Black Immigrant Daily News

It was a night of many firsts for J’can actor Sheryl Lee Ralph and the designer of her gown and handbag, Brandon Blackwood.

The first-time Emmy-nominated actress took home the Primetime Emmy Award for outstanding supporting actress in the comedy series Abbott Elementary. But, how did Blackwood join her glam squad?

Reports are that Sheryl Lee Ralph of Abbott Elementary had a fashion faux pas before arriving at the Emmys.

“A designer gave my co-star and me the same sketch for the same gown,” she said, having discovered it on set when Lisa Ann Walter showed Ralph what she was wearing to the awards.

Sheryl Lee Ralph and State Senator Vincent Hughes, D-Philadelphia, arrive at the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles. (Photo: Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)

“Up until five days ago, I had no gown so Brandon Blackwood stepped up. He was in Japan and started rendering the gown on his Pacific flight,” Ralph said.

“I had nothing and Brandon Blackwood heard about my plight through Roberto [Johnson], the stylist in New York, and my daughter Ivy Coco, they all came together, and here I am,” Ralph said in an interview with People.

Ralph channelled Old Hollywood glam with a modern twist – courtesy of a braided ponytail – in a black velvet strapless gown with an orange underside and a thigh-high slit. She carried the orange crystal trunk from Blackwood’s eponymous bag collection, as well.

Blackwood, the Jamaican-born handbag designer, is reeling from this rushed-but-rewarding moment of his career.

On Instagram, he wrote: “Jamaican-owned brand just dressed a Jamaican Emmy winner! Words cannot describe this feeling! When I was young, I used to cut up my mom’s old clothes and sew them together and make new outfits…”

“I would then make my cousins Cortni and Cara wear my designs down our living room runway in front of the family. Now, this.”

Blackwood, who shared that he’s been “crying none stop since [Ralph’s] win” also noted that this was his very first gown – in August he made a leather trench coat for Ralph’s appearance in The Cut.

“…To see it on that stage on a woman soooo deserving of this award was just iconic,” he shared.

In that same comment on Instagram, Blackwood expressed congratulations and gratitude to Ralph for the opportunity and spoke of a moment he shared with Ralph after fitting the dress.

“After the fitting for this dress, Sheryl Lee Ralph and I had a glass of champagne together. I told her how much it meant to me that she took a chance on us to make her dress for her first time at the Emmys. She told me her life motto which was “It ALWAYS works out”.

Blackwood, who’s been advised by several peers and mentors to “milk the opportunity” is releasing a new collection of handbags and the very gown Ralph wore to the Emmys.

The orange crystal trunk (and other versions) that Ralph wore on Monday along with the custom gown for her Emmy’s debut will be available on Friday, September 16th at 12 pm EST.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The Mona School of Business and Management (MSBM) has launched a newly designed website as part of its digital transformation agenda.

MSBM said the new website would serve as its digital gateway in supporting its engagement with stakeholders, including current and prospective students, faculty, administrators, alumni, members of the business community and the general public.

MSBM is the arm of the University of the West Indies, Mona campus, which facilitates effective business education and practices in the private and public sectors.

With a bold and modern look featuring greater visual consistency and standardisation, the new design allows for more streamlined menus, easier navigation and offers an improved mobile experience, MSBM said in a release.

MSBM said it focussed on simplifying and updating its content, providing more resources for students and providing a modern, fresh look for our constituents.

Dr David McBean, Executive Director of Mona School of Business

“One of our core values is innovation, and we are always mindful of the realities of the dynamic environment in which we operate and the need to be agile and responsive to the demands of the market,” stated Dr David McBean, Executive Director, MSBM. The redesign process involved benchmarking against international business schools and receiving feedback from various stakeholders as part of a user testing group.

In addition to its website, MSBM’s digital strategy includes communicating with stakeholders through a number of social media platforms and mobile app.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

Agentes de la División de Personas Desaparecidas del CIC de San Juan, buscan a un hombre de 28 años de edad que desapareció en el mes de abril del año en curso, de los predios del Condado en San Juan. 

Pedro Roberto Delgado Morales, fue reportado desaparecido por su madre, Hilda Ivette Morales Saldaña, el día 6 de septiembre del año en curso.

Delgado Morales, fue descrito como de 6 pies de estatura, 140 libras de peso, tez blanca, ojos color marrón y pelo negro. Además, se informó que el mismo tiene tatuajes de calaveras en ambos brazos.  

Al momento de su desaparición, este vestía una camisa de color ojo y un pantalón corto.

Si tiene información que pueda ayudar con su paradero, puede comunicarse al

787-343-2020.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

Durante la tarde de ayer lunes, agentes del Negociado de la Policía de Puerto Rico, adscritos a la división Delitos Sexuales y Maltrato de Menores del área policiaca de Arecibo, llevaron a cabo una investigación que culminó con la radicación de cinco cargos por actos lascivos y un cargo por tentativa de agresión sexual, contra Ramón A. Medina Lugo, de 72 años, residente de Quebradillas. 

 De acuerdo a la investigación, Medina Lugo, cometió los hechos que se le imputan para el año 2016 en Quebradillas, contra una menor de edad.  

La prueba fue presentada ante la juez Cynthia Irizarry Casiano, del Tribunal de Primera Instancia de Arecibo, quien luego de escuchar la prueba determinó causa para arresto y le señaló una fianza de $150 mil, la cual prestó, quedando en libertad bajo supervisión electrónica hasta la vista preliminar pautada para el 28 de septiembre de 2022.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

Seventh-day Adventist Church, South Leeward Conference

The opening of the new school year and the Seventh-day Adventist policies on deportment have ignited a firestorm of debate across the island and the Caribbean. The incident at New Bethel Academy that resulted in a child not being allowed to continue school because of lack of compliance with the dress code and appearance has, thankfully, been amicably resolved and both parent and school are reasonably satisfied with the outcome. The New Bethel Academy, like all our schools, sees every child as one who is loved by God and as such, desires the best for that person. We do so with the understanding that parents are aware that the institution is a Seventh-day Adventist Christian school and is governed by Christian values as articulated in its student handbook.

This incident has led to various pronouncements from various sectors of society inclusive of the Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda, the Leader of the Opposition, and the Rastafarian Community. These pronouncements are laced with charges of discrimination and even the threat of legislation, to force private institutions to comply with the wishes of public policy. I posit that the charge of discrimination is most unfortunate and ill conceived. The Seventh-day Adventist Church has long been an advocate of religious liberty. I dare say that there has not been a stronger advocate and there is unarguably no other religious denomination within the Christian faith that advocates more profoundly for religious freedom than the Seventh-day Adventist Church. We are at the forefront of the International Religious Liberty Association. In fact, the International Religious Liberty Association, a non-sectarian and non-political organization promoting religious freedom, was formed by the Seventh-day Adventist Church back in 1893, to promote religious freedom for all. We have a proven track record of fighting to defend the rights of religious minorities and even established Christian organizations that face opposition for their religious views. It is therefore regrettable that there is the suggestion in these pronouncements that our agenda is to discriminate against the Rastafarian Community.

What is most concerning is the suggestion of legislation on the part of government to govern the polices and standards of private Christian institutions. As a faith-based community, we believe in giving honour and recognition to the government. We are a law-abiding people. We however strongly disagree that Government should seek to dictate our standards. We therefore strongly condemn the various statements and view such as an attempt for secular authority to control or unduly influence the Christian Community on its values and principles. The lines between church and state should forever remain clear and while we have utmost respect for government, we remain a Christian institution.

We are aware that there are many who have varying opinions regarding disallowing certain hair styles in school. Permit me to say that hairstyle is not and never has been a matter of right or wrong, sin or salvation. It is a matter of discipline. It is for this very reason why there is an age of consent with respect to sexual relations. Children do not have the right to do everything that

adults do, and uniforms and standards in school are designed to assist with the process of development of discipline. It is for this reason why our handbook addresses matters of discipline in several areas and not just hairstyles. It should not be strange to think that a private institution has standards involving hairstyles that are contrary to another religious group. The reality is, the Seventh-day Adventist school is not the only institution that enforces such a rule. Further, there are public institutions, such as the police department, that have strict guidelines and policies regarding deportment and hairstyles.

Moreover, what is being requested of us to do is what we would never request of another religious organization to do for us. The Seventh-day Adventist Church operates the largest network of academic institutions in protestant Christianity. We have over 7,500 schools in nearly 150 countries worldwide. We take seriously the business of molding young minds for this life and the life hereafter. We are a Christian institution and while we advocate for freedom of religion, it is important to understand that freedom is never without limits. It would be unthinkable for one religious body to attend another religious institution and demand that they change their standards to accommodate them. Yet, this is what is being promoted by the various pronouncements. Religious freedom must be reciprocated equally. We support the Rastafarians and any other group in their quest for religious freedom and equity but not at the risk of giving up our own.

Respecting one’s religious rights does not mean accepting it. As Seventh-day Adventists, we maintain that our policies are justifiable and biblically sound. We continue to believe that there is a place in our society for discipline and warn that if the nation continues on the path of changing or lowering its standards to accommodate the popular, we will soon have grave effects on our society. I strongly recommend that we have conversations and tolerance rather than accusations and indifference towards those who hold views that are different to ours.

Carson L. Greene, DMin

President

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