Black Developer of Atlanta Micro Home Community Gifts Black Woman with Her Own Home
by jeuned

January 20, 2023

Black Developer of Atlanta Micro Home Community Gifts Black Woman with Her Own Home

Lisa Williams rented a townhome in Atlanta for 12 years, until she was given a 60-day notice to vacate the residence.

But little did she know that Booker T. Washington, a real estate developer who built a Black-owned micro home community, South Park Cottages in College Park, GA with his team, would make her dream of being a homeowner come true. 

“I’m elated. I feel so blessed and I feel that everything that I and I get a little emotional because everything that I went through it led to this,” Williams said according to 11 Alive News. This is Williams’ first time as a homeowner.

Washington’s mission, with the creation of South Park Cottages, is to help individuals achieve their goal of owning a home at an affordable price.

South Park Cottages is a small-scale neighborhood of 29 micro homes in Atlanta. The properties range in size from 400 to 600 square feet, costing about $180,000 to $230,000.

South Park Cottages is described as a modernized cottage community because the property features tall ceilings and balconies. It is also the “first Black-owned micro-community in the country.” 

Washington opened up about the range of people interested in the property.

“At South Park Cottages, we have a spectrum of people buy a home here. You have empty nesters. You have people downsizing. You have millennials. You have gen x-ers just starting out,” Washington, the South Park CEO said.

Washington disclosed why his dreams of helping others own an affordable home are more significant now than ever before.

“The average home in the Atlanta metro area, which is well over $425,000, there is a majority over 70% of individuals that don’t make incomes to meet that level,” he said.

After Williams received a property, more good news started pouring in for South Park Cottages.

The company gained the support of WNBA player Angel McCoughtry after she bought one of the homes as an investment property.

“These are affordable homes but you get the features of a million dollar home,” said Washington, according to the outlet.

Washington shared that he and his company plan to expand the micro-community in different locations, such as Union City, so that everyone could get a home-owning experience.

South Park Cottages is expected to be completed in March.

Omaha Man Receives 90-Day Sentence Following Crash That Leaves 35-Year-Old Mother Dead
by jeuned

January 19, 2023

Omaha Man Receives 90-Day Sentence Following Crash That Leaves 35-Year-Old Mother Dead

Regina Bright‘s family and friends are outraged after an Omaha man, Jonathan McDougald, received a light sentence for the fatal crash that ultimately ended her life. 

According to KETV, the accident occurred in March 2022 after Bright, who was driving a Jeep Compass, tried to make a left turn at a local gas station when McDougald’s Chevy Impala, traveling at high speed, struck the 35-year-old’s vehicle. Although McDougald would be taken to Nebraska Medicine with no life-threatening injuries, Bright was pronounced dead at the scene.  

At the time of Bright’s death, she left behind two children and a legion of family and friends.

Following the crash, McDougald was charged with misdemeanor motor vehicle homicide. On Jan. 12, McDougald received a sentence of 90 days in prison and two years probation. Despite the sentence, the Judge expressed to the court that they felt McDougald’s actions that fateful day were compelled by anger and emotions.

During an interview with KETV, Bright’s mother, Veronica Constance-Bright, opened up about her frustration with the justice system. She said, “He killed my daughter, that’s just not enough. The district attorney is doing what she can under the law, but the law needs to change.”

At the same time, Bright’s co-worker and friend Sarah Supenski shared how unfair McDougald’s sentencing was. Supenski explained, “It’s just not fair, in any way shape or form, I don’t care what way you cut it.” Another one of Bright’s friends, Anna Roark, told the publication that the light punishment felt “like a second funeral.”

After his sentencing, McDougald revealed to the judge how remorseful he was regarding the entire situation. He even offered to help the family at any cost. In addition to McDougald’s jail time and probation, he must do behavior and mental health evaluations and pay $1,000 in restitution.

 

Freedom Riders Bus Driver, Entrepreneur Herbert Young Passes Away at 86
by jeuned

January 19, 2023

Freedom Riders Bus Driver, Entrepreneur Herbert Young Passes Away at 86

Herbert Young, famously known for driving the bus that escorted the Freedom Riders from protests in Montgomery, AL, has passed away at 86.

The Freedoms Riders consisted of groups of Black and white civil rights activists who challenged segregation on interstate buses and bus terminals in various states in 1961.

Although details surrounding Young’s death are limited, his obituary stated that he died on Jan. 2. Throughout his life, Young made history in his own right, aside from being known as the Freedom Riders’ bus driver. The obituary highlighted that Young, who worked as a bus driver after graduating high school, was one of the first Black individuals to unite the Montgomery Area Transit System and train new bus drivers of all races. 

After Young’s time at the transit system ended, he attended and graduated from the police academy at Northwestern University. According to The Montgomery Advertiser, Young served in Montgomery’s Police Department for five years and was ultimately appointed the first Black deputy marshal. Alongside his job in the police force, Young also developed other businesses in Alabama, including a car lot, car wash, bus transportation services, limousine service, and a beauty salon.

Days after Young’s passing, during an interview with The Montgomery Advertiser, a community advocate named Cubie Hayes expressed her sorrow about losing the “trailblazer.” She told the publication that she wasn’t aware of Young’s huge contribution to society. Hayes said, “I was sitting by a Black history icon and had no idea. Montgomery lost a great icon and trailblazer — Black trailblazer.”

Young’s friend and co-worker at the Ross-Clayton Funeral Home, where he worked on and off his entire life, Joe Kendrick, shared that “he will be missed.”

Young is survived by his family, which consists of his sister, six children, six great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and the entire Montgomery community.

by jeuned

January 19, 2023

Whoopi Goldberg Clapped Back at ‘The View’ Audience Member Who Called Her an ‘Old Broad’

Throughout Whoopi Goldberg’s entire career in the entertainment industry, the actress hasn’t been afraid to speak her mind on any given topic, regardless of the outcome. 

This was proven to be the case again on Jan. 18, after Goldberg briefly checked an audience member during a live taping of The View when that particular person called the co-host an “old broad.” According to Entertainment Weekly, the event occurred at the beginning of the show when everyone, including Goldberg, cheerfully took their seats.

The mood quickly shifted after an unidentified woman dressed in a colorful blazer and a fur hat shouted the phrase. As Goldberg acknowledged what transpired, she immediately responded, “Did you just call me an ‘old broad’?” Following that question, the camera panned over to the woman, who nodded yes.  

That exchange appeared to have ruffled Goldberg’s feathers because the 67-year-old retaliated with a smart remark. When Goldberg’s co-hosts asked her to clarify what happened, the Ghost star explained, “Yeah. She said, ‘You old broad,’ and I was like, ‘Hey, it’s Wednesday, and I am an old broad, and happy about it.’”

https://youtu.be/NRTPf5rUgdo

 

As Goldberg’s co-host Sunny Hostin tried to inform her that being called an “old broad” is better than any alternative word, the EGOT winner quickly jumped in and said, “The alternative is not attractive to any of us. We all want to be old broads and old dudes, you know?”

When the clip started circulating online, many people had opposing views. Some individuals praised Goldberg for her response, while others claimed that the audience member was possibly referring to the star’s new book “Two Old Broads” when she called Goldberg that term.

“Loved how Whoopi handled that. She’s such a powerhouse.”

“Lesson to lady in the audience. Never holler at an EGOT person. They have achieved some of the highest recognition in their craft. I loved Whoopi’s reaction she handled it with humor and grace.”

“I don’t think she was calling her a old broad she was referring to her new book “Two Old Broads” I think she was yelling it as a term of endearment because Whoopi reacted in playful way the media always want to dissect something.”

“Could the woman be referring to Whoopi’s book Two Old Broads?”

Despite fans’ opinions, Goldberg has yet to release an additional statement.

Tracee Ellis Ross Says On Podcast Her Body’s Ability to Make a Child Is Draining Out of Her
by jeuned

January 18, 2023

Tracee Ellis Ross Says On Podcast Her Body’s Ability to Make a Child Is Draining Out of Her

Tracee Ellis Ross isn’t holding back when discussing aging and the numerous effects of perimenopause during a recent interview on Glennon Doyle‘s podcast, We Can Do Hard Things.

Perimenopause, which takes place years before menopause, occurs when a woman’s ovaries no longer produce eggs. The effects can include mood swings, sleep issues, and hot flashes. A couple of ways an individual can maintain perimenopause is by exercising and having a balanced diet. 

On Jan. 10, Ross, who celebrated her 50th birthday last year, opened up about the physical changes she’s endured over the last several months.

While talking about the difference in her cycle and ovulation timeline, Ross said, “I have, for my entire life, been tethered to a very routine cycle. And I’m very connected to my body, so I would know I’m ovulating. I would have all the feelings of knowing that. And all of that is out the window. And I turn 50. And here I am in this open space now, sort of allowing the bubbling up of whatever might be here.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Tracee Ellis Ross (@traceeellisross)

Further in the discussion, Ross shared her current thoughts about her perimenopause journey and its significance in her life, especially dealing with the possibility of now becoming infertile. 

The black-ish star stated, “I mean, just trying to figure out what that means, because my ability to have a child is leaving me, but I don’t agree that that’s what fertile means. I don’t agree that that’s what woman means.”

“I can feel my body’s ability to make a child draining out of me. Sometimes I find it hilarious, as if there is a fire sale going on in my uterus, and someone’s in there screaming, ‘All things must go!’” she shared, reading an excerpt from her journal.

Although Ross has no children, she added that she sees herself becoming a great mother one day because of her interactions with her nieces and nephews, which she has shared numerous times on her social media page in the past. She said, “I’m very mothering.”

Ross revealed that even though she didn’t get the opportunity to experience motherhood, she’s still grateful for the life she has built for herself, her blood, and chosen family.

by jeuned

January 18, 2023

Frenemies? Malcolm-Jamal Warner Had Real Life Beef With ‘Cosby Show’ Costar Carl Anthony Payne II

Actors Malcolm-Jamal Warner and Carl Anthony Payne II may have played on-screen best friends on The Cosby Show, looks can be deceiving. Not everything was copacetic between the pair, at least from Warner’s standpoint. 

During his recent appearance on The Breakfast Club, Warner disclosed that although he and Payne are in a better place now as adults, the duo did, in fact, have a feud on the hit series.

Warner revealed the dispute stemmed from Payne losing a plum role on The Cosby Show, which ran from 1984 to 1992. For context, Warner was cast as Theodore Huxtable, the only son of beloved television couple Cliff and Clair Huxtable. At the same time, Payne was offered a supporting role as Theo’s best friend, Walter “Cockroach” Bradley.

In the January 12 interview, Warner opened up about the casting process and claimed that the duo was up for the same role. The 52-year-old stated if he didn’t audition, Payne “would have played Theo.”

Warner said, “We’re cooler as adults than we were during the time. The original callbacks for Cosby they flew in an actor from Chicago and then flew in an actor from New York. Carl was the actor they flew in from New York. So, had I not auditioned for the show, Carl would have played Theo.”

Later, Warner said Payne’s “huge ego” heavily contributed to their rift.

“That was part of it,” Warner said. “I didn’t come from that kind of place. The way I felt then and the way I do now, you know, based on my career, if anyone should walk around with a huge ego it should be me. And if I don’t roll like that, I have very little tolerance for people who roll like that. So we never really, we just really never got along back then.”

Despite the feud, both men would ultimately make amends years later.

Payne has yet to respond to Warner’s claims.

by jeuned

January 18, 2023

No Limits! Master P and Snoop Dogg Land First Black-Owned Cereal Company National Distribution Deal

Master P and Snoop Dogg are in the history-making business.

The rappers-turned-moguls recently signed a national distribution deal with Post Consumer Brands for their breakfast food products Snoop Cereal and Broadus Foods.

On January 16, Master P uploaded a video of himself commemorating the partnership with the company’s staff in what appears to be a Post facility on Instagram. In the clip, Master P, also known as Percy Miller, was gifted a gold spoon before expressing to the Post employees how significant this deal is to him in a speech.

While recounting his successful musical background, which consists of selling millions of records worldwide and owning the record label No Limit Records, Master P said, “Now, I feel like I’m back in my record company days. I did a record deal I sold 100 million records, and now with the cereal game. This is a new game! I got a gold spoon. This is what diversity is all about.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Master P (@masterp)

Later in his speech, the 52-year-old praised Post for believing in his overall vision of putting more “African-American-owned products on the shelf.” Master P also highlighted the advantages that will occur within the Black community following the distribution deal, noting that they spend over $1 trillion annually on breakfast products.

He stated, “Now, we will be able to put money back into our community and our culture. So, this is bigger than just the cereal. This is going to make a difference and we’ll be able to feed so many people.”

Master P wrapped up his speech by pledging to the Post staff that he and Snoop Dogg are “going to work hard” to sweep out the competition.

The father of nine said, “This is only the beginning. We’re going to work hard. We know it’s not going to be easy and there’s a lot of competition out there but we’ve never been afraid to work.” In addition to the recording, Master P disclosed in the caption that he and Snoop Dogg are the first “Black-owned cereal company” to land a national distribution deal.

As previously reported by BLACK ENTERPRISE, in August 2022, Master P and Snoop Dogg announced that they had released their cereal which the pair named at the time Snoop Loopz.

That December, they renamed their product Snoop Cereal (after they were threatened with a lawsuit), which was revealed in a quick video. At the same time, Master P shared that they were in the early stages of partnering up with Post.

Snoop Cereal will hit the shelves in June.

by jeuned

January 18, 2023

Legendary Rapper MC Lyte Remains Owner of Her Music Catalog in Divorce Settlement

MC Lyte has many things to be thankful for this year, one being that she is legally a free woman.

News outlets are reporting that the rapper’s divorce from entrepreneur John Wyche is officially finalized. In a list of things MC Lyte can keep, she will remain the rightful owner of her music catalog and its royalties, which goes back to the late 1980s.

In February 2022, MC Lyte opened up about her struggles after undergoing a public divorce. During an episode of The Real, the rap veteran shared that in the beginning, she was incredibly distraught by the entire process. 

She said, “I think in the very beginning, I was very distraught. I feel like there are phases whenever a relationship is ending, whether you’re married or not. It’s that first phase of, ‘Oh my God, I’ve got to make this work for us. Then it’s like, Oh my God, I’ve got to make this work for everybody else involved.’“

 

Later in the conversation, MC Lyte disclosed that she knew immediately after exchanging vows with Wyche in 2017 that the union wouldn’t last despite her all of her efforts. 

“You get to a point where you’re like, this isn’t working. It doesn’t matter. What really matters is that we end up in a happy place. It’s hard in the beginning, but you realize to have happiness doesn’t mean you have to remain together, and it doesn’t mean that you are a failure because the marriage failed. It’s all ego. You just have to be able to let go.”

MC Lyte, who met Wyche on the dating website Match.com, filed for divorce in 2020, citing irreconcilable differences. 

According to The Blast, MC Lyte’s marriage to Wyche was brief. Court documents obtained by the publication state the “Paper Thin” lyricist separated from Wyche in January 2018, almost five months after they tied the knot in Jamaica in August 2017.

The legal docs also mention details about the pair’s prenuptial agreement. In it, MC Lyte and Wyche didn’t ask for spousal support, and the 52-year-old will be able to keep her belongings and the earnings she made throughout the duo’s short-lived union.

According to the court documents stated, “MC Lyte keeps her clothing, jewelry, watches, and personal effects in her possession, custody, or control, and earnings and accumulations before the date of marriage, during the marriage, and post-separation, her Subaru, financial accounts in her name, all furniture, furnishings, and other personal property in her possession, custody, or control. She also gets to keep her term life insurance policy.”

NeNe Leakes’ Son Shows Off 100-Pound Weight Loss 3 Months After Being Hospitalized
by jeuned

January 18, 2023

NeNe Leakes’ Son Shows Off 100-Pound Weight Loss 3 Months After Being Hospitalized

It appears that NeNe Leakes’ youngest son Brentt Leakes has a new outlook on life, especially regarding his health, after revealing he had lost 100 pounds.

The 23-year-old’s massive weight loss is a monumental occasion because it comes three months after he suffered a stroke. On Jan. 16, Brentt shocked his followers when he uploaded a series of snapshots on Instagram, including a before and after photo collage. In addition to the images, Brentt expressed the importance of focusing on one’s well-being, writing the caption, “Focus on you until the focus is you. #100poundsdown.”

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by 🅿️ (@kingbrentt)

As previously reported by BLACK ENTERPRISE, in October 2022, news about Brentt’s hospitalization began circulating online. After details surrounding Brentt’s health were shared with the general public, NeNe decided to address the allegations head on. 

In a now-deleted Instagram story, the former Real Housewives of Atlanta star revealed that Brentt suffered from congestive heart failure and a stroke. While disclosing that this wasn’t how she or Brentt wanted to talk about this situation, NeNe said, “This was not how we wanted it to come out. We wanted to be able to talk about it ourselves when Brentt was in a better place. so, here I am because I would rather the correct thing be out there than something that’s not correct.”

“Two weeks ago today, Brentt had congestive heart failure and a stroke. He’s only 23, so he’s really young for something like that to happen to him.”

Further into the conversation, NeNe also claimed that despite the health issues her son faced, doctors couldn’t provide a valid reason as to what caused this event. Toward the end of the video, NeNe asked her followers to pray as Brentt recovered.

She stated, “Obviously, a stroke is a very serious thing. So, he’s struggling you know, with speaking, and it’s, just know that keep us in your prayers. Keep bringing your prayers.”

The following month, Brentt was released from the hospital and spent the holidays with his family.

NeNe shares Brentt with her late husband Gregg Leakes. 

Fisk Addresses Student Housing Demand By Creating Dorm Rooms With Shipping Containers
by jeuned

January 18, 2023

Fisk Addresses Student Housing Demand By Creating Dorm Rooms With Shipping Containers

Black liberal arts college Fisk University has been making headlines recently for taking the appropriate action to decrease the high demand for student housing in Nashville, Tennessee.

According to NBC News, it includes converting “dozens of shipping containers” into dorm rooms.

During an interview with the publication, Jens Frederiksen, the university executive vice president, revealed that containers would house about 98 students. The building’s exterior also has the university’s colors, blue and gold.

As for the price, Frederiksen shared that the total project would cost about $4 million, which the university obtained through additional donors. Further, Frederiksen disclosed that he sees this idea as a “brilliant and innovative solution” because this works for the university, given how rapidly the enrolling class is growing and the other changes that need to be made on different dormitories.

https://twitter.com/Fisk1866/status/1612574163847335951?s=20&t=Nb23vEkGjhT34iEtgGP33A

“I think this is a brilliant and innovative solution and it works for us,” Frederiksen said.

“The enrollment is growing so fast, and the shipping containers provide some sustainable flexibility. We have four current residence halls, but they are aging dormitories. So I think the containers will serve as a sustainable solution for the foreseeable future.”

When the discussion shifted to the student’s feelings regarding the project, Frederiksen claimed that an overwhelming majority “wanted to live in these shipping containers.”

The university executive vice president explained how they addressed the situation.

“We went to the student body, we did town halls, we did some surveys, and the response was incredible. They all wanted to live in these shipping containers.”

Fisk University is reportedly the second school using shipping containers to create more residential buildings for students. The first institute was the College of Idaho. In the past, shipping containers have been used for housing and farming projects.

Fisk University’s shipping container project is scheduled to be completed by fall 2023.

At the same time, the building of the traditional residence halls, funded by a federal loan program, is set to be done the following year.