Franks House Honored As Symbol of Black History and Resilience
The Franks House was known as a hub of Black community in the Third Ward neighborhood.
A ceremony over the weekend of June 6 in Charlotte, North Carolina, paid tribute to a stalwart piece of the city’s Black heritage: the Franks House. As one of the last surviving Black-owned homes from the once-thriving Third Ward neighborhood, the Franks House now bears an official historical marker.
City officials gathered at the United House of Prayer on Mint Street to unveil a newly made historical marker recognizing the Franks House at 305 Dunbar Street.
The home was originally purchased in 1949 by Arthur and Bessie Franks, and it quickly became a symbol of something much more impactful than just a home.
As reported by WCNC, the Charlotte home was a pulse point of the community.
The Franks’ home hosted family, friends, and neighbors each Sunday after church. Community members would gather to enjoy Bessie’s notorious hospitality and home cooking.
The home bearing the newly anointed historical marker would regularly welcome gatherings of 50 or more people.
“Sunday afternoons at the Franks’ were about more than food,” one attendee recalled. “They were about belonging.”
During the mid-20th century, Charlotte’s Third Ward was a thriving Black neighborhood characterized by its diverse businesses, churches, and strong family ties.
However, in the beginning in the 1960s, the flourishing Black community population was slowly dismantled by urban renewal projects, leading to many families being displaced.
Most of the family homes and long-standing businesses in the area disappeared, but the Franks House endured. It remained in the family for over 60 years.
Although the Franks House was officially made a historic landmark in 2022, the May 7 celebration unveiled its physical marker.
The unveiling ceremony featured speeches and was backed by music from the Horns of Glory brass band to honor the displaced Black community.
During the event, County Commissioner Mark Jerrell said, “Before you see all the bright and shiny objects, there was a thriving community here. There were businesses, churches, and families that built this neighborhood.”
Taraji P. Henson Says There Is No Smoke Between Her And Oprah
Taraji P. Henson debunks claims she is feuding with Oprah, calling the continued slander "disrespectful."
Taraji P. Henson clarifies that she and Oprah Winfrey are not feuding.
Henson is on a press run for her new movie, Straw. While speaking with The Breakfast Club, Henson made a point to praise the former talk show host. Henson made it clear that she and Oprah are still in contact, and she has nothing but good feelings toward the billionaire. Henson believes the rumor was a targeted attack on the women’s relationship.
“Me and Oprah, I just have a love and a fondness for her,” Henson stated. “She just texted me the other day, commending me on a job well done in Straw. That was all fictitious, to draw a wedge between me and her.”
Henson thinks another purpose of the rumor was to derail The Color Purple, a fully Black ensemble film.
“I think it was just a campaign so that this Black movie wouldn’t do well,” she said.
A rift between the women was reported during the press run for The Color Purple. Henson played the iconic “Shug Avery” in the film produced by Oprah and Tyler Perry.
Breakfast Club host Charlamagne the God referenced the supposed tension while discussing pay disparity.
“You know a lot of people thought you were kicking Tyler and Oprah’s back in. … When you were complaining about the pay,” he said.
Henson immediately shot down those claims. A longtime advocate for mental health through her Boris Lawrence Henderson Foundation. She reinforced her commitment to uplifting others. As her philanthropy is centered around mental health, she made clear that disparaging another woman is not in her character.
“When have you ever seen me drag another woman, particularly a Black woman, ever? I’m 10 toes down for us,” Henson said.
“There’s no validity to there being a thing between Taraji and I,” Winfrey told Entertainment Tonight. “Taraji will tell you herself that I’ve been the greatest champion of this film. Championing not only the behind-the-scenes projection but also everything that everybody needed.”
Now that the rumors have been debunked, Henson can continue promoting her new film. Straw is a Tyler Perry-produced drama available on Netflix.
BOMESI Summit Unites Black Media Leaders In Detroit For Growth And Legacy
Participants explored the ongoing legacy of Black-owned media while charting pathways for future sustainability.
The Black-Owned Media Equity & Sustainability Institute (BOMESI) concluded its impactful 2025 summit in Detroit this weekend, drawing a diverse assembly of Black media owners, publishers, and innovators focused on strengthening the industry’s future.
From June 6-8, at the Cambria Hotel Detroit Downtown, the conference underscored themes of “growth rooted in legacy, ownership, and the continued evolution of Black-owned media,” leveraging Detroit’s rich cultural tapestry as a backdrop.
The summit aimed to empower and equip Black-owned media platforms, recognizing their critical role in shaping narratives and fostering community. Rhonesha Byng, co-founder of BOMESI and founder/CEO of Her Agenda, alongside DéVon Christopher Johnson, co-founder of BOMESI and founder and CEO of BleuLife Media Group, championed the event as a vital gathering to “pour into the media publishers, platforms, and people shaping our future.”
Discussions spanned actionable insights for business longevity, authentic community-building, and resource sharing, with attendees engaging in expert-led panels and industry-specific workshops. Sessions delved into monetization strategies, advertising sales, audience development, and digital transformation, all tailored to address Black-owned media’s unique challenges and opportunities.
The Detroit setting, a city renowned for its historical significance in cultivating Black excellence, from the Underground Railroad to Motown Records, provided a potent symbol for the summit’s mission to foster growth and innovation.
A key session, titled “On the other side of the rainbow: How to reach LGBTQ consumers beyond a flag,” featured Emil Wilbekin and Alex Hughes, founder and CEO of Hughes Brand Group, as speakers, offering strategies for authentic engagement with the LGBTQ consumer base.
The conversation was expertly moderated by Giselle Phelps, CEO & founder of Grand Rising Talent, highlighting the summit’s commitment to comprehensive discussions on inclusive marketing and audience reach.
Another summit highlight was the Lunch & Awards ceremony graciously sponsored by AdGrid. This segment honored key figures who have made significant contributions to the media landscape.
Rashad Robinson, a prominent advocate, was celebrated as an award recipient and recognized for his impactful work. “Grouchy” Greg Watkins, the insightful founder of AllHipHop/BIPOC Premium Supply Co., also received an award for his foundational efforts in Black media.
Additionally, Brianne Boles-Marshall, the influential Diversity Media Strategy & Investment Lead at GM, was honored, underscoring the summit’s commitment to acknowledging leaders across diverse facets of the industry.
Participants explored the ongoing legacy of Black-owned media while charting pathways for future sustainability. The event also highlighted the continuing efforts of initiatives like the BOMESI Accelerator, which works to position Black-owned media companies for sustainable business with major advertisers, bridging gaps in infrastructure and access to capital.
The collective energy and shared commitment underscored a powerful vision for a more inclusive and representative media landscape, reinforcing the indispensable voice of Black-owned platforms today.
Carla Hayden Speaks Out After Sudden Termination From Library Of Congress Post
The Trump administration credited Hayden's removal to her alleged role in making "inappropriate books" accessible to kids.
Dr. Carla Hayden, the first woman and Black person to serve as Librarian of Congress, is speaking out after being abruptly dismissed from her position May 8. Initially appointed by President Barack Obama in 2016, Hayden was nearing the end of her 10-year term when she received an unexpected email at the behest of the Trump administration last month informing her that her tenure had been “terminated effective immediately.”
“I was never notified beforehand, and after,” Hayden said in an interview with CBS News. “No one has talked to me directly at all from the White House.”
“It just started with ‘Carla,” she recalled the message that informed her of her termination. “I received no phone call, no conversation–nothing from the White House,” she told the outlet.
Hayden clarified that she has personally never had any conflict with the Trump administration, which made the move even more surprising.
“I don’t think it was personal,” Hayden said.
The Trump administration’s White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later explained that the reason behind Hayden’s firing was that she allegedly “did not fit the needs of the American people.”
The White House claimed her abrupt removal was tied to concerns about her support for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and her alleged role in making “inappropriate books” accessible to children.
The reasoning left Hayden even more astonished, as she clarified that the Library of Congress does not function as a public lending library.
“I was concerned there might be a lack of understanding about what the Library actually does,” Hayden expressed.
“It’s been puzzling in many ways to think about being ‘inclusive’ as a negative.”
Hayden’s removal has ignited backlash across the literary and academic communities.
Supporters gathered at Washington, D.C.’s Martin Luther King Jr. Library following the news, where author Kwame Alexander told the crowd, “The firing of our distinguished, esteemed Librarian of Congress, Dr. Carla Hayden, makes it clear to us that the freedom to read, the freedom to learn, the freedom to express ourselves is under attack.”
For Hayden, the overwhelming support has been moving. “It’s so humbling to have that outpouring,” she said. “But what is really, I think, part of this feeling is that it’s part of a larger-seeming effort to diminish opportunities for the general public to have free access to information and inspiration.”
This most recent move by the Trump administration is being viewed as part of a broader effort by President Trump to remake the cultural makeup of institutions, especially surrounding DEI initiatives.
FAMU Athletic Director Turns Herself In For Fraud, Larceny Charges
Suggs had just returned to work at her alma mater in September 2024.
Florida A&M University’s Athletic Director Angela Suggs has turned herself in to face fraud and larceny charges over her last employment.
Suggs received the charges from her work as the former president and CEO of the Florida Sports Foundation. Suggs had assumed her new role with the HBCU in September 2024. However, her tenure was cut short following an investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE).
According to HBCU Gameday, the department first launched the investigation last November. They found that Suggs used a company-issued credit card to make wire transfers, take out cash, and make personal transactions, particularly at casinos while out of town for the FSF. Her unauthorized spending totaled $24,000.
As president and CEO of the FSF, Suggs oversaw the state’s sports tourism industry. In the role, she helped maintain and secure hosting gigs for sporting events and businesses across Florida. She also managed grant programs that aided amateur and professional sports organizations.
However, Suggs’ alleged financial abuse of the role continued. She reportedly falsified travel vouchers, disguising the payments by coding them as meals. She was called out for the misuse of funds, but claimed it was unintentional. Although she stated she’d repay them, she never fully did so.
Before her arrest, Suggs transitioned to FAMU to help stabilize its athletic leadership. She sought to increase fundraising and sustainability efforts for the HBCU’s sports programs. She previously worked at the school as Sr. Associate Athletic Director, where she reworked the branding for the sports teams, which is still used today. Her work also contributed to increased ticket sales and corporate partnerships. The university even acquired several championships during her tenure as well.
The FAMU alum has been part of the university’s community since birth. Suggs also attended all three levels of grade school within the Tallahassee grounds before attending undergrad there. Ahead of her return in a higher office, Suggs remained a respected figure in FAMU’s alumni and faculty community.
Now, Suggs must deal with four counts of fraud claims for travel expenses, one count of fraud-swindling to obtain property under $20,000, and larceny grand theft $20,000 or more but under $100,000. She was released on bond, which totaled around $15,000.
Florida A&M’s Interim President Dr. Timothy Beard released a statement in light of her arrest.
“Florida A&M University is aware of the allegations involving our athletics director, Angela Suggs, while she was working with a former employer. While the matter is unrelated to her duties as an employee at FAMU, we are monitoring the situation and will respond in the future as appropriate,” wrote Dr. Beard.
Justin E. Samuels Built RenderATL Into Technology’s Most Culturally Charged Conference
Those early days were tough
When Justin E. Samuels first stepped into the technology conference scene more than a decade ago, he didn’t just notice a gap. He felt it.
“I’d go to these events where the speakers were solid and the information was useful, but the energy was always the same,” Samuels recalls. “Corporate. Stiff. Disconnected from real culture. I’d leave with maybe one good note in my phone, but no real connection. No spark.”
That missing spark became the driving force behind RenderATL, now one of the country’s fastest-growing and most culture-forward tech conferences. Launched as a fully bootstrapped idea by Samuels, a longtime engineer and founder, RenderATL was built from the ground up with an intentional focus: community, culture, and cutting-edge tech all in one immersive experience.
A New Kind of Conference
The idea for RenderATL wasn’t born from one big aha moment, but rather a series of realizations over time. Samuels saw a pattern. Brilliant developers, creatives, product managers, and founders weren’t getting the visibility or access they deserved because they didn’t fit the traditional tech mold.
“We don’t need another version of the same thing,” he says. “We need something new. Something that honors our creativity, our energy, our way of showing up.”
That belief drove the RenderATL blueprint not just to compete with existing conferences but to create an entirely new lane: Think professional development by day, live shows and cultural events by night—tech with a vibe.
Building Without a Blueprint
RenderATL is even more remarkable because it wasn’t bankrolled by Silicon Valley or propped up by big investors. Samuels launched the conference with no trust fund, no VC backing, just a vision, a Google Doc, and a tight-knit network that believed in what he was building.
“Every decision had to be strategic,” he explains. “We had to convince speakers, attendees, and sponsors to believe in something that didn’t even exist yet. That meant showing up with excellence from day one.”
Those early days were tough. Logistics, trust-building, and credibility were uphill battles, but Samuels credits execution and consistency as the keys to building RenderATL’s momentum.
Where Tech Meets Culture
While many tech events tout innovation, not all are innovative in form. RenderATL flips that model by making culture a core pillar, not an afterthought.
“When you strip away the music, the food, the vibe, what’s left is just another lanyard and a boxed lunch,” Samuels says. “We said nah, we’re bringing the whole package.”
That package is what makes RenderATL feel like no other tech gathering. It’s a place where you might attend a workshop on AI leadership in the afternoon and be front row at a concert with your favorite artist by evening. That fusion of learning and lived experience is what keeps people coming back and what sets RenderATL apart.
Full-Circle Moments
Samuels has had many proud moments on this journey, but one stands out.
“Last year, I stood backstage and looked out at this sea of people who flew in from around the world for something we built from nothing,” he says. “That hit me hard. It was a full-circle moment.”
Still, the messages he gets after the fact are what remind him of the real impact. “It’s the DM that says, ‘I got my first tech job because of Render.’ Or the one that says, ‘I met my co-founder there.’ That’s the kind of ROI that I care about.”
Scaling With Intention
Even with RenderATL’s rising popularity, Samuels is focused on scaling slowly and deliberately. He’s not interested in expanding for expansion’s sake.
“I’m not trying to slap our name on everything,” he says. “We’re building media, pop-ups, and year-round community support. But the focus is still what it’s always been: authenticity, creativity, and respect for the people who make tech what it is.”
For Samuels, growth isn’t just about size. It’s about redefining what growth means in tech.
Advice for the Next Generation
When asked what advice he has for entrepreneurs looking to build community-driven brands, especially in tech, Samuels doesn’t sugarcoat it.
“Don’t wait for perfect. Use what you’ve got and get to work,” he says. “I didn’t have investors or a production team. I had an idea and a doc.”
He emphasizes the importance of building community before chasing clout. “Hype dies fast. Trust lasts. Know your audience, listen more than you pitch, and when it gets hard, and it will, remember why you started.”
But above all, Samuels urges others to bet on themselves. “If you’re not your biggest believer, you can’t expect anyone else to be.”
RenderATL is redefining what a tech conference can be: community-centered, culture-rich, and built for the future.
The rapper’s event did a complete 180-degree turn around for the better
Rick Ross proves he is one of the hardest and smartest working rappers-turned-businessmen without abandoning his core audience—an estimated 8,000 showed up at his annual car show June 7. The car show boasted a good time, food vendors, and performances from Plies, a fellow Floridian, and Rozay himself. Ross received a second proclamation at the notable car show in less than a week. The first proclamation was given by Georgia state congresswoman Nikema Williams. Ross also introduced a new line of luxury bags.
Logistics around the Rick Ross Car Show had been a concern in earlier years. Complaints of traffic and accessibility plagued the event after reports that ADA accommodations were shirked. Ross and car show organizers did a complete 180-degree turnaround this go around. Charters shuttled ticket holders to and from the venue, which was wheelchair accessible and provided wheelchair transport as well.
The Atlanta event took place at his sprawling property, The Promised Land, where Ross laid out his high-end fleet of luxury and vintage vehicles. The boss rapper invited attendees to come through and enjoy the festivities for $250, with general admission, and to arrive in their own, draped-up and tricked-out rides. Participants who entered their bikes and cars in the show paid $750. This handsome fee also included two entry tickets. Blinged-out key winners, in a spectrum of categories, won prizes that were nothing to sneeze at. Peep the list below:
Donk of the Year: @str8_donk_ryder
71 Impala
Car of the Year: @p_junky73 @dutchboys_hotrods
87 Grand National
Lowrider of the Year: @johnnysalters
59 Impala
Hot Rod of the Year: @cliffmattis
57 Bel Air
Hustler of the Year: @bookezzymoney
Fleet
Truck of the Year: @sld_jake @stateline_diesel 22
F250
Check out a few highlights from the 2025 Rick Ross Car Show below:
Shilo Sanders Sends Former Colorado Teammates Apple Watches
Defensive lineman Tawfiq Thomas posted a video of the gifts to social media
Former Colorado Buffaloes player Shilo Sanders, now a rookie signed to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, recently gifted the team he played for over the last two years with brand new Apple Watches.
A video posted on social media showed team members displaying the watches and expressing excitement about receiving them from the former Buffalo player. Defensive lineman Tawfiq Thomas posted the original video.
WARNING: Adult language
Shilo Sanders got the entire Colorado Football Team Apple Watches 🔥
Shilo, like his younger brother, Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders, played football under the coaching guidance of their father, Deion Sanders, a member of the NFL Hall of Fame. Shilo played the safety position at the two colleges his father coached, Jackson State and the University of Colorado Boulder. He also played with South Carolina. At the University of Colorado Boulder, he started 19 games during the 2023 and 2024 seasons. He totaled 134 tackles, forced five fumbles, and recorded one sack and an interception that he returned for a touchdown.
After failing to get drafted in the recent NFL Draft, he connected with football agent Drew Rosenhaus, having taken to social media to inform the world that he was “firing” his famous father, who had been acting as his agent. He jokingly stated that with “Coach Prime” acting as his representative, the offers did not come in, so he had to go in a different direction.
“Dad was our agent, but that hasn’t been working out too good. So today I had to sign with an agent.”
The gamble paid off, as shortly after signing with the esteemed veteran, Rosenhaus secured a signed contract for Shilo with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
After Shilo graduated from Colorado, the safety left with a Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership, according to Sports Illustrated.
Hells Angels Member Sentenced 21 Years To Life For Racially Charged Attack in California
Troy Andrew Scholder, 44,, a longtime leader of the San Diego County Hells Angels chapter, was sentenced for his role in the attack.
A member of the Hells Angels motorcycle gang will serve a prison sentence of 21 years to life for stabbing a Black man in the chest during a racially motivated attack in 2023.
According to NBC San Diego, Troy Andrew Scholder, who the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office labeled a longtime leader of a San Diego County Hells Angels chapter, was sentenced for his role in the attack on the three Black men June 6, 2023. A jury convicted him of attempted murder, assault, and a hate crime allegation.
The victims, ages 19, 20, and 21, had been chased down by members of the gang after one of them had allegedly spoken to one of the gang members’ girlfriends. They chased the three Black men. One escaped. The other two were severely beaten by some gang members who used racial epithets while telling them that they didn’t belong in that neighborhood.
During the trial, Deputy District Attorney Miriam Heming said that while the two men were on the ground, Scholder pulled out at a knife and stabbed one in the chest. The knife fractured the victim’s sternum, pierced his lung, and severed an artery. The man almost died.
Heming said that the victims were “just walking down the street” in Ocean Beach before they were attacked. She said one of the witnesses observed they were “beaten within an inch of their lives.”
Scholder’s prison sentence was doubled because he was convicted years ago after pleading guilty to robbing a former Hells Angels member who was trying to leave the gang.
Hemming also said that Scholder, 44, had white supremacist tattoos and had used racial slurs previously. One of those incidents led to him being convicted of a misdemeanor in 2003, which included a hate crime allegation. He got into a fight with a Black who asked him to stop smoking a cigarette next to him.
Oakland PTA Apologizes For Racist Slur Found in Elementary Yearbook
Parents from Montclair Elementary School made the shocking discovery that dates back to 1940
The PTA at an Oakland elementary school is apologizing after discovering a racist slur in the 2025 school yearbook.
According to KTVU, parents from Montclair Elementary School made the shocking discovery that dates back to 1940. The school republished an old article from the Montclarion that included the phrase “Hit The N-Word Babies,” referencing a carnival game once held at the school’s annual Otterwalk. According to an article posted in Medium, Boy and Girl Scouts back then would charge booths and many attractions for the “n-word babies” games.
“The description of the game, once you start Googling it, is horrific,” PTA President Sloane Young told the local television station.
Historical descriptions of the games reveal that it was a game that included a Black child or person who would stick their head through a curtain while participants threw objects at the Black person with eggs or baseballs.
Young said she was first made aware of the slur ahead of the Memorial Day weekend after hundreds of copies had already been distributed to students.
“Our community is hurting. Our community is angry,” Young said, adding that the volunteers who put the yearbook together missed the offensive content.
“Unfortunately, they skimmed the first paragraph of that article and scanned it into the software we use for the yearbook,” she said.
How The PTA Is Moving Forward Following Racist Slur
According to Young, the PTA has immediately ordered reprints of the yearbook. Additionally, the PTA is taking a few steps to help parents navigate the article. For starters, the PTA is providing parents with stickers for students who have already gathered them so parents can cover up the offensive language. The organization is also providing families with educational resources to help families navigate conversations with their children.
“It was never to erase, turn a blind eye, or whitewash this horrific time in history,” Young added. “It was really to give parents agency, and so we provided them with resources and options.”
