by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

November 25, 2025

Angel Reese And Reebok Join Forces To Support High School Girls Basketball At Her Alma Mater

Reese is supporting many girls basketball teams with new gear, including at her former high school.

Reebok and the Angel C. Reese Foundation are putting their best foot forward to support girls’ basketball.

The foundation, created by the WNBA star, has partnered with collaborator Reebok to gift Reese’s high school alma mater some new kicks. According to WWD, the parties will support the girls’ basketball team at Saint Frances Academy for the upcoming season.

Investing in the next generation of hoopers, leaders, and young women who’ll change the world, starting right here in Baltimore. Saint Frances Academy 🖤💛 Reebok X Angel Reese pic.twitter.com/vmsN1BBcJS
— Angel Reese (@Reese10Angel) November 24, 2025

The partnership will not only deck out the young girl athletes in the latest Angel Reese 1 Sneakers. The venture will also provide Reebook warm-up sets and jerseys for the girls to arrive at games in style.

The Angel Reese 1 has already made waves across in footwear, with the sold-out collection captivating many sneakerheads for its colorways. Since its September release, it has debuted new colorways paying homage to Reese’s hometown and more.

Now, her Baltimore high school will be one of the select schools to rock Reese’s staple shoes as she branches out to support youth sports. Founded in 2023, her foundation provides programming and resources to help girls elevate their game, finances, and more.

“Empowering the next generation of young female athletes has always been my mission, and giving back to the community that raised me makes it even more special,” Reese said in a statement. “Saint Frances was pivotal in my journey as an athlete, and through this partnership, I want to give young Panther athletes the resources, the confidence, and the inspiration to chase their dreams too.”

Reese has continued to build her brand as a fashion icon, WNBA star player, and champion of women’s sports. Now, players inspired by her will wear her apparel as she continues to revolutionize the sport.

“To have the support from Angel and Reebok is an honor,” said Nytearia Burrell, Saint Frances Girls Basketball head coach, in a statement. “Angel is a pillar of inspiration for these young girls, and I’m excited to see the team excel on and off the court through this partnership.”

To add to the partnership, Reese will also host a special practice during the season to help the girls with their development on and off the court.

Lupita Nyong'o, Oscar, Berlin, international, film festival,

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

November 25, 2025

Lupita Nyong’o Offered ‘Slave Ship’ Roles After Oscar Win for ’12 Years A Slave’

The actress spoke of her stifling role options after winning the coveted award.

Lupita Nyong’o is getting real about her acting career since winning an Oscar in 2013 for 12 Years A Slave.

The acclaimed actress, who won the Academy Award for her captivating performance as enslaved woman Patsey, told CNN Inside Africa about how she only received offers for similar roles yet refused to play into the stereotypes.

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“My winning an Academy Award came at the very start of my career,” Nyong’o, 42, said. “It was for the first film I had ever done. So, it really did set the paces for everything I’ve done since. What’s very interesting is that after I won the Academy Award, you’d think like, ‘Oh, I’m going to get the lead roles here and there.’ But it’s ‘Oh, Lupita. We’d like you to do another movie where you’re a slave, but this time you’re on a slave ship.’ Those are the kinds of offers [I was getting] in the months after winning my Academy Award.”

As others began to notice her name on fewer movie posters, Nyong’o had to block out the noise. She remained adamant about following her heart and mind by choosing roles she felt aligned with her values. She even called the moment immediately after winning a “very tender time.”

“There is an expectation for you and your career,” she continued. “There were think pieces about, is this the beginning or the end of this African woman’s career? I had to deafen myself to all those pontificators because at the end of the day I am not a theory…I am an actual person. I like to be a joyful warrior for changing the paradigms of what it means to be African. If that means I work one less job a year to ensure that I am not perpetuating these stereotypes that are expected of people from my content, then let me do that.”

She still starred in some Blockbuster hits such as Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Black Panther. However, fans also saw her take on more culturally-enriching roles in films like Queen of Katwe.

However, Hollywood pressure still got to the Us actress. Last year, she told Trevor Noah on his What Now? podcast about her subconscious decision to lose her Kenyan accent to appeal to the American film market.

Her plight is a similar experience many Black actors in Hollywood have felt before. With pay gaps and a lack of opportunities besides stereotypical roles, Black actors have voiced the fight for just and equitable representation in films.

More sure of her art and voice today, Nyong’o is reaffirming her pride in her Kenyan-Mexican identity and face as a Black actress in Hollywood. She will grace the big screen again in Christopher Nolan’s upcoming blockbuster adaptation of The Odyssey.

Olivia Yacé, Ms. Universe, renouce, Ivory Coast

by Kandiss Edwards

November 25, 2025

Ms. Universe Contestant Olivia Yacé Renounces Title, Stating ‘I Must Remain True To My Values’

The Miss Universe Africa and Oceania runner up revealed her decision only three days after the conclusion of the pageant.

The Ms. Universe Pageant concluded with an unexpected twist: fourth runner-up Olivia Yace renounced her affiliation with the organization shortly after placing.

As the Côte d’Ivoire representative, Yacé posted a message to Instagram explaining her decision. The Miss Universe Africa and Oceania runner-up revealed her decision only three days after the pageant concluded on Nov. 21. Yacé stated that, to remain true to her core principles, she must sever her relationship with the organization.

“As the representative of Côte d’Ivoire at the Miss Universe 2025 competition in Bangkok, I witnessed firsthand that I was capable of accomplishing great things despite adversity. But to continue on this path, I must remain true to my values: respect, dignity, excellence, and equal opportunity, the strongest pillars that guide me,” Yacé wrote.

Though she is renouncing her affiliation, she intends to move forward in roles that advance the betterment of young women and girls. In concluding her post, Yacé encouraged others to continue entering pageant spaces and other spaces where they are underrepresented.

“I call upon Black, African, Caribbean, American, and Afro-descendant communities: continue entering spaces where you are not expected,” she stated. “Our presence matters, and our voices must be heard.”

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The Miss Côte d’Ivoire Committee (COMICI) confirmed the withdrawal shortly after, issuing a statement that noted the action was for “personal convenience of her electoral mandates.” The COMICI formally notified the Miss Universe Organization of the removal of the Ivorian representative from all titles conferred by the international body.

The organization announced the relinquishing of the titles and asserted that the decision was mutual between the COMICI and Yacé.

“Olivia YACE therefore relinquishes her title of Miss Universe Africa & Oceania, effective immediately. Miss Olivia YACE, Miss Universe Africa & Oceania 2025, will formally return her Africa & Oceania sash to the organization to ensure that no one is unaware of this and to attest to this joint decision,” the post read.

The Miss Universe Organization has not yet publicly commented on Yacé’s resignation. However brief her participation in the event, Yacé made history. She was the first woman from Côte d’Ivoire to place in the Top 5 of the international competition.

Haiti, france, reparation, Haitians, Haitian Heritage Month

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 25, 2025

That’s Wild! White Men Indicted For Plot To Invade Haitian Island And Enslave Women And Children

Two white men are facing life in prison for their plot to invade a Haitian island and enslave the women and children.

Two white men from North Texas have been indicted for plotting to invade a Haitian island, intending to kill its men and enslave its women and children.

Gavin Rivers Weisenburg, 21, of Allen, and Tanner Christopher Thomas, 20, of Argyle, were recently indicted by a grand jury on charges of conspiracy to murder, maim, or kidnap in a foreign country, as well as production of child pornography, Fox 4 News reports. The indictment reveals the charges stem from a year-long investigation into the pair’s plan to travel to Gonâve Island in the Republic of Haiti to attempt a coup d’état.

A detailed outline shows that between August 2024 and July 2025, Weisenburg and Thomas planned their attack, including purchasing a boat, sailing to Gonâve Island, home to roughly 87,000 people, killing all the men, seizing control by force, and enslaving the women and children.

“The co-conspirators conducted research, reconnaissance, recruiting, planning, and sought training to effectuate their plan,” the indictment reads. “It was the goal of the conspiracy to take military control of the Island of Gonâve by murdering all the men on the island and capturing all the women.”

The suspects are accused of trying to recruit others to assist with the coup, both online and in person, between August 2024 and May 2025, including efforts to enlist homeless individuals from Washington, D.C. Weisenburg and Thomas are also charged with coercing a minor to perform sexual acts on camera on Aug. 31, 2024.

Prosecutors allege that Thomas enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in January 2025 to gain military training “useful in carrying out their armed coup.” In August 2024, Weisenburg enrolled in the North Texas Fire Academy in Rockwall, Texas, to prepare for the coup but dropped out nearly six months later, the indictment states.

Both men reportedly studied Haitian Creole and researched weapons and ammunition, including military-grade rifles. They planned to transport firearms, ammunition, and explosives by sailboat. Weisenburg also traveled to Thailand to enroll in sailing school to prepare for the voyage to Haiti, but never attended the classes due to cost.

Weisenburg and Thomas each face up to life in federal prison if convicted of conspiracy to commit murder in a foreign country, and 15 to 30 years if found guilty of producing child pornography. The investigation involves the FBI, the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations, and the Salina Police Department.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 25, 2025

Michael Jai White First Non-Asian to Win Asian World Film Festival’s Bruce Lee Award

'Last night I was honored to receive the prestigious Bruce Lee Award at the AWFF!'

Action star Michael Jai White made history when he accepted an award at the Asian World Film Festival (AWFF), becoming the first non-Asian to receive an honor.

The actor, who initially got his start as a martial artist before becoming an actor, posted a message on his social media accounts about receiving the coveted award.

“Last night I was honored to receive the prestigious Bruce Lee Award at the AWFF! Shannon Lee, Bruce’s daughter and head of the Bruce Lee Foundation, is also a longtime friend and Wushu classmate of mine who’s made me the first non-Asian to receive the award. Her father was, and is, the greatest and most inspirational martial artist to have walked the earth. This honor is the most heartfelt award I could ever receive! I don’t know who “Tony, Emmy or Oscar” were, but I damn sure know Bruce Lee! 🙏🏾🥋👍🏾💪🏾😊 #brucelee #honor #award #martialarts #karate #ufc #mma #grateful #kyokushin“

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According to the North Dallas Gazette, the Bruce Lee Award was presented to White by the legendary martial artist’s daughter, Shannon Lee, who is also a close friend of the actor. Lee (Nov. 27, 1940 – July 20, 1973) is considered by most to be the best and most popular martial artist to grace the world.

White is currently starring in “Carl Weber’s The Family Business,” which premiered its sixth season in October on BET+. He plays Vegas Duncan, one of the sons of Ernie Hudson’s character, Lavernius “L.C.” Duncan, a crime boss who runs a legitimate automobile business with his sons. The series also stars Darrin Henson, Tami Roman, Miguel A. Nunez Jr., Sean Ringgold, and Valarie Pettiford in lead roles.

He also stars in the action-comedy “Hostile Takeover,” airing now on STARZ, where he portrays hitman Pete Strykyr.

Biles, Simone Biles, Greatest ever, Gymnastics

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 25, 2025

Simone Biles’ New Athleta Collection Is Perfect For Horseback Riding And Ice Skating

Simone Biles unveils her new Athleta collection and dishes on her latest fitness hobbies.

Even outside competition, Simone Biles stays active. Her new Athleta collection—her fifth with the company but second designed for women and girls—fits seamlessly with the low-pressure hobbies she’s taken up to stay moving.

Released on Nov. 21, Biles’ new Athleta collection blends fashion and function with stylish athleisure pieces designed for easy layering and versatile wear. The line features everything from subtle zebra-print leggings to cozy fleece sweatpants, paired with crop tops, hoodies, and zip-ups—perfect for winter workouts and year-round use.

https://twitter.com/OctagonOAS/status/1991948183568617856

The collection reflects the calmer, more balanced lifestyle Biles has embraced since stepping back from gymnastics to focus on married life and her new hobbies, including horseback riding and ice skating.

“Now, I’ve started to explore other hobbies that still include working out, but it just looks a little bit different,” Biles told Refinery29 Unbothered. “Right now, although I’m not in the gym 24/7, I’m in my horseback riding lessons, and I’m about to pick up ice skating lessons because I feel like gymnastics, although it was working out, it was just it was so much fun for me, and you don’t even realize you’re exercising. So I wanted to feel that similar feeling.”

After years of intense training to become the most decorated gymnast in history, Biles isn’t rushing back into a strict workout regimen. She now enjoys the simplicity of a Pilates class or horseback riding session.

“I took up horseback riding because going to a gym for me and doing pilates and all that stuff seems a little bit scary and daunting, but if you put it as a hobby, and say ‘I’m working out for an hour or so,’ it feels a little bit easier,” she explained. “I’m about to start doing my ice skating lessons. I’ve already called the ice rink. I know they’re tired of hearing from me [laughs].“

Sharing Pilates sessions with her NFL star husband, Jonathan Owens, Biles appreciates the versatility and style of her new Athleta collection. Though not her first, it’s already her favorite.

“It’s very different. It’s the boldest collection that we’ve had thus far,” she said. “I’m obviously biased, but this is one of my favorite collections. We have followed some of the trends but really, I always say, that you can take it from the mat to conferences or whatever it is. It doesn’t have to be just for the gym. It’s my go-to travel style, as well as if I’m taking a pilates class with my husband.”

RELATED CONTENT: Simone Biles Secures Top Honors At 2025 ESPYS

Arthur Hayes,Bitcoin, Crypto Buyout Fund

by Kandiss Edwards

November 25, 2025

Crypto-Kidnapper Steals $11M From San Francisco Resident In Wild Heist

Surveillance footage shared with investigators shows the homeowner buzzing him into the home.

A man posing as a delivery worker entered a San Francisco home on Nov. 22 and stole an estimated $11 million in cryptocurrency after assaulting the homeowner.

Police said the suspect approached the residence on Dorland Street shortly before 7 a.m. while holding a white package and identifying himself only as “Joshua.” Surveillance footage shared with investigators shows the homeowner buzzing him into the home.

According to the police report obtained by the San Francisco Chronicle, the victim was later found bound with duct tape while the intruder left with a laptop, a phone, and access devices linked to cryptocurrency accounts.

Bay Area tech investor Garry Tan initially posted the video on social media and urged neighbors to assist detectives by sharing doorbell camera footage from surrounding blocks.

Investigators said the suspect’s actions were consistent with “wrench attacks.” Security specialists use the term to describe encounters in which criminals physically coerce victims into unlocking cryptocurrency wallets. Blockchain-security analysts at Chainalysis noted in its 2025 Crypto Crime Trends report that violent crypto-related robberies have increased in several large cities.

Robber posing as a delivery driver steals $11,000,000 in crypto after pulling a gun and duct-taping the victim in San Francisco pic.twitter.com/Jny8HfVvGC
— BAY AREA STATE OF MIND (@YayAreaNews) November 24, 2025

“Attacks targeting self-custody holders have become more frequent as criminals realize private keys can be taken through force,” the report stated.

Police have not announced any arrests. A spokesperson told The Independent that the department is working with digital forensics teams to track fund movements on the blockchain, a step commonly used in major crypto-theft cases.

The incident echoes similar patterns seen elsewhere in California. In Los Angeles, the District Attorney’s Office reported two 2024 cases where victims were forced at gunpoint to initiate transfers from digital wallets. Those cases also involved suspects presenting themselves as delivery workers or contractors before gaining entry to homes.

San Francisco residents have increasingly expressed concern about targeted crimes linked to digital assets as cryptocurrency adoption rises. Security professionals say the case is another reminder that digital wealth can create physical risks.

Chainalysis researchers advised crypto holders to keep private keys offline. Additionally, crypto holders should restrict device access and avoid conducting wallet transfers on laptops left in shared living spaces.

Police ask anyone with information to contact the department’s tip line.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 25, 2025

MacKenzie Scott’s HBCU Donations Revive Focus On Her Ties To Toni Morrison

MacKenzie Scott's $700 million worth of HBCU donations brings new attention to the mentorship she received from Toni Morrison.

Before MacKenzie Scott met Jeff Bezos and became part of one of the world’s wealthiest couples, she was a young writer at Princeton studying under the guidance of literary legend Toni Morrison, a mentor who played a role in shaping the early part of her career.

The novelist and philanthropist, now recognized as the world’s 40th wealthiest person, graduated from Princeton University in 1992 with a bachelor’s degree in English. During her time there, she studied under Nobel Prize–winning author Toni Morrison, who became a significant mentor in her development, Today reports.

After graduating, Scott relocated to New York City and applied for a position at the hedge fund D.E. Shaw & Co. Morrison reportedly called the firm with a glowing recommendation about her former student, helping Scott land the job. It was there that Scott met Jeff Bezos, then a senior vice president. The two began dating and were engaged within three months. Six months later, they married and eventually became one of the wealthiest couples in the world. The couple later divorced in 2019.

Scott continued developing her writing career while supporting Bezos behind the scenes as he built Amazon. In 2005, she earned the American Book Award for her debut novel, The Testing of Luther Albright. She published her second novel, Traps, in 2013, around the same time Morrison reflected on her experience teaching Scott at Princeton, telling Vogue that she was “one of the best students I’ve ever had in my creative-writing classes . . . really one of the best.”

Now, given the billions Scott has donated to organizations and institutions advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion, including more than $700 million in historic gifts to HBCUs, like $80 million to Howard, $63 million to Morgan State, and $50 million to Virginia University, her philanthropic legacy also underscores the profound influence Morrison likely had on her early development.

by Kandiss Edwards

November 25, 2025

‘Oh Boy!’ Juelz Santana Believes Financial Literacy Takes Precedence Over Reading

Santana, legal name is LaRon Louis James, made the remarks during a segment on the 'No Funny Business Podcast.'

Rapper Juelz Santana says that reading is not an essential skill for youth; financial literacy and math are the only educational requirements.

Santana, whose legal name is LaRon Louis James, made the remarks during a segment on the No Funny Business Podcast. When asked about which foundation skill was most important, “reading or math,” the rapper chose math. He then argued that technology, particularly voice-to-text features in devices and artificial intelligence, negates the need for traditional literacy.

“I feel like reading is not necessary,” Santana said during the interview. “You ain’t gonna need it. You ain’t gonna need to know how to read.”

The rapper insisted that voice commands and automated systems will eliminate the need for individuals to interpret written text physically. Still, the rapper does acknowledge the importance of basic reading skills and does not advocate full-blown illiteracy.

“Respectfully, I’m not saying that in a way to be illiterate because you’re not supposed to be illiterate, but . . . I think you could listen to a book on YouTube. You can still obtain the information,” he stated.

Santana says there are different forms of intelligence he values above reading, with “common sense” being the highest.

“I’d rather have zero books smarts and common sense. Be able to read the room, be able to read life, be able to read people.”

The Whistle Song rapper’s comments arrive at a time when national data reveal concerning achievement gaps in literacy, particularly affecting Black children and adults.

According to data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), which gauges student performance nationwide, significant disparities persist in reading proficiency. The NAEP’s 2022 assessment showed that only 17% of Black fourth-grade students scored at or above the proficiency level in reading, compared to 42% of white students. This achievement gap between the two groups has remained essentially unchanged for more than two decades.

Research repeatedly connects these low literacy levels to a cycle of reduced income, higher unemployment rates, and poorer health outcomes, particularly in urban areas where racial and socioeconomic inequality is often concentrated.

Rhetoric that dismisses the need for strong reading skills threatens to exacerbate the literacy decline. An analysis by the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy estimated in 2020 that raising every American adult’s literacy rate to a sixth-grade level could generate an additional $2.2 trillion annually for the U.S. economy, framing the issue as a critical economic and social challenge.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

November 25, 2025

Strangling Video Shakes AUC: Morehouse Student Arrested For Assault On Clark Atlanta Peer

The incident and subsequent statements from Morehouse College has sparked controversy within the AUC community.

A Morehouse student has been arrested after a video of him strangling a Clark Atlanta student while getting off another school’s shuttle bus went viral.

The incident went viral as the female victim detailed the assault on TikTok. The issue allegedly began as the man and his girlfriend sat beside her on a Georgia State University bus. When the couple started kissing, the victim moved over. However, as the Clark Atlanta student prepared to leave, she claims the man stepped on her foot. Its on_site re-shared the video detailing the encounter.

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Tensions brewed when she said the Morehouse student refused to apologize, prompting her to initially argue with his girlfriend. As the two women began to get in each other’s faces, the boyfriend’s inclusion escalated the fight.

The video showed footage of the young man grabbing her by the neck and appearing to strangle her. Viewers could also hear him threatening to kill the woman, reportedly saying, “I’ll catch a body today.”

Following the young man’s arrest, both schools issued statements on the viral matter. However, Morehouse’s initial release sparked backlash from the AUC community as it described the assault as an “off-campus incident.”

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Critics argued that Morehouse’s statement undermined the violent nature of its students during the incident, especially toward a young Black woman.

“As a Black woman and a CAU alumna, the language is quite triggering and deeply disappointing,” wrote one upset commenter. “And rather than labeling this incident as disgusting, deplorable, and or repulsive, you chose ‘disappointing.’ Disappointing doesn’t even scratch the surface of the violence that we saw in this video…Sometimes we have to stop trying to protect the brand and start protecting the students, even when they’re not yours.”

Others began to call for the student’s expulsion from the university, given his death threats and physical attack on the CAU student. In light of the backlash, Morehouse’s President and Student Government Association released follow-up apologies emphasizing their zero-tolerance policy of violence within its community and toward the women of the AUC.

“I want to state my unequivocal stance,” issued Morehouse President, Dr. F. DuBois Bowman. “Whether physical, verbal, or written, violence or threats of violence have no place in the Morehouse community, particularly violence against women.”

The SGA added, “We are committed to advocating for the safety and dignity of all women, knowing that Black women often face violence and feel unheard… Being a Man of Morehouse means standing up for women’s rights, supporting survivors, challenging harmful behavior, and building a culture where safety and respect are nonnegotiable.”

Morehouse has kept the student’s identity hidden due to privacy policies. The HBCU has yet to confirm if he remains a part of the school. A criminal investigation into the matter remains ongoing, with police confirming they arrested the alleged assaulter.