Melania Trump Breaks Away From Husband’s Pro-Life Agenda By Announcing She Is Pro-Choice 
by Sharelle B. McNair

October 4, 2024

Melania Trump Breaks Away From Husband’s Pro-Life Agenda By Announcing She Is Pro-Choice 

Talk about shaking the table...

Former first lady Melania Trump has shaken things up by confirming her support of abortion rights while promoting her upcoming memoir, CNN reports. 

Trump released a video standing her ground on the issue after a take away from her memoir, Melania, prompting readers to believe she is on the opposite side of abortion rights, while her husband, GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump, is pro-life. “Individual freedom is a fundamental principle that I safeguard,” she said in the video, posted to X, formerly Twitter. 

“Without a doubt, there is no room for compromise when it comes to this essential right that all women possess from birth: individual freedom. What does my body, my choice really mean?” 

Her stance on the hot political topic places her at odds with the former president, who has boasted about being proud of overturning Roe v. Wade. The 50-plus year legislation gave federal protections for abortion until June 2022 following the Supreme Court’s controversial ruling. As a result, a number of severe restrictions on the procedure have been planted in mostly GOP-led states such as Texas and Florida. 

Melania Trump has been seemingly absent from the 2024 campaign trail during her husband’s third White House bid. Up until recent weeks, she has kept a low profile outside of releasing videos to promote her memoir, which is scheduled to be released on Oct. 8. 

Social media users don’t seem to be buying her stance on abortion. Many have attacked her for staying silent for so long while her husband and running mate push for a pro-life agenda nationwide. “Mel, Just curious, when your husband ran on overturning Roe and has bragged about doing it for years, why the silence until now?,” @leslie007 wrote. 

Other users were calling her out for being divided from her husband. “You and your husband are so far from a united front. Just leave him already,” @maileonx said. 

Media personalities share similar sentiments. During a segment on ABC’s The View, co-host Sunny Hostin though Trump’s stance is an attempt to destroy her husband’s campaign, according to Mediaite. “I think she hates him. I also think she wants to take him out. She does not want to be the first lady anymore,” Hostin said. 

“She destroyed the Rose Garden. Who hates Christmas? Melania Trump hates Christmas. She doesn’t wanna decorate for Christmas. She doesn’t want to sleep in the same room with him. She can’t tolerate him….I really think this is her way of undercutting his bid for the presidency.” 

Fellow co-host and former Trump aide and now critic, Alyssa Farah Griffin, disagreed, pointing out that if he loses, Trump is facing serious jail time.

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Flatbush, Brooklyn
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 4, 2024

Flatbush Recognized Among 38 Coolest Neighborhoods In the World

The neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York, gets its due.

Flatbush, Brooklyn, is gaining recognition for its lively culture and community, earning a spot on Time Out‘s list of “The 38 Coolest Neighborhoods in the World.”

The global travel and leisure outlet consulted with its worldwide network of local experts to pinpoint the coolest neighborhoods worldwide. Flatbush is one of eight U.S. cities on the list. The Brooklyn community ranked No. 17 among the 38 cities recognized globally.

Flatbush is being hailed as New York’s coolest neighborhood at the moment, thanks to its proximity to Prospect Park—recognized as New York City’s best park—and its diverse array of Black-owned businesses and vibrant culture. Located along Flatbush, Nostrand, Church, and Utica Avenues, Flatbush boasts the largest and most diverse Caribbean-American-Latinx community outside the West Indies, according to Caribbeing.

Many Caribbean immigrants settled in Flatbush, Brooklyn, in the 1960s and 1970s following the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 and New York City offering job opportunities in high-demand sectors such as healthcare, education, and domestic care. Flatbush represented upward mobility for West Indian families who were moving from more crowded and less well-maintained housing in Crown Heights.

Today, the lively neighborhood is dubbed the “Little Caribbean” as it serves as a hub of Caribbean culture, community, shopping, and food. The impact of its artists, business owners, creators, and residents is evident in vibrant locales such as Peppa’s Jerk Chicken, Lips Cafe, and Bodega Lounge, as well as during the annual West Indian Day Parade, which fills Eastern Parkway with dancing every Labor Day weekend.

Flatbush’s spirited tree-lined streets have housed icons like Joey Bada$$, Busta Rhymes, and Barbra Streisand, and continues to attract major talents, particularly to the historic Kings Theatre. Other famous faces either born and raised in Flatbush include Neil Diamond, Norman Mailer, and Talib Kweli.

Time Out has created a one-day itinerary showcasing some of the neighborhood’s best highlights to encourage travelers to include Flatbush in their next NYC visit. The outlet suggests visitors start their day at Allan’s Bakery to avoid the expected crowd eager for its flaky currant rolls.

Next, explore the shops at Flatbush Central, the African Record Centre, and the new Little Caribbean Duty-Free at 1399 Nostrand, all while enjoying fresh sorrel from Hibiscus Brew. For lunch or dinner, be sure to stop by Aunts et Uncles and Peppa’s. End your night with drinks at Bodega Lounge, known for hosting events ranging from wine tastings to mixers, or Miss Barbs, which serves excellent coffee and wine.

Other US cities that made Time Out’s list of the coolest neighborhoods in the world include Kerns in Portland, Oregon, at No. 5; Little River in Miami, which came in at No. 12; and East Hollywood in Los Angeles at No. 26.

Halle Bailey Names St. Lucia And Maldives Her Favorite Travel Destinations
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 4, 2024

Halle Bailey Names St. Lucia And Maldives Her Favorite Travel Destinations

Halle Bailey shares her favorite travel destinations and what places are on her bucket list.

Halle Bailey jet-sets around the world to work and for various appearances, but there are two locations that she loves visiting the most.

The Little Mermaid star’s passion for travel has made her an ideal partner for the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card from Chase in its Bold Chat Court contest, where 10 fortunate travelers will win a total of 5 million Bonvoy points (500,000 points each) to plan their dream vacations.

As part of the partnership, Bailey is opening up about her love for travel.

“I have so many favorite destinations that I’ve traveled to. My top ones would be St. Lucia, of course, and the Maldives,” she told Ebony. “It’s one of my favorite places; it’s like a dream and doesn’t feel real. I definitely want to get back there because I haven’t been in about four years.”

Bailey hasn’t been everywhere and still has “so many” destinations that are on her bucket list.

“I really want to go to Ghana and I want to go to Bali,” she shared. “I hear great things about both. I also want to go to Turks and Caicos. Man, the list can go on and on.”

As a mom to 1-year-old son Halo, traveling has become a new experience when she brings her baby boy along for the journey.

“It’s honestly been way more fun now, traveling with Halo,” she said. “Not only do I get to discover this new place, but I also get to see him see all these things for the first time. It’s the most humbling, beautiful thing in the world, and it makes me just want to travel more and go everywhere.”

Bailey continued. “I feel like I’ve finally gotten the process down pat as far as packing with him now, too. You just have to be super organized. I make checklists; it’s my new favorite thing. I check off when I know each thing is in the bag, so I know it’s there and not going anywhere.”

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by Mitti Hicks

October 4, 2024

Fearing Backlash Over Kamala Harris Presidency, Some Black Women Prepare To Leave America

Founded in 2020 by Roshida Dowe and Stephanie Perry, ExodUS Summit was launched in response to Black women feeling unsafe and exhausted in the United States and wanting to spend significant time abroad.

As the nation prepares for what could be a historic presidential election if Vice President Kamala Harris is elected president, one organization is already helping Black women leave America.

The Black women behind ExodUS Summit say some Black women are preparing for a potential surge in racism, similar to the backlash and fallout from former President Barack Obama’s tenure, and it’s driving their decision to leave America.

ExodUS Summit, with its event ExodUS Summit 2024, is helping Black women make the move by providing tools and strategies for an exit abroad.

Founded in 2020 by Roshida Dowe and Stephanie Perry, ExodUS Summit was launched in response to Black women feeling unsafe and exhausted in the United States and want to spend significant time abroad. Dowe and Perry partner with other experts and organizations to host virtual and live events and workshops to show Black women that they can move abroad.

Since 2020, the ExodUS Summit has helped hundreds of Black women leave the United States for sabbaticals, long-term travel, and even permanent relocation. The co-founders are hosting the fifth annual ExodUS Summit 2024 from October 11 through the 14.

“We’re witnessing a shift. Black women are no longer accepting exhaustion, lack of safety, and the overwhelming stress of a hostile environment as the norm. They are prioritizing joy, peace, and freedom, and ExodUS Summit is a critical part of this movement,” said Stephanie Perry, co-founder of ExodUS Summit.

This year’s speakers will focus on such topics as finances, health care abroad, schooling children overseas, strategies for a successful move, and preparing aging parents for a move abroad.

“We’re incredibly proud to help usher Black women and their families toward a path of liberation through relocation. The connections made during the ExodUS Summit are real and powerful. It’s more than just a virtual event. It’s a sisterhood. By stepping out of struggle, our attendees open themselves to a world of new possibilities,” Perry said.

election, anxiety, focus, voting rights
by Mitti Hicks

October 3, 2024

Voting Rights Groups Challenge GOP Lawsuit To Protect Over 5K Voters In Georgia

The Dekalb County Republican Party's lawsuit is currently pending in state court.

Voting rights advocates in Georgia are asking the state court to dismiss a lawsuit filed by local Republicans that could affect more than 5,000 voters for the upcoming Presidential election.

Lawyers for the Advancement Project, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, the Southern Poverty Law Center, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, and Arnold & Porter filed a motion to intervene in a lawsuit filed by the Dekalb County Republican Party and an activist seeking to force members of the DeKalb County Board of Registration and Elections to hold challenge hearings that could remove more than 5,000 voters from the rolls ahead of the election.   

How The Republicans’ Lawsuit Could Impact Georgia Voters

The Republican’s lawsuit is pending in state court. The lawyers, representing the Georgia State Conference of the NAACP, New Georgia Project, Georgia Coalition for the People’s Agenda, A. Philip Randolph Institute, Common Cause Georgia, and League of Women Voters of Georgia, hope the courts will dismiss the suit with the motion they have filed.

“So far, DeKalb County election officials have applied the law correctly. They have declined to convene challenge hearings and they have rebuffed the petitioners’ allegations that thousands of voters, many of whom are voters of color, are invalidly registered,” a joint press release from the organizations representing the voting rights advocates reads. “If allowed, public challenge hearings could disrupt the administration of the November election and create chaos by causing the removal of voters on the eve of Election Day–-perhaps after early voting has started.”

According to attorneys, the motion to intervene intends to head off any purge proceedings before any voters are removed and the need to bring a National Voting Registration Act action if federal court arises.

“This last-minute attempt to purge more than 5,000 Georgia voters is simply a vehicle to sow chaos to undermine our election process,” said Judith Browne Dianis, executive director of Advancement Project. “Demanding that DeKalb County hold public challenge hearings would give partisan operatives an opportunity to publicly air trumped up charges of illegal voting–-when in fact the petitioners are attempting to suppress the vote in a predominantly Black county.”

RELATED CONTENT: Survey Reveals Five Distinct Political Groups Among Black Voters

Diddy, Lawyer, Federal Raid
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 3, 2024

Hotline Set Up For Diddy’s Alleged Victims Overwhelmed With ‘Unprecedented’ Amount Of Calls

A hotline set up for Diddy's alleged victims has been overwhelmed with calls.

Sean “Diddy” Combs is facing about 120 civil lawsuits in response to a hotline set up for his alleged victims.

Lawyers looking to represent the disgraced hip-hop mogul’s alleged victims set up a sexual assault hotline number that received over 3,000 calls, The Mirror reports. Attorneys were looking to field calls from people who wanted to report any abuse they allegedly suffered at the hands of Combs, one Texas lawyer revealed.

Following Combs’ arrest in New York last month, the hotline received an “unprecedented” amount of calls.

“Never, ever in a 10-day period have we seen over 3,000 people come forward,” Andrew Van Arsdale, co-counsel said during a Tuesday press conference.

Following these calls, Arsdale and Tony Buzbee reportedly prepared 120 civil lawsuits on behalf of victims alleging the Bad Boy founder sexually assaulted them. At the press event, Buzbee announced his role in representing these clients, who accuse Combs of exploitation and sexual abuse.

“This is an important matter that we intend to aggressively pursue,” Buzbee said. “We will leave no stone unturned to find all potentially liable parties, to include any individual or entity who participated in or benefited from this egregious behavior.”

According to the lawyers, the claimants allegedly include 25 minors. The alleged abuses span two decades, involving both male and female victims aged 9 to 38, from the 2000s to the 2010s.

Combs continues to “vehemently” deny all allegations of wrongdoing against him.

“That said, Mr. Combs emphatically and categorically denies as false and defamatory any claim that he sexually abused anyone, including minors,” attorney Erica Wolff said in a statement.

“He looks forward to proving his innocence and vindicating himself in court if and when claims are filed and served, where the truth will be established based on evidence, not speculation.”

Combs has pleaded not guilty in court following his arrest in New York on Sept. 17, denying all misconduct allegations. The arrest came after a grand jury indictment that charged the entertainment mogul with racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation for prostitution. The day after his arrest, Combs was ordered held without bail as he “poses an ongoing and significant danger to the community, has repeatedly engaged in obstructive conduct, and presents a serious risk of flight,” prosecutors said.

The hotline number for his alleged victims is 1-800-200-7474. Additionally, if you are a survivor of sexual assault, you can call the National Sexual Assault Hotline (1-800-656-4673) or visit its website to receive confidential support.

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Oakland artists, Oakland
by Jameelah Mullen

October 3, 2024

More Than 70 Artists To Gather In Oakland To Support Black Women

The inaugural Black Tulip Cultural Week Of Action starts Oct. 3.

Over 75 artists will gather in Oakland from Oct. 3 to 5 to address issues disproportionately affecting Black women.  

The Black Tulip Cultural Week of Action is a three-day event where artists from various mediums will use their talents to advocate for social change for Black women. They will address topics such as domestic violence, sex trafficking, high maternal death rates, and police brutality. 

“It’s really about affirming our lives and also demanding a cultural shift,” said Anyka Howard, founder of Betti Ono Foundation, the organization sponsoring the event, told KQED. “We want to reclaim that public space and usher in an energetic force around not accepting or tolerating these conditions, especially in Oakland, especially in the Bay Area.”

Ono will have a booth at the corner of Telegraph Ave and 23rd Street on Oct. 4 during the First Friday Street Fair. She is partnering with Oakland’s Dream Youth Clinic, which provides free health services and meals to young people, and the SHADE Movement, which assists survivors of sex trafficking and domestic violence.

The event will end with a day of performances and workshops at Lake Merritt. R&B artist and activist Dawn Richard, who recently made headlines for filing a lawsuit against P. Diddy, will headline the event. 

Some of the artists have first-hand experience with gender-based violence. Artist Jada Imani became an anti-violence advocate after her best friend, interdisciplinary artist Zoe Reidy Watts, was killed earlier this year, allegedly by her boyfriend. Not only has she organized a mural in Reidy Watts’ honor, but Imani is also creating a community garden dedicated to her friend. 

The Betti Ono Foundation also aims to rally support for a statewide version of the Protect Black Women and Girls Act. Illinois Congresswoman Robin Kelly introduced the act in the House of Representatives earlier this year. If passed, the bill would create a task force to study disparities that Black women face in education, economic development, healthcare, employment, housing, justice, and civil rights.

Maud Alcorn, Betti Ono’s arts and culture project manager, said that building community, especially in Oakland, is essential to achieving its goals. 

“It’s the most important part of having not just Black women and girls saying, ‘Hey, our lives have value and are worth fighting for, are worth protecting.’ It’s also having our allies show up and say the same thing,” Alcorn said in an interview with KQED.

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Naomi Asaka, Coco Gauff, US open
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 3, 2024

Coco Gauff Assists Naomi Osaka Off The Court After Back Injury Forces Forfeit

'I wish Naomi a speedy recovery.'

A competition couldn’t stop Coco Gauff from helping out an opponent when she had to bow out of a tennis match.

According to People, the young tennis phenom was engaged in a match against Naomi Osaka when her opponent had to retire from the match because of a back injury she suffered. When the game was awarded to Gauff, after sitting on a bench on her side of the court, Gauff was seen hugging and talking to Osaka as they both approached the referee. Instead of heading back to her bench, Gauff offers to help Osaka carry her bag and items into the locker room.

Osaka looked surprised that she offered and accepted as Gauff grabbed one of her bags and proceeded to walk side-by-side with her opponent off the tennis court.

This took place at the China Open on Oct. 1. With the forfeit, Gauff advances to the quarterfinals. The match was heading into the third set when Osaka had to leave due to the injury. Osaka took the first set with a 6–3 score, while Gauff rebounded and won the second 6–4.

Sports Illustrated reported that Gauff addressed the media, wished Osaka a speedy recovery, and admitted that her play wasn’t her “best tennis.”

“I wish Naomi a speedy recovery. Nobody wants to win a match like this, especially at one-set-all. Overall, I tried my best. It wasn’t my best tennis. I don’t know, it was just one of those matches where you’re trying your best each point.”

After the match, Osaka did address her fans via social media after the match and explained what happened on the court.

“Hi, everyone. I just wanted to say I’m extremely thankful and happy to have played in Beijing. That being said I feel like I owe a little backstory about today- So I locked my back up during practice earlier and honestly wasn’t sure if I could even play, but I just wanted to try, unfortunately things just got progressively worse during the match. Totally worth it though lol 😅.”

RELATED CONTENT: Coco Gauff Becomes First U.S. Tennis Player Selected As Flag Bearer For Olympics Opening Ceremony

Gary Payton, Green Label Rx, hemp, Cannabis
by Sharelle B. McNair

October 3, 2024

Georgia’s Hemp Farming Act Is Now In Motion

The law went into effect Oct. 1.

Georgia state officials, including Gov. Brian Kemp, Commissioner Tyler Harper, and Colonel Billy Hitchens, announced the implementation of the Hemp Farming Act, Fox 5 Atlanta reports. 

Under the law, residents under the age of 21 are banned from purchasing or being in possession of consumable hemp products. The law’s implementation marks new public safety restrictions on consumable hemp products in the state.

The act is designed to protect consumers, specifically minors, as there is a vast increase in the growth of the hemp industry. 

Hemp retailers, wholesalers, and manufacturers are now required to get a Georgia license to operate in the Peachtree state. Both Kemp and Harper praised the act, stating it guarantees the safety of residents, with a focus on children, by regulating hemp products with potentially dangerous hazards.

“Knowing these dangers, I want consumers to be aware of these new laws and know that all law enforcement officers in the State will be enforcing them starting October 1,” Kemp said, according to Atlanta News First.

In addition, Harper said the law, which is a response to the 2018 Farm Bill that allowed Congress to legalize hemp production, will be a focus of the Georgia Department of Agriculture and law enforcement agencies. 

By definition, hemp is a cannabis plant that holds naturally small amounts of the delta-9 strain of THC, a psychoactive cannabinoid. In recent years, consumable hemp products such as oils, gummies, and beverages have been sold throughout Georgia and other states. The move is part of a bigger effort to give broader oversight to a business that healthcare industry leaders claim previously lacked stricter regulations.

“The consequence of that is the public health aspects were often given a backseat, and we’re now playing catch up for that,” Dr. Steven Teutsch, chair of the National Academies Committee, said. 

The use of regular cannabis has skyrocketed in the past 30 years, going from less than one million people reporting almost daily usage in 1992 to more than 17 million in 2022. The increase is a result of weed being more accessible because of its legal status. Approximately two-thirds of people 12 and older labeled it “fairly easy” or “very easy” to get their hands on. 

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration classified cannabis as a Schedule I substance, meaning the government considers it to be a drug with high abuse potential.

RELATED CONTENT: Meet The Black Founders Looking To Disrupt New Jersey’s Cannabis Market

David steward
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 3, 2024

Richest Black Man In America Worth $11.4B

David Steward's $11.4 billion net worth earned him a spot on the Forbes 400.

David Steward has the highest ranking for a Black person on the 2024 Forbes 400 list.

Tied in 84th place with a net worth of $11.4 billion, Steward secured his placement as the founder and chairman of IT provider World Wide Technology. He co-founded the company in 1990 and now holds a majority stake in the $20 billion enterprise, which counts Citi, Verizon, and the federal government among its clients.

Steward, 73, comes from humble beginnings in the segregated South. He grew up with seven siblings and a father who worked as a mechanic, janitor, and trash collector. After earning his degree from Central Missouri University, he worked in sales for Missouri Pacific Railroad, Union Pacific, and FedEx before co-founding World Wide Technology. It was still a struggle before finding financial success, as Steward can recall watching his car get repossessed from the office parking lot.

His philanthropic efforts include contributing $1.3 million to the University of Missouri-St. Louis in 2018 to establish the David and Thelma Steward Institute for Jazz Studies. Stewards’ rags to riches story instilled a strong belief in the accessibility of the American Dream.

“The breadth and depth of opportunities we have here, coupled with a culture that allows you to be all you can be, makes it possible for anyone to be successful,” Steward said, as cited by the Horatio Alger Association. “We have a competitive edge over other countries, and it is important for us to preserve that. It’s great that my story is only one of millions in America. I feel blessed to live in this great country.”

Steward is engaged with various organizations dedicated to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion for historically underrepresented communities, including the National Urban League, the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, Boy Scouts of America, Boys Hope Girls Hope, BEYA, NPower, the National Minority Supplier Development Council, and the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation.

His family is avid supporters of the family of the late Wendell Scott, the first African American driver in NASCAR and the first to win a race in what is now the Cup Series. Their advocacy played a crucial role in prompting NASCAR to acknowledge Scott’s historic achievement officially, culminating in presenting a long-overdue trophy to Scott’s children and grandchildren in 2021—almost 58 years after the race and 31 years after Scott’s passing.

Along with Steward, other Black billionaires who earned a spot on the Forbes 400 include Robert F. Smith, who came in at the 88th spot.

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