• News

by Iman Milner

July 24, 2023

Baltimore School Girls Awarded $13K To Provide Fresh Food To Residents Affected By Food Apartheid

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Four eighth-grade girls at New Song Academy in Baltimore have come together to make a huge difference in the lives of those living in nearby food deserts. Aniya Ponton, Ryeona Watson, Samahj Chestnut, and Logan Reynolds began working with their school last year to develop a community project in partnership with Philanthropy Tank; now they’ve been awarded $13,000 to make their dreams a reality.

Bmore Fresh is a renovated city bus outfitted with shelves, refrigerators, and a point-of-service sales system that travels to food desert areas of Baltimore the girls created to “help other people that couldn’t get to markets.” New Song Academy is in a part of town where locals often have a hard time finding fresh fruits and vegetables. “We all had a way to relate to the situation,” said Ponton. “We all had a problem with our food source.”

Philanthropy Tank has awarded over $700,000 in funding for over 70 student-led projects in Palm Beach County, Florida, and Baltimore since 2015, according to The Baltimore Banner. With the company’s help, 40% of the projects have been turned into nonprofit organizations. Bmore Fresh hopes to do the same.

About one in four Baltimore residents live in areas with sparse access to healthy, fresh produce, according to The Baltimore Banner. These areas, often called food deserts or “healthy food priority areas,” are scattered all across the city, predominantly in East and West Baltimore, where the bulk of Black residents live. The girls’ project bridges the gap between socioeconomic status and lack of nutritional food options by bringing the market to the doors of people who need it the most.

Bmore Fresh will also provide residents with information about other resources that may be available to them, such as community farms that offer affordable and even free healthy produce options. “We do have a lot of free farms that are hiding away, people don’t know they are there,” said Richard McCarter Jr., the girls’ basketball coach and a local resident. “You can just walk on, pick what you want and put it in bags, and walk off.”

The girls’ bus project will be finalized in late July. They hope to start servicing communities before the end of summer.

• Diversity, Equality, Inclusion

by Stacy Jackson

July 24, 2023

Gallaudet University Holds Graduation Ceremony For Black Deaf Students And Teachers Segregated In The 1950s

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At a graduation ceremony held on July 22, 2023, Gallaudet University, in Washington, D.C., awarded 24 Black deaf students, all of which attended the school between 1952 and 1954, the high school diplomas they were denied when they were enrolled there. Four Black teachers were also honored.

Five of the six living students and their families attended the ceremony, which was hosted by the university’s Center for Black Deaf Studies.

“While today’s ceremony in no way removes past harms and injustices or the impact of them, it is an important step to strengthen our continued path of healing,” said Roberta J. Cordano, president of Gallaudet University. 

A statement by the university revealed that in the early 1950s, Black students and teachers were segregated from their white counterparts and forced to attend the Kendall School Division II for Negroes on Gallaudet’s campus. 

 

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The school’s board of trustees acknowledged the school’s inequitable treatment of its students back then and released an apology. “Gallaudet deeply regrets the role it played in perpetuating the historic inequity, systemic marginalization, and the grave injustice committed against the Black Deaf community when Black Deaf students were excluded at Kendall School and in denying the 24 Black Deaf Kendall School students their diplomas,” the school stated in an apology to all 24 students.

Black students were allowed to enroll in the Kendall School in 1898, but were forced to transfer after white parents protested the integration of Black students in 1905. The Black students were transferred to either the Maryland School for the Colored Blind and Deaf-Mutes in Baltimore or to the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf in Philadelphia.  

In 1952, Louise B. Miller initiated a court case after the school denied acceptance of her son, Kenneth, because he was Black. Miller and other parents of Black deaf children won a civil lawsuit against the District of Columbia Board of Education for the right of Black deaf children to attend Kendall School. 

“The court ruled that Black deaf students could not be sent outside the state or district to obtain the same education that White students were provided,” according to Gallaudet. The school created a segregated facility, Kendall School Division II for Negroes, on the campus of Kendall School, where fewer resources were allotted to educate the students. 

Eventually, deaf Black students attended school with their white peers after the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision. 

Today, the university’s Louise B. Miller Pathways and Gardens: A Legacy to Black Deaf Children memorial honors Miller and serves as a “space for reflection and healing through remembrance of all who have fought for the equality that Black Deaf children deserve,” according to Gallaudet. 

The university has also declared July 22 as Kendall 24 Day.

• Celebrity News

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

July 24, 2023

Diddy Donates Makes Donation Of $150K To DJ Khaled’s ‘We The Best Foundation’

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After hosting a charity event at the Miami Beach Golf Club on July 20, DJ Khaled received a six-figure donation from a big name – the largest ever given to his organization.

Recently DJ Khaled hosted his organization, We the Best Foundation’s, first-ever golf tournament. After making news that he gave $20,000 to Fore Life, a not-for-profit organization that empowers youth through golf, Diddy made an even bigger donation to Khaled’s organization.

Khaled took to his Instagram to announce Diddy had gone deep into his bank account and given $150,000 to the We the Best Foundation.

“Donation alert! That’s right, Sean Combs, Puff Daddy, Diddy, donated $150,000 to We the Best Foundation. Biggest donation alert. Let’s go!

“Bless up, my brother. Family for life. Sean Combs, Puff Daddy, Diddy, he came in right there with the biggest donation for the foundation — We the Best Foundation — from Sean Combs Foundation. Diddy, we appreciate you. Thank you for this. Kids are gonna love it. The young world’s gonna love it. The community’s gonna love it. You always do this. You did this now. You’ve been doing this forever, for decades, and we appreciate you for all the supporting and helping everybody. We love you.”

 

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Notable people who appeared at the tournament included Diddy, 2Chainz, Offset, Quavo, Luther “Uncle Luke” Campbell, Fat Joe, and Timbaland. Athletes, including Hassan Whiteside, Jorge Posada, Brooks Koepka, and Odell Beckham Jr., also made their way to the Miami Beach Golf Club.

Khaled’s We The Best Foundation is listed as a 501c3 organization dedicated to “enriching the lives of the next generation – from childhood to adulthood,” according to the website. They give out academic scholarships, have a music program, and offer after-school programming for the youth in the Miami-Dade County area.

Legendary rapper Beanie Sigel is stepping back into the rap game thanks to modern technology.

The former Roc-A-Fella records star announced he will be using artificial intelligence to re-create his original voice for his new album, The Source reported. During a recent episode of the DJ Univercity Podcast, Sigel confirmed his new project will feature lyrics written by him, but will use the program to get that original, gritty Sigel sound.

“New project coming soon,” Sigel said. “I think I found a good friend with this AI thing. A lot people frown on AI, but I think that’s gonna work for me. I was talking to somebody and they told me how you program the AI, you run the vocals through this. Y’all want, what they say, the ‘old Beans’ back?‘”

The Philly-born rapper was shot in 2014 after being released from prison, according to Vibe. As a result, he suffered a collapsed lung and some damaged vocal cords. “My vocals came from when I was in a coma,” he said during an interview with DJ Vlad. “So when I first woke out the coma, I didn’t know where I was at and I pulled the breathing tube out and so it tore up sh*t in my throat.”

When the project wraps up, it will be the first album from the State Property star since 2012, which was released before he started his two-year prison sentence for tax evasion. He told the podcast host he has lots to say and is excited to see what AI can do for him. “Cause the pen’s still there. It’s just the voice,” Sigel said. “If y’all want that, I’ma shoot y’all something. So I’m gonna use AI on myself.”

His vocal injury hasn’t stopped him from recording and being featured on projects from artists like Pusha T, Meek Mill, Dave East, and DJ Paul.

by Stacy Jackson

July 24, 2023

Shirley Chisholm Monument Marks Historic Moment In NYC As The First Public Artwork Honoring A Woman

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The first Black woman to serve in Congress is being honored with her own monument.

New York City officials have weighed in on the efforts of the She Built NYC initiative to build more monuments honoring the women of New York City by approving the construction of a monument dedicated to the late Shirley Chisholm.

According to a statement, the Chisholm monument will mark a historic first as Brooklyn has never built permanent public artwork in honor of a woman. The 32-foot-tall memorial presents a rising Chisholm from the waist up, designed with green, stenciled metal trimmed in gold. The structure of the dome of the U.S. Capitol building extends from the congresswoman detailed with gold.

“The composite profile symbolizes how she disrupted the perception of who has the right to occupy such institutions and to be an embodiment for democracy,” monument artists Amanda Williams and Olalekan B. Jeyifous wrote in a proposal brief.

 

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“Our project celebrates Shirley Chisholm’s legacy as a civil servant who ‘left the door open’ to make room for others to follow in her path toward equity and a place in our country’s political landscape,” the artists said in 2019 after being selected by city officials. “We have designed a monument in which her iconic visage can be immediately recognizable while also equally portraying the power, beauty, and dimensionality of her contributions to our democracy.”

Chisholm is a native of the Brownsville neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, where the monument will stand at Prospect Park’s southeast entrance.

The eldest daughter of Barbados and Guyana immigrants, Chisholm sought to excel in her education. She graduated from Brooklyn College in 1946 and earned her master’s degree from Columbia University in 1951 before becoming a member of Congress in 1968.

Chisholm served seven terms in Congress, where she introduced over 50 pieces of legislation, advocated for gender and racial equality, and addressed issues such as the Vietnam War and poverty. In 1972, the congresswoman announced her candidacy for president, in which she received only 152 delegate votes against George McGovern, who won at the Democratic National Convention with 1,729.

• News

by Iman Milner

July 24, 2023

Snoop Dogg Is Now In The Ice Cream Business, Guess Who Was His Inspiration

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Snoop Dogg is here to make our summers sweet with his latest business venture, Dr. Bombay Ice Cream; and it seems we have his friends Martha Stewart and Master P to thank for his decision to step into the dessert world.

Snoop’s sweet treats are officially available at Walmart starting Monday, July 24, in seven flavors including Bonus Track Brownie, Cocoa Cream Cookie Dream, and Iced Out Orange Cream; however, his foray into any new lane of business can be accredited to the things he’s learned from those around him.

According to TMZ, Snoop likened the knowledge he’s gained from Master P to a college education, and the time he’s spent with millionaire homemaker Stewart to the real-world application of the things we learn in educational institutions. Master P and Snoop have collaborated on a cereal line that will also be available on Walmart shelves.

This is phase one of Snoop’s dream to fully expand his brand into the lifestyle sector.

“Ice cream is more than just a snack to me; it’s a way to chill, relax, and get happy. That’s exactly what I want Dr. Bombay Ice Cream to do — bring a smile to your face and ease your mind,” Snoop said in a news release. “I’ve poured my heart and soul into perfecting these first seven flavors, and I can’t wait for my fans and the world to experience what I’ve created. Fans will also notice my sidekick Dr. Bombay is the name, face, and persona of the brand. That’s because he’s like a son to me and you always wants your kids to be more successful than you are, that’s my goal in building a lifestyle brand — starting with ice cream.”

In the months to come. Dr. Bombay Ice Cream will become available at additional retailers including GoPuff, Albertsons, and Safeway.

• Sports

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

July 24, 2023

Brother Of Ex-NFL Player Aqib Talib Pleads Guilty To Killing Of A Youth Football Coach, Faces 37 Years In Prison

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In 2022, the brother of former NFL player Aqib Talib was indicted on a murder charge by a Texas grand jury for the shooting death of a coach at a youth football game .

Ten months later, Yaqub Talib has pled guilty to the crime.

According to The Dallas Morning News, Yaqub entered a guilty plea for shooting and killing 43-year-old Michael Hickmon on August 13, 2022, at a football game in Lancaster, Texas. When he returns to court for sentencing on Aug. 7, 2023, he will face a prison term of 37 years, according to Claire Crouch, a spokeswoman for the Dallas County district attorney’s office.

Hickmon was shot multiple times after fight broke out between the competing coaching staffs due to a referee’s call during a scrimmage at Lancaster Community Park between two nine-year-old teams—the Dragon Elite Academy and the North Dallas United Bobcats.

Video footage, as well as eyewitness testimony, implicated Yaqub in the killing.

Yaqub’s brother, Aqib, who retired from the NFL in 2021, financed the North Dallas United Bobcats. Both brothers had sons on the Bobcats: Aqib’s son was a running back, and Yaqub’s son played quarterback. 

A video leading up to the tragic incident revealed that Aqib started the brawl and that Yaqub it ended by shooting Hickmon, WFAA reported.

“He ran across the field and ran over on our sideline and got in the ref’s face,” eyewitness Heith Mayes said. Several others said Aqib started the altercation when he became upset about the referees’ calls during the game.

In 2022, Hickman’s family filed a lawsuit against both brothers.

The Dallas Morning News reported that the paperwork was filed in Dallas County. The family is suing Big XII Sports League and Family Services, along with the Talib brothers, accusing the league of failing to vet coaches and to provide a safe environment and adequate security.

• Celebrity News

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

July 24, 2023

Monica Stops Live Show To Confront A Man Who Allegedly Hit A Woman

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Monica went full-on “Goonica” over the weekend after witnessing a man allegedly get physical with a woman during her live performance.

The Grammy award-winning singer was performing at the Detroit Riverfront Music Festival on Saturday, July 22, 2023, when she stopped her show to tell a man, “Don’t you hit her like that.”

A now-viral video shows Monica encouraging other concertgoers to remove the man from the crowd after he allegedly struck a woman. But that’s when Goonica popped out and hopped in the crowd to take matters into her own hands.

“We don’t even play like that. That’s a fu*king lady,” Monica shouts in her microphone before hopping off stage.

Last night while Monica was performing in Detroit, she saw a man in the crowd hit a woman.

Goonica jumped straight out, not only did she stop performing, sis jumped into audience to make sure things were handled. pic.twitter.com/1Ule1ydNd8

— alex. (@Alex_Washington) July 23, 2023

The show continued after the minor scuffle with the “So Gone” singer apologizing to the audience multiple times afterward. A spokesperson for the festival has since released a statement thanking Monica for her courageous move.

“We want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Monica for her courage and decisive intervention during an unfortunate incident at our Festival,” the statement read.

“Her actions demonstrated a commitment to the safety and respect of her fans, reinforcing our belief that she is not just an extraordinary talent, but an extraordinary individual as well.”

“We are truly saddened that an event meant to bring joy and unity to our community was marred by an act of violence. We strongly condemn any form of violence, particularly against women, and we are actively working with local law enforcement to ensure that the individual involved is held accountable.”

Fans who watched the exchange also applauded Monica for showing she’s all about protecting women in her music and in real life.

“I love her even more. That’s a great reason to call out something from the stage,” one fan tweeted.

“just to show you monica not having that!” #SoGone,” added someone else, referencing her hit 2003 song.

RELATED CONTENT: Monica Encourages Son ‘To Invest in Yourself And Your Business’ With $18K Gifted For His 18th Birthday

As part of its Representation Matters Collection, Netflix has debuted a new animated series to its roster.

On July 20, 2023, Supa Team 4 premiered as Netflix’s first original African animated series.

Created by Zambian writer Malenga Mulendema, Supa Team 4 follows four undercover teen superheroes on a quest to save the world after being recruited by an ex-spy. The teens are challenged with juggling secondary school while using their powers to make the world better. Netflix wrote that the kids’ series is “a fresh superhero story about girlhood, strength, and African ingenuity.”

Mulendema based Supa Team 4 in a futuristic setting that reflects Zambia’s capital, Lusaka. “I’m excited that the world finally gets to see the fantastic show that the incredibly talented super team, from Africa and beyond, have put together,” Mulendema said in a statement, according to CBS News.

Mulendema explained that her initial desire for creating the series was to highlight Africa and open doors for more productions from the continent. “We hope Supa Team 4 … will lead to further investment and collaboration so we can continue to grow the industry,” she said.

“Animations series shaped our childhoods and to know young Zambians get to see what they’ve never seen on TV before is Amazing!!” Sampa the Great, who wrote the theme song for the series, posted on Instagram.

 

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Supa Team 4 was pitched for Triggerfish Animation Studio’s pan-African talent search. After winning the search in 2015, Mulendema’s series was announced in 2019.

Business Insider reported that Netflix announced plans to expand operations in Africa in April 2023, following the success of African productions such as the drama series Blood and Water, which was filmed in Cape Town. The move was a part of the streaming platform’s goals to invest in the continent’s creative economy and showcase African stories globally.

“We’ll build on these milestones to grow our business while continuing to invest in supporting local creative economies and giving more and more African storytellers an amplified voice on the global stage,” Netflix said in a statement.