Alicia Keys, music industry
Photo by Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

May 13, 2025

Alicia Keys And Stepson Nasir Dean Share Their ‘Personal Connection’ In New Self-Care Campaign

Alicia Keys gets soulfully candid with her stepson, Nasir Dean.

Alicia Keys joined her stepson, Nasir Dean, for a heartfelt conversation about their personal “connection” and life perspectives as part of The Skin Deep x Keys Soulcare campaign.

The Grammy winner’s Soulcare joined forces with The Skin Deep for the YouTube channel’s first digital series collaboration with a beauty brand, People reports. The three-part campaign features healing conversations between loved ones. Keys and Nasir wrap the series in the final episode with a candid deep dive into their family connection and soulful approach to life in honor of Mother’s Day.

The conversation starts light, with Nasir getting Keys to laugh when asked to do a playful impression of her. But the chat quickly turned reflective when Nasir asked the “Fallin'” singer, “What experience best illustrates our connection, and why?”

“Reading together,” Keys says after some thought.

Nasir agrees and notes the mention is a “good one.”

The discussion only got deeper as Keys returned reflective questions to her stepson that revealed her deep love for family and the importance she places on being surrounded by love.

“How do you know I’m truly taking care of my soul?” Keys asks Nasir.

“When we’re all together,” he tells her.

After taking part in the deep dive, Keys praised the experience for helping people tap into their truest selves and deepen their connection with a loved one.

“I was blown away by what took place in this space,” she said. “These questions opened up a whole new vibration between us. Reminded me of what is possible when you are fully in the moment and hearing each other. We had so much fun.”

Nasir added, “This took my love of Umi to a whole new level.”

The conversation highlighted the beautiful, blended family dynamic between Keys and her husband, Swizz Beatz, who share two sons—Egypt Daoud and Genesis Ali—alongside Beatz’s three children from previous relationships: Prince Nasir, Kasseem Jr., and Nicole. Other episodes in the digital series see motivational podcaster Justin Frett and lifestyle blogger Darren Graham explore the depths of their friendship in episode one, and creator Kiana Leroux and her 5-year-old daughter Soleil enjoy a playful chat about their mommy-daughter bond in episode two.

RELATED CONTENT: Jay-Z And Alicia Keys’ Ode To New York City, ‘Empire State of Mind’ Certified Diamond

TED Talks, Brooklyn, comedy show, Black-Owned Comedy Venue, black music
(Photo: 7713Photography/Getty Images)
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

May 13, 2025

‘Masters Of The Mic’ Brings Legendary Rappers To Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati In August

If you're a fan of 1980s and early 1990s hip-hop, get to The Queen City this summer

Cincinnati will host a bevy of legendary hip-hop artists when the “Masters of the Mic” hits The Queen City this summer.

According to Local 12, Warren G, Slick Rick, Big Daddy Kane, Talib Kweli, and Arrested Development will play the Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati Friday, Aug. 1, at 7 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased via Ticketmaster through the “Master of the Mic” website.

Warren G, who is known for being one of the first producers to bring what became known as the G-Funk sound, was introduced to the hip-hop world through his 1994 hit song, “Regulate” (featuring Nate Dogg). He linked Snoop Dogg with Dr. Dre, helping form one of hip-hop’s best-known acts.

Slick Rick, originally from England, sharpened his lyrical skills in the Bronx while  part of Doug E. Fresh & the Get Fresh Crew. With his imagination and creative lyrics, he became one of hip-hop’s greatest storytellers, an an influence to many emcees who came after him.

Big Daddy Kane, arguably one of the first sex symbols of hip-hop, was also a master of lyricism. He birthed other Brooklyn rappers, like The Notorious B.I.G. and Jay-Z, in making the borough popular for having skilled wordsmiths who knew how to “put words together like a letterman.”

Talib Kweli started as a backpack rapper who became known for his conscious lyrics and activism after starting his rap career with Cincinnati producer and DJ, Hi-Tek before connecting with fellow Brooklyn lyricist, Mos Def (now known as Yasiin Bey), to form Black Star.

Atlanta’s Arrested Development assembled a cast of musicians who penned socially driven lyrics and infused their songs with actvism. Its debut 1992 album, 3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days in the Life Of…, was a critical and commercial success.

RELATED CONTENT: Snoop Dogg Proclaims Shaquille O’Neal ‘Greatest NBA Rapper Ever’

Georgia, white woman, Black boyfriend
(Photo: Tetra Images/Getty Images)
by Sharelle B. McNair

May 13, 2025

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Fires Judge Who Fights Back Against Trump 

Leadership from the EEOC also alerted her that she may be fired due to accusations of “profoundly unprofessional” conduct.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is under fire for terminating an administrative judge in New York who allegedly resisted directives from the Trump administration, including an executive order from President Donald Trump to label male and female as two “immutable” sexes, Associated Press reports. 

EEOC Administrative Judge Karen Ortiz was placed on administrative leave after spearheading an email to the agency’s new Trump-appointed lead, Acting Chair Andrea Lucas, and over 1,000 colleagues, criticizing Trump’s executive order in February 2025. Leadership from the EEOC also alerted her that she may be fired due to accusations of “profoundly unprofessional” conduct. “Of particular concern, your February email was ultimately circulated to multiple press outlets, potentially resulting in significant reputational harm to the agency,” the notice read. 

In Ortiz’s email to Lucas, the judge said, “You are not fit to be our chair, much less hold a license to practice law.” “I will not compromise my ethics and my duty to uphold the law,” read the leaked letter on Reddit. Despite receiving praise on the platform, the agency, conditioned to protect workers’ civil rights, revoked the judge’s email privileges for close to seven days and issued a written reprimand for “discourteous conduct.”

According to The New York Times, Ortiz didn’t stop there and sent more emails to Lucas, calling on her to resign and accusing her of misconduct. One accusation included Ortiz asking the leader what she was permitting herself to be involved in. She then linked the email to a video of the Tears for Fears song “Everybody Wants to Rule the World.” The move led ​​Ortiz’s supervisor, New York District Office Acting District Director Arlean Nieto, to accuse her of “conduct unbecoming of a federal employee” and failing to follow the agency’s email policy.

Ortiz’s actions were cited in a White House proposal on April 18 to make it easier to fire federal workers. The EEOC judge was listed as an example of bureaucrats who “use the protections the system gives them to oppose presidential policies and impose their own preferences.” However, Ortiz says she isn’t bothered by being called out, claiming Trump “just gave me an even bigger platform.” She has plans to fight back, but has no regrets about what was said. “These are quite literally trumped-up charges,” she said. 

“I stand behind my actions, which support the rule of law and the trans community.” Since Trump took office in January 2025, the EEOC has gone through major changes, including eliminating three Democratic commissioners who stood in his way of dismantling diversity and inclusion programs, ending protections for transgender and nonbinary workers, and other campaign priorities. After one of the fired commissioners, Jocelyn Samuels, filed a lawsuit arguing her termination was a violation of the Civil Rights Act, the president has since named an assistant U.S. attorney in Florida, Brittany Panuccio, to fill one of the vacancies — if confirmed by the Senate.

With Panuccio potentially in place, the EEOC would establish another Republican majority 2-1, leaving room for Trump to make more major policy changes.

RELATED CONTENT: Department Of Education Targets Chicago Public Schools In DEI Investigation

air traffic controller
photo credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Olivia Sampson, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
by Sharelle B. McNair

May 13, 2025

Air Traffic Controller Shortage Creates Job Opportunities for Recent College Grads 

The United States aviation industry is in the worst air traffic controller shortage in almost 30 years

The United States aviation industry is in the middle of the worst air traffic controller shortage in almost 30 years. Incidents, including the January American Airlines flight that crashed mid-air in Washington, D.C., have become al too common.

The industry has come up with a plan, CNN reports, that involves targeting recent college grads.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has partnered with five schools on the Enhanced Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative Program, targeting recent college graduates in an effort to fill vacancies in air traffic control towers.

The program is available at the University of North Dakota, the University of Oklahoma, the Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology in upstate New York, Florida’s Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and Tulsa Community College in Oklahoma. 

The program’s website labels it as a non-funded partnership between the FAA and selected colleges, offering two- and four-year non-engineering aviation degree programs. Students learn basic air traffic control and aviation administration skills with the goal of “providing qualified candidates for developmental air traffic control specialist positions.” 

Graduates are eligible to bypass the first five weeks of the FAA Academy’s initial qualification training in Oklahoma City.

The downside is that participants enter a tumultuous industry that features dated and failing air traffic control technology. The Department of Transportation announced in mid-May that a new system will be in use by 2028. 

The announcement comes as Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey has faced an increase in air traffic control issues. Some air traffic controllers thre have told travelers to avoid the airport if they can. On May 11, the FAA issued a 45-minute ground stop following an equipment outage. The incident occurred just 48 hours after controllers’ radar suffered a 90-second blackout on May 9.  

Two Tulsa Community College students, Tiana Murphy and Rebecca Nobles, are set to graduate from the Enhanced Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative Program on Monday, CNN reports.

“Academically, I was never a naturally strong student, but coming to (Tulsa Community College) and fully immersing myself in air traffic control has ignited a real passion in me,” Murphy told CNN.

Terry Daniel, the air traffic control program coordinator at Tulsa Community College, said graduates “go in and there’s an experienced controller that is plugged in next to them, and they will not be on their own for one year to 18 months.”

Issues like what occurred in Newark has Nobles excited. She said entering the workforce is giving her the encouragement “to get out there and help.”

RELATED CONTENT: Last Year A Record Number Of Firearms Were Discovered At Airport Security Checkpoints

North Carolina, bookstore, liberation
(Photo: Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
by Stacy Jackson

May 13, 2025

Houston’s Kindred Stories Bookstore Begins Next Chapter At New Location

Join Kindred Stories as the bookstore hosts its soft opening at the new location in Eldorado Ballroom from May 10-16.

Community bookstore Kindred Stories is saying farewell to its spot in Houston’s Third Ward and entering a new chapter in a bigger space inside the Eldorado Ballroom.

The move is just across the street for the independent bookstore, which opened its doors in the Third Ward three and a half years ago to provide a space for the community to explore Black authors. “We immediately realized we needed something bigger,” Kindred Stories stated in an April 4 announcement on Instagram. “Being open 6 days a week and hosting hundreds of events, we are so proud of the ways we maximized our small space and beautiful Reading Garden, but alas, it’s time to move on, and we couldn’t be more ready.”

As Kindred Stories picks up and leaves its location at 2304 Stuart Street, the community is in for a treat at the new site designed in collaboration with interior design studio Gin Design Group to provide a joy-filled space for visitors. Ahead of its May 17 grand re-opening, the bookstore is giving the community a sneak peek of the new space during a soft opening from May 10-16. Over the last few months, the Kindred Stories team has been working hard creating a space that its incredible Houston community deserves. “We are grateful to the folk who got us here and the folk who will continue to sustain us,” Kindred Stories stated. As previously covered by BLACK ENTERPRISE, Kindred Stories owner Terri Hamm launched the bookstore in September 2021, and the location has always been a significant factor in the bookstore’s success. In 2024, store manager Chaneka Williams said location was important, thinking about what type of audience the bookstore would draw.

Since its launch during the global pandemic, Kindred Stories has offered the community a space to explore poetry, essays, and literature on cooking, arts and culture, history, horror, wellness, and more. “Kindred Stories is a community space and bookstore that doesn’t just highlight Black literature but celebrates our stories in all their diverse and genre-spanning glory,” the website stated. “Every book on the shelves is written by a Black author or other marginalized voice, and every display can spotlight a unique aspect of Black storytelling and craft.”

As the bookstore gets settled in, the team encourages the community to lend its support by attending an event, signing up for the newsletter, or purchasing books in bulk through its website or Book Shop.

Visit Kindred Stories at its new location at 2310 Elgin Street, Unit 2, Houston, Texas, 77004. The bookstore will resume its full schedule next month.

RELATED CONTENT: Pasadena Bookstore Named After Octavia Butler Becomes Safe Haven For LA Fire Victims

Usher, Superb Bowl,
Photo by Marcus Ingram/Getty Images
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

May 13, 2025

Usher Shares New Insight On His Childhood In Commencement Speech at Emory University

Usher shared a deeply personal story from his childhood to inspire the graduates.

Please address Usher as Dr. Usher Raymond IV. The R&B legend received an honorary doctorate while giving a keynote speech during Emory University’s commencement.

After receiving his Doctor of Humane Letters, Usher shared a powerful story from his childhood to inspire the graduates. He accepted the honor on behalf of all who faced doubt when pursuing their dreams.

“I’m not just accepting this honor for myself. I’m accepting it for every kid who’s ever been told, ‘Your dream was too big; your neighborhood was overlooked, or your voice was too quiet.’ For me, this moment is far more than a ceremonial moment filled with accolades and celebration for things that we all have done. It’s personally deep for me,” he began, as reported by Vibe.

The new degree holder revealed that he was placed in remedial classes upon moving from Chattanooga, Tennessee, to Atlanta. Usher called the placement a “judgment on my ability” that could have stifled his ambitions. However, he took it as a challenge to prove naysayers wrong about his future.

“Though I was misunderstood and passed on, that was the point of investment that I had to make in order to find my purpose,” he shared in the nearly 20-minute speech. “Because of that passion, I felt it would lead me in the right direction, and it has.”

He believes the traditional school system could not “handle” a kid like little Usher. With his knack for entertaining, the “Good Good” singer decided to showcase and hone that skill.

“Before I could sing, before I could dance, before I was a doctor,” he joked, “I had passion.”

However, Emory’s recognition of his achievement in the arts marks a “full circle” moment. The honor proved to Usher that he would always be alright in the end.

“To go from that moment to standing here and being honored by one of the most prestigious institutions, Emory [University], is truly full circle and proof that the journey is the destination.”

The R&B superstar is continuing his Past Present Future tour while honoring the journey that got him there.

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