21 Savage, Rapper — (Photo: Prince Williams/Wireimage)

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

May 10, 2025

21 Savage’s Leading By Example Foundation Holds Inaugural ‘Bank Account Financial Literacy Week’

21 Savage launched a financial literacy week in partnership with DeKalb County schools.

21 Savage’s Leading By Example Foundation launched its first-ever “Bank Account Financial Literacy Week” in partnership with DeKalb County schools.

The initiative, launched in partnership with Wealthy Habits, kicked off the week of May 5 with a live panel event at Lithonia’s Miller Grove High School in DeKalb County. Throughout the week, it will continue with visits to five participating DeKalb County schools — Miller Grove High, Salem Middle, Panola Way Elementary, Peachtree Middle, and Bethune Middle — where students will take part in 90-minute sessions focused on developing strong money management skills.

The launch event featured an impactful panel discussion moderated by Michael Early, financial advisor at Wells Fargo, with insights from Danielle Ball, Executive Director of the Leading By Example Foundation; Kimmuel Bryan-Joseph, Accountant/AR Specialist and brother of 21 Savage; and Tammy Brook, Founder/CEO of FYI Brand Group and Co-founder of Get to Yes Productions.

Each student taking part in the program will receive a complimentary financial literacy handbook to reinforce the lessons taught throughout the week. The launch event also featured remarks from Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson, who cited the foundation’s work as a valuable investment in the future of DeKalb County’s youth.

”I am proud to partner with 21 Savage, DeKalb Schools, and Wealthy Habits to provide enriched resources and life skills to our youth,” Commissioner Davis Johnson said in a press release.

As part of the initiative, each participating student will receive inspiration and practical advice on money management and achieving financial freedom from seasoned professionals, along with a free financial literacy handbook to reinforce the lessons learned throughout the week.

This initiative aligns with the Leading By Example Foundation’s mission to equip the next generation with vital financial education. Launched by 21 Savage in 2018, the Bank Account financial literacy series, named after his double-platinum hit, continues to grow in impact.

The week-long event series follows the foundation’s 2024 release of its digital financial literacy workbook, “Master Your Money: Financial Success 101 Guide With 21 Savage.”

Michael Strahan Competing Against Eli Manning For Ownership Stake Of NY Giants — Photo by Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

May 10, 2025

Michael Strahan Competing Against Eli Manning For Ownership Stake Of NY Giants

Strahan and Manning are going head-to-head for minority ownership of their former team, the New York Giants.

Michael Strahan is reportedly competing with his former New York Giants teammate Eli Manning for a minority ownership stake in the team.

On May 5, insiders confirmed Strahan has teamed up with billionaire Marc Lasry to pursue an investment in the NFL team, Sportico reported. The anonymous sources revealed the duo’s bid to go after the 10% ownership that Giants’ current owners, the Mara and Tisch families, put up for sale in February.

Eli Manning, Strahan’s former teammate who he won Super Bowl XLII with in 2008, was initially in preliminary conversations to join the ownership group, but decided to back out due to conflicts with his other business holdings. Now the two former Giants are in a bidding competition as Manning works to assemble his own bid for minority ownership with his financial partners.

Strahan has Lasry on his side, a previous co-owner of the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks from 2014 to 2023. The co-founder of Avenue Capital sold his share of the Bucks in 2023 and raised nearly $450 million to launch Avenue Sports. Lasry’s latest sports ventures include ownership in a TGL franchise and an investment in the women’s basketball startup Unrivaled.

Strahan earned $76.4 million over his 15-season career with the Giants before retiring in 2007. Since then, the Class of 2014 Pro Football Hall of Famer has transitioned into a successful media career, serving as a Fox NFL Sunday analyst and a regular co-host on ABC’s Good Morning America. He also heads his own talent agency, SMAC Entertainment, which added Terrell Owens to its roster last year.

The NFL star’s ownership bid follows the Giants’ February announcement that owners enlisted Moelis to explore selling a minority, non-controlling stake in the team. Although private equity firms are now permitted to invest in NFL franchises, the Giants are focused on selling the stake to individuals and family offices.

The Mara family founded the Giants in 1925 for just $500, and the Tisch family became co-owners in 1991 after purchasing a 50% stake. While the Giants share the $1.6 billion New Jersey-based MetLife Stadium with the New York Jets, their franchise is valued higher, thanks to stronger sponsorship deals and ticket revenue.

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

by Sharelle B. McNair

May 10, 2025

FAMU Alumni Make It Clear During Town Hall Who Is — And Isn’t — Wanted As New President

FAMU alumni including Hollywood producer Will Packer expressed concern over candidate Marva Johnson being pushed in by state's MAGA leaders.

During a town hall meeting, Florida A&M University alum made it clear that there is one candidate that is not welcome as the HBCU continues to search for a new president, the Tallahassee Democrat reported.

The meeting was hosted by Leon County District 1 Commissioner and FAMU associate professor Bill Proctor on May 7 at Bethel AME Church where alum, both in person and on livestream, expressed concern over the school’s journey of selecting its next leader. Former FAMU National Alumni Association President Tommy Mitchell, Sr. pointed out that in order to make a decision, alumni need to be outspoken about who they want — not just who they don’t want. “I think we have to go further than just saying who we don’t want. We need to pick somebody, support them, and tell (the university) that’s who we want,” he said.

“FAMU is as great as it’s ever been, so we absolutely have to have someone that’s going to take us further.”

A list of four finalists was stated, met with vast silence. It wasn’t until the name Donald Palm, the university’s executive vice president and chief operating officer, came up that the church filled with supportive “yea” declarations of his candidacy. Those present at the town hall claimed the same energy will be brought when Palmer plans to make a visit to FAMU on May 15 campus visit as part of the presidential search process.

Proctor, according to WTXL Tallahassee, felt the town hall would be the best way to promote transparency in the selection process as he claims enough neighbors and school supporters have expressed concern. “It matters not the quantity, but the quality and the substance of what objections are being raised, and that is that this process has lacked integrity,” he said.

However, there was one name that arose where alumni were more than vocal about being a potential leader. “She is not welcome here,” Clinton Byrd said, referring to finalist Marva Johnson, group vice president of state government affairs for Charter Communications. “I’ve had 50 members of my family graduate … and we got legacy. We love this place, so we’re going to fight for it.”

Johnson’s name presented the most hostility throughout the FAMU community. Even Hollywood producer and alumnus Will Packer made his position clear on Johnson while joining via livestream. “FAMU DESERVES BETTER!,” he posted in a comment section.

Packer posted a video to X supporting the same sentiments, claiming MAGA is intentionally pushing Johnson into the leadership seat. “MAGA is trying to take over leadership at several of our beloved institutions. Right now, FAMU is in the bullseye,” the Think Like A Man producer wrote.

“Hear me loud and clear. Right this very minute, a group of activist Republicans are trying to put in the highest position of power someone who is solidly and objectively unqualified for. Her name is Marva Johnson.”

https://twitter.com/willpowerpacker/status/1920589708012229028

Accusations have been made that Johnson’s name was added to the candidate list by FAMU board Vice Chair Deveron Gibbons since the former Florida Board of Education chair was appointed to other boards by both former Gov. Rick Scott and current Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The other two candidates are listed as University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Rondall Allen; and University of Central Florida Senior Vice President for Administration and Finance, Gerald Hector. Allen is scheduled to visit the fellow HBCU campus on May 12 while Allen will visit the next day.

breast cancer — (Image: iStock / stefanamer)

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

May 10, 2025

New Study Identifies Breast Cancer Genes Unique To Black Women In South Africa

A new study looks into breast cancer genes in Black South African women for the first time

New research has identified genetic variants associated with breast cancer in Black South African women.

Published in Nature Communications, the study identified two genetic variants tied to breast cancer, offering key insights into the disease’s genetic roots in African populations. It marks the first genome-wide association study (GWAS) of breast cancer conducted among African women living on the continent.

In the study, researchers at the Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience (SBIMB) identified consistent genetic patterns linked to breast cancer in Black South African women. They found genetic signals near the RAB27A gene, part of the RAS oncogene family, and USP22, a gene known for its high activity in breast cancer cells and association with poor outcomes.

“These genes have not been associated with the disease before, which is an important advance in understanding breast cancer risk and biology in women of African ancestry,” Dr. Mahtaab Hayat, the lead author of the study, said, according to Medical Express.

Until recently, most breast cancer genetics research centered on European and Asian populations, with limited focus on African ancestry, mainly African American women of West African descent. A DNA-based tool used to estimate lifetime cancer risk, known as the polygenic risk score (PRS), proved ineffective at identifying the difference between South African women with and without breast cancer.

“This is because most PRSs were developed in European populations, and their inaccuracy in African populations highlights the urgent need for ancestry-specific tools in cancer risk prediction,” said Dr. Jean-Tristan Brandenburg, also in the SBIMB and a lead author.

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in South Africa and the leading cancer among women worldwide, with genetics playing a role in roughly 30% of cases. African populations possess the greatest genetic diversity in the world but remain significantly underrepresented in genomic research, limiting global understanding of disease risk and the development of effective tools and treatments.

“The study reveals that more people can benefit from genetic discoveries. It proves that new risk factors are still out there, waiting to be found,” Hayat said.

Atlanta City Council, BLM — (Photo: Georgia National Guard, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons)

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

May 10, 2025

New Study: Confidence In Black People’s Relationship With Police Remains Unchanged Since 2020

Only 53 percent of U.S. adults support the Black Lives Matter movement, a 15 point drop from 2020.

New research from the Pew Institute on adults’ views on race and racial issues five years after George Floyd’s death finds that 54% believe police relations with Black Americans remain unchanged in 2025 compared to 2020.

Meanwhile, 11% see improvement, and one-third say the situation has worsened, The Guardian reports.

“We have started moving backward in the equal rights progression we’ve made over the years,” a white Democrat in their mid-30s said in the survey. “With a president like Trump who is getting rid of Black History Month, inclusivity, and special initiatives that ensure people of color and underrepresented people will have equal opportunities, this will surely set us back decades.”

The study revealed a steady decline in public perception of the impact of the Black Lives Matter protests. While 67% of U.S. adults supported the movement in June 2020, by 2023, only 45% viewed videos of police interactions with Black people as a positive thing, with 65% of Black adults and 68% of Democrats agreeing.

In the 2025 survey, 39% of Republicans and 28% of Democrats believe police relations with Black Americans have worsened.

“The justice system is not fair when it comes to Black people,” a Black Republican in their mid-40s said. “When convicted of crimes, Black people always get heavier sentences than their white counterparts, even when they have no prior convictions and come from similar backgrounds as their white counterparts.”

The backlash from the far-right exploded in response to the 2020 BLM protests, with many being strong supporters of then-President Donald Trump. Five years later, with Trump back in office, 82% of Democrats and just 14% of Republicans believe he will make race relations worse, while 53% of Republicans and only 5% of Democrats think he will improve them.

Fifty-two percent of U.S. adults today support the Black Lives Matter movement, a 15-point drop from 2020. Today, 72% of Americans believe the heightened focus on racial inequality after Floydy’s death has not resulted in meaningful improvements for Black people.

CeeLo Green, Rico Wade, Dungeon Family Museum — (Photo, from left Paras Griffin/Getty Images, Moses Robinson/Getty Images for Revolt)

by Kandiss Edwards

May 9, 2025

Rico Wade Will Receive Monument In City Of East Point

Late Atlanta producer Rico Wade will receive monument in his home city.

The city of East Point is set to honor hip-hop producer Rico Wade with a permanent monument near his childhood home.

The monument will be at the intersection of Delowe and Headland, near where Wade’s childhood apartment complex once stood. The unveiling ceremony is scheduled for May 9, 6 p.m., at the Headland Shopping Center. Admission is free, and the public is welcome to attend, Fox 5 reported.

Wade, a foundational figure in Southern hip-hop and a member of the renowned Organized Noize production team, played a pivotal role in shaping the “Dirty South” sound. Wade’s contributions launched the careers of artists like CeeLo Green, Outkast, Ludacris, and Goodie Mob.

In her speech, East Point Mayor Deana Holiday Ingraham emphasized the significance of the location.

“Where we are is where they were, in the basement, birthing music that actually inspired the world.”

This tribute honors Wade’s enduring impact on Atlanta, where his influence helped shape the city’s identity in the music world. Rico Wade was a force in Southern hip-hop and a founding member of the influential production trio Organized Noize. He created an Atlanta sound alongside creative partners Ray Murray and Sleepy Brown.

Legendary Producer, Rico Wade, honored with a permanent monument in East Point, where he grew up

In a release announcing the event, city officials said that the monument "will stand as a powerful symbol of the lasting connection between East Point and Rico Wade's profound impact… pic.twitter.com/Sul66InEr7
— Glock Topickz (@Glock_Topickz) May 8, 2025

Wade and Organized Noize came to prominence in the early 1990s through their work with the Dungeon Family. The collective of Atlanta-based artists included OutKast, Goodie Mob, and later Future, Wade’s cousin.

Organized Noize’s big break came with TLC’s 1995 hit Waterfalls, which they co-wrote and produced. Waterfalls became one of the best-selling singles of the decade. Wade and his team also produced OutKast’s debut album Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik and Goodie Mob’s Soul Food, both now considered classics.

Until his death in April 2024 at age 52, Wade remained a respected elder in the hip-hop community. Known for his creative brilliance, Wade’s legacy lives on through the sounds he crafted, the artists he mentored, and the culture he helped shape.

Lizzo, lawsuit, stylist — (Photo: Robin L Marshall/WireImage)

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

May 9, 2025

Lizzo Says She Reads The Holy Bible ‘Intellectually’ Because It’s A ‘Historical Document’

Lizzo faces backlash after sharing her honest view of the Holy Bible

Lizzo is under fire after sharing her view that the Holy Bible is simply a “historical document” rather than a sacred text.

The Grammy award-winning singer spouted her viefw while hosting a TikTok Live Q&A session on May 7.

“I read the entire Bible front to back. All these people don’t realize. Exactly, let them know that I sing gospel music, honey. Not the exact genre, but…The Bible to me is a historical document…” Lizzo said in a clip captured by The Art of Dialogue.

Lizzo calls the Bible a 'historical document,' claiming it lacks factual accuracy yet remains impactful. pic.twitter.com/YBbswnous1
— The Art Of Dialogue (@ArtOfDialogue_) May 7, 2025

According to Lizzo, the Old Testament has “a lot of genealogy, and there’s a lot of historical events that are documented.” As for the New Testament, the “Juice” singer says it consists of “books written by prophets.”

“And they found these scrolls and brought them together and made one document, one book,” Lizzo explained. “But the book is made up of a lot of people’s interpretations of history, metaphors, especially in the second, the New Testament.”

“So I read the Bible intellectually,” she added.

Her explanation has received mixed responses.

“Free my Black people of the shackles of the white man bible and religion,” one person who agreed with Lizzo said.

“Yall misquoted her…she never said it wasn’t factual,” added someone else.

However, the criticism was fierce and fiery from some followers of the Holy Bible.

“She lost a few pounds and a few brain cells along with it, I see,” one critic wrote. “Biblical knowledge is at an all-time low among youth, and people like her are the reason why.”

Lizzo’s take on the Bible mirrors a broader trend among younger generations moving away from organized religion. A 2021 Pew Research study found that 40% of Gen Z identify as non-religious, underscoring the shift reflected in her perspective.

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, governor endorsement — Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, Photo via City of Newark

by Keka Araújo

May 9, 2025

Authoritarian Overreach? Trump’s Homeland Security Arrests Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka After Protesting Secret ICE Facility

As tensions mount over federal immigration enforcement in Democrat-led cities, Friday’s events signal a deepening standoff between local officials and the Trump administration over immigration policy, detention practices, and federal power.

Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka was arrested by federal authorities May 9 while protesting alongside three members of Congress at the controversial Delaney Hall Immigration Detention Facility, which has become a flashpoint in President Donald Trump’s expanded deportation campaign.

Baraka was taken into custody at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Newark after reportedly refusing to leave the premises, according to interim U.S. Attorney Alina Habba, a Trump appointee.

In a social media post on the X app, Habba said Baraka “committed trespass and ignored multiple warnings” and declared that no one is above the law.

The Mayor of Newark, Ras Baraka, committed trespass and ignored multiple warnings from Homeland Security Investigations to remove himself from the ICE detention center in Newark, New Jersey, this afternoon. He has willingly chosen to disregard the law. That will not stand in this…
— Alina Habba (@AlinaHabba) May 9, 2025

Representatives Rob Menendez, Bonnie Watson Coleman, and LaMonica McIver participated in the protest, which was part of an ongoing effort to oppose the GEO Group-run facility. ICE officials and Homeland Security described the demonstration as a “bizarre political stunt” (DHS statement). They accused the lawmakers of breaking into a guard shack, alleging the breach endangered detainees and officers.

“Members of Congress storming into a detention facility goes beyond a bizarre political stunt and puts the safety of our law enforcement agents and detainees at risk. Members of Congress are not above the law and cannot illegally break into detention facilities. Had these members requested a tour, we would have facilitated a tour of the facility. This is an evolving situation,” said Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security.

The facility, recently activated under a $1 billion, 15-year contract with GEO Group, began detaining immigrants last week and is expected to hold up to 1,000 people daily. Its proximity to major airports has made it a cornerstone of the Trump administration’s deportation infrastructure.

On Tuesday, Baraka led a predawn protest at the site, arguing the facility lacked city permits and a valid certificate of occupancy. Despite multiple appearances requesting access, city officials say GEO Group has refused cooperation.

At a press conference following the arrest, Rep. Menendez condemned the action as “an act of intimidation,” adding that more than 20 armed federal agents were deployed to confront them.

Watson Coleman, who said she was “manhandled” by ICE, accused the agency of abuse of power, while McIver emphasized that the group was conducting a lawful oversight visit, not trespassing.

“This is despicable,” McIver said. “And we should all be angry.”

In contrast, federal officials released a list of detainees at the facility accused of crimes including murder and drug trafficking, defending the site’s operations and legality.

As tensions mount over federal immigration enforcement in Democrat-led cities, Friday’s events signal a deepening standoff between local officials and the Trump administration over immigration policy, detention practices, and federal power.

G Herbo — photo credit: Million Dollaz Worth of Game, CC BY 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

May 9, 2025

Chicago Rapper G Herbo Launches Own App For Fans To Get Latest Mixtapes

Fans have access to 'Welcome to Fazoland 2' and 'Greatest Rapper Alive'

Chicago rapper G Herbo has taken distributing his own music into his own hands.

According to The Source, the hip-hop artist has recently released two mixtapes, Welcome to Fazoland 2 and Greatest Rapper Alive, through his free-to-obtain G Herbo app, which allows fans to get everything related to the recording artist.

The artist reportedly got over 13 million streams while obtaining 100,000 app downloads. The G Herbo No. 3 spot in all music apps.

Fans can still get his music via Spotify, Apple, and YouTube.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by MySeat Media (@myseatmedia)

“I’m grateful for how the app has been taking off. Shoutout to my fans for rocking with me so heavy these last few months,” said G Herbo, according to The Source. “As an independent artist, it’s major to have my own platform, own my data, and build with the people who support me. Every stream and every move matters. We’re just getting started.”

The app is powered by MySeat. Anyone who subscribes can get access to exclusive content and rewards, which can include special items like backstage passes and signed merchandise from the “Statement” rapper.

Fans of G Herbo can also bid on items for auction like a signed PTSD vinyl and a signed “GFazos” Nike Air Force.

“What G Herbo and his team are doing is the blueprint,” said Dave Cool, president of MySeat Media. “We’re witnessing a fundamental shift in how artists can directly engage, mobilize, and monetize their superfans, without sacrificing success on the DSPs.”

VIBE reported that Herbo shared last month battled some health issues but is seemingly better after posting photos of himself in a hospital room. He captioned the post with, “YALL BE SAFE OUT HERE BRO THIS NEW FLU STRAND AINT NO JOKE.”

Priscilla Williams-Till, Emmett Till, Senate Bid In Mississippi — (Photo: Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)

by Sharelle B. McNair

May 9, 2025

Court Rules Alabama ‘Purposely’ Diluted Black Voting Power By Drawing Congressional Lines

The judges highlighted Alabama's 'deliberate decision to ignore' their order to draw a second district

A three-judge panel has permanently blocked Alabama from using a state-drawn map after ruling the state “purposely” diluted Black voting powers with a controversial drawn congressional map, CBS News reports.

The not-so-surprising ruling came down May 8, resulting in the state being mandated to use a court-ordered map that led to the state’s second Black congressman, Rep. Shomari C. Figures, being elected. The panel ruled against the state twice before and placed a new map in place for the 2024 elections.

The federal judges said the 2023 map drawn by the Alabama Legislature violated the Voting Rights Act of 1965, just like the one drawn previously by the state. “The long and short of it is that the 2023 Plan unlawfully dilutes Black voting strength by consigning it to one majority-Black district,” the ruling said.

In the Supreme Court’s June 2023 decision in Allen v. Milligan, the court ruled 5-4, not to further weaken the landmark law, affirming a lower court opinion that found it substantially likely that Alabama’s map violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, according to CBS News.

In addition to claiming the state should have a second district with a decent percentage of Black voters—the judges highlighted Alabama’s “deliberate decision to ignore” their order to do.

“The Legislature knew what federal law required and purposefully refused to provide it, in a strategic attempt to checkmate the injunction that ordered it,” the ruling continued.

The issue of the congressional map has been an ongoing battle in the state, starting in 2021 when the congressional plan drawn after the 2020 Census consisted of six out of the seven districts being majority white, despite 27% of the state’s population being Black.

The NAACP’s Legal Defense Fund celebrated the ruling, calling it a victory for Alabama’s Black voters.

“Today’s decision is a testament to the persistence and resilience of Black voters in Alabama, including our clients,” deputy director of litigation Deuel Ross said. “Alabama’s unprecedented defiance of the Supreme Court and the lower court orders harkens back to the darkest days of American history.”

While Alabama’s Attorney General Steve Marshall has yet to make a statement, spokesperson Amanda Priest, according to the Chattanooga Times Free Press, said the office is “still reviewing the order and that all options remain on the table.”