louisiana
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Don Lemon’s Sister, L’Tanya Lemon Grimes, Dies in Accidental Drowning
L’Tanya “Leisa” Lemon Grimes, the sister of CNN anchor Don Lemon, died Wednesday in an accidental drowning in Louisiana. According to the Times-Picayune, Lemon Grimes, 58, died after falling into a neighborhood pond. An official with the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office confirmed that no foul play was suspected in the death, and said that the…
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Louisiana Man Exonerated by DNA Evidence After Serving Nearly 38 Years in Prison for Rape He Didn’t Commit
Malcolm Alexander, who was just 21 years old when he was wrongfully convicted of aggravated rape and sentenced to life in Louisiana State Penitentiary (Angola), was released from prison Monday after Jefferson Parish Judge June Darensburg overturned his conviction. Darensburg made her decision after a reinvestigation by the Jefferson Parish District Attorney’s Office determined that…
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Joe McKnight’s Killer Faces Up to 40 Years in Prison After Manslaughter Conviction
The answer to the question of whether or not a jury with only one black person on it would be able to mete out justice in the killing of former NFL running back Joe McKnight is “sorta.” After seven-and-a-half hours of deliberation Friday, a jury in Louisiana found Ronald Gasser, 56, guilty of manslaughter in…
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Queen: CCH Pounder Celebrates the Art of Black Womanhood With an Exhibition at Xavier University
If you watch television, chances are you’ve watched CCH Pounder. Over the past 38 years, the Emmy-winning Guyanese actress—who celebrated her 65th birthday on Christmas Day—has accumulated well over 100 acting credits, including recurring roles in the Avatar franchise, ER, The Shield, Law and Order: SVU, Sons of Anarchy and, currently, NCIS: New Orleans. New…
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#BlackExcellence: Louisiana High School Becomes Viral Sensation After Posting Videos of Ivy League Acceptance Reactions
One Louisiana high school has captured the hearts (and gathered the joyful tears) of the entire internet after it started posting up reaction videos of its students being accepted into top-ranked colleges. Talk about prime #BlackGirlMagic, #BlackBoyJoy and overall just #BlackExcellence. The series started last Tuesday, when TM Landry College Preparatory, a private high school…
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Louisiana Man Arrested After Video Shows Him Repeatedly Striking Girl With Belt, Shaving Her Head as Punishment
A Ferriday, La., man was arrested earlier this week after disturbing video posted on social media showed him repeatedly striking a young girl with a belt before shaving her head, apparently as a punishment for downloading Snapchat. Alex J. Harrison, 30, was taken into custody Monday on a probation-and-parole hold on charges of cruelty to…
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Louisiana Mom Makes Her Son Do Free Yard Work Following 3-Day Suspension From School
Ain’t nobody got time to waste. At least Demetris Payne was not having it with her son when he was suspended from school for three days. Normally, one would think a suspension would be a three-day vacation, but not on Payne’s watch. In an inspirationally petty way (with just a whole lot of loving discipline),…
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La. Court Rules That Man Who Said ‘Give Me a Lawyer, Dog’ Wasn’t Asking for Counsel
In the latest round of #Facts that prove the court system does not work for black people—especially those who lack resources—a Louisiana high court ruled that a man who said, “Give me a lawyer, dog” was asking for a “lawyer dog.” That’s right—the Louisiana Supreme Court recently ruled that when Warren Demesme, 22 at the…
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White Juvenile Accused of Setting Black Church on Fire
A Caldwell Parish, La., juvenile is facing multiple charges across two parishes after he allegedly stole two Entergy trucks before torching a predominantly black church. Richland Parish Sheriff Gary Gilley confirmed that there was a report to his office about a fire at the St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church at 9:53 a.m. Tuesday. According to…