this site and here.
Potential franchisees should also consider if they have the tenacity, the knack to manage people, and the ability to work with a franchisor, among other qualities, before taking the plunge.
Stites offered this advice: “Franchising offers a strong pathway to business owners for aspiring entrepreneurs, with the potential to build long-term, generational wealth. But it’s important to have realistic expectations of what business ownership is all about. Most franchise businesses—like any new business—require several years of hard work before they start to take off. Many franchisees tell us that building their franchise business was the hardest thing they’ve ever done.”
He added, “If you are willing to work hard and follow the proven systems that franchise companies offer, chances are very good you will be successful.
This list shows the investment range for the Top 20 Franchises for Black business owners.
Alleged Financial Misuse Prompts Investigation Into Durham Committee On The Affairs Of Black People In North Carolina
This development represents a blemish on the reputation of an organization that was created in 1935 in order to help register Black voters in the city
The Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People is reportedly being investigated by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation’s financial crimes unit, following a request from Durham District Attorney Satana Deberry to examine the committee’s use of campaign funds. Additionally, Donald Hughes, a former vice chair of the political action committee, recently explained his reasons for resigning from the organization earlier this year.
According to WRAL, Hughes indicated that he became aware of some troubling charges by the organization, like payments to a beauty supply store in Durham, and the organization’s handling of the issues he raised prompted him to resign some time later.
“It became apparent pretty quickly that there was the potential for serious financial malfeasance and potentially the embezzlement and misappropriation of the Durham Committee PAC’s tens of thousands of dollars,” Hughes told the outlet. “I was deeply disturbed upon finding out.”
Hughes continued, “Knowing a little bit about campaign finance law, those charges do not align with what should be happening with campaign finance dollars. There were payments made to makeup artists, to hair stylists. There were payments made at local beauty supply stores…There is no way that I could remain in that position without having the ability to review that report. I think it was imperative that I spoke out publicly to warn other organizations, but to also show that as an individual, I value transparency, I value integrity, and that no one, no matter your political affiliation, is above the law.”
Floyd McKissick Jr., who took over as the organization’s chair in January, told the outlet that although he could not comment specifically on an ongoing investigation, which the political action committee initiated, he remains hopeful that those who participated in unlawful acts will be held accountable.
“We are optimistic that any person or persons that engaged in criminal wrongdoing will be held accountable, but we cannot discuss it any further because of an ongoing investigation, which we initiated, based upon the findings in a report prepared by a CPA,” McKissick told WRAL.
As of May 23, there has not been any clarification provided by District Attorney Deberry, nor have there been any charges filed, and the Bureau of Investigations has not confirmed any names or any reported persons of interest in the investigation at this time. However, this development represents a blemish on the reputation of an organization created in 1935 to help register Black voters in the city, which eventually led to the first Black policemen hired by the city and the establishment of recreational facilities for Black people in Durham.
According to the Durham County Library, although young Black people determined that the group was too conservative for their tastes by the 1950s, opting instead to join the NAACP and the Congress of Racial Equality, the group remained an important aspect of the Civil Rights movement. It helped desegregate schools in the 1950s and 1960s and exert its influence in the 1980s to elect Black people to local offices in Durham. It remains an important influence on Durham’s political scene; the group hosted Vice President Kamala Harris in 2019 as its keynote speaker at its Founders Day Banquet during her campaign for president.
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka Earns Black Men Vote PAC Endorsement For NJ Governor
Trespassing charge against Baraka was dropped ahead of key gubernatorial endorsement.
After a trespassing charge against Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was abruptly dismissed by U.S. District Judge Andre Espinosa, the Black Men Vote PAC endorsed him for New Jersey governor on May 23.
As Insider New Jersey reports, the endorsement signals a strong synergy between Baraka and the PAC as Baraka’s candidacy for the governorship continues to unfold.
Baraka also detailed to editors of the USA Today Network New Jersey Editorial Board shortly after being detained by Homeland Security officers that he believesthe Democratic Party has lost touch with its identity as a champion of the working people, not the elites that have captured the party’s attention recently.
According to Michael Bland, executive director of Black Men Vote PAC, Baraka has been a champion for Black men and figures to continue that representation as he makes his intentions to better the State of New Jersey clear as the June 10 mayoral primary approaches.
“Ras Baraka has always met Black men where we are, whether it’s in the boardroom or on the block, in the classroom or on the court. He’s a mayor who governs with vision and conviction and he will do the same as Governor of the Garden State,” Bland said in the press release announcing the endorsement.
He continued, “Mayor Baraka’s leadership reflects the ‘both/and’ experience of Black men. We must both navigate systems that were never built for us and build new ones rooted in justice, dignity, and collective power. His entire life trajectory is evidence of the fact that when you empower Black men, you lift entire communities. He listens. He leads. And he delivers.”
Baraka accepted the group’s endorsement and remarked that it is a signal that his campaign speaks to and for the lives of Black men across the state.
“This endorsement from Black Men Vote PAC is more than political, it’s deeply personal and reflects the values that our campaign stands for,” Mayor Baraka said. “It affirms that our campaign is speaking to the real lives of Black men across New Jersey, men who are both resilient and visionary, both burdened by injustice and builders of a better future.”
The move is believed to be the first endorsement from the Black Men Vote PAC, and as Insider reports, it represents the PAC’s desire to move from mobilizing voters, as it did during Kamala Harris’ campaign during the 2024 election, into building more sustained Black political power that targets Black men specifically.
According to Dena Mottola Jaborska, executive director for New Jersey Citizen Action, “New Jerseyans face a grave affordability crisis, with health care, utility, and in particular housing costs continuing to spiral out of control. Ras Baraka stands as the best choice from a field of talented candidates to address this crisis. His commitment to uplifting working families, to economic reinvestments in hard-hit communities, and to sweeping reforms geared towards revitalizing affordable housing will ensure we build a New Jersey where everyone can thrive, not just the wealthy or politically connected. New Jersey Citizen Action stands ready to help build a coalition that will elect a champion and protector of low- and moderate-income people.”
Uche Ojeh, Husband of ‘Today’ Show Host Sheinelle Jones, Dies Of Brain Cancer
Uche Ojeh was 45 years old.
The husband of NBC “Today” co-anchor Sheinelle Jones has died. Uche Ojeh died after battling an aggressive and persistent form of brain cancer at 45, according to NBC’s May 23 morning show report.
“Today” co-host Savannah Guthrie reported, “With profound sadness, we share this morning that Uche Ojeh, the husband of our friend and Today co-host Sheinelle Jones, has passed away after a courageous battle with an aggressive form of brain cancer called glioblastoma. There are no words for the pain we feel for Sheinelle and their three young children. Uche was an incredible person. We all loved him. And so we want to take a moment to tell you more about the remarkable man who was Sheinelle’s perfect partner in life.”
At the time of his death, Ojeh was 45, and he is survived by Jones and the three children they share.
Fellow “Today” co-anchor Craig Melvin shared his condolences and recalled playing golf with Ojeh just last fall.
“We had a number of conversations about just life in general,” Melvin expressed. “And one thing he always talked about, he talked about those kids. He loved those kids more than anything else in this world, and was just so proud. He was the dad that was on the sidelines every soccer game. He was at all the concerts and the recitals. He was that guy.”
Jones has been on an extended leave of absence from her role on the NBC morning show since the end of last year to deal with what she described as a “family health matter.”
She has been a part of the “Today” show family for over a decade after joining in 2014 to work alongside Dylan Dreyer and Craig Melvin under NBC News.
Jones and Ojeh married in 2007, after the pair met at Northwestern University. Ojeh proposed to Jones on the university campus.
Arson Investigation Underway After Fire Guts Historic Clayborn Temple
The Memphis Fire Department confirmed they believe the fire was set intentionally.
A fire that caused significant damage to a historic Black church in Memphis, Tennessee — once the organizing hub for the 1968 sanitation workers’ strike that drew the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. to the city — was deliberately set, investigators confirmed May 21. The fire at Clayborn Temple undid work completed in a renovation effort that has been ongoing for years.
The Memphis Fire Department stated the Clayborn Temple blaze was set on the interior of the church, and investigators are currently searching for an individual suspected of being involved in starting the fire.
Flames tore through the historic downtown Memphis church in the early morning hours of April 28 and left its interior destroyed.
Memphis Fire Chief Gina Sweat reported later that day that while the inside of the building was likely a total loss due to the flames, some parts of the exterior facade might still be salvageable for restoration.
A few weeks after the initial fire in Clayborn Temple, the Memphis Fire Department announced that the structure had been stabilized, allowing investigators to conduct a more thorough examination to determine the true cause of the fire.
The investigation eventually led to the suspicion that the fire was set intentionally.
Executive Director of Historic Clayborn Temple Anasa Troutman delivered a statement on the impact of the fire May 21.
Troutman said, “Clayborn Temple is sacred ground — home to generations of struggle, resilience, and creativity. This act of violence is painful, but it will not break our spirit.”
Before the blaze, the historic church was in the middle of a $25 million restoration effort to preserve its Romanesque Revival architecture and rich cultural legacy. Plans included restoring a massive 3,000-pipe grand organ and turning the site into a hub for neighborhood revitalization, with a museum, cultural programming, and community outreach initiatives.
Clayborn Temple is located just south of the iconic civil rights Beale Street, and was built in 1892 as the Second Presbyterian Church. After being sold in 1949, it became a pillar for Black congregations.
It later brought civil rights leader Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. to Memphis in 1968. King supported over 1,000 Black sanitation workers who went on strike to protest the inhumane treatment they received while being exposed to unsafe work conditions.
The Clayborn Temple was home to nightly meetings at the height of the strike, producing the movement’s recognizable “I AM A MAN” posters and becoming a station during marches.
Clayborn Temple was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
Following King’s assassination and the conclusion of the Memphis workers’ strike, the church fell into disuse, and it was left vacant until recent renovation efforts began restoring it to its former state.
Before the recent fire, around $8 million had been poured into Clayborn Temple for renovations, and while the interior was still a work in progress, the exterior had been fully restored, according to Troutman.
Sacha Jenkins, Influential Journalist And Ego Trip Co-Founder, Dies at 54
Jenkins died of complications stemming from Multiple System Atrophy.
Influential journalist and filmmaker Sacha Jenkins has died. The Hollywood Reporter confirms that the cultural legend who co-founded the 1990s magazine Ego Trip, died due to health complications May 23 at 54.
Jenkins’s cause of death was confirmed by his wife, fellow journalist Raquel Cepeda. On the morning of May 23, Jenkins suffered from multiple system atrophy, a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects both the central nervous system and the autonomic nervous system.
Jenkins, a Philadelphia native, built a long and diverse career in journalism through his passion for culture and the arts. His career took off when he launched Graphic Scenes & Xplicit Language, credited as one of the first magazines focused on graffiti art.
Later in life, he partnered with his longtime friend, Elliott Wilson, who would continue working in journalism and television, to start the hip-hop newspaper Beat Down. Jenkins and Wilson’s next major project was the iconic Ego Trip, a magazine that blended hip-hop culture with skateboarding.
Though originally born in Philadelphia, Jenkins was raised and shaped in New York City. He moved to Queens in the late 1970s to put his finger to the pulse of hip-hop, where it was truly taking off. In the epicenter of the city, graffiti and skateboarding were both emerging as popular mediums of expression.
In a 2024 interview with Idea Generation, Jenkins explained, “It was very important for me to be directly involved, because I learn from hip-hop, from hardcore, from graffiti, whatever. Being a practitioner, being involved, or understanding these cultures and subcultures has always been very germane to my evolution. Having that experience really helped me navigate the world at large.”
Jenkins had a prolific creative career. In journalism, he began by writing underground zines, but continued writing and editing for major magazines such as Vibe, Rolling Stone, and Spin. Most recently, he was the creative director at Mass Appeal.
Over the years, he engaged in telling and poignant interviews with big-name artists from different musical backgrounds, wrote several books centering on graffiti, created an off-Broadway play, and directed multiple films.
As a filmmaker, Jenkins was also a force in the industry. Most recently, he produced the documentary “Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues” and still has a new film on the way called “Harley Flanagan: Wired for Chaos,” which focuses on the life of legendary Cro-Mags bassist and frontman.
Jenkins directed multiple notable films, including “Bitchin’: The Sound and Fury of Rick James” in 2021, “Fresh Dressed” in 2015—which takes a dive into the history of Hip-Hop fashion—”All Up in the Biz” in 2023, a documentary about rap legend Biz Markie, and a 2019 four-part series on the “Wu-Tang Clan, Of Mics and Men.” Some of Jenkins’s other credits include: “Everything’s Gonna Be All White,” “Around The Way,” “Supreme Team,” “Generation Dead: The Walking Dead Fan Documentary,” “You’re Watching Video Music Box,” “Rolling Like Thunder,” “Cypress Hill: Insane in the Brain,” and “City Girls Point Blank Period.”
Tabitha Brown Claps Back At Haters: ‘No Amount Of Hate Will Stop Me From Uplifting Black Creators’ As Target Boycott Impacts Authors
Emmy winner Brown called out haters over her video on the Target boycott’s impact on Black authors and businesses.
Emmy-winning actress, entrepreneur, and author Tabitha Brown took to Instagram to speak on the discourse surrounding her opinions on the Target boycott. On May 20, the 46-year-old internet personality dropped a video to respond to those hating on her for her previous statements, and to encourage others to combat the negative impact that the boycott is having on Black authors whose books are sold on the retailer’s shelves.
As a well-known advocate for Black authors, Black-owned businesses, and creatives, Brown had previously warned people to be mindful of the Target boycotts, as it would negatively impact many Black authors as well as big businesses.
The “Donna’s Recipe” haircare brand founder began by addressing the online users sending her hate messages in her recent Instagram video, “This is my prayer for you. I pray that love finds you, true love. I pray it finds you and it holds you tight,” she began.
Brown continued, “I pray that someone will love you enough to see you, to see you when you are not well, to see you when you need true support, to see you when you need compassion, to see you when you need kindness. I pray that somebody loves you enough to sacrifice their life for you. I pray that type of love finds you so that you can understand.”
Brown echoed her own sentiments in the caption of the video as well. The vegan food influencer wrote, “To all the people in the comments and my DMS with your uneducated hate messages…There is no amount of hate and ignorance that is going to stop me from using my platform and my voice to support and uplift small businesses, Black-owned businesses, Black content creators, and Black authors.”
Brown confirmed that she would not stop speaking out about the Target boycott and its impact on Black authors and that she will continue to inspire others to find ways to support them in the deficit.
“Take it up with God because he gave me my voice, he blessed me with a platform, and I’m going to use it,” Brown concluded.
Previously, Brown took a deep dive into how the Target boycott — launched at the beginning of this year in response to the retailer’s rolling back its DEI initiatives under President Trump’s new federal framework — has impacted the landscape of Black authorship.
Brown reflected that since the beginning of the boycott, many Black authors have been struggling to get a reaction behind their books, with many people no longer shopping at Target, where they are sold.
Brown explained, “Target is a huge book retailer, right, that sells our books, and so because of the boycott, many of our Black authors’ books did not sell well because people were not purchasing the books because they’re sold at Target.
“This affected their sales. It affected their ability to be on the New York Times bestseller list. But the bigger issue is that it also affects the next deal.”
Brown encouraged people engaging in the boycott to be “mindful” of the more nuanced repercussions of not shopping at Target, and recommended supporting these Black authors by buying through other channels to help them “make their numbers.”
Brown also directly addressed publishers on her platform, urging them not to hold the sales of their Black authors during these past months of boycott as “truth” to their selling power.
“These numbers are not reflecting … their truth,” the actress expressed. “They’re talented writers with beautiful stories, and they’re being affected by something that they did not do.”
Brown has been receiving pushback since she spoke up in defense of Black-owned businesses and Black authors near the beginning of the Target boycott. According to previous reports, many did not receive her message to consider the Black business owners and creatives affected by the boycott kindly.
Jordan Brand’s Larry Miller Redefines Second Chances For Formerly Incarcerated Through A Workforce And Education Initiative
Miller launched the Justice and Upward Mobility Project (JUMP) to push the formerly incarcerated to the top of hiring managers and chief human resources officers’ pool of resumes.
Jordan Brand Chairman Larry Miller announced a new initiative that gives second chances to formerly incarcerated persons with criminal pasts–just like him.
With the help of his daughter, Laila Lacy, Miller launched the Justice and Upward Mobility Project, also known as JUMP, to push the formerly incarcerated to the top of hiring managers’ and chief human resources officers’ pools of resumes. Known as a highly ignored demographic, Miller uses his story of being rejected by the then-Big Eight public accounting firm Arthur Andersen when he tells the hiring manager the truth about his past.
Years prior, Miller had spent time in a juvenile correction center for his role in the death of another teenager whom he mistakenly thought was from a rival gang. After fighting for years to turn his life around, Miller was concerned his secret would get out. “Every day I’m worried that somehow the story is going to get out and it’s going to destroy everything that I had built up to that point,” he remembered while speaking at Fortune’s Workplace Innovation Summit.
The work of JUMP is targeted at correcting this wrong while living in digital days, making it harder for the past to be hidden. Supported by corporate partners like NBCUniversal, Cisco, Jobs for the Future, and the Corporate Coalition of Chicago, according to Forbes, the initiative focuses on four pillars of education and employment: advocacy and policy, media and narrative, and coalition building.
The first pillar of education and employment focuses on creating workforce development programs that showcase opportunities to youths and adults still tied up in the justice system. Data from the Harvard Business Review showed that persons who once spent time behind bars have a 77% chance of returning between two and three years — but not without a trade. The number drops to 30% if that formerly incarcerated person learns a skill, and decreases to 6% if they obtain a bachelor’s degree.
While encouraging participants to foster relationships with employers in the sports, entertainment, and business fields, Miller’s JUMP is committed to working with local, state, and federal policymakers to curate supportive legislation geared toward education and workforce development. It will also help limit barriers for people with arrest records to gain employment, hence giving second chances to those labeled with a negative perception.
To the former Portland Trailblazer president, the data proves that there is a space for the formerly imprisoned to thrive. “To me, that’s a clear indication that if people are able to learn a trade, get an education—do something that allows them to rebuild their life, take care of their families, and get back to their communities, people don’t go back to jail,” he said. “That should be the goal.”
