by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

August 26, 2024

Ludacris Hosts ‘Welcome To Atlanta’ Summer Sendoff, Allowing Guests To Rent Out His Mansion

The chance to rent out the rapper's mansion for $4.04 a night goes live on Aug. 28.

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Ludacris wants to welcome you to Atlanta with a stay at his mansion. The rapper is collaborating with Booking to rent out his home and celebrate his home city.

Deemed the “Welcome To Atlanta” Summer Sendoff, the mansion will be available for one lucky vacationer and their three guests to stay at Ludacris’ luxurious crib. Furthermore, the price shouldn’t break any banks. The cost for the stay will be $4.04 a night, paying homage to the city’s notable area code.

Ludacris showed off his not-so-humble abode to social media on Aug. 22. He also detailed the amenities of his home, complete with an open court, private theater, and lakeside views.

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“What up. It’s Ludacris, and I wanted to personally welcome you to my Atlanta home,” expressed the entertainer on the Booking website. “I’m opening the doors and sharing my special space with YOU. From the moment you step in, I want you to feel like you’re part of the family. Whether you’re chillin’ by the lake, shooting hoops on the court, or catching your favorite movie in the private theater, I want you to create unforgettable lifetime memories here the same way I’ve done. It’s all about good vibes and great times! Love!”

The first-come, first-served contest opens Aug. 28, when the dream home officially goes live on the short-term rental site. The winner will receive a two-night stay at the compound and a meet-up with the homeowner himself.

Moreover, the stay will include a multitude of activities. The schedule ranges from a backyard barbecue to a gourmet dinner held at a French restaurant personally selected by Ludacris. With over 10,000 square feet of space, the stay will immerse guests into the Grammy-winner’s lifestyle, while enjoying one of Atlanta’s finest homes.

Those wanting the “Luda Life” will finally get the chance to live like a rapper from Sept. 3-5.

RELATED CONTENT: Ludacris Loves The Kids: Donates $50K To Children’s Theatre Of Cincinnati

• News

by Daniel Johnson

August 26, 2024

NAACP Accuses St. Louis Schools Of Civil Rights Violations In Complaint Over Black Students’ Low Reading Scores

The NAACP said Black students in St. Louis schools are in a literary crisis.

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Adolphus Pruitt, the president of the St. Louis NAACP branch, said at an Aug. 20 press conference that the schools in the city of St. Louis have created such poor outcomes for its Black students that it prompted him to file a civil rights complaint against the school districts.

According to the St. Louis Dispatch, Pruitt said that the complaint he is filing against the 34 school districts in both St. Louis city and county highlights a literary crisis. 

“The St. Louis region is in a literacy crisis,” Pruitt said at the press conference held in his office. “From our analysis, all the districts including charter schools have issues as it relates to reading. I hope that we reach an agreement with districts to set and achieve goals. We cannot let these kids fail. We hope from there that between the U.S. Department of Education, the NAACP, and those individual school districts, we can have some serious conversations about them setting some goals.”

According to CBS Austin, in 2023 activist Chester Asher noted at a St. Louis Public Schools board meeting that the school’s education system was not invested in educating the Black students it was charged with teaching.

“We will not stand here while you engage in faux deliberation or remain silent while you pave the way for incarceration,” Asher told the school board. “You applaud yourselves while allowing our schools to pile black bodies on top of piles of black bodies, because that is the result of an educational system that does not educate.”

Asher continued, “Your sham, citywide plan sheds no light and provides no direction. Our state test scores are a yearly reminder of your dereliction, and the outcomes for our children and communities require your criminal conviction.”

According to data from the government of the City of St. Louis, the city’s education system seems rife with disparities. According to the website, “At key milestones such as third grade for reading and sixth grade for math, Black students are less likely to demonstrate proficiency. The basic skills students fail to learn early on make every additional learning milestone more difficult to achieve.”

The site also corroborates the concerns of the St. Louis NAACP, saying that there are few schools where Black students meet the state requirements for Math and English. 

“There are few schools in St. Louis where it is the norm for students to meet state standards for both Math and English. Black children are less likely than white children to be students at these higher performing schools. Black children are also more likely to attend schools where more teachers are chronically absent and schools where more than 30% of teachers are in their first or second year of teaching.”

According to Fox 2, St. Louis parents are also concerned about the lack of attention school districts are paying to the Black students in their care. 

“They started playing with my child’s grades—her reading scores specifically. I know my child can read college books as well as other books, and they’re telling me that she’s reading below her grade level. That’s ridiculous,” Anthony Dorsey, a concerned parent told the outlet. “I think it’s about time they paid attention to our children and our communities.”

Although many schools did not provide comment to Fox 2, KIPP Schools issued a statement that sought to support the actions of the NAACP as well as defend the steps they’ve taken for their students’ benefit. 

“We share the NAACP’s commitment to improving the literacy skills of Black and Brown students. We have seen our students make impressive learning gains this past year with our new reading curriculum. Our dedicated teachers look forward to building on this positive momentum in the new school year,” KIPP Schools said. 

RELATED CONTENT: Former Teacher Warns Parents About Literacy Crisis