National Museum of African American History, SMITHSONIAN,, TRUMP — The exterior of the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., on February 27, 2020, as seen from 15th Street NW

by Jameelah Mullen

September 5, 2025

The National Museum of African American History Is Under Threat, But This Organization Isn’t Having It

Black history is American history.

The National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) faces possible loss of federal funding after being targeted by a Trump administration executive order 14253, also called “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History.” America’s History SOS (Save Our Smithsonian), an advocacy group founded by a collective of Black lawyers, is leading the effort to stop the order.

The Save Our Smithsonian organization has launched a petition urging supporters to demand a halt to the executive order, which instructs Vice President J.D. Vance to ensure the Smithsonian Institution’s exhibits align with what they define as “American Greatness.” The order mandates the review and removal of exhibits that would “divide Americans based on race,” “degrade shared American values,” or are “anti-American.

In the petition, organizers criticize the Trump administration’s definition of “American greatness,” which they say seeks to erase Black Americans’ stories and contributions to history.

“The National Museum of African American History and Culture was established to tell the truth of African American history—the struggles, the triumphs, and the countless contributions African Americans have made to the United States of America. For generations, Americans of all backgrounds fought to establish the Museum—not only to honor the history and contributions of African Americans, but out of a deep conviction that the nation must reckon with its past and finally honor and acknowledge the truth,“ the Change.org petition reads.

Save Our Smithsonian organizers say the executive order attempts to rewrite history and erase the history of slavery, discrimination, and violence brought against Black people in America.

“Whitewashing this shared history isn’t just an attack on the Museum’s integrity—it’s an assault on America’s collective memory.”

The petition calls on the president to rescind Executive Order 14253 and urges that NMAAHC and the Smithsonian stay free from political influence.

Soon after its release in March 2025, Congressional Black Caucus Chair Yvette D. Clark condemned the order, calling it ‘blatantly racist.”

“There is nothing divisive or improper about telling the truth. We detest this administration’s dedication to whitewashing our nation’s history. Donald Trump’s idea that the National Museum of African American History and Culture is guilty of distorting our nation’s history or painting our “founding principles” in a “negative light” is patently ridiculous.” Clark said in a statement.

Sign the petition to support AHSOS’s initiative.

UNC, Seth Trimble, — Hameltion, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

September 5, 2025

UNC Basketball Player Seth Trimble Becomes Youngest Ben & Jerry’s Franchise Owner

The 21-year-old is entering his senior season as a business owner

Seth Trimble, who plays basketball for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC), has recently announced that he is the owner of the local Ben & Jerry’s.

The 21-year-old senior took to his social media account to alert the locals that he is now the chief scooper at the ice cream business.

“In the recent months, I have been blessed with the opportunity to fulfill one of my many dreams and aspirations of entrepreneurship. I’m extremely grateful to officially be able to say that I am now an owner of the Ben & Jerry’s store on Franklin st 🐄🍦. The main goal is always the main goal, but I’m excited to stamp myself in a different way at this University. I am honored to reinvest in the community that has given so much to me. Go get y’all’s Ben & Jerry’s!”

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A post shared by Seth Trimble (@sethtrim)

According to The Pro Football Network, the purchase makes Trimble the youngest franchise owner of a Ben & Jerry’s. He used the money he made from his NIL (name, image, and likeness) deals to obtain ownership of the Ben & Jerry’s on Franklin Street.

The opportunity to become an entrepreneur began with a small conversation at the 2022 Final Four when the son of the previous owner of the ice cream shop, Antonio McBroom, stopped Trimble to take a photo wth him. That led to a conversation between the former shop owner and the current one. McBroom, the CEO of Primo Partners, was previously the youngest franchise owner. The two started speaking regularly as McBroom became Trimble’s mentor.

“About last year, I mean my sophomore year, me and Antonio, we have our little meetings, and he would just speak about it, you know, this is what you could do one day, you could become a Ben and Jerry’s owner,” Trimble said.

After talking to his family about it, the stage was set, and Trimble went on with his conversations with McBroom, and now he is the new owner. Check out the interview with Inside Carolina.

Trimble is preparing for his senior season at UNC. Last season, he averaged 11.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.3 assists. He shot 42.8% from the field and led the team with 45 steals while playing in 34 games.

Marsai Martin — Photo credit: (Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz)

by Jameelah Mullen

September 5, 2025

Marsai Martin Gets Candid About Burnout And Redefining Her Idea Of Success

The starlet founded her production company, Genius Productions, when she was 14 years old.

Marsai Martin captured America’s hearts when she co-starred in the ABC TV show “Black-ish” from ages 9 to 18. The now 21-year-old opens up about starting her career early and how it shaped her view of success.

“I thought that success was one of those things where you’re always running … and you get no sleep, and that’s success because you’re working all the time,” Martin tells CNBC Make It.. “You’re busy and you can’t eat because you’re always moving around,” said the actress who holds the Guinness World Record for being the youngest producer of a movie.

Martin explains that as a teenager, she tried to imitate the behavior of busy adults. The Paw Patrol star stated that she filled her planner with daily tasks, such as practicing her lines and keeping up with entertainment industry news. However, the actress said that despite her busy schedule and many achievements, she still felt unfulfilled.

“I was like, I don’t like this at all. I’m not happy,” she told CNBC Make It.

As Martin enters her young adulthood, she says her definition of success has evolved to include prioritizing both her financial and mental health, as well as engaging in activities that bring her happiness. Some experts agree with Martin’s approach, including clinical psychologist Dr. Joy Harden Bradford.

“Your job might bring you joy, or it might just pay the bills. Both are valid.

However, your worth isn’t tied to your productivity or career performance.

Make time for the things that light you up outside of work, too. This way, you can add joy to your life in ways outside of your day job, the host of the Therapy For Black Girls podcast wrote in an Instagram post.

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A post shared by Dr. Joy Harden Bradford (@hellodrjoy)

The actress recently appeared on the Rich Little Broke Girls Podcast, where she talked about creating spaces where Black girls feel seen, setting boundaries, and not feeling pressured to explain herself.

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A post shared by Rich Little Brokegirls (@richlittlebrokegrls)

“My voice is powerful, so I use it when I want to. I’m not going to waste my words on people who don’t deserve it. I’m not going to try to explain myself to people who try so hard not to understand me,” the executive producer said.

Hate Crime, Black Student, Gavel, Kamala Harris Calls Families Of Sonya Massey And D’Vontaye Mitchell — (Photo: vladans/Getty Images)

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

September 5, 2025

Attorney Demands Charges For White Teens In Alleged Racial Assault Of 14-Year-Old

I think that the evidence based off of the racial slurs that can be heard in a video, at least that I present, warrants further investigation into potentially escalating any charges that would be referred to a hate crime,' attorney B'Ivory LaMarr said.

A 14-year-old was attacked by a group of teenagers, which law enforcement officials stated was not a racially charged assault. The boy’s attorney, B’Ivory LaMarr, has disputed that conclusion by providing cellphone footage revealing the boys using racial epithets against the victim.

According to WKOW, LaMarr, the attorney representing the Black victim, spoke to the media outlet and expressed that the attackers should face accountability for the alleged assault. He presented a video clip that revealed the boys not only beating the 14-year-old, but also using the hurtful epithets while allegedly beating the victim.

Earlier this week, the Iowa County Sheriff’s Office stated that the attack wasn’t racially motivated. Still, it took place because the victim allegedly committed crimes, and they attacked him based on that issue. Although in the mobile phone footage showing the attack, racial slurs were clearly heard.

The incident, which happened in Wisconsin, took place Aug. 17.

LaMarr stated that the victim has not been charged with any crimes, and even if he did commit the alleged acts, it’s irrelevant to the video depicting the alleged racially-charged attack that took place that day.

“Irregardless [of] whether the victim was the individual who is alleged to have committed these acts, I think that’s completely beside the point here. There have been no criminal charges whatsoever against the victim,” LaMarr said to the media outlet.

The attorney stated that the family had contacted him and that the boy is willing to speak with police investigators about the incident. He feels an investigation is warranted based on what was heard from the boys in the video.

“I think that the evidence based on the racial slurs that can be heard in a video, at least that I present, warrants further investigation into potentially escalating any charges that would be referred to a hate crime,” LaMarr said. “At the very least, I would expect assault charges, battery at least at the misdemeanor level. I think that what we see can potentially even rise to a felony.”

Eric Adams, NYC — (Photo: Luiz C. Ribeiro for NY Daily News via Getty Images)

by Sharelle B. McNair

September 5, 2025

Is NYC Mayor Eric Adams Dropping Out Of Race To Join Trump Administration?

Close sources claim the mayor told a small group of friends and advisers that he is looking closely at job opportunities that would result in him suspending his re-election bid.

It appears that New York City Mayor Eric Adams is telling two different stories, as rumors swirl about him ending his reelection bid to join the Trump administration in Washington, D.C., according to The New York Times.

During a Sept. 4 press conference, Adams stood outside City Hall and claimed he is in it to win it. But in private, he is singing a different tune, the Times reports

Close sources claim the mayor told a small group of friends and advisers that, looking closely at job opportunities, he would suspend his re-election bid. Some of those conversations have occurred with Steve Witkoff, a New York real estate investor who is one of President Donald Trump’s closest advisers.

Rumors escalated when Adams and Witkoff took a trip to Florida. City Hall claimed it was to celebrate his 65th birthday, while Adams said he met with political figures, including the Republican Mayor of Miami, Francis Suarez.

Former New York governor David A. Paterson, Adams’s close friend and recent endorser, admitted that Adams has mentioned exploring other options, but dropping out of the race was not one of them.

“He said something like, ‘That’s what I want to do, but I’m listening,’” Paterson said. “But of course, what ‘I’m listening’ means is that he realizes the odds of winning aren’t what he’d like them to be, so there might be another alternative for him.”

According to CNN, Trump aides have floated the idea of Adams coming to the White House in an effort to block Zohran Mamdani, the city’s Democratic mayoral candidate and a democratic socialist, from securing the mayor’s seat.

Trump, a native of Queens who is registered to vote in Florida, has taken a strong interest in the race especially after Mamdani, a 33-year-old state assemblyman, secured a shocking primary victory over former New York governor Andrew Cuomo.

While nothing has been offered to Adams yet, the president has indicated that he would like to see Adams in an administrative role.

If Adams steps aside, there is limited space to stop Mamdani. Several polls show the assemblyman floating in the lead for the Democratic-majority city. Even members of the Republican Party are rooting for Mamdani, in hopes that Adams and the Republican mayoral candidate, Curtis Sliwa, will get out of the way.

During the celebration of the 1,500th anniversary of the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday, the former New York City police officer reiterated that he is focused on the race and nothing else.

“My life has been pressure,” Adams said. “No pressure, no diamonds.”

50 Cent,Jim Jones, studio — (Photo: Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic, small image)

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 5, 2025

50 Cent Leads New True-Crime Show ’50 Ways To Catch A Killer’

50 Cent is set to host and produce a new true-crime series with Fox Nation.

Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson is growing his media empire as host and producer of Fox Nation’s new true-crime series 50 Ways to Catch a Killer.

The rapper and hip-hop mogul inked a partnership between his G-Unit Film & Television company and Lionsgate Alternative Television to bring the new crime series to Fox Nation, Fox News reports. The six-part series takes viewers inside gripping murder mysteries and law enforcement’s pursuit of breakthroughs that could finally deliver justice.

Fresh off the success of Power and the growth of his media empire in Shreveport, Louisiana, the Get Rich or Die Tryin’ rapper is bringing his proven track record to helm the ship on his latest crime-based series. It’s a project Jackson is excited for crime drama fans to dig into.

“True crime is powerful because it’s real cases, real people, and real justice,” he said in a statement. “With this series, I want viewers to experience the intensity of these investigations and the relentless work it takes to uncover the truth. We’re bringing these stories to life in a way that’s both gripping and authentic.”

The season premiere, titled “Fake ‘em Out,” follows the chilling case of Maryland teacher Laura Wallen, who vanished on the first day of school. With her engagement just days away, detectives raced to determine whether they were dealing with a disappearance or a murder.

The series debuts Sept. 16, with new episodes dropping weekly. Network executives say Jackson’s involvement will strike a chord with true-crime fans.

“We are thrilled to partner with Curtis ‘50 Cent’ Jackson to bring his distinctive voice and perspective to this gripping investigative series,” said Jason Klarman, Fox News Media chief digital and marketing officer. “With his cultural influence and talent for storytelling, he offers a front-row seat to the dogged investigations that lead to justice.”

Up next, Jackson will step into the role of Balrog in the highly anticipated live-action Street Fighter reboot, joining a star-studded cast that includes Jason Momoa as Blanka, Andrew Schulz as Dan Hibiki, and WWE Champion Cody Rhodes as Guile.

Mike Tyson, Floyd mayweather — Photo: Mark Brown/Getty Images) Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

September 5, 2025

Former Boxing World Champions Mike Tyson, Floyd Mayweather Jr. Will Meet In Exhibition Bout In 2026

'This fight is something neither the world nor I ever thought would or could happen,' Tyson said.

Boxing greats Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather Jr. will meet for an exhibition match in 2026, according to a press release from CSI Sports/Fight Sports.

A date for the match has not been set, but Tyson is already throwing shots at the undefeated Mayweather, saying he was shocked the former world champion agreed to it.

“When CSI came to me about stepping in the ring with Floyd Mayweather,” said Tyson in a written statement. “I thought, ‘No way this happens,’ but Floyd said yes. This fight is something neither the world nor I ever thought would or could happen. However, boxing has entered a new era of the unpredictable—and this fight is as unpredictable as it gets. I still can’t believe Floyd wants to really do this. It’s going to be detrimental to his health, but he wants to do it, so it’s signed and it’s happening!”

The fight should entice boxing fans and sports enthusiasts worldwide even though Tyson, the youngest heavyweight world champion, is 59. Mayweather is 48.

“I’ve been doing this for 30 years, and there hasn’t been a single fighter that can tarnish my legacy,” said Mayweather. “You already know that if I am going to do something, it’s going to be big and it’s going to be legendary. I’m the best in the business of boxing. This exhibition will give the fans what they want.”

Both boxers have had controversies throughout their careers while creating a legacy that has excited boxing fans and intrigued the general public. Both men have also been successful in their entrepreneurial pursuits outside the sport.

No details have been released regarding the date of the bout, location, rules, or whether the fight will be regulated in the city it may take place in.

RELATED CONTENT: Netflix Readies Mike Tyson Docuseries

murder, AI, teen — Photo by Beyzaa Yurtkuran: https://www.pexels.com/photo/chatgpt-a-chatbot-for-your-website-16245254/

by Mitti Hicks

September 5, 2025

ChatGPT Adding Parental Controls After A Family Says AI Led To Teen’s Death By Suicide

The family spent several days reading over thousands of messages shared with ChatGPT

ChatGPT is adding parental controls to its technology after the family of a teen says its chatbox feature led the teen to commit suicide.

Adam Raine died at the age of 16 on April 11. His parents, Matt and Maria Raine, said they spent several days reading over thousands of messages he shared with ChatGPT between Sept. 1, 2024, and the moment he took his life, The Independent reports.

“During his early teen years, Adam faced some struggles,” his parents wrote on the foundation page named and dedicated to him. “His grades slipped, and he began having difficulties at school. During this time, he began to complain of stomach pain, which we believed may partially be related to anxiety.”

The teen’s family said that as a result of his struggles, they switched him to online school about six months before he died. While they noticed his grades and passion for school quickly improved, the online environment led to a significant amount of isolation.

“After Adam’s passing, we came to understand more deeply — through his private communications with Artificial Intelligence — just how profoundly he struggled,” his family writes. “His social anxiety had grown far more severe than we realized, becoming so overwhelming that even everyday conversations with those who loved him most sometimes felt unbearable.”

The family is now suing the developer behind ChatGPT, OpenAI, and its CEO, Sam Altman, in a wrongful death lawsuit filed in California Superior Court in San Francisco.

ChatGPT Announces Parental Controls Following Suicide

In a blog post, ChatGPT announced sweeping changes that will give parents more control. The company said that young people are among the first to use AI in their daily lives, and that there are opportunities for support, learning, and creativity, along with supporting families that need support in “setting healthy guidelines” for teens.

Within the next month, parents will be able to link their account with their teen’s account with a minimum age requirement of 13. Parents can control how ChatGPT responds to their teens with age-appropriate model behavior rules that alert families when the system detects that their teen is in a moment of acute stress.

“These steps are only the beginning,” the company said. “We will continue learning and strengthening our approach, guided by experts, with the goal of making ChatGPT as helpful as possible. We look forward to sharing our progress over the coming 120 days.”

Lawsuit, Miami hotel records, Sean Diddy Combs, Subpoena — (Photo: Shareif Ziyadat/Getty Images for Sean "Diddy" Combs)

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 5, 2025

Diddy Seeks Acquittal ‘Real Bad,’ Claims Feds Prostitution Charge Was A Stretch

Diddy is making another push for acquittal before his Oct. 3 sentencing.

Sean “Diddy” Combs is continuing his fight for freedom as his legal team seeks to overturn his Mann Act conviction.

The disgraced hip-hop mogul remains in custody as he awaits his Oct. 3 sentencing after being convicted on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. With each charge carrying a maximum 10-year sentence, Combs’ legal team is scrambling to lessen the potential prison time.

Their latest attempt includes asking Judge Arun Subramanian to vacate Combs’ Mann Act conviction or grant him a new trial, TMZ reports. The Bad Boy founder’s lawyers are making a bold argument, claiming prosecutors stretched the modern definition of “prostitution” to secure his Mann Act conviction.

Combs’ legal team points to the Mann Act’s origins in 1910, when it was known as the White Slave Traffic Act and defined a prostitute as any woman engaging in sex outside of marriage. They argue prosecutors applied a modern interpretation, sex-for-hire, that doesn’t align with the statute’s original intent.

Combs argues there’s no proof he ever paid male escorts to sleep with his girlfriends. He maintains the men were only compensated for their time and insists he was merely a voyeur, while his exes arranged the so-called “freak offs.”

This marks Combs’ second bid for an acquittal since his July 2 conviction on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, a lesser charge compared to the racketeering and sex trafficking allegations he initially faced. Combs’ high-profile trial featured testimony from his ex, Cassie Ventura, and rapper Kid Cudi, who claimed Combs orchestrated the bombing of his car after Cudi started dating Ventura.

The former billionaire-turned-incarcerated-mogul remains behind bars at New York City’s notorious Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, after Judge Subramanian denied bail last month, citing Combs as a flight risk and a danger to the community. The judge pointed to a 2016 hotel surveillance video showing Combs violently assaulting Ventura.

Florida, Dollar General Store, Florida Dollar General Store, jacksonville — Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images

by Sharelle B. McNair

September 5, 2025

Customers Filmed Being Locked In Chicago Dollar General Store While Thieves Were Actively Stealing

While no one was hurt, customer feel Dollar General should be held accountable for putting customers’ safety at risk.

Chaos erupted in a Chicago Dollar General location after customers were locked in the store by an employee during an active robbery, ABC 7 Chicago reports.

The takedown went viral on social media, as customer Kizzie Davis filmed the entire ordeal, showing the group being locked inside the South Side location. Davis was at the checkout line when suddenly she said the store’s metal security gate came down. Davis said roughly three masked thieves rushed into the store while she and others rushed to the back of the store to call the police.

“One of the robbers came running down the aisle we all were in, and he brushed past us like, ‘move out the way,’” she said.

However, once she and the fellow shoppers came back to the front, they were not permitted to leave until officers with the Chicago Police Department arrived, remaining locked in.

https://twitter.com/SceneByAshlix/status/1962185266338173044

It wasn’t long before the police arrived at the scene, revealing the anxiousness of the customers to get out.

“It could’ve been a hostage situation. Somebody could’ve had a gun,” Davis said.

As the video circulated on social media, users seemed to take the customers’ side, citing that there was nothing in the store of significant value to prompt employees to lock the doors.

“Aint nothing in there worth enough to keep me locked in there,” @marylovesbennie said on X.

Another user said he would sue for potential bouts of PTSD, while another said locking customers in the store could have had grave consequences.

“WTF, the customers don’t want to be there if it cracks off, and neither do the employees. Dollar General has money & they’re insured, don’t die for someone who will replace you the next day,” @Ken73624588 wrote.

WTF the customers don't want to be there if it cracks off and neither do the employees dollar general has money & they're insured don't die for someone who will replace you the next day
— Ken (@Ken73624588) August 30, 2025

Eventually, all the customers, including Davis, were released, and two men were arrested and taken into custody. While no one was hurt, she still feels Dollar General should be held accountable for putting customers’ safety at risk. “It’s a slap in my face as a customer, like my safety was in jeopardy, and they didn’t care,” Davis said.

The viral incident comes as Chicago has been the latest target of President Donald Trump’s schedule of sending National Guard troops to combat crime. According to ABC News, during a press conference from the Oval Office, Trump said “we’re going in” to the Windy City but failed to say when.

He touched on some gun violence that took place over the 2025 Labor Day weekend as the reason behind federal intervention, issuing false claims that Black women from the area are pleading with him to come and help. “It won’t even be tough. The people of Chicago… are screaming for us to come,” he said.

“African-American ladies, beautiful ladies, are saying, ‘Please, President Trump, come to Chicago, please.’ I did great with the Black vote, as you know. They want something to happen.”