FreakNik, Documentary, hulu
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

March 21, 2024

Whoomp, There It Is! Freaknik Documentary Officially Drops On Hulu

Hulu's new documentary Freaknik: The Wildest Party Never Told, is now available to stream on Hulu.

Freaknik: The Wildest Party Never Told has officially dropped on Hulu. The documentary centers on the legacy of the HBCU spring break tradition.

From executive producers Luther “Uncle Luke” Campbell, Jermaine Dupri, and 21 Savage, Freaknik details the full story of the historic party tradition for Black coeds. While it is best known as an iconic block party in Atlanta for HBCU students across the country, its history lies deeper than that. Freaknik: The Wildest Party Never Told focuses on its origin as a cookout to its evolution into an annual movement for Black young adults to connect.

The festivities boomed from day to night, with the impact still felt within Atlanta’s own entertainment sector. While infamous for elements such as public hookups and booty-shaking galore, Freaknik also cultivated Black leadership and promoted education by connecting Black students from all regions.

Certain elements of the occasion have been replicated in recent years, but Freaknik was the ultimate oasis for Black joy and freedom at its peak, Freaknik was a pivotal moment in history for fellowship in the young Black community, with aspects of it stemming from the Civil Rights Movement.

To commemorate the film’s release, Campbell and Dupri spoke to WJTV 12 on Freaknik’s everlasting impact on the culture, especially in Southern hip-hop.

“Everything that you listen to today, Freaknik affected all of it,” explained Dupri. “What Freaknik taught us was that we should take advantage of our cultural moments that are happening in the south.”

Featuring Lil Jon, Killer Mike, CeeLo Green, and former Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, the documentary sheds light on the event’s controversies and influence within the cultural landscape of the city. Although the parties had stopped by the early 2000s, the legacy of Freaknik as a cultural phenomenon and hotspot continues.

Freaknik: The Wildest Party Never Told is available to stream now, exclusively on Hulu. You can watch the trailer below.

RELATED CONTENT: Freaks Come Out In Atlanta: New Documentary About Freaknik Has Older Generation Questioning Past Choices

Josephine Wright
by Jameelah Mullen

March 21, 2024

Josephine Wright’s Family Wins Legal Battle Over Her Hilton Head Property

Wright's land was purchased by a formerly enslaved family member and passed down for generations.

The family of Josephine Wright has won the right to keep the land that has been in her family since Civil War times.  

Wright, who died in January at age 94, spent the last years of her life fighting to keep her property in Hilton Head Island, which is located in the Geechee Gullah Corridor. Her story garnered worldwide media attention as well as public support from celebrities including Tyler Perry and Snoop Dogg. 

Bailey Point Investment, the company that owns the land neighboring Wright’s property, sued the elderly woman last year on claims of encroachment. The company is in the process of building a 29-acre subdivision around Wright’s property. Bailey Point Investment said that Wright’s satellite dish, shed, and screened porch trespassed on its land, which “significantly delayed and hindered” development, The New York Times reported.

The settlement concluded that the Wright family owned the property that sits in the middle of Bailey Point Investment’s development. According to family spokesperson Altimese Nicole, the settlement states that Bailey Point Investment must stop contacting the Wrights about acquiring their land, fix the roof of their home, and erect a privacy fence between the Wright property and the new development.

In one of her last public appearances, the matriarch shared her story when she attended the Fish and Grits Festival on Hilton Head Island. 

“Five years ago, someone called me on the phone and asked me if I wanted to sell my property. And what I did, I asked myself, ‘Well, what are you willing to pay?’ They said $39,000. I hung up the phone.” 

She continued, “I could not believe that they would put such a minimal value on land that is historical.”

Wright said she was harassed by developers after she refused to sell her property.

“They came into my yard while they were tearing down the trees behind me, and my granddaughter was in the bedroom, and there were some of the workers there that were looking in her bedroom window.”

“The family is grateful to have settled,” Nicole told South Carolina Public Radio. “They’re focused on keeping the legacy of Mrs. Josephine Wright alive.”

Black Student, Locs, Brigham Young University-Hawaii, Laie, Oahu, Hawaii
by Rafael Pena

March 21, 2024

Black Student At Brigham Young University-Hawaii Is Fighting To Keep His Locs

A Black student enrolled at BYU-Hawaii finds himself embroiled in a dispute with the institution over hair policy, which targets his locs.

The Guardian reported that Kanaan VyShonne Barton, a Black student enrolled at Brigham Young University-Hawaii (BYU), finds himself embroiled in a dispute with the institution over its hair policy, which he claims targets his shoulder-length locs, a cultural symbol he refuses to cut.

Since September, Barton has been at odds with BYU-Hawaii staff regarding the length of his hair, which he maintains is spiritually significant and emblematic of his cultural heritage. Despite the school’s requirement for “neatly trimmed” hair in its honor code, Barton contends that his locs hold deep personal and cultural significance, representing his identity and ancestry.

“Regardless of the length of my hair, I am spiritually involved. I am actively going to church,” Barton asserted in an interview with the Salt Lake Tribune. “But my locs mean something to me. They are culture. They are family. I shouldn’t have to cut my hair to get an education here.”

BYU-Hawaii, a satellite campus of Brigham Young University, operates under the umbrella of the Church of Latter-Day Saints and enforces a strict honor code that governs various aspects of student behavior, including grooming standards. While the code stipulates that hair should be “clean, neat, modest, and avoid extremes in styles and colors,” it lacks specific guidance on length.

In a meeting with Jonathan Kalaonalani Kau, the vice president for student life, Barton alleges Kau instructed him to trim his locs, deeming them “a distraction” and accusing Barton of “pushing his own agenda and being defiant.”

As a compromise, Barton has begun to style his locs in a manner that keeps them above the collar, but he remains adamant about preserving their integrity. He views his locs as a symbol of strength, courage, and freedom, deeply rooted in his family’s heritage as Afro-Guyanese Americans.

The incident underscores broader issues of cultural sensitivity and inclusivity within BYU institutions, particularly in light of a 2021 internal report revealing that many Black, Indigenous, and other people of color students feel isolated and unsafe due to experiences with racism.

While BYU has made efforts to address past racial biases, including disavowing previous teachings associating blackness with divine disfavor, Barton’s case highlights ongoing tensions between institutional policies and the cultural identities of students of color.

RELATED CONTENT:College Student Daya Brown Shares How She Got Over $1M In Scholarships

Drake, Pregnant Fan
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

March 21, 2024

Drake Gifts $25K To Pregnant Fan ‘So You Can Be A Rich Baby Mama’

Drake continued his charitable efforts at his "It's All A Blur" tour by gifting a few racks to a pregnant fan standing in the audience.

Drake continued his charitable efforts as part of his “It’s All A Blur” tour by gifting a few racks to a pregnant fan standing in the audience.

The Grammy-winning rapper was performing at Frost Bank Financial Center in San Antonio, Texas on Saturday, March 16, when he took notice of one fan who made a bold request. A video shared on X shows Drake reading a sign from one young lady that read, “I’m five months pregnant, can you be my Rich Baby Daddy?”

The sign served as a nod to a popular track off his latest album “For All the Dogs,” which features Sexyy Red and SZA. Drake sent the crowd into a frenzy when he matched the fan’s request with an offer to move from the pit to VIP and receive a $25,000 payout.

“Well first of all, I don’t wanna offend your real baby daddy, but I would love to — first of all, get you out of the pit so we can put you somewhere safe like the VIP or some s—,” he told the fan. “Cause you can’t be pregnant getting bounced around. When I start playing some of these slappers, we can’t have you getting pushed around.”

Amid the roaring applause, the rapper said how we would “love to give you $25,000 so you can be a rich baby mama.”

It’s the latest in a string of kind gestures Drake has extended to fans attending stops in his current tour. Last August, he walked on stage with a pink Hermes bag that retails for $10,000 and $30,000 and gifted it to one lucky fan in the audience.

In October, he gave $50,000 to one fan who was supposed to attend the show with his girlfriend but he ended up coming alone after the pair broke up.

“So, she ain’t come with you tonight? She ain’t come with you tonight — to the Drake show? What the f— is wrong with her?” he said before offering the lucky concertgoer the ultimate consolation prize.

“You know what? She’s gonna feel real f—ed up ’cause I’ma give you 50 bands, so you gon’ flex on her tonight.”

The “In My Feelings” rapper made the grandest gesture earlier this month when he agreed to pay off one fan’s late mother’s house during a show at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri.

“You said, ‘[Pay] off my mom’s house, rest in peace.’ Your mom passed away? Alright. And you owe… Oh, this is the outstanding balance right here,” Drake said while reading the fan’s sign that revealed the $160,000 owed on the home. “This is a lot of money right here.”

He added, “Imma pay out of my pocket. That’s gonna come from me. Rest in peace to your momma.”

Drake has canceled his last round of shows that were scheduled in Memphis and Denver next month and will close out the tour in New Jersey at Prudential Center on Friday, April 5.

RELATED CONTENT: Drake’s $615,000 Bet On Francis Ngannou Backfires As Anthony Joshua Secures Victory In Boxing Bout

Alicia Keys, barbie doll, mattel
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

March 21, 2024

Alicia Keys And Roc Nation Among Donors Helping To Save NYC Performing Arts Program

Alicia Keys and Roc Nation are among the donors working to save the drama program at Hell’s Kitchen’s Professional Performing Arts School.

Alicia Keys and Roc Nation are among a growing list of donors who are working to save the drama program at Hell’s Kitchen’s Professional Performing Arts School (PPAS).

The renowned school has alums including Keys, Jeremy Allen White, Claire Danes, Britney Spears, and more. Many were shocked when seventh-grade students at the school launched a GoFundMe last week to raise $102,000 to save the school’s performing arts program. It was due to “unfortunate budget cuts” that the long-standing program would be ending in April for middle and high school students.

“This affects hundreds of students and we are heartbroken to have such a horrible thing happen,” the students wrote.

By March 21, the campaign had already surpassed the halfway mark, receiving over $58,000 in donations. Among the donors were Roc Nation and Keys, who pledged $60,000.

“I had no idea that it was going to be this big and blow up this huge,” seventh grader Tennyson Artigliere told ABC 7 NY. “Today we found out that Roc Nation is going to be donating $60,000 and will also pledge to continue to fund the program until the DOE can sufficiently keep the program going.”

The Bear star Jeremy Allen White took to his Instagram Story to get support for the GoFundMe after he donated to his former high school.

“This is where I went to high school, it’s an incredible program with some incredible teachers,” White wrote. “Please help if you are able. I have donated.”

An email obtained by W42ST revealed how Waterwell Director of Education Heather Lanza was the one to inform PPAS parents and students that the school’s principal, Leah Dyer, told the organization about a 20% budget cut the department would be facing for the remainder of the 2023-2024 school year. A Zoom meeting held by Dyer claimed the program faced a deficit of at least $80,000, while Lanza said the deficit was at least $102,000, hence the GoFundMe campaign.

RELATED CONTENT: Gender Wage Gap Persists Despite Education And Varies By State

GloRilla, Joe Biden
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

March 21, 2024

Yeah Glo! GloRilla Hangs Out With Joe Biden At White House Women’s History Month Reception

GloRilla is on her Presidential wave as the rising rap star rubs shoulders with the Commander in Chief Joe Biden.

GloRilla is on her Presidential wave as the rising rap star rubs shoulders with the Commander in Chief, Joe Biden.

The Mississippi native was present for the White House Women’s History Month reception on Monday, March 18, where she hung out with the president and plugged her new single, “Yeah Glo!” In a clip shared to her Instagram, GloRilla stands alongside Biden and mouths her new single’s catchy hook but says “Joe” instead of “Glo.”

“Yeah Joe!” she says with a smile.

“Yeah well not Joe, but yeah you,” Biden replied, to which the rapper said, “Yeah Glo!”

Other photos showed her posing alongside Vice President Kamala Harris, sitting pretty inside the White House, and entering the building in a sleek gray gown. The visit seemingly got the 24-year-old Memphis rapper excited for the upcoming election as she campaigned for Biden in her Instagram caption, writing, “YEAH JOE 2024.”

The White House Women’s History Month reception followed Biden’s signing of an executive order to advance the study of women’s health through strengthened data collection and increased funding for biomedical research, PBS reported. He used the bill signing as an opportunity to accuse Republicans of having “no clue about the power of women” and warning how they were “about to find out” during the November election.

During the reception, Biden didn’t address Donald Trump by name but did call out “my predecessor” who had been “bragging about overturning” the Roe v. Wade decision that made abortion a constitutional right. As Biden prepares to square off against Trump once again, the president said the Republican candidate “can’t lead America with old ideas and take us backward.”

The vice president supported Biden in shaming “those who are intent on dragging us backward” when it comes to women’s rights.

“We all face a question: What kind of country do we want to live in?” Harris said. “A country of liberty, freedom, and rule of law? Or a country of disorder, fear, and hate?”

RELATED CONTENT: Vice President Kamala Harris Challenges ‘Absurd’ Scheduling Of Marijuana At White House Roundtable, Joined By Rapper Fat Joe

Willie Pye, Convict, Jail, Death penalty
by Rafael Pena

March 21, 2024

Georgia Convict With Intellectual Disability Willie Pye, Executed Despite Evidence

Despite evidence indicating intellectual disability, a Black man from Georgia was executed for murdering his ex-girlfriend and other crimes.

Despite evidence indicating intellectual disability, Willie Pye, a Black man from Georgia convicted nearly three decades ago for murdering his ex-girlfriend and other crimes, was executed on Mar. 20, according to Huffington Post.

Pye, 59, was convicted in 1996 for the kidnapping, robbery, rape, and murder of his ex-girlfriend, Alicia Lynn Yarbrough. Although evidence of Pye’s intellectual disability surfaced, his public defender, during the trial, failed to effectively present this to the jury.

Attorneys representing Pye attempted to halt his execution through court filings, urging Georgia’s Board of Pardons and Parole to grant clemency. However, their efforts were unsuccessful, and Pye was executed despite ongoing concerns about procedural errors and the lack of adequate defense during his trial.

“We just feel that there should be mercy granted. We have parole boards so that they have the opportunity to grant mercy when the law fails. And for Willie, the law has failed,” Cathy Harmon-Christian an executive director of Georgians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, said to the Huffington Post,.

In a plea for clemency, Pye’s lawyers highlighted his traumatic childhood and mental health issues, factors they believe should have warranted a life sentence instead of execution. “Had defense counsel not abdicated his role, the jurors would have learned that Mr. Pye is intellectually disabled and has an IQ of 68,” stated Pye’s lawyers in a clemency application to the board. “They also would have learned the challenges he faced from birth—profound poverty, neglect, constant violence, and chaos in his family home—foreclosed the possibility of healthy development. This is precisely the kind of evidence that supports a life sentence verdict.” The parole board, however, declined to grant clemency.

Witness testimonies from the trial portrayed Pye as a danger to society, emphasizing his potential for future violence. Despite this, Pye’s legal team argued that his defense attorney at the time, Johnny Mostiler, failed to adequately investigate and present evidence of Pye’s troubled background during the trial.

Investigator Dewey Yarbrough, who assisted Mostiler in Pye’s trial, testified that insufficient effort was made to explore Pye’s intellectual disability and traumatic upbringing. Pye’s family members, who were called to testify, were also criticized for their lack of cooperation in providing evidence to support Pye’s case.

The execution of Pye, despite his intellectual disability and concerns about his legal representation, underscores ongoing debates about the fairness and efficacy of the death penalty system in the United States.

Daniel Penny, Jordan Neely, Trial, NYC, jury deadlocked, subway
by Rafael Pena

March 21, 2024

Trial Date Set For Ex-Marine Daniel Penny, Accused Of Fatally Choking Jordan Neely On NYC Subway

A judge scheduled a trial for the former Marine who fatally choked Jordan Neely on a New York City subway last year.

On March 20, a judge scheduled a trial for the former Marine Daniel Penny, who choked Jordan Neely, a Black homeless man, on a New York City subway last year. The trial is set to commence in October, according to Huffington Post.

Judge Max Wiley announced that Penny’s trial will commence on Oct. 8 and could last four to six weeks, according to ABC News. If found guilty, Penny could face up to 25 years in prison.

Penny’s lawyers claimed Neely had been “aggressively threatening” Penny and others, prompting Penny to act in self-defense. Penny was charged with manslaughter in the second degree and pleaded not guilty.

Penny allegedly held Neely in a chokehold on the subway floor on May 1, 2023, until Neely’s body went limp. Neely, well known for his Michael Jackson impersonation and dancing, had been yelling about his need for food and water just before the altercation, as captured in a video by witness Juan Alberto Vazquez.

“The man got on the subway car and began to say a somewhat aggressive speech, saying he was hungry, he was thirsty, that he didn’t care about anything,” Vazquez told NBC New York.

Neely’s death was ruled a homicide by the New York Office of Chief Medical Examiner, citing “compression of neck (chokehold).” The incident sparked outrage and protests in New York, with many viewing it as emblematic of broader issues involving race, homelessness, crime, and mental illness.

Attorneys for Neely’s family expressed dissatisfaction with the manslaughter charges, advocating for a murder charge against Penny.

“Is that enough for someone who choked somebody out on a train and took their life?” Lennon Edwards, one of Neely’s family attorneys, questioned at a news conference. “Justice looks like a conviction for murder.”

Coco Gauff, French Open
by Stacy Jackson

March 21, 2024

Coco Gauff Renovates Childhood Tennis Courts In Delray Beach

The newly refurbished tennis courts are the athlete's way of pouring back into the communities that poured into her.

Tennis phenom Coco Gauff is spending her time giving back to her hometown community in Delray Beach, Florida, with newly refurbished tennis courts at Pompey Park.

The inaugural project part, in collaboration with the U.S. Tennis Association’s U.S. Open Legacy Initiative, is part of a $3 million grant program that aims to enhance tennis court accessibility nationwide. According to NBC News, the professional athlete and the association renovated the same courts where she honed her skills alongside her father.

“I want to pour into the communities that poured into me,” Gauff said. “…I want to promote sports and other extracurricular activities in general because I think everybody needs an outlet in their life.” She added, “The more access you allow children to get to these [courts] — and the more children that are playing — is the greater the probability of the next great champion coming along.”

Her profound connection to Delray Beach runs deeper, with the geographic coordinates of Pompey Park etched onto her shoes, alongside her father’s words: “You can change the world with your racket.” Adjacent lies a baseball field honoring her grandparents, civil rights pioneers who broke through color barriers in the city.

Looking ahead, Gauff’s aspirations are crystal clear. “I want to win a Grand Slam and an Olympic medal. I particularly want to do it this year and win a medal — that’s one of my dreams that I wanted to do as a tennis player.” She plans to compete in singles and doubles events at Paris 2024, embracing the potential for mixed doubles with open arms.

Just months ago, the young talent secured her inaugural Grand Slam title at the U.S. Open, captivating audiences at Arthur Ashe Stadium. BLACK ENTERPRISE noted that Gauff matched Serena Williams’ six appearances in the Grand Slam. The tennis star has also etched her name in history as the first American to mathematically qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic team, as stated by NBC News.

Kobe Bryant, Pamela Bryant, Joe Bryant
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

March 21, 2024

Kobe Bryant’s Parents Under Fire For Putting His First Championship Ring Up For Auction

Kobe Bryant's parents are facing criticism after putting one of the late star's championship rings on the auction block.

Kobe Bryant’s parents are facing growing criticism from NBA fans who are upset that the family has put one of the late star’s championship rings on the auction block.

Joe and Pamela Bryant came under fire after fans noticed that Kobe’s first championship ring was up for sale through Goldin auction house. A photo shared on Twitter on March 17 shows Kobe’s first NBA championship ring, which he won in the year 2000, being sold in an auction bid that ends on March 30.

The ring was gifted to Joe and Pamela following Kobe’s first of five championship wins. Made of 14-karat gold with a total of 40 diamonds, the ring had amassed $141,000 in bids by March 21.

“This is not an executive version of the Championship ring, but the same EXACT ring given to Kobe Bryant and other Lakers players,” the auction site states.

“Obtained directly from the Bryant family, this ring is a true one-of-a-kind, and we can confirm that it is the only championship ring ever given by Kobe to his father,” continued the description, noting the letter of authenticity from Pamela that comes with the ring.

Fans have been sounding off against Joe and Pamela for selling off a high-valued item Kobe personally gifted to them.

“Idk why his family would sell his ring, it’s not like Kobe did not leave 800 million dollars for his family🤷🤷,” one X user wrote.

“Shame on his parents,” added someone else.

Another fan said how “sad” it was to see Kobe’s parents sell an item that the late NBA star “would of never sold.”

It’s not the first time Kobe’s parents have tried to auction off his personal items. “In 2013, Bryant settled a lawsuit with Goldin Auctions related to memorabilia his parents wanted to sell. The settlement allowed for less than 10% of the items initially slated for auction to be sold,” according to CBS Sports.

In 2016, Kobe told ESPN that his relationship with his parents was “sh*t” and cited the 2013 auction as one cause of the tension. A friend of the family told the Daily Mail shortly after Kobe’s 2020 death that he had recently seen the Los Angeles Lakers player hug it out with his dad at a basketball camp. Kobe’s parents attended his funeral.

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