by Mary Spiller

August 18, 2024

Minnesota’s Oldest Black-Owned Newspaper Turns 90

The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder's owner, Tracy Williams-Dillard, intends for the family legacy to be carried on by her daughter.

Minnesota’s oldest Black-owned newspaper turned 90 years old on Aug. 10. The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder’s owner, Tracy Williams-Dillard, celebrated the paper’s rich history.

She said, “I’m overwhelmed with joy and happiness, and it just feels phenomenal. That’s all I can say. To know that my family’s legacy has made it 90 years through the rough times and the tough times, and we’re still here despite it all.”

The Spokesman-Recorder will celebrate its 90th anniversary with a St. Croix River yacht cruise, as well as a gala at the historic Depot in Downtown Minneapolis.

The weekly publication was started 90 years ago by Cecil E. Newman, Williams-Dillard’s grandfather, to “give a voice to the voiceless.”

Newman sold issues for just 5 cents a pop, and on the front page of every issue, he wrote a promise to “speak out fearlessly and unceasingly against injustices, discrimination, and all imposed inequalities.”

“Our focus is making sure that the African American community is being treated with respect and in the way that they should be. and if you’re not, we hold you accountable,” it read.

The Minnesota-based paper has been dedicated for nine decades to uplifting the Black community by telling stories that would typically be ignored. With a central focus on the Black experience, Williams-Dillard’s paper covers topics from Barack Obama’s election to the police brutality enacted against George Floyd in South Minneapolis.

“We are both the oldest African American newspaper in Minnesota. We are the oldest Black-owned business in Minnesota and we are one of the oldest African-American newspapers in the country. So we’re proud,” Williams-Dillard told Fox 9.

She expressed that she intends to pass on the family business to her daughter one day so that she can carry on her family’s legacy.

Williams-Dillard added, “The community needs the Spokesman-Recorder now more than ever.”

by Daniel Johnson

August 17, 2024

Rappers Kodak Black And Fivio Foreign Release Pro-Trump Track

The song even samples Trump's voice.

Donald Trump and convicted Fyre Fest businessman Billy McFarland are credited alongside Kodak Black and Fivio Foreign as songwriters on the new song, “ONBOA47RD,” on which the two rap stars endorse Trump for president. The song even samples Trump’s voice.

According to Rolling Stone, Kodak refers to the former president as “family.”

Furthermore, Kodak raps, “I ain’t even see this many Black people freed during the Obama days/Told her she can have anything she want, just not my Donald chain,” which, notes Rolling Stone, gross mischaracterization of just how many people Trump granted clemency. Obama granted clemency to 1,927 individuals during his two terms in office, whereas Trump granted it to 237 during his term, according to Pew Research. In fact, according to its data, Trump was more conservative with clemency power than every president since 1900 not named Bush.

According to Billboard, Black has consistently praised Trump since the former president pardoned him in 2021. In 2022, Black said in a video on X, “We need Trump in office forever, man. Just like how them Chinese and Russian and Korean muthaf*ckas have their president. Trump the best thing for America — ya heard me — for sure.”

According to the Daily Beast, Black and his collaborator also tagged the former president’s Instagram account in a post about the song. Trump has yet to respond.

So far, rappers who have endorsed Trump include Kodak Black and Lil Wayne, whom Trump also pardoned. Sexyy Red, meanwhile, clarified comments that seemed to endorse Trump in 2023 by stating in June 2024 on X that she is not endorsing any candidate for president.

by Daniel Johnson

August 17, 2024

Marlon Wayans Claps Back At DJ Vlad Over $40K Interview Price

The two got into a fierce back-and-forth on X.

Marlon Wayans got into a back-and-forth with DJ Vlad on X over Vlad’s belief that Wayans’ reported $40,000 price tag for an interview was an inflation of his real value. Wayans, naturally, disagreed with Vlad’s suggestion that he wasn’t worth his asking price.

According to Complex, Vlad released part of an interview with Aries Spears on his VladTV YouTube channel wherein Vlad discussed Wayans’ asking price of $40,000 and 30% of all future revenue. After the video’s release, it caused some debate on X and revived conversations about Vlad being a culture vulture.

Marlon Wayans found someone with 200 followers to agree with him. LOL. Nobody on earth is going to pay Marlon $40K for an interview when he gets 100k-300k views on any platform he interviews on. This guy is really delusional.https://t.co/xMtfKShL3c pic.twitter.com/sARe77u9Zr
— DJ Vlad (@djvlad) August 16, 2024

Although Vlad tried to paint Wayans as unprofessional, the actor pointed out in his replies to Vlad that taking his business negotiations public was a “silly negotiating tactic.”

“You mad? You unprofessional my guy. If you don’t like the number keep it moving. You look BAD. You should fall back. mad at a Black man stating his number?” Wayans wrote. “And now you go public and use your platform to try to drag me. I never in my life dealt with this silly negotiating tactic.”

Several users also weighed in, saying that Vlad generally seems to take issue with Black people who assert their value and worth and don’t back down.

Like his infamous social media interaction with Princeton professor and niece of Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, Morgan Jerkins, the latest dust-up provided more ammunition for those who disapprove of Vlad’s tactics.

As Wayans told him in the replies, “You been teetering on disrespect and I’ve been a gentleman up until this point. This was tactless, unprofessional and petty. You out here trying to tear down a king. You trying to instigate beef within my community and peers. It won’t happen fella. I’m loved.”

Wayans added, “I’m worth whatever I say. People like you don’t make or break me champ. I’m self made. I go where i choose.”

FAMU, Florida A&M University, board, donation, resign

by Mary Spiller

August 17, 2024

FAMU Interim President Calls For University’s Leadership Board To Resign Following $237M Fraudulent Donation

The president is calling for accountability in the wake of a massive fraudulent donation made to the HBCU.

Just a week before the start of this year’s fall semester, the interim president of Florida A&M University, Timothy Beard, has called on the FAMU leadership team to resign from their positions on account of troubles with fraud.

Although Beard is just one week into his tenure, he has begun making bold moves for the future of the HBCU.

“As you know, our University [FAMU] is at a critical juncture, where we must align our leadership, vision, and strategies to meet the evolving challenges and opportunities ahead,” Beard wrote in an open letter. He continued, “After careful consideration and in consultation with the Board of Trustees, the past University President, and from my observations, I have concluded that a change in our senior leadership team is necessary to move forward more effectively.”

Beard described the seemingly quick decision as being “part of the overall process of evaluating the leadership team.”

According to The Guardian, Beard still holds discretion for who of those on the leadership board resignations will be accepted, although he has called for all of them to submit a request.

Since Beard’s letter, five members of the leadership team have successfully resigned. At the beginning of this week, there were 20 members on the board, but now the FAMU website only lists 15 active members.

FAMU is missing a “communicators director, a chief legal officer for its board of trustees, an athletics director, and a government relations director.”

Issues began to stir at the HBCU after an allegedly fraudulent donation was made to the university in the amount of $237 million by a Texas hemp farmer.

A long and extensive investigation that included nearly 200 pages of evidence and inquiries found that the donation was poorly vetted and the decision to accept it was rushed. The leadership board has been named by the board of trustees to be held accountable. Former FAMU president, Larry Robinson, even resigned following publication of the scandal.

Beard, although taking advice from the board of trustees, has reiterated that the decision to call for resignations has been entirely his own.

He said, “They may speak broadly in terms of our strengths and weaknesses as a university, but when it comes to the senior leadership team and individual employees, that’s on me as the president.”

“I’ve been studying the team. I’ve also been looking at the bold and striking strategic plan. I want to make sure the personnel is appropriate to make sure those strategies are completed. We make decisions based on the plan and accountability.”

wrongfully convicted, 50 years, Oklahoma

by Daniel Johnson

August 17, 2024

Man Awarded $7M For Nearly 50 Years Of Wrongful Imprisonment

Glynn Ray Simmons has been awarded $7 million by the city of Edmond, Oklahoma.

In February, Glynn Ray Simmons told The Guardian how he dealt with his battle to overturn seemingly the longest miscarriage of justice in American history or what he referred to it as an attempted murder. At the time, Simmons was preparing to sue, but planned to use the money to help others in the same situation.

Now he can.

According to The Associated Press, Simmons, who was wrongfully imprisoned for nearly 50 years, the Edmond City Council voted to award Simmons more than $7 million earlier this week.

According to the National Registry of Exonerations, Simmons maintained that he was in Louisiana at the time of the murder of Carolyn Sue Rogers, a 30-year-old store clerk at a liquor store, in 1974 and had never visited the state of Oklahoma before Jan. 5, 1975, when he came to live with his aunt.

In a motion for amended post-conviction relief filed by his lawyers at the time, Joseph Norwood and John Coyle, in January 2023, they argued that Belinda Brown, an 18-year-old survivor of the shooting at the liquor store, failed to correctly identify Simmons.

The petition also contained a report from Dr. Curt Carlson, a professor at Texas A&M University-Commerce and an eyewitness identification expert. Carlson wrote that he did not believe Simmons committed the murder.

“My review of the testimony and other case documents has led me to conclude that there is no eyewitness evidence that is probative of the defendant’s guilt. Rather, there is evidence indicating the defendant’s innocence.” Carlson wrote.

“Mr. Simmons spent a tragic amount of time incarcerated for a crime he did not commit,” his attorney, Elizabeth Wang, said in a statement. “Although he will never get that time back, this settlement with Edmond will allow him to move forward” with his life.”

According to the lawsuit, police are accused of falsifying a report and withholding evidence that pointed at two other people as suspects. Simmons’ release in July 2023 occurred when a judge vacated his conviction and sentence, and ordered a new trial.

After District Attorney Vickie Behenna announced that she would not seek to retry Simmons, a judge exonerated him in December 2023, saying there was “clear and convincing evidence” that he didn’t actually commit the crime. Simmons was originally sentenced to death before his sentence was commuted to life in prison in 1977. Prior to the ruling by the city council, Simmons had only received $177,000 from the state for his wrongful incarceration.

Deaf Man, Cerebral Palsy, Sues, Phoenix Police, Brutal Beating

by Mary Spiller

August 17, 2024

The-Dream Files Motion To Dismiss Lawsuit Filed By Former Protégé Alleging Rape, Sex Trafficking, And Assault

The motion claims that the lawsuit uses 'destructive racial stereotypes' against The-Dream and contains a lack of factual evidence.

According to Aug. 16 court filings, artist and producer The-Dream (born Terius Adamu Ya Gesteelde-Diamant) has filed a motion to dismiss the standing lawsuit against him. The suit accuses him of several violent acts, including rape, sexual assault, and trafficking, but The-Dream’s filing claims that the complaint is untrue and “weaponizes destructive racial stereotypes against [him].”

The lawsuit was filed in June by his former protégé, singer and songwriter Chanaaz Mangroe. In new documents obtained by People, the 46-year-old producer has moved to attempt to get the complaint dismissed altogether.

Desirée F. Moore, The-Dream’s attorney, said that Mangroe’s allegations “must be dismissed in its entirety for failing to attribute specific factual allegations to each defendant.”

Not only does Moore argue that the accusations are baseless, but she also states that the California-filed complaint leverages harmful stereotypes about the “I Luv Your Girl” singer’s race.

“Before the complaint raises a single relevant allegation, Plaintiff dedicates several pages to irrelevant gossip designed to harm Diamant’s children and impugn his marital history; unsubstantiated allegations of past violence (none of which resulted in any proceedings or findings against Diamant); false depictions of an absent father; and racist insinuations that Diamant is affiliated with a street gang.”

The Dream’s legal team alleged that Mangroe actually pursued The-Dream by “unilaterally soliciting sex (and other favors), including in writing,” following the conclusion of their relationship. Moore claimed in the filing that The-Dream was the one who refused Mangroe at this time.

The court documents additionally stated, “Plaintiff’s complaint contains dozens of allegations that are utterly irrelevant to her sexual battery and sex trafficking claims and are, instead, designed solely to smear Diamant’s name and reputation.”

Moore explained in a statement, “Absent any facts alleging plaintiff’s involvement in a ‘commercial sex act,’ her cause of action for sex trafficking against Diamant must be dismissed.”

As previously reported, Mangroe sued The-Dream on June 4 and logged allegations against him that claimed he preyed on her through a binding recording contract. The lawsuit claims that in 2015 The-Dream held the “vulnerable artist into an abusive, violent and manipulative relationship.”

Mangroe described her experience as being “nothing short of a prolonged nightmare.”

by Daniel Johnson

August 17, 2024

White Florida Woman Convicted Of Manslaughter In Fatal Shooting Of Black Neighbor

Susan Lorincz was found guilty of manslaughter in the 2023 shooting of Ajike Owens after a two-hour jury deliberation.

Susan Lorincz, a 60-year-old Marion County, Florida woman, was convicted of manslaughter by a jury on Aug. 16 in the shooting of Ajike (AJ) Owens while she stood outside the door of Lorincz’s home in Ocala.

The New York Times reported that the two women, who were neighbors, had an often contentious relationship that resulted in an incident where Lorincz, a white woman, shot and killed Owens, a Black woman. The confrontation occurred after Owens went to Lorincz’s home to address an argument Lorincz had with Owens’ children, at which point Lorincz shot her through the door.

According to The Associated Press, the six jurors in the case, who were all-white, deliberated for approximately two hours before returning a guilty verdict.

Pamela Dias, Owens’ mother, told reporters for The AP outside the courtroom that the judgment has helped lighten her heart.

“I am very pleased with the jury, the prosecution, the verdict…I find some peace with that verdict. I feel that although my daughter is gone forever, the children’s mom is gone forever, we’ve achieved some justice for Ajike. My heart is a little lighter and we’re now on the path to healing.”

The case received national attention due in large part to the delay in arresting Lorincz and her legal team’s invocation of Florida’s “stand your ground” laws in her defense. Another factor in the case’s notoriety was that the prosecution opted to charge Lorincz with manslaughter and not a higher second-degree murder charge, which the family and one of their attorneys, civil rights lawyer Benjamin Crump, had pushed for.

The New York Times reported that Crump and other attorneys claimed Lorincz had shouted racial slurs at Owens’ children.

An affidavit filed after Lorincz’s arrest states that she admitted to a detective that she repeatedly complained about the children and used racial slurs toward them before shooting their mother.

Bill Gladson, the state attorney for Florida’s Fifth Judicial Circuit, declined to charge Lorincz with murder, citing insufficient evidence to meet the higher burden of proof required for a murder charge.

“I am aware of the desire of the family, and some community members, that the defendant be charged with second-degree murder,” Gladson said in a statement in June 2023. “However, I cannot allow any decision to be influenced by public sentiment, angry phone calls or further threats of violence, as I have received in this case.”

Gladson continued, explaining that second-degree murder requires proving that the defendant was in a depraved mind when she killed Owens. “Depraved mind requires evidence of hatred, spite, ill will or evil intent toward the victim.”

State prosecutor Rich Buxman argued in his closing statement that Owens’ shooting was no accident.

“It wasn’t an accidental situation. It wasn’t a situation where she slipped and the gun accidentally went off and shot the door and struck Ms. Owens,” Buxman told the jurors. “That’s not what we have here. She intentionally fired it. There’s no doubt that the defendant intentionally committed an act, which caused the death of Ajike Owens.”

Buxman continued, “She pointed a loaded firearm towards a door, towards a person that she knew was there in the opposite side of the door and intentionally pulled the trigger. That shows a reckless disregard for human life.”

According to CNN, Crump said in a statement that the family is grateful for the guilty verdict.

“AJ Owens was a devoted mother whose life was tragically cut short, leaving her children, including a young son who witnessed this horrific act, to carry the burden of her loss. While nothing can erase the pain they’ve endured, today’s decision sends a clear message that senseless violence will be met with accountability.”

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

August 17, 2024

Vinyl Release Of DMX’s Debut Album Brings It Back To The Billboard Charts

'It's Dark and Hell Is Hot' was first released in 1998.

It’s been 26 years since the late rapper DMX released his debut album, It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot. But loyal fans are helping it see new success on the Billboard charts.

According to Forbes, a recent vinyl release of DMX’s platinum-selling rap album through the Vinyl Me, Please platform has brought the album back onto the Billboard charts this week. In the past tracking week, the album sold an impressive 3,400 copies across the U.S., a significant jump from its usual 50 sales per week.

However, with its recent release on vinyl, It’s Dark And Hell Is Hot has experienced a 6,446% increase in pure purchases, bringing its total sales to 4.856 million copies, according to Luminate. Most of the sales took place during the album’s original release three decades ago in 1998. It was the first of DMX’s five-album run that reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200.

But with loyal DMX fans celebrating his debut album’s official vinyl release, the hip-hop classic secured the No. 27 spot on Billboard’s purchase-only roster. If it holds the spot for one more week, it brings It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot to 104 weeks, or two full years, on the chart.

It’s the latest success for the late rapper, who died in April 2021 at age 50. Among his No. 1 albums include 1998’s It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot and Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood, 1999’s …And Then There Was X, 2001’s The Great Depression, and 2003’s Grand Champ. His sixth album Year of the Dog . . . Again debuted at the No. 2 spot in 2006.

DMX also enjoyed a flourishing acting career with lead roles in films like 1998’s Belly, 2000’s Romeo Must Die, 2001’s Exit Wounds, 2003’s Cradle 2 the Grave, and 2004’s Never Die Alone. His musical reach expanded beyond the hip-hop genre with gospel releases that showed off his spiritual side in singles like 2006’s “Lord Give Me a Sign” and 2008’s “Jesus Loves Me.”

Despite selling more than 74 million albums and finding success in music and film, DMX left behind an estate estimated to be in debt. In May, the rapper’s estate struck a deal with the artist estate management company Artist Legacy Group (ALG) to preserve his legacy.

poverty,rate,Louisiana, Mississippi,New. Mexico

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

August 17, 2024

New Mexico, Mississippi, And Louisiana Top List of US States With Highest Poverty Rates

New Mexico came out on top of a list highlighting the states with the highest poverty rates throughout the U.S.

New Mexico was ranked first on a list highlighting the states with the highest poverty rates in the U.S.

The southwestern state boasted the highest score of 18.2% on a Visual Capitalist’ map, showcasing the three-year average of poverty rates by U.S. state from 2020 to 2022. The poverty rates were determined through the official poverty measure, which defines poverty by comparing a family’s pre-tax annual income to a national threshold that varies based on family size.

The poverty rate for a family of one is $14,880. For a family of two, it is $18,900. A family of three has a poverty rate threshold of $23,280, and a family of four has a rate of $29,950. The U.S. Census Bureau determined the figures, which are updated as of September 2023.

Joining New Mexico (18.2%) at the top of the list of high poverty rates are Mississippi (17.8%), Louisiana (16.9%), Arkansas (15.9%), and Kentucky (15.8%), which all contain large rural areas known to be historically poorer than urban areas. Oklahoma follows up with 15.8%, West Virginia with 15.6%, and Alabama with a poverty rate of 14.8%. District of Columbia and Texas close out the top 10 with 14.7% and 13.7%.

The top 10 states are noticeably located in the South, where cities are plagued with low education levels and labor force participation. The lack of education and consistent workforce contribute to these territories’ slow economic growth and lower personal income levels.

Poverty has remained a consistent issue in parts of the South for the last 30 years, with one in five Southern counties experiencing “persistent poverty” and maintaining a poverty rate above 20% for three decades. Over 80% of all persistently poor counties in the U.S. are located in the South.

The official poverty rate in 2022 was 11.5%, with 37.9 million people in poverty, the U.S. Census reports. There is some hope within the Black community as the official poverty rate for Black individuals decreased between 2021 and 2022, with 2022 being the lowest on record.

Kamala Harris, Trump, Philadelphia, debate

by Sharelle Burt

August 17, 2024

Donald Trump Says He’s ‘Entitled’ To Launch Personal Jabs Against Kamala Harris

Sticks and stones....

GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump told reporters during a press conference that he is “entitled” to personally attack Vice President Kamala Harris amid cries from allies for him to stop, The Hill reported.

During the conference, held at his Bedminster, New Jersey property, a number of reporters asked Trump to respond to criticism he’s received from fellow Republicans who feel he needs to lay off the personal jabs he is launching against Harris. Since he is “very angry” with some of the things she has allegedly done to the country, the indicted businessman feels he has every right to attack her. “As far as the personal attacks, I’m very angry at her because of what she’s done to the country,” Trump said.

“I think I’m entitled to personal attacks. I don’t have a lot of respect for her. I don’t have a lot of respect for her intelligence, and I think she’ll be a terrible president.”

BREAKING: Donald Trump is currently breaking down because Kamala Harris called him weird. It would be a shame if you retweeted this so every American saw this senile meltdown. pic.twitter.com/cTsN7KinxF
— Kamala’s Wins (@harris_wins) August 15, 2024

Trump said Harris “certainly attacks me personally” and seemed to take great opposition to the Harris-Walz campaign calling him and his running mate, J.D. Vance “weird.”

One reporter referred to recent comments made by failed presidential hopeful Nikki Haley, who said Trump has no way of winning if he keeps the current strategy going. “I want this campaign to win but the campaign is not going to win talking about crowd sizes, it’s not going to win talking about what race Kamala Harris is, it’s not going to win talking about whether she is dumb,” Haley said.

“You can’t win on those things. The American people are smart. Treat them like they’re smart.”

BREAKING: Nikki Haley is bashing the Trump campaign for running one of the weakest candidates and races she’s seen. It’s clear the dam is breaking within the Republican Party and the base is fracturing. Retweet so all Americans see this. pic.twitter.com/3YT4NLay22
— Kamala’s Wins (@harris_wins) August 13, 2024

After catching wind of her remarks, Trump said he appreciates Haley’s advice but is standing his ground on running his campaign “my way.”

Former Trump White House trade adviser, Peter Navarro, shared the same idea as Haley, labeling the current formula of holding rallies as being “simply not sufficiently focused on the very stark policy differences” and that he should be focused on swing voters in key battleground states.

However, poll results may be painting another picture. As Harris plans to announce her economic policy during a Aug. 16 rally in Raleigh, according to The Associated Press, a NORC Center for Public Affairs Research survey found that voters are more likely to trust Trump over the Vice President when it comes to issues like immigration and the economy.

While falsely claiming he is ahead of Harris in the polls, Trump claims people don’t know who Harris is and says he will beat Harris by more than what he would have beaten President Joe Biden by. “People don’t know who she is,” Trump said.

Even though he insists on wanting to run the campaign his way, Trump is seemingly taking Haley’s advice. In a major shake up, the former president announced new members during the press conference, but familiar faces, to his team. Former aides and outside advisers, including Taylor Budowich, Alex Pfeiffer, Alex Bruesewitz, and Tim Murtaugh, will hold senior leadership positions.

Corey Lewandowski is also rejoining the team as he once briefly managed Trump’s 2016 campaign and authored the book, Let Trump Be Trump.