White nationalist reporter Patrick Howley took to his talk show to complain about the amount of Black people that showed up to this year’s country music awards, with every sentence being more racist than the last.

This year’s CMT Music Awards fell on April 11, and were co-hosted by Anthony Mackie, a Black actor most known for his role as Falcon in the Marvel superhero universe.

Many nominations and perhaps the most moving performance of the night spotlighted Black country artists, something Howley was furious about while reporting on the event.

“I don’t know who this Black guy is who’s hosting it. It’s supposed to be country music,” the far-right pundit started off by saying of Mackie. “No offense. I mean, y’all have hip-hop and basketball. You know what I mean. Just fly with your flock, bro.”

In a one-minute clip, he managed to spew an inconceivable amount of hate, and just when you think he can’t possibly say anything more offensive, he leaves you with a jaw-dropper.

“The melanated people invented country music!” he said mockingly. “We was making country music in Wakanda before Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard done stole the Black man’s country music!”

Howley sounds like he knows what he said was true, however throws in Wakanda to make country music’s rightful claim seem absurd and essentially a properterous assertion. 

White nationalist Patrick Howley is upset because there were too many Black people at the Country Music Awards: "Country music is different. It's not Wakanda." pic.twitter.com/PMfO1E22e2

— Right Wing Watch (@RightWingWatch) April 13, 2022

It seems as though every other sentence he started off with an empty apology so as to not seem irrevocably racist, only to end his thought with something more horrible. “I’m not against you, but…” “No offense, but…” “Sorry to say, but…” “No disrespect, but…” he can be heard saying within the short time span. 

“There were so many Black people there,” he said. “Sorry to say, but so many Black celebrities who have nothing to do with country music and it’s like — why?

“No disrespect to the funky brothers of music. I love Earth, Wind & Fire, Run DMC, etc.,” he continued in his attempt to prove he likes some Black people. “But country music’s different. Country music’s different. It’s not Wakanda,” ended the clip.

• Uncategorized

by Yolanda Baruch

April 16, 2022

Mary J. Blige Will Receive The Icon Award at 2022 Billboard Music Awards: “An Incredible Honor”

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On Thursday, news broke that music superstar Mary J. Blige, 51, will receive the Billboard Icon award during the 2022 Billboard Music Awards airing Sunday, May 15, according to People. 

The award show will be broadcast live from the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Billboard reports.

According to Billboard, the recipients of the Icon Award are artists who created a high caliber of work within the music industry and have ranked high on the Billboard charts. 

Blige is the 11th singer to have been granted the Icon Award. She follows Neil Diamond, Stevie Wonder, Prince, Jennifer Lopez, Celine Dion, Cher, Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, Garth Brooks, and P!NK, reports Billboard. 

It’s an honor to receive the @billboard Icon Award and perform on this year’s @BBMAs! Don’t miss the #BBMAs – Sunday, May 15 at 8pm ET / 5pm PT on @NBC. #IconMJB #GoodMorningGorgeous pic.twitter.com/MC2yZRKsRs

— Mary J. Blige (@maryjblige) April 14, 2022

“My career has been such an incredible and unexpected journey that has included many turns into avenues I never could have imagined like acting, producing, launching businesses and now even my own music festival,” Blige said. 

“Through it all, I always one way or another gravitated back to my first love, music. To be recognized in this way at this moment, with the Icon Award at the Billboard Music Awards, is an incredible honor and one that I am truly humbled by,” said the 411 hip-hop soul vocalist of the honor.

Blige has enjoyed a critically-acclaimed career that has garnered her 11 Billboard Music Awards, one for album of the year, and she picked up nine trophies for the female R&B/hip-hop artist of the year and female Hot 100 artist, the New York Post reports. 

Blige is well-deserving of the icon award and title. In February of this year, she released her 14th album Good Morning Gorgeous and gave a dazzling performance at the 2022 Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show alongside Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, 50 Cent, and Kendrick Lamar. Blige also stars in Starz’s “Power Book II: Ghost” series, according to the Post.

• Uncategorized

by Yolanda Baruch

April 16, 2022

Alfonso Ribeiro Has No Intentions Of Reading Will Smith’s Memoir

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In November 2021, Alfonso Ribeiro, 50, spoke with Extra about his longtime friend and co-star from the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Will Smith, 53, and the release of his memoir Will. While Ribeiro is always ready to support his friend, he is reluctant to read his autobiography, People reports.

“For many, many, many years, people speculated about them as a family. They are laying it out there in a way that is their truth,” said Ribeiro. “I don’t know if I’ll read the book because I know the people.”

Host Rosci Diaz asked him if he was surprised at how candid Smith was on the Red Table Talk Facebook series episodes where he spoke openly about his marriage; Ribeiro was amazed that Smith was sharing his truths with the world. 

“I was only surprised about the fact that he’s doing it, you know, for the world to see, right? I mean, there’s very little that I don’t know in terms of their lives and what happens over there,” said Ribeiro of Smith’s private life. “And I’ve always been like, for me, it’s like ‘that your business.’ I don’t tell anybody how to live their lives, and nobody tells me how to live my life. We’ll share ideas and share thoughts, but I’ve known a lot, and I kinda just go ‘y’all make it work,'” he adds. 

According to People, Smith’s book revealed intimate stories of his life, like when his son Jaden Smith inquired about being emancipated and what drove Smith to consider killing his father, who was abusive towards his mother. 

Even though Ribeiro and Smith shared a brother-like bond, Smith had an acrimonious relationship for many years with one of their former co-stars Janet Hubert, the original Aunt Viv. from the Fresh Prince sitcom. 

The two had a heart to heart, and Hubert confronted him about how he devastated her career during The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Reunion, which premiered on Nov. 19 on HBO Max, The Washington Post reports. 

“But you took all of that away from me — with your words,” Hubert said to the Oscar winner. “Words can kill. I lost everything. Reputation. Everything. And I understand you were able to move forward, but you know those words, calling a Black woman difficult in Hollywood, is the kiss of death. And it’s hard enough being a dark-skinned Black woman in this business,” according to the Washington Post. 

“I was 21 years old,” said Smith. “Everything was a threat to me.”

The two ended their talk with Smith pledging to protect Hubert, “The person I want to be is someone who protects you, not someone who unleashes dogs on you,” he said.

• Technology

by Black Enterprise Shop

April 16, 2022

This Wireless AirPods Charger Offers A Minimalist Design

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It’s not a stretch to say Apple’s AirPods’ ability to play high-quality music is just one of the many things it excels in doing. AirPods are almost as valuable as listening devices for video calls and Zoom meetings as they are for listening to music while at the gym or while walking. AirPods can read your text messages for you, they can be connected to Apple TV, they can serve as hearing aids, and the list goes on.

All this is well and great when they’re charged and fully functional. Without power, though, they’re rendered useless. Few things are worse than enjoying music on your AirPods and having that moment ruined by the loss of power.

Minimize those frustrating moments with the Wireless Charging Dock for AirPods. For a limited time, it’s available for just $15.99. That’s a savings of 46% from its MSRP ($29).

This wireless charging dock comes without the hassle of cords, making your charging experience far less frustrating. Its dock sports an elegant design, allowing you to place it anywhere you wish without having to worry about it being an eyesore.

Many wireless charging bases can be more hassle than they’re worth because of smooth bases that slip and slide across any surface on which they’re placed. You won’t have to worry about that happening with this wireless charging dock. It’s fitted with an anti-slip rubber base that also stabilizes surfaces it’s placed upon.

Charging time clocks in at 1.5 hours, and it’s packed with over-voltage and under-voltage protection against currents. It’s compatible with AirPods 3, AirPods 2, Airpods Pro, and headphones with wireless charging features. The Wireless Charging Dock for AirPods ships with a USB cable.

If you frequently find yourself having to charge your AirPods, this wireless offering is just what you’ve been looking for. Purchase it today while it’s still available at this attractive price.

Prices subject to change.

Eighteen-year-old Jonathan Walker of Panama City, Florida, has received acceptance letters to all 27 nationally top-ranked universities he applied to – including MIT, Harvard, and Johns Hopkins – and over $4 million in scholarship offers.

The Rutherford High School senior hopes that he inspires other Black teens to follow their dreams of becoming inventors too, reports the Panama City News Herald.

Walker now faces the difficult choice of deciding to attend Yale, Stanford, or the University of Pennsylvania, among other Ivy Leagues. He has yet to make his decision. 

“So, I’ve just really been trying to let it soak in just how much of a blessing it is that I got into all of these colleges,” said the 4.85 GPA-holding football player. “So just like sitting back smelling the roses.”

During his application process, Walker was also busy working on a patent for an invention of a Braille system he and his former classmate Alex Johnson developed. Previous inventions the Florida teen has worked on include an air filter that turns gas emissions into oxygen and most recently, a secure prescription drug management device that won him the 2021 #TICodes Contest, a national competition held by Texas Instruments.

https://twitter.com/ticalculators/status/1407454673473257477

“The way he thinks… I can see him someday being like an Elon Musk or a Steve Jobs or Bill Gates,” said Rutherford Principal Coy Pilson. “His mind makes connections that most folks don’t think about.”

While Walker admits to being inspired by Musk or Jobs or Gates, he wants to create his own path.

“One of the things that also bothers me… when you think of the top tech guys in the industry, there is not many Black people who you think of in that tech entrepreneur sphere,” Walker said. “As a child, me looking up to them, I’m not looking up to people that look like me.”

Growing up, Walker struggled to believe he could make it as an inventor because there weren’t many Black faces in the tech and engineer world. 

“I’ve always loved creating devices to help people, so I definitely want to further that,” he said to the local outlet. “I’m looking at majoring in electrical engineering and possibly biomedical engineering to hopefully develop medical technology in order to help disadvantaged communities that have health problems.”

Since Charlamagne Tha God launched his Black Privilege Publishing Company in November 2020, the goal has been to amplify Black and Brown voices.

Now, his Simon & Schuster imprint has announced that a new line of graphic novels are underway that feature Black and Brown superheroes, as well as a comic book series with AWA Studios, according to a Variety exclusive.

To kick off the collection, Charlamagne has recruited Kevin Grevioux, writer of Underworld and King of Killers, to head a new project titled Darkstorm, with Ken Lashley attached as the illustrator. Darkstorm follows the story of an anti-hero with PTSD who is revealed to actually possess the qualities that make him a hero.

This newly-released project is the first in the “Signature Superhero Epic Series.”

In its new comic books, Black Privilege Publishing Company will launch The Vindicators as its first series, which is set in a dystopian future and follows a diverse superhero crew.

“If you know anything about me, then you know how much I love comics,” said the media personality, per a press release. “I’m the guy who got Wolverine holding a microphone tattooed on his arm when he was 17 because of my love of comics. Partnering with Kevin Grevioux to present this new universe, filled with Black and Brown GOD Level superheroes is a dream come true. A lot of the black superheroes I loved growing up were street level and that’s cool but I want to see Omega Level superheroes that look like me and people around me and that’s exactly what we are giving you with Darkstorm and The Vindicators,” said Charlamagne.

He continued, “I am blessed and excited to continue the important work with my Black Privilege imprint on Simon & Schuster, and begin partnerships with comic book veterans like Bill Jemas, Axel Alonso and the whole team at AWA Studios. It’s collaborations like this that help to build an empire and I’m grateful to have found good ones.”

Grevioux additionally commented, “I feel blessed to be working with a guy that is as successful as Charlamagne, a one-of-a-kind cultural icon with global reach. He also has an incredible genre IQ for science fiction, comics and fantasy. So, I truly believe that he is the absolute perfect partner for these ventures. The world’s really not ready for what we have in store.”

Today is the 75th anniversary of Major League Baseball’s Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in the sport, however America’s favorite pastime has been failing to gain traction amongst Black youth players.

An Atlanta-based mentoring program however, has been working to change that narrative. Headed by Atlanta native and former Chicago Cubs outfielder CJ Stewart, L.E.A.D., which stands for launch, expose, advise, direct, aims to assist low-income Black youth by igniting the spark of playing hardball.

Stewart, equipped with a history of coaching major league players like Jason Heyward and Dexter Fowler, is doing all he can to keep the spirit alive despite rising inflation costs.

L.E.A.D. not only provides transportation to children for games and then back home, but after-school meals and haircuts. 

Unfortunately, rising gas costs faced across the country have forced Stewart to cut the program from 50 children to 15. L.E.A.D. no longer has enough funds to pick up all the children and similarly, parents cannot afford the drive there and back. 

“They’re very frustrated, but you can’t have fun without funding,” Stewart said, per the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 

According to the American Baseball Research Association, only 7.2% of the players on this season’s MLB Opening Day rosters were Black, down from 7.6% last year.

Experts suggest that the decline in Black baseball players is due to the slow and lower-paying rise to stardom compared to the NFL and NBA. While basketball and football players can start earning big bank right out of college, it may take years before minor league baseball players see any real money in the majors.

Additionally, there are travel costs, high-quality equipment costs and special coaching costs, making affordability a major barrier for disadvantaged youths to seek interest and participation. 

There is also the matter of politics.

“If you’re a Black kid and don’t want to succumb to white culture, the last thing you want to do is play baseball. I struggled with that,” Stewart said. Nonetheless, he encourages kids to pursue the sport.

Former MLB player Edwin Jackson teaches kids in the L.E.A.D. program, having recently donated $150,000 through the Jackson Gamers Alliance.

“They don’t see us often on TV, so we don’t get marketed,” Jackson said. “We need Mookie and Tim Anderson on TV. You can’t be who you don’t see.”

The Jackson Gamers Alliance will additionally fund 42 players, in honor of Robinson, for the L.E.A.D. summer programs in Atlanta.

Actress Thandiwe Newton has been fired from the new Magic Mike sequel following an “astonishing” and “unimaginably vicious” argument regarding the Will Smith-Chris Rock Oscars slap with leading man Channing Tatum. 

Witnesses on the West London set of Magic Mike’s Last Dance were shook as Tatum drove off from production after the heated argument. It is still unclear what positions the actors took in their debate.

The pair began bumping heads at the start of April, having filmed for 11 days before producers decided to ultimately ax the 49-year-old actress, reports Variety.

She is allegedly planning to sue Warner Bros. studio chiefs for the abrupt firing, although sources share that her claims are “untenable” after her attacks at Tatum became ruthless.

“Thandiwe Newton has made the difficult decision to step away from the production of Warner Bros. Pictures’ Magic Mike’s Last Dance to deal with family matters,” a spokesperson for the studio revealed to Variety on Wednesday.

“They fell out over the debacle at the Oscars. I was on set,” shared a crew member. “I watched her and watched him. They were in and out of the house where we were filming having this confrontation.

“It was a tense exchange of words, but suddenly it escalated. Channing got into this car and he disappeared. People looked at each other and thought, ‘Wait, we’re supposed to be filming,’” the source said, further stating that Newton behaved like a “diva” during production before the argument.

Forty-one-year-old Tatum, producer of the film, was not willing to continue working with the British actress after the altercation. According to the crewmembers, director Steven Soderbergh did not take any sides, but rather attempted to de-escalate the fight.

Newton’s lead female role in the HBO Max exclusive is to be replaced by Salma Hayek. The 11 days worth of shooting must now be scrapped and refilmed with Hayek, costing freelance crew thousands of dollars in lost wages.

Magic Mike’s Last Dance is the third and final installment of the series, expected to do numbers after the first two grossed nearly $300 million worldwide at the box office.

• News

by Wendy Medina

April 15, 2022

Philadelphia Man Additionally Charged With Death of an Unborn Child After Murdering Pregnant Ex-Girlfriend at a Gas Station

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A man suspected of killing his pregnant ex-girlfriend on April 8 surrendered to authorities Wednesday morning in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. Rafiq Thompson, 38, was suspected to have shot and killed Tamara Cornelius, 31, and her unborn baby in cold blood as she pumped gas at an Exxon station near the King of Prussia Mall. 

Thompson is now in custody and being held at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility, reports CBS Philly 3. 

Cornelious was a mother of three and pregnant with her fourth when Thompson followed her from leaving the Cheesecake Factory at the nearby King of Prussia Mall, striking as she pumped gas. The pair had a previous relationship and according to police, briefly spoke before Cornelious went out to dinner. Thompson stalked her to the Upper Merion Township Exxon station where they briefly exchanged words again before Thompson pulled out a gun and “shot her multiple times, continuing as she attempted to run away,” revealed the DA’s news release. She died at Paoli Hospital 47 minutes after police arrived on scene.

Tamara Cornelius was the mother of three children&expecting her fourth when she was followed to Exxon station after pulling out of King of Prussia parking garage after dinner at Cheesecake Factory. And while pumping gas, @MontcopaDA say Rafiq Thompson,36,shot her @FOX29philly pic.twitter.com/wBVKpI4jMp

— Steve Keeley (@KeeleyFox29) April 13, 2022

“This was a chilling murder of a young woman and her unborn child. We will be filing an additional homicide charge against the defendant — Murder of an Unborn Child,” District Attorney Kevin Steele said in a statement. 

On April 11, the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office began a manhunt for Thompson, offering a $5,000 reward for any information leading up to his arrest, per the news release. On April 13, Thompson surrendered.

Prosecutors announced that Thompson would be charged with first-degree murder, third-degree murder, illegal possession of a firearm and related charges, according to NBC10 Philadelphia.

Investigators said Thompson had incessantly tried to contact Cornelius, texting her 93 times and calling her 21 times between April 4 and April 6, to which she did not respond.

“This violent criminal is now safely behind bars due to the great work of the Upper Merion Police and Montgomery County Detectives. I want to thank the public for the many tips we received, which put a spotlight on the defendant,” said DA Steele. “Our thoughts are with Ms. Cornelius’ family and friends at this sad time.”

Family and friends convened on Thursday night for vigil in honor of Cornelius.

• Women

by Derek Major

April 15, 2022

The NBA’s G-League First COO Portia Archer Is Commited To Growing The Careers Of Its Players, Coaches And Officials

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Portia Archer knows that she is in uncharted territory as the first Black and female COO of the NBA‘s developmental league known as the G-League.

While many may expect Archer to do nothing more than make appearances and smile for the cameras, she plans on doing much more, including disrupting the NBA by ensuring it has the flexibility and ability to pivot and deal with change.

“It’s one of our superpowers, and it was brought on by the worst of circumstances,” Archer told Sports Illustrated, adding the G-League is better equipped today to deal with, manage and overcome massive disruption and change.

Archer, whose previous job experience includes stints at NBC Universal, HBO and her alma mater Columbia University, said she understands how to run a business and serve customers and stakeholders as well as empower others around the league

The G-League, which is in its 21st year, has TV contracts with YouTube and ESPN and is regularly featured on NBA TV. Additionally, more than 50 percent of NBA players have experience in the G-League, and new minor league basketball organizations such as the Elite Basketball League have gained popularity in recent years, the G-League is still the best place for talent to grow.

Archer knows her main job is to help everyone in G-League reach the next step, something its players, coaches and even officials and her job is to make sure they reach the final stop.

“The G-League is an organization of opportunity, and it really is all about creating a place and a platform for young men,” Archer told SI. “I ascend to help them achieve their dreams and goals of making it to the NBA. … That also extends to coaches and officials, some of whom look like me, some of whom don’t. And there are a number of women in the officiating ranks who have had opportunities to ascend, and to pursue their careers.”

https://twitter.com/nbagleague/status/1514710087998361620?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

Archer credits her alma mater the University of Chicago, for teaching her how to think critically and ask challenging questions. She also cited her Columbia Business School experience in teaching how to help businesses excel.

The NBA executive added she made her way into the G-League through a panel she did at Columbia where she met Melissa Rosenthal Brenner, executive vice president of digital media for the NBA. The two quickly drew up a conversation where Archer told Brenner she was trying to combine her professional career with her love of sports.