by Shanique Yates

April 27, 2026

Alicia Keys Calls Out Music Industry As A ‘Good Old Boy Network’

Keys says there is still a lack of female representation in the music industry.

Alicia Keys has created the soundtrack for women’s empowerment, and she walks the walk for the ladies who make up a small percentage of the music industry.

The 17-time Grammy Award-winning musician, philanthropist, art collector, and woman of many hats got candid in a recent interview, recalling how difficult the music industry can be toward women, including the “boys’ club” nature of the business.

“The music world becomes a good old boy network, and all the incredible women working as engineers and producers are not given an open door,” she told The Times of London in an interview, according to Variety. “Women make up 2 percent of the entire business. I’m a producer, and here we are, doing a bunch of work, killing it, so it’s shocking that the number is so small. Rather than just being pissed off about that, it was time to create opportunities.”

As the co-founder of She Is the Music, a non-profit organization launched alongside Universal Music Publishing Group CEO Jody Gerson, engineer Ann Minicieli, and WME partner Samantha Kirby Yoh, Keys aims to increase the number of women in music—especially songwriters, producers, and engineers—very seriously.

Keys recounted that songs like “A Woman’s Worth,” “Girl On Fire,” and “Superwoman” weren’t created with the intention of them becoming feminist anthems.

“I didn’t aim to come up with feminist message songs, and most of them were written because I wasn’t feeling that strong, so I had to give myself a pep talk to keep going, but it is a thread through my work,” she said.

Her advocacy for the arts extends far beyond music. Recently, the “Giants” art exhibition, featuring pieces from the collection she owns alongside her husband, Kasseem Dean, better known as Swizz Beatz, opened at the Museum of Contemporary Art in San Diego.

by Shanique Yates

April 26, 2026

Black Ohio Woman Launches GoFundMe To Return Home Following Marijuana Arrest In Bali

Tye Kionne and her mother, Abathia, took a vacation to Bali, Indonesia, to celebrate Abathia’s 50th birthday.

A trip to Bali took a turn for the worse for an Ohio woman and her family.

According to theGrio, Tye Kionne and her mother, Abathia, took a vacation to Bali, Indonesia, to celebrate Abathia’s 50th birthday. It was a short-lived celebration after the pair was detained in customs following the discovery of marijuana in Tye’s luggage. She was ultimately transported to a jail in Bali.

Indonesia has strict laws against marijuana. Possession of the substance is equivalent to the same criminal level as cocaine, selling drugs, heroin, and using or buying drugs. An offense can result in life behind bars, and even death.

Though the women traveled with a group, including Tye’s boyfriend, a Facebook post revealed that Tye cannot come home until she pays a $75,000 fee.

She also disclosed that she has until Monday to pay $30,000 of the money owed, or she will face being stuck in the country for an estimated four years or longer.

A GoFundMe has been launched to quickly raise funds to bring Tye home. The platform says that 50% of the funds have been donated, with the amount sitting at $37,435 as of April 26.

“Studying a country’s culture is CRITICAL when deciding to travel abroad and must be taken serious,” reads the description on the fundraising site. “In summary, Tye is not use[d] to international travel and made a decision that is going to cost her a safe return home from Bali, Indonesia. Funds will go towards legal representation, rehabilitation program, and bringing her home safe in 3 months. We’re working to meet urgent deadline, or she won’t be able to come home.”

The post also describes Tye as a “very passionate woman” who supports children as a cheer coach, tumbling instructor, and summer program operator “but more importantly, mother of two beautiful girls and 4 step-children that need her back home amongst family.”

Bali Holiday Secrets encourages travelers to avoid drugs entirely to avoid legal issues in the province. Even with prescription drugs, they urge visitors to carry a doctor’s letter and original prescription just to stay safe.

Along with strict laws against drugs, Bali also has firm regulations against public affection, including heavy kissing, as well as gambling and littering.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

April 26, 2026

No Black Quarterbacks Selected In NFL Draft’s First Round Despite Rising Representation

Only one Black quarterback was selected in the NFL Draft's seven rounds.

The first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday, April 23, had many top-ranked Black players joining different franchises but none at quarterback and only one selected in the draft’s seven rounds.

Two quarterbacks were selected in the first 13 picks, but No. 1 pick, Fernando Mendoza form Indiana Universi ty is Cuban-American, while University of Alabama QB Ty Simpson, identifies as white, according to ESPN.

Ebony reports that this is the first time in a decade when no Black quarterbacks were selected in the first round and noted that this draft could mark a shift away from the modern dominance of Black quarterbacks currently in the league. The sole Black quarterback drafted, Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green, was selected by the Cleveland Browns with the 182nd pick.

Black QBs from Patrick Mahomes to Jalen Hurts have seen NFL success with Super Bowl rings to match. Their rise in popularity has paved the way for future Black quarterbacks to become the faces of NFL franchises.

Prior to this, the NFL has long struggled with a Black quarterback problem. Not only has the league received backlash for its alleged racial bias in drafting for the position but in their treatment and perception of these players’ leadership abilities and skillset.

According to the National Urban League, it took the league nearly a century for all 32 teams to have started at least one Black quarterback, a feat only accomplished in 2017.

However, Black QBs have received more representation in the league in recent years. A record number of 16 even started during the 2025 season.

This record may not improve next fall, especially with Black quarterbacks left out of the star recruits from this year’s draft. The draft’s results could even trigger a decline in new ones making it into the league, and starting.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

April 26, 2026

Chrisean Rock Scores Knockdown In Divisive Boxing Debut

Rock won the unusual boxing match against professional wrestler Zenith Zion.

Baddies star Chrisean Rock scored her first knockdown in a dicey win against Zenith Zion, a professional wrestler, in her April 25 boxing debut at Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino.

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A post shared by Happy Punch (@happypunch)

The event served as a crossover of two unusual fighters for the equally unusual match. Rock secured the win, although the results were highly contested by judges and viewers alike. Rock still held the feat in high regard.

Dawg. Chrisean Rock gets emotional after finding out she won against Zenith Zion in boxing 😭 pic.twitter.com/h4BQuS54m8
— RashticReport (@RashticReport) April 26, 2026

The match was a star-studded affair in itself. According to Forbes, the main event of the night had former boxer Floyd Mayweather Sr. as referee. His daughter, Fatimah, also fought in the co-main event.

Rock’s first-round knockdown of the fighter shocked viewers. However, Mayweather Sr.’s officiating also concerned fans, especially with his long-winded count to qualify the knockdown. The countdown allowed Zion enough time to regain her breath and continue the fight with Rock.

The judges came to a split verdict on Rock’s win, which noted a knockdown of Zion in the first round. However, another knockdown call against Rock, prompted by Mayweather Sr., was made in the final round.

Despite the controversies surrounding the fight, particularly toward its lack of regard for boxing regulations, Forbes noted how Rock’s domination in the ring urged the majority of the judges to swing her way.

The fight itself came about following a viral fight in December 2025, which prompted Rock to begin training for a more professional career in boxing. She announced her deal with XRumble in January, vlogging her journey to secure her own championship belt.

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A post shared by Holy Hands (@chrisean)

As for Zion, the wrestler was selected out of over 5,800 applicants. Known for her slap fighting, she is a former winner of the AWA Women’s Television Championship, as reported by iHeart.

Zion’s professional training in another fighting style could not overcome Rock and her “holy hands.” Now, fans have called for a rematch to the atypical event.

by Shanique Yates

April 26, 2026

Rihanna Expands Fenty Beauty Glam With India Pop-Up

The music mogul-turned-businesswoman and billionaire returned to Mumbai to give fans the ultimate Fenty Beauty pop-up experience.

Rihanna has taken her talents (and beauty tips) to India!

The music mogul-turned-businesswoman and billionaire returned to Mumbai to give fans the ultimate Fenty Beauty pop-up experience, 97.9 The Beat reports.

It is her first time in India since performing at Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s pre-wedding celebrations in Jamnagar in 2024, and, in true Rih Rih fashion, she pulled up looking fly, encouraging women to feel effortlessly beautiful, too.

The Fenty Beauty Ki Haveli Pop-Up at the Phoenix Palladium is open to the public until May 4. The storefront includes vibrant colors as well as new products such as the Shake ‘N Play Buildable Liquid Blushes, available in five different colors, and the Diamond Bomb All-Over highlighter.

The spot will have its own must-haves personally picked by Rihanna herself.

“Women just want to be seen,” she said in an interview with Vogue India. “It’s simple as that. We just want to be seen, we want to be known. We want to be heard. We want our visions to mean something. We want our ideas to mean something. We want our voice to have this sense of importance. We love the energy that we bring.”

She also took a moment to highlight how a woman’s creativity should be fostered and used to make a difference in the world.

“We love our contributions. But there’s so much more that women can do. What women can contribute. love when our ‘stupid ideas,’ you know, ‘stupid,’ come into perspective and they mean something. And they teach people a lot of things about our contributions to the world. This is a human thing. And I’ve noticed this more as a mom. Boys, girls, women, men—life is so crazy. It’s hard. You need support. You need community, you know?”

Since its 2017 launch, Fenty Beauty has soared to great heights. Rihanna achieved billionaire status in August 2021, with Forbes estimating her net worth at $1.7 billion at the time.

Rihanna operates the business as the people’s princess, with the pop-up in India as a shining example. Whether someone was having trouble locating the right foundation or simply wanting to pose with the Barbados native for a photo, it was noted that Rihanna made herself available to eager fans, even allowing conversations to run longer than they should.

“No one is looking ashy or orange on my watch,” she joked, helping a guest find the perfect foundation match.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

April 26, 2026

Report: Black Youth Are 8 Times More Likely Than White Peers To Be Strip-Searched By UK Police

The report detailed that Black children account for more than a third of all child strip searches in the UK.

A new report has staggering findings about the treatment of Black youth by police in the United Kingdom.

The report, released by the Children’s Commissioner, determined Black children are eight times more likely to face strip searches by police compared to their white counterparts.

According to the BBC, the results have left state leadership to call for new policies addressing this racial disparity.

Although the report also dictated that children’s strip searches have significantly decreased, down 56% in 2024 from the 854 documented in 2020, its findings concluded that Black children still remain a target for police investigation. The report, led by Dame Rachel de Souza, even confirmed that Black children were five times more likely to experience force by police during these stop and searches, subjecting them to more aggression in these encounters.

Black children remain disproportionately targeted in strip searches. However, they only make up a small portion of the UK’s population of kids from 10 to 17 years old. The report detailed that over a third of strip searches occurred on Black children, with some instances using force on children even younger than age 11.

“Although only 6% of the population of 10-17 year olds in the 2021 census were Black, 35% of the children strip searched were of Black ethnicity,” detailed the report.

Dame Rachel confirmed that while strip searches have declined, the number has troubled the agency, which upholds children’s rights in the country. The report noted that many of these searches continue to take place in public, often without an adult present.

“I am particularly concerned about the ethnic disproportionality as to why officers say force was needed: White children are more likely to be described as having a mental health need, while for Black children the reason identified is simply their size or build,” stated Dame Rachel.

The Commissioner added, “We cannot accept that Black children are subjected to the use of force because of the way they are perceived.”

In light of these results, the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) has created updates to its procedure regarding stop and searches. The council noted that it would issue a “child-centered approach” when conducting strip searches.

The council added that changes took place in light of the Commissioner’s previous report on child strip searches in 2022. However, racial implications have prompted the council’s Deputy Chief Constable to assure that new policies will combat the issue.

“While there are positive signs in that the number of strip searches have been falling over time, we continue to work with policing partners, stakeholders, and academics to understand and address the disproportionate use of stop and search, which we understand can undermine trust between policing and communities,” shared the Deputy Chief Constable, Andy Mariner.

Brits have also called out the excessive strip searches targeting Black children through public demonstrations, particularly after a 2022 police encounter with a 15-year-old UK girl underwent a forceful search that led to her genitals being revealed publicly while on her menstrual cycle.

Two of the three officers involved were dismissed.

prom dress, prom dresses, hood prom, tiktok

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

April 26, 2026

White TikToker Checked For Claiming ‘Hood Prom’ Happens Because Black Girls Won’t Get Married

The Tiktoker was slammed by other creators for her racist, and unfounded, claims.

A white TikToker was checked by the Black community over her racist thinking behind “hood prom.”

The TikToker, who goes by the name of Sasha, claimed that Black girls partake in over-the-top “hood prom” looks due to their lesser chances of having a wedding. The woman, who identifies as a conservative, shared her unfounded statements to the video-streaming app. Some of her take was re-shared by a Black woman who called out the discrimination.

@_whitney_87
Let’s just say is more baby mommas in your culture underaged at that 🤷🏾‍♀️
♬ original sound – Whitney_T_😘

“Its prom season which means one thing and one thing only…hood prom,” asserted the content creator. “And I think what a lot of people fail to realize [about] hood prom and baby mama culture [is]…you can’t have one without the other.”

The TikToker then dived deeper into her racist hypothesis, breaking down her assumed connections between “hood prom” and “baby mama culture.”

She continued, “You can’t have hood prom or the baby shower stuff or anything like that without baby mama culture.”

While she tried to make her case, the Black community made a quick rebuttal to her claims.

“You know what I love about this app is when y’all get on here and make a fool of yourselves…what is a hood prom,” questioned a naysayer. “Over the years, y’all continue to come for a group of people who pay y’all no mind.”

After letting the TikToker know that she is too deep in Black people’s business, the critic then went on to call out what demographic helped promote the “Teen Mom” television series and surrounding culture.

“Y’all made baby mama culture at the forefront with the “Teen Mom” series. Hands down,” she continued.

As the TikToker denounced the notion of a “hood prom,” others also chimed in on the alleged glorification of teenage motherhood.

“That was my first thought,” another added. “Like didn’t they have a show of pregnant white teens????”

Other naysayers called out Sasha, demanding an apology for her racist assertion. However, the conservative content creator refused to retract her words. Instead, she doubled down on her claims that “hood prom” exists and coincides with her self-proclaimed “baby mama culture,” particularly due to her belief that the Black community does not prioritize having fathers in the home.

However, Black women refused to back down, furthering undermine the racist thoughts with pictures of their weddings and successful marriages. While the TikToker continues to speak on other communities, the Black community let her know that her racist assertions would not go unchecked.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

April 26, 2026

Black Businesses Could Lose Access To Federal Contracts Due To DEI Order, Report

A special edition of The Blackout Report suggests Black businesses could lose access to federal contracts over anti-DEI policies.

A new report says President Trump’s latest DEI order could significantly derail Black businesses’ ability to gain federal contracts.

The Blackout Report, published April 23 by Onyx Impact, suggests that Black businesses are at risk of being left out of federal contracting opportunities due to this anti-DEI legislation. The Blackout Report details the “concrete harms” to Black communities prompted by the Trump administration and its policies.

This year’s special edition report argues that this federal contracting shift has already begun, with the latest order further threatening this revenue-boosting pathway. Trump’s executive order, issued March 26, directly targets equity policies in federal contracting, limiting these opportunities for Black business owners.

While federal contracting is already a lucrative industry, with the report noting a $774 billion market, Black businesses hold only a tiny share of these profits. In fact, only 1.2% of federal dollars actually go toward these entities. The vast majority of federal contract funding goes to white-owned companies, accounting for 93.6% of all dollars received.

“Federal contracting is one of the clearest pathways to wealth generation in this country, and Black-owned businesses receive only 1.2% of the payments,” said Onyx Impact Founder and CEO Esosa Osa, according to Revolt. “When you target a group already confined to 1.2%, you are actively enforcing a broken system.”

Now, these numbers could shrink even more if Black businesses are phased out of this “wealth pipeline,” with $9.3 billion at risk of flowing out of Black wealth generation. Federal contracts have sustained and elevated many Black businesses, supporting jobs, supplying capital, and adding credibility to these companies.

However, under this new compliance framework, contracts could come to a halt as contractors seek to avoid risk. Its impact could leave these businesses, already handed just a margin of opportunity, with even less to sustain themselves for the future.

Furthermore, Black women, who own 48% of all Black businesses, could also take a significant hit. The report found that Black women CEOs with The BOW Collective reported revenue declines, with over half reporting losses exceeding $100,000.

Despite the pushback against partnering with Black businesses, minority-owned companies have greatly contributed to revenue generation and employment opportunities in the United States. However, accessibility barriers have stunted these companies from scaling operations, with this latest policy jeopardizing this growth even more.

Virginia, African Landing Memorial, First Enslaved Africans

by Shanique Yates

April 26, 2026

Virginia Dedicates $9M African Landing Memorial To Honor First Enslaved Africans

Community members in Hampton, Virginia, were joined by state leaders to dedicate the African Landing Memorial Plaza, which marks where the first documented enslaved Africans were brought to Virginia over 400 years ago.

The African Landing Memorial is a new Virginia memorial that pays homage to the first enslaved Africans who were forced into the state.

Community members in Hampton, Virginia, were joined by state leaders to dedicate the African Landing Memorial Plaza. The site now marks where the first documented enslaved Africans were brought to Virginia over 400 years ago, 13 News Now reports.

Africans who were taken from Luanda, Angola, first arrived at what has been identified as the original site of Point Comfort in 1619. According to reports, the ship São João Bautista was used to carry hundreds across the Atlantic. It is a painful reminder of the violence used to shape the nation’s history, but one that must be recognized to deepen the understanding of the effect that slavery had and still has on this country today.

“It’s often said that you need story more than food to survive,” said Fort Monroe Authority CEO Scott Martin during the dedication event on April 24. “The descendants are with us today, the story is with us today… and when you sit out here at sunrise or sunset, you watch the land speak to you.”

The plaza is inspired by the Sankofa symbol, which represents the philosophy of learning from the past to build a successful future, and it took $9 million to build. It is a pedestrian-only plaza that features Angolan granite and design elements.

Wanda Tucker has traced her lineage to Isabella and Antony, two of the first enslaved Africans documented in Virginia, and to their child, William Tucker.

“Very rarely am I speechless, but this one feels so deep,” said Tucker. “There’s a history here as to how Angolans first arrived and all the 400-plus years of history, construction of American history, that we have brought since the beginning. I don’t want that to be missed in any way.”

Tucker and her family partnered with the Fort Monroe Authority and the Fort Monroe National Monument to offer insight on the development of the memorial.

As a state leader, Gov. Abigail Spanberger vowed to provide the necessary support to raise awareness of the memorial’s history.

“The Commonwealth of Virginia will protect and steward this memorial, and we will make sure it is here for the generations who will stand on this ground and learn its stories,” she said. “It is up to us, all of us, to tell these stories with the honesty and grace they deserve.”

The dedication is just a stepping stone to a host of plans for the memorial, including the installation of statues expected to be completed later this summer, along with additional features.

“It’s almost like a book of essays with this memorial, much like the African experience in America over 400 years,” said Fort Monroe Authority Executive Director Scott Martin.

Suspect, White House Correspondents Dinner, Shooting, trump

by Shanique Yates

April 26, 2026

Suspect Identified In 2026 White House Correspondents Dinner Shooting

The alleged shooter has been identified as 31-year-old Cole Allen, a teacher from Torrance, California.

Details surrounding the shooting during the 2026 White House Correspondents’ Dinner continue to roll in.

According to the New York Post, the alleged shooter has been identified as 31-year-old Cole Allen of Torrance, California. It is believed that he is a teacher at C2 Education, a tutoring and test-prep company, based on a LinkedIn profile that matches his name and photo.

He is currently in custody and was reportedly armed with a shotgun, handgun, and multiple knives during the incident, which took place at approximately 8:35 p.m. at the Washington Hilton hotel in Washington, D.C. Shots were not fired at the gunman at the time of the shooting, however, he was charged and tackled to the ground before being taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation.

Armed Suspect Identified in Shooting at White House Correspondents' Dinner https://t.co/AAPh7zr9Kn pic.twitter.com/6GQFG23WjH
— TMZ (@TMZ) April 26, 2026

In a video shared to Truth Social by Trump, Allen is seen opening fire and rushing toward the ballroom. He is currently being charged with the use of a firearm during a crime of violence and the assault of a federal officer.

The law enforcement officer who was shot on the scene was wearing a bulletproof vest and walked away with no real injuries. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon confirmed a “facial bruise” as a result of the chaos that erupted when people heard the gunshots. Another elderly man in attendance appeared injured and was seen limping out of the ballroom with assistance.

An investigation is underway into how Allen managed to gain access to the hotel so close to the leaders, with roughly 2,500 guests in attendance. It is believed that he checked into the hotel, which Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent made sure to disclose was the same place where an assassination attempt on former President Ronald Reagan occurred in 1981, as a guest.

It has also been confirmed that Trump was at the center as a target in the attack. This is the first year Trump has attended the annual dinner as a sitting president.

“There were a lot of high-value targets in the room,” said Bessent. “The president and vice president were both up on the stage.”

Trump said he doesn’t believe that the attack is linked to the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, and vowed to continue his approach to politics. He also promised to reschedule the dinner within 30 days and to change the language of his remarks, noting that he initially planned to “rip into reporters.”

“It’s not going to deter me from winning the war in Iran,” said Trump. “I don’t know if that had anything to do with it. I really don’t think so, based on what we know.”

He added, “A lot of other people, you know, you read stories when they become basket cases, to be honest with you. I’m not a basket case. I want to live because I want to make this country great. That’s why I want to live. When you’re impactful, they go after you.”

This is the third time Trump has allegedly been targeted in an assassination attempt. The first was in Butler, Pennsylvania, in 2024, when he was shot in his upper ear by a 20-year-old gunman who was shot dead by security personnel at the time.

Two months after that incident, Secret Service agents discovered a man hiding in the bushes at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, as Trump played rounds on the course. It was deemed an assassination attempt because the suspect was seen wielding a gun. He was sentenced to life in prison in February 2026.