People reported that posts about the chilling discoveries began circulating on TikTok and X, formerly Twitter, after the bodies were found in March across six towns — four in Connecticut, one in Massachusetts and one in Rhode Island — within […]
Sharpe’s attorney said the lawsuit is ‘filled with lies, distortions, and misrepresentations‘ USA Today reported that attorneys for the woman, identified as “Jane Doe,” filed the lawsuit Sunday in Clark County, Nevada. According to the complaint, Sharpe allegedly used physical […]
A Black-led boycott against the retail giant Target will continue, announced three of the boycott’s organizers after meeting with members of the company’s leadership.
The announcement comes as Target continues to see the fallout of its decision to end diversity, equity and inclusion programs and efforts to support Black businesses as the company seeks to align itself with the Trump administration’s agenda.
Committee formed to coordinate efforts as Target boycott continues
“Target Fast” organizer Rev. Jamal Bryant, We Are Somebody founder Nina Turner and Until Freedom co-founder Tamika Mallory issued a joint statement Monday announcing that a boycott of Target stores will continue. The three leaders have been among the main voices calling on Black customers to avoid shopping at Target after the company announced in January that it was rolling back its DEI and pro-Black business initiatives to align with the Trump administration’s anti-DEI orders. Bryant had framed the boycott as a “Target Fast” to coincide with the fasting season of Lent that ended with Sunday’s Easter holiday.
The three leaders met with members of Target’s leadership, and while they left with the impression that “Target is feeling the power of our communities and wants this boycott to end,” they lamented that “we believe that Target CEO Brian Cornell remains unaware of the betrayal felt by our communities due to his company’s decision to cower to the Trump administration,” according to their statement. Given Target’s continued policy of distancing itself from DEI initiatives, the three organizers announced a continuation of the boycott and the creation of a Target Boycott Organizing Committee to facilitate clear communication between the company and the leaders of the boycott. The boycott is to continue until “Target reinstates diversity, equity, and inclusion programs by name to stand up to the Trump administration instead of bending to bigotry,” and the organizers pointed to companies like Costco that have maintained diversity efforts as examples to follow.
Target looking to reverse economic losses as boycott continues
The drama with Target began in January when, just days after President Donald Trump was inaugurated and began issuing anti-DEI orders, the company announced that it was ending its DEI efforts and its program to promote products from Black businesses. The announcement, reversing pledges the company made in 2020, led to multiple calls to boycott the store, including Bryant’s campaign. As Blavity previously reported, Target saw a significant decrease in foot traffic in its stores after the boycott was announced. Bryant and CNN reporter Victor Blackwell have also noted that Target’s stock shares have significantly dropped in value, noting a similar protest against Elon Musk’s Tesla as well.
Pastor Jamal Bryant, Nina Turner and Tamika Mallory announce that the Target boycott will continue after the 40-day Target ‘fast’ ended on Easter Sunday. pic.twitter.com/oNWoMAPR9h— Victor Blackwell CNN (@VictorBlackwell) April 22, 2025
With the boycott hitting Target’s bottom line, the company has been reaching out to members of the Black community; in addition to the meeting with Bryant, Turner and Mallory, Target CEO Brian Cornell recently sat down with National Action Network head Al Sharpton, who has supported but not been a leader of the boycott movement. So far, however, these efforts have not been enough to allay concerns from the Black community and allies that Target is abandoning its commitment to diversity in order to placate the Trump administration.
With the Trump administration continuing its heavy-handed efforts to push its agenda, including its anti-DEI platform, many companies and institutions have caved to these efforts while others resist the pressure coming from the White House. So far, Target has responded more to the pressure from the Trump administration than to the financial hardship created by customers going elsewhere, but with boycott efforts intensifying, it remains to be seen how much the company will lose and whether or not it will reverse its decision on diversity.
The family of Caleb Wilson, a student who died following an alleged hazing incident, is raising awareness about the issue. They rented billboards in New Orleans to draw attention to Wilson’s death and to hazing. Wilson, a Southern University student, died earlier this year after an alleged, unsanctioned Omega Psi Fraternity, Inc. initiation event for the Lambda Alpha chapter.
“Remember, while you celebrate… remember Caleb…” a billboard unveiled on Poydras Street on Thursday reads. It also includes a checklist with a single marked item: “Funeral and Burial.”
Caleb Wilson’s family is using billboards to raise awareness about hazing
The billboard was unveiled the same week members of Omega Psi Phi fraternity gathered for their annual district meeting.
“These billboards are a public declaration of our grief, our love, and our fight for justice,” the Wilson family said, according to FOX 8. “They speak to what Caleb lost—but also what the world lost. We want every student, parent, educator, and community member to understand the real cost of hazing. This is not tradition—it’s trauma. And we will not allow it to continue to go unchecked.”
A bill against hazing was introduced in Louisiana
State Representative Delisha Boyd has been in contact with the Wilson family since his death. She introduced the Caleb Wilson Act to the House Education Committee, which would require members of student organizations to take a hazing prevention course for a semester.
Boyd is hoping the billboards will raise awareness surrounding hazing and also send a message to members of the fraternity.
“No one from the fraternity has offered any condolences to the family,” she said.
“I hope that this billboard will somehow reach someone that will reach out to that family,” Boyd added. “If nothing else, just to send a note saying, ‘I understand, we’re with you. Let us know what we can do.
Chef Jernard Wells likes to joke that he “didn’t land on culinary,” and that rather, the culinary life landed on him.
That might be the most creative way to describe a young man who grew up at the feet of a chef father and pastry chef mother who always welcomed him into the kitchen.
“At 10 years old, I was fascinated by watching my father cook,” Chef Jernard recalls. “He made cooking look cool.”
And so, as a youngster he happily spent time with his father in the kitchen. And he recognized the value of that quality time, without realizing that a seed for his future career was being planted during those moments.
After losing his father at the age of 16, Chef Jernard made the bold decision to use his father’s recipes and the techniques he had learned from him to open his first restaurant. His mother allowed him to operate out of her kitchen; but insisted that he go through all of the necessary steps to legitimize his business, which also allowed him to learn valuable skills that would help him grow and sustain his career.
The support he received from his family and his community eventually propelled Jernard to the opening of his first brick and mortar, and through culinary arts school, where he studied French and Creole cuisine.
The same sense of community that became the bedrock of Chef Jernard’s career has now manifested itself into what he calls his “love letter to the people”: TV One’s new original series, Savor The City
“It’s paying so much homage to my family and to all those who came before me, but also to those that are standing now,” he explains.
The show is a one-of-a-kind travel experience that highlights the best in food, art, music and entertainment that embodies Black American culture as a whole. Chef Jernard’s goal in creating this platform was to showcase the many layers and nuances of the culture. As such, Savor The City takes viewers to cities like Martha’s Vineyard, Miami, Nashville, and even the Bahamas— putting no boundaries on which adaptations of Black food are worthy of celebration.
“I feel like Black food gets such a bad stigma,” Chef Jernard says. “We’ve allowed ourselves to put all these negative connotations on what we create. I always tell people that Soul Food is not a cuisine, Soul Food is the art and the way we feel when we cook. That’s the connection. You’re entering a certain aura, a certain atmosphere, when you go into the kitchen and you turn on that amazing music, you pour that glass of whatever it is you’re drinking, and you produce this amazing dish. That’s what it’s about.”
By spotlighting the way a wide variety of chefs approach that soulful assignment and the many influences that have led them to that approach, Chef Jernard hopes to explain to the world that what these chefs are in fact creating is American cuisine.
“It’s so much bigger than what we realized because we set the tone for what people experience when they come here to America,” he adds. “It was our hands that molded the taste of America.”
While he approached Savor The City with the mindset of Black culture’s influence on America, even he was surprised by the number of common threads that he found in the stories of the various chefs, artists and business owners who he had a chance to spend time with.
And now, he’s passing the baton on to the viewers. His hope is that Savor The City will show people outside of the culture how vast Black creative culture can be, while also empowering chefs to reclaim the pride they should rightfully feel in their creations. Chef Jernard also hopes that his new venture will encourage others to support the creators and entrepreneurs spotlighted on Savor The City… and even spark the creative and entrepreneurial flame in someone else, as it did with him.
After wrapping filming with the TV One team, Chef Jernard returned to his metro-Atlanta stomping grounds and began building his next brick and mortar restaurant, Cornbread and Butter, which is set to open in Downtown Grayson – just outside of Atlanta – later this year.
Catch new episodes of Savor The City on Thursdays at 8pm ET/7pm CT only on TV One. Or stream past and current episodes on the TV One App.
And make sure to check out TVOne.tv for additional content that didn’t make it into the show!
Pope Francis, leader of the Catholic Church for the past 12 years, died Monday at age 88 after a period of significant health challenges. Francis, whose background and social stances made him unique among popes, leaves behind a legacy of attempts to reorient the Catholic Church toward vulnerable populations, both internally and politically.
A history-making and unique pope
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina, Francis became pope in 2013 following the resignation of his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI. The BBC reported that his election made Francis the first Latin American pope in history and the first pope in centuries to take office while his predecessor was still alive. Francis was also the first pope to be a member of the Society of Jesus, also known as the Jesuits, a Catholic religious order known for its missionary work and public service; he adopted the name Francis in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, founder of the Franciscan religious order. According to The Associated Press, as pope, Francis embodied the humility and lack of self-aggrandizement represented by these religious orders; he lived in the Vatican hotel instead of the palatial Apostolic Palace, rode in a small car, and wore simple shoes instead of the traditional red loafers of previous popes.
Progressive social views caused controversy
As pope, Francis set a progressive tone for the Catholic Church, per The Guardian. Francis promoted greater incorporation of LGBTQ+ people, women and divorced Catholics into Church life and sometimes leadership positions. While he didn’t generally change official Church doctrine concerning these issues, his tone and willingness to interpret Catholic teachings in more inclusive ways were very different from his socially conservative predecessors. While not going far enough for some progressives, Francis’ social policies drew anger and opposition from many traditionalists in the Catholic Church, including the generally conservative contingent of United States bishops who sometimes questioned his policies and leadership, according to PBS. Francis’ relationship with the U.S. branch of the Church was not all negative, however. In 2020, he appointed Washington, D.C.’s Archbishop Wilton Gregory as the first Black American cardinal in the Catholic Church.
Francis and U.S. politics
Francis emphasized care for marginalized and vulnerable people, with a particular focus on refugees and the impoverished. His stances brought him into heated political debates around the world. Francis enjoyed a cordial relationship with President Barack Obama, Politico mentioned, with whom he agreed on issues such as addressing climate change and mass incarceration reform. Francis clashed with President Donald Trump during the latter’s first administration. CNN reported that Francis publicly criticized Trump’s pledge to build a border wall between the United States and Mexico.
“Those who build walls will become prisoners of the walls they put up,” the pope said.
Francis had a much closer relationship with President Joe Biden, the second Catholic president in U.S. history; during his final days in office, Biden awarded Francis the Presidential Medal of Freedom, NPR reported. Although Francis had been critical of the immigration policies of the current Trump administration, The Associated Press reported that the pope met briefly with Vice President JD Vance, also a Catholic, on Easter Sunday.
With the passing of Pope Francis, the Catholic Church and the world have lost one of its most prominent voices for progressivism and inclusivity. The process will start soon to choose a new pope who may continue the agenda set by Francis or attempt to forge a new path, but for now, world leaders and Catholic faithful across the globe are mourning Francis and acknowledging his legacy.
Sam’s Club is removing all self-checkout kiosks and traditional checkout lanes from its stores. The company announced that customers will now be required to use the Scan & Go app to scan and pay for their items.
The retail warehouse company said the decision is part of its plan to “redefine the club model and set a new standard in retail.”
What is Sam’s Club replacing checkout lanes with?
According to KRIS 6 News, Sam’s Club first introduced the Scan & Go system at its Grapevine, Texas location. With the new setup, AI technology verifies purchases as customers exit the store—eliminating the need for receipt checkers.
Why are some customers concerned about the new Scan & Go system at Sam’s Club?
Sam’s Club member Grant Grisham said he has already been using Scan & Go, but he’s concerned about people who aren’t as familiar with newer technology.
“That’s probably the biggest concern, really,” Grisham told KRIS 6 News. “Older people are not really up to date on modern technology.”
Another shopper, Ivan Rodriguez, told KRIS 6 News that he would prefer a hybrid model that includes both traditional and new checkout methods.
“I think that it will be better to have a mix,” Rodriguez said.
For shoppers with questions about how AI will recognize items before customers leave the store, computer science professor Dr. Lewis Heuermann explained that the system will accurately identify most products.
“A banana looks like a banana, a Coke can looks like a Coke can… it’ll recognize it and charge you for that,” Heuermann told KRIS 6 News.
Dr. Nikki Changchit, a business analytics professor at Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi, addressed concerns about the potential for job loss. She said the introduction of the new system doesn’t mean employees will lose their jobs, but they may need to shift roles.
“I think it is very important to educate and train employees so that they can also help the customer adapting to these technologies,” Dr. Changchit told KRIS 6 News.
Trader Joe’s plans to open 21 new stores in 12 states in the next year. The company made the announcement on its website, but did not confirm the date of the upcoming openings, The Mirror reported. However, a Trader Joe’s representatives previously told Nexstar that at least 10 the new stores will open by the end of 2025.
Where will the new Trader Joe’s stores open?
California, which already has the most Trader Joe’s locations, will add stores in Northridge, Sherman Oaks, Tarzana, Tracy and Yucaipa. Additional locations are set to open in New Orleans; Hoover, Alabama; Westminster, Colorado; Rockville, Maryland; Boston, Massachusetts; Iselin, New Jersey; Oklahoma City; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; San Antonio; and Bellingham, Washington.
New York will see new stores in Staten Island and Glenmont. Pennsylvania will get stores in Berwyn and Exton.
What is Trader Joe’s strategy when opening new stores?
Trader Joe’s marketing executives Tara Miller and Matt Sloan discussed the company’s store-opening strategy during an episode of the Inside Trader Joe’s podcast last year. They explained that Trader Joe’s chooses new locations based on population density, traffic patterns and parking availability.
Miller and Sloan also said the company tends to avoid buildings that previously housed grocery stores, as those spaces might not feel like a typical Trader Joe’s. The company typically does not accept petitions from community groups lobbying for a store in their area.
“Our decisions, they’re business decisions. We’re excited when people are excited about us, but that’s really not what’s driving the decisions about what brings a Trader Joe’s,” Miller said on the podcast, per Nexstar.
Full list of upcoming/new Trader Joe’s locations
Alabama
Hoover – 1771 Montgomery Highway
California
Northridge – 9224 Reseda Boulevard
Sherman Oaks – 14140 Riverside Drive
Tarzana -18700 Ventura Boulevard
Tracy – 2530 Naglee Road
Yucaipa – 31545 Yucaipa Boulevard
Colorado
Westminster – 9350 Sheridan Boulevard
Washington, D.C.
Friendship Heights – 5335 Wisconsin Avenue NW
Brookland – 701 Monroe Street, NE
Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana – 2501 Tulane Avenue
Maryland
Rockville – 225 N. Washington Street
Massachusetts
Boston – 1999 Centre Street
New Jersey
Iselin – 675 US-1
New York
Staten Island – 6400 Amboy Road
Glenmont – 388 Feura Bush Road
Oklahoma
Oklahoma City – 6920 Northwest Expressway
Pennsylvania
Berwyn – 550 Lancaster Avenue
Exton – 125 West Lincoln Highway
South Carolina
Myrtle Beach – 115 SayeBrook Parkway
Texas
San Antonio – 11745 I-10 West
Washington
Bellingham, Washington 4255 Meridian Street, Suite 200
According to a news release, customers who purchase the pass will receive a black-and-gold card in the mail that earns them the right to one gourmet burger with a side of bottomless fries (one of the fast food chain’s signature […]
Stay up to date on exciting projects and upcoming events from the Black Promoters Collective.
©2024 Black Promoters Collective (BPC) All Rights Reserved.
