Austin Organization Committing $100K To Black Musicians, Promoters, and Studios
Long before South by Southwest (SXSW)made Austin an annual destination for entertainment lovers, the city had already been deemed the Live Music Capital of the World, and, as with many metropolises, its reach can be attributed to the contributions of Black creatives.
This month, one organization is spreading the word on behalf of Black musicians, promoters, and studios with the tagline, “There is no Austin without US,” and pledging $100,000 to its efforts, according to KXAN Austin. The Diversity Awareness and Wellness in Action (DAWA) organization will showcase some of the city’s talent at Antone’s Nightclub in the downtown Austin area throughout June. The performances, which will take place every Friday, are part of a larger mission to rightfully honor the work Black artists do to create the heartbeat of cities like Austin that heavily rely on them to drive tourism and capital.
“From blues to rock, soul, hip-hop, house, and country, the sonic imprint of Black musicians is indelible,” said Jonathan ‘Chaka’ Mahone, founder and director of DAWA. “We have been here, producing abundantly, but our incredible fruits have not necessarily benefited us directly due to the industry practices in music cities like Austin around the country.” DAWA has also established a live music fund to help with costs for artists who regularly perform around the city, including DJ and producer Cecil ‘Starboy’ Lockwood. “Those funds, were able to just say, we see you doing your thing, being original giving back to the community,” Lockwood said. “And by giving funds that allows me to know, cool, somebody sees me and wants me to keep doing what I’m doing.”
The fund, created in 2020, will spread out its resources for the next two years to continue its support for Black artists in and around the Austin area. “There needs to be a shift in who benefits most from the work that is created, and the Black Live Music Fund wants to create space for new standards that center the artist/creator,” Mahone said.
Megan Thee Stallion Reunited At Los Angeles Pride With Classmate She Defended Against Homophobia
Megan Thee Stallion hit the stage to perform an entertaining headlining set at Los Angeles Pride on June 9.
While performing, the “Savage” rapper stopped the show after recognizing her former classmate from middle school, Carlos Rubalcava.
“Bi*ch, what is my classmate from middle school [doing here]?” she asked the audience.
Ruvalcaba joined Megan onstage, where they laughed, danced, and of course twerked, as noted by Vulture. After the reunion, he took to social media to share the special moment and highlight Megan’s early advocacy for him during their time together in middle school.
“I have so much respect for [Megan] since the time in middle school when I was being talked down being called Gay when I wasn’t out yet and she stepped in and defended me,” Ruvalcaba wrote in a post shared on Twitter.
“I was a little boy back then and she always had my back!! I’ll forever be Fan girl I love you!!!”
Megan Thee Stallion’s classmate from middle school surprised her on stage last night at #LAPride in the Park:
“I have so much respect for her since the time in middle school when I was being talked down being called gay when I wasn't out yet and she stepped in and defended me,” pic.twitter.com/KqjILYieIl
Other standout moments from Megan’s headlining set include her sign language interpreter, who made her own viral moment while signing Megan’s lyrics for her hit “Body.”
Another Hottie went viral for out-twerking Megan at her own show. Markell Washington took to Instagram on June 10 to post a video clip showing the moment he was invited onstage to dance with the Grammy award-winning rapper.
“ANYONE WHO KNOWS ME……..KNOWS I LOVEEEEEE ME SOME MEGAN THEE STALLION LAST NIGHT 🔥🔥🔥🔥😝😝 SHE BROUGHT ME ON STAGE AND I HAD TO EEAATTTTTTT !!!!!” he captioned his post.
“I love this lady with a passion lol and the way she hyped me up the whole time and they kept putting me on the big screen 😭😭❤️❤️🙌🏽 yeah I did what I came to do.”
The “Her” rapper trended throughout the weekend for putting on an amazing show for the LGBTQ+ community. It’s among her returning performances since coming out of hiatus following the Tory Lanez trial, where the rapper was found guilty of shooting her in July 2020.
Megan announced that she doesn’t plan on releasing any new music while she tours and returns to the spotlight following her traumatic experience. She’s also gearing up for another case with her former label, 1501 Certified Entertainment.
The Orange Is the New Black star shared a heartwarming video announcement on Sunday, June 11, confirming her first pregnancy with her husband, Robert Sweeting.
“What a blessing. My husband Robert and I are so happy to enter this next chapter together as parents,” she wrote in her caption.
“I am beyond excited. I get to be someone’s Mommy! I know as the three of us continue to grow, our only, ONLY goal will be to love you, little one. My goodness. Look what God has done.”
Aduba’s Instagram announcement came just ahead of the Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress debuting her baby bump at Sunday night’s Tony Awards, as noted by The Hollywood Reporter. The Clyde’s star wore a bright orange Christian Siriano three-piece suit and cradled her baby bump for the cameras.
It’ll be the first baby for Aduba and her filmmaker husband, who tied the knot in a private ceremony in 2020 and kept their marriage a secret for one year, Peoplereports. In September 2021 Aduba let the world know about the secret nuptials by posting a photo from their wedding day.
“When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible,” she captioned the post.
“For some of us, it can feel like we spend our whole lives waiting for our special someone. My heart, my love — I’m so happy my life started last year with you. You’re the best thing that ever happened to me.”
It being a pandemic wedding, Aduba and Sweeting kept the ceremony small, with just a few of their loved ones present, she shared on Live With Kelly and Ryan in November 2021. Fast-forward three years, and the happy pair hit the red carpet to debut Aduba’s first baby bump.
12-Year-Old Black Girl Becomes Canada’s Youngest Person to Graduate College
Anthaea-Grace Patricia Dennis, a 12-year-old student from Ottawa, Canada, has made history as the youngest person ever to graduate from college in her country’s history. This month, she proudly earned her bachelor’s degree in biomedical science from the University of Ottawa.
Dennis started the intensive university program at the age of 9 and finished in just three years. Being young and gifted, she faced obstacles in the university such as prejudice and expectations about her demeanor and speech. But she didn’t let it hinder her progress. “I’m going to be happy for myself too, not just for other people,” she told CBC News. “I am proud of myself for getting to this point, despite all the hurdles and blocks that there have been for a person like me.”
Her mother, Johanna Dennis, has always supported her, ever since she noticed her special skills when she was 2 years old. As a law professor and a single mother, Johanna played a vital role in nurturing her daughter’s talents and ensuring her success.
Moreover, Dennis has already established herself as a researcher, having completed a 40-page thesis exploring the relationship between functional activity in the cerebellum and handedness. She presented her findings on the research, which she completed in less than a year, at the Ottawa-Carleton Institute of Biology Symposium.
Apart from her remarkable academic achievements, Dennis is also an accomplished violinist. She enjoys spending time with her cats and watching TV shows with her family.
Looking ahead, Dennis plans to pursue postgraduate studies and continue her research on functional activity in the cerebellum. She also dreams of having her own research lab and leading a team of like-minded researchers.
“I’m very motivated by the fact that I can be the first [to do] something. You know, being able to show other young, gifted, and talented people that something like this is possible, that you can get through these roadblocks, has always been something that I’ve always wanted to do,” she said.
On June 12, 1963, civil rights activist Medgar Evers was gunned down in his family’s driveway, the same day as President John F. Kennedy’s televised Civil Rights Address.
Evers was born July 2, 1925, to Jesse and James Evers in Decatur, Mississippi. He was one of five children by the couple. Having grown up in the deep South during the height of Jim Crow, Evers grew accustomed to the omnipresent threat of racism, which materialized at even the most innocuous moments. Nothing demonstrated this unfortunate reality more than when white supremacists lynched his family friend. The perpetrators kept the victim’s clothes strewn along a fence for over a year as a stark reminder of Black Americans’ inferiority. Evers was only 12 years old when he witnessed this.
Evers dropped out of high school when he was 17 to join the army like his older brother. His stint in the military led him to Europe, where he fought in World War II. Evers was honorably discharged three years later. After re-enrolling in high school and receiving his diploma, Edgars attended Alcorn College in Mississippi, where he met his wife, Myrlie Beasly. After college, the couple moved to Mound Bayou, Mississippi, and Evers found work selling insurance. The widespread poverty of the city’s Black residents, inspired Evers into civil rights.
According to the NAACP, Evers became president of the Regional Council of Negro Leadership, where he led a boycott against gas stations that prevented Black people from using their restrooms. The organization shared bumper stickers with the slogan “Don’t Buy Gas Where You Can’t Use the Bathroom,” which they distributed to thousands of people at its annual conferences between 1952 and 1953.
Soon after, Evers joined the NAACP in hopes of enacting change. Evers began organizing local NAACP chapters and planning local boycotts. His organizational skills were crucial to his leadership as he could unify isolated groups. Evers decided to go to law school after the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education ruling and applied to the University of Mississippi Law School. However, the university denied his application.
According to Biography, Evers pursued legal action against the university with assistance from the NAACP and counsel from Thurgood Marshall. Evers’ attempts were ultimately unsuccessful. However, this rejection drew the attention of the NAACP, who then hired him as the organization’s first field secretary in Mississippi.
Later that same year, Evers and his family relocated to Jackson, Mississippi, where he built an NAACP office. During the early 1960s, Evers organized high-profile boycotts and marches. He also helped bail out arrested individuals. His wife, Myrlie, was also deeply involved with the organization. She acted as Evers’ secretary in the Jackson NAACP office, conducted research for speeches, and was a musician, chauffeur, and hostess. Evers and his family became heavily intertwined with the NAACP, but it was not without risk.
At the funeral for Medgar Evers, his wife, Myrlie Evers (second right), comforts their son, Darryl Kenyatta Evers, while daughter Reena Denise Evers (center, in white dress) wipes her own tears, Jackson, Mississippi, June 18, 1963. (Photo: Express Newspapers/Getty Images)
During this time Evers regularly began receiving death threats from white supremacists. His family name was on many assassination lists. Still, his commitment to the movement remained steadfast; he often found himself with 20-hour work days. In 1963, however, the white supremacists’ vitriol grew, eventually culminating in a firebomb attack on the Evers household. While there were no fatalities, the message was clear: stop now or die. That was not an option.
Weeks later, during President Kennedy’s notable Civil Rights Address, Evers attended an NAACP function. Around midnight, Evers returned home. Upon his arrival, a sniper’s bullet struck Evers. He struggled to his front door, where he collapsed, lying in a pool of blood, and found by his wife. Fifty minutes later, Medgar Evers was dead.
His assassination remained unsolved for over 30 years. While a white supremacist named Byron de la Beckwith was suspected, two all-white jury panels failed to convict him in the mid-1960s. In 1994, a now-73-year-old Beckwith was finally found guilty and sentenced to life in prison. He died while incarcerated in 2001.
Though Evers’ life was cut short, his actions made lasting change. The Civil Rights Act passed on July 2, 1964, on Evers’ birthday and almost exactly one year after his death. His legacy lives on through his widow and three children. He is also remembered in our everyday acts because, without his hard work, we would not be here now.
Snoop Dogg’s Classic Snoop DeVille Car Now At Popular Texas Cadillac Dealership
Sometimes we get rid of memorable items and later wonder what in the world happened to them. Well, if Snoop Dogg ever starts reminiscing about his 1966 Cadillac DeVille lowrider, there’s a place in Texas where he can check it out.
According to TMZ Hip Hop, Snoop’s old vehicle can be seen at the Cadillac of Arlington, a new car dealership in Texas. Sadly, the car the cannabis-smoking entertainer used to own isn’t for sale, but it will be on display.
Christian Bonilla, the previous owner of the classic Cadillac, saidhe brokered a deal with the owners of the family-owned dealership group. Now it sits in the dealership displaying California license plates that read “Snoop 66.”
You will also notice the name on the car reads “Snoop DeVille.” The Cadillac was featured in 50 Cent’s “P.I.M.P. Remix” video, which also featured the “Gin and Juice” rapper.
It’s shaping up to be quite the year for the smooth rapper. Customers at the Jack in the Box fast food chain can enjoy late-night meals in celebration of the “Deep Cover” rapper. From now until August 6, 2023 Snoop’s Munchie Meal can be purchased at any Jack in the Box location, on the company’s website, and on the Jack app.
And for those who are anxiously awaiting new music from the Doggfather and Dr. Dre, the dynamic duo is putting the finishing touches on their latest album. Although a release date hasn’t been announced, the project is anticipated to be released in 2023.
It’s been 30 years since the release of the seminal album, Doggystyle, and the pair will be doing a concert on October 20 and 21 to celebrate the anniversary.
Black Entrepreneur Who Became a Millionaire After 25 Years at the Post Office Launches Mentorship Program
Dana Christian, a successful entrepreneur and business funding expert from Snellville, Georgia, has made it her mission to help African Americans access and leverage funding to create generational wealth. Through her official website, The Ladder to Passive Income, Christian has helped thousands of people obtain funding and start their own businesses.
Christian’s journey to success is nothing short of remarkable. As a teenage mother of two girls and a high school dropout, she faced many challenges early in life. However, she refused to let these obstacles define her and was determined to create a better life for herself and her family. After working at the post office for 25 years and experiencing financial hardships due to an injury, Christian realized that she needed to create an additional stream of income. She also recognized that many people were not taught how to obtain business funding options to build wealth. With this in mind, she began to research and educate herself on how to invest in real estate and create passive income.
Christian’s hard work and dedication paid off. She was able to gain access to the needed funds to invest in real estate and eventually became a millionaire. Through her own experiences, she learned the power of credit and how it can be used to create financial freedom.
With her newfound knowledge, Christian founded The Ladder to Passive Income to help others achieve the same level of success. Through her website, she offers a range of resources and services to help individuals access various funding options even with bad credit.
Christian’s expertise in funding has been recognized by many, including NBC News and Fox News. Her work has also been praised by those she has helped, with many clients expressing their gratitude for her guidance and support.
When asked about her impact on the Black community, Christian said, “Everyone needs GAS: guidance, advice, support.” This continues to reflect her commitment to helping others. She understands the importance of providing guidance and support to those who may not have access to it otherwise.
Christian’s impact on the community is immeasurable. Through her work, she has not only helped individuals achieve financial freedom, but she has also helped to empower and inspire others to pursue their dreams.
Her journey to success is a testament to the power of perseverance, hard work, and dedication. Her story is an inspiration to all those who face adversity and a reminder that with the right guidance and support, anything is possible.
In a video statement released by his lawyers, the 24-year-old former Marine said Neely entered the train on May 1 and began threatening passengers.
“The man stumbled on, he appeared to be on drugs, the doors closed, and he ripped his jacket off and threw it down at the people sitting next to me at my left,” Penny said. “The three main threats he repeated over and over was ‘I’m going to kill you,’ ‘I’m prepared to go to jail for life,’ and ‘I’m willing to die.'”
Penny claimed his decision to restrain Neely in a chokehold, which resulted in his death, was one born of fear. “I was scared for myself but I looked around there was women and children, he was yelling in their faces saying these threats. I just couldn’t sit still,” he said.
According to police reports, Neely became aggressive with passengers and threw trash at several of them, which prompted Penny to subdue him, The New York Daily News reported. Penny did remain on the scene to answer questions from police but was let go soon after, sparking racially charged debates around the death of yet another unarmed Black man.
Attorney Lennon Edwards, who is representing Neely’s family, said Penny’s intentions were to fatally harm the former Michael Jackson impersonator, as made clear by his course of action.
“Daniel Penny chose, intentionally chose, a technique to use that is designed to cut off air—that’s what he chose—and he chose to continue to hold that chokehold minute after minute, second after second, until there was no life left in Jordan Neely,” he said.
Penny vehemently disagrees with claims that he intended to murder Neely, insisting that his only intent was to restrain him and that his race was not a factor, according to BET.
“Some people say this was about race, which is absolutely ridiculous. I didn’t see a Black man threatening passengers. I saw a man threatening passengers. A lot of whom were people of color,” he said in his statement.
Currently, Penny faces 5 to 15 years in prison if convicted of the second-degree manslaughter charge.
Nichols, who would have turned 30 on June 5, was a regular at the Sacramento skate park before moving to Tennessee at the start of the pandemic to be closer to his parents, according to ABC News.
City officials, along with Nichols’ family, celebrated the occasion in an emotional ribbon-cutting ceremony. Keyana Dixon, Nichols’ sister, said her brother’s untimely death didn’t allow for him to see his dreams come to fruition; however, the skate park helps to eternally illustrate his love for skateboarding.
Dixon’s hope is that Nichols will be remembered as a “fun, kind and free-spirited young man that did not deserve any of what happened,” The Sacramento Bee reported.
In February, councilwoman Lisa Kaplan announced plans for the park during a memorial for Nichols held at Sac Ramp Skate Shop. “This skate park represents the hope of a future,” Kaplan said Sunday. “We need to remember our past and make the future better. No mom should ever have to worry about losing their son or daughter over a traffic stop.”
On January 7, Memphis police pulled over the 29-year-old Nichols, who was heading home after spending his evening taking pictures of the sky. A few minutes from his parents’ house, he was accosted by five officers, causing him to be hospitalized for three days before succumbing to his injuries.
The officers, who are all Black, currently face charges of second-degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct, and official oppression, according to ABC News. All of the officers have been fired from the department. The Nichols family is seeking $500 million in damages from the Memphis Police Department.
Missouri Prosecutor Wesley Bell Wants Dibs At The Senate Seat In 2024
Black Democrat and Missouri prosecutor attorney Wesley Bell wants Republican Sen. Josh Hawley’s seat.
The leader in criminal justice reform gave his reasons for wanting to be elected to the statewide office. Among them, Bell said in a campaign video, “We need leaders who try to help — unlike Josh Hawley, who’s in a rush to be famous and pretending to be tough while showing the world how weak he really is,” said the attorney, 48, referencing a viral photograph of Hawley. The Republican senator was captured on camera on the anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021, riots raising his fist, according to NBC News. The gesture was meant to symbolize solidarity with Trump supporters at the Capitol.
The prosecutor was a key figure in the protests that followed the tragic death of Michael Brown. Bell proclaimed it was a “turning point” for him. He told the Associated Press, “When the city, the region, the country seemed like it was ready to explode, I helped calm tensions between police and protesters.” He said in his campaign video that he was raised to take responsibility for making a difference in the world. The Democrat expressed how he served on the front lines after Brown was killed. The St. Louis County native physically positioned himself between residents and police to mediate. He said, “In Ferguson, that meant trying to help calm tensions between police and protestors.”
Bell’s father was a police officer, and according to his campaign website, Bell has taken the lead to ensure law enforcement is held accountable. His efforts have included creating a violent crimes unit dedicated to domestic violence, an auto theft task force, and the North County Police Cooperative. His expansion of diversion programs for “low-level, non-violent offenders struggling with mental health issues and opioid and substance abuse disorders” succeeded at a 90% rate.
