Lomax, private donations, UNCF, united negro college fund,

by Iman Milner

December 13, 2023

UNCF Celebrates 80 Years And Remarkable Comeback Campaign

The nonprofit brought in $345 million in private donations during this fiscal year.

Ahead of its 80th anniversary, the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) has found itself back amongst the nation’s top-ranked and most charitable organizations thanks to the efforts of CEO Michael L. Lomax.

According to Forbes, the nonprofit brought in $345 million in private donations during this fiscal year, earning it the No. 58 spot on the 2023 list of America’s Top 100 Charities.

This marks the first appearance on the list by the UNCF—which is based on the value of private donations received and does not include government support, fees for services, or investment earnings—since 2016.

Lomax, who has served as CEO for the past two decades, spearheaded the organization’s growth through a six-year, $1 billion capital campaign aimed at increasing scholarships and reinforcing the finances of the 37 colleges included in its membership. UNCF distributed over $20 million directly to the institutions in 2022 and gave an additional $68 million in scholarship aid to over 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students at nearly 700 institutions, Forbes reports.

More than half of the scholarships were awarded to private and public historically Black colleges and universities. The average grant amount was nearly $7,000, and monies were distributed largely to Black students, though some scholarship recipients were also from Hispanic, Native American, and Asian/Pacific Islander backgrounds.

“These institutions are engines of economic mobility,” said Lomax. “We don’t ask about race.” According to Forbes, the UNCF does not know the ethnic background of nearly 30% of scholarship recipients.

The UNCF boldly claims the six-year undergraduate graduation rate for its scholarship recipients is 70% compared to less than 60% for all U.S. college students. The organization’s funding was largely made possible by a $190 million gift from Fidelity Investments and a $19 million donation from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation aimed at supporting the presence of minority students in the STEM disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Despite an increase in vested interest in HBCUs, Lomax believes there is still work to be done to ensure the institutions have what they need to continue to excel.

“HBCUs have done more with less for years, and this is, I call it, an investment, because we have to produce different outcomes, we want to increase enrollment, we want to increase our retention of students, (and) we want to have increased graduation rates,” he said, according to CNN.

RELATED CONTENT: UNCF Announces Inaugural UNCF Stem Scholars

André, Braugher, Brooklyn inn-nine, homicide, passed away, short illness, 61

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

December 13, 2023

‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’ Actor André Braugher Passes Away At 61

André Braugher best known for his roles in "Homicide" "Men of a Certain Age," and "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" has passed away at 61.

Emmy Award-winning actor André Braugher, best known for his roles in Homicide: Life on the Street, Men of a Certain Age, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine, has died at 61.

Braugher died Monday, Dec. 11, after a brief illness, Deadline reports. The actor first rose to prominence starring alongside Matthew Broderick and Denzel Washington in Ed Zwick’s 1989 Academy Award-winning film Glory.

He went on to dominate roles in scripted television, including Thief, which earned him his first Emmy, and his iconic portrayal of Detective Frank Pembleton in the NBC drama Homicide: Life on the Street. The latter earned him two Emmys and two Television Critics Association Awards in 1997 and 1998.

His other prominent role includes starring alongside Andy Samberg as Captain Raymond Holt in the hit comedy series Brooklyn Nine-Nine. The show earned him two Critics Choice Awards for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series and four Emmy Award nominations for the show that started on Fox and later moved to NBC.

He also appeared on the TNT series Men of a Certain Age alongside Ray Romano and Scott Bakula, which earned him two Emmy nominations for his portrayal of a diabetic dad.

Braugher also starred in several movies, including The Mist, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, Frequency, Thick as Thieves, and City of Angels. Most recently, he co-starred in the drama She Said, which retold the story of two journalists whose reporting led to the prosecution of Harvey Weinstein and sparked the #MeToo movement.

Before his passing, he was slated to star in the Netflix show Residence as his next project. Born and raised in Chicago, Braugher was a trained actor who earned a B.A. from Stanford University and an M.F.A. from Juilliard.

He was married to Ami Brabson, who played a recurring role as Pembleton’s wife on Homicide, since 1993. He was a father to three sons, John Wesley Braugher, Michael Braugher, and Isaiah Braugher.

RELATED CONTENT: Jazz Legend Ahmad Jamal Has Passed Away At 92

Americans, poll, vaccines childhood vaccinations

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

December 13, 2023

US Employers Hire Virtual Providers As Weight-Loss Drug Gatekeepers

U.S. employers facing surging costs from obesity drugs are hiring virtual healthcare providers to implement weight-loss management programs

Originally Reported by Reuters

Dec 13 (Reuters) – U.S. employers facing surging costs from paying for Novo Nordisk’s (NOVOb.CO)Wegovy and similar obesity drugs are hiring virtual healthcare providers like Teladoc (TDOC.N) to implement weight-loss management programs, a dozen consultants, pharmacy benefit managers, analysts, and providers told Reuters.

These programs may require diet and exercise before granting access to the medicines, and in some cases will become employees’ sole covered option for medications like Wegovy and Eli Lilly’s (LLY.N) rival therapy Zepbound, which have list prices of more than $1,000 a month.

They could help companies cut costs by limiting employees to small networks of less expensive providers or by delaying prescriptions with lifestyle change mandates, one of the benefits consultants said.

Another consultant touted the benefits of such programs, saying diet and exercise regimens could lead to long-term improvements in patient health.

“Many (employers) were skeptical about the cost of these drugs at the beginning of the year, but that mindset has shifted. Employers and health plans are now increasingly more willing to cover them, with the right programs in place,” Teladoc executive Ananth Balasubramanian said in an interview.

More than a quarter of 152 employers surveyed by the Business Group on Health said they would use virtual providers to oversee obesity drug prescriptions next year.

Boeing (BA.N), Hilton (HLT.N), and Fortune Brands (FBIN.N) are among companies that have signed up for or expanded deals with virtual healthcare providers, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Truist analyst Jailendra Singh forecast the market for virtual obesity drug management could reach $700 million in 2024 and grow to as much as $9 billion longer term, assuming providers charge around $30 per member, per month, and $50 for physician appointments.

Reuters reported in June that the popularity of obesity medicines had U.S. employers rethinking insurance coverage, but most only required special authorization or had stopped covering diabetes drugs off-label for weight loss.

Healthcare benefits consultant Aon (AON.N) outlined ideas to manage use of these GLP-1 drugs through “step therapy” and narrow networks or “centers of excellence” in August in a 10-page document for corporate clients.

It suggested at least one to three months of lifestyle changes through programs from telehealth companies or pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) before patients are prescribed the medicines, which would help them adopt long-term approaches to healthier nutrition and exercise and give them coaching and other support.

Wegovy and Zepbound belong to a class of drugs called GLP-1s developed for type 2 diabetes that reduce food cravings and cause the stomach to empty more slowly. They have been shown to reduce weight by an average of 15% and 20%, respectively in clinical trials.

American Medical Association President Jesse Ehrenfeld said selecting telehealth providers with no in-person care inappropriately steers patients away from their current physicians, threatening continuity of care.

“Telehealth should be a supplement to, not a replacement for, in-person provider networks,” he said.

DIET AND EXERCISE

Step therapy, which first requires completion of a diet and exercise program and may limit the duration of the medicine’s use, is the main service employers are seeking, according to three virtual healthcare providers.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, a health insurer with more than 5 million members, said next year it will offer employer clients an option for patients to sign up for Teladoc’s weight management program that involves six months of diet and exercise before patients can get Wegovy or Zepbound.

They must continue the diet and exercise requirement in order https://thecanadapharmacy.com/product/rybelsus-semaglutide/ to keep being prescribed the drugs.

Companies are also starting “centers of excellence” for weight loss that would limit who could prescribe the drugs.

Such specialized programs set up to even out service quality and save money on high cost-procedures like knee replacements are already common in fields like cardiology and bariatric surgery but are rarely administered virtually.

Richard Frank, an executive at virtual provider Vida Health, said his company planned to manage a weight-loss center of excellence for at least one of its clients next year. He said Vida will help improve patients’ quality of life by getting them to focus on more than just weight loss.

Its step-therapy program wasn’t created to introduce hurdles, but to get patients the right care at the right time, he said.

Capital RX, a PBM with more than 200 clients covering around 2.4 million people, said about 20% of its clients were interested in centers of excellence for obesity.

BMO analyst Evan Seigerman said the market for GLP-1 obesity drugs will be supply driven next year and “roadblocks” like these are unlikely to impact Novo or Lilly sales.

Both Wegovy and Zepbound U.S. approvals included language that they should be used along with diet and exercise changes.

By using weight loss programs, employers could spread the cost of a drug or avoid paying for it entirely, said Jeff Levin Scherz at benefits consultant Willis Towers Watson (WTW.O).

“They will delay eligibility, and by the time people are eligible, they might no longer be on the plan,” he said.

Ja Morant, Tee, Jah, Morant, weapon, testifies, NBA, basketball, player

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

December 13, 2023

Ja Morant Admits To Throwing First Punch In Pickup Game, States It Was In Self-Defense

Ja Morant stepped into a court of law to defend his actions in striking a then-17-year-old player at his house

With an expected return to the basketball court next week in Memphis, Grizzlies player Ja Morant had to first step into a court of law to answer to a lawsuit that was filed against him for striking a then-17-year-old basketball player at his house.

According to ESPN, the lawsuit that was filed in September 2022 regarding an incident that took place in July 2022 has brought Morant to testify at an immunity hearing at Shelby County Circuit Court in Memphis. He claimed that he hit the player, Joshua Holloway, in self-defense, asserting that he hit the teen first “to protect” himself.

The incident happened at Morant’s home during a game of pickup basketball. The Memphis player stated that due to Holloway being frustrated that he had already lost several games, he allegedly threw an aggressive one-handed pass at him when Morant was checking the basketball. He said the ball hit the left side of his face.

Holloway’s attorney, Rebecca Adelman, asked Morant several questions at the hearing.

“You testified that this basketball was a weapon, yes?”

“Yes,” Morant answered.

“A lethal weapon?” she asked.

Morant responded, “It hurt.”

Morant then stated that after the ball was thrown at him, he asked the teenager, “What you on?” Instead of answering, Holloway pulled up his shorts, which he took as an aggressive fighting stance.

“Him pulling up his shorts, where I’m from, that’s a fighting stance,” Morant said. He said that Holloway took a step toward him, and that’s when he threw a punch that connected to Holloway. “I hit him first — to protect myself.”

Morant’s friend, Davonte Pack, then hit Holloway after Morant delivered the first blow.

Morant’s attorneys are attempting to have the case dismissed due to the self-defense argument the basketball player is utilizing.

Tee Morant, Morant’s father, also testified in the case, and there may be other family members, friends, and witnesses who will testify about the incident that took place. Law enforcement officials are expected to testify as well.

If the attorneys are not successful in having the case thrown out, then the trial date could happen in April 2024.

Black Woman Suing Colorado Chili’s After Being Forced To Pay Upfront

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

December 13, 2023

Black Woman Suing Colorado Chili’s After Being Forced To Pay Upfront

Markesha Futrell-Smith has filed a discrimination lawsuit against Chili's in Denver, Colorado after being forced to pay for her food upfront, allegedly due to her being Black.

A Black woman in Colorado is suing a Chili’s in Denver after being forced to pay upfront for her family’s meal at the dining establishment. The restaurant allegedly refused to take Markesha Futrell-Smith and her family’s order unless they paid first.

The incident occurred on April 30, 2022, with Futrell-Smith filing a federal discrimination lawsuit on Nov. 28 in the state’s capital. Within the complaint, the woman detailed that she, her husband, and two children were the only Black patrons inside the restaurant when they sat down. Upon looking over their menus, a manager stopped by their table to question the family on how they would pay.

According to the document, the manager “demanded that (she) provide a valid form of payment upfront prior to taking her order if she wished to dine at the restaurant.”

Their reasoning, as stated in the complaint, was that the woman skipped out on her last meal at the establishment, an accusation the plaintiff denied.

The woman was a frequent customer of the Denver location as well, with the lawsuit stating that the woman was “frustrated, angry, embarrassed, and humiliated” by the incident. The complaint also detailed that Chili’s has no policy in place that demanded upfront payment from customers who had not paid for meals before, stating that the request violated the state’s discrimination law.

“The incident has caused Ms. Futrell-Smith immense anxiety and fear that when she enters a store or restaurant, she will be falsely accused of shoplifting or thievery, solely due to her African-American race,” the lawsuit states. “Futrell-Smith is genuinely fearful that similar discrimination will occur to her and her children in the future based on their African-American race.”

A spokesperson for Chili’s released a statement on “fostering an inclusive environment” at their restaurants, but refused to comment further on the specific matter,

Futrell-Smith is seeking compensatory damages, as well as additional damages to be determined at the trial.

“We value every Chili’s Guest and take the responsibility of fostering an inclusive environment for all very seriously. We do not condone or tolerate discrimination of any kind, as the safety and wellbeing of our Team Members and Guests is a top priority.”

Beyonce, Beyoncé, Echoes of Silence, renaissance, tour, film, copyright, infringement, costume

by Iman Milner

December 13, 2023

Beyoncé Accused Of Copying Artist For Costume Worn During ‘Renaissance’ Tour And Film

An artist is accusing Beyoncé of referencing his work in visuals she used for both the Renaissance World Tour and film.

A Japanese artist has accused Beyoncé of copying his artistic creation for a visual she included in her Renaissance tour and film. Hajime Sorayama posted his claims to Instagram in several photos, TMZ reports.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Hajime Sorayama (@hajimesorayamaofficial)

“Yo @beyonce. You should have asked me ‘officially’ so that I could make much better work for you as like my man @theweekend,” Sorayama captioned his Instagram post, which featured a carousel of images of his illustrations and the alleged reference pieces from Beyoncé’s record-breaking world tour. Sorayama partnered with The Weeknd to create a cover for the 10th anniversary of his 2011 mixtape Echoes of Silence. The rereleased music featured an image of a silver robot-like figure in profile with an arched neck.

Along with the side-by-side visuals, the artist posted a photo of merchandise featuring the referential visuals, seemingly hinting at the singer having made a profit from his idea.

Several commenters believed the pair had worked together prior to his posting, while others expressed dissenting opinions about Sorayama’s claims.

“You and whoever made her headpiece clearly drew from the same metropolis inspo. Doesn’t make anyone a thief, certainly not Beyonce,” one commenter said. “She’s wearing Thierry Mugler based on an archive Mugler look that referenced metropolis.”

“Were you this incensed when she wore a similar headpiece in 2007 at the BET awards?” said another.

Still, it isn’t the first time Beyoncé has been accused of drawing inspiration from another creative and failing to credit them. In 2011, Belgian choreographer Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker claimed the singer lifted her dance moves in the video for her track “Countdown.”

“I’m not mad, but this is plagiarism,” De Keersmaeker told The New York Times. The 42-year-old pop star responded to De Keersmaeker’s claims in the affirmative, saying, “Clearly, the ballet ‘Rosas danst Rosas’ was one of many references for my video ‘Countdown.’ It was one of the inspirations used to bring the feel and look of the song to life.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Marlyn Ortiz (@marlynortiz)

Beyoncé was once again in the hot seat in 2016, when choreographer Marlyn Ortiz accused her of pulling inspiration from her dance troupe De La Guarda during the Formation World Tour. “I’m sorry I don’t bash artist! But I respect fellow creative artist…and don’t like to use social media to promote something that can be perceived as negativity,” Ortiz wrote in an Instagram post. “BUT @beyonce you have the nerve to steal exact concepts n choreography from other real creative genius.”

Clarence Thomas, conversion therapy, state ban, violate, first amendment

by Iman Milner

December 13, 2023

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas Argues Proposed State Bans On Conversion Therapy Violate First Amendment

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas argued that state bans on conversion therapy for minors violate First Amendment rights.

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas suggested that state bans on conversion therapy aimed at minors may violate First Amendment rights. Justice Samuel Alito has supported Thomas’ claim, Business Insider reports.

The Supreme Court published the thoughts of both Thomas and Alito on Dec. 11 in announcing its decision to bypass hearing a case brought before the justices by conversion therapist Brian Tingley, who believes a person’s sex is “a gift from God, integral to our very being” and assists minors suffering from gender dysphoria who “want to become comfortable with their biological sex” through talk therapy. The state of Washington opposes Tingley’s belief and asserted that it should “protect its minors against exposure to serious harms caused by” conversion experts, according to Supreme Court documents.

The ban would require licensed counselors like Tingley to comply with state laws, making conversion therapy illegal and leaving perpetrators open to punishment. “Under SB 5722, licensed counselors cannot voice anything other than the state-approved opinion on minors with gender dysphoria without facing punishment,” Justice Thomas wrote. “The Ninth Circuit set a troubling precedent by condoning this regime.”

Alito agreed, writing, “It is beyond dispute that these laws restrict speech, and all restrictions on speech merit careful scrutiny,” in a separately published article.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh was said to be open to hearing the case. But the court failed to meet the minimum requirement of four justices in order to have it reviewed, so Washington’s ban on conversion therapy remains in place. According to Business Insider, Judge Ronald Gould vehemently disagreed with the assertion made by Justices Thomas and Alito.

“Washington’s licensing scheme for health care providers, which disciplines them for practicing conversion therapy on minors, does not violate the First or Fourteenth Amendments,” Gould wrote. “States do not lose the power to regulate the safety of medical treatments performed under the authority of a state license merely because those treatments are implemented through speech rather than through scalpel.”

by Daniel Johnson

December 13, 2023

Supreme Court Agrees To Wipe Federal Vaccine Mandate From Judicial Record

The Justice Department, however, maintained in its court filings that the motions from the Biden Administration were due to changing public health circumstances and not a cynical attempt to win in a court battle

In early May, the Biden administration rescinded its executive order that created a vaccine mandate for federal employees, ahead of a case relating to the mandate reaching the Supreme Court. As The Hill reported, this set the stage for an argument about whether or not federal employees could challenge the constitutionality of the mandate directly in court or if they had to go through the Merit Systems Protection Board.

Two appeals courts reached two different conclusions about the vaccine mandate in March, with one D.C. appeals court ruling that federal law required the MSPB and another court, the Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit, ruling in favor of Feds for Medical Freedom and other assorted plaintiffs.

A third court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit, issued an injunction that stopped the Air Force from making religious exemptions to become inoculated against COVID-19. This prompted Congress to pass a bill that directed Biden’s defense secretary to rescind the executive order. The administration was transparent in all three cases, stating that the judges should issue a Munsingwear vacatur, which sets aside a lower court’s ruling when the ruling is moot.

An attorney for the plaintiffs wrote to the Supreme Court justices, saying, “Petitioners ask this Court to endorse a ‘heads we win, tails you get vacated’ version of Munsingwear, where they can litigate to the hilt in both district and circuit court and—only if they lose—then decline to seek substantive review from this Court and instead moot the case and ask this Court to erase the circuit court loss from the books.”

The Supreme Court chose to wipe the lower court rulings from the judicial record, essentially siding with the Biden administration’s desire to create a clean legal slate for any such actions in the future. Justice Ketanaji Brown Jackson disagreed with the Court in two of the three cases and said that though she doubted the federal government’s entitlement to use the vacatur, she followed the Court’s established precedent.

The Justice Department, however, maintained in its court filings that the motions from the Biden administration were due to changing public health circumstances and not a cynical attempt to win in a court battle, writing, “The President revoked EO 14,043 because of the waning of the pandemic, not any effort to evade judicial review or gain litigation advantage.”

Oprah, Winfrey, drew, Barrymore, writers, strike, show, interview, criticism

by Iman Milner

December 13, 2023

Drew Barrymore Draws Criticism For Touchy Interview With Oprah

Actress turned talk-show host Drew Barrymore drew criticism when a clip showed an awkward and touchy exchange between she and Oprah.

Actress turned daytime talk-show host Drew Barrymore drew criticism from fans for a “cringy” interview with media maven Oprah Winfrey. In a clip released ahead of the Dec. 12 episode of The Drew Barrymore Show, the Charlie’s Angels actress can be seen touching and holding Winfrey as they sat on a couch during the interview, Page Six reported.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Drew Barrymore Show (@thedrewbarrymoreshow)

In the clip posted by the show’s official page, Barrymore and Winfrey discuss the importance of a live audience in the land of talk shows. As the show’s host sat with her legs curled up on the couch, Winfrey applauded her for having no audience throughout the show’s run, due to both COVID restrictions as well as the SAG strike. However, things turned touchy when the pair’s high-five turned into a tight grasp initiated by Barrymore. Winfrey appeared to try to take her hand back from the E.T. actress; however, the pair remained interlocked. The host also caressed the media mogul’s arm throughout the clip.

Fans of both women took to the comments to discuss the seemingly awkward interaction. “Drew, everyone doesn’t want their hands held boo,” said one commenter.

“As much I love Drew..ill stick to watching her in movies. She comes across as over bearing and over the top and that seems fake to me…its all too cringy!!!” another commenter expressed. Barrymore has become known for her authentic approach to daytime TV hosting by breaking both physical and emotional barriers between herself and her guests. While some have found it endearing, in the clip with Winfrey, it appeared to cross a boundary. “Oprah’s body language was so clear she wanted her hand back,” said an Instagram user.

It was unclear whether Barrymore would retain much of her viewership after she was criticized for being a scab—a person who crosses a picket line—by writers when she announced plans to bring her show back to television amid the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike in September. The actress later recanted her decision, opting to honor writers, and remained off-air until the strike ended, Vox reported.

Oprah Winfrey, Stanford University, Dr. Bongeka Zuma

by Stacy Jackson

December 13, 2023

Oprah Shows Off Slimmer Physique, ‘Color Purple’ Mocktail Recipe

Oprah Winfrey's weight loss was noticeable in a video on social media where she revealed a "Color Purple" drink for the holiday season.

Renowned 69-year-old talk show host Oprah Winfrey served a look in a new Instagram video revealing a slim physique while her personal chef made mocktails in honor of The Color Purple.

The billionaire lounged around in the $50 million Montecito, CA home that she has lived in since 2001. She was outfitted in a luxurious white set with her spacious white kitchen. And she and her bartender were not stingy with the mocktail recipe, The Daily Mail reported.

“We have come up with our own Color Purple drink for the holiday season,” Winfrey said before sharing the recipe with viewers. The mocktail recipe included apple juice, ginger, beet juice, lime juice, blue Curaçao, simple syrup, sparkling water, and blackberry garnish. She added a tip for those who care to add a splash of alcohol, suggesting vodka, gin, or tequila.

The recent video is not the first reveal of a slimmer Winfrey. During the premiere of The Color Purple in Beverly Hills, Winfrey graced the red carpet, where her smaller waist captured much attention. While on the red carpet, she told Entertainment Tonight, “It’s not one thing, it’s everything. I intend to keep it that way,” speaking on her weight loss and fitness journeys. Winfrey’s recent 40-pound weight loss required her to make several changes.

Of course, some people speculated that Winfrey had used weight-loss drugs. But she quickly shut down the rumors at a panel in New York City for “Oprah Daily’s The Life You Want Series.” She was accompanied by Sima Sistani, Weight Watchers CEO, a psychologist, and two obesity specialists for the panel that happened in September.

Winfrey opened up about having her “weight struggles” “exploited” in the public eye and the “shame” she endured for years because of changes in her physical appearance.

“One of the things I carried so much shame for, and even when I first started hearing about the weight loss drugs, at the same time I was going through knee surgery, and I felt, ‘I’ve got to do this on my own because if I take the drug, that’s the easy way out,'” she said.

“There’s a part of me that feels — like I think a lot of people feel with bariatric surgery — that I’ve got to do it the hard way, I’ve got to keep climbing the mountains, I’ve got to keep suffering, and I’ve got to do that because otherwise I somehow cheated myself.”

She was honest about her thoughts of being tired of living in a world where people get shamed and treated differently for their weight.

Winfrey, a cast member of the original The Color Purple, directed by Steven Spielberg in 1985 and awarded an Oscar nomination in 1986, continues to remain open about her weight.

The Color Purple remake will hit theaters on December 25, directed by Blitz Bazawule and starring Danielle Brooks, Halle Bailey, Taraji P. Henderson, and Fantasia Barrino.