Category: African-American

Essence Magazine:

1. BLACK WOMEN LEAD

The University of Pennsylvania’s prestigious Wharton School has named a new dean. On July 1, longtime academic Erika H. James assumes the reins, marking the first time an African-American or a woman has been at the helm in Wharton’s 139-year history.

2. A CANNABIS CREATION

Louisiana’s Southern University and A&M College has become the first HBCU to launch a CBD product line. Alafia products are sold in locations around the state and will be available throughout the U.S. soon.

3. THE PRICE OF HIGHER ED

A report published in Sociology of Education determined that African-Americans take on debt when acquiring advanced degrees but sustain a bigger payoff compared with their White counterparts. In 2016, attaining such degrees resulted in a 30 percent pay bump for Blacks and an 18 percent pay bump for Whites, though Blacks’ base pay was not necessarily higher.

4. GOING ON THE RECORD

Businesswoman Ursula Burns donated $1 million to The HistoryMakers, an oral archive, to help launch The WomanMakers initiative. The noteworthy gift will allow for the addition of 180 interviews of leading Black women.

5. SERVING BLACK WOMEN

The Family Health Center of Waco, Texas, is pledging to improve the health outcomes for pregnant Black women with a $52,230 grant made possible by the Episcopal Health Foundation.

Akon wants to bring the first cryptocurrency-based economy to Senegal. 6. MOVING INTO THE CRYPTOSPHERE

The Senegalese-American musician known as Akon (above) wants to take Africa into the future. This year he finalized an agreement to build a Crypto City in Senegal. Residents of the locale, called Akon City, will use cryptocurrency known as AKoins to conduct business. The ecotourism destination is expected to take ten years to complete.

7. MAN OF HONOR

Pearl Harbor hero Doris “Dorie” Miller is receiving much-deserved recognition from the U.S. Navy. The military branch will be naming one of its newest and costliest supercarriers after the World War II icon, who bravely manned a machine gun during a Japanese attack and helped save countless lives.

8. A BLACK BOURBON BOOM

Kentucky has long been known for some of the best bourbons on the market, and this year two Black-owned companies are cashing in on the business. Brothers Victor, Chris and Bryson Yarbrough launched Louisville’s Brough Brothers Bourbon in February. The same month, Fresh Bourbon Distilling Co., led by Sean Edwards, announced plans to open a distillery in Lexington later this year.

9. PROMISING A FUTURE

NBA superstar LeBron James has done it again. Through his eponymous foundation, the Akron native is sending 193 students from his I Promise School to Kent State University and picking up the tab for four years of their tuition and one year of room and board.

10. UNDER NEW LEADERSHIP

On July 1, Jonathan Holloway, provost of Northwestern University, will become Rutgers University’s first Black president.

The post 10 Things We’re Talking About appeared first on Essence.

Essence Magazine:

President Donald Trump was reportedly whisked away to the underground bunker for a little under an hour as protests outside of the White House grew, according to CNN.

The report came from a law enforcement source, and someone else familiar with the situation. Trump, first lady Melania Trump and Barron were all taken to the bunker.

Trump praised the Secret Service for their “great job” and being “totally professional, but very cool.”

Great job last night at the White House by the U.S. @SecretService. They were not only totally professional, but very cool. I was inside, watched every move, and couldn’t have felt more safe. They let the “protesters” scream & rant as much as they wanted, but whenever someone….

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 30, 2020

In the same breath, Trump also criticized DC Mayor Muriel Bowser, claiming that she “is always looking for money & help” but wouldn’t let D.C. Police Get involved.

….good practice.” As you saw last night, they were very cool & very professional. Never let it get out of hand. Thank you! On the bad side, the D.C. Mayor, @MurielBowser, who is always looking for money & help, wouldn’t let the D.C. Police get involved. “Not their job.” Nice!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 30, 2020

While Trump was feeling safe and protected by the Secret Service, 2020 presidential hopeful and presumptive nominee Joe Biden took to protests in his hometown in Wilmington, Delaware to speak to protesters.

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We are a nation in pain, but we must not allow this pain to destroy us. We are a nation enraged, but we cannot allow our rage to consume us. We are a nation exhausted, but we will not allow our exhaustion to defeat us. The only way to bear this pain is to turn all that anguish to purpose. And as President, I will help lead this conversation — and more importantly, I will listen, just as I did today visiting the site of last night’s protests in Wilmington.

A post shared by Joe Biden (@joebiden) on May 31, 2020 at 2:58pm PDT

“These last few days have laid bare that we are a nation furious at injustice. Every person of conscience can understand the rawness of the trauma people of color experience in this country, from the daily indignities to the extreme violence, like the horrific killing of George Floyd,” Biden noted in a post on Medium, though he warned against “needless destruction” and “burning down communities.”

“Protesting such brutality is right and necessary. It’s an utterly American response,” he added.

Former vice president and Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden(L) meets religious leaders in Wilmington, Delaware on June 1, 2020. – Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden visited the scene of an anti-racism protest in the state of Delaware on May 31, 2020, saying that the United States was “in pain”. “We are a nation in pain right now, but we must not allow this pain to destroy us,” Biden wrote in Twitter, posting a picture of him speaking with a black family at the cordoned-off site where a protesters had gathered on Saturday night. (Photo by JIM WATSON / AFP) (Photo by JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)

Biden also met with leaders at a majority Black church, the Bethel AME in Wilmington.

“The vice president came to hear from us. This is a homeboy,” Pastor Sylvester Beaman said, according to Fox29.

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Essence Magazine:

In celebration of their daughter Zaya’s 13th birthday, Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union want her to know just how special of a soul she is. Wade helped usher in Zaya’s milestone birthday with a heartfelt message letting the world know just how proud he is of her.

“I wanna take this moment to acknowledge you Zaya on your 13th birthday” Wade wrote in a series of photos of himself and Zaya soaking in the sunset on their balcony. “I’ve woken up every day this week with low energy and not a lot of faith in people. But waking up and watching you smile, watching you walk in your truth and live your life your way is one of the greatest gifts I’ve been able to experience in my life.”

Wade then acknowledged the harsh times facing Black America in this climate, saying, “In a world where the color of your skin is deemed a threat you continue to be the bravest person I know and I’m gonna stand by your side until there isn’t anymore standing left to do. I love you more than words can articulate.”

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I wanna take this moment to acknowledge you Zaya on your 13th birthday I’ve woken up every day this week with low energy and not a lot of faith in people. But waking up and watching you smile, watching you walk in your truth and live your life your way is one of the greatest gifts I’ve been able to experience in my life. In a world where the color of your skin is deemed a threat you continue to be the bravest person I know and I’m gonna stand by your side until there isn’t anymore standing left to do. I love you more than words can articulate. I hope you feel all of my love today and everyday of your life. You’re Bold, You’re courageous, You are Zaya. Happy Birthday we LOVE you

A post shared by dwyanewade (@dwyanewade) on May 29, 2020 at 9:51am PDT

Union continued to champion her stepdaughter in her own birthday message, writing, “When I’m weary, frustrated, full of rage, I see your face and your joy and you living your best life and I want that for all of us. I love you sooooo much kid!! Enjoy this day and everyday knowing you are loved, protected, respected, admired and celebrated.”

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Happy Birthday baby!!! I can’t believe you are 13!! @zayawade you are such an inspiration and motivation to get my butt up everyday and fight. When I’m weary, frustrated, full of rage, I see your face and your joy and you living your best life and I want that for all of us. I love you sooooo much kid!! Enjoy this day and everyday knowing you are loved, protected, respected, admired and celebrated.

A post shared by Gabrielle Union-Wade (@gabunion) on May 29, 2020 at 10:00am PDT

Since coming forward about their Zaya’s gender identity, The Wade family has been steadfast in their support of her. Back in February, Wade appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and revealed his child, born Zion, would now go by the name Zaya and identify as she/her.

“We take our roles and our responsibility as parents very seriously,” Wade told the talk show host. “So when our child comes home with a question, when a child comes home with an issue, when a child comes home with anything, it’s our job as parents to listen to that, to give them the best information that we can, to give them the best feedback that we can — and that doesn’t change because sexuality is now involved in it.”

Wade and Union even also accompanied Zaya on her first red carpet at the 2020 Truth Awards – a ceremony recognizing the Black LGBTQ community and their allies.

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Big night at the #TruthAwards2020 to celebrate our friends @jasonbolden @adair_curtis receiving the Business Leadership Award. We are incredibly proud of them and grateful for their presence, love & light in ourselves. @richfresh kept us FRESHHHHH in custom suits and @lorraineschwartz laced us with gorgeous jewels for the special occasion. It was an EPIC nightalt=”❤” class=”wp-smiley”/>

A post shared by Gabrielle Union-Wade (@gabunion) on Mar 8, 2020 at 8:54am PDT

Happy Birthday Zaya!

The post Dwyane Wade And Gabrielle Union Celebrate Daughter Zaya’s 13th Birthday appeared first on Essence.

Essence Magazine:

Michael Jordan, who has famously been silent regarding racial and social issues—during and after his career—has finally had enough.

The NBA legend provided a lengthy statement regarding the ongoing protests following George Floyd’s death. 

“I stand with those who are calling out the ingrained racism and violence toward people of color in our country,” said the basketball Hall of Famer and owner of the Charlotte Hornets Sunday. “We have had enough.”

A White Minnesota police officer Derek Chauvin murdered Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, in broad daylight as three other responding officers watched on. Although Chavin was charged last Friday with third degree murder and manslaughter, protests still raged on throughout the weekend.

Statement from Michael Jordan: pic.twitter.com/lWkZOf1Tmr

— Jordan (@Jumpman23) May 31, 2020

“I don’t have the answers, but our collective voices show strength and the inability to be divided by others,” Jordan said. “We must listen to each other, show compassion and empathy and never turn our backs on senseless brutality.”

In his statement, Jordan also encouraged the “peaceful expressions against injustice” from those marching in the streets. “Our unified voice needs to put pressure on our leaders to change our laws, or else we need to use our vote to create systemic change,” he added. “Every one of us needs to be part of the solution, and we must work together to ensure justice for all.”

This statement come as a welcome surprise to Jordan fans as they’ve long criticized the MVP for his lack of action and support of issues impacting the Black community over the years.

In a recent episode of ESPN’s The Last Dance, Jordan explained why he remained silent, saying: “I do commend Muhammad Ali for standing up for what he believed in, but I never thought of myself as an activist. I thought of myself as a basketball player. I wasn’t a politician when I was playing my sport. I was focused on my craft. Was that selfish? Probably. But that was my energy. That’s where my energy was.”

The post Michael Jordan Speaks Out After George Floyd’s Death appeared first on Essence.

Essence Magazine:

On Sunday morning, Atlanta’s Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms had a few choice words for Donald Trump, on the heels of her city experiencing a weekend of protests.

In an interview with CNN, Bottoms noted how Trump is fueling the fire by referring to protestors as thugs.

“He should just stop talking. This is like Charlottesville all over again,” Bottoms said on State of the Union. “He speaks and he makes it worse. There are times when you should just be quiet and I wish that he would just be quiet. Or if he can’t be silent, if there is somebody of good sense and good conscience in the White House, put him in front of a teleprompter and pray he reads it and at least says the right things, because he is making it worse.”

On Friday, in a series of tweets, Trump, in his typical unpresidential and racist dog-whistle way, stated that when the “when the looting starts, the shooting starts”.

….These THUGS are dishonoring the memory of George Floyd, and I won’t let that happen. Just spoke to Governor Tim Walz and told him that the Military is with him all the way. Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts. Thank you!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 29, 2020

Bottoms’ interview comes on the heels of her Friday night press conference where she urged Atlanta residents to stay home.

“I am a mother to four black children in America, one of whom is 18 years old. And when I saw the murder of George Floyd, I hurt like a mother would hurt,” Bottoms said. “And yesterday when I heard there were rumors about violent protests in Atlanta, I did what a mother would do, I called my son and I said, ‘Where are you?’ I said, ‘I cannot protect you and black boys shouldn’t be out today.’”

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Essence Magazine:

It’s been said over and over again, but the reality is: the future of travel as we know is now forever changed.

As many U.S. states have begun phase I of reopening amidst the global coronavirus pandemic, countries across the globe are also strategizing to figure out what’s next for their economies — with tourism being one of the biggest sectors. 

But the question is, who will be welcoming the U.S. back with open arms? As COVID-19 nears 370,000 deaths globally, the US alone accounts for 1.75 million of those cases and 103,000 deaths, making us the worst affected country in the world, both in terms of the number of cases and the number of deaths.

And despite the amount of cases, many of us (not all) are still itching for our next getaway after nearly three months of quarantining and self-isolation. So if you’re ready to jump on a plane this summer — protective gear, Lysol wipes and all — thankfully there are several countries plotting to welcome U.S. travelers (with new health guidelines and restrictions in place, of course).

The post These Countries Will Be Welcoming U.S. Travelers For Tourism This Summer appeared first on Essence.

Essence Magazine:

99 years ago today, the Greenwood District of Tulsa, also known as Black Wall Street, burned to its ground after a mob of angry white people torched Black businesses and left 36 Black people dead.

What started the massacre? It’s a phenomenon that is still happening. A white woman, Sarah Page, basically cried wolf on May 30, 1921, when a young Black boy named  Dick Rowland entered an elevator in the Drexel Building. Onsight, Page screamed once Rowland entered the elevator. He got startled and ran off.

Who knows that Page told her fellow white people what happened, but a newspaper headline declared she was sexually assaulted. Eventually, the town’s racist idiots formed a lynch mob to find Rowland, who had already been arrested.

The white angry mob attempted to get Sheriff Willard McCullough to hand over Rowland, but he did not. Black men in the town offered help in protecting Rowland, but he declined.

On June 1, the white angry mob grew angrier, they brandished weapons and fire. It is estimated that about 1500 white men were involved in the attack on Greenwood.

What was once a prosperous city, was burned to the ground. And to this day, although there are historical societies built around teaching people the history of the Tulsa Race War, you’ll be hard-pressed to find this history being taught in the classroom.

As cities across the country continue to burn, with people rioting and protesting about something that should be an inalienable right, remember the history of those who came before us. Remember their legacy. And remember that backing down isn’t an option.

The post On The 99th Anniversary Of The Tulsa Race Massacre, America Still Has A Long Way To Go appeared first on Essence.

Essence Magazine:

Black people are fed up, y’all. Protests have erupted in at least 30 U.S. cities over the death of 46-year-old George Floyd, a Black man who was viciously murdered at the hands of a White police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

And while protests have largely been peaceful, some businesses are experiencing the impact of the rage that many of us have been feeling—in the form of destruction and looting. Real Housewives of Atlanta star Tanya Sam is one of the people whose business has suffered at the hands of protestors in Atlanta. 

“I’m just sad,” Sam said in a video that detailed the destruction, posted to her Instagram account.

In the video, the reality star showed how rioters and looters damaged Agency Socialthèque, the restaurant and lounge she co-owns in the Buckhead section of Atlanta. 

“I know ya’ll are mad, I’m mad, too,” Sam said as tears rolled down her face as she surveyed the damage of the space she said was created “for us.”

“Nobody is listening to us,” she continued.

This isn’t the first Black owned business in Buckhead that has been destroyed in the midst of protests. High-end boutique SacDelux was looted and had all of their merchandise stolen this week as well, according to photos on social media.

Atlanta celebrities have expressed their anger and frustration on what’s happening in this country, but also encouraged Black people not to take it out on the Black businesses that are supporting our communities.

The Dream, for example, took to Twitter to say, “…I OWN THINGS IN THIS CITY, A LOT OF BLACKS OWN THINGS  IN THIS CITY, FROM BANKHEAD TO BUCKHEAD. DO NOT DESTROY PROPERTY THAT NEGATES THE DECADES OF WORK. MY CHILDREN WILL NOT BE SET BACK BY YOU!”

Dear People, IF YOU ARE NOT FROM ATLANTA, DONT COME HERE AND PLEASE GO HOME. I OWN THINGS IN THIS CITY, A LOT OF BLACKS OWN THINGSIN THIS CITY, FROM BANKHEAD TO BUCKHEAD. DO NOT DESTROY PROPERTY THAT NEGATES THE DECADES OF WORK. MY CHILDREN WILL NOT BE SET BACK BY YOU!

— THE-DREAM (@TheKingDream) May 30, 2020

A visibly emotional Killer Mike also spoke out about the violent protests over the weekend.

“It is your duty not to burn your own house down for anger with an enemy. It is your duty to fortify your own house so that you may be a house of refuge in times of organizations,” he said. “Now is the time to plot, plan, strategize, organize and mobilize.”

Drop everything and watch Killer Mike’s speech in Atlanta tonight.I don’t agree with him on all of his politics, but that doesn’t matter tonight.He’s 100% right about how to handle protesting and how to change the system… and it isn’t burning your city to the ground. pic.twitter.com/VzDNMTM0wH

— Tim Young (@TimRunsHisMouth) May 30, 2020

“We don’t want to see Targets burning,” he continued. “We want to see the system that sets up for systemic racism burnt to the ground.”

Sam, however, expressed that she doesn’t place blame toward the protesters, but instead, shows empathy and concern for what’s happening to Black people across the country.

Fans responded to the RHOA star’s emotional post with sadness and well wishes.

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