Ochocinco Gets Emotional Over His Baby Girl And Prairie View A&M, ‘I’m Not Gonna Cry’
Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson is sharing his proud dad moment after watching his daughter grduate from Prairie View A&M.
Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson celebrates his daughter’s recent graduation from Prairie View A&M by championing HBCU pride and honoring the experience.
The NFL star was front and center to watch his daughter, Chadé K. Johnson, graduate from Prairie View A&M on May 17, HBCU Game Day reports. Speaking with his ‘Nightcap’co-host, Shannon Sharpe, after the ceremony, Johnson expressed his deep appreciation for HBCU culture and urged others to experience it firsthand, even if it’s just one homecoming at a nearby HBCU.
“Now what I’m not going to do is — I promise this time when I talk about Prairie View — I’m not gonna cry,” Johnson said. “I’m not going to get emotional. But that is something that all people — if you go to a PWI or you go to a private school or anything of that nature, you need to experience a homecoming at some HBCU at a state near you.”
The former New England Patriot, who played in Super Bowl XLVI, proudly supported Prairie View throughout his daughter’s time there, serving as the honorary coin-toss captain at a homecoming game and attending her on-campus probate when she joined Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Johnson proudly celebrated his daughter as an HBCU graduate and a member of the Divine Nine.
“Congratulations to my AKA diva @chadekierra on graduating today from Prairie View A&M 🩷💚 x 💜💛,” he captioned an Instagram post.
Johnson briefly attended Langston University, an HBCU in Oklahoma, before being dismissed from the football team. In 2023, he was named Ambassador and Consultant for Florida A&M University’s Athletics Department, a school he grew up admiring.
“I fell in love with FAMU after attending my first Classic in 1984 with my grandma, and the rest is history,” Johnson said at the time.
He later declared FAMU the best college football team in Tallahassee after Florida State’s surprising 28–13 loss to Boston College last September.
“As a resident of the state of Florida, I’m embarrassed. I’m embarrassed. The best football team in Tallahassee is Florida A&M,” Johnson said on Nightcap. “Matter of fact, FAMU might be Florida State based on what I saw tonight.”
Beyond Investments’ Tour Educates African Descendants On Owning Land, Gaining Dual Citizenship In Ghana
Through his company, Beyond Investments, Dre Taylor is making international property ownership accessible, secure, and impactful for the diaspora.
Visionary entrepreneur and real estate developer Dre Taylor is taking his mission on the road with a transformative 14-city U.S. tour aimed at helping people of African descent reclaim power through land ownership, real estate investment, and dual citizenship in Ghana.
Through his company, Beyond Investments, Dre is making international property ownership accessible, secure, and impactful for the diaspora. “We’re not just selling properties,” says Dre. “We’re creating pathways to ownership, legacy, and real connection to Africa.”
The One Mission Tour
The tour launches on April 18, with the first stop in New York. Other tour cities include Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Chicago, Houston, Dallas, Los Angeles, Oakland, Charlotte, Atlanta, Detroit, St. Louis, and Kansas City.
This national tour invites first-time investors, professionals, retirees, and legacy-minded families to turn their curiosity about Africa into concrete, wealth-building action.
What You’ll Walk Away With
• Step-by-step guidance on legally purchasing property in Ghana
• Access to income-generating investment opportunities in eco-communities
• Resources to relocate and secure residency or dual citizenship
• Wealth-building strategies to create a lasting family legacy abroad
Whether you’re ready for your second home, looking for passive income, or starting a new chapter abroad, this tour is your gateway to trusted information, expert insight, and real results.
About the Founder
Born and raised in Kansas City, Dre Taylor has always been driven by impact. He founded Nile Valley Aquaponics, a groundbreaking urban farm that produced over 100,000 pounds of food and employed local youth. His leadership attracted global attention, including mentorship from TIME 100 honoree Will Allen.
Prior to relocating to Ghana, Dre served on several boards, including two appointed by the Mayor’s Office of Kansas City, Missouri:
• The PIEA Board, which oversaw construction projects ranging from $10 million to $100 million
• The Sustainability Board of Kansas City, Missouri
After visiting Ghana during the 2019 Year of Return, Dre became a Ghanaian citizen and launched Beyond Investments to help those of African descent invest safely and meaningfully in Africa.
His flagship development, Beyond View, offering 105 units, is a luxury off-grid eco-community in Ghana’s scenic Aburi Mountains. It features solar-powered homes, rainwater systems, rooftop pools, and even a roller-skating rink. The project blends sustainability, innovation, and community empowerment.
“This is about reclaiming our power, our land, and our legacy,” says Dre. “We are making Africa accessible for good.”
50 Organizations That Address Domestic Violence In Each State
It's about time we stopped whispering about domestic violence
Though high-profile cases such as the federal trial against Sean “Diddy’ Combs, that involve domestic violence, are taking center stage, intimate partner violence on the community level continues to fly under the radar. Despite how widespread domestic violence is, society at large tends to brush it aside or downplay its seriousness. For that reason, BLACK ENTERPRISE is spotlighting 50 organizations throughout the United States. These organizations are doing the hard work of supporting survivors and bringing awareness to this issue. By putting these resources front and center, they’re making sure that anyone who needs help can easily access it, regardless of which corner of the country they reside in. It’s about time we stopped whispering about domestic violence and started connecting people with the support they desperately need.
Alabama
YWCA Central Alabama offers several key resources: emergency housing, help navigating courts, counseling support, services for kids, and a crisis hotline available 24/7.
Aiding Women in Abuse and Rape Emergencies (AWARE)
AWARE helps women in crisis with emergency shelter, someone to speak up for them, counseling when they need to talk, legal help, and services that reach women in remote areas.
Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence (ACESDV)
The Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence (ACESDV) provides four main resources, which include statewide advocacy, training, public awareness, and a helpline for survivors.
Women & Children First: The Center Against Family Violence
The organization Women & Children First provides essential resources to victims of family violence through emergency shelter services, legal assistance, and counseling and support group programs.
SafeHouse Denver provides multiple resources to help people, including emergency shelter services, counseling support, advocacy services, and community education programs.
The Center for Empowerment and Education (CEE) offers essential resources, including emergency shelter accommodation, professional counseling services, comprehensive legal advocacy, and 24/7 hotlines.
PADV offers several crucial services for those affected by domestic violence, including emergency housing, help navigating the legal system, therapy sessions, and educational programs aimed at prevention. These resources can be absolute lifesavers when you’re in a tough spot.
The Domestic Violence Action Center offers quite a few helpful resources, including legal support when you need someone in your corner, counseling to work through trauma, personalized case management, programs to help young people avoid abusive situations, and a private helpline you can call when you’re not sure where to turn.
The Women’s and Children’s Alliance offers several vital resources for those in need, including emergency shelter when you need a safe place to stay, counseling to help process trauma, advocates who’ll stand by your side in court, and educational programs about domestic violence.
Apna Ghar provides a range of valuable resources for those in need, everything from emergency housing and counseling support to legal help. They’re particularly good at working with immigrants and refugees who’ve survived difficult situations, offering services specifically designed with their unique challenges in mind.
Coburn Place Safe Haven offers a lifeline to those escaping abusive relationships, with transitional housing, various support services, and advocacy for survivors. They’re really making a difference for people who’ve experienced intimate partner violence and need a safe place to rebuild their lives.
The Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence shares several valuable resources, including statewide advocacy efforts, comprehensive training programs, active public policy initiatives, and crucial support for local domestic violence programs throughout Iowa.
The Kentucky Coalition Against Domestic Violence directs a range of helpful resources, including support for domestic violence programs, help finding safe housing, and various initiatives designed to promote economic independence. They’re really committed to giving survivors the tools they need to rebuild their lives.
The Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence provides multiple important resources through public education programs, policy advocacy work, and complete support for state-wide domestic violence programs.
The Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence provides multiple essential resources, including comprehensive training programs, specialized technical assistance, and dedicated advocacy initiatives, all aimed at the elimination of domestic violence throughout the state of Maine.
House of Ruth Maryland shares essential resources for addressing domestic violence, including emergency shelter accommodation, comprehensive legal services, professional counseling, and specialized abuse intervention programs.
The REACH Beyond Domestic Violence organization provides multiple resources, which include emergency shelter services for victims of dangerous situations as well as community-based advocacy and support. The organization runs educational prevention programs and participates in multiple community-based initiatives to spread awareness. These individuals provide essential help to those who need it through their complete support system.
WISE (Women’s Information Services, Inc.) provides essential resources, including crisis support during emergencies and safe emergency housing for those fleeing danger, legal system guidance, individual counseling, and group support sessions with people who share the same experiences.
If you need assistance in Minnesota, you can find help through Minnesota Day One (run by Cornerstone), which provides multiple essential resources. The organization operates a crisis hotline available 24/7 to provide local service connections during critical times. The organization offers emergency shelter options and housing assistance for people who need help with their housing situation. Legal troubles? Their advocacy team can guide you through the complicated stuff. The organization has developed an extensive network of more than 95 partner organizations across Minnesota, which enables them to direct you to suitable solutions for any situation you encounter.
YWCA Missoula provides complete support to survivors of domestic and sexual violence through emergency shelter services, counseling assistance, legal system navigation, and transitional housing programs.
Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence (MCADSV)
The Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence (MCADSV) provides multiple resources, which include statewide support for survivors, training for service providers, advocacy for public policy, resource distribution, and awareness campaigns.
Mississippi Coalition Against Domestic Violence (MCADV)
The Mississippi Coalition Against Domestic Violence (MCADV) shares legal assistance and advocacy services while distributing resources and technical support, operating public awareness education programs, and supporting domestic violence shelters and programs across the state.
The WCA provides various useful resources to support people who face challenging situations. The organization provides crisis support for urgent needs, legal help for complex situations, career and financial coaching services, support groups for survivors of domestic violence, and sexual assault.
The organization SafeNest delivers an assortment of essential resources to people who need help. The organization provides emergency shelter facilities, professional counseling services, legal advocacy support, and extensive prevention education programs.
New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence
The NH Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence offers help when you need it most — from emergency shelter and crisis support to advocacy and prevention programs. They’re there for you.
Providence House Domestic Violence Services of Catholic Charities
Providence House Domestic Violence Services of Catholic Charities offers various resources, including emergency shelter, counseling services, legal advocacy assistance, and community education programs.
The Domestic Violence Resource Center provides multiple services, which include individual advocacy and legal assistance, counseling, case management, and financial empowerment education.
Equinox Domestic Violence Services shares vital resources, which include emergency accommodation along with counseling services, legal representation, and multiple support systems for victims of domestic violence.
InterAct provides substantial resources, including emergency shelter services, professional counseling, legal advocacy assistance, and comprehensive community education programs.
The Abused Adult Resource Center offers multiple authentic resources for domestic violence survivors who need emergency shelter, professional counseling, legal advocacy, and specialized support services.
The Center for Family Safety and Healing provides vital resources to domestic violence survivors through its complete set of services. The organization provides medical treatment and therapeutic counseling, legal system advocacy, and educational programs for the wider community.
YWCA Oklahoma City delivers complete resources to domestic violence survivors through emergency shelter housing, professional counseling, legal advocacy, and specialized support groups.
The Domestic Violence Resource Center provides extensive services, which include a 24-hour crisis hotline, protective order application support, professional counseling, emergency shelter accommodation, personalized safety planning, and educational training programs for community members.
The organization Women Against Abuse delivers essential resources, including emergency shelter accommodation, comprehensive legal services, professional counseling support, and educational programs for community engagement and awareness.
Sojourner House is a lifeline for people trying to break free from domestic violence. Their resources include emergency shelter, counselors to help you process the trauma, and legal help through any court obstacles as well. Their support programs help people get back on their feet, too.
Safe at Home Program (Tennessee Secretary of State)
One of the most vital services offered by the Safe at Home Program is providing alternative addresses. These substitutes can be used for everything from registering to vote to getting a driver’s license and handling other legal requirements. It’s all designed to help survivors keep their actual whereabouts hidden from potential threats, honestly, a lifesaver for many people trying to rebuild their lives.
The Texas Council on Family Violence actively works to assist survivors through multiple support channels. The organization provides training and advocacy for better public policies alongside direct assistance for survivors to locate safe housing, navigate legal issues, and access prevention programs. The organization serves as a vital support system for people who want to leave dangerous situations while they work to rebuild their lives.
The YWCA Utah Family Justice Center provides complete assistance through its 24/7 crisis hotline and emergency shelter services, transitional housing, programs for children, and multiple support services to help you recover. The organization provides interpretation services to support clients who face language barriers.
Circle offers multiple useful services, which include emergency shelter assistance, court system guidance, and community educational programs. They are doing some really cool stuff.
Empowerhouse delivers various important services that encompass emergency shelter accommodation, advocacy support during court proceedings, specialized services for children, and educational programs for the community.
Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence (WSCADV)
The Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence (WSCADV) provides three main services: extensive training programs, advocacy work, and multiple resources for survivors. Their support includes vital safety planning help, and they establish connections to suitable local programs.
West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence (WVCADV)
The West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence (WVCADV) provides comprehensive services encompassing advocacy initiatives, professional training programs, and essential support mechanisms for both local domestic violence intervention programs and individuals who have experienced domestic abuse.
End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin provides vital services through professional training, specialized technical assistance, and strategic policy advocacy. The organization implements these initiatives to enhance domestic violence intervention programs while delivering essential support to survivors during their recovery process.
Wyoming Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
The Wyoming Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault delivers services through advocacy and training programs, which support local programs that help victims of domestic and sexual violence.
Osep Ramen Is Transforming The Instant Ramen Market With Unique And Bold Flavors
Founded in 2021, Osep Ramen began with a vision to create a truly unique and flavorful instant ramen experience that celebrates culinary excellence and innovation.
Jorden Williams, the founder and CEO of Osep Ramen, a Black-owned ramen company based in Newark, Delaware, is excited to announce the launch of its groundbreaking product — the world’s first surf and turf-flavored instant ramen.
Combining the rich flavors of premium seafood and tender steak, Osep Ramen is set to change how people think about instant noodles.
Founded in 2021, Osep Ramen began with a vision to create a truly unique and flavorful instant ramen experience that celebrates culinary excellence and innovation. What started as a small business quickly became a global sensation as instant noodle lovers sought out the distinctive surf and turf combination the brand delivers.
“Ramen is an iconic dish that brings people together, and I wanted to elevate that experience with something bold and unexpected,” says Williams. “Our Surf and Turf flavor brings a premium dining experience into the convenience of instant ramen, and I’m proud to share this creation with the world.”
Osep Ramen’s Surf and Turf flavor features a carefully curated blend of rich seafood and savory steak, combining a symphony of tastes that elevates instant noodles. With a focus on never-before-seen and bold flavors, the brand aims to provide a quick meal and an unforgettable dining experience.
As a Black-owned business, Osep Ramen is committed to empowering the community by promoting diversity and inclusivity in the culinary space. Williams and his brand are paving the way for future generations of food innovators and business owners through their innovative products and entrepreneurial spirit.
“Starting Osep Ramen was a personal journey for me,” shares Williams. “As a Black entrepreneur, it was important to me that I build a brand that not only celebrates my heritage but also brings something new and exciting to the food industry. I believe we’ve created something that will inspire and delight people from all walks of life.”
Stay tuned for more unique flavors in the future. For more information, visit OsepRamen.com.
Also, be sure to follow the brand on Instagram @osepramen
Diddy Had Drugs, Lubricant, And Falsified Prescriptions At NYC Hotel During Raid
Federal authorities reveal the questionable items retrieved from Diddy’s hotel room during his NYC arrest.
Authorities are revealing the questionable items Sean “Diddy” Combs had in his possession at the time of his arrest in New York City.
The embattled hip-hop mogul was arrested on Sept. 16, 2024, while entering the Park Hyatt Hotel in New York City, where he was staying. Photos from the hotel raid were used as evidence in his sex trafficking and racketeering trial and reveal the suspicious items federal agents uncovered, including bottles of lubricant, baggies containing illegal drugs, and prescription pills issued under an alias, TMZ reports.
According to testimony from Department of Homeland Security agent YasinBinda, feds snapped photos of two clear Ziploc bags inside an orange prescription bottle, each containing smaller baggies with a pink solid substance. Authorities reported that one bag tested positive for ketamine, while the other tested positive for both MDMA and ketamine.
Additional photos revealed a fanny pack holding $9,000 in cash, bottles of Astroglide lubricant and Johnson’s baby oil, along with a prescription for clonazepam issued under the name Frank Black—an alias Cassie Ventura testified that Combs occasionally used. The medication is used alone or together with other medicines to treat certain seizure disorders.
Binda also noted that authorities found a hard drive and a “lighting device” that Combs used to create “mood lighting” in the living room. Combs remains in jail while making his daily court appearances for his high-profile sex trafficking and racketeering case.
Testimonies so far have included Combs’ ex Cassie Ventura, former Bad Boy artist Dawn Richard, DHS agent Yasin Binda, and Cassie’s mother, Regina Ventura, who on May 20 described alleged threats Combs made toward her and her daughter. Over four days of testimony last week, Cassie recounted enduring physical and sexual abuse and described how Combs arranged drug-fueled sex acts known as “Freak Offs.”
More of Combs’ accusers and former affiliates are expected to testify throughout the trial.
Rapper Plies Gifts Aliyah Boston With Jewelry Before Indiana Fever Game
Boston scored 19 points, grabbed 13 rebounds, and blocked five shots.
Rapper Plies presented a surprised and joyful Aliyah Boston of the Indiana Fever with some bling before the team’s season opener against the Chicago Sky on Saturday.
Plies chronicled the moment on his Instagram account.
Boston, a third year player, scored 19 points, pulled down 13 rebounds, and had five blocks in the Fever’s 93-58 pummeling of the visiting Sky.
Plies is an avid supporter of the South Carolina Gamecocks, Boston’s collegiate squad. WIS 10 reported earlier this year that the Shawty rapper is such a huge fan hat he gifted South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley with some jewelry before the start of this year’s NCAA Women’s basketball tournament in March.
The large piece of jewelry resembled an NCAA championship trophy embedded with the years that the university won the championship: 2017, 2022, and 2024.
On the back of the bling was a photo of Staley kissing one of the trophies with her name included and the words “God is within her. She will not Fail.” Psalm 46:50.″
Staley posted the present on her Instagram account, and thanked the rapper for his gift.
“@plies I know you didn’t gift me this piece of treasure for anything but love. I so appreciate you for doing your big one but you always have done it big. Thank you for your love, your support & your organic belief in @GamecockWBB. I’ll wear it proudly, knowing our mission.❤️🐔“
Rev. Al Sharpton Slams Black Leaders’ ‘Negro Amnesia’ For Fueling Racial Divide
Sharpton pointed the finger at congregations who invite him to preach but ask him to limit his talks of politics and civil rights.
Civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton called out leaders of the Black community for having “negro amnesia,” accusing them of adding to the increasing racial divide in the U.S., the Philadelphia Tribune reports.
The accusations came during the inaugural Interfaith Prayer Breakfast, a nonpartisan event featuring Christian, Jewish, and Muslim clergy members, hosted by City Council President Kenyatta Johnson (D-Pa.), where Sharpton was the keynote speaker. Held at the Crystal Tea Room in Center City, Sharpton called out Black leaders he feels showcase their success without giving credit to their past struggles and those before them. “We got a generation that doesn’t want to be tested,” Sharpton said.
“If we’re going to turn this country around, we’re going to have to come back together.”
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker made an appearance and supported some of Sharpton’s sentiments by laying out the “three tools” — nonviolent protests, court cases, and voting — that Black civil rights leaders once successfully used to get their point across. “I’m proud to be here because you were one of my teachers, one of our teachers,” Parker said.
“You were out front before it was a popular thing to do before it became a sexy thing to do.”
While giving a shoutout to Rev. Jesse Jackson and Philadelphia’s late Rev. Leon Sullivan as two of his faith mentors, Sharpton pointed the finger at people who feel religion exists for personal gain and touched on being invited to speak before congregations but being asked to limit his talks on politics and civil rights. Sharpton feels religion and politics go hand in hand, as books of the Bible tell tales of struggle and overcoming oppression.
To fight back, he announced, according to the New Pittsburgh Courier, a march on NYC’s Wall Street to commemorate Aug. 28 as the 62nd anniversary of the March on Washington.
Sharpton is carrying on the legacy of civil rights leaders that he stood with by adding pressure to President Donald Trump for his executive order that resulted in companies abandoning diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives just years after increasing them following the death of George Floyd in 2020. “If you don’t have diversity in the C-suite, if you don’t have diversity in your boards, if you don’t have diversity in employment, then you shouldn’t have diversity with your consumers,” Sharpton said.
“We’re not begging — we’re paying for the right to get what everybody else gets.”
Johnson said the event was a success, with 600 tickets selling out. He said the point was for attendees to “get the experience of all of our faith leaders here in the city of Philadelphia,” in addition to elected officials.
The ‘LitBox’ is Washington, D.C.’s First Book Vending Machine
The Litbox's creator hopes to inspire local readership in the D.C. area.
D.C. has a new vending machine business that offers a bigger treat than candy.
The “LitBox” provides a new way to find and purchase new reads from local authors just in time for the summer. Installed in Washington D.C.’s Western Market, it now reigns as the city’s first-ever book vending machine.
I WAS BORN!!! Thanks everyone! ☺️ Thanks for the purchases, thanks authors! https://t.co/7ebIB535mZ
The “LitBox” officially opened for business on May 17, with 23 novels to choose from across a variety of genres. Whether one likes picture books or romance novels, the “LitBox” is introducing D.C.-based writers to a wider audience.
The “LitBox” creator, Lauren Woods, wanted to find a new and cost-effective way to promote local readership in the area. After launching a campaign last fall to bring the idea from page to life, Woods reached her $5,000 goal, which allowed her to become a micro-business owner.
“Most people wouldn’t start a bookstore with just local authors because they think that will never be profitable. So this is my chance to test that on a really small scale,” said Woods to Washingtonian magazine.
While the assortment will rotate monthly, bestsellers may become mainstays in the rollout. However, the choice to start with fictional works was intentional. Woods wanted to add positivity to a city at the helm of the Trump administration’s divisive policies.
“I want to give writers and people in this town something to feel excited about,” she says. “I wanted to bring a little bit of optimism into an otherwise bleak moment.”
The bottom is reserved for children’s novels, offering a new pick for Washingtonians of all ages. She hopes the venture will inspire her community and build a stronger sense of togetherness and empathy.
She added, “Great literature is really about empathy and kind of deeply getting outside of your own framework and inhabiting another person’s consciousness.”
The LitBox had its launch party on May 17, with some of its first authors present to connect with the now-evolving D.C. literary scene.
Jackson, Mississippi's NAACP chapter honored Medgar Evers, Winson Hudson, and Aaron Henry last week.
The local chapter of the NAACP in Jackson, Mississippi, gave posthumous honors to three civil rights trailblazers who “sacrificed everything” for the cause.
At Jackson’s NAACP monthly meeting held on May 17, it recognized Medgar Evers, Winson Hudson, and Aaron Henry for their groundbreaking contributions to the fight for civil rights, WLBT reports.
“In Mississippi, we faced many hurdles as people of color, and these folks sacrificed everything,” said Allytra Perryman, deputy director of the NAACP Conference. “Medgar Evers lost his life in a fight to make sure that Black people had the right to vote. So we carry on that spirit of grit and determination to make sure that everyone has a voice and that what happens in their lives.”
Evers, the NAACP’s first field secretary in Mississippi and a World War II Army veteran, dedicated his life to dismantling segregation and fighting for civil rights. He worked to desegregate the University of Mississippi, push for equal access to public facilities, and enforce voting rights for Black Americans.
Winson Hudson, a native of Galilee, Mississippi, served as vice president of the Leake County NAACP chapter, which was founded by Evers in 1961. Deeply influenced by her grandmother, Angeline Gates Turner, who had been born into slavery, Hudson became a prominent civil rights activist.
She filed a landmark lawsuit to desegregate Leake County schools—drawing national attention—fought for voting rights, and helped establish the county’s first Head Start program.
Aaron Henry, a native of Dublin, Mississippi, led the state’s NAACP chapter and co-founded the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, which famously challenged the seating of the all-white delegation at the 1964 Democratic National Convention.
The Jackson NAACP sought to honor these civil rights icons to pay tribute to the past and issue a call to action for the ongoing pursuit of social justice and civil rights.
“We’re still moving people out to vote. We are still registering voters. We’re still handling claims of discrimination on a daily basis,” Perryman said.
“In order to know where you’re going, you need to know where you came from. And we and they, they live in a time that we have not lived; they lived in difficult times,” said Jimmy Richardson, a local and state NAACP member. “And so it’s always good to hear what they went through then. And what we’re going through now, and maybe it will give us a better look at the future.”
A key priority for the NAACP is protecting voting rights and ensuring the African American community is fully represented at the polls. As Jackson’s next mayoral election nears its June 3 date, the NAACP will be front and center.
“They need to go and ask them questions. How they feel about the future, and make sure that they are willing to implement policies that will help us down the road for the future,” Richardson said.
Xzibit Almost Signed With Dr. Dre’s Aftermath Label, But An $11M Buyout Prevented It
Loud Records' Steve Rifkind was not about to let him off the label without a substantial payment.
West Coast rapper Xzibit said Dr. Dre wanted him to sign with his Aftermath Entertainment label, but there was just a small problem—or 11 million of them.
Xzibit, who is releasing a new album, Kingmaker, spoke to Red Bull about almost becoming an Aftermath artist. He was invited to drop a feature on Snoop Dogg’s ‘Bch Please’, which Dre produced.
After conjuring up his verse in 15 minutes and then laying it down, Dre was so impressed that he invited Xzibit to appearing on Dre’s second solo album, 2001. The rapper was featured on three songs: “Lolo (Intro),” “What’s the Difference,” and “Some L.A. Ngaz.'”
The offer to record for Aftermath was presented to Loud Record owner Steve Rifkind, who had signed the likes of Wu-Tang Clan, Mobb Deep, and M.O.P.
But there was a catch.
“He asked for an $11 million buyout,” X said. “He just didn’t wanna let me go.”
With that price apparently being too high, Dre instead offered to executive-produce his next album.
“He told me that no matter what he was doing or where I landed, he was gonna make sure he was there for me,” Xzibit said.
Dre kept that promise, doing two of Xzibit’s albums, 2000’s Restless and 2002’s Man vs. Machine.
Xzibit’s new album will be released on a newly formed label, Greenback Records. The label, billed as multi-genre, was co-founded by former UFC world champion, entrepreneur, and entertainer Conor McGregor.
“I’ve worked on this record to a point where not only am I confident that it’s my best work, but I feel like I owe this to my fans,” Xzibit told Red Bull about Kingmaker. “Speaking from a place of maturity, power and growth is all I can do—and I think that’s what this record does. It’s entertaining, but at the same time, the Kingmaker title is based off a transfer of information.”
