Gabe's Musings

Thursday, May 2, 2019

Serena Williams and Bumble Select New Women-Owned Businesses for Investment

At Bumble’s first-ever Bumble Fund Summit in Napa, California, the company officially announced the winners of its in-app pitch competition through Bumble Bizz. The competition provided female entrepreneurs with the exclusive opportunity to pitch Bumble Global Advisor Serena Williams and Bumble CEO and Founder Whitney Wolfe Herd their businesses for possible investment from the Bumble Fund and Serena Ventures.

“We aimed to redefine the pitch competition and provide a space for underrepresented women who are often overlooked in venture capital to speak freely about their ideas,” said Wolfe Herd.

There were more than 1,000 applications received, and three finalists were chosen. Both Serena Ventures and the Bumble Fund will invest between $50,000 and $100,000 per company, depending on the scale of business. From the three finalists, Bumble Fund and Serena Ventures chose two companies to invest in:

Erin Carpenter of Nude Barre, a company redefining “Nude” and offering hosiery and underwear in twelve shades (Williams wore the hosiery during her Wimbledon and US Open matches)

Arfa Rehman of Virtue Health, a digital health company for longevity with their first consumer health product, Eva, which is an AI-powered companion for women going through menopause

“Too many female entrepreneurs have grown accustomed to being silenced or hearing the word no,” stated Williams. “By amplifying these voices as opposed to ignoring them, we are signifying to an entire generation of underrepresented women that their ideas should know no bounds. I am honored to be a part of Erin and Arfa’s journeys—as I want them, as well as all others alike, to know that when it seems as if no one else will listen, we will.”

The Bumble Fund launched in 2018 with a mission to invest in underrepresented women founders, with the intention to provide them with resources and access as well as capital. The pitch competition was the first step to the company fulfilling its goal. Only 2% of the more than $130 billion raised in venture capital in 2018 went to women founders, despite the fact that there are 12.3 million women-owned businesses in the U.S.

In addition to her work with the Bumble Fund, Williams has invested in over 30 companies through Serena Ventures, focusing on underrepresented founders or problems, empowering creativity or empowering oneself, and future technology.

The post Serena Williams and Bumble Select New Women-Owned Businesses for Investment appeared first on Black Enterprise.

Show, Don't Tell: Cardi B Once Told Y'all About Her Horchata and Now...

Curiosity killed the cat, but social media killed the mystery.

Thursday's Best Deals: 6 Qt. Instant Pot, Echo Bundles, Dyson Ball, and More

A 6Qt. Instant Pot at it’s lowest price, Amazon Echo bundles, and Dyson Ball lead off Thursday’s best deals. If you are shopping for your mom right now, we are updating our Kinja Deals Mother’s Day discounted deals post daily and have a thoughtful Mother’s Day gift guide as well.

Trump Administration Will Start DNA Testing Migrant Families Seeking Asylum at Southern Border

The Department of Homeland Security is launching a DNA testing pilot on the southern border next week to identify and prosecute people posing as families. The program is intended to limit human smuggling, according to reports from CNN and BuzzFeed.

Ain’t Too Proud to Sing: Claiming Black Space on the Great White Way

Two days ago, the Broadway show Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations was nominated for 12 Tony Awards. For those who don’t follow the Great White Way, this is big. Big! For those of you who do, you know that this grand spotlight means industry insiders, Tony voters and wealthy retirees from…

40 Shades of WTF: SZA Reports Being Racially Profiled at Calabasas Sephora

Fenty didn’t debut 40 shades of foundation at Sephora for this mess.

The 6 Qt. Instant Pot Ultra Is Cheaper Than Ever, If You Somehow Don't Own One Yet

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The CDC Delivers The Final Verdict on Whether or Not to Wash Your Chicken

I grew up in a home with parents who couldn’t cook for shit, so my affinity for food as an adult is tainted by trauma.

William Barr Is Orchestrating a Slow-Rolling Coup Against the Constitutional Order

Jerry Nadler threw down the gauntlet after the attorney general flaunted congressional subpoenas, but he's dead wrong about what the future might hold.

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Colorado Sen. Bennet Enters Democratic Presidential Contest

AP Photo)

DENVER (AP) — U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado jumped into the packed Democratic presidential primary on Thursday, announcing a 2020 campaign that had been stalled while he was treated for prostate cancer.

Bennet, a former head of Denver Public Schools who has carved out a reputation as a policy-oriented moderate, made his announcement on CBS’ “CBS This Morning,” saying the country faces two “enormous challenges,” among others: “One is the lack of economic mobility and opportunity for most Americans, and the other is the need to restore integrity to our government.”

“I think we need to do both of those things,” he said.

The son of a former ambassador to India and a Yale law school graduate who worked in the Clinton administration, Bennet worked for Republican billionaire Phil Anschutz when he moved to Colorado in the late 1990s. But when he re-entered public life, he did so as a Democrat, serving as chief of staff to then-Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper. Hickenlooper went on to become Colorado governor and now is also competing for the Democratic presidential nomination .

The presence of two moderate Coloradans who started their political careers in Denver City Hall reflects how crowded the Democratic presidential field has become. Bennet’s understated style and distaste for the sound bites required in a political campaign have usually led to speculation that he’d seek a Cabinet position rather than try to become the next president. But he began moving to assemble a presidential bid late last year and planned an announcement in April. He had to pause after being diagnosed with prostate cancer this spring.

Bennet, 54, told Colorado journalist Mike Littwin that he’d resume the campaign if he was treated successfully but that he wanted to make a point by disclosing his medical condition.

“I don’t want to be hysterical, but if it was left in me undetected, it could kill me,” Bennet said. “It won’t because I have insurance and decent medical care. The idea that the richest country in the world hasn’t figured out how to have universal health care is beyond embarrassing. It’s devastating.”

Bennet has been a vocal opponent in the Democratic Party of the push for single-payer health care championed by Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, another 2020 presidential candidate . Instead, Bennet proposes letting consumers buy into Medicare through insurance exchanges, arguing that that will be a more efficient and realistic path to universal coverage. Likewise, Bennet has pushed back against arguments by some other presidential hopefuls that Democrats should respond to Republican tactics by expanding the size of the Supreme Court, saying the party needs to avoid the same scorched-earth tactics that, he says, its main rival employs.

Indeed, in a 4-minute launch video released Thursday morning, Bennet positioned himself as a truth teller willing to level with voters.

“I’m not going to pretend free college is the answer,” he said. “I’m not gonna say there’s a simple solution to a problem if I don’t believe there is one.”

Despite his professorial reputation, Bennet has shown an ability to be a tough campaigner. Appointed in 2009, Bennet won his first election in 2010 by pounding his Republican rival for opposing abortion rights and comparing homosexuality to alcoholism, eking out a narrow win in an otherwise disastrous year for Bennet’s party. Four years later, Bennet chaired the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, a position that put him in contact with a network of national donors who also can help fund a presidential campaign.

Bennet gained internet fame this year when he blasted Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas for backing a bill to pay Coast Guard members during the partial government shutdown but not reopen the government. Bennet said Cruz once led a 16-day government shutdown in a failed bid to derail funding for the Affordable Care Act at a time when Colorado was experiencing catastrophic flooding, delaying relief efforts.

“When the senator from Texas shut this government down in 2013, my state was flooded,” Bennet shouted. “People were killed. People’s houses were destroyed. Their small businesses were destroyed, forever.”

Bennet accused Cruz of crying “crocodile tears” this time around.

Cruz responded on the Senate floor by saying Bennet “spent a great deal of time yelling” and “attacking me personally.”

“I think we should discuss issues and substance and facts and not simply scream and yell at each other,” Cruz said.\

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Regina King Inks Multi-Year Deal With Netflix

Colorado Sen. Bennet Enters Democratic Presidential Contest

AP Photo)

“I think we need to do both of those things,” he said.

Bennet, 54, told Colorado journalist Mike Littwin that he’d resume the campaign if he was treated successfully but that he wanted to make a point by disclosing his medical condition.

Indeed, in a 4-minute launch video released Thursday morning, Bennet positioned himself as a truth teller willing to level with voters.

“I’m not going to pretend free college is the answer,” he said. “I’m not gonna say there’s a simple solution to a problem if I don’t believe there is one.”

Bennet accused Cruz of crying “crocodile tears” this time around.

Cruz responded on the Senate floor by saying Bennet “spent a great deal of time yelling” and “attacking me personally.”

“I think we should discuss issues and substance and facts and not simply scream and yell at each other,” Cruz said.\

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Lindsey Graham Has Always Been a Political Parasite

The senator put his shameless hypocrisy on display once again at the Barr hearing.

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Rocklin school board OKs textbooks with LGBT figures after heated late-night debate

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Poll shows most in US want changes in how government works

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The Kentucky Derby: five reasons why you shouldn’t miss it

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Migos Rapper Offset Wanted After Atlanta Target Incident

Rapper Offset is reportedly facing a charge of criminal damage to property after a recent incident that took place at an Atlanta area Target.

According to Channel 2 Action News, Sandy Springs police have issued an arrest warrant for the Migos member, whose real name is Kiari Cephus. The rapper reportedly smacked a cellphone out of a fan’s hands while the fan was recording him while he was checking out.

The fan said, “What up, Offset?” to which Offset responded, “Get the f*** out of my face.” He then smacked the phone away and caused it to fall to the ground and break, shattering the screen.

The entire incident was caught on cellphone the video obtained by Channel 2 Action News. Target cash registers can be seen in the background.

BREAKING: Police have issued an arrest warrant for @OffsetYRN for criminal damage to property for this incident last Thursday. pic.twitter.com/PPQ28T3aG5
— Mike Petchenik (@MPetchenikWSB) May 2, 2019

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Shaun King: Officer ‘Mohamed Noor Never Stood A Chance’

For the first time in the entire history of the State of Minnesota, a police officer was just convicted of murder. Think about that. Minnesota was founded all the way back in 1858, that’s 161 years ago, and the very first officer, out of hundreds of fatal police shootings across the years, the very first officer was just convicted.

And it just so happened that the officer was not just Black, but was a Somali immigrant, and a Muslim – and the victim was a white woman.

I’m glad he was convicted, but if you think race & religion & nationality had nothing to do with this verdict, I’ve got a bridge to sell you.

On the evening of July 15^th, 2017, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Justine Damond, a 40 year old white woman from Australia, called 911 because she thought she heard some type of assault taking place on an alley outside of her home. She called the police once to report it – and as she continued to hear the noises – she called 911 again 8 minutes later to see if the police were close.

And when she saw the lights of the Minneapolis Police car in the alley, she went outside in her pajamas to speak to the officers to tell them what she saw.

Except she never got to speak a single word to the officers.

As she walked up to the driver’s side window of the car, the officer in the passenger side, Officer Mohamed Noor, saw her, grabbed his gun, and shot her right there in the alley.

I travel and speak in Minneapolis a lot. I heard about this police shooting the next day and as soon as I saw the picture of Justine Damond, and learned that her family was an affluent white family, that the Australian government was advocating for her, and that she was both a veterinarian and a meditation coach, I was surprised.

I’ve studied thousands of police shootings. For years, I’d study every shooting that happened every single day. Some days American police would shoot and kill 2-3 people, some days it’d climb higher, to 5-6, even as many as 12-13 people in a single day. And each day, I’d look at each name, read the reports, see what I could learn, and I saw a lot of trends in who American police would shoot and kill. Of course there are exceptions, but by in large American police rarely shot unarmed white women. If a white woman got shot and killed by police, and I’ve studied dozens of cases of white women being shot and killed, I’d say about 99% of the time she was either armed with a gun or a knife – or was having a severe mental health crisis – or some combination of these things. I don’t say any of that to justify those shootings, but I can’t recall another unarmed, non-violent, affluent, healthy, mentally stable white woman being shot and killed by police. Even in preparation for this episode I went back to look at my notes and I just couldn’t find a case. Now, I can tell you plenty of cases that fit this description when we make it a man, or make it a person of color, but when it comes to police violence, no class of American is more protected than unarmed, non-violent, wealthy, healthy white women.

So the moment I found out who Justine Damond was, and confirmed that she was indeed unarmed, non-violent, wasn’t intoxicated, wasn’t on drugs, and wasn’t having a mental health crisis– the moment was just weird. What happened to her, just doesn’t happen to white women.

Then I saw the name and picture of the officer who shot and killed her – and for the first time in my life, before or even since this moment, for the first and only time in my life, I knew for sure that we were about to see an officer get convicted of murder. Not because the evidence was overwhelming. Both cops on the scene had their body cameras off. The car didn’t have a dash cam. No cell phone videos filmed the shooting. No eyewitnesses saw the shooting. And the one person who could dispute the testimony of the cop’s was dead.

I knew we’d see a conviction in this case, because Justine Damond was a wealthy, popular, blonde haired blued eyed white woman and the officer that shot her was not just a Black man, but a Somali immigrant and practicing Muslim. The United States has about 2,500 counties. I believe Officer Mohamed Noor would’ve likely been convicted in all but maybe 1-2 of them.

Not one person I know thought this decision would go the other way. Because what we know is what I need you to know – nobody in the United States of America is held more responsible for their crimes than Black folk. Period. And then add on top of that the fact that he is an immigrant and a Muslim in the age of Trump – Mohamed Noor never stood a chance.

And it’s hard to explain my mixed emotions here. And I’ve seen other activists and organizers struggle as well. It’s just painful to see the ease in which Mohamed Noor, with less evidence, no camera footage, no other eyewitnesses, to see the ease in which he was convicted, when we’ve seen so many other cases, with so much more evidence, when the victim was Black, and see the cop be set free.

Let me close us out with this thought. I just studied the notes that the judge gave the jurors to consider in this case and I think this case may have unintentionally set a new precedent for when an officer can be convicted. I’m going to dive in and study that some more and will report back to you all what I find.

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AHA News: Director John Singleton's Fatal Stroke Spotlights Black Americans' Hypertension Risk

… his ability to portray black Americans' lives on screen … and obesity, which affect African Americans at higher rates, as … stress and perceived discrimination. Black Americans are also more likely … the increased risk for black Americans is a mystery, he …

Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas Left the BBMAs Early For a Vegas Marriage By an Elvis Impersonator

If Diplo didn't livestream your wedding from Vegas, did it really happen?

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The Semicolon: How a Seemingly Obscure Tattoo Signifies Survival and Solidarity

In 2013, 27-year-old Amy Bleuel began a mental health advocacy organization dubbed “Project Semicolon” to bring awareness to suicide, depression, addiction and self-injury. Bleuel, who had lost her father to suicide 10 years earlier, died by suicide at the age of 31. The campaign, however, remains strong, inspiring…

#Mayochella: Professional Troll Swiftly Orchestrates Band to Get Into Gentrification

Lift every voice and lip sync, ‘til you clap on the 1 and 3.

Save $28 On Our Favorite Electric Beard Trimmer

The Philips OneBlade is the shaver of choice for most of the men on our staff, and one of the most popular products we’ve ever listed. But whether you already love yours or are curious to try it out, Amazon’s running a great deal on the upgraded Pro version today.

Black Girl Problems: Braids Are Just As Painful As They Are Beautiful

Ladies why do we keep getting our hair braided when it causes so much pain?! They’re absolutely beautiful and so low maintenance but is it really worth all of the pain that we endure for over a week? Sybil and Kym discussed it and they’ve decided that it makes perfect sense! If you want to look good you have to endure the pain.

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Ya Ya Dacosta Is Excited To Be A Part Of Telling The Story Of Buddy Bolden

Jazz music is a huge part of Black culture and yet most of us have never heard of the man credited with creating it.

Ya Ya Dacosta, yes the Ya Ya from America’s Next Top Model stars as Charles Buddy Bolden’s wife,

Charles Buddy Bolden who was a New Orleans native, is credited with inventing Jazz by fusing blues, ragtime, and gospel. The film’s producer, Dan Pritzker, first heard of Bolden about 20 years ago and it peaked his curiosity.

Now, 20 years later Bolden is getting ready to hit theaters on May 3. Dacosta says she’s proud to be a part of a film that’s, “putting a pindrop on the map of history that was lost.”

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Huggy Lowdown: The Democrats Treated William Barr Like A Pinata

Yesterday during William Barr’s hearing the democrats grilled him “like a republican panini,” and Huggy says he loved it! He compared Barr to a pinata that everyone was hitting to get all of the lies to spill out. But the highlight was when Kamala Harris hit him with a series of questions that he couldn’t dodge.

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Top Of The Morning: William Barr Was Caught Up

Yesterday Sybil watched what was going on with William Barr and it was like watching a soap opera! But, her favorite part was when Sen. Kamala Harris asked if anyone in the White House asked him to open an investigation into anyone and he couldn’t get any words out.

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No Ma’am! Kandi Says If Phaedra Comes Back To RHOA, She’s Out!

RIP: Freddie Gray’s Best Friend Killed in West Baltimore

Juan Grant has died following a West Baltimore shooting over the weekend.

Grant, a close family friend of Freddie Gray’s and activist following Gray’s death from injuries suffered in police custody in 2015, was driving back to his grandmother’s home on Westwood Avenue Saturday evening when his car collided with a dirt bike on the 1800 block of N. Payson St. He got out of the car and that’s when he was shot.

Juan Grant, brother-in-law of #FreddieGray has been protesting since the very beginning. "This is unbelievable." pic.twitter.com/ghwWGFaISO
— Colin Campbell (@cmcampbell6) May 2, 2015

Grant was taken to the hospital where he later died from gunshot wounds to the head. His death came on the four-year anniversary of Gray’s funeral and the riot in Baltimore later that day.

A vigil for Grant is scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday at Payson Street and North Avenue, where he died. No one has been arrested in connection to his death yet.

You can read more about Juan Grant here: Baltimore Sun

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30 Important Questions We Have After Game of Thrones' Battle For Winterfell in 'The Long Night'

The third episode of Season Eight introduced some major plot holes.

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New York City To Pay $3.5M Settlement In Rikers Inmate Death

(AP Photo)

NEW YORK (AP) — New York City has reached a $3.5 million settlement in a lawsuit filed over the 2014 death of a Rikers Island inmate who records show was deprived of seizure medication.

The Daily News reported Wednesday that the city agreed last week to pay the money to Rolando Perez’s girlfriend, who is the mother of his now-18-year-old son.

Perez died in January 2014, two days after being put in solitary confinement. He was being held at Rikers on burglary charges and was sent to solitary just a week before he was scheduled to be released.

The 36-year-old had suffered from a seizure disorder since he was a teen and relied on medications to control it. It was so severe he couldn’t hold a job, often falling to the ground without warning and flailing, only to wake up with no memory of the ordeal.

According to city records and Perez’s family, he was deprived of his medication while in solitary and had been placed there without being cleared by medical and mental health staff.

Inmates told investigators they heard him screaming for his medication.

A correction officer who saw Perez lying on his bed on his left side facing the back window kicked the door, but Perez didn’t respond, according to an investigator’s report. Two guards entered five minutes later, and one who tapped him on the shoulder heard Perez gasp for air. About 40 minutes later he was pronounced dead.

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What We Know About Ted Bundy's Girlfriend Elizabeth Kendall And Where She Is Today

"She didn't want to come to Sundance. She doesn't want to participate in the press. She wants to remain anonymous."

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St. Louis-Area Cop Indicted For Shooting Shoplifting Suspect

CLAYTON, Mo. (AP) — A suburban St. Louis police officer who says she meant to use her stun gun but mistakenly grabbed her service revolver was indicted on a second-degree assault charge Wednesday for shooting a suspected shoplifter outside a grocery store.

St. Louis County prosecutor Wesley Bell said Julia Crews, 37, is charged in the April 23 shooting on the parking lot of a Schnucks store in Ladue, one of Missouri’s wealthiest communities. The woman who was shot was seriously hurt, Bell said.

The 33-year-old woman, who is black, remains in a hospital. While authorities said she will survive, her father, Robert Hall, said she is “fighting for her life.” Authorities haven’t released her name, but her family identified her as Ashley Hall.

Police Officer Julia Crews (St. Louis County Police via AP)

She hasn’t been charged in the shoplifting.

Crews’ attorney, Travis Noble, said after Bell’s announcement that Crews meant to use her stun gun but mistakenly grabbed her service revolver and shot the woman once. Noble described the officer as “devastated,” and called the shooting a case of “weapon confusion” that didn’t merit the criminal charge.

“The officer pulled what she believed to be her Taser,” Noble said. “Tragic accident.”

The shooting is among at least 13 since 2001 in which officers said they mixed up their guns and stun guns, University of Missouri-St. Louis criminologist David Klinger said. He noted that police officers typically train by drawing their gun, not their stun gun, and that becomes habit.

“Occasionally, what will happen is when police officers move to draw the Taser, which has the same basic feel as a service pistol, they draw the wrong weapon,” Klinger said. Noble said that’s exactly what happened to Crews.

Police were called to the store on a report of a shoplifting. The officer encountered one of two women accused of trying to leave with stolen merchandise. Police said the suspect apparently fell while trying to flee and was complaining about her injuries to the officer.

The officer, who is white and a 13-year veteran of the department, called for an ambulance and tried to handcuff the suspect, Noble said. The woman broke free and began to run.

Noble said the officer drew what she believed to be her stun gun and screamed “‘Taser! Taser! Taser!” The officer realized her mistake as soon as the woman went down, he said.

Bell said the shoplifting case is still under investigation.

Bell was elected prosecutor of Missouri’s largest county last year, upsetting longtime incumbent Bob McCulloch in the August Democratic primary and running unopposed in November.

McCulloch was prosecutor for 28 years and was perceived as a staunch supporter of police, a reputation heightened when he deferred to a grand jury after a white police officer fatally shot 18-year-old Michael Brown, who was black and unarmed, in 2014 in Ferguson. The grand jury declined to indict the officer, Darren Wilson, who resigned in November 2014. The shooting led to months of often-violent protests.

Bell, who is black, was elected to the Ferguson City Council in April 2015. In his longshot bid to unseat McCulloch, Bell campaigned as a reformist, saying that while he supports police — his father also was an officer — he would hold those who act outside the law accountable.

Klinger said most officers who mistake their gun for their stun gun aren’t charged, typically because prosecutors deem the shootings accidents rather than acts of intentional harm.

But Bell said those other officers were facing threats to their own safety.

“In this case, the officer’s safety was not in question,” Bell said.

A prosecutor in April declined to charge a New Hope, Pennsylvania, police officer who shot inmate Brian Riling during a scuffle inside a police holding cell, ruling the shooting was accidental. The suspect was critically wounded but survived.

Former Lawrence, Kansas, police officer Brindley Blood was charged with aggravated battery in 2018 after shooting a man attacking another officer. Charges were dropped in March after a judge ruled that Blood meant to use the stun gun and grabbed the wrong weapon. Akira Lewis, who is black, survived the shooting and accused the white officers of racial profiling.

White volunteer sheriff’s deputy Robert Bates fatally shot Eric Harris, an unarmed black man, in 2015 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, while Harris was on the ground being restrained by other deputies during an illegal gun sale sting. Bates was convicted of manslaughter despite claiming he meant to use the stun gun. He served less than half of a four-year sentence before being paroled.

In the Ladue case, the mother of the woman who was shot said she forgives the officer, who could face up to seven years in prison if convicted.

“I’m going to pray for her and pray for my daughter at the same time,” Karen Carter said.

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Wednesday, May 1, 2019

Real Housewives Of Atlanta’s Eva Marcille Is Expecting Baby No. 3

Congratulations are in order for Eva Marcille of The Real Housewives of Atlanta and hubby, Michael Sterling.

Hot Take: Comey Blasts Barr as Too Weak to Withstand the Corrosive Force That Is Donald Trump

Donald Trump is a corrupt force that corrupts everything and everyone around him.

Love & Hip Hop’s Remy Ma Arrested on Assault Charge in NYC

Love & Hip Hop reality star Remy Ma is being shown no love by New York City prosecutors, who had her arrested Wednesday on charges she attacked her co-star Brittney Taylor last month.

The Best Suits For Every Wedding Dress Code

Even at the ripe old age of “It’s none of your business,” I still get excited for wedding season each year. At this point, I’ve sat, stood, danced, drank, picked at a piece of chicken, and waved a sparkler at more weddings than I can count. And I’ve loved each one because—what can I say?—I love love and love getting…

Jussie Smollett Wants No Part of New Chicago Court Hearing About a Special Prosecutor: Report

Jussie Smollett has gone West, young fans, and he has no intention of returning to Chicago for a new court hearing about whether a special prosecutor should be appointed to review how criminal charges against him were dismissed.

The 10 Best Deals of May 1, 2019

We see a lot of deals around the web over on Kinja Deals, but these were our ten favorites today.

Watch Sen. Kamala Harris Dunk on Attorney General William Barr

Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) is running for president, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t have time to hand Attorney General Barr his ass right quick. In fact, she did it all in less than a minute.

Why the Fight for Equality May Be the Wrong Fight

In a recent conversation, I was speaking to a friend about social issues. In my all too common discussions about society’s ills, we begin to talk about equality. As the conversation moved to the action stage, we started to ask, what can we do? What needs to happen? What are the next steps? Then it occurred to me that equality might be the wrong fight.

People of color have been fighting for equality for as long as I can remember and many hundreds of years before that. Now, in the 21st century, I’m not sure equality can ever be achieved. Think about it. There will always be someone who makes more money, lives in a bigger home, or drives a nicer car. Equality promotes fairness but only if we all start from the same place, with the same opportunities. Since that hasn’t happened and most likely won’t, we will never achieve equality, but we can achieve equity.

Fight for Equity Versus Equality

Equity gives us all the same tools we need to be successful. Our focus should be on changing policies and procedures to level the playing field. And, unfortunately, we will need white folks to engage with us in accomplishing equity. So, blaming white folks today for the racist systems put in place in the past will always impede the progress of dismantling the systemic issues we face daily. But, to speed up that progress, intentional inclusion is the best strategy for achieving equity.

If we switch our focus to equity over equality, we could then lean in on the things that would bring about real change like access to good healthcare, loans for businesses, stores with better quality foods, smoother streets, culturally responsive police patrol and commerce in our communities that will help our communities thrive.

Be the Change

If you want to effect change, here are a few ways to start: point out policies that are not inclusive to all employees. It could be something as simple as letting management know that a policy against braids or natural hair is exclusionary to people of color. Look at procedures to see how implementing incremental changes could assist in more diverse hiring and promotions. Go ahead. Try it.

Black Enterprise Contributors Network

The ideas and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author’s and not necessarily the opinion of Black Enterprise.

The post Why the Fight for Equality May Be the Wrong Fight appeared first on Black Enterprise.

Gabrielle Union, Dwayne Wade Among Celebrities to Cover Funeral Costs for Nigel Shelby

A number of celebrities including Gabrielle Union, Dwayne Wade, Ludacris and Janelle Monáe helped to cover the costs of the funeral for Nigel Shelby, the 15-year-old teenager who died by suicide after anti-LGBTQ bullying.

Get Out Of Town From Just $44 With This JetBlue Sale, Ending Today

If you live in a JetBlue city and have any trips on the horizon, do yourself a favor and check out the fares from the airline’s “Fly As You May” sale, ending today. Prices start at just $44 one-way and $87 roundtrip (a $1 savings!), which is probably less than you’d spend on gas to drive these distances.

Court Rules That Runner Caster Semenya Must Take Medication to Reduce Testosterone If She Wants to Compete

In what might be the most bizarre judgment against an Olympic athlete ever, South African 800m Olympic champion Caster Semenya lost her legal landmark case and now, if she wants to compete in international events between 400m and a mile will have to take medication to reduce the testosterone that her body naturally…

Black American Princesses and More— What's New and Black on Netflix in May 2019?

May Day, May Day!

John Singleton's Family Urges Black Community to Check Blood Pressure as They Battle Over $35 Million Estate

As the world mourns the loss of legendary director John Singleton, his family has begun the process of executing his last will and testament.

5 Critical Business Development Truths Every Black Freelance Writer Ought to Know

Choosing to become a freelance writer and turning your writing talents into a profitable career are two very different stories. You can possess excellent grammar and spelling skills, but if you can’t build a profitable business around your talents, your freelance writing dreams are likely to be nothing more than a mirage. Understanding how to turn your writing yearnings into a revenue-focused business is essential for long-term success as a freelance writer. If this is the year you transition from being a wannabe writer to a writing business owner, remember the following five critical business development truths every freelance writer ought to know.

Evaluate the ROI of Your Writing Clients

Walking away from low-ROI, high-demand freelance writing clients is OK. Not every writing relationship offers a significant return-on-investment for your writing business. Learn early on in your writing career how to evaluate the ROI of your clients. Are they helping you grow your portfolio with a byline in a respected publication? Are they paying you enough to meet your revenue-per-hour goals? Do they request multiple revisions on each project, thereby driving down your revenue-per-hour rate? The sooner you learn how to evaluate the ROI of your writing clients, the sooner you’ll build a revenue-positive writing business you can be proud of.

Combine a Niche Specialty with a Format Specialty

Chances are good you have already heard the advice to choose a niche to specialize in. However, did you know that choosing a writing format can also help increase revenues for your freelance writing business? Not only should you specialize in an industry, but you should also consider concentrating on one or two types of content. Offer white papers and case studies for the digital marketing sector. Create blog posts for SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) startups. Also, build a reputation as a sales letter copywriter for the affiliate marketing sector. Once you learn the power of combining a business niche with a content format, you’ll kick yourself for not discovering this exceptional career-development hack sooner.

Network Strategically

Your network has a significant influence on lead generation opportunities for your writing business. Find niche-specific forums via a tool like BoardReader.com and offer helpful insights your target clients can use. Build a knowledge-based reputation within your industry, and you’ll soon have to start turning away clients for your freelance writing business.

Consistent Education Upgrades Equals Business Development Mastery

Continuing your education as a freelance writer is essential if you want to enjoy a long and profitable career as an on-demand wordsmith. Immerse yourself in new industries. Learn new writing formats. Study business sectors experiencing rapid growth. Pay attention to which startup sectors are attracting investment capital. Continually increasing your knowledge base makes good business sense. Not only will you be able to attract more clients to your writing business, but you’ll also build a reputation as an expert who can be depended upon to craft compelling content. Developing a deep knowledge base also helps you to transition your writing business and improve client quality while increasing your writing rates at the same time.

Control Your Clients

How much you charge, how you’re paid, and the revisions you offer are within your control. Professional writers don’t allow clients to tell them what a blog post will cost or how many revisions will be required in an article. Writing is a business, and you’re a business owner. You can’t tell the supermarket manager how much you’re willing to pay for your groceries. Don’t allow clients to tell you how much they’re willing to pay for your writing services. Know how much you charge for your writing services and only work with clients who respect your professionalism and honor your business practices.

Remember these five critical truths for freelance writers, and you’ll improve your odds of building a thriving and profitable writing business. Choosing to be a freelance writer is a decision not to be taken lightly. The sooner you start treating your writing career like a business, the sooner you’ll start living your freelance writing dreams.

The post 5 Critical Business Development Truths Every Black Freelance Writer Ought to Know appeared first on Black Enterprise.

What's Better Than a Bouquet For Mother's Day? These Discounted Rose and Peony Plants From Amazon.

Sure, you can (and should) buy your mom some flowers for Mother’s Day. But imagine if you gave your mom not just one bouquet that inevitably won’t last very long, but rather a living, flowering plant that produce flowers indefinitely? Thanks to Amazon, you can do just that. A range of rose and peony plants are…

Wait, Hol' Up? How Come No One Told Us That Biden's Son Was Dating His Brother's Widow? Well, They've Broken Up

In what might be the story that follows presidential hopeful and former Vice President Joe Biden down the election path, Biden’s son Hunter Biden has reportedly split from Hallie Biden, the widow of his late brother Beau, and we are flabbergasted.

History Lesson: Sen. Elizabeth Warren Breaks Down Why Her $50 Billion Plan to Fund HBCUs Is Very Necessary

Last week, 2020 presidential candidate and U.S Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) outlined a radical education plan that addresses the racial and socioeconomic disparities in our higher education system. Her plan includes tuition and non-tuition-related solutions such as a minimum $50 billion federal fund for HBCUs, a…

Avengers Stunt Performer Reflects on Being a Black Woman in the Movie Industry

Chances are, you’ve seen Jazzy Ellis perform stunts in your favorite movie or TV show. Some past projects include the Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, Ride Along 2, The Walking Dead and Black Lightning. But, of course, it’s not easy being a black stunt performer, let alone a black woman, in the industry.

Give Your House a Brain With Walmart's Huge Google Home Sale

Starting today, Walmart’s discounting a ton of Google Home, smart lighting bundles, and Nest products to celebrate Mother’s Day.

What Karma Looks Like: Ex-Detroit Officer Who Mocked Woman in 'Black Girl Magic' Snapchat Video Sued Twice for Racist Abuse

If there were ever a pantheon of racists (aside from your middle school American history textbook, that is) former Detroit police officer Gary Steele surely deserves an honorable mention.

She's a Natural: Miss Teen USA 2019 Kaliegh Garris Won the Crown In Curls

The newly-minted Miss Teen USA Kaleigh Garris gives “crown” a new name. When the 18-year-old Connecticut teen won the title on Sunday, the tiara was placed atop her halo of naturally-textured hair. As Garris told Refinery29 in an exclusive interview published Tuesday, it was a choice that garnered “a few naysayers”…

R. Kelly Didn't Show Up to Court for Civil Sex Abuse Case Because He Can't Read, Lawyers Confirm

Robert “R.” Kelly’s illiteracy has been long reported, and the R&B artist has been transparent about such, particularly in that 19-minute song he asked people to suffer through.

Had a Hard Time Seeing Last Week's Epic Game of Thrones Battle? Well, Maybe You Should Upgrade to This 65" Monster

TCL’s affordable 6-series TVs are a favorite of ours since they offering every form of HDR (including top-shelf Dolby Vision), local dimming zones for better contrast and black levels, and Roku software.

The Big Reveal: Singer Jorja Smith Is the Newest Face of Dior Makeup

Best New Artist Grammy nominee Jorja Smith’s star may just be rising on this side of the Atlantic, but in her native United Kingdom, the singer-songwriter is winning big—including a recent Brit Award for British Female Solo Artist.

Robert Mueller Wrote a 'Bish, What?' Letter to the Attorney General After Barr Remixed the Special Counsel's Report

For those not up on game, shortly after Special counsel Robert Mueller released the findings of his two-year investigation into whether Russia colluded with the Trump administration to steal the 2016 presidential election, Attorney General William Barr condensed this 448-page report down to a four-page memo given to…

Trump Nominee Stephen Moore Fails Miserably at Defending Racist Public Housing Joke About Obama

If there’s a redeeming quality for racists, it’s that they’re generally crystal clear on where they stand. Their flawed logic is brazen and upfront. They do a terrible job of concealing their bigotry and xenophobia, so why even try to? They call me a “shining monkey” or a “nigger” to my face so I can prepare…

Wednesday's Best Deals: Google Home Hub, Ecovacs, JetBlue Sale, and More

A major Google Home Hub sale at Walmart, Ecovacs, and a $44 JetBlue sale lead off Wednesday’s best deals.

UNC Charlotte Becomes Latest School to Fall Victim to Mass Shooter

It was the last day of classes at UNC Charlotte: In classrooms around the campus on Tuesday night, students gave their final presentations or turned in the last projects of the semester. Others headed to the school’s nearby stadium, where a Waka Flocka Flame concert had been scheduled to celebrate the occasion.

'This Is Not a Free Ride'— Jesse Williams Denies Ex-Wife's Legal Fees Plea, Says She's Capable of Employment

Divorces can be messy—add celebrity to that, and you have a messy smorgasbord.

Pour a Big Glass of Wine and Crack Open the Official Obama Presidency Photography Book For the Best Price Ever

I know it feels like Donald Trump has been president since before any of us were born, but did you know that a man named Barack Obama used to hold the office? Not everyone agreed with all of his ideas, but he didn’t really tweet or sabotage his own government or brag about the time he totally could have nailed Pamela…

'Ex-Con,' 'Ex-Offender' and 'Ex-Inmate' Are Words That Reduce Millions to Stereotype

When President Donald Trump signed the recent First Step Act into law, many people considered it to be the most important criminal justice reform measure in years. I’ve followed the legislation with some interest because I served a sentence in a South Carolina prison 20 years ago.

Engaged, But Still Single: Rachel Lindsay Says It's 'Sad' She's Still the Only Bachelorette of Color

Rachel Lindsay found love in 2017 as the first black Bachelorette in ABC’s long-running romantic reality show. But while filming an upcoming reunion special with host Chris Harrison and 11 other past Bachelorettes, the lawyer-turned-media personality expressed disappointment that the franchise hadn’t become more…

The Tribeca Film Festival Celebrates ‘In Living Color,’ A Pioneer of Black Sketch Comedy

The Tribeca Film Festival celebrated the 25^th anniversary of In Living Color, a pioneering comedy sketch show created by filmmaker Keenen Ivory Wayans in the 90s. The show, which spoofed celebrities, politicians, and cultural moments from 1990 – 1994 on Fox, featured stars like Jim Carrey, Jamie Foxx, and Damon Wayans.

On April 27, original members of the cast, including Ivory Wayans, his younger siblings Kim and Shawn Wayans, David Alan Grier, and Tommy Davidson, reunited for a panel conversation at the festival following an episode screening of the original show. When discussing the intent of the cutting-edge show, Keenen said “the intent was to include everybody. Everybody is going to laugh. It was all inclusive so we offended everyone…We wanted everybody to go, ‘Man that’s messed up, but that is funny as hell.’”

On the red carpet, Davidson said the Emmy Award-winning show helped paved the way for many of today’s popular sitcoms and comedies featuring black actors. “We’re in everything from sitcoms from Black-ish to Atlanta to every standup comic,” he told BLACK ENTERPRISE. “We’re a part of everything that’s happening because we’re a good nucleus that started the whole ball rolling.”

It also helped launch the careers of some of the biggest stars in comedy. “In Living Color was my comedy college,” Shawn Wayans told BE. “That’s where I learned everything from acting to writing to producing. Everything I know today was taught on that show.” Likewise, Kim Wayans said, “it was my first really big thing. In Living Color was my introduction to the world.”

At the time, they had no idea the show would become their launching pad to stardom and a staple in pop culture. “We were young. We were just kids ourselves so we weren’t really thinking big picture. Maybe Keenen thought about [the] big picture,” said Kim. “We were creating and just laughing. It was the time of our lives. We weren’t thinking much ahead of that,” added Shawn.

Nevertheless, Davidson says he cherishes the early days of the comedy hit, revealing that his most memorable moments on set happened during “our first season before we knew we were famous when we were doing it just for laughs and to pay our bills. That was the most magical time,” he said. “It gave us our blueprint. We created our own blueprint the first season and that just grew from there.”

The post The Tribeca Film Festival Celebrates ‘In Living Color,’ A Pioneer of Black Sketch Comedy appeared first on Black Enterprise.

In the Sunshine: The Root Tackles Mental Health in May

Today, May 1, marks May Day, the day that we pay homage to the workers of the world, and it is also marks the start of Mental Health Awareness Month.

Give Your Mom the Gift Of No More Vacuuming With These Ecovacs Deals

Vacuuming is simultaneously the worst chore, and the chore most easily pawned off to a robot. How convenient!

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Thursday, May 2, 2019

Wednesday, May 1, 2019

Fight for Equity Versus Equality

Be the Change

Evaluate the ROI of Your Writing Clients

Combine a Niche Specialty with a Format Specialty

Network Strategically

Consistent Education Upgrades Equals Business Development Mastery

Control Your Clients