John amos, elder abuse, arrest
John Amos in 2014 (Photo: Bobby Bank/WireImage)
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 1, 2024

Beloved ‘Good Times’ Actor John Amos Dead At 84

The veteran actor died Aug. 21 in Los Angeles.

One of the most beloved Black sitcom fathers has died. John Amos, who played James Evans on Good Times died of natural causes on August 21 in Los Angeles. He was 84.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, John Amos’ son made the announcement.

“It is with heartfelt sadness that I share with you that my father has transitioned,” K.C. Amos said in a written statement. “He was a man with the kindest heart and a heart of gold…and he was loved the world over. Many fans consider him their TV father. He lived a good life. His legacy will live on in his outstanding works in television and film as an actor.”

No reason was given as to why his death was just being reported.

Amos played football on a scholarship at Colorado State University, and although his career trajectory took a different path, he reportedly had training camp tryouts with the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs of the American Football League. He also tried out for several  the Norfolk Neptunes of the Continental Football League and the British Columbia Lions of the Canadian Football League.

But he received some career advice.

“God kept telling me, ‘I don’t want you playing football,’” he said. “The direction I was getting from above was to be a performer, to be a writer, something that I had always done and came easy for me.”

After playing a weatherman on the sitcom, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, his acting career took off.

He was known for his roles on television shows such as Roots, Two and a Half Men, Hunter, and The West Wing. Amos’ movies included roles in Coming to America, Let’s Do It Again, and The Players Club. 

He is survived by his son, K.C., and daughter, Shannon Amos.

RELATED CONTENT: A 35th Anniversary Tribute to the Landmark ‘Roots’ Miniseries

Black voters, save act
(Photo: adamkaz/Getty Images)
by Mitti Hicks

October 1, 2024

Voting Registration Deadlines Approaching In These Key Swing States

With a little more than a month to go until Election Day, the deadlines to register to vote are fast approaching in seven key swings state.

With a little more than a month to go until Election Day, the deadline to register to vote is quickly approaching in seven key swing states for the 2024 presidential election. If you live in one of these swing states, it’s time to hunker down and register before it’s too late.

Here are the voter registration deadlines and early voting information for the following swing states.

Arizona

Arizona voters have until Oct. 7 to register to vote. Arizona offers online voter registration or mailing and in-person by the end of the day. Online registration has to be complete by 11:59 p.m. MST, in-person at the local election office by close of business, or postmarked by Oct. 7, if it’s by mail.

Early voting will take place between Oct. 9 and Nov. 1, 2024.

Georgia

Eligible Georgians can register to vote either online or in person by Oct. 7. To be considered eligible, you have to be a citizen of the United States, a legal resident of the county, at 17 ½ and 18 by Election Day, not serving a sentence for a conviction of a felony involving moral turpitude, and have not been found mentally incompetent by a judge.

Early voting in Georgia lasts between Oct. 15 and Nov. 1.

Michigan

Michigan voters can register to vote online or by mail by October 21. However, it’s important to note the state is one of nearly two dozen that offers same-day voter registration. Unregistered voters can sign up at the polls on November 5 by 8:00 with a Photo ID, but registering early is better to avoid possible disruptions.

Early voting in Michigan depends on the community, according to Michiganvoting.org, but most people can vote between October 26 through Sunday, November 3.

Nevada

Nevada offers online voter registration. You can register by mail to vote in Nevada by printing a voter registration form, filling it out, and mailing it to your local election office. Nevada joins Michigan in offering same-day voter registration by close of businesses on Nov. 5.

Early voting in Nevada is from Oct. 19 through Nov. 1.

North Carolina

The voter registration deadline in North Carolina for the 2024 general election is 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 11.

North Carolina only offers online voter registration to existing customers in the state.  Everyone else has to register in person or by mail.

There is an option to vote same-day with strict eligibility. According to the North Carolina State Board of Elections, people who can register on the same day are would-be voters who become naturalized U.S. citizens or whose rights of citizenship are restored after serving a felony sentence ahead of Election Day, but after the regular voter registration deadline, may register and vote during early voting or on Election Day.

Early voting in North Carolina is in person from Oct. 17 through Nov. 2.

Pennsylvania

The deadline to register to vote in Pennsylvania is Oct. 21. Voters can register online, in person, or by mail. Early voting in Pennsylvania varies by county. Click here for more information.

Wisconsin

Voters can register to vote in Wisconsin online, in-person, or by mail by Oct. 16. Same-day voter registration is also available on Election Day. Early voting is considered in-person absentee. and it varies by location.

RELATED CONTENT: Harris-Walz Campaign Kicks Off HBCU Homecoming Tour

Jackson State University, JSU
Courtesy of JSU: Rachel James-Terry
by Stacy Jackson

October 1, 2024

JSU Sonic Boom Hand-Selects Ariel Woods As 4th Woman Drum Major

The Jackson State University senior hopes to inspire other women and young girls in band to take on the male-dominated, drum major role.

Jackson State University has hand-selected Ariel Woods as the fourth woman to assume the role of drum major in its historic 300-member band, the Sonic Boom of the South.

Since 2021, the Sonic Boom has been the most sought-after and followed HBCU band in the lineup, and Woods will now lead the ensemble as one of the “Jackson Five” drum majors for the 2024-2025 band season. The historic band, which started in the 1940s, is recognized as one of the top in the nation, and Woods gets to be a part of a huge legacy during her senior year. “Everything kind of just started happening in slow motion,” Woods told 16 WAPT. “This position is something I’ve been dreaming about for the last seven years now.” The student has been showered with congratulations from those excited to witness her take on the role of a drum major.

Despite having doubts along her journey toward the drum major honor, giving up was never an option. The student attempted to secure the drum major role once before; however, it wasn’t until this second try that she landed a spot among the leading five. “I’m getting the crowd hyped. I’m getting the crowd riled up. I’m getting people excited for the band and the football team.” Woods understands that her role as a drum major isn’t solely about the music but also takes the passion of a natural-born leader capable of leading and making the tough calls.

Woods came to Jackson State University from Dallas, Texas, and prior to her enrollment as a student, she had no other ties to the HBCU. She became familiar with the band, which, according to its history, is known for intricate, precision marching, by watching videos of the Sonic Boom musicians online. As she became well-versed in the big band sound, she was inspired to join the legacy.

The newly appointed drum major follows the path of Jackson State University alum and former female drum major DeyShaun Roberts, who held the role in 2017. Roberts was the first woman drum major at the HBCU since 2006. Woods shared that becoming the fourth woman drum major at the HBCU is “nothing short of an honor” and “blessing.” Now, a major part of the legacy of female drum majors at the Mississippi HBCU, Woods believes she will inspire young girls who aspire to become drum majors. Her goal is to encourage and attract more women to the male-dominated role across middle schools, colleges, and universities.

According to Sonic Boom’s official Instagram, Woods joins Christian Houghton, Devin Ard, Jared Coleman, and Desi Jenkins as this year’s “Jackson Five.”

RELATED CONTENT: Jackson State University, Getty Images Join Forces For Photo Exhibition Celebrating JSU’s Homecomings

Dikembe Mutombo
(Photo: AP News/Julio Cortez)
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 1, 2024

Dikembe Mutombo’s Son Leaves Heartfelt Message On Social Media

'I love you, Dad. Rest easy.'

The sports world is in mourning after the news of former Denver Nuggets center Dikembe Motiumbo dying from brain cancer, the league announced on Monday, Sept. 30. In a loving tribute, his son, Ryan, posted a heartfelt message to his father honoring his life.

In an Instagram post, Ryan left his father a message acknowledging his love for Dikembe. SportsCenter grabbed a screenshot of the message.

“My dad will forever be my hero. Not because of his success — not because of the millions who, over the last four decades, have come to know and love him. My dad is my hero because he simply cared. He remains the purest heart I have ever known.

“At times, I thought of my dad as a super-human. The child in me would sigh to hear that this was never actually the case. My dad was a regular man who would stop at no lengths to honor the world, its people, and its creator. He loved others with every ounce of his being. That’s what made him so accessible. That’s what made him real.

“Dikembe Mutombo was salt and light, and today, on the 30th of September, 2024, he has been called to rest.

“I love you, Dad. Rest easy.”

News of Dikembe’s death spread around the world as tributes from fans, friends, and family were spread across social media.

The defensive specialist was 58 years old. He played 18 seasons in the NBA for several teams, including the Nuggets, Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks, and Houston Rockets.

He played his collegiate career at Georgetown University, which also birthed basketball stars like Patrick Ewing, Alonzo Mourning, and Allen Iverson. Mutombo, Ewing, and Mourning, three of the best centers to play in the NBA in the 1990s, were tutored by the late John Thompson, the university’s revered longtime head coach.

The 7-foot-2 center retired after the 2008-09 season. Mutombo was selected to the NBA All-Star Game eight times and was a three-time All-NBA pick. He averaged 9.8 points and pulled down 10.3 rebounds per game. He made the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015.

RELATED CONTENT: NBA Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo Puts His Atlanta Home On The Market for $6.8M

Steven Horsford
photo courtesy: Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
by Sharelle B. McNair

October 1, 2024

Nevada GOP Candidate John Lee Mocks CBC Chair, Claims He’s ‘Not Worried About Black People’

He expects to win with comments like that?

An audio clip of Nevada Republican Congressional candidate John Lee saying he’s “not worried about Black people” during his campaign has gone viral, HuffPost reported. 

During a meet-and-greet event on Sept. 23, Lee can be heard saying Black voters are the last thing on his mind while mocking his Democratic opponent and Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) chair Rep. Steven Horsford. “They made him chair of the Black Caucus. Whoop-de-doo,” Lee said last Monday at a campaign meet-and-greet. “I’m from North Las Vegas. I’m not worried about Black people. You know?”

Horsford posted the clip on X to highlight how his words don’t represent “our values” about Nevada’s Black voters and “we will not let him represent us in Congress.”

In the full clip, posted on YouTube, Lee blasted the Caucus for only having Democratic members and wrongfully referred to the group as the “most racist in the world.” “They have one objective, and that is for self-domination in Congress,” Lee can be heard saying. 

The Caucus has been labeled a nonpartisan group since 1971 but has only had a few GOP lawmaker members since its formation. With its current roster of 60 Democratic legislators, Congress’ five Black Republicans — Reps. Byron Donalds (Fla.), Wesley Hunt (Texas), John James (Mich.) Burgess Owens (Utah), and Sen. Tim Scott (S.C.) — are not members. His comments may not be the best for his campaign, as his district — Nevada’s 4th — is 15% Black. 

However, this is not Lee’s first offensive remarks about the CBC. In November 2023, he referred to the group as “stupid” and, in August 2024, compared it to having “a blond-haired caucus.”

According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump endorsed Lee during the June 2024 primary election. On social media, Trump celebrated some of the things he hopes to see Lee do if elected to Congress. “The former highly popular and successful Mayor of North Las Vegas, John will work hard to lower inflation, uphold the Rule of Law, revitalize our economy, protect our great police and military, and defend our always under siege Second Amendment,” Trump said. 

Lee is the former mayor of North Las Vegas, who also grabbed an endorsement from Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo. The GOP is vying for Lee, who ran for governor in 2022, to beat Horsford, who has worked for the people of the 4th district since 2019 and once held the seat between 2013 and 2015.

RELATED CONTENT: NAACP To Spend $20M In Effort To Mobilize Black Voters

legacy admissions, Legacy Admissions
Photo by The Jopwell Collection on Unsplash
by Daniel Johnson

October 1, 2024

California Gov. Gavin Newsom Signs Ban On Legacy Admissions

California’s ban makes it the fifth state to ban legacy admissions, but the first to extend the ban to private colleges and universities.

On Sept. 30, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill banning the practice of legacy admissions at the state’s institutions of higher education. The move comes after the Supreme Court’s decision declaring affirmative action unconstitutional in 2023, which was expected to have some effect on legacy admissions, and it has to some degree.

According to Politico, California’s ban makes it the fifth state to ban legacy admissions but the first to extend the ban to private colleges and universities. In Newsom’s statement accompanying his signature on the ban, he emphasized merit, skill, and hard work.

“In California, everyone should be able to get ahead through merit, skill, and hard work,” Newsom said. “The California Dream shouldn’t be accessible to just a lucky few, which is why we’re opening the door to higher education wide enough for everyone, fairly.”

California, like other states that have enacted similar bans, will not penalize those who break the law, financially, but will instead post the names of violators to the California Department of Justice website.

In addition, schools that violate the ban will be required to report more information to the state regarding their incoming classes, including their race, income, and participation in athletics.

According to Assemblymember Paul Ting, a San Francisco Democrat who pushed for the legislation and initially attempted to have legacy admissions banned following the Varsity Blues scandal, the ban is an attempt to make the admissions process more equitable.

“We have major private universities who use a significant portion of their admissions pool to help legacy and donors get admitted. We really need to make their admissions policies much more equitable,” Ting said.

The Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities, a group that represents the University of Southern California, Stanford University, and the University of Santa Clara — three universities that admitted the most legacy students in 2022 — resisted the bill and lobbied to have financial penalties removed from previous versions of the ban.

The association’s president, Kristen Soares, wrote in a letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee in June 2024 that she was concerned that some of the reporting requirements were frivolous.

“While we believe all institutions will comply with the bill provisions, we believe it is important to ensure that what is being required in the reporting language is both achievable and relevant,” Soares wrote.

The University of Southern California, however, issued a statement affirming its compliance with the new ban.

“We continuously evolve our recruitment, admission, and financial aid programs to create a student body that is diverse in all respects and to comply with the law as it develops in this area,” the university said.

RELATED CONTENT: African American Enrollment At PWIs Tanks After Affirmative Action Ruling

Boy Scouts, 100 Black Men
Maryland GovPics, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

October 1, 2024

100 Black Men Organization Begins Mentorship Program With Boy Scouts Of America

Boys attending Bruce Elementary School in Macon, Georgia will be able to take part in the inaugural program.

The 100 Black Men organization has started its own Boy Scouts troop, providing mentorship to male students at a Georgia elementary school.

Boys attending Bruce Elementary in Macon, Georgia, can participate in the inaugural program. The 100 Black Men organization has been a longtime community supporter and will now be able to help the local youth directly in this endeavor.

“They got years and years of helping out the community especially, around the Southside and community around Macon,” explained Terry Basley, a father of some students and member of the organization, to 13WMAZ. “It’s just something I wanted to be a part of… It’s important to be in your kids’ life.”

Basley and other mentors want to guide younger boys who may lack strong male figures in their homes.

“A lot of the kids don’t have the background of having a father in the household,” he said. “We’re just someone positive they can look up to, someone they can see every day.”

The 100 Black Men of America, Inc. also has numerous chapters nationwide, with two cohorts in the Macon area. When creating a Boy Scouts Troop, they stated that their partnering organization’s focus on boys within this age group was a significant factor. Moreover, Troop 100 aims to have 20 members.

“100 Black Man has several other programs that deal with boys, but the Boy Scouts is the only program that deals with boys of this age,” shared Daniel Morgan, who is helping bring Cub Scouts from the school. “We’re proud members and committee members with the 100.”

According to Data USA, Macon-Bibb County has a 44.5% Black population. Given this, this mentorship program hopes to shape the future generation of Black men.

“We’re teaching life skills, a lot of things that they learn in scouting and things they won’t be able to get inside the classroom,” explained another recruiting member of Troop 100, Nnamdi Onyekwuluje. “It’s one of those extracurricular things that give them skills that they can take away and use and apply in their real lives.”

Zion Williamson, lawsuit, rap, domestic violence
(Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 1, 2024

Zion Williamson Exits Media Day After Reporter Questions Why Kendrick Lamar Wasn’t Included In Playlist

'Come on, it's Kendrick Lamar. Like, I really gotta sit up here and talk about how good of an artist he is?'

A question regarding Kendrick Lamar during the New Orleans Pelicans Media Day caused Zion Williamson to abruptly end his time with the press.

According to Complex, a reporter questioned Williamson’s taste in music during the session, where the interest should have been more focused on the upcoming season and the weight loss the typically overweight player experienced during the off-season. The reporter asked him what songs were on his summer playlist as he prepared for the upcoming season. After pausing to think about an answer, even complimenting the reporter on a “great question,” Williamson named The Notorious B.I.G., Nas, Larry June, and Curren$y as being a prominent part of his tunes.

When the same reporter asked him about him excluding Kendrick Lamar from his playlist Williamson responded by asking the reporter why he would ask a question like that.

The reporter said, “I just feel like you have two good songs you could’ve been playing in the gym.”

“What songs would those be?’ asked Williamson.

The reporter mentioned the two Drake diss tracks that Lamar released during the battle against the Canadian rapper earlier this year, “Euphoria” and “Not Like Us.”

“Where was the greatness of the summer in your tracklist?” the reporter retorted.

“I hear you. But you know, you’re entitled to your opinion,” Williamson replied. “I’m entitled to mine, but saying that, come on, it’s Kendrick Lamar. Like, I really gotta sit up here and talk about how good of an artist he is?”

With that answer, the 6-foot-6 player got up and exited the podium, leaving the reporters as he ended his session with the media.

But, Williamson did tell the media about what he anticipates leading into the upcoming season, according to NBA.com

“My goals are to have a successful season as a team and finally participate in the playoffs. Those would be my two goals for this year.”

RELATED CONTENT: Federal Appeals Court Upholds Ruling In Favor Of Zion Williamson

dock strike, Dockworkers Strike
photo courtesy: pexels
by Mitti Hicks

October 1, 2024

As Dockworkers Go On An Historic Strike, Should Americans Brace For Higher Costs?

The strike is impacting 36 ports and 45,000 members nationwide.

From Maine to Texas, tens of thousands of U.S. dockworkers walked off of the job just after midnight on Tuesday, launching the first coastwide strike in nearly 50 years.

Dockworkers are carrying signs that read, “Fight Automation, Save Jobs, ILA Demands Job Security.”

The ILA stands for the International Longshoremen’s Association. It is the largest union of maritime workers in North America, representing over 85,000 longshoremen on the Atlantic, Gulf Coasts, Great Lakes, major U.S. rivers, Puerto Rico, Eastern Canada, and the Bahamas, according to its website.

According to the Associated Press, as of Oct.1, the strike is impacting 36 ports and 45,000 dockworkers and members. This is the first strike by the union since 1977.

The union warned this would be a possibility on Monday in a news release, claiming that the United States Maritime Alliance (USMC) “continues” to block a path on a new master contract by “refusing ILA’s demands for a fair and decent contract.” In the letter on Sept. 30, the union warned it would begin in 12 hours.

“The Ocean Carriers represented by USMX want to enjoy rich billion-dollar profits that they are making in 2024 while they offer ILA Longshore Workers an unacceptable wage package that we reject”, the ILA said in the statement. “ILA longshore workers deserve to be compensated for the important work they do keeping American commerce moving and growing. It’s disgraceful that most of these foreign-owned shipping companies are engaged in a ‘Make and Take’ operation: They want to make their billion-dollar profits at United States ports and off the backs of American ILA longshore workers and take those earnings out of this country and into the pockets of foreign conglomerates.”

According to ILA members, shippers are gouging customers, contributing to increasing costs to American consumers. 

“They are now charging $30,000 for a full container, a whopping increase from $6,000 per container just a few weeks ago. In just a short time, they went from 6K to 18K, then 24K, and now $30,000,” the letter states. “It’s unheard of, and they are doubling their $30,000 fee stuffing the same container from multiple shippers. They are killing the customers.”

Just weeks prior, the Federal Reserve dropped interest rates by half a point. It was the first interest rate cut since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, signaling that relief would soon be on the way for consumers. In the aftermath of COVID, inflation reached 8%, the highest inflation rate since the early 1980s, The Brookings Institution reports.

There is growing fear the strike could cause another spike in costs and cause shortages if an agreement isn’t made.

RELATED CONTENT: Waffle House Workers On Strike In South Carolina Over Security Issues

Spike Lee, SuperFan, NBA
(Photo: Evan Pierce and De’Andre Henderson for Boardroom & Legacy Classic)
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 1, 2024

‘She’s Gotta Have It’ As Spike Lee Taunts Las Vegas Aces’ Kelsey Plum At Recent New York Liberty Playoff Game

After the game, Plum said, 'I know he's a big sports fan, so it says a lot that he's in the building and that he respects the game.'

New York filmmaker and super sports fan Spike Lee showed his hometown spirit when he faced off against Las Vegas Aces‘ Kelsey Plum during a recent playoff game against the New York Liberty.

According to Woman’s Fastbreak, the 67-year-old Spike, who is known for jawing with opponents while seated at basketball games, interacted with Plum during the first game of the WNBA Semifinals. The “Do The Right Thing” director went back and forth with the Aces star player during the third quarter between the New York and Vegas teams. The exchange couldn’t be heard, but courtside cameras caught it.

New York Knicks fans and opposing players are used to seeing Spike as a superfan on the sidelines at Madison Square Garden. The game took place on Sept. 29 at the Barclay Center, located in Brooklyn. At the time, the Aces were down 14 points.

The Aces beat the Liberty last year to repeat as WNBA champions, but the NY team beat the Aces 87-77 to take a one-game lead over the champions.

After the game, Plum discussed what happened between her and Spike at a press conference with reporters.

“I can’t say exactly what was said, but I told him that he should talk louder, but it was all well and fun, and it’s really cool that he’s here. Even last round was really cool that he was here,” Plum told reporters. “I know he’s a big sports fan, so it says a lot that he’s in the building and that he respects the game. And so yeah, I was just having fun.”

ESPN reported that this was Spike’s second appearance at a Liberty game since the playoffs started. He attended the opening series clincher when the Liberty sent the Atlanta Dream home for the season.

The two teams meet again on Oct. 1.

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