Fashion Lovers Don’t Bag It, Wait Hours for Telfar NYC Flagship Store Grand Opening
Fans waited hours to experience the grand opening of Telfar's flagship location.
Around 300 fashion enthusiasts waited in line for hours to be among the first to experience the grand opening of Telfar’s flagship store in New York City’s trendy SoHo neighborhood, The New York Post.
The line stretched down Broadway and into a nearby alley before the 11 a.m. ribbon-cutting.
The crowd came dressed to impress, excited over the rare chance to grab one of Telfar’s highly coveted bags, lovingly dubbed the “Bushwick Birkin.” For years, fans relied on sheer luck to score the bags online, where they often sold out within minutes, forcing many to turn to resale apps and other platforms to secure one.
A 14-year-old who arrived at 8 a.m. was the first in line, purchasing a bag and meeting Telfar Clemens.
Skai Karim, 20, a Fashion Institute of Technology student, was fifth in line to purchase a black shopper bag. She also met the “icon” and noted how much of a big deal the entire experience was “if you’re a big fan.”
“Why not experience the first time going to the grand opening of the first flagship store? That’s a memory to be created,” Karim said.
The new store, spanning 10,000 square feet, features a striking news desk at the entrance, racks of apparel suspended from the ceiling, and a stunning bag bar stretching the entire length of the space.
Customers had the chance to peruse every purse Telfar has ever produced, receiving “bag menus” or QR codes to scan and browse the purse selection to make their selection at the bar.
“It screams New York,” Karim said of the store’s layout. “It screams Telfar.”
Telfar expressed his pride in opening the store that comes after two decades of online drops and pop-up shops that fans and hungry resellers would mob.
“The store tells the whole story,” Clemens said of the store’s opening. “It’s not just bags—it’s a cultural phenomenon and it’s a total look—20 years in the making.”
“This is our flagship store in NYC—we want to spread that energy over the other 365 days of the year,” added Clemens. “That’s why the store is so central—you are never going to understand Telfar by walking into an existing store.”
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry Pushes For Homeless Encampment Removal Ahead Of Thanksgiving
Jim Knickles, a homeless man who lives in the Calliope encampment off and on, said that the plan is to round up the homeless and drop them off at various shelters, but he expressed some resistance to this plan.
Gov. Landry stated, “The city agreed to have these encampments moved by Thanksgiving. This was an important deadline with the holidays and Bayou Classic coming up. Last week, they announced they could not meet their deadline. If the city is unable to do their part to clean New Orleans up, we will.”
As WDSU reported, the governor’s actions follow his October action to clear homeless encampments near downtown New Orleans ahead of a Taylor Swift concert.
That set of actions, which saw Gov. Landry send state troopers to clear those encampments, sparked protests from leaders in New Orleans who accused Landry of overstepping his boundaries.
According to a lengthy statement from Louisiana’s Republican Rep. Alonzo Knox: “In the days leading up to Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour—a three-day sold-out event that brought an estimated $200 million economic boost to our city—Louisiana State Police and agents from the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries relocated a large homeless encampment near Calliope Street.”
Knox continued, “This area is just blocks from a major downtown entry point, had become overwhelmed with trash, debris, human waste, open drug dealings and use, violence, needles, crack pipes, and other drug and sex paraphernalia, posing significant public health and safety risks. Unfortunately, prior to the state’s involvement, no portable toilets or trash services or regular cleanup sweeps were provided at this or other encampments, highlighting a longstanding failure to address basic needs.”
Knox also acknowledged the problems of the sweeps, “Reports from the Calliope sweep revealed both progress and challenges. A significant number of unhoused individuals reported they had neither seen nor heard from a case worker in months. While some unhoused individuals were connected to housing services—26 (almost half) were reportedly offered housing—on the day of relocating the Calliope encampment about three blocks north of its original site. The city officials have reported others have since become scattered, with limited follow-up support due to chronic understaffing among social workers.”
Knox also said that the concerns of those who have raised issues with how the unhoused are treated deserve to be heard.
“Homelessness is a profound and complex challenge that requires collaboration, empathy, and action. It is literally an all-hands-on-deck approach. To the people of New Orleans, I say thank you for your patience, compassion, and insistence to seeking better outcomes for everyone in our city. Your voices matter, your concerns are valid, and your rights to a welcoming city—with safety and a decent quality of life are equally important.”
However, New Orleans Councilwoman Lesli Harris indicated in her own statement on Nov. 22 that the sweep ordered by the governor was a contradiction of the City of New Orleans’ plans to deal with the homeless encampment.
“These are people, many of whom had vouchers in hand, who were ready to be moved to housing, and now the state has come down and moved them farther down the street without a plan in place to get them housed,” Harris said.
Harris also told Fox 8 that the governor initiated a public health issue by uprooting more than 75 people with no plans to accommodate them in place.
“You think about the Taylor Swift concert that happened a month ago; folks have been living without hand-washing stations and port-a-potties until right now,” Harris told the outlet.
Jim Knickles, a homeless man who lives in the Calliope encampment off and on, said that the plan is to round up the unhoused and drop them off at various shelters, but he expressed some level of resistance to this plan.
According to Knickles, on Nov. 25, ”They’re going to come and pick everybody up and drop them off at different shelters. They ain’t dropping me off.”
Although Knickles doesn’t necessarily disagree that something should be done, he believes the money needs to be utilized to help people like himself find stable housing.
“I think he’s trying to set precedent for the city,” Knickles told the outlet. “Use the money and find these people a place to live.”
Knickles also pointed out that those who are homeless also engender concern from their family members, telling Fox 8, “It’s not just about me. It’s about them (his children) being able to put their head on the pillow every night without having to worry about their dad being on the street.”
Tennessee State University Votes To End $1.7M Deal With Former President Amid Financial Woes
Let's hope things get better.
Tennessee State University’s board of directors unanimously voted on Nov. 22 for interim President Ronald Johnson to end a four-year $1.7 million payment plan with former President Glenda Glover because the historically Black college and university is struggling financially, The Tennessean reports.
The board wantsJohnson to propose a buyout and pay package for her role as president emeritus. In addition, the vote called for Johnson to end a contract with general counsel and board secretary Laurence Pendleton, who, as of 2023, made a base annual salary of $208,985.
During the meeting, Board Chair Dakasha Winton made her colleagues aware that Johnson’s team should be gathering all “documents, payments, and consulting deliverables” that are tied with Glover’s work since June 30.
“Please note that this board has not approved any agreements with the immediate past president. Full transparency on these matters is essential for restoring trust. We are entrusted with life-changing decisions for TSU’s students and faculty,” Winton said.
“We must operate with the highest standards of transparency and accountability,” Winton added. “While some of yesterday’s and today’s reports have been difficult to hear, I am comforted that progress is being made and will continue to be made.”
State lawmakers called out the board in early 2024 over financial mismanagement concerns, pointing out more than $30 million in emergency funds being pushed to keep the school afloat. Conservative lawmakers highlighted a state audit that revealed the failures of management during Glover’s tenure and scrutinized the institution’s leadership for retaining her as an adviser.
In October 2024, TSU laid off over 100 employees after nearly failing to make payroll.
Chekesha Ibrahimzakaria, whose son is a sophomore, said her son was asked to issue repayment of close to $4,900. With an unpaid balance on his account, Ibrahimzakaria said her son can’t register for the Spring 2025 semester or be assigned to a dorm.
“Because they made a mistake, they want my son and others like him to make up for their mistake,” she said.
With strong family ties to the school, Ibrahimzakaria expressed being “disappointed” as she wanted her son to have the HBCU experience she had but now has plans to transfer.
“It’s too stressful for the students. My son now even regrets going to the school at all,” the mom said. “He doesn’t feel good at all about this experience, compared to the other people in the family who are so proud to have gone to TSU.”
Executive Director Of Blacks Of The Chesapeake, Vincent Leggett, Dies
According to Joel Dunn, the president and CEO of Chesapeake Conservancy, Leggett's work cast a long shadow due to his work connecting various people and communities.
Vincent Leggett, the executive director and the founder of Blacks of the Chesapeake, a group dedicated to preserving the history of Black maritime contributions to Maryland and other areas of the Chesapeake, died on Nov. 23 at 71.
According to CBS News, Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley announced Leggett’s death in a statement on Nov. 24.
“Vince was a tireless advocate for preserving the legacy of Black watermen,” Buckley said. “His efforts to honor their history and share their stories have left an indelible mark on the Annapolis community and beyond.”
Buckley continued, “Vince’s work went beyond retelling the stories of the Black watermen who worked the waters of the Chesapeake Bay. He had a passion to preserve stories that otherwise might have been lost to time. His deep connection to the water and the people whose lives were intertwined with it made him a respected figure in the Annapolis community. He will be greatly missed.”
Joel Dunn, the president and CEO of Chesapeake Conservancy, said that Leggett’s work cast a long shadow due to his work connecting various people and communities.
“Vince’s work transcended the archives and pages of history books — he built bridges connecting people and communities, fostered understanding, and inspired a collective commitment to justice and equity,” Dunn said. “As a mentor and friend to so many, he shared his wisdom generously, guiding others to take up the mantle of preserving and celebrating Black history.”
In addition to Buckley and Dunn, other leaders in Annapolis indicated that Leggett’s leadership grew his organization into an “influential organization, engaging with schools, museums, and community groups to educate and advocate for the preservation of the history of Black watermen and their families.”
I am deeply saddened by the passing of Vincent Leggett, a devoted historian & conservationist whose passion for the Chesapeake Bay was unmatched. Vince inspired countless individuals, including myself—we will honor his memory by continuing his vital work. https://t.co/7KpW9ccjC5pic.twitter.com/lDokJIihII
We’re kicking off with the debut episode: "BIMS Dives with Mr. Vince Leggett from Blacks of the Chesapeake." Mr. Leggett delves into the crucial Black history of the Chesapeake Bay. Keep an eye out for its release *this Friday* on our YouTube channel.https://t.co/AxFiIM9kdzpic.twitter.com/utdovylW2G
Through the work carried out through his foundation, he also began to educate people about how the Chesapeake Bay and its connecting waterways were used as part of the Underground Railroad, helping to shepherd those escaping the inhumanity of slavery to freedom.
Leggett told the outlet at the time that his primary concern centered on the erasure of Black people from the history of the maritime industry pioneers in the Chesapeake.
“I’d read of all the shipbuilders, boat captains, and shipping magnates who supposedly made bay history, most of them members of the majority community,” Leggett said. “Every book would have a picture of a black crab picker or oyster shucker. The caption would simply say ‘crab picker’ or ‘oyster shucker.’ There’d never be a name. These people worked. They must have had families, raised children, lived lives. Who were they? What did they do?”
Leggett’s work with the Blacks of the Chesapeake up to that point culminated in the year 2000 when Leggett coordinated with the Smithsonian and Library of Congress to compile more than 40,000 images that portrayed Black contributions to Maryland’s seafood and maritime industries in a proper historical context.
According to the Maryland State Archives, “This irreplaceable, extensive collection began as a labor of love 35 years ago for [Black of the Chesapeake Foundation] founder Vincent Leggett. He sought to capture, document, and chronicle African American life along the reaches of the Chesapeake Bay before time and evolving generations allowed it to float away.”
Leggett was also an instrumental part of the creation of Elktonia-Carr’s Beach Heritage Park, a public park launched in 2022 on the site of two popular Chesapeake Bay resorts, Carr and Sparrow beaches, formerly havens to Maryland’s Black community during segregation.
Legendary Black performers such as Sarah Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald, and Duke Ellington all performed there during segregation.
According to Chesapeake Conservancy, Leggett said it was important to him to teach why sites like Elktonia-Carr’s Beach Heritage Park are necessary pieces of history for future generations.
“Unless one walks the site of the iconic African American beaches, you can never fully understand what happened there,” Leggett said.
Leggett continued, “Unless one learns the stories of the heroes, you can never fully appreciate how their sacrifice gave us the freedoms we enjoy today. And unless you and I pass on the appreciation of these sites and why they are important, we cannot ensure the same freedom for our children and grandchildren.”
Tough TikTok Food Critic’s Rave Review Boosts Sales of Atlanta Soul Food Spot
The eatery, located inside an Atlanta gas station, ended up with a rave review from the hard-to-please critic.
Mr. Chimetime, a TikTok food critic known for his no-holds-barred restaurant reviews, praised a local Atlanta soul food restaurant alongside a generous tip.
Born Rashad Mooreman, the food lover was encouraged by the owner of Red Rice restaurant to try out its signature dishes. The eatery, located inside a gas station in Atlanta, received a rave review from the hard-to-please critic. He detailed the experience in a Nov. 19 TikTok post.
“I’ve had a hard time, a very hard time finding some good soul food, and I think I may have found it,” he stated in the clip.
Mr. ChimeTime then inserted a clip of the restaurant owner urging him to grab a plate. “He done been all around Atlanta. He don’t like nobody food. I need him to come to Red Rice,” she exclaimed.
While advising her to have better over-the-phone service, he still indulged in the soul food plate featuring the restaurant’s signature red rice.
“It is really and truly chef’s kiss. You tell time and effort went into making this,” he shared in between bites. “It gets no better than this.”
He then went to speak to the owner directly. He proceeded to give her a $5,000 tip, with $1,000 going toward meals for other customers to try the next day.
“I cook this. My kids cook this. We cook this from the heart. We love what we do,” she explained.
Red Rice’s owner posted to social media about their influx of customers following the viral review. Another food blogger showed a line around the block as Atlanta residents waited to get in the restaurant.
Georgia Family Continues Search For Missing Elderly Women Suffering From Dementia
The 80-year-old went missing without a trace, with her loved ones noticing she was not at her home as expected.
A Georgia family continues the search for a missing elderly woman who has dementia. Rosa “Rose” Mae Dawson has been missing since Nov. 13.
Dawson’s family held a widespread search through DeKalb County on Nov. 23. In a press release obtained by BLACK ENTERPRISE, the family enlisted the help of their local community to find the matriarch. Extended relatives, community leaders, and volunteers came together at South Dekalb Mall for the effort.
“We are still searching tirelessly and will not stop until Rose is home,” a family spokesperson explained in the news release. Your help could make the difference in bringing her back to us.”
The 80-year-old went missing without a trace, with her loved ones noticing she was not at her home as expected. Her son, Ricky Dawson, told 11Alive about when they discovered her disappearance.
“My aunt, who comes over and spends the day with her, came over, and the door was open, and she wasn’t here,” explained Ricky. “They couldn’t find her. They went over to a couple of the neighbors’ houses thinking she might’ve just walked over there, and she wasn’t there.”
According to the news outlet, Ring camera footage never captured Dawson leaving her home. Her family has leaned on the wider community to keep looking for the older woman. Despite having dementia, Dawson can identify herself and her residence.
However, her son still worries about her safety, especially as the winter weather approaches.
“The worst part is the not knowing. Not knowing where she is, the weather being cold and rainy — just hoping that she’s safe,” he said. “In my heart, I believe she will be home safe. I miss her, and I love her. I just want to hold her again.”
Georgia authorities issued a Mattie’s call, intended for disabled or elderly people, but the emergency alert had not reached all phones statewide. An investigation into the matter continues but with no leads thus far. Those with information are encouraged to contact the Dekalb County SVU or the Dawson family at helpfindrosedawson@gmail.com.
“It was just a mob of kids,” fashion teacher Bella Ivory explained. “So many kids outside my door. One of them had a Trump flag on a pole, some of them had on MAGA hats. Some just had Trump apparel.
“They looked so frightened,” Ivory added. “I said I’m not going to open the door, and one of my students said they looked like the KKK.”
STUDENTS EMBOLDENED BY TRUMP
Beverly Hills High School—the week of the 2024 election a mob of kids with a Trump flag on a pole, with Trump clothing and MAGA hats stormed the halls.
In recent weeks, Black students have been targets of racism, saying they’ve been called racial… pic.twitter.com/Bjve66a1ZQ
A senior student named Jurnee said racism became “utterly impossible” to ignore the week of the election.
“From 8:30 to 2:30, all week, being in school felt like a nightmare. What the Black students and Miss Bella had to deal with that week had nothing to do with politics,” she said. “That week, [being] stormed, being called the N-word…Being shunned, all because you were Black became the normal.”
Another student named Alexander shared how he has seen “slurs scrawled across the walls of our bathrooms” along with hateful and “violent rhetoric used toward Miss Bella and our club.”
The Beverly Hills Unified School District said, “We remain deeply committed to upholding a secure and conscientious setting where students can responsibly and considerately engage in the democratic process.”
However, the district is investigating the racist claims, including alleged evidence of a cell phone from a student posted on social media. In the recording, Ivory can allegedly be heard saying, “If anything happens to me at this school, my family will come for your families. If anything happens to my son, I will come for your families.”
Ivory, who has yet to return to class, claims the alleged recording was edited and says her message wasn’t a threat but was essential, “saying my family is going to come after [any] family that hurts me, kills me whatever, legally, not physically.”
According to Beverly Press, Joanie Garratt, who became a substitute teacher after entering retirement, was terminated on Nov. 13 for expressing being “disheartened” by the acts of the mob, which “specifically targeted the class where the Black Student Union was meeting.”
“Some students arrived at school truly upset and even crying only to be bullied later by their classmates,” Garratt wrote. “And don’t blame the administration for this. They are dealing with it. This comes from their leader, His Majesty, King.”
Principal Drew Stewart said such events would be prohibited in the future.“Students may not assemble, create moving mobs or form circles to shout, jump and physically contact others,” the memo read.
Canadian Paper Plant To Invest In $600M Factory In Georgia, Hire 100 Additional Workers
Irving Tissue, a Canadian paper company, announced on Nov. 21 that they would be spending $600 million to expand production at its paper mill in Macon, Georgia, including hiring 100 additional workers.
Irving Tissue, a Canadian paper company, announced on Nov. 21 that it would spend $600 million to expand production at its paper mill in Macon, Georgia, including plans to hire 100 additional workers.
Marc Doucette, Irving Tissue’s vice president of communications, told The Associated Press that the expansion was necessary because the plant had maxed out its current capability to produce paper goods.
“We’ve had tremendous success in Macon, and with the plant currently sold out, this is the right plant for the expansion,” Doucette said in an emailed statement.
The mill’s expansion includes an automated warehouse and new converting lines to convert tissue into paper products.
The wood pulp to supply the extra paper machine will come from the company’s paper mill in Saint John, New Brunswick.
The warehouse is expected to be ready by 2026, while the paper machine is scheduled to be completed in 2027.
Currently, the plant can produce 165,000 tons of tissue per year, but when the expansions are complete, that number will increase to 248,000 tons per year.
According to MBCIA,Macon’s population is approximately 54% Black, and the average income in Macon-Bibb County, Georgia, where Macon is located, was $41,334 as of 2019.
Workers make between $22 and over $30 an hour at the factory, which works out to a yearly salary of approximately $45,760 to over $62,400 for the highest earners.
Georgia’s state income tax credit system allows Irving to earn up to $2 million in state income tax credits.
As long as workers make over $35,600 a year, the company could earn as much as $4,000 per position over the next five years in state income tax credits, and the company could also receive property tax breaks and other incentives.
According to Doucette, the company is in talks with officials about creating tax abatements and other benefits for the company.
“I am very pleased to announce our Phase 3 expansion at Irving Tissue Macon. The $600 million (USD) investment will add another 100 jobs and include a third ThruAir Dry paper-making machine, additional converting lines, and a new fully automated warehouse.”
Irving continued, “It’s another great day for our employees, customers, Irving Tissue, and J.D. Irving. On top of the growth in Macon, this investment will also provide growth in our home region of the northeast—Maine and New Brunswick. Pulp will be supplied from our pulp mill in Saint John, which in turn is supplied from the six million acres we sustainably own or manage. Our fully integrated value chain ensures certainty of supply, exceptional service, and quality, as well as sustainable products for our customers. We are proud of the fact we have planted over one billion trees since 1957 and that these trees are now providing us with the opportunity for growth across our value chain, including in our sawmills, pulp mill, and tissue manufacturing plants like Macon.”
Stephen A. Smith Questions LeBron’s Social Media Exit And Its Connection To Son Bronny’s NBA Struggles
'Is that because of you, LeBron James, or is it because of your son, Bronny James, and his struggles?'
With LeBron James recent announcement that he’s swearing off social media for the moment, sports analyst Stephen A. Smith gave his thoughts on the reason why the basketball superstar really left social media.
Although the Los Angeles Lakers under head coach J.J. Redick have gotten off to a 10-6 start, the main focus has been on LeBron’s son, Bronny, and how the team is handling his development.
Many basketball fans, analysts, and even former NBA players agree that Bronny is not ready for the league and needs to spend time in the G League to develop his skills. The Lakers halfway agree—only allowing Bronny to play in home games in the G League. This has caused countless conversations with most saying it won’t help Bronny.
That includes Smith, who believe the problems that lie around Bronny’s lack of NBA skills are to be blamed on LeBron, who to start made sure his son was given a guaranteed contract for a player selected in the second round of the NBA Draft.
Smith and others believe that criticism surrounding Bronny is why LeBron removed himself off social media, which James announced on Nov. 20.
And with that said I’ll holla at y’all! Getting off social media for the time being. Y’all take care ✌🏾👑
Smith took to his YouTube show, The Stephen A. Smith Show, on Nov. 25 to address why he feels LeBron did so.
“LeBron James electing to get off of social media. Is that because of you, LeBron James, or is it because of your son, Bronny James, and his struggles?”
Smith put the blame solely on the basketball champion for making it known years ago that he wanted Bronny as his teammate, seemingly forcing the Lakers to make that move last year.
“Respectfully, this is all LeBron’s fault. It was LeBron James that told the world I wanna play with him in the NBA…Because he is LeBron James, he greased the skids and facilitated it happening.”
The sportscaster alos reminded that LeBron declared Bronny, who wasn’t even having a good season at USC, was ready for the NBA.
“Most importantly, LeBron James was caught saying publicly that Bronny James is better than some players in the NBA. Do you think people were gonna forget that?”
Susan Lorincz Now Faces 30 Years In Prison For Killing Her Neighbor Ajinke ‘AJ’ Owens
Lorincz is facing a sentence of up to 30 years in a Florida state prison on Nov. 25 for shooting and killing Owens with her .380 caliber pistol.
As BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported, Susan Lorincz, the 60-year-old white woman who shot and killed her Black neighbor, 35-year-old Ajinke “AJ” Owens, was convicted of manslaughter in August.
According to The Associated Press, Lorincz faces up to 30 years in a Florida state prison during her sentencing on Nov. 25 for shooting and killing Owens with her .380 caliber pistol.
During the trial, prosecutors made note of a long-running feud between the two neighbors that eventually escalated when Owens accused Lorincz of throwing roller skates and an umbrella at her children, which the older woman denied.
When Owens came back to the woman’s house and pounded on her door while yelling, Lorincz shot Owens through the door and later told detectives in a recorded interview that she feared for her life.
“I thought I was in imminent danger,” Lorincz told the officers.
However, a jury did not agree with the substance of Lorincz’s claim of shooting Owens in self-defense and convicted her of manslaughter.
After the trial’s conclusion, Owens’ family, including her mother, Pamela Dias, argued for the maximum sentence for their daughter’s killer.
“While the pain of losing Ajike, we are hopeful that justice will prevail and that the court will give Susan Lorincz the maximum penalty for her actions,” Dias told the AP in an email statement ahead of the sentencing on Nov. 25. “Ajike’s legacy will live on through her children, and we will continue to fight for justice.”
According to criminal defense attorney Jonathan Rose, although the maximum sentence in Lorincz’s case is 30 years, she is likely to serve between 15 and 30 years despite her advanced age.
“I think what you can expect is for her to be sentenced, you know, somewhere between probably 15 to 30 years,” Rose told Spectrum News. “I think it’s extremely unlikely that she’ll be sentenced under whatever that presumptive minimum is. I’d say it’s next to impossible that she’ll be sentenced to a probationary sentence, even though she’s 60 years old.”
According to Newsweek, the case, which occurred in Ocala, Florida, sparked protests from Ocala’s Black community because it took prosecutors weeks to charge Lorincz with manslaughter instead of second-degree murder.
However, manslaughter carries a lower burden of proof than murder, which makes it more likely to return a guilty verdict, as it did in Lorincz’s case.
To that point, Florida State Attorney William Gladston explained the decision of his office to seek the lesser charge of manslaughter, saying that they possessed insufficient evidence to adequately prove that Lorincz harbored “hatred, spite, ill will, or evil intent” for Owens.
