Calvin Butts III, Influential Pastor of Harlem’s Historic Abyssinian Baptist Church, Criticized by Some Church Members for Endorsing Michael Bloomberg

The Rev. Calvin Butts III, the influential pastor of the historic Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, is drawing strong criticism from some members of his church for throwing his support behind billionaire Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg, who is currently under fire for his controversial support of stop-and-frisk policies that targeted mainly black and Hispanic residents....

WATCH: Jennifer Hudson Delivers Powerful Tribute to Kobe Bryant, Daughter Gianna at NBA All-Star Game

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UiHersOp_g Jennifer Hudson delivered an emotional tribute to late Lakers legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna “Gigi” Bryant, three weeks after they were killed in a helicopter accident. Taking center court at Sunday’s NBA All-Star Game, the Oscar-winning singer belted out a stunning rendition of Donny Hathaway’s classic “For All We Know (We May Meet Again)”...

The Arrest and Subsequent Resignation of the President of a Major Historically Black College and University Has Rallied Jackson State University’s Defenders, but Also Has Sparked Criticism of the School

William Bynum was former VP at Morehouse in Atlanta The arrest and subsequent resignation of the president of a major Historically Black College and University (HBCU) has rallied Jackson State University’s defenders, but also has sparked criticism of the school. William Bynum, 57, was arrested over the weekend along with several other people, according to...

GRAMMY® and NAACP Image® Award Winners David and Tamela Mann Release Romantic New Music Video, “Ups & Downs,” on Valentine’s Day; Plus, Tamela’s RIAA Gold-selling “Best Days” Receives Billboard’s Gospel Album of the Decade Honor

TAMELA’S BEST DAYS HONORED WITH BILLBOARD'S GOSPEL ALBUM OF THE DECADE  OUR SECRETS TO LOVE, MARRIAGE, AND FAMILY NEW 10-DAY YOUVERSION PLAN NOW AVAILABLE DALLAS, TX (February 14, 2020) — Grammy® Award and NAACP Image® Award Winners David and Tamela Mann are back on screen. In addition to starring in the BET Networks and Tyler Perry Studios new sitcom set to premiere on...

City of West Linn, Oregon, to Pay Black Man $600k Over Racial Harassment by Police

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Former West Linn Police Chief Terry Timeus had his officers initiate an unwarranted, racially motivated surveillance and arrest of a black Portland man as a favor to the chief’s fishing buddy. The case had no ties to West Linn. The city recently negotiated to pay $600,000 to the target of the...

Major League Baseball Makes 2nd $1M Donation to Negro Leagues Museum

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Major League Baseball celebrated the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Negro National League by joining with the Major League Baseball Players Association to announce their second joint $1 million donation to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, “It commemorates baseball history, and it’s a tribute to African-American entrepreneurship in...

Virginia Deputies Confront Black Man Wearing KKK Outfit Outside Target

A black man wearing a Ku Klux Klan robe at a Virginia Target told deputies he was performing a social experiment. The Stafford County Sheriff’s Office was called to a Target store at the Stafford Marketplace around 2:30 p.m. to investigate reports of someone wearing a Ku Klux Klan outfit, Maj. Shawn Kimmitz said in...

Black Woman Settles Racial Profiling Lawsuit With New Mexico County

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico’s largest county has reached a racial profiling settlement with a black woman who was stopped by deputies three times in less than a month but never cited. Bernalillo County and Sherese Crawford reached a $100,000 settlement agreement in connection with three stops by sheriff’s deputies on Interstate 40 around...

Nipsey Hussle Documentary From Ava DuVernay Lands at Netflix

Bidding was in the teen millions, with streamers including Apple and Amazon in the mix. On Jan. 26, Ava DuVernay introduced a tribute to the late Nipsey Hussle at the 2020 Grammy Awards that included performances by Meek Mill, DJ Khaled and John Legend — but the Emmy-winning director has much more planned. Sources say DuVernay is working on...

UPDATE: WATCH: Students React to Jackson State University President’s Arrest in Prostitution Sting

William Bynum Jr. resigned as the 11th president of Jackson State University after a weekend arrest on charges related to a prostitution sting in Clinton. Bynum was arrested late Saturday night during an undercover operation by Clinton police at the Fairfield Inn and Suites. "It's my understanding that he was arrested. He was booked into the Clinton...

The Incredible True Story Behind “For Life,” 50 Cent’s New Show About a Falsely Accused Inmate Turned Licensed Attorney

The show is loosely based on the life of Isaac Wright Jr., a former inmate who got his wrongful conviction overturned and became a licensed attorney 50 Cent may have said goodbye to Power, but he’s just getting started with an important new show. The rapper is the executive producer of For Life, a new legal drama created by...

Mo’Nique Discusses her Showtime Special, Netflix Lawsuit, Terms of Reconciliation with Oprah and Tyler Perry in Interview with Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Oscar-winning actress and comedienne Mo’Nique made headlines last year for suing Netflix, citing gender and racial discrimination. She felt she was offered a low-ball offer for a Netflix special compared to comics such as Jerry Seinfeld, Amy Schumer and Dave Chappelle. Instead, she found a new home for her latest comedy special on Showtime which debuted Friday, February 7...

Atlanta Chef Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Drugging and Raping 2 Women, Raping a Third

A former Atlanta chef will spend 25 years in prison after he was convicted of raping three women, officials said. Raymond Jones was sentenced by a Fulton County Magistrate judge after pleading guilty to an 11-count indictment, according to the district attorney’s office. Prosecutors first charged Jones in connection with incidents that occurred April 12,...

Former NFL Wide Receiver Matthew Cherry Wins Oscar for Animated Short Film “Hair Love”

Former NFL wide receiver Matthew A. Cherry won an Academy Award on Sunday for his animated short film "Hair Love." Cherry, 38, who was a star at the University of Akron, spent about three seasons in the NFL on the practice squads and rosters of several teams before walking away in 2007. He later moved...

Texas A&M University-Texarkana Hosts 4th Annual African American Read-In

The Texas A&M University-Texarkana Department of Literature, Composition, Media, and Communication will host the 4th Annual African American Read-In on Tuesday, February 11th, 2020 from 12:15 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. in the University Center lobby. Students, faculty, staff, and community members are invited to attend the event in recognition of Black History Month.  The National African American Read-In, established in 1990 by the Black Caucus of the National Council...