Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture

by Kandiss Edwards

June 14, 2025

The Schomburg’s Centennial Celebration Is Going To Be An Old School Block Party

The Schomburg will celebrate its 100th anniversary with an old-school New York block party will feature the best the diaspora has to offer.

On June 14, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture will celebrate its centennial with a block party.

The Schomburg Centennial Festival is an all-day event starting at 11 a.m. at the Langston Hughes Auditorium in New York. Honoring the institute’s founder comes at an appropriate time, as June is Caribbean Heritage Month.

In a statement, Novella Ford, associate director at the Schomburg, spoke about the institution’s importance and celebration.

“For a century, the Schomburg Center has occupied an important role in the intellectual and creative life of Harlem,” said Ford. “The festival is a moment to celebrate our legacy while continuing to nurture Black creativity and center work that values Black history and culture. Being in community means tending to our liberation and our joy in the ‘public square,’ free for all to experience.”

The Schomburg’s Black Comic Book Festival will be held simultaneously. The inclusion of the festival in the celebration ensures Blerds are represented. Guests are invited to cosplay and take to the Octavia E. Butler stage for the Black Cosplay Showcase.

Join us for our Centennial Festival TOMORROW, 6/14, at 11 AM. The day will combine elements of our Literary and Black Comic Book festivals. Plus, stay for our block party featuring DJ #DNice, #SlickRick, and more! #Schomburg100 #SchomburgCenter https://t.co/uJgmTm4qk6 pic.twitter.com/XQHeaxqDcn
— SchomburgCenter (@SchomburgCenter) June 13, 2025

Other Programming – Panels, Free Books, and More

Free books – The Countee Cullen Mobile Library will hand out “Schomburg: The Man Who Built a Library. It will also sign attendees up for free library cards.

Panels – Mahogany Browne, comedian Wyatt Cenac, and Damon Young will be among the panelists featured in “That’s How They Get You: An Unruly Anthology of Black American Humor.” Also, Nigerian-Americans Glory Edim and OlaRonke Akinmowo will discuss how to expand the current literary marketplace.

Kids Clubhouse – The event includes the Woke Baby Festival and Jump Up Jamboree. Kids will experience hands-on workshops, book signings, and more.

Block Party – The festival will conclude with a “Stoop Session” featuring DJ D-Nice and Slick Rick.

For a detailed list of events, click here.

Arturo Alfonso Schomburg was an immigrant of Puerto Rican and German descent. The activist was a dedicated supporter of the Cuban and Puerto Rican liberation movements, who created the Las Dos Antillas political organization. Later in his life, he began searching for and collecting “physical proof of Black intellect, accomplishment, and historic importance. By the early 1920s, he was an active member of the Negro Society for Historical Research and the American Negro Academy,” as cited by the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Schomburg made the curation his life’s work. In 1926, the New York Public Library acquired over 10,000 of his items, which led to the creation of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.

The festival celebrates Schomburg’s contributions to preserving the history of the Black diaspora. Literature panels, music, art, and food will also be on-site, guaranteeing something for everyone.

The Schomburg Centennial will take place June 14 at the Langston Hughes Auditorium, 515 Malcolm X Boulevard | 135th Street. Be on time, as a parade featuring the Brooklyn Marching Band is kicking off the celebration.

Shaq, Shaquille O'neal, Chauncey Billups, Terry Rozier, Gambling Scheme

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

June 13, 2025

Shaquille O’Neal Settles FTX Lawsuit For $1.8M

Investors in the cryptocurrency company sued the former basketball player for his role in endorsing the platform

NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal has agreed to settle a lawsuit against him for his involvement in the now-bankrupt cryptocurrency company FTX.

According to Fortune, the retired Los Angeles Lakers legend has settled the suit for $1.8 million for his role in promoting the failed company.

The company went bankrupt in 2022 after Founder Sam Bankman-Fried was accused of investing money in ventures without investors’ approval. For his role in the company losing billions of dollars, he was sentenced to 25 years in prison in March 2024.

Investors sued Shaq and other celebrity investors like former NFL quarterback Tom Brady, NBA superstar Stephen Curry, and tennis phenom Naomi Osaka, among others, who endorsed the platform.

After being sued, Shaq stated he was only a celebrity being used for an ad.

“I have nothing to hide. If I was heavily involved, I would be at the forefront saying, ‘Hey.’ But I was just a paid spokesperson,” Shaquille O’Neal said in December 2022.

The settlement took place in April but wasn’t publicized until the agreement was disclosed in a filing with the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida, Miami Division, earlier this week. The settlement has to be approved by the court before it could be finalized. The agreement would allow Shaq to not be held liable for future claims and also includes a stipulation that the TNT analyst can’t seek reimbursement from the FTX estate.

After the courts approve the settlement, the payment will be made within 30 days.

The settlement only covers Shaq’s involvement as the other celebrities are not included in the agreement. No details have been released regarding any settlements, if any from the other principals named in the lawsuit.

Shaq has admitted to no wrongdoings pertaining to his role in being a paid spokesperson for FTX.

Judge, Las Vegas, gavel,Herman Whitfield III, Indianapolis police, David Merryman, racist landlord,

by Sharelle B. McNair

June 13, 2025

Victims Of Wrong House Raids Can Now Sue, Thanks To A Supreme Court Ruling

Justices Ketanji Brown Jackson and Sonia Sotomayor suggested wrong house raids aren't the types of mistakes that are immune from accountability.

The Supreme Court ruled unanimously that a family from Atlanta can now sue law enforcement for “wrong-house raids” after an incident in their home in 2017, NPR reports.

It’s a case of “wrong-house raids” — defined as when local, state, or federal officers enter a private home to find a suspect in the wrong home — and is subject to litigation. Unless Congress sets out certain circumstances, the federal government is generally off limits to being sued. The Supreme Court’s job was to figure out if what happened to the Atlanta family fell under those circumstances.

Agents from an FBI SWAT team forcibly entered the wrong home, belonging to Trina Martin, her 7-year-old son Gabe, and her partner, Toi Cliatt, while looking for a neighbor accused of being involved in gang activity.

The family sued the FBI and agents involved in 2019, thanks to a 1974 amended statute of the 1946 Federal Tort Claims Act, but the case was dismissed. The high court questioned if victims were now permitted to sue — or if they could sue on sole grounds that the perpetrators of the raid were following government orders, in this case, orders from the FBI. Without the amendment in place, the act would permit lawsuits against the federal government for harm caused by its employees.

According to The Associated Press, agents quickly apologized for their mistake, with the team leader claiming his personal GPS device led the team to the wrong address. However, Martin and Cliatt were not buying it, saying the ordeal left lasting trauma in addition to a damaged home for them and their young son.

In the victim’s initial suit that lower courts tossed out, the government argued the FBI shouldn’t be liable for each wrong judgment call, as officers were told to go to the right home, not the home they raided in a stressful situation. The government sees it as the officers going after a “dangerous individual,” and making the government pay for a mistake undermines their ability to do their jobs in the future.

However, in the unanimous ruling, the high court felt it would be wrong to throw the case out based on the Supremacy Clause, which permits federal law to overstep state laws when the two are at odds. “Congress has entered the field and expressly bound the federal government to accept liability under state tort law on the same terms as a ‘private individual,’” Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote.

Justices Ketanji Brown Jackson and Sonia Sotomayor suggested wrong house raids aren’t the types of mistakes immune to accountability. And Martin couldn’t agree more. Once the news made it to her, she says it gave her hope. “Between laughing and crying, I can’t stop,” Martin said, saying she is ecstatic with the ruling.

“If the Supreme Court can say they’re wrong, it gives me all the hope in the world.”

Amazon, CEO, Andy Jassy, middle managers

by Sharelle B. McNair

June 13, 2025

Amazon’s Strict Return-To-Office Policy Is Drawing Severe Pushback From Disability Advocates

Amazon’s return-to-office (RTO) mandate for employees with disabilities is drawing some stiff complaints from disability advocacy groups and accusations of violating the Americans with Disabilities Act, Fortune reports.

Two Amazon employees have filed complaints with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the National Labor Relations Board, two federal agencies focusing on workplace conditions. The EEOC received a list from one employee containing the names of 18 employees who were “similarly situated” to enhance their experience and prompt federal regulators to initiate an investigation.

After President Donald Trump mandated that federal agency workers return to the office in early 2025, Amazon was one of several businesses that followed suit. In a letter addressed to the company’s CEO, Matt Garman, employees labeled the policy as unfair and “non-data-driven.” Disabled employees took it further by expressing their disdain with how the company is handling their accommodation requests, such as being exempt from returning to the office five days a week.

According to HR Brew, employees with disabilities who wish to continue working remotely are required to provide proof, including medical documentation, to an “accommodation consultant.”

Without it, they would be forced to work in the office for up to 30 days, during which the company would need to demonstrate a need for the requested accommodations. With AI on the rise, there is concern that the tool will utilize AI to analyze accommodation requests, read doctors’ notes, and make recommendations based on keywords.

Former EEOC Commissioner Chai Feldblum feels it’s almost a guarantee that the tool will be used, but also feels Amazon would have to prove that adding accommodations would substantially burden the company. “It’s impossible to imagine that companies will not be using AI for any number of needs, including this one,” Feldblum said.

Several employees believe the rule is merely a way for Amazon to indicate that they are not welcome. In a LinkedIn post, cybersecurity engineer and self-identified neurodivergent worker, Nathan Chung, shared similar thoughts.

“They might as well advertise that people with disabilities are not wanted,” Chung said, who has close to 19,000 followers.

Founder and CEO of Global Disability Inclusion, Meg O’Connell, believes Amazon’s move sets a precedent for prohibiting people with disabilities from finding employment. “The problem with eliminating all remote work is that you’re hindering people with disabilities from being gainfully employed, or a large population of them,” O’Connell said.

“People with disabilities have what they need in their homes. They don’t have to ask for accommodation [because] they’ve already built out their space.”

Amazon spokesperson Zoe Hoffmann claims that Amazon’s Disability and Leave Services team ensures employees have access to the necessary accommodations and adjustments to be effective and advance their careers. She labeled the process as “empathetic,” but O’Connell says, “We don’t really believe you.”

by Kandiss Edwards

June 13, 2025

Shannon Sharpe Does Not Want Beef With Nicki Minaj Or The Barbs

Shannon Sharpe diverted from sports talk on his podcast "Night Cap" to apologize to Nicki Minaj over a perceived slight.

Shannon Sharpe quickly apologized to rap icon Nicki Minaj after becoming a topic on her new Banned From NO verse.

On an episode of Sharpe’s sports podcast, Night Cap with Chad Ochocinco, he said he had no issue with Minaj.

Sharpe explained he was once videoed saying, “Nicki Who?,” in response to a fan asking if the Grammy-winning rapper would appear on Club Shay Shay, Sharpe’s interview podcast.

The host explained said he was dismissing the thought of having conservative commentator Nikki Haley on his show.

“I used to go back and forth with people. I was talking about Nikki Haley,” Sharpe clarified. “Nikki Haley said, ‘It’s really great for everybody of Black America,’ and I was like …‘When has it ever been great?'”

Sharpe gave an open invitation to the PinkPrint rapper to join him on Club Shay Shay anytime. Furthermore, he insisted that he was not so “arrogant” that he would not know the rapper or her accomplishments.

“Nicki, I was not trying to be disrespectful. Of course, I know who you are. I would be remiss to say that I thought you knew who I was or that you knew anything about Club Shay Shay. I’m not that arrogant. Nicki, I apologize. I meant no disrespect. You’ll always have an open invitation if you ever want to come sit down and have a conversation. Even if you just want to have a private conversation on the phone or something. It won’t go any further between you and I.”

The verse on Lil Wayne’s new song Banned From No is seen by some as a mild jab.

“Bout to cop you slides, all you do is flip-flop / If I send a pic of Shannon, you ain’t that Sharpe,” Minaj rapped.

Still, as Minaj is known to engage in public disputes, Shannon decided he did not want beef.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

June 13, 2025

Arrest Warrant Issued For Antonio Brown On Attempted Murder Charge

The charge stems from an incident that took place at an Adin Ross event on May 17.

After a skirmish involving led former NFL star Antonio Brown to draw a weapon, Miami police said this week that he is now wanted for attempted murder with a firearm.

According to ESPN, Brown, who infamously owned an arena football team, has a warrant out for his arrest.

The May 17 incident took place in Miami at an event hosted by streamer Adin Ross. According to the warrant, witnesses say Brown was the shooter in the incident. Two shell casings were found at the scene.

The man who Brown allegedly targeted told investigators that Brown “began to run toward him with a firearm” after the two were involved in a physical altercation. He claims after the fight had been broken up, Brown returned with a gun and fired two shots at him.

The man said that he has known Brown since 2022, according to ESPN.

Brown was initially detained that evening but released with no charges. On social media, he claimed he was jumped by several people who attempted to steal his jewelry. Several viral videos showed him being placed in handcuffs.

Regarding the boxing event that happened last night. I was jumped by multiple individuals who tried to steal my jewelry and cause physical harm to me. Contrary to some video circulating, Police temporarily detained me until they received my side of the story and then released me.…

— AB (@AB84) May 17, 2025

Brown had an accomplished, but controversial, NFL career (2010-2021) with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the New England Patriots, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, winning a championship with the Bucs in 2021 with Tom Brady

There has been word on Brown’s whereabouts or if he has been in contact with the Miami Police Department.

Houston Chef Tristen Epps Wins ‘Top Chef’ Season 22 By Celebrating Afro-Caribbean Cuisine

by Mary Spiller

June 13, 2025

Houston Chef Tristen Epps Wins ‘Top Chef’ Season 22 By Celebrating Afro-Caribbean Cuisine

Epps was recognized for his bold Afro-Caribbean cuisine that paid tribute to his roots and culinary mission.

Houston’s very own Tristen Epps has won Season 22 of Bravo’s Top Chef, taking home $250,000—the largest prize in the show’s history.

The win capped off a season in which Epps consistently impressed the judges with inventive, Afro-Caribbean-inspired cuisine that reflected his heritage and culinary identity.

Competing against finalists Bailey Sullivan of Chicago and Shuai Wang of North Charleston, Epps secured the win with a four-course progressive meal that showcased both Ethiopian and Trinidadian influences. For his sous chef, Epps selected Zubair Mohajir, a previously eliminated Top Chef contestant.

His winning menu featured monkfish with baccala mbongo, pollo dorengo with injera shrimp toast, oxtail Milanese crepinette, and a root vegetable cake with charred plantain cream.

While most dishes received praise across the board, Epps’ dessert sparked debate over whether it was the right choice to finish the course or if it was creative and bold.

Despite the Top Chef judges’ split, Epps won.

In an emotional acceptance speech, he paid tribute to the chefs who paved the way in Afro-Caribbean cuisine and honored his stepfather, who died during the season.

“It means so much to me that the cuisine gets recognized, the people get recognized,” Epps said in the finale, per the Houston Chronicle. “I didn’t do it for me, I did it for so many people. My mission has been to increase the value of Black food across the world.”

Along with the cash prize, Epps was awarded Delta SkyMiles Diamond Medallion Status, $125,000 in Delta travel credit, a feature in Food & Wine magazine, and a dinner at the James Beard House.

The Top Chef winner will also present at the James Beard Foundation Awards and appear at the annual Food & Wine Classic in Aspen. Epps, who returned to Houston after a decade of pursuing his dreams, has returned to his hometown.

He’s currently preparing to open his fine dining restaurant called Buboy, which will highlight “neo-Afro-Caribbean” flavors.

Epps previously served as executive chef at Marcus Samuelsson’s Red Rooster in Miami, which earned a Michelin star under his leadership.

SNAP, NYC bodega, Dia Alqalisi,Dawood Kassim

by Kandiss Edwards

June 13, 2025

Government Bans SNAP Recipients From Buying Soda And Candy In 3 States

Idaho, Arkansas and Utah are now allowed to ban the purchase of soda, sugary drinks and junk food using SNAP benefits.

Three states requested waivers from the federal government to ban the purchase of sugary drinks and snacks from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The Trump administration approved the request.

Idaho, Arkansas, and Utah are now allowed to ban the purchase of soda, sugary drinks, and junk food using SNAP benefits. On June 10, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins and Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. signed amendments to the definition of food under SNAP. Each state requested different prohibitions. Idaho requests a ban on soda and candy. Additionally, Arkansas is asking for a ban on soda, low and no-calorie soda, fruit, and vegetable drinks with less than 50% natural juice. Utah is only requesting a waiver for soft drinks.

Echoing President Trump, Rollins stated the signing of these waivers will “Make America Healthy Again.” Secretary Kennedy admonished the current system that allows the purchases with “taxpayer dollars.”

“Thank you to the governors of Indiana, Arkansas, Idaho, Utah, Iowa, and Nebraska for their bold leadership and unwavering commitment to Make America Healthy Again,” Secretary Kennedy said in a statement. “I call on every governor in the nation to submit a SNAP waiver to eliminate sugary drinks—taxpayer dollars should never bankroll products that fuel the chronic disease epidemic.”

https://twitter.com/RSBNetwork/status/1932558501026406523

Beyond limiting SNAP choices, Kennedy and Rollins have a larger vision. In a statement, Rollins discussed the struggling agricultural community. She vows “much-needed” reform to the SNAP industry.

Rollins invites ” State, territory, and tribal leader in the nation to participate in our “Laboratories of Innovation” initiative to serve as policy incubators and bring greater efficiency to government programs. We encourage you to propose bold ideas to address challenges that have long plagued our nation, particularly rural communities.”

This is not the first exclusion to SNAP benefits. Recipients are currently barred from purchasing alcohol, tobacco, hot and prepared foods, and personal care products. Changes to the program for Arkansas go into effect July 1, 2026. Idaho’s amendment will be active on January 1, 2026.

by Mary Spiller

June 13, 2025

Brevard County Sheriff’s Shocking Vow To Potential Protesters, ‘We Will Kill You, Graveyard Dead.’

Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey is drawing national attention after issuing a chilling warning to protesters.

During a Thursday press conference, Brevard County (FL) Sheriff Wayne Ivey warned that protestors who “throw a brick, a firebomb, or point a gun at one of our deputies” would be killed.

“If you throw a brick, a firebomb, or point a gun at one of our deputies, we will be notifying your family where to collect your remains at, because we will kill you, graveyard dead. We’re not going to play,” Ivey stated plainlly.

The protests—part of a growing movement known as “No Kings”—have criticized the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration and aggressive ICE responses across the country.

Demonstrations erupted in Los Angeles on 6 June and are set to expand to over 2,000 cities nationwide this weekend, coinciding with President Donald Trump’s military birthday parade.

Ivey made it clear that Brevard County law enforcement would respond ferociously to other forms of disruption.

“If you block an intersection or a roadway in Brevard County, you are going to jail. If you flee arrest, you’re going to go to jail tired because we are going to run you down and put you in jail.

“If you try to mob rule a car in Brevard County, gathering around it, refusing to let the driver leave, in our county, you’re most likely going to get run over and dragged across the street,” Ivey added.

“If you spit on us, you’re going to the hospital and then jail,” Ivey continued. “If you hit one of us, you’re going to the hospital and jail and most likely get bitten by one of our big, beautiful dogs that we have here.”

The recent protests have been met with federal force — which isn’t typical.

Trump has currently deployed 4,000 National Guardsmen and 700 U.S. Marines to Los Angeles due to confrontations between protesters and law enforcement over the immigration crackdown across America.

Videos of the confrontations have circulated widely online, fueling debate over the administration’s use of force, civil disobedience, and now, the violent rhetoric of local law enforcement.

by Mary Spiller

June 13, 2025

New Guaranteed Income Program Offers $500 Monthly to Select Families in Columbia County, New York

Dozens of families in Columbia County, New York, will soon receive $500 a month through a new guaranteed income program aimed at easing financial strain and supporting early childhood development.

A new guaranteed income initiative is set to bring financial relief to dozens of low-income families in Columbia County, New York. Through a partnership between the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation (BTCF) and the Greater Hudson Promise Neighborhood (GHPN), 42 select families will receive $500 monthly for two years, totaling $12,000 per household.

The program is targeted toward families with young children and low incomes. To qualify, applicants must live in Columbia County, have at least one child under six, and earn no more than 80% of the county’s median income, which is around $72,150 for a two-person household.

“This initiative is about more than money — it’s about stability, dignity, and opportunity for families during the most important years of a child’s life,” said Kelly Sweet, interim director of Philanthropic Services at BTCF.

“The simplicity of guaranteed income is powerful — it’s direct, effective, and rooted in trust.”

Applications for the program are currently still open, but the deadline is quickly approaching. Families are required to apply to the BTCF program by July 1.

Families meeting the set criteria will be entered into a lottery system for a chance to participate in the program.

According to BTCF and GHPN, the guaranteed income pilot is modeled after similar support efforts nationwide that have already demonstrated positive outcomes.

Programs with similar models have shown improvements in families’ physical, mental, and relationship well-being.

Joan Hunt, executive director of GHPN, emphasized the program’s broader goals in a report from the U.S Sun.

“This initiative is designed to help families meet basic needs, spend more time with their children, and pursue work, education, or training for a stronger future,” Hunt said.

GHPN will manage the program’s administrative side, providing ongoing support to the selected families over the 24 months in partnership with BTCF.

The guaranteed income initiative is so promising that similar efforts are underway in cities like Columbus, Ohio. Backed by nonprofits Motherful, RISE Together Innovation Institute, and UpTogether, 32 single mothers are receiving $500 monthly in a push to improve financial health and security for moms.

As more local governments and nonprofits explore guaranteed income models, initiatives like New York’s Columbia County will serve as a blueprint for supporting working families through direct and unconditional financial assistance.