Alfonso Ribeiro Shows His Soulful Side By Belting Out Michael Jackson and Bruno Mars Songs
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 6, 2021

Alfonso Ribeiro Shows His Soulful Side By Belting Out Michael Jackson and Bruno Mars Songs

We can basically be guaranteed to laugh (or at least chuckle) anytime Alfonso “Carlton Banks” Ribeiro shows up to an event!

Although the multi-talented actor, singer and America’s Funniest Videos host, recently said he’s not accepted by Black people, he recently took to a stage and belted out some soulful tunes, proving that it’s not unusual for him to jam with the best of them!

Earlier this week his wife, Angela Ribeiro posted video clips on her Instagram account of him performing for a crowd. Ribeiro is shown performing 2 songs by Bruno Mars, “Uptown Funk” and “24K Magic” and his rendition of Michael Jackson‘s “Rock With You.”

“When your hubby is insanely talented at everything he does.
#clambake2021“

 

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A post shared by Angela Ribeiro (@mrsangelaribeiro1)

From the sample of comments left on the post, the overwhelmingly white audience approved his performance. This isn’t to say that he doesn’t have Black fans but the current host of America’s Funniest Home Videos had previously complained about the stigma of being typecast as Carlton Banks on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

He also spoke of feeling ostracized by the Black community for having a white wife and feeling like Black people will never accept him.

“It still happens almost every day, unfortunately. I am in a mixed relationship,” Ribeiro responds. “And I get things and looks and comments constantly. And I find it very interesting because you see a lot of things on social media where people say things and people have positions and perspectives. And it’s not easy to make that choice, because you’re not at home in any home. I’m never going to be white and I’m never going to be fully supported in the Black house.”

In a recent interview with ABC 7 Chicago, in the midst of the upcoming season 32 of America’s Funniest Home Videos, Ribeiro reveals that this will be his 7th season hosting the program. With that length of time, he has surpassed the number of seasons he played Carlton Banks on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

Housing Shortage And Surging Rents Take A Toll On Black Households
by Jeffrey McKinney

October 6, 2021

Housing Shortage And Surging Rents Take A Toll On Black Households

Already reeling from the devastating COVID-19 pandemic, Black Americans are now being trounced by new forces draining their personal finances.

Researchers say with the affordable housing supply declining and rents climbing across America, Black households are experiencing the meltdown much greater than others. The new developments come as many of those families were hit hard by a housing crisis before the pandemic started, including suffering from racial discrimination, historic inequities, and other adverse outcomes.

Especially in difficult times, homeownership can help increase wealth and offer some security protection.

However, only 44% of Black households lived in homes they owned in the first quarter of 2020, compared with 73.7% for white families, data from Redfin.com shows.

And unfortunately, renters that could be overburdened the most, likely are people of color. Though Latinx and Black residents account for 18% and 12% of the U.S. population, they tally for 28% and 18% of the affected renter population, respectively.

According to Yahoo Finance , “The pandemic exacerbated inequalities that have existed for a long time,” says Jaboa Lake, policy research manager at Race Forward and a former senior policy analyst at the Center for American Progress. “What was already a crisis became an even larger one.”

According to the outlet, when Keisha Green, a single mother of five in Dallas, moved into a two-bedroom, 1½-bath townhome in 2017, the rent was $1,380 — now the rent is $1,700. Her household budget reportedly mirrors the tight living space her family is confined to, Yahoo Finance reported.

Before COVID-19, she had two jobs and hoped to rent larger place or buy a home. But the two paychecks turned into one. “Being a single mom,” she said, “I can barely afford this.”

But Green is not alone. Blacks are most likely  to be low-income and cost-burdened, Lake says. Plus,  there is a big shortage of affordable housing nationwide, with those estimates totaling up to 6.8 million.

Inflaming circumstances, billions of dollars in federal emergency rental aid have not reached families in need as eviction moratoriums across the country slip.

Over $2.3 billion was paid out in August to 420,000 households, the most of any month to date, according to the Treasury Department, but millions of Americans still worry about being evicted.

The upcoming wave of evictions will unduly displace Black households, which are the most likely to be behind on rent payments, Lake said. Black renters, particularly Black women, are at the highest risk.

“Low-income renters, who are disproportionately people of color, are going to be the most impacted because higher-income renters are going to be competing for the very limited stock of housing that renters of color have access to,” Lake said.

This link offers some tips on how to avoid eviction.

Actress Holly Robinson Peete Blasts Air Canada After Airline Refused to Allow Her Sons to Fly
by Derek Major

October 6, 2021

Actress Holly Robinson Peete Blasts Air Canada After Airline Refused to Allow Her Sons to Fly

Actress Holly Robinson Peete slammed Air Canada on Twitter after they refused to let her two sons fly on a flight she paid for this week.

Peete called out the airline on Twitter after refusing to let her children fly because her two sons couldn’t produce her credit card which paid for the flight. Peete, who was not with her sons, continued, saying she previously enjoyed her relationship with the airline which spans three and a half decades.

“I have been traveling back-and-forth to Canada on your airline for 35 years and have never been asked to swipe the actual card that paid for the tickets. Why were these two refused??” Robinson wrote.

Peete also added the gate agent turned his back on her sons, refusing to talk to her over the phone at the gate. There were no other flights to the destination Peete’s sons were flying to, so she was forced to put her sons in a hotel for the night.

MSNBC’s Tiffany Cross reached out to Peete for updates to the situation. Peete told Cross she had to get her sons a hotel room for the night.

Peete, who’s had feature roles on Hangin’ With Mr. Cooper, 21 Jump Street and Mike & Molly, is gearing  up for the holiday season. Peete is slated to start in a holiday movie on The Hallmark Channel.

The movie, called The Christmas Bond, will be the first holiday film to feature a character on the autism spectrum. The actress, who is married to former NFL quarterback Rodney Peete, dedicated the move to her son, 23-year-old son Rodney Peete Jr. who is on the spectrum in an Instagram post.

“SOOOOO EXCITED about this new project #TheChristmasBond🎄! I’ve always wanted to make a Christmas movie about #autism,” Robibnson wrote. “I am dedicating this movie to my son RJ, and others with autism and their families. I am grateful to @hallmarkchannel for bringing this story to screen with authenticity, respect and hope.”

 

Tina Turner Sells Rights to Six Decades of Her Music for $50 Million
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 6, 2021

Tina Turner Sells Rights to Six Decades of Her Music for $50 Million

Music icon Tina Turner is securing her music legacy after selling 60 years worth of rights to her music for a reported $50 million.

The Grammy award-winning singer recently sold her music catalog to the music publishing company BMG, BBC reports. As part of the deal, BMG has acquired the rights to Turner’s name, image, and likeness for future sponsorship and merchandising deals.

Notable songs included the collection of hits include “Simply The Best”, “What’s Love Got to Do With It”, and “Nutbush City Limits”. Industry insiders teased how much the company possibly paid for the deal since the exact amount wasn’t disclosed.

Meanwhile, the 81-year-old says her music is “in reliable hands”.

“Like any artist the protection of my life’s work, my musical inheritance, is something personal,” she told The Guardian. “I am confident that with BMG and Warner Music my work is in professional and reliable hands.”

BMG’s execs have expressed their excitement to acquire Turner’s music and continue her legacy for many years to come.

“Tina Turner’s musical journey has inspired literally hundreds of millions of people around the world and continues to reach new audiences,” said Hartwig Masuch, chief executive of BMG. “We are honored to take on the job of managing Tina Turner’s musical and commercial interests.”

Her deal seemingly follows in the footsteps of other music legends including Bob Dylan who sold his music catalog to Universal Music for $300m and Neil Young’s agreement with the music company Hipgnosis.

Turner is one of the most recognizable names in music with a catalog dating back to the early 1960s. She first started in a group alongside her ex-husband Ike Turner. She didn’t go solo until after their divorce in the 70s and skyrocketed as a solo rock artist in the 80s.

Her career and rise from her abusive marriage were documented in her autobiography turned cult-classic film What’s Love Got to Do With It.

Recently her “old” friend Robbie Montgomery, a former Ikette and owner of Sweetie Pie’s spoke candidly about Turner saying “she’s not well.” 

Kelis’ Husband Unveils His Battle With Stage 4 Stomach Cancer
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 6, 2021

Kelis’ Husband Unveils His Battle With Stage 4 Stomach Cancer

An unfortunate situation has struck the family of R & B singer Kelis. In a series of Instagram posts, her husband has revealed that he is battling stage 4 stomach cancer.

Mike Mora, who is a photographer has been documenting his battle with stomach cancer on his Instagram account recently.

Mora has been married to the singer since 2014. They share a son named Shepherd, who was born in 2015, and a daughter named Galilee, who was born last year. Kelis also shares a son named Knight with ex-husband rapper and entrepreneur Nas, who is now 12 years old.

Mora unveiled that he had not been feeling well and he initially thought that the fatigue and pain he was experiencing was due to the physical work he had been doing on a farm he and his family had recently moved to. But he said the worst pain was in his stomach and it started to affect him in a way he knew wasn’t right.

According to reports, Mora experienced a variety of issues from loss of appetite to severe stomach pain, and saw three different specialists before having an endoscopic biopsy.  Mora was diagnosed with gastric adenocarcinoma — stomach cancer stage 4. The cancer had also spread to the lymph nodes in his back.

He has since been in treatment. A week ago on September 28, in an Instagram post, Mora stated that doctors gave him 18 months to live, and it’s already been 12.

He posted a message to try to inspire those who may take life, things, and family for granted.

“I am posting this…after so much thought. Many hours thinking of what the right thing to do is. Not because of a selfish reason .not because I want people to feel bad or sorry for me and my family. I am posting this because life is full of the most unexpected situations. I never thought this could happen to me. At just 36, with 3 kiddos, and a wife that loves me. I want to be able to help those that might be experiencing something like this- a life altering disease full of questions and doubt- maybe, hopefully. By showing that it’s possible to make it through. You always see people post about how life is too short. How you should reach out to those you love no matter where life has taken you. It is the truth. Don’t take your time here, your time with friends, family, for granted. Shit can be over just like that!”

 

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A post shared by Mike Mora (@mikemorafotos)

As for Kelis, Ramada by Wyndham recently partnered with the singer for a new digital series that appeals to the still-reluctant traveler, while supporting independent restaurants across the country.

Black Death Row Inmate Executed In Missouri Despite Pleas By Pope Francis & Others
by Tai Saint-Louis

October 6, 2021

Black Death Row Inmate Executed In Missouri Despite Pleas By Pope Francis & Others

Ernest L. Johnson, a 61-year-old man who was convicted of killing three convenience store workers during a 1994 robbery, was executed in Missouri last night, despite the protests of several high profile supporters.

In the weeks leading up to Johnson’s execution, congresswoman Cori Bush and congressman Emanuel Cleaver II appealed to Missouri Gov. Mike Parsons to request clemency. The argument made by both representatives is the same which Johnson’s lawyer had made for years following his 2005 conviction: that his intellectual disabilities made his execution unconstitutional.

According to the NY Times, Johnson was born with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder as a result of his mother’s addiction. His mental capacities were further diminished when up to 20% of his brain tissue was removed in 2008 as doctors worked to remove a tumor, the Associated Press reports.

According to his public defender Jeremy Weis, Johnson meets all the definitions of someone with intellectual disabilities, including an IQ range between 67 and 77.

However, despite having ruled in 2002 that the execution of people with intellectual disabilities is a violation of the 8th amendment, which bans cruel and unusual punishment; the U.S. Supreme declined to interfere with Johnson’s execution when his case was presented earlier this week.

In August, the Missouri Supreme Court also declined Johnson’s appeals for clemency on the basis that his ability to remember the details of his crime were proof that he has the ability “to plan, strategize, and problem solve — contrary to a finding of substantial subaverage intelligence.”

In September, Archbishop Christophe Pierre wrote to Gov. Parsons on behalf of Pope Francis with an appeal from a completely different standpoint. “His Holiness wishes to place before you the simple fact of Mr. Johnson’s humanity and the sacredness of all human life,” the letter read. In 2019, the Pope issued an edict that declared all executions to be “an attack on human dignity.”

Johnson was executed by lethal injection in Bonne Terre, Mo at 6:11pm local time on Tuesday.

Virginia Mother Speaks Out After 5-Year-Old Son Was Put In A Chokehold
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 6, 2021

Virginia Mother Speaks Out After 5-Year-Old Son Was Put In A Chokehold

Virginia mother Pamela Ononiwu is taking action two years after she walked into her 5-year-old son’s school and saw him being put into a chokehold.

Ononiwu was shocked and angered after arriving at Fairview Elementary School in Fairfax Station, Virginia on Oct 3, 2018, to take her son to a dentist appointment and heard her child shouting out in distress, NBC News reports.

“To my shock and horror, I found my son being put in a chokehold,” Ononiwu recalled. “This school resource officer was holding him at a 90 degree angle. My son kept trying to kick to get out of it, and the tighter the grip got.”

“I repeatedly told him to let my son go. I was scared because I was like, ‘Will I also be shot dead trying to save my son?’ But I said it’s worth it because I’m not gonna be here and let my son die or pass out in front of me,” the 37-year-old mother of three added.

Eventually, the school officer pushed the kindergartner away and let him go. Staff told Ononiwu that her son, who has ADHD, was singing too loudly in Spanish class and wouldn’t stop. After the incident, Ononiwu confronted the school principal, school district, and school board but she said no one listened to her concerns.

“Nobody thought it was heinous that a child was in a chokehold. No one had any empathy,” Ononiwu said.

As a result, the mother has since sued the school system and ran for a position on the district’s school board to help end restraint protocols in the schools. The school district has since settled with Ononiwu in the form of financial compensation and changes to its policies.

She also joined the Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint and is advocating for the Keeping All Students Safe Act.

“I’m in my community talking to other parents, letting them know of their rights. A lot of parents will call me and ask for advice,” she said. “With restraint and seclusion, there are instances where the child can die. Even if they don’t die, it can change their life forever.”

Wayne Brady ‘Honored’ to Co-Parent Ex-Wife and Her Partner’s Newborn Baby Boy
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 6, 2021

Wayne Brady ‘Honored’ to Co-Parent Ex-Wife and Her Partner’s Newborn Baby Boy

Wayne Brady is a different kind of ex-husband.

The famed entertainer is opening up about how “honored” he is to help co-parent his ex-wife’s newborn baby boy that she welcomed with her current partner.

Last month, Brady shared a heartfelt Instagram post announcing the arrival of the newborn that his ex-wife Mandie Taketa and her boyfriend Jason Fordham adopted together, People reports.

“Hey y’all, meet Sunny! I love this little man already,” Brady captioned a video holding the baby boy. “They say it takes a village to raise a child and they’re right!”

Brady and Taketa are already parents to their 18-year-old daughter Maile, whom he also shouted out in the post along with his co-parenting partners.

 

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A post shared by Wayne Brady (@mrbradybaby)

“The village of @mandietaketa, myself, and @jasonmichaelfordham raised @theofficialmailebrady. All children will know is love if that’s what you show them,” Brady continued. “I’m honored to be in his life as his “Duncle” and I love Mandie and Jason for including me in their journey.”

Taketa also shared a post announcing baby Sunny’s arrival and thanking his birth mom for helping to expand her blended family.

“Ana, thank you for making me a mommy again along with you,” she captioned a video post. “Thank you for blessing Jason with the gift of fatherhood, making Maile a big sister, & Wayne a godfather. He’s going to spoil Sunny like crazy!”

 

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A post shared by Mandie Taketa (@mandietaketa)

Brady continues to highlight shots of him and his Godson. One photo slide shows the pair dripped in Versace and cuddled up together.

 

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A post shared by Wayne Brady (@mrbradybaby)

Brady’s amicable relationship with his ex-wife shows others how they can remain close friends after a divorce. Like Jay Z said, “nobody wins when the family feuds.”

Woman Charged With Attempted Murder After Shoving Straphanger Into Moving Train
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 6, 2021

Woman Charged With Attempted Murder After Shoving Straphanger Into Moving Train

Anthonia Egegbara is facing attempted murder charges for allegedly shoving a female straphanger into the side of an arriving train at  NYC’s busy Times Square subway station.

The 29-year-old was caught on surveillance pushing the 42-year-old victim from behind just as a No. 3 train pulled into the station on Monday, NY Post reports. Authorities apprehended her the next day at the same subway station where she shoved the victim the day before.

Video seemingly shows Egegbara sitting in a seat shortly after 8 a.m. and seemingly timing the push to happen just as the train was pulling into the station. The victim hit the side of the train, but thankfully didn’t fall onto the tracks, police said.

The victim did not know Egegbara and the attack was unprovoked. The straphanger was taken to the hospital with serious injuries to her face and legs after her face hit the side of the train. She was listed in stable condition. Meanwhile, Egegbara had attempted murder charges added to her already lengthy rap sheet dating back 10 years.

“This unprovoked attack was senseless and absurd. The City needs to provide additional mental health services to assist those who may endanger themselves and others,” MTA acting chief communications officer Tim Minton said.

Some wonder if Egegbara being arrested at the same subway station where she initially pushed the female victim could mean that she was prepared to strike again, ABC 7 NY reports.

“It looked malicious,” rider Alejandro DeJesus said. “That’s scary. That could happen to anybody when you least expect it.”

Police say Egegbara has at least seven prior arrests, with the last three arrests also in the subway. The incident also came just hours before a man shot himself in the leg inside the same subway station on Monday afternoon.

Many subway riders are concerned about their safety when riding with the MTA.

by Tai Saint-Louis

October 6, 2021

82-Year-Old Texas Woman’s Fight Proves How Unfair Voter ID Laws Are

Elmira Hicks, a woman from a small town half-way between Houston and Dallas, is emerging as a case study on the unfairness of Voter ID laws.

At 82, Hicks is required to have some form of identification to vote in person in the state of Texas. Since she no longer has access to her birth certificate, she hasn’t been able to renew her driver’s license in over a year, ABC News reports.

The Texas Secretary of State’s office has a list of alternatives for someone in Hicks’ situation: elderly voters are allowed to appear with an expired ID, for example. And in the event that someone does not have a valid ID – a driver’s license, passport, military identification card, citizenship certificate, state election identification certificate or a personal identification card – they can file a Reasonable Impediment Declaration and use a bank statement or utility bill as proof of their identity.

“If they can’t get a driver’s license, go to DPS {Department of Public Safety], with a social security card, or some other ID, and to get an ID [election identification card] so that you can vote. It’s free,” adds Rep. Steve Toth, a Republican from Texas.

Unfortunately, that type of information is not made readily available to people in Hicks’ situation. She and her daughter told the outlet that they didn’t even know about the RID process. Instead, they’ve been doing their best to finally have a birth certificate issued for Hicks, who was born in the rural town of Oakwood. And the option proposed by Toth is not as simple as one might think, especially for an elderly woman living in a small town with no car.

“My challenge is it’s taking so long to get this done,” says Hicks’ daughter Jonita White. “And to send my mother through all of these hoops at this age to go get documents notarized, to go get her Social Security application, We’re having to look for high school records and baptism information …To send her through such a process, it really is ridiculous.”

Voters Rights advocate Franita Tolson – a professor of law at the University of Southern California Gould School of Law – agrees and argues that these types of restrictions disproportionately affect people of color.

“Texas has a very restrictive voter ID law,” she says. “If you read it, it doesn’t seem racist on its face, but if you think about how it operates in practice, as well as the intent behind it, it is fairly racist. For example, Texas’ law only allows voters to have a certain limited amount of IDs. You have to have a driver’s license, you can have a hand handgun license, you can have a military ID, but you can’t have a federal ID, or you can’t have a student ID, which are the types of IDs that people of color are more likely to have.

“It’s often very common for people of a certain age not to have a birth certificate,” she continues. “I want to emphasize it’s not as uncommon as people might believe.”

For now, the chances of Mrs. Hicks being able to cast her ballot in Texas’ midterm elections on Nov. 2nd are dwindling.

“My voice does not count.” Hicks tells ABC News. ”It’s very important. People have died just to vote, people have stood in line, in the rain, women fought to vote and now I can’t vote.”

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