Stephen A. Smith, daughter
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

February 17, 2026

Stephen A. Smith Boasts, ‘We Wouldn’t Have A Border Crisis Under My Watch’

The ESPN star outlined part of his potential presidential agenda during an interview with journalist Robert Costa.

Stephen A. Smith is continuing to hint at a 2028 presidential bid, outlining positions that include stronger border security and increased funding for law enforcement.

The longtime sports commentator outlined his policy views for immigration, the economy, and crime in a Feb. 15 interview with CBS Sunday Morning.

“We wouldn’t have a border crisis under my watch. Hell no,” he said, in a clip shared online. “We wouldn’t have this crime that exists on the streets of New York—you wouldn’t hear about me saying ‘Defund the police.'”

“We ain’t defunding any police. I’m calling 911 when there is a problem, I know you’re calling 911 when there’s a problem,” he added. “I’ll be damned if I’m going to have less police officers out there. There’s going to be more—that’s me!”

Smith also said he would prioritize building a stronger economy, arguing that economic growth is key to reducing crime and instability across the United States.

“I believe when you have something to lose, you know how to behave,” he said. “If you have nothing, you have nothing to lose. As a result, you’re willing to tear down anything—even it’s America—because you feel betrayed by a country that’s supposed to be looking out for you and positioning you to thrive, instead of wallowing in misery and suffering.”

While Smith appears eager to present himself as a serious presidential contender, social media reactions to another celebrity entering politics have been mixed, with many expressing skepticism about his recent interview with Robert Costa.

“Democrats aren’t Republicans, Mr. Costa. We like our nominees to be qualified. No more entry-level presidents who’ve never served in public office,” one X user wrote.

“Will fatigued Americans have the stamina to go from a president who needs constant attention and will do anything to get it to another president who needs constant attention and will do anything to get it?” another user sarcastically asked.

President Donald Trump recently voiced support for Smith during a NewsNation town hall.

“I love watching him,: Trump said. “He’s got great entertainment skills, which is very important. People watch him. You know, a lot of these Democrats I watch, I say they have no chance. I’ve been pretty good at picking people and picking candidates. And I will tell you, I’d love to see him run.”

RELATED CONTENT: WHEW! Joy Reid Has Had Enough Of Stephen A. Smith’s Shenanigans

grand rapids, police, teen, mother
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

February 17, 2026

Bronx Teenager Shot Dead After Defending Friends

Christopher Redding was shot after friends stated he was defending others when the gunman short him and two other teenagers

Christopher Redding, a student who attended John F. Kennedy High School in the Bronx and had dreams of becoming a football player, was shot and killed after friends said he defended them before he was shot in the back.

According to Fox News, the incident took place on Feb. 11, as two other teenagers were also hit with gunfire. Both teens, a 15-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl, suffered a gunshot wound to their right leg and were taken to a local hospital, where they were listed in stable condition. The shooting, which started as a verbal argument, occurred in the Kingsbridge section of the Bronx.

CBS News reported that a 17-year-old boy was taken into custody on Feb. 14. He is facing several charges, including murder, attempted murder, manslaughter, assault, and criminal possession of a weapon.

The Bronx Borough President, Vanessa Gibson, released a statement via social media about the incident.

“Our Borough is devastated and in mourning after the tragic triple shooting last evening that claimed the life of a 16-year-old teenager, and two other teens were left injured. We will continue to closely monitor this tragedy as the investigation continues.”

A GoFundMe has been set up by Redding’s high school football coach, Christopher Lopez. Lopez said that Redding played for the Fastbreak flag football team, the John F. Kennedy High School tackle football team, and formerly played for the Bronx Colts and LBX teams.

“In his final moments, Christopher was defending his friends who were being targeted by a group of individuals who then opened fire on them in the Bronx. His last act on earth was one of courage and selflessness, protecting those he cared about. The loss of Christopher has deeply affected his family, his teammates, and the entire community.”

He is survived by his mother, Shampagne Christian, and father, Bryan Corley, and his siblings.

RELATED CONTENT: Fatal Shooting At South Carolina State Halts HBCU Basketball Games 

CLIFTON POWELL
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

February 17, 2026

Black Men’s Roundtable Gets Heated After Clifton Powell’s Love Admission

The actor sparked tension during a Black men’s roundtable after being challenged over his admission that he didn’t learn how to love until a woman taught him in his 60s.

Tensions flared during a Black men’s roundtable when actor Clifton Powell was confronted by a speaker who criticized him and other elders for using age as a shield against accountability.

The veteran actor, best known for his role in the Friday film franchise, recently joined a roundtable hosted by SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective and The Conscious Lee, where actors, activists, and creatives discussed Black men’s role in reproductive justice and building healthier relationships with Black women.

During the conversation, Powell reflected on his personal journey with love, accountability, and emotional growth, admitting he didn’t learn how to truly love until his 60s.

“I’ve just learned how to love,” he shared. “I’m 69, about to be 70, and I’ve just learned.”

Powell said his admission stems from inherited trauma within Black families, describing it not as regret but as a moment of clarity shaped by generational wounds and lived experience.

“Our parents didn’t know how to love. Their parents didn’t know how to love,” he said, highlighting the long-term effects of “450 years of post-slavery PTSD.”

Powell said his current partner has played a major role in his personal growth, pushing him to confront his behavior and evolve.

“When you hurt somebody, where you leave them is where they stay,” Powell said.

Fellow panelist Joseph Irvin revisited Powell’s comments, using the moment to highlight what he sees as a broader lack of accountability among some older generations when it comes to owning their actions and the trauma passed down to younger family members.

“Some people have talked about, like, you know, going to counseling, have that upon yourself. Stop waiting for a woman to tell you what you need to do,” Irvin said in a clip shared online.

https://twitter.com/Raindropsmedia1/status/2023509200660521354

Powell fired back at Irvin. “You can’t tell me what the f-ck I’m living…I’m living it right now. You cannot fix no sh-t that you don’t even know what’s happening,” Powell shouted..

He continued, “You can’t fix no sh-t unless you meet somebody who help is on another level to help you elevate your understanding. I’m not indicting anybody. I’m telling you what the sh-t is. If you can’t fix some sh-t that you don’t know about, bro, you can’t. And then you get there at 69 or 70 and say, ‘I thought I was being loved’ and all this stuff. That’s what our parents have gone through, and that’s why we all so f-ck-d up right now.”

The tense exchange has ignited online debate, with some interpreting Powell’s reaction as a reflection of the very pain, anger, and trauma being discussed, and others defending him.

“It’s true. That’s why he spazzed. Why you damn need 70 yrs old just now ‘learning how to love’? Old asf and now you finally want to do right by a woman is sickening,” one X user wrote.

Another user defended Powell, saying the only reason he became upset is that “buddy was being disrespectful by not letting him talk.”

“We can’t get to a place where start disrespecting elders. Can’t speak for how other cultures do things, but there’s a way to communicate with elders, and that wasn’t it,” added someone else.

“I disagree. Older people rarely ever take accountability because they typically dealt with the same trauma they’re bring on someone else. Generational trauma,” one X user wrote.

RELATED CONTENT: Clifton Powell Claims Spike Lee Doesn’t ‘Take Care Of His Own People’

J. Cole, North Carolina
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

February 17, 2026

J. Cole Helped A Local Caterer Early in His Career, Now She Owns 2 Restaurants

Judith Cage received her first $10,000 check for her catering service leading to her expanding her business, which now includes two restaurants

A small-business owner/caterer/chef in Fayetteville, North Carolina, Judith Cage, who credits recording artist J. Cole with helping her expand her business, recently shared that experience on her social media after the artist’s latest project, “The Fall Off,” dropped.

Cage, who has since opened two restaurants, told her followers that she got a catering job from the “No Role Modelz” rapper, which helped her build her business into what it is today. J. Cole is currently on a “Trunk Sale Tour 26,” selling physical copies of his latest album from the trunk of his old Honda Civic across the country. He says that when he was an up-and-coming rapper, that’s how he was able to get on, selling his CDs out of the same trunk.

The chef, still supporting J. Cole, posted several photos on her Facebook page of herself and Cole, including one showing the rapper eating from a plate while standing next to her from his early hip-hop days. She stated that she and her daughter were invited to Cole’s house, and she received a $10,000 check, her first for catering, as she was also hired for some of the rapper’s video shoots.

“It’s me up at 7 am listening to The Fall-Off.

“The thing is… J. Cole was my first $10,000 catering check. At a time it was needed. I bought my first catering truck, which caused me to be able to secure larger opportunities with that money. He welcomed my daughter and I to his house just to feed him and his team on Forest Dr. We catered several video shoots for him right here in Fayetteville. You can’t say nothing bad about him to me.

We had some late nights, early mornings, and long days… but I’d do it again!”

According to Afro Tech, Cage owns two restaurants, Uptown Chicken and Waffles and The Ville Wings & Bar, as well as her catering business, Let Me Cater to You. Both restaurants are located in Fayetteville. 

RELATED CONTENT: J. Cole To Sell CD, ‘The Fall Off’ From Out The Trunk

postal worker,Dequavious Graves
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

February 17, 2026

Metro Atlanta Postal Worker Fatally Shot On The Job As Community Mourns Public Servant

Graves was a dedicated public servant beloved by his family and friends.

The Metro Atlanta community is mourning the loss of a beloved postal worker who was killed on the job.

Dequavious Graves was fatally shot Feb. 12 while completing his duties for the U.S. Postal Service in DeKalb County. Graves was delivering mail down a popular street in Decatur, Georgia, a city located northeast of Atlanta, when an unknown assailant shot and killed him.

According to 11Alive, the DeKalb County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed the 31-year-old man died from his injuries. The news of his untimely death shocked his loved ones, who recalled his various interests and good nature.

His friends remember Graves for his love of his Postal Service career and his creative outlets. Beyond working at the USPS for three years, the postal worker also pursued the arts as a music producer. Now, they must contend with the loss of someone they considered a brother, who they lovingly called “Big Quay.”

One friend noted, “The world was robbed of a great human.” 

The U.S. Postal Service also issued a statement on the “tragic loss.” The agency will provide counseling services to co-workers grappling with their grief.

“The Postal Service is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of a Postal family member with three years of service in a fatal incident on February 12. Our thoughts are with their family, friends, and colleagues during this difficult time. We will be providing counseling services to our employees at the Wesley Chapel Post Office as the investigation into the incident continues,” detailed the statement.


With an investigation underway, the United States Postal Inspection Service has offered a $250,000 reward for anyone with information on the killing. Authorities consider the suspect armed and dangerous.

The victim’s mother, Shannon Graves, also urged the perpetrator to come forward so that his family may receive justice.

“This was a very cowardly move, and I want you to please come forward and give yourself up,” said the grieving woman.

RELATED CONTENT: The Iconic Miss J Alexander Details Grueling Stroke Recovery In Netflix Doc

Brittany S. Hale Is Set To Unpack Black Women And ‘The C-Suite Crisis’ At 2026 Women Of Power Summit
by Kandiss Edwards

February 17, 2026

Brittany S. Hale Is Set To Unpack Black Women And ‘The C-Suite Crisis’ At 2026 Women Of Power Summit

As a summit speaker, Hale brings both lived insight and technical expertise to conversations on leadership, equity and growth.

Brittany S. Hale is bringing a unique blend of expertise from operational strategy, conflict navigation, and legal insight to the upcoming BLACK ENTERPRISE Women of Power Summit March 11–15 at the Bellagio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. On March 12, Hale will speak at the Thank You, Next: The C-Suite Crisis session.

In February 2026, Hale announced her new position as a pre-litigation leading attorney for the Brandon J. Broderick law firm. Additionally, she is the chief strategy officer of BND Consulting Group, where she works with leadership teams to convert internal friction into institutional clarity and growth. The firm’s advisory practice integrates litigation experience with operational design.

Before launching BND Consulting in 2017, Hale built a career at the intersection of law, leadership, and organizational performance. As an attorney who has advised companies on complex litigation, compliance, and risk management. Her multifaceted background also includes leadership roles in the public sector including Director of Partnerships & Business Development, Stackwell; Director, Strategy & Operations, InspireHR; and Senior Business Development Manager, Bloomberg.

In January 2023, Hale was named interim chief executive officer and chief operating officer of digitalundivided, a nonprofit that advances economic opportunities for Latina and Black women entrepreneurs. In that role, she oversaw operational systems and helped guide strategy while the organization conducted a nationwide search for a permanent CEO. Her leadership at digitalundivided combined operational rigor with a commitment to dismantling systems of racial and gender bias. 

At the Women of Power Summit, Hale promises to unpack the erasure of qualified and accomplished Black women in corporate leadership.

“Despite record-setting performance, Black women continue to be quietly—and sometimes loudly—pushed out of executive leadership. I’ll be unpacking why this happens, how it shows up, and how it connects to my ongoing research on Tall Poppy Syndrome, or the penalty imposed on highly ambitious women who refuse to shrink.”

As a summit speaker, Hale brings both lived insight and technical expertise to conversations on leadership, equity, and growth at a time when many organizations are reassessing culture, performance, and purpose. Be in attendance when Hale drops wisdom for the 2026 BLACK ENTERPRISE Women of Power Summit. For registration information click here.

RELATED CONTENT: Rosalind ‘Roz’ Brewer Will Receive Legacy Award At The 2026 Women OF Power Summit

New Jersey, study, c-sections
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

February 17, 2026

Black Mothers Reveal Their Maternity Care Horror Stories: ‘The Nurse Got Angry’

Black mothers in the United Kingdom are speaking out about traumatic maternity care experiences as the country works to address its growing maternal health crisis.

Three Black mothers treated at different UK hospitals are speaking out about strikingly similar maternity experiences where their pain was overlooked, their concerns dismissed, and how their race may have been the cause of their mistreatment.

“I was told by the midwife to shut up, and then she put her hand over my mouth,” recalled Tenisha Howell, a mother of five who spoke candidly with Sky News.

One mother, Shakira Akabusi, described the response she received from a nurse after asking whether there were alternatives to morphine following her C-section.

“The nurse got angry,” Akabusi said. “She threw the morphine away, and I was then left alone for hours.”

Kadi Wilson recalled lying alone in her hospital bed recovering from a fourth-degree tear, crying in pain as she said staff showed little compassion, with some allegedly walking past and ignoring her cries.

These stories highlight the stark realities behind persistent disparities in maternity care. Despite federal efforts to address the maternal mortality crisis, which disproportionately affects Black women, they remain twice as likely to die from childbirth-related causes. By sharing their experiences, these mothers are offering a candid look at what it means to navigate pregnancy and birth in a system where race is closely tied to risk.

“I haven’t felt supported, I haven’t felt safe, I haven’t felt like my pain was taken seriously,” Howell, 33, said. “I have a lot of experiences that I can draw from, and it’s sad to say that a lot of them have been quite negative.”

Tenisha described her fifth labor and delivery as “the most traumatic,” recalling agonizing pain as the gas and air wore off, and alleging that one midwife pressured her to stay quiet as she cried out.

“She told me to shut up multiple times, and then she put her hand over my mouth to basically say, ‘be quiet,” Howell shared. “That was very disheartening. It was very sad.”

The accounts are among those highlighted by Dr. Michelle Peter, co-author of the Five X More Black Maternity Experiences Report, which surveyed 1,164 Black and mixed-heritage women in the UK who were pregnant between July 2021 and March 2025. More than half said they faced challenges with healthcare professionals, and nearly a quarter reported being denied pain relief when they asked for it.

“This kind of dismissal of black women’s pain and refusal to provide adequate pain relief when it’s requested is a common experience amongst the black women who have shared their experiences with us,” Dr. Peter said. “This is kind of linked to historical, but also ongoing, racialised assumptions about black people’s tolerance to pain, their vulnerability or their strengths.”

The UK government has launched an independent review of maternity and neonatal services, led by Baroness Amos, which has found that too many women, across all backgrounds, still receive “unacceptable care” resulting in tragic outcomes. The inquiry will examine the role discrimination plays in the experiences of women of color, even as many continue to face these challenges while reforms are being explored.

Baroness Merron, the parliamentary under-secretary for patient safety, women’s health, and mental health, said it is “absolutely unacceptable” that Black and Asian women face a higher risk of dying during childbirth than white women in the UK.

“I very much look forward to implementing what we can from that. I am already taking action in terms of tackling discrimination and racism across the NHS because it can’t wait any longer,” she said.

RELATED CONTENT: Ex-Deputy Sean Grayson Gets 20-Year Maximum Sentence For Sonya Massey’s Murder

LeBron James, nba rules
by Sharelle B. McNair

February 17, 2026

LeBron James’ ‘Good Things’ Under Fire As Critics Blast Perceived Support Of Israel

In “An Open Letter to LeBron James,” Mehdi Hasan highlighted all the times the four-time champion was seen as a champion for social justice matters such as the violence in Charlottesville and Black Lives Matter.

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is being slammed on social media for comments about Israel and labeled a “disgrace” by MS Now journalist and Israel critic, Mehdi Hasan. 

During the NBA’s annual All-Star weekend, James announced he would hold a separate press conference to answer questions about the possibility of his retirement and his thoughts on Portland Trail Blazers All-Star Deni Avdija, the only active NBA player from Israel, according to Fox News.

When asked about having a message for fans overseas, people zeroed in on his sentiments of “hearing nothing but good things.”

“If I have fans over there, then I hope you’ve been following my career. I hope I inspire people over there to not only want to be great at sports but to be better in general in life,” he said. 

“So, hopefully, someday I could make it over there. Like I said, I’ve never been over there, but I heard great things. I appreciate the question.”

Hasan, in particular, took great offense to the comments made by the 22-time All-Star after reposting another social media user’s comments.

“What a disgrace LeBron is,” the journalist said on X. 

Hasan, who has received massive backlash on his hard-hitting takes against Israel following the deadly Oct. 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas terrorists, continued to slam James in “An Open Letter to LeBron James,” published on his Zeteo platform. 

He highlighted all the times the four-time champion was seen as a champion of social justice, such as the violence in Charlottesville, Black Lives Matter, and the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade.

But called him out for remaining silent on the issues overseas, accusing him of seemingly praising “mass killing and starving in Gaza.”

“So where has your voice been for the past two and a half years as tens of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza have been bombed, shot, and starved to death? As parents dug their children’s bodies out of the rubble with their bare hands? As doctors operated without anesthesia inside besieged hospitals?” Hasan wrote. 

“Why have we heard nothing from you?”

However, he may have misspoken. An old post on X resurfaced from James, dated Oct. 11, 2023, where the NBA legend, along with his SpringHill Company business partner Maverick Carter, openly condemned the terror, saying “the devastation in Israel is tragic and unacceptable.”  

While some advocates, like Marc Lamont Hill, claimed to be “nonplussed” by James’ “good things” comments, friends like fellow NBA legend Carmelo Anthony seemed to ask fans to give him some grace.

“He’s living long enough to be the villain… Still holding this league down. This league don’t move without Bron. I don’t give a f**k what nobody say.,” Anthony said during a segment of his “7PM In Brooklyn” podcast. 

“It don’t move without Bron. Until he’s gone. His position in this game is bigger than wins and losses throughout the season.”

RELATED CONTENT: Minding Our Own Business: Returning To Our Roots With These 5 African Nations Leading The Diaspora Repatriation Movement

Tyra Banks, Smize
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

February 17, 2026

Tyra Banks Caught Heat Online For Not Visiting Miss J After Life-Altering Stroke

Miss J. Alexander of "America's Next Top Model" revealed a 2022 stroke that left him paralyzed, also sharing that former friend Tyra Banks has yet to visit.

Miss J. Alexander, the iconic runway coach from “America’s Next Top Model,” revealed in a new Netflix documentary about the modeling competition show that he suffered a life-altering stroke in late 2022 that left him paralyzed. His former mentee and boss didn’t see about him.

Toward the end of episode three of Netflix’s “Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model” docuseries, Miss J. Alexander becomes emotional as he publicly shares for the first time that he suffered a stroke on Dec. 27, 2022, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down.

“I had a stroke. I woke up, I didn’t know where I was, other than the hospital,” Miss J. said in the docuseries. “I spent five weeks in a coma, and I couldn’t walk. I couldn’t talk. I thought to myself, what was I going to do? I couldn’t walk, I could’t speak. It was emotional, and I cried. I’m not ashamed to say that. I cried, and then once I was in the hospital, Jay [Manuel] and Nigel [Barker] came to visit.”

“I taught models how to walk. And now I can’t walk,” Miss J. added, in a clip shared online. “Not yet. I’m sure you’re gonna see me again. I’m sure.”

The documentary later reunites Miss J. with Jay Manuel and Nigel Barker, who take their first selfie together since 2019. The trio who served as judges alongside Tyra Banks on “America’s Next Top Model” reflect on their 2011 departures from the show and past tensions with Banks. While Manuel and Barker visited Miss J during his hospitalization, he revealed that Banks had not.

“Did Tyra come and visit you?” a producer is heard asking Miss J, who replied, “No, not yet. She just sent me a text that she wants to come and visit me. But, no, not yet.”

Amid the revelation and a wave of troubling stories shared by former contestants throughout the doc, Banks is under fire online from viewers who feel she failed to take accountability in the series.

“Miss J knew Tyra since she was 16, and she didn’t even visit him in the hospital when he had a stroke….sent him a damn text like some distant co-worker smfh. NASTY WORK! TYRA YOU ARE A NOT A GOOD PERSON,” one X user wrote.

https://twitter.com/RobynDMarley_/status/2023532631971762371

“The documentary for ANTM on Netflix made Tyra Banks look worse. Now, it’s no longer just about the show, and it being dated culturally, it’s about her being a bad person in general. She did the contestants bad, and she did her friends Miss J, J, and Nigel terribly too,” another person tweeted.

“The fact that she couldn’t put her pride aside and go visit Miss J, knowing he can’t walk anymore, really shows how cruel she is,” added another user, who accused Banks of “using” her former friends and judges.

“Girl at this point #TyraBanks is EXACTLY Who they say she is! You will never get me to believe otherwise! Everyone took accountability except her,” one user exclaimed.

Banks ended the three-part documentary by teasing plans for Cycle 25 of the iconic modeling competition, but those comments came before the series premiered and sparked backlash from frustrated fans.

RELATED CONTENT: Minding Our Own Business: Returning To Our Roots With These 5 African Nations Leading The Diaspora Repatriation Movement

Jamaica,, Jamaican, currency,, cotton, money,
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

February 17, 2026

Former Children’s Home Resident In Jamaica Asks National Leaders For Help Finishing Law School

Vanessa Wright has called on Jamaica's leaders to assist her in finishing law school.

A former children’s home resident in Jamaica had made an appeal to her country for help finishing law school.

Despite her upbringing as an orphan in Jamaica, Vanessa Wright has worked hard to build a bright future. The former ward of the state is now studying at the University of the West Indies, in her third year of law school.

While Wright has been able to succeed on her own, the lack of support has made her journey more difficult than others. Navigating what she deems “limited resources,” Wright has remained steadfast in her goals to become a lawyer.

“Despite facing instability and limited resources, I have remained dedicated to my studies and to gaining the practical experience needed for law school and bar preparation,” she explained, as reported by the Jamaican Observer.

The directors of Crisis Support Charity gifted Wright $500,000 in Jamaican dollars, roughly $3,200 USD, to help her complete school. The philanthropic leaders, Stephen Joseph and Luke Joseph, remembered Wright from when she was a child at Maxfield Park’s Children’s Home. Since meeting her, they have kept their promise to help her finish this academic journey.

“I know it is 1.5 million and we know you need more…but I know corporate Jamaica will come on and support this good story,” Stephen said.

However, Wright still needs more financial support to ease her school balance. As she hopes to finish her law degree, she has asked her home country to get her to the finish line.

Now, she and the Joseph family have also made a public appeal to the leaders of Jamaica to support her in this final stage. In total, she needs $1.5 million in Jamaican currency to fulfill her bills.

With the money, her financial strain would ease, allowing her to focus on graduation and internships. Upon completing her degree and passing the bar, she hopes to use her legal services to help people overcome their circumstances, just as she did.

RELATED CONTENT: Minding Our Own Business: How Garveyism Imagined Pan-African Identity

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