Ohio State’s Justin Fields starts petition to restore Big Ten football

After the Big Ten athletic conference canceled the upcoming football season, student-athletes respond with a petition to let the sport go on.

Though the Big Ten football season has officially been canceled, some players hope there is still a chance to gear up and get on the field.

READ MORE: Report: Big 10, Pac 12 to cancel fall football season

Star quarterback Justin Fields of the Ohio State University Buckeyes, has launched a petition requesting the Big Ten reinstate the 2020 football season. The decision was made as the looming threat of coronavirus continues to shift the sports world norm.

theGrio reported that Fields, along with University of Lousiville receiver Dez Fitzpatrick, University of Oklahoma quarterback Spencer Rattler, and Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence and more started using the hashtag #WeWantToPLay expressing their desire to push through the pandemic.

Now the Buckeye QB has turned to a digital campaign in hopes of change.

“This cause is close to my heart – please sign:,” he says, sharing the petition to Twitter.

This cause is close to my heart – please sign: https://t.co/yFKlYE7pP0

— Justin Fields (@justnfields) August 16, 2020

READ MORE: University of Utah suspends football coach for texting a racial slur

According to the official MoveOn landing page, Fields demands the decision to play or to sit out be placed on the athletes themselves on an individual basis.

“We, the football players of the Big Ten, together with the fans and supporters of college football, request that the Big Ten Conference immediately reinstate the 2020 football season.

Allow Big Ten players/teams to make their own choice as to whether they wish to play or opt-out this fall season. Allow Big Ten players/teams who choose to opt-out of playing a fall season to do so without penalty or repercussion,” the petition reads.

According to ESPN, some parents also hope the Big Ten reconsiders the decision. The outlet reports that parents of Ohio State, Iowa, and Penn State players asked the Big Ten conference to reevaluate the cancellation in multiple letters, taken directly to conference offices.

“The Big Ten had months to develop a strategic plan but instead chose to leave it up to each individual school creating confusion, inconsistency and no plan of action,” reads the letter from parents of Iowa players, according to ESPN.

“There is time to fix the wrongdoings and come out as leaders. We strongly encourage the Big Ten to reconsider playing the fall college football season, develop a plan of meaningful action, and letting these young adults be included in the decision-making process.”

This written statement was hand-delivered to conference headquarters in Chicago, requesting a meeting with commissioner Kevin Warren, reports ESPN.

Heather Dinich, ESPN senior writer, shares the letter from OSU and Iowa football parents on social media.

. ⁦⁦@OhioStateFB⁩ parents have joined ⁦@HawkeyeFootball⁩ parents today in asking ⁦@B1Gfootball⁩ to reconsider its decision to postpone fall sports. pic.twitter.com/l2NUte5DnF

— Heather Dinich (@CFBHeather) August 15, 2020

Some parents issued their thoughts directly to the outlet. “It’s unacceptable,” says Corey Teague. His son, Master Teague III, plays running back for Ohio State.

“It’s something that needs more explanation because when you go in a certain direction and days later it changes, and no one has spoken to anyone else, and players weren’t able to be involved in this decision, and the protocols that were put in by Ohio State were very successful.

He added: “It’s unfortunate and I don’t know if it’s shortsightedness there, lack of leadership, but it’s definitely something that needs to be rectified and more dialogue needs to happen. It’s just a very messy situation, and we want to clean it up.”

The Big Ten Conference has not released a statement since the official cancellation.

 
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‘Karen’ incidents happen most in California and New York, research says

Data was compiled over the last two years that shows where ‘Karen’ incidents take place

Entitled and racist white women, branded as ‘Karens’, have been running amok and research has shown California and New York are leading the way in the incidents that often go viral.

Read More: Chicago mayor responds to WH press secretary: ‘Hey Karen watch your mouth’

One out 4 ‘Karen’ incidents that took place these past few years occurred in California or New York, BeenVerified reports in a recent analysis. The background check company compiled data from 150 incidents from January 2018 to July of this year where white women called police on people of color for reasons that fell short of actual crimes. The purpose of the analysis was to determine which states and environments these incidents were most likely to occur.

(Credit: screenshot)

California totaled 27 incidents and New York 16. Georgia and North Carolina both accounted for eight while Florida and Ohio had six. Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Tennessee, Maryland, and Texas registered five or less.

Richard Gargan, a spokesman for BeenVerified, believes that the two most populous states are hotspots for reasons other than just their size.

“Because California and New York are also both the media capitals of the nation—and perhaps home to more social media influencers—it could be incidents in these states have an outsized chance of being picked up and widely reported,” Gargan said.

In addition to California and New York being at the forefront of often viral encounters, BeenVerified also drew other conclusions. Twenty percent of these incidents took place in stores, 19% in neighborhoods, and 13% in the street.

And 7% of those who were on the receiving end of phone calls to the cops couldn’t even feel safe in their homes as Black people were also harassed where they lived.

Karen yelling at a Trader Joe’s

Read More: Christian Cooper refuses to cooperate in case against Amy Cooper

“The common thread through all these incidents are people making false assumptions based on race, or taking advantage of those assumptions to make false claims to authorities,” Gargan said.

There’s been ‘Permit Karen,’ ‘Trader Joe Karen,’ and a ‘Michigan Karen‘ with a gun that threatened to shoot a Black woman and her daughters. Each instance went viral and aside from a few days of social media infamy, very few of these women faced legal repercussions.

However, the tide has begun to change in terms of holding those who make false 911 calls accountable.

Orion Karen with a Gun (Screenshot)

As theGrio previously reported, Amy Cooper was charged in June with calling the police on a Black bird watcher and falsely reporting that he threatened her over the Memorial Day weekend in New York’s Central Park. She was quickly dubbed as ‘Central Park Karen’ when her interaction with a Black man, Christian Cooper, went viral.

Jillian Wuestenberg, 32, and Eric Wuestenberg, 42, were also charged by prosecutors in Michigan with felonious assault for pointing a gun at Takelia Hill and her daughter Makayla Green.

In San Francisco, city supervisor Shamann Walton brought forth the Caution Against Racially Exploitative Non-Emergencies Act otherwise known as the CAREN Act.

“The CAREN Act will make it unlawful for an individual to contact law enforcement solely to discriminate on the basis of a person’s race, ethnicity, religious affiliation, gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity,” Walton said in July.

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Quinn ‘DJ Spicoli’ Coleman, Debra Lee’s son, has passed away at 31

The DJ and Capitol Records A&R executive is being mourned throughout the industry

Music executive, promoter, entrepreneur and DJ Quinn Coleman has passed away, his family confirmed to theGrio on Monday. He was 31. Coleman, also known as DJ Spicoli, was the son of former BET president and CEO Debra Lee.

Ava Coleman, Debra Lee and Quinn Coleman

A spokesperson for Lee released the following statement to theGrio:

Quinn Coleman, son of Debra Lee and Randy Coleman, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, August 16 at the age of 31. The cause of death is unknown. Quinn was a loving son, brother, cousin and friend, a passionate DJ and A&R executive with a bright future ahead of him. Debra and her family are devastated by Quinn’s passing and ask for privacy and respect as they grieve together.

Coleman was the senior director of A&R at Capitol Records, the label whose iconic round building is a familiar one among Hollywood landmarks. Coleman was one of Lee’s two children with ex-husband Randal Coleman, according to Encyclopedia.com. The former couple also has a daughter, Ava.

Read More: ‘Good Times’ and ‘Sanford and Son’ actor Raymond Allen dies at 91

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With a heavy heart today we celebrate the life of @spicoli 💔 thank you for blessing us with your talents and being a part of #thebasementseries family ❤️

A post shared by TheBasement Series (@thebasement_la) on Aug 17, 2020 at 11:00am PDT

Coleman’s friends shared the loss on social media. The duo Brasstracks were the first group Coleman signed to Capitol. Their debut album Golden Ticket is scheduled for release on Aug. 21.

“We are heartbroken at the passing of our A&R and friend who signed us to Capitol,” they wrote on their Twitter and Instagram profiles. “Quinn’s positivity and passion were infectious, he made everyone around him feel good and always felt like more friend than A&R.”

View this post on Instagram

RIP Quinn Coleman. We’ll miss you. We dedicate this album to you. You worked so hard on it.

A post shared by brasstracks (@brasstracks) on Aug 17, 2020 at 1:38pm PDT

Coleman was a co-founder of the DC to BC music marketing group that put on the Washington, D.C based music festival Trillectro. It was meant to give local and upcoming hip-hop and electronic music artists a venue to reach audiences.

View this post on Instagram

“Aye moe, I heard slim out France 🇫🇷” #honoryourcode #cvpartner

A post shared by @ spicoli on May 22, 2019 at 6:59am PDT

The five members in the collective were friends and entrepreneurs who were passionate about music and their city. They evolved from a college radio show to a lifestyle blog to party and event promoters, becoming the first promoters to bring Kendrick Lamar to D.C. and booking Travis Scott on the festival early in his career, according to Ebony.

Despite technical issues with the inaugural festival in 2012, the organizers, including Coleman, put on a total six festivals from 2012 to 2018.

Modele “Modi” Oyewole, who co-founded DC to BC with Coleman at Boston College in 2008, wrote on Twitter:

“the coldest man to ever do it, straight up. everything i’m doing now is cuz of this dude. i wish i was half as cool as him. all the things we were supposed to get into. grateful for the memories, devastated that making new ones ends here. rest easy my boy. i love you.”

Read More: Young Democrats of Maryland leader found dead in Washington

the coldest man to ever do it, straight up. everything i’m doing now is cuz of this dude. i wish i was half as cool as him. all the things we were supposed to get into. grateful for the memories, devastated that making new ones ends here.

rest easy my boy. i love you. pic.twitter.com/9rwUxnccI1

— modi! (@supermodi) August 17, 2020

Rapper Wale also shared his grief.

“I can’t process this – my heart in pieces,” the D.C.-area native wrote on Twitter.

In Music:
I’ve been in shock about the death of Quinn “Spicoli” Coleman all day.

The work he, @supermodi and @MartyDCtoBC did needs to be acknowledged. They —along with many others — are the bridge between the Blog Era and now.

Also shared some of my fave DJ Spicoli mixes pic.twitter.com/p1WJMOuUaL

— ernestwilkins🏁 (@ErnestWilkins) August 17, 2020

View this post on Instagram

@spotify

A post shared by @ spicoli on Jun 29, 2019 at 4:13am PDT

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Essence Magazine sexual harassment claims ‘not substantiated’

The investigation comes after an anonymous group of disgruntled employees, accused leadership of fostering a toxic workplace.

Essence Magazine has concluded its investigation into allegations of sexual harassment leveled against Owner and CEO Richelieu Dennis. 

Dennis stepped down last month after several anonymous Black female staffers detailed in a blog for Medium the rampant sexual misconduct, bullying, colorism and wrongful terminations at the publication. 

In a August 17 statement, Essence noted that a “comprehensive and independent review by the law firms Proskauer Rose and Morgan Lewis” concluded that the allegations against Dennis could not be substantiated.

Read More: Essence Magazine’s staffers anonymously call out toxic workplace culture

An earlier report on theGrio noted that the anonymous group of disgruntled employees, dubbed Black Female Anonymous, accused leadership of turning the magazine into the “most deceptive Black media company in America,” by exploiting movements like the #BlackGirlMagic for monetary gain.

February 2018 cover of Essence magazine

Dennis is alleged to have pressed his luck with female employees, harassing those who do not consent to his advances at private company events.

At some point in 2019, it is alleged that he attempted to have certain females sign a non-disclosure agreement to protect his family business from facing “liability or disparagement after a string of wrongful layoffs and other potentially libelous business activity.”

However, the investigation concluded that the claims against Dennis “are not substantiated.”

Adding, “There were no suggestions or allegations of any sexual harassment by Dennis from witnesses in any of the interviews, nor were there ever any formal or informal complaints made to the company – despite ESSENCE engaging outside HR consultants and internal professionals, unrelated to Dennis, during the entire tenure of Dennis’ ownership with whom complaints could be filed.”

In addition to Dennis, Essence Ventures board member and former Essence Communications CEO Michelle Ebanks, COO Joy Collins Profet, and CCO Moana Luu are named as key players contributing to the downfall of the trusted Black print.

BFA alleged in the Medium blog that the company has a two-year history of wrongfully laying off or forcing Black women to resign.

Read More: Richelieu Dennis appoints new CEO of Essence Communications amid investigation

In Monday’s statement, the company says matters such as those alleged in the Medium blog are taken “seriously” and that Essence “maintains a policy against sexual harassment, actively enforces such policy, and remains committed to ensuring a workplace free of sexual harassment.” 

When it comes to the other factors listed by BFA that fuel a toxic culture, Essence said “We are awaiting the conclusion of the Morgan Lewis review related to workplace culture and will provide a subsequent update once those findings are available.”

The statement concludes by underscoring Essence magazine’s mission of continuing to elevate and empower “Black women and communities, both in and out of the workplace.”

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Video shows man knocked out on London subway after racist rant

Shocking video footage captures the moment a man is punched and knocked out following his racist rant on a London train.

A man is hit with a knock-out punch following his loud, racist rant on a London train.

READ MORE: California woman calls Black man the N-word, accuses him of stealing in viral video

According to Independent, police are now investigating the incident where a white man directed violent racist views at Black people riding the public train over the weekend. The now-viral video displays the man directing his hatred toward a group of Black men.

(Credit: screenshot)

Uploaded to YouTube by user Dawud Bryant on Sunday, the seven-minute video chronicles the entire conflict.

Wearing a plain black shirt with a loose collar, khaki shorts and black glasses, he repeatedly shouts “lesser than us” with his fist in the air. Other passengers look and tell the man to “shut the f*** up,” as he continues.

“It’s not funny being racist,” a woman says to the man, as he finds joy in his public declaration. “You’ve had your five-minutes, now f***-off and get out of the train.”

Eventually, his tirade turns to target a specific group of Black men on the same train, referring to them as “pets.”

“This is my home, you’re all going back,” the man shouts at the group.

They respond, demanding his name which he proudly responds “Billy Steele.” As the interaction continues, the train eventually reaches the stop where the group of Black men exit. They walk past their racist attacker to enter the platform. As they leave, one of the men reaches back and punches him in the face. The man falls out, seemingly briefly unconscious.

READ MORE: Black graduate student records racist rant in New York City

The punch is met with an audible “yay,” and “well done,” from onlookers plus a few claps, and laughs from other passengers. One passenger offers assistance, checking the man’s pulse after the jab leaves him on the train floor. Another passenger insists “don’t help a racist.”

Independent reports that a spokesperson representing the British Transport Police confirms law enforcement is “aware of two videos on social media showing an incident on a Central Line Underground train on 15 August.”

They request any person with information contact the authorities.

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Egypt TikTok and Instagram stars pay heavy price for 'indecency'

They have millions of followers, but Egypt's social media stars are paying a heavy price.

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Black-Owned Cosmetics Brand Juvia’s Place Is Giving $300,000 to Black Entrepreneurs

Juvia’s Place is showing its commitment to small businesses in the Black community by giving away $300,000, or six grants of $50,000 each, to Black entrepreneurs.

The Black-owned cosmetics brand is paying forward the help and support it received when it was a fledgling startup.

“As a Black-owned business, I understand firsthand the financial obstacles Black entrepreneurs face. I started Juvia’s Place with just $2,000 and a dream. I, like so many others, didn’t have access to lending, or a trust fund,” said Chichi Eburu, founder of Juvia’s Place, in a press release.

“My business was built with minimal financial resources, but I had a supportive community to lean on. That community support was essential to my business growth. I found mentors and customers that believed in my product, and helped to make my dream a reality,” she continued. “I appreciate the support, and want to make sure I can provide an opportunity to other Black entrepreneurs who are looking to grow their businesses.”

The press release notes that the aim of the grants is eradicating the challenges faced by Black entrepreneurs, and it details some of the stark realities these businesses face:

According to SCORE, 44% of Black small business owners use cash to fund their business as compared to the average small business owner (37%). The most popular funding sources for African American business owners are:

• • Friends and family
  • Lines of credit
  • Rollovers for Business Start-ups (ROBS), financing that allows small businesses owners to tap into eligible retirement accounts to fund their businesses without tax penalties. Guidant says this grew by 21% in popularity among African-American small businesses year over year.
  • Unsecured loans
  • Peer-to peer
  • Equipment leasing
  • SBA Loans

Most of these sources require Black entrepreneurs to amass debt at high interest rates. These debt traps can kill a business before it even gets started. Black female entrepreneurs face even greater challenges.

The deadline to apply is August 31st. To be eligible, business owners must:

• be a U.S. citizen or legal resident of the U.S. with business operations headquartered in the U.S.
• identify as Black/African American
• have 2019 gross revenues between $1,000 and $250,000

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Netflix on YouTube

Project Power | Behind the Scenes - How to Machine Gun Kelly on Fire | Netflix
What would MGK risk for 5 minutes of pure power? Go behind the scenes with Colson Baker (Machine Gun Kelly) as he breaks down the extreme measures he went through on the set of Project Power as Newt. Watch Project Power on Netflix: https://ift.tt/3gLYTjA SUBSCRIBE: http://bit.ly/29qBUt7 About Netflix: Netflix is the world's leading streaming entertainment service with 193 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, documentaries and feature films across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can watch as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, on any internet-connected screen. Members can play, pause and resume watching, all without commercials or commitments. Project Power | Behind the Scenes - How to Machine Gun Kelly on Fire | Netflix https://youtube.com/Netflix An ex-soldier, a teen and a cop collide in New Orleans as they hunt for the source behind a dangerous new pill that grants users temporary superpowers.

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The Duchess | Official Trailer | Netflix
Katherine Ryan, fresh off her Netflix special “In Trouble,” came to us with an idea based on her life as a fabulous single mom living in London. Season 1 follows Katherine as she debates if she should have a second child with her estranged and troubled baby daddy. It is meant to be a Catastrophe-like single-cam comedy set in London. SUBSCRIBE: http://bit.ly/29qBUt7 About Netflix: Netflix is the world's leading streaming entertainment service with 193 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, documentaries and feature films across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can watch as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, on any internet-connected screen. Members can play, pause and resume watching, all without commercials or commitments. The Duchess | Official Trailer | Netflix https://youtube.com/Netflix Katherine's a single mom juggling her career, her tween daughter, her relationship with her boyfriend — and pondering getting pregnant with her ex.

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Katt Williams calls Trump ‘clown,’ urges people to vote

The comedian wore rainbow-colored hair, a suit, and a Supreme t-shirt. 

In a six-minute video posted by the high-end urban retailer, Supreme, Katt Williams took to the microphone to speak about the challenges of 2020.

He walked out onto the stage in front of an empty audience saying, “Thank you, everyone, and no one.”

Williams wasted no time in addressing President Donald Trump’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. 

Katt Williams speaks on Trump, #BlackLivesMatter & more in new Supreme ad 🗣

pic.twitter.com/WqlEdpqnjG

— HOT 97 (@HOT97) August 17, 2020

“Right now, we have a perfectly suitable clown running the free world,” Williams said, “We got a guy whose advice included things that no decent crackhead would tell you to do with a gunshot wound.” 

“The man said if you have bleach, rub it on yourself. Sprinkle some in your eye. You see any UV light, walk in front of it. But these are serious times. The president is a clown.” 

The comedian wore rainbow-colored hair, a suit, and a Supreme t-shirt. 

READ MORE: As Trump plans to ban TikTok, Sarah Cooper continues to hilariously mock him

He then addressed the Black Lives Matter protests taking place across the globe after the police killing of George Floyd on May 25, which he called “televised murder.” 

“Black lives matter, period. You can say it. Say it at home. Say it wherever you are, no matter who’s around. Say it because it’s a fact,” he said.

Williams also spoke specifically about the virus and the importance of wearing a mask. “It’s an airborne virus, folks. If you breathe air, put on a mask.”

I just watched @KattWilliams Supreme commercial. pic.twitter.com/zgDMchJFUv

— Now, They Callin Me Handsome 😉 (@authorjcopeland) August 17, 2020

Like his colleague, Dave Chappelle, who dropped a surprise special called 8:46 in June, Williams noted that the material was not necessarily funny. “I kept most of the jokes in quarantine in case you were looking for some laughs,” he said. “If you got some information out of it, I appreciate that. I’ve already done more than an elected official.”

The Supreme video was posted as an exclusive on their Instagram account, but fans have reposted it on Twitter. 

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Diamond & Silk question ‘systemic racism’ at Fox News after being axed

The Daily Beast noted that the MAGA-loving sisters are throwing their former network ‘under the bus’.

In their new book, Lynette “Diamond” Hardaway and Rochelle “Silk” Richardson are claiming that Fox News pushed them out after they “dared to ask questions” that were also posed by white personalities.

“Here is the crazy thing, y’all,” Silk says in the book. “Fox News hosts like Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity, and Laura Ingraham were questioning the same things we were questioning about the virus and pandemic. The very same questions we had raised were being discussed openly on Fox News.”

“When you really think about it, was this part of the systemic racism that everybody was talking about?”

READ MORE: Fox News reporter retreats inside car after shoving BLM protester

A copy of the book was obtained by The Daily Beast and they noted that the MAGA-loving sisters are throwing their former network “under the bus.”

Uprising: Who the Hell Said You Can’t Ditch and Switch?—The Awakening of Diamond and Silk will be released on Tuesday, Aug 18.

Wait, Diamond and Silk are just now starting to suspect that FOX might be a bit racist? https://t.co/cRA7zpmCSq

— Professor Chaos (@akaProfessorCha) August 17, 2020

The sisters were let go from Fox Nation, where their videos were regularly posted, after spreading conspiracy theories about the coronavirus pandemic. They claimed that the virus was being “deliberately spread” to make President Donald Trump look bad.

They also pushed other popular right-wing conspiracies like 5G technology being used to infect people and vaccines being used for “population control.”

Ironically, it was also The Daily Beast who broke the news of the duo being axed. In their book, they claim that even after the Daily Beast story, “Fox News Cuts Times with Diamond & Silk”, ran, Fox assured them their slot was secure.

READ MORE: Diamond and Silk suggest COVID-19 is a Tuskegee-like conspiracy

In the book, Diamond says that the network told them to “ignore” the lies and to “stay strong and keep fighting.” They were still let go.

“We understand that during an election year one of the tactics from the Left is to silence the voices making the most impact,” Diamond writes. “We’re not saying that this is what Fox did, but it damn sure felt like it.”

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Black voters could tip the scale for Biden-Harris in battleground states

Data obtained from the U.S. census notes that in 2012, 66% of eligible Black voters came out to vote.

Former vice-president, Joe Biden, and Senator Kamala Harris will need heavy engagement in six battleground states in order to win the 2020 election. 

Florida, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin will need to increase their Black voter turnout, compared to what it was in 2016, in order to ensure a Democratic victory. 

READ MORE: Kamala Harris has a message for voters who aren’t feeling her and Joe Biden

Biden now leads Trump among Black voters 90% to 6%, according to new @CBSNews poll. This is higher than the 72% percent of Black voters backing Hillary Clinton heading into her nominating convention in 2016.

— Bo Erickson CBS (@BoKnowsNews) August 16, 2020

According to a report by NBC News, increasing Black voter turnout in these states is “critical” to the success of the Biden/Harris campaign. 

The report notes that the 2016 election was largely decided by white voters, many of whom were previous Democrats, who chose to vote for Donald Trump. There was also a strong decline in turnout by Black voters. 

The data, obtained from the U.S. census, notes that in 2012, 66% of eligible Black voters came out to vote. They voted overwhelmingly (87%) for the reelection of President Barack Obama. However, in 2016, only 59% of eligible Black voters turned out and only 81% of them voted for Hillary Clinton. 

READ MORE: Despite virus threat, Black voters wary of voting by mail

Democrats are hopeful that Harris, the first Black woman and first South Asian woman to be nominated for Vice President of the United States, can energize younger voters of color.

A general view of a voting sign at the Frank P. Zeidler Municipal Building polling station on August 11, 2020 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

At 57 years old, Harris is 20 years younger than Biden and she has high favorability among a younger electorate. She is also popular in the Midwest, which is where two important battleground states sit. 

The Democratic National Convention, which is being held virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic, will give more insight into the direction of the election which is just two-and-a-half months away. 

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7 Best Gaming Headsets for PS4, Xbox, PC, and Switch

We picked the best gaming headsets for every budget and gaming system—PS4, Xbox, Switch, PC, Mac, and mobile.

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Entrepreneur Ken Clay Uses Innovation and Technology to Enhance Touchless Solutions

Technology is always changing and never-ending. With the recent pandemic affecting all industries, we’ve entered a touchless world and entrepreneur Ken Clay, as CEO of Trackit Technology, has been able to utilize his expertise in implementing such systems across the board.

Clay took a moment to speak to BLACK ENTERPRISE to discuss how his focus helps his entrepreneurial spirit and how the coronavirus has affected his business.

As the CEO of Trackit Technology, what type of technology are you involved with and why did you start the company?

Trackit Technology is an ecosystem of touchless solutions for digital displays. From thermal sensors to facial recognition, QR Code Capabilities, and automated check-in systems, Trackit was designed to be the No. 1 plug-and-play touchless solution for any digital display in any industry. 

What type of clients do you have and which industries do you primarily work with?

Current clients include the NFL, PGA, various industrial offices, a few healthcare facilities, and business districts for cities. We are focusing our efforts on targeting universities, convention centers and events, healthcare facilities, and commercial real estate/industrial offices. 

As an entrepreneur, how do you decide where to put your focus and how to go about doing business?

First and foremost, I always look to put effort into my team. I want to make sure that they are in positions to win because if they are, our whole company is set up for success. Next, I look to put out any fires, because as any entrepreneur knows, there is ALWAYS a fire to put out. Afterward, I spend the rest of my time doing market research and client relations. I always love learning about new ways to help our clients, which is why I’m always studying the latest trends. 

The coronavirus pandemic has affected everyone. How has COVID-19 affected your business? 

It affected us in a big way. Our business got started because of events. We work with big names in the events industry, and then all of a sudden, there were no more events. So we went back to the drawing board and focused on what we are great at. That is innovation. This pandemic helped us build more efficiently, grind harder, and provide solutions for our clients that would have a lasting impact long after COVID-19 is over.  

If you could do anything over again, what would it be and why?

I actually am very grateful for my journey and if I could do anything differently, it would have to be starting out on it from the get-go. When I started off in my professional career, I thought I always wanted to be a sports agent. It wasn’t until I worked under my first boss that I realized what I wanted most was to be my OWN boss, and put myself in a position to not only have my own creative freedom but be able to give back.

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These Entrepreneurs Have Tripled Sales at Their Food Truck Business Despite the Pandemic

Jamie Barnes and Greg Williams, friends turned business partners, are the chefs and co-owners of What The Fries, one of the most in-demand food trucks in Charlotte, North Carolina. In fact, despite the challenges brought about by the pandemic, they managed to almost triple the sales of their signature loaded fries.

Five years ago, the two men, who met back in college at Johnson and Wales University, started their food truck business right after competing together at the reality show The Great Food Truck. Although they didn’t win in the finals, they continued making loaded fries for their business.

Now, according to Charlotte Magazine, they serve Charlotte’s best-loaded fries from their food truck.

Not an easy beginning

However, they said their first few years were not easy. They worked hard to prove to people that they deserve to be in the business. They started catering to corporate events serving boxed pasta lunches until they were able to buy an old FedEx delivery truck that they converted into a food truck.

Now, the duo is aiming to open their first brick and mortar location around Charlotte. Finding a perfect location came with challenges again as many landlords turned them down thinking they wouldn’t become as successful as they did with the food truck.

Planning for the future

In the next five years, they hope to expand their brand to multiple food trucks and locations as well. With their combined skills and determination as well as their yummy dishes, they are looking forward to more success in the future.

“Be ready to grind and just don’t give up. When you have your own business, there will be days when you want to quit. But, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Once you start seeing the payoff, it will all be worth it.”

For more information about What The Fries or to order online, visit www.whatthefriesclt.com

This article was originally published by BlackBusiness.com.

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High School Twins From Louisiana Earn $1.3 Million Each in Academic Scholarships

Twin brothers Brin and Nial Wilson, senior students at Captain Shreve High School in Shreveport, Louisiana, have received a total of over $1.3 million each in academic scholarships. They are enrolled to attend college this fall, and they both plan to major in civil engineering.

The Wilsons have amassed a total of $2,728,000 with Brin accumulating $1,393,012 and Nial accumulating $1,335,788.

Brin and Nial applied to and have been recruited from numerous colleges throughout the United States such as Morehouse College in Atlanta, St. John University in New York City, Lasalle University in Philadelphia, Loyola University in New Orleans, Louisiana Tech and Barry University in Miami, Florida, just to name a few.

Aside from their academic success, they also received athletic scholarship offers to play football. Brin has an offer from Knox College in Illinois, and Nial has offers from Culver-Stockton in Missouri, Sterling College and McPherson in Kansas, Judson University in Illinois.

The twins have also been acknowledged as Top 2019 Prospects by Louisiana Football Magazine & TV, Offense-Defense All-American Bowl selections in Daytona, Florida and Blue-Grey All-American Bowl selections in Houston, Texas. They were also recognized by LHSAA 2019 Bowling All-District 2nd Team and with the Captain Shreve Distinguished Scholar Award.

This article was originally published by BlackNews.com.

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House Dems to end recess early amid fears Trump is undermining the election

Pelosi called on the House to return to session this week to vote on the ‘Delivering for America Act’.

House Democrats will return from their August recess early, as fears that President Donald Trump is attempting to undermine the 2020 election grow among the public and the electorate. 

In a letter to her colleagues published as a press release, Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the house, wrote, “alarmingly, across the nation, we see the devastating effects of the President’s campaign to sabotage the election by manipulating the Postal Service to disenfranchise voters.”

She called on the House to return to session this week to vote on Oversight and Reform Committee Chairwoman (Carolyn B.) Maloney’s “Delivering for America Act,” which “prohibits the Postal Service from implementing any changes to operations or level of service it had in place on January 1, 2020.” 

Dr. Anthony Fauci (L), director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, talks with Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., after a House Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis hearing on July 31, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch-Pool/Getty Images)

READ MORE: Kamala Harris reacts to Trump’s racist birther attacks: ‘They’re going to engage in lies’

Further, Pelosi asked House members to participate in a “Day of Action,” by appearing at post offices in their districts for a press event. 

She noted that the United States Postal Service is a “pillar of our democracy, enshrined in the Constitution and essential for providing critical services: delivering prescriptions, Social Security benefits, paychecks, tax returns and absentee ballots to millions of Americans, including in our most remote communities.”

“In a time of a pandemic, the Postal Service is Election Central,” she wrote. “Americans should not have to choose between their health and their vote.” 

The outrage against President Trump and Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, a Trump mega-donor, making major changes to postal service this close to the election has been significant. 

Donald Trump’s ineffective leadership gravely worsened the crisis that we are in and he is now taking advantage of it to subvert and destroy our right to vote and vote safely. Request a ballot early. Vote early.

— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) August 15, 2020

Pop star, Taylor Swift, wrote on Twitter, “Trump’s calculated dismantling of USPS proves one thing clearly: He is WELL AWARE that we do not want him as our president. He’s chosen to blatantly cheat and put millions of Americans’ lives at risk in an effort to hold on to power.” 

READ MORE: Postal Service removing mail sorting machines as election nears

She said that Trump “is now taking advantage of it to subvert and destroy our right to vote and vote safely.” She urged Americans to request a mail-in ballot and vote early. 

The president and Postmaster General DeJoy have defended the postal changes as modernizing the agency to make it more efficient. 

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The post House Dems to end recess early amid fears Trump is undermining the election appeared first on TheGrio.

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This Cobalt-Free Battery Is Good for the Planet—and It Actually Works

Reducing the cobalt content in lithium-ion batteries is good for the environment, human rights, and maybe even the performance of the battery itself.

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