From xenophobia to colorism, and racial inequities, Marjy Marj’s Conversations About Race touches on ways to broaden our lens, unify as a community, support each other through mentorship, embrace our differences, and encourage a sense of belonging.

With contributions from 27 guests who have appeared on the Humanity Chats podcast over a three-year period, the book is an introductory yet meaningful, civil, and non-political conversation about our humanity.

A bestseller and a number one new release in the General Sociology of Race category, Conversations About Race has received several five-star reviews from readers.

According to Doubleday Author – Michel Stone, “the theme of this book is our shared humanity.”

Stone stated, “Marjy Marj seeks to illuminate the ties that bind us regardless of the many differences among us. She aims to find those common denominators and use them as building blocks toward empathy and understanding, with an eye toward expanding people’s lenses.”

College Librarian Susan Myers found the book to be a thoughtful conversation starter, which helped her to start seeing what other people have experienced in their lives.

Featured Conversations About Race contributors include business leader, Lucy Quist; former school district Superintendent, Dr. Russell Booker; Maine Councilman, Pious Ali; former Congressman, Trey Gowdy; Director of Composition and Professor of 19th Century British Literature, Dr. Esther Godfrey; diversity equity and inclusion leader, Dr. Nika White; South Carolina Centro Latino Director and Professor of Modern Languages, Dr. Araceli Hernandez-Laroche; Former Clerk of Court, Hope Blackley; author, Michel Stone; Wofford College’s Inaugural Dean of Diversity and Inclusion and Associate Professor of Spanish Studies, Dr. Begona Caballero-Garcia; Brothers Restoring Urban Hope founder, Victor Durrah; social justice attorney, Elsie Dickson; and Chief Operating Officer of the Spartanburg County Foundation, Mary Thomas.

Marjy Marj is a Ghanaian-American business and community leader. She is the host of the globally-ranked Humanity Chats podcast, where guests talk about everyday issues that impact humans. In addition to Conversations About Race, she is the author of the following books:

• The Shimmigrant – A poignant yet optimistic story about the plight of a young immigrant.
• Same Elephants – An enlightening, introspective, heartwarming novel about four friends from diverse backgrounds.
• Sasha Goes to America – A story about a 12-year-old girl’s perseverance as a housemaid in Ghana and eventual immigration to America.
• Sasha Perseveres in America – About 13-year-old Sasha Badu’s perseverance as a young black immigrant in America.
• Sasha Dreams Big – A story about a young girl’s determination to thrive.
• The Spelling King – About a young boy who is motivated to read and spell.

To learn more about the contributors and the book, you may purchase Conversations About Race at your local bookstore, or anywhere books are sold.

A portion of the proceeds from the book will benefit 26 nonprofit organizations working for the good of humanity.

To learn more about Marjy Marj’s work visit Marjymarj.com

The legacy of The Cosby Show was stained after Bill Cosby was sentenced to prison in 2018 for drugging and sexually assaulting multiple women. But actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner is “still proud of the legacy” the famed show created.

Warner played the role of Theo Huxtable, one of Claire and Heathcliff Huxtable’s five children, on the show that ran from 1984 to 1992. A lot has changed in the 30 years since the show went off the air, including Cosby’s three-to-10-year prison sentence that came to an end in June 2021 after the Philadelphia Supreme Court overturned the conviction and freed the disgraced comedian.

However, despite the Cosby scandal and how it tarnished all he had his name tied to, Malcolm Jamal-Warner is still standing behind the beloved sitcom and what it did for the Black community.

“What made it so groundbreaking was its universality,” Warner told People. “NBC initially saw it as a show about an upper-middle-class Black family.”

“Mr. [Bill] Cosby diligently impressed upon them that the show was about an upper-middle-class family that happened to be Black,” he continued.

The Accused star went on to explain how The Cosby Show set new milestones in the realm of Black sitcoms and Black representation on mainstream television.

“Prior to The Cosby Show, Black sitcom humor was predicated on being Black, the specificity of the ‘Black’ experience,” Warner explained. “Though the Huxtables were clearly Black — reflected quite obviously by their dress, the Black art on the walls, the music — the family issues all were universal.”

“And though Cliff [Cosby] was a doctor and Claire [Phylicia Rashad] was an attorney, the family dynamic was one that practically every family — no matter the ethnicity, socio-economic status or even family makeup — could find something to relate to,” he added.

Warner also subtly referenced how Cosby’s overturned sexual assault conviction might’ve changed how people view The Cosby Show today.

“Regardless of how some people may feel about the show now,” Warner said.

“I’m still proud of the legacy and having been a part of such an iconic show that had such a profound impact on — first and foremost, Black culture — but also American culture.”

• News

by Booker Jones

February 23, 2023

Owners of the Popular Houston Restaurant Turkey Leg Hut Owe $1.2 Million in Unpaid Food Bill — But Owners Say Disgruntled Ex Employees Are Pushing the Story

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A well-known Houston restaurant, Turkey Leg Hut, is being sued by US Foods for $1.2 million. But the owners of the popular restaurant said there is more to the story.

According to Fox 26, Turkey Leg Hut allegedly has an unpaid balance of $1,288,583.12 to US Foods. The lawsuit, filed on Dec. 2, 2022, said Turkey Leg Hut’s unpaid balance is for non-PACA food and food-related products.

Fox 26 reported that Turkey Leg Hut agreed to pay a 1.5% monthly interest rate. The document also said Turkey Leg Hut is responsible for court costs and attorney fees incurred by US Foods.

“I’m really surprised that they are in this situation considering they’re a pretty busy, high-volume restaurant,” said Fred Gordon from Gordon Restaurant Consulting.

“Obviously, there was an agreement signed with the restaurant and the actual distributor. I don’t know the net terms associated with the agreement, but it will make it difficult for him to outsource any other vendor in the city.”

The lawsuit also noted that US Foods sent an invoice to Turkey Leg Hut, but the company did not respond.

According to Fox 26, Lynn Price, co-owner of Turkey Leg Hut responded to Fox’s story on Instagram, which has been deleted.

Price allegedly wrote: If you’re going to tell the story, tell the whole story.. understand this comes from a PR lady that’s hurt and also ex employees that are really hurt because of not being a part of the brand .. understand check the track record and we have paid taxes etc on time 100k a month and pay roll 85k a week and never missed a beat,” Price said.

“@us_foods owed us money for advertising etc on trucks IG and all .. it’s always 3 sides to a story .. and there side ain’t the truth.. why would a company let a bill get that high, cause they did not at all.”

“We sincerely appreciate you reaching out but as a general matter, we do not comment on active litigation,” a spokesperson from US Foods said to Fox 26. 

• News

by Sharelle B. McNair

February 23, 2023

What Happened to DeAndre Matthews? Family of Brooklyn Teen Wants Answers After Body Found on Train Tracks

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The family of DeAndre Matthews is mourning after the 19-year-old’s body was found on train tracks in Brooklyn, NY.

ABC News reported the victim’s mother, Danielle Matthews, believes her son was killed because he was gay. Matthews said the last time she heard from her son was on Feb. 7, after he asked to borrow the family’s SUV.

DeAndre drove off approximately around 5:45pm.

“I’m hurt. I’m angry. I’m lost. That was my first child. He was my first true love. He taught me how to be a mother,” Matthews said. “So, to them killers, they have no idea what they did.”

Using her GPS tracker, Matthews found the truck and when she opened the door, smoke was coming out. Hours later, police responded to a body found on freight train tracks in the Flatbush area of Brooklyn, a few miles away from where the SUV was found. The body was identified as DeAndre Matthews. A medical examiner revealed the victim died from a gunshot wound to the head and smoke inhalation.They also discovered several burns on his body.

While the investigation is still ongoing and no arrests have been made, the family is pleading for the killer to come forward. “I want to know why the killer did it. What was the reason? DeAndre wasn’t a violent person,” Deandre’s sister, Dajanae Gillespie, said to NBC 4. “This wasn’t for retaliation. He wasn’t in the streets.”

The family described DeAndre as a non-violent, hardworking kid. According to the owner, Jeremy Moskowitz, he worked at BUGGY service center TLC, a car rental company, where he was well-liked by coworkers. He also was a student at SUNY Broome Community College, studying criminal justice.

Wanting to always help people, his mother believes he met his killer online, as he frequently met friends on there. “DeAndre is so gullible. My baby trusted everybody and I hate that about him,” Matthews said. “DeAndre thought nobody would harm him.”

Jennifer Hudson and Common appear to be subtly confirming the romance rumors after they were spotted together in Malibu.

The two Chicago natives were photographed leaving celebrity hot spot Nobu on Wednesday night and didn’t appear to be with a group, TMZ reports. Common, 50, walked alongside Hudson, 41, and escorted her to the car they drove off in.

With it being just the two of them, the sighting appears to have been a dinner date. The Malibu outing comes amid insider reports claiming the two are “seriously dating,” despite neither Common nor Hudson confirming the rumors.

“Things took a romantic turn while they were filming in Philadelphia over the summer,” a source told Radar Online. “When the day’s shoot wrapped, they’d always find their way to each other’s side.”

Hudson and Common have known each other for years but things became serious while they were filming their upcoming action thriller “Breathe.” The pair first started fueling dating rumors last year after they were spotted on a dinner date in Philadelphia.

Insiders claimed they were “cozy and flirty” during the dinner and were engaged in “lots of cuddling and giggling” while out.

However, Hudson shut down the speculation in September 2022.

“People create their narratives of it and it’s like, OK, you know, how you feel,” she told ET at the time. “We shot a film together and he played my husband. We gotta eat in between those moments.”

But according to sources, Hudson and Common were spending a lot of time together outside of filming and continued hanging out once filming wrapped.

“They’ve kept up their communication since shooting the movie,” the insider shared. “They get together whenever their schedules allow.”

“Of course, he’s known as a total flirt, but Jennifer feels there’s no harm in that, and she’s having fun.”

Hudson hasn’t been romantically linked to anyone since divorcing her ex-husband David Otunga in 2017. Common and Tiffany Haddish went their separate ways in 2021 after a year-long romance.

• Celebrity News

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

February 23, 2023

Damson Idris Responds to Gossip About His Romance With Lori Harvey, ‘They’ll Get Over It’

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Damson Idris is unbothered by the critics who think he and Lori Harvey lack chemistry. The “Snowfall” star is focused on keeping their relationship private and ignoring the haters.

The British actor opened up about the response to his budding romance with Steve Harvey’s daughter after being criticized for their recent red carpet debut. Idris, 31, spoke with Rolling Stone about the final season of his hit FX show and was asked how he’s been navigating all the attention surrounding his love life.

“You stay at home and hide in the cave,” he jokingly said. “No, I think my advice to anyone who walks down that path is to just keep it as regular and normal as possible and really, really connect to each other and not the outside forces around.”

“Just understanding that you don’t always have to show the world your personal life and that what you do for a living is an extension of yourself, and that’s your baby,” he continued. “And you need to protect that. You also need to protect your personal self too.”

When it comes to his relationship with Harvey, 25, Idris knows it’s the current talk of the town only because of how fresh it is. The couple went public last month after Idris attended Harvey’s intimate birthday celebration.

“It’s the topic of gossip, and the blogs want to talk about that over the work. I see that a lot. But they’ll get over it soon enough,” he said.

“And in a couple days someone else will be dating, and then they’ll leave me alone.”

His comments come after he and Harvey received criticism for their red caret debut at the “Snowfall” premiere. Many onlookers felt like the couple lacked chemistry after noticing their body language.

Damson Idris and Lori Harvey Arrive At Snowfall Season 6 Premiere pic.twitter.com/udGBDY99rZ

— WHERE IS THE BUZZ (@whereisthebuzz) February 16, 2023

But Harvey did something she doesn’t normally do and shut down the haters by noting the body makeup she was wearing and didn’t want to smear on her beau. On Valentine’s Day, Idris serenaded Harvey with a sweet message he wrote over a bouquet of roses, The Blast reports.

“I realised it has been exactly 100 days since your beautiful silver dress,” Idris wrote.

He continued, “Thank God for that dance. Every day since with you by my side has been my favorite movie. I can’t wait till we hit 1000 months. Happy Valentine’s day baby.”

Harris-Stowe State and Xavier University are looking to encourage underrepresented students to study STEM.

Dr. Harvey R. Fields, former dean for diversity, equity and inclusion at Washington University, will lead Harris-Stowe State college of STEM.

“The Office of STEM Initiatives (The OSI) at Harris-Stowe State University (HSSU) is committed to developing and implementing initiatives that broaden participation of underrepresented minority (URM) students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM),” the college web page reads. “In addition, The OSI supports faculty development to enhance pedagogy and cultivates partnerships with other academic institutions, as well as, public and private organizations to advance STEM at HSSU.” 

The statement added: “As societal STEM issues present challenges to the St. Louis region and beyond, The OSI understands its role to contribute to the public good. Through a four prong strategy approach, The OSI collaborates closely with faculty, students, staff and administration to: advance undergraduate research; innovate programs and activities; support teaching and learning; and generate opportunities for institutional advancement at HSSU.”

Harris-Stowe State University was recently featured in Yahoo News for it’s rising College of STEM! Check out the article here https://t.co/xWydjX7EF6. #ScholarsFirst 🐝 pic.twitter.com/XuWGPpDVke

— Harris-Stowe Univ (@HarrisStowe) February 23, 2023

Also, Xavier University is partnering with Ochsner Health, which is a non-profit health system in Louisiana. Students who enroll into Xavier University’s STEM college will have access to facilities, personnel, and administrative processes at both institutions, a university news release reported.

“Ochsner has a long and rich history of excellence in medical education, and we are honored to continue our work with Xavier to improve the health of our state and region,” Pete November, CEO of Ochsner Health, said in a statement.

“The Xavier medical students will get outstanding clinical training in our integrated health care system, and this significant expansion of our partnership with Xavier demonstrates our commitment to training the next generation of health care providers to solve the critical shortage of physicians in the United States and meet the needs of the diverse communities we serve.” 

Dr. Anne McCall, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost of Xavier University of Louisiana, said, “With their historic agreement to establish a College of Medicine at one of the nation’s top HBCUs, Xavier and Ochsner have heeded the call to shape the health of the state, the country, and the world for generations to come.” 

• News

by Sharelle B. McNair

February 23, 2023

Mother of Black Teen Shot at While Asking For Directions ‘Livid’ After White Suspect is Granted Parole

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After Brennan Walker, a Black teenager from Rochester Hills, MI, was shot at by Jeffrey Ziegler, a white man, Walker’s mother wants answers about why the suspect was granted parole.

Fox 2 reported Walker was shot at after knocking on Ziegler’s door looking for directions to school after missing his bus in 2018. Ziegler was convicted of assault with intent to murder and felony firearm. Now, he will be released in two months.

The victim’s mother, Lisa Wright, is livid about the news. “He never admitted to what he did in trial court, in appeal court, in a letter, nothing,” Wright said. “He has not shown remorse, he is still going with the story that he slipped and fell.”

Sources reported Ziegler’s wife claimed she thought Walker was trying to break into the house after experiencing a series of attempted break-ins. She woke her husband up, and after grabbing his gun, reports said surveillance footage showed Ziegler shooting the gun towards Walker, who was running away.

Luckily, Walker wasn’t hit.

While Wright said her son has “pretty much blocked it out entirely,” she says it still affects him and their family, especially after finding out about the parole granted almost five year to the date after the incident.

The Parole Board sent a letter to Walker and his mother alerting them of Ziegler’s release from Bellamy Creek correctional facility, close to April 11th. “That was like jabbing a knife in my heart and turning it,” Wright said. “I was just like, it’s the same day. Like, are you serious?”

Paul Stablein, Ziegler’s attorney, felt the parole board made the right decision of releasing his client. However, Walker and Wright have 20 days to appeal the board’s decision. If the decision stays in place, Ziegler will have to keep his distance from Walker with a no-contact order.

• Entrepreneurship

by Booker Jones

February 23, 2023

Atlanta Lands In the Top Spot For Black-Owned Businesses, Report Finds

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Atlanta has been one of America’s most popular cities for decades. Now the ATL is home to the most Black-owned businesses in the nation.

According to a report by LendingTree, among the 50 metro cities in America with the most Black-owned businesses, Atlanta had the highest percentage of Black-owned companies with 7.4%.

In 2020, 2.4% of U.S. businesses had Black owners, which was the same percentage as the year prior. Over this period, the Black population remained unchanged.

Small business applications rose during COVID-19 pandemic. Matt Schultz, LendingTree credit analyst, said the unchanged percentage in Black business owners during this time was likely due to financial disparity. 

“That the percentage of Black-owned businesses was unchanged during that period could be due in part to a lack of access in Black households to the capital needed to start a business,” Schultz says. “Black households tend to have lower incomes, leaving less money available to save or to invest in a small business. Add in other financial headwinds faced in the Black community, including ongoing systemic issues, and it creates a challenging environment for the creation and growth of a business.” 

The report also says that Portland, Oregon, has the lowest rate of Black-owned businesses among the 50 metro cities in the U.S.. In Oregon only 0.9% of businesses are Black-owned. Blacks only make-up  2.8% of the population, which is also the lowest among the 50 metro cities.

Shultz says that starting a business is hard work, but not impossible.

“There are many organizations that can be invaluable tools for your business. Groups like the Black Business Association, U.S. Black Chambers, the Small Business Administration and many others have resources to help you with building business plans, training, promoting, networking, building capital and most any other aspect of business.” 

He added: “We tend to glamorize entrepreneurship, but the truth is that it is often grueling, all-consuming work,” he says. “If you have friends and family rooting for you and supporting you emotionally, it can make a huge difference on those long days when you’re ready to give up and move on.”

• News

by Sharelle B. McNair

February 23, 2023

Charlotte Woman Won the Lottery, Then Shot and Killed the Night Before Valentine’s Day By Ex-Boyfriend

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Investigators in Charlotte, North Carolina, believe a weekend shooting is a murder-suicide after the shooter is identified as the victim’s ex-boyfriend.

WCNC reports Dionyah Thompson was killed outside a brewery in the popular South End neighborhood. Thompson was seen getting into a vehicle with another person outside a restaurant called Vinyl. Witnesses say a red vehicle pulled in front of their car, with a man getting out and ambushing the passengers with gunshots.

The suspect was identified as 33-year-old Elie Hugo Noel, who died at a local hospital following a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to WBTV.

After taking her chances with a $5 scratch-off lottery ticket, Thompson recently made local headlines. After purchasing a ticket at a 7-Eleven on S. Tryon Street, her luck paid off, with her winning $106,516.

Thompson’s father described her as funny, joyful, and a socialite who enjoyed cooking.

The South End neighborhood is oversaturated with restaurants and bars, drawing in diverse crowds daily. With it being the night before Valentine’s Day, the Vinyl bar manager told WCNC he wasn’t even aware of what was happening until employees came to get him.

“A customer who was on the patio had seen it,” he said.

“They came in in a shock and a panicked state, saying somebody had gotten shot, and some of my bar staff grabbed me from my office, and I dialed 911.”

While Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police claim residents shouldn’t be concerned for their safety, others business owners are on alert.

“It just goes to show that anything can happen at any moment,” tattoo artist, Tyler Hall, said.

“It’s just a complete shocking turn of events.” Residents praised the response to the tragedy and feel police presence should be “beefed up” in the area. “With the city growing and plenty of new businesses here, we need some type of response to that,” Hunter Oxford said.