by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 24, 2025

Meet The Haitian Designer Behind These Viral Hard-To-Find Handbags

There's a waiting list to purchase one of Pierre Laborde's viral luxury handbags.

Meet Pierre Laborde, the Haitian-born designer behind the coveted luxury handbags taking over New York City’s Grand Bazaar.

On Nov. 11, the luxury handbag TikTok page Via Giulia offered a glimpse inside Laborde’s NYC design studio, drawn by the buzz around his handmade bags. The clips showcase Laborde’s sought-after pony hair and leather handbags with a dropped middle design and tell of his weekend sales at New York City’s Grand Bazaar on West 77th Street.

“His unique play on color and style and shape, his bags are so popular, and the waitlist is super, super long,” the TikToker shared. “So we were lucky enough to get a visit to his studio, and he showed us around his amazing collection of bags.”

@rentviagiulia Meet Pierre Laborde, Haitian born designer based in New York. After @marlylake viral video featuring his work, he graciously hosted us for a studio visit! His bags are hand made and no two are the same. We are so excited to be carrying a few of Pierre’s pieces in our inventory that are available to rent. Sign up for our waitlist in our bio to be first in line! 👜💞 #luxurybag #designerbags #bagrental #clothingrental ♬ original sound – Via Giulia | Luxury Bag Rental

Born in Haiti and now based in NYC, Laborde creates handbags guided by his design pillars of color, function, and expression. His distinctive style has won acclaim from handbag enthusiasts. A visit to his website reveals that prospective buyers must join a waiting list to be notified when new bags are back in stock.

Each bag is handcrafted, and because it’s a one-person operation, creating these highly sought-after pieces takes time—hence the waitlist. Those eager to get their hands on a Pierre Laborde bag can follow his Instagram page and wait for his next shop day announcement.

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A post shared by Francis Laborde (@pierrelabordenewyork)

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

November 24, 2025

Trump Grants Selective $10K Bonuses To Air Traffic Controllers That Clocked In During Shutdown

The Trump-ordered bonuses were to award some controllers for their "loyalty."

Trump and the Federal Aviation Administration followed through on their promise of $10k bonuses to air traffic controllers, but only to a select few.

Of the more than 20,000 air traffic controllers who missed multiple paychecks in the most extended government shutdown in U.S. history, only 776 received the coveted bonuses Trump promised. Those who clocked in for all their shifts, despite the missed pay, received the bonuses, while the rest play catch-up with their expenses as the checks start rolling back in.

The FAA announced the rollout of the bonuses on Nov. 20, confirming an order first suggested by Trump on social media. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy announced “Santa’s” early arrival as they delivered the checks to the “patriotic men and women” who stayed the course.

Santa’s coming to town a little early🎄🎅

President Trump wanted to give air traffic controllers and technicians BONUSES for showing up to work EVERY DAY during the government shutdown… and TODAY IS THE DAY!

776 patriotic men and women will get $10K checks, just in time for… pic.twitter.com/r9CHT0UyF7
— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) November 21, 2025

“Santa’s coming to town a little early,” wrote Duffy. “President Trump wanted to give air traffic controllers and technicians BONUSES for showing up to work EVERY DAY during the government shutdown… and TODAY IS THE DAY! 776 patriotic men and women will get $10K checks, just in time for Christmas. God bless the patriots of our skies!”

However, Trump’s plan to thank air traffic controllers for their dedication to their jobs did not include those who had to find other means to support themselves. As the shutdown waged on for weeks, many controllers had to call out for various reasons.

Some had to get side jobs to keep their lights on, while others couldn’t afford the childcare or gas needed for transportation. The issue led many to hold drives to get free gas cards to get to work.

While rewarding those who could maintain their work schedules, Trump has threatened to punish those who had to miss out on shifts. Although he suggested docking their pay, the FAA has yet to issue any official orders to that effect.

On the other hand, the National Air Traffic Controller Association (NATCA) has criticized the recognition of only some workers. The labor union condemned the allocation of bonuses only to those who could afford to work for free.

“Although we agree that the work performed by these aviation safety professionals during the shutdown deserves recognition, praise, and our collective gratitude, we are concerned that thousands of air traffic controllers who consistently reported for duty during the shutdown, ensuring the safe transport of passengers and cargo across the nation, while working without pay and uncertain of when they would receive compensation, were excluded from this recognition,” NATCA said in a statement to Fortune.

Despite Trump’s discontent with air traffic controllers who missed shifts, Secretary Duffy had greater empathy for them. He denied claims that they were on the chopping block from their essential positions.

“Again, when they’re making decisions to feed their families, I’m not going to fire air traffic controllers,” he said on CBS’s Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan. “They need support, they need money, they need a paycheck. They don’t need to be fired.”

by Keka Araújo

November 24, 2025

Reggae Music Icon Jimmy Cliff Dead At 81

Throughout his distinguished career, Cliff championed the genre he helped define, building cultural bridges and inspiring countless individuals.

Jimmy Cliff, the Jamaican vocalist, songwriter, and actor whose artistry was instrumental in launching reggae onto the global stage, has died at 81.

The cause of death was attributed to a seizure followed by pneumonia, his wife, Latifa Chambers, confirmed Nov. 24 in a heartfelt statement on the late artist’s official Instagram page.

The artist’s death announcement provides the definitive medical context for the passing of the revered pioneer, who leaves behind a monumental legacy defined by passion and a commitment to the positive social messages of Jamaican music.

“It’s with profound sadness that I share that my husband, Jimmy Cliff, has crossed over due to a seizure followed by pneumonia. I am thankful for his family, friends, fellow artists and coworkers who have shared his journey with him.”

“To all his fans around the world, please know that your support was his strength throughout his whole career. He really appreciated each and every fan for their love. I also wanted to thank Dr. Couceyro and the whole medical staff, as they have been extremely supportive and helpful during this difficult process,” Latifa wrote in the post, signed alongside two of the artist’s children, Lilty and Aken.

The family requested privacy while assuring fans that further information would be shared at a later date.

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A post shared by Jimmy Cliff Official (@jimmycliff)

Cliff, born James Chambers in 1944, began his musical career in the local Pentecostal church at age six. His prodigious talent led him to relocate to Kingston at 14, where he adopted the symbolic stage name ‘Jimmy Cliff,’ a sign of his high ambitions, according to a statement from VP Records–his longtime label.

His early work placed him at the core of the burgeoning Jamaican music scene. He cut his first tunes and soon became an integral part of Leslie Kong’s Beverley’s imprint, notably participating in the auditions for future icons like Desmond Dekker and Bob Marley.

Cliff’s global trajectory was solidified when he signed with Island Records Founder Chris Blackwell, who saw him as the key to exposing mainstream audiences to reggae. This vision resulted in the 1967 album, Hard Road To Travel.

The turning point that cemented his global superstardom came after his return to Jamaica in 1969.

His self-titled album from that era delivered three evergreen hits that remain foundational to popular music: “Wonderful World, Beautiful People,” the spiritual standard “Many Rivers To Cross,” and the anti-war anthem “Vietnam.”

The cover photograph from that album piqued the interest of director Perry Henzell, who cast Cliff in the lead role of the 1972 film, The Harder They Come. The film and its accompanying soundtrack are universally acknowledged as the single most critical force in shattering cultural barriers and firmly establishing reggae as an international genre.

Throughout his distinguished career, Cliff championed the genre he helped define, building cultural bridges and inspiring countless individuals.

His contributions were formally recognized with his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010.

Cliff is survived by his wife and children.

100 Black Entrepreneurs, Biden, Harris, Funeral, Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman,,Marcyliena H. Morgan

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 24, 2025

Former Black Power Activist Jamil Al-Amin Dies In Prison At Age 82

Former civil rights activist Jamil Al-Amin has died in prison at 82 while serving a life sentence.

Famed Black Power activist Jamil Al-Amin, formerly known as H. Rap Brown, has died in prison at 82 while serving a life sentence.

Kristie Breshears, communications director for the Federal Bureau of Prisons, confirmed his death at the Federal Medical Center, Butner, in North Carolina, on Nov. 23, The New York Times reported. She did not provide a cause, but it follows a February report that Al-Amin had multiple myeloma and was in declining health.

Al-Amin’s son announced his father’s death in a since-removed Facebook post through the Davis Bozeman law firm.

“On behalf of our entire family, I thank every single person who prayed, stood, marched, researched, wrote, advocated, and fought to clear my father’s name,” the statement read. “Your love sustained us. Your belief in his innocence strengthened us. We ask for your continued prayers as we mourn a father, a husband, a brother, a leader, and a servant of the people.”

Under the name H. Rap Brown, Al-Amin emerged as a leading voice in the Black militant wing of the 1960s civil rights movement. As chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and an admirer of the Cuban revolution, he pushed to remove “nonviolent” from the organization’s name, leading to its rebranding as the Student National Coordinating Committee.

Wearing his signature black beret and sunglasses, he championed armed resistance and separatism from white oppression, famously declaring, “Violence is necessary. Violence is a part of America’s culture. It is as American as cherry pie.”

As riots swept more than 100 American cities in the summer of 1967, the 6-foot-5 Al-Amin — standing nearly 7 feet with his afro — emerged as a cultural force, delivering impassioned speeches on street corners and college campuses that gave voice to the frustrations within the Black community after over a century of unfulfilled promises since the end of slavery.

“Black folk built America, and if it don’t come around, we’re gonna burn America down,” he said during countless speeches.

By the 1970s, Al-Amin had converted to Islam, changed his name, and settled into a quieter life as a Muslim cleric and shopkeeper until his 2000 arrest in the killing of a sheriff’s deputy. In 2002, he was convicted of murdering Fulton County Deputy Ricky Kinchen.

Kinchen and Deputy Aldranon English were attempting to serve an arrest warrant at Al-Amin’s home in Atlanta’s West End when gunfire erupted. The Georgia chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the Imam Jamil Action Network, the Islamic Circle of North America, and other advocates later called on the Fulton County District Attorney to reopen the case, saying another individual had confessed to the shooting.

At the time of his death, Al-Amin was serving a life sentence without parole.

by Kandiss Edwards

November 24, 2025

Karoline Leavitt Exits Stage Left When Questioned About Trump Death Threats to Democratic Lawmakers

Refusing to answer the continued barrage of questions and unable to distract from the facts, Leavitt left the podium.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt ended a press briefing early after reporters pushed for answers about Trump’s alleged threats to Democratic lawmakers.

In a video posted to social media, multiple Democratic politicians urged members of the military to resist unlawful orders instead of honoring their oath to the Constitution. Trump responded quickly by calling the acts “seditious behavior” that is “punishable by death.

CBS News Chief White House Correspondent Nancy Cordes questioned the sharp and dangerous rhetoric during the press briefing.

“This morning, President Trump accused six Democratic lawmakers of ‘seditious behavior’ punishable by ‘death.’ Just to be clear, does the president want to execute members of Congress?”

As Leavitt is known to do, she redirected the conversation to the Democrats who spoke up in the video. She misquoted and recharacterized the video’s words, claiming the lawmakers urged military members to ignore orders from the commander-in-chief.

“Why aren’t you talking about what these members of Congress are doing to encourage and incite violence?”

Reporters did not yield in their inquiries.

One reporter continued the line of questioning, “Isn’t the president encouraging political violence when he says members of Congress should be killed?”

Refusing to answer the continued barrage of questions and unable to distract from the facts, Leavitt left the podium.

The video in question featured veterans and former intelligence officers who currently hold office: Sens. Elissa Slotkin and Mark Kelly, and Congress members Chris Deluzio, Chrissy Houlahan, Maggie Goodlander, and Jason Crow.

Trump has demanded the arrest and trial of six Democratic members of Congress over a viral video urging troops to refuse illegal orders, calling their actions seditious and punishable by death on Truth Social. pic.twitter.com/FvDNjk1ei3
— Ground News (@Ground_app) November 20, 2025

Reporters at the latest briefing noted a change in tone, describing it as the first time Leavitt ended a session mid-question, though it is not the first time the press secretary cut a briefing short. White House aides did not explain afterward. The moment captures growing tension in the briefing room as the White House faces scrutiny over inconsistent claims on immigration enforcement, foreign policy, and federal funding.

UNESCO, Pharrell Williams, Richard Mille, watch, black designer

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 24, 2025

Pharrell Williams Presented Limited Edition $85K Louis Vuitton X Timberland Boots

The sold-out footwear only had 50 available and featured 18K gold elements

The holidays are here, and Pharrell Williams made sure you can impress your friends and family with a collaborative Louis Vuitton x Timberland Boot, available for a cool $85,000.

According to Sole Retriever, the boots, which are embedded with 18K gold, have sold out after only 50 pairs were available. The collaboration was the latest between the companies, as Thierry Tek, who uses the moniker t.mcfly on Instagram, claimed he had purchased the last pair in Paris.

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A post shared by Thierry Tek (@t.mcfly)

The boot features an 18K gold LV logo on the tongue, with gold on the lace loops.

Sneaker News also reported that the eyelets are embedded in gold, and the Timberland logo on the lateral side of the heel as well. The boots also came in a special LV trunk.

This is the latest collaboration between LV and Timberland, following their 2023 celebration of Timberland’s 50th anniversary. Pharrell has collaborated with Timberland through his Billionaire Boys Club brand and on several other solo projects.

The Virginia native has been doing well, aside from a recent backlash over comments he made at his 5th annual Black Ambition Demo Day on Nov. 14. He caused quite a stir when he tried to encourage young creatives to ignore race in the pursuit of their craft.

“Do you think for what it is that you do, do you think you’re the best? Do you want the job because you’re Black or because you’re the best?” he asked. “Do you want someone to support your startup because you’re Black or because you’re the best?”

He also expressed his hatred of politics, prompting further comments directed at the fashionista.

“As we look at what’s going on in the current political climate, I hate politics,” he said in a clip shared on X. “Like, despise them. It’s a magic trick. It’s not real. I don’t believe in either side. Because I think when you pick a side, you are inadvertently supporting division.”

by Mary Spiller

November 24, 2025

Deported After 30 Years in the US, South Florida Man Struggles to Rebuild Life in Haiti

Edrisse Michelin, sent back to Haiti after a federal conviction, describes a painful return to the country he left as a toddler and warns that thousands of Haitian families could face similar upheaval.

After nearly 30 years in South Florida, Edrisse Michelin now opens his eyes each morning in a country he barely recognizes. “I still don’t feel like I’m home. I still feel like I’m just roaming,” the 32-year-old said from Haiti. “I feel uneasy.”

As reported by CBS News, Michelin arrived in South Florida at age three from Haiti and spent his entire life in Miami. He graduated from South Ridge High School, attended Miami Dade College, built a career as a real-estate agent and insurance broker, and lived as a lawful permanent resident. But one decision, he says, upended everything. “I lived in a country for 30 years, and I never got in trouble. But I made a mistake—my morals became corrupted,” he said.

In 2020, Michelin was convicted of securing an illegal Paycheck Protection Program loan. He spent just over two years in federal prison, followed by nine months in immigration detention. Earlier this month, he was placed on a deportation flight to Haiti with roughly 120 others. He described the journey as physically painful and humiliating.

“Your feet are shackled together, your ankles are getting cut up, your hands are shackled,” he recalled. Officials, he said, instructed passengers how to use safety equipment “if there’s a plane crash,” prompting him to ask, “How are we gonna do that?”

Once the plane landed in Cap-Haïtien, deportees were given $100 and released to waiting relatives. Michelin’s wife, Iyamille — an American citizen — met him at the airport. “There’s people that left only two, three years ago that are afraid to come here, and she’s here,” he said.

The couple has been moving between towns as they try to adjust. They traveled by helicopter to Port-au-Prince, then boarded a bus to reach Petit-Goâve, where some of Michelin’s relatives live. Still, he says, daily life is difficult for both longtime residents and returnees. “The people work hard,” he said. “But they’re trying to overcome obstacles… and they haven’t quite fully understood how to overcome these obstacles.”

He also worries about Haitians in the U.S. who may soon face deportation. Temporary Protected Status for more than 330,000 Haitian nationals is set to expire Feb. 3, leaving many at risk. “What I’m concerned about… It’s very limited here,” he said. “If you’re gonna be dropping tens of thousands of people in one location… they’re not going to be able to get home.”

Even he, a Haitian-born man, is struggling. “I speak a little bit of Creole, and I’m struggling,” he admitted.

On Instagram, the Michelins document their daily challenges in hopes of helping other mixed-status families grasp the realities of deportation. They have eight children between them — children he hasn’t seen in years.

View this post on Instagram

Their goal now is to secure a visa elsewhere and reunite as a family. But with few countries processing applications from Haitians, the couple remains stuck between the familiar and the foreign, unsure of what comes next.

by Mary Spiller

November 24, 2025

Injustice Served: Cops Pay $15 Fine After Black Man Paralyzed In Connecticut Police Van

Two New Haven officers receive suspended sentences and $15 court fees as Randy Cox, now permanently paralyzed, continues to seek accountability in a case compared to a modern-day “rough ride.”

A Connecticut case that drew national outrage for its striking similarities to the police “rough ride” that killed Freddie Gray, continues to stir anger after two New Haven officers avoided jail time for their roles in paralyzing 36-year-old Randy Cox during a 2022 arrest.

Randy Cox was left permanently paralyzed from the neck down after officers handcuffed him, placed him unrestrained in the back of a police transport van, and then came to a sudden stop that threw him headfirst into a metal divider. The incident ultimately resulted in a $45 million civil settlement, the largest police misconduct payout in U.S. history, according to New Haven Independent.

But this month, two of the officers involved — Ronald Pressley and Betsy Segui — accepted plea deals that amounted to suspended six-month sentences and just $15 in court costs. Neither will serve jail time. Three other officers, including the driver, declined their plea offers and are preparing to go to trial on misdemeanor reckless endangerment and cruelty to persons charges. Lawyers for Cox criticized the modest charges last year as a “slap in the face.”

Officer Oscar Diaz, the van driver, has remained central to the controversy. Diaz claimed he braked suddenly to avoid a collision — but investigators found he was traveling 11 mph over the speed limit. After firing Diaz in 2023, New Haven police were forced to reinstate him with back pay when a state arbitration board determined he wasn’t responsible for Cox’s paralysis. Records show Diaz earned $142,766 in 2022 and more than $210,000 the year before, meaning his back-pay award likely approached $200,000.

“He was an exemplary officer prior to that incident, and we’re going to do everything possible to bring him back,” Police Chief Karl Jacobson said at the time.

Cox’s life, however, has been irreversibly altered. Arrested on weapons-related accusations in New Haven that were later dismissed, he repeatedly begged for help after being thrown across the van.

“I can’t move,” he told Diaz, who responded, “You’re on the side, get up.” When Cox insisted, “I literally can’t move… I think I broke my neck, yo,” officers dismissed him, accusing him of drunkenness.

Instead of calling an ambulance to the scene, Diaz drove past two hospitals to meet paramedics at the station. Once there, officers dragged Cox from the van, placed him in a wheelchair, and then dragged him again when he collapsed — actions that investigators say worsened his spinal injury.

“You ask yourself, was it cruel and unusual punishment to put him in the back of that police transportation van with no seat belt… knowing that if you slam on the brakes that somebody is going to be seriously injured?” attorney Ben Crump said in 2022, calling it a modern-day “rough ride.”

Crump later added, “You cannot just have deliberate indifference when it comes to Black people because you think they’re irrelevant… thank God the video caught how you really felt about Randy Cox.”

Crump compared the encounter to a “rough ride,” a term used to describe when officers transport handcuffed, unrestrained detainees in a deliberately erratic manner — the same practice linked to Freddie Gray’s death in Baltimore in 2015.

Cox, now 39, remains paralyzed, while legal proceedings for the remaining officers continue.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 24, 2025

Shaq Reveals Reebok May Be In Talks With Stephen Curry

'I think our people are having conversations with his people.'

One of the burning questions in the NBA these days is which footwear company will Golden State Warriors shooting guard, Stephen Curry, partner with now that is has separated from Under Armour (UA). Reebok’s Shaquille O’Neal let the cat out of the bag by revealing that he thinks there may have been “conversations” with Curry’s representatives.

The former Los Angeles Lakers center, in a recent conversation, fueled speculation that Curry could be heading to Reebok, where Shaq serves as President of Reebok Basketball. The conversation came up when Shaq was asked about his thoughts on Curry recently wearing a pair of Reebok Shaqnosis in a game against one of Shaq’s former teams, the Orlando Magic.

This is when Shaq revealed the tidbit.

“I think our people are having conversations with his people,” O’Neal stated in response to the question, while looking apprehensive. He then said, “I think.”

He then responded to the initial question, “It was a big moment for me and a big moment for the brand. It puts everyone in a ‘What’s he going to do?’ phase.”

https://twitter.com/SneakerNews/status/1991261987473445345

“I wish him well.”

Yet Curry has also been seen in Nikes in recent games.

On Nov. 14, Curry was wearing a pair of Nike “Mambacita” Kobe 6s during pregame warmups when the Warriors faced the San Antonio Spurs. He was also seen wearing a pair of Nike Air Penny 2s (Former Orlando Magic Penny Hardaway’s signature sneakers) as he warmed up at the Kia Center before playing the Magic, the same night he wore the Reebok Shaqnosis.

Although the partnership with UA is over, the last Curry Brand shoe under the collaboration is scheduled for release next year. The Curry 13 will debut in February 2026.

Curry signed with Under Armour after serving as a Nike spokesperson for four years. After a 12-year relationship, the parties agreed to part ways in early November.

by Mary Spiller

November 24, 2025

Stillman College Lands $1M To Guarantee Campus Strength For Future Generations

As the institution approaches its 150th anniversary, Stillman joins a select group of HBCUs receiving rare financial support to modernize infrastructure, stabilize long-term planning, and preserve its historic legacy.

Stillman College will mark its 150th year with a significant investment in its future after being awarded up to $1.04 million through a new national financing initiative aimed at addressing long-standing inequities in higher education. The Tuscaloosa HBCU is one of only 11 institutions selected for the inaugural HBCU Brilliance Initiative, a program that offers targeted grants, access to low-interest capital, and expert financial guidance.

Stillman President Dr. Yolanda Page said the funding arrives at a pivotal moment as the school prepares for its Sesquicentennial and works to stabilize its long-term fiscal footing. She compared the effort to laying a foundation that would endure far beyond the current administration.

“It’s like building a house,” Page said. “When the original owner builds a house, they want to make sure they’re building it on a very firm foundation… That’s what I want to establish at Stillman.”

According to AL, the Brilliance Initiative is overseen by the Reinvestment Fund, a financial institution focused on community development in historically underserved areas. Its leaders note that HBCUs — particularly private ones — have traditionally received far less support than predominantly white institutions. A 2023 federal analysis found a $12.6 billion gap in state and federal support between HBCUs and their better-funded counterparts. Alabama itself was cited for owing more than a billion dollars to Alabama A&M University due to decades of underfunding.

Private donors and philanthropic leaders have recently stepped in to ease those disparities, with figures such as MacKenzie Scott contributing hundreds of millions of dollars to Black colleges nationwide. Stillman, however, is the only Alabama HBCU selected for the Brilliance Initiative’s first cohort.

The funding package includes a $40,000 grant and up to $1 million in low-interest financing. Page said the upfront grant will help fund assessments and planning, while the larger financing pool will support major infrastructure improvements across campus. Stillman College plans to evaluate the condition of its 39 campus buildings, align future construction with its long-term master plan, and implement new budget-modeling tools.

Page stressed that the price of modernizing old structures can rise quickly. She noted that some buildings constructed before the 1970s require asbestos abatement, which can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. “[That’s] million dollars even when I’m thinking about HVAC modernization,” she said, adding that some systems are “from the 1920s or 1930s.”

Another primary goal is to digitize critical architectural documents and records. Page recalled that the college had to track down former employees to obtain blueprints for a recent project. “There has to be a better way to do this,” she said, emphasizing that digital archives will prevent those delays in the future.

Despite the costs, Page said the investment is essential for creating a strong learning environment and strengthening Stillman’s mission. “That Black legacy is important,” she said. “A lot of that legacy… is about being financially secure.”