Boosie, Boosie Bash, Calib Wilson, Southern University — (Photo: Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BET)

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

May 13, 2025

Rapper Boosie Badazz Receives Two Honorary Doctorate Degrees From Florida HBCU

The Florida-based Christian university bestowed two honorary doctoral degrees to the rapper

Dr. Boosie Badazz is officially in the building.

The Louisiana rapper received two honorary doctorate degrees from Kingdom Heritage University—one in music composition and the other in music management—for his long career in hip-hop.

Boosie attended the May 10 commencement ceremony and went viral for this unexpected moment. The Neighborhood Talk reposted footage of the big day.

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“They also named the music class at the college after me,” the 42-year-old, whose real name is Torence Ivy Hatch Jr., said. “What don’t kill you only makes you stronger. Dr. Hatch, I’m bout to get some business cards made. All this is God’s plan.”

The honor shocked the public, especially as the rapper is a constant face on social media. However, the Florida-based Christian university expressed its adoration for Boosie and his journey thus far.

“We are here to honor you. Your pain has not been wasted. Platform has a purpose. Your legacy is just beginning. We know your name as Lil Boosie. Heaven will now know you as Dr. Hatch,” Bishop Dr. Michael Bates Sr. said during the ceremony.

“I just want to say thank you. I really appreciate it…I ain’t never been gave anything like this. So I really appreciate it,” the rapper responded.

Boosie, a polarizing figure in hip-hop, has tried to do right by his hometown by establishing a local scholarship. Although the effort, meant to honor slain Southern University student Caleb Wilson, failed due to miscommunication with Wilson’s family, Boosie still tries to uplift his Baton Rouge community and its youth.

Despite his currently unclear terms with the Louisiana HBCU, Kingdom Heritage University has welcomed Boosie with open arms.

Pollman Tours, kenya,,Aliko Dangote,tourism — Investment Corporation of Dubai, CC BY 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

by Keka Araújo

May 13, 2025

Aliko Dangote-Backed Firm Acquires Kenya’s Oldest Tour Operator, Betting On Tourism Growth

The deal underscores significant private equity confidence in the future of Kenya’s tourism sector, a key contributor to the national economy

Africa Travel Investments, a tourism-focused firm with financial backing from Nigerian industrialist Aliko Dangote, has acquired Pollman’s Tours and Safaris, Kenya’s oldest tour operator. The deal underscores significant private equity confidence in the future of Kenya’s tourism sector, a key contributor to the national economy.

The Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK) had previously approved Africa Travel Investments’ acquisition of 100% of Pollman’s issued share capital.

According to a CAK statement, “With regard to the proposed transaction, post-merger, the market share of the merged entity will not change as the target and the acquirer is not in similar business and therefore the structure and concentration of the markets for tour operators in Kenya will not be affected.”

This acquisition follows a February investment by Alterra Capital, a private equity fund supported by both Dangote, Africa’s wealthiest individual and chairman of Dangote Cement, and American billionaire Dave Rubenstein, into ARP Africa Travel Group, the parent company of Pollman’s. According to the CAK, the merger will not impact the competitive landscape of Kenya’s tour operator market, which include Bonfire Adventures and Bountiful Safaris.

The regulatory body also determined that the acquisition would not negatively affect jobs or the competitiveness of smaller businesses within the industry.

The CAK stated, “The authority also concluded the deal poses no threat to jobs or small business competitiveness, two of the key public interest concerns under Kenyan merger law. The parties indicated no employment losses would result from the acquisition.”

According to Forbes, the Nigerian mogul is worth $23.2 billion. Dangote’s extensive business empire includes Dangote Cement, the continent’s largest cement producer with operations spanning 10 African nations. His investments also extend to fertilizer production in Nigeria and the recently operational Dangote Refinery.

The acquisition of Pollman’s by a Dangote-backed entity signals a diversification into Kenya’s promising tourism market.

South African President Shuts Down US Asylum Claims: ‘They Don’t Like Change’ — ITU Pictures from Geneva, Switzerland, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

by Mitti Hicks

May 13, 2025

South African President Shuts Down US Asylum Claims: ‘They Don’t Like Change’

Dozens of white South Africans arrived at Washington-Dulles International Airport on a taxpayer-funded flight on May 12. President Ramaphosa goes on to say the white South Africans admitted into the United States are resisting change.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is shutting down asylum claims from the United States. While President Donald Trump’s administration has shut down refugee admissions and rescinded thousands of people who were granted entry to the United States for humanitarian protections, the administration admitted 59 white South Africans as “refugees” on Monday.

Dozens of white South Africans arrived at Washington-Dulles International Airport on a taxpayer-funded flight Monday. President Trump has made wild claims that white South Africans are victims of “genocide.” President Trump’s administration granted them “refugee status,” and they are on the fast track to becoming U.S. citizens.

However, during a panel discussion at the Africa CEO Forum, President Ramaphosa dismissed the claims of American right-wing leaders.

“Those people who are being enticed to go to the United States do not fit the definition of a refugee,” he says. “A refugee is someone who has to leave their country out of fear of political, religious, or economic persecution.”

President Ramaphosa went on to say that the white South Africans admitted into the United States are resisting change.

“We’re the only country on the continent where the colonizers came to stay, and we have never driven them out of our country,” he adds. “There’s a fringe grouping that does not have a lot of support. [The group] is anti-transformation and anti-change. They would actually prefer South Africa going back to Apartheid type of policies.”

Episcopal Church Says It Won’t Help Resettle White South Africans

The Trump administration’s preferential treatment of these refugees has angered civil rights groups, immigration advocates, and even religious organizations.

The Episcopal Church’s migration service is refusing a federal government directive to resettle white South Africans granted refugee status. According to the Associated Press, the church cites its “commitment to racial justice and reconciliation” as the reason behind its refusal.

“In light of our church’s steadfast commitment to racial justice and reconciliation and our historic ties with the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, we are not able to take this step,” said Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe.

Rowe also announced the church is ending its refugee resettlement grant agreements with the U.S. federal government. He says the church will conclude the contracts by the end of the fiscal year.

“It has been painful to watch one group of refugees, selected in a highly unusual manner, receive preferential treatment over many others who have been waiting in refugee camps or dangerous conditions for years,” said Rowe.

Jarred Shaw, cannabis gummies, basketball, Indonesia — (Image: iStock/sakhorn38)

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

May 13, 2025

Wrongfully Jailed Black Man Fights to Give Another Chance To Louisianans Imprisoned by Split Juries

Jermaine Hudson was found guilty by split jury in 2001.

After spending over 20 years in a Louisiana prison for a crime he didn’t commit, a Black man and the white man whose false testimony helped convict him are advocating for a bill that would let inmates convicted by split juries the opportunity to request a retrial.

In 2001, Jermaine Hudson was convicted of armed robbery and sentenced to 99 years, despite two jurors doubting the testimony of 20-year-old Bobby Gumpright, who claimed Hudson was the robber. He was found guilty by a split jury, a practice the U.S. Supreme Court later ruled unconstitutional, citing its racist Jim Crow origins.

Now, the two unlikely friends are working together, the Associated Press reports.

“I couldn’t change the past, but I could refuse to live the lie any longer while injustice continued,” Gumpright told lawmakers after confessing his lie in court over 20 years later. “Louisiana can’t change the past. But Louisiana can refuse to let its injustice live on.”

In 1999, Gumpright was 18 and battling drug addiction when he lied about being robbed on his way home from work when his father asked why he had no money. When he testified in 2001, he told the court he was “110%” confident Hudson was the robber.

The guilt weighed on him for years, but it wasn’t until 2021, just as Hudson was about to accept a plea deal for time served, that Gumpright, then in a drug treatment program, finally admitted he had lied. Hudson was finally released after spending 22 years in prison on a wrongful conviction.

In 2018, Louisiana voters abolished non-unanimous jury convictions, two years before the Supreme Court’s ruling. At that time, around 1,500 people were imprisoned in Louisiana due to split jury verdicts, with about 80% of them being Black and many serving life sentences.

Despite the ruling, Louisiana’s Supreme Court rejected retroactive application, leaving individuals like Hudson with limited legal options or hoping for a miracle. Upon his release, Hudson chose not to harbor resentment toward Gumpright. Instead, he reached out.

“I’m not the type of man to hold grudges or to hate anyone,” Hudson said. “I have a forgiving heart. And in order for me to really move on, I forgave him, because I understood what he was going through.”

The measure failed last year, but a legislative committee supported a similar bill in April. It now needs approval from the governor, House, and Senate, and could be debated this month.

midwife, midwifery, Mother's Day, Elaine Welteroth — Ashley Graham, CC BY 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

May 13, 2025

Elaine Welteroth Celebrates Mother’s Day With A Mission To Expand Access To Midwifery

Elaine Welteroth’s birthFUND hosted a Mother’s Day celebration focused on advancing birth equity.

Elaine Welteroth’s birthFUND celebrated Mother’s Day by hosting a family-friendly soiree focused on making midwifery care more accessible.

On May 11, the former Teen Vogue editor-in-chief hosted birthFUND’s second annual fundraiser, the “Mother’s Day Party With a Purpose.” The event, designed to celebrate parents and raise awareness about the urgent fight for birth equity, embraced the movement’s community-first approach, welcoming LA families of all backgrounds for a day filled with play, relaxation, and meaningful connection.

“I felt compelled to make a difference around this issue when I personally experienced just how broken this maternal healthcare system is,” Welteroth told attendees.

“I say this as somebody with more resources than most Black women who look like me, and I still was scared for my life. So I understand this issue so intimately, and I had the opportunity to meet midwives, Black midwives at Kindred Space who changed my life.”

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Celebrity mamas stepped out in the suggested “elevated picnic” dress code to celebrate alongside fellow mamas, papas, and little ones who enjoyed face painting, an on-site playground, and plenty of goodies. Among the famous faces who came out to support the soiree were Kelly Rowland, Sophia Bush, Victoria Monét, Karamo Brown, Tika Sumpter, Jeannie Mai, Jennie Garth, Storm Reid, Chanel Iman, and more.

This wasn’t just a star-studded affair; Welteroth ensured guests rolled up their sleeves for a good cause. With support from sponsor Bobbie, an “Advocacy Corner” invited attendees to sit down, learn about maternal health and midwifery, and find ways to get involved with birthFUND’s mission to support moms in need.

To keep the mission going, Welteroth encouraged guests to take action by reaching out to 10 friends to form a birth funding circle, each one helping connect a mom in need with a doula or midwife.

“Each of you [has] the opportunity to start a birth funding circle, which is our heartfelt call to action,” Welteroth said. “It is the root of how we started birthFUND.”

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Since its launch in 2024, birthFUND has raised over $3 million to expand access to quality, life-saving maternal care nationwide. During a special fundraising moment, Welteroth was joined by her husband, Jonathan Singletary, Karamo Brown, and 4Kira4Moms Founder Charles Johnson, a powerful trio of Black men standing in solidarity to highlight the maternal health crisis and the urgent need for accessible, safe care.

“My wife Kira passed away giving birth to our second son, Langston, nine years ago,” Johnson shared. “And for the past nine years, along with amazing friends like Elaine, we have been on a journey to make sure that every family receives the safe, dignified birthing experience they deserve.”

After one year and two successful fundraisers, birthFUND’s mission is going strong. The Mother’s Day event showcased its ongoing commitment to maternal health and supporting families at every stage, from pregnancy to parenthood.

Those who want to support birthFUND can create their own birthFUNDing Circles, contribute online, or via @birthFUND on Instagram.

Mid-section of woman holding mortarboard — Photo by Cavan Images/Getty Images

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

May 13, 2025

Mother-Son Duo Graduate From HBCU Together In Incredible Feat Of Determination

The duo will walk the same stage to receive their secondary degrees at NCCU.

A mother and son duo will become HBCU graduates together as part of North Carolina Central University’s class of 2025.

The remarkable feat is a culmination of determination and resilience from both Tamika Stanton and her son, Tomantae Stanton-Jones, who she became pregnant with at just 15-years-old. Stanton-Jones’s parents were classmates at Hillside High School in Durham, North Carolina.

“This is a story for everyone to see,” said Stanton-Jones’ father, Leniel Jones, to ABC11. ” We were young. She was 15. I was 16. And he had every reason to not be where he is right now. And he didn’t let that happen…And she didn’t let that happen. It’s never too late.”

With grit and perseverance, Stanton did not let an unexpected pregnancy limit her academic ambitions. While embracing new motherhood, Stanton continued her educational journey, later obtaining her bachelor’s degree at the HBCU.

“Being in high school and pregnant was very challenging for me. It was my first real adult decision,” Stanton recalled.

Now, she will walk on the same stage as her son to receive her Master’s degree in social work, becoming a “Double Eagle” at NCCU. As for her son, the summa cum laude honoree has graduated from the HBCU’s law school.

Their journeys to academic achievement were not easy. Jones’ family moved to Connecticut, where legal troubles surrounded the young father. He served a three-year sentence in prison, forcing the two to never meet until Stanton-Jones turned 8. However, he supported his son as a determined co-parent.

When I came home, that’s when I really wanted to be in his life,” Jones explained. “I was young, so I wasn’t thinking as far as how important it was.”

Their commitment to raising their child led to his acceptance into UNC Chapel Hill as a Gates Scholar. His matriculation in undergrad also inspired Stanton to continue her own studies at NCCU.

“My ultimate goal was to be finished before he finished school because I was like, ‘Oh, he is killing it. I got to show him that I can do it,'” she said.

Now, the unbroken family of three has found success in their endeavors. Jones also own multiple restaurants while running a nonprofit for at-risk youth. As for the proud son, he remains in awe of how hard his mother has worked to obtain two degrees.

“It’s been a long journey. I’d say I’m super proud of my mom,” shared the law school grad.

While the duo celebrate their achievement, they provide hope for other families like them to strive for greatness no matter the journey.

Broward County, jail, gay inmate killed, Cierre Wood, Gwinnett county jail,, Riker's,, doulla, pregnant, inmates, Councilwoman, Rosenthal — (Photo: Giles Clarke/Getty Images)

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

May 13, 2025

Rikers Island Doula Program Is Helping To Give Incarcerated Mothers A Voice, ‘I’m Actually Being Heard’

Inside Rikers Island doula program and how it's supporting vulnerable women in need.

Four years after NYC Councilwoman Helen Rosenthal pushed for doula care in jails, the Rikers Island Doula Program is in full effect, giving pregnant inmates support and a voice behind bars.

“This program makes me feel like I have more of a voice with my last two kids,” Grace Pipkin, a 23-year-old mother of two who’s expecting her third child while serving time in Rikers, told Essence.

After two previous pregnancies, one in which she followed doctors’ instructions without question and another in which her boyfriend spoke for her, Pipkin says the doula support at Rikers has transformed her current experience, making her feel truly seen and heard.

“Now I feel like even though I do have somebody else speaking for me, my doula is also another mom and another woman,” Pipkin said. “She understands my pain, feelings, and emotions, and how I feel about everything happening. So it makes me feel like I have a bigger voice, like I’m actually being heard. I get so excited when I see my doulas.”

The Rikers Island Doula Program, a partnership between the Caribbean Women’s Health Association and NYC’s Department of Corrections, offers prenatal and postpartum support to incarcerated women twice a week, with at least three hours of direct care per day. The program follows Councilwoman Rosenthal’s 2021 initiative to provide doula care to pregnant inmates at Rikers twice a week for four hours, with doulas also available for deliveries upon request.

“All women deserve safe and supportive labor and delivery spaces regardless of their circumstances. That is a basic human right,” said DOC Commissioner Lynelle Maginley-Liddie.

“As advocates for the mother, doulas play a critical role preparing their clients for delivery and supporting them through what is a challenging and beautiful process. The women in our care deserve nothing less, and I am so thankful to the dedicated doulas who volunteer their time to support the expectant mothers in facilities.”

The program’s success is felt by passionate doulas who take pride in their weekly visits to Rikers to help women in need.

“I became a doula for this reason,” said Mathania Toussaint, a doula on Rikers Island. “For Black women, I wanted to go into maternal health and maternal work, to support my people, the fact that we die at rates that we do is ludicrous.”

government shutdown, senate, trump — Photo by Ramaz Bluashvili: https://www.pexels.com/photo/the-famous-united-states-capitol-in-washington-7016972/

by Mitti Hicks

May 13, 2025

House Republicans Unveil Medicaid Cuts. Democrats Say Millions Will Lose Insurance

Some changes House Republicans are proposing include new “community engagement requirements” of at least 80 hours per month of work, education, or service for able-bodied adults without dependents.

To make room for President Donald Trump’s tax breaks for the rich, millions of vulnerable Americans could be without health insurance with the changes House Republicans propose to Medicaid. According to the Associated Press, House Republicans are considering $880 billion in cuts to Medicaid to help cover the $4.5 trillion in tax breaks.

Democrats are now sounding the alarm that millions of Americans will lose coverage. Preliminary estimates from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office show more than 8.6 million will lose coverage over the next decade.

“Savings like these allow us to use this bill to renew the Trump tax cuts and keep Republicans’ promise to hardworking middle-class families,” Rep. Brett Guthrie of Kentucky, GOP chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, which handles healthcare spending, told the AP.

However, Democrats argue the cuts are another attempt to repeal Obamacare.

“In no uncertain terms, millions of Americans will lose their healthcare coverage,” said Rep. Frank Pallone of New Jersey.

He adds, “Hospitals will close, seniors will not be able to access the care they need, and premiums will rise for millions of people if this bill passes.”

While House Speaker Mike Johnson has a deadline for Memorial Day to pass Trump’s tax breaks and spending cuts, not every Republican is on board. At least a dozen House Republicans told Johnson they will not support the cuts that their constituents depend on.

House Republicans Propose Income Changes To Medicaid and More

More than 78 million Americans are enrolled in Medicaid. But the proposed changes could drastically cut that number.

House Republicans are proposing new “community engagement requirements” of at least 80 hours per month of work, education, or service for able-bodied adults without dependents. People would have to verify their eligibility to the program twice a year instead of once. The bill reportedly also proposes a more rigorous income verification for Americans enrolled in the Affordable Care Act’s healthcare coverage.

Medicaid recipients who make more than 100% of the federal poverty level, which is $32,000 a year for a family of four, would be required to pay out of pocket costs for some services. Emergency rooms visits, prenatal care, pediatric visits, and primary care check-ups would be limited to $35 per visit.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

May 13, 2025

13-Foot Statue of Black Woman On Phone In Florence Riles Conservatives

Thomas J Price's statues of non-sexualized Black women has conservatives riled up

A 13-foot statue of a Black millennial woman on her phone in Florence, Italy, is drawing backlash from conservatives who say the city has succumbed to “woke delirium.”

In March, Florence’s Museo Novecento unveiled “Thomas J Price in Florence,” an exhibition featuring the British sculptor’s work, the Florentine reports. A standout of the show is Time Unfolding, a 3.6-meter-tall statue of a Black girl gazing down at her cellphone, positioned in Piazza della Signoria with the woman’s back to historic landmarks like the Loggia dei Lanzi, Palazzo Vecchio, and the Uffizi.

13 ft bronze statue of a black woman on her phone built for Piazza della Signoria (Italy) pic.twitter.com/W8Fhf7WVdx
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) May 7, 2025

Price intentionally placed the piece outdoors to spark conversation, challenge perceptions, and explore themes of human connection. However, what’s resulted is backlash from conservatives who don’t think the statue is representative of the art form.

“Woke delirium in Florence, where a statue of a black (sic) girl was installed in Piazza della Signoria to contrast the ‘Renaissance space devoted to male power’ of Donatello’s David, to ‘reflect on inclusivity’ because ‘the ideal of classical beauty is a cage,” one critic tweeted.

“Make art great again,” said another.

Curated by Sergio Risalti, the exhibition includes sculptures of various sizes displayed throughout the museum, along with two outdoor bronzes: A Kind of Confidence in the Museo Novecento courtyard and Time Unfolding. While intended to challenge the male dominance of public statues, critics claim the installation undermines local culture and the city’s artistic heritage.

On social media, the attacks against the statue have become racist.

“Why are Italians putting statues of a black (sic) woman in their country? Italy is for Italians,” one X user wrote.

The criticism hasn’t slowed Price down. On April 29, he unveiled a new 12-foot bronze statue in New York’s Times Square titled Grounded in the Stars. The piece features a realistic depiction of a Black woman with braids, dressed in everyday clothes, standing confidently with hands on her hips and a contemplative gaze.

BREAKING: 12-foot ‘plus-size’ black woman statue has been erected in the middle of Times Square. pic.twitter.com/wt0f8lz690
— Leading Report (@LeadingReport) May 7, 2025

Times Square Arts says Price’s work “confronts preconceived notions of identity and representation.”

racial pay gap — Photo by 10'000 Hours/Getty Images

by Sharelle B. McNair

May 12, 2025

Federal Employee Unions Are Looking For Ways To Survive As Trump Seeks To Eliminate Them

If Trump continues to get his way, there is a risk of federal workers losing stability and protections that made working for the government worthwhile in the first place.

NPR reports that several federal employee unions are seeking answers on the best way to survive as President Donald Trump’s moves continue to threaten their importance.

The President of the National Treasury Employees Union’s (NTEU) Chapter 282, Anthony Lee, was taken aback by how he learned about mass layoffs at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Instead of learning about it ahead of time, Lee said the first time he heard of it was when he started to receive panicked calls as employees learned their fate and swiped their badges to begin their work shift.

A green light was presented for some to proceed, while a red light meant termination. “For dozens, hundreds of employees, it just went red and they weren’t able to enter the building,” the FDA veteran said. “That’s the way a lot of people did find out that their federal service was ending.”

Under a collective bargaining agreement for the union representing close to 9,000 FDA employees, the government must give advanced notice of any employment reduction. However, Lee said, “basically we’ve been ignored” since the Trump administration allegedly did no such thing.

The union president touched on Trump’s beef with unions, not being new, but says the President’s union attacks are “exponentially worse” than in his first term, targeting union bargaining units. In March 2025, Trump signed an executive order ending collective bargaining rights for select federal workers, highlighting a provision within a federal law that gives him authority to cut ties at agencies with national security as a primary mission. “Even our ability to exist in the federal workplace — to be able to represent employees — is threatened by this administration,” Lee said.

Employees working at agencies like the CIA, the FBI, and the National Security Agency don’t have collective bargaining rights.

Like others, Lee is concerned about what will happen if Trump continues to get his way. There is a risk of workers losing stability and protections that made working for the government worthwhile in the first place. However, the President has argued that negotiating with unions over workplace matters gets in the way of his ability to manage the government the way he wants.

Trump’s anti-union executive orders have targeted other unions outside of NTEU, like the largest union for federal employees, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE). According to the Associated Press, the union plans to lay off more than half its staff nationwide as officials say orders have weakened finances. The workforce will decrease from 355 employees to 150, scraping organizers, national representatives, support staff, and more.

Pointing the finger at Trump’s policies as the reason behind the layoffs, AFGE released a statement calling the terminations a “setback” but says they aren’t going anywhere, “not by a long shot.” “We will not be deterred, silenced, or intimidated into submission,” the statement read. “Whether it’s in the courts, on Capitol Hill, or in the press, AFGE will continue to stand tall and defend the rights of America’s civil servants as long as it takes.”

The White House has labeled AFGE as a “hostile” organization with too much power over how the government functions.

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