Alabama State
by Kandiss Edwards

October 2, 2025

‘Too Classy For This World’: Alabama Honey Beez Dance Team Responds To FAMU Announcer

The ladies of the 'Honey Beez' took the high road in their response.

After the Alabama State University Honey Beez dance team was insulted by a Florida A&M University announcer, the ladies have responded.

During the Sept. 27 game, game announcer Joe Bullard referred to the Honey Beez as “the new face of Ozempic.” The Alabama State Honey Beez dancers are, for the most part, plus-size. If Bullard expected the audience to laugh after the slight, he was sorely mistaken. Video of the incident shows the crowd begin to boo the announcer immediately. 

The Honey Beez seemingly responded to the uproar with self-love and positivity. On the team’s Instagram account, a photo carousel featuring the beautiful Black dancers in motion and joy was posted.

The carousel was accompanied by Beyonce’s Alien Superstar playing in the background, “I’m too classy for this world, for this world, forever I’m that girl.”

Alabama State University President Quinton Ross also responded to the incident in a post on X, calling the remark “absolutely unacceptable.” After denouncing Bullard’s audacity, Ross spoke words of positivity to those harmed by his reckless words.

“Honey Beez, please know that you are celebrated, valued, and admired for the joy you bring to the Hornet Nation, and also for the bold and fearless way you represent the very best of ASU. Continue to shine, because your light cannot be dimmed by negativity.”

Additionally, Florida A&M University President Marva Johnson issued a public apology after the longtime Marching 100 announcer, Bullard, made a degrading halftime comment about the dance troupe.

“On behalf of Florida A&M University, I extend my deepest and sincerest apologies to the Honey Beez, the Mighty Marching Hornets, President Quinton Ross, and the entire Alabama State University community.

“The Honey Beez represent discipline, school pride, and their performance tradition is respected across the nation. To have their dedication and artistry diminished by a thoughtless comment does not reflect the values or the respect we hold for our colleagues at Alabama State University or for the broader HBCU community,” Johnson wrote.

Bullard later acknowledged his comments were hurtful, calling them “lighthearted banter” that “crossed a line,” and apologized to the young women, the university’s marching band, and fans. He said his intention was not to disrespect. 

The fallout extended beyond apologies. The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) fined FAMU $10,000 and suspended Bullard from two football games, citing its principles of sportsmanship and standards of conduct.

RELATED CONTENT: FAMU President Apologizes To ASU Over ‘Inappropriate And Offensive’ Comment Against Honey Beez

‘The Root’ Has Made Its Way Back To Black Ownership
by Kandiss Edwards

October 2, 2025

‘The Root’ Has Made Its Way Back To Black Ownership

Allison’s acquisition marks the publication’s return to Black ownership after more than a decade. 

Ashley Allison, a CNN commentator and Democratic strategist, has acquired the digital media outlet The Root. Allison’s acquisition marks the publication’s return to Black ownership after more than a decade. 

Allison, through her company Watering Hole Media, purchased The Root and plans to shift the platform toward more immersive and video-based experiences. In outlining her vision for the outlet’s future, Allison said she will invest in new video content, build partnerships with subject experts, and launch in-person events to deepen audience engagement. 

On Oct. 2, The Root released a statement announcing the new ownership and future vision. Allison, a former staffer for President Obama, would like to create a trusted space for quality Black journalism. 

“It’s time to stand in courage, to be unapologetic about who we are as Black people, the role we have played in this country, and the role we will continue to play. The Root is not going to shy away from the hard stories, the hard questions, and the hard answers,” said Allison. “We will be a place that tells the truth, helps make sense of the moment, and guides people to resources that help them make the best decisions possible.”

The Root was founded in 2008 by Henry Louis Gates Jr. and Donald Graham as a platform focused on Black culture, politics, and social commentary. Over time, it passed through ownership to Univision and then to G/O Media. G/O Media managed The Root alongside digital properties like The Onion and Kotaku. The Root became the last remaining G/O Media site as its parent company sold off other holdings.  Gates spoke to The Root about the platform’s newest owner and expressed deep pride and excitement at the change of hands.

“I am so very proud of Ashley Allison for leading The Root into its next exciting chapter, and for returning The Root to its roots,” said Professor Gates. “When Donald and I launched The Root, my vision was to create a platform to showcase the full complexity of Black life with depth, intelligence, and, most importantly, unapologetic honesty. A platform where our history, our culture, and our politics were not only centered but elevated.”

Allison is attempting not only to live up to Gate’s vision but also to expand that vision into one of her own making. 

RELATED CONTENT: Henry Louis Gates Jr. Presents Pope Leo XIV With Family Tree Tracing His Black Ancestry

Barack Obama, library, lawsuit
by Sharelle B. McNair

October 2, 2025

Lies Told: Newt Gingrich Claims Obama Created ‘A Much More Racist, Much More Dangerous America’

The "Trump's Triumph: America's Greatest Comeback" author thinks with the 47th President in the White House, things will change.

Former Republican Congressman Newt Gingrich is going viral for his random dig at former President Barack Obama, boldly claiming that his presidency created a “more racist” and “more dangerous America.” 

During an interview with America First Policy Institute’s Carla Sands, Gingrich spent some time giving his insight on how the country spent 90 years essentially rotting in what is known as the “Rooseveltian System” or The New Deal — a series of economic, social, and political reforms embedded by President Franklin D. Roosevelt between 1933 and 1938 — as a response to the damage done by the Great Depression.

Then, he started talking about how things have shifted in the last 10 to 12 years, pointing the finger at the country’s first Black president for playing a role in America’s racist antics. “Obama was a major factor in creating a much more racist and much more dangerous America,” the former Georgia lawmaker said. 

Former President Joe Biden also got caught up in the wildfire, with his term being labeled as “essentially Obama’s third term.” 

However, now with President Donald Trump and his administration taking over the White House, the multi-best-selling book author, including his latest, Trump’s Triumph: America’s Greatest Comeback, Gingrich feels things will start to change. 

As the clip went viral, so did responses supporting Obama and seemingly highlighting which side Gingrich was on. “Obama divided the country between people who could accept a Black president and those who couldn’t. Pretty clear which side Gingrich was on,” @paulhandley2 wrote. 

Others gave their two cents on the former lawmaker, adding on to some of the racist rhetoric handed down by Trump. “Yeah, having a decent, qualified black man as President, trying to bring everyone together, was bad. A much better way to create unity is with an unqualified, corrupt, a**hole of a President — who sh*t-posts racist memes and has stormtroopers violently attacking citizens!,” @planterspunch7 said with a corresponding clown emoji.

https://twitter.com/planterspunch7/status/1973491540971700279

A 2016 poll from CNN found some American voters felt race relations between Blacks and whites worsened under Obama, but not in the way some would think. While 57% of whites and 40% of Blacks think it was due to the people voting for Obama for two consecutive terms, 52% pointed the finger at the justice system, favoring whites over Blacks.

RELATED CONTENT: Republicans Quietly Roll Back Obamacare – Here’s What Enrollees Should Know

SACRAMENTO, CITY MANAGER, Maraskeshia Smith
by Jameelah Mullen

October 2, 2025

HERSTORY! Sacramento Appoints Its First Black Woman City Manager

Maraskeshia Smith makes history in the 175-year-old city

The Sacramento City Council appointed Maraskeshia Smith as city manager, making her the first Black woman in the position. 

Following a nationwide search that began in January with more than 100 candidates, city leaders chose the Kentucky native, who brings over two decades of experience in public service.

“I accept the role of City Manager for the City of Sacramento with deep gratitude and humility,” Smith said. “Sacramento is a city characterized by its resilience, diversity, and ambition, a true mosaic of cultures, backgrounds, and ideas, all unified by a common goal for progress and prosperity,” Smith said in a statement obtained by Sacramento City Express. 

In her role as city manager, Smith will oversee nearly 6,000 full-time and part-time employees and manage an annual operating budget of $1.6 billion. 

Mayor Kevin McCarty welcomed Smith to her new role, praising her as an “accomplished and transformative leader” well-suited for the position.

At the September 30 news conference, Smith addressed the challenges involved in tackling homelessness in the city, noting that the cost of building new housing has become nearly unsustainable, even when developers receive multiple funding sources. She praised the City Council for considering the tiny homes project and emphasized that the city needs to implement additional measures and ideas.

“So we have to look at creative solutions and innovative solutions in order to deal with challenging solutions,” she said. “It’s going to take the region. It’s going to take partnership. It’s going to take creativity, coordination, and compassion for us to continue to move that needle forward,” Smith noted. 

Smith holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Kentucky and an MBA from Eastern Kentucky University. She has served as Deputy Director and Director of Public Works in Cincinnati, Assistant City Administrator in Oakland, and Deputy City Manager in Stockton. She is currently the City Manager of Santa Rosa, California. Smith will begin her role in January 2026.

RELATED CONTENT: Elevating Your Excellence: Media Maverick Emil Wilbekin Forged A Movement From Vibe To Native Son

Kendell Morris, Texas, Illinois Sheriff, Sonya Massey, Murder
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 2, 2025

Sheff G, Who Appeared With Donald Trump At Bronx Rally Last Year, Sentenced To 5 Years For Attempted Murder

“This defendant had talent and opportunity, but chose to use them to fuel violence instead of building a better future,” Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said.

In May 2024, then-presidential candidate Donald Trump invited two Brooklyn drill rappers, Sheff G and Sleepy Hallow, to join him at his rally in the Bronx. Fast forward less than two years, and Sheff G has been sentenced to five years in prison for attempted murder.

The Associated Press reported that the rapper, whose real name is Michael Williams, was given his prison sentence after copping to using money he earned from his music career to fuel gang violence in his home borough of Brooklyn. Once he completes his sentence, he must serve an additional five years of supervised release. Sheff was sentenced in Brooklyn on Oct. 1.

Before the rapper pleaded guilty to multiple top counts of second-degree attempted murder and second- and fourth-degree conspiracy earlier this year, prosecutors wanted a 20-year sentence for his guilty plea.

“This defendant had talent and opportunity, but chose to use them to fuel violence instead of building a better future,” Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said.

Sheff was part of a crew of more than 30 alleged members of the 8 Trey Crips, and the gang’s affiliate, the 9 Ways gang. Twenty-three members have pleaded guilty to various charges. Seven cases are still pending. Sleepy Hallow, whose real name is Tegan Chambers, who appeared with Sheff when they both performed onstage with Trump on May 23, 2024, at a Bronx park, received a one-year sentence last week on conspiracy charges to which he pleaded guilty.

The rappers went viral after being spotted at the rally. While at the podium, Sheff G said to the crowd, “One thing I want to say, they’re always going to whisper your accomplishments and shout your failures. Trump’s gonna shout the wins for all of us.”

Sleepy Hallow came right behind him and said, “Make America Great Again.”

Sheff G’s attorney, Arthur Aidala, had previously stated that the plea deal arrangement made by his client was in the “best interest of everyone involved.”

RELATED CONTENT: Publix Allegedly Reneges On Black Book Bash Sponsorship, Denies Email Proof

African American Studies, Georgia
by Kandiss Edwards

October 2, 2025

Yale Embraces The Black Diaspora With New Black Studies Department

Yale’s African American Studies name change comes 55 years after the department’s founding

Yale University’s African American Studies department has formally changed its name to Black Studies.

The new moniker comes 55 years after the department’s founding and years of internal discussion. The decision stemmed from a process begun in the 2022-23 academic year under then-chair Phillip Atiba Solomon. Critics of the original name argued it was U.S.-centric and too narrow to cover the department’s research in Brazil, the Caribbean, and West Africa.

Erica Edwards, chair of the newly renamed department, told the Yale Daily News that the name better encompasses the entire African diaspora, not just the United States.

“We study the lives and histories and movements and creative expressions of Black people around the world wherever they are, not just in North America and not even just in the Americas,” Edwards said.

Elleza Kelley, director of undergraduate studies, said the name shift affirms “commitment to the study of Black life, history, and culture beyond the continental United States.”

Faculty hires in recent years have reinforced the focus on professors whose scholarship centers on Haiti, Brazil, and diasporic art practices.

Some students have expressed optimism, though also caution, about whether the name will signal deeper institutional change or remain symbolic.

Professor Kaiama Glover, who researches anti-Black state violence in Brazil, remarked that the former name “conjured … something fairly U.S.-centric” in people’s minds.

Other institutions have also embraced the broadening of the discipline. In 2024, Georgetown changed the name of its department from “African American Studies” to “Black Studies.” Although the name has changed, internal administrative elements remain. The department’s course code is still “AFAM,” and Yale plans to host a panel commemorating Yale’s 1968 Black Studies in the University symposium on Oct. 27.

Yale’s website now describes the department’s mission as exploring “the experiences of people of African descent in Black Atlantic societies, including the United States, the Caribbean, and Latin America.”

RELATED CONTENT: First Known Black Man To Attend Yale University Honored With Posthumous Degree After 200 Years

Baltimore Teacher, Hair-Braiding
by Sharelle B. McNair

October 2, 2025

Iowa Superintendent Detained By ICE Hired Despite Falsified Morgan State Doctorate, Report Reveals

Despite the Des Moines school board learning of the false claims on his 2023 application, Roberts was still hired for the position, leading a district with close to 30,000 students.

More drama has come to light regarding former Iowa Superintendent Ian Roberts, as documents show he was hired after the school board learned that he had lied about receiving his doctorate from Morgan State University, The Washington Post reports. 

Roberts made headlines late September 2025 after resigning from his post as Des Moines’ superintendent of schools following being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs (ICE) agents. After authorities found he was living and working in the U.S. illegally, it was also revealed that he lied about receiving a doctorate in urban educational leadership from Morgan State University, an HBCU in Baltimore, in 2007. But school officials clarified that he never received the degree, but was just enrolled between 2002 and 2007. 

Despite the Des Moines school board learning of the false claims on his 2023 application, Roberts was still hired for the position, leading a district with close to 30,000 students. In a statement, the board labeled itself a victim of Roberts’ deceit, saying he provided a resume to a consulting firm claiming he had earned his doctorate, but later, the same firm flagged that it wasn’t true. “The Des Moines School Board is also a victim of deception by Dr. Roberts, one on a growing list that includes our students and teachers, our parents and community, our elected officials and Iowa’s Board of Educational Examiners, and others,” board Chair Jackie Norris said.

According to the Des Moines Register, the Guyana native has long ties to Baltimore, receiving his Bachelor’s degree from Coppin State University, another HBCU, in 1998. While studying criminology, Roberts was also a stellar track star, setting conference records in track and field and earning All-American honors. He later participated in the 2000 Olympic Games for his home country. 

Des Moines Public Schools highlighted his athletic achievements in a 2024 article on his induction into the Coppin State University Athletics Hall of Fame. “Roberts excelled academically and… completed education programs at Coppin, St. John’s, Morgan State, Harvard’s Graduate School of Education, Georgetown’s McDonough School of Business, and an MBA at MIT’s Sloan School of Management,” the article read.

Roberts pushed the narrative of his false doctorate in his 2009 self-published book, “Prisoners or Presidents: The Simple Things That Change Everything; When Principals Lead Like Lives Depend on It.”

Things unraveled after Roberts was detained after an immigration judge ordered his removal in May 2024, just one year after he was hired as the first Black person to oversee Iowa’s largest school district. More trouble came about for Roberts when Homeland Security agents found a loaded gun in his car following his recent arrest. 

The federal Gun Control Act labels it unlawful for “illegal aliens” to ship, transport, receive, or even possess firearms or ammunition.

RELATED CONTENT: ICE Detains Second Haitian Businessman In Two Months Over Alleged Ties To ‘Terrorist Gangs’

Burberry, DEI, diversity
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 2, 2025

Burberry’s Head Of Diversity Gets ‘Phased Out’ Amid Company Overhaul

Burberry removes its head of diversity ahead of wider job cuts.

Burberry has dismissed its head of diversity, sparking questions over whether the luxury fashion house is signaling a broader retreat from diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.

On Oct. 1, the company announced that Geoffrey Williams, Burberry’s global vice president of colleague attraction and inclusion, was let go amid a broader restructuring plan that aims to cut 1,700 jobs worldwide by 2027, The Times reports. In a statement, Williams said he was being “phased out” as part of the company’s overhaul.

“As part of a wider restructure, Burberry has chosen to integrate responsibility for diversity, equity and inclusion across the organisation,” Williams said. “This reflects a belief that DEI should be embedded throughout the culture and owned by leaders across the business. The successful transition from a centralised function to a shared responsibility will help ensure long-term sustainability.”

Williams, described as “highly respected in the world of leadership,” joined Burberry in April 2022 as global vice president for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and was promoted in July last year to lead the company’s talent strategy as global vice president of colleague attraction and inclusion. Prior to Burberry, he directed DEI initiatives at British footwear brand Dr. Martens and multinational media and technology company Thomson Reuters. Williams also serves as chairman of the £15 million Bernie Grant Arts Centre in London and is co-founder of the social enterprise Rocking Ur Teens.

Burberry has stated that the job cuts are expected to save the company at least £60 million. The layoffs follow the fashion house suffering a £66 million loss for the 12 months ending March 29, with sales dropping 12% to £2.5 billion amid a slowdown in China. In May, Burberry CEO Joshua Schulman attributed the drop in sales to the U.K.’s punitive tourist tax and tariffs imposed by the U.S. under President Donald Trump.

Burberry’s decision to eliminate the diversity role has raised concerns about companies scaling back DEI initiatives, particularly after Trump signed three executive orders earlier this year aimed at ending DEI programs in both the public and private sectors. Several major U.S. corporations, including Boeing, Walmart, Meta, Target, and Amazon, have already reduced their DEI commitments.

The wave appears to be spreading across the pond with U.K. firms following suit. GSK, the British multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company, paused diversity initiatives for its U.K. workforce, citing the need to align with U.S. executive orders due to its significant presence in the American market.

RELATED CONTENT: Publix Allegedly Reneges On Black Book Bash Sponsorship, Denies Email Proof

Russell Westbrook, Kemba Walker
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 2, 2025

Russell Westbrook’s Eazewell Reveals AI-Powered Platform To Assist With Senior Living, End-Of-Life Situations

'Grief doesn't follow business hours.'

Eazewell, the company founded by Denver Nuggets player Russell Westbrook, former UConn basketball player Donnell Beverly Jr., and former NBA All-Star Kemba Walker, has introduced an AI-powered Care Transitions Platform that can be used by hospices, senior living communities, and life insurers.

The company was created to help families deal with issues related to handling everything from senior living move-ins to end-of-life transitions in a more simplified, automated system using artificial intelligence.

Meet the trio behind Eazewell @russwest44 , Donnell Beverly Jr., and Kemba Walker. 💜

They turned shared loss into a mission to modernize funeral planning, bringing empathy and innovation to every family.

Read more at https://t.co/jn4kjv93CR#eazewell #memorialplanning pic.twitter.com/xFnzYAgJ1w

— eazewell (@eazewell) September 17, 2025

“Grief doesn’t follow business hours. Our platform ensures families get support when they need it, whether it’s 2 a.m., weekends, or holidays, while letting care teams focus on comfort rather than paperwork,” Westbrook said in a written statement.

Eazewell looks to help families, institutions, and caregivers stay on top of online accounts of patients/family members. It will deal with things like online subscriptions, social media accounts, bill payments, and services that can be overlooked when life situations take place.

“Digital death management isn’t optional anymore, it’s essential,” said Beverly. “The average estate now includes more digital accounts than physical assets. Families discover dozens of accounts they never knew existed, including services still charging monthly fees, social media profiles vulnerable to hacking, loyalty points expiring, and email accounts filling with sensitive information.”

The key AI features from Eazewell’s new platform include:

  • Comprehensive Account Management: Closes or memorializes social media accounts, cancels subscriptions, terminates licenses, and manages dozens of overlooked tasks.
  • 24/7 Family Engagement: Delivers immediate answers via text and voice.
  • Intelligent Document Processing: Collects, organizes, and pre-fills forms with family authorization, maintaining audit trails for compliance and reporting.
  • Automated Notifications: Contacts Social Security, Medicare, banks, utilities, and digital services, tasks that otherwise require hours of phone calls.
  • Seamless Integration: Deploys within an organization’s systems, appearing to families as the hospice, senior living community, or insurer’s own branded service.

“We’re trying to take the weight off people’s shoulders as much as we can, and make this process so much easier for people,” Walker told CNBC in a phone interview in May.

RELATED CONTENT: Russell Westbrook Collaborating with Barneys

crime, police lights, Kara Walsh, Chad. T. Hall
by Mary Spiller

October 2, 2025

Rising Student Athlete, Aiyanna Williams, Remembered After Fatal Shooting

Aiyanna Williams, a 21-year-old nursing student and volleyball player at Stephens College, was fatally shot in downtown Columbia over the weekend.

A college senior and volleyball player is being remembered for her generosity and kindness after she was fatally shot in Columbia, Missouri.

Authorities say 21-year-old Aiyanna Williams, a nursing student at Stephens College, was struck by gunfire early Saturday, Sept. 27, when a man opened fire following a dispute with others nearby. She later died at University Hospital. Two other bystanders were also injured.

Police identified the suspect as 23-year-old Misael Covarrubias, who was taken into custody shortly after the shooting. He now faces charges of second-degree murder, first-degree assault, armed criminal action, and unlawful use of a weapon. Covarrubias is being held without bond at Boone County Jail, according to court records.

Officers responded to the scene at about 1:40 a.m. Saturday, and found three people with gunshot wounds, including Williams. Investigators determined that Covarrubias had been arguing with others near Ninth Street and Broadway before firing into the group. The victims, police emphasized, were not part of the altercation.

Williams’ death has left her school community in mourning. Stephens College officials said she had been declared brain dead at the hospital but remained on life support so she could fulfill her wishes to be an organ donor.

“Even in death, Aiyanna’s generosity and care for others endures,” the school said in a statement, according to PEOPLE. “Her decision to be an organ donor reflects her commitment to the welfare of others and her calling to be a nurse.”

The college hosted a vigil at Firestone Baars Chapel on Saturday, drawing classmates, teammates, and community members to honor her life. The women’s volleyball team, which postponed its scheduled game, described her as an irreplaceable presence on campus.

“Aiyanna embodied compassion, joy, and determination; qualities that defined her journey as a nursing student and endeared her to everyone who knew her,” Stephens College said in a statement. “Her choice to be an organ donor is a powerful reflection of her selflessness and unwavering commitment to helping others, even beyond her time with us.”

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