by Iman Milner

August 22, 2023

‘Ooh La-La-La’: Lauryn Hill Announces ‘Miseducation’ Tour With The Fugees For 25th Anniversary

In 1998, Lauryn Hill turned the hip-hop world on its head when she released the iconic album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill to rave reviews. The album would go on to win five Grammys in one night and be nominated for 10 total—making her the first woman in music to accomplish both feats. Now, 25 years after its release, Hill has announced plans to embark on a 17-date tour to celebrate the momentous history of her debut solo offering.

And she’ll be bringing some friends along with her.

According to Variety, the other members of the famed rap group The Fugees will join their bandmate as the opening act at all U.S. shows. Formerly, the group reunited for a tour in 2021; however, after playing their New York date, all other appearances were canceled. For Hill, her first album was a love letter to everyone who poured into her, including her former group members. “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill is and was a love song to my parents, my family, my people, my musical and cultural forebears, my teachers, my loves, my Creator. I wrote love songs and protest songs— (still love songs) about the subjects and interests that inspired and moved me,” she said. “I was confident that what inspired me would resonate with an audience that had been led to believe that songs of that kind could only live in the past.”

Hill has performed more regularly in recent years, with fans either loving or hating the remixed spin she’s put on some of her most beloved tracks. It’s unclear whether or not she’ll be performing the songs with their original arrangements on this tour, though the message remains the same for the 48-year-old mother of four. “I loved music, I loved people, I truly felt grateful to God for my life, and genuinely blessed to have a platform where I could share wisdom and perspective through music,” she continues. “I felt a charge to challenge the idea that certain kinds of expression and/or certain kinds of people didn’t belong in certain places. I loved showing what could work or happen provided there was imagination, creativity, and LOVE leading the way.”

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

August 22, 2023

Big Boi Honored With His Own Day In City of Atlanta

Outkast’s own Big Boi received one of the highest honors the city of Atlanta can offer—getting a day named after him on August 11, the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, The Atlanta Voice reports.

Big Boi was honored at Spaceman ATL, located on the rooftop of the Hyatt Centric in Buckhead. Joined by his mother Rowena Patton, Big Boi took to the stage where representatives from the Atlanta City Council celebrated him with proclamations, commendations, and more.

Atlanta City Councilmen Michael Julian Bond, Antonio Lewis, and Byron Amos presented Big Boi with honors, including a proclamation from Fulton County and a declaration that turned August 11 into “Big Boi Day” across all 15 cities within the county.

“We had the first Outkast day back in the ’90s in the atrium of City Hall. Outkast hosted over 200 senior citizens that day,” Bond said. “They have always been in the community and have always given back to Atlanta.”

“We, the members of the Fulton County Commission, hereby declare this day as Big Boi Day in all of Fulton County,” Bond announced.

Prior to the declaration, State Representative Yasmin Neal was the first to present the “Kryptonite” rapper with a commendation from the House of Representatives followed by Georgia State Representative Park Cannon, who honored the rap veteran as an Outstanding Georgia Citizen with a proclamation from the Secretary of State.

The first Black mayor of Jonesboro, mayor Dr. Donya L. Sartor, Ph.D., topped off the accolades with a letter of accommodation from her office.

“I’m so honored, because in 1992, my first year of teaching was at Tri-Cities High School, when you were a senior. I hailed from College Park and now I’m a mayor and look at you standing right next to me,” Sartor said.

Big Boi thanked his mother and shared some insight into his upbringing in Georgia.

“My mama is my rock. She made it possible. She wouldn’t sign my record deal even though me and Dre (Andre 3000) had gone platinum,” he said.

“Many of you don’t know this, but we stayed in the Motel 6 on Campbellton Road during my whole time in middle school,” he added. “My mama was going to work and going to school. She still made sure I got my education before we could sign a deal.”

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

August 22, 2023

Salt-N-Pepa On Why It’s ‘Good To See’ Women Become CEOs Of Their Music

Hip-hop has come a long way since Salt-N-Pepa served as the first successful women in the art form. Now as the music genre celebrates its 50th anniversary, the pioneering femcees are celebrating today’s women of hip-hop.

Since their 1985 arrival, Cheryl James and Sandra Denton, better known by their stage names Salt and Pepa, have reached international success and fanfare. With two back-to-back certified gold albums, Grammy awards, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and being hailed as ” the First Ladies of Rap,” Salt-N-Pepa is well deserving of the G.O.A.T. status.

While chart-topping records, global stardom, and brand deals have become the norm for emerging women in hip-hop, that wasn’t the case when the “Push It” rappers arrived. But seeing the rise of rap acts like Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion, and Nicki Minaj makes James and Denton beam with pride at the lane they paved.

“We didn’t have as much control over our business,” James told AfroTech.

“That model has changed. There’s way more opportunity for women to really be the CEO of their music, of their careers, and that’s really good to see.”

Stories of shady contracts, no royalties, and music publishing were all the norm in the early days of hip-hop. Many Black music pioneers served as unfortunate examples of what not to do when signing a record deal.

It’s something the women of Salt-N-Pepa know all too well when they were forced to go “through it” before learning how to demand their worth when working with major companies.

“I think a lot of these women and artists today, hats off to you, you can talk about it and be like, ‘Oh, you got to check your royalties, and what you’re worth, what you’re selling, and ask these questions,'” Denton said. “I think, in our case, just going through it and being able to stomp it out, paying attention, and moving through that thing, is what really taught us the nature of this business.”

Now, looking back at their careers and how they shaped and directed hip-hop culture for women, the “Shoop”” rappers are proud of the representation they provided the next generation.

“I think what we represent, we stand by empowering women and uplifting women, learning the ways ourselves, and giving back,” Denton said.

“I think it’s important to have that representation to make sure that product represents you as well as what they’re representing for themselves.”

IKYL: Officer Fired After Detaining 10-Year-Old Black Boy For Peeing In Public

by Sharelle B. McNair

August 22, 2023

IKYL: Officer Fired After Detaining 10-Year-Old Black Boy For Peeing In Public

The police in Mississippi must have nothing better to do these days.

A Senatobia Police Department officer is headed to the unemployment line after being fired for detaining a child who was urinating behind a vehicle, Fox 13 Memphis reports. Quantavious Eason, 10, was using the bathroom outside on Aug.10 while his mother, Latonya Eason, stopped by a Mississippi lawyer’s office. Needing to use the bathroom, Eason said her son went behind her car to handle his business.

Suddenly, Mississippi officers spotted him, stopped, and put him in the back of a squad car. Eason says she knew it was wrong but felt the police went overboard. “No, him urinating in the parking lot was not right, but at the same time, I handled it like a parent, and for one officer to tell my baby to get back in the car it was OK and to have the other pull up and take him to jail,” Eason said.

“I’m just speechless right now. Why would you arrest a 10-year-old- kid.”

Quantavious was taken to a Mississippi police station, where he says he was put in a jail cell. He was charged with child in need of services and then released to his mother. Eleven days later, the officer was then fired. His mother believes the officers went overboard in their response. “That could really traumatize my baby,” Eason said, according to WSAZ. “My baby could get to the point where he don’t wanna have an encounter with police – period.”

Senatobia Police Chief Richard Chandler agrees with Eason, saying the child should have never been taken to the police station. He admits his officer made an “error in judgment.” “Under these circumstances, it was an error in judgment for us to transport the child to the police station since the mother was present at that time as a reasonable alternative,” Chandler said. “Mistakes like this are a reminder in this profession as to the continual need for training and refreshers on the various topics that we encounter each day.”

Chandler noted that Quantavious was not handcuffed during the incident.

by Derek Major

August 22, 2023

Odell Beckham Jr. Hangs Onto NFL Dreams, Signs $15M Deal With Baltimore Ravens

Eight years ago, Odell Beckham Jr. was one of the best young wide receivers in the NFL, making dazzling catches for the New York Giants.

Things are much different today for Beckham, as several injuries and subpar play have changed his fortunes. Injuries affected him during the 2017 season, hampered his 2020 season, and kept him off the field all of last season despite numerous rumors of him eventually signing with the Dallas Cowboys. The last time NFL fans saw Beckham on an NFL field was in 2021 during Super Bowl LVI with the Los Angeles Rams holding his knee.

Now Beckham, who signed a 1-year $15 million deal with the Baltimore Ravens, is trying to hang on to his NFL dreams. However, many wonder if they will see the same guy who made one of the greatest catches in NFL history or a receiver who is largely ignored in a run-first offense featuring quarterback Lamar Jackson.

Beckham admits it’s been a long road back to the NFL after spending several years on the sidelines dealing with injuries.

“You slowly progress,” the former Giant told reporters Wednesday, according to Yahoo. “We all joke about it: You train all offseason, and it doesn’t matter; you come out here and run eight plays in a row, you’re gasping for air. So, it’s definitely a different shape that you have to get into.”

If nothing else, Beckham will go out with a hefty payday considering his contract is fully guaranteed. However, even he knows this is likely his last opportunity to show that he is still an NFL wide receiver. The good news is he’ll be paired with Ravens Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken, who was with Beckham on the Cleveland Browns and is coming off two straight NCAA National Championships with the Georgia Bulldogs.

Monken will surely get Beckham the ball to make things easier for Jackson, who has yet to work with a receiver of Beckham’s pedigree.

According to Pro Football Focus, if Beckham even gets back to his 2021 production when he had 44 catches for 537 yards and five touchdowns, it would be the best season by a Ravens receiver since Steve Smith Sr. in 2016.

prostate, cancer, diagnosis, primary care, diagnosis, patients, Black

by Daniel Johnson

August 22, 2023

Research Study Shows MRIs Can Detect Prostate Cancer

According to an academic paper titled “Racial disparities in Black men with prostate cancer: A literature review,” Black men are not only disproportionately affected by prostate cancer, but tend to present earlier, have more aggression in prostate cancer, and experience higher mortality rates.

African American men also have less access to care, and experience longer delays between detection and treatment compared to white men. However, there may be help on the horizon. BBC News reported that a British study showed that MRIs can be used to scan for signs of prostate cancer and are more accurate than blood tests.

Even though the sample size is small – only 303 men between the ages of 50 and 75 participated in the study – the study revealed that MRI tests caught prostate cancer that blood tests missed. Because the sample size is so small it cannot be accurately surmised that MRIs can be used in place of blood tests to detect prostate cancer

The organizers of the study are nonetheless hopeful that MRIs could be used to detect prostate cancer. Professor Caroline Moore, consultant urologist at UCLH and the chief investigator of the study conducted at University College London told BBC News: “Our results give an early indication that MRI could offer a more reliable method of detecting potentially serious cancers early, with the added benefit that less than 1% of participants were ‘over-diagnosed’ with low-risk disease.”

One of the study’s participants, 62-year-old Paul Rothwell had his prostate cancer detected early and treated as a result of being in the trial.

“If I’d just had the blood test I would be carrying on life as normal walking around unaware that there was some sort of ticking time bomb inside me of a cancer slowly growing, and by the time I did find out, presumably it would have been much harder to treat and much more dangerous to me.” Rothwell told BBC.

Unfortunately, Black men were not included in the study at a high enough rate relative to their risk factor for developing prostate cancer. Saran Green, another of the study’s authors, discussed this with the news platform telling them, “One in four black men will get prostate cancer during their lifetime, which is double the number of men from other ethnicities. Given this elevated risk, it will be crucial that any national screening program includes strategies to reach black men and encourage more of them to come forward for testing.”

by Sharelle B. McNair

August 22, 2023

North Carolina’s Black GOP Lt. Governor and Conspiracy Theorist Who Called Beyonce’s Music ‘Demonic’ is Running for Governor

If you live in North Carolina and don’t know who your lieutenant governor is, listen up. Mark Robinson is a self-proclaimed conspiracy theorist who is running for governor under the GOP ticket, Huff Post reports.

His random but dangerous ideologies range from the 1969 moon landing being fake to the September 11 terrorist attacks being an “inside job.” It doesn’t stop there. Robinson has targeted some of Black culture’s elite including Beyoncé and Jay-Z, calling their music “satanic” and “demonic,” sent by Satan to turn people away from Jesus.

On Facebook, he posted that the 2014 Boko Haram kidnapping of Nigerian schoolgirls was planned by billionaire Democratic philanthropist George Soros. He also suggested that former President Barack Obama, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and CNN planted the pipe bombs found in October 2018, made for them. “If you can’t beat ’em, bomb yourself,” Robinson wrote.

However, his biggest attacks are primarily geared toward the LGBTQ+ community. In March 2023, during a church service held outside of Charlotte, Robinson preached that he was a vessel created by God to push against LGBTQ rights, which he described as turning America into a “hellhole.”

“I was not crafted to be Mr. Nicey-Nice…God formed me because he knew there was going to be a time when God’s learning was going to be intolerable to the wicked,” Robinson said, according to WRAL. “Makes me sick every time I see it — a church that flies that Rainbow flag, which is a direct spit in the face of God almighty.”

With everything he has said in the past, Robinson is still a frontrunner for the state governor seat. Meredith College political science professor David McLennan says it’s thanks to the support of Donald Trump. “I think this does bother people on the Republican side,” McLennan said. “They just haven’t figured out how to organize their efforts to help another candidate compete against Robinson.”

Fellow professor Chris Cooper feels race has a factor in Robinson’s popularity. “He’s an African American Republican at a time when many Republicans feel they are being accused of being racist for being Republicans,” Cooper added.

Not all hope is lost as it is still early in the governor’s race. The state’s current attorney general, Josh Stein (D-NC), former U.S. Rep. Mark Walker, and state treasurer Dale Folwell are in the running.

by Iman Milner

August 22, 2023

Fearless Fund Awards $150K To Black-Owned Plant-Based Feminine Care Brand ‘Femly’

Femly, the organic Black-owned period care brand, has taken a major step toward its mission to “scale the future of restroom feminine care access thanks to its founder Arion Long taking home a $150,000 investment at this year’s Fearless Fund Venture Capital Summit.

The event, held in Atlanta, allowed women-led brands to pitch their businesses to a panel of investors with the opportunity to receive major financial contributions. Long and Femly came in second place on the day, joining Renatural, a beauty brand founded by Aasiyah Abdulsalam that took home first place, and Savoor, which took home third. Long, who often calls herself “The Chief Estrogen Officer,” shared the exciting news via Instagram. “Alongside members of our operations and media team, I had the pleasure of witnessing the collective #impact of Arian Simone and Ayana Parsons,” she said in a caption.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Arion Long (@arionklong)

Long continued, “There aren’t words to describe what it feels like to see yourself in a room full of founders who are rooting for you.” Femly has been making waves in the feminine care industry throughout the year. As previously reported, the brand’s products hit the shelves of CVS and other major retailers early this summer. In addition, vending machines housing Femly products are available in restrooms nationwide, further improving accessibility for those in need.

Long’s commitment to providing healthy, non-toxic alternatives for period-having people is rooted in her own experience with cervical tumors. She believes that a lack of education about what goes into feminine care products has put many at risk. “We assume because some of these pads are white, that they’re clean. That is so far from the truth,” she said. “Historically, many of the popular pad brands were made with synthetic materials like nylon, which is known for harboring heat and bacteria. The other side of that is many of these pads included ingredients like Bisphenol A bleach dioxins, which are linked to reproductive illnesses and cancer.”

by Iman Milner

August 22, 2023

Track Star Noah Lyles Becomes The Fastest Man In The World, Takes Home Gold In The 100-Meter Race

Track and field athlete Noah Lyles raised eyebrows when he declared he was planning to fill the spikes of arguably the greatest runner alive, Usain Bolt, by becoming the first man since 2015 to take home gold in both the 100-meter and 200-meter double at the World Athletics Championship.

Well, it seems Lyles does more than talk a good game.

The 26-year-old, two-time defending World Athletics champion in the 200-meter did what many thought was impossible by recording a personal best and world-leading 9.83-second victory in the 100-meter race on Sunday, August 20 in Budapest, Hungary. With his win, he officially became the fastest man in the world. According to World Athletics, Lyles also notched a spot on the U.S. team in the 100; earning himself a shot at a global championship.

https://twitter.com/NBCOlympics/status/1693311590118903822?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1693311590118903822%7Ctwgr%5E132c5df62de9709001c154e4025c7b704156d72a%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fsports.yahoo.com%2Fnoah-lyles-backs-up-words-wins-world-athletics-100-meter-gold-180618421.html

“I knew what I had to do. I came here for three golds, ticked off one, others are coming. The 100m was the hardest one, it is out of the books. I will have fun with the event I love now”, Lyles said after his record-breaking victory. Taking home silver and bronze medals were 20-year-old Letsile Tebogo of Botswana and Britain’s Zharnel Hughes, respectively. Lyles has been cementing himself as an unstoppable force in the 200-meter, but with his latest win, he’s proven he’s no one-trick pony.

“My documentary series will come out soon,” he said. “I talked there about doing the individual double. The reason I really wanted to do it is because nobody else deserves it more than me.” And he doesn’t plan on stopping after he reaches his goal. In fact, for Lyles, success in his sport is just the beginning. “I want to show people how far they can really go,” the Florida native said. “I don’t want them to stop at medals. Yes, medals are nice, they get your attention. That should be the first stopping point, that should be the first check off the box. After you go to medals, now you go to moving outside of the sport. After you’re outside of the sport, we go and reinvent ourselves.”

small business, big business, operate, corporate, FedEx, FedEx

by Derek Major

August 22, 2023

A Year After Being Attacked By Two White Men, A Black FedEx Driver Has Been Fired

A Black FedEx driver in Brookhaven, MS who claims two White men shot at him and chased him in 2022, has been fired.

The Associated Press reported Meredith Miller, the manager of global network communications for FedEx, confirmed that D’Monterrio Gibson “is no longer employed at FedEx,” but did not respond to follow-up questions.

“I honestly feel disrespected,” Gibson told the AP after he was terminated.

Carlos Moore, Gibson’s lawyer, provided the AP with a letter from FedEx saying Gibson’s employment was terminated on July 26. According to Moore, Gibson was fired because he did not accept a part-time position FedEx offered him in July. Moore added that it was unclear if Gibson was given a deadline to accept the part-time position.

Gibson was making deliveries in Brookhaven on Jan 22, 2022, in a truck with a Hertz logo on three sides, when he dropped off a package on a dead-end public road. Gregory Case used his truck to block access and his son, Brandon, came outside with a gun, District Attorney Dee Bates told jurors.

When Gibson drove around Gregory Case’s truck, his son Brandon fired multiple shots at the truck, hitting it and some of the packages inside. Defense Attorney Terrell Stubbs told jurors that Gregory saw a rental truck with Florida license plates outside his mother-in-law’s home at night and watched to ask what was going on, but Gibson did not stop

Brandon Case and his father Gregory were charged with attempted first-degree murder, conspiracy, and shooting into the vehicle driven by Gibson, who has been on workers’ compensation leave earning about one-third of his salary since the incident happened on Jan. 24, 2022.

Gibson was not injured in the incident, but said he has been in therapy since to deal with insomnia and anxiety.

A federal judge dismissed Gibson’s $5 million lawsuit against the delivery service, saying the lawsuit failed to prove FedEx discriminated against him due to his race. Moore said he plans to file a civil suit in state court seeking $10 million in damages.

Last week, a federal judge declared a mistrial for the father and son charged in the attack, citing police errors after a detective in the case testified about failing to give prosecutors and defense attorneys a video interview police had with Gibson.

Prosecutors said they intend to schedule a new trial for the two men, who remain free on bond.

The Brookhaven Police Department, which investigated the incident, has its troubles. Last month, a Mississippi grand jury criticized the department, saying the department poorly investigates their cases, has a habit of victim-blaming, and does not complete its investigations promptly.