Courtney B. Vance Receives Star On The Hollywood Walk Of Fame
Vance was joined by family, colleagues, and supporters.
On Dec. 16, actor Courtney B. Vance was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame,
Vance was joined by family, colleagues, and supporters as his name was permanently embedded along Hollywood Boulevard. He was honored for his body of work in television
“I’m deeply moved, I’m appreciative, and I’m honored,” Vance said during the ceremony.
“As an actor, Courtney is committed, relatable, and deeply reliable,” she said. “He shows up fully every time, onstage, on-screen, and on television, drowning each performance in emotional truth and the human complexity.”
Vance also honored Bassett in his comments.
“I’m just very, very full and grateful. I saw this honor bestowed upon my wife March 20th, 2008, when our children were almost 2, and I remember how huge a day it was for both our families,” he said. “And to return to this hallowed place directly across the street from where she was honored and have that same honor bestowed upon me is really more happiness than I emotionally can bear.”
His versatile television work includes his role as Ron Carver on Law & Order: Criminal Intent, along with roles on Lovecraft Country, 61st Street, and Genius: Aretha.
Vance has maintained a strong presence on the stage. His Broadway credits include performances in Six Degrees of Separation, Lucky Guy (which earned him a Tony Award), and Fences.
His career has been cited as an example of sustained excellence across multiple media.
For Vance, the recognition serves as a professional milestone and the fulfillment of a dream. Reflecting on his career with Variety, Vance spoke of his unwavering commitment to honor those who came before him by reaching for any dreams.
“I’m the poster child for following your heart,” he said. “I wasn’t going to settle for anything unless it made me happy. Our generation, parents and grandparents, and great grandparents suffered so that I could make that decision and that choice.”
The Diaspora Salon Returns To Marrakech For Transnational Gathering
The event coincides with the annual 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair, which draws artists, collectors and curators from around the world.
Shoppe Black announced The Diaspora Salon will return to Marrakech in 2026 for a four-day gathering focused on culture, creativity, and global exchange.
The 2026 edition of the Diaspora Salon is scheduled for Feb. 8–11, 2026, and will take place at Jnane Tamsna, a boutique hotel and cultural retreat. The event coincides with the annual 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair, which draws artists, collectors, and curators from around the world.
The Salon was founded by Meryanne Loum-Martin, a hotelier and patron. Loum-Martin also owns Jnane Tamsna. According to Shoppe Black, Loum-Martin created the gathering as a space for conversation and connection among Africans and members of the global African diaspora.
According to the Shoppe Black announcement, organizers said the purpose of the event, theDiaspora Salon, is a “yearly rendezvous celebrating cultural and entrepreneurial initiatives by trailblazers of African ancestry.”
The publication reported that attendees will include participants from Africa, Europe, the Americas, and the Caribbean, reflecting the Salon’s emphasis on transnational exchange. Rather than positioning itself as a traditional conference, the Diaspora Salon emphasizes intimacy and conversation. The event is intentionally limited in size, allowing participants to engage directly with one another in both formal sessions and informal settings throughout the four days.
Programming will feature a distinguished lineup of thinkers, creators, and cultural leaders. The roster includes Dr. Edda L. Fields-Black, a historian whose work reshapes understanding of Black resistance; Heather McGhee, author and policy advocate; and Bernardine Evaristo, an award-winning novelist celebrated for exploring the breadth of Black British life, to name a few.
Jnane Tamsna serves as both the venue and a central element of the experience. The property, known for its gardens, architecture, and role as a gathering place for artists and thinkers, has hosted previous editions of the Salon.
Organizers have advised prospective attendees that space is limited and that registration is required in advance. Additional details about the program and registration are available through the Salon’s official website.
The holidays can be hard on your wallet, even if you’re in a strong financial position.
The holidays can be hard on your wallet, even if you’re in a strong financial position. But they can be especially challenging for people in debt — and if that’s you, you’re not alone.
Outstanding credit card debt balances, which are known for coming with particularly high interest rates, jumped to $1.23 trillion in the third quarter of this year, according to data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Understandably, financial stress from being in debt can compound during the holidays when there are gifts, decorations, and flights to buy: 69% of respondents to a survey of 2,000 Americans published by Talker Research and Current, a consumer fintech banking platform, said the holiday season is the most financially stressful part of the year.
But financial experts say there are several changes you can make to your plans this season to handle the holidays when you’re in debt.
How to handle the holidays when you’re in debt
From adjusting your gifting strategy to finding free events, here are five ways to alleviate the stress of spending in December when you’re in debt.
1. Review your debt repayment strategy
The first step to ready yourself for holiday spending is to revisit your debt repayment goals and strategy, says Chloé Moore, a certified financial planner and founder of Financial Staples in Atlanta. By doing this, you can have a clear understanding of how much wiggle room you have for your spending.
If you typically pay $250 toward a debt payment per month, subtract that, your housing costs, the typical amount you pay for everyday essentials like gas and groceries, and any other necessary expenses from your total income for December. The figure you have leftover can be used to determine how much you can spend for the rest of the month.
Having a set amount of money that you can spend in mind also “gives you the freedom to say ‘no’ or ‘I can’t afford this’” when friends and family invite you to activities that will eat away at your budget, Moore says. That brings us to the next step.
2. Be honest
When loved ones invite you to participate in costly activities like shopping at a holiday market or seeing a show, it can be difficult to say no. But being honest with your friends and family, and letting them know you are prioritizing debt repayment can help, says Spencer Betts, a certified financial planner and financial consultant with Bickling Financial Services in Lexington, Massachusetts. Setting expectations up-front helps avoid disappointment.
“Talk openly about your goals with family and friends. Much of the stress comes from hiding financial struggles,” Betts says. “Sharing your situation can reduce shame and help others support your efforts. Many people have faced similar challenges, and openness often leads to encouragement.”
3. Reconsider your gifting plan
Persistent inflation and tariffs mean many items are coming with higher-than-normal price tags, making gifting on a budget more challenging.
“Consider gift options that reduce or eliminate gift giving, such as organizing an exchange in which your family members each draw one name from a hat of who they’ll buy a gift for,” Moore says. White elephant exchanges, where everyone brings a wrapped gift that can be opened or “stolen” by participants who draw numbers to open gifts in order, are another fun option.
Consider whether anyone on your gift list would appreciate a shared experience like an outing, homemade treats, or even handwritten cards that express appreciation, says Scott Ward, a certified financial planner and the senior vice president and wealth advisor for Compound Planning in Birmingham, Alabama. “Thoughtful gestures of this nature can reduce price-pressure stress and prevent overspending, too.”
You can also opt to forgo gift giving completely, which may be a good option if several members of your family are in debt and financially stressed about the holidays.
4. Take advantage of deals
If you do choose to buy gifts, don’t forget to look out for the ample sales that retailers hold around the holidays. Even if you missed Black Friday and Cyber Monday, there’s a good chance that the stores you typically shop at are offering discounts throughout the rest of the year.
You can find deep discounts on items like headphones, televisions, and coffee makers in December, according to Consumer Reports. Websites like CamelCamelCamel can help you with price tracking, and even alert you when an item you’ve been eyeing goes on sale. Making purchases with cards that offer cash back is a good way to save even while spending. In addition, using a secured charge card can also help you build your credit as you spend. You’ll want to look for one with low or no deposit requirements and reports to the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion).
5. Plan free and low-cost activities
Free and low-cost activities like going out for a hot chocolate or driving around to see holiday lights can replace expensive activities or gift giving, and still allow everyone to spend time together. Consider inviting your loved ones over to watch a football game, or host a potluck, game night, or movie night, Moore says.
And take advantage of free holiday activities offered by towns, churches, and community groups, Betts suggests. “These events allow you to celebrate without sacrificing your financial goals.”
NAACP Slams AT&T DEI Rollback As ‘Anti-Growth,’ Warns It Abandons Black Consumers And Workers
NAACP President Derrick Johnson wrote directly to AT&T's chairman and CEO regarding their 'disappointing' decision to cutback on DEI programming.
The NAACP is holding companies accountable for the continued drawback of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.
In light of AT&T’s decision to cut its DEI programming, the NAACP has called out the decision in a letter to the corporation. Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the civil rights organization, addressed the situation in a direct statement to AT&T’s Chairman and CEO John Stankey.
Johnson wrote about the “grave concern” over AT&T’s decision to discontinue its DEI programs, noting how this choice could demean its place as a leader in the telecommunications industry. The organization’s president also noted how the push against DEI practices undermines the growth of “economic opportunity” within the corporate sector.
“In principle and practice, diversity, equity, and inclusion commitments have been mischaracterized in the current political environment. In direct contrast, the economic history of this country reflects a strong parallel in the growth of civil rights laws and the expansion of economic opportunity,” detailed the letter.
The letter added, “Decades of civil rights laws and practices adopted by the corporate sector have greatly benefited the U.S. economy. Corporations benefit from expenditures by minority consumers and a diverse employee base.”
Of their “ill-considered” decision, Johnson called it an “anti-growth and reactionary agenda” in line with the Trump administration’s anti-DEI legislation sweeping the federal level. Johnson also noted the multitrillion-dollar spending power of Black Americans, emphasizing how AT&T’s decision dismisses their impact.
“Black Americans’ buying power is massive –- now approaching $2 trillion dollars. Rather than valuing this market, AT&T has chosen to send a clearly ideological message: “AT&T does not value people of color as employees or customers.”
In his comments on AT&T’s DEI reversal, Johnson told BLACK ENTERPRISE that the choice conforms to “extremist pressure” while abandoning the diverse customers AT&T serves.
“Leadership requires courage, not capitulation,” shared Johnson in a statement to BE. “AT&T’s continued shift is alarming and should concern everyone who helped build this company. AT&T grew because of a diverse America, yet now appears willing to abandon those communities by yielding to extremist pressure. America is stronger when we embrace diversity, not when corporations retreat from it.”
Amid boycotts against companies for their cutbacks on DEI, the NAACP reminded AT&T that the Black community has historically taken away their support for companies that no longer reflect their values. While it did not call for a direct boycott of their services, the NAACP issued a staunch warning of what could come if AT&T stands firm on its withdrawn DEI stance.
Kirk Franklin, Pharrell Williams, Brandy To Be Honored During GRAMMYS Week 2026
The ceremony will take place Jan. 29, 2026, at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles.
The Recording Academy’s Black Music Collective will honor three living legends, musical mastermind Pharrell Williams, R&B siren Brand, and gospel leader Kirk Franklin, during next year’s GRAMMYS Week.
The Recording Academy said the trio will be honored Jan. 29, 2026, at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles.
The ceremony is part of the fourth annual Recording Academy Honors.
Pharrell will receive the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award. It is being awarded to him in recognition of his musical achievements, entrepreneurial innovation, philanthropic efforts, and global cultural influence.
Brandy and Franklin will receive the Black Music Icon Award, which honors Black music creators whose artistry, innovation, and service have shaped the industry and inspired generations worldwide.
“Pharrell, Brandy, and Kirk are true visionaries and masters of their craft. Each has built a legacy that transcends genre, defies convention, and shapes culture. Their artistry continues to inspire generations of artists around the world. I’m thrilled to join the Black Music Collective in honoring three of music’s brightest stars in January and celebrating their immeasurable contributions to the industry,” Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. said in a written statement.
Past honorees include Alicia Keys, Dr. Dre, Jay-Z, and John Legend.
The 2026 GRAMMYS will be shown live on Feb. 1, 2026, from Crypto.com Arena and will be broadcast on the CBS Television Network and streamed on Paramount+ from 5 to 8:30 p.m. PT/8 to 11:30 p.m. ET.
The 2026 GRAMMY Awards Premiere Ceremony, which is being held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, will take place at 12:30 p.m. PT/3:30 p.m.It will also be streamed live on live.GRAMMY.com and the Recording Academy’s YouTube channel.
The Black Music Collective (BMC) is an advisory board of music-industry leaders dedicated to advancing opportunities for Black music creators and industry leaders.
Investigator Reveals Unused Burn Cage Incinerator At Property Rented By Murder Suspect D4vd
Private investigator Steve Fischer discloses information via social media
Now that recording artist D4vd has been named a suspect in the killing of 15-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, there has been a reported discovery of a “burn cage” incinerator on the property of a home he was renting.
According to Complex, a private investigator named Steve Fischer was hired to search the Hollywood Hills home the singer rented from the property’s landlord, Mladen Trifunovic. Trifunovic had summoned him because he had not received any updates from the Los Angeles Police Department regarding its search of the home. In an X post, Fischer revealed that he had found the incinerator after he took to social media to clarify earlier statements attributed to him.
After saying he had been “misquoted by some,” he reiterated what he stated originally about things he found at the property. He wrote that some of the things seen were “items you would expect to find on a farm rather than in a home in the Hollywood Hills.”
He continues, “One of those items was a Burn Cage incinerator, advertised to burn at 1,600 degrees. Human cremations are typically performed at approximately 1,400 degrees. An incinerator is not legal to use within city limits and serves no legitimate purpose at a residential property in the Hollywood Hills.”
Fischer went on to state that some may have said the incinerator was to be used as a prop in a video, which he disputes. “Why would a 55-pound burn cage be delivered to a private residence instead of directly to a prop designer or production house?”
After asking several questions about that theory, he considered the relevance of sending it to personal property rather than a professional space, especially right before he was heading out on a world tour. According to him, the burn cage was a new item and had never been used. He also revealed that it was delivered there under a false name. He became skeptical because the Tesla in which Hernandez’s remains were discovered was registered to D4vd and used the same address as the residence.
Fischer even attached a photograph of the Burn Cage incinerator that was at the property, along with an image from the manufacturer’s advertising materials.
Although my words have been misquoted by some, what I actually said about certain items found at the Doheny address was that they were “items you would expect to find on a farm rather than in a home in the Hollywood Hills.” One of those items was a Burn Cage incinerator,… pic.twitter.com/VlS2MHdb2G
— SF INVESTIGATES • STEVE FISCHER (@SF_investigates) December 16, 2025
D4vd has been listed as a suspect months after Hernandez’s remains were discovered in the Tesla registered to the recording artist (in September). He reportedly was in a relationship with the underage Rivas Hernandez. Her decomposing body was found dismembered in the back of the vehicle, and authorities think it had been in the trunk for several weeks before discovery.
House Republicans Pass Healthcare Package That Does Little For Medical Costs
The Republican-led healthcare bill, the 'Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act,' passed in the House 216-211.
House Republicans passed a healthcare package that does little to address Americans’ concerns about rising medical costs. The Republican-led healthcare bill is called the “Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act.” It passed in the House 216-211.
The vote comes after a fiery battle between both parties, which became the central issue for Democrats during the recent government shutdown. The approved bill, however, does not extend the tax credits that would have prevented an increase in premiums for Affordable Care Act enrollees, subsidies that Americans use to lower monthly health insurance premiums, which will expire on Dec. 31.
Instead, the House GOP package allows small businesses and self-employed individuals to band together to buy a plan of their own to lower premiums. The plan would also provide another kind of subsidy to reduce out-of-pocket expenses for enrollees.
One priority for Republicans has been transparency. The approved plan would require pharmacy benefit managers, who act as middlemen between drugmakers and insurers or employers, to provide employers with data on drug prices,CNN reports.
House Republicans’ Healthcare Plan Now Heads To The Senate
The bill will now head to the Senate, which Politico reports is likely dead on arrival as millions of Americans face uncertainty just weeks before new policies begin on Jan. 1, 2026. Democratic senators would have to side with GOP lawmakers to send the bill to the President’s desk.
As BLACK ENTERPRISEpreviously reported, premium payments will increase by an average of 114% for 22 million Americans enrolled in ObamaCare. In the latest KFF poll, researchers found that a majority of those who buy health insurance in the Marketplace will find it very or somewhat difficult to afford. The Congressional Budget Office estimates 100,000 people will become uninsured each year if the bill passes.
There’s no word yet on when the Senate will take up a vote on the House’s bill. Lawmakers are set to head home for the holidays by the end of the week.
Police Investigating Death Of TikTok Star Riziki Ilenre After Fans Suspect Suicide
Police are investigating the death of beloved TikTok creator Riziki Ilenre after fans claim she took her own life during a livestream.
Police are investigating the death of TikTok creator Riziki Ilenre following allegations from fans that she took her own life during a livestream.
The Montgomery Police Department in Alabama confirmed they are investigating the circumstances surrounding Ilenre’s death on Dec. 12, TMZ reports. The inquiry comes amid a surge of social media reports claiming she took her own life during a TikTok livestream after facing ongoing harassment from other creators.
On her now-deleted TikTok account, Ilenre frequently shared her experiences with mental health challenges and her disability, along with adventures with her service dog, Chief. Following her death, a Change.org petition has been launched calling on lawmakers to pass the Riziki Ilenre Act, with the petition alleging that she endured “relentless harassment from various creators on TikTok.” The petition urges stricter penalties for cyberbullying and the implementation of systems to help victims report abuse more easily.
“They mocked her, they made fun of her disabilities, and in the deepest cruelty, they told her to kill herself,” the petition starter continued. “This relentless bullying and cyber attacks led to a devastating loss, not only for her family and friends but for all of us who witnessed another life taken too soon by such heartless acts.”
Tributes have poured in for the social media star following her death. A spokesperson for Church Without Walls in Carrollton described Ilenre on Facebook as a “bright and brilliant young woman” preparing to attend law school. Pastor Walter D’Andre Green of her local church also mourned her, calling Ilenre his “daughter—not biologically, but absolutely spiritually.”
“I had the privilege of watching her grow from an awkward sophomore in college into a young woman preparing to take on the world as a law student,” his Facebook post read. “She was brilliant, driven, and fearless in thought.”
“One thing about Rizi — she loved to debate,” he added. “She thrived in apologetics and theological discourse, and I think that’s part of why we were so close. She loved truth, and she wasn’t afraid to wrestle with it.”
Timely Rent Payments Are Now Considered In Home Loan Evaluation
One of the most impactful shifts is the removal of the minimum credit score requirement for conventional loans.
Credit score rules for mortgages are undergoing significant changes in 2026. The changes could open the door to homeownership by broadening how lenders assess risk.
One of the most impactful shifts is the removal of the minimum credit score requirement for conventional loans under Fannie Mae, a long-standing system. Beginning Nov. 16, 2025, Fannie Mae no longer enforces a hard 620 FICO score for new mortgage applicants. This allows lenders greater flexibility to evaluate borrowers based on their overall financial situation instead of a single score.
Similarly, Freddie Mac has already moved away from strict minimum scores through its Loan Product Advisor. The Loan Product Advisor is an automated underwriting system that enables consideration of credit histories that might otherwise be excluded under older models. Both Freddie Mae and Freddie Mac have updated their websites to reflect the assessment change.
Due to the updates, lenders may consider alternative credit information and other risk factors. Other factors for consideration include income stability, debt-to-income ratio, and a positive payment history. This approach will, hopefully, allow applicants to prove their creditworthiness beyond loan repayment data and credit cards. This will reveal a more complete picture of a borrower’s creditworthiness beyond traditional credit card and loan repayment data.
Fannie Mae will drop its minimum credit score requirement for homebuyers starting Nov. 16, 2025.
The new system will weigh full credit profiles instead of enforcing a 620 cutoff, potentially expanding access to buyers with limited credit but raising concerns over lending… pic.twitter.com/H6qfMX5YVO
The removal of a minimum credit score requirement could especially benefit first-time homebuyers, younger borrowers, and people with “thin” credit files. While credit scores themselves will still be reviewed, the expanded evaluation criteria may allow more applicants who previously fell short of rigid cutoffs to qualify.
Mortgage lenders and underwriters will still evaluate applicants on the strength of their financial profiles, and individual lenders may set their own internal score requirements. Individual lender requirements may differ from the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac guidelines. Higher scores typically still translate into more favorable interest rates and loan terms.
Similar to home loan rules, credit scoring models themselves are also evolving. Newer versions, such as VantageScore 4.0 and FICO 10T, incorporate “trended data” and nontraditional credit factors, including rental and utility payment history. The news systems will also take into account “Buy Now Pay Later” history from platforms such as Klarna and Affirm, BLACK ENTERPRISEreported. While the changes are helpful to potential homebuyers, there are still barriers. Lenders will continue to consider debt levels, income stability, and payment history as part of risk assessment.
Comedian Leslie Jones Sounds Off On Trump For Calling Reporter ‘Piggy’
Jones questioned why journalists haven't clapped back at Trump for his offensive comments.
Comedian Leslie Jones has had it up to here with President Donald Trump’s reckless comments against women journalists and decided to tell the world how she would handle him.
During an appearance on “The Best People” podcast with MS NOW host Nicolle Wallace, Jones put herself in the shoes of Bloomberg White House correspondent Catherine Lucey, whom Trump referred to as “piggy” while questioning him aboard Air Force One in November 2025. “I don’t mean no harm. If he would have said ‘Shut up, piggy’ to me, I’d be like you fat motherf*****,” she said in an expletive-filled rant that had to be bleeped out.
“You stanking bastard. You wouldn’t be able to talk to me like that. Who you calling ‘piggy,’ you fat f***?….I mean, like how are yall not losing you s*** like that?”
Lucey suffered the harsh words after asking the indicted president about his actions if he wasn’t guilty regarding his association to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, “if there’s nothing incriminating in the files,” referring to the Epstein files, required to be released to the public Dec. 19. In a viral video, Trump pointed at her and said: “Quiet. Quiet, piggy.”
Weeks later, he was criticized for labeling NBC News correspondent Yamiche Alcindor as “very aggressive.” Days before that, the president called ABC News reporter Rachel Scott “the most obnoxious reporter in the whole place” — the second attack she endured after hearing similar allegations during a National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) conference panel in 2024.
On social media, he referred to CNN Chief White House Correspondent Kaitlan Collins as “stupid and nasty.”
Jones feels it’s time for some reporters to clap back, and social media users feel the same. As her expletive-filled interview went viral, users said she is speaking on behalf of everyone. “Leslie is all of us at this point,” @bravebones wrote.
@millvillain_ called on the media to let her in on the press conferences. “Get her a press pass,” the IG user said.
The former “Saturday Night Live” cast member didn’t stop at Trump in her interview. According to Fox News, she is focused on the upcoming midterm elections, which could give the Democratic Party control of the House. Jones hopes that if that were to happen, lawmakers’ first line of business is arresting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. “You can’t continue to keep doing something wrong, you know, and you’re not gonna pay for that,” the comedian said.
“I’m hoping, this is what I’m hoping, that midterms, people come out and vote like crazy to switch it over, and then the reckoning comes. That’s why I want all, everybody that works for ICE, I want them in jail. I just want a reckoning. I want a reckoning. Y’all know y’all did wrong stuff. You know some of the stuff you did was so wrong. I need a reckoning. Because that’s, to me, that’s the only thing that’s gonna make it right.”
