June 2024

Can you believe it?

We've been kicking back for two years! I appreciate you reading the newsletter, sharing with friends, and supporting our community events (scroll below for the next Lunchbag Linkup).

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Set your summer off right with this one!

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Who else used to have ginger ale and sherbert punch at their family cookouts? Inspired by this tradition and the spirit of Juneteenth, this punch is the perfect beverage for the family gatherings you'll have this holiday and throughout the summer.

Juneteenth Red Sherbet Punch
​1 cup dried hibiscus
3 ½ cups filtered water
3 whole cloves
3 allspice berries, roughly crushed
20 cubes of ice
1 2-liter bottle ginger ale, chilled
1 cup orange juice, chilled
1-2 pints red sherbet or sorbet, raspberry, strawberry, cherry
Garnish: frozen red berries or cherries

​Recipe instructions​

She's Called The G.O.A.T For A Reason: Simone Biles recently won the all-around Xfinity U.S. Championships, securing her spot as the only gymnast to win nine all-around titles. Here's a list of the years she won.

N.Y. State of Mind: In honor of its 30th anniversary, Nas is set to perform his iconic debut album, Illmatic, with a live orchestra, during Labor Day weekend at the Encore Theater in Vegas. Grab tickets here.

Run This Town: Set your DVR because the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Track & Field begin June 21st and go through June 30th. We are team Sha'Carri Richardson around here. After all that happened in 2020 and the subsequent wins since then, sis needs to be in Paris in July!

Hit 'Em High: A lot is happening in June including the NBA Finals. And this year, Boston Celtics head coach, Joe Mazzulla (age 35), will be the youngest head coach to reach the finals since 1969. He is the youngest head coach since NBA legend Bill Russell led the Celtics to victory against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 7 of the 1969 finals. This will be Mazzulla's first finals as the head coach.

The Real Cowboys: Jordan Peele and his Monkeypaw Productions company are set to produce a documentary series to dismantle the whitewashed mythology surrounding cowboys in American history. The series will air on Peacock and delve deep into the erased identity of Black cowboys from frontier history.

Setting The Record Straight: Major League Baseball (MLB) has officially added players’ stats from the Negro Leagues to its historical record, a move that allows Black players’ contributions to be credited alongside their white counterparts. Doing so makes Negro League Josh Gibson the all-time batting champion. The Vox breaks down the MLB's decision to finally acknowledge Negro League stats.

Diving Into History: Kristen Hayden became the first Black woman to win a U.S. national senior title at the USA Diving Winter Nationals. Hayden joined Mike Wright as the only Black divers to win U.S. national titles. Hayden is a founding member of USA Diving’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council.

Trans Youth Matter: Dwyane Wade and his daughter Zaya are launching a new digital platform Translatable, a safe space for LGBTQIA+ youth to express themselves. The site is also a resource hub for their parents, families, and support systems focusing on communities of color.

5 Black Mayors Running for Reelection: Did you know that less than 6% of Black men make up the total number of those in Congress? That number is less for state legislature and local government. A Few Good Men on Instagram shares five Black Mayors running for reelection this year.

There's No Crying In Softball: Duke's softball coach Marissa Young made history as the first Black head coach to lead a team to the Women’s College World Series. According to the NCAA’s demographics database, there were just 19 Black head coaches among the nation’s 297 Division I schools, and just 6% of the players were Black in 2023. Check out how Young and her team reached the World Series and if they won here.

The Kids Aren't Kids Anymore: Our internet nephew recently graduated high school and folks could not deal! Jaycob Linsey graduated from Therrell High School in Atlanta. Jaycob was the kid who danced on top of his seat when Ron Clark Academy students were told they were going to a special screening of “Black Panther." The video became a GIF and went viral for years.

Looking for the perfect gift for Father's Day?
Look no further than Ovation For Men signature scent.

This scent features hints of spice and distinct signature woods, tobacco, amber, and vanilla. It's a sophisticated and versatile blend that can be worn all seasons. Designed to celebrate style, creativity, and excellence, this cologne was crafted to help men command the attention they deserve, "because every man deserves an ovation.”

Power To The People: Black media company REVOLT recently announced that its largest shareholder group of the company is now its current employees. The company's new ownership structure gives employees an equity stake and keeps the company Black-owned. REVOLT made it a point to state that shares held by Diddy, who was once Chairman, have been fully redeemed and retired.

For Us By Us: The iconic culture clothing brand FUBU has partnered with streaming company Cinedigm to launch the For Us By Us Network. The new service will feature high-quality movies, authentic and raw content around issues, personalities, and trends related to hip-hop culture and lifestyle.

Welcome to Atlanta Where The Players Play: The Atlanta Falcons ownership group has expanded with the addition of four new Black limited partners including Rosalind Brewer, Dominique Dawes, Will Packer and Rashaun Williams.

Just Getting Started: Black-owned whiskey brand (with a $1B valuation...yes, that's a B!) has acquired Square One Organic Spirits, expanding its portfolio to include vodka. This move aligns with Uncle Nearest's vision to become the first spirits conglomerate in the US founded by a woman or person of color. The owner, Fawn Weaver, is such a boss and inspiration. Follow her on Instagram.

A Victory For Small Businesses...Sorta: An Ohio judge dismissed a case against one of Hello Alice's grant programs for Black entrepreneurs. On the other hand, an appeals court ruled 2-1 that the Fearless Fund cannot issue grants to Black women. Judges Kevin Newsom and Robert Luck, both appointees of the former president, sided with the company that brought the case (no surprise there!), while Judge Robin Rosenbaum, appointed by former president Barack Obama, dissented. Fearless Fund is weighing its options as this isn't the final outcome of the case. See what the dissenting judge had to say here. Time and time again, they tell us to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps and when we do, attack us for doing so. Sigh...

It's Time To Break This Up: The Justice Department recently filed a sweeping antitrust lawsuit against Ticketmaster and parent company Live Nation Entertainment, accusing them of running an illegal monopoly over live events in America — squelching competition and driving up prices for fans. The way their fees are set up, it's about time a lawsuit of this magnitude was filed.

What's In Your Water: Another day, another water bottle recall. This time, it's Fiji. The FDA announced its recall of 1.9M bottles of Fiji water. Check out the date of the cases impacted here. If you haven't been convinced already, the safest way to drink water on the go is to use a reusable bottle filled with filtered water at home.

Cut The Check!: The NCAA and its five power conferences have agreed to a $2.8 billion settlement allowing schools to compensate former athletes. This settlement resolves three antitrust cases and introduces a revenue-sharing model for athletes. Here's how the settlement amount will be split.

Every Kid Deserves To Feel Seen: Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is one of the best for kids programming. And all kids deserve to feel seen and represented. PBS Kids has made American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation available for six series across its free digital streaming platforms for the first time, providing kids who are deaf or hard of hearing a new way to watch some of their favorite shows.

READ: All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson​
​In a series of personal essays, prominent journalist and LGBTQIA+ activist George M. Johnson explores his childhood, adolescence, and college years in New Jersey and Virginia. From the memories of getting his teeth kicked out by bullies at age five, to flea marketing with his loving grandmother, to his first sexual relationships, this young-adult memoir weaves together the trials and triumphs faced by Black queer boys.

WATCH: Bad Boys Ride or Die​
​Bad Boys are back! The fourth installment of Bad Boys premieres June 7th. When their late police captain gets linked to drug cartels, wisecracking Miami cops Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett embark on a dangerous mission to clear his name.

LISTEN: Hell's Kitchen, Original Cast Recording​
​I'll yell it from the rooftop, Hell's Kitchen is phenomenal; the show earned every Tony nomination it received this season. The cast album drops Friday, June 7th and if they are signing on this album like they did on stage, you will not be disappointed; everybody can SANG!

Ready to receive the love you want and deserve? Check out this mantra from Judge Faith Jenkins' book, Sis Don't Settle.

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Lunchbag Linkup Returns In September!

Our next Lunchbag Linkup event is on Saturday, September 7th. Reserve your spot or consider donating below if you're unable to attend. All participants must register.