The University of Maryland announces its newly opened School of Public Policy building will bear the name of civil rights lawyer and former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. Over the course of his career, Marshall played a key role in breaking down barriers for Black and African American students, including the desegregation of the University of Maryland.

“Thurgood Marshall was a trailblazer for justice and a pioneer as the first African American to serve on the Supreme Court,” said UMD President Darryll J. Pines. “He fought for landmark civil rights cases including the access to our university by all of its citizens. Assigning his name to the School of Public Policy building honors his contributions to our university, state and nation.”

Born in Baltimore, Marshall was rejected from the University of Maryland School of Law in 1930 because he was Black. Soon after his graduation from Howard University Law School, where he was ranked first in his class, Marshall joined the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund. He sued the University of Maryland on behalf of another Black student seeking admission to the law school and was part of the team that launched successful legal battles against the university on behalf of Parren Mitchell and Hiram Whittle, who were denied admission based on their race. In 1950, Mitchell became the first Black student to take graduate classes on the College Park campus, and a year later, Whittle enrolled as the university’s first Black undergraduate student.

Marshall went on to argue the landmark case Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, which declared segregation unconstitutional. He was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1967, and held the role of associate justice for 24 years.

“It is an honor to see the School of Public Policy building at the University of Maryland named after our father,” the Marshall family said in a statement. “This recognition serves as a testament to his legacy as an unapologetic trailblazer for justice and equality. The inspiring work the School does every day to create the next generation of students embodies what was at his core—ensuring a more just and equitable world for all.”

Thurgood Marshall Hall supports the school’s mission to advance the public good by drawing together students, faculty and other experts to foster world-changing policy discourse and action.

“There is no better name to bestow on this building than Thurgood Marshall’s,” said Robert C. Orr, dean of the School of Public Policy. “Justice Marshall’s legacy in dismantling segregation, strengthening voting rights and promoting equal protection for every American is an inspiration to all of us. His work through the NAACP, the U.S. justice system and the Supreme Court serve as an important reminder of the role we play as policymakers in advancing the public good, both here at home and across the globe.”

The 77,000-square-foot building, which opened in the fall of 2022, united the school’s growing community under one roof for the first time in its 40-year history, and offers state-of-the-art teaching and collaborative spaces for students, faculty and staff.

A naming celebration will be held at the end of the month.

Former NBA ballers Keyon Dooling and Alan Anderson have been sentenced to two years in prison for defrauding the NBA out of millions of dollars in a multimillion dollar healthcare fraud scheme

The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced on Friday that Dooling, who once served as Vice President of the NBA Players Association, was sentenced to 30 months in prison. And, on Feb. 10, Anderson was sentenced to 24 months.

Dooling was accused of receiving $363,000 in fraudulent claims as well as helping other players file false claims from the National Basketball Association Players’ Health and Welfare Benefit Plan.

Anderson was arrested in 2021 and accused of receiving $121,000 in fake claims, and helping players file fake claims of an additional $700,000.

​​“These former players recruited others to take part in this widespread fraud scheme and went to great lengths to keep the scheme running smoothly, facilitating hundreds of thousands of dollars of fraudulent claims,” U.S. attorney Damian Williams said in the release. “This Office will continue to aggressively prosecute those engaged in health care fraud schemes, no matter what their profession. Those considering submitting false claims to health care plans should recognize that they will be subject to serious penalties.”

The statement also read: “DOOLING participated in the scheme from at least in or about 2017 through in or about 2019. DOOLING traded on his reputation among current and former NBA players to refer other former NBA players to co-defendant KHAZIRAN and WAHAB.  DOOLING also recruited and attempted to recruit additional Plan-participants and medical professionals into the fraud scheme. DOOLING himself submitted fraudulent invoices to the Plan, relating to services purportedly performed by co-defendants KHAZIRAN and WAHAB. DOOLING received approximately $363,000 in fraudulent reimbursements, and he is responsible for facilitating the fraudulent claims filed by other defendants, who received approximately $194,295 in fraudulent proceeds from the plan.”

Dooling was the 10th player selected in the first round of the 2000 draft. He finished his career avering 7 ppg. Anderson, who was undrafted, finished his NBA career averaging 7.3 ppg.

On a recent episode of “Undisputed: Skip and Shannon,” Skip Bayless surmised that white NFL owners are uncomfortable around Black people, which is why they do not hire Black coaches.

“I have been dumbfounded by it. It has been inexplicable to me, but then in the end, it’s really pretty explicable,” Bayless said to his co-host Shannon Sharpe. 

Also, Bayless referred to an article written by Nancy Armour, titled, “NFL Owners Don’t Want Black and Brown Men As Their Head Coaches.” Armour mentioned Eric Bieniemy, Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator, could not secure a head coach position in the NFL.

Skip Bayless believes older white NFL owners aren’t comfortable with Black head coaches pic.twitter.com/Y93Gv51hUL

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 16, 2023

Bayless said he’s echoing Armour’s argument on national television.

“I’m going to boil it down to: These older white owners just aren’t that comfortable with a black head coach because they need to interact, they need to go to dinner with the wives or the significant or whatever. And they’re just not that comfortable. When they do have an interview, it’s gonna be a quicker click with a young white hot candidate.”

Bayless added: “It’s just culture, it’s just the way life is. And I don’t know how to defeat it, because each of these guys is an independent owner in the umbrella of the NFL and it’s hard to legislate ‘you must hire a black coach’ … you can’t unless it’s in the man’s heart to do the right thing — and every once in a while you have [Steelers owner, Art Rooney] the Rooneys in Pittsburgh who did the right thing.”

Currently, the NFL has four Black men calling shots from the sideline as head coaches: Mike McDaniel, Todd Bowles, DeMeco Ryans and Mike Tomlin.

• Celebrity News

by Booker Jones

February 19, 2023

Chris Brown Has Had Enough of People Bringing Up His Past — But Many Say it’s Problematic and Check the Receipts

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Chris Brown is tired of people coming for him because of his troubled past.

The “Run It” singer took to his social media account to express his feelings about cancel culture after Chloe Bailey announced a new single, “How Does it Feel,” featuring Breezy, causing outrage from fans. 

2ND PIECE. HOW DOES IT FEEL @chrisbrown. 2/24 🫀 pic.twitter.com/fjAjW6Sk6f

— Chlöe (@ChloeBailey) February 16, 2023

On Friday, Brown decided to hop on social media to respond to former 3LW member Kiely Williams, who called him out for his past abuse against women.

“Let him come out with his own record—so genius, so captivating that it makes us all forget HE BEATS WOMEN,” tweeted Kiely Williams on Thursday (Feb. 16) “He can’t so he wont. So what does he do? He slowly creeps back into the mainstream by getting small nods for features on Black Women’s merit. Black women who are more talented, more worthy, but give him the okay. I am swatting the fucking air [right now] Garbage.”

Let him come out with his own record—so genius, so captivating that it makes us all forget HE BEATS WOMEN. He can’t so he wont. So what does he do?

He slowly creeps back into the mainstream by getting small nods for features on Black Women’s merit. Black women who are more… https://t.co/EsJAHsKSNx

— Kiely Williams (@Kielyyyyyyyyyyy) February 17, 2023

Chris Brown fired back at the singer on his Instagram Story.

“I’m getting kinda tied of ya broken promithis promithis,”  Brown wrote, making fun of Kiely’s lisp.

“Obviously, you are at a point in your life where either you are very broke or broken. The fact you think you have to speak negatively about me makes you look so lame. Your life and career must suck right now. Minding your business would’ve been best. But I guess you don’t have a business or a real job that makes you financially stable. I feel more embarrassed for you and your actual maturity.”

Breezy followed through with another post: “If y’all still hate me for a mistake I made as a 17-year-old, please kiss my whole entire ass. I’m fucking 33. I’m so tired of y’all running wit this narrative. You weird ass niggas are the same ones that tune in every week to see Blueface and Chrisean beat the fuck out each other in front the world. But that’s ok? It’s entertainment? All y’all can suck my dick, disrespectfully.”

From there, the singer called cancel culture and his detractors to task for not having the same energy for White celebs who have committed heinous acts.

“Where are the cancel culture with these white artist that date underage women, beat the f*** out their wives, giving bi*hes AIDS? Oh, that’s right. They are your buddies. No more fake love from me. Stay out my way or get ran over. Simple as that. None of you, and I mean none of you niggas, can fuck wit me.”

Also,  Brown shared images of White celebrities who have the subject of controversies similar to that of his and Rihanna’s past. Photos included of Charlie Sheen, Mel Gibson and Ozzy Osbourne, among many others.

However, others took to Twitter to say that Brown’s “problematic” behavior has much to do with how he’s treated not just Rihanna but other women like his ex-girlfriend Karreuche Tran.

Karreuche literally played the messages with Chris Brown threatening to literally *k:ll* her ON HER VOICEMAIL and in TEXT MESSAGES for the judge in the courtroom and THAT is why she was awarded a 5 yr “permanent” restraining order against him. THEY DONT JUST HAND THOSE OUT.

— Kristy Yamacoochie (@brownandbella) February 17, 2023

Others pointed out that even after Brown defended himself after Kiely Williams’ criticism, he then proceeded to “verbally abuse” her.

Kiely Williams: “Chris Brown abuses women.”

Chris Brown: “That was the past. Since you’ve mentioned my name, [proceeds to belittle, bully, and verbally abuse Kiely]. I’m a different person now.”

— Chelsea Sims (@UmEarth2Chelsea) February 17, 2023

A video of a Jodeci performance has surfaced. And, it has fans concerned.

Recently, Jodeci performed at the Theater at MGM National Harbor. Clips of the video show JoJo Hailey attempting to hit a few notes, which are disappointingly off-key. His partner-in-song, K-Ci looks to encourage Jojo to leave the stage: “We got this,” K-Ci says before raising JoJo’s arm in a show of encouragement. 

 

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A post shared by The Neighborhood Talk (@theneighborhoodtalk)

JoJo has been open about his alcoholism, and issues with his pancreas.During an interview with TVOne, the “All my Life” singer spoke openly about his health. 

“The only thing that’s going on with me now—and I thank God I’m still here able to talk to you again—is my pancreas. I drank so much until a small part of my pancreas had ate away. That’s no pain you want to feel. I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy,” JoJo said to TVOne. 

He added: “There have been some difficult moments where I felt like running away but I know that there’s this beautiful person in there and he’s hiding behind alcohol. If you marry somebody, you love them unconditionally. It’s not just something that you can just walk away from. The biggest thing that a lot of people don’t understand, which I myself didn’t understand until I was in this situation is that alcoholism. It’s an illness.” 

The singer even spoke about when his life began a downward spiral.

“You know, it’s been so long. Ever since Jodeci had their first hit, that’s when everything started spiraling downward,” JoJo recalled.  “I mean with the whole band, individually and as a group. From then on I really didn’t have no feelings about it. It was just party and BS. But I didn’t think it was taking a toll on me until the first time that I said I wasn’t going to drink anything, and I fell into a seizure. So that was like a withdrawal.” 

Was on my Jodeci. Shit last night

Jojo was clearly not ready to perform. I won’t speculate. Prayers up to him pic.twitter.com/fK7hi0mc8G

— SilkyDiamonds (@Silkydiamonds) February 12, 2023

Pray for Jojo from Jodeci he’s going through it! Was clearly in a bad state last night. pic.twitter.com/2F6IULrP2X

— SilkyDiamonds (@Silkydiamonds) February 12, 2023

After more than two decades on television, “Judge Mathis” and “The People’s Court” are coming to an end.

Deadline reports that “Judge Mathis” is the longest-running television show featuring a Black man, running for  24 seasons.

Mathis, a former Michigan District Court Judge, made his first appearance on the court show back in 1998, and in the 2018, the joke-cracking judge, who is always freshly groomed, brought home a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding/Legal Courtroom Program, Deadline reports.

In 2022, Mathis’ reality show, “Mathis Family Matters” premiered on E!. The show follows Mathis and his wife, Linda Reese, along with their children and grandchildren.

“This is how I’m feeling after a long day of work. We’re wrapping up Season 24 of Judge Mathis and tonight we dance! Lol” Mathis tweeted.

This is how I’m feeling after a long day of work. We’re wrapping up Season 24 of Judge Mathis and tonight we dance! Lol 🕺🏾 pic.twitter.com/phYtQDEIcz

— Judge Greg Mathis (@JudgeGregMathis) November 11, 2022

• Black History Month

by Atiya Jordan

February 19, 2023

Black Self-Made Millionaire Madam C.J. Walker’s Beauty Brand Lives On

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Madam C.J. Walker was revered as a master brand builder who paved the way for millions of Black women. Her legacy has outlasted those who preceded her, thanks to the commitment of her great-great-granddaughter, A’Lelia Bundles.

More than 100 years later, Walker’s Black beauty brand has revolutionized into a history-making monument inciting heritage and generational wealth. The founder of the Madam Walker Family Archives, Bundles now serves as brand historian for Madam by Madam C.J. Walker, a new brand of textured hair products. Her passionate efforts continue the legacy of empowering Black women on a path to financial independence preservers.

Madam by Madam C.J. Walker, created by Sundial Brands, is a combination of its traditional focus on quality with an appeal to the diverse needs of a younger customer, specifically the Gen Z consumer.

Sundial’s CEO Cara Sabin and Bundles have teamed up on numerous occasions to tap into the spirit of the pioneering matriarch. “We wanted to make sure we honored Madam Walker’s contributions and that every detail centered her legacy,” Sabin told Byrdie.

“We were able to see some of [Madam Walker’s] artifacts and hear the rich information A’Lelia has,” Sabin added. “My team and I dove into that, and that’s where we got our inspiration.”

Featuring 11 new products, the brand prioritizes haircare needs from scalp care to hair growth. The brand is motivated by the versatility of the Gen Z consumer and wants to encourage healthy hair lifestyles.

Sabin said, “We thought about the Wonderful Hair Grower and asked questions like, What would that formulation look like today? We made sure to use ingredients that promote healthy hair like shea butter, pomegranate oil, and omega three, six, and nine fatty acids.”

Today, Walmart will be partnering with the brand to promote and provide access to these products.

“I think she’d be pleased that some of the ideas she thought worked more than 100 years ago can still be applied today and have been taken to a new level,” Bundles says. “[She believed in] having a great product, using high-quality ingredients, marketing your product, and having a strong team. That’s the DNA of this line.”

• Career

by Booker Jones

February 19, 2023

Charlie Mitchell Is The First Black Chef To Win Michelin’s New York Young Chef Award

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Clover Hill, a Michelin-starred restaurant in the Brooklyn Heights section of Kings County, recently made history—Clover Hill’s co-owner Chef Charlie Mitchell won Michelin’s 2022 New York Young Chef Award.

Mitchell is Black. This is the first time in New York City’s history that a Black chef has reached this feat.

During an interview with TODAY News, Mitchell spoke about the challenges he has faced, as well as his passion for cooking.

“I think the thing that stuck with me the most is [my mother] used to do this whole fry fish, like whole fry bass all the time when I was younger. I think that stood out the most,” Mitchell said to TODAY.

According to TODAY, Mitchell opted to drop out of culinary school, preferring to perfect his craft on the job. The Detroit native worked at top-notch restaurants in Manhattan, which eventually landed him at Brooklyn’s Clover Hill, where he’s executive chef, and created the restaurant’s menu.

“I guess it was challenging but we’re always changing something or we’re always trying to make the dish the best version of itself, right?  So we may tweak it everyday for two weeks, if we have to, to get it to be like the perfect dish,” Mitchell said to TODAY.

Mitchell’s expertise speaks for itself because he made history, which he initially wasn’t aware of.

“I was not, not at the time,” he recalled “You always think about the people, so many people have come before you. You just assume that someone has already done this, you know, it doesn’t cross your mind that you may be the first or second to do really anything, especially here in New York City.”

He added: “I think a lot of times, we’re chasing a very different American dream, then to kind of put up with these aggressive environments that are often led by people who don’t look like us.”

In addition to being Michelin’s 2022 New York Young Chef Award-Winner, Mitchell is also a finalist for a James Beard Award: Emerging Chef. 

• News

by Kia Morgan Smith

February 18, 2023

Five Former Memphis Officers Plead Not Guilty in Beating Death of Tyre Nichols

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By Maria Alejandra Cardona

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Reuters) – Five former Memphis police officers on Friday pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and other charges stemming from last month’s beating of Tyre Nichols, a Black man whose death three days later stirred outrage and fresh calls for reform.

Police video captured images of the officers beating and kicking Nichols, hitting him with a baton, spraying him with pepper spray and firing a stun gun at him on Jan. 7 following a traffic stop. The case has renewed a national discussion of race relations and police brutality.

The five officers, all of them out on bail, entered their pleas during an arraignment in Shelby County Criminal Court in Memphis, where they are formally charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct and official oppression.

“I feel very numb. I am waiting for this nightmare – waiting for someone to wake me up,” RowVaughn Wells, the victim’s mother, dressed in black, said outside the courthouse after the hearing.

“I want each and every one of those officers to look me in the face,” she said. “They didn’t even have the courage to look at me.”

The five officers – Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmit Martin, Desmond Mills Jr. and Justin Smith – are Black. They have been fired from the police force, and the special unit to which they belonged has been disbanded.

Shelby County Judge James Jones set a May 1 date for the next hearing in the case against the officers, who face a maximum penalty of 60 years in prison if convicted of the murder charge.

“We understand that there may be some high emotions in this case, but we ask that you continue to be patient with us,” Jones said during the hearing. “Everyone involved wants this case to be concluded as quickly as possible.”

A sixth officer, who is white, was also fired, as have three Memphis Fire Department emergency medical technicians who arrived afterNichols was beaten. Two Shelby County sheriff’s deputies who responded to the scene were suspended five days without pay.

Nichols – a 29-year-old father, avid skateboarder and student of photography – attempted to converse with police as they shouted orders and threatened him with violence during last month’s ordeal.

“You guys are really doing a lot right now. I’m just trying to go home,” Nichols said at one point, sitting on the street as police tried to subdue him.

“Stop. I’m not doing anything,” Nichols said, just before breaking free and running.

When police caught up to him, he was beaten while being restrained, clubbed with a baton and kicked while on the ground.

Less than 100 yards (meters) from home, he called out for his mother several times.

Officers on the video said Nichols had swerved through traffic dangerously, and one said Nichols attempted to grab his gun during the scrum.

(Reporting by Daniel Trotta; Editing by Stephen Coates and Jonathan Oatis)