Drake has been known for many things as a highly successful artist: his rap battle wins and losses, Insta caption-worthy lyrics and his curious tattoos. While many people, mainly the internet, try to clown his body work for seeming random and sporadic — in truth, his random artwork is pretty on-brand. What's understood doesn't need to be explained. Or what's not understood is great to add in a listicle. 1. SadeDrake's Sade obsession continues... https://t.co/bJSJo6d7cx pic.twitter.com/R3yhNcbjs3— Complex Music (@ComplexMusic) June 13, 2017Drake is never afraid to show his love for R&B and easy listening. He's also particularly fond of female artists. That's why it's not surprising when Drake got two portraits of the "Smooth Operator," Sade, on his side. 2. Denzel Washington Drake's new tattoo is a tribute to Denzel Washington's character in Mo’ Better Blues. https://t.co/GNFZYFzY8G pic.twitter.com/OhQYdblrAv— The FADER (@thefader) September 19, 2017Drake has a portrait of Denzel's jazzy character Bleak ala Mo' Better Blues. It's not clear if Drake's a bigger fan of Washington's character or Spike Lee's work in general, but it's not hard to imagine the reputed ladies' man empathizing with a womanizing jazz player. 3. Jack-O-Lantern View this post on Instagram
A post shared by champagnepapi (@champagnepapi) on Sep 26, 2018 at 11:18pm PDT
Drake hasn't revealed if he's a Halloween fan, but most of his work has surrounded his brand "OVO" (October's very own). The name is to represent his October Scorpio-ness. October, pumpkins...makes sense.
4. His son Adonis Drake with a new Adonis tattoo? 👀📸 @AntSoulo pic.twitter.com/5Zwl6NVVf1— Complex Music (@ComplexMusic) March 14, 2019This will likely be the only time we'll see his son. So, feast your eyes. 5. Jesus Malverde View this post on Instagram
Me and @ipushpounds back to work. 😡😤A post shared by champagnepapi (@champagnepapi) on Aug 15, 2018 at 3:53am PDT
Jesus Malverde, known as the "angel of the poor" and "narco-saint" belonged to the Mexican state of Sinaloa. He is a legend who used to steal from the rich to give to the poor.6. Aaliyah View this post on Instagram
🇩🇴A post shared by champagnepapi (@champagnepapi) on Jun 19, 2016 at 12:02pm PDTDrake has expressed his infatuation with late singer Aaliyah throughout his career. He even had a posthumous album planned that was later shelved when his longtime producer, Noah "40" Shebib, became uncomfortable with the negativity surrounding the project, Rolling Stone reported. Although the album never came to fruition, he still has a piece of Aaliyah to live with him forever.
7. Drake leading the Beatles So #Drake got a tattoo of himself 😂 it is him in front of the #Beatles bc he beat some of their records. pic.twitter.com/NDI04Lv4ad— Liz On The Radio 🎙 (@LizOnTheRadio) August 14, 2019 Drake famously once said, "got more slaps than the Beatles." Though true — Drake has beaten a few of the Beatles' records — a tattoo depicting him walking ahead of the iconic British band on the famous Abbey Road left non-Black twitter in an...
A petition has been created asking advertisers to withdraw their partnerships with gossip news outlet TMZ after they recently published the news of rapper Pop Smoke passing before his family was alerted of the news.Pop Smoke was killed while at his California home early Wednesday morning, as Blavity previously reported. Accused of rushing to release the breaking news, TMZ reported his death without consulting his family. The outlet also released a video of paramedics working to resuscitate the “Dior” rapper.As one of the largest online social justice organization, Color of Change is demanding “advertisers drop TMZ until they institute a new policy to consult with families before reporting Black celebrity deaths,” the petition reads.“Celebrity gossip website TMZ has built a company based on gossip, and reaped the benefits of Black trauma, while blurring the lines between factual journalism and knee-jerk click bait,” the petition states. “These moments featured Black pain that drove millions to a TMZ website that has approximately 500 million advertising impressions per month, resulting in over 100 million dollars in company value as of 2010.”Known for being one of the firsts to publish breaking news, in January, TMZ reported that NBA legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, passed away during a helicopter ride in California. The outlet was harshly criticized for reporting on the news of Bryant and his daughter passing without reaching out to his family or waiting on official confirmation from authorities. “Vanessa Bryant didn’t deserve to find out her husband and child passed on TMZ. While the Bryant family waited for official confirmation of the worst news of their lives, TMZ was all too eager to capitalize on their loss. TMZ had the responsibility to report factual information with integrity and they failed to that,” the petition continues. “Sunday afternoon, in a rush to break the news that basketball legend Kobe Bryant, at the age of 41, died in a California helicopter crash along with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, celebrity gossip website TMZ ran the story before his surviving family was notified by authorities.”The petition details other examples of the outlet’s history of prematurely reporting on the deaths of notable Black celebrities. In 2012, a TMZ reporter allegedly bribed a hotel employee where the late Whitney Houston was staying to capture pictures of the bathtub where the singer died of an overdose, according to the petition.Just a year later, the outlet was criticized for posting a video of 19-year-old Andre Lowe being killed outside of a Hollywood, California, nightclub despite his family’s request to not publish it, HuffPost reported. Also in 2013, TMZ reported that Lil’ Wayne was in a coma and on life support. Rapper Mack Maine took to Twitter to address the rumors.Wayne is alive and well! We watching the Syracuse game...thanks for the prayers and concern..he will update you all soon. #love— Mack Maine (@mackmaine) March 16, 2013"We will be releasing an official statement shortly but don't believe the nonsense about comas and tubes to breathe...that's false!!" Maine tweeted. "#F**kTMZ."The petition also includes a letter addressed to TMZ founder Harvey Levin. The letter asks Levin to issue a public apology to Bryant’s family and change their policy on reporting deaths.“In an effort to be first, your company has proven that driving website views and engagement on the back of Black tragedy is more important [than] adhering to the ethical rules of journalistic integrity,” the letter...
"You're one of the good ones" is a phrase which is generally understood as something racist. But the producers of the popular cartoon, Peanuts, didn't get the memo and is now apologizing.On Friday, the Peanuts social media account posted a photo of Charlie Brown looking at his Black friend, Franklin, and saying, "You're one of the good ones."The post is now deleted, but it didn't take long for people on social media to realize what's wrong with the picture.You know, as racist as this post is, you gotta give the people at Peanuts props for hiring your racist great aunt to do social media. Very progressive pic.twitter.com/FfmtqxBrpX— Rae Sanni (@raesanni) February 21, 2020Others were truly curious about the decision making process when the post was published. Would give a lot to have been in the room at the exact moment when someone pointed out that this tweet wasn't doing what Peanuts Social Media Person thought it was doing— Hanif Abdurraqib (@NifMuhammad) February 21, 2020"This is a case in point that diversity isn't enough," she wrote. "If there was INCLUSION, if there were Black or brown people overseeing this before it was posted first, this wouldn't have EVER happened. I think an apology is in order.".@Snoopy has since deleted this post/tweet but OMG:
This is a case in point that diversity isn't enough.
If there was INCLUSION, if there were black or brown people overseeing this before it was posted first, this wouldn't have EVER happened.
I think an apology is in order. pic.twitter.com/DAAk4httPy— Vanessa Clark 📚✈️ (@FoxxyGlamKitty) February 21, 2020Another person on Twitter posted a thread of "the Peanuts gang disrespecting Franklin." One of the posts in the thread shows a photo of Franklin sitting on one side of the table by himself. you know why. pic.twitter.com/1rY6umqIFr— Xavier D'Leau (@XavierDLeau) February 21, 2020There's also a video of the Peanuts asking Franklin to rap. when they called their colored friend to rap pic.twitter.com/LpfE1Q7sBH— Xavier D'Leau (@XavierDLeau) February 21, 2020Following the backlash, an apology was issued from the Peanuts' Twitter page. "Earlier today a tweet from this account, featuring an image of two friends, was misinterpreted. As this was not the intended message of the post, it has been deleted so as not to perpetuate an inaccurate interpretation," the post read. "The post was meant as a celebration of friendship."Earlier today a tweet from this account, featuring an image of two friends, was misinterpreted. As this was not the intended message of the post, it has been deleted so as not to perpetuate an inaccurate interpretation. The post was meant as a celebration of friendship.— PEANUTS (@Snoopy) February 21, 2020
According to The Washington Post, Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz included Franklin into the story in 1968 because a teacher named Harriet Glickman wrote a letter, asking him to integrate a Black character.
“I was thinking about Dr. King, and about having lived through so many years of struggles and the racism and the [divisiveness] that existed,” Glickman told The Post. “This was a culmination that was so painful that I needed to do...
Former NBA star Ben Gordon opened up about his struggle with his mental health in an essay for The Players’ Tribune on Thursday. Recalling how his anxiety culminated after he retired, Gordon wrote that he felt he was once just going through the motions of life and “didn’t feel alive anymore.”“I had lost my career, my identity, and my family all pretty much simultaneously. I was manic-depressive,” he wrote.Gordon then revealed he'd attempted suicide. "I was obsessed with killing myself... I don’t think I wanted to die. But I just couldn’t stand the pain anymore," he wrote. "I took one of those heavyweight jump ropes — the thick rubber ones — and I tied it around my neck. Got a chair. And I hung myself, for real."Before, he had channeled this anxious energy into sports. Rather than his obsession being seen as something bad, "basketball rewards obsession.” Gordon admitted that his persona as a professional athlete was not in tune with what was actually happening in his mind. While he may have looked bored or unfocused to those around him, in actuality, his “mind is on fire.” The former shooting guard for the Chicago Bulls explained how he would meticulously plan out every minute of a game before the matchup.At the end of his career, Gordon said he felt “anger and pain and fear and regret" upon realizing he'd been "internalizing and compartmentalizing."He grappled with the idea of seeing a therapist, but that in tandem with a mindset he refers to as “typical Black male," he didn’t believe talking to someone would help.Gordon experienced insomnia, paranoia, delusions and panic attacks. His panic attacks led him to get into trouble with the law. After a few arrests, including one for a felony robbery charge and another for pulling fire alarms in an apartment complex, Gordon was committed to a psychiatric facility. He recalls it as a frightening experience and began to separate Ben Gordon the basketball player from Ben Gordon the human.The now 36-year-old reminds everyone that mental illness can afflict anyone.“It’s not like I woke up one morning and I was this quiet, humble NBA dude that nobody thought twice about, and the next morning I woke up and I was bugging the f**k out in the lobby of the Waldorf Astoria on some God-complex s**t,” Gordon said. “It was a slow, gradual thing that just got out of control because I didn’t know how to get help.”He credits getting arrested with saving his life, as the presiding judge mandated therapy. After completing the 18 months of therapy required by the court, he continued going to sessions. Gordon felt compelled to share his story because he knows there are other athletes who feel the same way. He wants them to know they aren’t alone.“But I’m not perpetually crazy. I had a moment. I got help for that moment. I got to know myself from that moment. And I’m still working through some things, no doubt,” he said. “But for me, this is a start.”His essay has been met with an outpouring of love from fans, fellow NBA players and more. “Mental illness touches everybody. Every community, every person. Either you or somebody you love is going to be touched by it at some point.”https://t.co/ueYILysf5A— Kevin Love (@kevinlove) February 21, 2020“There was a point in time when I thought about killing myself every single day for about six weeks.”
I hope every single person takes a moment tonight to read this emotional piece from Ben Gordon.
Be kind to each other.https://t.co/Y3ynps8H9t— Taylor Rooks (@TaylorRooks) February 21, 2020Folks...read this. This hit me. I know Ben Gordon. THIS BG he’s referring to. The vulnerability in this is...chilling https://t.co/aWKtxi2W0F— Vincent Goodwill (@VinceGoodwill) February 21, 2020The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides free and confidential support for people in distress around the clock. The number is...
... improving the lives of Black Americans today cannot be done with invalid, inaccurate and ineffective strategies that do not address the here and now.
If you’re interested in sharing your opinion on any cultural, political or personal topic, create an account here and check out our how-to post to learn more.____Redlining, busing, stop-and-frisk and who supported the 1994 crime bill are consistently being used to sway the support of Black voters, proving that too many politicians believe that racism is what drives us to the polls. Truth is, Black people would never vote for any politician, Republican or Democrat, if their participation was tied in who supported “racist” policies.Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is the most recent presidential candidate under the microscope of bigotry, accused of being a racist because of his use of stop-and-frisk. It is worth mentioning that former NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly, who enforced stop-and-frisk under Bloomberg, was endorsed by President Obama to replace Janet Napolitano as the head of the Department of Homeland Security. In a 2008 interview, Bloomberg discussed how redlining was connected to the mortgage crisis, and now everyone from Senator Elizabeth Warren to media pundits are claiming that Bloomberg supports redlining — an unethical practice that allowed people to be denied housing loans because of their race — and that he believes had it not ended Americans could have avoided the crisis.While watching the Nevada debate on February 19, the accusation of Bloomberg supporting redlining came up again. I took the time to watch the eight-minute-25-second video in which less than 10 seconds are dedicated to a discussion about redlining, and I do not believe Bloomberg was supporting the discriminatory practice.In the video he says, “There was a lot of pressure on banks to make loans to everyone. Redlining is a term where banks took whole neighborhoods and said people in these neighborhoods are poor, they are not going to be able to pay off their mortgages, tell your salesman don’t go into those areas. And then Congress got involved, local elected officials as well, and said, ‘Oh, that’s not fair. These people should be able to get credit.’ And once you started pushing in that direction, banks started making more loans where the credit of the person buying the house was not as good as you would like.”Bloomberg is clearly suggesting that the method used to end redlining became the genesis of banks habitually providing loans to people who could not afford them, not that ending the practice of redlining is at fault; it’s not the why it ended that he criticized, it is the how.Unfortunately, Bloomberg was poorly equipped and appeared to not even attempt to clarify his statements, nor expose his opponents plan to resolve the impact redlining has had on Black people.Many Black voters may be unaware that addressing the impact of redlining on Black people is part of some of the presidential candidates agenda. For instance, Senator Warren, who has been very critical of Bloomberg’s redlining comments, has a plan to build wealth for Black Americans through homeownership by establishing a “historic down payment assistance program targeted at families in formerly redlined areas.” But, there is a problem with such a plan. Only 28% of Black people currently live in formerly redlined areas.The largest formerly redlined areas are now home to white and Latino people, meaning that those who were directly targeted (African Americans) by this racist housing policy would not actually benefit. Warren’s down payment program would go to 72% of non-Black residents. Focusing solely on formerly redlined areas as a strategy to address housing discrimination of the past will ultimately exclude the presently struggling Black neighborhoods and schools outside of the redline.It is evident that the Black agenda by some candidates is obsolete and analytically unreliable, and at times historically misused. For instance, when former Senator Kamala Harris exposed former Vice President Joe Biden opposed busing, he too was painted as supporting racist ideology. What many people were not told, and what was not discussed by media pundits firing at Biden’s “poor record” on busing, is that in 1973 only nine percent of Black Americans polled chose busing as the best way to achieve school integration, meaning 91% of Black people did not think it would be effective. These questionable agendas, and the misrepresentation of history, are rarely, if ever, dissected in the media or on the debate stage. As a result, this leaves Black voters in the dark, blinded by the strategic use of racism to earn their vote.Understanding how we got here is critical in correcting the sins of America’s past, but improving the lives of Black Americans today cannot be done with invalid, inaccurate and ineffective strategies that do not address the here and now.____Rochelle Ritchie is a former congressional Press Secretary for the House of Representatives, Democratic Policy Communications...
After widespread backlash, Syracuse University has lifted its suspensions against 30 students who were protesting a series of racist incidents at the school. According to ABC News, the school initially suspended the students for holding a sit-in at the administration building.Syracuse Chancellor Kent Syverud said he is revoking the suspensions and allowing the students to continue the sit-in, which has been going on since Monday. “These students are afraid they will be arrested and forced out of the building. They have suspension dangling over them. They are concerned about being fed. Enough,” the chancellor said in a statement.Syverud met with the protesters Friday to talk about their concerns. This morning, Chancellor Kent Syverud is talking with students at Crouse Hinds Hall about their concerns. pic.twitter.com/p5XrL5j9mw— SU Campus (@SUcampus) February 21, 2020The protest, organized by a leadership group known as #NotAgainSU, is calling for a tuition freeze, disarming of public safety officers and accountability for systemic issues on campus. The students are also demanding the school to identify perpetrators in racial incidents.“The administration has not appropriately addressed the 25+ hate crimes that have occurred on campus since November 2019, and they have not addressed student protesters in any way that is reflective of a commitment to equal safety and support,” #NotAgainSU said in a statement.The group also expressed its frustration on Twitter, saying "as the administration evidently continues to [lack] transparency, it’s paramount that we provide you all with factual information."Please read #NotAgainSU’s response to the protestors’ suspensions in its entirety. As the administration evidently continues to lacks transparency, it’s paramount that we provide you all with factual information. #FreeCrouse
#NotAgainSUspended
pic.twitter.com/O16snJQEm9— #NOTAGAINSU (@notagain_su) February 18, 2020The school's decision to revoke the suspensions came after online backlash over its decision to discipline students for peacefully protesting.me trying to wrap my head around the fact that Syracuse University just suspended 31 students (MAJORITY STUDENTS OF COLOR) during a PEACEFUL protest, but they still haven’t reprimanded the students involved in the 25+ hate crimes........ #NotAgainSU
pic.twitter.com/lIoXam2D3b— C A I T L I N (@hello_caitee) February 18, 2020Hey y’all, Syracuse University admin, recently suspended 30+ peaceful student protestors at Crouse Hinds Hall for protesting the systemic white supremacy that is blatant in this campus. But have yet to SUSPEND THE 25+ perps that committed hate crimes since NOVEMBER 1/2 pic.twitter.com/TxQtR67bi8— USwiza (@USwiza) February 18, 2020One woman claimed that was she was one of the suspended students.I’m officially a suspended student of Syracuse University for exercising my right to peacfully protest #NotAgainSU gotta love senior year #freecrouse— World Traveler Mamí ✈️ (@taykm98) February 18, 2020Activist Zellie Imani also condemned the university. Syracuse University would rather silence a movement to make their campus safe and inclusive, then actually so the work of making it safe and inclusive. Suspending students peacefully staging a sit in is violence. #NotAgainSU— zellie (@zellieimani) February 18, 2020According to The Daily Orange, the university's Department of Public Safety sealed off the school's administration building, preventing food or medicine from getting to the students. However, the school said in a statement that the students are not locked in and they can leave the building anytime they want."Student demonstrators, currently staging a protest in Crouse Hinds Hall, are free to leave at any time," university officials said. "In fact, these students have been asked and encouraged, on multiple occasions, to exit the building. Any claim that students are being prevented from leaving Crouse Hinds Hall is patently false."One protester, who remained anonymous, said the students are asking for transparency and progress.“Our demands are to make the campus better, to make it a better space," the student told WAER. "You can let the whole general body know what they’re doing. All of these things are not going to just benefit specific groups, like they’re going to benefit everybody on this campus.”Since November, at least 26 racist, anti-Semitic and bias-related incidents have been reported at or near the university, The Daily Orange reported. One Black student was allegedly harassed and called the N-word by fraternity members as she walked by. A residence hall at the school was also vandalized with racist graffiti in the same month. In another recent incident, students found a swastika drawn into the snow on campus. Syracuse University students also walked out of a forum in November in response to the series of racist and anti-Semitic incidents on...
Rosa Parks is one of the most iconic figures in Black history. Parks was arrested and fined for her refusal to give up her front seat on the bus for a white man. Following the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which was spurred by Parks' strong-willed nature, the U.S. Supreme Court ultimately ordered Montgomery to integrate its bus system. What many don't know is that Parks was also full of wisdom and life gems. Here are five of her most powerful quotes: 1. "If you want to be respected for your actions, then your behavior must be above reproach. If our lives demonstrate that we are peaceful, humble, and trusted, this is recognized by others."In Parks' 1994 autobiography Quiet Strength: The Faith, the Hope, and the Heart of a Woman who Changed a Nation, the late activist imparted the significance of leading a life that invites respect. Like Martin Luther King Jr., who played an integral role in the bus boycott, Parks was a nonviolent devout Christian. 2. "Racism is still with us. But it is up to us to prepare our children for what they have to meet, and, hopefully, we shall overcome."There is no such thing as a post-racial society, and Parks wanted the younger generation to become woke, per this quote recorded by the Library of Congress. 3. "There is work to do; that is why I cannot stop or sit still. As long as a child needs help, as long as people are not free, there will be work to do. As long as an elderly person is attacked or in need of support, there is work to do. As long as we have bigotry and crime, we have work to do."There is no age limit for standing up to racism. Parks was 42 years old when she was arrested for sitting down.4. "Nothing in the Golden Rule says that others will treat us as we have treated them. It only says that we must treat others in a way that we would want to be treated."Parks knew protesting was an art, as she communicated in Quiet Strength. Within that understanding was her knowledge that not all live by the Golden Rule and will do unto others what they likely couldn't fathom being done unto them. 5. "To bring about change, you must not be afraid to take the first step. We will fail when we fail to try."In her 1996 book Dear Mrs. Parks: A Dialogue With Today's Youth, Parks reminded that leaders must be fearless, or at least have confidence when needed to rise to the occasion. Everyone fails at something sometimes. However, nothing gets done if you stay within your comfort...
Mayor Muriel Bowser publicly signed legislation on Wednesday at the Culture House DC declaring go-go as the official music of the District of Columbia. "When I say 'go-go', you say 'Is D.C.,'" Bowser said as she led celebratory chants with the crowd.Go-Go is DC and DC is Go-Go! Yesterday, Washingtonians from across the District joined me as we made Go-Go music the official sound of DC. I'm #DCproud to celebrate the tremendous impact Go-Go has had in our community. #DCvalues
pic.twitter.com/5RPHTglUNF— Mayor Muriel Bowser (@MayorBowser) February 20, 2020The bill, named Go-Go Official Music of the District of Columbia Designation Act of 2019, highlights the glowing history of go-go and the value of its preservation and describes the sounds as "a fusion of musical forms, drawing inspiration from funk, blues, soul, and salsa, blending them seamlessly with its syncopated polyrhythms and multiple percussion instruments."The newly signed bill also requires the mayor to "design and implement a program to support and preserve, including through marketing, and archive Go-Go music and documents relating to Go-Go music and it's history."In case you missed it, yesterday we made it official that Go-Go is the OFFICIAL MUSIC OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA! #DontMuteDC
#LongLiveGoGo
#itsofficial
#OurWard5
pic.twitter.com/AOPzL7Whhm— CM McDuffie's Office (@CM_McDuffie) February 20, 2020The pre-scheduled signing brought out hundreds of attendees and included a concert with DJ Supa Dan and the Backyard Band. Twitter users were beyond thrilled by the historic day.Still in disbelief that I met Sugar Bear today, I love my job. Monumental day for everyone who loves Go-Go, especially during Black History Month. For folks born & raised in DC—I’m talking Chocolate City; this is a huge reminder that you can’t mute Black culture in DC #dontmuteDC
pic.twitter.com/z6veiWG1jt— Landon Laven Jones (@Landon2814) February 19, 2020I thought they were dancing to the gospel😂😂but its go-go music pic.twitter.com/oIAwnvx1Dl— Anameu Cantpronounce🏳️🌈 (@Myenjoyment2012) February 20, 2020#DCproud to officially have signed into law Go-Go as the OFFICIAL music of the District of Columbia. 🖊
Go-Go is the heartbeat of the District. Its rhythm gives life to our cultural soul.#DontMuteDC
pic.twitter.com/QPVeUMRcqq— Mayor Muriel Bowser (@MayorBowser) February 20, 2020The bill was originally introduced by Washington, D.C. council member Kenyan McDuffie in June. It was announced amidst pressures from anti-gentrification activists when a popular store, known for playing go-go music, was silenced after public complaints.MetroPCS franchise owner Donald Campbell, who has played go-go music from his Shaw store for over 24 years, was contacted by parent company T-Mobile about noise complaints, as Blavity previously reported.“They said, ‘get rid of the music.’ It came from up top that we had to get rid of it,” Campbell told DCist.Although the store on Chuck Brown Way had been serenading the block named after the “Godfather of Go-Go” since 1995, a tenant of a new luxury condo said he would sue if the music wasn't stopped, DCist reported.In response, activists launched the #DontMuteDC online campaign and planned a Don’t Mute D.C.—A Call to Action Conference to address the attempted cultural erasure.In June, while hosting the BET Awards, Regina Hall highlighted the #DontMuteDC campaign with a tribute to go-go music during the opening act.Ronald Moten, D.C. native and activist, petitioned to halt the silencing and had a heated discussion with Benjamin Kozlowski about his privileged opinion, WJLA reports.NOW: Dispute between Ron Moten, who started petition, and resident who says he wants business to turn down the go-go music on 7th St. NW. pic.twitter.com/MU6c2luCCO— Anna-Lysa Gayle (@AnnaLysaGayle) April 8, 2019The petition called for residents to "Tell T-Mobile, the city, and residents who don't understand the cultural significance and history of go-go music in Washington, D.C. that this is unacceptable. Bring back the music!"Demonstrators filled the historic corner on Chuck Brown Way while Shaw neighborhood representative and councilmember Brianna Nadeau spoke at the event.Nadeau also wrote a letter to T-Mobile's CEO John Legere urging him to reconsider.#DontMuteDC I'm in touch with @TMobile to inform them of the important history of this corner. See my letter to them: pic.twitter.com/FHOlmoDzGV— Brianne K. Nadeau (@BrianneKNadeau) April 8, 2019Shortly after, Legere had a change of heart and agreed to allow the music to go on. “I’ve looked into this issue myself and the music should NOT stop in D.C.!” Legere said in a tweet.“@TMobile and @MetroByTMobile are proud to be part of the Shaw community – the music will go on and our dealer will work with the neighbors to compromise volume,” Legere said.With all of the culture that D.C. has given us (including the Mambo Sauce), we are all proud of their official...
Lauren London is demanding some respect on her name after rumors started swirling that she was dating Diddy. London, who has continued on the legacy of her late boyfriend Nipsey Hussle, took to Instagram to clear the air after some pictures posted by Diddy became the fuel for false romance rumors. In a now-deleted post, Diddy shared pictures of the two during the pre-Grammy Roc Nation brunch just a few weeks earlier, according to TMZ. While Diddy never alluded the two were seeing each other, that didn’t stop people from trying to put two and two together. Diddy and Lauren London dating, this could be good for the both of them.— I’m Trina Daughter (@_ParadiseParis) February 20, 2020They say Diddy dating Lauren London ???? 🤦🏿♂️🤦🏿♂️ mannnn this nigga diddy is ruthless— Pastor (@POLITE__) February 20, 2020who on here spreading rumors about Lauren London dating Diddy....
damn shame pic.twitter.com/3qEZxtscvq— Big Celleo From the Kokomo (@Cellustharula90) February 20, 2020In his original post, he captioned the picture of the two, “lostfiles … @laurenlondon.”Even more so, fans eagerly reached to conclusions as the record executive reshared the photo to his Instagram stories with the caption “More Lost Files...Me & My Sister @laurenlondon at the @rocnation brunch.” Diddy posted the picture to his stories alongside a series of other pictures from the brunch with his children and fellow music executives.Hussle’s forever love, however, shut down every last rumor.“Still His! King Ermias! Never Forget!" the actress wrote on Instagram with an accompanying picture of the rapper. View this post on Instagram
Still His! King Ermias! Never Forget!A post shared by Lauren London (@laurenlondon) on Feb 20, 2020 at 11:22am PST
And just in case someone may have been a little confused by her words, she posted again to reiterate her message.
“Stop f**king playing with me and my name. Now let me get back to healing,” she wrote. “I’m all love and peace but never forget… I’m a woman in grief and I don’t play about Nip, my family, my character and code. Bout to drink a green juice to start the day though.”London also slid into her Instagram stories, posting a picture of Hussle with the words “Forever and even after call me Lady Hussle.”It’s unclear if her posts were directed at Diddy himself or at fans who got their facts jacked up, but people had a lot to say on Twitter.IF and when Lauren London chooses to open her heart again it will be on her terms. She's allowed to live her life and welcome love in whenever she wants.
That said: taking a picture with someone doesn't mean you're dating, and MTO isn't a credible source. pic.twitter.com/qKZVBwbwSs— Britni Danielle (@BritniDWrites) February 20, 2020I Love Lauren London. 💙 She Say Fuck the Bullshit, she Clearing Shit Up. Ain’t no Rumors bih!— QueenKema👸🏽 (@kemaaaaa_____) February 20, 2020Y’all leave Lauren London the fuck alone.— Mack 🌊 (@reallymackin) February 20, 2020lauren london warned ya. y’all need to stop being messy and leave her alone. just cause nip been gone for almost a year now doesn’t mean she’s done grieving and that ya can start saying stupid stuff. L boogie is not to played with, ya better let her heal in peace. 💙 pic.twitter.com/pxeTQsX8Pi— monique | 16 👸🏽 (@melaninmoniquee) February 20, 2020Lauren London is a goddess and this is a mood. Consider this my status for all of 2020.
Forever respect to #NipseyHussle and Queen Hussle pic.twitter.com/KpDyKDFVnu— Skeletress (@Skeletress) February 20, 2020I don't know how to explain this, but I 100% am a Lauren London type of girl. "Keep my fucking name out your mouth while I'm healing" is wheeewwww a word.— Jasmyn (@JasmynBeKnowing) February 20, 2020The one year anniversary of Hussle's death is March 31. The rapper was gunned down outside of his clothing store in California, as Blavity previously reported. Before his death, Hussle was a community activist and spent his time leading the launch of the Vector 90 STEM learning...
Florida angler Ke'Mari Cooper became a poster child for #BlackBoyJoy in a viral catch-and-release video last October. The video, shot by his father Velt Cooper, made its rounds on social media and eventually fell into the hands of the CEO of wildlife and outdoor retail conglomerate Bass Pro Shops.In the adorable video posted to Ke'Mari’s YouTube channel, the young boy was surprised by the size of the bass he caught. He even threw his hat and ran around Waverly Pond Park after viewing the weight of the fish. As the 10-year-old reeled in his then-personal best, a 7-pound bass, his father recorded him.
Ke’Mari screamed out, “Show me what you workin’ wit!”“That’s all the support from y’all,” Ke'Mari said. “Thank you, God for this fish.”After basking in the moment, Ke'Mari returned the fish to the water and said, "Let's put this baby back in the water. My personal best.”“I hope you go back and be better. One day we're gonna meet back again. I'll see you later," Ke’Mari said, according to ABC News.Cherish The Day creator and producer Ava DuVernay quoted the line when she shared the video on Twitter in October."I hope you go back and be better. One day, we gonna meet back again.” https://t.co/wbalbZosUX— Ava DuVernay (@ava) October 17, 2019After Johnny Morris, CEO of Bass Pro Shops, saw the video, he invited the father and son duo to a special VIP experience. The two were invited to the Daytona 500 race and a personal fishing excursion with Morris.Ke'mari Cooper's viral video of his big catch in October has gone beyond the Big Bend, scoring him tickets to the Daytona 500 and a fishing trip with the CEO of Bass Pro Shops. https://t.co/VVAMxf1QJ7— WTXL ABC 27 (@abc27) February 19, 2020On Sunday, the Coopers visited the track prior to the race and joined in on a drivers' meeting. The two also got a chance to go infield to see an all-encompassing view of the track.Adding to the allure of the day, Morris took the 10-year-old and his dad fishing. In a photo shared to Twitter, Ke'Mari poses with the CEO and his "new personal best"Kemari Cooper does it again!! A new personal best #bassfishing with Johnny Morris #FishingLife
#outdoorliving
#fishingfamily
#outdoorliving
pic.twitter.com/Y9D1OBbaTf— Lloyd _fishing (@FishingLloyd) February 15, 2020Ke’Mari joyfully reels in the bass and screams as he sees the large size of his new catch. Relishing in another #BlackBoyJoy moment, he shows off his dance moves and yells, “Yes Sir!”I think this that Black Boy Joy y’all be talmbout pic.twitter.com/5BgIaZhrVp— FOST (@GeorgeFoster72) February 17, 2020“Got the chickens waking up,” Velt said. “Look at Ke'Mari Cooper! Shouts out to everybody at Bass Pro.”The Florida native and his family also received an invite from the manager of the Tallahassee Bass Pro Shop to visit the store, WTXL reported. There, they presented him with a Johnny Morris Signature Series reel and professional rod.Ke’Mari's father told ABC News fishing was a family tradition and that they have been fishing together for years."He's a bright young man, and I just wanted to pass on the genes that my father taught to me. It kept me out of trouble. It kept me humble. Fishing keeps me patient," Velt said.Ke'Mari has a bright future in bass fishing with the support of his loving father and now the support of Bass Pro's CEO — yet his biggest catch is all of our...
The ninth Democratic debate was hosted by NBC in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the Paris Las Vegas hotel and casino. Wednesday night was full of spicy exchanges between the candidates, especially with billionaire Michael Bloomberg and Sen. Elizabeth Warren.This debate was an opportunity for the candidates to show their aggressive sides and make their case for president. With the Nevada primary only a few days away, the heat was definitely on. For those who were unable to watch, here are highlights from the debate. 1. Sen. Elizabeth Warren did not hold back against Michael Bloomberg.
Former mayor of New York City Michael Bloomberg, who allegedly has said derogatory things about women and fostered a workplace culture that degrades women, was checked by Warren.
Warren called out Bloomberg for saying some lesbians were "fat broads" and "horse-faced," reports Business Insider. "I'd like to talk about who we're running against — a billionaire who calls women fat broads and horse-faced lesbians, and no I'm not talking about Donald Trump," Warren said. "I'm talking about Mayor Bloomberg."Bloomberg's past comments haunted him on the stage. "Make the customer think he's getting laid when he's getting [expletive]," and "If women wanted to be appreciated for their brains, they'd go to the library instead of to Bloomingdales," obtained by ABC News and written down on Bloomberg's booklet in 1990, are also two of the many offensive things Bloomberg has said on record.Although the candidate was ethered on stage, Julie Wood, a spokeswoman for Bloomberg's campaign, told ABC News that "Mike Bloomberg has supported and empowered women throughout his career."2. Mike Bloomberg is confronted over stop-and-frisk. Former Vice President Joe Biden came at Bloomberg when Lester Holt asked the former New York mayor about his past support for stop-and-frisk, a policing policy that disproportionately affects Black teens and adults."Let's get something straight. The reason stop-and-frisk changed is because Barack Obama sent moderators to see what was going on. When we sent them there to say this practice has to stop, the mayor thought it was a terrible idea we send them there. A terrible idea," Biden said, according to a transcript from Real Clear Politics.Bloomberg appeared apologetic for supporting stop-and-frisk, saying he was "embarrassed about [...] how it turned out." However, Biden said it was too little, too late to back peddle on the policy. "And it's not whether he apologized or not, it's the policy. The policy was abhorrent. And it was, in fact, a violation of every right people have."He went further in his dig against Bloomberg, saying under his and Obama's administration the policy ended.The end of Michael Bloomberg in 2:19.pic.twitter.com/nN0pGwhkBu— Jason Howerton (@jason_howerton) February 20, 2020
Warren, once again, torched Bloomberg with questions about his nondisclosure agreement form that prevented women from speaking out about workplace harassment and discrimination. “So, Mr. Mayor, are you willing to release all of those women from those nondisclosure agreements so we can hear their side of the story?" Warren asked.3. Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Mayor Pete Buttigieg had heated exchanges throughout the night. Warren wasn't the only lady of rage at the debates. There was something fiery between Sen. Amy Klobuchar and former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg. They duked it out and tested each other's patience, shading each with personal insults.Buttigieg and Klobuchar have a heated exchange pic.twitter.com/dO7wAg22qG— Acyn Torabi (@Acyn) February 20, 2020
Klobuchar attacked Buttigieg for being inexperienced in the Iowa debate, reports The New York Times. However, attention on her comment has dwindled since Klobuchar, who is on the committee that oversees border security, failed to recall who is the current president of Mexico — a question Buttigieg was capable of answering during the Univision interview alongside Klobuchar and billionaire candidate Tom Steyer, Vox reported. "You're on the committee that oversees border security. You're on the committee that does trade. You're literally in part of the committee that's overseeing these things and were not able to speak to literally the first thing about the politics of the country to our south," Buttigieg said during the debate. Klobuchar popped off and said, "Are you trying to say that I'm dumb? Or are you mocking me here, Pete?"Pete Buttigieg: *starts speaking spanish*
Amy Klobuchar: "I wish everyone was as perfect as you, Pete."
KAREN HAS BEEN UNLEASHED #DemDebate
pic.twitter.com/iobdBY2Oa4— Caleb Hull (@CalebJHull) February 20, 2020
The Minneapolis senator then mocks Buttigieg for harping on her mistake by sarcastically calling him perfect for speaking Spanish.4. Socialism and capitalism were major topics of discussion with Sen. Bernie Sanders and Michael Bloomberg in the center. Buttigieg also took shots at the current frontrunner Sen. Sanders and Bloomberg, mocking both socialist and capitalistic beliefs simultaneously.“How are we going to possibly fix our economy if the choice is between a socialist who thinks capitalism is the root of all evil and somebody who believes money is the root of all power?” Buttigieg said about Sanders and Bloomberg, respectively.5. The Democratic debates are getting personal.Wednesday's Democratic debate was a free-for-all. As the nomination is getting closer to the wire, the candidates are more willing to openly criticize one another. For some candidates, like Warren, annihilating and embarrassing your opponent, Bloomberg, was just what her campaign needed. Klobuchar got noticeably more talking time on this debate, perhaps proving the key to a good debate is having a fired-up attitude and a good comeback....
Home fans of Germany’s Preussen Munster football club came together in unison to oust a racist heckler in a match against the Würzburger Kickers.CNN reports fans united on Sunday to chant "Nazis Out" at an alleged singular fan who made monkey noises at an opposing Black player. The offender was identified and removed from the ground during the closing stages of the match.Chills.
In Germany, a fan hurled racist slurs towards Leroy Kwadwo, a Ghanian football player.
When other fans saw it, they alerted security, who escorted the man out.
Then, as opposing players came to hug Kwadwo, the entire stadium stood up and chanted "Nazis Out!" pic.twitter.com/FHQP9Pe18J— Muhammad Lila (@MuhammadLila) February 15, 2020
The Kickers' Ghanaian defender Leroy Kwadwo stopped mid-match to point out the fan in the Munster home stands. The unidentified fan’s compatriots were not fond of his behavior and made sure team officials knew where he was so he could be removed from the premises. The unruly fan has since been arrested, Munster confirmed. Munster team president Christoph Strasser released a statement to CNN in which he condemned the fan’s behavior and said he apologized to the Würzburger side. "It is not something that belongs on the soccer field and certainly not in our stadium. We don't want and need people like that here. We clearly distance ourselves from such statements and I apologized to the Würzburgers immediately after the game," he said. Following the "Nazis Out" chant, a number of fans stood up to applaud Kwadwo. Players from both teams joined officials and coaches in a display of support for the 23-year-old defender.In a statement released on his team’s website, Kwadwo revealed how let down he was by the fan’s act but said he considers himself a man of the fans and loves his country. "This just makes me sad," he said. "Even though I have a different skin color, I was born here in this wonderful country that has given me and my family so much and made things possible. I am one of you, I live here and I'm able to live out my calling and passion as a professional Würzburger Kickers player.In another touching show of sportsmanship, in late October, members of the Jordanian female soccer team, Shabab al-Ordon, stopped a match to help a player from the opposite team fix her hijab, as Blavity previously reported. "Soccer Players Halt Game And Huddle Around Opponent As She Fixes Hijab"Beautiful solidarity. You love to see it.https://t.co/BVS39YjkVq
pic.twitter.com/PsH6lk1Gp9— Jewish Voice for Peace (@jvplive) October 24, 2019The women of the Shabab al-Ordon team gathered around the player as she readjusted her hijab, kneeling on the ground. The crowd applauded the show of sportsmanship, and the match resumed shortly...
