He’s Sicka Y’all: Alfonso Ribeiro Wants You to Stop Asking Him to Do The Carlton Dance, ‘It’s Not Gonna Happen’
As a child star, Alfonso Ribeiro is used to being stopped in public for being recognized for the roles he’s portrayed on several notable sitcoms.
From Silver Spoons to In The House, to his current role as host of America’s Funniest Home Videos, and of course, his infamous role as Carlton Banks on the NBC hit show Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Ribeiro realizes he’s a familiar face. Because of that, there’s one thing people can’t help but ask him — to do the Carlton dance.
But one thing the former Carlton Banks is NOT going to do is throw his arms side-to-side and shimmy to the It’s Not Unusual Tom Jones tune and dance on cue like Carlton because of someone’s request.
On Tuesday, the multitalented entertainer appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live and talked candidly about that unending request to do the Carlton dance and how he’s drawn the line and refuses to dance on command.
He expresses to the late-night talk show host, Jimmy Kimmel, “I won’t say kill, but I uh, you know, I don’t have a love for it like they do. I mean, I typically get asked to do the dance pretty much every day of my life if I go outside. I’m not dancing for you. I’m a Black guy, I’m just not dancing for you. It’s not gonna happen.”
Kimmel gave him credit for being very civil about saying no when people ask him continuously to do the “dance.” Ribeiro states how weird it is that people would ask him to dance upon meeting him randomly.
“The weird part for me is trying to understand what’s happening in their head, right?” Ribeiro added.
“Like what makes you think that you just gonna ask a random person to dance for you, and they’re gonna be like ‘Oh my God, I’ve been waiting for you to ask! Hold on a second, let me get into character.’ It’s not — I don’t get it. It’s not gonna happen.”
Ribeiro’s tolerance has been noticed in recent years. Last August, he admitted that he doesn’t understand why Black people don’t accept him.
Ribeiro spoke exclusively with Atlanta Black Star about the stigma of playing such a popular character on an iconic show.
But, he also said he feels that being married to a white woman places him in an uncomfortable position when he is out in public, and he sees the looks he receives combined with being typecast as Carlton Banks and being in a mixed marriage, he said, makes him feel like Black people will never accept him.
Sundiata Acoli, 85-Year-Old Former Black Panther, To Be Released On Parole After Being Denied Eight Times
Former Black Panther Party member Sundiata Acoli is set to be released from prison on parole after being convicted of murdering a New Jersey State trooper 49 years ago.
According to the New York Post, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled 3-2 to allow the 85-year-old to go free on parole. Acoli first became eligible for parole 29 years ago, having appeared before the board eight times since 1993, but he was consistently denied. Under the court’s decision, it ruled that the parole board unlawfully denied Acoli’s petition for release claiming he was a risk to public safety.
(Image Credit: http://www.sundiataacoli.org)
The judges revealed that for more than a quarter of a century, Acoli’s prison record has been “exemplary.” While held captive, he completed 120 courses, participated in counseling, had a positive rapport with inmates and prison guards, and more, the Guardian reported.
He has even become quite the artist. Acoli began painting in USP Marion Lockdown in 1987.
A licensed psychologist also noted that Acoli expressed regret and remorse about his involvement in the death of the state trooper and that she believed he’d changed over the years due to his age. There was no evidence that he would re-offend, especially at his age.
“In light of Acoli’s verbal renunciation of violence as an acceptable way to achieve social change; more than two decades infraction-free in the federal prison system; the multitude of programs and counseling sessions he completed; his honor status as an inmate; his acquisition of vocational skills; and his advanced age, it is difficult to imagine what else might have persuaded the board that Acoli did not present a substantial likelihood to re-offend,” wrote Justice Barry Albin in the ruling, as per NY Post.
Acoli, formerly known as Clark Edward Squire, has been incarcerated for more than 49 years. BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported that the Black Liberation Army activist was found guilty for the May 1973 shooting of New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster and sentenced to “life plus 30 years consecutive in prison.”
Acoli was driving on the New Jersey Turnpike when state troopers stopped him and his friends. According to the court opinion, they were stopped by Trooper James Harper for a broken taillight. Matters escalated, and one of Acoli’s friends was killed, and the others were wounded and captured, including Joanne Chesimard, now known as Assata Shakur. Foerster was also killed.
According to The Guardian, Acoli is the oldest former member of the Black Panthers still to be incarcerated for “acts of violence during the 1970s Black liberation struggle.”
Last year, Acoli described himself as an old man “who’s been imprisoned since age 36 for almost 50 years, who now poses a threat not even to a flea, let alone public safety. My sentence is obviously too long. I am rapidly disintegrating before my family and friends’ eyes.”
Upon his return to society, Acoli, who reportedly has early-stage dementia, plans to live with his daughter in Brooklyn.
Black Creatives Talk Entrepreneurship, Authenticity, and Inclusivity at CultureCon Atlanta
The Creative Collective NYC premiered its first-ever three-city tour over the weekend, with its first stop in Atlanta.
Founded in 2016 by NBCUniversal communications executive Imani Ellis, The Creative Collective NYC (The CCNYC) hosts year-round events for creative millennials of color, including its marquee event CultureCon, which is noted as the fastest-growing conference for multicultural creatives. Each year, CultureCon empowers young professionals and entrepreneurs to hone their craft and offers them the opportunity to network and learn from seasoned creators.
“Why can’t we have everything we deserve? We deserve spaces where we can be brave, free, and commune [with one another]. That is what CultureCon is all about,” Ellis told BLACK ENTERPRISE.
CultureCon Atlanta Summit
CultureCon Atlanta was packed with programming, a happy hour powered by Grey Goose Vodka, and activations from notable partners like Twitter, HBO Max, Netflix, Foot Locker, and Pinterest. The lineup of speakers included Georgia candidate for governor Stacey Abrams, actor Jay Ellis, TV personality, actress, singer, and entrepreneur Kandi Burruss, rapper Saucy Santana, and serial entrepreneur Jayda Cheaves.
The conference also included a series of panels that focused on the impact of television, the importance of Black representation in film, and the business side of the entertainment industry. One session, presented by HBO Max, showcased Issa Rae’s new show Rap Sh*t, about two high school friends from Miami who reunite to form a rap group. The panel was composed of showrunner and executive producer Syreeta Singleton and cast members Aida Osman and KaMillion. The discussion, moderated by TV host Brandon “Jinx” Jenkins, touched on the intersection of TV & music and the inspiration behind the show.
“Both Issa and I are very passionate about telling stories about all different types of Black women,” Singleton explained. “I think Shauna and Mia are on opposite sides of the spectrum. I also think it is important to have this conversation about Black women in hip-hop. That idea that rap needs to be this way — that it needs to be about the struggle or it needs to have a message. It’s supposed to be about vibes and making music together, and you can explore and talk about anything.”
Rapper Saucy Santana, entrepreneur Jayda Cheaves, and internet sensation Zach Campbell
Similar to the conversation surrounding equity in hip-hop for Black women, during the panel “Pushing Culture Forward” presented by Meta’s We The Culture, Saucy Santana discussed the need to create spaces for LGBTQ artists. Before his session, the openly gay rapper applauded queer artists of color for being more front-facing in the entertainment industry.
“Before, most LGBTQIA+ in the industry were hairstylists, [wardrobe] stylists, and makeup artists. We were kind of behind the scenes, but now people are starting to warm up [to the idea of us],” said Santana, who recently announced a groundbreaking deal with RCA records.“Open, Black, and feminine gay rappers have a chance to be in the forefront” rather than being perceived “as a gimmick rapper or somebody that went viral,” he told BE.
Entrepreneur and fashion stylist Olori Swank and entertainer Kandi Burruss
During the creative genius session, Kandi Burruss announced that she and her husband, Todd Tucker, are now executive producers of August Wilson’s Piano Lessons. “I’m so excited about that, and that’s even more of an opportunity to continue to see Black faces on Broadway. It was once called the great white way, so we got to make it.”
Kandi also expressed her excitement for winning a GLAAD award for Thoughts Of a Colored Man and her hopes to gain a Tony nomination for the revolutionary show.
“It was groundbreaking to have the first show starring seven Black men on Broadway with an all-Black producer team. For us, as well as for myself, it’s all about furthering diversity on Broadway and in rooms that we normally can’t get in,” Burruss said.
Stacey Abrams and Jay Ellis
Jay Ellis also discussed what it was like working on the set of his new film Top Gun Maverick. “Getting the opportunity to be in Top Gun Maverick was amazing. It was like a dream come true. I felt like a little kid. My dad was in the Air Force, and my grandpa was in the Air Force. So, I grew up around aviation and jets. I grew up watching Tom Cruise films, and now it feels like all these things are coming together on time.”
He also shared his advice for young aspiring actors, “I believe in watching and learning from the people you want to be like in your career. You are going to have your own twist and turns, but there are folks out there that you can watch and listen to their steps and how they got to where they are,” Ellis stated.
Stacey Abrams also graced the stage to talk about her campaign, the importance of HBCUs, and the need for creative forums like CultureCon.
“Our most important investment in the metro Atlanta area is going to be making sure that students have access to need-based aid. We know that the hardest part about graduating from an HBCU is having the resources to stay,” she said. “The second most important point is having access to job opportunities while you’re in school, so that you’re learning your craft and that you are able to apply your trade and get better. So, as governor of Georgia, I’m going to work to make certain that we have apprenticeships, internships, and mentorship available for young people at HBCUs.”
CultureCon ATL
In addition, the event dedicated itself to empowering Black-owned businesses by creating the small business market powered by Square and Cash App, uplifting businesses like Comfiart and Tila Studios.
“Only 4% of art across museums and galleries are from Black women artists. Tila Studios is a visual arts incubator. We help empower Black woman visual artists to create and showcase their art,” the founder of Tila studios, Tiffany Latrice, stated. “I feel like a lot of people are influenced by the city of Atlanta. A lot of people come here to get inspiration to get to know different creatives, but to see a brand like this activate in the city and bring our people out to see what we have to have to offer is magical,” Latrice added.
The next stop on the CultureCon tour is in Los Angeles on June 16-18.
Florida Father Charged After Fatally Stabbing Daughter While Fighting Her Boyfriend
A father in Florida is in police custody and facing manslaughter charges after fatally stabbing his daughter while engaged in a fight with her boyfriend.
Laurence Green, 51, claims he stabbed his daughter Sidney Green, 22, by accident after she tried to break up a fight he was having with her partner, WFTS reports.
“It wasn’t meant for her. Like I said she jumped in the way and it wasn’t meant for her,” Green said.
Things took a wrong turn after Laurence returned to their Clearwater home and found his daughter inside with her on-and-off boyfriend.
“I said, ‘you got three minutes to get him out of the house’ and she wouldn’t get him out of the house,” Green said.
The argument escalated and spilled over into the parking lot of the Bay Cove apartments they live in. Clearwater Police Major Natalia Illich-Hailey said preliminary reports show the father was acting in self-defense.
“He at the time was defending himself from the boyfriend because he was being hit in the head by the boyfriend,” Major Illich-Hailey said.
“He intended to stab the boyfriend to get him off of him and that is when his daughter intervened between the two of them.”
Unfortunately, Sidney was stabbed in the stomach and later succumbed to her injuries at the hospital. Now, Laurence is mourning the loss of his daughter while dealing with serious charges.
“Sidney was a light. She can make everyone smile and make everyone happy,” Green said of his now-deceased daughter. “I want people to remember that about her. Regardless of what happened, I want people to remember that about her that she was a good person.”
Laurence remains held on a manslaughter charge at the Pinellas County Jail, NY Post reports. The boyfriend remains unnamed and it’s unclear if he was injured during the stabbing.
YOU GO GIRL! Watch This 7-Year-Old Track Star Smoke Her Competition, Even After Losing Her Shoe
Talaya Crawford is the daughter of boxing star Terence Crawford. He and Black Twitter have deemed the 7-year-old girl a “superstar” after running in a track meet this past weekend and won, even after her shoe came off as she was coming out of the blocks.
TMZ Sports first shared the video on Sunday, which showed the little girl getting off to a rocky start when the race started. Talaya’s shoe came off, but she got it and put it back on. She then took off and still dominated the race.
In the video her dad filmed, you can hear the audience roaring as they realize that Talaya has a chance to win. She not only won, but she won by a significant distance.
Her father, Terence Crawford—better known as “Bud,” captioned the video, “I just can’t stop thinking about my daughter’s track meet yesterday.”
“She just doesn’t have a clue how much she just motivated me. This is the definition of not giving [up], heart and grit. She let it all hang out even when she was hit with adversity.”
The video has garnered more than 300,000 views on Crawford’s Instagram, and commenters keep singing Talaya’s praises. One user wrote, “she’s cut from a different cloth man, they had a 4-5 second head start and she still beat like a boss. Certified MVP.”
The video has been viewed more than 7 million times on Twitter.
According to Omaha.com—the little girl has been running with the Apollo Track Club of Omaha for about two years. Shunta Paul, one of the club’s head coaches, said Talaya runs the 100- and 200-meter distances.
The race was on Saturday at the Wings of Omaha Invitational held at Northwest High School. Her coaches said that she shouted for officials to stop the race when she ran out of her shoe, but they did not. Paul said that the little girl was embarrassed by the flub and pledged to keep her laces nice and snug in the future.
Her coaches have called it a teachable moment. “It teaches you to never give up,” Paul said. “To me, this just speaks volumes never to give up. To adults as well, not just for kids.”
Family Of Black Man Killed By White Girlfriend Claims Detective is ‘Very Cold’
The family of Christian “Toby” Obumseli is speaking out over the mistreatment they feel they’ve been subjected to by the lead detective investigating his murder.
Obumseli was killed on April 3 following a “physical altercation” with his girlfriend Courtney Clenney inside their Miami apartment, E! News reports. However, instead of going to jail for her alleged involvement in the deadly crime, Clenney, who works as an OnlyFans model, has managed to roam free while homicide detectives continue to investigate.
Obumseli’s family says they only learned about his death a day later after receiving a phone call asking if they wanted to donate his organs. The family also accuses the detective of trying to close the case after 24 hours over claims Obumseli died in a domestic dispute.
“[The detective] was just very, very cold,” Obumseli’s cousin Karen Egbuna told Dr. Phil.
“He wouldn’t tell us what occurred until, finally, when he called later on Monday evening, and he stated that based on Courtney’s reporting, Courtney had killed him in self-defense and that there was enough evidence for him to close the case, close the investigation at that particular time.”
Clenney’s attorney, Frank Prieto, claims the couple had a “toxic relationship,” and 25-year-old Clenney acted in self-defense when she fatally stabbed Obumseli. Prieto argues that because of Clenney’s self-defense claims, no charges should be filed against her.
But Obumseli’s family has yet to receive any information to support Clenney’s claims.
“Where is the evidence that Courtney stabbed and killed my son in self-defense?” Toby’s mother, Chio Obumseli, asked Dr. Phil.
Friends of the couple blame Clenney, saying that she was primarily the aggressor in the relationship and Obumseli would work to calm her down.
“The reality is we did see a lot of domestic violence, and it was on her end,” one friend who knew the couple when they lived in Austin told Rolling Stone.
Other reports accuse Clenney of abusing substances and being abusive toward at least two other men she dated before Obumseli. But Prieto says the abuse in Clenney and Obumseli’s relationship could have gone “both ways” and says Clenney’s past doesn’t change her self-defense claims.
Wu Tang’s Ghostface Killah Opens Killah Koffee Shop in Staten Island
As the legacy of Wu-Tang continues to cross over to new generations and cultures, member Ghostface Killah is adding an official coffee shop to the mix.
On Monday, Ghostface returned to his hometown in Staten Island, New York for the grand opening of the Killah Koffee Shop in West Brighton, SI Live reports. The opening comes after a year of Ghostface, born Dennis Coles, and his business partners Ross Filler and Shawn Wigs exclusively selling their line of artisanal coffee online.
NYC Mayor Eric Adams was present along with Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island/South Brooklyn) to celebrate the grand opening and thank Ghostface for his contributions to music and to the community of Staten Island.
Adams personally thanked Ghostface for serving as “an institution and an inspiration” for many while holding a loyalty and dedication to the city that made him.
“There’s so many people coming out here seeing a performer, a young person who grew up here who lived in public housing and went to public school, and now is able to have a business out here; just coming back to the community,” Mayor Adams said.
“That’s what it’s all about. So we just want to say, ‘thank you.’ ‘Thank you for reinvesting.”
Gary Perone, the owner of the Staten Island Ferryhawks and executive vice president and general manager of Staten Island Entertainment, attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony and gifted Ghostface with a hat and jersey and announced the naming of Shaolin Alley at the ballpark in honor of Wu-Tang Clan.
Ghostface shared how “grateful and humbled” he was by the love and support.
“I love each and every one of y’all for coming. … God bless,” he said.
For those who can’t make it to the Staten Island flagship, Killah Koffee is available online. The coffee is made with 100% Arabica beans that are considered reminiscent of the smooth, flamboyant style Ghostface has branded himself since the early 90s.
White Meteorologist Directed Racial Slur Toward Draymond Green on Twitter, Memphis TV Station to Investigate
While watching the Memphis Grizzlies play against the Golden State Warriors in the NBA playoffs over the weekend, a white meteorologist tweeted a racial slur about a basketball player before deleting the offensive message. Now, the television station that employs him is investigating the incident.
According to the Memphis Commercial Appeal, executives at a Memphis TV station state they will investigate the incident where FOX13 Memphis chief meteorologist Joey Sulipeck wrote a racial slur in a Twitter post. The station also said it would take “appropriate action” for what he did following Game 3 of the Memphis Grizzlies-Warriors playoff series.
“During Saturday’s Memphis Grizzlies’ game, Meteorologist Joey Sulipeck tweeted a comment that does not reflect the values of FOX13. We take this matter very seriously and will take appropriate action pending a full investigation.”
The quote was directed at NBA All-Star Draymond Green, who is Black.
During Saturday’s Memphis Grizzlies’ game, Meteorologist Joey Sulipeck tweeted a comment that does not reflect the values of FOX13. We take this matter very seriously and will take appropriate action pending a full investigation.
The meteorologist wrote, “And chew on this: Draymond runs his knuckle-dragging open mouth ALL GAME LONG, but mild-mannered Kyle Anderson disputes one call and gets ejected? Next level jackassery.”
A Twitter user reposted the actual message that Sulipeck wrote before he deleted it.
Before Sulipeck deleted his Twitter account, he responded by writing, “Anyone who knows me knows what I am. Race is never an issue to me. To anyone who was offended, I apologize but there was no ill intent.”
Warriors coach Steve Kerr stated, “Does it surprise me that a weatherman would tweet a slur at Draymond in 2022? Not the slightest bit. This is America.”
$20 Million HUD Grant Doubles Size Of Eviction Legal Help
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is doubling the size of its eviction protection program, designed to assist tenants trying to stay in their homes.
The Associated Press reports the $20 million HUD grant will not provide any kind of direct cash relief to tenants. Instead, the grant money will be used for legal services and representation for families facing eviction. The money will be distributed through the Eviction Protection Grant Program to 11 nonprofit organizations including government agencies with grants ranging from $1 million to $2.4 million.
The program was launched by HUD last year as 22 million jobs in the U.S. were lost due to the COVID-19 pandemic, meaning millions of Americans were unable to make or afford their rent payments.
HUD Secretary Marica Fudge said the agency needs to and will keep working to help Americans through the COVID-19 pandemic which isn’t over.
“The American people have been resilient in the face of historic challenges as we continue to confront the impacts of COVID-19,” Fudge said in a statement. “We need to keep doing all that we can to help people maintain quality housing. We know that access to legal services and eviction diversion programs works. It helps people avoid evictions and protects tenants’ rights. Legal services also help landlords access available resources to address rent arrears. We are proud to expand the Eviction Protection Grant Program so that more families have access to eviction protection services.”
Fudge added the funding can also be used to help landlords access emergency rental assistance and will generally help reduce caseloads in eviction courts across the country. According to the Gothamist, there is a devastating shortage of eviction lawyers in New York City and across the country that is forcing people to attend housing court without a lawyer.
The grant program is expected to particularly help people of color who are disproportionately represented among those evicted, as well as tenants who aren’t proficient in English and those with disabilities.
Brittney Griner’s Wife Cherelle Graduates From North Carolina Central University Law School
While WNBA star Brittney Griner continues to sit in a Russian prison, her wife, Cherelle, just graduated from an HBCU law school with her Juris Doctor degree.
BET reportsCherelle Griner announced on Saturday that she graduated from North Carolina Central University (NCCU), an HBCU school. Griner posted several pictures on Instagram. In addition to earning her law degree, Griner graduated with honors.
“Final grades dropped, I’ll be graduating law school with honors (cum laude)! This was no easy feat, and truthfully I didn’t even know I could do it,” Cherelle Griner wrote in a caption days before graduating.
“Best believe, I’ll never doubt me again,” Griner continued. Cherelle also added that her degree comes from an HBCU school. “I didn’t just go to law school – I went to one of THE 6 HBCU law schools remaining! The way my ancestors are smiling.”
Cherelle finished her school year while her wife Brittney is still stuck in prison overseas after being arrested in February. The U.S. government announced in early May that it has reclassified her as “wrongfully detained” and will no longer wait for Brittney’s case to play out through the Russian legal system and instead will seek to negotiate her return.
It also means friends and family can openly express their concern about her well-being and they have, using the hashtag #BG42, which the WNBA has installed on all 12 WNBA courts this season. The Phoenix Mercury are also wearing “We Are BG” shirts as part of their warm-up gear before games this season.
Griner was detained in February after customs officers allegedly found vape cartridges that contained liquid hash oil while she was traveling through an airport outside Moscow. The WNBA All-Star has not been formally charged at this point but has an upcoming hearing scheduled for May 19. She could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
