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Detroit, MI — With the prevalence of social media creating opportunities for diverse voices to be heard, Black mens’ voice is growing stronger and stronger, especially in the podcasting space. […]



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UPDATED: 5:21 p.m. EST —

Details were trickling in surrounding the sudden death of rapper Juice WRLD, who died Sunday morning following a seizure at an airport in Chicago. Previously, it had been reported that the rapper suffered a seizure as law enforcement was searching his luggage, which allegedly contained a large amount of prescription pills and 70 pounds of marijuana. But a new report provided some missing context to the deadly episode.

According to TMZ, which broke the news of Juice WRLD’s death Sunday morning, “at some point between the plane landing and the feds conducting their search … Juice was seen swallowing several Percocet pills in what people believed was an attempt to hide them. Our sources say the pills might’ve contributed to his death in a possible OD.”

The pilot flying the private jet that Juice WRLD and his entourage were on reportedly alerted the authorities that guns were on board before being told to divert the flight to Chicago, where law enforcement was waiting.

Original story:

The world is still mourning Chicago rapper Juice WRLD‘s death as investigators reveal more about the incidents surrounding his death.

According to Chicago Tribune, Juice WRLD, whose birth name is Jarad Higgins, experienced convulsions and went into cardiac arrest as federal agents and cops were searching his and his entourage’s luggage for drugs and guns at a private hangar at Midway Airport on Sunday morning.

According to law enforcement sources, agents and officers were waiting for Juice WRLD’s crew at Midway early Sunday because they suspected that his private plane from Los Angeles was holding contraband. As authorities were going through two carts of luggage, the rapper “began convulsing (and) going into a seizure,” according to sources. An agent carried out two doses of Narcan, an emergency treatment when opioid overdose is suspected.

Higgins eventually awakened but remained incoherent. Paramedics transported him to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he was pronounced dead at 3:14 a.m. about an hour after he arrived in Chicago. An autopsy is still in the works as of Monday.

From the plane search, authorities found 41 “vacuum-sealed” bags of marijuana, six bottles of prescription codeine cough syrup, two 9 mm pistols, a .40-caliber pistol, a high-capacity ammunition magazine and metal-piercing bullets, according to the law enforcement sources. Two suspects identified as working security for Higgins were charged with illegally possessing the guns and ammunition. Drug charges have yet to be filed. Sources said the codeine and marijuana were discovered in bags that had no name tags. According to TMZ, various members of Juice’s team aboard the flight also told law enforcement that Juice had taken “several unknown pills” prior to his seizures. The investigation is still ongoing.

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In an indication of how exactly the race for the Democratic nomination to the president is shaping up, newly declared candidate and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg — and, until recently, ardent defender of the racist “Stop and Frisk” policing tactic — has already leapfrogged New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker in the latest polls.

The development was important to note because it seemed to underscore the emphasis the Democratic primary process puts on funding to maintain a competitive standing among candidates, a policy being blamed on the pale, mostly male slate of presidential candidates. As Bloomberg, a billionaire, bankrolls his campaign without losing a wink of sleep, Booker has been forced to make a direct appeal to voters for their financial support in order to qualify for debates and keep his campaign afloat.

But the latest Harvard-Harris poll, released Monday morning, also brought attention to how much Bloomberg has apparently instantly resonated with voters despite the “Stop and Frisk” policy’s deeply hurtful legacy among Black and brown New Yorkers. 

Bloomberg’s sincerity surrounding his approach on race following his forced apologies for “Stop and Frisk” was called into question after he regurgitated a tired, racist trope about Booker last week.

To be fair, Bloomberg doesn’t enjoy the same polling prestige if you factor in the potential candidacies of former secretaries of state Hillary Clinton and John Kerry. But still, the poll was released on the heels of a back-and-forth between Bloomberg and Booker, a Black politician who has been amplifying his rhetoric against a primary process that he has said makes it tougher for candidates of color.

Most recently Booker took umbrage with Bloomberg’s use of a racist trope to describe the senator from New Jersey. In a CBS interview on Friday, Gayle King spoke with Bloomberg about Booker’s recent comments about how the primary process enables the prospects of not having a single candidate of color participating in the upcoming Democratic debates. Instead, billionaires like Tom Steyer — he whose campaign stole Kamala Harris‘ voter data — and Bloomberg will make it to the stage. Bloomberg responded to these comments by telling King that “Booker endorsed me a number of times. And I endorsed Cory Booker a number of times. He’s very well-spoken. He’s got some good ideas. It would be better the more diverse any group is.”

Bloomberg received immediate backlash from folks who were tired of white people noting that a Black person is “well spoken.”

This is not the first time a well-known white politician has called a Black politician “well spoken” or something similar. Even presidential frontrunner and former Vice President Joe Biden, called Barack Obama “articulate” and “clean” back in 2007 as if it was a surprise that a Black man could be all these things.

In that same interview with King on Friday, Bloomberg openly lied that “nobody asked me about it until I started running for president” before he went on to offer what came across as a hollow apology before trying to deflect attention. 

“Looking back, made a mistake, I’m sorry, I apologize,” Bloomberg said without a hint of regret or empathy in his voice for those who have been affected by “stop and frisk.”

Despite the racist clichés and open lies, Bloomberg still was able to secure a polling position much higher than Booker, who’s made a name for himself on the campaign trail championing issues that affect the everyday citizen.

This is America.

SEE ALSO:

Impeachment Strategies From Democrats And Republicans Show It’s Up To Black Voters To Save The Country, Again

What’s Next For Kamala Harris? 5 Things Possibilities After Presidential Campaign Ends

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A slew of unfortunate news has been breaking out of Birmingham and it begs the question, what is going on? In less than six months, three small children under the age of six have died from senseless acts of violence and according to AL.com, the parents of those children are pleading for it to end.

MORE: Everything To Know About Kamille ‘Cupcake’ McKinney, Toddler Abducted In Birmingham, Alabama

Most recently, five-year-old Ta’Narius “TJ” Moore died after being struck in the head by gunfire during a heated confrontation with two female family members. The boy, who would have turned six next month and also lost his father to gun violence in 2017, was identified by Birmingham police. Police said that the two women were arguing on Saturday at around 2:30 p.m. outside of an apartment complex at 33rd Terrace North and F.L. Shuttlesworth Drive when they fired weapons at each other, the Daily Mail reports.

Officers arrived at the scene and found TJ with a gunshot wound to his head. He was rushed to Children’s of Alabama Hospital, but succumbed to his injuries. Several people have been detained in connection with the child’s killing, but police are still searching for others, some who may have been witnesses that fled.

TJ’s paternal grandmother, Sherie Moore, told Al.com, “I lost my son, and now I lost his junior. It’s a hard pill to swallow. It’s just hard. It’s unexplainable.”

On Oct. 12, less than two months ago, three-year-old Kamille “Cupcake” McKinney was kidnapped while attending a birthday party in Tom Brady Village. After an intense search, Kamille’s body was recovered 10 days after she was abducted. The AL.com reports that her body was discovered in a dumpster at a landfill. Patrick Stallworth and his girlfriend, Derick Irisha Brown, were charged with capital murder in Kamille’s death.

A third child, four-year-old Jurnee Coleman was shot and killed by a stray bullet on June 28. Michael Coleman, Jurnee’s father, and his first cousin, Raymond Shine, got into an argument outside of the Marks Village apartment complex. Shine fired shots at Coleman as he allegedly ran past the apartment where his daughter was inside, according to WBRC. One of the bullets entered the apartment, hitting Jurnee in the head. She also died from her injuries at Children’s of Alabama Hospital. Shine has been charged with murder, attempted murder and certain persons forbidden to possess a firearm.

NEW: Birmingham Police now charging Raymond Shine with murder in the death of 4 year old Jurnee Coleman, shot Saturday night while getting a drink in her kitchen pic.twitter.com/fnEIhOzU0B

— Jonathan Hardison (@FOX6Hardison) July 31, 2019

The fathers of Kamille and Jurnee have extended their heartfelt condolences to TJ’s family. They have also offered support for the young boy’s parents, if needed. “I know how they feel. It hurts,” said Dominic McKinney, Kamille’s father.

Coleman said he paid close attention to Kamille’s case, and he is doing the same for TJ’s. “The day they found Cupcake, I cried my heart out,’’ Coleman said. “I don’t wish it on nobody.”

He continued, “All of it is senseless. They didn’t do anything to harm anybody or anything. They had no sins, but I guess God had a better plan for them all. I just want us black people to come together. It’s not just hurting the families of the kids; it’s hurting thousands of people. I really just want it to stop.”

Coleman shared an illustration by Louis Tolbert on Facebook Monday, which featured photos of Jurnee, Kamille and TJ, along with the caption, “Birmingham, Our Angels.”

SEE ALSO:

RIP Juice WRLD: Everything To Know About What Really Happened

Michael ‘Stop And Frisk’ Bloomberg Leapfrogs Cory Booker After ‘Well Spoken’ Trope

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An Oakville, Missouri schoolteacher is still on payroll after assigning a “set your price” slave trade assignment. The racist and extremely tone-deaf assignment was given to a group of fifth graders at the Blades Elementary School. A photo of the assignment and its’ instructions surfaced the net on Sunday and has caused much confusion because at what point was slavery ever a joking matter or a trivial game to be xeroxed on a worksheet?

MORE: ‘We Should Bring Back Slavery’: White Woman Defends Racist Snapchat Video As An ‘Inside Joke’

“You own a plantation or farm and therefore need more workers,” the work problem reads. “You begin to get involved in the slave trade industry and have slaves work on your farm. Your product to trade is slaves.”

The assignment goes on to allow students to make up their own price for a slave and advises students that “these could be worth a lot.”

The rest of the assignment prompts students to set prices for items like wool, wood, grains and lumber. Yes, in 2019 a children’s homework assignment said the trading of agriculture was comparable to the institution of slavery and trading black people. Upon completion of the ridiculous assignment, students were asked to reflect on the prices they chose. “Do you think you set your item at a good price to sell? Why or what not?” the assignment read.

According to Fox6, the school’s principal, Jeremy Booker, issued a letter to the families of Blades Elementary School on Monday, calling the assignment “culturally insensitive.” He also claimed that measures would be taken to ensure that teachers and staff are aware of and respected “cultural biases” going forward.

“As part of both the Missouri Learning Standards for fifth-grade Social Studies and the fifth-grade Mehlville School District curriculum, students were learning about having goods, needing goods and obtaining goods and how that influenced early settlement in America. Some students who participated in this assignment were prompted to consider how plantation owners traded for goods and slaves,” Booker said.

However, there was no mention of disciplinary action or firing the teacher who assigned the homework. No suspension without pay, no termination, just an investigation. Go figure.

The letter continued, “The assignment was culturally insensitive. I appreciate the parents who notified me of this assignment. I met with the teacher this morning to discuss the purpose of the assignment, the teacher’s interpretation of curriculum standards, and the impact the activity could have on students. The teacher has expressed significant remorse. The district is continuing to investigate this event.”

Booker added that he is “working with district leadership to provide all Blades teachers and staff with professional development on cultural bias in the near future. We are working together to ensure all students and families feel valued and respected at Blades Elementary.”

SEE ALSO:

Michael ‘Stop And Frisk’ Bloomberg Leapfrogs Cory Booker After ‘Well Spoken’ Trope

Black Children Are Dying From Senseless Of Violence In Birmingham

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Trump supporter Isaiah Washington is proving that he doesn’t understand how racism works with a ridiculous interpretation of white people in America.

The actor appeared on Fox Soul’s “On the 7 with Dr. Sean” and one clip from the show has been making its way around Twitter. Washington tried to separate white people — or as he likes to call them “Caucasians” — who “meant us no good” from white people “that did mean well for us” claiming that the latter is still present today.

“And it’s very simple if you don’t understand,” he said. “For layman’s terms, what happens in the old 50s and 60s when bad people meant us no good that happened to be Caucasian that didn’t understand who we were that meant us no good? Frederick Douglass had a plan for that in 1854 with the abolitionists that did mean well for us who happened to be Caucasian. I believe that those, the DNA of the abolitionist spears that supported Frederick Douglass then, are still the children that will support us now.”

Washington then tried to use white people’s majority in this country as proof that some of them still love Black people because if they didn’t the majority would overrule the minority and we’d still be slaves or even worse, dead.

“If it indeed is in fact 61 to 65 percent white people, if that’s what you want to call them, in America, and 14 percent Black people in America — not Indigenous, not Latino, not Hispanics, not other — if they wanted us dead, 14 people against 65 people in a fight who do you think gonna win if those 14 people are not prepared tactically,” Washington questioned. “Something’s wrong in the math. If indeed America is completely racist and just mean us all ill-will, how’s it possible that we’re not slaves today? How’s it possible that we’re not dead? It’s 65 to 14? Someone’s lying.”

There were so many fallacies with Washington’s statement that only a MAGA lover could rationalize. First and foremost, he made percentage numbers represent actual numbers of people. Then, Mr. Washington didn’t consider that although slavery as it was in the 1800s is abolished, there are other forms of racial oppression in this country that could very well be attributed to well meaning and non-well meaning white people.

Racism operates differently today. It’s no longer legalized whips and chains, but Black people are still getting killed by racist police officers. Black people as a whole still don’t have nearly as much wealth as white people,  and the list goes on and on.

But water is wet and MAGAs are going to spew ignorance.

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Golden Globes So White: After Snubs, Will They Ever Get It Right?

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When the House Democrats this morning unveiled two articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump, there was one unseen presence looming large over the proceedings: Elijah Cummings. The late Congressman from Maryland who died in October played an integral role in laying the foundation to get Democrats to the finish line they crossed Tuesday morning.

MORE: Impeachment Strategies From Democrats And Republicans Show It’s Up To Black Voters To Save The Country, Again

The articles of impeachment accused Trump of obstructing the investigation into his admitted quid pro quo in Ukraine and also claimed Trump abused his power by doing so. House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi announced them on the House floor and shouted out many of her colleagues for their work in getting the articles of impeachment in order and ready to be presented. She also said she would be remiss if she didn’t recognize Cummings’ contributions.

“I also want to acknowledge the important work that was done by our dear and departed – may he rest in peace – Elijah Cummings as chair of the Oversight Committee,” Pelosi said while flanked by top Democrats involved in the impeachment process.

The brief mention of Cummings was understated. Immediately after political analysts digested the unexpected news of his death, there was speculation as to who would fill Cummings’ shoes in the impeachment proceedings, especially the inquiry. USA Today remembered Cummings as “one the earliest and most aggressive committee chairmen investigating Trump, sending requests for information while in the minority during the first two years of the president’s term and then calling hearings and demanding documents after Democrats regained control of the House in January.”

Cummings’ death came months after the president attacked the congressman along with his native Baltimore, the latter of which Trump called “a disgusting, rat and rodent infested mess” in a tweet that many people called racist.

It was announced a little over a year ago following the midterm elections that Cummings planned to lead the powerful House Oversight Committee when his party took leadership of the U.S. House of Representatives in January, putting him in position to spearhead the chamber’s investigation of Trump’s administration.

At the time, Cummings hinted at his plans to investigate Trump aggressively.

“I’m not going to be handing out subpoenas like somebody’s handing out candy on Halloween. If I have to use them, they will be used in a methodical way,” Cummings told host George Stephanopoulos on ABC’s “This Week” in November 2018, adding that his focus is on the public interest. “Even in Trump country, they basically are saying that, ‘We want transparency, we want honesty, and we want integrity.’ But they want something else, George. They want accountability with regard to this president, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do if I’m blessed to have that opportunity.”

Cummings’ congressional legacy from more than two decades on Capitol Hill was expected to continue with whoever wins the special election to succeed him. In the meantime, Cummings’ presence will be felt when Trump’s impeachment goes to an expected trial in the Senate. But all of his hard work toward impeachment could be in vain.

While conducting an impeachment trial would be an accomplishment within itself for Democrats, chances are the results of it won’t be. That’s because Senate Republicans, who have stuck with the president through thick and thin while defending his lies, are expected to vote along party lines, which would equal an acquittal.

After all, this is America.

SEE ALSO:

Isaiah Washington Questions Racism: ‘How Is It Possible That We’re Not Slaves Today?’

Teacher Still Employed After Assigning ‘Set Your Price’ Slave Trade Assignment

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Alyse Howard’s new product combines the science of visualization, power of action and art of design. Nationwide — The average do-it-yourself vision board only has pictures of things you want; […]



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Birmingham, AL — Ta’Narius “TJ” Moore Jr., a 5-year old boy from Alabama, was killed after two family members fired shots at each other and accidentally struck the little child […]



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A Black teen who says he was “tired of being picked on” was shot by a cop after he allegedly brought a pellet gun to school.

According to Associated Press, 18-year-old Tyrone Smith of Wisconsin allegedly pointed a pellet gun at another student’s head at Waukesha South High School last week. Smith was 17 at the time. A school resource officer managed to clear students out of the classroom. Then A Waukesha police officer came into the room and shot Smith. Cops say Smith pointed the gun at officers.

According to the complaint, Waukesha Police Officer Brady Esser, an 11-year veteran, said to Smith: “I need you to take your hands out of your pockets very slowly with nothing in your hands, OK man?” Esser told a detective he commanded Smith to remove his hands slowly from his sweatshirt pocket, but Smith removed his hands quickly and was holding a gun, according to the complaint. Esser let off three shots, striking Smith. “Sgt. Esser stated he feared for his life and was forced to shoot,” the complaint read.

Smith denied bringing guns to school before this incident and he explained to investigators he was “tired of being picked on by other students,” according to the complaint. Smith said that he wanted to scare students who had bullied him or might bully him in the future. He said he hoped “other kids would hear about this and be scared,” according to the complaint.

“Smith concluded by saying that he was sorry, and he knew it was wrong to bring a gun to school and he would not do it again,” the complaint read.

Smith was charged as an adult with several charges including second-degree recklessly endangering safety, disorderly conduct, obstructing an officer and dangerous weapons on school premises. He’s eligible for a public defender and an attorney hasn’t been assigned to him yet. He is scheduled back in court on Dec. 17.

A day following the Waukesha school shooting, another shooting went down at Oshkosh West High School. Resource Officer Mike Wissink shot and wounded a 16-year-old student on December 3 after the kid stabbed him in his office. Wissink was released from hospital care on Monday and received a police escort to the school, where he was welcomed with cheers from students and residents, according to Fox 11 News. No charges have been filed in this case yet.

SEE ALSO:

Black Children Are Dying From Senseless Of Violence In Birmingham

Teacher Still Employed After Assigning ‘Set Your Price’ Slave Trade Assignment

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