by Stacy Jackson

January 8, 2024

Texas Teen Recovering After Holiday Explosion Burns 90% Of Body

The severely burned teen has shown some signs of improvement after multiple surgeries, but she was placed back into the coma as she heals.

A North Texas teen suffered burns on over 90% of her body after a holiday gathering with friends took a tragic turn.

Madison Lewis, 17, has undergone multiple surgeries at Dallas’ Parkland Hospital in a medically induced coma following the Dec. 23 incident, Fox 4 News reports.

The Jacksboro High School senior was socializing around a burn barrel, when, according to her mother, Ericca Hammond, a boy threw “an actual pan full of gasoline” into the fire.

“It just exploded and went in her direction,” Hammond told Fox 4. “It was devastating. Completely burned her whole body.”

She added, “There’s nothing in the world more that I want and need than for my baby girl to be OK and to live a life. She’s 17 years old.”

Lewis is slated to graduate this May and attend college in the fall. “She has so much more to do out here…I mean, she’s a warrior. She is a fighter,” Hammond said.

Jacksboro is about an hour and 40 minutes from Dallas. Hammond has traveled back and forth, received help from the Ronald McDonald House.

“Which is wonderful,” she told Fox 4. “They have just been the best to me and to my family. You know, just open arms and hugs and prayers and so much compassion that it just filled my heart full of love.”

Lewis was taken off pain medication Jan. 2 to check for responses and underwent a fourth successful surgery this week to treat her extensive burns.

“She made some small movements with her tongue,” after doctors took her out of the coma. Lewis’ mother said. This sign was positive, but doctors remain concerned about lost function in her left eye.

Lewis was placed back in a coma as her body continues to heal.

“This is the first year since I’ve been a mom that I didn’t wrap one Christmas gift,” Hammond said. “Not one.” Her sole focus now is on her daughter’s healing.

Jay-Z, old west, black folks, book of Clarence, new testament, film, produce, movie, Reebok, super bowl

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 8, 2024

Jay-Z Talks ‘Putting Ourselves’ In The ‘New Testament As We Should Be’ In ‘The Book Of Clarence’ Film

Jay-Z and Jeymes Samuel have teamed back up for "The Book of Clarence," which takes viewers to the New Testament.

Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter and Jeymes Samuel have teamed back up for another film, and this time they’re taking viewers from the Old West, in 2021’s The Harder They Fall, to the New Testament, in The Book of Clarence.

The hip-hop mogul and music producer turned director came together for the Los Angeles premiere of the film on Jan. 5, where Jay, also known as Hova, talked about the inspiration behind the new Lakeith Stanfield-led film, which he co-produced.

“I just want to have fun. I want to put out a product that I believe in. I want to represent my culture, obviously, you know, we put ourselves in the Old West rightfully. And now we’re putting ourselves, you know, in the New Testament as we should be, you know, so that’s it,” Jay-Z said on the red carpet, per Africanews.

Their new film tells the story of Clarence, a down-on-his-luck man who’s struggling to find a better life for his family while also fighting to free himself of the debt he’s in. After witnessing the power and glory of the rising Messiah, Clarence decides to risk it all by carving his own path to a divine existence and presenting himself as another Messiah figure.

It was a labor of love for director Samuels, who spent decades writing the film and put it on pause to release The Harder They Fall in 2021.

“Do you know what? It was always time to tell the story. But no one was going to make it. I had to be in a position where I could get it made. But it was always time. I wrote it, I formulated it in like, early 2000s, formulating the idea. Worked on a couple of the songs in 2005,” he revealed.

“But I wrote it in 2017, and then ‘The Harder They Fall’ came out, and I just knew I had to go to the Old West, and then the New Testament, you know what I mean? So, I suppose it was just time in my life, but really, it’s always been time.”

The film, which runs a little over two hours, premieres in theaters on Jan. 12.

by Lauren Nutall

January 8, 2024

Former Pastor Eboni Turman Files Lawsuit Against Harlem Megachurch, Alleging Gender Discrimination

A Harlem megachurch has come under scrutiny after allegations of gender discrimination in its hiring process.

Abyssinian Baptist Church in New York City is facing a gender discrimination lawsuit after rejecting Eboni Marshall Turman for the role of senior pastor.

Renowned for its prominent leadership and rich history — former Congressman Rev. Adam Clayton Powell Jr. served as pastor between 1937 and 1972 — Abyssinian Baptist has been a staple in the Black Harlem community since its inception in 1808. In its 216-year history, the megachurch has never had a woman senior pastor, and Marshall Turman, who currently resides as a professor at the Yale Divinity School and formerly served as a pastor at the church, believed that she would be the first following the death of Rev. Calvin O. Butts III in 2022. However, she did not make it to the final round, a decision that she claims was due to her gender, according to AP News.

On Sept. 23, she published a post on Facebook, where she alluded to the alleged discriminatory practices.

“A vocal contingent of Abyssinian deacons has worked tirelessly with an energized group of Morehouse supporters and committee leadership to systematically eliminate all female applicants from the pool of candidates,” she wrote.

“Even as the desired outcomes of the identified groups are distinct, they converge on one significant matter: gender bias. In addition, other activities of the committee are in direct conflict with the church bylaws. Will this and other key information be disclosed to the congregation? Curiously, the congregation will be updated on the committee’s ‘progress,’ even as such progress is castrated by an all-male slate of ‘finalist’ candidates.”

Filed on Dec. 29, Marshall Turman’s lawsuit specifically names acting search committee chair Valerie S. Grant, who she says behaved unprofessionally during the interview process and questioned her harshly compared to the male applicants.

“Gender discrimination motivated the decision not to hire (Marshall Turman), a fact discussed openly during meetings of the Committee, including by Grant and another committee member, who said that Abyssinian would only hire a woman as its Senior Pastor ‘over my dead body,’” the suit states.

Both Grant and the church have issued statements denying Marshall Turman’s allegations. Grant shared that Marshall Turman was selected along with 11 other people from a pool of 47 applicants but did not receive the sufficient votes to advance to the final round. She also stated that each candidate was asked a series of questions, some tailored specifically to each individual. Because Marshall Turman was the only woman who had made it to that stage, her questions mirrored that.

Abyssinian spokesperson LaToya Evans also refuted the accusations, saying that although Marshall Turman was a competitive applicant, was was denied because she lacked certain necessary qualifications.

“While she and others were considered for the role because of their impressive backgrounds, she ultimately fell short of some key requirements for the role, where other finalist candidates prevailed and moved forward in the process,” Evans said. The remaining finalists are all men.

Marshall Turman’s career has largely centered on the role of women in Christianity, a subject she explored extensively in her written work Black Women’s Burden: Male Power, Gender Violence, and the Scandal of African American Social Christianity. She seeks monetary damages for “lost wages, benefits, other economic damages, shame, humiliation, embarrassment, and mental distress.”

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 8, 2024

Taraji P. Henson Called Oprah To Advocate For ‘The Color Purple’ Cast

Taraji P. Henson hasn’t been holding back these days when it comes to demanding her worth as an actress. Now she’s revealing the advocacy she had to do behind the scenes for The Color Purple cast.

The musical remake of Alice Walker’s landmark novel hit theaters on Christmas Day and made over $18 million in ticket sales. It was a given that the movie would do well, being a star-studded musical remake of the 1985 original directed by Steven Spielberg that starred Whoopi Goldberg, Oprah Winfrey, and Danny Glover.

This time around, Spielberg added Winfrey and Quincy Jones to the production team of the 2023 film that starred Fantasia Barrino, Danielle Brooks, Taraji P. Henson, Colman Domingo, Corey Hawkins, Deon Cole, Halle Bailey, H.E.R., and Ciara. Many would assume that with a lineup of A-listers on the cast and crew, all their basic necessities would be met during filming.

According to Henson, that wasn’t the case, and she had to speak up in order to see change. There were “a lot of things” the cast ended up receiving only after Henson advocated for them.

One example was the rides they were given after initially being given rental cars that they were responsible for driving themselves to and from the Atlanta set.

“They gave us rental cars, and I was like, ‘I can’t drive myself to set in Atlanta.’ This is insurance liability, it’s dangerous. Now they robbing people. What do I look like, taking myself to work by myself in a rental car?” Henson told The New York Times.

“So I was like, ‘Can I get a driver or security to take me?’ I’m not asking for the moon. They’re like, ‘Well, if we do it for you, we got to do it for everybody.’ Well, do it for everybody! It’s stuff like that, stuff I shouldn’t have to fight for. I was on the set of ‘Empire’ fighting for trailers that wasn’t infested with bugs.”

The behind-the-scenes slipups are issues Henson can only credit to the film consisting of an all-Black cast.

“I’m not the person that pulls the race card every time, but what else is it, then? Tell me. I’d rather it not be race, please give me something else,” she said.

Elsewhere, Henson recalls calling Winfrey to tell the billionaire media mogul “We gotta fix this” after learning the cast had no dressing rooms and were not being provided food on set.

“I remember when we first came and we’re doing rehearsals, they put us all in the same space,” Brooks told The Hollywood Reporter. “We didn’t have our own dressing rooms at the time. We didn’t have our own food…[Oprah] corrected it for us. [Taraji] was our voice.”

It’s the latest reveal Henson has made about advocating her worth after breaking down during an interview with Sirius XM last month over the pay disparities she continues to face despite being an Academy Award-nominated actress. In fact, Henson almost turned down The Color Purple due to the initial pay offer and after being told she had to audition for the role of Shug Avery despite being the director’s top choice, Variety reports.

Capitol Rioter Jacob Chansley Wants His Viking Headgear Back From FBI

by Sharelle Burt

January 8, 2024

Capitol Rioter Jacob Chansley Wants His Viking Headgear Back From FBI

It's been two years—let it go, man!

Jacob Chansley, infamous for the Viking headgear with horns worn during the Jan. 6 riots, told The Daily Beast he wants his horns back.

Also known as the “QAnon Shaman,” Chansley spent 27 months in prison for his role in the notorious Capitol Hill attack, where he was spotted in many pictures wearing his animated headpiece. The FBI confiscated the horns when he turned himself in on obstruction charges. Now Chansley feels that since his time is done, it is time for his belongings to be returned.

“The case is over, so there’s no reason for them to continue holding onto it,” he said. “They’re keeping it like it’s evidence.”

The Phoenix native was one of 30 rioters who made it inside the Capitol building first, according to prosecutors. Once there, he made his way to the Senate gallery alone, shouting “Time’s up, mother*******,” along the way. He missed former Vice President Mike Pence, who had been sitting at the dais preparing for a peaceful transfer of power, by an hour. Chansley took selfies and wrote Pence a note saying, “It’s Only A Matter of Time. Justice Is Coming.”

Chansley has since apologized for his actions but continues to admire the now four-time-indicted Donald Trump.

Even if his property is returned to him, Chansley doesn’t know if he will wear it at campaign events. “There’s been mixed emotions about it,” he said. “People say that I’m not being taken seriously. Other people are like, ‘Oh, I fricking love it!’”

In the meantime, the horns can be seen on his website where he sells T-shirts with his likeness, calling himself “America’s Shaman.” During a podcast interview, he compared himself to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Jesus.

After serving 27 months of his 41-month sentence, Chansley was granted supervised release for good behavior and three years probation. He has been banned from voting but has his eye on a political career.

The 35-year-old convicted felon filed a candidate statement of interest in November 2023 as a Libertarian candidate for Arizona’s 8th Congressional District seat, according to The Associated Press. There are no laws banning felons from holding federal office. However, Arizona state laws prohibit felons from voting until their sentence is complete and their civil rights are restored.

He may have someone to back his political endeavors. Controversial Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) said she was “honored” to meet Chansley during the Turning Point USA conference in December 2023. On Twitter, she described his treatment as “horrendous” and was “amazed” by his positive attitude.

Coach Prime, racial, recruit, reference, Colorado, college, football,, Deion Sanders, Deion Sanders

by Rafael Pena

January 8, 2024

The ‘Prime Effect’ At Work: Retro CU Hat Sells Out In 4 Minutes On Lids

The "Prime Effect" remains evident as the University of Colorado Buffaloes experienced a surge in demand for their much anticipated throwback CU fitted hat.

Deion Sanders’ transformative influence on the landscape of college football (the “Prime Effect”) remains evident as the University of Colorado Buffaloes experienced a surge in demand for is much anticipated throwback CU Ralphie cap by 59Fifty.

Priced at $50, the fitted hat, adorned with an Orange Bowl logo, sold out on the Lids website in just four minutes, according to Sports Illustrated.

The surge in demand is not only a testament to the allure of the “Prime Effect” but a nod to the Buffaloes’ popularity since Sanders arrived last year. The throwback hat, with its reference to Colorado’s 1990 National Championship victory over Notre Dame in Miami, is a reminder of the team’s resurgent popularity.

By September 2023, Sanders’ arrival had already earned the school $90 million in revenue. The city of Boulder reported an extraordinary $113 million in tourism revenue for the past year, leaving the combined totals of the previous five years in the dust. According to Sports Illustrated‘s Pat Forde, the online team store at the university witnessed a surge of 2,544% in September sales compared to the same month in 2022. And if that’s not enough, every home game at the 50,183-seat Folsom Field was completely sold out.

The Buffaloes’ 2024 football starts August 31 at home against North Dakota State, followed by back-to-back road contests against conference rivals Nebraska and Colorado State, laying the foundation for what’s poised to be a riveting and pivotal season.

As Sanders and the Buffs gear up for spring practice, expectations are high for another sellout at this year’s spring game. The big question lingers as to whether whether ESPN will once again capture the Gold & Black scrimmage. Last year’s edition served as Coach Prime’s introduction to CU, where he delivered an array of surprises.

RELATED CONTENT: Deion Sanders Uses Shade To Sell Shades

Black Mayor, Alabama, City Hall,lawsuit, election

by Rafael Pena

January 8, 2024

Wrens, Georgia Welcomes Its First Black Mayor, David Hannah

In a historic moment for Wrens, David Hannah was sworn in on Jan. 2 as the city's first Black mayor, adding another milestone to his journey.

In a historic moment for Wrens, Georgia, David Hannah was sworn in on Jan. 2 as the city’s first Black mayor, adding another milestone to his remarkable journey after serving as the city’s inaugural Black police chief, according to WRDW.

Hannah’s roots in Wrens run deep, and significant wins have marked his leadership trajectory. Describing it, he said, “I left Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department and became the city investigator here in Wrens, and after I served there in Wrens for a period of two to three years, I became the first Black police chief.”

Despite his trailblazing career, concerns have been raised about Hannah’s previous management of the police department, ranging from alleged inappropriate language to outstanding utility account balances, plus a detailed six-page letter addressing police department procedures.

Responding to those concerns, Hannah remained steadfast, asserting, “It’s always been positive. I hadn’t had anything in my career that would hinder me from doing what I need to do.” He encouraged those with doubts to consult the community. “Check with the people. Let the people decide,” he said. “The people decided when they elected me.”

As he steps into the role of mayor, Hannah outlines ambitious plans for Wrens, including attracting new businesses, expanding housing options, and addressing Wrens’ recent challenges with crime. Hannah stated, “We’re gonna turn the crime rates around in the city. We’re gonna do some things in the city that the city gonna be real proud of.”

A new city council member joined the ranks the same day as Hannah’s inauguration. Wasting no time, the newly constituted leadership delved into their responsibilities, conducting their first meeting that very evening.

The challenges ahead are met by an optimistic Hannah as he pledges to bring positive change and rejuvenation to the community he has long served.

usher, sugar, alcohol, Super Bowl, halftime

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 8, 2024

Game Shape: Usher Quits ‘All Sugar And Alcohol’ Ahead Of Super Bowl Halftime Show

Usher is buckling down for Super Bowl LVIII and has decided to give up all sugar and alcohol in preparation for the big day.

Usher is buckling down for his headlining performance at next month’s Super Bowl LVIII, giving up all sugar and alcohol as he prepares for the big day.

The performance comes on the heels of the 45-year-old closing his Las Vegas residency.

“The Super Bowl has always been on Usher’s bucket list and he wants to be in the best shape to give the performance of his life to the 100 million-plus people watching,” a source told the Sunday Mirror newspaper’s “No Filter” column, via Fredericksburg.

“He has quit all sugar and alcohol and is rehearsing endlessly.”

It’s the second time Usher will be gracing a halftime show, having joining the Black Eyed Peas in 2011. But it’s always been a dream of his to headline the Super Bowl halftime show on his own.

“I think being able to see performances from artists like Michael [Jackson], you know, eventually Prince, and then even more modern-day artists… I was like, ‘Man, at some point I need to get a call with what’s going on now,'” he told Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1.

“But I’m really happy that I’m joining that short list of legacy artists from my genre who deserve this moment.”

“And I’m really happy that Jay-Z and also Roc Nation really put thought into making certain that they could bring to the world this kind of experience. It is definitely going to be a moment to remember,” he added.

Usher’s 14-year-old son Naviyd is serving as musical director for the show and designed his dad’s set list for the night, he revealed on Today With Hoda & Jenna.

“He has given me a curation of how much time in addition to the songs.”

Usher follows Rihanna (and her baby bump), who headlined the Super Bowl halftime show in 2023. Dr. Dre headlined in 2022 alongside Mary J. Blige, Eminem, Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, and Kendrick Lamar.

keke palmer, NBC, password, 15 years, woman, outstanding gameshow host

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 8, 2024

Keke Palmer Becomes First Black Woman To Win Emmy For Game Show Host

It had been 15 years since a woman won an Emmy for Outstanding Game Show Host, but Keke Palmer ended the hiatus.

It’s been 15 years since a woman won an Emmy for Outstanding Game Show Host, but Keke Palmer has helped end the hiatus, becoming the first Black woman to earn the honor.

The 2024 Emmy Awards took place on Jan. 7, and Palmer won for Outstanding Host for a Game Show for NBC’s Password, Deadline reports. It was the first time the category was included in the Primetime Emmys.

The actress/television personality beat out Jeopardy! hosts Ken Jennings and Mayim Bialik, Family Feud host Steve Harvey, and Wheel of Fortune host Pat Sajak. She the first woman to win since 2009, when Meredith Vieira won for the syndicated Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?.

“Wow. That is so exciting thank you so much. I’m really just so thankful, I’m almost speechless,” Palmer said during her acceptance speech. “I want to thank the people who allowed this to happen, thank you to Jimmy Fallon, thank to NBC.”

After thanking Fallon, who executive produces the show, Palmer thanked Carol Burnett, a fixture on the game show decades ago, who was in the audience. It’s the first time in 50 years that Password has been nominated or won the host category.

“Sharp, charming and quick-witted all while looking like a superstar. There’s no one like Keke Palmer,” said Fallon.

Steve Harvey received the award in 2023, and the late Alex Trebek won three years prior.

Palmer also won an Emmy in 2021 for Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series for the Facebook Watch series Turnt Up With the Taylors.

“In a historic year for game shows at the Emmy Awards, we couldn’t be prouder of Keke Palmer’s outstanding host win. She and Jimmy Fallon are a winning duo and have made the latest iteration of Password an undeniable hit,” Corie Henson, executive vice president, NBCUniversal Entertainment Unscripted Programming, said.

by Rafael Pena

January 8, 2024

Tobe Nwigwe Announces Partnership With Reebok: ‘T’was MINT To Be’

Tobe Nwigwe announced his partnership with Reebok via Instagram. Their collaboration will bring us the Reebok by Chukwu collection in 2024.

On Jan. 8, artist, actor, and visionary Tobe Nwigwe announced his partnership with Reebok via Instagram. The collaboration, rooted in Reebok’s history of working with leading hip-hop artists, will introduce the Reebok by Chukwu collection in 2024, showcasing co-designed footwear and apparel bridging the realms of fashion and lifestyle.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Tobe Nwigwe (@tobenwigwe)

Tobe Nwigwe, a Houston-born, first-generation Nigerian-American, initially aspired to a career in professional football until a career-ending injury altered his trajectory. Embracing his faith and the mantra of “make purpose popular,” Nwigwe has evolved into a global superstar without major record label backing or a booking agent. His diverse portfolio includes blockbuster film appearances, prestigious runway appearances, YouTube fame with the #getTWISTEDsundays series, and chart-topping success in hip-hop, culminating in a 2023 Best New Artist nomination for his LP moMINTs.

“I’m honored to partner with a brand like Reebok that represents so many iconic moments in culture and possesses timeless designs that have spanned generations. I can still vividly remember fighting with one of my best friends in middle school over who could first get their hands on the latest Question drop,” said Nwigwe, expressing his excitement about the collaboration.

Reebok CEO Todd Krinsky emphasized the brand’s legacy of collaboration with creatives and hip-hop artists since the ’90s and expressed enthusiasm for partnering with Nwigwe, describing him as a “true creative visionary” shaping the future of the genre. Krinsky said he looked forward to seeing how Nwigwe’s energy and unique perspective translated into upcoming collections.

Beyond his music career, Nwigwe is a multitalented individual dedicated to mission-driven work. In 2010, during his recovery from a football injury, he founded TeamGINI (derived from “Gini Bu Nkpa Gi?” — Igbo for “What’s Your Purpose?”), a Houston-based nonprofit supporting and inspiring local youth. His partnership with Reebok aims to amplify and support the TeamGINI community, extending its positive impact.

“I’m excited to bring my point of view and join our worlds together to create something truly special,” remarked Nwigwe on the collaboration. As the Reebok by Chukwu collection takes center stage in 2024, the partnership promises to blend cultural influences, fashion, and a commitment to positive change.