seaweed
photo credit: pexels
by Jameelah Mullen

November 3, 2025

Zanzibar’s Seaweed Boom Is Empowering Women Farmers

Companies invest to ensure better outcomes for women seaweed farmers.

Women walk along Zanzibar’s beaches in colorful dresses, drawing attention from tourists’ cameras as they go about their daily task of gathering seaweed, a vital ingredient used in various products like food, cosmetics, and bioplastics. Seaweed farming has been a crucial industry in Zanzibar, located off a portion of Tanzania’s Indian Ocean coast, for decades. Most of Zanzibar’s 25,000 seaweed farmers are women. 

Rising global demand has made it the second-largest contributor to the local economy after tourism and spices. The industry has also attracted greater interest from donors and investors, some of whom aim to invest in measures to address the increasingly harsh working conditions that can threaten the safety of women seaweed farmers who often spend long days under the sun, which can lead to backaches and skin irritation, and bites from sea creatures. 

“I experience pain in my back, waist, and chest due to the labor in the sea. There are also risks of being stung or bitten,” Mwanaisha Makame Simai told The Associated Press. “Sometimes strong waves sweep you away. I have personally witnessed three cases of people drowning.”

Mhando Waziri, project manager for blue economy initiatives at the nonprofit Milele Zanzibar Foundation, noted that climate change forces women deeper into the ocean, putting them at risk of drowning. Milele’s programs include teaching women seaweed farmers to swim to combat the risk of drowning. 

Most farmers, independently or in collectives, sell their products to local middlemen who sell to larger corporations. Milele has developed programs to help women turn seaweed into products, primarily cosmetics. Waziri estimated that seaweed farmers could earn 10 times as much by selling the raw, unprocessed product to other manufacturers. 

“Ten years ago, people thought you were crazy for working in seaweed,” Klara Schade, director at Mwani Zanzibar, a boutique seaweed farm in the nearby village of  Paje, told the Associated Press. “Now it’s become a buzzword.” Schade has focused on training seaweed farmers in cosmetics manufacturing. Workers at Mwani spend more time in the workshop than out in the ocean. Schade noted that Mwani’s “face and body skin superfood” sells online for $140, meaning its employees earn far more than the average seaweed farmer.

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TENNESSEE
Photo by Siri Stafford/Getty Images
by Jameelah Mullen

November 3, 2025

FDA Recalls Blood Pressure Medication Over Cancer Risk

Check your medicine cabinets.

The FDA has recalled more than 500,000 bottles of blood pressure medication due to high levels of cancer-causing chemicals.

Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, based in Parsippany, New Jersey, issued a voluntary recall on Oct. 7 for approximately 580,000 bottles of prazosin hydrochloride capsules: 181,659 1 mg bottles, 291,512 2 mg bottles, and 107,673 5 mg bottles. The bottles may contain up to 1,000 capsules each. The FDA recalled the product on Oct. 24, stating that the capsules may contain nitrosamine impurities, specifically “N-nitroso Prazosin Impurity C,” which pose serious health risks.

The FDA classified the recall as Class II. The agency describes a Class II risk as “a situation in which use of, or exposure to, a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.” 

The FDA approved the drug for high blood pressure treatment. However, it is occasionally prescribed to help manage symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), especially for patients who experience nightmares and sleep issues. The medication works by relaxing blood vessels, improving blood flow, and lowering blood pressure. According to Scientific American, nearly 20% of veterans treated through Veterans Affairs (VA) take Prazosin.

In 2022, Pfizer voluntarily recalled some of its blood pressure medications, including the brand-name Accuretic and two related generic versions, due to the presence of a nitrosamine impurity called N-nitroso-quinapril.

High blood pressure is defined as a systolic blood pressure greater than 130 mm Hg and a diastolic blood pressure greater than 80 mm Hg. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly half of U.S. adults (48%) have high blood pressure or are taking blood pressure medication for other conditions.
Neither Teva nor the FDA has issued specific instructions on what to do with the recalled medication. However, GoodRx recommends that people check their medication’s lot number, and if it is listed in the recall, contact the pharmacy and the prescriber immediately.

RELATED CONTENT: Red Bull May Give You More Than Just Wings

Bush, Obama, Virginia, New Jersey, Gubernatorial, Clinton,Trump, luncheon
(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
by Kandiss Edwards

November 3, 2025

Barack Obama Dusts Off Signature Swag In Support Of Gubernatorial Candidates

Obama is charming potential voters while amplifying the visibility of Democratic candidates.

Former President Barack Obama returned to the campaign trail to show support for gubernatorial candidates in Virginia and New Jersey by condemning the current administration and putting his signature charm to use. 

In Norfolk, Virginia, on Nov. 1, Obama joined supporters of Abigail Spanberger, the Democratic nominee for governor. During his 30-minute remarks, the former president condemned the current administration. Additionally, he boasted about Spanberger’s political track record. Obama highlighted the candidate’s ability to work across the aisle to make progress in Washington. 

“She is willing to reach across the aisle to make it happen. She has shown that she can do it. Abigail is ranked as the most bipartisan member of Congress from the Commonwealth. She’s had bills signed into law by both President Trump and President Biden. That is not easy to do,” he stated.

He also summoned voters to reject what he characterized as the administration’s “lawlessness and recklessness.”  

Later in New Jersey, Obama appeared in support of Mikie Sherrill. The former Commander in Chief says he believes that Sherrill is a candidate who will “stay connected to the people that they were elected to serve.” In his speech, he discussed Sherrill’s “first day” plan, including tackling energy prices, child mental health and education, and tax transparency.

“On her first day as governor, Mikie will declare a state of emergency to bring costs down, starting with utilities. . .As a mom of four kids, Mikie knows what parents see every day….and she’s going to make sure you can see exactly where your tax dollars are going and whether the programs you are helping to fund actually do what they’re supposed to do.”

While Obama encouraged attendees to get out to the polls, he also extolled the virtues of both candidates. He also took a moment to connect with the audience in a personal display of his signature charm. It is no secret that the former president is indeed adored by many. During his New Jersey stop, one presidential admirer made sure to show her adoration, yelling “I love you” as Obama spoke. 

As he is known to do, Obama took the compliment in stride. He accepted the praise, complimented the attendee, and shouted out his wife, former first lady Michelle Obama. 

“Oh, I love you, but hold on. I heard you, girl. Just settle down. I’m here to talk to everybody, not just you. I mean, you look cute. But I’m married. Michelle’s fine too,” he said. 

As polls tighten and early voting winds down, Democrats are banking on the former president’s mass appeal to energize the base. Many are hoping Obama’s willingness to call out the current administration and bolster visibility for current candidates’ platforms, with a dash of swag, will be enough to turn the political tide. Whether it’s enough to turn out voters and counter Republican gains remains to be seen.

RELATED CONTENT: Barack Obama Leans Into Support For ‘Proposition 50’ And California Governor Gavin Newsom

Halloween, blackface,
(Horacio Villalobos - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

November 2, 2025

Biracial Comedian Does Blackface For Halloween To Internet’s Anger And Confusion

Comedian Brittany Venti was just one of many influencers who donned blackface this Halloween.

One biracial comedian tried and failed to spark a conversation by doing blackface for Halloween.

The offensive trend has returned as racist influencers used the holiday meant for dressing up to instead upset others. However, the internet refuses to let them have the day, calling out their unjust intentions.

Self-proclaimed comedian Brittany Venti, particularly had social media users confused with her distasteful costume. Venti decided to not only paint her face black, but also use the moment to perpetuate harmful stereotypes against Black people.

She posed in blackface with a box of fried chicken, captioning the image with “When that EBT hit.” Naysayers immediately called out Venti for her offensive costume. However, Venti also identifies as mixed-race, with her identity sparking even more confusion.

“We’re witnessing levels of racism not seen since 1962,” said one X user.

Another quoted, “Imagine seeing your child do this as a black mom.”

While Venti says the blackface was a “satirical bit,” very few got the joke. After receiving much backlash for her post, Venti tried explaining the reasoning behind her controversial costume.

“My costume wasn’t just random -it has lore and built up of drama with the black community especially over the past month,” wrote Venti. “It is quite literally on brand for me to do black face as it is a continuation of a running satirical bit about how the black community is extremely racist to mulattos for their skin color.”

She continued defending her actions to the “woke mob.” She proceeded to call out a false comparison equating blackface to jokes about mixed-race people.

“It’s just really funny how I’m not “Allowed” to do black face, YET they’re ‘Allowed’ to harass mulattos for being a quote ‘black mom biracial’ calling me every name in the book and even insulting my dead parents. But it’s the end of the world if I make fun of it or say ‘Nigga’ -despite being black.”

However, naysayers were quick to note that Venti’s blackness does not give her a pass to be racist and offensive. It did not help that she was not the sole influencer engaging in Blackface, with right-wing influencer Lilly Gaddis also participating in the offensive trend.

Gaddis has referred to herself as “insanely racist” after the internet got her fired from her job after she said the n-word. In return, Gaddis has become a conservative content creator, with both her and Venti using X’s free speech policies to make racist posts as they please.

RELATED CONTENT: Georgia High School Now Under Fire After Visiting Students Arrived To Game In Blackface

Michael Jackson,film, box office
(Photo: Constru-centro, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons)
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

November 2, 2025

Legacy Of Michael Jackson Lives On As King Of Pop Crowned Highest-Paid Dead Celebrity

Jackson's estate has earned around $3.5 billion since his passing in 2009.

Michael Jackson still lives as the King of Pop in the afterlife.

Forbes has declared the late superstar as the highest-paid dead celebrity in 2025. Given his mega-stardom throughout his decades-long career before his death in 2009, his impact remains felt across the music industry.

The outlet confirmed that the Michael Jackson estate has earned over $105 million over the past year. Not only did he take the top slot, but he also earned much more than his fellow late celebrities. Right after him is the former top dog of the list, Elvis Presley, who came in second with $1.2 billion.

“It’s MJ, then an enormous canyon, then everybody else,” shared an estate lawyer to the outlet.

Since his death over a decade ago, the Jackson estate has earned over $3.5 billion, marking his legacy from beyond the grave. Furthermore, he has remained on the list since Forbes started its estate earnings ranking in 2001.

Jackson acquired his immense wealth from many avenues. While still alive, Jackson acquired ownership of his publishing rights and master recordings. In 1985, he purchased the ATV catalog for $47.5 million, worth around $140 million today. That investment flipped to $750 million after his estate sold them to Sony in 2016.

The estate then made another lucrative sale of Jackson’s publishing and master recordings. They made the sale to Sony again, earning $600 million from the 2024 purchase. While the move was against the wishes of Katherine Jackson, the late singer’s mother, it did provide a lofty payout.

In the years since his tragic death, Jackson’s legacy has endured through multiple media platforms. His 2009 concert film, “This Is It,” grossed $267 million, adding to his posthumous cash flow. Another revenue jackpot was in the MJ-themed Cirque du Soleil tour in 2012 and the subsequent “Michael Jackson ONE” Vegas residency.

Despite the controversies surrounding his career, such as allegations of sexual abuse documented in the 2019 documentary “Finding Neverland,” Jackson’s estate has managed to capitalize on his music. His accusers are also seeking hundreds of millions from the estate, as revealed while disputes between his daughter, Paris, and estate officials wage on.

The Tony Award-winning “MJ: The Musical” debuted in 2022 as well to critical acclaim and commercial success, earning $300 million in ticket sales. It spanned multiple productions on Broadway and in London’s West End.

RELATED CONTENT: Michael Jackson’s Estate Says Paris Jackson Has Received $65M In Benefits

Meek mill, NYPD
(Photo: Monica Morgan/Getty Images
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

November 2, 2025

Meek Mill Blasts NYPD For Allegedly Drawing Gun On Him: ‘I Thought It Was a Prank’

Meek Mill was reportedly cleared of any wrongdoing after video showed police putting him in handcuffs.

Meek Mill goes off about the New York City Police Department after officers wrongfully detained him the night after Halloween, a move he first thought was a “prank.”

The Philly-born rapper sounded off on X after news of his wrongful detainment gained traction. NYPD officers detained Meek Mill after responding to a call of a suspected weapon in the vehicle he was sitting in. Viral clips showed officers arresting the rapper outside of a nightclub in Manhattan on the holiday weekend.

“The cameras, rolling right? While the cameras rolling, this the level you go through when you youngin’s lack,” said Meek Mill in the video.

After the ordeal was resolved, the “Dreams and Nightmares” rapper took to social media to clarify his role in the matter.

“They just pulled me out the car and cuffed me in front of the whole club embarrassed the shit out of me in nyc ! I’m not scared to go outside without a gun … they had guns in my face for no reason smh I thought it was a prank.”

According to The Grio, a police spokesperson said officers were responding to a report of a firearm inside a vehicle near the area. They confirmed that they stopped three males, including the Grammy nominee, as their car and license plate matched the description.

After no gun was found inside or on their person, Meek Mill and his fellow riders were subsequently let go. However, the incident still left the emcee shaken up, especially given his past with law enforcement.

“They tryna get me…,” reflected the rapper on social media.

Once a convicted felon, Meek Mill has become a voice for criminal justice advocacy. He received a controversial sentence in 2017 over a probation violation for a decade-old conviction. Following his release the following year, he used his experience and platform to advocate for probation reform. Then-Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf later expunged his record for those charges.

RELATED CONTENT: Meek Mill Seeks $5M For Projects, Social Media Users Offer Suggestions

Trump, ape post, Barack Obama,
Photo by MENELAOS MYRILLAS/SOOC/AFP via Getty Images
by Kandiss Edwards

November 2, 2025

Barack Obama Calls Zohran Mandani Ahead Of NYC Mayoral Election

The gesture stopped short of an endorsement.

On Nov. 1, former President Barack Obama called New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani just days before the election. 

The call lasted about 30 minutes and included Obama praising Mamdani’s campaign and discussing strategies should he win. Sources say the former President praised Mamdani’s grassroots campaign, calling it “impressive,” according to The New York Times.

Mamdani’s campaign spokesperson, Dora Pekec, thanked Obama for reaching out and extending an olive branch. 

“Zohran Mamdani appreciated President Obama’s words of support and their conversation on the importance of bringing a new kind of politics to our city,” Pekec said.

Obama offered to serve as a “sounding board” for Mamdani. The 34-year-old Democratic Socialist’s campaign seems to be in good standing ahead of the Nov. 4 election. Polls indicate Mamdani maintains a double-digit lead, according to The Hill. The call from Obama could result in a last-minute boost, even without a public endorsement, bringing in undecided voters.

While Obama extended his expertise to Mamdand, he stopped short of a formal endorsement. However, making the call public is a high-profile gesture from one of the nation’s most influential Democrats. 

The outreach comes as Mamdani fights to maintain his lead over independent former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa in the biggest mayoral race in the United States.

Mamdani, born in Uganda and elected to the New York State Assembly in 2020, gained national attention after defeating Cuomo in the June 24 Democratic primary. Much like Obama in his early campaign for the presidency, Mamdani has a youthful coalition and progressive platform. His agenda for New York City includes affordability and housing initiatives that have energized young voters and simultaneously ruffled the feathers of city residents in higher tax brackets.

The timing of Obama’s call coincided with his recent lobbying efforts on behalf of Democratic gubernatorial candidates in New Jersey and Virginia. That suggests a coordinated push within the party’s progressive wing to consolidate ahead of midterm elections. 

RELATED CONTENT: Kamala Harris Endorses NYC Mayoral Candidate Zohran Mamdani While Highlighting Other Democratic ‘Stars’ 

ilhan, Omar, ICE, Minnesota
Photo by Jacquelyn Martin-Pool/Getty Images
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

November 2, 2025

Trump Continues Attacks Against Rep. Ilhan Omar, Says ‘Leave Country’ Despite Being U.S. Citizen

Omar has seemingly remained unshaken by Trump's threats.

Donald Trump has seemingly had enough of Rep. Ilhan Omar and her progressive ways.

The President told the Minnesota lawmaker to return to her country, despite Omar holding U.S. citizenship. Trump lashed out at the congresswoman on his preferred social platform, Truth Social. On his right-leaning social media hub, the President shared a clip of Omar speaking what is assumed to be Somali while writing an unwelcoming caption.

“She should go back,” asserted Trump.

The clip, albeit unverified, suggested that Omar was saying, “Somalia is our home. It is our heart. We always think about Somalia.” According to Politico, when the event occurred remains unknown, but the clip has circulated in right-wing online spheres.

Despite the limited information behind the video, Omar has faced right-wing hate due to her progressive policy views and heritage. Omar currently serves as deputy chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, advocating for policies such as universal healthcare and the abolition of ICE, directly opposed to Trump.

Trump has recently increased his attacks against Omar, even claiming that he asked the Somali President to take her back. His officials have also perpetuated his attacks against Omar’s status as a U.S. citizen.

“You know I met the head of Somalia, did you know that?” he joked to reporters at the Oval Office in September. “And I suggested that maybe he’d like to take her back. He said ‘I don’t want her.’”

Born in Somalia, Omar came to the U.S. as a child after spending four years in a Kenyan refugee camp due to civil war in the East African nation. She became a citizen in 2000 and later served as a lawmaker for the people of Minnesota.

The heightened focus on her status in the country remains alarming to many, especially given Trump’s deportation efforts. However, Omar has stated she feels unshaken by Trump’s threats. She also noted the uptick in Islamophobic attacks against Muslim lawmakers like herself and NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani.

“I have no worry, I don’t know how they’d take away my citizenship and like deport me,” Omar said on an Oct. 31 episode of The Dean Obeidallah Show. “But I don’t even know like why that’s such a scary threat. Like I’m not the 8-year-old who escaped war anymore. I’m grown, my kids are grown. Like I could go live wherever I want if I wanted to. It’s a weird thing to wake up every single day to bring that into every single conversation, ‘we’re gonna deport Ilhan [Omar].’”

The 43-year-old began her political career as a state representative before moving on to national politics. Omar has represented Minnesota’s 5th district since 2019.

RELATED CONTENT: Rep. Ilhan Omar: ‘Trump is a Racist Tyrant’

Melvin Edwards, Sculptor, Black Resistance, Dies
Photo by Numan Gilgil: https://www.pexels.com/photo/lighted-candle-in-close-up-photography-9299394/
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

November 2, 2025

Marcyliena Morgan, Founder Of World’s First Hip Hop Archive At Harvard, Dies At 75

Morgan was an champion of hip-hop as an academic subject worthy of study.

Marcyliena Morgan, the trailblazing scholar and founder of Hip Hop Archive and Research Institute at Harvard, has died at 75.

Morgan was an instrumental figure in the recognition of hip-hop as an art form and cultural phenomenon. Her work as a professor of the study of the music genre led to the creation of the Harvard institution. The archive solidified her own and hip-hop’s legacy within academia.

Born and raised in 1950s Chicago, the linguistic anthropologist uncovered the scholarly nature of hip-hop at UCLA. While teaching about urban speech communities in the ’90s, she noticed her students related their studies to the emerging popularity of rap music.

Morgan initially felt skeptical of hip-hop’s place in higher education. However, she dug deeper into the cultural and sociological ramifications of the music genre. She then discovered how it reflects Black and Brown communities, and the multifaceted roles rappers play within them.

“I developed a respect for hip-hop culture because in spite of all its excesses and some of its deserved criticism from society, it remains a rare place where young black people and brown people are valued and awarded by their peers,” she wrote in her 2009 book, “The Real Hiphop,” according to the Wall Street Journal. “They are treated as gods and goddesses and put on pedestals for searching for and ‘representing’ truth and knowledge and recognizing and being proud of who they are and where they come from.”

Morgan later championed the academic study of hip-hop. She became a collector of certain artifacts as the art form began to merge with fashion. With collectibles from boomboxes, vinyl records, and highly lauded sneakers, she founded Harvard’s Hip Hop Archive and Research Institution in 2007.

As the go-to voice in academic circles, Morgan spoke at conferences highlighting the importance of hip-hop. Notably, she taught courses on hip-hop as it blossomed into the cultural staple it is today.

Morgan understood the nuance of the rap form. She accepted its existence holistically while still marking its impact on people of color, Americana, and, eventually, the world.

“She was saying it needed to be studied, it needed to be recorded, preserved, archived, and analyzed because it was a cultural phenomenon. And she was right about that,” shared Henry Louis Gates Jr., director of the Hutchins Center for African & African American Research at Harvard. “It was not only an American or an African American cultural phenomenon. It would soon sweep the world.”

A lifelong scholar and advocate for hip-hop’s place in the classroom and on the stage, Morgan leaves behind an academic profile that supports Black people’s artistic creation and legacy. Morgan died at 75 due to complications with Alzheimer’s disease, with her legacy, the Marcyliena H. Morgan Hip Hop Archive & Research Institute, still standing in her honor.

RELATED CONTENT: The Hip Hop Museum Honors Dignitaries At New York City Gala

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