On Oct. 4 in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, the Dove Self-Esteem Project collaborated with award-winning television producer Shonda Rhimes, to host a town hall discussion along with a workshop to help policymakers, school administrators, and students understand the issues of hair discrimination in schools as well as its impact on the self-esteem of students.

Girls around the world are faced with daily obstacles that could dampen their self-esteem and prevent them from really exercising their full potential. A good portion of those obstacles come from racially-charged school policies. For young black girls, these policies usually punish them for their natural hair, which can understandably make them feel shame.

As Rhimes pointed out at the event, “It feels like every day, there’s a new headline about a black girl being bullied or sent home from school because of the way she wears her hair—impacting not only her education but her self-image. It’s time to take a stand.”

The Dove Self-Esteem Project held its event in which over “100 students and school administrators from across the country to a town hall, bringing together those most affected by hair discrimination alongside policymakers to drive actionable change for a more equitable future” according to a press release.

The town hall was moderated by Dove Self-Esteem educator Dre Brown and featured speakers like Sen. Holly J. Mitchell, who introduced Senate Bill 188 that banned hair discrimination in schools and the workplace in California, Janaya Khan who is an activist and program director of Media Culture & Economic Justice at the Color of Change organization, and Esi Eggleston Bracey, the COO and EVP Unilever Beauty and Personal Care North America

Rhimes says it’s time to help young black girls to become proud of their natural hair and combat discrimination of black hair in schools. “We need to put an end to hair discrimination—but we can only do it together.”

The case of Felicity Huffman, in which she just finished serving 11 days in jail for committing a federal crime, has critics pointing out a case in Bridgeport, Connecticut, where a mother was sentenced to five years in prison for crimes that include falsifying her son’s residence to get him into a neighboring school district. However the plea deal in the Connecticut case also includes selling drugs on two occasions.

According to Assistant State’s Attorney Michael DeJoseph in an article by People magazine, Tanya McDowell was sentenced after she pleaded guilty to charges including first-degree larceny and two counts of selling narcotics.

For the narcotics charge, McDowell was twice caught selling drugs to what turned out to be an undercover officer. The larceny charge was added when it was found that McDowell used her son’s babysitter’s address to enroll him in an elementary school that was located in Norwalk, a neighborhood next to Bridgeport.

Many critics are comparing this case to the Huffman case because there is an obvious difference between them in terms of the severity of the consequences. Huffman was involved in a massive college admissions scandal where she paid $15,000 to admissions consultant William “Rick” Singer and his nonprofit organization, Key Worldwide Foundation (KWF), to cheat on her daughter’s SAT test by having a proctor correct her answers afterward. The actress was sentenced to 14 days behind bars in addition to a $30,000 fine, 250 hours of community service, and court supervision for a year after her release.

Those critics argue that there’s a double standard in the treatment of the education-related offenses, and point out that the disparity in schooling continues to put underprivileged, mainly low-income black communities at a disadvantage. According to an article in the Washington Post, in 2016, white school districts received $23 billion more in government funding than nonwhite school districts.

According to the Connecticut Post, at the time of the sentencing, McDowell said, “I have no regrets seeking a better education for him; I do regret my participation in this drug case.”

• Technology

by cyprienm

October 21, 2019

Google Suspends Facial Recognition Research After Reportedly Targeting Homeless Black People

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Google has decided to suspend its facial recognition research program after a report revealed that its contractors had been targeting homeless black people.

According to Business Insider, the main goal of the research was to help Google design its software to be less racially biased. The research was also intended to improve facial recognition on Google’s upcoming Pixel 4 smartphone.

Google informed The New York Daily News that it was investigating the matter and on Friday told The New York Times that the company had suspended its facial recognition research until further notice.

Part of the strategy for Google was trying to get more images of people with darker skin to counteract algorithmic bias in public datasets that are predominantly white.

In an email to their staff, which in turn, was sent to The New York Times, an executive said, “Our goal in this case has been to ensure we have a fair and secure feature that works across different skin tones and face shapes.”

According to Business Insider, multiple sources that have worked in or with Google contractors informed them “that in order to get more pictures of people with darker skin tones, they had been told to rush subjects in Atlanta through consent forms and obfuscate exactly what the photos were being used for.”

As a result of those people taking part in the survey, they are rewarded a $5 gift card. The sources were also told to specifically target black homeless people and students because they would be more likely to respond to the offer of a gift card. Those same sources also said they were told to target homeless people primarily because they would be more reluctant to talk to the press about the research.

• Lifestyle

by cyprienm

October 7, 2019

Condoleezza Rice Wants People to Stop Calling Racists ‘Racist’

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Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice believes it’s essentially wrong to call people racist. This belief seems to be her ultimate solution to healing the racial divide in the country.

Rice, who was a part of the Bush administration from 2005 until 2009, said during an appearance on CBS’ Face The Nation that the White House “needs language that recognizes how raw race is as a factor in America.” However, her solution to that is keeping quiet about calling out racist people. As she stated to CBS, “But I think we could all be better in the way that we deal with this very raw nerve, which is race. I think it’s time to stop labeling each other and using explosive terms like ‘she’s a racist, he’s a racist,’ that stops the conversation. When you say that, that’s meant to stop the conversation and we need to have the conversation.”

In other words, according to Rice, pointing out that people’s viewpoints are racist doesn’t help stop racism. We should keep quiet about it and instead and try to have a conversation. However, this doesn’t make much sense because part of having a conversation about racism is pointing out how it manifests and how to unlearn it. Therefore, you have to bring it to light, which means people should be called out when they’re being racist.

Another issue many have with Rice’s statement is President Donald Trump’s long documented history of racism. In order for people to see Trump as a racist, then people must call out his racism. A few examples include his housing discrimination lawsuits during the 1970s, his racist birther movement against Obama, the Muslim travel ban a federal judge said it was racist), and Trump calling for the execution of five black teenagers with a full-page ad in the New York Times in 1989 (the Exonerated Five).

This is an opinion piece and does not necessarily represent the views of BLACK ENTERPRISE.

It’s no secret that an Ivy League education costs a lot of money, or that students pursuing graduate degrees are usually on the hook for even more student loan debt. However, one school is changing that by offering qualifying students a full scholarship. Cornell University joins a list of institutions around the country that have begun to push for a less expensive college education in order to give students much more access.

Weill Cornell Medicine, part of Cornell University, recently announced that it would “eliminate medical education debt for all students who qualified for financial aid, starting with the students that entered the program this fall,” according to CNN.

This means that the students will not only get a top-notch college education, but they will be able to graduate without having to worry about debt and its potential negative effect on their future.

“By replacing student loans with scholarships that cover tuition, housing, and other living expenses, the programs ensure that all students, including those from economically diverse backgrounds, can pursue their medical education without financial burden,” the university said in a statement to CNN.

According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, the average student debt for medical students last year was a little more than $196,000. And more than 70% of medical education graduates walked out with debt.

The university also stated that this impactful decision was made possible by gifts from donors, which round up to more than $160 million.

“This bold initiative to eliminate medical education student debt ensures that every student who wishes to become a doctor can do so—for their betterment and for the patients they serve,” Cornell University President Martha E. Pollack said in a statement. “By investing in our medical students, we impart a lasting, positive effect on the healthcare landscape across the country.”

• Lifestyle

by cyprienm

October 4, 2019

“MasterChef” Celebrates 10th Season With Its First Black Woman Winner

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After 10 seasons, a black female contestant has won MasterChef.

According to Atlanta Black Star, Dorian Hunter from Cartersville, Ga., won the judges over with a menu that included “an appetizer of seared scallops with cornmeal tuille, sweet corn puree, and pickled swiss chard; an entrée of applewood smoked short ribs with potato and horseradish gratin; as well as a lemon blueberry tart for dessert” while competing to create a three-course meal for family, friends, and former champions of the series hosted by celebrity chef Gordon Ramsey.

Hunter beat out meals from San Diego’s Sarah Faherty and Rhode Island’s Nick DiGiovanni to collect the $250,000 grand prize. In addition to the money, Hunter also won the opportunity to work with judges Ramsay, Aarón Sánchez, and Joe Bastianich.

MasterChef is an American reality TV show centered around a cooking competition. It is based on the British series of the same name and is catered toward amateur and home chefs. It debuted July 27, 2010 on FOX.

“This is a life-changer and I’m so happy to, not my fans, but my family,” Hunter said.

According to Parade.com, Hunter’s immediate plans are to author a cookbook tied to the culinary point of view she carried out throughout MasterChef.

“My vision for my cookbook would be what I have been saying all season, elevated soul. I don’t want to be too rustic, because I think that has already been done a lot, but I want to show soul food cooking done in a different way—in a beautiful way, not just in a homestyle way.”

Hunter also has plans to open a restaurant. As she told Parade.com, “I always say that having the title is more than the money. I am hoping to be able to work the title to, ultimately, open up that restaurant.”

• News

by cyprienm

October 1, 2019

Texas Man Divorces Wife By Forging Paperwork

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Divorce isn’t fun. Having to split up with your partner is difficult and can be an even more difficult and brutal process for all involved. In fact, you may not even want to bother going through it because it can take a long time.

However, one Texas resident found a shortcut–by forging his wife’s signature on divorce papers. Police are looking for Paul Nixon after he finalized his divorce fraudulently and without his wife’s knowledge, authorities say.

Authorities discovered that Nixon, 51, had submitted forged documents and false information to a district court in Houston in order to divorce his wife. The constable’s office launched an investigation when Nixon’s wife informed law enforcement about the furtive divorce. According to The New York Daily News, in a Facebook post, Harris County Constable Mark Herman wrote that “the waiver of service also included the forged signature of a notary public.”

Herman also told TV news station KPRC that there is a search for Nixon, who is now wanted for aggravated perjury as well as forging the documents.

“We have teams out looking for him right now, I can tell you,” he said. “And we have an idea where he’s at. So hopefully, he’ll turn himself in. If not, we’ll catch him. Just a matter of time.”

Due to the perjury and fraudulent documents as well as the fraudulent filing, the divorce has been set aside.

The list of ordinary things black people can’t do in public without someone getting the police involved has just gotten longer. Apparently even a temper tantrum from a 6-year-old can be seen as cause for an arrest by an Orlando police officer.

According to BET News, Dennis Turner, a school resource officer, arrested two small children at a charter school in Orlando, Florida, on two separate occasions. During the arrest, he charged one of the children with misdemeanor battery.

Turner was in violation of the department’s policy, which requires an officer to receive approval from the watch commander before arresting anyone under the age of 12. He has since been arrested and according to the Orlando Police department, Turner has now been fired.

• Lifestyle

by cyprienm

September 19, 2019

Meet the Woman Who Makes Lunch For Over 100 Neighborhood Children A Day

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There are many ways to make a difference. One woman in northern St. Louis is doing just that in her neighborhood through a simple task: making lunch.

Champale Anderson is a health care provider and mother of six who is making an impact in her neighborhood by giving a bag lunch that consists of sandwiches and snacks to any child who comes to her door and asks. According to Fox News 2, Anderson has been combating childhood hunger by feeding local children for the last five years.

Anderson’s act of kindness is simple, but meaningful: she has an open-door policy during school days for all kids in the neighborhood. In other words, children can knock on her door before and after school, and she will give them breakfast or lunch.

The bags are filled with kid-friendly goodies, including peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, cookies, fruit, and juice. “It makes me proud,” Anderson said. “My goal is to go to different neighborhoods and give out bags.”

But even more impressive is the fact that Anderson makes about 100 bags a day. The idea behind Anderson paying it forward was the desire to simply help children in need. On her GoFund Me page, she writes, “I’m just trying to help the kids that don’t have enough at home or just hungry after school.”

That hunger, as well as Anderson’s love for these children, is clear.

“They get off the bus and they take off running, because they never know what I have in the bag,” Anderson told Fox News 2. “I switch it up. Sometimes I give them special treats for my special babies.”

• News

by cyprienm

September 18, 2019

Angela Davis Inducted Into the Women’s Hall Of Fame

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The National Women’s Hall of Fame features a variety of women who have made history and impacted our future for years to come. This year’s inductees include U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor and civil rights icon Angela Davis, who were among 11 women in total, according to the Huffington Post. Both Davis and Sotomayor are women of color who have made incredible strides against the injustices that invade our country.

All the inductees are first nominated by the public and then chosen by a panel of professionals who have strong expertise in fields such as art, government, history, and science. Once selected, the inductees are honored at a ceremony in the hall located in Seneca Falls, New York.

Although the hall doesn’t normally have a particular theme, the chairwoman of the induction, Sujatha Ramanujan, said that the group of nominees for this year reflect the country’s political climate.

“It shows up in the nominations because we ask the general public — and in a time when women are feeling like their voices need to be heard, they’re nominating women whose voices were loud,” said Ramanujan, according to the Washington Post.

During her acceptance speech, Davis celebrated female activists, saying, “at each significant turning point in my life, when I was introduced to the world of progressive political activism, anti-racist prison abolition struggles, when I myself was on the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted List and ended up spending two years in jail and on trial, when I became involved in many international solidarity efforts, intersectional feminist movements, I’ve always been one of many.”

“My own consciousness has been enabled always by shared endeavors and collective consciousness,” she added.

Sotomayor, who is the first Latinx justice on the Supreme Court, also delivered an inspiring speech that acknowledged her fellow inductees and praised their extraordinary work.