The daughter of exiled Paul Rusesabagina, now being held in Rwanda, says he was "kidnapped".
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Tuesday, September 1, 2020
Verify Black Is Working to Get Social Media Platforms to Highlight Black-Owned Businesses
After George Floyd was murdered, the outrage brought about calls for change internationally. Many companies are trying to be on the right side of racial justice when it comes to business. With entities like Target identifying Black-owned businesses on its site, Verify Black would be the catalyst to make this widespread across the spectrum, specifically through social media platforms.
The goal is to obtain 50,000 signatures of support to take to Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and other platforms to make it a reality. BLACK ENTERPRISE spoke to one half of the team trying to make this happen, Vivian Duker. She speaks about why this needs to be done and what they are trying to do to make it a reality.
How did you develop the concept behind “Verify Black?”
We both have an appreciation for the unique challenges faced by Black-owned businesses—from the lack of equal access to funding, inability to jump-start because of a lower likelihood of friends and family in a financial position to invest, not to mention the fact that general racism and discrimination seeps into every aspect of Black life, and from which the day-to-day of Black business ownership is no exception. Black business owners have an exceptionally difficult time getting businesses off the ground. The statistics show that most Black-owned businesses don’t even have the opportunity to engage in meaningful growth. This has a direct impact on the dollars that flow into and are circulated within the Black community.
When the murder of George Floyd happened, like most people, we both really wanted to do something. We zoomed in on economic justice because we both believe strongly that it is one viable, sustainable way that Black people can come much closer to true equality. Even from the silence in the face of murder that suddenly turned into outrage in the face of property destruction, we see the unfortunate truth that money is one of the only languages American society understands.
Companies are beginning to launch services that identify Black businesses. Why do you feel it’s important to have this on social media platforms like Instagram?
There are quite a number of existing directories dedicated toward making it easier to find Black-owned businesses. Companies like EatOkra have been doing this important work for years, and it remains extremely valuable.
For us, it is really about leveraging an existing platform for our benefit. A lot of Black-owned businesses are already using social media to market their products and services. Between Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, you are looking at traffic of about 4 billion active users every month—within that is a substantial pool of potential customers just waiting to be found. Our goal is to create a mechanism to connect these businesses with those potential customers. Exposure drives revenue.
As social media evolves and creates internal systems that compound benefits for people that already have the exposure, the little guy is really at risk of getting left behind. From our perspective, what seems to really work is meaningful and consistent engagement. Identifying your target audience with specificity and speaking directly to them with content that they care about. Chances are a business owner would already have done this identification work in even developing the concept of their service and/or product, so it really just comes down to being consistent.
Many online businesses have maintained success during this pandemic. For traditional offline businesses, describe some benefits for being a part of “Verify Black.”
We are seriously exploring ways in which we can expand Verify Black to benefit businesses that don’t utilize online marketing and are looking to partner with existing directories to accomplish that. Ultimately, our goal is to create value for all Black-owned businesses seeking more exposure and growth.
Do you feel movements like Black Lives Matter have influenced members of the Black community to support Black businesses more?
Absolutely. It’s sort of a revolution. It almost feels like so many more people than ever are “rooting for everybody Black.” We also really love to see Black-owned businesses taking maximum advantage of this moment to capture and maintain a higher stream of engagement.
How many signatures have been obtained so far and where can readers go to sign the petition?
So far, we have 7,500 signatures. We set the target at 50,000 for two reasons: first, we wanted to give ourselves an opportunity to engage meaningfully with Black business owners and the community as a whole to make sure that we are able to consider and account for a variety of thoughts and ideas; we also wanted to make it clear if and when we are able to engage directly with these social media platforms, that this is something that a critical mass of people would like to see happen. Platforms like Google, Target Online, and Etsy have already built systems to accomplish this very thing. Yelp now lets you know when you’re engaging with a Black-owned business. So we know that it is a feasible model, and we believe that it is transferable to social media platforms.
The petition and additional information about Verify Black are available on our website, verifyblack.org.
Are there any other ways readers can get involved?
Spread the word! Every single time our content is shared, we get an influx of signatures and, more importantly, really thoughtful questions that help us think through the best way to be of service in this space. Our Instagram is @verifyblck.
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Trump says BLM movement ‘bad for Black people’
“The first time I ever heard of Black Lives Matter, I said, ‘That’s a terrible name,” the president told Fox News’ Laura Ingraham. “It’s so discriminatory.”
In an interview with Fox News host Laura Ingraham, President Donald Trump said that Black Lives Matter is a “Marxist organization.” He said that the name of the organization is “discriminatory.”
“The first time I ever heard of Black Lives Matter, I said, ‘That’s a terrible name.’ It’s so discriminatory. It’s bad for Black people. It’s bad for everybody.”
Read More: Trump to visit Kenosha Tuesday, potentially stoking tensions
The president spent much of his interview with the controversial television host decrying the protests that are taking place in many American cities. Most protests have been peaceful rebukes of the police killings of Black people, however, conservatives have painted the protests as anarchist takeovers.
“Biden won’t calm things down. They will take over. They will have won,” Trump said about his political rival, former Vice President Joe Biden. “If Biden gets in, they will have won.”
“They will have taken over your cities. It’s a revolution,” he continued. “You understand that. It’s a revolution. And the people of this country will not stand for that.”
Read More: Trump, Portland mayor blame each other for violence after protester shot
Both the president and his Fox News compatriots have warned of leftist mobs taking over American cities. In early June, Tucker Carlson offered a dark message: “This may be a lot of things, this moment we are living through, but it is definitely not about Black lives.”
“Remember that when they come for you,” he said. “And at this rate, they will.”
A Fox News spokesperson claimed that Carlson was referring to Democrats, not Black protesters, but that was not clear.
Read More: Biden says he spoke with Jacob Blake’s family in statement on shooting
On Monday night, the president continued his campaign of fear. In a news conference at the White House, he refused to condemn alleged Kenosha shooter Kyle Rittenhouse. Instead, he insinuated that the 17-year-old who killed two people and wounded a third may have been acting in self-defense.
Earlier Monday, Democratic presidential nominee Biden said in a speech that the violence taking place in American streets is Trump’s doing. “The president long ago forfeited any moral leadership in this country. He can’t stop the violence because, for years, he’s fomented it.”
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Dia Simms Launches Saint Liberty Whiskey to Celebrate Prohibition-Era Women Bootleggers
After running Sean “Diddy” Combs’ company, Combs Enterprises, for two decades while overseeing brands Ciroc, Aquahydrate, Sean John, and the brand that started it all, Bad Boy Entertainment, former president of Combs Enterprises, Dia Simms, now controls the fate of her own brand, HANDS L.L.C. She and her partner, Erin Harris, also a former executive at Combs Enterprises, have recently launched Saint Liberty Whiskey.
Saint Liberty Whiskey not only supports the women of today through its commitment to return 5% of gross sales to women’s empowerment, entrepreneurial, and educational efforts, but it is also guided by an all-female board of advisers.
Simms took a break from making moves to speak to BLACK ENTERPRISE about the origins of Saint Liberty Whiskey and how they plan on keeping the strength of women empowerment moving forward.
What made you decide to launch your spirits brand?
A lot of lost energy goes into trying to change existing brands and businesses. Often, the best way to make a change is through ownership and entrepreneurship. If you can’t change the game, make a new game. In this spirit, Harris & Simms (HANDS) has acquired a meaningful stake in Saint Liberty Whiskey alongside Mark SoRelle, the founder and chief historian of the brand, and Ndamukong Suh of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. HANDS is a boutique spirits advisory company that offers strategic guidance and investments in spirit brands. Headquartered in Los Angeles, my partner Erin Harris and I focus on original and authentic brand stories paired with outstanding liquids such as Saint Liberty Whiskey.
Saint Liberty Whiskey highlights groundbreakers and rebels who have broken barriers during the 1920s when freedoms were granted, and freedoms were taken away. While women secured the right to vote after nearly a century of protest, the 18th Amendment introduced prohibition and a ban on all alcohol sales. Saint Liberty celebrates these heroines of the Prohibition including Bertie Brown, Josephine Doody, Mary Curley, and many more.
What’s the story behind Saint Liberty whiskey and how do you anticipate making the brand successful?
Saint Liberty Whiskey embraces the true diversity of the history of America through their celebration of the untold stories of the pioneering, Prohibition-era women bootleggers. Each woman bootlegger is paired with a unique craft whiskey and distillery to highlight and honor their individual story. The first expression is Bertie’s Bear Gulch Bourbon Whiskey honoring an African American homesteader named Bertie “Birdie” Brown, known for making the “best moonshine in the country.” She was an enterprising, entrepreneurial Black woman at a time when those attributes put her life in jeopardy.
The whiskey that honors her legacy is packaged in a signature embossed coffin flask bottle which was inspired by the antique bottles of the American frontier. The flagship whiskey, Bertie’s Bourbon, offers flavors of rich dark molasses, caramelized vanilla, apricots, some burnt brown sugar, and a hint of smoke. Bertie’s Bear Gulch Straight Bourbon Whiskey is exceptionally smooth and balanced with a wonderfully warm finish.
We believe that success comes with innovation and expanding diversity within the industry. At Saint Liberty, we are committed to building an exceptional craft whiskey brand that recognizes a diverse group of unsung female heroes. We are proud to honor the courage and legacy of these pioneering women bootleggers. The women in the spirits industry today—myself included—owe a debt to these frontierswomen. Additionally, being that Saint Liberty is guided by an entirely female board of advisers, we have committed to spending 5% of gross profits toward women’s empowerment issues, entrepreneurial, and educational efforts to create opportunities for women like Bertie Brown, who fought and died for their rights.
With the recent coronavirus outbreak, how were you able to launch a new brand with business being operated in a different way than what’s been normal?
One thing that has not changed is consumers desire to drink a premium Whiskey at a great price point, which is what we are offering with Saint Liberty. Now more than ever, people are getting creative and adventurous in their cocktail selections and happy hour hasn’t stopped, it has just moved from the bar to your living room. Bertie’s Bear Gulch Straight Bourbon Whiskey is now available in over 10 states through the U.S. with a suggested retail price of $44.99 for a 750ml bottle. Saint Liberty Whiskey is available at Total Wine & More, BevMo, and Spec’s Wines and Spirits or SaintLibertyWhiskey.com.
How has working with Sean Combs prepared you for starting your own company?
Sean Combs has built incredible alumni of successful entrepreneurs [with] his beliefs in the impossible and the power of Black excellence. He’s been an incredible mentor in business not just for me but for thousands of successful game-changers. As Sean became increasingly successful, he truly embraced the spirit of Reginald F. Lewis and felt it was not about how many millions you make but how many millionaires you help create. That’s how we change our legacies. That level of commitment to our community has been the single most important lesson that I take with me.
What would you advise someone who is interested in becoming an entrepreneur to do in order to start their road to success?
Start with what you have. No matter what your circumstance, if there is breath in your lungs, then you already have the most valuable asset at your disposal. Time. Starting a new business is scary as hell but not scarier than wondering what might have been.
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Monday, August 31, 2020
How to Install Apache Cassandra on Ubuntu 20.04
Apache Cassandra is a high-performance opensource NoSQL database engine that provides fault tolerance, linear scalability, and consistency across multiple nodes. Give its distributed architecture, Apache Cassandra handles huge volumes of data with dynamo-style replication.
The post How to Install Apache Cassandra on Ubuntu 20.04 first appeared on Tecmint: Linux Howtos, Tutorials & Guides.
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Making health care more personal
The health care system today largely focuses on helping people after they have problems. When they do receive treatment, it’s based on what has worked best on average across a huge, diverse group of patients.
Now the company Health at Scale is making health care more proactive and personalized — and, true to its name, it’s doing so for millions of people.
Health at Scale uses a new approach for making care recommendations based on new classes of machine-learning models that work even when only small amounts of data on individual patients, providers, and treatments are available.
The company is already working with health plans, insurers, and employers to match patients with doctors. It’s also helping to identify people at rising risk of visiting the emergency department or being hospitalized in the future, and to predict the progression of chronic diseases. Recently, Health at Scale showed its models can identify people at risk of severe respiratory infections like influenza or pneumonia, or, potentially, Covid-19.
“From the beginning, we decided all of our predictions would be related to achieving better outcomes for patients,” says John Guttag, chief technology officer of Health at Scale and the Dugald C. Jackson Professor of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering at MIT. “We’re trying to predict what treatment or physician or intervention would lead to better outcomes for people.”
A new approach to improving health
Health at Scale co-founder and CEO Zeeshan Syed met Guttag while studying electrical engineering and computer science at MIT. Guttag served as Syed’s advisor for his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. When Syed decided to pursue his PhD, he only applied to one school, and his advisor was easy to choose.
Syed did his PhD through the Harvard-MIT Program in Health Sciences and Technology (HST). During that time, he looked at how patients who’d had heart attacks could be better managed. The work was personal for Syed: His father had recently suffered a serious heart attack.
Through the work, Syed met Mohammed Saeed SM ’97, PhD ’07, who was also in the HST program. Syed, Guttag, and Saeed founded Health at Scale in 2015 along with David Guttag ’05, focusing on using core advances in machine learning to solve some of health care’s hardest problems.
“It started with the burning itch to address real challenges in health care about personalization and prediction,” Syed says.
From the beginning, the founders knew their solutions needed to work with widely available data like health care claims, which include information on diagnoses, tests, prescriptions, and more. They also sought to build tools for cleaning up and processing raw data sets, so that their models would be part of what Guttag refers to as a “full machine-learning stack for health care.”
Finally, to deliver effective, personalized solutions, the founders knew their models needed to work with small numbers of encounters for individual physicians, clinics, and patients, which posed severe challenges for conventional AI and machine learning.
“The large companies getting into [the health care AI] space had it wrong in that they viewed it as a big data problem,” Guttag says. “They thought, ‘We’re the experts. No one’s better at crunching large amounts of data than us.’ We thought if you want to make the right decision for individuals, the problem was a small data problem: Each patient is different, and we didn’t want to recommend to patients what was best on average. We wanted what was best for each individual.”
The company’s first models helped recommend skilled nursing facilities for post-acute care patients. Many such patients experience further health problems and return to the hospital. Health at Scale’s models showed that some facilities were better at helping specific kinds of people with specific health problems. For example, a 64-year-old man with a history of cardiovascular disease may fare better at one facility compared to another.
Today the company’s recommendations help guide patients to the primary care physicians, surgeons, and specialists that are best suited for them. Guttag even used the service when he got his hip replaced last year.
Health at Scale also helps organizations identify people at rising risk of specific adverse health events, like heart attacks, in the future.
“We’ve gone beyond the notion of identifying people who have frequently visited emergency departments or hospitals in the past, to get to the much more actionable problem of finding those people at an inflection point, where they are likely to experience worse outcomes and higher costs,” Syed says.
The company’s other solutions help determine the best treatment options for patients and help reduce health care fraud, waste, and abuse. Each use case is designed to improve patient health outcomes by giving health care organizations decision-support for action.
“Broadly speaking, we are interested in building models that can be used to help avoid problems, rather than simply predict them,” says Guttag. “For example, identifying those individuals at highest risk for serious complications of a respiratory infection [enables care providers] to target them for interventions that reduce their chance of developing such an infection.”
Impact at scale
Earlier this year, as the scope of the Covid-19 pandemic was becoming clear, Health at Scale began considering ways its models could help.
“The lack of data in the beginning of the pandemic motivated us to look at the experiences we have gained from combatting other respiratory infections like influenza and pneumonia,” says Saeed, who serves as Health at Scale’s chief medical officer.
The idea led to a peer-reviewed paper where researchers affiliated with the company, the University of Michigan, and MIT showed Health at Scale’s models could accurately predict hospitalizations and visits to the emergency department related to respiratory infections.
“We did the work on the paper using the tech we’d already built,” Guttag says. “We had interception products deployed for predicting patients at-risk of emergent hospitalizations for a variety of causes, and we saw that we could extend that approach. We had customers that we gave the solution to for free.”
The paper proved out another use case for a technology that is already being used by some of the largest health plans in the U.S. That’s an impressive customer base for a five-year-old company of only 20 people — about half of which have MIT affiliations.
“The culture MIT creates to solve problems that are worth solving, to go after impact, I think that’s been reflected in the way the company got together and has operated,” Syed says. “I’m deeply proud that we’ve maintained that MIT spirit.”
And, Syed believes, there’s much more to come.
“We set out with the goal of driving impact,” Syed says. “We currently run some of the largest production deployments of machine learning at scale, affecting millions, if not tens of millions, of patients, and we are only just getting started.”
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Alabama’s Nick Saban leads players, coaches in BLM march
The group march was in protest of police brutality against Black men and women.
University of Alabama student-athletes took part in a “March for Change” in Tuscaloosa on Monday, led by football coach Nick Saban.
The event was in protest of police brutality against Black men and women, and occurred a week after the Wisconsin police shooting of Jacob Blake.
Saban, the Crimson Tide footballers, coaches, staffers and other athletes, marched on campus from the Mal M. Moore Athletic Facility to Foster Auditorium, where segregationist Gov. George Wallace blocked two Black students from entering in 1963, per WVTM.com.
Read More: Nuggets’ Jamal Murray gets emotional over BLM after 50-point game
Similar marches have been held at schools such as Oklahoma, Kansas, Duke, Baylor, Mississippi and Mississippi State.
“For certain, we can’t let this momentum die,” Crimson Tide tailback Najee Harris said. “This has to be an ongoing movement until change happens.
He added, “We must do more as a team and as individuals to keep this movement going.”
During the demonstration, Harris wore a T-shirt with the message “Defend Black Lives.”
Several players held signs with messages about “Black Lives Matter” and one sign read “Until Black Lives Matter” on the front and “All lives can’t matter” on the back.
“Sports has always created a platform for social change,” Saban said. “For each of us involved in sports, I think we have a responsibility and obligation to do that in a responsible way and use our platform in a positive way to try to create social change in positive ways. Through this process, I’ve learned a lot from our players. I don’t get to see the world through the same lens that a lot of players do, that they live the world in,” he continued.
“Today, I’m like a proud parent,” Saban said outside Foster Hall after leading the march. “I’m proud of our team. I’m proud of our messengers and I’m proud of our message.”
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Florida girl, 6, allegedly killed by mother after parental rights terminated
The child was stabbed multiple times with a kitchen knife, and died at a local hospital from her injuries.
A Florida mother is behind bars and facing a second-degree murder charge after allegedly stabbing her 6-year-old daughter to death.
Purkanah Mayo, 36, is being held without bond for the August 19 killing of the child named Atarah.
DCF reported that Mayo’s parental rights were previously terminated and that she was visiting the child’s home at the time of the attack, according to PEOPLE. Six others were also in the home at the time, including another child who was not injured, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said. That child is reportedly in the care of the Florida Department of Children and Families.
Read More: Florida woman slaps Black boy, calls him the N-word
A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help cover the Atarah’s funeral costs.
The organizer of the GoFundMe fundraiser, Paige Savitz, said: “I was blessed to have known Atarah. She was a bright young girl, with a contagious smile and a huge heart.”
She added: “Atarah lost her life tragically on August 19, 2020. I am raising money to help her family with funeral expenses and as a Memorial to Atarah. Please keep this family in your prayers.”
At the time of this post, the campaign has raised over $9,000.
According to News4Jax, Atarah was stabbed multiple times with a kitchen knife. She died at a local hospital from her injuries.
Mayo allegedly stabbed herself with the same knife after killing her child. She spent several days in the hospital and was treated for the self-inflicted wounds. She was released on Friday.
“I let my kids play here. We’ve got a basketball hoop out front. We know most of the neighbors in the neighborhood,” said local Arlington resident Casandra Shuman of the killing. “Generally speaking, this is a really quiet neighborhood (with) much older people.”
When Mayo appeared in court on Saturday, she did not plead to the second-degree murder charge against her.
Police have not revealed a motive in the child’s slaying.
Mayor is due back in court on Sept. 21.
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‘The Fresh Prince’ cast to reunite on HBO Max
The popular TV show cast will get together for a special unscripted show on HBO Max
One of the most beloved casts in TV history is getting back together – but just for one night on HBO Max. The cast of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air—Will Smith, Daphne Maxwell Reid, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Joseph Marcelli, Karyn Parsons, Alfonso Ribiero, and Tatyana Ali –will all be on the show, reports Variety.
Read More: Marvel Studios remember Chadwick Boseman with heartfelt tribute video
The reunion will be taped on Sept. 10 and is expected to air by Thanksgiving, the outlet says. It will celebrate the classic TV show’s 30th anniversary.
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, which ran for six seasons on NBC from 1990-1996, is one of the most popular TV shows in history. It became an integral part of the 90s pop culture, made Smith a superstar, and inspired filmmaker Morgan Cooper into doing a trailer for a proposed reboot.
As theGrio reported, it was announced earlier this year that the reboot, a darker, more dramatic take on the original, would happen. Smith and the show’s original creators, Andy and Susan Borowitz, along with its original producers, Quincy Jones, and Benny Medina will be on board.
No details of the reunion show have yet been provided, but its likely there will be some kind of tribute to the late actor James Avery, who played Uncle Phil on the show. The cast gathered earlier this year via Smith’s Snapchat to share their memories of Avery who died at the age of 68 in 2013.
Read More: Niecy Nash announces marriage to Jessica Betts: ‘Love wins’
Below, Smith tells the hilarious story of how he actually became the star of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
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Mariah Carey on Ellen DeGeneres pregnancy interview: ‘I was extremely uncomfortable’
The superstar singer remembers an awkward interview with Ellen on her show
Ellen DeGeneres has been under fire for creating and tolerating a toxic workplace on her show. Recently, music legend Mariah Carey came forward to reveal the daytime talk show host made her feel uncomfortable during a now-infamous appearance on The Ellen Show.
Amidst all the controversy around DeGeneres’ workplace behavior, a clip of her interviewing Carey in 2008 has resurfaced as an example of how the comedian often hid her alleged mean streak in plain sight under the guise of humor.
READ MORE: Mariah Carey releases ‘Save the Day’ featuring Lauryn Hill, from upcoming album
At the time of the sit-down, the pop star was rumored to be pregnant but intentionally avoided confirming it to the public until she was sure the pregnancy would go to term.
However, many pointed out that DeGeneres seemingly ignored that boundary and repeatedly attempted to get the singer to drink champagne on camera as a way to get her to confirm or deny the rumors.
What’s worse is Carey miscarried soon after.
READ MORE: Kevin Hart spotted with Ellen DeGeneres after defending her from toxic workplace allegations
“I was extremely uncomfortable with that moment is all I can say. And I really have had a hard time grappling with the aftermath,” she recently told Vulture of the moment that many characterize as an incident of a joke going too far.
“I wasn’t ready to tell anyone because I had had a miscarriage. I don’t want to throw anyone that’s already being thrown under any proverbial bus, but I didn’t enjoy that moment,” Carey explained, going on to say that there is “an empathy that can be applied to those moments that I would have liked to have been implemented. But what am I supposed to do? It’s like, [sings] ‘What are you going to do?’ ”
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Black legislator says Congressman tried to get her fired for calling out racism
Rochester Legislator Sabrina LaMar alleges Congressman Joe Morelle used his power to attempt to have her fired from her university job
Sabrina LaMar, a freshman Legislator based in Rochester, NY, is speaking out after she says Congressman Joe Morelle attempted to use his power to have her fired from her university job.
Read More: New York state legislator’s bill seeks to outlaw hymen exams
LaMar filed an official complaint against Morelle after he allegedly contacted a colleague and demanded her firing, in response to her non-political work at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). Rep. Morelle admits to contacting RIT but denies trying to get LaMar fired.
“We no longer have to lay down and just take this. We have the same rights as our male white counterparts and will no longer stand by idly and say and do nothing. Those days are over,” LaMar tells theGrio.
“Congressman Joe Morelle not only threatened me, but he threatened RIT and revealed to several people that he called RIT in an attempt to have me terminated from employment,” LaMar writes in her ethics claim, issued July 27th.
“It is widely known that RIT receives several federal grants and depends upon the federal government to conduct business. A call from a congressman in this manner is a threat to a private entity and is not befitting of a congressman, he needs to resign from office,” she says.
At RIT, LaMar works as the legislature project coordinator for community engagement to reduce victimization. Her position includes working with the community to curb gun violence in the Rochester area. In this capacity, LaMar was invited to an online show, hosted by Robin Wilt, a congressional candidate for the 25th congressional district and current town board member in Brighton, NY.
Robin Wilt was Rep. Morelle’s opponent in June’s Democratic primary and LaMar serves as a Democratic county legislator. After LaMar appeared on Wilt’s show in April, Morelle questioned whether the appearance was acceptable.
Text messages obtained by theGrio show Congressman Morelle contacted Deborah Stendardi, RIT vice president for government and community relations, asking for LaMar’s digital appearance be called into question, describing the legislator as an “annoyance.”
Stendardi responded, assuring the congressman she would inquire through the proper channels. The communication, initiated by Rep. Morelle on April 28, was wrapped up in the same text thread by the VP by April 29.
Stendardi confirmed that LaMar was addressed about agreeing to do Wilt’s show. A department head informed Stendardi that although the appearance was not required, there was no problem prior to approval, and the legislator did not violate university policy.
However, LaMar was furloughed from her job shortly after that, and remained furloughed until August.
“When all of this was unfolding, I let it go,” LaMar tells theGrio. “I didn’t get fired. There was no harm, no foul.”
“But then I started getting calls from people like the mayor, the deputy mayor, and people in the county executive office saying that they sat in the meeting with Joe. He was openly bragging about him trying to get me fired,” LaMar continued.
LaMar declares the congressman’s actions were in violation of the Official Code of Ethics for the 116th, which states:
“A member may not with the intent to influence an employment decision or employment practice of any private entity. The member cannot take or withhold, or offer or threaten to take or withhold, an official act. The member can not influence, or offer or threaten to influence the official act of another.”
In the official complaint, LaMar describes an uneasiness after the incident:
“Since the call was made I have been afraid to adequately represent my positions for fear of retributions. But today, I refuse to continue to live in fear, which is why I am filing this complaint and asking for this committee to hold Congressman Morelle accountable for his abuse of power,” the legislator writes.
Read More: Maryland congressional candidate Kim Klacik slams Biden at RNC
LaMar is supported by Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren, who says Morelle told her himself that he called RIT.
“The fact is, Congressman Morelle told me this personally, and he told others personally, that he made that call,” Mayor Warren tells theGrio.
“The purpose of that call was very clear. To threaten and to silence Ms. LaMar — a county legislator, a single mother, a strong Black woman, by putting her employment, and her ability to provide for her family at risk,” she continued.
“The purpose of that call was very clear. To threaten and to silence Ms. LaMar — a county legislator, a single mother, a strong black woman, by putting her employment, and her ability to provide for her family at risk.”
Mayor Lovely Warren
Mayor Warren echoed the passionate words from her press conference in conversation with theGrio about the importance of standing with the legislator.
“Given a day and age where Black women and Black people, in general, have suffered so many egregious actions, to have a person of the stature in our community basically admit to making a phone call and retaliation against a Black woman, who a single mom, who is taking care of her mother, is absolutely wrong to me,” Mayor Warren tells theGrio.
“When she was ready to come forward and tell her truth. I wanted to make sure that I was there to support her because I also knew the truth,” Mayor Warren says.
The Mayor recalls a conversation with Congressman Morelle, after her former boss and mentor passed, where she claims Morelle admits to abusing his power in retaliation against LaMar after he alleges she called his son racist in a Facebook post.
“He basically, in so many words, and emphatically… said to me. ‘You know, I’m a very powerful man. Sabrina, she had no business calling my son a racist.’ It was just that flat,” Mayor Warren tells theGrio.
“I think that he was saying that to me as a warning for me to get in line, because if I wanted to continue in my position or continue to not have a problem with him, that I needed to recognize that my boss was gone now and that he was the person that was in charge,” she says.
According to LaMar, Rep. Morelle’s son, Joseph Morelle Jr., a legislator in District 17 and 9, and other legislators drafted a letter to the administration without consulting the entire caucus. The letter, viewed by theGrio, discussed the appointment of a democratic election commissioner since the previous person in the role resigned.
“There are five people of color on the legislator and eight white legislators, but eight white legislators submitted a letter to the county attorney totally circumventing our our leader and the rest of the black people on the caucus. And we took issue with that,” LaMar says to theGrio.
She responded to the exclusion of not only herself, but all other minority and POC legislators left out. She shared a Facebook post, viewed in screenshots by theGrio, expressing her feelings surrounding the ordeal.
Her post was made April 28 around 7:00 a.m. By the afternoon, Morelle sent the initial texts to LaMar’s supervisor. Although Morelle denies making a call to get the legislator fired, the 63-year-old congressman offered an apology for the text messages.
“What is clear is that Ms. Lamar felt threatened, and was pained by that. And I want to apologize to her for that,” Morelle said during an interview with Spectrum News. “I certainly did not intend to do that, but sometimes my actions fall short of the standards I try to set for myself, and for that, I’m very sorry.”
“I make mistakes; I have to make judgments every day,” he continued. “My parents taught me at an early age when you make a mistake, you should own up to it, you should apologize for it, you should learn from it. And that’s what I’m doing.”
As for LaMar, she is diligent in her efforts. She tells theGrio that she hopes real change comes from her actions, not just apologies.
“I would like to see Joe [Morelle] resign and also for him to be reprimanded by whomever is the overseer of the ethics committee as it relates to the House of Representatives or the Office of Congressional Ethics,” LaMar tells theGrio.
LaMar says since going public with her grievances, local Democrats have only become more divided, resulting in “white-only” meetings and a Black/Asian caucus forming.
“[Morelle]’s actions toward me and others demonstrate that he is not befitting to represent this city or this country in Congress,” LaMar tells theGrio. “I also want a real apology. Not that B.S. he said, ‘I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings’– a real apology. I want to see him work towards healing our fractured party and really taking responsibility for his actions and come up with some ways to correct it.“
At the time of publication, Rep. Morelle’s office did not yet reply to theGrio‘s request for comment.
This story will be updated to reflect new developments.
Additional reporting for this story was conducted by Natasha S. Alford.
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Michael B. Jordan honors Chadwick Boseman: ‘I wish we had more time’
‘I’ve been trying to find the words, but nothing comes close to how I feel.’
Michael B. Jordan has penned a touching tribute to his late friend and Black Panther co-star, Chadwick Boseman.
Boseman died Friday after a private, four-year battle with colon cancer. He was 43. Since then, tributes from fans and fellow artists have been flooding the social media.
“I’ve been trying to find the words, but nothing comes close to how I feel. I’ve been reflecting on every moment, every conversation, every laugh, every disagreement, every hug…everything, Jordan wrote in a lengthy Instagram post. “I wish we had more time,” Jordan wrote in a lengthy post on his Instagram account on Monday (Aug. 31).
Read More: Marvel Studios remember Chadwick Boseman with heartfelt tribute video
“One of the last times we spoke, you said we were forever linked , and now the truth of that means more to me than ever. Since nearly the beginning of my career, starting with All My Children when I was 16 years old you paved the way for me. You showed me how to be better, honor purpose, and create legacy. And whether you’ve known it or not…I’ve been watching, learning and constantly motivated by your greatness,” the star continued.
“I wish we had more time,” he added.
Jordan played Erik Killmonger, the cousin of Boseman’s T’Challa/Black Panther in the 2018 Marvel blockbuster film.
“Everything you’ve given the world … the legends and heroes that you’ve shown us we are … will live on forever. But the thing that hurts the most is that I now understand how much of a legend and hero YOU are. Through it all, you never lost sight of what you loved most,” Jordan’s post continued.
Throughout his message, Jordan notes “I wish we had mote time.”
“I’m more aware now than ever that time is short with people we love and admire. I’m gonna miss your honesty, your generosity, your sense of humor, and incredible gifts. I’ll miss the gift of sharing space with you in scenes. I’m dedicating the rest of my days to live the way you did. With grace, courage, and no regrets,” he concluded.
Check out his full tribute above.
In related news, more than 7,900 people have signed a petition calling for a statue of Boseman to replace a Confederate memorial in his hometown of Anderson, South Carolina.
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Detroit remembers COVID-19 victims with stunning public park tribute
More than 1,500 residents in Detroit have died due to COVID-19 in the past few months
The over 1,500 COVID-19 victims in Detroit who have lost their lives to the virus were honored in a day-long memorial at Belle Isle.
According to The Detroit News, Monday, thousands of residents drove into the island Park off Jefferson to view a public display of 907 billboard-sized posters of loved locals and first responders who passed away between March and Aug. 18.
READ MORE: Detroit Lions cancel football practice in protest of Jacob Blake shooting
Among those being honored was Frances Bazel, a widely loved “community mother” who over the years took in 10 foster children. According to her granddaughter, Ericka Murria, she died April 4 from COVID-19, all alone.
“We got a call in the middle of the night that she couldn’t breathe,” recalled Murria, 37, whose family thought the matriarch would be safe from the virus while undergoing rehabilitation at a Detroit nursing home. “It continued to spiral downward. COVID attacked her major organs, pneumonia came about, and she went into a coma.”
READ MORE: Segregated parks contribute to coronavirus spread in Black, Latino communities: report
Unfortunately, due to health mandates, the family wasn’t able to see Bazel or sit by her bedside as she took her last breath.
“I could not fight for her when she could not fight for herself,” a distraught Murria added tearfully.
As Murria and her family approached the billboard put up in honor of her grandmother, Bill Withers‘ “Ain’t No Sunshine” began to play on the blues music station they had tuned into on the radio.
“It’s almost like we saw her,” she said. “I know I couldn’t hide my tears after that.”
“This city was hit harder than most. We took it seriously together, as partners,” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Monday.
She and Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist joined Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan to kick off the memorial day with remarks near the bridge entrance at Jefferson and East Grand Boulevard.
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