by Mary Spiller

February 22, 2025

Soul Singing Legend Jerry ‘The Iceman’ Butler Dies At 85

Butler had been living with Parkinson's disease prior to his death.

The co-founder of the music group The Impressions, Jerry Butler — an iconic baritone singer, has died. He was 85 at the time of his passing, which took place in his Chicago home on Feb 20.

Most known for his hits “For Your Precious Love” and “Only The Strong Survive,” Butler had two Grammy nominations. The soul singer had been living with Parkinson’s disease before his death.

As reported by USA Today, Butler served on the Cook County Board of Commissioners for around 30 years as a public servant for the Chicago area.

Toni Preckwinkle, president of the Cook County Board, expressed his condolences in a statement shared with USA Today.

Preckwinkle said, “I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Jerry ‘The Iceman’ Butler, a legendary artist, dedicated public servant, and beloved member of our Cook County community. His contributions to music and public service are immeasurable. As a founding member of The Impressions, his distinguished voice helped shape the sound of R&B and soul, leaving an indelible mark on American music.”

Preckwinkle continued to call The Impressions singer as more than just a musical icon but also an advocate for the Chicago people.

“As a Cook County Commissioner from 1985 to 2018, [Butler] worked tirelessly to expand healthcare access, improve infrastructure, and advocate for policies that strengthened our communities. His leadership as Chair of the Health and Hospitals Committee helped ensure that critical resources reached those in need,” Preckwinkle concluded in his statement.

Butler was originally born in Missouri to parents who worked as sharecroppers. In the late 1950s, he co-founded the musical group The Impressions with his friend Curtis Mayfield; the fellow members included Sam Gooden, Richard Brooks, and Art Brooks. Butler signed with music label Vee-Jay Records, and the Impressions debuted with their hit singles “For Your Precious Love” and “Come Back My Love” together. After a successful run, Butler went solo in 1960.

He later released “Only the Strong Survive,” and it became Butler’s highest-charting hit. The collaboration with songwriters Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff charted within the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 at the time of its release.

Butler had 38 tracks on the Hot 100 list throughout his soul-singing career.

by Mary Spiller

February 22, 2025

African American Film Critics Association Awards Celebrates Black Excellence As Amber Ruffin Throws Shade At Elon Musk

Tyler Perry made a special trip to present an award to Nicole Avant.

Filmmaker and actor Tyler Perry attended the Los Angeles 16th annual African American Film Critics Association Awards on Feb. 19 to present his friend Nicole Avant with the Beacon Award. The ceremony included touching and relevant speeches from Avant and AAFCA host Amber Ruffin.

Perry made a roundtrip journey to attend the AAFCA awards ceremony, feeling the quick turnaround was worth the sacrifice. He wanted to be the one to present Avant with her award as part of the AAFCA’s mission to uplift Black storytellers, “especially in this climate when there’s so many attacks on who we are, what our stories are,” Perry said.

Avant, the daughter of the late philanthropist Jacqueline Avant and Clarence “The Black Godfather” Avant, opened up about coming from generational talent and Black excellence on the red carpet.

Avant said, “I’m sure they are beaming down. My mom would always tell me to go out in the world and be the light. Choose which side you’re on, and then play ball.”

According to Variety, Avant’s on-stage speech after receiving the Beacon Award discussed coming from “Hollywood royalty” and how she hoped the AAFCA continued encouraging all those who capture the Black experience through their art.

“These giants just happened to be some of my parents’ very best friends, and I was fortunate enough to be fueled by them and by their grit, their grace, their gratitude, their compassion, and their resilience,” Avant told guests. “They each asked me, in their own way, to take their survival energy, and transmute it into a new energy, and that energy would thrive. They reminded me of their hardships and their obstacles, and they asked me to never forget them. But more importantly, they reminded me that I am the promise, and all of you are the promise.”

Other notable award recipients included “Sing Sing” star Colman Domingo and “Hard Truths” actor Marianne Jean-Baptiste. Filmmakers Malcolm Washington and RaMell Ross were also honored.

Perry referenced the tumultuous political climate in America as the AAFCA ceremony took place, but awards host Amber Ruffin explicitly called such events important at a time like this.

Ruffin delivered a relevant opening monologue for the night, making reference to the Trump administration’s targeting of federal DEI programs across the country.

Ruffin began, “I have to be honest, though, things feel pretty bad right now. Between the rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion; the price of eggs; and the price of Cowboy Carter tickets.”

“Ticketmaster needs to be canceled; I don’t trust anything with master in the name. Can anyone give me a ride home? I no longer have money for an Uber.”

Ruffin continued to say that she was uplifted by the energy of AAFCA and the progress that comes from celebrating producers and political activists like Avant.

“This group proves that no matter what they think they can take from us, we will continue to spread joy through the power of film. And our joy is our resilience,” She stated.

Ruffin concluded, “That’s the beautiful thing about Black cinema and Black art in general: we create in spite of. We boldly tell our stories in spite of. We excel in spite of. And tonight, we celebrate with each other in spite of. We’re going to leave the BS out there for right now as we uplift our artists and filmmakers and their little white DEI hires.”

AAFCA President and Co-Founder Gil Robertson agreed: “Our image is a powerful one. If you consider that we are 15% of the population, but yet our influence just cuts into just about every area, every index of this country, Black folks have changed the game, have redefined, have rescripted, have transformed.”

Miami Heat,Terry Rozier, Portland Trail Blazers' Head Coach, Chauncey Billups

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

February 22, 2025

Toronto Tempo Names Monica Wright Rogers As New GM, ‘She Was The Right Fit’

Most recently Rogers spent two seasons as an assistant general manager with the Phoenix Mercury.

Monica Wright Rogers is the official general manager of the Toronto Tempo ahead of the expansion team’s WNBA debut.

The WNBA champion was introduced as the Tempo’s operations leader in a press conference on Feb. 20 in Toronto, CBS Sports reports. Wright Rogers joins President Teresa Resch, Chief Marketing Officer Whitney Bell, and other executives tasked with building out the WNBA’s newest team.

Wright Rogers, 36, most recently spent two seasons as an assistant general manager with the Phoenix Mercury and will now be responsible for recruiting a head coach, players, sponsorships deals, and more.

“I want to do a lot of listening and learning,” Wright Rogers said. “I think that this is such a unique sports city and I want to be thoughtful in how we operate in our inaugural season. I really want to tap in with some of the other teams’ leaders and understand from them what’s been successful, what hasn’t in this city. And so that’s probably top of my to-do list.”

With extensive experience in the sport, Wright Rogers played seven seasons in the WNBA after being drafted second overall by the Minnesota Lynx in 2010, winning two championships with the team. She had a standout college career at the University of Virginia before transitioning into coaching, where she scouted talent in Toronto. She later moved on to a role in the WNBA league office before ultimately joining the Mercury.

Resch initially narrowed the search for a GM to 20-25 candidates before trimming the list to six. Three finalists were invited to Toronto for “more intense” meetings, and ultimately, Wright Rogers stood out as the top choice after what Resch described as a rigorous interview process.

“She came up here and really represented herself well. You could tell she’s really authentic and genuine, had a great plan, was very focused on the purpose and the process, which was great to hear,” Resch said.

“So going back and then talking to everybody and hearing the impressions, it was evident that she was the right fit.”

Rogers Wright’s priority is assembling a basketball team from the ground up, beginning with hiring a head coach—a decision she aims to finalize by fall, ahead of the expansion draft.

“What we look like on court will be a combination of myself and what our head coach believes in. But you’ll see an up-tempo game,” Wright Rogers said with a smirk.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

February 22, 2025

Target Faces Conservative Backlash And Florida Lawsuit Over DEI

Target's DEI efforts has the retailer facing heat from conservatives and liberals.

While many are bashing Target for dropping its DEI initiatives, conservatives in Florida claim the retail giant didn’t roll them back fast enough. Target is now facing a lawsuit from conservatives for the time it spent supporting the movement.

On Feb. 20, Forbes reported that the state of Florida sued Target, alleging the mega-retailer concealed the financial risks tied to its diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and 2023 Pride Month merchandise collection. The lawsuit alleges that Target misled investors about the risks associated with its 2023 Pride merchandise line, which the retailer cited as a contributing factor to the company’s first sales decline in seven years.

The State Board of Administration of Florida, which oversees the state’s public pension funds and is chaired by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, filed the lawsuit in a Florida federal court in partnership with the conservative America First Legal Foundation. Two years ago, Target’s LGBTQ Pride merchandise line triggered conservative boycotts.

During an August 2023 earnings call, Target acknowledged the “strong reaction” to its Pride collection as a reason to “pause, adapt, and learn.” However, analysts claimed the drop in sales was also due to inflation.

Now, the state of Florida’s lawsuit against Target calls out the Pride collection for being “exceptionally offensive” and “extreme.” It points out a tuck-friendly swimsuit for transgender women—which sparked controversy in 2023 amid false claims that it was available in children’s sizes—and apparel from the British brand Abprallen, known for using Satanic imagery in some designs, though not in the products sold at Target.

The lawsuit is the latest conservative challenge to corporate DEI initiatives. It follows Target’s recent decision to scale back some of its DEI policies amid mounting pressure from the right and President Donald Trump’s executive orders against DEI efforts in the private sector. As Target faces lawsuits from the right, it’s being boycotted by the left in response to its reversal of DEI initiatives.

Civil rights groups and the heirs of one of the retailer’s founders are among those speaking out against Target’s decision. They urge the company to uphold its long-standing commitment to diversity.

by Sharelle B. McNair

February 22, 2025

Black Lawmakers Blast USDA For Cancelling HBCU Scholarship Via Trump’s Anti-DEI Executive Order

'This program is a correction to a long history of racial discrimination within the land-grant system, not an example of it,' Rep. Alma Adams (D-NC) said.

Reps. Alma Adams (D-NC) and Jonathan L. Jackson (D-IL) are calling out the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for abruptly canceling the 1890 Scholars Program, a key initiative that supported HBCU students in agricultural fields since the early 90s, HBCU Buzz reports.

After the agency eliminated the program due to the anti-DEI executive order signed by President Donald Trump, Adams, a North Carolina A&T State University alumnus, released a statement condemning the decision.

“It is infuriating that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has suspended the 1890 Scholars Program ‘pending further review,” Adams said. “This is a clear attack on an invaluable program that makes higher education accessible for everybody and provides opportunities for students to work at USDA, especially in the critical fields of food safety, agriculture, and natural resources that Americans rely on every single day.”

Established through a partnership with USDA and 1890 land-grant universities in 1992, the 1890 Scholars Program successfully heightened educational and career opportunities for HBCU students with a scholarship that covers tuition in full, fees, books, and room and board for students seeking degrees in agriculture, food, natural resource sciences, and more. Scholarship recipients also gained prominent work experience at the agency.

Adams is calling for the USDA to reverse its decision and reinstate the program as the deadline of March 1 draws near with anticipating students hoping to apply.

“This program is a correction to a long history of racial discrimination within the land-grant system, not an example of it,” Adams, a senior House Committee on Agriculture member, said.

Jackson, who shares an alma mater with Adams, called out the agency for its thoughtless view of the program.

“Suspending the 1890 Scholars Program is nothing short of an attack on opportunity. This program isn’t just about scholarships—it’s about ensuring that Black students have a clear pathway to careers in agriculture, food safety, and environmental science,” Jackson wrote in a statement. “Pulling the plug on these students is not just cruel; it’s calculated and unacceptable.”

In 2024, 94 scholarships were given out by USDA through the 1890 program, with 19 participating schools, including Florida A&M University, Alabama A&M University, and South Carolina and Kentucky State Universities. With the program’s future up in the air, students who have already applied for the scholarship are left waiting for a response from USDA.

“Cutting it now sends a dangerous message that equity and opportunity no longer matter,” Jackson added. “I won’t stand by while this administration tries to erase decades of hard-fought progress. The USDA must restore the 1890 Scholars Program now—because every student deserves the chance to succeed, and America’s future depends on it.”

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

February 22, 2025

D.C. Celebrates 50 Years Of Homegrown Go-Go Music With The Go-Go Museum And Café

The Go-Go Museum & Cafe has officially opened its doors to celebrate all things go-go music.

Washington D.C. is making sure it gets the credit the city deserves for birthing go-go music by officially opening the official Go-Go Museum & Cafe.

On Wednesday, the new museum opened its doors as the world’s only collection of all things go-go following a ribbon-cutting ceremony last year, NBC News reports. Pieces, mementos, and artifacts are on display dedicated to honoring the study, preservation, and celebration of the eclectic style of funk music.

Originated in Washington D.C. in the 1970s, go-go music entered the scene as a new subgenre of funk. It is characterized by a heavy emphasis on syncopated percussion, call-and-response interactions with the audience, and an infectious, non-stop groove designed for live performance.

Chuck Brown & The Soul Searchers are widely recognized as the pioneers of go-go music. Dubbed the “Godfather of Go-Go,” Chuck Brown crafted the genre by fusing funk, R&B, and Latin rhythms into an unbroken, dance-driven groove. Go-go music’s continuous rhythm, often highlighted by dynamic percussion breakdowns gave it it’s unique sound and feel.

Rooted in influences from James Brown, jazz, gospel, African rhythms, and Caribbean sounds, go-go music embodies a uniquely energetic and interactive style. Its cultural impact has endured since its inception, with Washington, D.C. recognizing it as the city’s official music in 2020. Beyond its local significance, go-go has played a key role in shaping hip-hop, bounce beat, and the broader street culture.

Despite challenges and pushback against the culture go-go music created, it has remained a symbol of Black cultural identity and resilience in D.C. That culture, power, and influence will now be on display for all to see through the Go-Go Museum & Cafe.

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“It is a powerful expression of joy,” said Natalie Hopkinson, the museum’s chief curator, who wrote her Ph.D. dissertation about go-go. “It is an art form.”

Situated among businesses on Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE, the two-story 8,000 square feet building features over a dozen interactive exhibits. Standout displays and experiences include a recording studio, a performance stage and a diaspora street food menu at the on-site cafe curated by Food Network’s Chopped finalist, Chef Angela Rose.

Interactive elements include an AI-powered hologram of go-go stars that visitors can engage with, along with touch-activated wall screens that explore the history of go-go music, its cultural influence, and the beats that have been sampled in rap songs.

From artifacts and installations highlighting go-go’s impact on cinema, fashion, and photography to exhibits celebrating the LGBTQ community and a “street art” display featuring a digital spray can for graffiti tags, the Go-Go Museum & Café is committed to honoring go-go music and its D.C. roots.

“If you go to New Orleans, you’ve got brass bands. Go to New York, and it’s hip-hop. If you come to D.C., you’re hearing go-go,” said Ronald “Moe” Moten, the museum’s founder and president.

Next on the agenda is hosting school trips and community events while inspiring a new generation of musicians and cultural leaders to carry the spirit of go-go to the world.

‘Titan: The Legacy of Reginald F. Lewis’ Exhibit Opens At Lewis Museum In Baltimore

by Stacy Jackson

February 21, 2025

‘Titan: The Legacy of Reginald F. Lewis’ Exhibit Opens At Lewis Museum In Baltimore

The museum's new TITAN exhibit explores the life and legacy of Reginald F. Lewis, the richest Black American man in the 1980s.

A new exhibit honoring the namesake of The Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture officially welcomed guests this month to observe a groundbreaking display of Reginald F. Lewis, the pioneer who made history as the first African American to build a billion-dollar company.

“TITAN: The Legacy of Reginald F. Lewis” honors the groundbreaking achievements of Lewis, the richest Black American man in the 1980s, with a presentation of artifacts, multimedia, and inspirational stories. “Reginald F. Lewis was a trailblazer, maverick, and titan who changed the landscape for Black entrepreneurs, and this exhibit is a testament to his vision, determination, and hard work,” said Terri Lee Freeman, president of the Reginald F. Lewis Museum, in a press release.

As previously spotlighted by BLACK ENTERPRISE, the trailblazing businessman left a lasting impact on Black entrepreneurs before he died in 1993. Lewis achieved a billion-dollar revenue for his company after his firm, TLC Group, acquired Beatrice International Foods in 1987. The $985 million purchase led TLC Beatrice International Holdings Inc. to become the largest conglomerate of snack food, beverage, and grocery stores in the nation. The successful entrepreneur contributed to the access to financing for Blacks on Wall Street and empowered Black Americans to become business owners and corporate executives.

The TITAN exhibit was unveiled on Feb. 7 to nearly 400 guests during a ribbon-cutting ceremony, which was attended by the late businessman’s wife, Loida Nicolas Lewis, and their daughter, Christina Lewis. “Seeing this exhibit come to life is incredibly moving, and I want to thank the Reginald F. Lewis Museum for honoring my husband’s legacy with such care and dedication,” said Loida. She spoke to his story of “perseverance, excellence, and breaking barriers” as the community gathered to celebrate his legacy. “His legacy not only endures but also uplifts and empowers future leaders,” she said.

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The museum witnessed a historic turnout of over 1,000 community visitors for its free Community Day event on Feb. 8. The event, hosted by the Baltimore (MD) Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., invited guests to indulge in culture, history, and food sponsored by John Hopkins University. Guests attended a fireside chat led by TITAN exhibit sponsor Tarrus Richardson of IMB Partners and media personality Jeff Johnson.

TITAN marked the 100th exhibit at the museum as it celebrated its 20th anniversary. The exhibit will remain open through April 2026.

Take a closer look inside the new TITAN exhibit with Kappa Alpha Psi’s Davy J, who DJ’ed the grand opening.

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by Mary Spiller

February 21, 2025

Michigan Mother Charged With Child Abuse Allegedly Left Kids Alone For 4 Years

The home was so filthy, police evidence technicians had to wear hazmat suits.

Kelli Marie Bryant, the 34-year-old mother accused of leaving her children to live alone in a squalid Pontiac, Michigan, home for four years, was arraigned by a judge on three counts of first-degree child abuse on Feb. 20.

Last week, Bryant’s children were discovered living alone in conditions that were so foul, police evidence technicians donned hazmat suits to enter, according to the Associated Press.

Bryant entered a not-guilty plea. Judge Ronda Gross’s response: a $250 million cash bond. The high amount was because Bryant reportedly has two different home addresses and has shown evidence in the past of being a flight risk.

Until her next court appearance on March 4, Bryant has been ordered to have no contact with any children if she’s released on bail.

As previously reported by Fox 2 Detroit, Bryant’s three children, ages 15, 13, and 12, were discovered living inside that dirty Pontiac home on Feb. 14 after Bryant’s landlord called a welfare check for the home. He hadn’t received rent from Bryant in months.

The sheriff’s office reported that Bryant left her children four years ago and would only return to drop off food on the porch.

The home’s condition was described as “in squalor.” The rooms teemed with garbage and were covered in mold and human feces. The children had no access to a working bathroom or hygiene products. They mostly slept on the floor.

Bryant’s children had not attended school since she left and had not been outside of the apartment in several years before they were found.

“This situation would be deemed deplorable and intolerable for an animal, and it is utterly unacceptable for three children,” Pontiac Sheriff Mike Bouchard said. “They have been deprived of any interaction with their mother and have not received an education for years.”

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

February 21, 2025

Ma$e And Cam’ron Extend Their ‘It Is What It Is’ Partnership With Underdog

Co-host Treasure Wilson said, 'Underdog has helped 'It Is What It Is' grow into a platform to talk sports and entertainment in the most authentic way.'

Underdog Fantasy has announced that it has extended its partnership with hip-hop stalwarts Cam’ron and Ma$e’s sports program, “It Is What It Is.”

With the success of the duo, along with moderator, Treasure “Stat Baby” Wilson, the sports gaming company decided to re-up with the team to continue their sponsorship of the popular podcast.

“We’re excited about continuing our partnership with Underdog,” said co-host Treasure Wilson in a written statement. “Underdog has helped It Is What It Is grow into a platform to talk sports and entertainment in the most authentic way. Cam and Ma$e are not only mentor figures but also became like big brothers to me, so I’m happy we get to continue doing what we love…with the support of Underdog!”

Underdog continues to partner with prominent podcasters like Gil’s Arena (headed by former NBA player, Gilbert Arenas), who just re-signed with the sports gaming platform after becoming the largest digital basketball show in the country and the fifth-largest daily sports show across all platforms. The platform garners more than 500 million views on YouTube, tens of millions of audio downloads, and billions of impressions on social media.

The success of “It Is What It Is” allows sports fans to have another avenue with Underdog to hear dialogue from a unique point of view.

“The show has quickly become iconic,” said Liz Marro, Chief Marketing Officer at Underdog. “At Underdog, we focus on connecting with fans in a genuine way and giving them honest, unique discussions about sports. We’re excited to partner with Ma$e and Cam’ron to do just that, as It Is What It Is continues to shine.”

Cam’ron spoke about how the show began before Underdog got involved when he was the featured speaker at BLACK ENTERPRISE‘s Disruptor Summit in Atlanta last year.

“All the sports shows to me were pretty much the same, and you had different personalities on shows, but the formats were pretty much the same. So what I did was I said I’m going to invest $250,000 into this project. I didn’t even have to spend 250,000, but that was the number that I said I’m gonna max out on. If it works, it works. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t.”

By the success of the show, it worked.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

February 21, 2025

Yung Joc’s Nephew And Nieces Die From Smoke Inhalation At Atlanta Apartment Complex

Jhacari White, 4, Xyla White, 1, and Xhalia White, a 9-month-old, died after being taken to Grady Hospital.

Three children, who were related to rapper Yung Joc, died from smoke inhalation earlier this week after an apartment fire in Atlanta’s Fairburn Mays neighborhood.

According to Atlanta News First, Jhacari White, 4, Xyla White, 1, and Xhalia White, 9 months, died from smoke inhalation at Grady Hospital after they were found at Country Oaks Apartments.

The incident occurred on Wednesday, Feb. 19, around 3:30 p.m. According to FOX 5 Atlanta, the cause of the fire “appeared electrical in nature.” Officials said the fire was contained to a second-story apartment in the three-story complex.

Atlanta Fire and Rescue confirmed the cause of death. First Deputy Fire Chief James McLemore said emergency personnel started CPR on the children.

“One of the boys was already lying on the grass when we came outside; they were giving him CPR,” neighbor Laura Phillips said. “They said it was two more kids in the house, but they had already taken the kids out.”

Mayor Andre Dickens offered his condolences to the family. “I’m sure the neighbors, family members and all involved in this are just devastated,” he added. “So are also our Fire Rescue Department and Grady personnel and others that came to render aid in this emergency situation.”

NStyleAtlanta posted a video clip of Atlanta recording artist Yung Joc revealing that he was related to the three victims; they were his brother’s children. He expressed that the family is still in shock and is hurting.

“Yung Joc breaks the news about the tragic apartment fire in Atlanta that claimed three lives, including his brother and his family. Joc expresses their grief and the profound impact this event has had on their community and the affected families. We are praying for #yungjoc and his family 🙏🏽”

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