by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

May 30, 2025

Howard University Gifted With Special Edition Air Jordan 4s

The Player Exclusive (PE) Air Jordan 4 by Jordan Brand will be exclusive to the Bisons

The athletic department of famed HBCU Howard University is getting outfitted in classic Nikes.

According to HBCU Gameday, the Bisons will be wearing the classic Air Jordan 4 in a version created specifically for the college program. The footwear was unveiled as a Player Exclusive (PE) Air Jordan 4 by Jordan Brand. With this version of the Air Jordan 4s, the shoe is navy blue accented with black, including sneaker laces that are embedded with the letters “HU,” signifying a unique look made specifically for Howard University. The tongue is also stitched with the phrase “HU YOU KNOW” in crimson red, with a custom hangtag displaying “Howard Bison” in gold lettering.

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A post shared by HBCU Grad (@hbcugrad)

This latest sneaker continues the pledge that Michael Jordan and Jordan Brand made when they committed to using $100 million to help the Black community “advance the work of organizations fighting to create systemic change.”

Nearly three years ago, Howard University and Jordan Brand signed a 20-year deal that promises to create academic and athletic opportunities that will help the Black Community.

When the deal was reached, Howard University President Dr. Wayne A.I. Frederick said, “We have always been proud of our legacy at Howard University, but we are audacious enough to believe our future could be brighter than our past. Partnering with Jordan Brand is another signal of our ambitions as a university to become an even brighter beacon for Black excellence. We are thrilled to work on that vision of greatness together.”

The Player Exclusive (PE) Air Jordan 4 will be exclusive for student-athletes, coaching staff, and related personnel only, as the sneakers are not slated to be available for sale to the general public.

“Howard University and Jordan Brand share a legacy of excellence and deep commitment to the Black Community. As an HBCU graduate, I understand the educational impact an institution like Howard University has. We are proud to partner with Howard University and see the growth in Black talent on the field and well beyond it,” Craig Williams, Jordan Brand president, said in a written statement.

by Mitti Hicks

May 30, 2025

Baltimore Mayor Responds After Trump Administration Claims It’s A ‘Sanctuary City’

According to the Trump administration, Baltimore, along with nine other Maryland cities and eight counties, is interfering with federal immigration law enforcement.

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott is defending his city after the Trump administration designated it as a sanctuary city, along with a majority of the state.

According to the Trump administration, Baltimore, along with nine other Maryland cities and eight counties, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), these jurisdictions are interfering with federal immigration law enforcement.

DHS said the jurisdictions listed in Maryland protect dangerous criminal aliens and put law enforcement in peril.

In his public statement responding to the administration, Mayor Scott states:

“To be clear: by definition, Baltimore is not a sanctuary city because we do not have jurisdiction over our jails. We follow our limited obligations as defined under federal immigration law.

“But we are a welcoming city, and we make no apologies for that. We are better because of our immigrant neighbors, and we are not about to sell them out to this administration.

“Baltimore remains committed to protecting the rights, dignity, and well-being of all of our residents. We are exploring all options to protect our immigrant neighbors and the funding appropriated to our City by Congress, including litigation.”

DHS List Sanctuary States, Cities, and Jurisdictions

According to Global Refuge, there is no official definition of what constitutes a sanctuary city or state. However, the agency refers to them as having policies that limit or define the extent to which local and state governments will share information with federal immigration law officers.

Under one of Trump’s executive orders, a list of sanctuary jurisdictions will be published. As CBS News reports, the jurisdictions are determined based on compliance with federal law enforcement, information restriction, and legal protections for migrants.

DHS listed these cities and states on its website and plans to notify each jurisdiction that it’s in non-compliance.

“DHS demands that these jurisdictions immediately review and revise their policies to align with Federal immigration laws and renew their obligation to protect American citizens, not dangerous illegal aliens,” the agency said.

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

by Kandiss Edwards

May 30, 2025

FAMU Presidential Search Committee Signed NDAs, Indicating Lack Of Transparency

The Florida A&M University (FAMU) presidential search committee is under scrutiny for its lack of transparency for signing NDAs.

The Florida A&M University (FAMU) presidential search committee is under scrutiny for its lack of transparency in its search for the university’s new president.

The committee allegedly signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) limiting transparency in the selection process. However, information regarding potential Tallahassee Democrats is reported.

According to reports, the lack of transparency was initiated to protect the confidentiality of the applicant pool. Additionally, the closed sessions were designed to foster a fair and unbiased public opinion during the selection process. The Tallahassee Democrat reported on the language included in the document.

“I understand and acknowledge that I must hold in strict confidence and protect information containing the identity of, or any other information about, applicants for the presidential position at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. This includes, but is not limited to, names, past or present employers, locations, education, experience or any other information that might provide clues as to the identity of an individual,” the outlet reported.

The NDA bars all 15 members of the committee from sharing multiple aspects of the process. This includes details about candidates and the committee evaluations.

“As the review of presidential applications commences, it is imperative that, to the extent required or permitted by law, applicants be afforded maximum confidentiality,” the NDA document says.

Chair of the search committee and Vice Chair of FAMU’s Board of Trustees, Deveron Gibbons, confirmed reports of an NDA. Furthermore, he also spoke out against the false claims levied by the uninformed public observers.

FAMU board chair Kristin Harper spoke up about the leak of finalist names. Harper questioned the release of information in a closed process in an April meeting, The Tallahassee Democrat reported.

“How were the names of the supposed finalists announced in the Tallahassee Democrat before interviews took place?” Harper said. “How were the names of the actual finalists communicated in the Tallahassee Democrat … before the university issued an official media release regarding this process?

“Tell me how that happened when there’s a nondisclosure agreement that everyone who is associated with this search process signed,” she added.

Despite the leaked NDA information, the search for a FAMU president is complete. On May 16, the university announced the appointment of Marva Johnson. The decision was met with ire from many students and alumni.

BLACK ENTERPRISE reported on a protest held two days before Johnson’s selection in an 8-4 vote. Notable filmmaker and alumnus Will Packer spoke at a rally in support of Johnson’s candidacy. Like many at the event, Packer stated that Johnson will cause harm to FAMU and of all candidates, Johnson was the worst.

“I am not here to endorse Palm, Allen, or Hector, but there is one candidate that would do irreparable harm,” Packer said. “That is clearly not the right person.”

Objections to the conservative candidate’s appointment continue to circulate online.

by Kandiss Edwards

May 30, 2025

Suspect In Caleb Wilson Trial Allowed To Return To Texas With Strict Bond Conditions

Caleb McCray, a suspect in the hazing death of Southern University Student, Caleb Wilson, received stricter bond conditions.

Caleb McCray, a suspect in the hazing death of Southern University Student Caleb Wilson, received stricter bond conditions, WDSU reported.

McCray’s restrictions have been amended to reflect stricter terms. The alleged hazer will no longer be required to use an ankle monitor. The judge in the case has opted to have the 23-year-old monitored via a phone tracker. Furthermore, McCray is prohibited from contacting other suspects involved in the case. Previously, he was barred from owning firearms; that bond condition remains in place.

After his arrest, the Omega Psi Phi fraternity member was released from East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on a $100,000 bond in March 2025. Wilson’s bond for each crime is $75,000 for the manslaughter charge and $25,000 for criminal hazing. Any violation of the updated bond conditions will result in an automatic hold on McCray’s bond.

According to NOLA, the former Southern University student will be allowed to return to his home state of Texas to live with his parents while he awaits trial. He will return to court Oct. 13.

#BREAKING This is Caleb McCray’s mugshot after he was booked tonight on manslaughter and hazing charges tied to the death of Southern University student Caleb Wilson. @WAFB #ITEAM pic.twitter.com/EsyTFST02F
— Chris Nakamoto TV (@ChrisNakamoto) March 7, 2025

McCray is charged with manslaughter and criminal hazing in the death of Caleb Wilson. Wilson was a 20-year-old student at Southern University and a member of the famed Human Jukebox marching band. Following an off-campus pledging event gone wrong, Wilson lost his life. Authorities determined Wilson was punched in the chest multiple times with boxing gloves until he collapsed.

Opting out of calling emergency services, Wilson was taken to a hospital. Multiple suspects present gave false information about Wilson’s injuries to the medical professionals.

Kyle Thurman and Isaiah Smith have been arrested as participants in the alleged criminal hazing. Unlike McCray, both men were charged with misdemeanor hazing. As a result of the unsanctioned initiation ritual, Southern University has suspended Omega Psi Phi activity at the HBCU. The organization will be prohibited from conducting intake or engaging in organizational activities for the remainder of the year.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

May 30, 2025

Motown Museum Honors Songrwiter Hank Cosby With Recent Exhibit

Cosby, who died in 2002, co-wrote and co-produced three No. 1 hits for Motown’s finest

Songwriter Hank Cosby, known for his work with Motown, and for supplying Stevie Wonder and many other artists with many songs throughout his career, has an exhibit honoring him and his work at the Motown Museum in Detroit.

According to the Detroit Free Press, the exhibit, “Henry ‘Hank’ Cosby: Tribute to an Original Funk Brother,” opened May 22. The two-wall exhibit showcases Cosby’s life starting from his childhood days in Detroit’s Black Bottom and during his time at Northern High School, where he started to enhance his skills on the tenor saxophone. He played with jazz legend Cannonball Adderley while both were enlisted in the United States Army during the Korean War in the early 1950s.

During his career, Cosby, who died in 2002, co-wrote and/or co-produced three No. 1 records: Fingertips by Stevie Wonder in 1963, Love Child by The Supremes in 1968, and The Tears of a Clown by The Miracles in 1968.

His wife, Pat Cosby, was ecstatic to see the exhibit as she thought about the time she approached the museum over 20 years ago, after her husband died, in hopes of collecting any memorabilia, and they didn’t even know who he was, despite all his contributions.

“I’m thinking about when he passed away, and we came to the museum hoping to get pictures, and nobody knew who he was. They didn’t recognize his name,” Cosby said.

Now, with pride for the showing of his work, she said, “Those days are over.”

Pat has worked closely with the museum since last fall to bring this project to fruition. She worked with the museum’s associate curator, Kemuel Benyehudah, to get the items for the exhibit and to bring his story to life.

She met her husband while working at Motown Records’ tape library. In 1962, she agreed to go out with him after he pursued her.

“Hank would come by, lean over the Dutch door, and say sweet stuff,” she said. Pat stated that when planning for a date, she asked him what he’d like to do, and she said his response was, “I’d like to make you happy the rest of your life.”

“He kept his promise,” Cosby said.

Anyone interested in attending the exhibit can contact the museum for more information.

Cardi B, Offset, sandy springs, Georgia, atlanta, swat, swatting, hoax, raid, cephus

by Kandiss Edwards

May 30, 2025

Offset Wants Cardi B To Hand Over Her ‘GWAP’ In Spousal Support

Offset is taking the next steps in his divorce proceeding

Offset is taking the next step in his divorce proceeding with Cardi B. The rapper, real name Kiari Kendrell Cephus, is filing for spousal support.

The information obtained by TMZ says Offset is requesting joint custody and spousal support to maintain the lifestyle he has become accustomed to since marrying the wealthy female rapper. While Offset is not bereft of funds, his wife is significantly better off. Cardi B’s net worth is estimated between $80 million and $100 million, while Offset’s is around $30 million.

Offset’s filing seeks to designate Cardi B’s residence as the primary home of his three children, Kulture, Wave, and her newest arrival, reportedly named Blossom.

Initiated in 2024 by Cardi, the divorce proceedings have not had many public updates until now. Cardi and Offset have been silent on the proceedings as new information comes to light. Still, both have been spotted living their best lives during separation.

Cardi has been spotted out in public with NFL player Stefon Diggs on multiple occasions. On Valentine’s Day, the pair was spotted with a large bouquet of flowers in a vehicle, seemingly on a date.

https://twitter.com/fearedbuck/status/1891274095582457901?s=46

Recently, a video of the couple turning up in Miami circulated online. The couple appeared to be having fun on a yacht with multiple beautiful women.

https://twitter.com/utopicnews/status/1927464031566131440?s=46

In late 2024, Cardi’s soon-to-be former husband was spotted having fun in a club. The rapper appeared to be chatting up a woman who resembled his estranged wife.

https://twitter.com/TMZ/status/1847338951583158624

Earlier this year, video footage of Offset in the Dominican Republic shows him walking amongst a crowd of onlookers. He seemingly encourages two women to join his entourage.

https://twitter.com/kard31850535/status/1924332807062446352?s=46

While the two publicly move on, their divorce proceeds in the background. As the case is not yet finalized, it is unclear if Offset will be granted spousal support. This is not the first time Cardi has filed for a divorce. The WAP rapper first petitioned the court in 2020, then changed her mind.

Akron Sneaker Academy Founder, Dominque Waters

by Mitti Hicks

May 30, 2025

HBCU Graduate Launches Sneaker Academy To Introduce Youth to STEM Careers

Dominique Waters has already helped more than 800 students

When Kicks Lounge hosted the “Seoul, Soul, Sole” event in Akron, Ohio, May 16, Dominque Waters knew he made the right decision to start his nonprofit Akron Sneaker Academy right in his hometown. Around the world, Akron is synonymous with the NBA-great LeBron James and being the capital of rubber. Very few recognize it for its sneaker culture.

“Akron has an underrated history of sneaker culture. There’s LeBron and PF flyers, but also Chuck Taylor. Taylor got his claim to fame here. He played for the Akron Firestone Non-Skids basketball team and was a salesperson for Converse,” says Waters on Taylor’s impact on basketball and sneaker culture.

Akron’s Kicks Lounge was one of approximately a dozen stores nationwide to receive the highly-anticipated and limited Air Jordan 3 “Seoul 2.0,” a shoe that pays homage to the 1988 Seoul Olympics. To celebrate the exclusivity, Kicks Lounge founder Thomas Kim, a Korean-American, launched a cultural playground for the city, featuring immersive experiences and collective storytelling.

Air Jordan 3 Replica By Dusty Ball. Photo Credit: Mitti Hicks

Inside Kicks Lounge’s reimagined warehouse were guests you typically don’t see in the Rubber City. NFL players Jerome Baker, a linebacker for the Cleveland Browns, and Justin Layne, a cornerback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, showed love at the event. Dusty Ball, the artist responsible for the six-foot Air Jordan 3 Seoul 2.0 replica, as well as Nike executives responsible for bringing Air Jordans into physical stores, were also in attendance.

All these people in one room solidified Waters’ belief that sneakers can create the perfect pathway to introduce inner-city youth to STEM programs and careers. Baker agreed.

“It’s important for young people to witness something like this because it shows them what’s possible. A pair of shoes might seem small, but it represents hard work, creativity, and a dream brought to life,” he told BLACK ENTERPRISE. “When kids see that, especially coming from someone who looks like them or comes from where they come from, it can spark their own ambition. It’s about showing them that they can make their mark too.”

How The Akron Sneaker Academy Introduces Youth To STEM

Waters is an Akron native and a graduate of a Historically Black College or University (HBCU). He graduated from Central State University, where he majored in the arts. After graduating, he eventually moved to New York City and had the opportunity to work for Louis Vuitton, Burberry, and even under Virgil Abloh.

However, through his nonprofit, Waters wants students to take a different path than his. He hopes to inspire young people to invest in their communities earlier and show them that there are plenty of opportunities outside of major cities, where the cost of living continues to rise and people are having a harder time getting financially ahead.

Studies show a lack of access to technology, education, and opportunities is fueling a desire for youth to leave smaller communities for larger cities. With events like Seoul, Soul, Sole, Waters is honing in on his point that opportunities in smaller towns are there.

His nonprofit is bigger than designing shoes. Sneakers are the draw because it’s culturally relevant for a significant number of youth, but his nonprofit introduces young participants to design, science, and engineering.

Akron Sneaker Academy Helping Youth — Photo Credit: Dominique Waters

“The city of Akron has a polymer initiative now, which is material science, but a lot of our kids in the inner city don’t know what polymers are,” said Waters, acknowledging that the University of Akron has a top-ranked polymer science and plastics engineering program.

Since Waters started the Akron Sneaker Academy in January 2024, he’s helped more than 800 students through workshops and summer camps. He’s just getting started and already has sights on expanding the nonprofit to serve more youth. His five-year plan is to create a Global Innovation Center around sneakers in Akron.

For more information on workshops or how to support the nonprofit, visit akronsneakeracademy.org

William McNeil, viral video, Recording The Police

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

May 30, 2025

Former DeKalb Officer Cops A Plea After Killing Mentally Ill Unarmed Air Force Veteran

The former DeKalb police officer convicted of killing an unarmed, naked Air Force veteran has agreed to a plea deal.

The former DeKalb County police officer charged in the 2015 fatal shooting of a naked, unarmed Air Force veteran has accepted a plea deal to aggravated assault charges.

Robert “Chip” Olsen, 63, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault May 28 and will not face additional jail time, NBC News reported. DeKalb County Superior Court Judge LaTisha Dear Jackson sentenced him to 15 years, with 12 years credited as time served and the remainder to be served on probation. The ex-cop was also ordered to serve 100 hours of community service.

“No one would say that they are happy about any aspect of this case; it was a tragedy all the way around, but today’s resolution will bring closure to the case,” Olsen’s lawyers, Amanda Clark Palmer and Don Samuel, said in a statement. “We are relieved that our client will not serve any additional time in custody.”

Olsen was responding to reports of a naked man acting erratically at an apartment complex near Atlanta in March 2015 when he fatally shot Anthony Hill, 26, a Black Air Force veteran diagnosed with bipolar disorder and PTSD. When he arrived at the scene, Hill was wandering the complex unclothed.

Investigators said Hill approached Olsen with his arms outstretched as Olsen arrived in his patrol car. Olsen got out, drew his gun, and ordered Hill to stop, but when Hill didn’t respond, Olsen fired twice, hitting him in the neck and chest. Hill died on the scene. Olsen later claimed he acted in self-defense, alleging Hill attacked him, but prosecutors said the claims were false.

In 2019, a jury convicted him of one count of aggravated assault, two counts of violating his oath of office, and one count of making a false statement. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison, followed by eight years of probation. However, after appealing his aggravated assault conviction and one violation of oath charge, the Georgia Court of Appeals overturned those convictions last year.

DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston commented on Olsen’s plea deal, expressing hope that it brings some measure of peace to Anthony Hill’s family.

“It has been more than a decade since Anthony Hill’s life was cut tragically short,” Boston said. “Defendant Olsen’s guilty plea brings this long, arduous chapter to a close, and through it, he has finally accepted some responsibility for his actions.”

EPIC Carnival Experience, Johnny Mack, cruise

by Stacy Jackson

May 30, 2025

New York City To Host ‘A Caribbean Fête In Times Square’ In June

"It's a testament to the strength and power of our heritage, and it is with great pride that we bring the joy of the Caribbean to one of the world's most iconic locations."

New York City will celebrate Caribbean Heritage Month in June with “A Caribbean Fête in Times Square” as the famed gathering spot will be transformed into a massive party celebrating a treasured culture.

According to a press release, “A Caribbean Fête in Times Square” invites the public to experience the joyful declaration of a global culture that is “here to stay and play and that Caribbean American Heritage Month deserves its rightful space in the spotlight.”

Attendees will enjoy live entertainment by world-renowned DJ Private Ryan as they groove out to the sounds of soca, dancehall, reggae, and more.

Although the June 10 event will mark a cultural milestone in island music, “this event is more than just music,” said Shelley Worrell, founder of Brooklyn-based cultural organization I Am CaribBEING. “It’s a testament to the strength and power of our heritage, and it is with great pride that we bring the joy of the Caribbean to one of the world’s most iconic locations.”

As a leader of Central Brooklyn’s Little Caribbean neighborhood, home to the largest community of Caribbean-American-Latinx residents, Worrell is excited for the public to witness the culture brought to the front and center in the heart of New York City.

“This event promises to be a sonic celebration of a region whose influence not only reverberates through fashion, food, and music but whose profound contributions to The Arts are often under-recognized and undervalued,” said Worrell, who encourages patrons to bring their flags and rep their countries.

The fête in Times Square, which is free to attend and hosted in collaboration with TSQ Live, is scheduled to run from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET at 1560 Broadway, New York, New York 10036.

RSVP now to secure your spot.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

May 30, 2025

Drake Becomes First Artist In History With 10 RIAA Diamond Singles

Drake makes history with his 10th Diamond-certified single.

Drake has made history as the first artist to earn 10 Diamond-certified singles, setting a new all-time record.

The RIAA announced the news on May 28, celebrating the Grammy-winning rapper as the top holder of Diamond records, each representing 10 million units sold, Billboard reports. Drake’s latest record-breaking feat comes with “Hold On, We’re Going Home” (2013) and “Best I Ever Had” (2009) officially going Diamond. They join his growing list of 10 million-sellers, including “God’s Plan,” “One Dance,” “Hotline Bling,” Travis Scott’s “SICKO MODE,” “Life Is Good” with Future, Lil Wayne’s “Love Me,” Chris Brown’s “No Guidance,” and Rihanna’s “Work.”

“Drake has the most RIAA Diamond Certifications of any artist, ever,” the RIAA captioned an Instagram graphic highlighting all 10 of Drake’s Diamond plaques. “‘Hold On, We’re Going Home’ and ‘Best I Ever Had’ are now certified RIAA Diamond, bringing Drake to a total of 10 Diamond Certifications.”

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A post shared by RIAA Gold & Platinum Awards (@riaa_awards)

The Toronto native may soon add another Diamond plaque to his collection, as his 2018 hit “Nice for What” from the chart-topping Scorpion album is currently certified 9x Platinum. Drake’s other firsts within the Diamond club include achieving double-digit Diamond certifications across both singles and albums, breaking a tie with Garth Brooks and Post Malone, who each hold nine.

Widely considered one of the greatest rap artists of all time, Drake is credited with bringing a smooth, melodic blend of R&B and hip-hop to mainstream rap. Every album he’s released since his 2010 debut, Thank Me Later, has topped the US Billboard charts. His 2016 project, Views, spent 13 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, while 2021’s Certified Lover Boy set a record for most U.S. top 10 hits from a single album, with nine.

His latest release, $ome $exy $ongs 4 U, a joint project with PARTYNEXTDOOR, dropped in February and still has two singles charting: “Nokia” at No. 12 and “Somebody Loves Me” at No. 77 on the Billboard Hot 100.

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