by Sharelle B. McNair

October 8, 2025

Oklahoma Bill Calling For Charlie Kirk Statues On College Campuses Gets Side-Eyes

The legislation also lists consequences if the memorial is vandalized.

A new bill from Oklahoma Republicans that would put a Charlie Kirk “memorial plaza” on college campuses is generating controversy.

Chair of the Oklahoma Freedom Caucus, Sen. Shane Jett, filed three pieces of legislation in Kirk’s honor, according to the OU Daily, one of which makes it a requirement for public colleges and universities to develop a memorial square or plaza on their main campus.

Senate Bill 1187 would require permanent signage commemorating Kirk under two options: a statue of Kirk sitting at a table with an empty seat across from him or standing with his wife, holding their kids.

The memorial must be prominently visible and easily accessible in an effort to “maximize public awareness and utilization.” The legislation also says that any student, employee, or faculty member involved in vandalizing the structure would be expelled or fired in addition to being fined for the cost of the damage.

The legislation follows the announcement by Ryan Walters, the former state superintendent of schools, who planned to install Turning Point USA chapters in every Oklahoma high school before resigning in late September. Faculty adviser for the University of Oklahoma Turning Point USA chapter, Gary Barksdale, said he would be proud to see a Kirk memorial on the university campus.

“Because Charlie Kirk’s mission was going across college campuses in the United States, promoting free speech and promoting open dialogue and promoting civil discussion of important issues,” Barksdale explained.

Kirk, who founded Turning Point USA, was assassinated last month during a campus event in Utah.

Several supporters and Christianity advocates compared his death—and legacy—to that of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. That instantly caught the attention of the King family.

King’s son, Martin Luther King III, and daughter, Bernice, denounced some of Kirk’s well-known accusations against Black women, including that they lack “the brain processing power to be taken seriously.”

King III called comparing Kirk to his father “a disservice to unification.”

“Kirk certainly was a force in this society and a significant force, but I just disagree with the position that his force was about inclusiveness,” he added. “When you denigrate Black women and say that somebody is in a position just because of the color of their skin, that’s gravely false.”

AI-generated mockups of what the memorials may look like have already circulated on social media, drawing remarks from free speech supporters.

Every American university should have one of these pic.twitter.com/ceozbF4zIA
— David Keyes (@DavidMKeyes) September 12, 2025

“Looks like a great gathering place for everyone losing their jobs for exercising their 1st amendment rights!” @clairekart wrote in response.

Another user, @retolord, shared similar viewpoints, highlighting how “Kirk’s (sic) supporters are literally running around punishing people for voicing their opinion.”

Kamala Harris, day of unreasonable conversations, 107 Days, book tour, Trump adminsitration

by Kandiss Edwards

October 8, 2025

Kamala Harris On The Current Political Moment: ‘These Motherf***ers Are Crazy’

Regardless of the negativity, Harris urged the crowd to pay attention to the lack of empathy being displayed by the government.

On October 6, former Vice President Kamala Harris unleashed her strongest language and spoke candidly about what she believes is an increasingly unhinged political climate.

While appearing at the summit, “A Day of Unreasonable Conversation,” Harris commented on what she called escalating discourse and distorted rhetoric.

“There is so much about this moment that is trying to make people feel like they’ve lost their minds,” Harris said.

“There is so much about this moment that is trying to make people feel like they’ve lost their minds when, in fact, these motherfuckers are crazy!!” ~ @KamalaHarris pic.twitter.com/DIkB82JLoQ
— harris4potus (@kdh4potus) October 7, 2025

Harris’s candid conversation takes place during the promotion of her massively popular memoir, 107 Days, about the 2024 presidential campaign.

Many were shocked by the direct tone of the usually buttoned-up Harris. Her sentiments marked a stark departure from the more measured public statements she has made during the election cycle.

“Everyone’s looking for a thousand-foot drop on me,” she said.

Regardless of the negativity, Harris urged the crowd to pay attention to the lack of empathy being displayed by the government. She prompted citizens to keep an eye out for propaganda and outright falsehoods being pushed to the forefront of media.

“Part of this moment requires us to debunk the stuff they’re trying to sell the American people: To scapegoat, instead of owning up to the responsibility that the powerful have to have some kind of concern and care, if not just some basic f*****g curiosity, about the well-being of other people.”

“This moment requires us to debunk the stuff they’re trying to sell the American people: To scapegoat, instead of owning up to the responsibility of those in power to have some kind of concern & care, if not just some basic f*****g curiosity, about the wellbeing of other people.” pic.twitter.com/K86Uqncw7U
— Kayah (@__Kayah__) October 6, 2025

The summit also featured appearances by actors, activists, and thinkers who joined Harris to discuss such topics as climate activism, gender equity, and digital creation..

Sen. Raphael Warnock, Georgia, election day, ballot counting, rule

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

October 8, 2025

Sen. Raphael Warnock And Rev. Neichelle R. Guidry Bring ‘Spelhouse Gospel’ To Howard University

The two "Spelhouse" alum tied their faith-based messages to modern-day political struggles.

Sen. Rev. Raphael Warnock and his fellow, Rev. Neichelle R. Guidry, brought the gospel and united HBCU love to Howard University’s campus.

The faith leaders and “Spelhouse” alum preached at Howard’s Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel Services in celebration of Congressional Black Caucus Week. According to The Dig, the two spoke at separate services on Sundays, taking place at the HBCU’s Cramton Auditorium.

On Sept. 28, Warnock uplifted Howard’s faith-based community with his sermon titled “God’s Victory Over Violence.” In times of political strife, Warnock reminded the audience that “holy mischief” is sometimes necessary to speak the truth and effect change.

The Morehouse alum particularly mentioned two famous Johns in history, the biblically renowned John the Baptist, as well as the late politician and civil rights activist John Lewis.

“Telling the naked, unadulterated truth on a world system built on lies will get you in trouble,” said the pastor of the famed Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta. “But John Lewis called it ‘good trouble.'”

As John the Baptist and Lewis were lauded for their commitment to justice and truth, Warnock warned that today’s world must confront its own history. He mentioned timely issues such as the erasure of history and book burnings to shun away from the realities of our past, noting that the violence persists in different ways.

With attacks on diversity and poor people, Warnock used the stories of the Bible, particularly John the Baptist, to draw parallels to today’s modern fight. According to Warnock and his biblical study, John the Baptist spoke out against King Harrod’s rule within the Roman Empire, leading to his beheading despite promoting the values of Jesus Christ.

Just as the biblical story goes, Warnock encouraged all to stay the course with liberty and God’s grace at the world’s doorstep.

Rev. Guidry continued with her own message of empowerment through faith at the following Sunday’s service. In her sermon “Message from the Mountain,” she detailed the story of Prophet Elijah.

In her Oct. 5 speech, she emphasized how, like Elijah, some people feel unaligned with their divine purpose. Drawing a contemporary comparison, she said many people could feel this way while taking on social causes or suffering with no solution in sight.

“It feels like you can’t help veering to the left or to the right no matter how much you try to stay centered,” explained Guidry, who serves as dean of the Chapel and the director of the WISDOM Center at Spelman College.

However, the reverend reminded listeners that although they may be in a “cave season” like Elijah, the purpose of this self-isolation can help one regroup and renew themselves in their purpose. The moment of solitude is not to stray farther from God, but to realign oneself with the holy word.

“Sometimes we meet God not in our strength, but we meet God in our weakness,” added Guidry. “Sometimes we meet God in our weariness and our exhaustion, in our wavering trust and our shaky faith. But I’m so glad today that we serve a God who is so connected, and God knows exactly where to find us right where we are.”

Both reverends highlighted the importance of reconnecting with God’s guidance, especially in times of worldly and personal strife. Given the sociopolitical turmoil of today, these sermons encouraged this HBCU audience to empower themselves and find strength through faith to keep making a difference.

RELATED CONTENT: Sen. Warnock Emphasizes Importance Of Black Voters In 2024 Election

by Kandiss Edwards

October 8, 2025

Bad Bunny Told To ‘Stay In Your Country’ If You Aren’t Patriotic By Former NFL Player Eric Dickerson

Dickerson plainly expressed he felt about Bad Bunny’s upcoming Super Bowl performance.

Hall of Fame running back Eric Dickerson made a bold pronouncement to the 2026 Super Bowl headliner, Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio.

In an interview with TMZ, Dickerson plainly expressed how he felt about Bad Bunny’s upcoming performance. The former Los Angeles Ram criticized Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny over his stance on America’s current political climate. Dickerson believes that if Ocasio is not enthusiastically patriotic, he should not headline an American sporting event with over 100 million viewers.

“I’m from the U.S. I love my country. And if you don’t like the United States, just get your ass out of here and don’t come over here.” Dickerson said to TMZ, “If Bad Bunny said something about the U.S., don’t come here and perform. You know, don’t come here. Stay in your country.”

As Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, Bad Bunny is a member of this country. When reminded of that, Dickerson doubled down on his stance. He continued to make a distinction between U.S. territories and mainland states. To Dickerson, the distinction matters regardless of citizenship.

“I know Puerto Rico is part of the U.S. But it’s not the U.S. That’s the way I look at it. That’s the way I feel,” he said.

https://twitter.com/TMZ/status/1975697720229654704

Commentary on Bad Bunny’s upcoming performance has been ongoing–mostly due to his refusal to tour in the mainland U.S. for his newest album. Instead, Ocasio opted for a residency in Puerto Rico. Many have laid claims of American hate at Bad Bunny’s feet, but his own words state the exact opposite. While he is concerned about ICE officers’ treatment of suspected illegal residents, he does not hate America. In an interview with I-D, he explained his reasoning for inviting his fans to see him in Puerto Rico.

“There were many reasons why I didn’t show up in the U.S., and none of them were out of hate—I’ve performed there many times. . .But there was the issue of—like, f*cking ICE could be outside [my concert]. And it’s something that we were talking about and very concerned about,” he said.

Dickerson did not address another issue many people have with the Solo De Mi singer’s performance; the crooner’s music is mostly sung in Spanish. As America has no national language and 45 million people in the U.S. speak Spanish, Ocasio’s catalogue will be understood by many. For those who only speak English, during a performance on Saturday Night Live, Ocasio has made it clear: “You have four months to learn.

Allen Iverson, Hampton., Morgan State University

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 8, 2025

Allen Iverson Says He’s Been Sober For 6 Months

'One of my best decisions that I ever made in my life was to stop drinking.'

NBA Hall of Famer Allen Iverson says giving up alcohol was one of the “best decisions” he’s made in his life in an interview with CBS Mornings‘ Maurice DuBois.

“The Answer,” said he stopped drinking alcohol six months ago.

The NBA legend was being interviewed to promote his memoir Misunderstood, which was released this week.

“When you get drunk, you’re not how you usually are,” he told DuBois. “The more and more I see it on other people, the more and more it makes me happy about the decision. And the more and more I see how the people around me appreciate it, I love it.”

Iverson, best known for his years with the Philadelphia 76ers, also explained the logic behind the book’s title

“Misunderstood comes from, you think you know, but you have no idea,” said Iverson, who turned 50 in June. “There’s a lot of things that people have said about me throughout my career. A lot of those things hurt. Calling me a thug when I know I’m not. Judging me off of a look. I think that was one of the toughest things I really had to deal with.”

NBA Hall of Famer Allen Iverson was a basketball phenom in the 90s and early 2000s, matching his signature speed and athleticism on the court with his fashion choices, which put him at odds with the league’s commissioner and other players.

In his new memoir, “Misunderstood,”… pic.twitter.com/8DtYzwlPDF
— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) October 7, 2025

“The Answer” informed fans this summer that he was embarking on a four-city book tour (New York, New Jersey, Washington, D.C., and New Orleans) to promote the book.

Even more people will get a chance to learn about Iverson when a documentary on the legendary guard and cultural icon is released.

Iverson, who was drafted first overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in 1996, retired in 2010. He made the All-Star team 11 times was named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player in 2001, the same year he led the Sixers to the NBA Finals.

by Keka Araújo

October 8, 2025

Elevating Your Excellence: COO Teri Williams Is Closing America’s Racial Wealth Gap Through Banking

Williams’s work is deeply personal, stemming from her belief that everyone can control their own economic destiny.

In 1995, Teri Williams embarked on a mission that would reshape her career and impact communities across the country. Along with her partner, Kevin Cohee, she acquired her first bank, the first step in a journey to build a powerful institution dedicated to empowering Black Americans.

Today, as president and chief operating officer of OneUnited Bank, the largest Black-owned bank in the United States, Williams has helped finance nearly $1 billion in loans for low- to moderate-income communities, including Los Angeles’ South Central and Compton, as well as Liberty City in Miami.

Williams’s work is deeply personal, stemming from her belief that everyone can control their own economic destiny. She has said her great-grandmother, an entrepreneur who owned several businesses in a segregated Florida town, helped inspire her lifelong mission.

“The work I do now is meaningful to me,” she told her alma mater, Brown University, earlier this year, “because we’re helping to make financial literacy a core value, particularly in Black communities.”

Her journey to OneUnited began in the mid-1990s, when she left a successful career at American Express, where she was the youngest-ever vice president. A family friend told her of the Boston Bank of Commerce’s need for new leadership, and she saw an opportunity to use her corporate experience to serve her community. Over the next several years, she and her partner would purchase three more Black-owned banks, eventually consolidating them into the unified, national brand known today as OneUnited.

The move was a response to a long-standing need. The Boston Bank of Commerce, founded in 1962, had served as a vital haven for Black individuals turned away from other financial institutions.

By consolidating these banks, Williams and her team created a strong entity with a valuation of $700 million and a customer base of approximately 100,000, with 80% of clients being Black. The bank’s mission is to help close the racial wealth gap, a staggering disparity that a 2024 Federal Reserve study estimated at $240,000 between the median Black and white household.

To serve this community, the bank has pioneered innovative products designed to provide financial access where others have failed.

For instance, the “Second Chance” checking account serves individuals who have been shut out of other institutions due to a negative banking history. At the same time, a secured credit card helps customers rebuild their credit.

The “Cash, Please,” short-term loan program was created to offer a safer, more affordable alternative to predatory check-cashing stores, which can charge interest rates as high as 400%. The bank has also adopted technology, launching an AI tool to help customers make smarter financial decisions, a feature that, according to Williams, has been “a big hit for us.”

Her popular “Teri Talks” on OneUnited’s official Instagram account provides customers and followers with up-close and personal access to information and tools to enhance their financial health.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DMa-rr8BoWQ/?hl=en

Williams’ influence extends beyond OneUnited. She is the founder of the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts and serves on the board of CCC Intelligent Solutions and the Boston Foundation Racial Wealth Gap Partnership.

She is also the author of I Got Bank! What My Granddad Taught Me About Money, a financial literacy book for young people.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DOJXyIEEVqc/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

by Sharelle B. McNair

October 8, 2025

Atlanta Business Leaders Show Support For Mayor Andre Dickens’ Decision To Forgo Airport Funding

The FAA froze the funds after Atlanta leadership refused to dial back on its diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

Just one week after Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens passed up millions of dollars in federal airport funding instead of dumping the city’s DEI programs, the city’s business owners are applauding in support, BET reports.

President of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, Katie Kirkpatrick, said it’s the sole duty of the city to protect initiatives that secured opportunities at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport for minority-owned businesses with federal funding on the line or not.

“It’s the DNA of who we are. It doesn’t change based on the policies or the perspectives at the federal level,” Kirkpatrick said. “Changing that, I think, would be inauthentic for our city.”

In late September, Dickens made headlines after he refused to rescind the city’s DEI programs in order to receive $57 million in funding from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for renovations at one of the busiest airports in the world.

Dickens said Atlanta has a reputation for nurturing Black entrepreneurship, which isn’t worth turning its back on.

“No city has done more to nurture Black entrepreneurship,” he said. “We are confident that the airport will be able to pursue alternative funding to advance these projects without impacting customers or airport service providers.”

Finding confidence that the airport, which is owned by the city, will find other avenues of funding, Kirkpatrick highlighted how this isn’t the first time Atlanta has battled adversity, and it won’t be the last.

She believes Dickens made the right choice.

“I think if he had [accepted the federal funds], it would have been inauthentic to who we are as a community. People come and go in politics; what doesn’t change is who we are as a community,” Kirkpatrick said, according to WSB Radio. “Because we are the cradle of the Civil Rights Movement, our DNA is steeped in having a diverse workforce, a diverse community, and the mayor does not shy away from that.”

Since 2023, after the Supreme Court’s devastating overturn of affirmative action, DEI initiatives have been attacked, creating scrutiny and confusion for business owners of all revenue standings and federal agencies.

One of those businesses on the front line of the fight was the Fearless Fund, the venture capital firm, headquartered in Atlanta, which was told its popular grant for Black-women business owners was discriminatory for business owners of other races.

covid 19, vaccine, flu season, norovirus, sti,, HIV, Houston, Texas

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 7, 2025

CDC Issues New COVID-19 Vaccine Guidelines Requiring Health Professional Consultation

The CDC has approved new COVID-19 vaccine guidelines that require individuals to consult a healthcare professional before receiving the shot.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approved new guidelines for updated COVID-19 vaccines, requiring individuals to consult a health professional before receiving the shot.

On Oct. 6, CDC Director Jim O’Neill endorsed the COVID-19 vaccine recommendations from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s handpicked Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, NPR reports. Known as “shared decision-making” or “individual-based decision-making,” the new guidelines advise individuals to consult a doctor, pharmacist, or other healthcare provider about the risks and benefits of the vaccine before receiving it.

The recommendation’s approval is the final step needed to implement the new guidelines, impacting who can receive and administer the COVID-19 vaccine, as well as whether it will be covered by private and government insurance without copays. The official decision also enables the CDC to begin distributing vaccines to doctors, clinics, and other providers through the Vaccines for Children Program, which provides free vaccines to roughly 40% of U.S. children.

“Informed consent is back,” O’Neill said in an announcement. “CDC’s 2022 blanket recommendation for perpetual COVID-19 boosters deterred health care providers from talking about the risks and benefits of vaccination for the individual patient or parent. That changes today.”

However, critics and vaccine experts are pushing back, accusing the CDC of reviving Trump-era misinformation tactics.

“The claim that the past recommendations deterred health care professionals from talking to patients about risks is completely untrue and is another example of the misinformation and made-up information that this administration continues to release to the public and further creates confusion and distrust in healthcare providers and vaccines,” said Dr. Tina Tan, the president of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. “This is extremely unfortunate and critically increases the American public’s risk for serious vaccine-preventable diseases.”

The recommendations stem from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ September meeting on the updated guidelines. They also come after RFK Jr. dismissed all 17 members of the influential vaccine panel earlier this year, replacing them with his own appointees, many of whom have expressed skepticism toward COVID vaccines.

Kennedy often faces criticism for his anti-vaccine stance and false labeling of the COVID vaccine as the “deadliest vaccine ever made.” In May, he began limiting vaccine access in ways that bypassed standard regulatory channels when he announced that the CDC would no longer recommend COVID vaccines for healthy children and pregnant women.

Dr. Yvonne Maldonado, a professor of global health and infectious diseases at Stanford University, noted that the so-called shared clinical decision-making approach “puts up one more little barrier” to getting the shot.

“It’s kind of a vague term that says you should have your doctor or your provider or pharmacist tell you what the risks and benefits are before you get the vaccine,” Maldonado said.

SOCCER,Michelle Alozie, Houston Dash Pierreline Nazon

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 7, 2025

Haitian Soccer Star Arrives In Europe Hoping To Land Professional Contract

Haiti’s rising soccer star Pierreline Nazon hopes to make a mark in Europe.

Haiti’s rising soccer star, Pierreline Nazon, has her country’s support as she arrives in Europe looking to pursue a professional career.

On Oct. 6, Nazon, 18, arrived in Seville, Spain, to begin a 10-week professional tryout with several top-tier clubs, including FC Sevilla and Viimsi JK in Estonia, according to Haitian Times. A standout from Haiti’s U-20 women’s national team and a rising star from Port-au-Prince’s Association Sportive Tigresses, Nazon will train, compete, and be evaluated by scouts in Spain and across Europe during an internship running through mid-December.

“This marks a critical step in her career,” AS Tigresses said in a Facebook announcement. “Already considered one of the most promising young players of her generation, Pierreline Nazon has distinguished herself both nationally and internationally.”

Nazon is eager for the chance to compete on the big stage, having trained with men in a summer futsal tournament in Pétion-Ville to stay in peak shape for her European opportunity. Earlier this year, she missed a chance to train with French powerhouse Paris Saint-Germain due to travel document issues and family concerns.

Despite setbacks, limited opportunities, and the ongoing crisis in Haiti, Nazon stayed focused on reaching Europe to earn her first professional contract and further Haiti’s growing legacy in women’s soccer. She hopes to join Haitians who have achieved professional success abroad, including Nérilia Mondésir (Montpellier, now Seattle Reign FC), Batchéba Louis (FC Fleury, now Birmingham City), and Melchie Dumornay (Stade de Reims, now OL Lyonnais). Nazon is also following in the footsteps of Lourdjina Étienne, her former AS Tigresses teammate and Haitian youth national team player, who FC Fleury recently recruited.

“Every time a Haitian player signs abroad, it gives the people hope,” said sports journalist Kesny Norzius. “It’s one of the few remaining success stories that still unite the country. Pierreline Nazon, along with Lourdjina Etienne, is among the most talented players Haiti has produced in recent years.”

Nazon signed with AS1 sports agency just ahead of her European training program.

Michael Strahan Competing Against Eli Manning For Ownership Stake Of NY Giants

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 7, 2025

Michael Strahan Hit In The Face During Live Football Demonstration

A fellow host accidentally kicked the football that struck Strahan in the face

In a demonstration gone wrong on live television, former New York Giants defensive player Michael Strahan was accidentally struck in the face with a wayward football.

The incident, which probably just hurt Strahan’s pride, with no serious injury to his face, took place during the Oct. 5 broadcast of Fox NFL Sunday. The broadcasting team, which consists of former NFL players Strahan, Rob Gronkowski, Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long, Julian Edelman, and on-air personalities, Curt Menefee and Jay Glazer, gathered to demonstrate a football play.

As the men were talking about the possibilities of how the play could be executed, they agreed to particular roles on the studio floor, which was a replica of an NFL field. As the men took their respective positions, emulating the offense against the defense, Edelman, in the role of the kicker, kicked the ball. However, instead of the ball elevating towards the goal post, it was kicked feebly, with no real traction, and the ball inadvertently connected to Strahan’s face.

Once the mishap took place, Strahan covered his face, as his fellow hosts, surprised by the hit, laughed, although they followed him to make sure he is ok. As he buckled over from the hit, the others teased him about the ball hitting his face. As he got himself together, Strahan said, “I’m about to lose an eyeball, for real, man.”

They continued the show, as it looked like Strahan wasn’t affected too much by the football striking his face.

https://twitter.com/NFLonFOX/status/1974875040001982656

Strahan, who, as one of the best defensive players in NFL history as a member of the Giants, was the very first person to receive a coveted star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, dedicated to the Sports Entertainment category.