by Mary Spiller

October 6, 2023

Mary J. Blige Launches ‘Strength Of A Woman’ Scholarship At Hampton University

R&B Soul superstar Mary J. Blige has launched her “Strength Of A Woman” scholarship this week for Hampton University students.

Applications for the academic scholarship are due on Oct. 16 and are available for women-identifying sophomores at the private Virginia HBCU. It seeks to empower women studying at the University and enable them to successfully finish their degree through financial and communitive aid.

According to Blavity, the “Strength Of A Woman” scholarship was inspired by the 52-year-old Bronx natives’ 2017 album and the Lifetime movie adapted from it. The scholarship recipients will be awarded $30,000 annually and can renew the tuition funds annually until they earn their bachelor’s degree in their last three years.

Hampton University’s tuition is $29,312, including fees. This does not include housing, school supplies, or books.

The only exclusionary stipulations to be awarded Blige’s “Strength Of A Woman” scholarship are to maintain a satisfactory academic performance, defined as an average 2.5 GPA on a standard 4.0 scale, and remain a full-time student with an eligible major at Hampton.

The scholarship was created in collaboration with PepsiCo. The application requirements state that the applicant must be a self-identified woman, be a sophomore at Hampton University, or plan to enroll as a sophomore during the 2024—2025 school year. Applicants must have a 2.5 GPA and have declared a major in Business Administration, Marketing, Arts, Finance, or Creative Design.

PepsiCo employees or children of company employees can’t apply. The students selected for the scholarship are picked on the conditions of former academic record, demonstrated leadership, participation in meaningful extracurricular activities, and prior work experience, along with a statement about their educational and future career goals.

Blige has often spoken of her own educational struggles. “When I was in 11th grade, I dropped out of high school. I definitely regret it,” she said in one interview. She went on to earn her GED and, in 2010, told Good Morning America that she had dreams of studying at Howard University.

by Lauren Nutall

October 6, 2023

HBCU To The Rescue: Morris Brown College Extends A Lifeline To Displaced Students From Art Institute Of Atlanta

Morris Brown College in Atlanta is stepping in to help stranded students from the recently shuttered Art Institute of Atlanta complete their schooling.

The Art Institute of Atlanta closed down on Sept. 30, as its troubled parent institution, the Art Institutes, shut down for good.

According to the New York Times, the Art Institutes, a network of for-profit universities, shuttered its doors this September after a decade of controversies plagued the now-defunct program. In 2015, the Institutes were entangled in a nearly $100 million settlement with the Justice Department amid allegations of fraud. Three years later, in 2018, the institution lost accreditation, which led to the closure of 20 campuses. Now, the Art Institutes has shut down its eight remaining locations. The abrupt decision has left faculty reeling and 1,700 students scrambling to finish their education.

The news of this closure was shared with the student body and staff via email. Anne Perry, who taught at the Art Institute of Dallas, wrote a Facebook post about the sudden announcement.

“I got the message right after I had met on Zoom with a student, and we had expressed looking forward to next quarter, and the day after, I had delivered an impassioned lecture in two classes about the road ahead,” she said. “And now it will be a different road for many.”

Perry also included the contents of the email. “As the announcement describes: ‘A culmination of events over the past decade . . . has forced the closure of this not-for-profit system of colleges. Most notably, the colleges, which already were dealing with the legacy challenges that arose under prior ownership, were unable to absorb the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic had on schools teaching hands-on and equipment-intensive programs such as culinary arts and fashion design,’” she shared.

While hundreds of students have been left in the dust, Morris Brown College, a historically-Black institute, has stepped in to help those in need. The school has created a new program called The Art Institute of Atlanta Pathway to Morris Brown College partnership, which will assist Art Institute students in transferring to the HBCU without having to start over.

Morris Brown College has had its own share of complications throughout its 142-year history. In 2002, the school lost its accreditation due to financial mismanagement. However, in April 2022, it regained it and is now working to help other students affected by similar circumstances.

Morris Brown College President Dr. Kevin James spoke about the initiative.

“We personally here at Morris Brown College know a lot of the feelings that are going on amongst the individuals over at the Art Institute,” he said. “Although Morris Brown never closed, we did have a huge exodus of students that had to leave Morris Brown College because we lost our federal financial aid.”

For more information, visit morrisbrown.edu.

‘The Big Ticket’: Kevin Garnett Launching 3×3 Str33t Basketball League In 2024

by Iman Milner

October 6, 2023

‘The Big Ticket’: Kevin Garnett Launching 3×3 Str33t Basketball League In 2024

CBS reports that Kevin Garnett will bring his winning formula to street basketball with a brand new league in 2024. Through a joint venture between his Big Ticket Sports and the Pro League Network, Garnett’s new tournament series, STR33T, will take place over four weeks and feature men’s, women’s, and co-ed teams.

It will be an arm of HoopItUP, which Garnett’s Big Ticket Sports also owns, a grassroots 3×3 basketball tour that has garnered millions of participants since its first games in 1989.

“HoopItUp is the leader in 3×3, and I’m excited to work with the PLN team to create a professional series with STR33T that gives the incredible 3×3 players a major platform to show what they can do to fans across the country,” Garnett said.

The Pro League Network is keen on creating programming for the growing interest in sports betting. “With the average 3×3 basketball game taking less than 20 minutes, we believe STR33T is tailormade for digital consumption and sports betting. We are thrilled to be collaborating with Bill, Mike, and the PLN team on this dynamic venture,” said George Daniel, CEO of Big Ticket Sports and HoopItUp.

Though drawing similarity to Ice Cube’s popular Big3 League, STR33T will reportedly feature a different set of rules and be built on expert advice from 3×3 specialists rather than former NBA players.

Since retiring from the NBA in 2016, the NBA champion and Hall of Famer has smoothly transitioned into a successful entertainment career, hosting TNT’s Area 21 and appearing in the critically acclaimed film Uncut Gems alongside Adam Sandler. Garnett joins the ranks of league veterans like Shaquille O’Neal, Dwyane Wade, Magic Johnson, and Michael Jordan with his growing portfolio of sports and media ownership.

Currently, Garnett hosts KG Certified, a weekly deep-dive into all things basketball, which features interviews with some of the sport’s most influential figures as part of the SHOWTIME Basketball network.

by Iman Milner

October 6, 2023

Drake Announces Break From Music On Heels Of New Release, Cites Health Issues

After releasing four bodies of work in the last three years, Drake has announced that he will take a step back from music to focus on his physical health. The Canadian rapper has had issues with his stomach.

On the eve of his latest offering, For All The Dogs, the Canadian-born rapper revealed plans to turn his attention inward, citing a years-long battle with stomach issues and a desire to see everyone embracing healthy lifestyles.

“I probably won’t make music for a little bit,” Drake said. “I’m gonna be real with you: I need to focus on my health, first and foremost. … Nothing crazy, but just, like, you know, I want people to be healthy in life.”

Since the release of 2006’s Room For Improvement, the rapper’s first official mixtape, Drake has enjoyed decades of unparalleled success as one of this generation’s most celebrated music artists.

However, the 36-year-old father of one, who is currently on his first North American tour in five years, seems to need a true reset.

“I need to focus on my health, and I need to get right, and I’m going to do that,” he continued. “So, I’m a lock the door in the studio for a little bit. I don’t even know what a little bit is.”

For All The Dogs was released to the public in the early morning hours of Oct. 6 and featured appearances from SZA, Bad Bunny, 21 Savage, Chief Keef, and Sexyy Red, along with a highly anticipated collaboration with J Cole.

On one track titled “Fear of Heights,” the rapper seems to take a few jabs at singer and billionaire beauty founder Rihanna.

“Why they make it sound like I’m still hung up on you? / That could never be / Gyal can’t ruin me / Better him than me / Better it’s not me,” Drake raps. “I’m anti, I’m anti / Yeah, and the sex was average with you / Yeah, I’m anti ’cause I had it with you ….”

Music fans noted the reference to the Bajan singer’s seventh album, Anti, and his use of “gyal” as proof of his pointed lyrical shade.

gay dating app, teacher, arrested, kidnapping, handcuff

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

October 6, 2023

33-Year-Old Man Targets Shoppers At NYC Whole Foods With Glass Bottle

In a series of seemingly unprovoked attacks, a 33-year-old man named Michael Howell was arrested and charged with the alleged assault of three people in NYC.

According to The Daily Mail, the attacks, in which a glass bottle was used, injured three victims, including a 23-year-old man, a 49-year-old woman, and a 55-year-old woman. The first assault occurred at Whole Foods on Sixth Avenue, across from Bryant Park in Manhattan, around 6:30 p.m., with two subsequent attacks occurring in close succession. Howell was taken into custody late evening on Oct. 5.

Police reported that the assailant, believed to be Howell, first attacked a person outside of Whole Foods before going inside the store, where he allegedly attacked a 49-year-old woman on the second floor. Subsequently, he fled outside into a nearby subway station at 47th Street and Sixth Avenue, where police claim he attacked a 55-year-old woman. Howell was later apprehended by law enforcement at 46th Street, although the exact timing of the arrest remains undisclosed. All three victims were taken to an NYC hospital in stable condition.

Photographs captured at the scene depict shattered glass on the pavement near the store, while numerous police officers can be seen investigating the area for evidence. Images from the New York Post show the aftermath of the attacks, with one woman appearing to be seriously injured.

This unsettling incident follows the recent unprovoked murder of Ryan Thoresen Carson, whose alleged killer, Brian Dowling, was brought before a judge to face charges of first-degree murder. Carson, aged 32, fell victim to a stabbing attack near Lafayette Avenue and Malcolm X Boulevard in Brooklyn, where he was stabbed multiple times, resulting in fatal injuries.

A security video of the attack on Carson and his girlfriend, Claudia, showed the assailant kicking over scooters before turning on the couple, making threats, and ultimately launching a brutal assault. The tragic incident is part of a disturbing trend of violent attacks in New York City in recent months, contributing to heightened fears of crime among its residents.

A Siena College Research Institute poll revealed that 87% of New Yorkers view crime as a serious problem, with 61% expressing concerns about becoming victims themselves. Over half the respondents reported concerns about their safety in NYC public spaces, including schools, stores, or places of worship, while 36% felt threatened by strangers’ behavior in public places over the past year. This rise in insecurity has prompted many residents to explore alternative security measures, from home security systems to self-defense classes and personal safety devices.

Football Helmets For Quarterbacks Who Communicate With ASL In The Works

by Iman Milner

October 6, 2023

Football Helmets For Quarterbacks Who Communicate With ASL In The Works

AT&T has joined forces with Gallaudet University to unveil football helmets designed for deaf and hard-of-hearing quarterbacks who communicate with American Sign Language (ASL).

Unveiled on Oct. 5, the new helmets will allow coaches to call a play via a tablet that will appear on a small screen inside the player’s helmet during the game.

Gallaudet, an institution for deaf and hard-of-hearing students, will debut the technology on Oct. 7 during its home game against Hilbert College.

“We work out the same way as every other college football program, we practice the same way, we compete the same way,” Gallaudet Coach Chuck Goldstein said. “The difference between coaching a hearing team compared to a Deaf team is first the communication.”

The university has worked alongside AT&T for the past two years to improve inclusion for the Deaf community.

“We came up with ideas on how to make this helmet more effective (and) we’d interact with (players and coaches),” said Corey Anthony, AT&T senior VP of networking engineering and operations. “They would give us feedback. We’d go back, make changes, work on it. It’s just a beautiful relationship that we have with that university.”

The Deaf community has been advocating for consideration not only in sports but on social media and in entertainment. Many social apps now include ways for users to add captions to their videos, while several brands, including Target and Subaru, have launched campaigns exclusively featuring ASL.

In 2022, “CODA”– a film that chronicles the life of a child of deaf adults and the only hearing member of her family—took home the Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Adapted Screenplay statues at the 94th Academy Awards.

Many universities also offer free virtual and in-person ASL classes for those wanting to broaden their communication horizons.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 6, 2023

Chris Rock Steps Into Director’s Chair For Martin Luther King Jr. Biopic

Chris Rock has been tapped to direct a Universal-backed biopic on the late civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr.

Final negotiations are underway on the film based on Jonathan Eig’s biography, “King: A Life.” Rock will direct and produce the feature film alongside the executive producer, Steven Spielberg, via The Hollywood Reporter.

Eig’s biography was released in May and went on to earn a National Book Award nomination for its deep dive into unearthed information the FBI had on King. The book’s publisher, Farrar, Straus, and Giroux describe it as an “intimate portrayal of King as a courageous but emotionally troubled individual who demanded peaceful protest while grappling with his frailties and a government that hunted him.”

Rock’s return to directing comes 10 years since his last director gig on his 2014 film “Top Five.” He also directed his 2003 film “Head of State” and 2007’s “I Think I Love My Wife.” All more on the comedic side, Rock will have a chance to show off his directing prowess in the King biopic.

But many are already expressing their skepticism on Rock being tapped to direct a film about such a notable historic figure. There was more criticism than praise when Discussing Film shared the announcement on Thursday, October 5.

A Martin Luther King Jr biopic is in the works with Chris Rock set to direct.

(Source: Deadline) pic.twitter.com/LbHVz7in1F

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) October 5, 2023

“Lord, MLK gonna be a Civil Rights Comedian smh 🤦🏾‍♂️,” one user wrote.

“A comedian directing a biopic of a serious figure dealing with serious issues,” added someone else. “Chris Rock is funny, and I like his work, but this is a mockery.”

Rock is set to return to the screen as part of George C. Wolfe’s civil rights biopic “Rustin.” In March, he made headlines with his explosive Netflix comedy special “Selective Outrage” where he unleashed his comedic rage on Will and Jada Pinkett Smith while breaking his year-long silence on the infamous Oscars slap of 2022.

by Iman Milner

October 6, 2023

Dr. Melissa Gilliam Makes History As First Black Woman President Of Boston University

On Wednesday, Oct. 4, Boston University named Dr. Melissa Gilliam, a renowned physician and former Ohio State University official, president of the city’s largest institution. The appointment marks the first woman and first Black leader since the school’s inception in 1839.

Gilliam will assume her new duties beginning July 1, 2024. The 58-year-old distinguished academic and medical professional succeeds Robert Brown, who has led Boston University since 2005. Gilliam will inherit his challenges to continue progressing in how the school approaches an ever-changing societal landscape.

“In many ways, we are being asked to define our purpose and our views,” said Gilliam. “They’re really good questions. It prevents us from resting on our laurels. We have to really be honest with ourselves about the concerns that people have, listen deeply, and then figure out how we’re going to address them.”

Gilliam will face the issue of many predominately white universities who face fears of a major decline in minority enrollment following the Supreme Court decision to strike down affirmative action.

“If we create an environment where students feel included and aware that this is a place where they’re going to get a tremendous education, but also really feel like it’s home, then you start to create a virtuous cycle,” the Yale, University of Oxford, and Harvard Medical School alumna said.

“Then students [start] informing others, and they’re going to want to apply and come here.” Still, Gilliam has faith in the connection the university has to the communities in the area. “I’m really excited about how engaged Boston University is in the city and how engagement has been a hallmark of BU,” she said.

“I’m looking forward to hearing from people, learning and listening. I lead by listening, collaborating, and empowering other people. That is the best way to run big organizations, to get everyone excited and engaged, and doing more than they think they’re capable of doing. This philosophy is core to shared governance, an essential component of a thriving university.”

Jennifer Hudson Honors Milwaukee Woman Who Saved 37 Students From Burning Bus While Pregnant

by Mary Spiller

October 6, 2023

Jennifer Hudson Honors Milwaukee Woman Who Saved 37 Students From Burning Bus While Pregnant

On Oct.3, Imunek Williams appeared on The Jennifer Hudson Show, where the award-winning songstress honored her bravery.

Hudson also partnered with Huggies to gift the young mother $15,000 and a mountain of baby essentials, including diapers, toys, and wipes. It was Imunek’s first year as a school bus driver. The inspirational woman also opened up about the challenges she had withstood the previous year. Her fiancé, Shamar, uses a wheelchair after suffering from a blood clot in his spine.

What did Imunek Williams do?

The quick-thinking Milwaukee native was hailed as a hero after saving 37 kids from a bus fire while eight months pregnant on May 31. Williams worked as a bus driver for local Milwaukee schools at the time, and while dropping students off at Milwaukee Academy of Science, she noticed an odd smell coming from her bus.

According to CNN, Williams, 24, said, “I had the driver window down and thought the smell was coming from another car at first, but then the smoke started coming through my heater, so I pulled over.”

The then-pregnant mom tried to use her dispatch radio to call for assistance about the unusual smell entering through the rolled-down window. She quickly decided she wouldn’t wait for help and knew she had to get all the students safely off the bus. She credited her motherly instinct as to how she knew what was wrong.

Williams got all 37 students she was transporting on the bus together — those aged from high school to elementary school and ushered them off the bus as fast as she could. Shockingly, she recalled, “Fifteen to 30 seconds after the last child got off the bus, I turned around, and the bus was up in flames.”

Unfortunately, Williams suffered smoke inhalation following the incident, but a doctor deemed her and her baby healthy after the bus fire.

“I’m fine. The baby is fine. I’m just thankful I was able to help those kids. If my son was on that bus, I would want the driver to protect the kids at all costs.”

Local parents and community members gave Williams an outpouring of gratitude for saving their children with her quick thinking. They sent her letters of thanks, and Shemaiah Burks even created a GoFundMe page for the hero who has another child.

“Hi, I want to give recognition to Imunek Williams, the bus driver who saved 37 lives from a burning bus in Milwaukee! She got all the kids off the bus before the bus went up in flames within minutes. She did suffer [from] smoke inhalation, and some of the kids, but they are alive and well. This bus driver is eight months pregnant. Let’s give this hero the recognition she deserves. This money will go toward the new baby and her family. SHE IS A HERO!!!”

Of the $10,000 ask, the fundraising campaign has only raised $6,290.

by Derek Major

October 6, 2023

Owner Matt Ishbia Building $100 Million Practice Facility, Employee Campus For Phoenix Mercury WNBA Team

Phoenix Suns and Mercury Owner Mat Ishbia announced on Oct. 5 he’s committed $100 million to a new practice facility for the WNBA and NBA teams and employees.

The Associated Press reports the new facility will be a new 123,000 square-foot development that will include space for company offices, and 58,000 square feet will be dedicated to the Phoenix Mercury practice facility.

Ishbia, who purchased both teams for roughly $4 billion last December from former owner Rober Sarver, has quickly made improvements. Since he officially became the owner, Ishbia traded for All-Stars Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, revamped their television package, and updated the fan experience at the Footprint Center, the home arena for both teams.

The two teams currently share a facility in Phoenix, but at the announcement, Ishbia was quick to say that the Mercury will have their own space within the facility.

“It’s just an investment in the Mercury, investment into women’s basketball,” Ishbia told The Associated Press. “It’s great to build a first-class, state-of-the-art facility for them, designed for them in all aspects, from the locker rooms to the workout areas. It’s not designed for the Suns and Mercury to share. It’s designed for the Mercury.”

“It’s going to be the best one in the WNBA, without question.”

The new employee facility will include indoor and outdoor basketball courts, an indoor arcade, a pickleball court, a putting green, a workout facility, and a team store.

The Phoenix Suns went 45-37 last season, finishing second in the Western Conference, and made the second round of the NBA playoffs, where they lost to the eventual NBA Champion Denver Nuggets. Two days after the Suns’ season ended, they fired Head Coach Monty Williams, who led the team for four seasons.

Meanwhile, The Phoenix Mercury struggled, going 9-31 as Brittney Griner made her way back from her Russian imprisonment and dealt with mental health. All-Star forward Diana Taurasi battled injuries, and point guard Skylar Diggins-Smith fought with management concerning her pregnancy.