“His immigration court proceedings have now been terminated, and he is a lawful permanent resident of the United States with the freedom to travel internationally,” 21 Savage’s attorney, Charles Kuck, said.
In 2019, 21 Savage was detained by ICE agents in Georgia after a targeted operation was launched against the rapper due to his expired visa. Ben-Joseph immigrated to America from London with his mother at 7.
“I don’t think the policy is broken. I feel like the way they enforce the policy is broken,” Ben-Joseph told Good Morning America. “I’ve been here …19 years, this is all I know,” the then 26-year-old rapper said. “I don’t feel like you should be arrested and put in a place where a murderer would be for just being in the country too long.”
On Oct. 7, 21, Savage posted a video using the platform’s Reel feature to his Instagram account. It featured clips of the rapper’s career and early childhood life, set to Skylar Grey’s “Coming Home.”
According to USA Today, a press release accompanying the video said, “This marks a milestone for the superstar as he will soon perform for the first time in London. More information to follow soon.”
According to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services’ website, obtaining a visa is long and arduous. In the case of the British rapper, he was eligible for an adjustment of status, “the process that you can use to apply for lawful permanent resident status (also known as applying for a green card) when you are present in the United States. This means that you may get a Green Card without having to return to your home country to complete visa processing.”
It could take up to three months for a permanent resident card to be issued after someone applying for one has paid their immigrant visa fee.
Chris Tucker Delivered Fans On Social Media With His Rendition Of ‘Amazing Grace’
Chris Tucker hilariously lifted his voice unto the Lord at a Father’s Day celebration he hosted that television judge veteran Judge Mablean Ephriam’s organization sponsored.
On Oct. 4, the 52-year-old actor and comedian reposted the inspiring moment that happened in June. Tucker took the stage with Donnie McClurkin for a rousing rendition of the gospel standard “Amazing Grace.” To the audience’s surprise, McClurkin’s iconic voice opened the hymn, and the minister passed the mic to Tucker, who managed a decent squall for the Lord.
“Singing with Faith Evans & Donnie McClurkin! We had fun at Judge [Mablean’s] ‘Honoring Unsung Fathers Awards and Scholarship Banquet,’ that I hosted,” Tucker captioned the post on Instagram.
“Like Meeeee,” he sang. “Was blind, but now I see. That’s all I know. Donnie, come get this mic.”
The crowd went up for Tucker’s candor and effort, but McClurkin wasn’t letting the actor off the hook easily. The “We Fall Down” crooner talked the comedian through the rest of the “Amazing Grace” verse, and Tucker continued.
The Rush Hour actor then passed the mic to Grammy-winning songstress Faith Evans, who effortlessly sang down. After Evans cleared the room, McClurkin retrieved the mic and finished the hymn.
The comments section wasted no time weighing in on Tucker’s performance.
“That was Uncle Pastor Donnie, Evangelist Evans, and Deacon Tucker!! 🙌🏾🙏🏾🤪.”
Michelle Williams wrote, “You betta sang!! 👀😂.”
“Y’all just gave me my whole life 😂,” Shamea Morton from Real Housewives of Atlanta penned.
“Faith Did her Thang Love love it Donnie sounds good anyway, and I love how Chris started off. Bless his heart ❤️ 😂.”
Judge Mablean established the Honoring Unsung Fathers (H.U.F) Awards 20 years ago. The nonprofit organization has also issued 178 scholarships since its inception and has honored over 100 fathers. In 2023, the honorees were Judge Greg Mathis, Derrick Waters and Bernard Kinsey. Past honorees include Bishop Demetrius Allen, Byron Allen, singer Freddie Jackson and Ron Anderson.
Emergency Alert System Test Reveals Hidden Phones Everywhere, From Prisons To Amish Country
On Oct. 4, the United States tested the National Emergency Alert System. While many warned online of the potential danger posed to those in abusive relationships, another group had their hidden phones exposed: the incarcerated.
TMZ reported phones were confiscated at New York’s Sing Sing Correctional Facility and FCI Coleman Low in Florida. As for other prisons where this occurred, the Federal Bureau of Prisons was mum: “The Federal Bureau of Prisons does not elaborate on specific internal security procedures for safety and security reasons.”
If you think this tweet is a joke, it's not. There are genuine conspiracy theories around about tomorrow's emergency alert test in the US involving 5G, vaccines, viruses and zombies. pic.twitter.com/1Ptav02SEZ
I am BEGGING you to turn off your cell phones today. The government is activating the MRNA strains in our vaccines that increase violent tendencies using special frequencies broadcast by the emergency alert test.https://t.co/SUKwlck4Mb
The alert also forced several Amish to become ostracized by their communities. According to Dexerto, an ex-Amish man posted to Tik-Tok that several men were shunned by their communities when they had their phones discovered because of the test.
Eli Yoder then explained that they told him they would have to lay low because they were under scrutiny for having the devices. When an Amish community member is shunned, the punishment varies. They may not be accepted in the community or no longer receive assistance.
According to the Associated Press, federal law dictates that the national emergency system be tested once every three years. The last test occurred on Aug. 11, 2021, and of course, it has spawned conspiracy theories online.
Some warned that the test was part of a plot to activate latent nanoparticles in people’s bodies, a theory that experts and FEMA denied. Other users said they planned to shut off their phones to avoid the test. Still, FEMA spokesman Jeremy Evans told the APthat he hoped Americans would turn their phones back on afterward because they may need to be reached by the federal government in case of a national emergency.
The Emergency Alert System is a national public warning system that allows the president to speak to Americans within 10 minutes during a national emergency via specific outlets—e.g., radio and television. Wireless Emergency Alerts are short messages that go to mobile phones to alert owners to important information.
Ghanaian Artist Art Exhibit Unveiled At Denver Art Museum
On Oct. 8, Ghanaian artist Amoako Boafounveiled his traveling art exhibition at the Denver Art Museum (DAM). Soul of Black Folks gets its title from the 1903 book by Pan-Africanist W.E.B. DuBois
“It really only took us a few moments to make a decision,” museum director Christopher Heinrich told the Denver Gazette. “This is a show we really want to show; he’s truly one of these cosmopolitan, emerging artists with very deep roots in his country of origin, Ghana.”
The show features Boafo’s paintings from 2016 to 2022. Many of the works are self-painted with Boafo’s fingers.
Boafo “paints with tenderness and care…directly touching the canvas to render the likeness of his friends, acquaintances and those he admires from the broader, global black diaspora,” DAM curator Rory Padeken told The Denver Gazette.
Boafo was raised in Accra, Ghana, where DuBois’ resting place is located. According to the Seattle Museum of Art, Boafo’s proximity to the sociologist heavily inspired his work, particularly DuBois’ idea of “double consciousness,” which describes Black people’s struggle to maintain their cultural identity while assimilating with white society. Using bright colors and textured finger painting, Boafo’s display offers an intimate and colorful representation of Black life.
(Photo by Edward Berthelot/Getty Images)
Though the talented artist has received international acclaim for his artwork, Soul of Black Folks is his debut solo museum exhibition, which he created during the COVID-19 pandemic. His work challenges the modern commodification of Black people and their continued oppression.
The art exhibition was developed in partnership with Contemporary Arts Museum Houston and the Museum of the African Diaspora, San Francisco and curated by Ghanaian-American cultural critic Larry Ossei-Mensah, who called the work “intimate” and “tender” at the Denver grand opening, captured by CBS News.
The Soul of Black Folks will be at the Denver Museum of Art through Feb. 19.
New COVID Shots Still Hard To Find For Some Americans
NEW YORK/WASHINGTON, Oct. 8 (Reuters)
Americans have started rolling up their sleeves for the latest version of the COVID-19 vaccine, but weeks into the rollout some say they are still having difficulty finding appointments for themselves and their children.
Shot seekers also say they have been surprised by requests for upfront payments of $150 to $200 now that the U.S. government has handed off to private companies including vaccine makers, pharmacies, and insurance plans to handle distribution, administration and payment coverage.
Many Americans have been eager to get vaccinated after COVID-19 cases picked up in much of the country in September.
Around 4 million people received the updated Pfizer (PFE.N)/BioNTech (22UAy.DE) or Moderna (MRNA.O)shots in September, and 12 million doses were shipped, according to data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The U.S. government has recommended all Americans ages 6 months and older receive one.
Kate MacDowell, a self employed 50-year-old who lives in Portland, Oregon, said she had a vaccine appointment canceled by her healthcare provider, Kaiser Permanente, and has been unable to get another for nearly a month. She and her husband canceled a trip overseas in late September in part because they could not find the shots.
“It used to be that even if it was scarce you could find somewhere that you could drive to get it,” said MacDowell. “You have the federal government or the county health department saying go get your vaccine, and it’s just impossible.”
Kaiser did not comment on MacDowell’s experience in Oregon. The multi-state healthcare provider, target of a 3-day strike by 75,000 workers this week, said it does not cover out of network vaccinations except in California, where by law members can get reimbursed for COVID-19 vaccines from non-Kaiser providers including retail pharmacies until Nov. 11.
The U.S. government in May ended the COVID public health emergency declaration during which it bought the shots and provided them to all Americans for free.
In the current privatized system, health insurance plans by law must cover the shots at no cost. Pharmacies and health providers order the shots upfront from manufacturers and receive their supply from distributors.
Pfizer and Moderna say they have shipped the shots as planned.
At the beginning of last week, Pfizer said it had shipped and delivered more than 10 million doses of its 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine, including more than 1 million pediatric doses. Moderna has also said it has shipped millions of doses.
CVS (CVS.N), the largest U.S. pharmacy chain, said on Thursday it was still experiencing delivery delays from its wholesalers.
Walmart (WMT.N) said it is offering updated COVID shots in all stores as supply becomes available. Walgreens, a unit of Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA.O), said all stores now have the supply needed to meet demand in their communities.
McKesson (MCK.N), one of the largest U.S. wholesalers, said it has distributed over 3.8 million shots so far. It acknowledged a need to ramp up across the supply chain, saying that may have impacted delivery dates for some customers.
“We are working diligently to turn COVID-19 inventory as quickly as it is received and are growing our fulfillment of orders daily,” a spokesperson said.
Cardinal Health (CAH.N), another major distributor, said it also shipped several million COVID-19 vaccines “with some minor and short-term shipping delays.”
Pharmacies Pay Upfront, Too
After widespread reports of payment refusals early in the campaign, health insurance executives met with government officials on Sept. 27 and said plans are reimbursing vaccines given by in-network providers.
“Health insurance providers continue to educate Americans about where and how to get their COVID vaccines within their plan’s coverage,” David Allen, a spokesperson for insurance lobby group AHIP said.
Still, some people told Reuters they are being told at pharmacies where they got COVID shots previously that the new ones are not covered by their plan at that location.
Independent pharmacists are facing a different issue. Now that the government is no longer footing the bill for their vaccine supply, pharmacy owners need to pay for the shots.
“I was hesitant to order as much as I knew I would need right out of the gate because they also had some restrictions on their return policy,” said David Kohll of Kohll’s Pharmacy, which has six locations in Nebraska. “That made me pull the reins back a little bit.”
An HHS spokesperson said the department “has engaged closely on these issues, even with the transition to the commercial market.”
Some people told Reuters their insurer instructed them to pay upfront and seek reimbursement if their pharmacies asked for payment.
James Daily, a 43-year-old software developer from Readington, New Jersey, paid close to $600 last month to get shots for himself, his wife and his oldest daughter, and said he’s had trouble finding an appointment for his 4-year old daughter.
State regulations on vaccine administration for young children vary.
Dr. Suzanne Berman, a pediatrician in Crossville, Tennessee, said she was concerned about losing money.
“Demand has really slacked off, so I don’t want to buy a lot of product that’s going to go to waste,” she said. “If it expires or goes bad then I’ve sunk money without any return on it.”
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Reporting by Michael Erman in New York and Ahmed Aboulenein in Washington; Editing by Caroline Humer and Bill Berkrot
Why Harriet Tubman Continued Her Legacy In New York, The Birthplace Of The Underground Railroad
Much is known about Harriet Tubman as a renowned abolitionist, humanitarian, and Civil War hero. But we too often overlook her continued legacy and final years in Upstate New York.
Auburn, New York, holds rich heirlooms of Tubman’s history and final years after securing freedom for herself and many others. It also has strong ties to the formation of the Underground Railroad, which could highlight why Tubman decided to make the city her final home.
While many people know Harriet Tubman as a conductor of the Underground Railroad, few know the rest of her story and how Auburn served as a birthplace for the network of safe spaces. Tubman spent her 50+ years post-slavery as an abolitionist, activist, public speaker, mentor, philanthropist, and a successful entrepreneur whose senior living facility became a National Historic Landmark in 1974.
Courtesy of Cayuga County_Destination
Tubman’s final years were anything but easy. But remain a testament to how far she had come after successfully escaping enslavement and leading others toward freedom. After serving as a “Moses” of the Underground Railroad and as a scout and spy during the American Civil War, Tubman lived alongside her family, friends, and colleagues in the place where the soul of equal rights was born and still lives today.
A visit to Auburn in Cayuga County will allow you the honor of tracing Harriet Tubman’s footsteps and experiencing her history—and her legacy—in a whole new way. We toured the town in honor of National Underground Railroad Month and were able to walk in her shoes across the streets and the floors of the historical landmarks that welcomed her life as a free woman.
An in-depth tour and history lesson with GLOW Tours walked us through Tubman’s home that holds the bricks she helped her bricklayer husband, Nelson Davis, lay as the foundation for the property that still stands today. We toured her gravesite and that of her husband, a former Army man who traveled down to Galveston, Texas, in 1865 to let the formerly enslaved know they were free.
Courtesy of Cayuga County_Destination
Yes, Harriet Tubman’s husband was among the troops who went to Texas on June 19, 1865, and birthed the national holiday we all now know as Juneteenth. GLOW Tours founder Ted Freeman brought us to churches and houses such as the Seward House Museum, where enslaved people were safely housed during their freedom journey.
He also shared valuable family history about his great-great-grandparents, Harry and Kate Freeman, who are widely believed to be founders of the “New Guinea: Negro Settlement,” a safe haven for free Blacks and the birthplace of the Underground Railroad, as noted by the Auburn Citizen.
With a history of liberation for free Blacks, Auburn’s early efforts toward inclusion made it the perfect place for Tubman and many other formerly enslaved to call home. Now, visitors can take the self-guided Underground Railroad Tour and see churches and houses such as the Seward House Museum, where enslaved people were safely housed during their freedom journey.
Courtesy of Cayuga County_Destination
You can learn more about Tubman’s philanthropic work, tour her property, and see the apple orchards she planted at The Harriet Tubman National Historical Park. Then, pay your respects to her life at her final resting place in Fort Hill Cemetery.
Courtesy of Cayuga County_Destination
Harriet Tubman’s legacy lives on in historical sites, residents, and the community of Auburn. The locals are friendly, and the food is fresh off the farm, making for delicious meals at every turn.
Plan a visit and allow yourself to experience the untold story of Harriet Tubman and her bravery, along with the resilience of our ancestors who were helping lay the foundation for Tubman and other freedom seekers at a time when they couldn’t do the same throughout most of America.
Auburn’s four-part podcast series “Walk in Her Footsteps: Harriet Tubman’s Life in Auburn, NY” serves as a precursor to what a visit will bring. Hosted by Tourism Ambassador Beonca Louis, in conjunction with academics, historians, and descendants, the episodes share stories and interviews that explore Tubman’s life work and how it has impacted American history and the residents of her chosen hometown.
Shaq Drops $20K At His Charity Event For Mom To Watch John Legend And Jennifer Hudson Perform
Talk about a mama’s boy. Shaquille O’Neal dropped $20,000 for his mom to watch John Legend and Jennifer Hudson perform from an exclusive view at his annual soiree.
During his annual fundraising event, “The Event,” Shaq enticed attendees to bid generously during the live auction. He joined the fray, offering a hefty price for his mother to watch the EGOT-winning artists sing at a private table, as confirmed by People.
The charitable event, part of his Shaquille O’Neal Foundation, also featured performances from Dan+Shay and Anderson .Paak. Held at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand and hosted by Joel McHale, Shaq’s mother, expressed much delight at her seat.
However, the front-row experience was not the only thing the athlete-turned-entrepreneur opened his wallet for. His second bid was toward a luxurious vacation in Bora Bora, which he won for the not-so modest price of $50,000.
His eponymous foundation seeks to help vulnerable youth bridge opportunities to better their lives and hosts “The Event.” The live auction grants its affluent attendees the chance to bid on unforgettable experiences, such as a day with Shaq or a round of golf with Mark Wahlberg.
Shaq took to Instagram to share a snippet of Legend performing at the third annual Event.
“We raised the bar last year, and The Third Event promises to do the same. I’m so grateful to our entertainers who are once again donating their time,” Shaq wrote in a preview. “I know they will create a night of incredible music and comedy in a true testament to the power of unity to make a difference in kids’ lives. I’m also excited to see familiar faces and new supporters alike, joining hands in the spirit of compassion to give back to the community. Let’s make this another night to remember!”
‘Buckeye Nation, How We Feeling?’: Bryce James, LeBron’s Son, Receives Scholarship Offer From Ohio State
Bryce James, son of NBA legend LeBron James, has received a scholarship offer to play basketball at Ohio State University, the same university his father once said he would have attended had he gone to college.
According to People, the younger James received the offer during his unofficial visit to the campus on Oct. 7. “Blessed to receive an offer from Ohio State #GoBuckeyes,” he wrote on his Twitter/X account on the same day of his visit.
Bryce’s older brother, Bronny James, also visited Ohio State before ultimately choosing to attend the University of Southern California.
ESPN currently has Bryce, a 6’6″ junior shooting guard at Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, CA, listed as a four-star recruit, and says that he has also received an offer from Duquesne University, even though he has yet to visit the university.
According to NBA Draft Room, his prospects of projecting as an NBA player are high, given his skill level. “A very skilled outside shooter with a soft touch and near perfect form, Bryce is a big wing with a high skill level and a quickly improving game,” the report reads. “He’s shown the ability to score from 3 levels and has a much improved dribble drive game with better bounce and explosiveness.”
Bryce also posted pictures of himself on Instagram wearing an Ohio State basketball jersey utilizing several poses. One included his mother, Savannah James. he photo set was captioned, “Buckeye Nation, how we feeling?”
Users responded with enthusiasm, including Bryce’s big brother, who replied, “COMPYYYYYY”
If Bryce attends Ohio State, things could get very interesting with potential NIL deals. In 2022, Bryce signed an NIL deal with Klutch Sports, an agency founded by his father’s longtime friend and business partner, Rich Paul. On3, a site that tracks NIL deals, estimated Bryce’s NIL value at $1.2 million before the Ohio State offer, which makes Bryce the most profitable high school basketball player in the country.
2 Injured In Bowie State University Shooting During Homecoming Weekend
Two people were involved in a shooting incident at Maryland’s Bowie State University during the Historically Black University’s Homecoming Weekend celebrations. The shooting occurred at 11:45 p.m. on Oct. 7.
There is no apparent connection to the circumstances that forced another HBCU, Morgan State University, to cancel its homecoming due to a campus attack by a gunman. Fox 5 DC reported that police are actively investigating the shooting near the Center for Business and Graduate Studies on the Bowie State University campus.
Bowie State University Police received report of shots fired at approximately 11:45 in the area of Henry Circle near the Center for Business and Graduate Studies. Two individuals were reported injured and taken to the hospital. The matter is under investigation by PG police.
Police and school officials held a press conference on Oct. 8, during which they said there was more than one shooter even though they only found one weapon at the scene.
Police confirmed that neither of the two men were Bowie State students, nor were they students of nearby Morgan State University. The university has canceled classes for Oct. 9 and has extended an invitation to any students who need counseling services.
Based in Prince George’s County, Bowie State has 6,408 students enrolled for the Fall 2023 semester.
During the news conference, Aminta H. Breaux, Bowie State’s president, expressed “deep sadness” about the shooting. It occurred “after a weeklong series of wonderful festivities for our homecoming celebration,” Breaux said.
“It’s unfortunate that we’re here to address another act of violence on a college campus, during one of the most celebrated weekends of the year for the staff, the students, and the alumni on an HBCU campus,” Maryland State Police Superintendent Col. Roland Butler said.
According to police, the shooting is believed to be an isolated event. Bowie State’s homecoming weekend was reportedly highly secured. Officers from the Prince George County Police Department, the Bowie State University police force, and troopers from the Maryland State Police working the event, CNN reported.
UCLA Study Reveals Critical Black History Education Reduces Medical Racism And Promotes Equity In Healthcare
A new UCLA study establishes that attitudes related to medical racism can be countered by critical education. The study, “You Can’t Dismantle What You Don’t Recognize: The Effect of Learning Critical Black History in Healthcare on Perspective-taking,” groups of white people were exposed to different history lessons about Black people.
As Medical Economics reported, the study discovered that the group exposed to a critical reading of the history of Black people’s experiences in the medical field made them more likely to point out racist treatment when they saw it. This occurred regardless of whether or not they were asked to imagine themselves in the shoes of Black people experiencing that discriminatory treatment.
In the critical Black history group, one of the experiences highlighted was that of civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer. Hamer was only supposed to get a tumor removed during her procedure, but instead, a doctor removed her uterus without consent. Forced hysterectomies, or forced sterilization, was performed disproportionately on Black women during that time period.
In the second group, participants were shown images of celebratory Black history, with a focus on achievements in the medical field, such as Dr. Patricia Bath, who pioneered laser cataract surgery. The third group, the study’s control group, was shown images of Black people from the 1800s on up to the present day with no historical context.
Following the history lessons, researchers asked participants about their level of support for policies that would have the effect of reducing racism and health discrimination in the American healthcare system. What they discovered was that in the case of the first two groups, they were much more likely to support progressive healthcare policies, and they were also more readily able to recognize that individual and systemic racism exists in the medical field.
“The findings have far-reaching impacts toward creating an anti-racist society and a health care system that treats patients more equitably,” Kerri Johnson, a professor of social psychology and communication at UCLA and the study’s senior author
Her research partner, Dr. Kimberly Martin, now a postdoctoral scholar at Yale, said that the focus of their work is about creating ways to fight the prevalence of medical racism.
“There is overwhelming evidence of the existence of racism in health care and the persistence of stereotypes, but with our work, we aim to demonstrate that there could be ways to intervene, reduce discrimination, create more equitable health care outcomes,” she said.
Though the participants were better able to identify instances of racism in the healthcare and advocate for more equitable policies, according to the findings, they could not escape a racist attitude themselves.
The participants still erroneously believed that Black people have a higher threshold for pain regardless of which history lesson they received. Despite this, Martin remains hopeful that a more accurate account of the historical context regarding Black people and the medical field will help create a more equitable and just society.
“Efforts to silence stories of oppression,” Martin said, “rob people of the opportunity to gain insights and perspective, particularly about oppressed people. Our evidence suggests that with the study of an accurate history of injustice comes increased perspective-taking and broader support for a more equitable, just society.”
