Adolph Thornton Jr., also known as Young Dolph, was killed two years ago in November 2021, when he visited his favorite bakery, Makeda’s Homemade Butter Cookies, in South Memphis, TN. To honor the hip-hop recording artist, his hometown of Memphis is hosting the Dolphland pop-up museum, which will be at the Agricenter located at 7777 N. Walnut Walnut Grove.

The museum will be open every weekend in May, and The Breakfast Club’s DJ Envy will host the finale on Sunday, May 28, in partnership with his “Drive Your Dreams” car show series.

According to The Source, Young Dolph’s posthumous release, Paper Route Frank, is the soundtrack for the celebration, and Paper Route Empire and Street Execs Management are holding the month-long tribute. 

In a written statement, the car enthusiast said, “I think it’s dope for the Memphis community that my car show and Dolphland Museum partnered up to honor Young Dolph. The Love for the Streets Car Show will have Dolph’s cars and many other celebrities’ cars. We will also have food trucks, carnival rides for the kids, BMX bikes, and much more. The grand finale of Dolphland Museum on May 28th is going to be something you don’t want to miss!”

According to Fox 13, Young Dolph was shot while purchasing cookies at Makeda’s Butter Cookies. The owner of the store, Maurice Hill, told the media outlet that employees of the store said the 36-year-old rapper walked into Makeda’s Butter Cookies and was ambushed by the killer, who drove up and fired off shots, instantly killing the Memphis rapper. 

The New York Post reported that Young Dolph was a well-known rapper in the city and had released his debut studio album, King of Memphis, in 2016. The album peaked at 49 on the Billboard 200 chart. His seventh and final studio album in 2020, Rich Slave, peaked at the No. 4 spot on the Billboard 200 chart.

Starz breakout drama P-Valley is the latest television series going on hiatus due to the ongoing writer’s strike.

The show’s creator and showrunner, Katori Hall, took to Twitter on Wednesday to clear up speculation surrounding the production of season 3 amid the writer’s strike that has Hollywood at a standstill.

“Despite rumors, due to the #WGA #WritersStrike filming on #PValley has been postponed,” Hall tweeted.

“Like many of my fellow showrunners, I feel as though my writing & producing duties are inextricably linked. We will not be filming until a fair deal is reached. #WGAStrong.”

Production for season 3 hasn’t kicked off yet, Deadline reports. But Hall’s statement seemingly reflects what’s happening in the P-Valley writer’s room.

“I am also a member of the #DGA, whose #AMPTP contract begins negotiations TODAY. Overlapping issues abound and we shall see how these stories end,” she continued.

“As a writer I strike with a sense of radical dignity — that our work must be valued for the magic it is. #WGAStrong #WritersStrike”

I am also a member of the #DGA, whose #AMPTP contract begins negotiations TODAY. Overlapping issues abound and we shall see how these stories end. As a writer I strike with a sense of radical dignity — that our work must be valued for the magic it is. #WGAStrong #WritersStrike

— Katori Hall (@KatoriHall) May 10, 2023

The Starz drama follows the inner workings of Chucalissa, Mississippi’s fictional Pynk strip club. The ups and downs of the dancers and big spenders that enter the club take center stage.

The cast includes Nicco Annan, Elarica Johnson, Brandee Evans, Shannon Thornton, J. Alphonse Nicholson, Parker Sawyers, Harriett D. Foy, Dan J. Johnson, Morocco Omari, and Dominic DeVore. Annan’s performance as one of the show’s lead characters, Uncle Clifford, has garnered two NAACP Image Awards for Best Actor in a Drama Series.

With P-Valley being postponed amid the writer’s strike, it joins Starz’ growing list of suspended shows, including The Venery of Samantha Bird and an untitled Joshua Jackson series being spearheaded by Ava DuVernay.

The impact of the writer’s strike, which kicked off on May 1, continues to grow, with shows and film productions across the industry being put on pause. Movies and series whose scripts were secured before the strike started can continue with production, GZ reports.

RELATED CONTENT: P-Valley Actor J. Alphonse Nicholson and Black-Owned Cannabis Company Create Strain To Treat Anxiety

Angela Alsobrooks has fought for the improvement of her state for years, and now she is fighting for a more significant role in Maryland.

According to a press release, the Prince George’s County executive has been endorsed by Congressman Kweisi Mfume as she runs to become the next United States Senator for Maryland.

On May 10, 2023, a rally-state event was held in the Old Line State, where other notable Democrats of Maryland endorsed Alsobrooks.

“Angela Alsobrooks is extremely qualified to represent Maryland in the United States Senate and deserves our support,” said Congressman Mfume. “She has a proven track record of success which includes fighting crime, fighting for children, and increasing access to jobs and healthcare. Angela is someone who knows and understands the people she represents, cares deeply and takes the time to listen to all people. We need her in the U.S. Senate,” Mfume continued. 

Prince George’s County is one of the state’s most populous jurisdictions. Alsobrooks won her 2022 Democratic primary contest with 91% of the vote, before getting re-elected in the general election unopposed. Alsobrooks was elected State’s Attorney for Prince George’s County from 2010 to 2018, and she fulfilled the duties and reduced crime across significant categories. The 2010 race marked her first time on the ballot for an elected office. As the press release stated, “She bested the incumbent clerk of court (a position elected countywide) and incumbent county council chair in that contest with 42% of the vote – twice what any other candidate garnered.”

Fox News reported that currently, no Black women hold a seat as a U.S. Senator, and the state of Maryland has no women in its entire congressional delegation.

Alsobrooks studied law from 1993 to 1996 and earned her juris doctorate from the University of Maryland Law School in Baltimore. Following her studies, she became a clerk for jurists Donna Hill Staton at the Howard County Circuit Court and William Quarles at the Baltimore City Circuit Court. She then returned to Prince George’s County, becoming an assistant state’s attorney.

According to NBC Washington, Alsobrooks took to Twitter to announce her Senate bid. “There aren’t enough people in the US Senate who live like, think like, and look like the people they’re supposed to represent,” Alsobrooks wrote.

With Beyoncé’s highly anticipated “Renaissance” tour starting this week, Bey Hive members are finally getting answers to their questions, like, “Where the hell are the visuals, Bey?!”

During the tour’s start at the Friends Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, Tuesday night, fans found out exactly why Beyoncé has yet to release a visual album for Renaissance since dropping the album in July 2022.

One fan posted a video clip from Bey’s Tuesday night performance showing a large screen displaying words simultaneously with a voiceover.

“Awwwww you mad? Well there’s no remedy for that b*tches,” the fierce vocalist said. “I know you hear me.”

“You’ve asked for the visuals,” the voiceover continued. “You’ve called for the queen. But a queen moves at her own pace b*ch.”

“Decides when she wants to give you a fu*king taste. So get your fork and your spoon, if you got one.”

Beyoncé then went into her 2016 hit “Formation” of her Grammy award-winning Lemonade album. But Bey Hive members couldn’t help but acknowledge how gagged the “Single Ladies” left them over the lack of “Renaissance” visuals.

“omg not beyoncé addressing the visuals i’m crying 😭 #RenaissanceWorldTour,” the fan tweeted.

https://twitter.com/rasmusbravado/status/1656387701111767041?s=46&t=qmzb_I2N1DzN_GymACe90A

Since 2006, Beyoncé has made visual albums a part of her album release, starting with B-Day, according to Pop Buzz. With Renaissance last summer, the album’s first single “Break My Soul” dropped in June 2022 with no music video.

Fans were expecting the album to release a month later with a full visual album like Bey is known to do, but nope. Leading up to the launch of her latest world tour, Bey Hivers were hopeful the record-breaking Grammy award-winner would drop the visuals.

But Bey’s world tour appears to confirm the status of the Renaissance visuals, and the answer is that fans still have to wait and see what Beyonce has planned. The lack of music videos didn’t stop the album from having the fourth-largest sales week for an album in 2022, with 190,000 albums sold. The “Halo” singer also won big at the 2023 Grammys and became the most-awarded musician of all time.

Maybe she’ll drop the visuals sometime soon, or maybe not. It’s up for the queen to decide.

RELATED CONTENT: Beyoncé’s Renaissance Tour Could Bring In $2.1 Billion In Revenue

The mass shooting in Allen, TX, on May 6 claimed the lives of eight people. Arizona Cardinals quarterback, Kyler Murray, has stepped in and donated $15,000 to one of the children who lost three family members at the Allen Premium Outlets on that fateful day.

Murray, who attended high school in Allen, took to his Twitter account to comment on the tragedy. When he tweeted, he also asked if there was a way he could help people affected by the shooting.

“This is sickening. Prayers to the mass shooting victims in Allen, Texas. If there is any way I can help those affected by this tragedy, please let me know. When is this s**t gonna stop?”

The Arizona Cardinals posted on its official Twitter account that Murray donated $15,000 to William Cho.

Even after donating to Cho, Murray continued to monitor the situation regarding Cho’s family and the funeral arrangements. He took to Twitter once again to add more links for others to help the victims of the shooting.

“Heart-wrenching, I just donated, and here are more verified links for other victims as well. Does anyone know anything about the funeral arrangements?”

The GoFundMe account created by Cho’s family on behalf of the 6-year-old boy dramatically surpassed the $50,000 goal, reaching almost two million dollars ($1,858,900). 

Fox 4 News reported that Cho’s mother, Cindy, his father, Kyu, and 3-year-old brother, James, were killed that day when they were caught in the crossfire at Allen Premium Outlets. The family was at the mall returning clothes William received for his birthday just four days before the shooting. William was shot but survived and is currently out of ICU.

Murray, who has been in the NFL since 2019, attended Allen High School before embarking on a collegiate career with Texas A&M and Oklahoma before being drafted by the Arizona Cardinals. He was undefeated as the quarterback at Allen High School, where he led the team and compiled a record of 42-0.

Last year, SL Green and Caesars Entertainment announced that Jay-Z and his Roc Nation entity were joining them in opening a new, state-of-the-art gaming facility at 1515 Broadway in Times Square. Now, Roc Nation has taken to the media to pen an open letter addressing “conflicted parties” attempting to “spread misinformation” about their plans regarding the casino.

According to Complex, Roc Nation took out full-page ads in publications like The New York Post, The New York Daily News, and The Amsterdam News on Thursday to detail the company’s plans for a casino in the heart of New York City.

The open letter is also available on Roc Nation’s Twitter account.

“A gaming license is going to be awarded to New York City. A bill was passed in the state legislature confirming it. The question is: which applicant will get the license? Some conflicted parties have attempted to spread misinformation, so we wanted to speak to you, New York City, directly.”

The trio of independent companies believes the facility, which will be named Caesars Palace Times Square, will generate seven million new visitors to Times Square. With the debut of the casino, native New Yorkers and tourists alike will bring billions in economic benefit to Broadway and area businesses.

“Caesars Palace Times Square will benefit all of New York—the hotel and restaurant workers in the area, retailers, and surrounding neighborhoods. Our bid commits $115 million for diverse theater programs that include daycare for Broadway workers and their families.”

Roc Nation feels the casino would be great for business in the immediate and surrounding areas. But, according to Deadline, the trade organization representing theater owners and producers, The Broadway League, opposes the plan.

The Broadway League argued a casino would not bring in people from out of town but that casinos, by design, are made to keep customers inside their facility, which wouldn’t benefit businesses in the Times Square vicinity.

Stillman College, a private liberal arts college in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, has become the first historically Black college to officially withdraw from the annual U.S. News and World Report.

In a statement addressed to U.S. News and World Report CEO and Executive Chairman Eric Gertler, Stillman College President Cynthia Warrick announced the withdrawal of the HBCU from the college rankings.

“After much consideration and thought, Stillman College will be withdrawing from the U.S. News and World Report Best in College Rankings, effective immediately. Through research and deliberation, we conclude that the methodology and weighting system of the U.S. News rankings do not reflect the full value and commitments of our institution,” Warrick said in the statement.

According to AL.com, Warrick challenged the organization to reassess how much weight is put on certain topics. Lower-resourced schools and HBCUs are at a disadvantage as the rankings are “based predominantly on graduation rate.” The 2022–2023 rankings listed Stillman 40 out of 100, and researchers ranked the college 63rd out of 132 southern regional colleges and 59th out of 77 HBCUs.

“Even though we’ve got these students getting PhDs and getting great jobs and starting their own businesses and we’re producing teachers and our Honda Quiz Bowl team won a national championship, we don’t get any credit for that,” Warrick said. “If the data were more fair, then you’d have more HBCUs higher in the ranking system because of the outcomes they produce.”

Reportedly, the majority of enrolled students at Stillman are African American, female, and eligible for Pell Grants. The college also has over 100 students who classify as parents.

“Stillman has found that the circumstances of poverty challenges these students to make decisions that call them in and out of enrollment,” Warrick said. “Yet, Stillman remains committed to them. How does U.S. News measure our commitment? I opine that it does not.”

Stillman College eliminated several athletic programs resulting in a decline of over 200 students.

“Our rankings help aspiring students as they take their first step in ensuring their career opportunities, earning potential, and quality of life,” the organization said, adding that “students require reliable information to guide them in their decision-making process.”

U.S. News and World Report found an average of 23% of students graduated from Stillman within six years, less than the 27% reported by the National Center for Education Statistics.

Activist and fashion designer Aurora James has received acclaim for her groundbreaking “15% pledge” aimed at urging retail giants to dedicate 15% of shelf space to Black-owned brands. Now, with her literary debut, the fashion pioneer is using her memoir to remind others of the beauty that lies on the other side of adversity.

On Tuesday, James released WILDFLOWER: A Memoir, her first-ever book that narrates her honest journey while highlighting how we blossom from life’s pressures in the harshest conditions. As a change agent and advocate, WILDFLOWER follows James’ fight for creative freedom and calls for economic equality for everyone—especially women of color.

The true story shares themes of love, loss, abuse, determination, and making it against all odds. With a focus on inspiring others to stand up for what’s right and thrive in places they weren’t expected to go, James aims to leave readers with a sense of “community” toward others.

“My memoir is about how much life can throw you at once, and how much you have inside you to weather the storm,” James told BLACK ENTERPRISE.

“It’s also about community and recognition—recognizing those who have lifted me up along the way, and I, in turn, lifting them up, too.”

 

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A post shared by Aurora James 🦢 (@aurorajames)

James gets candid in the memoir about dropping out of high school, her brushes with the law and getting arrested, and her complicated upbringing as a mixed-raced child in Toronto, Canada. Working on the memoir proved “challenging” for the creative director and Brother Vellies founder.

“Very challenging at times, very scary,” James said of writing the memoir. “But when I see it on the page and I know that others might find hope in it, it’s all worth it.”

Her experience as a half-white, half-Trinidadian helped shape her motivation to visit Africa and find answers about her identity.

“Growing up in Canada as a biracial child was not always easy, and without a doubt has shaped my journey,” James said. “There were countless experiences where I was the only Black woman in the room and often had to be the voice fighting on behalf of my community.”

In 2013, James discovered the real power of creating for the runway when she started her award-winning international brand, Brother Vellies. Her mission was to keep traditional African design practices and techniques alive while also creating and sustaining artisanal jobs in the motherland.

 

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James has gone on to design Met Gala looks for the likes of Solange Knowles and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s iconic “Tax the Rich” dress.

“Launching Brother Vellies has taught me that you need to define success on your own terms,” James said.

“For me, it has never been about revenue goal posts, but more about exploring people, culture, and our planet. Telling stories and taking risks. Advocating, abstaining, doing the things that feel right for your soul and not just your bottom line.”

WILDFLOWER adds to James’ growing résumé of recognition, which includes becoming the first Black American female designer to win a CFDA Award, being named one of Glamour’s 2022 Women of the Year, TIME Magazine’s Most Influential People of 2021, and PEOPLE’s Women Changing the World in 2022.

Her groundbreaking “15 Percent Pledge,” born out of the Black Lives Matter movement of 2020, has grown tremendously in the last three years and even garnered her a personal invitation to the home of Vice President Kamala Harris.

 

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A post shared by Aurora James 🦢 (@aurorajames)

“The Pledge’s growth is inspiring because it shows how we are meeting a major gap in the market while creating previously unheard of opportunities,” James told BLACK ENTERPRISE.

“Companies made promises to advance racial equity without a roadmap, and the Pledge offers clear, viable solutions tailored to their specific needs to ensure they follow through on their commitments.”

“To date, 29 companies across three countries have taken the Pledge, and we have created the potential to shift $14 billion in opportunities to Black businesses,” she continued. “This growth and impact would not be possible without our incredible team that works tirelessly to maintain relationships with our Pledge takers, support the Black businesses in our network, and so much more.

The memoir is just the latest continuation of James’ advocacy for equity in fashion. With a CFDA Award under her belt and a vice-chair role with the Council of Fashion Designers of America, James is using her platform to amplify the Black community.

“I’m excited to now also be in my new role as vice-Chair of the CFDA so I can make sure the door to the room stays open for other people that look like me as well,” James shared.

Howard University’s men’s golf team has won two consecutive championships. On May 10, team easily took home the PGA Works Collegiate championship by 57 strokes. 

According to Golfweek, Greg Odom Jr., who knocked in the final putt, won the low medalist honor two years in a row. HU’s Everett Whiten Jr. also finished at 14-under par. 

“I feel like if you prepare properly and you execute by trusting the process, things like this can happen,” Sam Puryear, HU’s golf coach said. “This is a byproduct of a lot of hard work, a lot of personal belief, a lot of sacrifice. We had a quick two-day turnaround from our conference championship, so there was a lot on everybody’s plate, but it worked out in our favor.”

Whiten started the championship game one shot behind Chicago State’s Kieran Hogarth. But Whiten eventually commanded the field by birdying four of the first six holes, finishing the front nine in 31 shots. 

Odom, who lost his father on May 1, finished at 5-under; HU’s Marcus Smith finished 4-under for the Championship, PGA reports. 

“They have no idea how poorly underfunded we were 30-some years ago. But to see a group of brown kids do what they’ve done, and the belief system that they’ve established, it’s fantastic right now,” Puryer said to WUSA News.

After a dominant performance comes a worthy celebration 🍾.

Congratulations to our Men’s Division I Champions, @HUBison_Golf!#PGAWORKSChamp | @PGAWORKS pic.twitter.com/8wkSoY3hFq

— PGA Amateur Golf (@PGAAmateurGolf) May 10, 2023

HU debuted its first Division 1 men’s and women’s golf teams during the 2020-2021 academic school year. Upon the school’s announcement, NBA superstar Stephen Curry announced that he would support HU’s golf teams for six years. 

“Golf is a sport that has changed my life in ways that are less tangible, but just as impactful,” Curry said to HU’s The Dig, “It’s a discipline that challenges your mental wherewithal from patience to focus, and is impossible to truly master, so when you hear about these passionate student-athletes who have the talent but don’t have a fair shot at the game, it’s tough. I feel really honored to play a small role in the rich history of Howard University, and look forward to building their first men’s and women’s golf teams with them.”

NBA superstar Stephen Curry is in DC today for the announcement that he will sponsor Howard Univ. men’s and women’s golf programs for the next six years.

HU athletic director called it “one of the most generous gifts” in the school’s history. pic.twitter.com/z5sVS3MkKM

— Candace Buckner (@CandaceDBuckner) August 19, 2019

RELEATED CONTENT: Howard University Hires Historian Ben Vinson III To Serve As School’s New President

• News

by Sharelle B. McNair

May 11, 2023

Former Army Sergeant Who Killed BLM Protestor Sentenced To 25 Years In Prison

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Former Army sergeant Daniel Perry has learned his fate after being convicted of killing Garrett Foster, a Black Lives Matter protestor who was marching in Austin, TX.

Associated Press reported Perry has been sentenced to 25 years in prison after prosecutors were successful in using his past social media accounts and text history to show him as a racist that could possibly commit violent acts again. However, his sentencing may be short-lived, as Texas’ Republican governor, Greg Abbott, is looking to pardon his sentence.

Shortly after his conviction, Abbott called on the state Board of Pardons and Paroles and requested them to send over Perry’s pardon recommendation. Abbott praised Texas’ “Stand Your Ground” self-defense laws, claiming Perry was targeted by a liberal prosecutor.

Once Perry’s extremely racist texts and images were made public, Abbott remained shockingly silent. One message read, “Black Lives Matter is racist to white people…It is official I am racist because I do not agree with people acting like monkeys,” according to The Austin American-Statesman.

A psychologist testified the assailant was autistic and suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, however, the victim’s mother-in-law Patricia Kirven, who was present for the sentencing, spoke directly to Perry and called his actions “pure evil.”

“The decision you made was not based on PTSD and was not based on autism,” Kirven said to Perry, reported by AAS. “My son who has autism does not know how to deal with this kind of grief. You do. You hide your head and keep your eyes bowed down to the ground.”

On Jul. 25, 2020 Perry ran a red light, while working as an Uber driver, and turned into a BLM march. He claimed that Foster approached his car with a AK-47 raised to him, so he shot him five times with a handgun before driving away.