football kicker
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 30, 2025

Tuskegee Kicker Faces Backlash After Kicking Ball At Alabama State Marching Band

Tuskegee kicker Ryan Lorcens, a junior originally from Limerick, Ireland, began practicing kicks while the Alabama State Mighty Marching Hornets performed their halftime routine.

The rivalry between Alabama State and Tuskegee University thickened at the Turkey Day Classic when a Tuskegee kicker began practicing on the field during Alabama State’s halftime show.

A now-viral video captures the moment Tuskegee kicker Ryan Lorcens began practicing kicks while the Alabama State Mighty Marching Hornets performed their halftime routine on Nov. 27. The junior, originally from Limerick, Ireland, can be seen sending balls toward the Hornets as they performed at midfield, leading to a brief confrontation when he tried to retrieve one of them.

“Tuskegee kicker is on the field kicking during ASU band performance and the ball keeps hitting people and he just walks onto the field while they are playing and taking the ball and starts kicking it again,” one X user wrote along with a video of the incident.

The moment quickly drew backlash online, with many calling Lorcens out for disrespecting a cherished HBCU game-day tradition.

“He was taunting,” one X user wrote.

Another user asked if the “thug” had been arrested for “assault.”

Following the incident, Alabama State Vice President and Director of Athletics Dr. Jason Cable released a statement on Nov. 28, calling Lorcens’ actions “unacceptable and unwarranted” and noting that they did not reflect the spirit of healthy rivalry between the two schools.

“The incident involving a member of the Tuskegee football team pushing a member of the Mighty Marching Hornets at the conclusion of halftime was both unacceptable and unwarranted,” Cable said. “It in no way reflects the spirit of healthy rivalry or the character of either historic institution.”

After Tuskegee University Vice President Reginald Ruffin reached out to Cable following the game day incident, Cable said, “I am confident that appropriate actions will be taken.”

Jim Clyburn, new book
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

November 30, 2025

Rep. Jim Clyburn Releases Book Detailing Legacy Of ‘The First Eight’ Black Congressman

The book details the plights of the first Black men to lead U.S. politics.

Rep. Jim Clyburn from South Carolina may be one of the most notable Black congressmen within and beyond his state. However, he does not forget who paved the way for his political position, nor does he want the public to.

According to NPR, eight men served in U.S. politics before contemporary leaders like Clyburn. Their appointments during and after the Reconstruction period brought them backlash and other obstacles. However, their steadfast resilience ensured that today’s Congress held similar and crucial representation.

This detailing of the Black political leaders from generations before has been highlighted in Clyburn’s latest book, The First Eight: A Personal History of the Pioneering Black Congressmen Who Shaped a Nation. Released Nov. 11, the book prominently details the legacy of these men, particularly Robert Smalls.

Smalls smuggled his family aboard a Confederate transport ship, steering the ship to their freedom among Union forces. His stewardship and courage made him the first African American captain in the U.S. Navy.

Another leader, George Washington Murray, became the only Black representative in Congress in the late 1800s. However, his dealings with voter fraud and redistricting to disenfranchise Black voters felt eerily similar to today’s current political state. Upon researching his congressional journey, Clyburn felt it crucial to remind readers of this history. Furthermore, he wants these stories to ensure history does not repeat itself.

“When I saw what was happening after the 2020 elections, someone had taken the playbook from the 1876 election,” he said. “The book was going to be just to inform people about these guys, but then it got to the point that it was, ‘no, it’s got to be more instructive than informant’ and so I almost started over with the book.”

Clyburn hopes the book not only educates about this forgotten Black history but serves as a call-to-action against figures opposing equality and justice. Clyburn emphasized the need to remember the lives of these “First Eight,” as their plights could remedy the struggles witnessed today.

“Anything that’s happened before can happen again,” he said. “And so you cannot allow this President [Trump], with this majority in the Congress, to cause you to react to their foolishness, because that’s what happened before and it will happen again if you aren’t careful.”

The First Eight is available now for purchase across multiple retailers.

RECENT CONTENT: Jim Clyburn Highlights Similarities Between Project 2025 And ‘Jim Crow Era’ 

Cory Booker, Senate Democrats, ICE
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

November 30, 2025

Cory Booker Marries Investment Exec In Private D.C. Ceremony Just Months After Engagement

The two met in May 2024 after being set up by a mutual friend.

Cory Booker is now a married man. The U.S. Senator wed Alexis Lewis in a private ceremony just months after announcing their engagement.

On Nov. 29, the New Jersey Senator married the investment firm exec in Washington, D.C., at a small but elegant affair. While kept under wraps due to privacy concerns, the two lovebirds tied the knot at an interfaith ceremony. According to The New York Post, Lewis identifies as Jewish while Booker practices Christianity, with both a pastor and a rabbi present to bless their union.

However, only close family attended the wedding, keeping things out of the D.C. circus that Booker remains a pivotal face within. Prior to their ceremony, the two made things official at the U.S. District Court in Newark, where Booker served as mayor before his move to Congress.

“Overflowing with gratitude,” captioned the two in a shared social media post. “We said, ‘I do’ in two places that shaped us—Cory’s beloved Newark and Alexis’s hometown of Washington, D.C.—first at the courthouse, then with our families. Hearts full and so grateful.”

The two met in May of last year through a mutual friend, with the then-L.A.-based Lewis traveling to D.C. for their blind date. The two hit it off immediately, later moving in together in a whirlwind romance. Their growing relationship resulted in an engagement in Hawaii this past August. Booker and Lewis announced their intentions to marry the following month.

“After so many years on my own, I’m not entirely sure I believed I would get married. But now, we’ve found each other at this stage of our lives, after epic personal journeys. And that deserves celebration,” she told The New York Times about her relationship with Booker.

Lewis also has a previous history in the political sector. The D.C. native used to work  with former L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti. She has since moved in with her newly-wed husband to the East Coast. This is also Booker’s first marriage, as the 56-year-old was once one of the most eligible bachelors in U.S. politics.

Now, the 38-year-old will stand by his side as Booker continues his political career. The former presidential candidate has publicly considered a run for 2028, but remains focused on his re-election to the senior Senator seat next year.

RELATED CONTENT: Senator Cory Booker Talks Unlocking Access to Capital

Madrid, Black history tour
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

November 30, 2025

Madrid Unearths Hidden Black History Through Launched Walking Tours

Black European history is gaining a new spotlight with these Madrid walking tours.

Certain walking tours in Madrid offer a deeper look into Spain’s lesser-known Black history.

A new focus in the capital city of Spain offers visitors new insight into its Black community. Typically, these histories sit under the radar in favor of more positive perceptions of European achievement.

However, these walking tours bypass the popular architecture and art to talk about this darker history, such as Spain’s role in colonialism. Spain was one of the many European countries heavily involved in the Transatlantic slave trade, with these tour guides ensuring that the legacy of those impacted remains alive.

This has become especially important as this history is rarely taught in Spanish classrooms. This erasure left many Black Spaniards feeling unrepresented in their country’s legacy. However, one guide is doing his part to promote Black history across Europe.

Kwame Ondo, originally from Equatorial Guinea — a former Spanish colony — later settled with his family in the Spanish region of Andalusia, Reuters reports. Describing the nation’s past as a “silenced history,” Ondo now operates a tour line, Afroiberica Tours, to unearth this diverse side of Spain.

While all are welcome to learn more about Spain’s true diversity, he especially wants Black Americans visiting the country to learn about this sector of the Diaspora. He aims to help Black people discover this connection within Spain that mainstream teachings often disregard.

Other tours also promote a Black Spanish heritage and foundation in their offerings. While more provocative in nature, the “Black Madrid” activist collective hosts its own tours that seek to hold Spain accountable for its role in enslaving Africans.

Its coordinators directly call out the use of slave labor to further development across Spanish regions. They want Spain and the world to recognize Black people’s undeniable impact on societal advancement.

“We can’t understand the industrial development in Catalonia or the Basque Country without knowing that it comes from the slave trade,” explained co-coordinator Nieves Cisneros.

The tours differ slightly in intent from Ondo’s, which takes a more educational approach than direct activism. However, both tours are part of a growing movement to spotlight African European histories that have been left in the shadows for more favorable perceptions.

RELATED CONTENT: Memorial Honoring Black WWII Soldiers Silently Removed From U.S. Military Cemetery In The Netherlands

Denny's, lawsuit
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 30, 2025

Denny’s In Pennsylvania Sued By 5 Black Women For Racial Discrimination

The women were told there were electrical issues and couldn't be served, yet, there were white customers enjoying their meals.

After five Black women were told that the Denny’s that they stopped in was having electrical issues and couldn’t be served, they are suing the Pennsylvania restaurant for racial discrimination after realizing that the restaurant was not only serving patrons, but all of them were white.

According to The New York Daily News, the five Black women, Daniella Bonhomme, Tatiana Poulard, Aminique Kirnon, Selina Sacasa, and Quantavia Grant, claimed they experienced racism at the Denny’s on Jan. 14, 2024. As the women were making their way into Denny’s in Bloomsburg, they stated they were approached by a staff member who informed them the restaurant was closed because “the lights are flickering.” Yet, when the women used the restrooms, they observed that there were no electrical issues and that customers were enjoying their meals.

However, they also noticed that all of the patrons were white. Realizing the alleged blatant racism at hand, one of the women recorded the scene. As they walked toward the bathrooms, she narrated what was going on and even took time to show the people in the restaurant before showing the white woman who lied to them when they came into the venue.

@aimeemichelle_mimi

Nah, yall really tried it @dennysdiner. Imagine Denny's diner chain making ads that claims to be America's Diner – their chief marketing officer Frances Allen said "There's a soul to a diner that is very authentic, very warm, very accepting." Clearly, that's not the case 9… the hostess/waitress ran to the door, to deny us service due to a power outage.

♬ original sound – Aimee Michelle

The paperwork was recently filed in the United States District Court, Middle District of Pennsylvania. In the lawsuit, the women alleged that they “were humiliatingly denied seating and service at the Denny’s in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, simply because of the color of their skin. “Clearly, the alleged ‘flickering’ lights were nothing more than a pretext for blatant racial discrimination.”

Kyle Platt, who is representing the women, stated, “This is something that was incredibly blatant and obvious to anyone who could have seen it. They entered the restaurant and were immediately basically ushered away, while all the white patrons were able to eat without issue.”

“Our clients were deeply hurt by what happened that day,” Carranza told the media outlet. “There was no reason for any employee to rush to them before they even entered the premises.”

To make matters worse, Denny’s corporate Vice President Chioke Elmore, who is also Black, attempted to “placate and persuade” Kirnon by telling her, “I look like you, and I wouldn’t want to work here if they didn’t want people like us to eat here,” according to the complaint.

Over the years, Denny’s was known for its discrimination against Black people. The restaurant chain settled a class-action lawsuit in 1994 for $54 million after numerous allegations of the practice. Black customers were typically treated differently from their white counterparts.

RELATED CONTENT: Denny’s Sued by Former NFL Players’ Restaurant Company

George Foreman, boxing, olympic medal
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 29, 2025

George Foreman’s 1968 Olympic Gold Medal Is Being Auctioned

A year before turning pro, 19-year-old George Foreman won a boxing gold medal at the 1968 Summer Games.

A year before turning pro, 19-year-old George Foreman won a boxing gold medal at the 1968 Summer Games, and that medal is now up for auction.

According to TMZ, the medal has been placed up for auction at Lelands. Foreman won the gold medal at the Olympics on Oct. 29, 1968, after beating Jonas Cepulis of the Soviet Union, when the referee stopped the fight in the second round. Anyone interested in owning the item has until Dec. 6, when the online auction ends.

The starting bid was $2,500.

Lelands stated that they obtained the medal from a woman who was once a neighbor of the heavyweight champion when he lived in Houston in the 1970s. She allowed him to use her garage as storage. In recent years, after cleaning her house, she discovered the medal, along with other items, including two passports and his driver’s license, in the garage. She stated that the gold medal was found in a box containing some of his trophies.

The auction house stated that the gold medal “is highly likely” to be the medal he won, although it had to be cleaned after being in the box for so many years. They state it’s in excellent condition, but also warn that they “cannot say for certain without a photo-match or the original plaque” to confirm its authenticity.

Two years after Foreman became a professional boxer, he became the World Heavyweight Champion on Jan. 22, 1973, when he scored a second-round knockout of Joe Frazier. After two successful defenses of the title, he met Muhammad Ali in the infamous “Rumble in the Jungle” boxing match in Zaire, Africa. On Oct. 30, 1974, almost six years to the day that he won his gold medal, he lost the title to Ali.

He became the oldest boxer to win the heavyweight title in 1987, when he knocked out Michael Moorer in the 10th round. He was 45 when he achieved that accomplishment at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

The boxer died earlier this year in March at the age of 76.

RELATED CONTENT: ‘Rumble In The Jungle’ Boxing Legend George Foreman Dies At 76

Diddy, Fort Dix, Thanksgiving dinner
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 29, 2025

Diddy Helps Organize, Chips In For Thanksgiving Dinner For Fellow Fort Dix Inmates

'We just wanted to come together as a family and do our own thing,' he said.

Although Diddy’s last two thanksgivings probably weren’t ideal, he made sure this one was not only better for him but for every inmate currently incarcerated at FCI Fort Dix, where he is presently spending time. The entertainment mogul helped his fellow prisoners have a better-than-usual holiday this year.

According to TMZ, Diddy funded the meals that the inmates feasted on this past week. He worked with a group called Bankroll Bosses at the facility, as he funded the meal. Diddy reportedly bought the food from the prison commissary, had it prepared over two days, and then made sure every housing unit at Fort Dix received the meals, according to one of his representatives.

“Thanksgiving, to me, is about making sure other people eat. Everybody misses their family. People get depressed during the holidays. We just wanted to come together as a family and do our own thing,” the “It’s All About the Benjamins” producer told the media outlet.

TMZ also spoke with a former gang leader, B.I., who helped organize the meals being prepared and delivered to the inmates.

“We cooked the food and sent it to all the buildings. Enough for about 200 people in each building. It took two days to prep everything.”

Diddy is at the facility serving a 50-month prison term after being convicted on two counts of transporting individuals to engage in prostitution under the Mann Act in July.

The mogul seems to be adjusting to prison life well.

“There’s a lot of misinterpretations about prison. There is a strong brotherhood. We all look out for each other. It’s nothing but a positive thing,” Diddy informs TMZ. “It’s like a little bit of home in a dark place.”

His expected release date is May 28, 2028, but he could be coming home before the date if he completes a drug treatment program at the facility that’s designed to cut time for successful completion.

RELATED CONTENT: Diddy Is Reportedly Making Millions From Prison By Renting Out His Gulfstream G550

Demond Wilson, ‘Sanford And Son’
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 29, 2025

Popular TikTok Content Creator Marquay The Goat Has Died At 24

He had 6.9 million followers on TikTok and 479,000 on Instagram.

A popular TikTok personality who amassed seven million followers and used the moniker Marquay The Goat has died, according to a social media post by his mother, Sonja Collins.

She expressed the bad news a day before Thanksgiving, Nov. 26.

“My heart is broken💔My baby, my last one, my SnuggaBug, my Marquay is no longer here with me❣️He was the sweetest person he didn’t have a mean bone in his body❣️I needed him longer than God allowed me to have him❣️He spoiled me and his Dad, Elzie, he always said because we spoiled him❣️Thank you everyone for your thoughts and prayers, enjoy the rest of your day❣️ #putGodfirstinallyoudo #naturalbeauty #love #lastone #son #mybaby #bestfriend 😭🙏🏾💜“

TMZ reported that the 24-year-old had 6.9 million followers on TikTok and 479,000 on Instagram.

According to People, Marquay Collins was pronounced dead on No. 26 at 6:20 a.m. His death has been listed as “undetermined” as an autopsy is being conducted to find out the exact cause of death, based on a conversation with Buddy Bryan, the Muscogee County Coroner.

Bryan told the media outlet that Marquay was in a car accident earlier this month in Atlanta on Nov. 7. After going to the hospital and being examined, he was released the same day. But when he went home, he started complaining of various aches and pains across his body.

“After returning home, he was complaining of headaches, neck, shoulder and spine pain,” Bryan said. He also stated that the TikToker had discussed the issues with his brother, adding that Marquay also complained of “shortness of breath” and a “headache.”

The New York Post reported that he was still posting to his social media account 24 hours before the announcement of his death. A video clip of a lotion review is in his last post.

He had become popular for his reviews of food and fast cars. Marquay also posted comedy and lifestyle clips.

RELATED CONTENT: TikToker Malik Taylor’s Cause Of Death Revealed As Internet Community Reels From Tragedy

Bayou Classic, Southern University, Grambling State, Thanksgiving
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 29, 2025

52nd Bayou Classic Takes Over New Orleans

The Grambling State University Tigers will take on the Southern University Jaguars.

Fans in New Orleans presumably have had their Thanksgiving meals and are now settled in to watch the 52nd Annual Bayou Classic, which is taking place on Nov. 29 at the Caesars Superdome at 1 p.m.

This year’s classic will pit the Grambling State University Tigers against the Southern University Jaguars, with the football teams fighting for the chance to emerge victorious. Meanwhile, the Southern University Human Jukebox Marching Band will show off its musical talents against the Grambling State University World-Famed Tiger Marching Band during halftime.

“This annual tradition is more than a football game – it’s a full weekend celebrating HBCU excellence, legacy, and culture,” said Dottie Belletto, president and CEO of New Orleans Convention Company, Inc. (NOCCI), the event management firm for the 52nd Annual Bayou Classic, said in a written statement.

But, before fans witness the contest between the two institutions on the gridiron, there is a concert that takes place from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. 2 Chainz headlines, with H3edband, T99zy, BJ So Cole, Giovanni Weart, and Deejay Juice rounding out the rest of the talent to perform.

According to WWLTV, the weekend also included an educational component alongside the recreational and athletic portions. On Nov. 28, the first-ever Bayou Business Bowl took place at the Hyatt Regency. The bowl involved students from the competing schools competing in a Shark Tank–style pitch competition. The students were allowed to pitch business concepts to industry leaders, investors, and regional stakeholders with an opportunity to take home $10,000 in prizes.

There was also a fun-filled event right outside the Caesars Superdome, where fans gathered for an additional weekend event, Sprite’s Beats Before Battle. The party featured music, Sprite tastings, and giveaways, bringing people together to help celebrate the Bayou Classic right before the Battle of the Bands.

But, before the Bayou Classic weekend is over, fans can catch GloRilla and 2 Chainz at 10 p.m. at the METROpolitan Nightclub, where the official Bayou Classic Celebrity After-Party will take place.

RELATED CONTENT: Entrepreneurs Win Big at the Bayou Classic

Serena Williams, super bowl, commercials
by Kandiss Edwards

November 29, 2025

Serena Williams Teaches Her 2-Year-Old Daughter How To Swing A Racket

The Instagram post shows the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion demonstrating form to her daughter, Adira River Ohanian.

Tennis legend Serena Williams recently captivated social media by sharing photos of her teaching the sport to her youngest daughter, two-year-old Adira River Ohanian. 

The Instagram post shows the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion demonstrating form to the toddler, who stood on a backyard court with a ball on her tiny racket. 

Williams shared the images with the caption, “This is me sharing my passion for tennis with my youngest daughter.” 

The new photos also prompted questions about Williams’ older daughter, Alexis Olympia Ohanian, Jr., whom the tennis star welcomed shortly before winning the 2017 Australian Open. Olympia, now 8 years old, began playing tennis as a toddler. However, Williams has been open about Olympia’s shifting interests.

Williams previously shared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show that Olympia was “alright” at tennis. She explained that, though she’d signed her daughter up for lessons with a coach, her daughter didn’t take a liking to the sport. However, Williams says she is currently “trying to figure out a way to get her to play a little bit.”

Williams is adamant that she will never pressure either of her daughters to pursue the sport that made her and her sister, Venus Williams, global icons. Instead of focusing on professional tennis, Williams prioritizes nurturing their individuality.

 “I want them to always be certain of who they are and never shy away from being themselves,” she stated, adding that the goal is about “celebrating what sets them apart and feeling strong and comfortable with who they are.” 

While Williams ensures her daughters pursue their own passions, the champion has been exploring new racket sports herself in her post-retirement life. However, her new hobbies are not without incident. During a recent appearance on Good Sports with Kevin Hart and Kenan Thompson, Williams revealed she has quit pickleball, the rapidly growing paddle sport, after sustaining an injury. Williams explained that the pickleball racket is “actually way heavier” and smaller than a tennis racket, which led to her hurting herself.

 “Ever since I hurt myself, I’ve been like meh,” she stated.

Instead, Williams expressed her preference for Padel, another fast-paced racket sport she enjoys. Perhaps, the introduction of Padel will spark Olympia’s attention as little Adira practices for the 2040 Olympics.

RELATED CONTENT: Serena Williams Ups Her Investment Strategy As Founders Get ‘More Choosy’

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