[Chapter 368: Compton Foundation]
At the Butterfly Security Company in the conference room, Hawke sat at the table. He picked up the photos and profiles sent by Campos and began to flip through them.
Edward leaned over to take a look and remarked, "This guy has a type, mostly white won."
"That's right," Carlos chid in from across the table. "Jamie Foxx has mostly dated white girls. His one-night stands? Nearly all white too, not many black won involved."
Among the photo profiles, there was just one black woman, and she was quite famous -- Naomi Campbell. This supermodel was known for collecting famous faces as if they were stamps. It was rumored that a young Leonardo had also fallen into her collection.
At that mont, Campos walked in and took a seat at the conference table. "Unlike other Hollywood stars, most of Jamie Foxx's partners aren't well-known. He typically goes for lower-tier actors or models. Mostly, he's dated only a few seriously, but he has had a multitude of brief flings."
Hawke continued to browse the materials. "Has anyone interacted with these won during their ti with Jamie Foxx? Did he make any promises?"
Carlos replied, "I've talked to a couple, both older Hollywood actresses -- those who played minor roles for years without any real break. According to them, Jamie told them he'd help their careers when they got involved, and he did arrange so roles, but the actual outcos didn't match their expectations."
As Hawke sifted through the files, he pulled out one and set it aside, then found another, all while Campos patiently waited.
Hawke eventually selected three files and handed them to Campos. "These three are white females who've been in Hollywood for over five years, and their careers haven't taken off. They've seen others enjoy the glitz but are stuck at the bottom of the industry pyramid. So even struggle to pay rent."
Campos took the files and distributed them to Fiona, Garcia, and Betty. "These are the leads you need to investigate."
Hawke scanned the room. Everyone present was a trusted confidant, people who had struggled alongside him in Los Angeles and had been with him through the Ackerman family incidents in Rosario and Guatemala. They were firmly in his corner now.
Without hesitation, Hawke gave the directive, "You all reach out to these three won and encourage them to file complaints."
Fiona asked a crucial question, "What about paynt?"
Hawke replied, "Within $200,000, you all can make that decision. Soone will cover the costs. If they have concerns, tell them that a won's rights organization will back them."
Campos noted, "Since the Los Angeles fires, many won's organizations have gone a bit quiet."
"Exactly. We'll create a chance for them to regain public visibility; they shouldn't pass it up," said Hawke, with plans beyond just won's rights: "We'll strike when the buzz around Ray is at its peak in Los Angeles."
Films like Nightcrawler, Million Dollar Baby, Brokeback Mountain, and Ray planned to hit selective screens starting in December, aiming for the Oscars.
...
After discussing for a while longer, Hawke and Edward left Butterfly Security Company. They had laid out their positions, and it was up to the others to execute.
Once in the car, Edward drove out of the yacht dock area and asked Hawke, "Los Angeles is about to get lively again, isn't it?"
Hawke gazed out at the calm city, saying, "After the elections, Los Angeles felt too quiet. This isn't the atmosphere we crave. It's ti we stirred things up beneath this calm surface and made the waters boil."
Edward thought about the won in tight red outfits, asking, "Is it just a won's rights group?"
Hawke chuckled, "Barely just won's rights. If the opportunity arises, let's bring in the LGBTQ community and the staunch conservatives for a big Hollywood clash around award season."
Edward replied, "Boss, if we need representation from the black community, I can rally so support."
He flashed his bright white teeth, "A couple of days ago, you ntioned I could start a nonprofit for black people. I've been thinking seriously about it, and I'm ready to register one."
Hawke praised him, "Great thinking, very action-oriented."
Edward wasn't just speaking; he took Hawke's suggestions to heart.
...
anwhile, in Hollywood, Michael, a black man, parked his old Lincoln at the end of the Walk of Fa and pulled out his phone to call.
Michael was an old friend of Edward's, a fellow Compton native who, during Brian's run for mayor of Covina, had crashed a motorbike into a citrus statue set up by the forr mayor, setting off chaos as people flocked to claim compensation for smashing the statue.
From then on, Michael had beco one of Edward's underlings, providing various services. During the Los Angeles fires, he also helped rally the old heads from Compton to participate in zero-dollar purchases on the streets.
Not long after he called, three unattractive black n, each carrying a couple of handbags, got into the car.
DaShawn, with a shaved bald head, asked, "We earn money by our talents, and it is very difficult for us to do regular work. Is Edward crazy?"
"No, no, we don't live off talent; we live off our gifts!" said Tyrone self-deprecatingly. "We perform on the Walk of Fa to catch the attention of passersby -- not for our art but for our unique looks."
Carter had another opinion, saying, "Our gifts are strong, and we have talent, which is why we survive on the Walk of Fa. Without us, the Walk would be less of a spectacle and lose its appeal to tourists."
Michael looked at the trio and reminded them, "The debts you owe have been settled by the Savior. You are not holess anymore; you can live normal lives."
The three silent n realized the gravity of their situation.
DaShawn grinned through his yellowed front teeth, "Is this guy really trying to be our Savior?"
He scratched his bald head. "What does he want us to do? We don't know how to do anything except ss things up."
"You won't have to do anything," Michael said while starting the car, "The Savior is setting up a nonprofit for black people, and we will be his core mbers. The paperwork is all set; today we register it and our primary task? Get more black people to join our organization."
DaShawn understood. "So, we're starting a nonprofit for black people and then all ssing around together?"
Michael paused, then replied, "Pretty much."
Carter laughed, showing his peculiar toothless grin, "Aren't those our natural gifts?"
His comnts even lifted Michael's spirits, and he felt more confident now.
While they may not know how to run a nonprofit, they were experts at rallying their peers to cause trouble.
...
On the way, Michael received a call from Edward. After a few words, they arrived at a real estate agency located behind the Highland Center.
Edward had prepared the necessary materials and sent them ahead. Michael and the trio just needed to follow the agency to finalize a few processes.
That afternoon, an organization called the Compton Foundation was officially established in Hollywood.
Those who ca from Compton or other black communities, without joining gangs, included not just Edward and his crew.
The foundation soon expanded to include over a dozen core mbers, and with the impulsive nature of these individuals, it was easy to rally hundreds for a gathering or movent.
...
Taking Hawke's advice, Edward registered the Compton Foundation under Steve's national black rights protection organization. This was straightforward; should the latter have activities, they could outsource part of their outreach to the forr.
The forr would gather black mbers to participate, charging based on the number involved or the scale of activities.
...
Moreover, Edward also submitted a special application from the Compton Foundation to the city hall.
The Los Angeles governnt provided annual rental subsidies for low-inco families to help stabilize lower social classes. This subsidy ca in cash form, but it wasn't easy to obtain.
The Compton Foundation's application was swiftly approved.
Both the federal and local governnts funding the capitalists is rely the typical trajectory of social developnt in Arica.
Hawke was perceptive enough; if a civil war erupted in Arica one day, he'd already fit the criteria to hang from a lamppost.
A national black organization saw Hawke and Brian funding Steve's protection committee.
Edward's organization primarily targeted Los Angeles and Southern California.
With the right timing, they could mobilize a bunch of troublemakers from the chaos-prone communities in Compton at any ti.
...
The Los Angeles fires had actually worsened the division between the various communities, and the chasm between the rich and poor grew wider.
In Arica's second-largest city, the social divide accelerated under Hawke's unwavering assistance, steadily skyrocketing like a rocket launch.
Even California's dynamics began to show a trend of blue in the north and red in the south.
...
December rolled in, and Bart and Neville, whom Hawke had sent to Cambridge last year, returned to Los Angeles.
Hawke had sent them to Harvard to initiate the Zuckerberg plan, and it had been successful.
In the first half of the year, under Hawke's holding company in the Cayman Islands, Bart and Neville joined forces with Zuckerberg to create a new social dia site called SugarBaby.
Users were divided into two groups: those publishing works were called SugarBabies, while those paying for subscriptions and consumption were known as SugarDaddies.
*****
/Sayonara816.
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