by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 15, 2022

Keeping a Job: Keke Palmer Announces She’s Hosting ‘Saturday Night Live’

Saturday Night Live continues its appeal with popular and likable Black entertainers as the long-running show will have multi-hyphenated superstar Keke Palmer host December’s first show.

Also known as Keke “Keeps a Job” Palmer for her constant roles and jobs, the busy 29-year-old will host SNL when it returns Dec. 3. Joining her as the musical guest for the night will be SZA. The show is taking a two-week hiatus after Dave Chappelle hosted last weekend.

“Y’all got y’alls wish… guess whole hosting @nbcsnl? I’m so excited for usss yalllllll, couldn’t do it without you”

Last month, the serial entrepreneur gave notice to her fans and followers that she was launching her own digital television network, KeyTV. She stated in a social media post that she was introducing the platform as a network that will aim to spotlight “a new generation of creators.”

 

The always-working Palmer also released her latest podcast in partnership with Amazon, Baby, This Is Keke Palmer.

“

The latest guest for this podcast: Abbott Elementary‘s Quinta Brunson.

During the summer, Palmer teamed with McCormick to announce a nationwide search for an official McCormick Original Taco Seasoning theme song. The contest was named “America’s Got Tacos.”

Sister Sister Living! Michelle Obama Reveals Malia and Sasha Obama Are Sharing a Home in Los Angeles
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 15, 2022

Sister Sister Living! Michelle Obama Reveals Malia and Sasha Obama Are Sharing a Home in Los Angeles

Malia and Sasha Obama are growing up fast, and figuring out adulthood as a sisterly unit.

Michelle Obama, 58, appeared on the Today show on Monday, where she told Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager all about her daughters’ current living situation. According to Michelle, since leaving home, Malia, 24, and Sasha, 21, have decided to become roommates.

“We were going to take them to dinner, and they said, ‘Why don’t you come over to our spot for cocktails?’” Michelle recalled her and Barack’s first visit to their daughters’ shared home.

“And we were like, ‘OK, let’s see what this is going to be like.’ The martinis were a little weak. I don’t think they really knew what it was.”

The funniest part of the visit, according to the former first lady, was Sasha and Malia asking their parents to use coasters and not set their drinking glasses directly on the table.

“I’m like, ‘You never used a coaster in my house.’ So now when it’s your stuff, you want to take care of it?” Michelle joked.

The mother of two said she enjoys seeing her daughters develop a closer bond, after admitting that there was a strain between Malia and Sasha, growing up.

“The thing that I love the most is that those two girls are each other’s best friends,” she said.

“There was a period of time when they couldn’t stand each other, and I said, ‘You wait, you are going to wake up one day and you’re going to look over at that other person, and you’re going to know that you two share something very unique,’ especially given what they’ve been through.”

Michelle said seeing her daughters “in that place where they’re one another’s support systems and they’ve got each other’s backs, it’s the thing that a mother would want.”

The sisters relocated to Los Angeles amid Malia’s work in television, while Sasha attends the University of Southern California. The duo is also dating boyfriends in the area, with Sasha dating fellow USC student Clifton Powell Jr., a basketball player-turned-director and son of actor Clifton Powell.

Malia is currently linked to record producer Dawit Eklund, Page Six reports.

Watch: Black Unarmed Guard Tackles Gunman in Lobby of Buffalo Treatment Clinic
by Atiya Jordan

November 15, 2022

Watch: Black Unarmed Guard Tackles Gunman in Lobby of Buffalo Treatment Clinic

A Black unarmed security guard wrestled a man with an AR-15 in the lobby of a substance abuse treatment clinic in Buffalo, NY, and the incident was recorded by surveillance cameras, CBS affiliate WIVB reported.

On Thursday morning, 48-year-old Jeremy Griffin of Williamsville, NY, walked into Alba de Vida and fired one shot into a wall before the guard tackled him against another wall, forced him outside, and restrained him with the assistance of another guard.

A video clip, released by the Buffalo Police Department, shows the guard standing opposite a reception desk and in front of a closed glass door that may have lead to a patients’ waiting area. He noticed the gunman approaching the front entrance before the staff did.

When Griffin fired the shot, the guard seemingly alerted the staff behind the front desk, as they frantically disappeared into the clinic for safety. Then he rushed toward Griffin, tackling the gunman, as another guard arrived just before the surveillance footage ends.

At least two more rounds were fired during the struggle, police said, according to NPR. More video footage from outside the clinic showed two bystanders helping to disarm Griffin. Erie County District Attorney John Flynn confirmed that no one was injured.

“This could’ve gotten ugly really quick,” Flynn said, WIVB reported.

“Due to the quick action — quite frankly heroic in my opinion — by the two security officers, no one got hurt there.”

Griffin has been charged with multiple felonies, including attempted murder. According to local officials, they suspect that Griffin was involved in another shooting at a home on Pennsylvania Street where he allegedly shot a woman in the leg before going to the clinic.

“[Both shootings] were an attempted robbery seeking what we believe to be drugs,” Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia said in a press conference, per NPR. “There was, at this point, no other motive other than an attempted robbery.”

Georgia
by Derek Major

November 15, 2022

Sen. Raphael Warnock, Democrats Sue For Saturday Voting In Georgia Senate Runoff

Sen. Raphael Warnock and Democratic groups are suing the state of Georgia to reverse guidance from Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger saying counties cannot offer Saturday voting ahead of next month’s Senate runoff.

News4Jax reports the suit, filed Monday by the Democratic Party of Georgia, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and the Warnock campaign, challenges the state’s finding that holding early voting on Nov. 26 the day after a state holiday is illegal.

The suit, filed in Fulton County Superior Court, is requesting a judge rule that the law doesn’t bar counties from holding early voting on Saturday, Nov. 26. The groups are also requesting an emergency hearing and a temporary restraining order to stop Raffensperger from interfering with early voting on that day.

According to the suit, the state’s interpretation hurts Warnock because Democratic voters tend to use early voting on weekends more than Republican supporters.

“Illegal attempts to block Saturday voting are another desperate attempt by career politicians to squeeze the people out of their own democracy and to silence the voices of Georgians,” Quentin Fulks, Warnock’s campaign manager, said in a statement according to News4Jax. “We’re aggressively fighting to protect Georgia voters’ ability to vote on Saturday.”

Raffensperger, who was reelected during last year’s midterm elections, dismissed the lawsuit as Democrats playing politics.

“Instead of muddying the water and pressuring counties to ignore Georgia law, Senator Warnock should be allowing county election officials to continue preparations for the upcoming runoff.”

Under the elections restriction bill Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed into law in 2021, there are only four weeks before the Senate runoff with Thanksgiving in between. State law requires there be at least five weekdays of early voting beginning Nov. 28 and directs the state’s 159 counties to begin early in-person voting “as soon as possible” in the event of a runoff.

Raffensperger and Deputy Secretary of State  Gabriel Sterling told the Associated Press last week that it researched the law and determined that it would be illegal to hold early voting the day after a state holiday, which cuts out two days of early voting, Thanksgiving and the following Friday.

Warnock’s campaign and state Democrats say the bar on holiday voting only applies to primary and general elections, but not runoffs. The groups add reading the law in another way would mandate early voting on Nov. 19 which is impossible because state officials do not plan to certify the midterm results until Nov. 21.

The Georgia runoff between Sen. Warnock and Republican nominee Herschel Walker has been a close one as neither candidate received 50% of the vote during the midterm election, sending the race into a runoff. Republicans currently lead the Senate count 49-48 in favor of Republicans. If Democrats win the runoff they will have control of the Senate with Vice President Kamala Harris serving as the tie-breaking vote.

by Atiya Jordan

November 15, 2022

Black Student Crowned First Female Drum Major at HBCU Norfolk State

Behold! Quiara Jackson is Norfolk State University’s first female drum major of the longtime Marching Spartan “Legion” Band.

The sociology major and senior has been crowned Cap ’N Soul, which bestows her leadership over the team of about 250 staff and student musicians, dancers, and flags from states nationwide, The Virginian-Pilot reported. She is the first woman to hold the title at the Norfolk-based HBCU, and wants to be an exemplary model for women to lead.

“One of my main focuses when I was auditioning to be a drum major, I was telling people not only am I running for myself, I’m running to inspire other women to take on these positions,” she told the outlet.

“We need more women in these leadership positions.”

In fact, several of the band’s section leaders are women, per the news outlet.

Jackson, who attended Freedom High School in Woodbridge, Virginia, was more interested in choir and orchestra until she picked up her band instrument in her junior year. She leaned on the encouragement of the high school’s band director who graduated NSU as a member of its legendary band.

She fell in love with NSU’s campus and joined the Spartan Legion Saxophone section in 2018.

Her transition from nursing to sociology nearly prompted her to take a break from the band, but her supporters, including last year’s Mr. Spartan, Jonathan Lee, inspired her to pursue her history-making role.

Among her notable responsibilities, Jackson is also a proud member of the Epsilon Sigma chapter of Tau Beta Sigma since 2020 and currently sits on the executive board for the 2022-2023 school year. Her sisterhood gave her her flowers on social media.

Founded in 1975, the award-winning “Legions” band is known for the Philadelphia Parade commemorating the 200th anniversary of the Constitution (1987); the Mardi Gras in the Rex Parade in New Orleans (2003); the MLK “Drum Major for Justice” Parade, St. Petersburg, Florida (2006); the Honda Battle of the Bands Invitational Showcase (2007 and 2008); and the Norfolk Grand Illumination Parade (2006 and 2007).

Under the direction of William H. Beathea, the band continues to spread the love of the “Legions” across the country.

abortion ban
by Derek Major

November 15, 2022

BREAKING: Georgia Judge Overturns State Six-Week Abortion Ban Calling It Unconstitutional

A Georgia judge overturned the state’s six-week abortion ban Tuesday saying it violated the US constitution and US Supreme Court precedent.

The Guardian reports the ruling, made by Judge Robert McBurney overturned the abortion ban which had been in effect since July. The ruling came in a lawsuit that sought to strike down the ban on multiple grounds, including that it violates the Peach State’s constitutional right to privacy and liberty by forcing women in the state to have a child.

McBurney agreed with the doctors and abortion advocacy groups saying when the law was enacted “everywhere in America, including Georgia, it was unequivocally unconstitutional for governments – federal, state, or local – to ban abortions before viability.”

The judge added that Georgia’s law banning abortions “did not become the law of Georgia when it was enacted and it is not the law of Georgia now”

The state argued that the Roe v. Wade decision itself eas wrong and that the Supreme Court ruling earlier reversing abortion access across the country, made it non-existent, However, McBurney didn’t agree.

Since the Supreme Court reversed Roe, that hjave been numerous fights in the courts of Republican states try to bab or reverse bvans on abortion. Other states including New York where Gov. Kathy Hochul stregthened the right to abortion in June in anticipation of the Supreme Court’s ruling on Roe.

Georgia’s abortion ban prohibited most abortions once a “detectable human heartbeat” is present. A heartbeat can be found in anb embryo as early as six weeks into pregnancy, however at tgaty p0oint many women are still unaware that they’re pregnant.

Since the Supreme Court’s ruling, 17 states have moved to ban or restrict abortion including Oklahoma, Utah, Alabama, Texas Tennessee, Florida, Arizona, Louisiana Kentucky and Idaho. Some of the bans are still being fought in court.

Black Cosplayer Tapped by New York Mayor Eric Adams as New Judge
by Derek Major

November 15, 2022

Black Cosplayer Tapped by New York Mayor Eric Adams as New Judge

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has made five new picks for the city’s judiciary, including noted cosplayer Dale Fong-Fredrick.

The New York Post reports Fong-Fredrick, 51, is known among fellow fantasy Middle Agers as Sir Jibril al-Dakhil, the fictional “son of a Moorish baron and a mother born of Spanish royalty” who’s rumored “to competitively dance the pole in disguise,” according to the Society of Creative Anachronism (SCA) website.

Fong-Fredrick, describes himself as the first openly gay knight in the group’s East Kingdom, which includes the Northeast U.S. and Canada. According to his bio, Fong-Fredrick is “one of less than a dozen African-American knights.”

“You can be a knight in name only. You can play the game, jump through the hoops, dot your i’s and cross your t’s, get your belt, get your chain and say: Whoa, I can hit people with a stick, I’m a knight!” Fong-Fredrick said during a one-hour Zoom conference where SCA leaders dressed in full costume according to the Post.

“Or you can look at the virtues, the philosophy of what it means to be a knight, what it means to be virtuous, what it means to speak up for people who can’t speak for themselves, what it means to deliver the king’s justice.”

The other four judges Adams tapped to serve New York City include Sara Litman, an attorney in the Brooklyn Supreme Court and Michael Ryan, a Brooklyn prosecutor. The three will replace judges whose terms expire this year but Adams refused to reappoint.

Additionally, the New York mayor is also replacing two family court judges he also declined to reappoint, which a city juridical called “highly unusual.”

“It is quite unusual in a year to have even one judge who is not reappointed,” the source told the Post. “It is quite unusual. From time to time, a particular person may not be up to the job anymore. But 5 people in one year, you’d have to go back at least a decade or more to find something similar.”

In a statement released by City Hall, Adams said “My administration is selecting judges that we believe have the highest fidelity to the law, that will not unduly delay cases, and that will make their decisions with the safety of New Yorkers in mind. “That’s what this group represents, and that will be my North Star going forward.”

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 15, 2022

Oh Y’all Got Jokes! Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield Team Up to Release Ear-Shaped Cannabis Edibles

Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield are making light of their infamous ear-biting boxing match by releasing a line of edibles in its honor.

In wake of Tyson releasing his line of ear-shaped cannabis edibles, Mike Bites, earlier this year, the boxing great has teamed up with Holyfield, the boxing legend who served as the victim in the initial ear-biting incident that inspired the edibles.

On Black Friday, Tyson will expand his edible collection to include “Holy Ears,” a line of THC- and Delta-8 THC-infused edibles, HuffPost reports. The new product is the latest addition to Tyson’s line of cannabis gummies shaped like bitten ears, a sarcastic nod to Tyson’s controversial 1997 bout where he infamously bit off a piece of Holyfield’s ear.

“If I was on cannabis, I wouldn’t have bit [Holyfield’s] ear!” Tyson jokingly said.

As part of Tyson and Holyfield’s new partnership, the duo plan to release Holyfield’s own cannabis products in 2023. Tyson has become an advocate for cannabis and psychedelics in recent years. But for decades, the former heavyweight champion refrained from cannabis after his smoking habit lost him a spot on the 1984 Olympic boxing team. “I’d get raving drunk, and people would say it was better than getting high,” Tyson said.

But he only returned to consuming cannabis to avoid taking painkillers prescribed by doctors, including addictive opiates. Now, in wake of launching his Tyson 2.0 cannabis company and line of edibles, Tyson has partnered with the last person people expected.

“I didn’t think it was funny at first, but then I realized Mike hadn’t been in more trouble for a while,” Holyfield said of the new venture.

Holyfield respects how Tyson has used his cannabis company to help people. He had never consumed an edible until he got his first bite of a Holy Ear sample.

“I wanted to make sure I got home and didn’t to do anything to anyone,” he said. “I ate it and laid down. I woke up the next morning and was like, ‘Whoa.’”

Tyson’s 2.0 partner, Chad Bronstein, is proud of how the cannabis line is helping people find more holistic ways of pain relief.

“He’s a destigmatizing voice to cannabis and psychedelics,” Bronstein said. “He’s a ganja god.”

Lori Harvey
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 15, 2022

Lori Harvey Stuns in See-Through Wedding Dress Designed by the Late Virgil Abloh

Lori Harvey stepped out in an eccentric all-white ensemble that actually served as an eccentric wedding dress designed by the late great Virgil Abloh.

On Saturday, Harvey attended the Baby2Baby Galal at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood, Daily Mail reports. Harvey made heads turn as she showed off some serious side boob in an eye-catching backless dress/catsuit that included a large sultry split in the back.

Harvey topped off the look with white skintight leggings paired with long-sleeved gloves that covered her head and nude heels.

Many assumed the number was an edgy jumpsuit. But it was actually a unique street-style wedding gown designed by the late fashion designer Virgil Abloh, Pop Sugar reports.

Harvey’s stylist Elly Karamoh worked with Abloh’s Off White to source the model’s look for the star-studded event. The stylist took to Instagram on Monday to further highlight the look.

“The balaclava gown. This collection, at it’s earliest stages, was started and designed by Virgil Abloh before his passing in 2021,” she captioned the post.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Elly Karamoh (@elly30)

“The entire collection was then passed on to his successor @ibkamara ; who then applied his genius and creative DNA to complete this fairy tale story,” Karamoh continued.

“The gown was the off-white version of a bridal gown. Architectural glamour ; broke down into 3 fragile tulle – like Fabric layers. A catsuit , the most beautiful sheer one piece dress , and the balaclava attached with sleeves that transformed the entire look into a couture moment.”

Harvey also shared a few fashionista shots posing in the wedding dress.

“Had the pleasure of attending the @baby2baby Gala last night and wow what an incredible evening for an even more incredible cause. So glad I could be a part of it,” Harvey captioned her post.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Lori Harvey (@loriharvey)

South Carolina Unveils New Monument To Honor First Black Man To Enter US Naval Academy
by Eric Moody

November 15, 2022

South Carolina Unveils New Monument To Honor First Black Man To Enter US Naval Academy

A new monument in South Carolina was dedicated Monday to the first Black student to attend the U.S. Naval Academy.

The dedication was held in Charleston to honor James Henry Conyers for admission in 1872 by U.S. Representative from South Carolina, Robert B. Elliott.

Conyers was sworn into the Naval Academy by Elliot at the age of 16.

Conyers, a Charleston native, was sworn in as a cadet-midshipman on Sept. 24, 1872, but left in September of 1873 due to unthinkable acts of abuse and was permanently isolated from classmates, according to NBC affiliate station WCBD.

He later returned to Charleston, where he lived until he died in 1935.

WCBD reports that 14 years later is when the first Black cadet graduated from the Naval Academy.

The monument, recognized in Conyers’ honor, is located at the Humane and Friendly Society Cemetery on Pershing Street.

It was made possible due to the Naval Academy’s alumni, who donated money for the monument.

Conyers had been buried with his wife in an unmarked grave, according to CBS affiliate station WCSC.

But on Monday, he was honored as a trailblazer who broke the color barrier in the U.S. Naval Academy over 150 years ago.

The Naval Academy Superintendent VADM Sean Buck, Naval Academy Alumni Association, and Foundation CEO Jeff Webb were all in attendance as the cadet-midshipman was honored by fellow South Carolina natives.

That included former astronaut and NASA administrator Charles Bolden, who reportedly delivered the keynote address.

Officials say that Conyers was a leader who paved the way for others behind him, including Wesley Brown, the first African American to graduate from the academy in 1949.

“He single-handedly broke down barriers,” U.S. Naval Academy Superintendent Vice Adm. Sean Buck said during the event. “Not immediately, not all at once, but in a country that had just survived the ravages of a Civil War, he began to lead the way by example.”

Conyers’ great-granddaughter, Carol Grant-Rogers added, “We are a small family. You enabled us to come together on this occasion from near and far, and we appreciate it. We feel the love and support.”

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