• Sports

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

August 19, 2024

NBA Player Dennis Smith Jr. Sponsors Upcoming HBCU Golf Tournament

'Fayetteville State has always been a safe space for me. I'm thrilled to support this event and continue my partnership with the athletics department,' said the basketball star.

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Fayetteville State University has announced that the upcoming McDougal-Scurry Golf Tournament will be sponsored by Fayetteville-native and NBA player Dennis Smith, Jr., and the Two-Six Project.

The McDougal-Scurry Golf Tournament will take place on Sept. 6 at the Gates Four Golf and Country Club in Fayetteville. Funds raised for the tournament will go toward student-athlete scholarships as the event is anticipated to bring golf enthusiasts, local businesses, and community leaders together.

Dennis Smith, Jr. said in a written statement, “Fayetteville State has always been a safe space for me. I’m thrilled to support this event and continue my partnership with the athletics department. It’s important for me to continue to support my hometown and home HBCU to give other athletes a safe space!”

The tournament aims to start at 1 p.m. after accepting registrations at an 11:30 a.m. lunch. Foursomes will compete for the top three awards and course contests. An awards luncheon will follow, featuring door prizes.

Grant Bennett, founder and president of The Two-Six Project, said, “There is no better one than Fayetteville State. We grew up working out over here and playing our youth championship games here. Dennis still practices here. We definitely wanted to find a way to give back to home and do it in a way that supports the athletic program here that gives back to us in so many ways.”

Anyone interested in participating in the tournament can register online at fsubroncos.com/golf.

Fayetteville State University’s Director of Athletics Anthony Todd Bennett also announced that Dr. Rodney McCrowre has been brought on as the Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR) for the Department of Athletics.

“I am confident that Dr. McCrowre’s leadership in his new role will significantly benefit the Department of Athletics and contribute to the overall success and development of our student-athletes,” Director of Athletics Anthony Todd Bennett stated.

RELATED CONTENT: Wyndham Championship Honors Golf’s Legacy

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

August 19, 2024

Chrystul Kizer, Child Sex-Trafficking Victim Who Killed Her Abuser, Sentenced To 11 Years

Kizer will either stay in prison or enter a counseling program for killing her abuser in 2018.

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A child sex-trafficking victim will soon learn of her punishment for killing her abuser. Chrystul Kizer’s sentencing in Wisconsin could set a precedent for sexually abused individuals’ treatment in the criminal justice system. She was sentenced to 11 years on August 19th.

Kizer accepted a plea deal for the 2018 fatal shooting of Randall Volar III, eliminating the potential life sentence she might have received for the killing. Volar, a white man, filmed himself sexually abusing multiple Black girls, including Kizer, until his death by the then 17-year-old.

However, state prosecutors claim that Kizer premeditated the murder to steal Volar’s BMW. On the other hand, Kizer has maintained that she acted in self-defense. According to the Washington Post, Kizer faces 30 years in prison on reduced charges of second-degree reckless homicide.

With a new rule enacted in Wisconsin in 2022, Kizer could have shown the jury evidence of what she endured at Volar’s hands in the hopes of a merciful sentencing.

“Wisconsin’s law says that she should not be responsible for crimes committed as a direct result of her sexual exploitation. It doesn’t say ‘except for murder,’” said Diane Rosenfeld, an advocate for Kizer who also founded Harvard Law School’s gender violence program. “The court should take into account the circumstances of her abuse.”

Despite this, Kizer decided to avoid a jury trial that could have ended in a life sentence. Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge David Wilk has determined she will stay incarcerated.

Her defense team has argued that her victimhood should be heavily considered in her punishment. The 24-year-old hopes to apologize to her abuser’s family for his death while also imploring the judge to let her current prison stint be the only one.

“I get to try to move on,” Kizer said in an interview from jail. “I can show the court that I’m not the same person that I was when I was 17.”

Kizer claimed to be unaware of what sex trafficking was when she found the website Backpage as a way to make money for herself while her family experienced homelessness. On the platform, known as a gateway to solicit and buy sex, a 16-year-old Kizer got in contact with Volar. The two began engaging in a sexual relationship, where Volar would pay her in cash, gifts, and drugs.

However, Volar’s actions, with Kizer and other underage Black girls, would attract the attention of authorities. Despite having video evidence of the abuse, law enforcement could not keep him in custody. They cited their reason as an inability to prove the victims as minors.

Kizer, who accused Volar of violent acts against her, decided to take matters into her own hands, killing him in 2018 and lighting his home on fire. As her story garnered national attention, her release from jail in 2020 stemmed from donations fueled by George Floyd’s killing. However, a disorderly conduct charge landed her back behind bars in February.

The case became a national marker for justice on behalf of this Black woman. Now, her supporters await the ruling that can either end in counseling or more prison time for Kizer.

RELATED CONTENT: Chrystul Kizer, The Woman Charged With Killing Abuser, Arrested In Louisiana

• Sports

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

August 19, 2024

Jay-Z, Travis Scott, Beyoncé, Featured On Fanatics Fest NYC Official Apple Music Playlist 

The inaugural Fanatics Fest NYC saw a few big name artists lend their music to an official playlist with Apple Music.

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The inaugural Fanatics Fest NYC kicked off on Friday, Aug. 16, and several big-name artists curated the vibes by lending their music to an official playlist.

Jay-Z and Travis Scott, who attended a few Fanatics Fest events, were featured on Apple Music’s official playlist along with Sabrina Carpenter, Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Usher, Eminem, 50 Cent, DJ Khaled, Tyla, Megan Thee Stallion, Shaboozey, Future, and more. With the event hosted in Jay-Z’s hometown, it made sense that his Alicia Keys-assisted hit “Empire State of Mind” kicked off the music mix, as did Queen’s, “We Will Rock You.”

The new weekend-long event allowed sports fans to rub shoulders with their favorite athletes from past and present. Hosted at NYC’s Javits Center in Manhattan, attendees got the chance to experience live shows, examine rare sports memorabilia like baseball cards, and get up close and personal with historical pieces worn by legendary athletes of the past.

Charlotte Hornets power forward Grant Williams was elated to interact with fans like never before as he walked the showroom floor and posed for selfies with sports fanatics.

“It’s incredible! I try my best to show love because they show love to me. I’m thrilled to be here, and Fanatics Fest is a blast,” Williams told AMNY. “You got everything. You have a list of athletes, you got collectables, apparel…it’s a great event.”

Other famous faces in attendance included NBA legend Julius Erving, UFC fighter Alex Pereira, New England Patriots CEO Robert Kraft, and social media star Druski, who joined “First Take” hosts Stephen A. Smith, Christopher Russo, and Molly Querim for a special Fanatics Fest sports debate alongside athletes like Chris “Mad Dog” Russo and Ryan Clark.

A life-size WWE walkway was the star of the show, allowing attendees to emulate their favorite superstar entrances and watch athletes like Rhea, CM Punk, and football all-star Rob Gronkowski strut their stuff.

Other Fanatics Fest NYC events included a reimagined version of Jay-Z’s 40/40 nightclub, which included autographed jerseys and memorabilia showcased throughout the venue.

RELATED CONTENT: Bozoma Saint John Leaves Apple Music, Heads to Uber

• Diversity, Equality, Inclusion

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

August 19, 2024

New College Of Florida Trashes Hundreds Of Books On Race, Sexuality, And Feminism

The move seems to align with many book bans across Florida schools following new anti-DEI legislation.

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The New College of Florida is facing backlash for throwing out hundreds of books centering on race, sexuality, and feminism.

The Sarasota Herald-Tribune and USA Today posted the books found in a dumpster in the school’s parking lots. Visible titles included “Curies: A Gay Man’s Odyssey,” “Feminist Thought,” and “Race Music: Black Cultures from Bebop To Hip Hop,” among others.

DEVELOPING: New College of Florida dumped hundreds of library books this afternoon.

The school also emptied the college’s Gender and Diversity Center, tossing hundreds of their books.

Working to file a story now. pic.twitter.com/073dU3A6mp

— Steven Walker (@swalker_7) August 15, 2024

The reporter also claimed that the school removed the books within its Gender and Diversity Center. The college stood firm in its stance of trashing the books, calling it a “standard weeding process” to do so.

“The New College Library is following its longstanding annual procedures for weeding its collection, which involves the removal of materials that are old, damaged, or otherwise no longer serving the needs of the College,” wrote the school in a statement. “The images seen online of a dumpster of library materials is related to the standard weeding process. Chapter 273 of Florida statutes precludes New College from selling, donating or transferring these materials, which were purchased with state funds.”

Furthermore, the school pointed to its discontinued Gender Studies program as the reason for those books’ displacement.

The move, however, seems to align with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ plan to eliminate DEI measures and programs from public schools. With newly established laws banning the teaching of critical race theory and sexuality, many schools have removed books with similar themes. Moreover, DeSantis enacted a law in May 2023 on New College’s campus that prohibits using public funding for diversity programs.

DeSantis appointed new members to the college’s Board of Trustees to ensure its shift to a more conservative culture. However, opposers of DeSantis’ new legislation continue to condemn his actions. The ACLU of Florida even deemed the College’s book removal an “intentional act of censorship.”

“We vehemently condemn the reprehensible actions taken by New College of Florida, where hundreds of library books—including those concerning LGBTQ+ studies—have been unceremoniously discarded, destined for a landfill,” explained Bacardi Jackson, executive director at the ACLU of Florida. “This is not merely an administrative oversight; it is an intentional act of censorship that strikes at the heart of our democratic values and the very purpose of education.”

She added, “The dumping of these books is more than just the disposal of outdated materials. It is a clear and dangerous signal of the extent to which political interference is poisoning our educational institutions. This isn’t just an attack on academic freedom—it is an all-out assault on the right to free expression, the free exchange of ideas, and the intellectual autonomy that our colleges and universities must protect at all costs.”

RELATED CONTENT: DeSantis Defunds Diversity Programs at Florida Public Colleges

• Money

by Daniel Johnson

August 19, 2024

Sens. Casey And Warren Sound Alarm On Kroger’s Digital Price Tags, Warn Of ‘Surge Pricing’ And Consumer Harm

The senators also raised concerns about the grocer's potential use of facial recognition software and the gathering of sensitive consumer personal data.

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Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey cautioned in a letter that Kroger and other grocery store chains might exploit electronic shelving label (ESL) technology to artificially raise consumer prices through a dynamic pricing model.

According to Fortune, although Kroger began using ESL in 2018, the senators sent a letter to Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen on Aug. 5. In the letter, the pair warned: “Widespread adoption of digital price tags appears poised to enable large grocery stores to squeeze consumers to increase profits. Analysts have indicated that the widespread use of dynamic pricing will result in groceries and other consumer goods being ‘priced like airline tickets,’ ‘creat[ing] a sense of urgency and a sense of scarcity that wouldn’t exist if there were just publicly posted prices that everybody understood,’ and allowing ‘sellers…to … figure out ways to extract the maximum amount of profit from each customer.'”

The grocer branded the technology “Kroger Edge” and initially pitched it as a way for customers to have a positive shopping experience at the store. The technology includes video advertisements, digital coupons, and a search function through the company’s mobile application.

However, this also created concerns about surge pricing, which the senators’ letter alludes to. Surge pricing refers to the ability of a company providing goods or a service, like Uber, to raise prices during certain points of the day based on usage volume or other metrics. Likewise, this technology could artificially manipulate prices based on several factors, including the customers themselves. 

Kroger, meanwhile, disputed this interpretation of its technology in a statement the company issued to Fortune.

“Kroger’s business model is to lower prices over time so that more customers shop with us, which leads to more revenue that we then invest in lower prices,” the company said. “Any test of electronic shelf tags is to lower prices more for customers where it matters most. To suggest otherwise is not true.”

The statement continued, “Kroger and the company it partnered with to expand its ‘Kroger Edge’ technology in 2024, Intelligence Node, have been careful to avoid any mention of dynamic pricing, only saying in a press release that Intelligence Node would assist Kroger by using its expertise to “enhance online shopping by delivering an experience that better informs shoppers’ product selections and purchase decisions.”

Kroger is not the only grocer looking to use this kind of technology. According to Fortune, Walmart, Amazon Fresh, and Whole Foods, owned by Amazon, intend to implement ESL technology in their stores.

The senators also raised concerns about the potential application of facial recognition software and the gathering of sensitive personal data in the letter. 

“In addition to price gouging, the EDGE Shelf helps Kroger gather and exploit sensitive consumer data. Through a partnership with Microsoft, Kroger plans to place cameras at its digital displays, which will use facial recognition tools to determine the gender and age of a customer captured on camera and present them with personalized offers and advertisements on the EDGE Shelf,” the letter stated.

The letter continued, “EDGE will allow Kroger to use customer data to build personalized profiles of each customer, and then use those profiles ‘to determine how much price hiking each of us can tolerate,’ quickly updating and displaying the customer’s maximum willingness to pay on the digital price tag –- a corporate profiteering capability that would be impossible using a mere paper price tag. I am concerned about whether Kroger and Microsoft are adequately protecting consumers’ data, and that as Kroger expands the personalized customer experience, customers will ultimately be offered a worse deal.”

RELATED CONTENT: Fed Up With High Prices, Consumers Are Helping To Bring Down Costs Associated With Inflation

• History

by Daniel Johnson

August 19, 2024

Tuskegee Airmen Seek To Train Next Generation Of Black Aviators

According to Russell Nalle, a former Tuskegee Airman, today's aviators have more opportunities than he had after his military career concluded.

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With only three original Tuskegee Airmen remaining, the national nonprofit established by these legendary aviators continues its mission to train the next generation of Black pilots.

According to Stars And Stripes, Tuskegee Airmen Inc. recently honored the work of the original Airmen from Aug. 15 to 17 and committed to the group’s future. 

As Jerry Burton, the national president of Tuskegee Airmen Inc., told Stars And Stripes, “There are not a whole lot of African Americans or people of color among the ranks of pilots. We’re trying to change that. “I recall from my own childhood in the 1970s that many young people did not know those opportunities existed for African Americans. We look to the past for inspiration but keep our focus on future Black aviators.”

The now-elderly Airmen faced difficulties getting to the convention, largely because of their ages, but 98-year-old Retired Brig. Gen. Enoch “Woody” Woodhouse II attended alongside approximately 35 teenagers who had previously participated in Tuskegee Airmen Inc. educational programs.

According to Russell Nalle, a former Tuskegee Airman, today’s aviators have more opportunities than he had after his military career concluded.

“I got turned down as a commercial pilot. It was not called or identified as discrimination back then. It was part of the culture at the time,” Nalle said. “But joining the military was different. I learned about the world. I couldn’t have asked for anything better than learning to fly a plane.”

In April, Tuskegee University and the Leadership In Flight Training Academy (LIFT) launched the first Tuskegee University Flight School, a program that Tuskegee University President Dr. Charlotte P. Morris said is designed to train the next generation of military or commercial pilots. 

“Tuskegee University is proud to continue a tradition that has contributed so much to the country through the courage and skills provided by the Tuskegee Airmen. A new generation of Tuskegee airmen and women will have the training they will need to serve our country through the military or as commercial pilots. What pleases me most is the enthusiasm with which we see young students ready to step up today to become such an important part of history. The new partnership with LIFT and Republic will build leaders and legacies.”

RELATED CONTENT: Tuskegee Airman Finally To Be Laid To Rest in Charlotte After Disappearing 79 Years Ago

• Celebrity News

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

August 19, 2024

Jay-Z Will Revive The 40/40 Club To Include Sports Betting

Jay-Z is close to finalizing a location for the reopeing of his coveted 40/40 Club.

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Jay-Z’s reimagined 40/40 Club at Fanatics Fest NYC was just a tease of what he has planned for the club’s reopening in 2025.

On Friday, August 16, Jay-Z teamed up with Fanatics Founder Michael Rubin for a remake of his famed 40/40 Club which shut its doors last summer. Tom Brady, Quavo, Travis Scott, Carmelo Anthony, Taylor Rooks, and many more famous faces were in attendance to help Jay-Z reimagine what the new and improved 40/40 could look like.

“It’s always been the plan to open a new spot,” 40/40 Club vice president of operations Sheldon Robinson told Us Weekly. “Finding the right location that makes sense to the brand is key, and that takes some time.”

“We’ve narrowed it down to our last few choices and now we’re in the negotiation phase.”

The new reimagined club will serve as an official sports betting operation where guests will have the opportunity to place live bets while they watch sporting events at the venue, Complex reports.

“Hopefully by the end of this year, we’ll have a lease signed and we can break ground. The idea is that we’ll have a club in 2025,” Robinson added.

Since closing the doors of the first 40/40 Club last August, it’s been a mission of Jay-Z’s to reopen the establishment that helped the hip-hop mogul flex his business prowess during the early start of his transition from rap superstar to business magnate. His longtime friend and former Roc-A-Fella artist Memphis Bleek was the first to reveal plans for 40/40’s reopening.

“Jay definitely wants to keep it as part of his legacy,” Robinson said, noting that Jay-Z has been “very involved” in the process. The Roc Nation founder has “been at site locations and in meetings” as the new club inches closer to reopening.

The Fanatics Fest version of the 40/40 Club included framed jerseys from the club archive, grand chandeliers, stadium seating, plus premium drinks and food inspired by the original 40/40 Club menu. The invite-only event was like “walking back in time” to a “renewed” version of Jay-Z’s first flagship location.

Jay-Z first opened the 40/40 in New York City in 2003 in NYC’s Flatiron District. After referencing the club on his 2003 hit “Dirt Off Your Shoulder,” the rapper followed up with locations in Atlantic City in 2005, Las Vegas in 2007, the Barclays Center in Brooklyn in 2012, and at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport in 2014. The Atlantic City and Las Vegas locations were the first to close before the flagship location in New York City closed down in August 2023 with plans of reopening in a new location.

RELATED CONTENT: 5 Musical Geniuses Whose Work Entered The Classroom

• News

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

August 19, 2024

NYC Man Arrested After Allegedly Killing Twin Sister

Jonathan Hagley was charged with allegedly killing his sister, Naomi, in Teaneck, NJ

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A New York City man has been charged in the killing of his twin sister after she was reportedly shot inside a home in Teaneck, New Jersey.

According to a press release from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, Jonathan Hagley allegedly killed his 26-year-old twin sister, Naomi Hagley, on Aug. 15. Prosecutors charged him with first-degree murder, second-degree unlawful possession of a handgun, second-degree possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose, second-degree certain persons not to have weapons or ammunition, third-degree possession of a defaced firearm, and fourth-degree obstructing justice.

On the morning of Aug. 15, at around 8:25 a.m., officers from the Teaneck Police Department responded to a call of a shooting. When they arrived at the scene, they found Naomi with multiple gunshot wounds. She was then taken to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Investigators allege that her brother, Jonathan, shot her several times before fleeing the scene on foot. Police officers from the Bogota Police Department located him several blocks from the home and apprehended him. A gun with a defaced serial number was discovered near the crime scene.

A neighbor spoke to CBS News and stated that there were three sudden gunshots heard that morning.

“I’m drinking coffee, I didn’t hear anything, like sirens going on, and then all of a sudden — pow, pow, pow — three gunshots that I heard,” said neighbor Florentino Buluyut. “I said, ‘What’s going on in there?'”

ABC 7 NY reported that another neighbor, Luz Javier, caught Jonathan leaving the scene on his security camera.

“Ten minutes before I stepped out from the house to take her to school, so when I came back and saw everything, I was like, what is going on,” Javier said.

The Bergen Record reported that Jonathan allegedly shot a man in Harlem during a gunfight eight months ago. The incident took place near the suspect’s apartment. He purportedly shot a man in the back after two individuals walked up to him and shot twice before they fled the scene.

RELATED CONTENT: Florida Man Arrested and Charged With Killing Sister Over An Electric Bill

• Sports

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

August 19, 2024

Las Vegas Aces’ A’ja Wilson Adds To Legacy By Breaking Another WNBA Record

Wilson breaks own record by scoring 20 points and 10 rebounds for the 17th time this season.

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In this constant record-breaking season of the WNBA, another record has been shattered by the Las Vegas Ace’s A’Ja Wilson.

According to ESPN, the reigning WNBA Finals MVP and WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, Wilson, just broke a record she set only last year when she scored 34 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. This marks her 17th game this season with 20 points and 10 rebounds, breaking the record of 16 games she achieved last season.

The dominance continues for A’ja Wilson…

🔥 34 PTS
🔥 13 REB
🔥 5 STL
🔥 2 BLK

Her 8th 30-point game of the season! pic.twitter.com/uTxJuV1oMk

— NBA (@NBA) August 19, 2024

In the 87-71 victory against the Los Angeles Sparks on Aug. 18, she also created another WNBA record when she scored at least 20 points and grabbed 10 or more rebounds in eight straight games.

She has been on a streak during the last eight games, during which she averaged 29.3 points, 14.4 rebounds, and 3.6 blocks. Her shooting percentage is 53% (85-of-161) from the field and 93.3% (56-of-60) from the free-throw line.

Wilson is also the first player in league history with multiple games of 30 points, 10 rebounds, and five steals. Along with Candace Parker, Sylvia Fowles, and Angel Reese, Wilson becomes the fourth player in league history to record eight double-doubles in a row.

The Aces have also mentioned that Wilson, having scored at least 24 points in each of the past eight games, ties a WNBA record she already shared with Diana Taurasi.

Other noteworthy stats include Wilson’s two blocked shots, giving her 417, placing her No. 12 on the all-time WNBA block list; her streak of double-digit scoring reached 39 games, the longest active streak in the league; the 13 rebounds she grabbed, giving her 1,947 for her career, which is the 30th most in WNBA history; her 17th double-double of the season, is also the 93rd of her career, placing her as having the 7th most in WNBA history; and by recording her 17th 20/10 game of the season and the 69th of her career, makes that stat the 5th-most in WNBA history.

RELATED CONTENT: A’ja Wilson Will Become First WNBA Player To Grace NBA 2K Video Game Cover

• Politics

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

August 19, 2024

Michelle Obama To Speak At 2024 Democratic National Convention

Obama is expected to speak on the second day of the convention.

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Former first lady Michelle Obama will join the 2024 Democratic National Convention (DNC) as a speaker. The event will take place in Obama’s native city of Chicago starting Aug. 19.

Sources told USA Today that Obama will appear on stage on Aug. 20, despite previous beliefs and an already-introduced lineup suggesting otherwise. In a surprise addition, Obama will speak to attendees and rally support for the upcoming Democratic Party nominee, Kamala Harris.

The revered Democratic figure now adds to the esteemed line-up of speakers, such as her husband former President Barack Obama, and Bill and Hillary Clinton. To kick the convention off, President Joe Biden and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson will begin the speeches.

As for Mr. and Mrs. Obama, both speakers will address the delegates on Tuesday. With the day’s theme of “A Bold Vision For America’s Future,” the former first lady will encourage the audience to get out the vote and defeat Donald Trump in the November election.

Obama has continued her path toward inspiring hope while on the periphery of politics. Most recently, she announced the upcoming release of her workbook, Overcoming. Inspired by her second novel, The Light We Carry, the book includes writing prompts and activities to spark one’s own light.

I’m so thrilled to let you know that OVERCOMING: A Workbook — based on The Light We Carry — is coming out on December 3!

Filled with thoughtful activities and writing prompts, I hope this workbook can help you unlock your power. https://t.co/IZWLMRGTn5 #Overcoming pic.twitter.com/YfC0uIsqc1

— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) July 31, 2024

Despite her new era, the 60-year-old is briefly stepping back into politics to ensure a historic voter turnout in favor of Vice President Harris. Moreover, the former first couple officially endorsed the Harris’ candidacy in July.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Michelle Obama (@michelleobama)

Harris expects to formally accept the party’s nomination at the DNC on Thursday, with both Obamas now partaking in the festivities leading up to it.

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