8 out of 10 of the COVID cases in DC are among people of color.
Posted by
Posted on
Washington, D.C. (Tuesday, May 25, 2021) – African Americans in DC account for 45 percent of the overall population. But when it comes to coronavirus infections, Black people in the District of Columbia make up more than 80 percent of the cases.
The reality of those statistics has one health official wondering if COVID-19 is becoming a disease that only impacts people of color. “I am terrified that this thing could become a Black and Brown disease and that it will stay in our community for a long, long time,” said Dr. Reed Tuckson, co-founder of the Black Coalition Against COVID-19. Tuckson made that comment Tuesday during a Zoom meeting with the Anacostia Coordinating Council. A disproportionate number of infections and deaths in DC has been reported East of the Anacostia River in Wards 7 and 8.
While the number of COVID cases in DC has dropped steadily since January, Mayor Muriel Bowser says the percentage of people of color who are getting COVID has gone up.
Like many jurisdictions around the country, the District has been sounding the alarm trying to convince hesitant residents to get vaccinated. But the number of vaccinations among African Americans and Hispanics remains woefully low. The District estimates that less than 20% of Black residents are fully vaccinated. “If we don’t get our vaccination rates up, we’re going to be in a tough situation,” added Tuckson.
Nearly a dozen members of George Floyd’s family and legal team met today with President Biden and Vice President Harris at The White House. Today was supposed to be the day the George Floyd Justice In Policing Act was signed into law. It did not happen but Capitol Hill politics keep it stalled in the senate. The symbolism of today’s Oval Office meeting was not lost on the family. But what about beyond the beltway and across the country? What have we learned one year after George Floyd’s life was ended beneath the knee of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin? Has Floyd’s death changed america or has it only revealed and refocused a difficult divide that we always knew was there? Tonight we take a look at how far we have and have not come in one year.
Senate Narrowly Confirms Controversial Justice Department Pick
(Washington, DC) — Veteran civil rights attorney Kristen Clarke is headed to the Justice Department as assistant attorney general. She encountered stiff Republican opposition and was narrowly confirmed by the Senate on a vote of 51-48. Maine Republican Susan Collins voted yes. Clarke is the first woman and the first woman of color to head the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called Clarke “hugely accomplished.” Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell accused Clarke of being on the “far-left fringe of the political spectrum.”
Kristen Clarke
Clarke is a former Executive Director of The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.
(Washington, DC) — Members of George Floyd’s family are thanking President Biden and Vice President Harris for meeting with them in the Oval Office. The private meeting marked the one year anniversary of Floyd’s death. George Floyd was an unarmed Black man who died while in police custody in Minneapolis. Speaking outside the White House, family attorney Ben Crump said the President expressed an interest in signing a sweeping police reform bill as soon as possible. George Floyd’s nephew Brandon Williams said the President wants it to be the “right bill.”
George Floyd’s brother Philonise said federal laws should protect people of color. His brother Rodney noted the President expressed great concern for the family. George Floyd’s death sparked nationwide protests and calls for police reforms. A reform bill that’s being negotiated in the Senate is named for George Floyd. Crump said he hopes the end result is a meaningful and bipartisan bill.
Michael Jackson’s family is threatening to sue BBC journalist Martin Bashir over the 2003 documentary interview he did with the King of Pop.
According to Jackson’s nephew Taj, Bashir “stabbed him in the back” during the “Living with Michael Jackson” interview and also used a letter from Princess Diana to land the interview with the star.
It was that documentary where Michael Jackson admitted sleeping in the same bed with underage boys and denied any sexual contact.
Over the past few weeks, the journalist has been under fire for how he got the interview with Princess Diana before her death.
Do you remember that Michael Jackson documentary?
Don’t look now, but HBO has just renewed A Black Lady Sketch Show for the third season.
“I’m honored to continue our incredible series and partnership with HBO, Issa Rae, and JAX Media,” said series creator Robin Thede.
Over its two-year span on television, the series has received three Emmy Awards and Thede promises to push the envelope even further during season three.
Season 2 of A Black Lady Sketch Show comes to an end this Friday.
Have you watched A Black Lady Sketch Show?
If you’ve ever wanted to own a piece of land on the moon, now is your chance.
To celebrate the Lunar Eclipse this Wednesday, the folks over at bagel Bites have come up with a cool contest for those that want to snag a deed for land on the moon.
This Wednesday, all you have to do is send out a tweet with the hashtag #bbsweepstakes to enter. Oh, and make sure you’re enjoying Bagel Bites too.
One hundred fans will be picked to receive a moon deed.
Do you think we’ll be able to vacation on the moon soon? Will you vacation in outer space?
The folks over at Apple have released iOS 14.6 to all iPhone users.
This new iOS update gives users an update to Apple Card to where up to five people can share an Apple Card with up to five people with Apple Card Family.
Other updates include some tweaks to AirTag technology and now you have subscription support on the Podcast app.
Do you update the new software immediately or do you wait a while?
Looks like Kim Kardashian is going to have to pause her legal career in order to handle a legal issue of her own.
Kim is being sued by her maintenance and cleaning crew for allegedly failing to pay wages, provide meal breaks, and cover any expenses.
Now Kim is claiming that she’s the wrong one to be sued and it should be the third-party vendor she hired that should be sued.
The workers say otherwise and that they were told they would be hired as full-time employees but failed to get any benefits.
Because of this, the workers are looking to get damages and other penalties.
Have you ever had anything like this happen to you?
50 Cent celebrated a bittersweet moment when Pop Smoke’s mother took the stage to accept his Billboard Music Awards on Sunday evening (May 23rd.)
“Pop said he wanted to take his mom to an award show,” he wrote. “mission accomplished!” 50 served as executive producer for Pop’s debut album, Shoot for the Stars Aim for the Moon.
Pop’s mother, Audrey Jackson, thanked fans for honoring her son’s life and explained that his album was for young kids who make a way out of no way.
Pop won five posthumous Billboard Music Awards for Top New Artist, Top Rap Artist, Top Male Rap Artist, Top Billboard 200 Album, and Top Rap Album.
What is your favorite song from Pop Smoke’s Shoot for the Stars Aim for the Moon album?
Marlon Wayans sat down with Kevin Hart on his “Comedy Gold Minds” podcast and revealed that the Wayans brothers’ “Scary Movie” franchise was stripped from them.
“Scary Movie” 1 and 2 starred Marlon and Shawn Wayans and was directed by their brother, Keenan Wayans. By the third and fourth installment of the franchise, the Wayans were no longer a part of the films.
“We didn’t walk away from a franchise, they didn’t want to make our deal and they snatched it,” Marlon explained. “[Harvey] Weinstein did some really terrible, like rape and pillage villages type of business,” he elaborated. “…it wasn’t that we, we ever walked away from the franchise that we created, it was taken and us being the creatives that we are was like ‘alright, bet. F–k you, now watch what I create.’
Both Wayans-assisted “Scary Movie” installments made Miramax (Weinstein’s company) money, however according to Marlon negotiations soured with the Weinstein brothers, “The second one they rushed us into and by the third one they didn’t want to pay the money so they snatched it. We found out on Christmas that they hired somebody else to go do it.”
Did someone steal your work and not pay you? Share your story.
If you’re wondering, “What else can be done with fast food chicken sandwiches?,” Popeye’s has your answer.
Popeye’s has launched its new Blackened Chicken Sandwiches at participating restaurants.
The sandwich features a non-battered or breaded chicken filet fried in black seasoning.
The Blackened Chicken Sandwich is served as either a Classic option or a Spicy option.
Would you try this new chicken sandwich from Popeye’s? Are you still into all of these chicken sandwich releases from fast food chains?
Are you looking to do business with the District and need to learn what it takes to secure a government contract? The Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia is hosting a series of webinars to help you get in the know. My guest this morning is Willie Phillips – Chair of the DC Public Service Commission
The Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia is hosting a webinar series on May 26th, and June 2nd for persons to find out about for contract opportunities with the Commission for certified business enterprises. For more information go here:
Tune in to Taking it to the Streets, weekday mornings at 6:15, 7:08 and 8:40 on the Steve Harvey Morning Show on 96.3 WHUR.
Follow me on facebook and twitter at @bobbygailes for updates and to stay connected.
Dr. Anthony Fauci said a mental health crisis will be the next pandemic, sparked by a myriad of issues coming out the COVID-19 shutdown. Have you done a mental wellness check on your loved ones and friends? What about doing one on yourself? This is National Mental Health Awareness Month. We’re trying to open up the conversation about mental health for those who struggle with talking about it.
(Washington, DC) — Lawmakers are looking at voter ID laws across the U.S. North Carolina Democrat G.K. Butterfield opened a virtual House hearing and said some voter ID laws are restrictive and “disproportionately burden minority voters.” He argued such laws diminish election turnout among minorities. Butterfield said states should be making it easier for all to vote. Wisconsin Republican Bryan Steil [[ steel ]] called Butterfield’s arguments a “false narrative.” He said voter ID helps ensure free, fair and secure elections. Steil stressed that voter ID makes it “easier to vote and hard to cheat.” He said voters must have confidence in election results.
Contributed by Scott Lipscomb
Not everyone is “Loving it” as the famous McDonald’s jingle goes.
Business mogul and former comedian Byron Allen is suing McDonalds for $10 billion for racial discrimination.
The claim is that McDonald’s does not use the same portion of its advertising budget on black media companies as it does non-black companies. Black media companies only receive 5 million out of the 1.6 billion budget for advertising even though the main consumers are black people.
“This is about economic inclusion of African American-owned businesses in the U.S. economy,” Allen wrote in an open letter, which was signed by several Black media executives, including Earl “Butch” Graves, Jr., the president and CEO of BLACK ENTERPRISE. “McDonald’s takes billions from African American consumers and gives almost nothing back. The biggest trade deficit in America is the trade deficit between White corporate America and Black America, and McDonald’s is guilty of perpetuating this disparity. The economic exclusion must stop immediately.” reported Black Enterprise via their website.
“We are not surprised that both Black employees/executives as well as the Black franchisees are suing McDonald’s for racial discrimination and unfair treatment. And now you are being sued for $10 billion by Black-owned media. Why?? Because we all firmly believe the culture at McDonald’s is racist and very toxic,” the letter continues.
(Washington, DC) — President Biden is advising vulnerable regions to get ready for hurricane season, which officially starts on June 1st. Visiting FEMA headquarters in DC, Biden also warned about expected wildfires in the West. He said he’s insisting on “readiness for all these challenges.” Biden vowed to spare no expense in getting prepared. He praised the men and women of FEMA and said they have incredibly difficult jobs. Biden noted that extreme weather events and natural disasters don’t care about red states or blue states.
The Biden administration is designating one-billion dollars for states, targeted communities and Tribal governments to help prepare for extreme weather events. A White House statement says administration is also unveiling development of “next generation climate data systems at NASA to help understand and track how climate change is impacting communities.” The statement notes that the U.S. experienced a record year of extreme weather events in 2020.
R&B star Jeremih is back, this time as an actor on the new installment of power “Power Book IV: Force.”
This is a positive move for the singer as he had a scary run-in with COVID-19 in 2020.
“I had a tube down my throat for about a week and a half. I was really like, in a dream and I ain’t gonna lie, I woke up about two times and all I remember is just seeing a white light,” he said.
Jeremih, who had to relearn to walk, is now doing much better.
He continued, “What I ended up having and I don’t mind sharing it because now, you know, I’m here- it was called an [multisystem] inflammatory syndrome,MIS. Which is a rare case of, you know, the cause and effect of COVID-19. My whole insides, all my organs, became inflamed. It was going down.” reported Hot 97.
The new series will focus on character Tommy Egan as he leaves NY to start a life on the west coast.
Contributed By Scott Lipscomb
Death isn’t easy for anyone, and healing can be a hard and long process. For Prince Harry, whose mother tragically passed when he was 12, that process has been anything but easy.
Prince Harry and Oprah have a new docu series coming out to help remove stigmas around mental health. The last time he was with Oprah in March him and his wife, Meghan, revealed racism within the royal family and how he felt neglected. In the most recent episode he explained how the constant media pressure almost led his wife to self harm.
“The clicking of cameras and the flash of cameras makes my blood boil. It makes me angry. It takes me back to what happened to my mum, what I experienced as a kid,” he tells Winfrey in the documentary.
“I was so angry with what happened to her, and the fact that there was no justice at all … The same people that chased her through that tunnel photographed her dying on the back seat of that car.”
In the five-part documentary series, Harry is seen undergoing a form of therapy known as EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) to treat unresolved anxiety stemming from his anger at the media and the death of his mother, reported NBC News.
Harry also notes how he turned to drugs and alcohol not for personal enjoyment but rather to suppress his feelings of sadness and anger.
“I was willing to drink, I was willing to take drugs, I was willing to try and do the things that made me feel less like I was feeling,” he said. “Not because I was enjoying it but because I was trying to mask something,” he added.
Harry for the last four years has seen a therapist which he hopes will help him find peace and less anger.
Contributed by Scott Lipscomb
Pop star Lady Gaga expressed that she was taken advantage of and raped when she was 19 by a former producer.
On the pilot for the new docuseries by Prince Harry and Oprah Winfrey, Lady Gaga revealed that a producer asked her to take her clothes off at the early stage of her entertainment career.
“And they didn’t stop. They didn’t stop asking me, and then I just froze. I don’t even remember,” she said. “And I will not say his name. I understand this Me Too movement. I understand that some people feel really comfortable with this, and I do not. I do not ever want to face that person again.”
Not only was she raped, but the singer also became pregnant. She experienced immense pain as well as thoughts of self harm and guilt.
“First, I felt full-on pain. Then I went numb,” she said. “And then I was sick for weeks and weeks and weeks and weeks after, and I realized that it was this same pain that I felt when the person who raped me dropped me off pregnant on the corner, my parents’ house, because I was vomiting and sick because I’d been … abused. I was locked away in a studio for months.”
The slow healing process has been long for her and not always linear, the LA times reported that “Gaga said her healing process has seen a “slow rise” over the years. “And even if I have six brilliant months, all it takes is getting triggered once to feel bad. … thinking about dying, wondering if I’m ever going to do it.”
Gaga hopes her sharing her story can stop girls in similar situations from inflicting self harm on themselves.
50 Cent once said “Hate It or Love It I’m On Top,” and one thing he is on top of is giving back!
The rapper, business mogul, and philanthropist recently moved to Houston and has helped the community since his arrival. He recently donated 300k with his G-Unity Foundation to Houston’s Independent School District(ISD).
“These programs will really get people excited to learn again after everything that’s been going on,” the rapper said in a press conference alluding to the tough year many have experienced due to COVID-19.
The program not only focuses on making learning exciting, but also helping shape future entrepreneurs with exclusive access to 50 Cent’s G Unity Business Lab.
The rapper played Santa this past holiday season and donated thousands of dollars in toys for the children. One thing is for sure, he loves helping the next generation have the best possible chance at success.
COVID-19 has slowed a lot of things down and shifted the focus of many companies to help aid in relief efforts as well as vaccinations. After a year of hardships, fans can find something to smile about with the 2021 Bet Awards premiering June 27th from Los Angeles, California.
Vaccinated fans will be able to register for a chance to be a part of the live audience!
“Since the beginning of the pandemic, BET has been at the forefront of recovery efforts for our community, turning entertainment touchpoints into opportunities to empower our audiences and help combat the disproportionate impacts of COVID-19,” said BET President Scott Mills in a statement on their website.
Last year powerful performances by Jenifer Hudson, DaBaby and Roddy Ricch, YG and others focused on Police Brutality and the Black Lives Matter Movement. With progress being made we can expect to see more celebrities use their platforms to help spread awareness on social issues.
While the nominees are set to be released this month, we can expect to see some of our favorite artists.
Let us know who we think is due for a BET award on June 27th.
Empowering those hit by life’s many circumstances. Distant Relatives Project is on the frontlines of tackling critical issues impacting our community’s under-served. My guest is Jason Akyea – Director of Programs for Distant Relatives
Distant Relatives Project is a 501c3 non-profit organization with a commitment to developing underserved communities. Every last Saturday of the month they host “Feeding Our Relatives,” a program that address the homeless pillar. For more information go here:
Tune in to Taking it to the Streets, weekday mornings at 6:15, 7:08 and 8:40 on the Steve Harvey Morning Show on 96.3 WHUR.
Follow me on facebook and twitter at @bobbygailes for updates and to stay connected.
WHUR’ s Community’s Choice features weekly non-profit events. To get your event on-line and on-air, email Renee Nash at rnash@whur.com.
Posted by
Posted on
Rental Assistance
If you are a resident of Prince George’s County and have experienced loss of income due to COVID, HOPE may be able to help with rental assistance. www.hopefinancial.com
Alpha Phi Alpha Health Fair
Calling all men. Time to get healthy, wealthy, and wise. Join the brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity for their 2021 Men’s Health Forum June 12th. www.pui1906.org
Destination Achievers
Are you in need of job skills and mentoring or are you at risk of unemployment. Destination Achievers Inc. may be able to help. www.destinationachievers.org
Oral Health Workshop
June is Oral Health Month. Join Glory World International Ministry June 26th for a free oral education and awareness workshop at Longfields Elementary School in Forestville. It’s free for parents and children. www.gwimsolutions.com
AARP Foundation Experience Corps
Are you looking for ways to help area youth succeed? The AARP Foundation Experience Corps is in need of volunteers. www.aarp.org/ecwashingtondc
Housing Counseling Services
Housing Counseling Services provides free webinars every month to help tenants, homebuyers, and homeowners. Registration is required. www.housingetc.org
WHUR Community’s Choice
To get your non-profit on the air and web, email Renee Nash @ rnash@whur.com at least three weeks prior to your event.
It Takes Two
Are you a single parent with a child in grades 4th thru college. It Takes Two Inc. is accepting applications for its Tools for Success Scholarship to provide school supplies for Maryland youth. www.ittakestwoinc.org
College graduations are well underway. We’re glad to see them come back. What we’re not so happy to talk about is the college debt that will follow so many newly-minted degree-holders for years to come. And that’s just the beginning. Other factors can contribute to the piling on of debt long after college is in the rear-view mirror. How do you manage the college debt and other financial burdens weighing us down?
(Geneva) — The World Health Organization is issuing a warning that the number of coronavirus deaths around the world could be way higher than what has officially been reported. The WHO says deaths could be two to three times higher, which means six to eight million people may have now died from the virus or related causes. They also noted that COVID may have killed at least three million people last year. That includes as many as one-and-a-half million people in the Americas. Johns Hopkins University says there have been more than 33-million coronavirus infections in the U.S. The death toll stands at nearly 589-thousand.
(Kenosha, WI) — A man charged with killing two people last year during police brutality protests will go on trial later this year. Kyle Rittenhouse, who was 17 at the time of the shootings but has since turned 18, made his first in-person court appearance today and he’ll go on trial November 1st. Rittenhouse is accused of committing the crimes just after the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha. Rittenhouse also allegedly wounded one other person. He’s been out of jail on a two-million-dollar bail.
My friend was diagnosed with cancer. He decided to “live his best” life for his remaining five years. That inspired some of the lyrics to the song, “Smile.”
Posted by
Posted on
Lil Duval’s first comedy special is out now, and he’s bustling with excitement about it. He believes that God is working through him, in many ways. I believe he’s right. When talking with him, you quickly learn that he’s not a man of empty words. Lil Duval is walking the walk.
Did you know the song, “Smile” was inspired by one of his friends, who was diagnosed with terminal cancer? The friend didn’t get depressed about his fate. Instead, he decided to live his best life for as long as he had left on this earth. Duval, along with a few other friends helped him do just that. That was, in part, how Duval wrote the lyrics to the song , “Smile” featuring Snoop Dogg, Ball Greezy & Midnight Star. The song has over 47 million views to this day.
Be sure to catch Lil Duval’s new comedy special “Living My Best Life,” now streaming. He’s also starring in the sequel to “The Blacks” in June, alongside comedians Katt Williams and Mike Epps.
The 20th Anniversary of Bike to Work Day is tomorrow Motorists are encouraged to leave the car home and hop on the bike to get to work.
Posted by
Posted on
Washington, D.C. (May 20, 2021) – Thousands of commuters in the DMV are encouraged to ditch their vehicles, Metro, and ride share Friday and take part in the Annual Bike to Work Day (BTWD). It’s an effort to encourage a fun and safe way to boost physical and mental health.
This year marks the 20th Anniversary of BTWD. Many of this year’s BTWD participants are telecommuters who plan on biking to a local pit stop to pick up their free t-shirt before heading back home to start the workday. The first 15,000 registrants who attend will receive the Bike to Work Day 2021 commemorative shirt.
Co-organized by Commuter Connections and the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA), BTWD 2021 will feature 95 pit stops. Safety measures in compliance with CDC guidelines will be in effect at all pit stop locations to ensure participants and volunteers remain safe. Precautions include:
Zero-tolerance mask enforcement.
Pre-selected check-in times for staggered arrival times, with 25-30 bicyclists per 30-minute timeslot.
Physical distancing requirements, including six-foot distancing, one-way traffic flow, hand sanitizer stations, and appropriate signage.
“Events like Bike to Work Day go a long way in bringing together our local communities and promoting a healthy and fun commuting alternative while doing so,” said Nicholas Ramfos, Director of Commuter Connections, a program of the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board at the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.
Every year, BTWD brings out a wide range of commuters. Most recently, the 2019 event saw:
93 percent of BTWD riders use personal bikes.
23 percent of participants were first-time BTWD cyclists.
BTWD participants travel an average of 8.4 miles one-way to work.
BTWD promotes bicycling as a healthy commuting option that lowers commuting costs, reduces vehicle wear and tear, lessens traffic congestion, encourages healthier lifestyles, and improves air quality. The event, which comes during May’s Mental Health Awareness Month, also celebrates the powerful effect exercise has on physical and mental health.
“Especially this year, Bike to Work Day presents a chance to remind ourselves just how big a role exercise plays in maintaining physical and mental health,” Ramfos added. “I’m excited to see our participants have the opportunity to get outside, enjoy the nice weather, and hop on their bicycles for an uplifting morning ride.”
This year’s event has been made possible by the generosity of several regional sponsors, including: Gold sponsors ICF, Go Alex, and UrbanStems; Silver sponsors Marriott International, BikeArlington, BicycleSPACE, and Verra.
For commuters and teleworkers who haven’t signed up—it’s not too late. It’s fast, free, and easy to register for BTWD online or by calling (800) 745-RIDE. Join the conversation on social media at #BTWD2021.
Although Bike to Work Day happens only once a year, Commuter Connections offers a wide range of services and resources year-round for all commuters.
As the pandemic grew in size and scope last year… so did the financial strain on Americans. The lost of jobs and income pressed so many on all sides. But governments eventually stepped in with resources like a moratorium on rental evictions. Utilities and other services gave people breathing room with the elimination of late fees and fines. Those resources are starting to go away. A lot of people aren’t recovering as fast. So what do you do when you still need the support that’s going away?
Kelly Caplan, Customer Engagement & Advocacy Division Manager, WSSCAleata Dawkins, Director of Program Services, The Salvation Army, National Capital Area
(Annapolis, MD) — Maryland Governor Larry Hogan putting up two-million-dollars for a COVID-19 vaccine lottery. The Maryland Lottery and the state health department are partnering to give vaccinated residents a chance to win a 40-thousand-dollar prize. The random selections will take place daily from May 25th to July 3rd. Hogan said a final drawing will be held on July 4th, when a Marylander could be awarded 400-thousand-dollars.
(Washington, DC) — A bill significantly boosting Capitol security is moving to the Senate after passage by the House. The vote was 213-212. The measure is a response to the January 6th attack on the Capitol. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the funding is “urgently needed now” and should not be controversial. She stressed that the attack brought “trauma and terror” to the Capitol. Republicans opposed the nearly two-billion-dollar Democratic bill, calling it an effort to militarize the Capitol.
Texas Republican Kay Granger acknowledged security breaches that were exposed on January 6th, but said the Capitol must remain open and accessible. Connecticut Democrat Rosa DeLauro called the Capitol attack an assault on America’s democracy. She said an angry mob attacked police officers and ransacked the building. Texas Republican Lance Gooden said Democrats aim to build a permanent wall around the Capitol while ignoring the unfinished wall along the southern border. He argued the measure would “further separate the American people from their elected representatives.” The bill faces an uncertain fate in the tightly-divided Senate.
Welcome to the sweet life! There isn’t much Issa Rae can’t do when it comes to acting and producing. This summer Rae and HBO Max are giving us a glimpse on the life of some young adults in South Los Angeles.
Per the logline, Sweet Life: Los Angeles gives an honest and unique look into what it means to be young, Black, and in constant pursuit of one’s dreams in the heart of South Los Angeles. The series follows a group of young, strong-willed, ambitious Black friends showcasing their relatable, authentic and sometimes stumbling mid-20s moments as they embrace the joy and struggles of love and family, while building their careers as tastemakers and influencers in the city where they grew up.
This series will be a positive spin on how some black residents try to map out their life and career paths. The show comes as a part of her deal with Hoorae media label at WarnerMedia.
“We are thrilled to partner with Issa Rae on this fun, dynamic series about a real group of friends and their unique, yet intertwined experiences in South Los Angeles, which has a one-of-a-kind culture that deserves a spotlight all its own,” said Jennifer O’Connell, executive vice president, Non-Fiction and Live-Action Family, HBO Max said Deadline.
Issa Rae’s hit show “Insecure” is set to return for it’s fifth and final season.
By JAKE COYLE AP Film Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — Paul Mooney, a boundary-pushing comedian who was Richard Pryor’s longtime writing partner and whose bold, incisive musings on racism and American life made him a revered figure in stand-up, has died. He was 79. Cassandra Williams, Mooney’s publicist, says he died Wednesday morning at his home in Oakland, California, from a heart attack. Mooney’s friendship and collaboration with Pryor began in 1968 and lasted until Pryor’s death in 2005. Together, they confronted racism perhaps more directly than it ever had been before onstage. Mooney wasn’t as widely known as Pryor, but his influence on comedy was ubiquitous. As head writer on “In Living Color,” Mooney helped create the Homey D. Clown character. He played the future-foretelling Negrodamus on “Chappelle’s Show.”
Providing education and resources to businesswomen in Prince George’s County. My guest this morning is part of an organization doing just that. “Women of Prince George’s” is hosting its 11th Annual Conference tomorrow and I have the details so you can join in. My guest is Stephanie Bolton James – Founder of Women of Prince George’s
The Women of Prince George’s, the premier resource for entrepreneurs and businesswomen in Greater Prince George’s County is hosting its 11th Annual Women’s Conference Friday May 21st from 9am to 2pm. For more information go here:
Tune in to Taking it to the Streets, weekday mornings at 6:15, 7:08 and 8:40 on the Steve Harvey Morning Show on 96.3 WHUR.
Follow me on facebook and twitter at @bobbygailes for updates and to stay connected.
500 Pfizer vaccine shots will be administered Saturday from 9am to 2pm at Howard University in partnership with the DC Department of Health. Registration required. bit.ly/CARICOMHU
Posted by
Posted on
Washington, D.C. (Thursday, May 19, 2021) – 96.3 WHUR, Howard University, and the DC Department of Health are teaming up with the CARICOM Caucus of Ambassadors to host the DMV Caribbean Community Vaccination Day Saturday, May 22 from 9 am – 2 pm ET.
The event will be held at Howard University’s Numa Adams Building at 508 W Street, NW. This vaccine event can accommodate 500 participants, 12 years old. The Pfizer vaccine will be administered. Registration is required although limited walk-ups will be accepted. Register at bit.ly/CARICOMHU
107-year-old Tulsa Oklahoma massacre survivor says she has never seen justice, but is hoping she will before she dies.
Posted by
Posted on
Washington, D.C. – (Wednesday, May 19, 2021) – It was 100 years ago this month that a white mob came to Greenwood Avenue in Tulsa, Oklahoma and disseminated the Black community there, known as “Black Wall Street.” Hundreds of Black people were killed, scores of homes and businesses were torched, and thousands were left homeless.
A century later survivors of that massacre are still seeking justice. 107-year-old Viola Fletcher was just 7-years-old at the time. Today, she recalled the horror, telling Capitol Hill lawmakers about the violence, fires, and screams. “I will never forget the violence of the white mob when we left our home. I still see Black men being shot, Black bodies lying in the street. I still smell smoke and see fire.”
Fletcher told a House Judiciary Subcommittee Wednesday that at 107-years-old she still has not seen justice. But she prays someday that she will. Fletcher, along with her 100-year-old brother Hughes Vann Ellis and another survivor 106-year-old Lessie Benningfield Randle, appeared before the subcommittee to push for reparations for what is believed to be the single worst incident of racial violence in American history.
The three are plaintiffs in a reparations lawsuit filed last year, arguing that the state of Oklahoma and the city of Tulsa are responsible for what happened during that two day massacre on May 31st and June 1st 1921.
“Please do not let me leave this earth without justice, like all the other massacre survivors,” said Vann Ellis as he concluded his testimony.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — A woman heard shouting at police to “Bring Nancy Pelosi out” to be hanged during the attack on the U.S. Capitol is among those charged in a new round of arrests stemming from the Jan. 6 insurrection. Pauline Bauer of Kane, Pennsylvania, faces the most serious charge in this latest round. She is among two Pennsylvania residents and five from upstate New York charged Wednesday with being part of a mob of former President Donald Trump’s supporters who pushed past police officers and broke through windows and doors. Bauer appeared during an online court hearing and was released on bond.
NEW YORK (AP) — The New York attorney general’s office says that it is conducting a criminal investigation into former President Donald Trump’s business empire, expanding what had previously been a civil probe. Attorney General Letitia James’ investigators are working with the Manhattan district attorney’s office, which has been conducting a criminal investigation into Trump and his company, the Trump Organization, for two years. The Manhattan DA’s office obtained Trump’s tax records after a long legal fight in February. A message seeking comment was left with a lawyer for Trump.
Prince George’s County police are trying to determine if fatal shooting of toddler was an accident.
Posted by
Posted on
(Washington, D.C.) – Prince George’s County Police have few details in shooting a shooting Monday night that has now left a toddler dead. The 3-year-old died of his injuries Tuesday night after being shot inside a Bowie, Md apartment.
It happened around 5:45pm Tuesday in the 16400 block of Governors Bridge Road. Police say the child did not live at the apartment. But was there with a parent visiting. Shortly after arriving at the apartment, the child was shot. Police say they are trying to determine if the shooting was accidental or something else.
Anyone with information is asked to call detectives at 301-516-2512. Callers wishing to remain anonymous, can call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).
Suspect remains at-large in the shooting of a DC mother and her four-year-old son. Both remain in critical condition.
Posted by
Posted on
Washington, D.C.(Wednesday, May 19, 2021) – DC police continue to search for a gunman who opened fire Tuesday evening on a family outside their Logan Circle home in the 15-hundred block of 10th Street, NW.
The mother and her young child, a 4-year-old boy. Both are said to be in critical condition at a local hospital. Police Chief Robert Contee described the suspect as a male wearing dark clothing and a mask who fled on foot. Contee said the shooting involved a minor dispute between the mother and the suspect over a street scooter. The two apparently did not know each other. Chief Contee had this message for the gunman. “The Metropolitan Police Department is coming and that he should be ashamed of himself for what he did to this family.”
Thousands of commuters in the DMV are encouraged to ditch their vehicles, Metro, and ride share Friday and take part in the Annual Bike to Work Day (BTWD). It’s an effort to encourage a fun and safe way to boost physical and mental health.
