by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

September 24, 2025

Former Cincinnati Bengals Running Back Rudi Johnson Dead From Suspected Suicide

The 45-year-old also played for the Detroit Lions

Former NFL player Rudi Johnson, who played for the Cincinnati Bengals, was found dead of an apparent suicide.

The NFL team released a statement following the reported death of the former running back, who was 45 years old.

“Rudi was a fine person and an excellent running back for us,” Bengals President Mike Brown said in a statement. “He was dependable and productive as a player, and very popular among his teammates. Everyone liked him and saw him as a dear friend. We are deeply saddened by his passing.”

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Rudi Johnson. pic.twitter.com/wXTd8jgEBl
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) September 23, 2025

According to NBC News, Johnson, who played his collegiate career with Auburn University, where he was the Southeastern Conference Player of the Year in 2000, was taken to a medical facility after emergency personnel responded to a phone call in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue personnel arrived around 11:13 a.m., Sept. 22, to treat and transport an “adult trauma alert patient.”

It has been speculated that he died by suicide, as the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office has stated that “no foul play [is] suspected”, as they are investigating Johnson’s death.

“All indications are leading to suicide,” Detective Joseph Peguero told the media outlet.

Johnson’s agent, Peter Schaffer, said that more research needs to be done regarding CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy), a degenerative brain disease primarily found in athletes, military veterans, and others with a history of repetitive brain trauma, according to the Concussion Legacy Foundation.”

“These tragic circumstances must also serve as a call to action,” Schaffer said in a written statement. “The NFL and the scientific community must do more — more research into CTE, more innovation into how we can treat it, prevent it, and provide support to those living with it. Players past, present, and future deserve nothing less.”

Johnson was a fourth-round NFL Draft pick, No. 100 overall, when the Bengals selected him in 2001.

His alma mater posted its condolences to the former player on social media.

https://twitter.com/AuburnFootball/status/1970526095830114332

Johnson also played for the Detroit Lions in 2008, before retiring from the NFL.

by Jameelah Mullen

September 24, 2025

‘The Queens: 4 Legends, 1 Stage’ Tour Resumes In Atlanta

Four legends, one unforgettable night.

“The Queens: 4 Legends, 1 Stage” tour made its Atlanta stop Sept. 20, drawing an intergenerational audience to witness four icons — Gladys Knight, Stephanie Mills, Patti LaBelle, and Chaka Khan — come together for a night filled with unmatched vocal prowess, style, ageless beauty, nostalgia, and sisterhood.

Opening the show was Atlanta’s own Gladys Knight. The 82-year-old beauty stepped onto the stage in a sleek white pantsuit and took the audience on a trip down memory lane, showcasing highlights of her legendary six-decade career. She delivered powerful renditions of hits like “Neither One of Us” and “Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me”. She closed her set with the classic “Midnight Train to Georgia,” reminding everyone why she is, and forever will be, the Empress of Soul.

Stephanie Mills lit up the stage with her fiery energy and top-notch vocals. The diva wore a red, curve-hugging dress, while her band wore matching red sequined blazers, which was the visual icing on the cake to her stellar performance. The 68-year-old commanded the stage with fan favorites such as “Something in the Way (You Make Me Feel)” and “I’ve Learned to Respect the Power of Love.” Standing at 4’9, the songstress’s voice was larger than life. She closed her set with a soul-stirring version of “Home,” the signature ballad from The Wiz that catapulted her into stardom. Mills then brought out her son, Farad, a touching moment that caused the audience to erupt in applause.

The glamorous Patti LaBelle followed, stepping out in a sparkling black sequined gown. She opened with “New Attitude” before kicking off her silver heels and wowing the audience with hits such as “Love, Need and Want You,” “The Right Kinda Lover,” and “My Love, Sweet Love.” The legend briefly exited the stage, allowing her band to take the spotlight with an instrumental of Tevin Campbell’s “Can We Talk,” as the crowd sang along.

The Godmother of Soul reemerged in a stunning kelly green gown and a fresh hairstyle. Her background singer, Debbie Henry, who has toured with the songstress for 45 years, brought the house down with a soul-stirring alto rendition of “You Are My Friend.” Patti then joined in, dedicating the performance to departed artists like Prince, Whitney Houston, and Michael Jackson, whose images filled the screen behind her. She closed with a high-energy “Lady Marmalade,” proving once again why she is a living legend.

Closing the evening was the Queen of Funk herself, Chaka Khan. Radiating sex appeal in fringed leather pants and her signature voluminous red tresses, Chaka had the arena on its feet with “Do You Love What You Feel,” showing off her stellar vocal acrobatics. She kept the energy high with “This Is My Night,” showcasing her background singers’ impeccable harmonies. She ended her set with the timeless anthem “I’m Every Woman,” which sent the entire crowd dancing and singing their way out of the arena.

With more than seven decades of artistry between them, the evening was a masterclass in timeless star power. The four queens gave Atlanta a night of music and memories. The queens sprinkled their Black woman magic onto the Peach City—and Atlanta will never be the same.

Produced by The Black Promoters Collective, the Queens Tour will run through October 5, making stops in cities such as Newark, Detroit, Washington, D.C., and Cleveland.

Shonda Rhimes, Grey's Anatomy, Debbie Allen, Get Out The Vote, Trivia Livestream Event

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 24, 2025

Shonda Rhimes To Become First Woman and Black Dartmouth Alum Honored with Building Naming

Shonda Rhimes is making Dartmouth history with her building renaming coming in 2028.

Shonda Rhimes will make history at Dartmouth as the first woman and Black alum to have a dorm named in her honor.

On Sept. 22, Dartmouth announced Rhimes’ $15 million pledge for a new undergraduate residence hall that will bear her name, marking the first building at the college named for a woman and for a Black alum.

“Dartmouth wasn’t made in my image, but it is possible to remake it to include my image,” Rhimes said in a statement. “There has been a continual making and remaking of who Dartmouth is for and who belongs here.”

The pledge and naming highlight Rhimes’ ongoing support for her alma mater since graduating in 1991. An Emmy-winning producer, showrunner, screenwriter, and author, she gained widespread attention with her 2014 commencement address and continues to serve on Dartmouth’s Board of Trustees, including supporting the reopening of the Hopkins Center for the Arts, where she performed and directed as a student.

“It’s an opportunity to show how formative my college experience was for me. It’s also really beautiful to be able to place some legacy on the building—to give back what was given to me and to leave something behind,” Rhimes said of the gift. “And at a time when it feels like people are questioning the value of higher education, it feels important to put my money back into higher education.”

The five-story Shonda Rhimes Hall is set to break ground early next year and open in 2028 for the Class of 2032. The building will house 123 upper-level students in apartment-style suites with intentional gathering spaces.

Rhimes will aid in the design to ensure it includes a wellness studio, soundproof creative rooms, and a grand piano in the common area for students to find connection, creativity, and balance. Rhimes Hall is part of Dartmouth’s $500 million housing initiative, which aims to accommodate over 90% of undergraduates on campus.

“This extraordinary gift is pivotal for Dartmouth at this time,” said Dartmouth President Beilock. “It will directly enhance the student experience while reimagining a key part of campus. I’m grateful to Shonda, who has made a career of creating inclusive worlds where any one of us can be the protagonist of the story. We are honored that her name will grace this building and be a beacon of welcome to the generations of Dartmouth students who will write their own stories here with that same expansive sense of possibility.”

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

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

September 24, 2025

BlackPast Founder, Dr. Quintard Taylor, Dies At Age 76, Leaving Legacy Of Uplifting Black History

Taylor spent his lifetime promoting and archiving the Black experience.

Dr. Quintard Taylor, a renowned historian specializing in African American history, has passed away at the age of 76.

Taylor was a leading voice in the documentation and promotion of Black history. The educator also founded BlackPast.org, a platform deemed the “world’s largest online encyclopedia” for the subject.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by BlackPast.org (@blackpasthistory)

Born in Brownsville, Tennessee, Taylor spent his lifetime in academia, writing novels that centered on the Black American experience. The seasoned professor wrote several acclaimed works, including the Pulitzer Prize-nominated “Search for the Racial Frontier: African Americans in the American West, 1528–1990” and “The Forging of a Black Community: A History of Seattle’s Central District, 1870 through the Civil Rights Era.”

In 2007, Taylor launched BlackPast.org as a way for those across the diaspora to learn more accurately and freely about Black history. It has educated over 64 million users, while providing them with the knowledge and resources surrounding this diverse community. Throughout his career, he has also earned several honors, including the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Pacific Northwest Historians Guild and the Carter G. Woodson Memorial Award from the National Education Association and the Association for the Study of African American Life and History.

Current leadership at BlackPast shared statements on the passing of its founder. They emphasized his empowering vision and leadership that created this groundbreaking platform for Black people.

“His work will live on in the minds of those who have learned from him and will continue to light the way for those who seek a better understanding of the world,” said Douglas Bender, board president of BlackPast, in a press release. “Personally, I’m forever grateful that he was my brother and my friend…and allowed me the incredible opportunity to share in the work that lifted his vision. It has been a joy…and it is not done.”

Remembering his life and legacy stands as crucial as ever, especially at a time when African American history remains under threat of erasure. His successors also hope to ensure the promotion and longevity of BlackPast, highlighting the vital importance of this work to the institutions and communities that honor these records.

“His impact and legacy are immeasurable,” added Dr. Quin’Nita Cobbins-Modica, Taylor’s mentee and vice president of BlackPast.org. “I, along with everyone at BP, am committed to honoring this sacred trust of carrying forward Dr. Taylor’s vision to ensure that Black history remains accessible for generations to come.”

Taylor died peacefully at his home in Houston, Texas. Formal announcements regarding a memorial service will be released at a later date.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 24, 2025

Ohio To Host Yearlong Celebration Of Toni Morrison In Honor Of America’s 250th Birthday

Morrison won the Nobel Prize and the Pulitzer Prize.

As America nears its 250th birthday, the state of Ohio will commemorate the milestone with a yearlong initiative celebrating literary icon Toni Morrison.

Starting Feb. 18, 2026, in Columbus and running through Morrison’s 2027 birthday in her hometown of Lorain, the Buckeye State will honor the Nobel and Pulitzer Prize-winning author with events celebrating her work and the many artists she inspired, the Columbus Dispatch reports.

“Beloved: Ohio Celebrates Toni Morrison” was organized by Ohio Humanities and Literary Cleveland and planned alongside the nationwide effort to commemorate America’s 250th birthday next year through yearlong America250 celebrations.

“Our ambition is for every person in Ohio—young and old—to engage with Toni Morrison’s life, literature, and legacy over the next year,” said Literary Cleveland executive director Matt Weinkam. “This is our opportunity to celebrate the greatest artist in our state’s history.”

Rebecca Asmo, executive director of Ohio Humanities, called the initiative a chance to honor a great American and introduce more readers to her work. Morrison, the first Black woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, wrote 11 novels exploring the Black American experience before her death in 2019 at age 88.

Many of her works drew from her home state, with The Bluest Eye set in Lorain and Beloved in Cincinnati. Organizers hope the celebration will deepen connections to her legacy ahead of what would have been her 100th birthday in 2031.

“What you get is an opportunity to really look at American history and America’s struggle to become a more perfect union through the lens of Morrison’s literature,” Asmo said. “She was a staunch advocate for literature and art as an important part of a strong civic fabric and a strong democracy. That was a foundational idea of this.”

The yearlong tribute will feature public readings of Morrison’s works, author talks, writing contests, performances, film screenings, and city-specific events reflecting her influence. An interactive website will provide program details, reading and discussion guides, podcasts, and a statewide events calendar.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 24, 2025

Marking 70 Years Since The Acquittal Of The White Men Who Lynched Emmett Till

A look back on the case of 14-year-old Emmett Till, 70 years after his white killers were acquitted of his lynching.

Sept. 23, 2025, marks 70 years since two white men were found not guilty in the brutal murder of 14-year-old Chicago native Emmett Till.

Half-brothers, Roy Bryant and J.W. Milam, were able to walk away free men on Sept. 23, 1955, after a jury in Sumner, Mississippi, acquitted them of killing Till, a Black teenager from Chicago who was accused of “wolf-whistling” as Bryant’s wife, Carolyn Bryant Donham, the Chicago Tribune reports. Just months after the acquittal, in January 1956, the two men admitted to killing Till in an interview with Look magazine.

During the three-day trial, prosecutors presented testimony from Moses Wright, Till’s great-uncle, who witnessed his abduction, and Willie Reed, a Black sharecropper who overheard Bryant and Milam torturing Till.

The defense argued that the mutilated body found in the Tallahatchie River was not Till’s and included Bryant Donham’s testimony, in which she claimed she was “scared to death” after alleging Till grabbed and threatened her. After just over an hour of deliberation, the all-white, all-male jury returned a not-guilty verdict.

Later, all but one juror admitted they believed Bryant and Milam were guilty but acquitted them, unwilling to impose the mandatory punishment of life imprisonment or death on white men for killing a Black boy. Decades later, historian and author Timothy Tyson revealed that Bryant Donham admitted in a 2008 interview that her 1955 testimony about Till’s “verbal and physical advances” was false.

“Nothing that boy did could ever justify what happened to him,” Tyson claimed Bryant Donham told him.

The U.S. Justice Department reopened the case in 2018 based on this admission but closed it in 2021, citing insufficient evidence for federal prosecution, as Bryant Donham later denied making the admission to federal investigators. Bryant Donham’s false claims that Till made advances toward her at a Mississippi grocery store led to his brutal kidnapping, torture, and lynching by her husband and his half-brother.

She died in April 2023 at age 88, but her role in the murder helped spark the Civil Rights Movement and continues to draw renewed attention in the 21st century. Till’s mother, Mamie Till Bradley, courageously held an open-casket funeral in Chicago and distributed photographs of her son’s corpse to newspapers and magazines, so that “the whole nation had to bear witness” to her son’s brutal murder.

Emmett Till’s death and the shocking images of his mutilated body became a catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement. The graphic depiction of racial violence, widespread media coverage, and the blatant injustice of the legal system ignited public outrage and made Till a national symbol of racial oppression. His case helped unify Black communities and laid the emotional and political groundwork for the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s.

by Sharelle B. McNair

September 24, 2025

Trump Struggles Over Tylenol Name While Issuing Baseless Warning That Usage Leads To Autism

In less than 24 hours, health experts from around the world spoke out to reject the fake news claims from the Trump administration.

President Donald Trump stumbled to pronounce the medical pronunciation of acetaminophen, also known as Tylenol, while falsely announcing to the world that usage of the drug while pregnant can lead to an autism diagnosis.

Trump, supported by Department of Health & Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Dr. Mehmet Oz, stood before members of the press and the world to push unproven claims that if a pregnant woman takes the popular over-the-counter drug, their child could be at risk for autism. “Effective immediately, the FDA will be notifying physicians that the use of…well, let’s see how we say this…acetaminophen, is that OK? Which is basically known as Tylenol during pregnancy can be associated with a very increased risk of autism,” the president said.

“So taking Tylenol is uhhh…not good. I’ll say it, it’s not good. For this reason, they are strongly recommending that women limit Tylenol use during pregnancy unless medically necessary.”

https://twitter.com/allenanalysis/status/1970231383931982275?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1970231383931982275%7Ctwgr%5E34bf3ce6e4dd9b428a7d7a74d3867c67af14df8a%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.indy100.com%2Fpolitics%2Ftrump%2Fdonald-trump-tylenol-pronunciation-autism

He then went on to list those “medically necessary” reasons as an extremely high fever, projecting that “if you can’t tough it out, if you can’t do it, that’s what you’re gonna have to do.”

Trump: "If you can't tough it out, if you can't do it, that's what you're gonna have to do. You'll take a Tylenol, but it'll be very sparingly … I think you shouldn't take it."pic.twitter.com/8TpbgXUBXz
— Molly Ploofkins (@Mollyploofkins) September 22, 2025

In less than 24 hours, health experts from around the world spoke out to reject the fake news claims from the Trump administration. According to NBC News, there is no conclusive evidence to support ties between Tylenol and autism. In addition to there being no new evidence that would issue a change in listed guidance, data from pregnant women proves the opposite. “A large amount of data from pregnant women who used paracetamol during pregnancy indicates no risk of malformations on the developing fetus or on newborns,” the European Medicines Agency (EMA) said in a statement.

The 47th president did not stop at the false narrative against Tylenol. He also suggested that additives found in vaccines, a hot topic throughout the country, may also cause autism. That’s when the World Health Organization (WHO) jumped in. “We know that vaccines do not cause autism. Vaccines, as I said, save countless lives. So, this is something that science has proven, and these things should not be really questioned,” WHO spokesperson Tarik Jašarević said during a press briefing in Geneva.

The FDA has already followed orders from the commander-in-chief with a letter to practicing physicians; however, the tone is seemingly cautious. “To be clear, while an association between acetaminophen and autism has been described in many studies, a causal relationship has not been established, and there are contrary studies in the scientific literature,” the letter, signed by Commissioner of Food and Drugs, Dr. Martin A. Makay, read.

“In the spirit of patient safety and prudent medicine, clinicians should consider minimizing the use of acetaminophen during pregnancy for routine low-grade fevers.” However, social media users don’t seem to be buying it, seemingly laughing at Trump’s claims and issuing warnings not to listen to him or members of his team. Several referred back to April 24, 2020, at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, when Trump suggested concerned Americans should drink or inject bleach to beat the virus.

by Sharelle B. McNair

September 24, 2025

CDC ‘Pauses’ Disability Rule For Remote Work Following Massive Backlash

Local AFGE chapters call the CDC’s move to halt policy approval of long-term telework as a reasonable accommodation for disabled employees unlawful under federal disability rights law.

The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the largest federal employee union, is calling out the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for “the most sweeping civil rights violation” after forbidding remote work for disabled employees, citing a need for clarification from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

The move has since been paused “pending clarification from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and a review of its legality,” the AFGE said in a news release.

In January, the Office of Personnel Management handed down a rule stating federal employees would have to return to the office full-time, with an exception for those “excused due to a disability, qualifying medical condition, or other compelling reason certified by the agency head and the employee’s supervisor.”

Months later, HHS updated its telework or remote policy, failing to include telework as a reasonable accommodation for those with disabilities.

After a number of CDC employees—including reports that one pregnant employee suffered hospitalization from stress of the policy change—the CDC paused the rule. AFGE said that under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act (ADAAA) of 2008, guaranteed protections for employees are being violated, in addition to rules handed down by the Trump administration.

Chapter presidents claim the wait is leaving affected employees up in the air.

“If there’s any discussions happening, it’s happening between the CDC’s leadership and HHS, it’s not happening with the employees,” AFGE Local 2883 President Yolanda Jacobs said during an interview with NPR. “Employees are finding out secondhand and last minute.”

The new CDC memo stated the new telework policy took effect Aug. 13, but will wait for HHS to instruct on how to properly proceed with remote accommodations for disabled employees. “Until additional clarification is received,” pending approval requests will be “paused until further notice.”

Employees can still work remotely until current telework arrangements expire, but the stressors of “what if” are still apparent.

The union revealed that roughly 250 employees working at the CDC’s Atlanta headquarters have reached out to share their concerns about losing their telework arrangements.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

September 24, 2025

Wellstar’s CareerCare Program Offers Free Healthcare Job Training And Education For Georgia Workers

The healthcare company provides no-cost education and training, on top of guaranteed job placement.

Wellstar’s CareerCare program has already started changing the lives and careers of Georgia residents.

The program offers free job training and education for Georgians wanting career advancement. The job pipeline provides not only tuition and books, but also scrubs and guaranteed job placements. It aims to increase the healthcare workforce in Georgia, remedying a staffing shortage for nurses and other medical staff.

“Healthcare needs people, and people need opportunity — CareerCare connects the two,” said Evelyn Rosenthal, Wellstar assistant vice president of Leader and Employee Development, to 11Alive. “We’re building a pipeline of talent right here in Georgia, investing in the next generation of caregivers.”

According to Staff Relief Inc., Georgia has already reached “critical levels” in its nursing shortages in almost every county. In response to the growing crisis, Wellstar has launched this expanded program to train and equip aspiring nursing professionals.

The initiative is helping Georgians with an interest in healthcare find a viable pathway into these careers. One woman, Shequita Starks, was inspired to enter the program following her family’s positive experience with nurses.

“I started as a warehouse worker, and now I’m in the nursing field, and I have found my true passion,” she told 11Alive. “I love taking care of people…I just needed to make a paycheck for the kids, and I thought, ‘No, this is not what I wanted to do.’ I tried to take care of people and make a difference in the world,” she said.

Starks originally worked at a warehouse, but has now reached her dreams of a fulfilling profession through the CareerCare program. Now, she instills the same compassion and expertise that she once witnessed. She began her journey as a patient care technician before becoming a certified nursing assistant.

She has already graduated but continues her studies at Chattahoochee Technical College for her degree in nursing. After juggling her previous job and coursework, Starks has inspired others to take the jump into healthcare.

The no-cost program offers flexible, hybrid scheduling for the fast-track curriculum. Wellstar also provides career navigators to help participants in the job application process, while still offering roles within its healthcare system. The company hopes that this increased accessibility will attract more Georgians to this critical industry.

“It’s not one size fits all,” shared Rosenthal. ” No matter your lifestyle or family responsibilities, we have a program and support system just for you.”

Claudine Hibbert-Smith’s, NAREB, Real estate broker, award

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

September 24, 2025

Claudienne Hibbert-Smith Wins Prestigious Award For Clocking $377M In Real Estate Sales In 1 Year

Claudienne Hibbert-Smith’s recognition by NAREB underscores her influence as both a business leader and community advocate. The $377 million milestone reflects her team’s dedication

Claudienne Hibbert-Smith, the founder and CEO of TRU Real Estate Exchange Elite, and an African American real estate mogul from Miami, has been recognized by the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) with the Top Teams Award for an outstanding $377 million in sales volume in 2024. This recognition places Hibbert-Smith and her team among the very best in the nation, honoring not only their production but their ongoing commitment to transforming lives through homeownership and real estate wealth building.

Hibbert-Smith’s recognition by NAREB underscores her influence as both a business leader and community advocate. The $377 million milestone reflects her team’s dedication to:

• Educating buyers and sellers on building wealth through real estate.

• Expanding access to grants, down payment assistance, and financing options.

• Developing agents into industry leaders through training, mentorship, and systems.

• Creating impact far beyond sales numbers by fostering homeownership in underserved communities.

Hibbert-Smith said, “Winning this award is about more than numbers — it’s about creating opportunities, building legacies, and proving that when we work together, we can transform entire communities. I’m honored to stand on the shoulders of those who fought for democracy in housing, and I’m committed to carrying that mission forward through every deal, every agent, and every family we serve.”

About her company

TRU Real Estate Exchange, a South Florida-based powerhouse real estate team led by Claudienne Hibbert-Smith and powered by EXP Realty. Built on the principles of excellence, education, and empowerment, TRU specializes in helping buyers, sellers, and investors achieve their real estate goals while also training agents to maximize their production and wealth-building potential.

About NAREB

Founded in 1947, the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) is the oldest minority trade association in America. Known as the “Realtists,” NAREB was established to ensure democracy in housing and to empower Black real estate professionals at a time when access to the industry and fair housing were systematically denied. Today, it continues to advance its mission by supporting African-American real estate professionals and advocating for policies that expand Black homeownership, generational wealth, and economic empowerment.

This story was originally reported by Blacknews.com