Charles Barkley Pledges $1M Each To St. Mary’s Academy High School And Auburn University
Barkley's generosity has been well-documented.
Former NBA player Charles Barkley has pledged to donate money to young Black girls at a New Orleans high school and his alma mater, Auburn University, to ensure they have the opportunity to make something of themselves.
According to AL.com, the “Inside the NBA” host has pledged to donate $1 million to St. Mary’s Academy after viewing a segment about two former students from the school on a recent episode of “60 Minutes.” The news program showcased former students Calcea Johnson and Ne’Kiya Jackson for using trigonometry to prove the 2,000-year-old Pythagorean Theorem. Scholars previously believed that it could not be done. Knowing that these two students were able to prove that wrong, the NBA Hall of Famer was moved to donate to the school.
“These beautiful Black women, man, they’re just the high achievers,” Barkley said. “A lot is demanded of everybody at the school—high excellence. And these two young Black women did something in mathematics that was incredible. It just inspired me.”
Barkley has also pledged to donate $1 million to the women’s athletics department at Auburn University, where he played Division 1 basketball before being drafted into the NBA.
“I just want to make sure I always take care of the women at Auburn because I worry about them more than anything during this NIL movement,” he said. “Everybody’s worried about football and basketball. I just want to make sure the women know I’ve got a lot of love and appreciation for them.”
Barkley’s generosity has been well-documented. Just last year, he said he was changing his will by redesignating the $5 million he will leave to Auburn for scholarships for low-income Black students.
“That’s just my way of trying to make sure Auburn stays diverse,” he said last June.
Want to Retire Early? Follow These Tips From Twin Sisters Who Retired In Their 30s
Here are three tips from the Carter sisters to set yourself up for early retirement success.
Originally Published Sept. 3, 2021.
These twin sisters retired in their 30s and have advice for anyone who wants to do the same.
Nadia and Nicole Carter—the bloggers behind Wealth Twins—left their careers in finance after applying some financial strategy to their lives. Nicole retired at 33 and has been retired for 10 years, and her sister, Nadia, retired at 35 and has been job-free for over eight years, Business Insiderreported.
Both sisters are still based in New York City.
Here are three tips from the Carter sisters to set yourself up for early retirement success:
Try a mini-retirement first
Nicole and Nadia believe it’s a good idea to give early retirement a trial run before fully committing. While it may sound great, it’s not for everyone, the sisters said. Both took months of leave from work to be sure they knew what they were getting into, lifestyle-wise and financially.
Nicole took a break from work to finish business school and lived off her savings. Nadia took a six-month sabbatical from her job and returned after.
“It helps you build your confidence to let you know, ‘Hey, I can do this. These numbers are all working out,’ just to check yourself in the real world,” Nicole said about her mini-retirement.
Invest, save, and live below your means
The sisters told Business Insider they both saved and invested about 75% of their paychecks to save enough for early retirement.
They did this by keeping their living costs steady, even as earnings increased. This helped them avoid the make-more-spend-more lifestyle that sometimes comes with a growing paycheck. After bills were paid, they saved and invested the rest.
“We lived like we lived on our first salaries,” Nadia said. “That was one of the biggest things that helped us. We didn’t have to think about it, you just sock it away.”
Keep your housing costs low
Ever heard of house hacking? Nadia used this income-producing strategy to lower her living expenses, generate passive income, and feel more secure. She bought a multi-unit property in New York City, where she lived in one unit and rented out the rest.
“I said to myself, ‘How can I get a place that if I did lose my job, I wouldn’t have to worry about the mortgage?’” Nadia said. “And the first thing that came to mind would be to get a multi-family property.”
Nadia said house hacking is a great tool for early retirement, “because we lived for free, and all your money can go into your savings.”
Houston Civil Rights Legend William ‘Bill’ Lawson Dies At 95
Lawson was an instrumental figure in the desegregation of Houston.
William “Bill” Lawson, the founding pastor of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, and a fixture in the Houston Civil Rights community, died May 14. He was 95.
Lawson chartered the Houston chapter of Martin Luther King Jr.’s Southern Christian Leadership Conference. At a time when the perception of King was negative in Houston, and throughout the country, Lawson invited King to speak at his church.
The late Joseph Fiorenza, a former Catholic Archbishop Emeritus of Galveston-Houston, and a good friend of Lawson, told the Chronicle a few years before his death in 2022 that Lawson “…did more than anyone, probably, to keep Houston calm during the civil rights era.” Lawson, Fiorenza added, “convinced the city’s business community that tumult was ‘not good for Houston.’ And we were able to do a lot of things to quietly integrate the public facilities here.”
“The quiet desegregation of Houston met more my style than the picketing or protesting—that was not my style,” Lawson told the Houston Oral Project in 2008.
In an interview with ABC13, Lawson also credited his wife, Audrey, for inspiring him to get involved in the Civil Rights Movement. She told him that Lawson could not “have a church with just preaching and signing.” Instead, his church “was going to be both religion and social movement.”
According to Texas Monthly, although Lawson was hesitant to get his students at Texas Southern University involved in the historic sit-ins at a Weingarten lunch counter, he did not try to stop them once they informed him of their intentions. After he and his wife worked to bail the students out of jail, he was “sort of snatched into the Civil Rights Movement.”
Charlotte Bryant, one of the original 13 members of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, told the Chronicle that Lawson was “a quiet storm.”
It is with both inexpressible sorrow and overwhelming gratitude that we announce the passing of our Founding Pastor, Reverend William A. Lawson on May 14, 2024. He has completed his time of service here on earth and is now enjoying eternal rest. pic.twitter.com/P7Cq43ihpO
— Wheeler Avenue BC (@WheelerAvenueBC) May 14, 2024
It was a profound honor to witness his legacy of service & social change. Melanie Lawson's graceful acceptance of the award on his behalf added a poignant touch. Let's continue to be inspired by leaders like Rev. Lawson who leave an indelible mark on our community. pic.twitter.com/rtUfyeLHzS
In a statement, Houston Mayor John Whitmire said Lawson “is one of the reasons why our city is so great. He helped us during the period of civil rights and social justice. Houston benefited from his leadership, his character.”
Lawson is survived by his three daughters: Melanie, a longtime anchor at ABC13, Cheryl, and Roxanne; two granddaughters; and two great-grandsons.
Services for Lawson have been planned for May 23 and 24, beginning with his funeral at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church at 9 a.m., followed by a Community Service of Celebration at 6 p.m., and concluding with a Congregational Service of Celebration on May 24 at 11 a.m.
A former acquaintance, Fauziya Abashe, alleges that DJ Akademiks reportedly raped her, along with two of his friends after they drugged her at his residence
A young woman has filed a lawsuit against internet personality, DJ Akademiks, accusing him of sexual assault and defamation, according to People.
In court documents obtained by the media outlet, a former acquaintance, Fauziya Abashe, alleges that Akademics (real name Livingston Allen), along with two of his friends, raped her, after they drugged her at his residence. The alleged incident took place in July 2022. Abashe is suing Akademiks for negligent infliction of emotional distress and defamation.
TheWashington Post reported that Akademiks denied the allegations and stated that police officials have cleared him of the accusations. He also added that it was a shakedown attempt by Abashe, according to Rolling Stone. She responded to his denial by telling the media outlet, “I’m confident that justice will prevail, and the veil will be removed so no other woman will have to endure what I did.”
In the lawsuit documents obtained by People, Abashe said she metAkademiks online in 2021 and they dated but had not spoken to each other when he reached out to her that day in July 2022. After arriving at his home, she was met by his two friends, identified as John Doe 1 and John Doe 2, and conversed with both of them before they followed her to Akademiks’ hot tub. After entering the tub, she stated they gave her alcohol and it made her feel “extremely lightheaded and dizzy.”
She says that one of the men became aggressive with her before throwing her in a nearby pool and throughout the evening, she was allegedly gang-raped as she went in and out of consciousness. She said she awakened at around 4 a.m. in bed with Akademiks, where he was allegedly “brutally raping” her. She also added that she was not aware of the attacks until the next morning when Akademiks showed her surveillance footage of her being sexually assaulted.
Abashe went to the police and reported the attacks. The police officers did a rape kit on her, “evidencing that Ms. Abashe had been sexually assaulted.”
She remained silent about the alleged attacks until Dec. 30, 2023, after Akademiks allegedly defamed her on social media by claiming that Abashe “voluntarily [had] an orgy with his friends at his home while maintaining that he never participated at all.” He alleges he returned from a party after he invited a woman to his home, claiming he forgot that he did so. He went on to state that Abashe had sex with the two men on her own accord.
Her attorney, Tyrone Blackburn said, “Litigation is always the last resort. After several unsuccessful attempts to privately resolve this case, Ms. Abashe was left no choice other than to file. Mr. Allen’s hubris will be his downfall.”
It has not been reported how much Abashe is seeking in restitution.
Ray Lewis Receives Son’s College Degree Posthumously
'My son, I’m so proud of you. Heaven called you, but thanks to Virginia Union we grabbed your degree for you today baby boy," Lewis said.
Less than a year after his 28-year-old namesake died, former NFL player and Baltimore Ravens legend Ray Lewis received his son’s college degree posthumously.
Ray Lewis III attended Virginia Union University in Richmond and played for the Virginia Union Panthers, according to HBCU Gameday. The university allowed the NFL Hall of Famer to pick up his son’s degree and he made an Instagram post acknowledging the situation.
“My son, I’m so proud of you. Heaven called you, but thanks to Virginia Union we grabbed your degree for you today baby boy. We will see you again soon enough, to all the other families whose children didn’t make it to walk cross the stage. God Bless you!!! Celebrate every step our children take in life, even the steps we don’t like. Ray 3rd “ we made today a great day!!! Miss you my King!!! 🖤”
Ray Lewis III was found unresponsive on June 14, 2023, by medical personnel. No cause of death was revealed.
Ray III never made it to the NFL like his father, but, he did play football on a collegiate and pro level. He played for the Miami Hurricanes, Coastal Carolina Chanticleers, and Virginia Union Panthers. He was signed to the Wyoming Mustangs professional indoor football team in 2021.
He is survived by his three brothers, Rashaan, Rayshad, and Ralin, as well as his sisters Diaymon and Kaitlin.
The 48-year-old Ray Lewis played his entire 17-year career with the Baltimore Ravens from 1996 to 2012. He finished his career as a two-time Super Bowl champion, winning in 2000 (also taking home the MVP trophy) and 2012. He is a two-time Defensive Player of the Year (winning the honor in 2000 and 2003), was first-team All-Pro seven times, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018.
With these loans, consumers can enjoy the luxury of purchasing and paying for it at their leisure with zero interest or a low fixed interest rate. Klarna, Afterpay, and Affirm are the most popular “ghost debt” apps, according to Adobe Business.
While experts like Senior Industry Analyst for Bankrate.com, Ted Rossman, think avoiding interest is “not that big of a deal,” they do feel these types of loans present opportunities to overspend, pay late, and get into trouble — symptoms that can turn into “phantom debt” or “ghost debt.” Rossman says debt creeps up because these companies fail to report outstanding loans to credit bureaus, making it difficult for the lender to know exactly how much debt the customer actually has. “You don’t necessarily need a great credit score to get one of these loans,” the analyst said.
“If you’re a little bit late, it’s probably not going to hurt your credit because they usually don’t report to credit bureaus unless maybe you’re so late that you go to collections.”
These loans present a hidden source of risk.
The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City conducted a study that revealed close to 20% of BNPL customers fell behind on payments, and the 33% who paid their bill within a month actually borrowed funds from a different lender, amounting to more debt, according to Florida Daily. Analysts alsonoted that credit ratings agencies are out of the loop with the amount of debt out there, with an estimated additional $700 billion not being accounted for.
In 2023, BNPL loans were increasingly popular amongst Black American shoppers, particularly for groceries. As the cost of groceries grew by 8.4%, almost half of Americans used installment loan apps, and of those, about 1 in 5 relied on loans to buy groceries. However, the risks are higher for Black and Hispanic users.
Black and Hispanic BNPL users have close to 70% in credit card debt and about $12,000 less in savings than those who don’t use the apps for assistance. Regardless of the staggering numbers, the industry continues to boost itself as the more flexible and consumer-friendly alternative to traditional credit cards. “Regardless of what the purchase is, BNPL is a healthier and more sustainable option compared to high-cost credit cards that encourage minimum payments, keeping people in debt longer with extortionate interest,” a Klarna spokesperson said.
Man Convicted Of Sex Crimes After Confessing On Police Job Application And Interview
The former potential police officer mentioned 'playing sexual games' with a minor on his application.
An aspiring police officer is heading to jail after making a grave confession to sex crimes on his job application.
Stephen Bodley, 26, was convicted of sexual battery on a child on May 8 by an Orange County, Florida, jury. The former potential police officer mentioned “playing sexual games” with a victim on his application.
Then, during the interview with a detective, Bodley said the victim “probably didn’t know what was going on,” admitting the crime occurred several times at his childhood home in Apopka. “I can’t remember but um, but what do you call it, yes, um, I used to um, play these little sexual games, like oral with my little [redacted], and I known she, she didn’t know fully what was going on, and I used to watch porn a lot, so I had like a little addiction when I was younger,” Bodley said.
Police tracked down the victim’s mother, who said Bodley and the victim had a close relationship. The victim then told police and the Florida Department of Children and Families about the abuse, stating it took place when Bodley was 14 to the age of 19. The victim’s age was not included in court records, but investigators stated the abuse began when she was a minor.
Bodley was then arrested at the Apopka Police Department after detectives called him in and continued with his confession before being taken to jail. “The certified voice stress analysis examiner performed a voice stress examination on Bodley,” State Attorney Andrew Bain said, according to Fox News.
“During the examination, the examiner asked Bodley to expand on concerning answers he provided in a pre-test questionnaire.”
Before the trial, the defendant’s lawyer filed a motion to have the triggering comments made during the job interview and the ones following eliminated. However, Circuit Judge Robert Egan ruled against the request to have Bodley’s post-arrest remarks dismissed. He did agree to remove the comments made during the interview.
These Black Women Hope To Create A Lane Of Their Own Within The Republican Party
The GOP may be forever changed.
The Republican Party is seeing some new faces within the party and they are Black women.
During an episode of new podcast series, The Switch Up hosted by The Hill’s Cheyanne M. Daniels, Black women representing the GOP came together to discuss what it means to be a Black woman in a space crowded by predominantly white men.
Two of the podcast guests were Kimberly Klacik and Roxy Ndebumadu. Ndebumadu got her start in big tech but after seeing a lack of diversity in the tech world, she spoke about her feelings to her mentor, Fred Humphries. It was then that he recommended that she should run for office. “He said, ‘Maybe you should run for office. And I said, ‘Fred, have you met me? What is going on here? No!,’” Ndebumadu told Daniels.
“And I respected Fred…so I said maybe I should. So I looked into running for elected office. It was about 45 days before the city council election and I said ‘You know what? Why not! If I don’t tell my story, who’s going to tell it? If I don’t represent my people, who’s going to represent my people?”
She ran her race in 2019 and was elected for Bowie District 4 Councilmember in Maryland — becoming the youngest and first African-American woman to serve in the position.
Black women have been gaining political traction ever since Shirley Chisholm’s historic election to Congress in 1968. However, most have been in alignment with Democrats. But this new generation of Black women are hoping to bring change and diversity to the Republican Party. “Many women, we are the leaders in our own household. And to me it would be a no-brainer that we are part of the political arena as well,” Maryland GOP hopeful Kimberly Klacik said.
“Now it’s still a male-dominated world but I think now, you have more women at the table talking about these issues that are much more important to women.”
In February 2024, Klacik, a conservative radio talk show host and heavy supporter of former President Donald Trump, announced her second campaign for Congress. After an unsuccessful run for the 7th Congressional District in 2020, Klacik is eyeing the seat to represent the 2nd Congressional District seat, vacated by Democratic Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger, according to WYPR.
The new district consists of mainly blue supporters, including a majority of Baltimore and Carroll Counties, as well as a portion of Baltimore City, but she feels up to the task. “I’m no stranger to a challenge,” Klacik said.
“I do believe that we can win this.”
Described by Daniels as “unicorns,” most Black women in politics reflect Democratic values, but for Ndebumadu, it’s the Republican party that mimics her upbringing. “When I reflect on the way that I grew up as a Black woman, as a first generation American, and daughter of Nigerian immigrant parents, I have to reflect and remember what values were important to us and the values I was raised with and that were instilled with us at the time of youth,” the councilwoman said.
“Which were family values, which were that you can’t depend on the government for everything, which were that education is key and priority, which were that it doesn’t matter your circumstances, you need to figure out a way to thrive. And that’s how I grew up, that’s what was instilled in me.”
She admits that it’s those values that align with the Republican party – “not saying the Republican party today because it looks a little different,” Ndebumadu said, “but from its inception and premise from what the Republican party was founded.”
The GOP struggles with recruiting Black supporters as some don’t trust the anti-Black rhetoric seen, including eliminating Black history courses and Trump equating his legal woes with the Black experience. However, Ndebumadu thinks those are just words unless there are actions to back it up. “You can’t say that we are a party that is for you if you’re not willing to walk the walk. So, unfortunately, until the broader party is willing to walk the walk, it doesn’t matter what they say, the messaging will never matter,” she said.
She added, “Cause at the end of the day, what I have learned as an elected official is that people resonate with what they can feel. People resonate with what they can see, how it directly affects their life in that moment. And if they can not feel it, it does not exist so it doesn’t matter what you say.”
UNC-Chapel Hill’s Board Divests DEI Funds To Policing
The news comes ahead a statewide board vote to reverse DEI policy in North Carolina.
The board at UNC-Chapel Hill has voted to divest funding from its DEI programming and will instead redistribute the money into public safety resources, including policing.
The flagship school within the North Carolina public university system made the decision during a special budget meeting on May 13. The $2.3 million funding will no longer go toward DEI initiatives and programming within its Chapel Hill campus. Instead, per NBC News, the money will be funneled into public safety and policing efforts.
The news also comes as UNC students partake in pro-Palestinian protests that have sparked across college campuses nationwide. Like other student protestors, participants have faced repercussions by law enforcement, including arrests at UNC. The shift for the funds comes amid heightened security measures for the peaceful protests.
“It’s important to consider the needs of all 30,000 students, not just the 100 or so that may want to disrupt the university’s operations,” explained the school’s Budget Committee Vice Chair Marty Kotis. “It takes away resources for others.”
The vote at UNC also aligns with the statewide board’s recent vote to replace the DEI policy established in 2019. In April, its Committee on University Governance motioned to reverse the policy. As a result, the full board will vote to finalize the decision in May.
If passed, the decision could result in the removal of DEI offices and roles for 17 schools in the state. The roles include those who work with the school’s administration to implement DEI efforts within its institutions.
With this money no longer distributed to DEI programming, its diversity office risks an immediate shutdown. This growing threat against DEI offices at schools will most impact students and educators of color, as these policies have worked to ensure spaces and policies protect them from discrimination and ensure their presence on campus.
As DEI remains under attack, underrepresented groups are cautious of how these policy reversals will impact their experiences in academia.
NBA Players Say Fatigue Not A Factor Compared To 12-Hour Shift Workers
Still players are often pushed beyond their physical limits.
New York Knicks guard Josh Hart reacted to a question about his playing time and any fatigue incurred during the NBA playoffs on March 23, downplaying any concern by making a comparison to workers who work a 12-hour shift. The implication is that NBA players shouldn’t complain about being tired because they don’t work a job that requires them to spend hours laboring to make money.
Hart plays for New York Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau, who is notorious for giving his starters extended minutes, which has been referenced several times when the Knicks have struggled this season, and that has continued during the team’s playoff run. Hart, star guard Jalen Brunson, and OG Anunoby played an average of 34 minutes per game during the regular season, a rate that has only increased since the playoffs started.
Josh Hart when asked about fatigue factoring in to NYK’s loss to CHA tonight: “You got people getting up at 6 am doing 12 hour shifts. Those people are tired. For us, we’re playing a game…. We gotta keep that in perspective.” Full answer: pic.twitter.com/lh6wBU5Twd
While Hart’s answer seemingly comes from a good place, ultimately, it will not end the questions surrounding his coach’s decision to play his starters upwards of 40 minutes a night, even though Brunson is battling a foot injury, and other key members of the team are out with injuries. Hart’s comparison of the NBA’s athletic workers to workers on civilian jobs could be considered admirable, and has drawn praise from fans, but players who are often pushed beyond their physical limits can suffer from fatigue.
Brunson, as The Athletic reports, does not want the narrative around the team’s fatigue or injuries to become an excuse, as he expressed to reporters following the Knicks blowout loss to Indiana on May 12. “We can talk about fresher legs, and we can give us all the pity that we want. Yeah, we’re short-handed, but that doesn’t matter right now,” Brunson said. “We have what we have and we need to go forward with that. So there is no, ‘We’re short-handed.’ There is no excuse. There’s no excuse, whatsoever. If we lose, we lose.”
As Basketball Sphere reported, Hart has found an ally of sorts in Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving. During his post-game press conference following a game 3 win against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Irving broached the topic of player fatigue, telling reporters, “I think Josh Hart had a tremendous quote where he talked about people having 12-hour shifts and we get to go out there and play the game that we love. I think that hit the nail right on the head for how we feel. That doesn’t take away from our competitive spirit or what we want to achieve as legacy members of the NBA.”
Irving continued, “I want the next generation to have this game as an art space and not just business. You should enjoy the competition and going against the best. I don’t want to overspeak, but that’s where my focus has been. Getting up every day, looking at my kids, my wife, and all the kids playing basketball.”
