• Women

by Stacy Jackson

March 8, 2025

Carmen Cummings-Martin Is New Chief Of Staff At FAMU

Cummings-Martin was appointed two weeks after FAMU's former chief of staff left the position.

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FAMU has tapped its current Assistant Vice President of University Engagement & Alumni Affairs, Carmen Cummings-Martin, as the new chief of staff on the university’s senior leadership team.

She was appointed to the position on March 4 by the university’s Interim President, Timothy Beard. According to the Tallahassee Democrat, Cummings-Martin’s promotion is part of Beard’s restructuring efforts on his leadership team.

“I am honored and humbled to navigate into this new assignment. Those who know me understand my passion and unwavering commitment to Florida A&M University,” Cummings-Martin said in a statement. “I convey gratitude to Interim President Beard for the opportunity. I have always tried to be a team player in every aspect of my professional journey.” 

The well-known WCTV Eyewitness News anchor will cover duties such as advising Beard, project management, and overseeing the progress of goals for the Tallahassee, Florida-based university. “I am excited to have Carmen serve as chief of staff on the leadership team,” Beard said in a statement. “Her years of experience in alumni relations, government relations, and logistics will be an asset, and her commitment to Florida A&M University is palpable.” 

The latest change to Beard’s senior leadership team comes amid the departure of FAMU’s former chief of staff, Tola Thompson, who exited after less than six months in the role. Cummings-Martin assumed the position just two weeks after Thompson left the leadership role. WCTV reported that no reason for Thompson’s exit was revealed. BLACK ENTERPRISE previously noted that after Beard temporarily replaced former FAMU President Larry Robinson, who stepped down following a $237 million fraud scandal, the whole leadership team was asked by Beard to resign.

Cummings-Martin steps into her new role with a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism from FAMU and over 17 years of experience working with the university. In 2007, she served as FAMU’s executive director in the Office of Alumni Affairs. She has been honored with the FAMU National Alumni Association’s Distinguished Alumna of the Year Award and the National HBCU Alumni Director of the Year Award.

Cummings-Martin will commence as chief of staff on March 17.

RELATED CONTENT: FAMU Marching Band 100 Named ESPN 2024 Band Of The Year

• Entertainment

by Mary Spiller

March 8, 2025

Meghan Markle’s ‘With Love, Meghan’ Renewed By Netflix For Second Season

Markle announced season 2 just three days after the show debuted on Netflix.

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Wife of Prince Harry, Meghan Markle’s new Netflix series, “With Love, Meghan,” has been confirmed to return for a second season despite a slew of negative reviews from critics. The show hit the top 10 on Netflix on March 7. It premiered on Tuesday on Netflix and housed eight episodes of the Duchess of Sussex in her California home, inviting guests to cook and complete at-home projects.

The release was quickly confirmed to have a second season by Netflix and Markle in Instagram posts.

Markle wrote, “Oh, how I love ASMR! If you’re loving Season 1, just wait until you see the fun we cooked up in Season 2! Thanks for joining the party, and an endless thanks to the amazing team and crew who helped bring it all to life!”

The renewal announcement has raised questions for show fans, as there was negative feedback on the first season. In the United Kingdom, critics left the first eight episodes with a 28% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, and an audience gave it a worse 18% audience score.

Since its debut, critics in England have slammed “With Love” with particularly negative reviews. According to Forbes, Markle’s reputation has been controversial overseas after she left the royal family and the country with her husband, Prince Harry, after the pair stepped away from their royal duties, Markle has been regarded with divisiveness.

“With Love, Meghan” was given a one-star rating by British newspapers The Guardian and The Independent rated “With Love, Meghan” one starnt. The Independent described the series as “queasy and exhausting [like a] millennial blog come to life.”

Variety added that Markle is allegedly “unwilling to step outside the role of perpetual A student and lacks similar competence” to more successful lifestyle stars such as Martha Stewart and Ina Garten.

“With Love, Meghan” now ranks as Netflix’s No. 7 show in the United States, and as the description reads, Markle invites new guests to her home in every episode. The first season featured actress-writer Mindy Kaling, “Suits” cast member Abigail Spencer, and celebrity chefs Roy Choi and Alice Waters for cooking sessions.

RELATED CONTENT: Meghan Markle Featured In Tyler Perry’s Tribute To Black Women

• News

by Kandiss Edwards

March 8, 2025

Tesla Dealership Set On Fire In France By Anarchist Group Targeting Elon Musk

A dozen Tesla vehicles were set on fire, with 8 totally destroyed.

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A Tesla dealership in France was set on fire in what authorities are calling a suspected arson attack, according to French outlet La Dépêche.

The fire broke out on March 2 in the Toulouse suburb of Plaisance-du-Touch. Eight Tesla vehicles were destroyed, causing an estimated loss of 700,000 euros ($756,280), and four other Teslas were badly damaged.

The city prosecutor’s office stated the fire was “no accident at all.”

Investigators believe the arsonists cut a hole in the dealership’s perimeter fence before setting the fire. On March 4, a Southern France anarchist group claimed responsibility, calling the attack a part of its mission to combat fascism.

Il y a aujourd’hui une accélération du projet fasciste, patriarcal, écocidaire et colonialiste. Alors que les élites multiplient les saluts nazis nous avons décidé de saluer à notre manière un concessionnaire tesla dans dans la nuit du 2 au 3 mars 2025 à plaisance-du-touch.
Nous avons incendié des véhicules à l’intérieur de l’enceinte à l’aide de deux bidons à essence. Nous nous sommes demandé après coup si des plaques d’allume-feu n’auraient pas été un moyen plus efficace.

“Today, there is an acceleration of the fascist, patriarchal, genocidal, and colonialist project. While the elites multiply Nazi salutes, we decided to greet a Tesla dealer in our own way on the night of March 2 to 3, 2025, in Plaisance-du-Touch. We set fire to vehicles inside the compound using two petrol cans,” the group said in a statement.

The group’s message encouraged others to take similar action against Tesla CEO Elon Musk and his billionaire allies. Its slogan, “Welcome Spring, Burn a Tesla!” suggests more attacks may follow.

While the French government has not condoned attacks on Musk’s businesses, officials have recently been critical of him.

“Ten years ago, if we had been told that the owner of one of the largest social networks in the world would support a new reactionary international and intervene directly in elections, including in Germany, who would have imagined it?” French President Emmanuel Macron said.

Macron’s comments refer to Musk’s attendance at a far-right German political event where he voiced support for a reportedly extremist party. Musk urged members not to be ashamed of the party’s past, which includes aiding in the Holocaust. He also appeared to endorse ethnic nationalism.

“It’s good to be proud of German culture and German values, and not to lose that in some sort of multiculturalism that dilutes everything,” Musk said.

Since joining the Trump administration, Musk has drawn controversy for inflammatory statements and actions.

During the presidential inauguration, Musk was seen making a chest-to-arm motion interpreted as a Nazi salute on stage. The X owner denied the gesture was intentional, but many disagreed.

Musk has also promoted the idea of seizing Canada and Denmark and incorporating them into the United States. Citizens of the nations have spoken out boisterously against what they deem hostile rhetoric.

As Musk’s influence grows increasingly controversial, more groups have turned to direct action against him, both in the U.S. and abroad.

RELATED CONTENT: Elon Musk Co-Signs Ben Shapiro’s Ridiculous Call To Pardon George Floyd’s Killer

• Sports

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

March 8, 2025

Saquon Barkley Becomes NFL’s Highest-Paid Running Back After Signing With Philadelphia Eagles

The contract extension is worth $41.2M, with $36M guaranteed. The deal also includes $15M in incentives.

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Just one year after joining the Philadelphia Eagles and playing a key role in their Super Bowl victory, Saquon Barkley has become the highest-paid running back in NFL history.

The Eagles rewarded this year’s NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year by extending his contract into the 2028 football season.

 

 

 

 

 

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Related Content: Saquon Barkley Invests In Financial Startup Company, Ramp

• Women

by Ida Harris

March 7, 2025

ICYMI: Day 2 Of The Women Of Power Summit Did Not Disappoint 

Conversations That Count series was held between two sets of women in power

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After an awe-inspiring event at the 19th Annual Women of Power Legacy Award Gala, attendees shifted into power mode the next day, March 6, diving headlong into the spectrum of activities, meaningful conversations, and, of course, informative leadership sessions. World-renowned fitness expert Jenna De Leon headed the day with a morning workout before breakfast, followed by remarks from BLACK ENTERPRISE President and CEO Earl “Butch” Graves Jr. and Mia Hairston, senior vice president of Human Resources for Nationwide. The Conversations That Count series was held between two sets of women in power: Glenda McNeal, Robin L. Washington, and Edith Cooper, cofounder of Medley, discussed “Peak Performance,” while Valerie Jarrett, Karine Jean-Pierre, and Abby Phillip spoke on “Politics Not As Usual.” Get caught up with BE’s gallery below. 

RELATED CONTENT: ICYMI: The 19th Annual Women Of Power Legacy Awards Was A Tribute To Greatness

• News

by Sharelle B. McNair

March 7, 2025

Florida Police Officers Claim Toddler Seen Lying Down In Viral Video ‘Mimicked’ Her Mother Being Arrested

The Department of Children and Families were notified after the incident given the violent nature of the alleged crime with a child present.

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After a viral video of two white Winter Haven, Florida, police officers arresting a Black woman alongside her toddler-aged daughter caused backlash, officials are claiming the child “mimicked” her mother, WFLA reports.

The video shows an officer arresting the woman. At the same time, her daughter, a toddler, was seen lying on the ground next to her in the same position—with her hands behind her back—while a supporting officer was seen pointing a weapon down at them. 

While social media comments labeled the move as “crazy,” Winter Haven officials released a statement saying the child was never placed in handcuffs and the toddler simply “mimicked” her mother’s actions after officers directed her to get on the ground.

“Officers responded with an appropriate level of caution with the understanding there was a weapon involved seeking to resolve the situation,” the statement read. “When approaching (the mother and her child), officers could not have known who was in possession of the firearm.”

The incident started on March 4 when a 911 call went out in connection to a disturbance involving a firearm at a shopping center. Witnesses claimed a man got into a fight with one of the store’s employees in the parking lot prior to fleeing in a red Nissan Altima. The mother and child in the video were passengers.

When officers found the vehicle, all three passengers were already out of the car. As one officer placed the suspect under arrest, the unidentified mother immediately complied with the officer’s commands. 

A Diamondback 9mm semiautomatic pistol was later found inside the Nissan.

Despite the social media backlash, Winter Haven Police Chief Vance Monroe and Mayor Nathaniel Birdsong—both Black men—defended the officers, according to Fox 13 News. 

“The optics are bad. We’re not going to skip around it. The optics of this incident are bad. They’re terrible. I truly wish that this child was not exposed to this,” Monroe said. “I know moving forward, we’re definitely going to be looking at ways and other avenues that we can safely and effectively engage with our citizens in situations like this.”

Both the woman and man were released following the ordeal as the other party involved failed to press charges. However, the Department of Children and Families was notified, given the violent nature of the alleged crime with a child present.

RELATED CONTENT: Walmart Brings Health Advocates To BE’s Women Of Power Summit To Provide Health Screenings

• News

by Kandiss Edwards

March 7, 2025

Cardi B Wins Big, But Waits Big: Tasha K’s $1.2M Delivery? Think Amazon Prime, But, Like, Five Years

Cardi B will finally receive a portion of her $3.9 million settlement from Tasha K.

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Cardi B will finally begin receiving payments from Latasha Kebe, better known as Tasha K, as part of a structured plan to repay a portion of the $3.9 million defamation judgment.

Court documents outline that Kebe, who recently filed for bankruptcy, will make payments based on her generated income, though no fixed dollar amount has been set. She must submit quarterly income reports to California courts for verification.

Additionally, a non-disparagement clause prohibits her from making negative statements about Cardi B. Cardi, however, does not have to censor herself in relation to Kebe.

On Feb. 24, the judge upheld the full $3.9 million judgment, and the parties agreed that Kebe would pay $1.2 million over five years. Cardi B reserves the right to pursue the remaining amount after that period.

“Today marks the end of a multi-year long chapter of lies, deception, and fraudulent conveyance on the part of Tasha K, her husband, and their entities,” Cardi B’s attorney, Lisa Moore, said in a statement to Rolling Stone. “We are thrilled to put in place such an incredibly unprecedented and protective plan for Cardi.”

The agreement prioritizes Cardi B’s settlement in Kebe’s debt repayment plan. Although Kebe filed for bankruptcy to discharge personal debts, the defamation judgment remains intact.

Kebe’s legal team views the agreement as a way for the blogger to meet her financial obligations while continuing her work.

“By reaching this agreement, all parties can avoid prolonged litigation—fulfilling bankruptcy’s essential purpose. This resolution also enables Ms. Kebe to focus on her work while repaying creditors in an organized manner,” her attorney stated.

RELATED CONTENT: Woman Wins $250K After University Of Tennessee Threatened Expulsion For Posting Lyrics From Cardi B’s ‘WAP’

• Women

by Selena Hill

March 7, 2025

Black Women Executives Talk Women-on-Women Bias in the Workplace

A panel of experts shared personal experiences and advice about navigating difficult relationships with other women coworkers at the BLACK ENTERPRISE Women of Power Summit.

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Three Black women executives opened up about the challenges they’ve faced with difficult women in the workplace throughout their careers at the BLACK ENTERPRISE Women of Power Summit on Thursday.

Held in Las Vegas, the 19th annual professional development conference aims to enrich women of color with the tools, connections, and resources they need to ascend the corporate ladder.

The two-day event featured panels, one-on-one career and financial coaching, and exclusive networking opportunities. Panel topics included diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), leadership skills, building workplace relationships, professional branding, artificial intelligence, gender bias, and the pay gap.

During a session titled “Confronting Women-on-Women Bias,” a panel of experts shared personal stories and anecdotal examples about navigating toxic work relationships with women. According to CBS News, research shows that women can internalize bias and express it against other women in their workplace. Some believe that there is room for just a few women in leadership positions and, therefore, step on other women as they climb the ranks at their organization.

“I’ve worked for three “queen Bs” in my career. Those experiences really made me who I am today,” said Olivia Linson, director of platform operation and support at AFLAC, during the panel.

“I knew I couldn’t change her, but I could change me,” she continued, referring to a difficult woman boss.

Celeste Warren, the Vice President of Global Diversity & Inclusion Center of Excellence at Merck, advised attendees to “maintain professionalism” when engaging with difficult coworkers and to keep a record of events in case a negative relationship with a colleague escalates.

“Document when it happens [and] what time it happened because at some point if they don’t change their behavior, it’s going to come to blows,” she said.

“The best revenge is excellence,” added Heather R Younger, J.D., founder and CEO of Employee Fanatix, a preeminent employee engagement and workplace culture consulting firm for Fortune 100 companies.

She continued, “Nobody is coming to save you. You have to save yourself.”

• Politics

by Mitti Hicks

March 7, 2025

Poll: Black Americans Want Democrats To Defend DEI Attacks

This dismantling of DEI by the Trump administration is not sitting well with Black voters. In fact, the poll suggests that standing up to Trump and his allies will be key in determining if Democrats can win future voters.

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Get up and fight back against DEI.

That’s what a majority of frustrated Black Americans want from Democrats in Washington, D.C., where they’re catching every stray and punch from Republicans who are attacking DEI initiatives.

A survey from the 2040 Strategy Group reveals that a majority of Black Americans (67%) want Democrats to prioritize defending attacks on DEI as a part of the larger scheme to resist President Donald Trump’s agenda, which a majority of Black respondents also say is hostile to nonwhite Americans.

“With Trump in power and really making his white nationalist agenda clearer, we decided to go back into the field and ask [Black voters] their thoughts on what’s happening,” said Tillery.

Tillery is the founder of the Alliance For Black Equality Super Pac. As BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported, Tillery sounded the alarm to Democrats more than a year before the presidential election that the party was losing ground with one of its core voting blocs: Black voters. He said the Biden-Harris campaign didn’t believe it. However, exit polls reveal Tillery was spot on.

“We calculated last fall that in order for them to win, they would need 83% to 84% of Black men to [turn out]. “Three weeks out from the election, she was only at 71% with Black men,” Tillery previously told BLACK ENTERPRISE. “The story of the election is that not only did young Black men vote significantly more for Donald Trump but also that Black voter turnout was down.”

Trump’s Warpath To Destroy DEI Initiatives

In his first 100 days in office, Trump has made a deliberate effort to roll back and weaponize civil rights laws that address discrimination and attempt to create an even playing field in the workforce, housing, and higher education — to name a few.  In one instance, Trump rescinded the 60-year-old Executive Order 11246 (EO 11246), which required federal contractors to practice affirmative action based on race and gender.

As analysts point out in the 2040 Strategy Group’s latest survey, Trump’s executive order to end what it characterizes as “wasteful” DEI programs in the federal government puts a target on the backs of Black employees–who make up 18% of the federal workforce.

“Many Black Americans who once found access to the middle class through federal employment or even
college now find that the door has been shut,” the report reads.

This dismantling of DEI by the Trump administration is not sitting well with Black voters. In fact, the poll suggests that standing up to Trump and his allies will be key in determining if Democrats can win future voters.

“The failure of the Democratic messaging during the 2024 campaign was their refusal to talk about race, racism, race relation and Trump’s threats to Black communities as a result of his ideology, so there’s a lot of pent-up frustration,” says Tillery. “Respondents want the new leadership of the Democratic party, whomever that might be, to step up and message on these issues.”

The poll also reveals that Democrats lost 2 million Black voters in the last election cycle. Tillery says the most straightforward path to regaining a majority is to court Black voters, especially millennial and Gen Z Black voters who did not vote for the Harris-Walz ticket.

“Harris ran a near-flawless campaign. She was gifted and a great candidate, but she had the wrong strategy,” says Tillery. “Her strategy centered on white women. They spent 1.5 billion dollars on trying to convince white women in the suburbs to vote for her because of abortion rights or because Liz Cheney liked her.”

Tillery adds, “The easiest path back to victory is to really engage Black communities and speak to their concerns.”

• News

by Kandiss Edwards

March 7, 2025

Diamond In The Rough: Man Arrested After Swallowing Tiffany & Co. Jewels In Daring Heist

How will the consumed jewelry be retrieved? Don't ask!

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Jaythan Gilder, 32, of Houston, is facing multiple charges after allegedly robbing a Tiffany & Co. store at an Orlando mall on Feb. 26, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by CBS News.

But how he disposed of the evidence, law enforcement officials say, is what made this robbery memorable. 

On the evening of Feb. 26, Gilder reportedly entered the store dressed in a red Polo shirt, a red hat, and ripped jeans. He identified himself as “Shawn” while claiming to be negotiating a sale for an Orlando Magic player. Police said he misled the staff to gain access to the jewelry.

The Houston native assaulted employee Amit Nayee after swiping a pair of earrings and a ring. Nayee attempted to prohibit Gilder from leaving the premises but was overpowered.

Florida Highway Patrol stopped a car matching the suspect’s description for a routine traffic violation. Tiffany & Co. packaging was found on the vehicle floor. The driver was later identified as Gilder.

Officers witnessed Gilder swallowing unidentified objects before his arrest. During transport to Washington County Jail, Gilder was overheard saying, “I should have thrown them out the window.”

The suspected thief was given a live scan, which revealed multiple foreign objects in his stomach. Officers believe the objects are stolen jewelry with an estimated total value of $769,500.

To confirm that Gilder did indeed swallow the six-digit gems, police will need to wait for them to pass through his system before collecting the items.

Gilder has been charged with two felonies: robbery with a mask and first-degree grand theft. Investigators also revealed that he had been involved in a similar crime in 2022 when he allegedly attempted a heist at another Tiffany & Co. store in Texas.

Nayee identified Gilder in a jail lineup, confirming his involvement in the crime. Glider is currently being held at the Orange County Jail. It is unclear if the diamond earrings have been recovered.

RELATED CONTENT: Police Searching For Thief Who Stole Tourist’s Purse From Miami Restaurant