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'God Bless America': Are Supporters of the Kate Smith Version Trying to Protect the Song—or the Singer?
For years, anyone attending a New York Yankees game would be subjected to the voice of Kate Smith singing “God Bless America” during the seventh-inning stretch. Smith, who died in 1986, was heralded in her day as the “Songbird of the South,” an uber popular songstress whose 1938 version of Irving Berlin’s song was so…
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Folks Busted by Killer Cop Amber Guyger Have Been Getting Some Get-Out-of-Jail-Free Passes by Dallas Prosecutors
Amber Guyger, the now former Dallas cop who killed an unarmed black man in his own home, is still awaiting trial in the case. But since her arrest and indictment, prosecutors have been dismissing charges against folks she hemmed up on drug and other crimes. It’s the latest development in the case surrounding the death of…
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Dazed and Confused: R. Kelly, Claiming He Was ‘Overwhelmed,’ Reportedly Wants to Fight Sex Assault Case He Just Lost
R. Kelly just won’t take the L. A judge this week entered a default judgment against Kelly when he didn’t show up to court to answer a civil suit that charged he sexually molested a woman, Heather Williams, years ago when she was only 16. Kelly was served notice about the civil suit while he…
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A Michigan Town Wants the Cops to Crack Down on the #BBQBeckys of the World — and We’re Here for It
You may remember #BBQBecky, the white woman who decided to call 911 on a group of black people who were simply barbecuing on a summer day in Oakland, Calif.? Or maybe you’ll recall #PoolPatrolPaula, the white woman who threatened to call 911 on three black teens for simply showing up at a public pool? Or…
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Policing the Police: Database of Corrupt Cops Opened to Public View
From so-called gang databases to terror watch lists, reports are plentiful about the various lists cops and other law enforcement keep on the people, but who keeps track of police misdeeds? Now, USA Today, in conjunction with the nonprofit Invisible Institute, is making available to the public a database of some 200,000 incidents of alleged…
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Anita Hill on Joe Biden: He’s Not Sorry Enough
It ain’t good enough. That’s the word from Anita Hill on overtures the latest Democratic presidential hopeful, former Vice President Joe Biden, made to her in the weeks leading up to the official announcement of his candidacy Thursday. According to the New York Times, Hill says Biden offered her regrets for “what she endured” during…
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Star Power: Mellody Hobson and George Lucas Vie for Control of Ebony, Jet Photo Archives
Financier Mellody Hobson and her husband, Star Wars movie mogul George Lucas, are taking steps to take control of Ebony and Jet’s massive archive of historic photos, chronicling African-American life over the last seven decades. The archive is uninsured and at risk, as it was used as collateral to secure a $12 million loan to…
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#MeToo: Tarana Burke Bolts From Sexual Violence Forum at FAMU in Dispute With HBCU
#MeToo founder and activist Tarana Burke abruptly ended a sexual violence forum at Florida A&M University after getting into a verbal altercation with a FAMU employee. Burke along with professor and influencer Yaba Blay were wrapping up their presentation when Burke and an unnamed FAMU employee had words regarding a program to end sexual violence…
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We Got ‘Zucked’: Facebook Censors Speech That Calls Out Racism, Black Activists Charge
Facebook has a problem in “black” and “white,” black activists charge, where even pointing out racism or racist posts or mentioning the word “black” as in “black-owned business” can get the post taken down for violating “hate speech” standards and lead to a suspension of the user’s account. Activists call it being “Zucked,” USA Today…
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The Gospel According to Ye: Kanye West Wants to Take His Sunday Service to Church—for Real
He gave a “Sunday Service” performance at Coachella; now, Kanye West apparently wants to give Sunday services for real—at a church of his own. Yes, that’s right. According to a source close to Ye, the man known for “Jesus Walks” wants to minister to people from the pulpit as opposed to the studio, People reports.…
