by Kandiss Edwards

June 18, 2025

‘This Ain’t A Run I’m On’: Cam’ron Lands Revolt Deal For ‘Talk With Flee!’ Podcast

Cam'ron announced the new deal on June 17.

Rapper Cam’ron has signed a deal with Revolt for his Talk With Flee! podcast.

The host of It Is What It Is podcast announced the news on his official Instagram account on June. 18. As Revolt was once under the ownership and direction of Sean Combs, Cam’ron began his proclamation: “No Diddy.” The rapper did not disclose the specific amount of the deal. However, his post reveals the amount is in the millions.

Never humble, the Paid in Full actor seemingly congratulated himself for his continued success in the podcast space. He also took a moment to shout out his late mother, Fredericka Giles.

“This ain’t a run I’m on. It’s a fucking marathon. My mom up in heaven working. Miss and love you,” Cam’ron wrote.

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Cam’ron saw similar success with the It is What It Is podcast. In August 2023, the show signed an 18-month deal with betting platform Underdog Fantasy, Variety reported. For little over a year of work, the podcasters received eight-figures.

The official podcast’s Instagram page posted about the deal. “YALL ARE NOW LOOKING AT THE NEW MEMBERS OF THE @underdogfantasy FAMILY… SIGNED, SEALED, & DELIVERED. WE HERE TO STAY & THE TAKE OVER IS ABOUT TO GET REAL “

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It Is What It Is covers all things sports with Killa Cam’s childhood friend and fellow rap peer, Mase. Sports banter between the friends makes up the majority of the program. However, they receive an assist from the third member of the team, Treasure “Stat Baby” Wilson. Wilson provides real-time assistance and research to help keep the friends on track.

Conversely, Talk With Flee! is a departure from sports. The entertainer engages with celebrities, news, and gossip. The show is currently hosted on YouTube. To date, 15 episodes have aired. Topics have ranged from Diddy’s Freak Offs, Kanye “Ye” West’s public meltdown, and old-school conspiracies involving Sean Jay-Z Carter.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

June 18, 2025

Fayetteville State’s Athletes Set Record For Highest GPA

The school achieved its highest student-athlete GPA ever.

Fayetteville State University’s student-athletes achieved their highest grade point ever this past semester. The Fayetteville, North Carolina-based HBCU’s 151 athletes recorded an average 3.42 GPA.

Congratulations to our student-athletes for achieving a cumulative 3.42 GPA for Spring 2025!!
Check out the team GPAs for each sport! 📘🐴#AcademicExcellence #BroncoPride pic.twitter.com/zCPkqJxfVU
— FSU Broncos (@FSUBroncos) June 16, 2025

This accomplishment stemmed from a vast majority of the athletes having a GPA of 3.5 or higher. However, this does not include the straight-A scholars, with 32 student-athletes holding this status. Their collective efforts raised the overall average from last year’s 3.33 collective GPA.

“This accomplishment reflects the dedication of our student-athletes, coaches, academic support staff, and faculty,” said Director of Athletics Anthony Bennett in the school’s press release. “We are proud of the culture of excellence that continues to grow at Fayetteville State.”

Women’s bowling led the HBCU with the highest GPAs on their roster, holding a team average of 3.691. Five of its players were recognized by the National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) as All-Academic Scholar Athletes this past year.

FSU also ranks sixth on a national scale of NTCA’s team academic standards for the team’s performance in the classroom.

All 11 of the school’s athletic programs held strong GPAs across their rosters. Following women’s bowling, men’s cross country ended the semester with a 3.58 team GPA. Softball and women’s cross Country also scored around a 3.5 GPA.

While its athletes are excelling in class, their teams are securing new championships. Fayetteville State’s women’s basketball team, the current back-to-back CIAA champions, ahad an over 3.0 average.

Their dominance on the court and during exams proves that Fayetteville State continues to uplift its athletes and their academic potential.

Russell Westbrook, affordable homes, South L.A. , Los Angeles

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

June 18, 2025

Russell Westbrook’s AI Platform Partners With LegalZoom To Make End-Of-Life Planning Accessible

Russell Westbrook's AI platform for end-of-life planning has teamed up with LegalZoom.

Securing a will or trust is now easier and more accessible, thanks to Russell Westbrook, LegalZoom, and their new AI-powered platform.

On June 17, Eazewell, the AI-driven end-of-life planning platform Westbrook co-founded with Kemba Walker and Donnell Beverly Jr., officially announced a national partnership with LegalZoom that works to simplify and personalize the process of creating wills, trusts, and estate planning documents for its users.

Through the partnership, Eazewell users can now access LegalZoom’s estate planning tools to create legally valid, personalized end-of-life documents in minutes without the high costs or emotional stress of traditional legal services for wills, trusts, and final wishes.

“LegalZoom has shown that legal help can be clear and affordable, and Eazewell has shown that families deserve that clarity the moment loss strikes,” Beverly Jr. said in a press release. “By uniting our AI guidance with LegalZoom’s Estate Planning legal infrastructure, we erase the paperwork fog I faced after my parents died. Families answer plain-language questions, our platform helps steer every decision, and LegalZoom’s premier legal platform helps customers create trusted legal documents. Together we turn a burden into a simple plan that protects the people and memories that matter.”

Launching this summer nationwide, the joint offering will include tailored onboarding for hospice networks, elder care providers, and estate professionals looking for modern tools to support their clients. Key features include a step-by-step interface that streamlines information gathering before connecting to LegalZoom Will & Trust platform, along with optional access to LegalZoom’s attorney network for support.

“This combination empowers individuals and families to confidently plan for the future, simplifying what has historically been a complex process while ensuring they have access to the legal support they need,” said Kathy Tsitovich, chief partnerships officer at LegalZoom.

FAMU, Florida A and M University,DI, Black History Month

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

June 18, 2025

FAMU Alumni File Lawsuit To Investigate Presidential Search After Marva Johnson’s Selection

FAMU alumni are taking legal action in response to Marva Johnson's presidential selection.

Alums and stakeholders of Florida A&M University have filed a lawsuit to investigate Marva Johnson’s selection as the HBCU’s next president.

Tallahassee lawyers Mutaqee Akbar and Ennis Jacobs filed an emergency “Petition for Temporary Mandatory Injunctive Relief” on June 16 on behalf of ten FAMU alumni. the Tallahassee Democrat reported. The suit, which comes ahead of Johnson’s confirmation, targets the eight members of the university’s Board of Trustees who voted in favor of Johnson for president last month, as well as the Florida Board of Governors’ chair Brian Lamb and Vice Chair Alan Levine.

“The controversy is whether due process requirements, and specific legal standards related to the operation and administration of a (State University System) institution were met in the process to select and appoint the 13th President of FAMU,” the lawsuit states.

Students and notable alumni, including Will Packer, protested Johnson’s potential appointment as FAMU’s next president before she was ultimately selected. Now, the lawsuit questions whether political influence played a role in the decision and highlights concerns over Johnson’s qualifications, noting her lack of experience for such a leadership position as a group vice president at Charter Communications.

The lawsuit was filed just days before the Florida Board of Governors’ June 18 meeting to vote on Johnson’s confirmation, amid ongoing opposition from alumni and others who oppose the MAGA-affiliated candidate leading the prestigious HBCU.

“There has been a misinterpretation of what we’re doing,” Jacobs said. “This pleading is not seeking an injunction against the Board of Governors meeting. It asks for the court to mandate some investigations into the process.”

The lawsuit cites the plaintiffs’ belief that the “decision to accept Marva Johnson as a finalist for the position of president defied all logic, was based on improper factors, failed to consider essential criteria and departed from the adopted rules and procedures governing the presidential search process.”

Among the concerns raised in the lawsuit are the “undue secrecy standards” and the Florida Legislature’s recent decision to allow FAMU to use additional university funds to cover Johnson’s salary. This follows the FAMU Foundation’s proposed 2025–26 budget falling short, with her first-year pay set at approximately $839,400.

Jacobs hopes the results of the case will “bring complete transparency to the process that ensued in the presidential selection process, and whether or not it met the requirements involved.”

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

June 18, 2025

Amid Global Economic Strife, These African Central Banks Boast The Largest Gold Reserves

North African nations are still dominating the continent in their gold reserve supply.

With the global economy facing new shifts almost daily, many banks are relying on their gold reserves to remain stable. As the element’s value reaches a record high, these African central banks currently hold the largest gold reserves on the continent.

The latest World Gold Council report lists seven African countries whose central banks boast a formidable amount of gold. Their growing reserves seek to combat economic fluctuation, given gold’s high return on investment and its relative defense against currency devaluation. Furthermore, a bank’s amount of gold in its stock helps its credibility in the global finance sector.

The report’s Q1 findings, obtained by Business Insider Africa, revealed that North African countries are leading the gold holdings on the continent. Algeria currently dominates this list, with 173.566 tonnes. Fellow regional neighbors follow, with Libya and Egypt holding 146.65 and 128 tonnes, respectively.

The news outlet also reported that many countries in the region have entered the trend of buying more gold. The effort aims to increase and maintain financial independence, with plans to purchase more this year. Other nations are paying attention as prices climb.

This influx has led to an increased cost for an ounce of the precious metal. It skyrocketed to over $3,500 an ounce in April, a jump prompted by rattled investors over President Donald Trump’s critique of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.

Next on the list is the West African country of Ghana, although it holds a significantly lower amount of gold at 31.01 tonnes. However, the country is already known as a top gold producer in Africa, leading to its placement right after the Northern nations. Rounding out the top 7 includes Mauritius, Tunisia, and Kenya, all with modest amounts of gold tonnes.

The move to purchase more gold has steadily risen over the past year as well. Gold reserves in 2024 reached 36,000 metric tons, just a few thousand off the record high from 60 years ago. Central banks around the world have also purchased twice as much gold as the previous decade’s average, as detailed by a report from the European Central Bank.

However, as these countries establish financial sovereignty in their banking systems, their citizens are facing potential reductions in their quality of life. Several major cities throughout the continent have decreased purchasing power. In Ghana, despite its strengthened gold reserves, inflation is still impacting its nationals.

by Stacy Jackson

June 18, 2025

Viola Davis To Receive Honorary Doctorate From The American Film Institute

She'll be honored on August 8.

Viola Davis continues to make her mark in the film industry.

The American Film Institute will present the award-winning actress and producer with an honorary doctorate of fine arts degree for her contributions of distinction to the art of the moving image. She will receive the honor in August alongside award-winning film editor and sound designer Walter Murch.

“Their contributions to the art form have inspired audiences around the world – as they will inspire this year’s graduates of the AFI Conservatory,” said Bob Gazzale, AFI President and CEO, in a press release.

At this year’s #AFIConservatory Commencement, #ViolaDavis & #WalterMurch will receive honorary doctorates for their work across film & TV. Their contributions to the art form inspired audiences—and now, they will inspire the next generation of storytellers: the AFI Class of 2025. pic.twitter.com/mY5QetTkZH
— AFI Conservatory (@AFIConservatory) June 17, 2025

Davis boasts an extensive and distinguished career in film, television, and theater. Her credentials extend to her roles as an artist, activist, philanthropist, and New York Times best-selling author. In 2017, she was honored by Time as one of the most influential people in the world. The recognition was followed by a 2022 Public Counsel’s William O. Douglas Award for her commitment to social justice and the 2025 Cecil B. DeMille Award at the Golden Globes.

She won a Grammy in 2023 for narrating the audiobook for her memoir, Finding Me. The honor solidified her as part of the handful of Black entertainers to achieve EGOT status, adding to a collection of awards that includes an Academy Award for her role in Fences, an Emmy Award for How to Get Away With Murder, and a Tony Award for roles in Fences and King Hedley II.

Beyond the screen, the actress has used her platform to eradicate childhood hunger, address critical needs of the community through her Davis-Tennon Foundation, and serve as a voice for diversity in Hollywood. In 2011, she launched JuVee Productions with her husband, Julius Tennon, to take action against the limitations Hollywood has placed on the careers of Black entertainers.

The American Film Institute will welcome Davis to join a renowned group of past honorary degree recipients, including Maya Angelou, Angela Bassett, and Spike Lee. Davis previously received honorary doctorates from The Juilliard School and her alma mater, Rhode Island College.

The American Film Institute will honor Davis on August 8, during the AFI Conservatory’s commencement ceremony celebrating the Class of 2025. The event will be held at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

June 18, 2025

50 Cent Action Channel Launches In The UK In Partnership With Lionsgate

It is being offered as an add-on for £3.99 ($5.43) a month.

50 Cent is expanding his reach outside of the United States with the launch of 50 Cent Action channel in the United Kingdom on Prime Video.

According to Deadline, the Many Men emcee-turned-television executive, through a partnership with Lionsgate, has launched a subscription service overseas. The channel initially debuted Dec. 10 as a FAST channel on the Roku Channel. The programs shown on it are curated by the man born as Curtis Jackson.

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“My audience, my core audience—the people that were enjoying my music in the very beginning—is at home,” 50 told Deadline. “They’re older. They’ll understand the entertainment choices that I make creatively. I’ve used music to merge with entertainment.”

The partnership with Lionsgate has been mutually beneficial for both parties. In April, it was revealed that the 50 Cent Action channel was the top action channel on The Roku Channel and LG Channels. It’s also available on Prime Video, Plex, DirecTV, Vizio, and Xumo.

50 feels he understands how to curate to the audience, which gives him an advantage over other FAST (Free Ad-supported Streaming Television) channels.

“I don’t think that they’ve figured out how to market the FAST channels,” said Jackson. “They just package portions of their content, put it up, and let it roll, instead of trying to figure out a whole brand, a whole vibe. I want my FAST channel to feel like a cable network.”

Although U.S. viewers get the content for free, for 50’s Action Channel in the UK, it is being offered as a Prime Video add-on for £3.99 ($5.43) a month. People can test the service out with a seven-day free trial.

“Being able to launch out here [in the UK] is big because I have a huge audience here that hasn’t been able to participate with us,” the rapper and businessman said. “Now they get a chance to see it.”

Louisiana, classroom, Ten Commandments, Michigan,

by Kandiss Edwards

June 18, 2025

NAACP Rallies Behind North Carolina Principal Being Placed On Leave Prematurely

The North Carolina Branch of the NAACP says Helena Thomas's administrative leave is premature and does not follow existing policy.

The NAACP is seeking due process for the North Carolina principal who was placed on administrative leave.

Dr. Helena Thomas, principal of Carrboro High School, is being investigated following a student and faculty walkout. On June 2, the principal was put on administrative leave pending a full investigation.

The North Carolina Branch of the NAACP says the leave is premature and is not in line with existing policies. As a result of the ongoing investigation, Thomas was barred from attending end-of-the-year activities, including student commencement. Chapel Hill-Carrboro NAACP President Herman Foushee called the turn of events “devastating.”

Foushee also stressed the importance of an “equitable and fair” process.

“We didn’t think that she was being treated fairly, and it doesn’t fall in line with the general practices of human resources. If someone is investigated or whatever…the person will work until they are proven guilty,” Foushee told Channel 2. “She hasn’t even been investigated yet.”

In a letter to parents and staff, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Chief of Staff Brady Reeves attempted to reassure spectators that Thomas is not being reprimanded. According to Reeves, the measure allows the investigation to be conducted without bias.

“This is neither a disciplinary measure nor a change of assignment,” Reeves said. “It is a temporary status so that these matters can be investigated impartially. We informed the CHS staff earlier this afternoon, though Dr. Thomas has been out of the office since last week.”

On May 29, both students and parents participated in a protest against the principal and her practices. Students and parents walked out of Carrboro High School and roughly 2 miles to the Lincoln Center district office, the News & Observer reported. The protest is reportedly in support of teachers who have been struggling to receive adequate work accommodations under Thomas’s leadership.

Concerns have been raised over Thomas’s perceived failure to rectify student grievances. Throughout the 24-25 academic school year, claims have been made that Thomas is creating a hostile work environment by scheduling meetings during teachers’ allotted time for handling student-focused issues like planning and grading.

Students also claim Thomas ignored bullying, young men gaining access to girls’ lavatories through the ceilings, and uneven distribution of consequences.

According to the Raleigh News & Observer, teacher surveys tell the tale of disgruntled employees. Ninety-two percent of teachers believe the high school is a great place to work. Still, only 68.1% think the school is a place that fosters trust and respect.

Thomas has yet to make a statement regarding the developments. The NAACP notes that on April 17, Thomas was approved for a 4-year contract.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

June 18, 2025

10 Years Later, Mother Emanuel AME Church Remembers Victims Of Targeted Mass Shooting

Mother Emanuel held a special service 10 years to the day that nine members were killed in a targeted mass shooting.

Mother Emanuel AME Church held an Ecumenical Service Tuesday, June 17, in remembrance of the congregation members who were killed in a horrific targeted mass shooting 10 years ago.

White supremacist and neo-Nazi Dylann Roof carried out a mass shooting at Mother Emanuel, located in Charleston, South Carolina, killing nine members of the historic church, Live 5 News reports.

Among the victims were the church’s pastor and state senator, Rev. Clementa Pinckney, 41; Susie Jackson, 87; and Rev. Daniel Simmons, 74.

Rev. Eric S. C. Manning led the service, which included testimonies from a survivor of a Jewish mass shooting, children of two of the Emanuel 9 victims, and a Hebrew prayer. Chris Singleton, son of victim Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, shared how he vowed to his mother to live his life as the complete opposite of her killer.

He encouraged love in the room when he asked the crowd to hug someone who looked completely different from them. People of all races, ethnicities, and backgrounds embraced each other, with some fighting back tears.

“I’m hopeful that we can teach love and remind people that we didn’t choose our skin color, we didn’t choose our first language, we didn’t choose where we were born or who we were born to,” Singleton said. “So, I would never hate you for those things, and hopefully you never hate me for them just as well.”

U.S. Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and his wife, former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, who survived an assassination attempt, also delivered remarks.

“We know hate is dangerous,” Kelly said. “But hate with a gun in his hand is deadly.”

The service featured discussions on gun violence, the urgent need for gun control and reform, and ending targeted attacks against communities, including Black, Jewish, and Latino groups.

“Thank you for your pledge that never again will we allow any of these atrocities to take place in our city,” Manning said. “It’s going to require work. But how many of us are ready to do good work?”

The church will hold additional events this week to honor the memory of the Emanuel 9 victims and foster community building.

by Sharelle B. McNair

June 18, 2025

‘History Will Not Be Kind To This Racist President’: Social Media Reacts To MLK Statue Removed From Oval Office

White House officials confirmed Trump moved the bronze bust into a private dining room, used for private meetings and lunches with senior staff.

A bust of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. that former President Barack Obama moved into the Oval Office has been moved out by President Donald Trump, causing backlash on social media.

White House officials confirmed Trump moved the bronze bust, which by definition is a sculpted or cast representation of the upper part of the human body, into a private dining room, used for private meetings and lunches with senior staff. Adding “interior decorator” to his résumé, the Oval Office now holds remnants of gold ornaments surrounding door frames, gold figurines on the fireplace mantle, and a framed copy of the Declaration of Independence hidden behind blue velvet curtains.

A bust of Winston Churchill, the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, was also moved back in on Trump’s first day back at the White House, according to USA Today.

The bust of King remained in place during Trump’s first term, prompting critics to question why the change is suddenly occurring. Social media users criticized the incumbent president for his efforts to reverse decisions made under the Biden-Harris administration and other Democratic administrations. In mid-June 2025, Trump announced he would be reinstating the names of seven Army bases named after Confederate soldiers. The announcement was made during an appearance at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, changed to Fort Liberty by Joe Biden.

Users like @uncatfishable touched on the hypocrisy the President is showing after years of claiming he isn’t a racist. “Last week it was renaming Forts to confederate names. This week it’s removing MLK bust from the Oval Office,” he wrote.

“But sure he isn’t racist.”

Last week it was renaming Forts to confederate names. This week it’s removing MLK bust from the Oval Office. But sure he isn’t racist. https://t.co/JH9x0dwAGy
— Grinch (@Uncatfishable) June 18, 2025

@RichardAngwin called the statue removal a “disgusting slap in the face.”

“Trump’s removal of MLK Jr.’s bust from the Oval Office is a disgusting slap in the face to civil rights, exposing his deep-seated racism and disdain for equality,” Angwin said.

Trump's removal of MLK Jr.'s bust from the Oval Office is a disgusting slap in the face to civil rights, exposing his deep-seated racism and disdain for equality.
— Richard Angwin (@RichardAngwin) June 16, 2025

Other comments alluded to Trump “Keeping the Klan happy,” and “These evil men need to be purged from our national government. By any means necessary.”

Among several other reasons, this may have contributed to Trump being the first president not invited to the NAACP National Convention in 116 years.

The bust found its home in the Oval Office after the country’s first African American president was sworn in, relocating it from the White House library. Previously, the image was on loan from the Smithsonian and arrived at the library in 2000, during the second term of former President Clinton.