by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 7, 2024

Cissy Houston, Grammy-Winning Mother Of Whitney Houston, Dies At 91

Cissy Houston passed away on Monday at age 91. She was surrounded by her family.

Cissy Houston, the Grammy-winning gospel singer and mother of the late Whitney Houston, passed away on Monday at age 91.

Houston passed away at her New Jersey home while surrounded by her family, The Associated Press reported. The two-time Grammy winner, who performed alongside superstar musicians like Elvis Presley and Aretha Franklin, was receiving hospice care for Alzheimer’s disease at the time of her death, her daughter-in-law Pat Houston confirmed.

“Our hearts are filled with pain and sadness. We lost the matriarch of our family,” Pat Houston said in a statement, noting Houston’s “unparalleled” contributions to popular music.

“Mother Cissy has been a strong and towering figure in our lives. A woman of deep faith and conviction who cared greatly about family, ministry, and community. Her more than seven-decade career in music and entertainment will remain at the forefront of our hearts.”

“We are touched by your generous support and your outpouring of love during our profound time of grief,” Houston said on behalf of the family. “We respectfully request our privacy during this difficult time.”

Houston’s music career began in 1938 when she teamed up with her sister Anne and brothers Larry and Nicky to form the gospel group The Drinkard Four, which recorded one album. She later became a member of the renowned vocal group Sweet Inspirations alongside Doris Troy and her niece Dee Dee Warwick. The group provided backup vocals for a range of soul artists, including Otis Redding, Lou Rawls, The Drifters, and Dionne Warwick.

The Sweet Inspirations dominated the 1960s by lending their vocals to classic singles like Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl” and The Jimi Hendrix Experience’s “Burning of the Midnight Lamp” in 1967. That same year, Houston contributed to Aretha Franklin’s timeless hit “Ain’t No Way.”

Houston’s final performance with the Sweet Inspirations took place during a Las Vegas show with Elvis Presley in 1969. Her last recording session with the group resulted in their biggest R&B hit, “(Gotta Find) A Brand New Lover,” written by the renowned production team of Gamble & Huff, which appeared on the group’s fifth album, Sweet Sweet Soul.

After pursuing a solo career, Houston became a highly sought-after singer who recorded over 600 songs across multiple genres throughout her career. Her vocals can be heard alongside a diverse array of artists, including Chaka Khan, Donny Hathaway, Jimi Hendrix, Luther Vandross, Beyoncé, Paul Simon, Roberta Flack, Burt Bacharach, Barbra Streisand, and her daughter.

Houston attended New Hope Baptist Church, where she eventually became the Minister of Sacred Music. As a gospel singer, she won two Grammys for Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album for her albums: Face to Face in 1997 and He Leadeth Me in 1998.

Houston was the youngest of eight children and welcomed her three children, Michael, Gary, and Whitney Houston. Whitney passed away in 2012, followed by her daughter Bobby Kristina Brown in 2015.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

October 7, 2024

Atlanta Graphic Designer Pays Tribute To Late News Anchor Jovita Moore With Latest Piece

While no longer living, Moore's memory remains part of the community as it continues to celebrate her life and legacy.

A graphic designer in Atlanta is using his skills to honor a deceased member of the city’s community. John-Paul Moore’s latest work pays tribute to late news anchor Jovita Moore on her 57th birthday.

The local artist told Moore’s former work home, WSB-TV, that his art does more than paint a picture. Instead, he hopes to use his gifts to tell that person’s story.

The image features multiple pictures of Moore throughout her career, which spanned over two decades in news service to the Atlanta community. In his latest artwork, the designer hoped to capture Moore’s legacy and impact on the city.

“These tributes are a way to keep their legacy alive, so they’re not forgotten,” Moore explained to the news outlet.

Through these means, he has also captured other deceased figures, such as James Earl Jones and Frankie Beverly. However, doing so for Moore on her birthday remains extra special.

“This is my most recent design,” he shared as he gave the image to the news channel studio in Midtown Atlanta. “I really love the fact that she looks so happy. It tells a great story of her life.”

Moore was a long-time and beloved face for Atlanta families who watched WSB-TV, as the journalist had been with the station since 1998. She continued her role as she could while she battled a rare form of brain cancer. She later died from the illness in October 2021.

“I just think it’s important that we never forget her and we keep her memory alive and celebrate the beautiful person she was inside and out. She’s a treasure, definitely an Atlanta, Georgia, and American treasure,” Moore said.

Others in the Atlanta area also remember Moore, who has an HBCU scholarship named for her by the Jaguar Foundation. She served as a board member and emcee for the nonprofit and its events. Her former employer also hosted a Jovita Walk with the National Brain Tumor Society to raise awareness of the cancer.

Moore’s memory remains part of the community as it continues to celebrate her life and legacy.

by Sharelle B. McNair

October 7, 2024

The Pause Of Michigan’s Largest Federal Housing Program Leaves Families Out On A Limb

Something needs to be done!

The Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) has frozen its federal housing voucher program, leaving people on the waitlist for close to a year, Detroit Free Press reported.

With the program being on hold, approximately 85,000 people are still on the list for a coveted federal housing choice voucher, also known as Section 8. The voucher helps keep residents’ costs down on rent, close to 30% of a person’s income. The number of people on the waitlist exceeds the population of Farmington Hills. As a result of the pause, 5,000 residents identify as homeless, and MSHDA officials have stopped even adding people to the list.

In the city of Detroit, 3,000 people sit on the list, leaving people wondering why. The reason? Federal funds from Congress allegedly aren’t consistent with the influx of rent as well as the limited resources of affordable housing keeping the rent high. Principal deputy assistant secretary for public and Indian housing for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Richard Monocchio, said the higher cost per voucher puts a “bigger strain on the funding that we receive from Congress.”

However, that is not the excuse voucher receivers want to hear. Khrystena Humber is one of the names on the list, along with her four children. She said she was disappointed to learn of the pause, while living in a shelter, and was hoping the voucher was her way out. She left her previous home after her roof caved in, and the damaged walls and carpet made the home unlivable. Working part-time, Humber is concerned about not being able to pay her rent. “I would hate to have to go back to the shelter,” the Detroit resident said.

“I would hate to be back homeless. I would hate to have to go back to that state of mind that I was in if Section 8 don’t come because I can’t afford to lose my house or just not have a house, period, to be stable for my kids.”

According to Michigan Live, Michigan State Housing Development Authority Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director Amy Hovey released a statement in May 2024 saying that the agency is doing all they can to address the funding shortcomings. “At a time when Michigan is gaining traction in addressing our housing challenges, this reduction in funding will only take us backward and make things worse for our most vulnerable neighbors,” Hovey said.

But officials also claimed those already on the list wouldn’t be affected. “We’re not removing folks from the program. It’s just we’re very limited at this time,” Lisa Kemmis, the Michigan State Housing Development Authority’s director of rental assistance, said at the time.

Federal funding for the 2024 voucher program isn’t enough to match Michigan’s growing housing costs. States like Maine and Oklahoma are experiencing similar issues. For a family in Michigan, the average cost for a housing unit is $780 a month – with the agency receiving $727 – increasing by $60 from 2023’s average monthly unit cost being close to $720.

The state housing authority only received close to $250 million in federal funding in 2024. In 2023, MSHDA received $242.5 million, spending $244.6 million and using approximately $2 million from reserves.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

October 7, 2024

Angel Reese Shuts Down Haters While Supporting Multiple NFL Teams

Reese clarified why she was at both games after Bleacher Report asserted that she was on a "NFL Tour."

Angel Reese can have her home team and enjoy others too. The WNBA rookie shut down haters’ critiques as she showed love to multiple NFL teams while at their games.

Reese was first spotted at her hometown team’s, the Baltimore Ravens, game against the Buffalo Bills on Sept. 29. However, she began to face some backlash for going to see the Chicago Bears play that following NFL Sunday.

Reese clarified why she was at both games after Bleacher Report asserted that she was on a “NFL Tour.” Reese emphasized that she can love her hometown while still supporting her new city. The 6’3″ forward currently plays for the Chicago Sky.

i’m from baltimore but i live in chicago. this ain’t no tour sorry! https://t.co/5nkvkvGNaP
— Angel Reese (@Reese10Angel) October 6, 2024

“I’m from Baltimore but I live in Chicago. This ain’t no tour sorry,” she quoted the post.

Regardless of her loyalties, the Bears were happy to see the “Bayou Barbie” make her appearance on the field to cheer them on.

The Bayou Barbie is in the building 🤩 pic.twitter.com/86qt1PGHvE
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) October 6, 2024

The athlete has also been making her own name in the Chicago sports scene. The rookie has had a record-breaking year, securing new firsts in double-doubles and rebounds on the court.

While the Sky did not make this year’s WNBA playoffs, the young WNBA star is taking advantage of the off-season by enjoying other sports. As both the Bears and the Ravens earned victories with the 22-year-old present, Reese may become a fan favorite to see at the games.

Moreover, the athlete is trying to emerge as a media personality as well. She currently hosts a new podcast, Unapologetically Angel. Most recently, Reese brought NBA legend Dwyane Wade to speak on his professional sports career and the rise of the WNBA.

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Reese has brought out other sports stars, such as A’ja Wilson, to appear on her newest venture. While expanding her enterprises, Reese’s impact on sports and media continues to make new waves.

by Daniel Johnson

October 7, 2024

Historic Georgia School Honored With Plaque Commemorating Legacy Of Segregation-Era Education

The former Lemon Street Elementary School, a school in Marietta, Georgia, educated Black students during America's era of segregation and “separate but equal” education policies.

The former Lemon Street Elementary School, a school in Marietta, Georgia, that educated Black students during America’s era of segregation and “separate but equal” education policy, had a plaque honoring its status as a member of the National Register of Historic Places unveiled on Oct. 5.

According to WSBTV, the school was added to the registry earlier in 2024 in recognition of its work during segregation, recognizing history that education system leaders in Marietta said reflects the city’s history.

As Marietta City Schools Board Member Angela Orange told the outlet, “The history of the Lemon Street School reflects the history of Marietta itself. It’s a story of progress, resilience, and hope. As we welcome back the alumni and families who lived through that history, we’re reminded of just how far we’ve come,” Orange said.

Orange concluded, “This plaque is more than a symbol of the past—it’s a call to action for the future, to ensure every child has the opportunity to learn, to grow, and to succeed.”

According to the Marietta Daily Journal, former students at the school attended a ceremony where a replica of the plaque that will be showcased in front of the school was unveiled.

Over the years, the school, which officially closed its doors in 1971, has seen use for several other functions, including a junior high school, public library, community center, and a storage facility.

Marietta Superintendent Grant Rivera said at the ceremony that in his first five months in the position, numerous offers were made by developers to purchase the school, but he rebuffed them because “This place is special. This place stands today to honor your legacy, to tell your story so it is never forgotten.”

Rivera, along with the members of the Marietta Schools Board and former students at the school, were instrumental in keeping the building where it currently stands.

In 2020, the Marietta City Schools Board of Education voted unanimously to spend $5.3 million to renovate the school so it could again be used for its original purpose as an education facility.

Following the completion of that work, in 2021, the school was re-opened as the Woods-Wilkins Campus and is currently the home of three of Marietta High School’s nontraditional education programs.

According to Lemon Street alumna Fleeca Wilson Taylor, the preservation effort was one way she and the members of the community felt they could honor the lessons taught by the educators who once walked the halls of the school.

“We all came together and focused on one goal, one common goal: preserve this building and the history it represents,” Wilson Taylor told the Marietta Daily Journal. “We did exactly what those teachers…who used to teach in these rooms (taught us).”

‘Kalamazoo Forward Ventures’ To Fund Business And Innovation In Southwest Michigan

by Ida Harris

October 7, 2024

‘Kalamazoo Forward Ventures’ To Fund Business And Innovation In Southwest Michigan

Kalamazoo Has Something To Say To The Tune Of $50M

In Kalamazoo, Michigan, where non-minority-owned employers firms (3367) outnumber minority-owned employer firms (255) by roughly 12 times, according to the United States Census Bureau, seven men have joined forces to be the change they want to see in their community. On Sept. 24, the collective known as Kalamazoo Forward Ventures (KZFV) announced its commitment: a whopping “$50 million capital investment” for underrepresented businesses and founders, across three sectors, that are seeking assistance to startup or scale up their companies.

“We got together, came up with a concept and here we are,” Von H. Washington, Jr. told BLACK ENTERPRISE.

“We are a venture fund that’s focusing on three areas of our community, venture capital, real estate and Main Street; Main Street being those small business owners who are really just trying to put it together and they need access and capital so they can scale.”

The group is comprised of CEOs, educators, and public advocates, who have a wealth of experience and knowledge among them, and includes former Kalamazoo Mayor Bobby Hopewell—and the youngest partner Jamauri Bogan, who is also the first and only Black real estate developer in the ambitious Midwest city.

“We know there’s a few things that’s happening in the housing ecosystem,” Bogan addressed audience members.

“There’s a shortage of housing and when we look at the overall landscape of BIPOC-, Black-, women- owned development companies around the country, there’s less than 1 percent. And so, we have to figure out a way to move the needle to make a difference. That’s why we created a real estate fund to address the housing shortage here in Kalamazoo.”

Hopewell’s upbringing in Kalamazoo and his ventures in business, healthcare, and government policy have aptly prepared him for his role in KZFV, particularly his tenure as the city’s mayor.

“Every opportunity l’ve had, every interaction I’ve been able to have with building relationships and connecting to people in different neighborhoods, different businesses, other governmental leaders within and outside of our city, has grown me to be able to wander into spaces and have conversations differently,” the former mayor told BE.

“I’m also a product of a single mom.”

Hopewell continued: “I have four brothers and sisters that inform my thinking …. I’m also involved in health care [and] have been for most of my career …. whether it’s being a mayor, being an entrepreneur, being a CEO, all of these things drive me to understand that we have to broaden the tent, that we have to bring folks together. It’s about relationships, it’s about standing by somebody, standing behind, somebody, standing in front of them at times. All of that creates the grand tapestry that we’re trying to make in this city and beyond.”

Collectively, the partners have a solid vision and an intentional plan to move western Michigan forward with their newly launched initiative

“The goal is to find opportunities in our community to support our small businesses,” Dwayne Powell Jr. shared. “Whether it be our students, whether it be our neighborhood businesses, whether it be minority- or women—our under-represented entrepreneurs with traditional business.”

Powell added, “Our goal is to get in where we fit in. We want to support the existing organizations that are already supporting our small businesses.”

Kalamazoo Forward Venture is surely a much needed alternative for Black businesses in Kalamazoo to get in the game or perhaps level the playing field. In 2020, as companies and entrepreneurs were feeling the brunt of the global pandemic due to COVID-19, Kalamazoo Micro-Enterprise Grants were given to 100 local businesses. Fifty-eight percent of the grant, which was facilitated by United Way of Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region, was allocated to white-owned businesses, Community Voices, reported. Out of the $500,000 dispersed, under one-third was received by Black businesses. Even more disappointing is African Americans were allegedly left out of grant funding from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) through Southwest Michigan First. Nicole Triplett, who founded Kalamazoo Black Wall Street Facebook group, called out the disparity and took up grievances on her platform through a series of conversations which led United Way to reaccess

“[United Way] turned what was intended to be a loan-only fund into a loan and grant fund and were willing to look at their application process. Black Wall Street Kalamazoo was able to allow Black entrepreneurs the chance to apply as well, and many were awarded,” Triplett told the local outlet.

KZFV emerged after recognizing these types of gaps in funding which fall disproportionately among the underserved demographic in Kalamazoo.

“We’re a for-profit organization but we are going to look at those venture capital opportunities that may have fallen just on the outside that may need a little bit more support,” Eric L. Wimbley told BE.

“We may be taking a little bigger risk depending on the people that are presenting the idea. We do wanna serve our BIPOC community. We do wanna serve our women of color and women in all aspects … people who are just being missed and not given the opportunity.”

KZFV partner Eric B. Cunningham chimed in: “This is going to be relational, not gonna be transactional.”

“Our ability to get [future leaders and entrepreneurs] at a young age is going to create the future that we need, and it’s gonna be moving at the speed of trust and then also the educational component, we have huge educational institutions here that we can really lean into … it’s gonna be a cultural change.”

RELATED CONTENT: Black Men XCEL Summit 2024

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 7, 2024

Black Women In London Push For Emojis That ‘Normalize Our Hair’ And Represent Diverse Hairstyles

A nonprofit in London has launched a campaign aimed at getting emojis with diverse hairstyles.

A group in Hackney, London, advocates for a more diverse range of emojis that better represent the variety of Black hairstyles.

Rise.365, a community support group based in London, is pushing to include hairstyles like afros, braids, and curls among the 3,790 available emojis. The organization launched the campaign in response to increasing concerns from members who had experienced hair discrimination.

“It’s sad and disappointing because it’s just showing how we [Black people] are not really seen in a bright light because you’ve got a blond or ginger girl, and you haven’t got just a simple girl with an afro, braids or anything like that,” Reanna Bryan, 18, told The Guardian.

Bryan reached out to Rise.365 after being told her braided hairstyle was unsuitable for the kitchen at her new culinary job. Recognizing that many others shared similar experiences, Rise.365 launched a campaign advocating for more diverse emojis representing Black hairstyles.

“Black people, and women in particular, tend to have so many different hairstyles, but none of these are represented,” said Amina Gray, a youth mentor and facilitator at Rise.365.

“We need to normalize that our hair –- whether it’s in its natural state or it’s in a protective hairstyle –- is acceptable … is professional.”

Young group members at Rise.365 were tasked with designing emojis that would help address the imbalance and showcase common hairstyles worn by Black people.

“I asked all of our young people to draw something that either reflects them or an emoji they would like to see on the keyboard,” Gray explained.

The group narrowed its designs down to four styles that best represented the diversity of hairstyles in the community: braids, afros, locs, and cornrows. Vanita Brown, a junior designer at Good Relations PR, helped bring the sketches to life.

“Most emojis tend to reflect the majority,” Brown said. “I feel that Black and mixed-race hairstyles weren’t prioritized in the initial designs because the creators didn’t necessarily consider or prioritize the diversity of Black hairstyles.”

Unicode Consortium accepts new emoji proposals, with only a small portion approved for encoding. Rise.365 plans to submit its designs in April 2025.

“The four we have designed are just the start. [The campaign] is a teaching opportunity,” Gray said. “I don’t want people to think we just want emojis because we want to be represented that way. It’s because there’s a much deeper message behind it, about empowering people and helping people realize that their hair is beautiful.”

video, hairstylist, dragged on floor, teen

by Mitti Hicks

October 7, 2024

‘Don’t Touch My Hair’ Exhibit Is A Celebration Of Black Women’s Hair Culture And Strength

Don’t Touch My Hair celebrates Black women and hair culture.

Eight years ago, Ayana Morris was struggling with her identity as a Black woman. She felt insecure and was trying to figure out her career path. During that time, she came up with the idea of “Don’t Touch My Hair.”

“When I was a little girl, I never dreamed about marriage or having kids. I always thought I would have a big career, single with a cat,” she tells Black Enterprise. “My life has been the opposite of that. I’m a married woman with multiple children. I balance being a supportive wife and mom, but [my] career did not grow as I envisioned.”

Morris is a designer, film director, and producer known for her 2022 documentary, “Why Are We Americans,” which explores the life and legacy of poet Amiri Baraka. She says being a wife and mom are her greatest titles. Still, she was searching for the opportunity to be made whole, especially after Newark Moonlight Cinema, the Black-owned drive-in theater she created during the pandemic, closed.

Nearly 10 years after she came up with the idea, Morris’s dream of Don’t Touch My Hair has come to pass. Her immersive mobile experience will debut during the Newark Arts Festival, The Culture Parlor. It’s more than an experience that explores a common request from Black women.

Don’t Touch My Hair celebrates Black women and hair culture. Morris says it’s a space where she hopes guests find their voice and make peace with who they are.

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A post shared by Ayana Morris (@_hollywoodrebel_)

“It’s a rallying cry to galvanize women and to decolonize people to find their strength and celebrate their uniqueness,” says Morris. “The exhibit celebrates our beauty […] grit and tenacity.”

Inspired by her husband, who was building a home out of shipping containers, Don’t Touch My Hair is in a modified shipping container designed with an archway of 3D-printed hands, symbolizing the unsolicited and intrusive act of touching a Black woman’s hair. The experience delivers a powerful statement that urges society to stop policing Black hair.

The multiday cultural activation, Don’t Touch My Hair, runs from Oct. 11 through Oct. 13 and features live performances, spoken word, a DJ, panel discussions with Misa Hylton and Mikki Taylor, a close-out Grit & Glam Brunch, and more.

“In the experience, there is a wonderful hair salon, a gallery with portraits and film that celebrates the evolution of Black hair and its historical reference,” says Morris.

The Don’t Touch My Hair exhibit will be in Harriet Tubman Square in Newark, New Jersey, until Nov. 15th. Then, it will head to Miami Art Week from Dec. 4th through 8th at the Red Dot Art Fair in the Wynwood area of Miami.

Hurricane Helene, death toll, deaths, 90 lives

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

October 7, 2024

Hurricane Helene’s Youngest Victims Revealed As 2 Infant Twins Who Died With Their Mother

The infants, along with their mother, Kobe Williams, were victims as Helene destroyed their trailer home in Thomson, Georgia.

Hurricane Helene has left a deadly path in its wake, with its two youngest victims revealed. Two twin babies died with their mother during the devastating storm.

The infants, along with their mother, Kobe Williams, were victims as Helene destroyed their trailer home in Thomson, Georgia. According to her father, Williams was prepared and willing to seek shelter in the bathroom as the storm worsened, as reported by WLKY.

She had talked to several family members as they checked up on her and her two young sons. Her mother, Mary Jones, also stayed with her at the time to help with the twins.

However, a tree fell on top of Williams and her newborns, Khyzier and Khazmir, in the bed before she had time to find safety. A loud crash into the side of the trailer alerted her mother of the incident. Jones recalled crying out to the destroyed part of the mobile home.

“Kobe, Kobe, answer me, please,” she yelled out to the obstructed side. However, Williams and her young sons had died from the ordeal.

“I’d seen pictures when they were born and pictures every day since, but I hadn’t made it out there yet to meet them,” shared William’s father, Obie Williams, to The Associated Press. “Now I’ll never get to meet my grandsons. It’s devastating.”

The patriarch sent one of his sons to check on the new mother and his grandchildren during the storm. While trying to do so, the man reportedly encountered multiple fallen trees and power lines on his way.

However, Williams and her infant children are not the only victims of the destructive hurricane. Reports determine that Helene took around 200 lives across multiple Southern states, including Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia, and the Carolinas. Another pair of younger Georgians, a 4-year-old boy and a 7-year-old girl, also died from the storm.

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Many suburban and rural places in this region have suffered immensely, as some areas still lack power over a week later. While some Georgians, like the rest of Williams’ family, found refuge in Atlanta and Augusta, other communities continue to slowly recover from the effects of Hurricane Helene.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

October 7, 2024

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ Mother Defends Son In New Statement

She argued that although Combs did harm Cassie, this does not confirm the other allegations of abuse.

Janice Small Combs, the mother of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, released a statement defending her son from all the allegations brought against him this past year.

Her legal representation at the Law Offices of Natlie G. Figgers released the statement publicly on Oct. 6. In the lengthy piece, she urged everyone not to pre-judge her son before any convictions made. Moreover, she encouraged others to listen to Combs’ side before engaging in the “public lynching” of his character.

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A post shared by Figgers Law (@figgerslaw)

“I come to you today as a mother that is devastated and profoundly saddened by the allegations made against my son, Sean Combs. It is heartbreaking to see my son judged not for the truth but for a narrative created out of lies,” she began the letter.

“To bear witness what seems to be like a public lynching of my son before he has had the opportunity to prove his innocence is a pain too unbearable to put into words,” she added. “Like every human being, my son deserves to have this day in court, to finally share his side and to prove his innocence.”

She noted that Combs is not “perfect” and lied about some of the accusations. However, she argued that the court system used his settlement with ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura as an admission of guilt to more crimes.

“He has made mistakes in his past, as we all have,” she wrote. “My son may not have been entirely truthful about certain things, such as denying he has ever gotten violent with an ex-girlfriend when the hotel’s surveillance showed otherwise.”

She continued, “Sometimes, the truth and a lie become so closely intertwined that it becomes terrifying to admit one part of the story, especially when that truth is outside the norm or is too complicated to be believed. This is why I believe my son’s civil legal team opted to settle the ex-girlfriend’s lawsuit instead of contesting it until the end, resulting in a ricochet effect as the federal government used this decision against my son by interpreting it as an admission of guilt.”

She argued that although Combs did harm Cassie, this is not confirmation that the other allegations of abuse.

“Not being entirely straightforward about one issue does not mean my son is guilty of the repulsive allegations and the grave charges leveled against him.”

She emphasized that wrongfully convicted people often do not fit the image of a “good person.” As for Combs, she believes the other accusers are attempting to extort the media mogul for money.

“These lies thrown at him are motivated by those seeking a financial gain, and not justice,” Smalls Combs wrote. “These individuals saw how quickly my son’s civil legal team settled his ex-girlfriend’s lawsuit, so they believe they can receive a quick payday by falsely accusing my son. False allegations of sexual assault thwart true victims of sexual violence from getting the justice they deserve.”

The grandmother of six then explained the emotional toll of the allegations.

“This injustice has been unbearable for our family,” she explained. “The worst part of this ordeal is watching my beloved son be stripped of his dignity, not for what he did, but for what people choose to believe about him.”

To end her plea, she begged readers to think of those wrongfully convicted. Moreover, she emphasized that her son is not a “monster” but a man who has yet to share his side.

“I beg you to think about those who have been wrongfully persecuted, to remember that not everyone who has made mistakes in life deserves to have their entire existence judged by a single action or a few mistakes,” she said.

Police arrested Combs in September on charges of sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and transportation to engage in prostitution. He remains detained in a Brooklyn, New York, jail.