museum

First African American Museum In Virginia County Honors Activist James Wilson Kilby

Kilby helped desegregate Warren County High School in the 1950s, wanting this legacy memorialized through a museum.


The first African American museum has opened in Warren County, Virginia, fulfilling the legacy of local activist James Wilson Kilby.

According to the Northern Virginia Daily, Kilby helped desegregate Warren County High School in the 1950s. Wanting this legacy memorialized through a museum, he co-wrote a memoir with his daughter, Patricia Kilby-Robb, in 2000 to recall his journey.

Despite dying three years later, Kilby’s legacy finds fulfillment through his daughter. Alongside her husband, Kilby Robb established the James Wilson Kilby African American Museum and Education Center at her family’s home to tell the story of her parents’ fight for justice in the area.

Kilby was born in 1917 in Madison County, Virginia. He and his eventual wife, Catherine Ausberry, came from slavery and transitioned to sharecropping. He wed Ausberry in 1941, moving to Warren County to build a homestead for his family on land he bought with two other men.

The youngest daughter of their five children, Kilby-Robb saw her father become fed up with the abysmal educational opportunities available for colored children. In the county, no schools would take Black students after seventh grade.

“Dad believed in equal education, he was not allowed to go to school full time. They were sharecroppers — they had to work to survive,” stated the doting daughter. “Dad had this protective nature of all of his children, Mom too, but when it came to the girls, he wanted to make sure that nothing happened to them. When my sister was ready to go, he said absolutely not. I’m not letting my daughter get on any bus to go anywhere.”

His dedication to his children’s academics led him, along with other Black parents and the NAACP, to sue the county. A judge ordered the high school to allow the children to enroll as the only option in the area. However, Virginia’s then-governor, J. Lindsay Almond, shut the school down.

Despite this, in February 1959, the Kilbys entered Warren County High School. They also faced violence for their insistence of equality, including bullet holes and burning crosses on their property.

To settle the case, Kilby negotiated with local officials to build a high school for Black students. However, his efforts to provide an academic space for his children and other Black youth in the community will be forever remembered in the museum.

The museum will also include documents and other memories by families who were part of their community. With its grand opening, it will take visitors by appointment.

RELATED CONTENT: Viral Activist Kimberly Jones Presents Manifesto for Dismantling Injustices

Elderly, woman, Brooklyn, killed, bricks, NYC apartment

Average Cost Of Renting NYC Apartments, Including Broker’s Fee, Hits $13K

A new bill could put an end to the high costs NYC renters are paying in broker's fees.


A new analysis exposes the steep fees New York City brokers charge renters, with costs reaching as high as $13,000.

A recent study by rental-listing company StreetEasy shows that the average upfront cost for renting an apartment in New York City with a broker’s fee has skyrocketed to nearly $13,000. This hefty sum covers the broker’s fee, the first month’s rent, and the security deposit, the NY Post reports.

In 2023, the average upfront cost for apartments with a broker’s fee was $12,667, compared to $9,984 in 2019. The increased figures come at a pivotal moment as New York City prepares for a critical vote by the City Council on Wednesday. The City Council will consider a bill designed to alleviate the financial burden of costly broker fees on tenants. The bill, known as the Fairness in Apartment Rentals (FARE) Act, seems to have strong, near veto-proof backing.

StreetEasy surveyed over 500 tenants for its study and found that more than 80% of respondents believe landlords should cover broker fees. Additionally, 76% said they felt compelled to pay the broker’s fee to secure a home in New York City’s highly competitive rental market.

“The average New Yorker will be spending more than 10 percent of their annual income just to come up with these upfront costs,” StreetEasy Senior Economist Kenny Lee said.

Renters are speaking out against the high fees they were forced to pay brokers to snag an NYC abode.

“It doesn’t seem like that’s something that happens elsewhere,” Kayla, a 31-year-old Williamsburg, Brooklyn, resident, said. She estimates she paid $4,000 in broker fees for her apartment seven years ago. “Because I did all the work for this [apartment], I feel like I wasted my money.”

Jemma Rowlands, from Melbourne, Australia, believes the broker’s fee she paid for her first New York apartment in 2018 felt “expensive and unnecessary.” Doing away with the upfront cost “sounds good to me,” she says of the proposed bill.

Supporters of the council bill argue that it will alleviate the financial burden on renters. However, critics contend that landlords will offset the broker fee by increasing rent prices on annual leases.

“The FARE Act will fundamentally disrupt New York City’s real estate market, raise rents, and make it even more difficult to find an apartment, and nothing StreetEasy has proposed will address any of those concerns,” a rep from the Real Estate Board of New York said.

Supporters of the measure argue that the bill would benefit both tenants and brokers, the latter of whom often work to rent a property without any guaranteed payment.

“Once we see this bill in place, both landlords and agents will have the opportunity to negotiate how the compensation will be taken care of, and tenants will finally have a choice when it comes to if they want to work with a broker,” Lee said.

RELATED CONTENT: NYC Mayor Eric Adams Claps Back At A White Woman, Comparing Her To A Plantation Owner Over Rent Question

Joy Reid, Joe Biden, mic

Joy Reid Tells White Women ‘Black Women Are Done Helping’

Joy Reid and other Black women are on hiatus.


Joy Reid gives “free advice,” to progressive white women post-election — Black women are off duty. The MSNBC correspondent posted a video to TikTok discussing Black women’s disappointment and frustration with white progressive women.

Reid’s proclamation comes amid calls to protest from white women – 53% of whom voted for Donald Trump. Reid alluded to the 2017 Women’s March, where knitted “P word hats” were worn as a sign of protest against Trump’s 2016 election victory and the threat he posed to women’s rights. 

Her message is clear, “don’t send any [protest] invites to Black women.”

“I think Black women are now on the ‘save Black women,’ ‘prioritize Black men’ and ‘prioritize Black communities, Black businesses’ and … you know, the Black spaces,” Joy Reid said. “But ‘save America,’ ‘save the Democratic Party’ – yeah, I don’t think that’s happening.”

@joyreidofficial Just some #freeadvice to #progressives ♬ original sound – Joy Ann Reid

Reid is not the first Black woman to publicly wipe her hands of political advocacy. The 2024 election was what many saw as pivotal in the preservation of democracy. Trump’s attacks on abortion rights, public education, and social security were just a few things that activated Black women and spurred them to action. 

Eighty-nine percent of Black women voted for the Democratic candidate, Vice President Kamala Harris. More importantly, 89% of Black women voted against Trump’s “concept of a plan.”

The lack of support caused a wave of Black women to denounce their desire to fight. 

Yvette Nicole Brown, actress and comedian, posted similar sentiments as Reid to her X account. She spoke of what Black women will do in lieu of joining other coalitions.

“Black women will be at brunch together preparing to save, support, and uphold OURSELVES and each other,  alone.”

https://twitter.com/ynb/status/1854671894303457390?s=46

Another woman expressed her disappointment in the lack of morals from voters. She stated explicitly, “We’re done.”

Using a video of a content creator, Ms. Cookie, one user pointed out the numbers speak for themselves and Black women “will not be taking hits anymore.”

“You have the numbers to fight for yourselves.”

Black women have a long history of standing out front to protect marginalized people. Organizing and creating movements to advocate, Black women have created the #MeToo movement and Black Lives Matter and have been on the front lines of the #Free Palestine movement. If they are taking a step back, it is well-earned.

RELATED CONTENT: Ta-Nehisi Coates Defends Palestinian Voices After CBS Correspondent Labels Him An ‘Extremist’

Uber

Uber Claims Higher Pay For Drivers In New York City Will Force Layoffs

NYC's Taxi & Limousine Commission (TLC) is instituting a raise in the minimum pay standard and Uber states doing so will force layoffs


Reportedly, New York City‘s Taxi & Limousine Commission (TLC) is instituting a raise in the minimum pay standard for drivers in “high-volume” services, which applies to Uber and Lyft. Uber has stated that doing so will effectively force the rideshare company to lay off thousands of its drivers.

According to AMNY, the pay standard has already made Uber too expensive, which has resulted in a decline in trip volume. Raising the standard will come at the expense of the drivers who make their living off the rideshare app. The TLC is expected to announce higher pay standards this month. Uber has asked the agency to lower its “per-mile” rates paid to drivers by 6%, from $1.36 to $1.277. Uber reasons that the pay should be reduced because the company bears the brunt of the cost. They have stated that the drivers are experiencing lower costs due to lower gas prices, the use of used cars, and an overall reduction in inflation.

“It’s time for our governing bodies to wake up,” Uber’s Senior Economist Rodrigo Moser stated in a column on Medium. “You can increase prices all you want — but if fewer people are taking fewer trips, you end up hurting the people you’re trying to help.”

Uber says average prices for Uber and Lyft fares are now 20% higher than they were in 2019, just four years ago. Yet, the companies’ trip volume has decreased for the first time since 2022.

New York bases its pay formula on a “utilization rate.” It measures how long drivers carry passengers versus their total time on the road. If the rate is higher, drivers are suspected of picking up more fares, which allows the apps to pay lower per-minute and per-mile rates to the drivers under the city’s minimum pay rules. But, Uber and Lyft want the utilization rate changed and the payout, like other cities, a minimum pay rule for drivers.

The TLC responded to Uber’s beef with the city.

“Uber recklessly onboarded thousands of drivers for many months, only to lock them out in an effort to pay them less. We haven’t yet introduced rule amendments, but they appear to be already threatening to deactivate the same hardworking drivers if they don’t get the results they want,” said TLC spokesperson Jason Kersten. “We have hired an independent contractor to study driver expenses, and we will see what that study finds before accepting cherry-picked data.”

RELATED CONTENT: Massachusetts Uber And Lyft Drivers Win Big: $32.50 An Hour Pay, Benefits After $175M Settlement

Jordan Neely, Daniel Penny

Man Admits Lying To NYPD About Jordan Neely Trying To Hit Him On NYC Subway

Eric Gonzalez admitted to the lie in his testimony during Penny's criminal trial.


The man who helped former Marine Daniel Penny put Jordan Neely in a chokehold, leading to his death on an NYC subway, admits he lied to authorities about what led to the altercation.

The man, Eric Gonzalez, falsely accused Neely of trying to hit him on the train after discovering Neely died from the assault. According to Gothamist, he admitted to the lie in his testimony during Penny’s criminal trial, sharing that he thought he would be charged with murder if he told the truth.

In his initial interview following the May 2023 incident, Gonzalez told the NYPD that Neely tried to hit him, which led to Penny’s restraint of the Black man. Moreover, after helping Penny restrain him, he claimed that he asked Neely if he was OK. Neely responded, “Yeah.”

However, Gonzalez’s latest testimony unraveled all of his original statements. He was not on the subway with Penny and Neely to see the situation from the beginning. In actuality, he jumped in to help Penny after he walked onto the train and saw the physical confrontation happening.

The incident started after Neely began shouting on the subway about being hungry and willing to die or go to jail, with Penny taking matters to subdue Neely into his own hands. Neely died shortly after Penny restrained him in a chokehold for nearly six minutes, as the former Marine continued to subdue him despite Neely not moving. Video footage of the tragedy went viral on social media, sparking protests and media attention on the instance of vigilantism.

Upon admitting the real story, prosecutors questioned Gonzalez about why he originally said something different. He said he was trying to “justify” why he got involved.

“I was trying to justify my actions for me having my hands on him,” he said.

He did not disclose the truth until authorities told him they had evidence debunking his story. Moreover, Gonzalez originally withheld the correct information out of fear of retribution by the public.

“Public persecution,” Gonzalez said. “I’m scared for myself. I’m scared for my family.”

Prosecutors promised Gonzalez they would not use his true recount of what happened against him. Gonzalez asserts that he got involved to help yet continued restraining Neely with Penny. Gonzalez even put his leg over Neely’s arm after losing his grip on the man.

He added, “I was doing everything possible to basically shut him up.” 

He told authorities that he did not see how tight the chokehold was, despite telling a man urging them to let Neely go that Penny was not squeezing his neck.

Penny has pleaded not guilty to manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide charges. His defense team claims that the former Marine did not intend to kill Neely.

Gonzalez is one of two men who helped Penny restrain Neely. The other, a German tourist, refused to testify at the trial.

RELATED CONTENT: JUDGE REJECTS DISMISSAL: MARINE VETERAN TO FACE CHARGES IN FATAL SUBWAY CHOKEHOLD CASE

black women, abortion, Lashana Gilmore, Cleopatra Herrera, A Home From Shana, foundation,

Pregnant Patients Required To Make Upfront Payments Before Giving Birth

Pregnant patients and new parents are speaking out against medical providers who request upfront payments before delivery.


An increasing number of pregnant patients and new parents are expressing frustration over being asked to make upfront payments for labor and delivery before giving birth.

Typically, patients receive a bill only after insurance has covered its portion, which for pregnant patients usually occurs once the pregnancy is complete. However, some pregnant people have been taking to baby message boards and other social media forums to say their providers are asking them to pay out-of-pocket fees earlier than expected, 19th News reports.

While the practice is legal, patient advocacy groups deem it unethical. Medical providers, however, argue that upfront payment requests help ensure they are compensated for their services. However, upfront payments have been hard for researchers to track since they are considered a private transaction between the provider and the patient.

Patients, medical billing experts, and advocates argue that this billing practice adds unexpected anxiety during an already stressful time. The estimates can sometimes exceed what patients ultimately owe, leading them to fight for refunds in cases of miscarriage or overpayment.

It’s “holding their treatment hostage,” said Caitlin Donovan, a senior director at the Patient Advocate Foundation.

Kathleen Clark, 39, recalls being just 12 weeks pregnant when her doctor’s office in Cleveland, Tennessee, requested an upfront payment of $960, the estimated amount she would owe after delivery. Clark was taken aback by the charge, especially so early in her pregnancy during her second prenatal visit.

“You’re standing there at the window, and there’s people all around, and you’re trying to be really nice,” Clark recalled through tears. “So, I paid it.”

Previously, pregnant patients often faced copayments at each prenatal visit, which sometimes led them to skip essential appointments to save money. However, the Affordable Care Act now mandates that commercial insurers fully cover specific prenatal services.

Additionally, it’s increasingly common for patients to switch providers or receive care from different providers for prenatal visits, labor, and delivery—especially in rural areas where patient transfers are frequent. Some healthcare providers argue that requiring prepayments allows them to spread out costs over the pregnancy, ensuring compensation for care provided, even if they don’t ultimately handle the delivery.

“You have people who, unfortunately, are not getting paid for the work that they do,” said Pamela Boatner, who works as a midwife in a Georgia hospital.

Though the Affordable Care Act mandates insurance coverage for certain prenatal services, it doesn’t prevent providers from billing patients in advance. Sabrina Corlette, co-director of the Center on Health Insurance Reforms at Georgetown University, says that regulating the timing of these payment requests would be politically and logistically difficult for state and federal governments.

Due to the legal gray area, Lacy Marshall, an insurance broker at Rapha Health and Life in Texas, advises clients to check with their insurer about whether they can decline prepayment of their deductible. Some insurance plans prohibit network providers from requiring upfront payments. If clients are allowed to refuse, Marshall recommends they first establish themselves as a patient before declining to ensure they won’t be denied care.

Joy Burkhard, CEO of the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health, believes asking pregnant patients to prepay “is another gut punch” during an already stressful experience.

“What if you don’t have the money? Do you put it on credit cards and hope your credit card goes through?”

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cannabis

Raekwon The Chef Opens Dispensary In Newark

'Cannabis is just one part of our vision for Newark,” says Raekwon the Chef. “We’re not just normalizing cannabis use; we’re using it as a catalyst to uplift our people and culture, much like hip-hop has done for decades.'


Wu-Tang Clan’s Raekwon the Chef, has announced that he is opening a weed dispensary in Newark, New Jersey.

The Staten Island native posted the news to his social media account, stating that his dispensary, Hashstoria, is opening its doors on Nov. 13 with giveaways, raffles, a DJ, and more goodies for all in attendance. The dispensary is also co-owned by Charlamagne Tha God, former South Carolina legislator Bakari Sellers, and entrepreneur Jedd Canty. Newark Councilman and Lords of the Underground group member DoItAll  (Du Kelly) will also be there.

“NEW JERSEY and ALL of the surrounding areas, I’m going to need y’all to pull up to this! THIS Wednesday. NOV. 13th, your boy will be hosting an ALL DAY party to celebrate the OFFICIAL GRAND OPENING of my dispensary @HASHSTORIA. You know we are going to turn it up, which is the only way I know how! DJ, FOODTRUCK, GIVEAWAYS, RAFFLES AND TONS Of top tier flower !!!! yess ..

“My partners @cthagod @bakarisellers will be in the building as well alongside Brick City’s own hometown hero @doitallfornewark aka Mr funky Man himself ..who
help me put on for the entire state of NJ !!!”

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Raekwon The Chef (@raekwon)

Jersey Digs says the dispensary is located in the historic Four Corners District at 799-805 Broad Street.

“Cannabis is just one part of our vision for Newark,” says Raekwon the Chef. “We’re not just normalizing cannabis use; we’re using it as a catalyst to uplift our people and culture, much like hip-hop has done for decades.”

Hashstoria is starting as an adult-use cannabis retail space but has plans to become a bigger space for the community when it expands into a premier consumption lounge next year. A wellness center will be in place to improve the community’s health, education, and empowerment.

“We are committed to working with the great city of Newark to safely and legally expand the cannabis industry here,” says Sellers. “We appreciate the collaboration with the Mayor’s office and the City Council, and we look forward to making a meaningful impact in the community by creating opportunities and fostering local talent.”

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MARK CUBAN

Mark Cuban Explains Deleting Pro Kamala Harris Material From Social Media

The affable 'Shark Tank' star says he is taking a break from politics.



Dallas Mavericks minority owner Mark Cuban addressed the reasoning behind deleted tweets in support of Vice President Kamala Harris while claiming a break from politics following Donald Trump’s presidential win.

Popular X account Libs of TikTok pressed Cuban about why he was deleting specific posts after users caught wind.

“I’ve always gone back and deleted tweets. For years. Same with the 2020 election. 2016 election. Same with other stuff. You can use the Wayback machine if you really want to see them,” Cuban replied.

The account didn’t stop there, questioning why the billionaire about a tweet in which someone accused him of receiving payments from the Harris-Walz campaign, which he denied. However, Cuban did admit to them buying him lunch—twice.

The Shark Tank star was heavy on the Harris train during her presidential bid, calling Trump out for his anti-women rhetoric and lack of presidential capabilities.

While appearing on ABC’s The View, Cuban said Trump is “never seen around strong, intelligent women ever.” He later backtracked after President Joe Biden received backlash for seemingly calling Trump supporters “garbage.”

Cuban’s tone changed after the shocking results of the 2024 election. After Trump won, the businessman jumped on social media to congratulate him, saying he won “fair and square,” as well as X and Tesla owner Elon Musk, a staunch Trump ally.

According to Newsweek, on the social media platform Bluesky, Cuban claimed he is taking a break from the now GOP-crowded space. “Just an FYI. Don’t expect any politics or speculation about what might happen for a while. I’m sure there will be plenty to comment on when the time comes,” the billionaire said.

Former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey originally created the app, which is a rival to X. Although he congratulated Musk, Cuban took a little dig at the fellow billionaire.

“Hello, Less Hateful World,” he wrote in response to criticism of X becoming a more right-wing platform under Musk’s ownership.

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Bozoma Saint John, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

Ex-Netflix Marketing Exec, Bozoma Saint John, Turns Frustration To Fortune With New Wig Brand

After leading the marketing departments of tech giants, Saint John wants to start her own hair empire.


Bozoma Saint John is taking her marketing skills from the Fortune 500 to her own empire. The former chief marketing officer at Netflix has launched her own wig and haircare company, Eve By Boz.

Saint John, 47, has already reached historic pinnacles in her career. After leading the marketing departments of tech giants like Apple, Uber, and Netflix, she wants to start her own empire.

She left the uber-popular streaming platform in 2022, going on to release a memoir about losing her husband to cancer in addition to her premature-born daughter. While healing from the losses, Saint John wants to embark on a legacy that honors her past and future.

She saw a gap in the haircare industry, specifically for wigs, where women of color owned these businesses. Especially for products that cater to diverse women, having that same demographic leading the effort was too rare for Saint John.

 “There’s really no voice in the production process for women of color and Black women, who are the ones who are consuming a majority of the product,” she told Fortune.

Understanding this need, she began developing her line in spring 2023. She and her hair stylist attended a hair show in Guangzhou, China, to connect with vendors. She traveled throughout the continent to learn more about sourcing the products.

After doing her homework, Saint John decided to invest in herself and raise money to launch the wig venture. She put about a “couple million” into the business but has the expertise to make it succeed.

 “I’ve worked for enough big companies and got a lot of stock at a lot of places,” she explained. “It’s time to reinvest in myself, and that’s what I decided to do. Also, I can have total control. I don’t want anyone telling me what to do.”

Saint John’s brand is a game-changer in its addingferent lace colors for the wigs. Diversifying this color selection will better serve customers of all skin tones, which also remains a priority for Saint John.

 “I don’t want to have to go on YouTube or Google and see 14 million videos of Black women and women of color kitchen chemists dying their lace to match their skin,” she says. “My intention is that other companies will see the success of this one and will follow suit.”

Eve By Boz’s launch will be featured on Saint John’s other project, an entry as a cast member on the “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.” While coincidental, Saint John welcomes the attention for what she deems a winning product. Eve By Boz’s 171-piece collection is available now for purchase exclusively on its website.

RELATED CONTENT: Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor Not Expected To Retire

hate speech, women, election

Hate Speech Against Women On The Rise Across Social Media Amid Donald Trump’s Election Win

Online hate directed at women surges following Donald Trump's election win.


Donald Trump’s reelection has sparked a surge in misogyny across social media platforms and even within schools. New research from the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD), a global think tank focused on protecting human rights, reveals a rise in online hate, harassment, and denigration targeting women since the days leading up to the election.

This behavior has been escalating since the 2020 presidential election and 2022 midterms, Fast Company reports. However, with Trump’s recent win, the manosphere is now expanding online, amplifying anti-women rhetoric that, according to the ISD, “could extend into the next presidential election and beyond.”

The surge in online misogyny is evident across social media platforms like X and TikTok, as well as in right-wing and conservative blogs, podcasts, and Reddit forums, where users are promoting extreme masculinity, attacking women, and questioning women’s roles. Researchers at the ISD tracked comments on platforms like X, TikTok, forums, blogs, Reddit, and YouTube from Oct. 1 to Nov. 6. They identified a notable spike in misogynistic content in late October, just ahead of the election, along with a rise in posts advocating for the repeal of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote in the U.S. in 1920.

The day after the election, phrases like “your body, my choice,” “get back to the kitchen,” and “repeal the 19th” surged across platforms and have continued to grow, according to the ISD. Researchers say the shift is primarily fueled by male bloggers, podcasters, influencers, and public figures who self-identify as free-thinkers or libertarians.

Inspired by Trump’s hyper-masculine appeal, figures like Joe Rogan, Shawn Ryan, Adin Ross, Andrew Schulz, and Lex Fridman have voiced support for Trump, making him seem more relatable. Many young male listeners have followed suit, feeling emboldened after voting for Trump to share anti-women rhetoric openly across social media.

The trend appears to be growing after far-right Gen Z political podcaster and white supremacist Nick Fuentes sent out a controversial tweet on election day that stated, “Your body, my choice. Forever.” The post, which garnered over 35 million views, spread to TikTok and Facebook, appearing in 52,000 posts within 24 hours. It even made its way into schools, with videos showing boys chanting the phrases at girls.

Throughout his administration and campaign, Trump has consistently attacked women’s reproductive rights and access to abortion. He also capitalized on the anxiety surrounding masculinity as a critical voting issue, often making sexist and crude remarks on the campaign trail. Additionally, Trump was found liable for sexual abuse, further fueling the controversy surrounding his treatment of women.

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