Meagan Good Reveals How Being Pretty Stopped Her From Getting Some Acting Roles
Good shared these revelations while on Raven-Symoné and wife Miranda Maday's podcast, "The Best Podcast Ever."
Meagan Good is getting real about her experience with pretty privilege. The actress spoke about how being pretty hurt her during the audition process.
Good shared these revelations while on Raven-Symoné and wife Miranda Maday’s podcast, The Best Podcast Ever. The 43-year-old actress revealed that while her looks have helped her career, some casting directors would deem her too pretty for certain roles, as reported by The Jasmine Brand. The Culture Files re-shared footage of the conversation.
“I can’t tell you how many times I’ve walked into something and I’ve had an audition, and they were like, ‘She was great, but we just don’t realistically believe her as this character because she’s a pretty girl.’ And I’m like, how can you determine what that character should look like or even what I will look like when I [take the role.]”
Good added that the filmmakers were concerned that people would not “buy” the fact that the leading man could be with someone of her beauty. However, Good has not let those instances stunt her desire to create art. She emphasized that she has no desire to be famous, besides the few perks.
“I know that what I want to put in the world has never been about being famous,” explained the actress. “And also, I don’t have a desire to be famous. I don’t mind getting through the airport quicker, I will say that.”
She added, “I don’t mind the perks. But just [with] as many perks come with it, come the other things as well or the abuses. Whatever it may be.”
Thankfully for Good, being pretty has not hindered her career too severely. The actress revels in this new era of her life, including her starring role in Tyler Perry’s 2024 film Divorce In the Black. On the romance side, her relationship with fellow actor Jonathan Majors also continues.
Meet The Chefs Cooking Up a Culinary Renaissance in Charlotte
The Queen City is a growing destination for Black-owned restaurants and southern cuisine
Charlotte, NC, has long been a hub for sports, culture, innovation, and business. Located 165 miles southwest of Raleigh, the capital of North Carolina, Charlotte is home to the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets, the NFL’s Carolina Panthers, the MLS’ Charlotte FC, and the NASCAR Hall of Fame. It’s also one of the largest financial centers in the U.S. However, outside of sports and finance, the city is gaining recognition for its rich and diverse restaurant scene. As more visitors explore this Southern gem, Black-owned eateries have become essential stops, not only because of their flavorful dishes but also for the stories behind each establishment.
Black-owned restaurants in Charlotte are at the forefront of a culinary renaissance that celebrates African American heritage through food while also adding modern twists to classic dishes. So, whether you’re a tourist looking for a weekend getaway or a Charlottean seeking new experiences in the city, the Queen City (QC) offers an array of options, from traditional soul food to contemporary fusion eateries.
BLACK ENTERPRISE spoke to five restauranteurs in Charlotte about their love for the QC and how their food contributes to the city’s thriving community.
If you’re looking for a good, down-home southern comfort meal, then look no further than Mert’s Heart & Soul. Established in 1998, the restaurant is known for its Gullah-inspired dishes like shrimp and grits, creole red beans and rice, and salmon cakes. In addition to high-quality products and delicious food, owner James Bazzelle says southern hospitality and great service are what keep hungry customers coming back.
“We stress to our employees [to make] everybody feel like they’re going to the Auntie’s house,” he told BLACK ENTERPRISE.
Source: Mert’s Heart & Soul’s red beans & rice with turkey kielbasa (Facebook/Merts Charlotte)
Several high-profile celebrities including Kevin Hart and President Barack Obama, along with local theater groups, athletes, and coaches have enjoyed the restaurant’s low country-style cuisine. It was also featured on the Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, a TV show that spotlights small, family-owned eateries.
Source: Mert’s Heart & Soul’s salmon cakes, rice, and black-eyed peas (Photo courtesy of Mert’s Heart & Soul)
Located in a prime Uptown location, Bazzelle said that his community involvement and philanthropic efforts have also played an important role in his restaurant’s success and longevity.
“We do a lot in the community. Matter of fact, a few hours ago we did a cooking demonstration at the library,” he said. “[If] anybody asks us to help any way we can, we do. We usually donate to all the fundraisers for public schools and back-to-school [drives]. We provide meals for a mentor group every week. We also provide meals for a homeless kids’ center,” he continued. “We just try to be involved in any way we can in the community.”
Location: 214 North College Street, Charlotte, N.C. 28202
THE HEART OF CHARLOTTE
Source: Chef Gregory and Subrina Collier (Facebook/LeahAndLouise)
Four-time James Beard nominee Chef Gregory Collier and his business partner and wife, Subrina, are the driving force behind the culinary explosion in Charlotte. Originally from Memphis, the couple arrived in the QC in 2019 with the dream of opening a restaurant. Today, the couple hosts a food festival and owns three popular Charlotte eateries under the umbrella of their company BayHaven Restaurant Group: Uptown Yolk, Leah & Louise, and 3rd and Fernwood. Not only are they part of the food movement in Charlotte, but they’re also two of the most sought-after names in the hospitality and food service industries.
Source: (Facebook/UptownYolk)
Uptown Yolk puts a modern twist on breakfast and brunch favorites. The restaurant, which closed during the pandemic and reopened last year at Vantage South End, is known for perfecting classic breakfast dishes like their irresistible, fluffy pancakes and their bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich. Plus, it includes a full-service bar. Subrina adds that they’ve poured just as much love into the menu as they did the restaurant’s décor, which pays homage to the Memphis Design Style created by the Memphis Group, a popular design style that blends Art Deco with pop art.
Source: (Facebook/UptownYolk)
“The design there is Memphis Art Deco. The original Memphis Milan design is what you see, like color blocking.” Uptown Yolk also pays tribute to the Colliers’ Memphis roots by including Tennessee zip codes in the design of the tiles and other “things specific to Memphis, Tennessee,” says Subrina.
Location: 1220 South Tryon Street, Charlotte, N.C. 28203
Source: Mud Island (Facebook/LeahAndLouise)
Leah & Louise, a nationally renowned Southern comfort food restaurant, was named in tribute to Greg’s late sister and grandmother. Since its opening in 2020, the self-described “modern juke joint” has paid homage to Southern culinary traditions by reimagining classic dishes, ingredients, and techniques, all while honoring their rich heritage. Among its standout offerings is the Mud Island, a blackened catfish served with smoked catfish stew, pickled field peas, and rice grits—a dish so celebrated that Vice President Kamala Harris personally requested it during her visit in January.
Location: TBA (The restaurant is relocating to Charlotte’s Historic West End neighborhood.)
Source: Chicken thigh sandwich with Carolina gold sauce & Memphis-style slaw (Facebook/3rd and Fernwood)
Their newest restaurant, 3rd & Fernwood, is a Southern seasonal restaurant with an all-day menu that includes dishes like hambone grits, braised beef meatloaf, pan-seared trout with roasted okra gravy, and candied yams.
Source: Beyond Amazing Donuts Owner and Chef Jasmine Macon
Beyond Amazing Donuts (B.A.D), a small batch donut shop in the Montford neighborhood, puts a creative spin on donuts. The menu features six staple flavors that range from classic treats like the raspberry sprinkle donut and the sweet and creamy vanilla glaze known as “The O.G. Donut” to unique pastries like the brown butter with sorghum carmel donut and the savory black garlic everything donut. Owner and chef Jasmine Macon says her goal is to get patrons to reimagine the classic sweet.
Source: Beyond Amazing Donuts menu (Photo courtesy of Beyond Amazing Donuts)
“I want to expand people’s understanding of what a donut can be by experimenting with both traditional and non-traditional flavors, blending sweet and savory elements,” she told BE in an email.
Macon opened B.A.D. in 2022 after she stepped down as the pastry chef at Leah & Louise. Along with putting a fresh spin on donuts, she sees the pastry shop as a vehicle to build community and foster human connections.
“I named my business Beyond Amazing Donuts [because] my love for these pastries goes beyond just how good they are. I want to cultivate a space where everyone can connect, release, and become part of a larger story.”
Source: (Photo courtesy of Beyond Amazing Donuts)
Macon’s love for baking stems from childhood, after her grandmother encouraged her to experiment with cooking.
“My passion for baking emerged early on. I had several Easy-Bake Ovens and was always experimenting in the kitchen. That’s when I knew an eatery was the path for me.”
Macon, a native of Thomasville, North Carolina, moved to Charlotte and “fell in love with the city” after enrolling in Johnson & Wales University in 2008. “I knew I could comfortably plant my roots in the Queen City.”
Now, her ultimate goal is to leave a legacy in the QC that brings people together and promotes unity.
“I want to be remembered as a giving and considerate person—not without flaws or annoyances—but someone who genuinely sought to offer true connection through donuts.”
Location: 1730 Abbey Place, Charlotte, NC 28209
CUZZO’S CUISINE
Source: Chef Andarrio Johnson (Courtesy of Cuzzo’s Cuisine)
Cuzzo’s Cuisine is a popular Charlotte restaurant known for Southern fare and comfort foods like red velvet waffles. It is owned by cousins Chef Andarrio Johnson and Anglee Brown, who launched Cuzzo’s as a food truck in 2014 before opening the first of three brick-and-mortar restaurants in 2016.
Source: Cuzzo’s Cuisine located at the Charlotte Premium Outlet Food Court (Facebook)
Paying homage to their South Carolina roots, Chef Johnson infuses his dishes with Gullah Geechee culture and flavor. His specialty dishes are his award-winning Shrimp and Grits and his Lobster Mac and Cheese.
“My number one dish is my Shrimp and Grits. I won the best Shrimp and Grits in the city from Charlotte’s Best,” he said. “Everybody here in Charlotte loves my lobster mac and cheese.”
Source: Chef Andarrio Johnson’s award-winning shrimp and grits (Facebook/cuzzoscuisine)
Outside of running Cuzzo’s, Chef Andarrio teaches underserved youth from 10 to 15 years old how to cook and eat healthy through his nonprofit Culinary Connection.
“I got a nonprofit [where] I teach kids how to cook and eat healthy. And I got cooking classes for kids. I do it like once every two months. It’s called Culinary Connection. So, anytime a customer shops with Cuzzo’s Cuisine…some of that proceed goes to one of my nonprofits.”
Source: Chef Andarrio Johnson’s award-winning lobster mac and cheese (photo courtesy of Cuzzo’s Cuisine)
Culinary Connection began after Johnson started providing free meals for children during the pandemic.
“Cuzzo’s Cuisine has been feeding kids for free since COVID 2020 started. And we just never stopped. And that’s what made me start my nonprofit at the time.” He added, “The community really will support you as long as you support them.”
Locations:
Charlotte Premium outlet Food Court located at 5428 New Fashion Way, Charlotte, N.C.
9601 N Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28262
BIRD PIZZERIA
Source: Bird Pizzeria owners Kerrel and Nkem Thompson (Facebook/Bird Pizzeria)
Bird Pizzeria is not just one of the best pizza joints in Charlotte, it’s one of the best pizzerias in the country, according to The New York Times.
Owners Kerrel and Nkem Thompson opened Bird Pizzeria as a pop-up restaurant in October 2020 before establishing the shop in December 2021 in Charlotte’s Optimist Park neighborhood. But pizza has been part of the husband-and-wife’s love story long before they opened a pizzeria. In fact, they enjoyed pizza on their first date, proving that “love at first slice” is, indeed, a thing.
Source: (Facebook/Bird Pizzeria)
“When we started, we had no staff, just us, and Nkem was pregnant,” says Kerrel. “Everything you see is only what we could do, little by little. People can feel that when they come. It’s real. We have the most diverse customer base throughout every sort of demographic coming every week. We’re really for the people. Can’t complain about our music selection either!”
At Bird, the pizzas are made to be shared and feature browned caramelized crusts. Seasonal toppings like dandelion pesto and local mushrooms are also offered. Nkem describes the style of their pies as “East Coast artisanal,” explaining that they’re reminiscent of the pizza Kerrel grew up eating in Cleveland. “It’s a combination of all the little things Kerrel gathered over the years from different experiences that he loved with hints of childhood nostalgia,” she told BE in an email.
Source: (Facebook/Bird Pizzeria)
In addition to delicious pies – and a great playlist, Nkema says their faith has played a major role in Bird Pizzeria’s success.
“The Lord has led us through this whole thing. We’ve been committed to the process and only doing as much as we could do throughout each step. It’s been such a gift to serve so many folks and to be received so well.”
Location: 510 E 15th St, Charlotte, NC, 28206
Discover more Black-owned businesses and start planning your trip to Charlotte at charlottesgotalot.com.
T.I. And Tiny Harris Win $71 Million In OMG Girlz Lawsuit Against MGA Entertainment
The jury decided seven of the L.O.L. Surprise! dolls did infringe on the OMG Girlz's likeness.
T.I. and Tiny Harris have finally proven their case. Their lawsuit against MGA Entertainment, a toy company they claimed stole the likeness of their girl group, OMG Girlz, has resulted in their favor.
The couple started the girl group with their daughter, Zonnique Pullins, as a lead member. Now, the couple has won $17.9 million in actual damages and $53.6 in punitive damages, as decided by a jury verdict on Sept. 23.
They first tried to sue MGA in January 2023 because they claimed that the OMG line of the L.O.L. Surprise! Dolls took from their intellectual property. This included outfits inspired by OMG Girlz’s real-life looks during performances.
However, that instance ended in a mistrial, leading to a second round six months later. Upon losing their second trial, they were offered a retrial last September. The newest trial lasted three weeks, including testimonies from T.I. and MGA’s founder, Isaac Larian.
“You can hold them up to these pictures and see. Anyone with eyes can see that this picture influenced this doll,” T.I. testified on Sept. 6, as reported byUS Weekly.
During his own testimony, Larian referred to the hip-hop couple and their music act as “extortionists,” denying their influence on the dolls’ designs.
However, the jury decided that seven of the dolls did infringe on the OMG Girlz’ likeness. Upon hearing the news of the favorable ruling, Tiny expressed her gratitude to the jurors for delivering “the best answer possible.”
“[Just feel] Amazingly blessed. [We thank the jurors] for seeing what we’ve been fighting for for the last three trials,” explained the Xscape singer. “They really took their time with the information and didn’t rush. They came back with the best answer possible and they gave us what they felt we deserve. “
She added, “This is a stepping stone for the culture and creators…They’ll know they have this opportunity and that they can win.”
T.I. also shared his own thoughts, noting the “resilience” of the women in his life who fought for this.
“I think justice was served. I think it’s a testament to the relentlessness and resilience of my wife, daughter and nieces,” T.I. toldRolling Stone. “We’re just happy we were able to come out on top and fight for creatives and our intellectual property that large corporations seem to think is just public domain and free for all to come and grab and use.”
Elon Musk: 'The block function will block that account from engaging with, but not block seeing, public post.'
If you’ve blocked certain users from seeing your posts on X, formerly known as Twitter, then you may not like the latest change the social media site is incorporating.
According to The Verge, the feature will change so that the blocked user on X will be able to view the post, but they will not have the ability to respond to it. Elon Musk, the owner of the platform responded to a Tweet after a user mentioned it on X.
The latest “feature” was revealed on Sept. 23 when Nima Owji wrote about it on the platform.
BREAKING: X is about to remove the current block button, meaning that if an account is public, their posts will be visible to the blocked users as well!
Currently, if you are blocked by a user, you will see a message that says, “You’re blocked.” You are unable to view anything associated with the posts, nor can you see their replies, media posted to the account, followers, or who they are following.
Musk has reportedly voiced displeasure with the feature in the past. Techdirt reported last year that Musk responded to a user on the platform who did not like being blocked. He stated that “blocking public posts makes no sense. It needs to be deprecated in favor of a stronger form of mute.”
He is so opposed to the block feature that he previously threatened to disallow people from using it unless it’s for direct messages.
The “workaround” is setting your posts to private. This would allow you to approve any new followers to view your content. Otherwise, anyone who is not following you doesn’t have to be blocked and will not be able to view your posts.
Tech Crunch reported that this had been done more than 10 years ago. In 2013, Twitter allowed blocked users to see content, follow, and reply to the posts of people who blocked them. Although the person who blocked the user wouldn’t know they were able to view their content, other users would know they could. After a backlash from users, Twitter reversed course and changed the protocol to reflect the current policy.
Simone Biles Is Partnering To Open ‘Taste of Gold’ Restaurant in Houston Airport
Taste of Gold is currently under construction and is expected to open inside IAH Terminal A in the first quarter of 2025.
Simone Biles is giving people a taste of gold. The seven-time Olympic Gold medalist is partnering with The Playmakers Group to open the Taste of Gold restaurant at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Houston, Biles’s home airport, a press release from the airport revealed.
“I am very excited to partner with The Playmakers Group and their dedicated team to help bring a new restaurant to my hometown airport,” said Biles. “I am a foodie at heart, and our hope with Taste of Gold is to offer a beautiful dining experience that features award-winning, signature menu items with some of my favorite flavors sprinkled in for our guests.”
Taste of Gold celebrates Biles’s remarkable global achievements. Restaurant industry innovator Mark Brezinski curated the chef-crafted menu, featuring signature food and beverage items to ‘wow’ every traveler in one of America’s busiest airports.
In 2023, IAH welcomed more than 46 million passengers and ranked among the Top 10 World’s Best Airport Dining Experiences in 2024.
“Bush Airport is proud to offer one of the top airport culinary experiences in the world, and it’s only going to get better,” said Francisco Cuellar, Chief Commercial Development Officer for Houston Airports, in a statement. “We join the millions of people worldwide who find inspiration in Simone Biles, an athlete who continues to raise the bar while achieving success and defying expectations. Houston Airports is on the same history-making trajectory as we redefine what it means to dine inside an airport.”
Taste of Gold is currently under construction and is expected to open inside IAH Terminal A in the first quarter of 2025.
“Simone Biles is the ultimate symbol of excellence,” said Taste of Gold’s managing partner, Derek Missimo. “Her incredible achievements, inspirational leadership, and spirit align with our values at the Playmakers Group. We are incredibly honored to partner with her on this restaurant, which will offer something truly special to our guests and the Houston airport community.”
Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks Continues to Make ‘Power Moves’ In Orlando With Second Stadium Deal
Big Dave's Cheesesteaks continues its expansion into Orlando.
Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks is making significant “power moves” in Orlando, Florida, with another stadium deal after its recent partnership announcement with the NBA’s Orlando Magic.
The restaurant chain took to Instagram last week to announce the two new locations coming to Orlando’s Camping World Stadium. Big Dave’s owner Derrick Hayes shared how the deals are part of an “ambitious expansion initiative” led by former PepsiCo executive Derek Lewis, “who acquired Florida’s first 10 Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks franchises!”
“This ain’t just an expansion, it’s a REVOLUTION!” Hayes said.
Big Dave’s addition to the stadium will bring Big Dave’s award-winning Philadelphia-style cheesesteaks to the 65,000-seat stadium in the heart of downtown Orlando. Guests will have the opportunity to grab food from two concession stands at Camping World Stadium, which is owned and operated by the city of Orlando.
“This collaboration represents more than just expanding our franchise; it’s about creating a culinary experience that resonates with the vibrant spirit of Florida’s sports community,” Hayes said. “Derek’s business acumen and the dynamic atmosphere of Camping World Stadium provide the perfect backdrop for our authentic cheesesteaks.
“We’re not just opening a store; we’re becoming part of a legacy, serving up our passion-filled flavors to fans and food lovers alike.”
The first major events will be held on Nov. 18 with a concert, followed by the Florida Blue Florida Classic (Nov. 23), the Pop-Tarts Bowl (Dec. 28), the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl (Dec. 31), and the NFL Pro Bowl Games (Feb. 2, 2025). This is ahead of Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks’ preparation to open 10 new locations in central Florida over the next six months.
Hayes launched the original Big Dave’s in 2016 in Dunwoody, Georgia, at a 700-square-foot gas station spot called Dave’s Philly Water Ice. Since then, Big Dave’s has expanded to six locations—one in North Carolina and five in Georgia, including a concession stand at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
South Carolina HBCU Student Awarded Nearly $700K After Landlord Throws Belongings Away
The award is significantly higher than Postell's original settlement offer for $75,000.
An HBCU student in Columbia, South Carolina, will receive nearly $700K after his landlord unjustly threw away his belongings.
Ansel Postell, who attended Benedict College, returned to Columbia to find his pre-paid apartment emptied. He also found out that his landlord had given away his stuff. However, his mother claims that they paid the rent for six months upfront, as reported byThe State.
It totaled $3,810 to ensure his residence and belongings would be safe over the summer break. The funds went to rental company Campus Advantage, which owns multiple apartment complexes like The Rowan.
The cybersecurity major found that all his clothes, electronic equipment, television, and self-built computers were missing. However, the company ignored requests for compensation. Due to this, the family took legal action and received a lofty sum in its conclusion.
On Sept. 19, a Richland County jury awarded the honors graduate $692,000 in damages, with $462,500 allocated for punitive damages.
“I’m glad I was given the opportunity for this to be taken up in court, and the jury was able to make a decision on the evidence that we provided,” Postell said to the publication the following day.
In the lawsuit, Postell stated that the process of trying to reach The Rowan and replace his lost items left him unable to attend many classes at the start of his senior year. The absences nearly resulted in the loss of his scholarship and academic performance.
The jury also found the rental company violated the state’s Unfair Trade Practice Act. Given this, the former student is potentially entitled to at least triple the damages of some or the entire award.
“Almost half a million dollars in punitive damages is sending a huge message,” said Postell’s lawyer, Todd Lyle. “This case could have been settled for far less, but their obstinance and insistence that they did no wrong ultimately drove this verdict as high as it did.”
The award is significantly higher than Postell’s original settlement offer of $75,000. Now, the company will pay two years of interest at 8% annually.
Family Of Veteran Says His Body Was Parceled Out By University Of North Texas For Cash
Honey’s body was frozen, cut into pieces and sold for money.
The family of Army veteran Carl Victor Honey is claiming that after he died in 2022, his body was parceled out to various entities for money by the University of North Texas Health Science Center.
According to People, Honey was homeless and had paranoid schizophrenia when he died. Still, his body was deemed unclaimed and became one of 2,350 to be donated to the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth for medical research.
His ex-wife, Kimberly Patman, cast doubt on the assertion that his body was unclaimed, telling NBC News, “His son has his same name. How could he be unclaimed?”
According to NBC News, what happened to Honey is not an isolated incident; 11 additional familieshave come forward with stories about how the science center sold the parts of deceased loved ones whose bodies were determined to be unclaimed.
Honey’s body was frozen, cut into pieces and sold for money. His right leg was donated to a Swedish medical device company for $341, and a Pittsburgh medical education company paid $900 for his torso.
“We have become aware of issues within our Willed Body Program and that failures existed in its management and oversight,” the University of North Texas’s Science Center posted on its website. “The program has fallen short of the standards of respect, care, and professionalism that we demand. The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth extends its deepest apologies to the families who have been impacted.”
The statement continued, “HSC has taken the following immediate actions: Permanently closing HSC’s BioSkills Lab. Immediately suspending operations of the Willed Body Program pending the outcome of an internal assessment and review by an external global consulting firm with expertise in health care. Taken personnel actions, including terminating program leadership.”
Patman doesn’t believe that the university even tried to find her or other members of Honey’s family. “He never wanted to be an organ donor,” Patman told NBC. “We talked about it. I don’t believe they tried to find us. You can find people. NBC found me in a day. You can find people.”
NBC News notes that it was only after its investigation shared details with the public that the university took action for months; as it reported on the story, the university defended its practices.
The NBC News investigation has its roots in the stories concerning Mississippi’s failure to notify families before burying their loved ones in pauper’s graves.Multiple outlets, including BLACK ENTERPRISE, covered those stories.
The investigations NBC conducted in those cases led them to North Texas, where officials found a way to dispose of the unclaimed dead, which could be costly to bury or cremate. According to its investigation, Dallas and Tarrant counties gave those bodies to the university’s health center, which then used the unclaimed bodies—often Black, male, and homeless—as teaching canvasses for medical students, selling parts to entities.
According to Thomas Champney, an anatomy professor at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, this practice is unethical.
“The county and the medical school are doing this because it saves them money, but that doesn’t make it right,” Champney said. “Since these individuals did not consent, they should not be used in any form or fashion.”
A judge in Tarrant County, Tim O’Hare, the county’s top elected official, agreed.
O’Hare, who previously voted to allow the university to continue its arrangement, told NBC News that he would look into his options to ” end any and all immoral, unethical, and irresponsible practices stemming from this program.”
O’Hare’s office also released a statement damning the practice. “No individual’s remains should be used for medical research, nor sold for profit, without their pre-death consent, or the consent of their next of kin. The idea that families may be unaware that their loved ones’ remains are being used for research without consent is disturbing, to say the least.”
Black Twitter Sparks Debate On Equality After Nike Names New CEO Who Started As An Intern
Nike's new CEO started as an intern 30 years ago. But would a Black employee have been able to do the same?
Black Twitter launched a discussion around Nike’s recent appointment of Elliott Hill as the sports retail giant’s new CEO.
According to his LinkedIn page, Hill, 60, has a 30-year history with Nike dating back to 1988 when he started as an apparel sales representative intern. Since then, his only non-Nike role was as an assistant athletic trainer with the Dallas Cowboys in the ‘80s.
While Hill was able to work his way up from intern to CEO, many on Black Twitter think that wouldn’t be the case if Hill were Black.
On Thursday, Nike’s stock valuation jumped when the company announced that Hill would replace current CEO John Donahoe, who will step down next month. The news prompted sports and business journalist Joe Pompliano to share a screenshot of Hill’s LinkedIn profile highlighting his three-decade career at Nike.
“Nike’s new CEO may have the best LinkedIn profile ever—32 years with the same company, from intern to CEO!” Pompliano tweeted.
The tweet garnered a response from a Black Twitter user who shared what the “Black version” of Hill’s resume would look like.
“The Black version of this is making it to Sr. Manager/Director and plateauing,” the user wrote.
The Black version of this is making it to Sr. Manager / Director and plateauing. https://t.co/hcYRzUvaqp
The tweet garnered responses from many who agreed with the message and how it reflects the Black experience in corporate America.
“Elliot (sic): each role given w no experience nor proof they’d succeed in new roles. Black people: excelled in role (& their actual role) for 2-3 years w/o equivalent pay & had network 10 deep of people they’d done free work for in some capacity. Constantly 2nd guessed & scrutinized,” one user wrote in response.
“Either that or they give you the role right as the company going through some BS whether financially or socially so that if you can’t fix it the bigots will blame you being a DEI hire & forget that the company was going bad beforehand,” added someone else.
It’s been five years since the “Being Black in Corporate America” report highlighted how diversity and inclusion efforts failed Black workers. What followed a year later was the murder of George Floyd, which saw significant corporations and companies nationwide make sweeping efforts toward DEI.
But in recent years, many companies have started to reverse diversity, equity, and inclusion programs with efforts facing increasing opposition from conservative lawmakers and activists. Across college campuses and corporate America, concerns over legal risks and political pushback are prompting some to scale back or rebrand their DEI initiatives.
What remains is a community of professionals, in this case, Black workers, who feel overlooked, ignored, and undervalued in the workplace. While Elliott Hill’s story of going from intern to CEO at Nike does give hope for remaining loyal to a company, research shows that that’s not always the case for team members from different racial backgrounds.
As one Black employee who joined the Twitter debate shared, expressing interest in a promotion can garner a “funny” response from higher-ups.
“I feel like this is where I’m headed. They start acting funny once you start asking about the promotions that come with stock,” they wrote.
Sen. Raphael Warnock Says Georgia’s Hand-Counted Ballot Rule Is ‘Effort To Turn The Democracy On Its Head’
Georgia election board's recently ruled that local precincts must hand-count ballots on Election Day.
Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock (D) is “very concerned” about the state’s new hand-counted ballot rule, which he sees as an “effort to turn the democracy on its head.”
The pastor and U.S. Senator appeared on MSNBC’s Inside with Jen Psaki on Sept. 22, where he responded to the Georgia election board’s recent ruling that local precincts must hand-count ballots on Election Day. The decision came despite concerns from election officials and opposition from some state authorities who said the last-minute change could cause delays and confusion on election night and the days that follow.
According to Sen. Warnock, the Sept. 20 ruling was prompted by the Republican-led state’s fear of Democrats growing in power.
“The news that Georgia voters [ought to be] paying attention to is this: The fact that they are doing this, means that they know we’re winning,” Warnock said.
“They know that the momentum is with Kamala Harris, and this effort to turn the democracy on its head, so that rather than the voters picking their representatives, the folks who are running get to pick their voters — it won’t stand.”
Elsewhere, Warnock spoke of the “voter suppression” that he experienced during his election runs and the type that’s known to happen in efforts to stop certain communities from voting.
“This is how voter suppression happens. Undermine votes a little bit here a little there,” Warnock said after recalling his lawsuit against Georgia state officials to allow Georgia voters to vote during the first weekend of his run-off election.
Georgia’s election board voted 3-2 to mandate hand-counting of ballots in addition to the existing machine count, a groundbreaking decision made with less than 50 days remaining before Election Day. Sen. Warnock spoke on what the ruling could lead to and compared it to the controversial ballot issue of the 2000 election between George Bush and Al Gore.
Warnock was “old enough to remember Florida [in] 2000,” and doesn’t want that “mess” in Georgia.
“We all saw the mess that that was, and we don’t need that here again in Georgia, so we will continue to press the issue,” he said.
Recent actions by the board have heightened attention on election administration in Georgia, a state where former President Donald Trump and others promoted baseless fraud claims after the 2020 election and which is anticipated to be a key swing state in the 2024 race. The Friday ruling requires the poll manager and two poll officers at each precinct to manually count the paper ballots in each ballot box and compare the total with the number recorded by the ballot scanner.
Georgia’s Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger expressed his concerns over the hand-counting of ballots.
“Attorney General Chris Carr has stated that these rules would not withstand a legal challenge, and I have worked every day to strengthen Georgia’s election law to ensure our elections remain safe, secure, and free,” Raffensperger said after the election board’s ruling.
