A Different World, including Jasmine Guy, Kadeem Hardison, Dawnn Lewis, Cree Summer, Darryl Bell and Debbie Allen
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 11, 2024

A Different World HBCU College Tour Extended After Successful Sold-Out Run

Featured on the tour are Kadeem Hardison, Darryl M. Bell, Jasmine Guy, Cree Summer, Charnele Brown, Dawnn Lewis, and Glynn Turman

Over 35 years ago, we all entered “A Different World” when some of us experienced life at an HBCU (Historically black colleges and universities) for the first time when we watched the characters on a spinoff from The Cosby Show start their collegiate paths. Now, the cast of the successful NBC show has completed A Different World HBCU College Tour and has announced that it has been extended because it was well-received on campuses they visited.

A Different World followed the second oldest Huxtable daughter, Denise (Lisa Bonet), to Hillman College, the fictional HBCU that was patterned after various Black colleges and was based out of Virginia.

According to People, cast members from the 1987 sitcom (which lasted six seasons) Kadeem Hardison, Darryl M. Bell, Jasmine Guy, Cree Summer, Charnele Brown, Dawnn Lewis, and Glynn Turman embarked on the tour in February for a 10-city venture. It started in Atlanta at the Atlanta University Center, home to Morehouse College, Spelman College, and Clark Atlanta University. It traveled to other HBCUs in Alabama and Washington, D.C.

Based on the success and sold-out tour, it has been extended and it will pick back up at Bowie State University on Oct 17.

Although the sitcom ended in 1993, the richness of the show and the characters still resonate almost four decades later.

Darryl Bell, who played Ron Johnson on the show, spoke to the media outlet about the impact of the show and why it still hits a chord with people.

“Our show was able to depict the African American community from ages 18 to 75 and really diverse, not only group of individuals but backgrounds and ideas,” he said. “There was always somewhere someone could say, ‘That’s me, and I relate to that.’”

“I think because our show, which was written by, produced by, directed by, and starring predominantly Black college educated women from Debbie Allen to Susan [Fales-Hill] and certainly, we had a more diverse writing staff. First, be smart, be funny, and try to aspire to be great. I think we did that and added a human [element] to it, and I think that’s why the show continues to resonate with new generations.”

A Different World HBCU College Tour is for students only, and students must register on campus to attend, according to the website.

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Washington, raccoons, feeding,
by Keka Araújo

October 11, 2024

100 Hungry Raccoons Pull Up To White Woman’s Crib, She’s Been Feeding Them For Years

And just like that, the woman’s yard became a sanctuary to Rocky and his homies.

In what can only be described as a real-life 2024 reboot of Alfred Hitchcock’s 1963 horror classic The Birds, a Poulsbo, Washington woman’s casual habit of feeding a few raccoons turned into a full-blown furry frenzy earlier this week. 

The unnamed woman, who had been feeding the local raccoon population for over 35 years, called the police after she could not enter her home due to a gathering of 100 raccoons waiting for their next meal.

Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Kevin McCarty explained that the woman had been feeding a few raccoons regularly without issue for decades. 

“But somehow, the word got out in raccoon land, and now the whole gang showed up expecting dinner,” McCarty quipped.

When deputies arrived at the scene, they were greeted by 50 to 100 raccoons crowding the woman’s property like they were waiting for the headliner to take the stage. “They had never seen that many raccoons in one place. This was a first for everyone,” McCarty added.

And just like that, the woman’s yard became a sanctuary to Rocky and his homies.

“I’d say it’s been about the last month or so I’ve noticed it,” Wendy Cronk, who lives nearby, told KUSA. “I’ve had several raccoons in the yard recently. My dogs have gotten in a scuffle several times with a raccoon. I’ve even had to take one of my dogs to the vet after tussling with a raccoon. And I’ve also noticed there’s been a lot more hit raccoons up on the main road here.”

Cronk even suggested that someone intervene to handle the mammal issue on the woman’s behalf.

“I just hope that somebody steps in and helps her take care of this problem, and hopefully, she’ll quit doing it,” said Cronk.

The police referred the case to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, who determined that feeding raccoons isn’t illegal, but is a recipe for chaos. Bridget Mire, a spokesperson for the department, said, “The raccoons have started dispersing now that they aren’t being fed, and we’re glad for a positive outcome.”

As for the woman, she had contacted a company to relocate the raccoons, but it was a costly fix at $500 per animal. She declined the service.

McCarty left everyone with a word of advice, “It’s pretty simple—don’t feed wild animals. Once they know where the food is, they’ll keep coming back. And in this case, they invited the whole raccoon neighborhood.”

The Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office shared a video of the raccoon takeover on X (formerly Twitter) with the cheeky caption: “On Patrol: Raccoon Invasion.” Social media was quick to react, with users poking fun at the bizarre scene and criticizing the woman for decades of unintended raccoon population growth.

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Drones, Insurance, Homes, aerial, graphics, insurance companies, claims, denied
by Kandiss Edwards

October 11, 2024

Georgia Residents Caught With Illegal Contraband-Filled Drone

Georgia residents were caught flying contraband into Louisiana prison via drone. On Oct. 4, Sharketie Leverette, 33, and Michael Eulin, 35,  allegedly attempted to smuggle thousands of dollars worth of contraband into the federal prison at Pollok, Yahoo News reported. Both Leverette and Eulin have been arrested.

In a press release, Grant Parish Sherrif’s Office claims the two Georgia residents operated a drone over five feet in width filled with illegal substances that carry a hefty price tag.

“The drone, more than 5 feet wide, was recovered, along with tobacco, marijuana, THC vapes, ten cellphones, and a stolen pistol. The value of the tobacco was $32,000, while the value of the marijuana was $8,000.”

Guards observed the drone dropping the paraphernalia on prison grounds, prompting a widespread patrol of the area. The search led to the recovery of the illegal items and Eulin and Leverette’s arrest.

Contraband entering prisons is a widespread problem. Earlier this year, BLACK ENTERPRISE reported on a smuggling ring conducted by four female security officers in Atlanta. LaQuna Ballard, 34, Breasha Tate, 26, Regina Harris, 26, and Anizya Silas, 24, were arrested by the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office. The former guards are charged with “conspiracy and providing prohibited items to inmates.”

Among the prohibited items smuggled into the county jail were pot pies, cell phones, cell phone chargers, vapes, and cigarettes.

Ballard and Tate are accused of more than just smuggling and conspiracy. Ballard is accused of sending inmates sexually explicit photos and videos.

“Tate admitted to smuggling six cell phones into the jail using a cutout inside a book and having sex with one inmate three separate times,” BE reports.

The women did not work for Fulton County directly. Strategic Security Corp is named as their employer. Strategic Security Corp. is responsible for hiring and training security contractors for Fulton County Jails. Still, the buck did not stop with the corporation’s training procedures. The lack of security inside the jail is scrutinized, as the smuggling operation took over months.

RELATED CONTENT: Sexual Abuse In NYC Juvenile Jails At The Center Of New Lawsuits

The Obamas, Kamala Harris, Barack Obama
by Mitti Hicks

October 11, 2024

Obama To Black Men: Get Behind A Black Woman And Vote For Kamala Harris

An AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll in mid-September found that 7 in 10 Black voters have a somewhat or very favorable view of Harris.

Before his fiery speech at a Kamala Harris campaign rally in Pittsburgh, former President Barack Obama made a surprise stop at the campaign field office with a blunt message to Black men: it’s time to get behind Harris.

“It makes me think that you just aren’t feeling the idea of having a woman as president, and you’re coming up with other alternatives and other reasons for them,” he said. “Now, you’re thinking about sitting out or even supporting somebody with a history of denigrating you because you think that’s a side strength because that’s what being a man is? Putting women down? That’s not acceptable.”  

Obama’s remarks come as polls show Harris is underperforming with Black voters. An Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll in mid-September found that 7 in 10 Black voters have a somewhat or very favorable view of Harris.

Meanwhile, exit polls from 2012 found that 93% of Black voters supported Obama’s reelection bid, down from 2% in 2008.

The Harris-Walz campaign has struggled with attracting male voters. A New York Times/Siena College poll found former President Donald Trump has a 13-point lead over Harris with men nationally. The campaign told ABC News that Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Harris’s running mate, is making campaign stops to woo over males in swing states.

Obama To Pennsylvania Voters: Trump Cares About His Ego, Money, and Status

Obama’s address to men continued briefly at the rally. 

“I’ve noticed this, especially with some men who seem to think Trump’s behavior, the bullying, and the putting people down is a sign of strength. I am here to tell you that is not what real strength is. It never has been. Real strength is about working hard and carrying a heavy load without complaining,” he told the audience.

Aside from touting the economy and the success of the Affordable Care Act to voters on Thursday, Obama asked voters if they wouldn’t put up with his behavior at their home or workplace, why would they elect him as president?

“If your coworkers acted like that, they wouldn’t be your coworkers very long,” said Obama. “If you’re in business and somebody you’re doing business with just outright lies and manipulates you, you stop doing business with them. Even if you had a family member who acted like that, you might still love them, but you’d tell them you got a problem, and you wouldn’t put them in charge of anything.”

He continued, “Yet, when Donald Trump lies, cheats, or shows utter disregard for our constitution when he calls POW ‘losers,’ or fellow citizens ‘vermin,’ people make excuses for it.”

Go-Go Museum And Cafe Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony Scheduled For Nov. 18 In Washington, D.C.
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 11, 2024

Go-Go Museum And Cafe Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony Scheduled For Nov. 18 In Washington, D.C.

The long-awaited 8,000-square-foot museum will be located in Anacostia.

After years of planning, the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Go-Go Museum and Cafe, celebrating a genre popularized in the D.C. area, will have an opening ceremony on Nov. 18.

According to a press release shared by Popville, the long-awaited 8,000-square-foot museum located in Anacostia will be open to the public on Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend. The Go-Go Museum and Cafe will be available for special events. It will be open to the public on the first and third Saturdays of each month.

Community organizer and go-go promoter Ron Moten, a co-founder of the #DontMuteDC movement, started in 2019 to protect go-go music, is the person behind the museum. Dr. Natalie Hopkinson, a co-founder of Don’t Mute DC who published her 2007 doctoral dissertation and book on go-go music, is the museum’s chief curator.

The Go-Go Museum and Cafe will have a cafe, of course, and three specific areas dedicated to exhibitions and interactive attractions. A recording studio is on the premises. An outdoor space with a stage will be available for live performances.

Attendees can view technology not necessarily seen in area museums, include holograms of Backyard Band pioneer and Wire star Ralph Anwan Glover and Sugarbear of EU, where visitors can interact with the figures. There’s a graffiti exhibit where visitors can tag the museum walls using digital spray cans. Fans of the genre can see artifacts such as a Rare Essence bomber jacket, a DJ Kool touring jacket, a wig and touring outfit from Maiesha and the Hip Huggers, a cutout Chuck Brown used for in-store promotions along with many other items connected to go-go music.

The museum is located near the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site and home, Busboys & Poets, at 1920 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. SE.

Additional information can be found on the museum’s website.

Mathew Knowles Gets Real About Surviving Breast Cancer And Living With BRCA2 Gene Mutation
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 11, 2024

Mathew Knowles Gets Real About Surviving Breast Cancer And Living With BRCA2 Gene Mutation

Mathew Knowles gets candid about surviving breast cancer and living with the BRCA2 gene mutation.

Mathew Knowles is honoring Breast Cancer Awareness Month by opening up about his own experience as a male breast cancer survivor living with the BRCA2 gene mutation.

The music executive and entrepreneur was shocked by his diagnosis, as well as by his decision to undergo a mastectomy—a procedure he had believed was mainly for women with breast cancer. Now, nearly five years into remission, he is dedicated to sharing his story and encouraging others to assess their own risk for breast and other cancers and take steps to reduce that risk.

To further his advocacy, Mathew has teamed up with AstraZeneca for the ‘BeBRCAware’ campaign. The initiative focuses on educating people about the significance of genetic testing, understanding family history and cancer risks, and how identifying an inherited BRCA mutation can guide personalized care for breast, prostate, and other cancers.

Knowles actually worked in medical sales and encouraged women to get mammograms to test for breast cancer. He sold diagnostic imaging equipment (mammogram) for 20 years before spearheading his eldest daughter Beyoncé’s superstar music career.

“So I’ve had this 20 years of information early detection in 1980,” Knowles tells BLACK ENTERPRISE. “I was trying to tell every woman that would listen the importance of getting a mammogram.”

Fast forward to 2019 when Knowles noticed tiny blood stains on his white t-shirt and in his bed. With a strong background selling mammogram equipment, Knowles knew what he needed to do.

“I knew immediately what that could mean from my training and then called my doctor and asked for a mammogram,” Knowles recalls. “He had never in 40 years had a male patient ask for a mammogram and I got a mammogram and sure enough I had breast cancer.”

The famed Destiny’s Child manager highlighted the differences between men and women who test positive for the BRCA2 gene mutation. Men face a higher risk of developing male breast or prostate cancer, while women are more likely to develop breast or ovarian cancer.

He emphasized that early detection through testing and a conversation with your doctor is key to managing these risks. Knowles is also happy to return to his roots and showcase his expertise.

“I am really excited about being back in the medical community,” he shares. “Most people don’t know that you know they know the music side, but they don’t know the medical side. And I really enjoyed the medical side because I’m a nerd and I like learning new things in medicine.”

Those interested in learning more can visit BeBRCAware.com for valuable tools and resources to help individuals learn about their genetic cancer risks and guide discussions with their doctors.

Press play below to learn more about Mathew Knowles’ breast cancer survival story and how the BeBRCAware campaign can help begin your journey to getting tested.

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Heinz ketchup, racism
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 11, 2024

Heinz Apologizes For Racist Ad After Receiving Social Media Backlash

Heinz responded to the backlash over a billboard that critics said reinforced racist stereotypes.

Heinz has apologized for an advertisement it had displayed in London subway stations featuring a Black family that was deemed racist.

The U.S. manufacturer recently launched a campaign promoting family-sized pasta sauces. The ad, seen at Vauxhall and Manor House train stations, features a Black bride eating pasta next to a white groom. The image also shows the groom’s white parents and an older Black woman, likely the bride’s mother, but notably omits any sign of the bride’s Black father.

The controversial ad was released during Britain’s Black History Month, and led to Heinz facing extreme backlash on social media.

“‘For my brothers with daughters.’ Because, believe it or not, Black girls have Dads too,” author and Guardian contributor Nels Abbey tweeted on Friday.

It didn’t take long for Abbey’s tweet to ignite debate over whether Heinz intentionally presented a racist trope.

“Total erasure of Black fathers by such a mainstream brand is shocking. How did this get approved?” one person wrote in response.

“It’s subliminal messaging. It’s a ‘subtle’ way of perpetuating myths. The media have been doing this for years,” added someone else. “One of the benefits of SM is that these narratives will be challenged @HeinzUK. You should be embarrassed.”

One X user defended Heinz, noting the five people in each campaign’s billboards.

“Every single ad in this series has five people in the photo. Five nuns. Five hippies. A grandma with four kids. A bride surrounded by family members. But in every case: 5 people, not 6,” they explained.

Following the backlash, Heinz issued an apology for the ad, which was part of its campaign celebrating rule breakers who defy conventional behavior to enjoy its new line of pasta sauces.

In the advertisement, the bride spills pasta sauce on her white wedding dress while the groom and parents look on disappointedly.

“We always appreciate members of the public’s perspective on our campaigns. We understand how this ad could have unintentionally perpetuated negative stereotypes,” Heinz said. “We extend our deepest apologies and will continue to listen, learn and improve to avoid this happening again in the future.”

Melania Trump, George Floyd
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 11, 2024

Melania Trump Refers To George Floyd As “Black Minneapolis Resident” In Her Memoir

Melania Trump didn't include George Floyd's name in her new memoir.

Melania Trump has a new memoir in which she seemingly avoided referring to George Floyd by name, according to Business Insider.

Instead of including Floyd’s name, the former first lady refers to him only as a “Black Minneapolis resident” and uses the pronoun “his” throughout. She seems to place more emphasis on the protests outside the White House than on the details of Floyd’s murder.

“On May 26, a pivotal incident unfolded as a nine-minute video circulated on social media—a cell phone recording showing the killing of a Black Minneapolis resident by a white police officer,” Trump writes.

Then, two sentences later: “In the aftermath of his tragic death, the firing of all four officers involved in his arrest did not quell the public outcry for justice.”

Trump then criticizes the widespread protests that followed Floyd’s murder and the “inflammatory rhetoric” of Black Lives Matter leaders. She spends three paragraphs reliving the details of Floyd’s death, but more than three pages describing the May 29, 2020, demonstration outside the White House and her experience seeking shelter in a bunker with her husband, then-President Donald Trump.

Clocking in at a skimpy 182, wide-margined pages, Melania has also been criticized for apparently lacking depth when she had opportunities to share more about her background and personality. At one point in the book, Trump recalls being 22 and deciding between finishing her studies in architectural design or becoming a professional model.

“Leaving behind my family and the architecture and design school I had worked hard to be a part of was a significant step, but I was ready for the challenge,” she writes

However, the reader never finds out how or why Trump made this life-altering decision. The memoir features Trump’s childhood in Europe, her modeling career, and her time in the White House.

The reviews have been pretty lackluster.

https://twitter.com/ChangeTheSyst14/status/1844377209236226288

RELATED CONTENT: Melania Trump Breaks Away From Husband’s Pro-Life Agenda By Announcing She Is Pro-Choice 

placenta, burns,
by Kandiss Edwards

October 11, 2024

Facial Scars Of Third-Degree Burn Victim Healed By Using Placenta

Placenta grafting yields remarkable results for third-degree burns.

Third-degree burns are being healed using placenta. The use of placenta in medicine is not new, but the results of Mary Townsend’s placenta treatment are impressive. The most common form of regenerative methods for burns is skin grafting. Townsend’s team opted to utilize a technique from the past: placenta-derived grafting.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology says a placenta-derived graft “can reduce pain and inflammation, heal burns, prevent the formation of scar tissue and adhesion around surgical sites and even restore vision,”

While some moms opt to take their placenta home after childbirth, others surrender their placenta to the hospital, where it will become medical waste.

Statistically, “half a million Americans seek medical care for accidental burns each year. First-degree burns, and most second-degree burns, heal with at-home treatments. Third-degree burns can be life-threatening and require specialized medical care,” according to the Cleveland Clinic.

First- and second-degree burns only affect the first (epidermis) and second layer (dermis) of the skin, respectively. Treatment consists of topical ointments, gauze, and cool compresses. Sometimes, antibiotics are prescribed to stave off infection. The need for advanced healing is unnecessary at this stage.

Third-degree burns, however, can be life-threatening. These burns cause damage to the epidermis, dermis, underlying fat, and nerve endings. The depth of the damage does not allow the skin to heal in a normal fashion. Skin will become leathery and discolored.

The method for treating life-threatening burns, such as skin grafting, is painful and yields less than satisfactory results. Skin grafting requires a layer of epidermis to be removed from a healthy part of the body and transplanted to the burned area. The area in which the healthy skin was removed will heal normally as it is only taken from the surface of the body.

If the patient has no viable areas of skin to harvest, the Cleveland Clinic states: “A graft can come from a deceased donor or a human-made (artificial) source, but these will eventually need to be replaced by the person’s own skin.”

After grafting, the affected area may have a better appearance but will still be disfigured and discolored.

The introduction of placenta grafting expands treatment options for patients. According to The New York Times, the technique was first explored in the 70s and 80s. It was abandoned during the AIDS epidemic due to concerns about blood contamination. Townsend’s successful procedure shows the potential of placenta grafting.

Hopefully, researchers begin to explore the abandoned research and techniques.

RELATED CONTENT: New Research Indicates That Increasing Health Spans Is Better Than Longer Lives

Shannon Sharpe, makeup, Mark Cuban
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 11, 2024

Shannon Sharpe Took Bad Financial Advice and Missed Out On Google and Netflix Investments, ‘I’d Have Been A Billionaire’

Shannon Sharpe wishes he invested in Google 20 years ago when he had the chance.

Shannon Sharpe believes he’d be a part of the Billionaire Boys Club today if he hadn’t taken poor financial advice years ago.

During a conversation about money and investing with business mogul and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban on his Club Shay Shay platform, Sharpe recounted how he once considered an early investment in Google, but decided against it after his financial advisor advised him not to.

“I remember when Google came out, and they thought the shares were going to open up at about $85 a share,” Sharpe recalled. “And I remember saying to my financial guys, ‘You know what, I’ve just signed with the Ravens, I have some money. Man, I’d like to buy $300,000 worth [of Google shares].’”

Sharpe’s financial advisor thought Google’s shares were overpriced at $115 and convinced him to pass on the investment. Reflecting on it now, Sharpe realizes how much he could have gained in the long run had he purchased the stock at that price. Sharpe also noted an early investment opportunity in Netflix that he passed up.

“That motherf— ther!” Sharpe exclaimed to Cuban. “I’d have been a billionaire with you!”

“You f—ked up,” Cuban said with a laugh.

After a 14-season NFL career and transitioning into becoming a successful sports commentator and podcast host, Sharpe has built a net worth of $14 million. During his time in the NFL, he earned $22.3 million in salary, which included a four-year $13.8 million contract with the Baltimore Ravens in 2000 and a $16 million deal with the Denver Broncos in 2002.

Since retiring, Sharpe has served as a sports commentator on CBS Sports, Fox Sports, and ESPN. His latest commentary can be found on ESPN First Take with Stephen A. Smith. Sharpe also crafted a cognac he can be seen drinking on his Club Shay Shay platform, Le Portier Shay VSOP Cognac.

Considered one of the best tight ends in NFL history, Sharpe ranks third in career receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns for his position. In 2011, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

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