• Travel and Leisure

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

March 11, 2025

Yes, Lord! Passenger On JetBlue Flight To Florida Blesses Plane With Holy Oil As Fears Over Crashes Grow

The woman decided to pray over the plane as plane crashes become more frequent.

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A JetBlue passenger on the way to Florida took matters into her own anointed hands to ensure the plane made it safely.

Desiree Salter shared a video of herself placing the holy oil on the outside of the plane before entering. The TikTok showed her opening a bottle of the blessed oil before drawing a cross.

@desireesalter In Jesus name we pray… AMEN!! 🙏🏽 #JetBlue #airlines #flights #noweapon #thedevilisaliar #pastorkid #church #Prayer #churchtiktok #PuntaCana #blessed #covered ♬ original sound – Dontay Pitt

“In Jesus’ name we pray…Amen,” exclaimed Salter in the caption.

The TikTok quickly went viral as the woman prayed over the aircraft and its passengers’ safety. Commentators were not mad at the extra layer of divine protection. The airline industry has taken a hit after an influx of crashes sparked doubts in many travelers’ minds about plane safety.

“At this point, I don’t blame you,” wrote one TikToker.

Another commentator stated, “Amen, that would ease my mind [for real.]”

“Nah [for real]…gotta stay prayed up… cuz these planes been tripping lately,” shared someone.

Salter even kept up with the holy oil, blessing her next plane back home. She then placed her entire hand on the plane to say a short prayer before taking off.

As the videos gained traction, she went into further detail about how she acquired the anointed product. She revealed that she gets the oil from her church, where her stepfather serves as a pastor. She decided to use the item for her travels for her own peace of mind.

@desireesalter Replying to @Ashira ♡ #christiantiktok #thedevilisaliar #noweapon #Prayer #blessedoil ♬ original sound – Desiree Salter

“And, of course, with some of these planes that have been crashing and some weird stuff that’s going on, I just want to pray for it and get everybody here safe,” she disclosed. ” And God kept us safe, God kept us covered, and the devil is a liar.”

The pattern of plane crashes from commercial airlines to private jets has sparked fears when flying. Beginning with the fatal crash of an American Airlines Flight that collided with a Blackhawk helicopter in Washington, D.C., in January, these concerns have also bled into the Federal Aviation Administration’s competency under the Trump administration.

While her actions have drawn jokes and support, Salter remains committed to staying blessed and highly favored in the skies.

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• Sports

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

March 11, 2025

Cowboys’ Defense Gets a Jolt: Markquese Bell Inks Extension

The undrafted former Florida A&M University (FAMU) football player inked a three-year agreement for more than $12 million

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Markquese Bell, an undrafted former Florida A&M University (FAMU) football player, has just been given a contract extension to stay with the Dallas Cowboys.

The NFL team announced that Bell, a restricted free agent, signed a reported three-year agreement for more than $12 million. Bell did not have to shop his services as the team showed interest in not letting him get away, although he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury last season.

The former HBCU student went undrafted but was able to latch onto the Cowboys as a practice squad safety in 2023. He made the roster when the team moved him into the linebacker position. Bell was then moved back to the safety role in 2024. His versatility also allows him to be used on special teams.

According to HBCU Gameday, Bell joined the FAMU football squad after transferring from the University of Maryland in 2019. While playing for FAMU in 2021, Bell’s stats were 95 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, and one interception over 12 games as a starter. His play earned him first-team all-conference honors. However, despite his accomplishments at the Florida school, no NFL teams drafted Bell in 2022. He was able to become a Cowboys player as a free agent.

Although he made the team in 2022, his play was limited. He only appeared in five games and recorded only one tackle for the season. But he made a bigger impact the next year while playing in every game. The team used him in the linebacker position, switching from his role as a safety. He started eight games for the Cowboys in his new role while playing in all 17 contests.

He made 94 tackles (60 of them solo tackles), four pass deflections, and two forced fumbles while helping the team win the NFC East title in 2023. The NFL honored his play by awarding him the HBCU Spotlight Player of the Year award for the year.

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• Sports

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

March 11, 2025

Stephen Curry Takes On Role Of Assistant General Manager At Davidson College

This makes him the first active professional athlete to take on a business position with a college

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Golden State Warriors player Stephen Curry has accepted an administrative role at his alma mater, Davidson College, making him the first active professional athlete to take on a business position with a college.

Davidson College announced that Curry, along with another alum, Matt Berman, will serve as assistant general managers for the Davidson basketball team. They also stated that the two men have created an initiative called the Curry-Berman Fund, an eight-figure fund to support the men’s and women’s basketball programs. The fund was created to help provide the program the means to help Davidson share revenue with the players.

“The Davidson experience is top notch,” Curry said in a written statement. “My journey from when I got to Davidson in 2006 to now demonstrated that I had the opportunity to play basketball at the highest level, got a great education, an amazing network through the Davidson alumni and continue to wave the Davidson flag. I want very talented, high character student athletes to have that same experience.”

• News

by Sharelle B. McNair

March 11, 2025

West Virginia Republicans Feel Bamboozled By Trump

West Virginia was one of Trump's largest victories of the 2024 presidential election, winning over 70% of the vote in November 2024.

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Federal employees in West Virginia who voted for President Donald Trump are feeling the pain after several became unemployed due to job cuts at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk. 

One video went viral of Jennifer Piggott, the once-proud Trump supporter who sported a Trump flag on her porch, saying she feels betrayed by the Republican president since losing her civil service job in February 2025. She was one of more than 125 people who were terminated by the Treasury Department’s Bureau of Fiscal Service in Parkersburg, West Virginia. Piggott claims in conversations with people that some project that she “knew it was coming,” but she claims she had no idea. “There’s always that back and forth conversation now like ‘you knew this was coming,’ but we didn’t,” Piggott said. 

“Nobody that I’ve talked to understood the devastation that having this administration in office would do to our lives.” 

The Mountain State was one of Trump’s largest victories in the 2024 presidential election, with over 70% of the vote in November 2024. Now, one of the states that supported him the most is questioning his plans.

“As much as I think that President Trump is doing wonderful things for the country in some regards, I don’t understand this at all,” Piggott said, who recently scored a promotion from her job after five years. Her new position made her a target for the Trump administration, which sought to eliminate thousands of probationary federal workers, such as new hires, but not limited to existing workers moving from one role to another, according to Reuters. 

Comments on social media pointed the blame at Piggott and other supporters. @cheers2winecom said on X that they are only complaining because it now affects them. “Everyone reacts when they are personally affected!” he wrote. 

Another video viewer claimed they had no sympathy for the demographic, saying, “Next time use ur brain.” At the same time, @michaelt1250 feels supporters are mad because they thought the indicted businessman’s policies would only affect people of color. “So sad !!! They thought Trump would only cheat and rob black and brown people,” the social media user wrote. 

Following the federal job cuts, workers were seen protesting in front of the Fiscal Service buildings in downtown Parkersburg in collaboration with the American Civil Liberties Union of West Virginia. Executive Director Eli Baumwell said the protests are more so about DOGE being an unsanctioned agency with no right to track the government’s finances. Baumwell also highlighted a government pattern of “creating agencies for appropriating funds.” 

Elected officials like Wood County Democratic Party Chair Jeff Fox feel the same way. Fox told WTAP that he shares the same concerns as the people of West Virginia. “We’re just concerned about the possible cutting of jobs and laying off of people,” he said. 

“Our area’s economy has been struggling for 60 years. We’re in a very precipitous spot.”

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• Fashion & Beauty

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

March 11, 2025

Tiny Hands, Big Talent: Meet The 3-Year-Old Ghanaian Hairstylist Breaking The Internet

The three-year-old has already captivated the internet for her masterful skills given her age.

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A three-year-old Ghanaian girl has already found her natural gifts for hairstyling at a very early age. The young girl has gone viral for her braiding ability, and her community has already become clients.

Lordina Nancy is quite gifted for her age. While many take years to master braiding or other hairstyles, the toddler can contribute to her mother’s shop. With her nickname “Serious Madam,” she is known for her focus and professionalism despite her small stature.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by BBC News Pidgin (@bbcnewspidgin)

“Because of my daughter, plenty [people come here], shared her mother, Aminu Yahaya, to BBC Pidgin. “[They see us] on social media and [want] come to us.”

Nancy picked up the skill naturally, helping her mother with a small task that showcased her affinity for braiding. Now, between her naps and school, she helps customers one head at a time.

“One day after school, after she [been to] sleep small, I notice say she come [to] pick some hair strands and join us to braid one client hair, explained the proud mom. “We [were] shocked to see how she braid [the] client hair. We no teach [her], she just start all by herself.”

The young girl serves as her mother’s little apprentice, wearing a school dress and barrettes in her hair. She has also become an internet sensation for her practice, preparing the hair from detangling to forming the braid strands.

Nancy showcases her work through her growing Instagram, while the “serious madam” proves she has the skill set to have her own shop one day. However, her mother assures her that she still supports her daughter’s education and ambitions, even if they extend beyond the hair salon.

“As a mother, I support to [go to] school [and] when she grow and make career choice, I go support her,” emphasized Yahaya. “I [am] happy say she fit [to do this.] I [am] happy [to] say she [does this] without any training. [Nobody] teach [her] how to braid and [that] makes me happy.

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• News

by Sharelle B. McNair

March 11, 2025

Death Row Inmate Who Robbed, Raped, Kidnapped And Killed A Woman Expects To Be Executed In A ‘Humane’ Way

Out of 56 death row inmates in the state of Louisiana, Hoffman is the only one with a scheduled date.

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Jessie Hoffman Jr., a Black man scheduled to be the first death row inmate executed by nitrogen gas, wants a more “humane” way to die, CNN reports.  

Scheduled for March 18, Hoffman Jr. filed a lawsuit to block the execution date where the 46-year-old will have a mask pumping nitrogen strapped to his face after being convicted of the 1996 execution-style murder of Mary Elliott in New Orleans. 

In a Baton Rouge federal court on March 7, attorneys argued nitrogen hypoxia is cruel and unusual punishment based on the U.S. Constitution in addition to infringing on Hoffman’s religious freedoms of Buddhist breathing and meditation exercises that he has practiced since 2002. 

He highlights that the religious practice has helped him through dark times, such as when his grandmother died and issues in prison.

“February 20, I was served a death warrant and immediately afterwards, I was moved to a different location, in isolation, away from what I was used to,” Hoffman said, according to NOLA. 

“Everything I needed to cope and deal with what I was dealing with in that moment was inside me. It allows me every day to be a better version of myself.”

The last death row inmate executed using this method was Gerald Bordelon, who volunteered 15 years ago as the state struggled to produce the drugs needed for lethal injection. Out of 56 death row inmates in the state of Louisiana, Hoffman is the only one with a scheduled date. His attorneys claim the state is using their client as a test for an execution method that has only been tested in Alabama. Republican Gov. Jeff Landry supported a bill in 2024 that added nitrogen hypoxia to a menu of legal execution methods. Witnesses said inmates executed by nitrogen appeared to shake and gasp at different times.

However, the state argues something different. Landry and Attorney General Liz Murrill feel the form of capital punishment is necessary as “the state is long overdue in delivering justice that has been promised to the families of victims.” 

Mental triggers are another reason why Hoffman’s team is pushing for different methods. Attorneys say the full-face mask can cause mental torture, and the inmate fears his anxiety will be triggered, advancing his post-traumatic stress disorder and claustrophobia. “The idea of having a mask over my face,” Hoffman said. 

“I fear it’s going to trigger.”

Back when he was a child, the inmate testified that his mother locked him in a pantry while she went to work. He described once having panic attacks during a medical transport from prison. Hoffman Jr. is seeking death by firing squad, which was recently used in South Carolina in early March 2025, or medical aid in dying, which would require him to take an oral solution of drugs mixed with apple juice as a more “humane” method. 

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• Celebrity News

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

March 11, 2025

Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean Give Surprise Performance With Stevie Wonder At Roberta Flack Memorial

The artists are tied through their notable covers of "Killing me Softly."

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Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean, two-thirds of the hit rap group, The Fugees, made a surprise appearance at the Roberta Flack Memorial. The duo’s appearance preceded an already-set performance by Stevie Wonder.

Flack, the acclaimed singer and pianist, died last month from a cardiac arrest at age 88. The singer gained recognition for her renditions of hits “Killing Me Softy With His Song” and “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.” The former, also covered by The Fugees, was performed by Hill at the memorial service Mar. 9. An Instagram account for the Donny Hathaway Legacy Project reposted footage of the performance.

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A post shared by Donnita Hathaway (@donnyhathawaylp)

Taking place at Abyssinnian Baptist Church, a storied religious institution in Harlem, the chapel filled with white and yellow bouquets with an image of a young Flack at the piano showcased on a screen. The screen showed tributes to Flack’s work by other icons like Clive Davis and Alicia Keys. The service’s program also displayed a signature quote from Flack about walking in the light.

“Remember: Always walk in the light,” detailed the quote, as reported by daAtlanta Journal-Constitution. “If you feel like you’re not walking in it, go find it. Love the Light.”

As Hill appeared, she referred to the singer as a legend whose “existence was a form of resistance.”

“I adore Ms. Roberta Flack,” she said. “Roberta Flack is legend.”

The artists are tied through their connection to “Killing Me Softly.” The cover earned Flack the “Record of the Year” and “Best Female Pop Vocal Performance” awards at the 1974 Grammys. The Fugees’ rendition also garnered critical and commercial success, winning the 1997 Grammy for “Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.” 

After performing “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” Hill and Jean performed the shared hit, with Wonder on harmonica. Wonder followed with two songs accompanied by a harpist. He included for a song he wrote for Flack, “I Can See the Sun in Late December.”

During his own speech, Wonder spoke about seeing and feeling Flack’s heart despite not ever capturing her face.

“The great thing about not having the ability to see with your eyes is the great opportunity of being able to even better see with your heart. And so I knew how beautiful Roberta was, not seeing her visually but being able to see and feel her heart,” Wonder said.

After the emotional performance, Rev. Al Sharpton gave the eulogy on Flack’s legacy that has lasted generations.

“The reason we’re here is because she made a difference,” Sharpton said. “And we should all ask ourselves when it comes our time, will they pack a church for you? If Roberta were here tonight, she would tell you, ‘Don’t just praise me, emulate me.’”

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• Celebrity News

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

March 11, 2025

Odell Beckham Jr., Druski Deny Involvement In Amended Sexual Assault Lawsuit Against Diddy

Both men released statements via social media asserting their innocence

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After being named in a sexual assault lawsuit against Sean “Diddy” Combs, NFL player Odell Beckham Jr. and comedian Drew “Druski” Desbordes have both denied involvement and responded to the allegations levied against them.

According to USA Today, a lawsuit was filed in October 2024 accusing Diddy of sexual assault and battery, abuse, false imprisonment, and kidnapping by Ashley Parham. In an amended filing March 7, Beckam, Druski, as well as singer Jacquelyn “Jaguar” Wright, Janice Combs, and eight other co-defendants were added to the complaint.

After the amendment became public, Druski immediately took to social media to deny the accusation. He states that he wasn’t even publicly known at the time of the alleged activity.

“This allegation is a fabricated lie. I wasn’t a public figure in 2018 — I was broke living with my mom without any connections to the entertainment industry at the time of this allegation, so the inclusion of my name is truly outlandish. My heart breaks for actual victims of abuse, but I’m fully confident that the evidence will expose this falsehood and the individuals who are maliciously trying to game the legal system to pedal false narratives.”

Beckham also released a statement via social media stating that there is “absolutely no truth” to the claim and that he was nowhere near the location where the plaintiff states the alleged assault took place.

“I have been informed of the allegations about me in a suit in [California],” Beckham said. “I really can’t believe that my name is mentioned in that matter. There is absolutely no truth to those allegations. I do not know and have never met the person that filed the suit. I was not anywhere near Orinda, CA at that time. In fact, I don’t think I have ever even been to Orinda, CA. I have never done anything like that, and I would never do anything like that to anyone. I’m confident that these ridiculous claims against me will be dismissed.”

Parham states in the suit that after meeting a man identified as Shane Pearce in February 2018, Pearce supposedly “set her up” to be assaulted by Diddy on March 23, 2018. The alleged assault supposedly took place in Orinda, California, at Pearce’s apartment.

However, a written statement from the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office stated that Parham’s claims were “unfounded.”

“A report was taken on March 23, 2018. We take these cases seriously, and detectives thoroughly investigated the accusations. It was later determined the claims were unfounded.”

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• News

by Keka Araújo

March 11, 2025

Barbados Cotton: The Government’s Labor Call Amid Slavery’s Lingering Threads

As the cotton harvest approaches, its success hinges on Bajans’ willingness to unify their economic potential and the historical weight of slavery—and the trauma they carry.

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The Bajan government, in collaboration with Exclusive Cottons of the Caribbean Inc., is inviting unemployed individuals seeking additional income to join the upcoming West Indian Sea Island cotton harvest. This initiative reportedly offers not only economic opportunities but a chance to engage with a crop deeply interwoven with Barbados’s complex history of slavery and global commerce.

A Facebook post from March 7 revealed that the account for the official government of Barbados put out the call to action.

“Unemployed persons or those looking to earn extra income are invited to participate in the upcoming cotton harvest at Hannay’s Plantation, Dayrells Hill, Christ Church.”

The harvest, scheduled at Hannay’s Plantation in Dayrells Hill, Christ Church, highlights the enduring prestige of West Indian Sea Island Cotton. Celebrated for its unparalleled quality, likened to silk and cashmere, this rare textile is both a symbol of luxury and a reminder of the island’s storied past. Interested participants are encouraged to contact Exclusive Cottons of the Caribbean Inc. for further details.

While the initiative promises economic benefits, it also compels a reckoning with Barbados’s fraught history of cotton production. Historically, the cultivation of cotton was inseparable from the exploitation of enslaved Africans, a system that began in Barbados in 1627 and persisted until the abolition of slavery in 1834. This legacy not only defined the island’s economy but also shaped global capitalism. Kevin Farmer, deputy director of the Barbados Museum and Historical Society, underscored this point, noting that crops like sugar, rice, and cotton in the New World were built on the “blood, tears, and death” of millions of enslaved individuals.

Artifacts housed in the Barbados Museum, such as branding irons and iron shackles, serve as stark reminders of this harrowing past. Farmer asserts that Barbados has embraced its history, aiming to educate both residents and visitors through initiatives like a signage project in Bridgetown. This UNESCO World Heritage site will mark locations of historical significance tied to the island’s legacy of slavery.

“It’s a difficult history, but it’s one that underpins not only the development of this island but also the evolution of global economic systems over the past 500 years,” Farmer told the New York Times. “Our efforts to confront and share this past have grown alongside broader scholarship and a willingness to engage with history.”

Bridgetown’s landscape still bears the scars of this era. A plaque commemorates The Cage, an enclosure where runaway slaves were detained until they were reclaimed by their owners. Originally situated in the city center in 1688, it was relocated to the pier head in 1818 to shield the town from the “noise and stench” of those imprisoned there.

The decision to rekindle cotton harvesting at Hannay’s Plantation has elicited mixed reactions. For some, it represents a pathway to revitalizing an industry steeped in tradition and meeting global demand for luxury textiles. For others, the setting serves as an uncomfortable reminder of Barbados’s colonial history, deeply entwined with the exploitation of enslaved labor. Although slavery was abolished in the British Empire in 1834, its echoes remain profoundly embedded in the island’s identity.

Today, Barbados’s population of approximately 286,000 is predominantly of African descent, with 92.4% identifying as Black Bajans, reflecting the enduring impact of the transatlantic slave trade. Bajan Creole, a regional English variant, is widely spoken and reflects the island’s vibrant cultural evolution. Efforts to preserve and promote the island’s history—both its achievements and its traumas—are ongoing, with education playing a central role.

Exclusive Cottons of the Caribbean Inc. seeks to position West Indian Sea Island Cotton as both a symbol of national pride and a driver of economic progress. Among the rarest cottons in the world, it is prized for its extraordinary quality. Revitalizing this agricultural sector aligns with broader initiatives to diversify Barbados’s economy while reconnecting with traditional practices.

Participants in the harvest will play a crucial role in this endeavor, bridging the chasm between a painful past and an optimistic future. Their work offers not only financial benefits but also a tangible link to a crop that once defined the island’s economic identity.

As the cotton harvest approaches, its success hinges on Bajans’ willingness to unify their economic potential and the historical weight of slavery—and the trauma they carry.

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• Entertainment

by Ida Harris

March 11, 2025

‘Jazz In The Gardens’ Music Festival Is The Gift That Keeps On Giving To South Florida

The city of Miami Gardens is hands-on with curation and planning.

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If there is any question of where tens of thousands of people were over the weekend of March 8, the answer is simple: Miami Gardens’ 18th Annual Jazz in the Gardens Festival.

The ninth largest city in the United States continues to produce one of its longest running music festivals, which unites multiple generations of music lovers, provides business opportunities for a spectrum of entrepreneurs, and stimulates the economic growth not only for Miami Gardens but surrounding communities as well through an uptick in services, including food, transportation, and hospitality.

BLACK ENTERPRISE spoke with Mayor Rodney Harris, who has been instrumental in keeping the festival going strong for the city of Miami Gardens through its partnership with the Black Promoters Collective and thoughtful curation. Harris gave an inside purview of how Jazz in the Gardens Music Festival outdoes itself year after year. 

“Just look at the lineup. The lineup is incredible,” Harris told BE. 

“To try to match it from last year, we do surveys with the people who come out to the festival. We ask them who [they] would like to see so we can bring them on next year.”

The mayor’s office is hands-on with planning and starts pretty quickly to stay ahead of the curve, paying careful attention to the ever-shifting demographic of festivalgoers. 

“Once we compile all that information—and it’ll be right after this concert is over—we’ll start probably Monday or Tuesday,” Harris said. 

“We sit down with Black Promoters Collective and other organizations and our staff, and we try to figure out what genres are really purchasing the tickets, what they would like to hear. In the past, we had older groups, but in order to grow the music festival, we had to try to get a little bit young.”

In recent years, Jazz in the Gardens has entertained over 41,000 people at a single event, ranging from ages 27 through 48,” Harris confirmed. Acts like Maxwell, Babyface, Jeezy,  Trick & Trina, Fantasia, and others appeal to the broad spectrum of attendees. This year’s festival included Lauryn Hill, Doechii, Wyclef, Doug E. Fresh & Slick Rick, Ja Rule, Beenie Man, Toni Braxton, and Remy Ma, who all lived up to bringing down the house and captivating an audience that represented the multigenerational crowd. The performances are priceless and hold cultural and economic weight for the Southern Miami region. 

“This has an economic impact for the entire South Florida,” Harris told BE. 

“Miami Gardens benefits from it, but it’s from the entire South: Palm Beach down to Homestead and small restaurants and small businesses and even those big restaurants reap the benefits of what we’re doing with Jazz in the Gardens.”

Harris continued: “It’s a major event, and we get support from our county commissioners, our county mayors, and we get support from everybody to ensure that we can continue with this music festival. We’re, just excited that people have bought into it…It’s something that we’re doing right as a city and as a business.”

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