by Daniel Johnson

October 12, 2024

Urban League’s 2024 State Of Black Los Angeles Tackles Economic Empowerment, Health Equity, And Homelessness

The goal of the event: use Los Angeles County data to solve issues facing Black Los Angelenos.

The Los Angeles Urban League’s 2024 State of Black Los Angeles featured a series of panel discussions focusing on the current state of Black Los Angeles, with a special emphasis on economic empowerment, health access and equity, and housing and homelessness.

According to NBC 4 LA, a media partner for the discussion series, the goal of the event was to use available data from Los Angeles County to craft solutions to issues facing Black Los Angelenos.

On Oct. 10, several keynote speakers addressed the crowd, including included Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, and CEO of the Los Angeles Urban League, Cynthia Mitchell-Heard.

“The ultimate goal is to eliminate racial disparities and achieve equality and equity by disrupting harmful trends and transforming systems and policies,” Mitchell-Heard said.

Per the 2023-2025 State of Black Los Angeles County Report, an official report issued by the Los Angeles County Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion Initiative, close attention was placed to the quality of life of its Black residents.

“In the second installment of this report, we not only pay attention to the unique challenges that shape Black residents’ quality of life in Los Angeles County, we also explore the availability of existing County services aimed at addressing these challenges,” the report read. “In addition, we explore how the aforementioned evolving political context have and will continue to shape Black people’s experiences in years to come, as well as the lingering effects of COVID-19 on Black communities.”

The political context the report refers to is explored in great detail, citing an era of regression ushered in by several Supreme Court decisions as well as attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

“Although heavily coordinated efforts to undo the progress made on several measures are nothing new, the last four years mark what appears to be the early stages of an era of regression in which progressive policies are being dismantled and legislative actions that roll back civil, human, and political rights for marginalized populations are being implemented.

“These legal and policy reversals weaken laws that protect against discrimination, create a resurgence in discriminatory practices, and deepen social stratification.”

The report also cited a one-on-one interview with Mayor Bass in which she indicated that homelessness and the economic divide in Los Angeles County and the most pertinent issues affecting Black Los Angeles.

According to the report, Black poverty increases exceeded that of all other ethnic groups, which the report indicated is not a random occurrence. White residents who live in poverty increased by 3.3%, Asian residents in the same situation went up by 4.4%, while Latinx residents’ poverty increased by 6.1%, and Black residents poverty went up by 7.2%.

“The racial disparities on the above-mentioned economic outcomes do not occur randomly, rather they are a function of both systemic and interpersonal anti-Black racism that hinders Black people from acquiring (and retaining) employment,” the report read. “And, when Black people do obtain employment, they are often sorted into the sectors of the labor market that provide less security, lower wages, little to no benefits, and fewer opportunities for career advancement—minimizing these workers’ chances of experiencing upward social mobility.”

The report included several initiatives for Los Angeles County to implement: a countywide approach to targeted universalism, repairing historic harms and expanding access, and providing mobile services to residents in need.

“Angelenos, committed to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice, must be vigilant in the face of growing uncertainty about the future of equity-based policies and programs aimed at protecting the rights of and ensuring access to opportunities for all communities, especially Black people in Los Angeles and across the country,” the report stated.

by Daniel Johnson

October 12, 2024

Ed Vaughn, Owner Detroit’s First Black Bookstore, Dies At 90

A former Michigan state representative, Vaughn opened Vaughn's Books in 1965.

Edward “Ed” Vaughn, the owner of Detroit’s first Black bookstore, Vaughn’s Bookstore, and a former Michigan state representative, died on Oct. 8. Vaughn was 90.

“I was deeply saddened to learn about the passing of a legend in Detroit — Ed Vaughn,” Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan said in a statement. “In addition to his fierce activism and political career, Ed was the owner of Vaughan’s Bookstore on Dexter Avenue, which last year was placed on the National Register of Historic Places for the role it played as a community resource and gathering place for Black activist leaders in Detroit and from across the country.”

Rep. Donavan McKinney said that Vaughn’s love for Black people was well reflected in the work he engaged in during the Black Power movement and that “his contributions in the national spotlight during the Black Power Movement reminds the world of Detroit’s allure and promise of Black prosperity and possibilities. He was a giant in the community and his legacy will live on in all our hearts.”

Vaughn opened his bookstore in January 1965 with the help of his aunt, and at the time, it was believed to be the second Black-owned bookstore in America, according to the Detroit News.

The store stocked books about Black history, culture, and heritage because the white bookstores in Detroit wouldn’t. The bookstore eventually became a popular meeting place for leaders in Detroit’s Black nationalist and Pan-African movements.

Vaughn was also involved in Pan-Africanism; he was the founder of Detroit’s Pan-African Congress-USA and helped to organize the Detroit chapter of the Congress of Racial Equality.

In July 1967, during the race riots in Detroit, the store was damaged by fires that neighbors alleged were set by officers of the mostly white Detroit Police Department.

Undeterred, Vaughn kept running the store and got involved in Detroit’s political scene, working for Detroit Mayor Coleman A. Young, the city’s first Black mayor. Vaughn also served two terms in the Michigan House of Representatives from 1978-1980.

In 1994, Vaughn was elected again to the House where he represented what was then the 4th House District from 1995-2000.

Duggan is hopeful that the bookstore, named to the National Registry of Historic Places in August 2023, will now be restored as “Ed’s passing is all the more reason to make sure we see this through.”

by Daniel Johnson

October 12, 2024

Obama Faces Backlash After Calling Out Black Men’s Lack Of Support For Harris

Obama's comments did not sit well with some politicians and public figures.

During an Oct. 10 campaign stop in Pittsburgh, where former President Barack Obama campaigned for Vice President Harris, he addressed what he perceived as a lack of enthusiasm from Black men, attributing it in part to underlying misogyny.

After saying that there appears to be a lack of energy from Black men compared to his 2008 campaign for president, Obama proceeded to generally criticize Black men who were not supporting Vice President Harris.

“You’re coming up with all kinds of reasons and excuses; I’ve got a problem with that,” the former president said. “Because part of it makes me think — and I’m speaking to men directly — part of it makes me think that, well, you just aren’t feeling the idea of having a woman as president, and you’re coming up with other alternatives and other reasons for that.”

According to The Hill, Obama’s comments did not sit well with some politicians and public figures.

Among them were former Ohio Sen. Nina Turner and actor Wendell Pierce, who also called for Black men to turn out for Harris and criticized misogyny’s role in their political calculus in comments he made at the Democratic National Convention.

In a discussion of Obama’s comments on CNN, Turner was critical of former president Obama’s tone.

“Why are Black men being lectured to? Why are Black men being belittled in ways that no other voting group (are),” Turner said.

Turner continued, offering her advice to the Democratic Party establishment at large regarding Black men.

“Unless President Barack Obama is gonna go out and lecture every other group of men from other identity groups, my message for Democrats is don’t bring it here to Black men who by and large don’t vote much differently from Black women,” Turner said.

Turner concluded, “As a politician, we should be trying to get all voters to vote, and hopefully there are a few good men out there who do care about the stripping away of some of women’s bodily autonomy.”

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, there is also political science that throws cold water on earlier polling that suggested that Black men under the age of 50 were particularly interested in voting for former president Donald Trump in the upcoming presidential election.

Kiana Cox, a senior researcher at the Pew Research Center, told the outlet that Black people in that age range are no more likely to vote Republican than they were 30 years ago.

Per Cox’s research, today, Black support for Republicans among Black people under 50 sits at 17% and in 1994 it was at 16%.

Joining that research are political experts and organizers also in that age range who say that the polling over-pronounces the issue.

Mondale Robinson, the 45-year-old founder and Executive Director of the Black Male Voter Project, as well as the mayor of Enfield, North Carolina, told the Inquirer that the problem is how the Democratic Party, in general, treats Black men.

“I would say that Black men absolutely hate…the transactional nature of how the [Democratic] Party does not show up to address the issues that are plaguing Black men, and are not listening to Black men, if there’s not an election on the ballot,” Robinson said.

Robinson continued, criticizing the narrative that Black men are becoming more conservative.

“All we’ve seen is a decrease in Black men’s support for [Trump] every election cycle,” Robinson said. “So even though Black men continue to show the world that we don’t f— with Donald Trump, the world keeps trying to push on Black men that you are becoming more conservative.”

Robinson concluded, in a similar tone to Turner, “Eighty-eight to 90% of Black men are doing something (voting for Democratic presidential candidates), and people are still spending this much time on the 8 to 10% that aren’t. What are you asking of Black men that you’re not asking anybody else?”

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 12, 2024

Jayden Daniels’ Mother Joins Ranks Of NFL Agents

Regina Jackson is the latest NFL parent to become an agent.

Regina Jackson, mother of Washington Commanders’ No. 2 overall pick Jayden Daniels, has become the latest NFL parent to join the ranks of certified agents, earning her certification through the NFL Players Association.

Jackson became a certified NFL Players Association agent within the past month, after passing the exam in late July, according to CBS Sports. Though she’s not yet listed among her son’s official representation, she has been working toward this goal since his college football days.

Jackson, who White said holds an MBA in concentration entrepreneurship and a master’s in public services administration, has become one of approximately 1,000 NFL agents and one of about 50 who are women. To become one, an individual must hold both an undergraduate and postgraduate degree (master’s or law) from an accredited institution. The process requires a non-refundable $2,500 fee and passing a background check. Prospective agents must attend a 2-3 day virtual seminar, followed by an exam typically held in late July.

Once certified, agents are required to pay annual dues ranging from $1,500 to $2,000, depending on the number of clients they represent. Jackson not only adds to the number of parents who are also certified agents, but she also adds to the growing list of female agents.

“For her, taking the agent’s test is because she wants to be knowledgeable and helping her son and guiding him through his NFL career,” Denise White, a public relations specialist who works with Jayden Daniels and his family, told CBS Sports. “It’s important for her to have all that knowledge so she can give her son guidance, which will help him focus on the field and she can help focus off the field for him.”

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A post shared by Jayden Daniels (@thatkidjayden)

Jackson isn’t the first parent of an NFL player to become a registered agent; in fact, she isn’t the only mother of a current player who holds that title. She joins the ranks of Heather Van Norman, business manager and certified agent of her son, Odell Beckham Jr.,; Alishia Jones, the mother of second-year Colts cornerback Jaylon Jones, who became a certified agent in 2023 but does not represent her son.

Joe Linta represents players such as Colts quarterback Joe Flacco and 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk but began his career as an agent for his son T.J. who went undrafted and briefly signed with the Chiefs for one month before being released. Similarly, Patrice McDowell-Brown became an agent in 2013, just a year before her son, Preston Brown, was drafted.

Other family members who have become agents include Will Wilson, the uncle of former No. 1 overall pick Andrew Luck, who represented him during his playing career. Felicia Jones, Lamar Jackson’s mother, is often mistakenly referred to as his agent; however, she acts as his business manager. Kimberly Williams became an agent last year and has successfully negotiated two contracts for her son, Josh Williams, a sixth-year running back for the Tigers.

“I think any businessperson with the education that she’s had, the leadership she’s had and companies that she’s worked with… it would only make sense to me that she’s instilled this incredible work ethic in him,” White says. “Her focus is making sure she has all the tools and knowledge she can to guide him through his rookie season and his NFL career.”

It’s only fitting that Jackson becomes an agent on her son’s management team, as Daniels has consistently praised her for being his biggest supporter throughout his football journey.

“My mother has never missed a game,” Daniels said on The Pivot podcast last year. “If it’s raining out there, she’s going to be out there. If it’s [negative] degrees, she’s going to be out there standing up the whole time making sure she’s cheering me on.”

by Mary Spiller

October 12, 2024

Ohio Man Who Went Viral For Having Same Birthday As Wife And Twins Shot Dead At Dunkin’ Donuts

José was reportedly shot after asking a group of people for a cigarette.

José Ervin, Jr., an Ohio man who went viral for having the same birthday as his wife and their twins, was fatally shot outside of a Dunkin’ Donuts in Garfield Heights, on Oct. 4.

Ervin and his wife, Scierra, made headlines just last year when they had twins that were born on the couple’s shared birthday of Aug. 18.

Less than two months after the twins’ fiesta birthday, José had been killed. His sister, Chloe Ervin-Dozier, confirmed his death recently to People.

According to the outlet, Chloe said, “José was the light of everybody’s life,” she says. “It’s hard that he’s not with us.”

Garfield Heights investigators have not made any arrests concerning the shooting yet, but the 32-year-old father of two was shot multiple times at a Dunkin’ Donuts located on Turney Road.

Ervin-Dozier, 33, told People that on the night of the shooting, her brother was heading home from a local bar with his best friend in the early morning hours of Friday and the pair headed to a nearby gas station.

Police have identified a car of interest that was at the Shell station during the shooting.

José was seen on security camera footage approaching a group of people at the station to ask for a cigarette, but the conversation quickly turned into an altercation. Ervin-Dozier explained that her brother quickly backed away when he saw that one of the men in the group was armed with a gun. However, José was shot just a short distance away at a nearby Dunkin’ Donuts.

In a phone interview with People following the incident, Ervin-Dozier said the family has heard no news of any arrests being made. She said, “[The shooter] chased my brother down like he was prey.”

José was transported to Marymount Hospital with multiple gunshot wounds and eventually passed away due to his injuries at 3:34 a.m. on Oct. 4.

José’s death came as he and his wife were looking to grow their family. Scierra is currently pregnant with their third child and the pair just celebrated their shared birthday with their twins.

Ervin-Dozier stated that her brother’s wish and life had already come true in 2023 because “All José wanted to do was to be a father.”

The family also recently put down a deposit on a new home in Parma, Ohio, before José’s death, but now 10 weeks pregnant Scierra doesn’t want to live alone in the home.

Ervin-Dozier stated that the family doesn’t yet know if the baby will be a boy or a girl, but the couple picked out a name before José’s death that would work either way. They want to name the baby Terry after José’s grandfather and aunt, “but [José] was banking on Terry being another boy.”

A GoFundMe has been launched to help cover the costs of José Ervin, Jr.’s funeral and to help support his wife and children — A’Ria and José Ervin III. So far, the fundraiser has raised $12,325 of their $20,000 goal.

by Mary Spiller

October 12, 2024

Flavor Flav Marks 4 Years Of Sobriety By Gifting Fans Free Therapy App Subscriptions

Flavor Flav says he's been using Sonia, An AI Therapy App, to stay on top of his mental health during his sobriety.

Flavor Flav took to social media to announce an upcoming milestone in his sobriety journey. In honor of World Mental Health Day on October 10, the 65-year-old rapper posted a heartwarming video on Instagram to celebrate the fact that he’s about to hit four years of sobriety.

Flav explained that maintaining mental health has been a big part of his success and that he wants to give back to the field that contributed so much to his improving health, People reported.

The Public Enemy group member wrote, “October is an important month for my mental health. Next week, I am 4 years sober from alcohol. And today is mental health awareness day. My mental health is an important part of my sobriety journey.”

He continued to write in the caption of his post, “I talk to a therapist. In fact, I talked to two. I gots a crazy schedule and travels. My manager recommended trying out Sonia – an AI therapist that has been there for me like Janet Jackson says – “Any Time Any Place.”

He praised Sonia, an AI Therapy app, in his video for the positive impact that it’s had on his life even with his extremely busy schedule. Flav, born William Jonathan Drayton Jr., told his fans that he’s ready to give back to other people who are also beginning their mental health journey by bringing “a little more happiness to the world.”

“I always like to be the first to do something revolutionary. This is something special that has the ability to help so many people,” he penned.

“I reached out to the Sonia team to cover the cost of subscriptions for anyone who signs up today. Help me help you. 👍🏾🙏🏾🫶🏾”

Flav will be four years sober on Oct. 19, and his long road to sobriety has been one that he’s spoken openly about in the past few years.

In January of 2023, the Flavor of Love reality TV star sat down with the Off the Record with DJ Akademiks podcast and recalled his battle with addiction. He admitted that most people were completely unaware of what was going on with him at the height of his struggles.

The rapper and reality TV star shared that he was addicted to cocaine, crack, weed, alcohol, and cigarettes for nearly two decades, “for 18 years straight,” he said. During that time, he reportedly spent nearly $5.5 million on substances in six years at the peak of his addiction and dropped much more cash over the 18-year period.

“There was a time that I was spending $2,400 to $2,600 a day… for six years straight, you do the math,” he said on the podcast, “That’s how much I spent on drugs.”

On the podcast, he got candid about some of his other practices as well. He admitted that he was selling drugs and, at once at a point, broke the number one rule of dealing and got high on his own supply.

Despite that, Flav explained that he always “maintained himself very well and kept it hidden too.”

The rapper was thankfully able to quit in 2020 and begin his long-term long-term sobriety. Flavor Flav said he can only finally talk about his struggles with substances openly because he’s gotten totally clean. He is celebrating being clean from cocaine and crack for over 15 years and alcohol-free for four years.

He said at the time, “I guess God wanted me to live. And he knows that I’m a mouthpiece to the world. So, I feel that God let me live through that, so that way, I could teach people about the mistakes that I made. And hopefully, they won’t make them later on in life.”

by Mary Spiller

October 12, 2024

Even A Mayor Can’t Escape Jury Duty: Brandon Scott Takes A Seat In Baltimore Courtroom

Mayor Scott was selected as an alternate for a trial, but the defended made a plea deal.

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott was recently chosen to serve on a jury. The 40-year-old Baltimore native talked a bit about civic duty on Oct. 10.

Scott reported for his duty despite being the mayor and was shockingly seated as an alternate for a trial in the Baltimore City Circuit Court. According to a statement released by the Mayor’s Office, it was important for Scott to participate, especially because of his position.

Scott explained in the statement, “Jury service is one of our most important civic duties, which ensures our judicial system functions properly.”

“While being selected was somewhat a surprise, I will fulfill my responsibilities as an alternate juror proudly and fairly.”

It’s not common for someone of Scott’s position to be selected for a seat on the jury. Typically those with significant experience in law enforcement or public service professions are less likely to be chosen for a jury.

Originally, the Mayor’s office claimed that Scott’s participation in the trial would cause significant delays to his schedule over the course of the next several days. However, the whole jury was dismissed due to a quick plea agreement reached in the case, and Scott was done in less than an hour.

A spokesperson for State’s Attorney Ivan Bates explained that the defendant in the murder trial the mayor was set to observe reached a deal.

As reported by the Baltimore Sun, defendant Paul Ray IV pleaded guilty to fatally shooting 16-year-old Bryson Hudson on Aug. 14, 2023. Ray, 18, agreed to plead out to first-degree murder, first-degree assault, carjacking, and use of a firearm in connection to Hudson’s death on the day of the trial.

Later that same day, Mayor Scott took to X to show off his official document of jury service completion. He wrote, “I was instructed to show this to my bosses to prove that I completed my jury service, so I am. Everyone who is called should complete their civic duty and serve. Now, back to our regular scheduled program.”

I was instructed to show this to my bosses to prove that I completed my jury service, so I am. Everyone who is called should complete their civic duty and serve. Now, back to our regular scheduled program. pic.twitter.com/gXF0zp2u9U
— Brandon M. Scott (@MayorBMScott) October 10, 2024

by Mary Spiller

October 12, 2024

Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group Begins Another Round Of Employee Layoffs

According to sources, employees were only just recently informed of the cuts.

Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group is undergoing more layoffs. According to an exclusive Deadline report released on Oct. 11, the company has cut another round of employees from their staff. The Media Group confirmed that these layoffs were allegedly a part of a company-wide strategy for growth.

Sources revealed to the outlet that Allen Media Group — which owns several popular affiliate broadcast and news stations — has laid off employees from its weather, news, and sports reporting teams. The changes will be seen in the makeup on The Weather Channel, its HBCU Go series, Entertainment Studios, and even its general advertisement sales divisions.

This is not the first time Allen Media Group has downsized; earlier this year, the company announced that they would be cutting their workforce size to be more efficient. A spokesman for Allen Media Group said these new layoffs “[are] a continuation of the reduction in workforce Allen Media Group announced back in May.”

Byron Allen‘s Allen Media Group disclosed that the staff changes will “better the position [of] the growth company.”

The changes will include “expense and workforce reductions across all divisions of the company,” according to a company statement. Allen Media Group is privately operated and owns a staggering 36 network affiliate broadcast television stations across ABC, NBC, CBS, and Fox. It also own the digital platform TheGrio.

Despite the company claiming that these recent layoffs are a continuation of the ones that began in May, sources disclosed to Deadline that this is, in fact, a different situation entirely. Allegedly the employees who were cut were only just informed of the decision, and the uncertainty has taken a toll on the environment within the affected divisions.

Back in May, the company explained in a statement, “Allen Media Group’s brands continue to perform well, and in many areas, our revenue growth has greatly outpaced the market.”

“We are aligning these changes to drive future business opportunities and support our growth strategies in our rapidly evolving industry.”

Nicki, Minaj, pink Friday 2, album, pure sales, streaming, billboard

by Alisa Gumbs

October 12, 2024

Nicki Minaj’s Pink Friday Nails Pop Up In New York City

BLACK ENTERPRISE sits down with celebrity nail artist Yvett G, the brand's creative director.

Nicki Minaj’s Pink Friday Nails is debuting its first-ever pop-up shop, in collaboration with Shopify, in New York City. The weekend event is an immersive experience with exclusive nail art demonstrations, interactive sessions, and a first look at recent product launches.

Pink Friday Nails launched earlier this year as a direct-to-consumer brand, coinciding with Minaj’s Pink Friday 2 tour. It features almost a dozen designs of press-on nails, some in multiple colorways, in four different nail shapes and five different lengths. The line prides itself on quality, affordable nails based on styles worn by Minaj.

“When I became a mom, I couldn’t spend as much time getting my nails done as when I only had to worry about me, so it became a necessity to create fly, quality press-on nails,” Minaj said in a statement.

“I told my team when we started Pink Friday Nails that if I don’t want to wear them, I’m not going to even attempt to sell them.”

https://twitter.com/pinkfridaynails/status/1841149411746812108

The pop-up also features a chance to meet Yvett G, celebrity nail artist and the creative director of Pink Friday Nails, who has been instrumental in translating the superstar’s vision into stunning designs and crafting a line of nails that combines practicality with glamour.

Pink Friday Nails creative director Yvett G — Creative Director Yvett G at Shopify x Nicki Minaj’s Pink Friday Nails (Photos captured by Jamie Pearl)

BLACK ENTERPRISE got a sneak peak at the pop-up and an exclusive sit-down with the creative director to chat about succeeding as a woman of color in the nail industry:

How did you get into doing nails?

I’ve been doing nails since I was 15. It came to me naturally. I was just really good at it. But society has that thing of [telling you] you have to do college. I went to college for international business. But I craved the creative side. I had a regular job and I did nails on the side for a very long time. The turning point for me was when my son was born 13 years ago. When that happened, a lot of things shifted.

As you were coming up, was there anyone that you looked to as a professional role model?

Unfortunately, no, because within the nail community, there’s not a lot of people that look like us, you know, either Latinos or Black. I didn’t really have anybody necessarily, but I think that’s what pushed me. So as I was doing it, I made it a point of bringing people along with me.

So how did you learn the business side?

There was a lot of trial and error, definitely made a lot of mistakes. There were people that helped me. Most of my family is self-employed, so that helped.

It’s so important to get help with the business.

Yeah. I definitely want to give a shout-out to Shopify. Everything is so seamless. And also, a lot of business right now is social media—influencers. They have this tool: Shopify Collabs. It’s kind of like a directory, and that has made it so much easier. With Shopify, it’s like a one-stop shop. It’s a new way of doing business.

Aside from the technical aspects, what skills do you think are necessary for someone to succeed in this industry?

You definitely have to have social skills. People are going to be sitting with you for hours. And you also have to be adaptable. If you want to do the celebrities, the shoots, and all that, a lot of things are so last minute. It’s gonna switch up on you. So I think definitely one of the biggest things is adaptability and flexibility.

What’s your best advice for other women of color who want to reach the success that you have?

Keep going. I definitely failed a few times. Don’t listen to other people if they want to deter you. When I decided to do this, it was looked down on. I remember people saying stuff like, “What are you going to do when you have a real job?” I’m like, this is a real job. So don’t listen to the haters and if you fail, just try it again.

If you’re in New York City and ready to immerse yourself in the very pink world of Pink Friday Nails, the pop-up runs through Sunday, October 13, 11:00 am to 6:00 pm at Shopify NY, 131 Greene St., New York, New York.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 12, 2024

Black Employee Sues Company For Sending Police to His Home for A ‘Wellness Check’

The Workday company is being sued for sending police to a Black employee's home for a wellness check.

A Black employee is suing the Workday company for sending the the police to his home for a wellness check.

Anthony Hill, a senior legal counsel at Workday currently on leave, has filed a lawsuit against his employer for race and disability discrimination, Business Insider reports. The suit, filed in the Northern District of California’s court in December 2023, follows a police “wellness check” that occurred while he received treatment at a hospital and had requested medical leave.

Hill was on medical leave from Oct. 12, 2022, to Nov. 22, 2022, the lawsuit states. In the lead-up to his medical leave, Hill claims he began drinking more due to mounting tension and sought hospital care for “stress, exhaustion, and trauma resulting from the disparate, discriminatory, retaliatory, harassing, and hostile treatment” he experienced from other Workday employees.

On the day of his hospital visit, Hill said he emailed his manager to notify her of a medical emergency and his need to go to the hospital. He also submitted a completed leave request form and mentioned that he would soon file the necessary Family and Medical Leave Act paperwork.

His manager responded the next day with FMLA information and told Hill, “Please don’t worry about work and focus on feeling better.” However, by Oct. 20, police were sent to his house for a wellness check.

“There’s nothing they would’ve thought cops with guns could solve on Oct. 20 that doctors with stethoscopes could not have solved,” Hill said.

According to the police report, a Workday safety and security manager initiated a wellness check on Hill after the company could not reach him or his wife, who was listed as his emergency contact. The police spoke with Hill’s wife, who confirmed that he was receiving medical treatment. Hill says he did not receive any calls or emails from his employer following his manager’s last email on Oct. 13, prior to the wellness check.

He said he spoke with the human resources department to better understand why the wellness check was requested, but staff refused to provide him with information or documentation about it.

“They won’t tell me anything. Did they think it was an emergency? Did they think I was in danger?” Hill said. “Did they think I was going to hurt someone? Why did they send police to my house and endanger my wife and kids?”

Upon returning to work, Hill claims to have experienced “awful treatment,” including increased pushback and being excluded from meeting invitations. He also mentioned that he was on a modified schedule, working part-time after initially being hired for a full-time position.

In March 2023, Hill was placed on paid administrative suspension for five weeks. By May 2023, he had gone on approved disability and medical leave but stated that his request for long-term disability leave had been denied.

In April 2023, Hill filed a charge against Workday with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. He later filed a lawsuit against the company in the Superior Court for the District of Columbia in August 2023, which was voluntarily dismissed without prejudice. He refiled his suit in December 2023, and it is still ongoing.

“Without a doubt, I was retaliated against over and over again,” Hill said.

In addition to Hill’s discrimination lawsuit, Workday is also facing a class-action lawsuit alleging that its AI-powered software discriminates against job applicants by screening them out for biased reasons.