Who did it, who done it, and who needs to quit it? The latest edition of “Trending on the Timeline” with DJ Misses just dropped the heaviest tea setting our screens ablaze. We rely on the culture’s favorite voice to bring the heat, and this week’s segment delivered a masterclass on boundaries, accountability, and protecting your peace. Let us get straight into the details of the weekend’s most explosive revelations.

From a billion-dollar media power move to a courtroom showdown involving one of music’s most talked-about names, here’s everything you need to know.

So, according to British-Nigerian actor David Oyelowo, southern Black speech is just a Nigerian accent damaged by slavery. 

That’s fascinating, coming from a man whose people speak with the King’s English lodged in their throats and wearing the empire’s language like ancestral jewelry while pretending colonialism hasn’t shaped their own linguistic world or their views of Black Americans.

And this is exactly why a viral clip of Oyelowo on the One54 Africa podcast has triggered such backlash, before he later issued an apology via an Instagram post.

“I want to apologize unreservedly to all those who were rightly offended by my comments on the One54 Africa podcast regarding Southern Accents. It was the wrong thing to say and it is not how I feel,” Oyelowo wrote. 

“I have nothing but deep respect and great love for Black people of all kinds, especially those from the American South,” he continued. “Reducing a dialect born from the richness and resilience of Black Southern culture to anything less was careless and wrong.

“All I truly care about is lifting up my Black brothers and sisters from all places through my work and my words. Please forgive my failure to do that in this instance.”

Oyelowo, who has portrayed Black American characters including Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma, Bass Reeves in Lawmen, Louis Gaines in The Butler, Preacher Green in The Help, and Joe “Lightning” Little in Red Tails, was asked about African actors playing African Americans and how he’s able to move smoothly through different accents. But he didn’t just discuss the nuances of dialect. It was how he described his idea of Southern Black blackness that ticked folks off. 

As Oyelowo performs the Black American accent, he slowly drops his head as his voice gets lower and slower, with a heavier Southern-sounding drawl. He stretches the vowels, rounds the words, and gives the delivery a subdued, almost bowed slave quality.

He said, “If you take the Nigerian accent, like this, and you slow it down, you put a lot of slavery in there, and then you start to put a little bit of subservience in it, this is what starts to happen to the Nigerian accent.” 

Seasoned with subservience, y’all.

And then after this performance, he returns to a Nigerian accent. His body straightens, and his chest opens, his face brightens, the pitch and energy of his voice lifts, and the consonants snap back into a brisk Nigerian cadence. We literally witness a linguistic liberation from southern Black bondage as African fluency is restored.

“Now we are free! Now we are free! We are released,” he says.

That performance was giving the courtroom scene in the movie Amistad, where Cinqué rises to his feet with his chains shaking and cries, “Giv us, us free!” Cinqué’s cry is broken English forced through captivity, while Oyelowo’s bit made Black southern speech the broken thing that needs liberating.

The podcast hosts laughed along and seemed awed by the actor’s charming display of linguistic range. But strip away the humor for a moment, and what you’ll hear underneath all that dialect work is a man casually giving voice to a familiar old diaspora condescension and insult that says southern Black folks were damaged by bondage, slowed by suffering, bent into servility, and our speech is a degraded inheritance. Never mind the fact that Black Americans created one of the most powerful, adaptive, and influential linguistic traditions in the modern world.

Oyelowo’s comments treated southern Black language as something that’s broken rather than as creation. Enslaved Black folks in the American South didn’t simply lose Africa, or take a Nigerian accent, drag it through southern plantations, sprinkle in “subservience,” and come out speaking “broken” anything. This is how people who don’t study history think when they don’t know how language, slavery, or Black survival worked. 

I’m sure Oyelowo has to know that enslaved Africans were not a monolithic people. Surely he knows they came from many ethnic, linguistic, regional, political, and spiritual backgrounds. Under brutal conditions on this side of the Atlantic, they forged new forms of speech, music, coded communication, religion, and humor. These were necessary tools to preserve their humanity and survival. And so southern Black American speech is not “Nigerian plus trauma.” It is a distinct cultural formation.

Linguistic scholars will tell you that enslaved Africans in the American South made languages and dialects inside the chokehold of empire and bent English into something new that carried African syntax, rhythm, tonal patterns, and meaning-making systems into the belly of a language that was never meant to free them. They made jokes white people could not hear. They made prayers laced with resistance plans that white people could not decode. They made songs like “Follow the Drinking Gourd,” that sounded like submission to enslavers and like escape routes to each other.

Does any of this sound like “subservience” to you? No, that is Black genius under the evils of white captivity.

Not to mention, subservience is not the same thing as enslavement. Enslavement was a condition violently imposed on Black people. Subservience, on the other hand, is a posture, a personality, and a willingness to bow. So, invoking subservience in his comment is both historically careless and politically dangerous because it turns the condition that was forced upon Black southerners into a defect lodged inside us.

For generations, Black folks in the south and beyond have been told by schools, employers, courts, and media that our speech is broken, lazy, ignorant, backward, ghetto, unprofessional, or inferior. Intraracially, Black elites have sometimes distanced themselves from our speech patterns. Some African and Caribbean communities have too often treated it as evidence that they are the more educated, disciplined, good Blacks who escaped whatever disease they imagine slavery left in us.

That is the backdrop of this controversy that we cannot ignore. Let’s go there because this controversy is not just about phonetics. It is also about the disturbing recurring diaspora fantasy that proximity to Africa, Britain, or immigrant striving somehow makes one Black person more intact than another. And at the bottom of that hierarchy, too often, sits the African American descendant of slavery who is supposedly too irreparably damaged, slow,  culturally deficient, and trapped in the plantation past. Never mind that we have always managed to build creation after catastrophe.

And cannot ignore that this controversy is happening amid a much bigger casting debate over Black representation in Hollywood. African Americans keep asking: Why are our stories, ancestors, civil rights icons, and our historical struggles so often performed by Africans who may not fully understand the cultural inheritance behind them? And hearing Oyelowo’s comments is making some folks say, “See! This is exactly what we’re talking about.” 

Cynthia Erivo, another British-Nigerian actress, sparked controversy when she was cast as Harriet Tubman, and old tweets resurfaced in which she mocked a “ghetto American accent.” 

The Nigerian pop star Burna Boy sparked controversy from a Guardian interview where he was asked why his music was more popular with Black people in the UK versus Black Americans.

He said: “Most of the people from the UK, if not all the Black people from the UK, and the people of colour – they all know where they’re from. They know exactly where their roots are.” Unfortunately, the brothers in the U.S. have been stripped of their whole knowledge of self. So it’s a bit harder for them, you know?” 

Put all of them together, Oyelowo, Erivo, Burna Boy, and what you’ll see is not just a few careless celebrity comments but a resurfacing pattern inside the Black diaspora, where African Americans are condescendingly talked about as the damaged cousins of modern Blackness, especially southern Black descendants of slavery. We are supposedly rootless, uncultured, linguistically broken, historically confused, and forever marked by slavery as deficiency rather than survival. 

Despite sneering down at Black American language and identity as something damaged, those same people see our culture as useful, cool, and profitable. That’s because at the end of the day, they know that our speech is not some failed African accent. It is one of the most powerful cultural engines this country has ever produced. America has stolen from it, sold it, danced to it, legislated against it, laughed at it, and then built billion-dollar industries around it.

Everybody wants the flavor except when it is attached to actual Black American people. That contradiction is exhausting.

So when Oyelowo or anybody else says you get to a “slave accent” by adding slavery and subservience to a Nigerian accent, please reject this nonsense.

You get to southern Black speech patterns through the history of conquest, bondage, migration, humiliation, resistance, invention, memory, and love. You get to it through millions of children born into captivity, but still learned to play with words. You get to it through grandmommas who could turn one syllable into a verdict. 

You get to it through people who made a language, and still the places we were stolen from and the places we made anyway. Our language carries what the archive cannot hold, the tremor of the lash, and the laughter after midnight. That ain’t brokenness or subservience. That’s the audacity of Black survival, always talking back.

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The only thing more obnoxious than a loud racist is a loud racist who is pretending they just discovered their own racism.

One such racist was recently involved in a verbal confrontation with a Black man inside a Wendy’s near NYC’s Madison Square Garden, according to Atlanta Black Star, which also noted that the now-viral incident took place on June 13, the day of the New York Knicks’ first NBA championship win in 53 years. So, IDK, maybe this week Karen is a Spurs fan?

It’s hard to make up what this wayward white woman was arguing about with what appeared to be multiple patrons at the Wendy’s location. The woman can be heard screaming something about feeding homeless people, and she can be heard shouting “f*ck you!” at someone before being challenged by a Black man, to whom she says this:

“You know what’s happening. You just made me understand why people are racist. Now I understand why they were f*cking enslaved.”

Oh, KKKaren. Oh, Klandeline. Oh, BethKlanny. There is just no way you’re just now discovering that you identify with white supremacists. You didn’t just find yourself in a random argument with a random Black man when it suddenly dawned on you that all Black people everywhere deserved to be owned as property by white people. That was a prepared line you ripped straight from your own diary entry, I just know it.

Anyway, the Black woman who was recording the confrontation chimed in, challenging her to elaborate on her musings about making the Middle Passage great again.

“Wow! You understand why they enslaved us?” she asked as she followed Karen out to the street.

The white woman responded by doubling down on her racism, saying Black people should all remain as slaves “because you’re f*cking monkeys.” (There’s a very lovely ex-cop in Houston who she’d probably get along with great if not for the likelihood that she hates Mexicans, too.) Then she realized she was being recorded, and suddenly her tone changed.

“You’re recording me?” she asked. “You didn’t see the whole thing.”

Noosey Nancy, what exactly did that woman, or any of the Black people in that Wendy’s, need to see besides a rabid white woman on her white suprema-soapbox, preaching loudly about how every last Black person should be in some white man’s field, picking cotton?

No one goes from totally not racist to totally pro-slavery after one spat with a Black guy, good people. As the great orator Shawn Carter once said, “You was who you was ‘fore you got here.”

If you’re going to be a bigot, at least own it. Don’t be a cowardly bigot.

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In order to understand Jalen Brunson’s sacrifice – the financial, emotional, and physical toll the lead guard made for the New York “championship” Knicks – you need look no further than his mom and Game 5 of the NBA Finals. 

Brunson’s mom, Sandra, didn’t want to take the team flight to Game 5 in San Antonio because she had a prior obligation to a charity she refused to miss. She knew what was at risk, but she wanted to be there for the kids in her and Jalen’s Second Round Foundation that empowers children to determine their own success by understanding that their background doesn’t determine their future. 

Sandra missed her connecting flight the night before the game, so she flew to Austin instead, rented a car, and drove an hour and a half to make it to the game

Because that’s what commitment looks like. It’s the work you do when no one is watching. It’s the sacrifice you make when there is no audience to cheer you on. It’s the willingness to make the drive when you could’ve just forgotten the kids and taken the flight. 

Brunson could have forgotten his teammates, the city of New York, and the people and taken the bag. He could’ve dropped the top on the whip and pressed play on Southern epistemologist, Young Dolph’s “Get paid, young n–ga, get paid” as he left Madison Square Garden. 

Players leave. Teams trade franchise icons. Owners cry poor while printing money. Every contract negotiation becomes a public debate about maximizing value, securing the bag, and making sure nobody leaves a dollar on the table.

And generally speaking? That’s good advice.

Get your money.

Because if sports have taught us anything, it’s that organizations don’t care about feelings or facts. They care about money. That’s it. 

Currently, the New York Knicks are the NBA champs from a division often overlooked, in a conference that doesn’t get respect, in a city that hasn’t won a championship in 53 years. To fully understand how long 53 years ago actually was, just know that the number one song in 1973 was “Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round The Old Oak Tree” by some old people named Tony Orlando and Dawn. 

Respectfully. 

Because if sports history has taught us anything, it’s that organizations rarely reward loyalty. They reward production. The moment that production slips, loyalty suddenly becomes a very flexible concept.

Which is what makes Jalen Brunson’s championship feel so significant.

Because this isn’t just a story about the New York Knicks winning their first NBA title in generations. It’s a story about a star who chose to believe in something bigger than his next paycheck—and was proven right. Brunson could’ve waited and signed a projected five-year, $269 million max contract; instead, he signed a four-year, $156.5 million extension to help bring in better players. It led to the Knicks signing OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, and Karl-Anthony Towns. It led to a championship. Leaving $113 million on the table with inflation higher than Willie Nelson standing on top of a giraffe, which is standing on top of the peak of Mount Everest, is insane. 

People called it foolish. People called it risky. Some treated it like financial malpractice. After all, NBA careers are short. One injury can change everything. Why voluntarily leave millions on the table?

The answer became clear the moment the Knicks raised the Larry O’Brien Trophy.

Brunson wasn’t thinking about what he could get. He was thinking about what the team could become. Every dollar he didn’t demand gave New York more flexibility. More room to keep talent. More room to build depth. More room to chase a championship instead of merely chasing headlines.

And now that championship belongs to him. Not because he was the highest-paid player. Not because he had the flashiest endorsement deals. Not because he was chasing individual accolades. Because he understood something that gets lost in today’s sports culture.

The point isn’t to win the negotiation. The point is to win the damn championship. That’s what makes Brunson’s story resonate beyond basketball.

We live in a culture obsessed with individual accumulation. More money. More followers. More status. More attention. More everything. Brunson chose a different path. He chose investment. He bet on teammates. He bet on organizational stability.

Most importantly, he bet on himself.

And let’s be honest: betting on himself is something Brunson has been doing his entire life. The Dallas Mavericks certainly weren’t doing it. Before he became the face of New York basketball, Brunson was sitting in Dallas, practically begging the Mavericks to recognize what was right in front of them.

Instead, they hesitated. Again and again. Dallas treated Brunson like a complementary piece when he was already becoming a cornerstone. They saw a solid player. New York saw a franchise leader. The Mavericks looked at him and saw someone who benefited from playing alongside Luka Dončić. The Knicks looked at him and saw somebody capable of carrying a franchise on his back.

Only one organization got it right.

Now one franchise is celebrating a championship while the other is still living with one of the most expensive miscalculations in modern NBA history. The beauty of Brunson’s rise is that it feels familiar to anyone who has ever been underestimated.

Too small.

Not athletic enough.

Not flashy enough.

Not marketable enough.

Not enough.

For years, Brunson heard some version of that message. Now he’s a champion. Not because he transformed into somebody else. Because everybody else finally caught up to who he already was. And that’s why this title matters so much.

And in order to understand this, you have to understand how Brunson was raised. 

The Knicks didn’t just win because Brunson took less money. Basketball is more complicated than that. But his sacrifice helped create the conditions that made winning possible. It set a tone. It established trust. It sent a message to the rest of the roster that the franchise star was willing to prioritize the collective over the individual. Championship cultures don’t magically appear. They’re built through a thousand decisions that prioritize winning over ego. Brunson made one of those decisions. The ring is the reward. 

And perhaps the sweetest part of all this is how completely it rewrites the narrative. For months, people talked about the money Brunson supposedly lost. Today, nobody is talking about the money. They’re talking about the parade. They’re talking about the banner. They’re talking about the championship. Years from now, nobody will remember the salary-cap calculations. Nobody will care about the spreadsheets. Nobody will debate the exact dollar figure he left on the table. They’ll remember that Jalen Brunson became the face of the franchise that brought a championship back to New York.

They’ll remember that he helped resurrect the Knicks.

They’ll remember that he won.

And somewhere in Dallas, they’ll probably remember him too.

Just not for the reasons they hoped.

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Pull up, Beloved. 

If the collective side-eye of die-hard WNBA fans could be distilled into one message for the Tempo’s Isabelle “Izzy” Harrison, that was it. 

During a play in the Toronto Tempo’s matchup with the Atlanta Dream on Sunday, the veteran forward wrapped Dream star Angel Reese up from behind, dragged her to the floor, got ejected for doing so, and left the court laughing while Reese fought back tears as she made her way to the free throw line to attempt two shots. 

Harrison had been hunting Reese all afternoon. From the early minutes of the game, she was draped onto Reese, body to body. The two traded shoves in the paint and exchanged words. Harrison played her so closely that some fans online surmised the Tempo forward had shown up forgetting she was there as part of a team with the mission of beating the Dream, instead focusing on walloping a single player.

Each no-call, and there were several, seemed to embolden Harrison. By the time officials finally blew the whistle on what would be her final play of the game, the Dream had a comfortable ten-point lead with a little over six minutes left in the third quarter. The flagrant 2 foul felt like the inevitable conclusion after all the rough, uncalled contact. 

Fielding accusations of excessive physicality is not new for the WNBA. The league has amassed a reputation for it, with players grinding through bruises, hard fouls, and physical contact far more brutal than anything the men weather in the MNBA. 

Last season, the contact grew punishing enough that Indiana Fever’s Lexie Hull played through two black eyes after a head-to-head collision, and Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier excoriated league leadership over officiating she believed was inconsistent and put the players at risk of sustaining unnecessary injuries. 

Post play in basketball has always been more physical, and the bigs absorb the contact that guards and perimeter players simply do not. Officials swallow their whistles more often on fouls between bigs under the basket. Each time the refs blow their whistles, the game slows to a crawl. A league chasing casual converts with short attention spans needs the floor open and the ball moving with highlight-worthy fast breaks and no-look passes from elite guards like Chelsea Gray and Olivia Miles.

The players being forced to eat the most uncalled contact are players like Reese and Las Vegas Aces’ star A’ja Wilson. Considered among the league’s best players overall, they have spent most of this season getting clobbered and mugged in the lane, while obvious slaps across their arms and other fouls are ignored. 

In this game, Harrison was playing bully ball, forcing contact in ways that recalled the old-school Bad Boys mentality of the late-1980s Detroit Pistons. It was a style she seemed determined to embody in her matchup with Reese.

The reaction to the play and Harrison’s ejection split fast and loud online. One camp called the play a dangerous, gratuitous play that could have seriously injured Reese, while the other defended Harrison, insisting the refs had no business tossing her and that the veteran was just matching the energy Reese had brought all afternoon.

It’s hard to imagine that the tension between the two players, which escalated to the point that one of them was ejected, materialized out of thin air or stemmed from rugged competitiveness. Harrison and Reese spent the 2024 season as teammates in Chicago, Reese’s rookie year and a late-career stop for Harrison. 

Reese has spoken about how hard that year was, the usual rookie adjustment and transition period made more difficult by what she shared with reporters later, which was not having “a lot of vets” to lean on. No matter the particulars of their relationship then, perception took over the moment the infamous play on Sunday occurred.

Fans outraged at what they felt was another incident in a pattern of mistreatment towards Angel took matters into their own hands. A petition calling on the WNBA to address what they named as excessive physical play against Reese began circulating online, accumulating hundreds of signatures within hours.

I come to this story through a few different lenses, and they are not without contradictions. I am a Black woman first, a sports fan second, and an investigative journalist turned WNBA analyst third. Those categories in that order are important to note because they give you an idea of how I watched Sunday unfold and how I’ve digested it since. 

The Black woman and the sports fan in me were, like many of the fans who lashed out at Harrison online, deeply disappointed, both in the foul itself and in the mockery she made of her exit. 

I have followed Harrison throughout her career, and I was overjoyed when both she and her partner, Natasha Cloud, landed with one of my favorite teams, the NY Liberty. The pairing read as a great fairytale queer love story set against the backdrop of one of my favorite cities, and their arrival with the Liberty gave me hope they’d help anchor a back-to-back championship run, one that would have delivered Harrison her first WNBA championship ring.

This is where the lenses come back around. For a lot of us Black women, the play between Harrison and Reese was hard to watch in another way. The shared yet staggered history between two talented Black women, which left one in tears and the other laughing as she made her exit, was triggering. In their story, we as Black women recognize something many of us experience early in our careers and carry into every workplace we inhabit.  

Too many of us are still the first. The first in the department, the first in the C-Suite, and often we are both the first and the only. The only Black woman in the office. In a leadership position. Forced to learn the ropes on our own. 

Being the first should mean opening the door, inviting more Black women in, and holding it for those coming behind you. Sadly, many learn to guard the door instead, deciding that they want to be both first and last and are intent on keeping it that way. They view those coming behind them as a threat rather than as part of their legacy. I call those women “the onlies.”

Neither Reese nor Harrison was the first in a traditional sense, and I’m not arguing that Harrison wants to be an “Only.” After all, the WNBA is a league built by Black women, with Black women making up the majority. 

What Sunday stirred in a lot of us was the “only” pattern. The elder who couldn’t abide by making room and mentoring, who had multiple opportunities to bring the younger woman along and chose to take her down in a cheap play instead. That is what the moment looked like to many of us who have been trained by our own workplaces to recognize that particular dynamic. 

Some of this is plainly human. Nobody, in any field, looks forward to the day they’re replaced by the talent coming up behind them. A veteran who had watched a rookie inherit the spot and the acclaim she trained most of her life for feels it, no matter what race or gender either of them is. 

No matter how you feel about what happened during the game, life and the WNBA season will move on as they always do. The Dream and the Tempo will meet again on June 22, and pretty soon, all that happened on Sunday will fold into a footnote attached to the longer season. 

I hope that before it does, Izzy reaches out to Angel to apologize, out of an understanding that the play, no matter her intentions, has taken on a new life. As a veteran in the league, Izzy has an opportunity to step up for her former rook, smooth things over, and steer the public narrative in a healthier direction. 

Whether Harrison does so or not, I’m holding onto a special wish for Angel. That the world stops putting her in positions where she is asked to be more resilient, to tough it out, dust herself off, be the bigger person, and maintain composure all because she was on the receiving end of attacks she has never deserved. 

My hope is that she stands firm in the reminder that she has fans outside of basketball and beyond her social media timeline who are willing and ready to ride at dawn for her. Just this spring, former First Lady Michelle Obama warned critics to leave Reese alone, “Don’t mess with this girl. Don’t mess with her spirit. Do not mess with this angel. Stop it. Just stop it.” 

Reese has proven time and time again that she is committed to being a leader, showing up for her teammates, and knows how to bring other players along. Watch how she handles her own rookies, first off the bench when they do something right, first to coach them up when they fall short. Watch how encouraging she is with the Dream’s young center Madina Okot, the two of them trading easy, loving sisterly banter at the podium. Reese urges reporters to ease up on her rookie, while Okot shares she’s never nervous when her Angel is near. 

In a game built on competition, in a league that keeps rewarding brutal physicality and mean-girl antics, Angel Reese keeps showing up as something rare. The two-time All-Star and reigning rebounding force remains a breath of fresh air for the league, a trailblazer, and harbinger of the prosperity still to come. Reese holds the door open for those coming up behind her, making it close to impossible to imagine a bright future without the light of an Angel leading the way.

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D.L. Hughley’s Notes from the GED Section, aimed straight at the spectacle on the White House lawn, and he wants the culture to pay attention.

D.L. opened with a history lesson. The Romans, he explained, used “bread and games” to distract angry citizens. Emperors handed out food and threw gladiator fights to keep the masses quiet. Hughley sees the same move today. The UFC-style event on the White House lawn — pushed by Donald Trump, Tony Hinchcliffe, Joe Rogan, and Sean Strickland was the modern version. Same playbook, new players.D.L. opened with a history lesson. The Romans, he explained, used “bread and games” to distract angry citizens. Emperors handed out food and threw gladiator fights to keep the masses quiet. Hughley sees the same move today. The UFC-style event on the White House lawn — pushed by Donald Trump, Tony Hinchcliffe, Joe Rogan, and Sean Strickland was the modern version. Same playbook, new players.

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Calling Names, Calling It Out

Hughley didn’t dance around the racism. He said plainly that anyone who attended or watched was either racist or comfortable with it. He named names too. Stephen A. Smith, Jay Williams, Michael Irvin, and Bud Crawford got called to the carpet. His point was direct: when that particular crowd gathers, something racist almost always follows. Pretending you didn’t hear it, he argued, is its own kind of insult.

Dragging the People’s House

This was supposed to be a celebration at the People’s House, in front of the world. Instead, Hughley said, it looked like “white trash, naked dudes fighting on the lawn.” He connected it back to everything that crowd once said about Barack Obama and how this display reinforced every ugly word. To D.L., the event embarrassed the nation and dehumanized Black folks in the process.

One System, Not Two

D.L. drove home his strongest point: there cannot be two systems of justice. In the McKinney case, photos reportedly show the victim’s father alongside the judge and the district attorney. That kind of connection should give everyone pause. He reminded listeners of the Texas teen who killed five people and walked on an “affluenza” defense. D.L. isn’t asking for harsher treatment for anyone. He wants everyone treated the same, under one fair system.

READ MORE DL HUGHLEY STORIES:

• D.L. Hughley’s GED Section: The White House “Clown Show”
• D.L. Hughley’s GED Section: When Justice Looks “All White”
• GED Section: When ‘Just Jokes’ Become a Weapon Against Black Progress

The Real Game Behind the Game

Hughley pushed past the entertainment to the strategy. The spectacle, he said, was built to distract. While people watched grown men fight, bigger stories slipped by ongoing wars, peace talks, and alleged negotiations to hand Iran $300 billion to rebuild a country the same leadership helped break. “If you start a war and then you pay those people to rebuild, you lost,” he said. The fight was the shiny object. The policy was the sleight of hand.

D.L.’s sharpest warning was about normalization. Every smile, every seat filled, every quiet moment, he argued, makes the harm look ordinary. You can’t be disrespected enough, he noted, for some folks to stay home. But showing up and staying silent takes a side — the side of people working to dehumanize you. When the jokes land on the Obamas or anybody else, the goal is to make degradation feel normal so worse things can follow.

Hughley closed with the line that summed it all up:

“From bread and circuses to white bread and a clown show.”

HEAD TO THE BLACKAMERICAWEB.COM HOMEPAGE

Brain stimulation therapy for movement disorders like Parkinson’s disease has been FDA-approved for over two decades, yet most Black patients living with these conditions have never had a serious conversation about it. Deep brain stimulation involves surgically placing electrodes in specific brain regions to regulate the abnormal signals that cause tremors, stiffness, and involuntary movement; the results for patients who receive it can be significant enough to restore function that medications alone have stopped providing.

For Black families watching a parent or grandparent lose independence to a movement disorder, this gap in awareness is a real and costly one. Understanding what the treat offers and how to access it is the starting point for charging that number in your own family.

What Is Deep Brain Stimulation Used For?

Deep brain stimulation is a neurosurgical procedure primarily used to treat Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor, and dystonia; conditions that all involve disrupted motor signaling in the brain. A neurosurgeon implants thin electrodes into targeted brain regions, which connect to a small pulse generator placed under the skin near the collarbone. The generator delivers continuous electrical pulses that interrupt the faulty signals driving motor symptoms, effectively turning down the neurological interference that makes movement difficult or uncontrollable. 

Does It Cure Parkinson’s Disease?

For Parkinson’s patients specifically, the procedure is typically considered when medications have started to lose effectiveness or when side effects from dopaminergic therapy, including dyskinesias and unpredictable on-off periods, become difficult to manage. According to Mayo Clinic, deep brain stimulation doesn’t cure Parkinson’s disease, but it can notably decrease symptoms and enhance quality of life in carefully chosen patients. The adjustability of the device is one of its key advantages; settings can be modified after implantation as the disease progresses.

Conditions Treated With Deep Brain Stimulation

Research cited by PMC found that Black patients show significantly lower rates of deep brain stimulation utilization not just for Parkinson’s disease but across all three primary movement disorder indications. The conditions where the procedure has established clinical benefit include:

• Parkinson’s disease, which addresses tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia, and medication-related complications
• Essential tremor, which causes uncontrollable shaking in the hands, arms, or voice
• Dystonia, which involves sustained or repetitive muscle contractions that cause abnormal postures or movements
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder, which gained an FDA humanitarian device exemption for severe, treatment-resistant cases

How Effective Is Deep Brain Stimulation?

Clinical outcomes for deep brain stimulation in well-selected patients are consistently strong. For Parkinson’s disease patients who meet the eligibility criteria, the procedure typically produces meaningful reductions in:

• Motor fluctuations
• Tremor severity
• Medication requirements

What Recovery Looks Like After Deep Brain Stimulation

Recovery from deep brain stimulation surgery involves a hospital stay of one to several days, followed by a period of outpatient programming where the neurology team adjusts the device settings to optimize symptom control. Most patients see benefits as the device is calibrated, though finding the optimal settings can take weeks to months of follow-up. Physical therapy during the recovery period helps patients translate the neurological improvement into functional gains in:

• Balance
• Coordination
• Mobility

Why Black Families Are Less Likely to Access Brain Stimulation Therapy

The disparity in deep brain stimulation access for Black patients reflects a layered set of structural barriers that research has spent years documenting. A multivariate analysis published in PMC found significantly lower DBS utilization rates among:

• Black patients
• Female patients
• Patients from lower-income backgrounds
• Those without private insurance.

Race remains a significant factor even after controlling for the others

The intersection of race and insurance status has a compounding effect on access that clinical eligibility alone doesn’t overcome. 

Limited awareness is a major contributor. Many Black patients with Parkinson’s disease or essential tremor are never told that surgical options exist; the conversation stays at medication management until medications fail, by which point the window for optimal surgical outcomes may have narrowed.

Asking specifically about deep brain stimulation at neurology appointments, requesting referrals to movement disorder specialists, and bringing a family member to appointments to support advocacy are all concrete steps toward closing the gap at the individual level.

How to Have the Conversation With a Neurologist

Raising deep brain stimulation as a topic with a neurologist or movement disorder specialist requires directness rather than waiting for the provider to introduce it. Useful phrases include asking:

• “Am I a candidate for surgical options?”
• “Can you refer me to a movement disorders specialist for evaluation?”

If the current neurologist isn’t familiar with DBS candidacy criteria, requesting a second option from a specialist at an academic medical center with a dedicated movement disorders program is a legitimate and important step.

If you need more detailed information on what the procedure involves and what to expect from a consultation, the neurology specialist team at Neurosurgery One offers a thorough overview of the deep brain stimulation criteria and process.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who Is a Good Candidate for Deep Brain Stimulation?

The strongest candidates are Parkinson’s patients who experience significant motor fluctuations or medication-induced dyskinesias that reduce quality of life. Essential tremor candidates are typically those whose tremors have become disabling despite medication trials. A formal evaluation at a movement disorders center, including neurological assessment, neuropsychological testing, and imaging, determines eligibility. 

Is Deep Brain Stimulation Covered by Insurance?

Medicare and most major private insurers cover deep brain stimulation for FDA-approved indications, including Parkinson’s disease and essential tremor, when medical necessity criteria are met. Medicaid coverage varies by state and has historically been a barrier for Black patients with lower incomes. Patients navigating insurance barriers should ask about financial assistance programs at academic medical centers, many of which have dedicated resources for complex surgical cases.

Brain Stimulation for Tremor Treatment Can Help

Black families managing Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor, or other movement disorders deserve full information about every treatment option available, including brain stimulation therapy that has been clinically established for over two decades. The access gap is real, documented, and structural; closing it at the individual level starts with awareness, direct conversations with neurologists, and the willingness to push for specialist referrals when medication management has reached its limits.

Keep reading for more health coverage and advocacy content built for our community.

Sybil Wilkes is back with another edition of “What We Need to Know,” the daily roundup that keeps our community informed and ready to move. Grab your coffee, lean in, and let’s walk through the stories shaping our lives right now.

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• Sybil Wilkes Covers Today’s What We Need to Know: Black Tuesday, Iran, and More
• Sybil Wilkes Covers Today’s What We Need to Know: Serena, the Job Market, Karmelo Anthony, & More

The Ballot Box is Calling

Primary elections are underway today in Oklahoma and the District of Columbia, while voters in Georgia and Alabama settle highly anticipated runoff races. In Georgia, folks are heading back to the polls to finalize the Republican challengers who will face Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff and gubernatorial nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms this November. These races will shape the leadership steering our state and country. Your voice matters here. When we show up at the polls, we shape the future for our children and our neighbors. So make a plan, check your polling location, and let’s be counted.

There’s no legacy in hip-hop that has stood the test of time quite like that of the late Tupac Shakur, known to many simply as 2Pac.

Since his untimely murder back in September 1996 at the age of 25, Pac has been immortalized posthumously on records, in film, on merch, as a stage-rocking hologram and even in video games with the recent announcement of Stranger Than Heaven coming in 2027.

It’s a bittersweet reminder that he should be here to not only celebrate his birthday today (June 16), but also to carry on a legendary rap career that was far from finished and cut off way too soon.

RELATED: B-Side Bangers – The Notorious B.I.G. (Biggie)

As fans worldwide join the celebration of what would’ve been his 55th birthday, we thought it was only right to pay tribute by reminiscing on his surprisingly robust catalog. His run of official releases spans roughly seven years, but his time spent in the booth supersedes that timeframe in a way that he was able to drop rarities, remixes and unreleased material almost a decade after his death. Even in 2026, there’s belief that his estate is sitting on anywhere between four to five albums of unheard material.

If new music exists and when we’ll here it, if ever, is currently nothing more than a pipe dream. However, the tangible art he actually left us with more than holds up in terms of replay value — you just have to go digging through the crates! Album cuts that could’ve been singles, fire features for Outlawz and similar collaborators, soundtrack songs for the handful of films he acted in and posthumous remixes of fan-favorites and unheard gems are all available for Pac fans to discover.

Thankfully, we decided to do the heavy lifting for you all by rounding up the deep cuts we feel stand out the most. See if you agree!

Celebrate the birthday of 2Pac with us by checking out a special edition of “B-Side Bangers” below:

“Rebel of the Underground” (1991)
Album: 2Pacalypse Now

Garcelle Beauvais has spent decades in the spotlight, but these days the absolutely gorgeous actress, producer and former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star seems more focused on something deeper than fame: embracing every chapter of life as it comes.

That includes menopause.

Garcelle opened up to Radio/TV personality Jazmyn Summers for Radio One alongside nurse practitioner Barbara Dehn, affectionately known as “Nurse Barb,” about hot flashes, aging without shame and why women need to start talking more openly about what happens to their bodies.

But the conversation quickly moved beyond menopause and into the life lessons that have shaped her: surviving public heartbreak, navigating a terrifying swatting incident, watching her twin sons leave the nest and finding the courage to stay open to love.

On Menopause and Breaking the Silence

For Beauvais, menopause arrived the way it does for so many women: unexpectedly.

“I was at a fitting one day and all of a sudden I started getting this hot flash,” she recalled. “First I wasn’t sure if it was a hot flash. I’m like, wait, am I having a private summer? What’s going on? I’m not ready for this. I still feel sexy.”

That moment marked the beginning of what she calls “the new normal for women of a certain age.”

Rather than suffer through it quietly, Beauvais decided to speak openly about her experience.

“I really want to debunk the shame that women have with this,” she said. “We share about everything. We share about when we go out for cocktails, when we go out and talk about relationships. Why don’t we share about things that are actually happening to our bodies?”

According to Nurse Barb, many women are caught off guard when menopause symptoms begin.

“So many of my patients say exactly what Garcelle just said,” she explained. “They are looking in the mirror. They are way too young for menopause. They feel good, they look good. And then all of a sudden this is happening.”

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She explained that hormonal changes can affect the body’s internal thermostat, triggering sudden hot flashes that often strike at the most inconvenient moments.

For Beauvais, whose career often places her under bright lights and in front of cameras, those moments can be especially uncomfortable.

“All eyes are on you and you feel like you’re a sweatball,” she said.

The experience prompted her to seek guidance from her healthcare provider.

“That’s when I knew it was important to talk to my medical provider and just say, ‘What can I do other than carrying a fan?'”

She learned practical strategies such as dressing in layers, carrying a fan and finding ways to cool down quickly. But perhaps the most important lesson was realizing she didn’t have to simply endure the symptoms.

Nurse Barb emphasized that women should track their symptoms and have open conversations with their healthcare providers about available treatment options.

One option discussed during our conversation was Linquet, an FDA-approved, hormone-free prescription treatment for moderate to severe hot flashes due to menopause.

“What I love is that Garcelle is helping us talk about it,” Nurse Barb said. “It’s really important to know you’re not alone.”

She noted that clinical studies showed some women experienced fewer hot flashes within the first week, with greater reductions in both frequency and severity over time. She encouraged women to discuss all treatment options with their healthcare providers and review safety information before making decisions.

For Beauvais, however, the conversation extends beyond medication.

“I feel like I grew up in a household where we didn’t talk about things like this, especially a Black household,” she said. “Which is really why it’s important for us to take the shame away and actually talk about it.”

In her view, menopause should be treated the same way women discuss relationships, parenting or career challenges: honestly and without embarrassment.

After all, she reminds us, every woman who is fortunate enough to grow older may eventually face it.

‘I Had to Choose Me’

One of the reasons so many women connect with Beauvais is her willingness to share the difficult chapters of her life.

Her highly publicized divorce after discovering her husband had carried on a years-long affair remains one of those moments.

“The betrayal is heartbreaking, devastating,” she said. “You don’t see it coming. It’s not something you sign up for.”

At the time, her twin sons were just three years old.

“I had two little boys that were three years old and it’s like, well, what do I do?”

The answer became a defining principle in her life.

“What I chose to do is what I’ve been doing in my life throughout, which is choosing me,” she said.

“I had to choose me and say, ‘You know what? In order for me to be the best woman I can be and also the best mom, I have to put myself first and not stay someplace that’s not serving me.'”

That decision wasn’t easy, but Beauvais believes it allowed her to become a stronger mother and a healthier version of herself.

How She Learned to Trust Again

After experiencing such a deep betrayal, many people would build walls.

Beauvais chose a different path.

“I’m so open,” she said. “Even though I’ve been through ups and downs, I manage to stay open and give everybody the benefit of the doubt until you prove me otherwise.”

She credits forgiveness with helping her move forward.

“You forgive, you don’t forget,” she said. “But that doesn’t mean I want to carry that with me for the rest of my life because then the burden would be on me.”

As for marriage?

Beauvais isn’t rushing back down the aisle.

“I would love a healthy, happy relationship, but not marriage. I don’t need to do that again,” she said. “I don’t even know if I want to live with someone again.”

What is she looking for?

“Somebody who’s kind and loving and honest and has their own thing going on and we can just go on this journey together.”

Surviving a Terrifying Swatting Incident

Earlier this year, Beauvais found herself at the center of a frightening swatting incident when armed police descended on her Los Angeles home after receiving a false emergency report. Authorities later determined there was no threat. Beauvais has since described the experience as one of the most terrifying moments of her life.

“I didn’t even know what swatting was,” she told me.

What followed felt like something out of a movie.

“It was the scariest thing I had ever gone through,” she said.

According to Beauvais, officers arrived late at night after a false report claimed there was violence occurring inside her home.

“They came like they were taking down a drug lord,” she said.

The actress said she was handcuffed during the ordeal and remains grateful that her sons weren’t home at the time.

“I was just happy that my kids weren’t home because then that would’ve added another layer.”

Investigators have continued looking into the incident, which Beauvais noted is part of a dangerous trend that has targeted public figures and online personalities.

Creating Room for Surprises

One of my favorite moments came when I asked Beauvais about a message she had recently posted on social media.

Every month, she writes a new reminder on her desk calendar.

This month’s message?

“Create room for surprises.”

“So many times we want to control everything,” she said. “We want everything to be exactly buttoned up.”

Instead, she’s learning to leave space for the unexpected.

“Leave room for what the universe has aligned for you that you may not think is for you.”

It’s a philosophy that seems to guide much of her life these days.

Becoming an Empty Nester

Even with a thriving career that includes Lifetime films, producing projects and Netflix’s Survival of the Thickest, Beauvais admits she’s facing a transition that feels surprisingly emotional.

Her twin sons are launching into adulthood.

“One of my boys graduates tomorrow,” she said during our conversation.

And while she’s excited for them, she’s also preparing herself for a quieter home.

“I don’t know what the empty nesting is going to look like.”

“Every now and then I burst into tears because I can already feel the energy in the house shifting.”

Then she quickly added:

“I’m excited for them, but a little sad for me, honestly.”

Aging With Grace, Resilience and Purpose

Throughout her career, Garcelle Beauvais has been willing to share both the triumphs and the challenges that have shaped her journey.

In this conversation alone, she spoke candidly about menopause, public heartbreak, motherhood, dating, philanthropy, a frightening swatting incident and the emotions that come with preparing to become an empty nester.

Yet one theme connected every topic: resilience.

“We are strong and we are resilient and we go through things,” Beauvais said. “I think building a community and a village is really important.”

That philosophy is reflected not only in her advocacy around menopause awareness, but also in her support of charitable causes, from helping her home country of Haiti to her work highlighting missing Black and Brown women through Lifetime’s Black Girl Missing franchise.

For Beauvais, aging is not something to fear.

“It’s also a privilege,” she said. “It’s also a privilege to grow older. What’s the alternative?”

Those words capture the spirit that has helped make her one of Hollywood’s most admired and relatable figures. Whether she’s encouraging women to seek help for menopause symptoms, navigating life’s unexpected challenges or embracing new opportunities, Beauvais approaches each chapter with honesty, grace and optimism.

As she continues creating new projects, supporting causes she believes in and preparing for life as an empty nester, one thing remains clear: Garcelle Beauvais is still evolving, still growing and still creating room for surprises.

At 59, Garcelle Beauvais is embracing a season of transition.

She’s helping women navigate conversations about menopause. She’s watching her sons step into adulthood. She’s producing new projects, expanding her philanthropic work and continuing a career that has spanned decades.

Along the way, she has experienced heartbreak, setbacks and moments that could have easily hardened her outlook. Instead, she has chosen openness, gratitude and growth.

“Leave room for what the universe has aligned for you that you may not think is for you,” she said.

It’s a philosophy that seems to guide her through every new chapter.

Whether discussing hot flashes, healing after betrayal or the uncertainty of becoming an empty nester, Beauvais speaks with a candor that resonates because it is rooted in experience.

And perhaps that’s why so many women see themselves in her story.

Not because her life has been perfect, but because she continues to meet life’s challenges with resilience, grace and the belief that every stage of life still holds something worth discovering.

Article by Jazmyn Summers.  Photos and video by 7Spontaneous of The Revenue Entertainment You can hear Jazmyn every morning on “Jazmyn in the Morning “on Sirius XM Channel 362 Grown Folk Jamz.  Subscribe to Jazmyn Summers’ YouTube. Follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

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To mark North’s 13th birthday on June 15, the Skims founder shared a collection of photos on Instagram, including a glamorous mother-daughter selfie that had fans noticing just how much North resembles her famous mom.

“ Happy Birthday my Northiiiiiieeeeeeeee (Uzi voice!!!) I can’t believe you are officially a teenager!!!!!” Kardashian wrote under the post. “There’s no one like you my baby girl! I love being your mom and watching you grow. I love you to the aliens’ galaxies you would speak of as a kid and beyond.”

She finished the tribute with alien, blue heart, and spaceship emojis, a possible nod to North’s bright blue hair.

The carousel featured flicks of North through the years, showcasing her bold fashion choices, hair, and evolving personal style. Among the images was a candid selfie that highlighted just how much the birthday girl has grown up—and how closely she resembles her famous mother.

In the photo, North leaned in beside her mom while showing off vibrant turquoise-blue hair. The pair appeared nearly identical as they posed for the camera, each wearing similar makeup looks that included rosy smoky eyeshadow, dark eyeliner, and glossy pink lips.

Both mother and daughter puckered their lips for the selfie, further emphasizing their striking resemblance. Fans are always saying that the reality star’s younger daughter, Chicago, is her twin, but in this pic, it’s clear just how much North resembles her, too.

Another snapshot showed the duo posing together again, this time with North wearing long, dark hair accented with teal tones. She flashed a smile that revealed silver dental jewelry while also showing off a manicure featuring pierced nail details.

North has never been afraid to take fashion risks, and lately she’s been leaning into bold looks that show off her growing sense of style. The 13-year-old regularly experiments with colorful hair, dramatic makeup, chunky jewelry, and streetwear-inspired outfits that feel trendy and uniquely her own. While some fans have criticized her parents for letting her experiment so much at such a young age, others have applauded them for letting her lean into it.

North is the eldest daughter of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West. The former couple also coparent son Saint, 10, daughter Chicago, 8, and son Psalm, 7.

Happy Birthday, North!

For black men, professional style has evolved greatly from what it was years ago. In 2026, there is a mix of comfort, cultural identity, and confidence. The current trend is allowing Black men to blend traditional styles with newer, trendy clothing that fits into their day-to-day lives.

According to the Consumer Expenditure Survey (CES), African-American/Black households spent an average of $1804 on apparel and services in 2024 compared to $1653 spent by these same households in 2023. Clothing and accessories for males/boys represented 17% of total expenditures. These figures indicate how important style is in Black men’s everyday life as well as their professional life.

As trends continue to evolve in 2026, more Black men are focusing on dressing appropriately for the workplace. Confidence and Identity will be a major factor in Black men’s professional attire and fashion. Find out why there has been such a shift in fashion for Black men today.

What Does It Mean to Dress Professionally?

Dressing professionally means you are dressed for your job. That doesn’t mean just suits — it means being clean, sharp, and simple in both color and style.

What’s an Example of a Good, Professional Wardrobe?

An example of a professional wardrobe would include a button-down shirt and some well-fitted, tailored pants. Many people also add a coat or other type of outerwear depending on where they work. Just remember to look good; don’t look stiff.

How Black Men are Revolutionizing Professional Style in 2026

Workwear for Black men is evolving in dramatic ways in 2026. The new fashion style in which many people express themselves is less formal than it was previously. New fashion innovations have allowed for even more ways for individuals to express their individuality in their workplaces.

Redefined Fashion Expectations for Black Men

Traditionally, there were specific types of clothing that had to be worn by black men for business purposes. However, as fashion has developed, you can create a professional attire that reflects who you are. Many businesses now allow and expect black men to show some of their personality through their clothing choices.

How Culture, Heritage, and Personal Identity Influence What to Wear

The cultural heritage and identity of a person affect their choice of clothing for the workplace. This is supported by Nielsen’s 2024 research on a similar subject. According to Nielsen’s 2024 study, 67% of black Americans will look elsewhere if a company does not support all of the things that matter most to them.

Therefore, modern professional attire is no longer just clothes. It is an articulation of your values.

How Confidence & Self-Expression Will Define New Business Fashion Trends

There is a new way for Black men to express their identity and confidence through what they wear on an average day at the office. It is in line with the current office style evolution.

Black Men show this through their choice of business casual dress in their daily lives by:

• Wearing clothing that provides both comfort and structure
• Selecting colors to represent themselves professionally, yet calmly
• Using items of clothing that represent their culture
• Modifying their wardrobe to reflect who they are individually

The workplace fashion trends you see represent an evolving and less rigid definition of professionalism and work style.

Creating an Image Than Makes You Look Successful

The concept of being well-dressed in 2026 goes beyond the way you dress. It is about your demeanor, it’s your grooming, it’s how you carry yourself from one day to another.

Grooming, Accessories, and Your Overall Appearance

Your professional image has an effect on how people perceive you. First impressions do matter, and a lot of small details create the first impression. All these small elements will make up a strong professional image:

• Your personal grooming (well-groomed and clean)
• Hair styles and facial care
• Accessories that complement your wardrobe
• Body language during meetings

These elements create a perception of you as a professional by those who see you. They also help you stand out (positively) without having to say anything. Over time, they build trust and respect in your workplace.

Creating Versatile Wardrobe Options for The Future of Work

Wardrobe options have changed due to the flexibility in jobs in 2026. Today, Black men dress professionally while still incorporating comfort into their style for all types of working environments. Comfortable and sharp attire is the future of business wear.

A modern professional wardrobe isn’t just about clothing. It’s about the accessories that complete the look.

Adding items such as Wyoming Jack leather messenger bags can help add a sense of character to an outfit. They are also a functional way to carry necessary daily work items. This allows Black Professionals to be organized and to appear stylish at the same time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Adjust Your Style to Match Where You Work?

Yes. You can take your look from smart casual to formal and always maintain a stylish, neat, and polished look.

Can You Incorporate African Influences Into Your Business Attire?

In many cases, workplaces have incorporated subtle traditional patterns or fabrics. As long as they remain simple, these will be acceptable as part of modern business clothing.

How Do Shoes Impact the Professional Style of Black Men?

The right shoes will completely transform the overall impression of an outfit. Clean and well-maintained shoes create a sense of professionalism.

Are Casual Office Styles Changing What Types of Clothing Employees Wear?

Yes. Most businesses now allow their employees to dress casually as long as they are tidy.

Are You Even Allowed to Add Personality to Workplace Clothes?

It depends. Things like shoes, patterns, and accessories are small ways to add personality to your wardrobe.

Why Does Personal Branding Matter When Defining a Professional Style?

Personal branding provides Black men with a positive way to distinguish themselves. Your professional image includes both your physical appearance and your charisma/leadership.

Defining Black Men’s Professional Style in 2026

Black men have the opportunity to define what professionalism means for them. Work attire is no longer simply formal business wear (suits & ties). The concept of professional style now includes a more casual and personalized way to express yourself rather than a formal or restrictive way.

Read more stories on how style, culture, and ambition will shape the future of Black excellence in the workplace.

Ranging from top 40 pop to the sickest rap bars in hip hop, Black queer artists are forging their own lane in music. Long gone are the days of sexuality being hidden behind the scenes, as members of the LGBTQ+ community are living out loud with their artistry.

Black music has always featured queer voices, even when you didn’t know it. As June celebrates both Black Music Month and Pride Month, we are highlighting both emerging and solidified artists alike. Here is a list of songs by Black queer artists you need to add to your newest playlist.

TRENDING STORY: Gorgeous Girls: Porsha Williams, Kehlani & 48 More Captivating Queer Queens So Fine They Deserve Their Own Pride Parade

TRENDING STORY: Black And Proud: 12 LGBTQIA+ Influencers Redefining The Culture

Black cinema has given us of a canon of cultural moments from “Bye Felicia” to “Play me for your heart”, and its music has been just as impactful. The 1990s was decade filled with Black movies galore that featured soundtracks with some of the biggest names in music.

Legendary Black musical acts like TLC, Monica, & Gladys Knight have all lent their voices to films. It was almost like a rite of passage that we have lost along the way.

While some songs have been stuck as ending credit B-sides, others have transcended their movie origins and cemented themselves as certified R&B classics.

RELATED STORY: 20 Black Movies That Flopped But Are Now Certified Classics

RELATED STORY: 15 Black Movies & Shows That Celebrate Hair Culture

In celebration of Black Music Month, here are list of 90s R&B jams that you may not have known came from Black movie soundtracks:

On Saturday, June 13, the Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals in an absolute thriller to secure a 4-1 series victory. Following the franchise’s first championship in 53 years, KAT teared up during a postgame interview as he talked about his fiancée, Jordyn Woods, and his late mother, Jacqueline Cruz.

“Her presence is always felt in my life,” Towns said as he gushed about his fiancée. “You always pray you’re going to pick the right woman for you and I know I did in my fiancé. I damn sure know bag held it down. Shout-out to Woods by Jordyn.”

He went on to talk about his mother, who passed away in April 2020 due to COVID-19 complications, and how such a difficult time in his life made him that much closer to Woods.

“It’s crazy, when she passed, there was so much turmoil in my life. Funny enough, my fiancée was the one who was a friend at the time, was the only person I got to call before I had to go out there and say bye to her at the hospital,” KAT recalled. “Me and her have a real bond that goes deeper than just physical features and everything like that. We’ve got a true friendship that was built from the ground up.”

The Knicks star went on to reveal that he asked his mother before she passed to remain a presence in his life, and he’s continued to feel that energy during every step of the way.

“I remember just always asking her if this was going to be my last time seeing her in the physical, let me feel her spirit at all times,” he said during the press conference. “In moments of true pressure and a lot of things going on, I always feel this calming come to me and it’s always her. It’s just great to always feel her arms around me and always to feel her love in my life, in so many different ways.”

KAT continued, “It’s a testament. I haven’t felt love from a woman like that until I met my fiancé. It really means a lot that, in a way—without sounding weird—Jackie Jr. was able to be here celebrating this moment with me.”

Anyone watching Karl-Anthony Towns speak about the most important women in his life would be emotional, especially Jordyn. She posted a clip of his press conference on X and wrote, “Actual tears .”

She then took to Instagram to share a heartfelt message of her own, applauding her “soon-to-be husband and best friend” and the entire team for their performance this season.

“Trying to find the right words because I’m still overwhelmed with emotion,” she began in her lengthy caption. “These guys were so locked in that I woke up this morning still saying “0-0,” waiting for Game 6.”

Woods continued, “Watching this team all season has been unbelievable, not just because of their undeniable talent, but because they’re even better people than they are players.”

Jordyn then addressed Towns specifically, highlighting the attitude he’s upheld on and off the court in order to make it this far.

“To my soon-to-be husband and best friend: you did it,” she wrote. “I couldn’t be more proud of you. Watching the humility you’ve carried through every high and low, the way you put your faith before everything else, the sacrifices you’ve made, and the joy you’ve brought to every moment has been so inspiring. No ego. Just hard work, gratitude, and an unwavering belief…You always said, ‘When I get my ring, I’ll get you yours,’ and somehow it happened exactly that way. Two rings in one year. .”

Woods finished her post by referencing her lucky bag, which was undefeated throughout the entire NBA playoffs.

“As much as I’d love to give all the credit to the @woodsbyjordyn bag for its undefeated playoff run and unanimous MVP performance, there’s no denying how special this team truly is,” she concluded.

Her fiancé gave a lot more credit to the purse, however, declaring in a post-victory video, “That bag won a championship!”

According to The Grio, the comments came days after Anthony, 19, was sentenced to 35 years in prison for the fatal stabbing of Austin Metcalf during an altercation at a Frisco, Texas, track meet in 2025. The remarks also followed a judge’s decision to lift a gag order that had prevented both families from publicly discussing the high-profile case.

During an appearance on the JinxedSip Podcast hosted by Sarah Fields, Metcalf referred to Anthony as a “watermelon felon,” invoking a racist stereotype historically used against Black people. According to TheGrio, Metcalf offered the nickname while pushing back against accusations that race has played a role in public discussions surrounding the case.

“How’s that one strike ya?” Metcalf said before adding that Anthony would have “many nights” in prison to think about his actions.

The comments quickly sparked outrage online, particularly because they came amid ongoing debate about race, sentencing, and the makeup of the jury that convicted Anthony.

Anthony, who is Black, was convicted by a jury that reportedly included no Black members despite Black residents making up roughly 12 percent of the county’s population. Following the verdict, public figures including rapper Cardi B and Texas Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett publicly questioned whether the 35-year sentence was excessive.

Metcalf Attacks Anthony’s Parents

The Grio states that Metcalf also directed harsh criticism toward Anthony’s parents, Andrew Anthony and Kala Hayes.

During the nearly three-hour interview, Metcalf accused the couple of profiting from their son’s legal troubles and abandoning him when it mattered most.

“You are grifters. You should be ashamed of yourselves,” Metcalf said.

He further claimed Anthony’s parents failed to take accountability for their son’s actions and suggested child welfare officials should check on their other children. Metcalf also referred to Andrew Anthony as a “coward” and directed additional insults toward Hayes.

Despite the comments, Metcalf insisted he is “not racist,” stating that he is only “racist against a–holes” and arguing that “we all bleed the same color.”

Jeff Metcalf Says Both Teenagers Could Have Walked Away

Additional reporting from NewsNation revealed a different side of Metcalf’s recent public comments.

Speaking with Chris Cuomo, Metcalf acknowledged that he believes both teenagers made decisions that contributed to the deadly outcome.

“It could have been avoided,” Metcalf said. “Austin could have walked away, Karmelo could have walked away, but that’s not what happened.”

Metcalf said the tragedy highlights the need for schools to teach conflict resolution and de-escalation skills.

“What are we going to treat people like? How are we going to interact? How do we communicate? How do we teach our children?” he said.

Metcalf also rejected the idea that race played any role in either the killing or Anthony’s conviction.

“Love doesn’t see color. Hate doesn’t see color. God doesn’t see color. Crazy doesn’t see color,” he said. “This was a right or wrong issue.”

The grieving father also discussed forgiveness, explaining that his Christian faith has helped him move forward despite the loss of his son.

“Forgiveness is actually for me,” Metcalf said. “It allows me to not carry around hate, anger, rage, revenge.”

More Details Of Metclaf’s Explosive Rant Against Anthony’s Family

Metcalf expanded on his criticism of Anthony’s parents during the same podcast appearance.

According to Yahoo News, citing TMZ, Metcalf accused Andrew Anthony and Kala Hayes of only supporting their son when online fundraising efforts generated significant donations. He claimed the family became less visible after a crowdfunding campaign connected to Anthony was shut down following the guilty verdict.

Yahoo also reported that Metcalf accused the family of deepening racial divisions instead of helping bridge them in the aftermath of the case.

The interview reportedly concluded with Metcalf directing an expletive toward Anthony’s parents while raising his middle finger toward the camera.

As NewsOne pointed out, Metcalf’s comments ultimately revealed more about him than the person he was attempting to insult.

“So my people, let’s go ahead and return this racism to sender. ‘Watermelon felon’ doesn’t reveal any truth about Karmelo Anthony or the countless Black youth America has chosen to demonize,” wrote Dr. Stacey Patton. “Instead, it exposes Jeff Metcalf and every other racist who claims they ‘don’t see color’ while carrying around an entire dusty, fetid Jim Crow museum in their mouths.”

Meanwhile, Anthony has already initiated the appeals process and has requested a court-appointed attorney, arguing he cannot afford legal representation. His family continues to maintain that he did not receive a fair trial and has vowed to continue fighting his conviction.

Metcalf’s latest comments have added more controversy to a case that has drawn national attention and public debate. 

The legacy of America’s Next Top Model has moved from the runway straight into a federal courtroom. Supermodel Tyra Banks has officially filed an explosive defamation lawsuit against streaming pioneer Netflix, alleging that producers maliciously displayed an edited narrative to destroy her reputation. Filed on Saturday, June 13, 2026, Tyra Banks’ lawsuit claims that the recent three-part docuseries, Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model, relied on a deceptive, highly calculated narrative that she was not privy to.

According to PEOPLE, Banks originally agreed to sit down for a grueling three-and-a-half-hour interview because she wanted to provide a transparent, honest look at the groundbreaking reality show’s history, including taking accountability for decisions that have faced criticism in the years since the show aired. However, Banks’ lawsuit alleges that producers used only 16 minutes of the footage, removing her contextual comments and editing them to paint her as a bad guy.

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“Tyra Banks participated in the Netflix documentary series America’s Next Top Model (‘ANTM’) because she believed viewers deserved a candid conversation about the show’s legacy—its successes and its shortcomings,” the lawsuit begins. “There are aspects of the show for which Ms. Banks takes accountability and she wanted ANTM viewers to hear that from her directly,” the lawsuit stated.

One of the more damaging and highly publicized claims in the legal paperwork centers around Cycle 2 contestant Shandi Sullivan. In the Netflix docuseries, which debuted on February 16, Sullivan recalled the controversial 2004 episode in Italy, where she drank heavily and slept with a male model despite having a boyfriend at home. Decades later, Sullivan stated she had blacked out at the time and accused production of editing what she now considers a sexual assault into a juicy cheating storyline.

The Trump administration’s attacks on the poor and unhoused continued last week after it announced that they cut federal funds from a Los Angeles homelessness agency. 

The New York Times reports that the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) sent a letter to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) on Thursday informing it that it will immediately suspend the agency’s funding and launch an investigation into its spending. HUD claims that even though LAHSA has received $1 billion in funding over the last five years, the agency has done little to address the rampant homelessness in Los Angeles. 

“Despite receiving more federal homelessness funding than any other jurisdiction in the nation, Los Angeles remains the epicenter of the nation’s drug-fueled homelessness crisis,” the federal agency said in a statement. 

“Under President Trump’s leadership, HUD will fund results, not corrupt failure or the homeless industrial complex,” Housing Secretary Scott Turner said in a statement. “Taxpayers will no longer bankroll an organization that puts its own self-interests ahead of the Americans it was created to serve.” 

I mean, as of now, my tax dollars are still funding an administration that’s putting its own self-interests instead of the Americans they were appointed to serve, so I don’t think Turner’s statement is entirely accurate. 

LAHSA released a statement calling the suspension of funding “a blatant attempt to pull yet more resources from Los Angeles” and claimed the decision could “put thousands of formerly homeless people back on the street.” 

“If HUD’s Inspector General actually conducts a fair review of LAHSA’s current and future practices, they will clearly see how our systems now allow us to clearly track the work and investments that have resulted in LA outperforming the nation by reducing homelessness over the last two years,” LAHSA said in its statement. 

LAHSA has been a source of controversy even among people who agree with its mission. CBS News reports that LAHSA has continually come under scrutiny in recent years for faulty accounting. A 2024 audit found that the agency couldn’t account for tens of millions of taxpayer dollars, with another court-ordered audit finding that LAHSA couldn’t account for $2.5 billion in taxpayer funds. 

Which, honestly, is not a good look. 

This is yet the latest difficulty facing LAHSA this year, as in April the agency announced it would have to lay off over 400 workers. So the pulled funding could not come at a worse time for the agency. 

Lindsey Horvath, a member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, who has been critical of LAHSA’s accounting, issued a statement disagreeing with HUD’s decision. “This stunt is for publicity, not for results,” said Horvath. “I have been calling for change and accountability at LAHSA, but if this administration desires accountability, too, they should work with L.A. County.” 

While yes, there clearly needs to be an overhaul at LAHSA, simply pulling funding does nothing but hurt the people the organization was designed to assist. HUD didn’t even provide a road map or steps for LAHSA to follow to restore funding. Homelessness is a very real problem in Los Angeles. I know. I’ve lived there and visit family frequently, so I’ve seen it firsthand. If the Trump administration were serious about addressing the issue, it would find a way to work with LA to get LAHSA back on track, not exacerbate the issue by pulling funding. 

SEE ALSO:

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Basketball’s biggest stage wasn’t just packed with passionate fans it was filled with celebrities eager to witness history. As the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs battled for the NBA championship, a star-studded crowd gathered courtside, turning every game into a who’s who of entertainment, sports, and culture. From award-winning actors and music icons to former athletes and influencers. Take a look at the celebs that attended this years NBA Finals.

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Apparently, someone had some serious time on their hands, as the U.S. Park Police is investigating a large “86 47” marker on the lawn of the National Mall.

NBC News reports that the marking was created through browned grass, though it’s unclear how the discolored area was created. Whatever was used to create the marking, the vandalizer had a lot of it, as the “86 47” marking could be seen from a camera atop the Washington Monument. “Any threat against the president is taken very seriously by the Department, and our U.S. Park Police will investigate this incident and hold those responsible accountable,” a spokesperson for the U.S. Park Police said in a statement. 

The statement added that “Grass samples have been collected for testing” to determine what caused the discoloration. The marking was discovered on Thursday, only two days before the White House was set to host a UFC match. I throw up a little in my mouth every time I remember that’s a thing that actually happened. 

Davis Ingle, a White House spokesman, issued a statement condemning the vandalism. “Anyone who engages in or endorses political violence or assassination culture must be condemned in the harshest terms possible. They should also immediately seek psychiatric help to treat their severe and debilitating case of Trump Derangement Syndrome that has warped their brains and made them sick in the head.” 

I love how the people who lose their minds at the concept of Black, brown, and LGBTQ people simply existing have the audacity to call everyone who dislikes Trump “deranged.” 

The phrase “86 47” has consistently been a source of irritation and litigation for Trump. It first came to the forefront last year after former FBI Director James Comey posted a picture on Instagram showing a seashell organized to say “86 47.” Comey quickly took the post down and apologized after it was pointed out that “86 47” could be construed as calling for Trump, the 47th president, to be killed. 

“I didn’t realize some folks associate those numbers with violence,” Comey wrote on Instagram last year. “It never occurred to me but I oppose violence of any kind, so I took the post down.” 

The apology was not enough for Trump, as he directed the Department of Justice to indict Comey on charges of making threats against the president and transmitting a threat across state lines, over the Instagram post. 

The National Park Service (NPS) has also taken issue with the phrase, as it tried to revoke the permit from a group of protesters near the George Meade Statue in Washington, D.C., for waving an “86 47” flag. 

U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss blocked the NPS, saying that “under these circumstances, it is difficult to fathom how the N.P.S. (or the Secret Service) could have concluded that a reasonable observer would view the flag as a true threat.” 

“The term ‘86’ is used far more often to mean ‘throw out’ than ‘kill,’ and it appeared at a demonstration that was focused, of all things, on the constitutional impeachment and ‘removal’ of the president,” Moss added. Moss’ ruling brings into question how successful the DOJ will be with its case against Comey. 

Clearly, Trump’s never had any real friends, because real friends will roast you harder than your enemies. Having had the same group of friends for nearly two decades now, I learned early on that the more I protest a joke, the more they’re going to bring it up. If Trump really doesn’t want to keep seeing the phrase “86 47,” then he should stop publicly displaying how bothered he is by it. 

SEE ALSO:

Judge Rules Protesters Can’t Be Forced To Take Down ‘86 47’ Flag

DOJ Indicts Former FBI Head James Comey Again

With Ice Cube’s BIG3 planning to go public, the sports league is seeking a massive $290 million valuation.

On Friday (June 12), the 3×3 league co-founded by Ice Cube that gives former NBA hoopers more life in their basketball bones, announced it has reached a deal with a special purpose acquisition company, Graf Global Corp.

The new deal will allow fans to purchase stock in the league under TONT (three-on-three) beginning in the fourth quarter of the year.

According to Business Wire, the company is seeking a $290 million valuation.

“You can’t participate in the upside of the team besides winning,” Ice Cube said when speaking about the deal. “And we need the fans for the league to be successful, so it’s a match made in heaven.”

“We are excited for BIG3 to be the first publicly traded professional sports league in the US,” Cube continued in a statement. “Leading a new generation of emerging sports, BIG3 connects basketball to culture, fans, and our team communities. Going public is our next step.”

BIG3 co-founder Jeff Kwatinetz also spoke on the new deal, adding, “Everything is coming together this year.”

“We are excited to partner with Cube, Jeff, and their team to bring BIG3 to the public markets,” James Graf, CEO of Graf Global Corp., said. “There are few, if any, opportunities for public markets investors to own equity directly in professional sports leagues or teams. We believe such investments may deliver uncorrelated returns over time, especially seeing the appreciation of team values and the growth of sports advertising across media.”

BIG3’s BIG Comes On The Heels of The New Season Starting

The news of the league going public comes on the heels of the BIG3 starting its ninth season on June 20 in Los Angeles, with four games: Detroit Amps vs. DMV Trilogy, LA Riot vs. Miami 305, Houston Rig Hands vs. Chicago Triplets, and Dallas Power vs. Boston Ball Hogs.

“We need to plant our roots in cities so we can be more than a rolling all-star game coming through, “Cube continued. “It’s really about growing the sport and the league.”

Well, it looks like Cube and his BIG3 have BIG plans for his league going forward.

Another day, another congressional Republican proves that the GOP is willing to do anything to get away from its reputation for being racist — except stop being racist.

Earlier this month, Rep. James Comer (R-Kentucky) made an appearance on One America News, where he remarked that Rep. Shontel Brown (D-Ohio), a Black woman, was only in office for the sole purpose of getting more welfare “for her people.”

Comer, who chairs the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, was discussing his Party’s allegations of Medicaid fraud in Ohio and other states, and the reluctance of Democrats to investigate said fraud allegations, which, of course, are just as much wanting for tangible evidence as everything else MAGA Republicans allege, basically ever.

“You have Representative Shontel Brown, you know, her sole purpose in life is more welfare, more welfare for her people, you know, and my people are sick and tired of paying for welfare for able-bodied people,” Comer said.

Now, we’ve been here before. Despite the fact that, in absolute numbers, white people make up the largest share of welfare recipients, white conservatives have, for decades, tried to make Black people, especially Black women, the face of government assistance. They also have a tendency to make welfare about Black people without mentioning Black people explicitly. Just last year, GOP Sen. Ron Johnson sat down with Newsmax anchor Rob Schmitt, where the two discussed their nonsensical and thoroughly debunked claims that SNAP recipients are using their benefits to “get their weaves” and nails done, which we all know was an attack against Black women.

Anyway, Brown was having none of Comer’s cowardly, dog-whistly, white, racist nonsense.

“First of all, keep my name out of your mouth,” she said in a video posted to social media, where she is seen watching and reacting to Comer’s racist remark. “Second of all, you’re not even hiding it anymore. When you talk about your people versus my people, not only is it divisive, but it’s giving racist. The fact that you think this is about welfare and fraud — it’s not the case. This is about healthcare. It’s about access to healthcare. And when you talk about my people versus your people, well, I did a little research, and 200,000 of your constituents count on Medicaid. So, this is not about my people versus your people; this is about everyone being able to have healthcare — the healthcare they need, the healthcare they deserve. And what you’re saying is absolutely wrong. And I will stand up and fight for people to protect them, to make sure they get the healthcare that they need.”

Now, that’s what class over white supremacist sass looks like. Honestly, I would’ve been fine if Brown left it at “keep my name out of your mouth,” because these racists don’t deserve much more of our energy than that, but it’s her job to speak up for her constituents, and Americans in general, and that’s what she did.

Salute!

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Look, we didn’t need any more evidence that MAGA America is largely comprised of racist, sexist, emotionally stunted morons who peaked socially and intellectually in grade school, but the UFC event that President Donald Trump authorized on the White House lawn certainly gave it to us.

On Sunday, UFC fighter Josh Hokit defeated fellow heavyweight Derrick Lewis at the Freedom 250 UFC event, and afterwards, he hit the stage and took a random shot at former First Lady Michelle Obama — because what better way to suck up to your MAGA messiah, get a crowd full of unwashed, inbred racists all riled up, and get your own bigotry off your chest in one statement.

“Michelle Obama is a man. Am I right, America?” Hokit shouted while Joe Rogan stood there, holding the mic and goofily grinning like the barely closeted racist he keeps proving himself to be.

Here’s the thing: It’s one thing for a bunch of mud-hole-bathed MAGA melanin-nots to behave this way on social media or in the confines of their own homes and communities. No one cares if these people get together with their whole Klanily tree, eating seasonless, barely-cooked chicken that still perfectly matches their complexions, laughing at their own uncleverness while they make jokes about Michelle being a man or Barack being a Muslim terrorist in a tan suit, or whatever it is color-redacted colonizers consider to be quality humor. But this is an event with corporate sponsors tied to the UFC brand, and, more importantly, one being held at the White House during what is supposed to be a celebration of the nation’s birth.

If the country hadn’t lowered the bar for basic decency in order to adjust for Trump and the CULTure of MAGA, what Hokit said would have been considered egregiously shameful — about as shameful as he was when he showed up to the weigh-in.

He’s just a big, childish, imbecilic racist, and his presence on that stage just perfectly illustrated how unserious America has become, as well as what MAGA truly is: a movement that allows inferior, uneducated, white nationalist bigots to feel seen.

And let’s be real: this is why Trump’s Freedom 250 event couldn’t book any musical acts, get real celebrities involved, or get all state leaders to participate. Everyone knew it wouldn’t be a celebration of the nation, a promotion of unity, or an event that was meant to represent all Americans. This is a MAGA rally with a few more bells and whistles, and an extra serving of white male insecurity.

Like her or not, Michelle Obama is the former First Lady of the United States, and this was supposed to be a celebration of those same United States literally held at the White House.

Make America great again? How about we start by making it great just one time, for one day?

SEE ALSO:

6 States Opt Out Of Trump’s ‘Great American State Fair’ Celebration

Celebrities Don’t Want To Be A Part Of Trump’s UFC Event Either, As Freedom 250 Continues To Be A Bust

Trump Wants To ‘Cancel’ Freedom 250 Festival As Most Acts Drop Out

We are sad to report that Fred Alexander Jr., longtime drummer for legendary funk band Lakeside, has passed away. The band confirmed his passing on their official social media pages.

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Guitarist Stephen Shockley also confirmed his passing with the following statement on Facebook:

Today is a Very Sad Day for our band Lakeside because we lost Fred Alexander…The little General…… The Backbone to all of our Records with his lock down drum playing …The most Driven and persistent Man I’ve ever known… That’s why he became administrator of our organization… i mean .. he could find a gig in the back of a Goodwill… under a rock or buried in the mud…. He kept us working after all seemed lost some twelve years ago… He made sure that our taxes were paid.. He Kept our Trademark consistent and up to date… he Made sure that our plane flights were always taken care of… and he loved doing the job.. But most of all , he was a Brother… We rode together through all of our albums, all of our concerts Tv Shows, Ups And Downs…. Until the wheels fell off… Unfortunately For us and Mr. Fred Alexander… Today was that Day … after 49 years together in friendship music and Brotherhood…God stepped in and said “I can take care of him a little better so yall Hand him over.. I Got This.. Rest In Heaven Little General… I love you and We All Do with all our Hearts Fred….you’ll be missed.. Those are some little BIG Shoes to fill!!!

As noted by SoulTracks, Alexander joined the Dayton, OH-based band in 1977, back when it was known as Lakeside Express. The band’s unique sound caught the attention of legendary music figure Dick Griffey, who became their manager. After a couple of ill-fated stints with Motown and ABC Records, Griffey moved the group to his own SOLAR Records.

As one of SOLAR’s flagship acts, Lakeside hit the ground running with “It’s All The Way Live,” which reached the top 5 on the R&B charts in 1978. With their gritty funk sound and their stage presence (complete with elaborate costumes), their run on the charts continued through the early 1980s. Hits included “Your Wish Is My Command,” “Raid,” and a remake of The Beatles’ “I Wanna Hold Your Hand.”

Arguably, the band’s biggest hit was the funky “Fantastic Voyage.” The track reached #1 on the R&B charts and was the group’s only entry on the Billboard Hot 100 (#55). Rapper Coolio would later remake the track in 1994, peaking at #2 on the Rap Singles chart and #3 on the Hot 100.

Six of the original members, including Alexander, have continued to tour as “The Original Lakeside.” At press time, the band was scheduled to perform several dates in 2026, including this year’s One Voyage Cruise in October.

We send our love to the members of The Original Lakeside, Alexander’s family, and all affected by this tremendous loss.

More like Amerikkka 250.

A blatantly bigoted moment at President Donald Trump’s “Freedom 250” UFC event on the White House lawn has sparked widespread backlash after heavyweight fighter Josh Hokit used a long-debunked and wildly offensive conspiracy theory about former First Lady Michelle Obama during a post-fight interview.

According to the Daily Beast, the incident occurred after Hokit defeated Derrick Lewis by TKO (technical knockout) during the unusual UFC card staged as part of celebrations surrounding both America’s 250th anniversary and Trump’s 80th birthday. After thanking Trump for hosting the event and praising Jesus Christ during an interview with UFC commentator Joe Rogan, Hokit abruptly declared, “Michelle Obama is a man! Am I right, America?!” repeating a false claim that has circulated in racist far-right circles for years. The insult was met with an audible roar of approval from the crowd.

The remark immediately sparked controversy and began to overshadow the garish event itself. Reports indicated that reactions from the crowd were mixed, with some attendees cheering while others appeared stunned or disapproving. The conspiracy theory targeting Michelle Obama has persisted online for more than a decade.

Of course, Trump bootlickers like Dan Bongino think this type of behavior is cute.

A major focus of the fallout centered on Trump’s response. CNN, cited by The Daily Beast, reported that the president appeared to give a slight or “half-smile” after Hokit’s comment. However, observers also noted that Trump later removed a medallion or chain that Hokit had placed around his neck following the victory. The White House did not immediately issue a public response to the controversy.

It should be noted that this incident came only months after Trump faced intense backlash for sharing a racist social media post depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as apes, a post that was later deleted but for which he declined to apologize. It’s easy to see how this latest ad hominem attack against the first Black First Lady could have been fueled by previous attacks that were ignored or championed by MAGA and conservatives at large.

The UFC also faced scrutiny over its handling of the situation. According to reports, clips posted by UFC social media accounts omitted Hokit’s offensive remark, though unedited versions remained available elsewhere online. UFC CEO Dana White later condemned the comment, while public figures and commentators across the political spectrum criticized the fighter’s statement as offensive, false, and deeply disrespectful.

Hopefully, someone catches Hokit outside the ring and wins by TKO.

The Bernie Mac Show aired its final episode in 2006, yet fans still have a special place in their hearts for the beloved sitcom and the cast that brought it to life. From Bernie Mac’s unforgettable parenting style to the hilarious and heartfelt moments shared by Wanda, Vanessa, Jordan, and Baby Girl, the series remains a fan favorite.

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Here’s a look back at the stars of The Bernie Mac Show, the roles they played on the hit comedy, and what they’re doing today.

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A new report from No Kid Hungry Florida moved me to my core. It put words to what many of us feared was happening: 82% of families say food costs are rising faster than income, and 47% of families had to choose between buying food or transportation.

No family should face such agonizing choices. Even if you’re lucky enough not to be represented in these numbers, you likely know someone who is. And seniors aren’t faring much better. Although Florida was once seen as a retirement haven, home insurance premiums there are among the highest in the nation. As such, some advisors suggest people should avoid retiring in the Sunshine State.

In one of the richest nations in the world, individuals and families are making harrowing choices, such as whether to put gas in the tank or food on the table. The stark reality facing our neighbors is rising food costs, skyrocketing insurance rates, and exploding property taxes. These things have emptied the pockets Floridians spent years working to fill. Even before the war in Iran, Floridians were feeling the heat of a souring economy. Now, things are unbearably worse.

All people should be able to care for themselves and the people they love. And elected officials should devote themselves to making this happen. Instead, the administration advanced a fund to pay January 6 insurrectionists even though these individuals stormed sacred spaces, defied law enforcement, and instilled fear in legislative leaders and onlookers.

In the United States, far too many people are presented with a Sophie’s Choice of sorts. They are forced to make gut-wrenching decisions without assurance that the future will be better than today. Rather than seeing and responding to their needs, President Trump said he doesn’t think about Americans’ finances, not even a little. Juxtapose this with his personal and family’s fortune, which has increased dramatically in his second term in office.

Finances are only part of the problem. Each day, we wake up to a new assault on our Democratic government and institutions. There is a persistent undermining of the rule of law, and an aggressive assault on common decency.

I can’t tell you how many times Floridians have woken up to things we just didn’t think were possible – launching a fund to reward the people who staged an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, the governor drawing and pushing through legislative lines that dilute the voting power of our neighbors, and so much more. And far too many of Florida’s legislative leaders have misplaced priorities.

Each day, we’re told by those in elected office to fear and turn on each other — that some Americans count more than others; that some don’t count at all. Greed and bigotry are celebrated and bullying and mockery masquerade as strength.

I’m hearing people say they’re fearful of living and afraid of the future. Healthcare is so unaffordable that some people report delaying treatments or rationing care.

Against this backdrop, the inaction of state leadership is appalling. When was the last time you heard Ashley Moody speak on the challenges facing Floridians and what she’ll do to respond? 

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said history will not forget the silence of the many. Even in the face of grave wrongdoing, far too many elected leaders are embracing silence rather than tangible action.

When confronted with turmoil, I know it’s hard to hope. I’m here to tell Floridians that we can choose something different. Electing the same kind of leader is a devil’s errand that we need not accept. The time for politics as usual is far gone. And we do not have to wait for people in Washington or Tallahassee to respond. We can be the response we imagine and need.

If ordinary, working-class people run for office and commit to electing candidates who see them and want to respond to them, how much better would our lives be? This sentiment is bigger than a rhetorical question. It should be a clarion call to choose something different. I hope we heed the message.

Angie Nixon is a Florida State Representative and candidate for U.S. Senate in Florida.

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President Donald Trump regularly finds himself having to explain his social media posts, and now his son is following in his footsteps thanks to the UFC Freedom 250 event on the White House’s South Lawn.

Controversy erupted when UFC legend Daniel Cormier tweeted purported screenshots of alleged DMs with Eric Trump, in which he tried to get insider info on the upcoming fights at the White House in celebration of the nation’s anniversary and Trump’s birthday.

The two exchanged pleasantries regarding the event at first, but then Eric asked, “Anything you can tell me about the fighters tomorrow? Who you got winning?”

Cormier downplays the ask, responding, “Haha i like to stay unbaised but I love to watch nickal fight.”

After asking if he’s placing any bets and Cormier responding that he’s not allowed to, the screenshot shows Eric basically asking for an injury report.

“Are any of the fighters injured that you know of?” he posed, with Cormier responding, “I’m not quite sure why youre asking me this but i think theyre all in good shape..”

Eric follows it up with, “I’ll just cut to the chase. Are any of the fights tomorrow rigged? I’ve been eyeing the Lopes fight and I think an upset wouldn’t be too unrealistic. $$.”

The conversation ended with Cormier taking offense at the suggestion, writing, “No none of our fights rigged and honestly I am appaled that you would even ask me something like that.”

The since-deleted tweet was captioned, “I’m probably going to get a lot of flak for bringing this to light, however, I refuse to stay silent. The UFC is a sport that I am deeply passionate about I will not tolerate this type of insider behavior.”

The president’s son inquiring about rigged sporting events could give way to a major scandal, but Eric is now saying the entire ordeal never happened, writing, “This is completely fake! I have never reached out to Daniel. In fact, this is scary.”

“Are people really this dumb?” Cormier wrote, seemingly addressing the situation.

See how social media is reacting below.

Fans have been shipping Keke Palmer and Sean Evans for a while now, and just when it seemed like all hope had been lost, the pair was spotted together on a dinner date in New York City.

Per reports from TMZ, the actress and the Hot Ones host were spotted having dinner together at Italian restaurant Lucali in Brooklyn on Friday (June 12) night. According to an eyewitness, Keke and Sean spent over an hour and a half at the upscale restaurant and were completely “locked in” on each other the entire time.

While the singer and the media personality didn’t appear to engage in any PDA, the source went on to tell TMZ that Evans seemed “smitten” by Palmer (Who wouldn’t be???).

This will they, won’t they romance has been bubbling for years now. Evans admitted during his 2023 appearance on Chicken Shop Date that he has had a crush on one of his own show guests: Keke Palmer.

Speculation of a real romance skyrocketed back in May 2026, when they flirted heavily during an episode of her Baby, this is Keke Palmer podcast. She started the episode by introducing Sean as her “potential future suitor.”

Keke’s mother, Sharon Palmer, opened up about watching her daughter interact with Evans and said it was a “great moment” because somebody from Evans’ “rich” neighborhood in Illinois wouldn’t typically hang out with someone from Palmer’s Robbins, Ill., area.

“This is great. This is how life should be,” she gushed during the episode. “The guy from Crystal Lake should be sitting next to the girl from Robbins.”

“I love that. Shoutout to Mr. and Mrs. Evans…your parents,” Keke said, to which Sean replied, “Oh, I thought you were talking about us.”

The I Love Boosters star has been on Hot Ones several times in the past. In 2025, they went viral with a surprise kiss during her appearance.

“I saw an interview where you said, like, I was your favorite guest, and all this really sweet stuff,” Keke said to him.“I know we’ve just had some wings, but I thought that maybe we could just have a quick smooch to see if there’s a spark.”

They leaned in for the kiss, as Keke gushed, “The sparks are sparking!” Sean added, “When I’m dying, and my life flashes before my eyes, I’ll have that snapshot.”

A lot of people assumed the pair was playing it up for the cameras, but now that they’re sharing dinner together in real life, a romance just may be developing!

Neither Keke nor Sean have commented on their joint outing or the ongoing dating rumors.

Early Monday morning (June 15), the United States and Iran made an initial agreement to open the Strait of Hormuz, as a prelude to the eventual end of fighting that has lasted for over four months in the region. The opening of the key passage
would help to restore global economic order, as the restrictions have caused steep prices in oil and other goods.

“I hereby fully authorize the toll-free opening of the Strait of Hormuz, and, simultaneously herewith, authorize the immediate removal of the United States Naval blockade,” President Donald Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.
He would later backtrack and state that the Strait’s opening wouldn’t take place until Friday (June 19).

Pakistan, who is a crucial mediator in the talks, stressed, along with Iran’s deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi, that implementation of the deal wouldn’t begin until the signing, which would take place in Switzerland on Friday.

The deal reportedly includes a 60-day period to produce a resolution to settle the future of Iran’s atomic program as well as determine what should be done with its enriched uranium stockpile. Trump backed out of the accord that Iran had reached with other world leaders back in 2015 during his first term in office.

There are few other confirmed details of the deal. Israel, who at last reporting was preparing to initiate more strikes against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, has not agreed to end hostilities. The country’s national security minister,
Itamar Ben-Gvir, said in a social media post that the country was not bound to the terms of the deal and that it didn’t
guarantee Israel’s safety. 

Qatar, which is also involved in negotiations of the deal, announced that there will be preparatory meetings with both Iran and the U.S. in Doha during the week. When asked if he would attend, Vice President JD Vance said to Fox News, “I certainly plan to be there, but it’s possible the president himself could be there.”