Fitness Enthusiast, Malik A. Stevens Wants You To Know
June 19 commemorates the day that all enslaved Black Americans were freed. BLACK ENTERPRISE honors this day by remembering the heroism of those who came before us and the story of how this day came to be. The history leading to Juneteenth is long and fraught with tragedy that cannot be unwritten. But, as racism and prejudice exist today, it is important to commemorate the legacy and resilience of those who endured oppression and evolved a history into a fully developed holiday that celebrates freedom and Black liberation.
Enslaved Black Americans awaited a future free of bondage for themselves and their descendants, envisioning a life filled with promise and opportunities rather than pain and suffering. On January 1, 1863, these dreams came to fruition with the news of the Emancipation Proclamation, an official decree that all enslaved people were free. Black Americans rejoiced, traveling to announce the news. However, this was not everyone’s story.
The Proclamation was limited in its scope. It only applied to states that seceded from the United States, leaving border states unaffected. It also failed to impact Southern secessionist states already under Northern control. The Emancipation Proclamation was, at its core, a war measure to ensure the Confederacy’s readmission into the Union. Its implementation was to force the Confederacy’s hand and liberate those enslaved in the region. The Union had to win the Civil War to enforce the total abolishment of slavery.
But on June 19, 1865, Union soldiers marched into Galveston Bay in Confederate-controlled Texas, announcing their victory and enforcing the manumission of over 200,000 enslaved people, freeing them from subjugation. Juneteenth was born.
Many consider Texas the birthplace of the holiday. Juneteenth, a portmanteau combining the words June and nineteenth, was first celebrated in the state in 1866, one year after the complete abolition of slavery. Following emancipation, many formerly-enslaved Texans focused on locating long-lost relatives and improving their quality of life. To observe the shift in tide, they held prayer meetings, sang spirituals, and donned new clothes to signify their newfound liberation. Some revelers made it a custom to travel to Galveston annually, in honor of the day. Others created new traditions, like rodeos and horseback riding, in celebration. Many newlyfreed Black Americans were taught about voting rights. Soon, these traditions spread to nearby states like Mississippi and Louisiana and eventually, the holiday evolved into what we know it to be today A day of religious services, speeches, educational events, music and food festivals, Juneteenth is now a largelyrecognized festivity.
During the country’s Reconstruction era, the commemoration of the day was hindered by White southerners’ efforts to glorify the Antebellum period, with the remembrance of slavery reserved for their fallen Confederate brethren. Despite even this, Black Americans still sought to honor and remember a victory over their oppressors. But as the years continued, war and racial violence further scarred the sanctity of the holiday until, by the 1930s and 1940s, celebrations began to dwindle.
As conflicting recollections of the Civil War, the horrors of slavery, and public unrest grew, support for Juneteenth lessened. Eventually, Black Americans opted to honor their traditions in private gatherings. There was little improvement in how Juneteenth was celebrated in the wake of the Civil Rights Movement during the 1950s and 1960s. However, the country would witness a large resurgence of Juneteenth celebrations in the 1970s as many Black Americans sought to reclaim their heritage, including their emancipation But, throughout the South, it always remained a fixture in Black America’s legacy.
Juneteenth celebrations differ from household to household. For many who grew up in Texas, celebrating Juneteenth was a tradition in the home. You could even find families wandering
around Fort Worth’s Martin Luther King Junior Center, listening to retellings of what occurred that fateful day.
Opal Lee is an activist who has dedicated her life to honoring the memory of the formerly-enslaved people of Texas. Lee had a vision for how the state should commemorate Juneteenth. Rather than a single day that recognized the atrocities of the past, Lee’s cause expanded into a multi-day event in Fort Worth, TX, that includes a parade, breakfast of prayer, a health and job fair, a Miss Juneteenth Pageant, a 5k run, an art exhibit, and more. Her efforts did not stop there. Lee wanted to ensure that Juneteenth became a federallyrecognized holiday so, at 90 years old, she began a walking campaign. Starting small, she traveled through Arlington, Grand Prairie and Dallas, 2.5 miles at a time. Soon, she traveled across states. Eventually, Lee covered 21 states until the Covid19 pandemic forced her to stop. However, she witnessed the fruits of her labor on June 17, 2021, when President Biden signed a bill making Juneteenth a federal holiday
As Juneteenth has grown in popularity, more Americans have learned about its history. It has become a staple celebration in households throughout the country. But, while freedom was first granted to Northerners, it was the South that carried the torch and legacy of Juneteenth.
Fictional spy and Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., Nick Fury, is getting his own Marvel series on Disney Plus. While the official trailer for upcoming six-part series Secret Invasion debuted last year, on Monday (March 27), the streamer shared that the premiere date was set for June 21, although the date has been scrubbed from the show’s page. Now, fans are concerned that the Samuel L. Jacksonled show will have a delay.
Starring Jackson and Ben Mendelsohn (Talos), whose characters first met in 2019 movie Captain Marvel, “the crossover event series showcases a faction of shapeshifting Skrulls who have been infiltrating the Earth for years.” While Nick Fury and Talos will be in a battle for supremacy, the Skrulls will be led by Gravik (Kingsley Ben-Adir), while the head of S.W.O.R.D. is Abigail Brand (Emilia Clarke).
was recently scheduled to debut this summer.
Joining the franchise is Olivia Colman, and returning MCU characters include Cobie Smulders as Maria Hill; Don Cheadle as James “Rhodey” Rhodes; and Martin Freeman as Everett K. Ross. In an interview with Total Film in January, Cheadle revealed that a plot line in Secret Invasion will set up an IronMan spinoff.
“It’s bananas! And it’s very expansive,” he said. “And obviously now that everyone can show up in everybody else’s story… I mean, I’m in ‘Secret Invasion’. So I’m in Sam [Jackson]’s show. There’s a part of that, that kicks off what happens in Armor Wars.”
The actor also expressed his thoughts on the future of MCU Phase 4. “It can go on and on and on… hopefully it doesn’t get spread too thin. And there’s still some quality control and not just trying to expand for expansion’s sake. But there’s a clear idea about the storytelling and what you’re trying to accomplish with every iteration.”
Watch the official trailer below.
Women-owned companies made up 68 percent of recipients.
Kevin Hart teamed up with 11th generation tequila maker Juan Domingo Beckmann back in May to introduce their brand new tequila brand Gran Coramino. The freshly founded venture is making an impact beyond providing libations, as they recently gifted a handful of Black and Latinx entrepreneurs with grants to help their small businesses thrive.
Under the The Coramino Fund, the award-winning comedian and his partners awarded $10,000 to 50 different business owners, totaling $500,000 in award cash. Among the recipients are It’s Nola, a healthy snack company, Black Leaf Vegan, a plant-based café located in Indianapolis, and more. The full list of grantees can be found here.
“[Beckmann] and I always knew we wanted Gran Coramino to have a giveback component focused on providing Black and Latinx entrepreneurs with resources to pursue their small business dreams,” Hart said in a statement. “Teaming up with LISC last year to launch The Coramino Fund in the U.S. was the start of that journey.”
In regards to how the funds were split up, 50 percent of the companies owned, 36 percent are Latinx-owned, and 14 percent are a combination of both. Additionally, women-owned businesses made up 68
Think Like A Man actor previously spoke with VIBE about his exciting new venture. “I’ve always had a love for tequila, and it’s been a fun journey to create Gran Coramino. I knew I wanted to create a tequila with a taste that exceeds expectations and exemplifies how hard work truly tastes different,”
margarita recipes –cool down this season with these easy and refreshing summer cocktail recipes!
If you’re in search of a drink recipe that is refreshing, easy to make, non-alcoholic or packed with a lot of punch, sip your way through our list of the best summer cocktails that are well-worth trying.
Are you home entertaining? Lounging by the pool? Or just wanting to shake-up your balmy afternoon? What better way to do so than with a refreshing summer cocktail in hand! Enjoy the season the best way we know how, with one of these top 10 easy and refreshing summer cocktail recipes for 2023. Enjoy!
Ingredients:
50mL Bacardi Carta Blanca Rum
25mL lime juice
12 mint leaves
2 tsp extra fine sugar
25mL soda water
Method:
1. Make the lime wedges and squeeze them in the glass, gently press together the limes and sugar.
2. Add mint to glass, and press with bar spoon.
3. Half fill the glass with crushed ice, add the Bacardi Carta Blanca Rum and churn.
4. Top with crushed ice and soda. Garnish with a mint sprig.
Ingredients:
30mL Cointreau
50mL Don Julio Blanco Tequila
20mL lime juice
4 fresh strawberries
1 bar spoon sugar syrup
Method:
1. Rim the glass with some fleur de sel.
2. Then combine the Cointreau, tequila, lime and strawberries in a shaker with ice. Muddle it, shake it, strain it and serve it.
3. Finish by garnishing with a mint sprig to bring some freshness.
Ingredients:
1 bottle Jam Shed Shiraz
1 cup frozen berries
100mL maple syrup
500mL lemonade or soda water
100mL Brandy
Oranges, sliced
1 lemon, sliced Ice
Method:
1. Add the orange, lemon, frozen berries, maple syrup, red wine, lemonade and brandy to a carafe.
2. Stir until the maple syrup is fully dissolved and all ingredients have mixed thoroughly.
3. Add ice, then pour mixture into jam jars. Add more ice and fruit as needed.
Ingredients:
60mL Mirabeau Dry Rosé Gin
60mL mimosa syrup*
20mL lemon juice
Sparkling Water
Method:
1. In an ice-filled tall glass, add the Mirabeau Dry Rosé Gin, the mimosa syrup and the lemon juice. Top with sparkling water.
2. Gently stir and garnish with a mimosa blossom or lemon wheel.
Ingredients:
40mL Aberfeldy 12-year-old Single Malt Scotch Whisky
20mL honey
Chilled chamomile tea
1 lemon slice
Method:
1. In an ice-filled high ball glass, add the Aberfeldy 12year-old and honey, stir gently.
2. Add the chilled chamomile tea and stir to disperse.
3. Finish by adding the lemon twist and enjoy!
Ingredients:
60mL Lyre’s Pink London Spirit
20mL premium bottled Mediterranean tonic
1 cucumber slice
4 slices of strawberry
Method:
1. In an ice-filled goblet glass add the Lyre’s Pink London Spirit, the Mediterranean tonic, the cucumber and the strawberries.
2. Stir well and finish by garnishing with a sprig of rosemary.
Ingredients:
60mL Mirabeau Dry Rosé Gin
30mL Belvoir Farm Elderflower Cordial
Mirabeau La Folie Sparkling Rosé
2 sprigs of rosemary, to serve
Method:
1. In a chilled coupe glass, add the Mirabeau Dry Rosé Gin and the elderflower cordial and gently stir.
2. 2. Top with the Mirabeau La Folie Sparkling Rosé and garnish with the sprigs of rosemary.
By Jaelani Turner-Williams
In an interview with CBC’s
Ryan Coogler could be joining the X-Files universe. In a recent interview with CBC’s On the Coast, series creator Chris Carter shared that the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever director was looking to “remount” the franchise.
“I just spoke to a young man, Ryan Coogler, who is going to remount The XFiles with a diverse cast,” Carter told On the Coast host Gloria Macarenko. “So he’s got his work cut out for him, because we covered so much territory.”
It was previously reported that the former Fox show was going to have an animated adaptation, titled The X-Files: Albuquerque, although it’s unclear whether plans are still in effect. While Coogler’s version may see new lead actors, original star David Duchovny said he would be interest if himself and former costar Gillian Anderson were both able to return.
“For me, it was always there’s no show unless it’s Chris and Gillian, so I don’t know,” Duchovny told ComicBook.com last December, also referring to X-Files creator Chris Carter. “Personally, for me, the XFiles that I’m involved in consists of Chris Carter, myself, and Gillian, so I haven’t spent time trying to think about a different version of that, and I don’t know that I will.”
The original X-Files aired from 1993 to 2002, later having a two-year revival from 2016 to 2018. During portions of X-Files‘ final seasons, actor Robert Patrick stepped in as Scully’s new partner Doggett, although Duchovny returned for final episodes, also 2008 film The X-Files: I Want to Believe.
Also joining lineup are talents like Adam Blackstone and Amaarae.
By Regina ChoNPR is celebrating Black Music Month in the best way possible. On June 2, the outlet revealed their all-star lineup of guests that will be delivering Tiny Desk performances within the next few weeks, and they partnered up with Tank to share the exciting news.
In the freshly released social media clip, the “When We” singer lures viewers in by hitting an impressive vocal run before revealing who will be joining him later on. “Hey! How y’all doin?’ I didn’t know you were right there, man. It’s Tiny Desk, man,” he said. “It’s going to be crazy.”
He then confirmed the full list of artists that will be making their debut on the live music platform: Charlie Wilson, Babyface, Adam Blackstone, Ambre, Amaarae, Brandee Younger, and special guests. Last June, NPR celebrated Black Music Month with an impressive lineup of Tiny Desk concerts as well. Highlights included performances by Usher, FKA Twigs, Monica, and Larry June.
Tank has also been busy behind the mic of his well-loved R&B Money podcast, which he co-hosts with J. Valentine. On the show, he invites fellow artists, music lovers, and entertainment industry veterans to share their experiences and opinions about the R&B game. Recent guests have included Musiq Soulchild, Leon Thomas, Coco Jones, Rotimi, Michael B. Jordan, Ari Lennox, and Tyrese.
Tank’s most recent body of work was 2022′ R&B MONEY. The album spanned 17 tracks and boasted guest appearances from Alex Isley, J. Valentine, Vedo, Chris Brown, Blaq Tuxedo, Rotimi, and more.
Marcus Ingram/Getty Images
Despite the mishaps circulating on social media, the 2023 Black Music Honors was a beautiful celebration of us.
The 2023 Black Music Honors were filmed in Atlanta on Friday (May 19), and what an event it was. This year’s show honored the likes of Missy Elliott, SWV, Evelyn “Champagne” King, and Jeffrey Osborne, with performances from Anthony Hamilton, Robin Thicke, Sevyn Streeter, Jacquees, Queen Naija, David Banner, Juvenile, The Shindellas, 702, and others.
Most of what went down was made public as clips from the audience began to surface across social media over the weekend. Sevyn, Lil’ Mo, and Sheléa paid tribute to SWV with a chilling rendition of “Weak.”
Le’Andria Johnson was set to perform Fantasia’s “Free Yourself,” but stopped midsong multiple times because it appeared she didn’t know the words. The audience chimed in as a means of assistance while simultaneously throwing shade by singing, “If you don’t know it, then don’t sing it please.” Lil’ Mo later took the stage solo to sing the record. It’s unclear if both versions will air during the final telecast.
Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Black Music HonorsElliott was presented with the Innovator Award. After reliving the moment on Instagram, she wrote, “Thank you to everyone at the Black Music Honors for this Music Innovator Icon award! I never take these moments for granted it warms my HEART to even be ACKNOWLEDGED! I am honored to be apart of the CULTURE & MUSIC. I still punch myself a lot because it do still feel like a dream at times.” Her tribute featured performances from longtime friends, Tweet and Lady Wray. The southern hummingbird also performed “Oops (Oh My).” Juvenile later took the stage with “Slow Motion.”
Black Music Honors teased other performances on Twitter, including Jacquees and Queen Naija linking up to honor SWV’s “You’re Always On My Mind.” Upon receiving her flowers from host DeRay Davis, Roxanne Shanté summed up the moment by simply expressing, “So my weekend went just like this. I can’t complain nor will I explain.”
Following a mini Destiny’s Child reunion with BMH host LeToya Luckett and LaTavia Roberson, the latter shared, “I’m so proud of my sister you did an amazing job [LeToya] your such a natural on the stage of course. @blackmusichonors I must say last nights show was so good THANK YALL FOR HAVING ME. Congratulations to my babies [SWV]. ITS ABOUT TIME THE INDUSTRY GIVE
The two-hour special will premiere on the Stellar Network on June 3 at 8 p.m. ET with a national broadcast syndication to follow from Saturday, June 10 to Sunday, July 2. The show will also air on Bounce TV on June 19.
By Mya Abraham Photo: Da Brat / Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Black Music HonorsSinger -
Songwriter – Musician / R&B, Soul, Neo Soul, Gospel, Jazz
Tre Del is a new vocalist focusing on his Mid Tenor sounds and baritone range to help create his musical style.
New Music
Broken N and Sunday Morning Love
Click songs to hear tracks.
The Word of Mouf emcee was recently honored with a Hollywood Walk Of Fame motion picture star. On May 18, Vin Diesel, LL Cool J, and Queen Latifah joined the entertainer, né Christopher Brian Bridges, to commemorate the event.
“Chris you wrong to try to keep me to two minutes. I could take two lifetimes explaining to the world the significance, your significance both to the world and to my family,” Diesel said in his speech, CBS News reports. “There’s so much to say, but there is so much you already know. You know his unmatched accomplishments. We’ve never seen anybody dominate the music world and then come and dominate cinema while being entrepreneurial in the way that he is.”
“It’s almost hard for me to put into words. LL was the person who made me wanna rap. Vin has changed my life forever through the gift that keeps on giving, this franchise Fast and Furious. It meant everything to have them show up for me today,” Luda remarked.
“I was just saying [that] I’ll put my cast up against any other cast in film history. We are the closest-knit family off-camera and on-camera. Compared to anybody, 100 percent…I was fighting tears. Seriously, I was glad that I had my sunglasses on today.”
Vin Diesel, Karma Bridges, Ludacris, and LL Cool J attend a ceremony honoring Ludacris with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on May 18, 2023 in Hollywood, California. Boddi/Getty Images
Chance the Rapper on ‘Acid Rap’
Influencing Artists Like Lil Uzi Vert and Jack Harlow
2023 is likely to feature a ton of coverage surrounding the 10th anniversary of Chance the Rapper’s beloved mixtape Acid Rap, the milestone-commemorating revisiting of which will see key track “Juice” finally being made available on streaming.
Reflecting on the impact of the tape in a conversation with Complex, Chance called the project a “cult classic” that was unlike any other release in rap at the time of its unveiling.
“There’s definitely nothing that sounds like Acid Rap if you go back to 2013,” he said. “Like, you got [Kanye West’s] Yeezus, you got [Drake’s] Nothing Was the Same, you got Mac Miller’s Watching Movies With the Sound Off, you got J. Cole [Born Sinner]. In terms of rap, like, there was not another album that had a song like ‘Chain Smoker’ on it or another album that had a song like ‘Everybody’s Something’ on it. It was its own thing.”
Elsewhere in his chat with Complex, Chance detailed how he sees the tape’s sustaining influence, both on the “midwest sound” and beyond.
Jack Harlow, [Lil] Uzi Vert. People that are from opposite coasts and from other places still tell me, like, what the album meant to them at that time.”
But for those actually in Chicago at the time of the tape’s creation and rise to adoration, Chance pointed out, the experience was even more influential. Acid Rap, he said, served multiple purposes for artists at that time—it helped define a lane for those taking an alternative path, it solidified an “ecosystem” that was already in place, and it was part of something new in terms of what Chicago was known for in music.
Key to this era too was Chief Keef, who Chance shouted out as another Chicago artist who was redefining the sound at that time.
“I think it’s the blueprint for that midwest sound that you still hear to this day,” Chance said. “I think you’d be hard-pressed to find somebody that’s a year or two younger than me that wasn’t influenced by Acid Rap, even if they weren’t from the midwest.
“Kanye West was still the biggest artist, Lupe was still charting. It was still an older generation of music that didn’t sound anything like Acid Rap or like drill music,” Chance said of the importance of those breakthrough years, specifically for what he and Keef were doing. “So I feel like me and Keef came out around the same time, both doing our own thing. That’s why we got so much coverage and so much support was because it was different than what you thought would be the typical Chicago sound.”
As fans are already well aware, the Acid Rap festivities are indeed extensive and most notably include a special hometown show in Chicago this August.
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Pride Month is currently celebrated each year in the month of June to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan. The Stonewall Uprising was a tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States. In the United States the last Sunday in June was initially celebrated as "Gay Pride Day," but the actual day was flexible. In major cities across the nation the "day" soon grew to encompass a month-long series of events. Today, celebrations include pride parades, picnics, parties, workshops, symposia and concerts, and LGBTQ Pride Month events attract millions of participants around the world. Memorials are held during this month for those members of the community who have been lost to hate crimes or HIV/AIDS. The purpose of the commemorative month is to recognize the impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals have had on history locally, nationally, and internationally.
In 1994, a coalition of education-based organizations in the United States designated October as LGBT History Month. In 1995, a resolution passed by the General Assembly of the National Education Association included LGBT History Month within a list of commemorative months. National Coming Out Day (October 11), as well as the first "March on Washington" in 1979, are commemorated in the LGBTQ community during LGBT History Month.
Beginning in 1991, with DC Black Pride , the Black Gay Pride movement began as a way to provide Black LGBTQ+ people an alternative to the largely white mainstream LGBTQ+ movement.
The movement serves as a way for Black LGBTQ+ people to discuss specific issues that are more unique to the Black LGBTQ+ community and celebrate the progress of the Black LGBTQ+ community.
While the mainstream gay pride movement, often perceived as overwhelmingly white, has focused much of its energy on same-sex marriage, the Black Gay Pride movement has focused on issues such as racism, homophobia, and lack of proper health and mental care in black communities.
Black Pride is the gateway to the greater LGBT community experience for many Black LGBTQ+ people. Rather than encouraging separation, Black Prides encourage awareness of self and community, respect, dignity and many attendees of Black Pride events have returned to their homes to come out to friends, family and their communities. Attending events and seeing people who look like oneself with many of the same shared experiences, contributes to building stronger, healthier LGBT communities and is an effective way to combat homophobia and stigma in the Black community and racism in the greater LGBT community along with overcoming the cultural, communal and institutional barriers created by isms and phobias. All are welcome to attend Black Prides.
Black Prides are planned and managed by the organizations dedicated to : building solidarity; health and wellness; promoting unity; and ensuring the development of education, economic empowerment, and individual and collective work, responsibility and self-determination.
by Reginald Williams, afro.com
The failure to properly manage stress serves as a critical underlying factor in the poor health outcomes for Black men. Black men have the lowest life expectancy. The National Institute of Health (NIH) maintains the health of Black men is a public health issue.
Heart disease, homicide, and hypertension represent three of the 10 leading causes of death for Black men. With each causation, stress is often a primary driving force.
Unmanaged stress contributes to high blood pressure, which can distress the heart leading to strokes and heart attacks. Living in poverty in highly violent environments while experiencing the physiologic responses of those social stressors too often serves as the impetus for the high homicide rate experienced by Black men.
Addressing the critical need for people to learn how to effectively manage their stress, the NIH earmarked April as National Stress Awareness Month. Their mission is to bring attention to and give citizens strategies to combat and reduce the negative impact of stress.
“Managing stress is an essential component of a healthy lifestyle. Knowing how to manage stress can improve mental and physical well-being as well as minimize exacerbation of health-related issues,” according to the National Institutes of Health.
Empirical data suggests that Black men experience a cumulative degree of pervasive psychological pressures, often resulting in one life stressor serving as a barrier to managing an equally challenging annoyance. Some of those stressors give rise to the following:
• Homicide– one of the leading causes of death for Black men.
• Suicide– Black men died by suicide four times the rate of Black women.
• Depression– seeking therapy has an attached stigma.
According to research, Black men seek out mental health services less than half the amount of non-Hispanic White men.
Work coercions and financial obligations are the more frequent tensionfilled influences weighing on the emotional and psychological spirits of Black men.
“We are constantly under pressure from the world to be employed and yet denied access to providing for our families,” explained Calvin Mann, a Detroit-based national advocate for Black boys and fathers.
Stressors run the gamut for Black men but shift in priority depending upon age. Marriage, the infrequency of sex and having to initiate it, kids, not feeling heard or understood, and trying to live up to everyone’s expectations to include self-expectation were shared by a group of BLAM (Black Love And Marriage) husbands as their predominant stressors. For more senior Black men, health concerns for self, family, and friends occupy those constant concerning thoughts.
“The realization that I have spent more time in this life than I have left and facing mortality is always a concern for me,” explained Darryl Towns, a former representative of the 54th Assembly District in the New York State Legislature.
The persistent pain of marginalization and disrespect, united with centuries of emasculation leaves many Black men feeling the strains of unhealthy and destructive stress daily.
“This country strives to keep the Black family subjugated through its attempts to emasculate the thoughts, ideas, pocketbook, and very being of the Black man,” explained Dr. Michelle Edwards, consultant, adjunct professor, and executive coach.
Jason Wilson, author of “Cry Like a Man,” and “Battle Cry,” maintains Black men carry their trauma and stress like badges of honor. Dr. Jean R. Moise, deputy director of the D.C. Department of Behavioral Health, agrees.
“Due to the collective, historical, oppressive, traumatic experience we all share, we tend to believe we have to persevere, go at it alone and not trust anyone enough to show our pain and vulnerability. It is part of our historical DNA. That posture results in undue, continuous pain, anxiety, and stress. On top of that, there’s a negative stigma in our community against expressing psychological stress and emotional problems,” said Moise.
Education, noted to be the great equalizer, represents additional pockets of stress for Black boys and men. Racial fatigue shadow Black males throughout their educational realities.
“We are emphatically aware of the poor treatment we receive. It starts in the boy’s removal from early education,” adds Mann.
From preschool to Ph.D. studies, Black boys and men must navigate stress clothed in everyday microaggressions at the hands of educational institutions. Black men are introduced to stress as young as four years of age. Research maintains that Black boys represented more than half of the 17,000 preschool students suspended or expelled nationwide in 2021.
Ricco Hall, graduating May 2023 from a Private White Institution (PWI) with an education doctorate in Human and Organizational Learning, encountered his share of stress pursuing his PH.D.
“Stress has shown up in my pursuit of my doctorate,” explained Hall. “The nuanced or subconscious subtleties and microaggressions that are constantly experienced and not acknowledged by either party, me or the offender. The issue is that by being a Black man with less social capital and leverage, it is the unspoken yet expected role that the onus is on me to yield my feelings to appease, safeguard, and regard the feelings of institutional agents over mine.”
Effectively managing stress begins with being mindful and understanding that it only requires small, conscious shifts in everyday activities.
• Exercise ignites endorphins, those neurotransmitters known for making people feel good.
• Diets with nutritionally-dense food reduces stress hormones attacking the brain.
• Meditation, or the process of stopping and breathing with intentionality, helps declutter the mind of its negative thoughts.
• Sleep lowers high levels of cortisol the primary stress hormone that encourages the fight or flight behavior
• Laughter stimulates relaxation.
Hall advises taking baths, not showers because it is a way to reduce stress.
“After a long and stressful day, people discount the relaxation value of a hot bath. Few Black men admit to taking baths because showers are so fast and efficient, but they do not allow for mental decompression that a bath provides,” explains Hall.
Additional methodologies for managing stress includes doing what brings you joy.
“Good coping strategies are finding support in pursuing passions, interests, and ambitions with other men with similar, shared experiences. Those channels can be through sports, fraternities, social clubs, Community organizing, and church,” said Moise. “It’s a documented fact that Black men who use these strategies are healthier mentally and physically and have less stress and anxiety.”
Reginald Williams, the author of “A Marginalized Voice: Devalued, Dismissed, Disenfranchised and Demonized” writes on Black men and Holistic Health concerns. Please
more information.
Graduates Alpha Jalloh, left, and Marcus Harvin, right, embrace at the first-ever college graduation ceremony at MacDougall-Walker Correctional Institution, Friday, June 9, 2023, in Suffield, Conn. The ceremony was held under a partnership established in 2021 by the University of New Haven and the Yale Prison Education Initiative.
SUFFIELD, Conn. (AP) Marcus Harvin has two identification cards.
One shows he is a fellow at Yale College, which is helping him on a track toward law school .
The other shows he is a parolee, just released from the maximum security MacDougall-Walker Correctional Institution after spending six years in prison for a highly publicized drunken driving accident that left his two young children injured.
Harvin, who hopes to become a defense attorney someday, was back inside the prison Friday for a graduation ceremony at which he received his associate degree in general studies from the University of New Haven. He and six other men make up the first class to matriculate from a partnership between UNH’s Prison Education Program and the Yale Prison Education Initiative.
“That name, Yale, means so much because I’m from New Haven and to be able to study at Yale and begin studying in prison is unheard of,” said Harvin. “People even think I’m lying sometimes, so I’ll show them my jail I.D. and my Yale I.D.”
The Yale program was launched in 2016 by alum Zelda Roland. It was based on a similar program she was part of while working with Wesleyan University.
Yale partnered with UNH in 2021, giving the student-inmates a path to two and four year college degrees. The program, which offers classes at McDougall-Walker and the federal women’s prison in Danbury, is now part of a consortium that includes 15 schools and prison systems across the country.
(AP Photo/Jessica Hill)“We believe that this is a transformative program, that it has the potential to make a generational impact,” said Roland, who serves as the director of the Yale-UNH partnership. “We believe that we’re transforming not just individual student’s lives, but also the institutions that we work in, both the universities and correctional system.”
Gov. Ned Lamont served as the graduation speaker Friday, echoing that theme and expressing hope that the graduates will pave the way for others.
“We define our own futures and today is the start of that,” he said. “You learn from the past, but you define your own future. And what happens in your future is going to be your legacy. And I want you to have a really important story to tell.”
Just over 20% of inmates receive some form of higher education in prison, UNH officials said. And studies have shown that those who do are far less likely to have behavioral problems in prison, and far less likely to commit crimes once they are released.
Harvin said it also gives inmates something that may be less tangible, but perhaps just as important hope.
“It literally is the light at the end of the tunnel that gives the day illumination,” Harvin said. “Because when you get to those classes, you don’t feel like you’re in prison. You actually go from being in a cell to being kind of, sort of on a campus. You literally feel like you’re not in the same place anymore.”
Graduates Alpha Jalloh, left, and Marcus Harvin, right, congratulate each other at the first-ever college graduation ceremony at MacDougallWalker Correctional Institution, Friday, June 9, 2023, in Suffield, Conn. The ceremony was held under a partnership established in 2021 by the University of New Haven and the Yale Prison Education Initiative.
(AP Photo/Jessica Hill)
Dennis Barnes, a New Orleans high school senior, is breaking records as he’s pulled in a whopping $9,000,000 in college scholarships and at least 125 acceptance letters. The AfricanAmerican teenager has made U.S. history as he’s now garnered more scholarships than any other student ever recorded.
WWLTV reports that the 16-year-old student applied to 200 colleges across the nation and the scholarships offered at the respective institutions. By the spring, the NOLA International High School student received an overwhelming amount of offers and funding.
“I submitted college applications in August with an eye on raising the bar high for college admissions. Decision letters were an overflow in my mailbox and hundreds of scholarships,” Barnes told the news outlet.
His school reportedly expects his offerings to reach $10,000,000 by the end of this month. Even then, Barnes would have still collected more money in scholarships than he predecessor: a Lafayette high school senior who was offered $8.7 million in scholarships in 2019.
Barnes’ love for learning makes him an attractive recipient, as he currently holds a cumulative grade point average of 4.98, WWTV reports.
He’s also proven himself a stellar student; he holds the position of executive president in his school’s National Honor Society. The exceptional scholar also skipped 10th grade and went straight to 11th where he excelled, according to his principal Dr. Adierah Berger.
Aside from his core studies, Barnes also excelled in foreign language courses as he learned to speak Spanish fluently.
As result of his bilingual skills, he’s received an offer letter from the Institute Cervantes on behalf of Spain’s Ministry of Education, Culture, and Sports and was awarded the Jose Luis Baños Award for Excellence in Spanish Language by Maria Page, honorary consul of Spain in New Orleans.
On May 2, Barnes is expected to announce his decision before graduating on May 24. Either way, he plans to study computer science and criminal justice wherever he goes.
When asked what advice he has for rising high school seniors, Barnes told the news outlet, “The road to a successful future is to plan ahead, network with the collegiate partners, and know that If you can see your vision, you can achieve your goal.”
"Decision letters were an overflow in my mailbox and hundreds of scholarships."
The weather is heating up and sounds of Will Smith‘s ”Summertime” or Kool & The Gang’s ”Summer Madness” should be the on your play list. If you don’t know these tracks, you need to download them now to play them as you prep to head out to the great outdoors, like our featured fitness enthusiast, Malik A. Stevens.
Somewhere
in your part of the world you should be able to locate a place to hang out in pure nature like a park, hiking trail, beach, lake front or forest preserve to become one with nature.
After living under multiple layers and hibernating from the cold while streaming multiple shows behind four walls, it is time to get out of the house and the gym and get into nature to breathe some fresh air. Don’t be afraid to to take off your shirt and feel the sun on your skin.
Once you find a place forget about your troubles and your nine to five.
Don’t be afraid to EXPLORE!
Taking the time to unplug from your regular routine gives your brain and your body the opportunity to really reset.
The sounds of nature will take you to another place and hopefully will dial down your mental and physical stressors.
Getting fit in nature isn’t hard – in fact you’re more likely to have fun than realize you’re working out. A natural environment provides many challenges that push our bodies in both minute and major ways. From the tiny flexor muscles in our legs to the giant trapezius muscle across our back, the great outdoors is the best gym coach you could ever have.
An increasing number of experts advocating leading a healthy outdoor lifestyle, that incorporates spending more time in nature and less time under artificial light.
Studies have shown how ‘green health improves mental health’ and that the rewards of exercising amongst nature lead to ‘increased self-esteem and improved mood such as a reduction in anger.’ We all know that getting outdoors is good for us, but its effects are far more far reaching than we might imagine.
Do yourself a favor and get outside and enjoy some nature.
MacBook Air 13” and 15” models with M2 chip
The new 15-inch MacBook Air makes room for more of what you love with a spacious Liquid Retina display. And with the 13-inch model, you have more reasons than ever to choose Air.
Supercharged by the M2 chip — and with up to 18 hours of battery life1 — both laptops deliver blazing-fast performance in an ultraportable design.
Welcome to the world of The Old Guard, where immortality is both a gift and a curse. As fans eagerly await the release of The Old Guard 2, the excitement is real as we wonder what new twists and turns await our beloved immortal warriors.
We already know that Charlize Theron will be reprising her role as the fierce and formidable Andromache of Scythia, leading her team of immortals on another epic adventure. But the burning question remains: what challenges will they face this time? Will they encounter new enemies or forge unexpected alliances that will shake their beliefs to the core?
As we eagerly await more details, let’s take a deep dive into what we know so far about The Old Guard 2, including the returning cast and the potential plot that will serve as the backdrop for this electrifying sequel. Get ready to be transported into the world of immortals, where the stakes are high and the fight for survival never ends. Without further ado, here’s everything you need to know!
As of April 2023, we’re still in the dark about the official release date for The Old Guard 2, but it’s expected to hit Netflix sometime in 2023. While the pandemic and busy schedules caused delays, the good news is that Variety reported in 2021 that the sequel would begin filming in early 2022. KFTV then reported in Sept. 2022 that filming had wrapped in Rome, Italy.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that production timelines can be unpredictable, and with filming typically taking around three months and post-production even longer, we might have to wait a little longer than expected. Fingers crossed we get confirmation soon about the release date!
While we don’t have much information about the plot of The Old Guard 2, we can speculate that it will likely continue the story of Andy and her team of immortal warriors as they face new challenges and enemies.
The first film left us with a lot of unanswered questions, such as the origins of the immortals and their connection to each other. It’s possible that the sequel will delve deeper into these mysteries, giving us a better understanding of the immortal world. Whatever the plot ends up being, one thing is for sure, The Old Guard 2 will be another action-packed adventure, filled with suspense, drama, and of course, plenty of sword fighting.
The original cast is set to return, including the fierce Charlize Theron as Andy/Andromache and the talented KiKi Layne as Nile Freeman.
But that’s not all, folks! The sequel will also feature Uma Thurman and Henry Golding, adding some fresh blood to the immortal squad. And let’s not forget about the enigmatic Quynh and Booker, played by Ngô Thanh Vân and Matthias Schoenaerts, respectively. We can’t wait to see where their journey takes them in this electrifying follow-up.
Of course, we can’t leave out the lovable couple, Joe and Nicky, played by Marwan Kenzari and Luca Marinelli, who have been together since the Crusades. Together, they’ll be fighting for their lives with the help of the dashing Chiwetel Ejiofor, who will be playing former CIA officer James Copely.
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Using your phone’s front-facing camera to scan your face, the Hasbro Pulse app can stitch your selfies together to generate a 3D mesh of your facial geometry. This scan can then be placed on a custom 6-inch action figure in the style of popular series like Star Wars or Marvel’s superheroes. You can select from different hair, costume, and skin types which are then printed out on massive 3D printers. Once complete your figure is packaged up and dropped at your door.
The NBA star is considered to be the best shooter in NBA history. With a net worth of $ pointers and is considered one of the greates
Critics say the basketball star was drastically underpaid at the start of his career and had no notable endorsements, but Cu with a $50 million salary with the NBA and
Stephen Curry is certainly on his way to became one of the GOATs of NBA.
The NBA star is considered to be the best shooter in NBA history. With a net worth of $160 million, Steph Curry plays with the Golden State Warriors and went on to win the NBA Championship in 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2022.
Curry is the NBA’s all-time leader in three-pointers and is considered one of the greatest players of all time.
Critics say the basketball star was drastically underpaid at the start of his career and had no notable endorsements, but Curry has made up for it now. In 2023, he is one of the highest-paid athletes in the world with a $50 million salary with the NBA and another $40 million through endorsements like Under Armour, Subway, State Farm and CarMax.
Here’s how Curry spends his fortune today.
Curry has been married to Ayesha Alexander since 2011. The couple have three children: Riley, Ryan and Cannon. His wife has become a business mogul in her own right. She has appeared on numerous cooking shows, published a variety of cookbooks and started a pop-up restaurant. Sweet July is Alexander’s food and lifestyle brand and Curry is behind his wife through it all. While the family is successful in a variety of ways, it also takes a solid investment to reach these levels.
Curry owns his own media company, Unanimous Media. According to the website, NBCUniversal has inked a multiyear global talent partnership deal and the multi-media business produces shows like LevelUP,BlackPopand perhaps most popular, HoleyMoley , a golf game show on ABC. The 2023 film WhyNotUs , featured on ESPN+ highlights student athletes and the challenges and importance of sports programs for youth. In fact, Curry hopes to continue developing diverse voices through authors, artists and others in a new venture under the Unanimous Media umbrella, Pathways Alliance.
The NBA star loves luxurious vehicles and keeps a collection of top-of-the-line cars in his garage. He has a 2017 Porsche 911 GT3 RS, valued at nearly $190,000, a Porsche Panamera Turbo S for $150,000 and a 2018 Infiniti Q50 in his collection. Though he clearly has a love for German vehicles, Curry purchased a Tesla, valued at more than $90,000; a mid-size sedan with falcon wing doors. As the family continues to grow, they’ve purchased a Range Rover and he admits, this is his favorite car to drive.
Of course, the entire family is seen across the country, attending various NBA games and championships and even sitting on dad’s lap during press conferences. Part of a luxurious lifestyle is traveling pretty much anywhere you want to go. The Curry’s like to travel to exotic locations from remote islands to other countries like Ireland and Italy. In 2023, the couple posted photos from Fiji and took a 10year anniversary trip to Mnemba Island.
The couple have purchased numerous homes over the years. The Californians bought a $3.2 million home in Walnut, CA and a $5.775 million mansion in Alamo, CA. In 2019, Curry bought a $31 million mansion in Atherton on 1.2 acres with separate guest house and sold it for $31.15 million two years later. Today, they own a $30 million, 18,000 square foot mansion in Atherton on two acres. According to Celebrity Net Worth, they also purchased a $2.1 million home in Winter Park, FL just last year, sparking questions about the location and the Curry’s interest in Florida.
Curry is a fan of luxury watches and owns a variety of collectibles. For instance, his Panerai PAM01441 Luminor GMT is worth an estimated $15,000. Other watches in his collection include a Rolex Sea-Dweller Deepsea ($20,000), a Cartier Santos 100 ($15,000) and a Cartier Santos Skeleton, estimated at $57,000 to name a few. With a net worth like Curry’s, a bit of expensive fashion and flair never hurt anyone.
Curry and his wife launched the Eat.Learn.Play Foundation in 2019. The nonprofit focuses on childhood education and healthy lifestyles. The family is investing in nutrition, education and physical activity for children in their school, at home and in their neighborhoods of Oakland, the Bay Area and across the country. For example, Eat.Learn.Play Foundation has invested in local sports programming in schools and recreational leagues in the community and is planning the remodel of more than a dozen high-traffic play areas throughout Oakland. They’ve donated over 500,000 books and 25 million meals across their hometown.
It’s no surprise that golfing is one of the most expensive amateur and professional games out there. When Curry is not on the court, we’ll likely find him on the golf course. He’s played alongside pro golfers like Phil Mickelson and Collin Morikawa and is often seen on the course with former president Barack Obama. According to INSIDER, ESPN’s Michael Collins once suggested Curry could make the PGA Tour due to his skill and interest in the game. Curry also runs the Underrated Golf tour, with the focus to increase golf involvement among diverse communities. He has also donated $1 million to the Howard University golf program.
Whether you’re traveling, working out or just doing your 9-5, our underwear product is the best choice for all day comfort.
How to get big arms fast – 6 essential arm workouts to build biceps and triceps
Most men will search 'how to get big arms fast' come 1 January. Those who won't probably already have big biceps, triceps and forearms and don't need beginners arm building tips and advice, which we're about to dish out to you. Fancy having guns as big as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson and Chris Hemsworth? Come right this way.
Big, toned and defined arms (particularly bulbous biceps) have long indicated that an individual takes care of his or herself in the gym, perhaps because they tend to poke out of t-shirts and are generally on display more than, say, abs or legs. Because of this, many individuals fresh to the gym or new to the whole fitness game tend to focus on building big arms, which is fine if incorporated into a well-rounded workout routine.
"Probably every guy I've ever trained has wanted to build up their arms," explains Keith McNiven, founder of London-based personal training company Right Path Fitness. "From the forearms to the biceps, triceps and shoulders, these are the muscles that are right out on show when you've got your t-shirt on and the ones that shout strength and power," he adds. Well, you're in luck because Keith is on hand to teach you how to dish out tickets to the gun show.
The bottom line is that building muscle is an energy-consuming process, and your body will need the correct fuel to get you through the workout and repair and heal the muscle fibers so they can grow. "If you're not taking in the right foods, then you can do all the arm exercises you want, but you won't get bigger arms," explains Keith, "What your body will do is grab onto your carb reserves. The result can be an actual loss of muscle mass and probably the opposite result that you want," he adds.
Getting nutrition right is key to fueling your workouts and building muscle, so Keith recommends aiming for around one gram of protein per pound of your body weight and 1.5 to 3 grams of carbohydrate per pound of your body weight per day. Eating the right foods is one way of achieving this, or you can supplement your diet with protein shakes, bars and snacks, which make it easier to get the correct numbers on board. You could also try mass gainers, especially if you consider yourself a so-called hardgainer.
"With your nutrition right, you have the fuel you need for an intense arm training program. Of course, if you've never trained before, jumping right into a muscle-building program might not be for you, so always ensure you're working at a pace and level that's right for you and your fitness experience," he adds.
To achieve impressive appendages, you'll have to lift heavy weights, which will likely mean investing in a gym membership or procuring a good set of dumbbells for use in the home. Some of the most effective arm exercises are best performed sitting down, so you should also consider investing in one of the best weights benches.
"You can start with a weight you are comfortable with and increase this as your muscles get stronger," explains Keith. "But the low number of repetitions in this program means you should be able to lift a heavier weight than you would with a higher number of reps," he adds. But don't go mad with your choice of weights, please. It needs to be something you can lift 30 times without failing or doing yourself a mischief. Allow yourself 2 to 3 minutes between each set of reps, take at least one rest day after each workout, and work up the weight you're lifting oh-so-gradually. Also, work gradually to do all the exercises and sets in the following list. And don't worry if you never manage to do the whole lot in one go.
Sets: 3 Reps: 10
This exercise is for your biceps, the muscle that ‘pops’ when you do the classic power stance. Grab a barbell, stand upright and hold the barbell with your knuckles facing upwards. Start with the barbell against your thighs, knees slightly bent and slowly lift the barbell up towards your chest before taking it back down to your thighs in another controlled movement.
Sets: 3 Reps: 10
Another good bicep exercise is the hammer curl. Grab two dumbbells, one in each hand, and stand upright with your arms against your sides and the dumbbells against your thighs pointing forwards. Then you’ll keep your upper arm completely still as you raise the dumbbells up to your chest, keeping it at the forward-facing position. Return the dumbbells to your sides in a controlled movement, and that is one rep down, nine more to go (and then two more sets – hey, we didn't say this would be easy).
Sets: 3 Reps: 10
This exercise is great for developing the triceps, which are the muscles at the back of the arms and the ones that generally get wrongly overlooked when building bigger guns.
You can use the cable machine at the gym for this (or perhaps invest in a suitable home multi-gym if you're flush). Get the weight set on the machine that you’re comfortable with and grab that bar with elbows bent and knuckles facing upwards. Then you’re going to use just the triceps to lower the bar down to your thighs. Keeping your elbows close to your body can help to ensure it’s your triceps that are taking the strain here. Then slowly return the bar from your thighs back up to your chest and the starting bent elbow position.
Sets: 3 Reps: 10
Building bigger arms doesn’t only involve lifting weights, as bodyweight exercises can be very effective for training the triceps. Use a pull-up machine and take your weight by lifting your legs behind you and using almost fully extended arms to hold yourself in position. From this starting position, you’re going to keep your elbows tucked in to isolate your triceps and lower yourself further down so that your almost straight arms bend at the elbow, leaving a 90degree angle. Then lift yourself back up.
You can also work the same muscles outside the gym by incorporating a workout bench. Stretch your legs in front of you, arms behind, with palms flat on the bench surface. Lower the body keeping the same form as above and explosively push back up to complete a rep.
Sets: 3 Reps: 10
This exercise covers the allimportant forearms, another important element of wellrounded, balanced arms. Start standing upright with a dumbbell in each hand and flat against the front of your thighs, the dumbbell should be in a horizontal position, and your knuckles should be facing upwards. Keeping arms quite close to the body, you will use your forearms to lift the dumbbells from your thighs and up towards your chest. Ease them back down in a controlled movement. That’ll be one rep, then. QW
Sets: 3 Reps: 10
You can also train your forearms with the cable machine at the gym. Again, set up the weight in a low position. With a straight back, hold the bar against your thighs with knuckles facing upwards. Then, slowly bring the bar upwards, contracting your biceps and using the forearm muscles to perform the exercise. Keeping elbows in close ensures it’s your forearms doing the work. You could also do this exercise with a barbell.
Three Black quarterbacks made history at this year’s NFL Draft. They were among the first four picks in the first round of the NFL Draft.
The Carolina Panthers chose Alabama quarterback Bryce Young at No. 1 overall, as expected, 12 years after drafting quarterback Cam Newton at that spot.
The Houston Texans, who took Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud at No. 2, and the Indianapolis Colts, who picked Florida’s Anthony Richardson at No. 4, also sought to secure the new faces of their franchises under center.
This stood in stark contrast to much of NFL history. Because White coaches deemed Black players not smart enough to play quarterback. And they propagated this racist canard even while White college coaches were belying it. This, by having Black quarterbacks lead their teams – even to national championships.
That’s why it was so telling to watch the NFL draft these three Black quarterbacks. Not least because TV cameras kept panning to the top White quarterback, Will Levis.
After all, he was sitting and waiting to hear his name called in this first round. It wasn’t called. How’s that for flipping the racial script!
To be fair, though, what happened last night was anticlimactic. To point out why, I could refer you to the 2019 ESPN series, “The Year of the Black QB.” Because its subtitle alone previewed last night’s draft:
The series explores the emergence of black quarterbacks in the NFL, their growing prominence, and the present and future impact on the league. Except that Black sports analysts were predicting their prominence long before then. But even The New Yorker, a lily-white magazine, was doing so. It did, for example, in an article titled, The Year of the Black Quarterback. The New Yorker published that in January 2014.
be drafting 32 QBs.”
But I preempted all the points in that article. I did so in the blog post titled, “Black Quarterbacks: Good Enough for the NCAA, but Not the NFL?” I published that in September 2012.
What’s more, though, I’ve been beating this drum ever since. In fact, I saw that article in The New Yorker and raised it with one on my blog title, “NFL: The Year of the Black Quarterback.” And I published that in December 2019.
Even so, talk about anticlimactic! Lest we forget, two Black quarterbacks led teams to the Super Bowl earlier this year. I commented in “Black Quarterbacks Mahomes and Hurts Are in the Super Bowl. But Black QBs Should Have Been There Decades Ago. Clearly, nothing marked The Year of the Black QB quite like that!
Written by Anthony L. Hall , The iPINIONS“The NFL wants a pat on the back for drafting 3 Black QBs But if the NFL were not so racist It would
Reflecting On The Life & Legacy of
On April 25, EGOT honoree, Harry Belafonte, legendary singer, actor, producer, civil rights activist, humanitarian, husband and father passed away after years of being the epitome of black excellence. Mr. Belafonte’s impact and contributions to society will be felt for years to come.
Belafonte popularize calypso music and he earned his career breakthrough with the. album Calypso (1956), which was the first million-selling LP by a single artist.
Belafonte's breakthrough album Calypso became the first LP in the world to sell more than 1 million copies within a year. He stated that it was the first million-selling album ever in England. The album is number four on Billboard's "Top 100 Album" list for having spent 31 weeks at number 1, 58 weeks in the top ten, and 99 weeks on the U.S. chart.
One of the songs included in the album is the now famous "Banana Boat Song" (listed as "Day-O" on the Calypso LP), which reached number five on the pop chart, and featured its signature lyric "Day-O".
Belafonte starred in numerous films. His first film role was in Bright Road (1953), in which he supported female lead Dorothy Dandridge. The two subsequently starred in Otto Preminger's hit musical Carmen Jones (1954). Ironically, Belafonte's singing in the film was dubbed by an opera singer, as was Dandridge's, both voices being deemed unsuitable for their roles.
Using his star clout, Belafonte was subsequently able to realize several thencontroversial film roles. In 1957's Island in the Sun, there are hints of an affair between Belafonte's character and the character played by Joan Fontaine. The film also starred James Mason, Dandridge, Joan Collins, Michael Rennie, and John Justin. In 1959, he starred in and produced, through his company HarBel Productions, Robert Wise's Odds Against Tomorrow, in which he plays a bank robber uncomfortably teamed with a racist partner (Robert Ryan). He also co-starred with Inger Stevens in The World, the Flesh and the Devil. Belafonte was offered the role of Porgy in Preminger's Porgy and Bess, where he would have once again starred opposite Dandridge, but refused the role because he objected to its racial stereotyping; Sidney Poitier played the role instead.
Dissatisfied with most of the film roles offered to him during the 1960s, Belafonte concentrated on music. In the early 1970s, Belafonte appeared in more films, among which are two with Poitier: Buck and the Preacher (1972) and Uptown Saturday Night (1974). In 1984, Belafonte produced and scored the musical film Beat Street, dealing with the rise of hiphop culture. Together with Arthur Baker, he produced the gold-certified soundtrack of the same name. Belafonte next starred in a major film in the mid-1990s, appearing with John Travolta in the race-reverse drama White Man's Burden (1995). His final film appearance was in Spike Lee's Academy Awardwinning BlacKkKlansman (2018) as an elderly civil rights pioneer.
Belafonte is said to have married politics and pop culture. Belafonte's political beliefs were greatly inspired by the singer, actor, and civil rights activist Paul Robeson, who mentored him. Robeson opposed not only racial prejudice in the United States but also western colonialism in Africa. Belafonte refused to perform in the American South from 1954 until 1961.
In 1960, Belafonte appeared in a campaign commercial for Democratic Presidential candidate John F. Kennedy. Kennedy later named Belafonte cultural advisor to the Peace Corps. Belafonte supported Lyndon B. Johnson for the 1964 United States presidential election.
Belafonte gave the keynote address at the ACLU of Northern California's annual Bill of Rights Day Celebration In December 2007 and was awarded the Chief Justice Earl Warren Civil Liberties Award. The 2011 Sundance Film Festival featured the documentary film Sing Your Song, a biographical film focusing on Belafonte's contribution to and his leadership in the civil rights movement in America and his endeavors to promote social justice globally. In 2011, Belafonte's memoir My Song was published by Knopf Books.
Belafonte supported the civil rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s and was one of Martin Luther King Jr.'s confidants. He provided for King's family since King earned only $8,000 ($80,000 in today's time) a year as a preacher.
As with many other civil rights activists, Belafonte was blacklisted during the McCarthy era. During the 1963 Birmingham campaign, Belafonte bailed King out of the Birmingham, Alabama jail and raised $50,000 to release other civil rights protesters. He contributed to the 1961 Freedom Rides, supported voter registration drives, and helped to organize the 1963 March on Washington. He later recalled, "Paul Robeson had been my first great formative influence; you might say he gave me my backbone. Martin King was the second; he nourished my soul." Throughout his career, Belafonte was an advocate for political and humanitarian causes, such as the Anti-Apartheid Movement and USA for Africa. From 1987 until his death, he was a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.
During the Mississippi Freedom Summer of 1964, Belafonte bankrolled the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee.
In 1985, Belafonte helped organize the Grammy Award-winning song "We Are the World", a multi-artist effort to raise funds for Africa. He performed in the Live Aid concert that same year. In 1987, he received an appointment to UNICEF as a goodwill ambassador. Following his appointment, Belafonte traveled to Dakar, Senegal, where he served as chairman of the International Symposium of Artists and Intellectuals for African Children. He also helped to raise funds— along with more than 20 other artists—in the largest concert ever held in subSaharan Africa. In 1994, he embarked on a mission to Rwanda and launched a media campaign to raise awareness of the needs of Rwandan children.
In 2001, Belafonte visited South Africa to support the campaign against HIV/AIDS.
Belafonte was a 3-time Grammy Award winner (including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award), an Emmy and a Tony Award winner. He received the Kennedy Center Honors, the National Medals of Arts, and the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award (honorary Oscar for his humanitarian work). He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022. Rest In Power, Mr. Belafonte.
After six weeks of fierce competition, cold Colorado weather and unforgettable experiences, Michel Smith Boyd and Anthony Elle (Luxe for Less) saw fireworks over their sexy, luxurious bachelor pad during the Season 4 finale of Rock the Block, HGTV’s must-see renovation competition series. Their winning embrace was full of genuine joy: The newcomers of the block turned out to be its namesake.
This was the most valuable season yet: Every new-build on the block started with a value of $1.9 million, and each team was given $250,000 to renovate. After six long weeks, the homes all appraised at over $2.7 million, but Michel and Anthony skyrocketed their reno up to a whopping $2.85 million. Seems the deck off the main bedroom, that ensuite behind the kitchen and the hidden speakeasy room really pulled through.
Kitchen Makeovers: Team Michel + Anthony
“Mountain Modern” was the inspiration for Team Michel Smith Boyd and Anthony Elle's (Luxe for Less) design which showcases classic Colorado style with a contemporary spin. An architectural island, tons of texture throughout, soaring cabinets and striking rounded doors prove this design duo is one to watch.
Living Room Makeovers: Team Michel + Anthony
In Michel and Anthony’s living room design, an expansive green sofa adds rich color to an otherwise neutral space, while rich texture in the side chair and throw mix well with subtle prints to create interest
without distracting from the spectacular view outside.
Main Bedroom Makeovers: Team Michel + Anthony
Michel and Anthony wowed the judges with ombre walls and French doors leading to an added deck that makes the most of what Lyndsay and Leslie considered the best view from the house.
Michel and Anthony’s lower level stayed true to their modern style with sleek finishes warmed up by light furnishings that perfectly complemented their contemporary atmosphere by adding a touch of warmth. Not pictured, a second full kitchen, powder room and speakeasy added tremendous value to the home and impressed judges Alison Victoria (Windy City Rehab) and Veronica Valencia (Revealed).
Exterior Makeovers: Team Michel + Anthony
Exquisite stacked stone and an indoor/outdoor bar immediately grab attention in Michel and Anthony’s outdoor space. An accordion window separates the bar from the inside, carrying through the same style as the incredible accordion doors throughout the home.
Bonus Room Makeovers: Team Michel + Anthony
Anthony and Michel described their home as a tactile experience, and the bonus room is no exception. Designed to be a luxe home office, it can also be easily converted into a bedroom with their clever addition of a Murphy bed. Former Rock the Block winners Jasmine Roth (Help! I Wrecked My House), Egypt Sherrod and Mike Jackson (Married to Real Estate) claimed the space, which also incorporates an ensuite bathroom, could be a game changer when it comes to adding value to the home.
