Tyler Perry’s Former ‘Diary Of A Mad Black Woman’ Mansion Is Up For Sale
The Fulton County mansion comes with two vintage cars.
Would you like to live in the Metro Atlanta mansion that once belonged to Tyler Perry? You’re in luck; for $3.9 million, the home could be yours.
Located in the Atlanta suburb of Chattahoochee Hills, the mansion was featured in Perry’s film, Diary Of A Mad Black Woman and the 2022 comedy Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul.
“This property is a rare opportunity for anyone looking to own a piece of Atlanta’s rich entertainment history,” Hubert Tate, the property’s lead listing advisor with Keller Williams Realty Buckhead, told 11 Alive News Atlanta.
The media mogul built the luxury estate inspired by the grand chateaux of Europe. The mansion has a gated entry that leads up a landscaped driveway to a circular motor court. The massive home has six bedrooms, six bathrooms, a tennis court, a gym, a state-of-the-art movie theater, and a 4,000-square-foot, two-floor master bedroom suite. It also features custom chandeliers.
The 16,000-square-foot abode sits on 11 acres and is approximately a 25-minute drive from Atlanta’s Hartsfield Jackson Airport. In addition to the home, the owners include a 1973 Rolls Royce and a 1975 Ferrari.
Perry owns homes in Wyoming, Texas, and Los Angeles, where he famously hosted Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
In 2009, the screenwriter purchased two small islands in the Bahamas. He built a Balinese-style villa and a set of bungalows on one of the previously uninhabited islands. Perry chose the Bahamas as the backdrop for his film, Why Did I Get Married Too? In an interview with The Bahamas Chronicle, the mogul said he said he wanted to display the beauty of the Caribbean nation.
“I absolutely wanted to show the world that this place is unbelievable. Some of the clearest waters; I’ve never seen water like this. Ok, so I bought a little place here and bought a little island here. For about a mile all around, I can see everything in the water, it is amazing, just the clarity. I wanted the world to see that,” he told the publication.
New ‘I Couldn’t Vote’ Stickers Bring Awareness To Voter Suppression
Design company brings awareness to voter suppression.
New “I Couldn’t Vote” stickers were released to draw attention to voter suppression. Voter rights organization VoteAmerica partnered with Public Domain to design the sticker, Fast Company reported.
Rob Colucci and Zack Roif are co-designers of the initiative. Colucci compared it to the “I Voted” sticker many Americans receive after casting their ballots.
“We hijacked the ‘I voted’ sticker to really kind of give a voice and a face to the millions of people that are suppressed by voting.”
Roif says hearing the stories of people whose votes have been suppressed caught his attention and made him want to take action.
“Once you hear one story [of voter suppression], you sort of can’t look away from the problem.”
VoteAmerica and Public Domain are using stickers to raise awareness. Georgia students have decided to protest.
BLACK ENTERPRISE reported on Georgia students marching at the Atlanta Morehouse campus to protest the Election Integrity Act, SB201, which was voted into law in 2021.
The law bars volunteers from passing out water and food to voters while waiting in lengthy voting lines.
Nicole Carty, the executive director of Get Free, a student organization, spoke about what she calls the law’s “inhumane” stipulations.
“It is so visibly dehumanizing to actually criminalize such an act of humanity and dignity. It really exemplifies the broader inhumanity and inequality of all these voter laws that are happening. It’s not just about not being able to hand out water. Many of the most insidious components of these anti-voter laws are deep in the bureaucracy and Jim Crow. So, we’re using it to shine a light on what is dehumanizing about these laws.”
The reference to Jim Crow harkens back to policies designed to keep Black people away from the ballot box. Policies like the “grandfather clause” or poll taxes placed financial and historical barriers in voter’s way.
While the restrictive policies began in the 1800s, they were still employed well into the Jim Crow era.
“It was not until Pres[ident] Lyndon B. Johnson introduced the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which Congress was able to put an end to the discriminatory practice,” cites the Encyclopedia Britannica.
New Orleans Tells UnHoused To Bounce, Taylor Swift Is Coming
Unhoused New Orleans residents will have to make way for Taylor Swift and tourism.
According to the Associated Press, the city of New Orleans is clearing out its unhoused encampments to make way for Taylor Swift. The pop singer will perform at the New Orleans Ceasars Superdome on Oct. 25—27.
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry’s Communications Director, Kate Kelly, issued a statement reinforcing the decision and citing the concert as a factor.
“As we prepare for the city to host Taylor Swift and Super Bowl LIX, we are committed to ensuring New Orleans puts its best foot forward when on the world stage.”
Advocates for the unhoused say the state’s move is a setback to their progress. The unnamed advocates are working to find viable housing options for the 75 displaced individuals.
“Advocates said the sweep would disrupt progress in finding long-term, permanent housing for those affected. Other people without shelter living in the historic, tourist-dependent French Quarter neighborhood would also be moved to the same location,” AP reported.
The state government is, seemingly, prioritizing its tourist revenue over the long-term well-being of its citizens.
Due to multiple climate issues and the rise in housing costs, the number of affordable dwellings has decreased. As a result, many are left unhoused, and the city of New Orleans is feeling the effects of this crisis.
“The city’s homeless population grew 20% in two years, totaling 1,454 people in 2024, both living outside and in shelters, a 5% increase from the previous year,” according to the report on the 2024 Point in Timesurvey.
Though the state is intent on having a good appearance before the world stage, New Orleans’ unhoused population can rest knowing they will not be criminalized for their circumstances.
On June 28, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Grants Pass v. Johnson that unhoused people sleeping in public spaces could be arrested and charged with a criminal offense.
However, the New Orleans City Council passed a resolution to ensure its unhoused residents are protected from criminal charges and given the resources to secure adequate living spaces.
The resolution states: “The New Orleans City Council hereby affirms it’s ongoing commitment to ending homelessness, not through criminalization efforts that punish unhoused residents for sleeping in public, but through investing, improving solutions that both improve housing, stability and preserve dignity and respect for all New Orleans sleeping in public, but through investing, improving solutions that both improve housing, stability and preserve dignity and respect for all New Orleans.”
The resolution also addresses funding for the unhoused through the Home for Good New Orleans initiative, which focuses on direct housing placement for unhoused residents.
Judge Considers Mistrial In Young Thug’s RICO Trial
Judge Paige Reese Whitaker has admonished prosecutors for the latest blunder
Atlanta’s longest criminal trial in history may get a ruling that could end the trial.
According to Complex, Judge Paige Reese Whitaker has admonished prosecutors yet again for a blunder that defense attorneys caught, leading to a motion for another mistrial in Young Thug’s RICO trial in Atlanta.
The incident took place on Oct. 23 when prosecutors placed a witness, Wunnie Lee, on the stand. The witness was asked to read a social media post to the jurors and the courtroom. The post that Lee read to the jury included a reference to one of Young Thug’s co-defendants, which was redacted from the version that jurors had access to. The social media post included the hashtag #FreeQua, about the Atlanta rapper’s co-defendant, Marquavius Huey, who is currently in jail. The jury is not supposed to know that he is in jail. Due to Lee reading the hashtag aloud, the witness’ attorney, Nicole Westmoreland, requested a mistrial.
“We’re not going to be able to unring this bell, your honor,” Westmoreland told the judge. “The state presented to the witness, I guess, the unredacted version [of the exhibit], didn’t prep him to not comment on it, and he did. Now the jury has repeatedly heard about Mr. Nichols being in jail, being in prison. And you cannot unring that bell. We would ask for a mistrial.”
After Judge Whitaker chastised prosecutors for their deed, she said to them, “You should have presented [the witness] with a document that had [the hashtag] redacted. It’s just sloppy… It should have occurred to you.”
The judge asked the defendants if they wanted a mistrial before ending the trial session for the day.
The Atlanta rapper is on trial after being brought up with a 65-count indictment in May 2022. The state has accused him of committing 191 “overt acts” while participating in alleged gang activities through YSL, known in the streets as “Young Slime Life.” Young Thug states that YSL stands for Young Stoner Records, and his associates are not gang members.
Posted in three parts on both X and TikTok, the confrontation started by showing a number of travelers seated at an unidentified airport gate when a white man in a black shirt confronts a Black man in a red hoodie — with boxing gloves around his neck — over the language he is using on a phone call. “You got some small children, your language is pretty steep,” the white man can be heard saying. The Black man responds by saying, “Respectfully, respectfully, I don’t know what I said, but mind your business, respectfully.”
Then things started to escalate. When the man in the black tee said that he was minding his business, the other reminded him that he wasn’t, or the conversation wouldn’t have begun in the first place. Following the response, the white man boldly asked the Black man if he wanted to step outside, referring to having a fight. “Wanna step outside?” the man asks. Without hesitation, the man with the boxing gloves hops up to take him up on his offer. “We can go right now. Where you wanna go?” he said.
Once the man in the hoodie rose to his feet, the woman sitting next to the man in the Black shirt – who initiated the confrontation — raised her hand in a motion for both to calm down; however, the alleged boxer wasn’t backing down. “And you tell me to calm down, but you asked me, right?” he said.
Part two and three of the confrontation that was posted on TikTok shows the Black man demanding an apology. Once the white man did so, another white woman suddenly appeared and complained about the man’s language, making a bigger scene, and prompting that she wanted something done about it, resulting in airport personnel arriving on the scene.
As the clip started to circulate, gaining more than five million views, comments poured in in support of the Black man, later identified as Will Jefferson. The professional boxer has his own following on TikTok under the handle @gods.will00. He even commented on the video to defend himself. “Do you know how hard it is to forgive somebody that’s literally picking on you for no reason other than the fact that you look different?” Jefferson wrote in the comment section.
“Yeah, I love God [so] sorry I’m not a thug lol”
Another follower pointed out that no one initially stood up for Jefferson while the confrontation was going on. “The person recording should have stood up for him!!,” @darrickchris said. “Didn’t say a word on his behalf.”
ESPNW Announces Speakers For 2024 Women And Sports Summit
The event will feature all-star women in sports business and media.
ESPNW, ESPN’s women-focused brand, has announced the speakers and agenda for its 2024 Women and Sports Summit.
The Ojai, California, event will take place from Oct. 28 to 30, featuring all-star women in sports and media. The Summit will also celebrate its 15th anniversary of advancing women in diverse industries. ESPNW recently unveiled its full slate of speakers to social media.
espnW announces the agenda & speakers for the 2024 @espnW: Women + Sports Summit in Ojai, Calif.
The event will take place in-person & virtually Oct. 28-30
SportsCenter anchor Elle Duncan will return to host the occasion, as the ESPN Press Room confirmed. Its keynote speakers include Willow Bay, Dean of USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism and Owner of the Angel City Football Club, and Allyson Felix, 11-time Olympic Track and Field medalist and advocate. In her conversation about launching her women’s sports-focused management firm, Always Alpha, Felix will speak with ESPNW Podcast Host and World Cup Champion Julie Foudy.
Further events include a World-Class Athlete Panel comprised of Olympic Gold Medalist Kaleah Cooper and Olympian Clarissa Shields, speaking with 15-time World Champion Hannah Storm and 4-time WNBA All-Star Masai Russell. Moreover, presentations on how to better engage the growing female fanbase and women’s sports medicine are also scheduled.
Alongside Power Talks with diverse industry leaders and the introduction of Toyota’s Everyday Heroes Program, attendees can expect a musical performance by Brittany Howard. A mentorship program showcase will also take place in partnership with the U.S. Department of State Global Sports Mentoring Program.
Esteemed women sports analysts, from Andraya Carter to Carolyn Peck, will also gather to look back at one of the WNBA’s most historic seasons. Through its immersive programming of panels, breakout sessions, and speakers, participants will engage in inspiring networking experiences to elevate women’s sports for future generations.
Attendees can take part in its festivities in person or virtually. While in-person registration remains invite-only, free virtual registration is available now.
Texas Southern University Opens State-Of-The-Art Athletic Facility
The 6,600-square-foot venue features new state-of-the-art weights and weight machines costing $3.5 million
A Texas HBCU recently cut the ribbon after opening a new athletic facility featuring the latest state-of-the-art equipment.
The Texas Southern University (TSU) Department of Athletics just announced the ribbon-cutting for its new athletic strength and conditioning facility. The 6,600-square-foot venue features new state-of-the-art weights and weight machines, offices for strength and conditioning staff, as well as more space for physical therapy and other services that student-athletes will have access to.
🌟 Big news for TSU! Last week, we broke ground on our brand-new softball and baseball facilities! ⚾️
This development underscores Texas Southern University’s commitment to providing its student-athletes with top-notch resources. pic.twitter.com/95654Otv2E
“It gives us the opportunity to compete with anybody,” said Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Kevin Granger in a written statement.
“One of the things that these new student-athletes are checking out is your facilities. So, when you don’t have top-notch facilities, a lot of times they’re not going to come to your school. Now when we have recruits visit our campus, we can bring them into facilities that will match up with anybody’s in the state.”
The university has poured $3.5 million into the facility for the future success of TSU Athletics.
Texas Southern University has 16 intercollegiate athletics programs presently. Included under the umbrella of the athletics program are the Ocean of Soul Marching Band, TSU Cheer team, TSU Sensations, as well as the mascots. The new facility nearly doubles the space that TSU student-athletes previously had access to through the strength and conditioning space in H&PE Arena.
“Having this bigger space, like this bigger weight room provides more motivation,” said TSU baseball player Errick Lewis. “We can definitely get stronger, bigger, faster here. I think it’s just going to be a great environment. The team’s going to love it. It’s going to be great.”
Earlier this month, the school also announced that Dr. Robert D. Bullard was honored with the 2024 Bradford Washburn Award at the Museum of Science. He was recognized for the lifelong work he has been doing, advocating for marginalized communities impacted by environmental hazards, which has transformed national policies, and empowered people to demand environmental justice.
The Country’s Largest Black-Owned Construction Company Declined Investment Offer From Michael Jordan
C. David Moody Jr. recalls turning down an early investment offer from Michael Jordan.
Michael Jordan has an extensive stock portfolio of companies. Still, the largest Black-owned construction management and general contracting firm in the United States turned down his offer to invest.
C. David Moody Jr., founder of C.D. Moody Construction, recalls the early startup days of his Atlanta-based company when he could’ve used investment but opted out of it to see what he was capable of doing on his own.
“Well, I use the stock market for my investments, but I think I couldn’t have a partner, not because I’m difficult to work with. I just wanted to run my own show,” he said on AfroTech’s Black Tech Green Money podcast.
“I mean, Michael Jordan was going to invest in my company in the early ’90s.”
Moody continued. “I still got the picture where he signed ‘congratulations and good luck’ to our construction company. At the last minute, I went to his financial guy and turned him down.
“He said, ‘You the first person to ever turn ’em down.’ Now I said ‘I turned ’em down ’cause I wanted to know what I could do on my own.’”
The Morehouse and Howard University alum proved right by believing in himself. In his 35+ years of operating his construction company, Moody scaled the business from $1 million annually to $70 million annually with commercial projects for Disney, Home Depot, the Olympic Stadium, Morehouse College Leadership Center, Turner Baseball Field, Philips Arena, and many more.
Moody attributes his early financial guidance to his father, a former professor and vice provost at the University of Michigan. His father provided him with valuable advice that set him on the right path.
“My dad grew up in the Depression, and things were tight, and he grew up very poor in Louisiana,” Moody explained. “He always taught me to save. He said, ‘I don’t care if you save but $10.’ So when I started my business — which we started under-capitalized like all of us pretty much do — whenever I made a few dollars, I was scared to spend it. I did reinvest it and made sure I could take care of my family.”
For over two decades, Moody’s company has consistently been featured on BLACK ENTERPRISE magazine’s “Top 100” list of the nation’s largest Black-owned industrial and services companies. Additionally, the Atlanta Business Chronicle has recognized Moody’s firm as one of Atlanta’s top 25 commercial contractors and top 100 private companies.
Bermuda Art Month Amplifies Its Rich Culture and History With Exhibits, Tours, And Tastings
Bermuda Tourism Authority takes us inside the burgeoning Bermuda Art Month.
The month of October is taking on new significance in Bermuda as the island nation celebrates its second annual Art Month.
BLACK ENTERPRISE received an exclusive introduction to the growing event, featuring art exhibitions, walking tours, Bacardi tastings, and sip-and-paint sessions inside a shimmering centuries-old cave. Launched in 2023, Bermuda Art Month: A Celebration of Culture, Creativity, and Connection features a diverse array of events that captures the essence of Bermuda’s vibrant artistic spirit.
Bermuda Tourism Authority curated a special itinerary of captivating art tours, thought-provoking panel discussions, elevated exhibits, and interactive art sessions in stunning Bermudian locations for the sole purpose of demonstrating how the island’s scenic venues serve as a canvas for creativity to thrive.
I had the pleasure of enjoying a pleasant three-night stay at Bermuda’s Hamilton Princess & Beach Club. For over a century, the iconic “Pink Palace” has welcomed elite travelers from around the world, earning its reputation for elegance, exceptional hospitality, and outstanding quality.
More than just a hotel, Hamilton Princess is also a stunning walking museum featuring a remarkable art collection displayed throughout its common areas, with works by renowned artists such as Henri Matisse, Andy Warhol, and Pablo Picasso. Offering a self-guided art tour that showcases iconic names in modern art at every corner, the Hamilton Princess is the ideal place to stay during Bermuda Art Month.
Courtesy of Bermuda Tourism Authority
My visit to the Masterworks Museum of Bermuda introduced me to its latest exhibit NOT ALL HAS TO BE AS I WAS, by the remarkable Bermudian artist Gherdai Hassell. This contemporary showcase tells Bermuda’s story through art, featuring Hassell’s captivating painted portraits blended with various materials. The exhibit also includes her collaborations with fellow Bermudian artists and selections from the Masterworks Permanent Collection. Addressing themes of gender, identity, and Bermudian heritage, the exhibition reflects on the island’s history of Spanish and British rule, as well as the diverse cultural backgrounds of descendants of slaves and early settlers.
Pieces in the exhibit from the museum’s permanent collection feature works by artists native to Bermuda or inspired by their time on the island. Highlights include Nude in a Garden (c. 1950s) by Bermudian artist Charles Lloyd Tucker (1913–1971), and an intimate drawing by renowned artist Georgia O’Keeffe (1887–1986), who visited Bermuda in the springs of 1933 and 1934 while recovering from depression. A standout piece in the exhibit is Gherdai Hassell’s The Bermuda Onion, symbolizing the island’s history as a significant onion exporter and the metaphor of peeling back layers to reveal more profound meaning. A separate exhibit, The Descendants of Summer, features documentary-style photographs that beautifully capture the diverse essence of life in Bermuda.
Our next stop was the Bermuda National Gallery, where we toured the Bermuda Biennial Exhibition. Since its inception in 1994, this open call for Bermudian artists and island residents has been a cornerstone of Bermuda’s contemporary art scene. This year’s theme, “Places, Presence & Poetics: An Unpacking”, features 32 artworks by 25 artists showcasing various scales and mediums. The exhibition offers a powerful glimpse into the themes captivating artists today. Gherdai Hassell’s Organic Waters is among the featured artists, further underscoring her prominent role in Bermuda’s contemporary art landscape.
Organic Matters, Gherdai Hassell, Bermuda National Gallery Biennial Exhibit/Courtesy of Bermuda Tourism Authority
I had the pleasure of joining two walking tours led by Bermudian historian Kristin White, who provided an in-depth look at Bermuda’s art scene and how Black artists uplift and support one another in a country with a history of segregation. The tour explored the stories of the Gombey dancers, Sally Bassett and Mary Prince, who have inspired influential works by local Black artists. Bermuda also honors Mary Prince with a national holiday, making it the only country in the world to celebrate and recognize a Black woman with such a distinction on Mary Prince Day.
We also learned about the challenges many contemporary artists face when commissioned for public works. One such artist, Shanna Hollis, carefully considered her approach when asked to create a mural in the historic St. George’s town square. Inspired by her brother, fellow painter Nashon Hollis, Shanna embraced the opportunity to involve the community in her work. The resulting mural is a tribute to Bermuda’s rich history, spanning time.
Art is best enjoyed on a full stomach with a great drink, and Bermuda has visitors covered.
Art Month coincides with the Taste of Bermuda festival, held from September 30 to October 2, celebrating the island’s diverse eateries and showcasing local culinary talent. We enjoyed attending The Art of the Pour Bartending Competition at Bacardi Headquarters in Hamilton, where 15 of Bermuda’s top bars and restaurants competed for Bermuda’s Best Cocktail.
The Wild Herbs N Plants Foraging Tour with Doreen Williams offered an immersive and refreshing experience, introducing us to Bermuda’s edible wild plants and healing properties. We sampled fresh fennel, prickly pears, and grapes. Afterward, Ms. Doreen treated us to a beachside, all-vegan lunch. Her homemade spread included pumpkin spice donuts, shortbread cookies, fresh chips and salsa, and natural juice made by hand. We wrapped up the trip with well-deserved relaxation on the stunning Cooper’s Island beach.
Our final night was truly memorable as we went to Grotto Bay for a captivating Sip and Paint session inside a stunning, illuminated cave. While enjoying smooth R&B and reggae, we sipped white wine, snacked on sandwiches, and received expert guidance from Bermuda’s own Alshanté Foggo. Thanks to her help, I transformed my preschool-level painting into a piece I’d be proud to hang on my wall.
By sharing my personalized itinerary, I hope to remind you that Bermuda has so much more to offer than just pink sand beaches and Swizzles—though you can enjoy both while immersing yourself in the island’s vibrant art scene. Bermuda Art Month invites locals and international visitors to immerse themselves in the island’s spirited artistic culture and heritage. This month-long event fosters collaboration between local artists, galleries, and cultural institutions, all united by a shared passion for art, culture, and creativity. Attendees can deepen their appreciation of Bermuda’s culture through educational workshops, diverse exhibits, and connections with fellow art lovers. Plan your visit next October as the island establishes Art Month as a cherished annual tradition on its cultural calendar.
Judge Orders Rudy Giuliani To Turn Over Assets To Georgia Election Workers
The former Georgia election workers said Giuliani pushed former President Donald Trump’s lies that the 2020 presidential election was stolen, which led to death threats that made them fear their lives.
A judge has ordered that Rudy Giuliani hand over his New York City apartment and 26 watches to the two Georgia election workers who won a $148 million defamation lawsuit against him. The ruling came Tuesday as Ruby Freeman and her daughter, Wandrea “Shaye” Moss, wait to collect their money.
Freeman and Moss won the judgment in December 2023 following false ballot fraud claims Giuliani made against them during the 2020 presidential election cycle. The former Georgia election workers said Giuliani pushed former President Donald Trump’s lies that the election was stolen, which led to death threats that made them fear for their lives.
NRP reports that Giuliani has yet to pay Freeman and Moss. Following the nearly $150 million verdict, Giuliani filed for bankruptcy, which halted Freeman and Moss’s attempts to collect their award. A judge threw out the case, citing “uncooperative conduct” from Giuliani for failing to comply with court orders and disclose his sources of income.
According to court documents published by Protect Democracy, Giuliani had to hand over his New York City apartment at 45 East 66th Street. Located in Lenox Hill on the Upper East Side, StreetEasy estimates apartments cost around $5 million.
Freeman and Moss could sell the condo for several millions, but it won’t dent what Giuliani owes. So, in addition to the apartment, a judge ordered the former mayor to hand over more than two dozen luxury watches and a 1980 Mercedes that the late movie star Lauren Bacall once owned.
The judge said the fees owed to Giuliani for services rendered in 2020 and 2021 to Trump’s presidential campaign and the Republican National Committee, which are reportedly estimated at $2 million, have to be handed to the women. Nonexempt cash in at least two Citibank checking accounts, furniture, sports memorabilia, a diamond ring, a signed Reggie Jackson picture, a signed Yankee Stadium picture, and more also have to be handed over.
