• News

by Daniel Johnson

September 22, 2024

Black Chamber Launches In Summit County, Ohio, To Empower Black Businesses

The newly formed Summit County Black Chamber of Commerce comes to a region whose Black population feels 'excluded from economic opportunities.'

---

In Ohio’s Summit County, Black business owners have formed the Black Chamber of Commerce for Summit County after realizing the county didn’t have a chamber of commerce set up for Black businesses. 

Signal Akron reports the Black Chamber of Commerce was created to help bridge the racial wealth gap and to create more opportunities for Black entrepreneurs.

According to a directory maintained by the U.S. Black Chambers, the Summit County Black Chamber of Commerce will become one of 25 Black Chambers of Commerce in the Midwest and one of more than 150 in the United States. 

“Everyone thinks it’s a great idea and much needed, some of our businesses are not in the loop; they’re off the radar,” Robert DeJournett, the new chamber’s CEO and president, told Signal Akron.

Black Chamber of Commerce Vice President and COO, Misty Beasley told News 5 Cleveland, “Often Black business owners are working in their business, so it’s hard to work on your business or you don’t have the information or the knowledge or the resources to work on your business, and so being able to have an organization that can help you do that and help you set yourself up for success, that’s big.”

According to data from the U.S. Census, approximately one-third of Akron’s population is Black. Akron is the county seat of Summit County. A 2017 study from the Greater Akron Chamber of Commerce, revealed a lot of the county’s Black community is excluded from economic opportunities.

“Left unaddressed, this lack of inclusion will severely hinder innovation and startup activity, and result in a workforce incapable of participating in the knowledge-based economy,” found the report.

As Beasley told Signal Akron, “We want to be a voice to speak out for Black-owned businesses. We’re wanting to create something where we’re helping ourselves.”

Summit County’s Black Chamber of Commerce is seeking donations from founding donors of at least $1,000 which will help accelerate the organization’s growth. In return, the group is promising exclusive recognition for its donors, which includes Founding Donor listing on the group’s website, and access to exclusive events, benefits, and discounts.

RELATED CONTENT: Get Out and Support Your Local Black Chamber of Commerce

• News

by Mary Spiller

September 22, 2024

NASA’s ‘Hidden Figures’ Honored: Pioneering Women Who Launched U.S. To Space Receive Congressional Gold Medals

The honored women were pioneers in their field and played crucial roles during the heated space race against the Soviet Union.

---

A group of Black female scientists and mathematicians who were trailblazers of their time, known as NASA’s “Hidden Figures,” were honored with the awarding of Congressional Gold Medals on Sept. 18. Katherine Johnson, Mary Jackson, Dorothy Vaughan, Andrea Mosie, and Christine Darden were given the highest award to citizens by Congress for their immeasurable contributions to space exploration.

The Congressional Gold Medal is the oldest and highest civilian award in the United States. It is awarded for national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions by individuals or institutions.

As reported by NPR, Johnson, Jackson, Vaughan, and Darden were awarded the distinction for their work developing the U.S. space program during the infamous space race.

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson praised the women. He said, “They made it possible for Earthlings to lift beyond the bounds of Earth, and for generations of trailblazers to follow.”

Although Vaughan, Johnson, and Jackson were honored posthumously, their families accepted the awards on their behalf. Darden had to stream the ceremony from Connecticut, but her family accepted the honor in her place on Capitol Hill.

Andrea Mosie, the Apollo Sample Lead Processor at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, received the fifth Congressional Gold Medal.

House Speaker Mike Johnson described each of the women as “giants on whose shoulders all of those astronauts actually stood.” 

He continued to explain that they proved “America’s strength lies in our ability to harness the talents of all of our citizens and to look beyond divisions.”

“At a time in America when our nation was divided by color and often by gender, these women dared to step into the fields where they had previously been unwelcomed. They excelled in science and math and made groundbreaking contributions in aeronautics.”

Johnson added, “But these women didn’t just crunch numbers and solve equations for the space program. They actually laid the very foundation upon which our rockets launched, and our astronauts flew, and our nation soared.”

NASA Administrator Nelson described while presenting the awards, “The pioneers that we honor today, these Hidden Figures — their courage and imagination brought us to the Moon. And their lessons, their legacy, will send us back to the Moon and then, imagine, just imagine, when we leave our footprints on the red sands of Mars.”

Katherine Johnson, Mary Jackson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Christine Darden worked in a segregated department at NASA’s Langley Research Center but eventually became known as “human computers” amongst their colleagues for their incredible mathematical abilities, which successfully calculated projections for key projects such as the 1969 Apollo 11 moon landing mission.

The late Texas Rep. Bernice Eddie Johnson introduced the Hidden Figures Congressional Gold Medal Act in 2019. It allowed Congress to honor each of the four women with a medal and award a fifth medal to recognize any women who served as computers, mathematicians, and engineers at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration between the 1930s and ’70s. This fifth award went to Andrea Mosie.

The women were not only successful mathematicians in their fields but also broke boundaries and set records. In 1958, Jackson was NASA’s first Black female engineer, and in 1949, Vaughan became the first Black female supervisor of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. Darden produced groundbreaking research on supersonic aircraft noise and became the first Black woman in NASA’s Langley Research Center history to be appointed to top management in its senior executive service.

In recent media culture, Katherine Johnson, Mary Jackson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Christine Darden were subjects in the book Hidden Figures. Written by Margot Lee Shetterly, the book told the story of the women’s experiences working at NASA and how the intersectionality of both Blackness and womanhood informed their work through the discrimination they overcame from those around them. Hidden Figures was adapted into a film and released in 2016.

RELATED CONTENT: NASA Dedicates Building To Women Of Apollo 11 Mission, Including Phylicia Rashad And Debbie Allen’s Mother

• Women

by Daniel Johnson

September 22, 2024

Jordan Brand Exec Tapped As President Of Business Operations For Detroit Pistons

Melanie Harris is the former vice president and general manager of Nike's Jordan Brand.

---

Melanie Harris, the former vice president and general manager of Nike’s Jordan Brand, was named the Detroit Pistons president of Business Operations on Sept. 17.

According to the Detroit News, Pistons owner Tom Gores said in a statement that he is excited about Harris’s addition to the team’s business operations unit. 

“During this critical offseason, we have expanded our executive team with top leadership talent on both the basketball and business sides of our organization,” Gores said. “Our business-side team has consistently outperformed challenging circumstances, and I’m excited to add Melanie’s capabilities and leadership to the mix.”

Gores continued, “Having spent time with Melanie, she is an experienced leader and innovative executive who will invigorate our business operations and bring a fresh perspective on how we engage our community of fans — both locally and nationally.”

Before she took on an expanded role at Jordan Brand North America, she served its parent company, Nike, as its vice president of Strategy and Development. According to ESPN’s Marc J. Spears, Harris was also a member of Nike’s Black Community Taskforce. Ahead of these roles at Nike and Jordan Brand, she was a partner at Bain & Company for nine years, focusing on advising national companies on customer experience, digital marketing, transformation, and agile performance improvement. In addition to these duties, she also served as the head of the company’s Social Impact and Diversity and Inclusion efforts, leading social impact projects for Bain & Company. Harris also holds degrees from Yale and Harvard University. 

Pistons Vice-Chairman Arn Tellem, who will be Harris’ direct supervisor, briefly described her responsibilities in his own statement: “Melanie shares our core values of hard work and commitment to the community. She’s a collaborative leader who will support our current team while bringing new experiences and ideas for engagement with business partners, ticket holders, and fans.”

In a statement, Harris said she is excited to help bring success to the Pistons. “Detroit is a fantastic sports town and as the organization grows, there is a great opportunity for building business momentum and engagement,” Harris said. “I look forward to advancing the club’s success both on and off the floor.”

RELATED CONTENT: Consumers Energy, Detroit Pistons Partner on Girls Dream Big Summit

• News

by Daniel Johnson

September 21, 2024

Freddie Owens Executed Despite 11th Hour Confession From Co-Defendant

Co-defendant Steven Golden came forth and stated that Owens was not present at the crime scene, contradicting a decades-old narrative.

---

Freddie Eugene Owens was executed by the State of South Carolina on September 20, despite lingering doubts about his guilt and a confession from co-defendant Steven Golden, who said Owens was not present at the crime scene, contradicting a decades-old narrative.

According to USA Today, Owens was found guilty by a jury of the murder of Irene Grainger Graves, a 41-year-old single mother of three, at a convenience store in 1997.

“If it was true, I feel he should’ve said something earlier, that’s something that person will have to deal with their conscience,” Graves son, Arte, told USA Today.

Owens’ attorney, Gerald “Bo” King said in a statement that Owens’ death is a tragedy. 

“Mr. Owens’s childhood was marked by suffering on a scale that is hard to comprehend. He spent his adulthood in prison for a crime that he did not commit. The legal errors, hidden deals, and false evidence that made tonight possible should shame us all.”

In Golden’s statement, similar to many stories involving innocent people who are later exonerated, the police figure prominently in why he initially said that Owens was with him during the robbery that led to the murder of Graves.

In a statement submitted to police, Golden said that he “substituted Freddie for the person who was really with me in the Speedway that night.”

Golden continued, “I did that because I knew that’s what the police wanted me to say, and also because I thought the real shooter or his associates might kill me if I named him to the police. I am still afraid of that. But Freddie was actually not there.”

Despite Golden’s statement, both the South Carolina Supreme Court and South Carolina’s Republican Governor Henry McMaster declined to stay the execution of Owens. The former ruled on Sept. 19 that Golden’s new statement doesn’t trump confessions he previously made to a girlfriend, his mother, and two police officers. 

“Today, I bear witness to the State’s unwillingness to consider new evidence, its refusal to acknowledge the possibility of error,” Owens’ mother, Dora Mason, told Greenville News. “Freddie is more than his conviction; he is a human being, a son, a brother, and a friend. He deserves compassion, understanding, and a fair chance at justice. Instead, the system has failed him and the victim at every turn.”

Mason, who delivered her statement hours before her son was set to be executed, also urged people in South Carolina to consider “the fallibility of our justice system and the irreversible nature of capital punishment…I implore you to question the morality of taking a life in the name of justice, especially when doubt exists.”

RELATED CONTENT: Condemned South Carolina Inmate Lets Lawyer Choose His Execution Method

by Mary Spiller

September 21, 2024

Texas Rapper Slando Kareem Sentenced To Life In Prison For Sex Trafficking

Jacorey Nathaniel Anderson reportedly trafficked girls as young as 15 years old.

---

Houston rapper Jacorey Nathaniel Anderson — also known as Slando Kareem — has been sentenced to life in prison for sex trafficking three minors and one adult. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the 29-year-old rapper forced these women into prostitution. 

Anderson was arrested in the Dallas area while allegedly attempting to traffic who he believed to be a minor female but was an undercover police officer. After his phone was taken into evidence following his arrest, investigators were able to identify his victims and more of his crimes. 

Some of Anderson’s minor victims were just 15 years old, and he allegedly lured many of them to the Austin, Texas, area from Houston by preying on them through social media sites and text messages.

According to police, after luring his victims to Austin, he told them to post sex advertisements online and had them work in an area well known for prostitution at night.

Although some of these girls managed to flee from Anderson within a day, one victim was reportedly trafficked for multiple weeks. Court documents state that Anderson drugged his victims and starved them while they were forced to work for him. 

U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani described how Anderson’s crimes showed up in his rap music as Slando Kareem. 

“Unfortunately, for several young girls, he breathed life into his poorly crafted lyrics,” Hamdani said, “Providing drugs, starving and trafficking them for his own financial gain.”

Some of his victims can reportedly be seen in his music videos. In one, one of the victims is tied up by her hands and feet with duct tape over her mouth. In other shots, he’s seen hitting and choking the same woman.

Homeland Security Investigations Dallas acting Special Agent in Charge Travis Pickard told KHOU, “The victims this defendant abused can now begin their process of healing with this criminal behind bars for the remainder of his life.” 

Anderson’s co-conspirator, Lelonnie Stephon Jackson, also pleaded guilty in the case for his involvement in providing the car used to transport the girls to Austin. Jackson was sentenced to five years in prison.

A second co-conspirator whose sentencing hearing is scheduled for later this year, Thomas Jarrett Barraza, also pled guilty for allegedly driving the victims to an Austin-area hotel. 

RELATED CONTENT: Diddy’s Alleged ‘Freak Offs,’ Racketeering, And Sex Trafficking Outlined By U.S. Attorney

by Mary Spiller

September 21, 2024

Woman, 32, Sentenced To 23 Years To Life In Prison For Murder Of Cleveland State Professor

Terreionna Paschal pleaded guilty to the murder of Todd Morgan.

---

Terreionna Paschal, 32, was sentenced to 23 years to life in prison after she pleaded guilty to killing Cleveland State University professor Todd Morgan in his Hudson, Ohio, home in 2023.

The judge spoke directly to the victim’s family present at the sentencing hearing before delivering the verdict

“There’s nothing that the court can do to make this better, to make this OK, to make this any easier. I will say that the avoidance of a trial is a benefit to everyone because it is an extremely traumatic experience for everyone involved. There would be images and things that you would have to see that you could never unsee. 

“And so I appreciate Miss Paschal for taking responsibility for this and making it so that the family does not have to go through any additional trauma based on the actions that occurred back in April of 2023.”

“To his [Morgan’s] family, I’m very sorry and hope that one day you can find it in your hearts to forgive me,” Paschal said.

On April 19, 2023, Morgan was found dead following a welfare check by authorities in his home. Reporting officers stated that Morgan had multiple gunshot wounds to his head and torso. 

Computer records indicated that Paschal was active on dating sites and apps, where she met Morgan. On April 18, 2023, the day before her trip to Hudson, records show that Paschal searched online for Morgan’s profile and images of his house, Fox 8 reported.

“They mutually agreed to meet, and he let her into the house, with no reason to suspect anything would go wrong during their first in-person encounter,” said Summit County Prosecutor Elliot Kolkovich.

It was determined to be an isolated incident at the time and Paschal was arrested in connection to the murder soon after. She was indicted by a Summit County grand jury on one count of aggravated murder with a gun specification, three counts of murder, one count of tampering with evidence, one count of aggravated robbery, one count of misdemeanor theft, and one count of attempted theft. 

At the sentencing hearing, several family members of Morgan took the stand to give victim impact statements, including his mother, who delivered an over 10-minute impact statement.

“I would like to say I hope you burn in hell, but I can’t because I’m a Christian,” she stated at one point. “I serve a God of love and a God of justice. I know that it is not God’s will for anyone—not even you. What he wants is that you truly repent for this evil act you have committed. I sincerely hope you will find true forgiveness, and only Jesus gives it when we ask,” Morgan’s mother said, addressing Paschal directly.

She concluded, “This is the only way you will ever be truly free. Todd deserves to know what really happened that day. If you ever find the courage to tell the truth, I would like to hear it from you. His children would like to hear it, I’m sure, someday when they’re adults. And his family would like to know. May God help you, Miss Paschal. I hope, in all of those dark moments where you’ll be sitting, that you will find and seek him.”

RELATED CONTENT: Beloved High School Teacher Killed In Apparent Murder-Suicide

• Legal

by Mary Spiller

September 21, 2024

Federal Jury Finds Sesame Place Not Liable In Racism Lawsuit Filed Against Park

The SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment owned park was subject of a viral video where costumed characters allegedly ignored Black children.

---

A federal jury has sided with SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment and unanimously voted that costumed characters at Sesame Place Philadelphia, a children’s theme park in Burks County, did not discriminate against two young Black girls in videos that went viral in July of 2022. According to court records, the lawsuit claimed that park workers discriminated against Black children during parades at the park by intentionally ignoring them.

The Philadelphia jury panel reached a final verdict on Sept. 18. 

SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment told NBC News, “We are pleased with the jury’s verdict and thank them for their service and attention. The facts presented demonstrate that we treat our guests equally.”

The legal action case was brought against SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment when Baltimore native Quinton Burns brought his child to a June 18 “Meet-and-Greet” event with employees dressed as Elmo, Ernie, Telly Monster, and Abby Cadabby.

The class action complaint claimed that costumed characters “intentionally refused to perform and engage with that child and other Black guests while enthusiastically doing their act for the white people in attendance. 

A viral video shared on social media in July of 2022 appeared to show a character playing Rosita at Sesame Place Philadelphia denying service to two young Black girls before continuing to greet other people standing around them. 

The Burns family lawyer claimed that the video was indicative of the theme park’s racist intent and directly opposed their toting of inclusive practices. 

Sesame Place rebutted by explaining that the performer’s costume could have obstructed their vision and made it difficult to see the two girls.

Following the incident, Sesame Place stated they reviewed their rules and practices and also implemented mandatory training for all park employees on how to provide an ‘equitable’ and ‘inclusive’ experience to their guests.

“We are committed to learning all we can from this situation to make meaningful change. We want every child who comes to our park to feel included, seen, and inspired,” Sesame Place said in a statement.

“We want every guest at our park to feel welcomed and safe when they visit us and to be able to see and feel aspects of themselves in the experiences we create.”

SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment stated, “We’re proud of the role we play in creating lasting memories — especially for our youngest guests. We are constantly learning and improving and we’re committed to using our parks to help build a more inclusive experience for our guests.”

RELATED CONTENT: Sesame Place Is Now Enforcing Bias Training For All Employees

• News

by Daniel Johnson

September 21, 2024

Feds Investigate Mississippi Sheriff’s Department For Racial Profiling And Excessive Force

Rankin County, Mississippi, and the Rankin County Sheriff's Department are being investigated.

---

The Department of Justice will investigate whether Rankin County, Mississippi, and the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD) violated citizens’ civil rights through patterns or practices that contravene the U.S. Constitution and federal law.

According to a Sept. 19 press release, the investigation is set to evaluate all types of force used by the department, including its use of deadly force. It will also determine whether or not the RCSD violated the Fourth Amendment by utilizing unlawful stops, searches, and arrests as well as if the department violated the 14th Amendment, Title VI, and the Safe Streets Act by conducting discriminatory policing. 

“The public is now well aware of the heinous attack inflicted on two Black men by Rankin County deputies who called themselves the ‘Goon Squad,’” Attorney General Merrick Garland said. 

Garland continued, “Those officers have since been convicted and sentenced, but we are launching this civil pattern or practice investigation to examine serious allegations that the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department systematically violates people’s constitutional rights through excessive use of force; unlawful stops, searches, and arrests; and discriminatory policing. These include allegations that Rankin County deputies have overused tasers, entered homes unlawfully, used racial slurs, and deployed dangerous, cruel tactics to assault people in their custody. We are committed to working with local officials, deputies, and the community to conduct a comprehensive investigation.”

“The violent, unlawful, and racially charged actions of the so-called Goon Squad left lasting and damaging effects on the community,” Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke said. 

U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee, who represents the Southern District of Mississippi, said the attacks hearken back to Jim Crow-era violence in Mississippi. 

“The information we have learned to date about the conduct of some members of the Rankin County Sheriff’s office calls back to some of the worst periods of Mississippi’s history,” U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee said.

Gee continued, “We do not have to accept the old hatreds and abuse of the past. And we do not have to accept the false claim that safety comes at the price of illegal force and abuse of power. We will conduct an impartial and thorough review of the Rankin County Sheriff’s Office, and if we find violations, we will take necessary action to address them.”

RELATED CONTENT: Black Man Shot In The Mouth By Mississippi Deputy To File Federal Civil Rights Lawsuit Against Sheriff’s Department

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 21, 2024

Cupid’s Digital Bias: Why Dating Apps Leave More Black Singles Matchless

As more singles look for love online, research is showing the disparities Black singles face compared to their counterparts.

---

As more singles look for love online, research is showing the disparities Black and Asian singles face over their counterparts.

A 2024 study revealed that Black Tinder users received fewer likes than their white counterparts. Data has also shown that Asian men, along with Black women and men, are receiving lower rankings than all other groups on apps like OkCupid.

The findings show how dating apps enable people to quickly filter out those who are different from themselves. It ties to age-old matchmaking norms where singles met through friends or family.

“How couples meet ends up being this incredibly primary battlefield to the reinforcement of a distinction of racial, ethnic, and social class groups,” Reuben Thomas, a sociologist at the University of New Mexico, told Faith Hill of The Atlantic. “As isolating as apps can be, they are “a huge threat to those boundaries.”

Those bold enough to embrace anonymity use filters to avoid seeing people of certain races, while unconscious biases often influence who they choose to swipe right on. Jennifer Lundquist, a University of Massachusetts at Amherst sociologist, says sifting through countless options in a dating app can cause people to rely on snap judgments—often based on stereotypes—that they might not use when getting to know someone face-to-face.

Research also shows that app algorithms, which remain partially undisclosed, tend to pair users primarily based on shared traits. However, dating apps offer a greater chance for people to connect with others who are different from themselves.

“Very few people have truly diverse networks that really match the kind of diversity you would see” on a dating app, Reuben Thomas, a sociologist at the University of New Mexico, said.

Luke Brunning, a lecturer at the University of Leeds, suggests removing barriers to encourage people from different backgrounds to interact and engage with each other.

“Having people taking the same forms of public transport and using the same parks or the same swimming pools, same public facilities, it’s not going to integrate society overnight,” Brunning said. “But it will have a kind of gradual positive impact that it definitely wouldn’t have if things were different.”

A model developed by researchers Josue Ortega and Philipp Hergovich predicted that simply increasing exposure between people of different races leads to a rise in interracial marriages. Gina Potarca, a lecturer at the University of Liverpool, said this reflects the numerous studies where participants express appreciation for the “opening of social possibilities” that dating apps offer.

RELATED CONTENT: It’s Time To Have The Money Talk With Your Partner

• News

by Daniel Johnson

September 21, 2024

Murder Charge Reinstated For NY Trooper In Death Of 11-Year-Old Black Brooklyn Girl

New York Attorney General Letitia James called the death of Monica Goods 'senseless.'

---

A panel of judges in an appellate division of the New York Supreme Court ruled that the murder charges against former New York State Trooper Christopher Baldner must be reinstated. 

According to the Times Herald-Record (Middletown, NY), Baldner’s actions during a traffic stop on the Thruway in Ulster County led to charges of second-degree murder and first-degree reckless endangerment in the death of an 11-year-old Black Brooklyn girl, Monica Goods.

Baldner is accused of using his police vehicle to ram into the Goods’ family vehicle, which made it flip over. Monica Goods was pinned inside the vehicle and died of injuries she suffered in the crash. 

Initially, Ulster County Court Judge Bryan Rounds deemed the evidence insufficient to prove that Baldner met the criteria for “depraved indifference to human life.” However, this ruling did not meet New York Attorney General Letitia James’ satisfaction and her office appealed Rounds’ ruling to the appellate court. 

Due to Rounds’ initial decision, Baldner still faced second-degree manslaughter and three charges of second-degree reckless endangerment. The latter charges also includes an instance in September 2019 during which Baldner used the same ramming tactic which resulted in the endangerment of that vehicle’s occupants. 

“As a former state trooper, Christopher Baldner was responsible for serving and protecting the people of New York, but the indictment alleges that he violated that sacred oath and used his vehicle as a deadly weapon, resulting in the senseless death of a young girl,” James said in a statement. 

James continued, “While nothing can return Monica Goods to her family’s loving arms, this decision from the court will enable my office to continue our efforts to seek some semblance of justice for the Goods family. We must hold law enforcement professionals to the highest standard, and we will continue our work on this case to ensure that justice is served.”

“We strongly disagree with the decision, which we believe improperly reinstated the ‘depraved indifference’ charge,” the Police Benevolent Association of the New York State Troopers Inc. said in a statement. “We are deeply concerned that this ruling, if it stands, sets a dangerous precedent that could put a chill on law enforcement officers’ ability to do their job effectively and protect and serve the public. The PBA will continue to support retired Trooper Baldner and cover his legal expenses as he seeks leave to appeal this decision to the (state) Court of Appeals.”

RELATED CONTENT: Family Of Ricky Cobb II Files Lawsuit Against Minnesota State Troopers Over Fatal Traffic Stop