Go-Go Museum And Cafe Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony Scheduled For Nov. 18 In Washington, D.C.
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 11, 2024

Go-Go Museum And Cafe Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony Scheduled For Nov. 18 In Washington, D.C.

The long-awaited 8,000-square-foot museum will be located in Anacostia.

After years of planning, the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Go-Go Museum and Cafe, celebrating a genre popularized in the D.C. area, will have an opening ceremony on Nov. 18.

According to a press release shared by Popville, the long-awaited 8,000-square-foot museum located in Anacostia will be open to the public on Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend. The Go-Go Museum and Cafe will be available for special events. It will be open to the public on the first and third Saturdays of each month.

Community organizer and go-go promoter Ron Moten, a co-founder of the #DontMuteDC movement, started in 2019 to protect go-go music, is the person behind the museum. Dr. Natalie Hopkinson, a co-founder of Don’t Mute DC who published her 2007 doctoral dissertation and book on go-go music, is the museum’s chief curator.

The Go-Go Museum and Cafe will have a cafe, of course, and three specific areas dedicated to exhibitions and interactive attractions. A recording studio is on the premises. An outdoor space with a stage will be available for live performances.

Attendees can view technology not necessarily seen in area museums, include holograms of Backyard Band pioneer and Wire star Ralph Anwan Glover and Sugarbear of EU, where visitors can interact with the figures. There’s a graffiti exhibit where visitors can tag the museum walls using digital spray cans. Fans of the genre can see artifacts such as a Rare Essence bomber jacket, a DJ Kool touring jacket, a wig and touring outfit from Maiesha and the Hip Huggers, a cutout Chuck Brown used for in-store promotions along with many other items connected to go-go music.

The museum is located near the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site and home, Busboys & Poets, at 1920 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. SE.

Additional information can be found on the museum’s website.

Mathew Knowles Gets Real About Surviving Breast Cancer And Living With BRCA2 Gene Mutation
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 11, 2024

Mathew Knowles Gets Real About Surviving Breast Cancer And Living With BRCA2 Gene Mutation

Mathew Knowles gets candid about surviving breast cancer and living with the BRCA2 gene mutation.

Mathew Knowles is honoring Breast Cancer Awareness Month by opening up about his own experience as a male breast cancer survivor living with the BRCA2 gene mutation.

The music executive and entrepreneur was shocked by his diagnosis, as well as by his decision to undergo a mastectomy—a procedure he had believed was mainly for women with breast cancer. Now, nearly five years into remission, he is dedicated to sharing his story and encouraging others to assess their own risk for breast and other cancers and take steps to reduce that risk.

To further his advocacy, Mathew has teamed up with AstraZeneca for the ‘BeBRCAware’ campaign. The initiative focuses on educating people about the significance of genetic testing, understanding family history and cancer risks, and how identifying an inherited BRCA mutation can guide personalized care for breast, prostate, and other cancers.

Knowles actually worked in medical sales and encouraged women to get mammograms to test for breast cancer. He sold diagnostic imaging equipment (mammogram) for 20 years before spearheading his eldest daughter Beyoncé’s superstar music career.

“So I’ve had this 20 years of information early detection in 1980,” Knowles tells BLACK ENTERPRISE. “I was trying to tell every woman that would listen the importance of getting a mammogram.”

Fast forward to 2019 when Knowles noticed tiny blood stains on his white t-shirt and in his bed. With a strong background selling mammogram equipment, Knowles knew what he needed to do.

“I knew immediately what that could mean from my training and then called my doctor and asked for a mammogram,” Knowles recalls. “He had never in 40 years had a male patient ask for a mammogram and I got a mammogram and sure enough I had breast cancer.”

The famed Destiny’s Child manager highlighted the differences between men and women who test positive for the BRCA2 gene mutation. Men face a higher risk of developing male breast or prostate cancer, while women are more likely to develop breast or ovarian cancer.

He emphasized that early detection through testing and a conversation with your doctor is key to managing these risks. Knowles is also happy to return to his roots and showcase his expertise.

“I am really excited about being back in the medical community,” he shares. “Most people don’t know that you know they know the music side, but they don’t know the medical side. And I really enjoyed the medical side because I’m a nerd and I like learning new things in medicine.”

Those interested in learning more can visit BeBRCAware.com for valuable tools and resources to help individuals learn about their genetic cancer risks and guide discussions with their doctors.

Press play below to learn more about Mathew Knowles’ breast cancer survival story and how the BeBRCAware campaign can help begin your journey to getting tested.

RELATED CONTENT: Mother And Daughter Share Breast Cancer Diagnosis In ‘The Death Of A Jaybird’

Heinz ketchup, racism
(Photo: Cotton Bros. Studio/Pexels)
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 11, 2024

Heinz Apologizes For Racist Ad After Receiving Social Media Backlash

Heinz responded to the backlash over a billboard that critics said reinforced racist stereotypes.

Heinz has apologized for an advertisement it had displayed in London subway stations featuring a Black family that was deemed racist.

The U.S. manufacturer recently launched a campaign promoting family-sized pasta sauces. The ad, seen at Vauxhall and Manor House train stations, features a Black bride eating pasta next to a white groom. The image also shows the groom’s white parents and an older Black woman, likely the bride’s mother, but notably omits any sign of the bride’s Black father.

The controversial ad was released during Britain’s Black History Month, and led to Heinz facing extreme backlash on social media.

“‘For my brothers with daughters.’ Because, believe it or not, Black girls have Dads too,” author and Guardian contributor Nels Abbey tweeted on Friday.

It didn’t take long for Abbey’s tweet to ignite debate over whether Heinz intentionally presented a racist trope.

“Total erasure of Black fathers by such a mainstream brand is shocking. How did this get approved?” one person wrote in response.

“It’s subliminal messaging. It’s a ‘subtle’ way of perpetuating myths. The media have been doing this for years,” added someone else. “One of the benefits of SM is that these narratives will be challenged @HeinzUK. You should be embarrassed.”

One X user defended Heinz, noting the five people in each campaign’s billboards.

“Every single ad in this series has five people in the photo. Five nuns. Five hippies. A grandma with four kids. A bride surrounded by family members. But in every case: 5 people, not 6,” they explained.

Following the backlash, Heinz issued an apology for the ad, which was part of its campaign celebrating rule breakers who defy conventional behavior to enjoy its new line of pasta sauces.

In the advertisement, the bride spills pasta sauce on her white wedding dress while the groom and parents look on disappointedly.

“We always appreciate members of the public’s perspective on our campaigns. We understand how this ad could have unintentionally perpetuated negative stereotypes,” Heinz said. “We extend our deepest apologies and will continue to listen, learn and improve to avoid this happening again in the future.”

Melania Trump, George Floyd
(Photo: Trump White House Archived, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 11, 2024

Melania Trump Refers To George Floyd As “Black Minneapolis Resident” In Her Memoir

Melania Trump didn't include George Floyd's name in her new memoir.

Melania Trump has a new memoir in which she seemingly avoided referring to George Floyd by name, according to Business Insider.

Instead of including Floyd’s name, the former first lady refers to him only as a “Black Minneapolis resident” and uses the pronoun “his” throughout. She seems to place more emphasis on the protests outside the White House than on the details of Floyd’s murder.

“On May 26, a pivotal incident unfolded as a nine-minute video circulated on social media—a cell phone recording showing the killing of a Black Minneapolis resident by a white police officer,” Trump writes.

Then, two sentences later: “In the aftermath of his tragic death, the firing of all four officers involved in his arrest did not quell the public outcry for justice.”

Trump then criticizes the widespread protests that followed Floyd’s murder and the “inflammatory rhetoric” of Black Lives Matter leaders. She spends three paragraphs reliving the details of Floyd’s death, but more than three pages describing the May 29, 2020, demonstration outside the White House and her experience seeking shelter in a bunker with her husband, then-President Donald Trump.

Clocking in at a skimpy 182, wide-margined pages, Melania has also been criticized for apparently lacking depth when she had opportunities to share more about her background and personality. At one point in the book, Trump recalls being 22 and deciding between finishing her studies in architectural design or becoming a professional model.

“Leaving behind my family and the architecture and design school I had worked hard to be a part of was a significant step, but I was ready for the challenge,” she writes

However, the reader never finds out how or why Trump made this life-altering decision. The memoir features Trump’s childhood in Europe, her modeling career, and her time in the White House.

The reviews have been pretty lackluster.

https://twitter.com/ChangeTheSyst14/status/1844377209236226288

RELATED CONTENT: Melania Trump Breaks Away From Husband’s Pro-Life Agenda By Announcing She Is Pro-Choice 

placenta, burns,
Photo credit: Tissa O’Grady on Unsplash
by Kandiss Edwards

October 11, 2024

Facial Scars Of Third-Degree Burn Victim Healed By Using Placenta

Placenta grafting yields remarkable results for third-degree burns.

Third-degree burns are being healed using placenta. The use of placenta in medicine is not new, but the results of Mary Townsend’s placenta treatment are impressive. The most common form of regenerative methods for burns is skin grafting. Townsend’s team opted to utilize a technique from the past: placenta-derived grafting.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology says a placenta-derived graft “can reduce pain and inflammation, heal burns, prevent the formation of scar tissue and adhesion around surgical sites and even restore vision,”

While some moms opt to take their placenta home after childbirth, others surrender their placenta to the hospital, where it will become medical waste.

Statistically, “half a million Americans seek medical care for accidental burns each year. First-degree burns, and most second-degree burns, heal with at-home treatments. Third-degree burns can be life-threatening and require specialized medical care,” according to the Cleveland Clinic.

First- and second-degree burns only affect the first (epidermis) and second layer (dermis) of the skin, respectively. Treatment consists of topical ointments, gauze, and cool compresses. Sometimes, antibiotics are prescribed to stave off infection. The need for advanced healing is unnecessary at this stage.

Third-degree burns, however, can be life-threatening. These burns cause damage to the epidermis, dermis, underlying fat, and nerve endings. The depth of the damage does not allow the skin to heal in a normal fashion. Skin will become leathery and discolored.

The method for treating life-threatening burns, such as skin grafting, is painful and yields less than satisfactory results. Skin grafting requires a layer of epidermis to be removed from a healthy part of the body and transplanted to the burned area. The area in which the healthy skin was removed will heal normally as it is only taken from the surface of the body.

If the patient has no viable areas of skin to harvest, the Cleveland Clinic states: “A graft can come from a deceased donor or a human-made (artificial) source, but these will eventually need to be replaced by the person’s own skin.”

After grafting, the affected area may have a better appearance but will still be disfigured and discolored.

The introduction of placenta grafting expands treatment options for patients. According to The New York Times, the technique was first explored in the 70s and 80s. It was abandoned during the AIDS epidemic due to concerns about blood contamination. Townsend’s successful procedure shows the potential of placenta grafting.

Hopefully, researchers begin to explore the abandoned research and techniques.

RELATED CONTENT: New Research Indicates That Increasing Health Spans Is Better Than Longer Lives

Shannon Sharpe, makeup, Mark Cuban
BOULDER, CO - SEPTEMBER 09: NFL Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe interacts with fans from the sideline prior to the home opener game between the Colorado Buffaloes and the the Nebraska Cornhuskers on Saturday, September 9, 2023 at Folsom Field in Boulder, CO. (Photo by Nick Tre. Smith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 11, 2024

Shannon Sharpe Took Bad Financial Advice and Missed Out On Google and Netflix Investments, ‘I’d Have Been A Billionaire’

Shannon Sharpe wishes he invested in Google 20 years ago when he had the chance.

Shannon Sharpe believes he’d be a part of the Billionaire Boys Club today if he hadn’t taken poor financial advice years ago.

During a conversation about money and investing with business mogul and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban on his Club Shay Shay platform, Sharpe recounted how he once considered an early investment in Google, but decided against it after his financial advisor advised him not to.

“I remember when Google came out, and they thought the shares were going to open up at about $85 a share,” Sharpe recalled. “And I remember saying to my financial guys, ‘You know what, I’ve just signed with the Ravens, I have some money. Man, I’d like to buy $300,000 worth [of Google shares].’”

Sharpe’s financial advisor thought Google’s shares were overpriced at $115 and convinced him to pass on the investment. Reflecting on it now, Sharpe realizes how much he could have gained in the long run had he purchased the stock at that price. Sharpe also noted an early investment opportunity in Netflix that he passed up.

“That motherf— ther!” Sharpe exclaimed to Cuban. “I’d have been a billionaire with you!”

“You f—ked up,” Cuban said with a laugh.

After a 14-season NFL career and transitioning into becoming a successful sports commentator and podcast host, Sharpe has built a net worth of $14 million. During his time in the NFL, he earned $22.3 million in salary, which included a four-year $13.8 million contract with the Baltimore Ravens in 2000 and a $16 million deal with the Denver Broncos in 2002.

Since retiring, Sharpe has served as a sports commentator on CBS Sports, Fox Sports, and ESPN. His latest commentary can be found on ESPN First Take with Stephen A. Smith. Sharpe also crafted a cognac he can be seen drinking on his Club Shay Shay platform, Le Portier Shay VSOP Cognac.

Considered one of the best tight ends in NFL history, Sharpe ranks third in career receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns for his position. In 2011, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

model, stabbing, nyc, ice cream truck, Detroit,
(Photo: 400tmax/Getty Images)
by Stacy Jackson

October 10, 2024

Ohio Reporter Winnie Dortch Shot In Domestic Violence Incident

The reporter was found shot on the sidewalk on Monday morning. Family says the domestic violence incident resulted in multiple surgeries.

Family members of Ohio reporter Winnie Dortch are asking the public to keep the WOIO 19 News journalist in their prayers after she was shot and hospitalized, allegedly due to a domestic violence incident on the morning of October 7.

19 News reported that Dortch remains under care at MetroHealth Medical Center following the domestic violence incident, which prompted Lakewood police to a scene near Clifton Boulevard before 8 a.m. on Oct. 7. The outlet reported that after authorities responded to a caller who reported an argument between two people, they found a man and a woman on the sidewalk, who both appeared to be shot, on Chase Avenue. Authorities recovered a gun at the scene and later pronounced 34-year-old Bryant Carter dead at the scene.

Lakewood EMS transported Dortch to MetroHealth Medical Center where she underwent surgery later that morning. According to a GoFundMe organized by Precious Harris, the incident left Dortch with serious injuries, and multiple surgeries are still ahead for the reporter, who recently planned to move back home to Chicago and work for WGN9 News. Winnie is a single mother to her four-year-old daughter, Kaelie. “Winnie’s enthusiasm to reunite with her Chicago community and continue her career as a news reporter was something she eagerly looked forward to,” the fundraiser read.

As police continue to investigate the incident, the reporter’s 19 News family has sent their well wishes as she recovers from the incident.

On the morning of the incident, WOIO News Director Brian Sinclair released the following statement:

“This morning, our friend and colleague Winnie Dortch was the victim of a brutal domestic violence attack. She was immediately rushed to MetroHealth Medical Center and underwent surgery for her injuries. Our prayers are with her, her young daughter, and the many other victims of domestic violence in our community.”

Family members of the Cleveland reporter are “immensely grateful to God for sparing her life” and expect their loved ones to emerge stronger. They are asking the public to keep Dortch in their thoughts and prayers as she recovers physically and emotionally from the domestic violence incident. Contributions will help provide daily needs and support for Dortch and her daughter as she undergoes treatments and extensive therapy.

RELATED CONTENT: Domestic Violence Month Acknowledged By Between Friends Nonprofit

Snoop Dogg, brother, Death Row
(Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for MTV/Paramount Global)
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 10, 2024

Snoop Dogg 1993 Murder Charge Officially Sealed

Snoop Dogg can officially put his 1993 murder arrest behind him.

Snoop Dogg can finally put his 1993 murder charge behind him after having the records sealed earlier this year.

In late February, a court granted Snoop’s (real name Calvin Broadus) petition to have his 1993 arrest on murder charges officially sealed, TMZ reported. The motion came one month after the rapper filed to have the record sealed.

Ceasar McDowell and his nonprofit organization, Unite the People, assisted with the rapper’s legal strategy. The murder case gained widespread attention at the time, as Snoop’s arrest occurred just before his hit single “Murder Was the Case” started to rise in the charts.

In 1993, Snoop Dogg and his bodyguard faced accusations of killing a 20-year-old alleged gang member who had previously been involved in a confrontation with one of the rapper’s friends in Los Angeles. After a highly publicized trial, the rising music star was acquitted of voluntary manslaughter in February 1996.

“They made the right decision, you know what I’m saying?” Snoop said at the time. “This has been an ordeal that has affected our lives for the past 2 1/2 years. I was just trying to figure out if I was going to be here to raise my son.”

With the record now sealed, it will be concealed from public access, and in most cases, the defendant will receive their fingerprints, booking photos, and DNA samples back, according to the New York State Unified Court System.

Snoop skyrocketed into superstardom following the acquittal, with the rapper achieving platinum status and scoring his first No. 1 Billboard hit with “Drop It Like It’s Hot” in 2004. The “Gin and Juice” rapper also became a television personality, making appearances in ad campaigns for Corona beer and T-Mobile and even co-hosting a cooking show with Martha Stewart.

In April, he joined NBC’s talent competition, The Voice, making his debut on the show in September. Over the summer, he made millions serving as an official correspondent for the Paris Olympics.

Snoop was only about 22 years old around the time of his 1993 arrest. But fans have been lucky enough to watch his growth over the years.

P. Frank Williams, who covered Snoop Dogg’s murder trial for the Los Angeles Times and co-authored the book Chosen by Fate: My Life Inside Death Row Records with the rapper’s co-defendant McKinley Lee Jr., praised Snoop’s marketability during the Paris Olympics, reflecting on his evolution from a gangster rapper to a global brand.

“He worked hard and loves what he does,” Williams said. “Snoop has this likability and charm that you can’t buy.”

RELATED CONTENT: Snoop Dogg Releases 2 New Flavors To Celebrate First Anniversary Of Dr. Bombay Ice Cream

Rapper Scarface, hospitalized, icu
(Photo by Marcus Ingram/Getty Images)
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 10, 2024

Scarface ‘Grateful’ After Undergoing Open-Heart Surgery

'To be upright and smiling today shows you that God ain't nothing to play with'

The 2025 Grandmaster Awards took place on Oct. 5 in Las Vegas, and Grandmaster Caz, Kool Moe Dee, and Roxanne Shanté were honored. Last year’s recipient, Brad Jordan, known to the hip-hop world as Scarface, was also in attendance. On his social media profile, he revealed his recent surgery and updated his status.

The former “Geto Boys” group member showed a photo of himself suited up at the event, smiling, and told his nearly 400,000 followers about a recent health scare and let them know them know that “God ain’t nothing to play with.”

“Six weeks ago, I underwent open heart surgery. To be upright and smiling today shows you that God ain’t nothing to play with… and again, I say, I’m grateful. It could’ve went either way, yet I’m still alive.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Brad Jordan (@brothermob)

A day after posting that joyful message, the “Mind Playing Tricks On Me” lyricist then showed a picture of the doctor who performed the surgery, saving him from “Certain death.”

He stated that the unnamed doctor was one of the most sought-after surgeons in the world, having been told that he was hard to get but was scheduled to be seen by him. He went on to say that there was a planned aortic aneurysm and a leaky valve repaired, but something unexpected took place.

“when he got me cut open, my aneurysm had torn the entire circumference of my aorta ( certain death ), but nope, no surprise to him. I woke 24hrs+ later and asked him, why me, doc? Out of all the people you could’ve worked on? He looked up to the heavens and he did this ☝🏻 wow, and again I say I’m grateful….”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Brad Jordan (@brothermob)

In August, it was reported that the Houston rap legend had been hospitalized via an Aug. 24 Instagram post that showed him in a hospital bed with electrode wires across his chest and a breathing tube in his nose.

The Houston Chronicle reported that the rapper and producer appeared to be in an ICU cardiovascular unit based on a badge visible on a nurse who appeared in Scarface’s Instagram post.

Cam Newton, Natalie Nunn, interview
(Photo: Prince Williams/WireImage)
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 10, 2024

Former NFL Quarterback Cam Newton Joins ESPN’s ‘First Take’

'I’ve always brought passion and energy into everything I do, and that won’t change at ESPN.'

Former NFL quarterback Cam Newton, who hosts the Funky Friday Podcast, has added additional duties as a host on ESPN’s First Take.

The network announced that the colorful commentator will be joining the team of Stephen A. Smith and Molly Qerim on the top-rated sports program. He is scheduled to appear on his first show as part of the team on Oct. 11. The team will be filming on location at Tennessee State University in Nashville for the latest school scheduled to be featured for “First Take on The Road.”

In a written statement, Newton said, “I’ve always brought passion and energy into everything I do, and that won’t change at ESPN. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to share my perspective and go toe-to-toe with the best in the business. Fans can expect the same intensity I brought to the field, along with real talk, bold takes, and good fun.”

Newton is the latest personality to grace the ESPN broadcast booth, along with the likes of Shannon Sharpe, Sirius XM’s Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo, and many others who voice their opinions on the latest sports news.

“Cam Newton’s addition to First Take brings an electrifying presence, enhancing our roster of top-tier personalities,” said David Roberts, Executive Vice President and Executive Editor of Sports News and Entertainment at ESPN, in a written statement. “His dynamic charisma, combined with the high-profile debates alongside Stephen A. Smith, will create compelling, must-watch television for fans.”

This announcement was made before ESPN aired the 2024 WNBA Finals, featuring the two top teams in the league, the No. 1 seed New York Liberty and the No. 2 seed Minnesota Lynx. The series starts on Oct. 10, at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN at the Barclays Center as they try to do what they couldn’t do at last year’s championship, win the title.

First Take airs weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on ESPN.

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