KATHY HOCHUL, New York, — Gov. Kathy Hochul, Director of State Operations Kathryn Garcia, MTA Chair & CEO Janno Lieber, and Maimonides Medical Center President & CEO Kenneth Gibbs hold media availability after they visited victims of earlier subway shooting at Maimonides Medical Center on Tuesday, Apr. 12, 2022. (Marc A. Hermann / MTA)

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

December 19, 2025

New York Governor Leans In To Legalize Medical Aid In Dying: ‘God Is Merciful And Compassionate’

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has reached a deal to allow medically assisted suicide for eligible individuals.

New York is close to legalizing medically assisted suicide after Gov. Kathy Hochul reached an agreement with state legislative leaders.

On Dec. 17, Hochul announced she had reached an agreement with state leaders to advance a bill allowing terminally ill patients to end their lives using prescribed medication. In an op-ed titled “Why I’m supporting medical aid in dying,” she outlined her support for the measure and the safeguards she intends to include before signing it into law.

“Proudly, New York has long led the fight championing the rights of individuals, from civil rights to labor rights, LGBTQ rights, women’s rights, and reproductive rights,” Hochul wrote. “In the true spirit of this country, government has a responsibility to protect, not interfere, with an individual’s deeply personal decisions.”

“This is the context in which I have considered the Medical Aid in Dying Act, a bill to allow suffering terminally ill individuals with less than six months left to live the right to medical aid to speed up the inevitable,” she added.

New York’s Medical Aid in Dying Act would allow terminally ill patients given six months or less to request life-ending medication, subject to multiple safeguards. The measure requires written requests signed by two witnesses, approval from both an attending and consulting physician, confirmation from a doctor of the six-month prognosis, and a mental health evaluation to ensure the patient is acting voluntarily.

The bill also includes a mandatory five-day waiting period, written and recorded oral consent, allows religious-affiliated outpatient facilities to opt out, and limits the right to New York residents. Hochul, who is Catholic, said her decision followed conversations with New Yorkers enduring severe pain and suffering and their families, alongside consideration of objections from people of various faiths who believe intentionally ending a life violates “the sanctity of life.”

“I was taught that God is merciful and compassionate, and so must we be,” she wrote. “This includes permitting a merciful option to those facing the unimaginable and searching for comfort in their final months in this life.”

Hochul closed her op-ed by addressing opponents of the bill, emphasizing that it reflects the exercise of Americans’ free will.

“I hope those who are disappointed by this outcome know this was a difficult decision for me personally. It was not made lightly. It was guided by a genuine and deeply held belief that government must respect the rights and will of the people it serves,” she wrote. “I hope that those who oppose this legislation will be able to look with compassion on those who may make a choice they would not make for themselves. And isn’t that, at heart, what the choice and freedom our young nation promised its people 250 years ago is all about?”

Actress ,Harvard’s American Repertory Theater, lawsuit — (Photo: iStock)

by Sharelle B. McNair

December 19, 2025

EEOC Chair Hypes White Men Up To File Workplace Discrimination Claims In Cringeworthy Video

Since President Donald Trump appointed Lucas to the EEOC leadership seat in January 2025, she has worked diligently to shift viewpoints of the agency to focus on prioritizing “rooting out unlawful DEI-motivated race and sex discrimination.”

If there are white men who may have experienced workplace discrimination based on race or sex, the chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) wants to chat.

In a cringeworthy video placed on X, Andrea Lucas put a call out, encouraging white men to come forward with employment and workplace discrimination complaints as “the EEOC is committed to identifying, attacking, and eliminating ALL race and sex discrimination.” “Are you a white male who has experienced discrimination at work based on your race or sex?” Lucas asked.

“You may have a claim to recover money under federal civil rights laws. Contact the @USEEOC as soon as possible.”

https://t.co/0H0gDclElp
— JD Vance (@JDVance) December 18, 2025

According to The Hill, the EEOC was created to enforce federal antidiscrimination laws in the workplace and hiring processes under the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The legislation made it illegal for employers to discriminate against applicants or employees based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetic information.

However, under the Trump Administration — both first and current — things have changed. As a result of the administration’s elimination of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives at the federal level, large corporations and educational institutions have adopted the ideology, enabling white people to benefit from causes and programs established for people of color.

The video was retweeted by U.S. Vice President JD Vance shortly after he posted an article he described as “the evil of DEI and its consequences.” Lucas, a vocal critic of DEI, responded to Vance’s lengthy post, agreeing with his sentiments. “Absolutely right @JDVance,” she said. “And precisely because this widespread, systemic, unlawful discrimination primarily harmed white men, elites didn’t just turn a blind eye; they celebrated it. Absolutely unacceptable; unlawful; immoral.”

Absolutely right @JDVance. And precisely because this widespread, systemic, unlawful discrimination primarily harmed white men, elites didn’t just turn a blind eye; they celebrated it. Absolutely unacceptable; unlawful; immoral. @USEEOC won’t rest until this discrimination is…
— EEOC Chair Andrea Lucas (@andrealucasEEOC) December 17, 2025

Since President Donald Trump appointed Lucas to the EEOC leadership seat in January 2025, she has worked diligently to shift the viewpoints of the agency to focus on prioritizing “rooting out unlawful DEI-motivated race and sex discrimination” in an effort to align with Trump’s anti-DEI stance.

One of her first works was issuing two “technical assistance” documents in collaboration with the Department of Justice (DOJ), intended to clarify what constitutes “DEI-related Discrimination at Work” and to provide guidance on how employees can file complaints about alleged discrimination. Targeting employer practices such as training, employee resource groups, and fellowship programs, the documents warned that these programs could violate Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, depending on how they are constructed.

The documents were vocally criticized by former agency commissioners and diversity advocates, claiming they misconstrue DEI initiatives as legally fraught. Executive director of the Meltzer Center for Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging at the NYU School of Law, David Glasgow, labeled Lucas’s social media posts as demonstrating a “fundamental misunderstanding of what DEI is.”

Joyce Beatty, Ohio — United States Congress, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

December 19, 2025

Board Member Shuts Down White House Claims That Kennedy Center Approved Trump Name Change ‘Unanimously’

The board member disputes claims, calls out censorship

Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), a Kennedy Center board member, is shutting down claims of a unanimous vote to rename the building after President Donald Trump.

On Dec. 18, Beatty took to X to push back against a statement from White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who claimed the board had “just voted unanimously” to rename the Kennedy Center the Trump-Kennedy Center, “because of the unbelievable work President Trump has done over the last year in saving the building,” she wrote.

“For the record. This was not unanimous,” Beatty tweeted in response, along with a video message. “I was muted on the call and not allowed to speak or voice my opposition to this move. Also for the record, this was not on the agenda. This was not consensus. This is censorship.”

For the record. This was not unanimous. I was muted on the call and not allowed to speak or voice my opposition to this move. Also for the record, this was not on the agenda. This was not consensus. This is censorship. https://t.co/D1zGV7xiWV pic.twitter.com/npNvSIy6sV
— Rep. Joyce Beatty (@RepBeatty) December 18, 2025

In a video recorded from her congressional office in Washington, D.C., Beatty said she was on the Kennedy Center call but was blocked from voicing her opposition to the proposed name change.

“I was on that call and as I tried to push my button to voice my concern, to ask questions, and certainly not to vote in support of this,” she said. “I was muted. Each time I tried to speak.”

A community note has since been added to Leavitt’s tweet, noting that Congress formally established the Kennedy Center as the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and the board was never granted authority to change its name. Beatty emphasized this in her video statement, saying, “Congress has a say in this.”

“This center, the Kennedy Center, was created by the Congress,” she said. “I think it’s important for us to know that this is just another attempt to evade the law and not let the people have a say.”

Shortly after returning to office, Trump reshaped the Kennedy Center by removing appointed board members and installing allies, later naming himself chair of the institution. He also signaled plans to roll back DEI initiatives, saying, “We don’t need woke at the Kennedy Center.”

In August, Trump hinted at renaming the venue when he referred to the “TRUMP/KENNEDY CENTER” in a social media post previewing the Kennedy Center Honors. Earlier this month, he became the first sitting president to host the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors, recognizing Sylvester Stallone, George Strait, KISS, Gloria Gaynor, and Michael Crawford.

tiktok , Black history, Harriet Tubman, — (Image: Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)

by Kandiss Edwards

December 19, 2025

A Century Of Living History: Harriet Tubman’s Descendant Dies At 98

Copes Johnson’s connection to Tubman and her role in preserving the legacy of her ancestor was recognized publicly by the New York Senate.

Pauline Copes Johnson, a documented descendant of abolitionist Harriet Tubman, died at age 98.

Copes Johnson spent much of her life in Dorchester County, Maryland, where Tubman was born. She was known within her community for her familial connection to Tubman at a time when public interest in Tubman’s life had expanded through museums, historic preservation efforts, and educational initiatives.

A trailblazer in her own right, Copes Johnson made history as the first African American telephone operator at the New York Telephone Company. She was recognized as a Woman of Distinction by the NAACP in 2017.

Family members confirmed Copes Johnson’s death, the Grio reported. Copes Johnson lived in Maryland at the time of her death, in the same region where Tubman was born and where much of Tubman’s early life and Underground Railroad activity took place. Copes Johnson’s lineage connected her directly to Tubman, whose legacy as a freedom fighter and conductor on the Underground Railroad has been widely documented.

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A post shared by Saadia Mirza (@saadia___m)

Copes Johnson’s connection to Tubman was formally recognized during her lifetime. In 2017, former New York State Sen. John DeFrancisco honored Copes Johnson during a ceremony at the New York State Capitol, according to an official press release issued by the New York State Senate. The event acknowledged Copes Johnson as a descendant of Tubman and recognized her role in preserving Tubman’s history.

During the ceremony, DeFrancisco said, “Harriet Tubman’s bravery and leadership helped shape the course of American history, and it is fitting that we honor her descendant, Pauline Copes Johnson, who has worked to ensure that her ancestor’s story continues to be told.”

The New York State Senate release reported that Copes Johnson attended the Capitol event with members of her family and that the recognition focused on Tubman’s impact on American history and the importance of preserving that legacy for future generations. The Senate cited Copes Johnson’s presence as a living link to Tubman’s story.

Tubman, born Araminta Ross, escaped slavery in Maryland and went on to lead dozens of enslaved people to freedom. Her life has been commemorated through national parks, historic sites, and other public memorials. Copes Johnson’s death marks the loss of a direct familial link to that history.

Funeral arrangements were not publicly announced at the time of publication.

DJ Mustard — (Photo: Glenn Francis/Pacific Pro Digital Photography)

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

December 19, 2025

Music Producer Mustard Seeks Child Custody And $30K From Ex-Wife After Online Disparaging Remarks

A judge's order prevents them from making negative comments about each other in front of the children

Dijon Isaiah McFarlane, known as music producer Mustard, has filed paperwork to obtain full legal custody of the three children he shares with the children’s mother, his former wife, Chanel Thierry, citing her public disparaging comments about him.

According to TMZ, Mustard is seeking full custody of 13-year-old Kiylan, 10-year-old Kauner, and 6-year-old Kody. The producer of the Kendrick Lamar song, “Not Like Us,” is making the request due to a previous court ruling, where the judge prohibited both parents from making “negative, disrespectful, or derogatory manner to or about the other” in front of their children or if they are “within hearing distance of the child.” He claims Thierry did not adhere to the ruling when she posted negative remarks on social media in October.

Mustard’s attorney, Samantha Spector, filed the papers alleging that Thierry violated the judge’s order when she posted a public message to the producer when she wrote on Threads, “Dijon I know you are reading this, I’m so sick of your s***. You suck.” She posted the message on Oct. 26.

She also included, as evidence, screenshots of the posts, which also included her writing, “I’ve been divorced 3 years now and my ex husband continues to do things to purposely get under my skin … A man will treat your child according to how he feels about the mother. Mark my words.”

View on Threads

The producer stated that the comments she made online “negatively impact the best interests” of their three children and “undermine the proper functioning of the co-parenting process.” With that reasoning, he feels he should be given sole legal custody of them.

Mustard, who pays $24,500 monthly in child support, also wants her sanctioned $30,000 for violating the judge’s order.

The couple were married from 2020 until their divorce in 2024. As part of the divorce agreement, Thierry received a one-time spousal support payment of $315,000.

taser — Photo by Wolfgang Kumm/picture alliance via Getty Images

by Sharelle B. McNair

December 19, 2025

Disturbing Video Shows Fulton School Officer Tasing Student On Bus

Following several attempts to remove Johnson-Hunt peacefully, with officers heard saying "you want to get off, or you want me to take you off?"

There is a call for a Fulton County Schools resource officer in Georgia to be fired after a disturbing video of him tasing an 18-year-old student on a school bus has gone viral.

The unidentified officer has been removed from active duty following the Dec. 18 incident on board a Langston Hughes High School bus. Things took a turn after two officers appeared in a video approaching a student, identified as Lanier Johnson-Hunt by Atlanta News First, attempting to remove him as he allegedly was on the wrong bus. Officers were heard in the video saying that he needed to get off the bus if he was not assigned to it.

Following several attempts to remove Johnson-Hunt peacefully, with officers heard saying “you want to get off, or you want me to take you off?” officers began to use force, resulting in one officer tasing the student. Students witnessing the incident were heard screaming in the background.

Fulton County Schools officer removed from duty after tasing a student who refused to get off a school bus pic.twitter.com/3ei5nNfLuQ
— ATL Uncensored (@ATLUncensored) December 19, 2025

The student said that it was his first time being tased and was surprised by the officer’s move. “At the moment, nothing was going through my mind.

“I’ve never been tased before. But now I think that’s crazy,” Johnson-Hunt said. “You’re a school resource officer. You’re supposed to be helping us, and you’re tasing random kids. There’s no point in you tasing me at all.”

Damion Dunn, a parent of a fellow Langston Hughes student, said there has to be more to the story and is curious if tasing was the right thing to do. “Is he that big to tase? Could they have just pulled him off? I just like to get the full context of the situation of what happened before, not making a judgment,” Dunn said, according to Fox 5 Atlanta.

“But you know, looking at it as a parent, you know, I don’t want my son being tased.”

Fulton County Schools released a statement confirming that the officer has been removed and said an investigation is underway.

“Fulton County Schools can confirm a Fulton County Schools police officer deployed a taser during an incident involving a student on a bus. The incident is being taken seriously and is currently under review. The officer has been removed from active duty pending the outcome of an investigation,” the statement read.

“Because this matter involves students and an ongoing review, the district is unable to share additional details at this time. Fulton County Schools is committed to maintaining a safe learning environment for all students and staff, and to ensuring that all incidents involving school police are reviewed thoroughly and appropriately.”

On social media, users are expressing mixed emotional reactions, some saying the officer was in his rights, while others view it as excessive force against a child and feel he should be fired.

Omega pSi Phi, Caleb McCray, Caleb Wilson, Southern University — Clifflandis, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

December 19, 2025

5 Suspects Indicted For Alleged Hazing Death Of Southern University’s Caleb Wilson

A grand jury in East Baton Rouge Parish indicted Caleb McCray, Kyle Thurman, Isaiah Smith, Winston Sanders and Jaydn Landrum

The five suspects who were allegedly involved in the purported hazing incident at Southern University, where potential Omega Psi Phi initiate Caleb Wilson died after reportedly being punched in his chest in February, have been indicted.

According to WSAB, a grand jury in East Baton Rouge Parish indicted Caleb McCray, Kyle Thurman, and Isaiah Smith, who were arrested in March, as well as Winston Sanders and Jaydn Landrum. All five men were indicted on several charges for their alleged role in the death of Wilson, who died Feb. 26.

McCray was indicted for manslaughter and principal to felony hazing, and Thurman was indicted for principal to felony hazing and three counts of obstruction of justice. Smith was indicted for principal to manslaughter, principal to felony hazing, and obstruction of justice. Landrum’s indictment was for principal to felony hazing, and Sanders’ was for principal to felony hazing, as well as two counts of obstruction of justice.

All suspects were also indicted for misdemeanor hazing charges for other pledges who were allegedly being hazed that night.

District Attorney Hillar Moore stated that the investigation is ongoing.

“We are continuing to investigate,” Moore said. “The main thing is telephones that are being downloaded and other evidence, and then hopefully cooperation of people that are now indicted.”

A sixth suspect, Jaelyn Grissom, was not indicted, but he is not out of the clear, as he might be if more evidence comes to light.

Rob Marionneaux, who is representing the Wilson family, said, “Rather than call the authorities once they realized something bad was going on with Caleb, what did they do? Change his clothes, come up with a story and drop him on the steps of the hospital.”

The family filed a wrongful death lawsuit in September.

Wilson was a member of the Human Jukebox Marching Band, played the trumpet, and was a mechanical engineering major.

Courtney B Vance — photo credit: David Shankbone, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

by Kandiss Edwards

December 19, 2025

Courtney B. Vance Receives Star On The Hollywood Walk Of Fame

Vance was joined by family, colleagues, and supporters.

On Dec. 16, actor Courtney B. Vance was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame,

Vance was joined by family, colleagues, and supporters as his name was permanently embedded along Hollywood Boulevard. He was honored for his body of work in television

“I’m deeply moved, I’m appreciative, and I’m honored,” Vance said during the ceremony.

Vance’s wife, actress Angela Bassett, praised his craft and character.

“As an actor, Courtney is committed, relatable, and deeply reliable,” she said. “He shows up fully every time, onstage, on-screen, and on television, drowning each performance in emotional truth and the human complexity.”

Vance also honored Bassett in his comments.

“I’m just very, very full and grateful. I saw this honor bestowed upon my wife March 20th, 2008, when our children were almost 2, and I remember how huge a day it was for both our families,” he said. “And to return to this hallowed place directly across the street from where she was honored and have that same honor bestowed upon me is really more happiness than I emotionally can bear.”

His versatile television work includes his role as Ron Carver on Law & Order: Criminal Intent, along with roles on Lovecraft Country, 61st Street, and Genius: Aretha.

Vance has maintained a strong presence on the stage. His Broadway credits include performances in Six Degrees of Separation, Lucky Guy (which earned him a Tony Award), and Fences.

His career has been cited as an example of sustained excellence across multiple media.

For Vance, the recognition serves as a professional milestone and the fulfillment of a dream. Reflecting on his career with Variety, Vance spoke of his unwavering commitment to honor those who came before him by reaching for any dreams.

“I’m the poster child for following your heart,” he said. “I wasn’t going to settle for anything unless it made me happy. Our generation, parents and grandparents, and great grandparents suffered so that I could make that decision and that choice.”

by Kandiss Edwards

December 19, 2025

The Diaspora Salon Returns To Marrakech For Transnational Gathering

The event coincides with the annual 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair, which draws artists, collectors and curators from around the world.

Shoppe Black announced The Diaspora Salon will return to Marrakech in 2026 for a four-day gathering focused on culture, creativity, and global exchange.

The 2026 edition of the Diaspora Salon is scheduled for Feb. 8–11, 2026, and will take place at Jnane Tamsna, a boutique hotel and cultural retreat. The event coincides with the annual 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair, which draws artists, collectors, and curators from around the world.

The Salon was founded by Meryanne Loum-Martin, a hotelier and patron. Loum-Martin also owns Jnane Tamsna. According to Shoppe Black, Loum-Martin created the gathering as a space for conversation and connection among Africans and members of the global African diaspora.

According to the Shoppe Black announcement, organizers said the purpose of the event, theDiaspora Salon, is a “yearly rendezvous celebrating cultural and entrepreneurial initiatives by trailblazers of African ancestry.”

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A post shared by JNANE TAMSNA (@jnanetamsna)

The publication reported that attendees will include participants from Africa, Europe, the Americas, and the Caribbean, reflecting the Salon’s emphasis on transnational exchange. Rather than positioning itself as a traditional conference, the Diaspora Salon emphasizes intimacy and conversation. The event is intentionally limited in size, allowing participants to engage directly with one another in both formal sessions and informal settings throughout the four days.

Programming will feature a distinguished lineup of thinkers, creators, and cultural leaders. The roster includes Dr. Edda L. Fields-Black, a historian whose work reshapes understanding of Black resistance; Heather McGhee, author and policy advocate; and Bernardine Evaristo, an award-winning novelist celebrated for exploring the breadth of Black British life, to name a few.

Jnane Tamsna serves as both the venue and a central element of the experience. The property, known for its gardens, architecture, and role as a gathering place for artists and thinkers, has hosted previous editions of the Salon.

Organizers have advised prospective attendees that space is limited and that registration is required in advance. Additional details about the program and registration are available through the Salon’s official website.

at&t, dei, NAACP — (Photo: Bill Bradford/Flickr)

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

December 19, 2025

NAACP Slams AT&T DEI Rollback As ‘Anti-Growth,’ Warns It Abandons Black Consumers And Workers

NAACP President Derrick Johnson wrote directly to AT&T's chairman and CEO regarding their 'disappointing' decision to cutback on DEI programming.

The NAACP is holding companies accountable for the continued drawback of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.

In light of AT&T’s decision to cut its DEI programming, the NAACP has called out the decision in a letter to the corporation. Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the civil rights organization, addressed the situation in a direct statement to AT&T’s Chairman and CEO John Stankey.

In the exclusive letter shared first with BLACK ENTERPRISE, Johnson wrote about the “grave concern” over AT&T’s decision to discontinue its DEI programs, noting how this choice could demean its place as a leader in the telecommunications industry. The organization’s president also noted how the push against DEI practices undermines the growth of “economic opportunity” within the corporate sector.

“In principle and practice, diversity, equity, and inclusion commitments have been mischaracterized in the current political environment. In direct contrast, the economic history of this country reflects a strong parallel in the growth of civil rights laws and the expansion of economic opportunity,” detailed the letter.

The letter added, “Decades of civil rights laws and practices adopted by the corporate sector have greatly benefited the U.S. economy. Corporations benefit from expenditures by minority consumers and a diverse employee base.”

Of their “ill-considered” decision, Johnson called it an “anti-growth and reactionary agenda” in line with the Trump administration’s anti-DEI legislation sweeping the federal level. Johnson also noted the multitrillion-dollar spending power of Black Americans, emphasizing how AT&T’s decision dismisses their impact.

“Black Americans’ buying power is massive –- now approaching $2 trillion dollars. Rather than valuing this market, AT&T has chosen to send a clearly ideological message: “AT&T does not value people of color as employees or customers.”

In his comments on AT&T’s DEI reversal, Johnson told BE that the choice conforms to “extremist pressure” while abandoning the diverse customers AT&T serves.

“Leadership requires courage, not capitulation,” shared Johnson. “AT&T’s continued shift is alarming and should concern everyone who helped build this company. AT&T grew because of a diverse America, yet now appears willing to abandon those communities by yielding to extremist pressure. America is stronger when we embrace diversity, not when corporations retreat from it.”

Amid boycotts against companies for their cutbacks on DEI, the NAACP reminded AT&T that the Black community has historically taken away their support for companies that no longer reflect their values. While it did not call for a direct boycott of their services, the NAACP issued a staunch warning of what could come if AT&T stands firm on its withdrawn DEI stance.