DJ
photo credit: pexels
by Stacy Jackson

June 19, 2025

The Hip Hop Museum and Wahida Clark To Host Historic ‘Street Lit House Party’ Livestream

Tune in to for a six-hour Twitch-based livestream party and hear from six DJs on June 20.

It’s going down on the live stream this Friday as The Hip Hop Museum and “Queen of Street Literature,” Wahida Clark, host the DJ Wall of Fame and Street Lit House Party to celebrate Black Music Month.

The June 20 Twitch-based event will honor the legacy of hip-hop through music, literature, and bold vision.

“The Street Lit House Party honors the culture that raised us–one set, one story at a time,” said Clark in a press release. “Spinning the music helps us to archive the legacy of hip-hop.”

Clark and The Hip Hop Museum invite listeners to tune in for six hours of nonstop vibes from six DJs: DJ Q.U.E. The Mixologist, Selecta, DJ Dice (Brooklyn), DJ Beesus, Kwame, and Easy Mo Bee. The historic livestream party is a project that reflects the evolution of the genre and explores how it can be preserved and celebrated while making room for the next chapter.

“By collaborating with Wahida Clark, one of the most powerful voices in hip-hop literature, THHM is expanding its mission into new digital spaces,” said Rocky Bucano, CEO of The Hip Hop Museum. “The DJ tribute celebrates the cultural sound and invites the world to engage with hip-hop’s legacy through fresh, creative formats.”

The museum, slated to open in 2026 in the Bronx, will become the first global museum with a central focus on documenting, educating, preserving, and celebrating the culture.

As part of its commitment to spotlight the genre’s rich history and ongoing influence, the museum directs its focus on inspiring exhibitions, performances, and educational initiatives. The museum selected Clark as the first woman in hip-hop literature to feature a permanent exhibit. The four-time New York Times bestselling author has curated a virtual space to honor the genre and its stories.

Celebrate Black Music Month and reserve a spot for the DJ Wall of Fame and Street Lit House Party livestream. To further support the project and help archive the legacy, donate to The Hip Hop Museum.

RELATED CONTENT: The Hip Hop Museum Is Hitting The Road

Atlanta Georgia, education, Super Bowl LXII, Atlanta Wine and Jazz Festival, Build-to-rent
Photo: iStock/Kruck20
by Kandiss Edwards

June 19, 2025

Atlanta To Relocate 400 Unhoused People Into Affordable Housing Before World Cup

The plan has received opposition from citizens and skepticism from the unhoused community.

The city of Atlanta plans to relocate homeless people before the city hosts eight matches of the FIFA World Cup in June 2026.  

A $212 million development looks to rehouse hundreds of unhoused residents. City officials are naming the plan “Downtown Rising,” Fox 5 reports. The affordable housing development, located on Cooper Street in Mechanicsville, broke ground on June 13. 

The World Cup will surely provide an economic boost for the city and preparation for the event is well underway. The removal of the unhoused people from street encampments is said to be one of those preparations

An unhoused person told the outlet, “They’re putting a Band-Aid on it. And once the World Cup is gone, I can’t predict what’s going to happen, but I kind of suspect it’s going to go in the same mode.” 

The “same mode” is in reference to the displacement of Atlanta’s homeless population in preparation for the 1996 Olympics.

Keashaon Sullivan, a newly unhoused woman, said, “I don’t know how serious they are in assisting because they say, ‘Someone’s coming out to help you,’ but no one comes out to help us. ”We’re out here through tornadoes, through hail, through wind.”

The community of Mechanicsville is also concerned with the location of the new development. Many in the community object to the development. Similarly, worry about increased crime in an already struggling area has spurred concerns.

Partners for Home, the non-profit organization working with the city of Atlanta, told Fox 5 that not all the homes will be ready before the World Cup, but is working toward getting residents ready for the transition.

“Our sole goal and focus is around getting people assessed, document-ready, and then moved into permanent housing,” said the organization’s CEO, Cathryn Vassell.

RELATED CONTENT: Atlanta Mayor Unveils Refurbished Motel For Unhoused Residents

100 Black Entrepreneurs, Biden, Harris, Funeral, Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman,,Marcyliena H. Morgan
(Photo: DIGIcal/Getty Images)
by Kandiss Edwards

June 18, 2025

Esaw Snipes-Garner, Widow Of Eric Garner, Dead At 58

Snipes-Garner’s family has been in the headlines for over a decade.

On June 16, Esaw Snipes-Garner, Eric Garner’s widow, died due to undisclosed health complications. She was 58. 

Snipes-Garner’s family has been in the headlines for over a decade. Eric Garner, was killed by a New York City police officer in 2014 for selling individual cigarettes. Snipes-Garner spent many years, alongside her family, advocating for justice.  

“Tragedy can beget tragedy in life, and she weathered more than any single person ever should have—especially the loss of a child,” Dominique Sharpton, director of membership for the National Action Network, said in a statement, according to the New York Amsterdam News. “Yet Esaw found the resolve to keep going, keep fighting, and protect her family. She showed the nation the emotional impact unjust police killings of Black and Brown Americans can have on those left to pick up the pieces.”

Picking up the pieces of her husband’s murder was not easy. Snipes-Garner witnessed the officer who killed her husband, Daniel Pantaleo, face no consequences for his actions. New York prosecutors declined to press charges against the officer. The Justice Department declined to bring charges. Pantaleo continued to work as an NYPD officer. 

Furthermore, Snipes-Garner’s daughter Erica Garner was only 27 years old when she suffered a fatal heart attack.

Initially seeking justice for her husband, Snipes-Garner later received a settlement of $5.9 million, the New York Daily News reported. She sought anonymity as the spotlight had taken its toll on her and her family. She moved away from the NYHA apartment and built her dream home to create a place to enjoy her grandchildren.

“I don’t want to be relevant anymore,” Snipes-Garner told the outlet in 2018. “I just want to live my life, raise my grandchildren, and let them see something different than New York City projects and shootings.” 

Snipes-Garner lived peacefully in an undisclosed location. “I still have a lot of life to live. I still have a lot of love to give to my children, to my grandchildren, to my mom,” she told the Daily News. “I’ll never be completely happy, but I can be content.”

No funeral arrangements have been announced.

RELATED CONTENT:  Marc Lamont Hill Recounts 2024 Stage Attack While Upholding Restorative Justice Principles

Ben Crump, George Floyd, Tim Walz
(Photos from left: Jemal Countess/Getty Images for NOBCO; Public Domain)
by Sharelle B. McNair

June 18, 2025

Trump Says He’s Not Calling ‘Whacked Out’ Tim Walz After Minnesota Lawmaker Killings 

Past presidents are known to reach out to governors, mayors and other elected officials at times of tragedy to offer condolences.

The President of the United States, Donald Trump, said calling Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz would be a “waste of time” after a MAGA supporter was arrested in the killing of a Minnesota lawmaker and her husband. 

The MAGA leader spoke to reporters aboard Air Force One after abruptly ending his appearance at the G7 international summit in Canada due to brewing tensions between Israel and Iran, according to the Associated Press.

When a reporter asked if he had called Walz, a Democrat who ran on Kamala Harris’ presidential ticket in 2024, Trump ditched any attempt at diplomacy.

“I don’t wanna call him…I think the governor of Minnesota is so whacked out. Why would I call?” Trump said. “I could call him and say, ‘Hi, how you doing?’ The guy doesn’t have a clue. He’s a mess. I could be nice and call him, but why waste time?”

Past presidents are known to reach out to governors, mayors, and other elected officials at times of tragedy to offer condolences, including such targeted killings that the city of Minneapolis endured on Saturday, June 14.

According to authorities, Vance Luther Boelter, shot and killed Minnesota State Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, in addition to attacking Sen. John Hoffman and his wife. The politicians attacked were Democrats as were the 45 elected officials on his “hit list.”

Prior to slamming Walz, Trump offered condolences to the victims in a post on his Truth Social platform. “Such horrific violence will not be tolerated in the United States of America. God Bless the great people of Minnesota, a truly great place!” the president wrote, according to The Hill. 

In a statement, Walz spokesperson Teddy Tschann said the governor “wishes that President Trump would be a President for all Americans, but this tragedy isn’t about Trump or Walz. It’s about the Hortman family, the Hoffman family, and the State of Minnesota, and the governor remains focused on helping all three heal. Our state lost a great leader, and I lost a dearest friend.” 

Walz did hear from Ontario, Canada’s Premier Doug Ford. “In times of tragedy, I’m heartened when people of different views and even different nations can rally together around our shared humanity,” Walz wrote on X. 

Vice President JD Vance did call Walz.

“I’m always open to, you know, people expressing gratitude. Vice President Vance assured us, and he delivered, that the FBI would be there as partners with us to get it done,” the former vice presidential candidate said. “That was what needed to be done.”

RELATED CONTENT: Jack Brewer To Tim Walz On Lawmaker Killing

Cam’ron, pink Range Rover
(Photo: Gregory Bojorquez/Getty Images)
by Kandiss Edwards

June 18, 2025

‘This Ain’t A Run I’m On’: Cam’ron Lands Revolt Deal For ‘Talk With Flee!’ Podcast

Cam'ron announced the new deal on June 17.

Rapper Cam’ron has signed a deal with Revolt for his Talk With Flee! podcast.

The host of It Is What It Is podcast announced the news on his official Instagram account on June. 18. As Revolt was once under the ownership and direction of Sean Combs, Cam’ron began his proclamation: “No Diddy.” The rapper did not disclose the specific amount of the deal. However, his post reveals the amount is in the millions.

Never humble, the Paid in Full actor seemingly congratulated himself for his continued success in the podcast space. He also took a moment to shout out his late mother, Fredericka Giles.

“This ain’t a run I’m on. It’s a fucking marathon. My mom up in heaven working. Miss and love you,” Cam’ron wrote.

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by @mr_camron

Cam’ron saw similar success with the It is What It Is podcast. In August 2023, the show signed an 18-month deal with betting platform Underdog Fantasy, Variety reported. For little over a year of work, the podcasters received eight-figures.

The official podcast’s Instagram page posted about the deal. “YALL ARE NOW LOOKING AT THE NEW MEMBERS OF THE @underdogfantasy FAMILY… SIGNED, SEALED, & DELIVERED. WE HERE TO STAY & THE TAKE OVER IS ABOUT TO GET REAL “

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by It Is What It Is (@itiswhatitis_talk)

It Is What It Is covers all things sports with Killa Cam’s childhood friend and fellow rap peer, Mase. Sports banter between the friends makes up the majority of the program. However, they receive an assist from the third member of the team, Treasure “Stat Baby” Wilson. Wilson provides real-time assistance and research to help keep the friends on track.

Conversely, Talk With Flee! is a departure from sports. The entertainer engages with celebrities, news, and gossip. The show is currently hosted on YouTube. To date, 15 episodes have aired. Topics have ranged from Diddy’s Freak Offs, Kanye “Ye” West’s public meltdown, and old-school conspiracies involving Sean Jay-Z Carter.

RELATED CONTENT: Kanye West Apologizes For Sexually Explicit Kamala Harris Post And Praises Trump On Social Media

Fayetteville State University
photo credit: LTreadwell, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

June 18, 2025

Fayetteville State’s Athletes Set Record For Highest GPA

The school achieved its highest student-athlete GPA ever.

Fayetteville State University’s student-athletes achieved their highest grade point ever this past semester. The Fayetteville, North Carolina-based HBCU’s 151 athletes recorded an average 3.42 GPA.

This accomplishment stemmed from a vast majority of the athletes having a GPA of 3.5 or higher. However, this does not include the straight-A scholars, with 32 student-athletes holding this status. Their collective efforts raised the overall average from last year’s 3.33 collective GPA.

“This accomplishment reflects the dedication of our student-athletes, coaches, academic support staff, and faculty,” said Director of Athletics Anthony Bennett in the school’s press release. “We are proud of the culture of excellence that continues to grow at Fayetteville State.”

Women’s bowling led the HBCU with the highest GPAs on their roster, holding a team average of 3.691. Five of its players were recognized by the National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) as All-Academic Scholar Athletes this past year.

FSU also ranks sixth on a national scale of NTCA’s team academic standards for the team’s performance in the classroom.

All 11 of the school’s athletic programs held strong GPAs across their rosters. Following women’s bowling, men’s cross country ended the semester with a 3.58 team GPA. Softball and women’s cross Country also scored around a 3.5 GPA.

While its athletes are excelling in class, their teams are securing new championships. Fayetteville State’s women’s basketball team, the current back-to-back CIAA champions, ahad an over 3.0 average.

Their dominance on the court and during exams proves that Fayetteville State continues to uplift its athletes and their academic potential.

RELATED CONTENT: HBCU Fayetteville State University Wants to Increase the Number of Black Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners

Russell Westbrook, affordable homes, South L.A. , Los Angeles
(Photo: Alberto Rodriguez/Variety via Getty Images)
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

June 18, 2025

Russell Westbrook’s AI Platform Partners With LegalZoom To Make End-Of-Life Planning Accessible

Russell Westbrook's AI platform for end-of-life planning has teamed up with LegalZoom.

Securing a will or trust is now easier and more accessible, thanks to Russell Westbrook, LegalZoom, and their new AI-powered platform.

On June 17, Eazewell, the AI-driven end-of-life planning platform Westbrook co-founded with Kemba Walker and Donnell Beverly Jr., officially announced a national partnership with LegalZoom that works to simplify and personalize the process of creating wills, trusts, and estate planning documents for its users.

Through the partnership, Eazewell users can now access LegalZoom’s estate planning tools to create legally valid, personalized end-of-life documents in minutes without the high costs or emotional stress of traditional legal services for wills, trusts, and final wishes.

“LegalZoom has shown that legal help can be clear and affordable, and Eazewell has shown that families deserve that clarity the moment loss strikes,” Beverly Jr. said in a press release. “By uniting our AI guidance with LegalZoom’s Estate Planning legal infrastructure, we erase the paperwork fog I faced after my parents died. Families answer plain-language questions, our platform helps steer every decision, and LegalZoom’s premier legal platform helps customers create trusted legal documents. Together we turn a burden into a simple plan that protects the people and memories that matter.”

Launching this summer nationwide, the joint offering will include tailored onboarding for hospice networks, elder care providers, and estate professionals looking for modern tools to support their clients. Key features include a step-by-step interface that streamlines information gathering before connecting to LegalZoom Will & Trust platform, along with optional access to LegalZoom’s attorney network for support.

“This combination empowers individuals and families to confidently plan for the future, simplifying what has historically been a complex process while ensuring they have access to the legal support they need,” said Kathy Tsitovich, chief partnerships officer at LegalZoom.

RELATED CONTENT: Russell Westbrook Becomes First Player In NBA History To Record 200 Triple-Doubles

FAMU, Florida A and M University,DI, Black History Month
(Photo: Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

June 18, 2025

FAMU Alumni File Lawsuit To Investigate Presidential Search After Marva Johnson’s Selection

FAMU alumni are taking legal action in response to Marva Johnson's presidential selection.

Alums and stakeholders of Florida A&M University have filed a lawsuit to investigate Marva Johnson’s selection as the HBCU’s next president.

Tallahassee lawyers Mutaqee Akbar and Ennis Jacobs filed an emergency “Petition for Temporary Mandatory Injunctive Relief” on June 16 on behalf of ten FAMU alumni. the Tallahassee Democrat reported. The suit, which comes ahead of Johnson’s confirmation, targets the eight members of the university’s Board of Trustees who voted in favor of Johnson for president last month, as well as the Florida Board of Governors’ chair Brian Lamb and Vice Chair Alan Levine.

“The controversy is whether due process requirements, and specific legal standards related to the operation and administration of a (State University System) institution were met in the process to select and appoint the 13th President of FAMU,” the lawsuit states.

Students and notable alumni, including Will Packer, protested Johnson’s potential appointment as FAMU’s next president before she was ultimately selected. Now, the lawsuit questions whether political influence played a role in the decision and highlights concerns over Johnson’s qualifications, noting her lack of experience for such a leadership position as a group vice president at Charter Communications.

The lawsuit was filed just days before the Florida Board of Governors’ June 18 meeting to vote on Johnson’s confirmation, amid ongoing opposition from alumni and others who oppose the MAGA-affiliated candidate leading the prestigious HBCU.

“There has been a misinterpretation of what we’re doing,” Jacobs said. “This pleading is not seeking an injunction against the Board of Governors meeting. It asks for the court to mandate some investigations into the process.”

The lawsuit cites the plaintiffs’ belief that the “decision to accept Marva Johnson as a finalist for the position of president defied all logic, was based on improper factors, failed to consider essential criteria and departed from the adopted rules and procedures governing the presidential search process.”

Among the concerns raised in the lawsuit are the “undue secrecy standards” and the Florida Legislature’s recent decision to allow FAMU to use additional university funds to cover Johnson’s salary. This follows the FAMU Foundation’s proposed 2025–26 budget falling short, with her first-year pay set at approximately $839,400.

Jacobs hopes the results of the case will “bring complete transparency to the process that ensued in the presidential selection process, and whether or not it met the requirements involved.”

RELATED CONTENT: FAMU Athletic Director Turns Herself In For Fraud, Larceny Charges

gold reserve
photo credit: pexels
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

June 18, 2025

Amid Global Economic Strife, These African Central Banks Boast The Largest Gold Reserves

North African nations are still dominating the continent in their gold reserve supply.

With the global economy facing new shifts almost daily, many banks are relying on their gold reserves to remain stable. As the element’s value reaches a record high, these African central banks currently hold the largest gold reserves on the continent.

The latest World Gold Council report lists seven African countries whose central banks boast a formidable amount of gold. Their growing reserves seek to combat economic fluctuation, given gold’s high return on investment and its relative defense against currency devaluation. Furthermore, a bank’s amount of gold in its stock helps its credibility in the global finance sector.

The report’s Q1 findings, obtained by Business Insider Africa, revealed that North African countries are leading the gold holdings on the continent. Algeria currently dominates this list, with 173.566 tonnes. Fellow regional neighbors follow, with Libya and Egypt holding 146.65 and 128 tonnes, respectively.

The news outlet also reported that many countries in the region have entered the trend of buying more gold. The effort aims to increase and maintain financial independence, with plans to purchase more this year. Other nations are paying attention as prices climb.

This influx has led to an increased cost for an ounce of the precious metal. It skyrocketed to over $3,500 an ounce in April, a jump prompted by rattled investors over President Donald Trump’s critique of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.

Next on the list is the West African country of Ghana, although it holds a significantly lower amount of gold at 31.01 tonnes. However, the country is already known as a top gold producer in Africa, leading to its placement right after the Northern nations. Rounding out the top 7 includes Mauritius, Tunisia, and Kenya, all with modest amounts of gold tonnes.

The move to purchase more gold has steadily risen over the past year as well. Gold reserves in 2024 reached 36,000 metric tons, just a few thousand off the record high from 60 years ago. Central banks around the world have also purchased twice as much gold as the previous decade’s average, as detailed by a report from the European Central Bank.

However, as these countries establish financial sovereignty in their banking systems, their citizens are facing potential reductions in their quality of life. Several major cities throughout the continent have decreased purchasing power. In Ghana, despite its strengthened gold reserves, inflation is still impacting its nationals.

RELATED CONTENT: Building the Bridge Between Africa and Silicon Valley

Viola Davis
Photo by Mike Marsland/WireImage)
by Stacy Jackson

June 18, 2025

Viola Davis To Receive Honorary Doctorate From The American Film Institute

She'll be honored on August 8.

Viola Davis continues to make her mark in the film industry.

The American Film Institute will present the award-winning actress and producer with an honorary doctorate of fine arts degree for her contributions of distinction to the art of the moving image. She will receive the honor in August alongside award-winning film editor and sound designer Walter Murch.

“Their contributions to the art form have inspired audiences around the world – as they will inspire this year’s graduates of the AFI Conservatory,” said Bob Gazzale, AFI President and CEO, in a press release.

Davis boasts an extensive and distinguished career in film, television, and theater. Her credentials extend to her roles as an artist, activist, philanthropist, and New York Times best-selling author. In 2017, she was honored by Time as one of the most influential people in the world. The recognition was followed by a 2022 Public Counsel’s William O. Douglas Award for her commitment to social justice and the 2025 Cecil B. DeMille Award at the Golden Globes.

She won a Grammy in 2023 for narrating the audiobook for her memoir, Finding Me. The honor solidified her as part of the handful of Black entertainers to achieve EGOT status, adding to a collection of awards that includes an Academy Award for her role in Fences, an Emmy Award for How to Get Away With Murder, and a Tony Award for roles in Fences and King Hedley II.

Beyond the screen, the actress has used her platform to eradicate childhood hunger, address critical needs of the community through her Davis-Tennon Foundation, and serve as a voice for diversity in Hollywood. In 2011, she launched JuVee Productions with her husband, Julius Tennon, to take action against the limitations Hollywood has placed on the careers of Black entertainers.

The American Film Institute will welcome Davis to join a renowned group of past honorary degree recipients, including Maya Angelou, Angela Bassett, and Spike Lee. Davis previously received honorary doctorates from The Juilliard School and her alma mater, Rhode Island College.

The American Film Institute will honor Davis on August 8, during the AFI Conservatory’s commencement ceremony celebrating the Class of 2025. The event will be held at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.

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