Former Miss America Auctions Off Crown to Help Teachers Affected by The Pandemic

This is such an admirable story. Every girl knows what a big deal winning Miss America is. That glistening bejeweled crown has to be considered the most prized keepsake for any pageant queen.

The fact that this queen is willing to give up her beloved crown for the benefit of others is true QUEEN behavior. For all the fellas reading this, the beauty crown is equivalent to a super bowl or championship ring. It is the pinnacle of achievement for us girls. Imagine Tom Brady or Lebron selling one of their rings for charity. The proceeds would probably fetch millions.

The Insider — Former Miss America Marilyn Van Derbur is making history by auctioning off a Miss America crown for the first time, ahead of the pageant’s 100th anniversary in order to help teachers financially affected by the pandemic.

Van Derbur, 84, told The Washington Post that her crown is one of her “most prized possessions.” Anyone who knows a Miss America knows that a crown is the most special thing that she would personally own.”

The 1958 pageant winner will place her Swarovski crystal-covered crown and its matching bracelet on the auction block at an opening price of $20,000.

Van Derbur plans to use the proceeds from the souvenirs, which she initially intended to pass to her daughter, to help disadvantaged teachers in Denver, Colorado.

Read the rest of this story on The Insider.

Black Professionals Hesitant on Returning Back into Office Workplaces

CBS NEWS — Polls suggest some employees are content to be back at their desks, Black workers told CBS MoneyWatch that being in a predominantly White workplaces often exacts an emotional toll. Working from home offers a measure of inner peace and even helps them do their jobs better.

Such sentiments are common among people of color, including in corporate America. For decades, Black and Hispanic employees have reported feeling marginalized at work and being relegated to lower-paying roles even when their credentials qualify them for a higher-level position.

Black women, in particular, say a typical workday often requires looking past microaggressions from co-workers, ignoring flippant comments about their natural hairstyles or suppressing emotions lest they be labeled an “angry black woman.”

As a black woman and mid level professional in the Construction industry, I can attest that everything this article is stating is facts.

I started working from home approximately 2 years before Covid and I really can’t imagine ever going back into an office environment. The convenience & flexibility are definitely beneficial, but for me the privacy aspect is the main gain.

My staunch work ethic always allowed me to rise pretty fast within the ranks of the corporate world but ‘fitting in’ with various company cultures is something that I had a hard time adjusting to. I started my career very young, skipping college and joining the workforce. I did eventually go back to college 10 years post high school, so I didn’t have tolerance for the workplace shenanigans. I made sure I kept things social but I wasn’t there to meet friends or group chat. I just wanted to bury my head in my computer and get to work.

Working from home allows me the luxury of not having to physically see or entertain people daily. Working with people over the computer or phone is a piece of cake. Honestly I feel I am far more productive and I even find myself willingly working longer hours — to the benefit of the company.

What about you? Are you a professional who would rather work from home than going back into the office? Or would you rather go into the office environment daily or intermittently? Why or why not?

BMF: Bleu Davinci Delivers Warning to 50 Cent Over “BMF” Series

“BMF” finally made its way to Starz Network and it is a smash. The streets appear to be loving the made for television series and the internet is on fire with former members trading both threats and shots online.

Apparently Bleu Davinci, one of the original members of the Black Family Organization is at odds with JBo another former leader, who is also involved with the production of the series. JBo posted a meme to Instagram, allegedly of Davinci as Eddie Kane from The Five Heartbeats trying to get back in the group.

Rolling Out — “The only thing I’m saying is that if they handle my name wrong, I’m coming to see you. The writers, the producers, the directors, the executive producers, y’all play with my name — I’m telling y’all right now. Y’all play with my name, it’s up. Period. There won’t be no more shooting. No more filming that s—. I’m gonna try to find a way to f— up everything about it if you play with [my] name. Soon as I get the first report, ‘Aye, bro, they playing’ with your name,’ I’m coming. Just already know. Have your security beefed up … ’cause I’m gonna give it to they a—, too. I ain’t finna play with my name. I’m gonna go all the way out,” he stated in the IG post.

50 Cent apparently was not worried about the threats either as he shared JBo’s meme as well as a letter from Big Meech to his son Demetrius Flenory Jr, who plays his father in the series.

In the letter, the incarcerated Flenory also salutes 50 Cent for helping turn his family legitimate so they can make their livelihoods from other ways than selling drugs.

Have you been watching the series? Check it out on STARZ NETWORK.