Written by Dr. Stacey Patton Barack Obama always has a lecture ready for Black men.  Remember his famous Father’s Day Speech in 2008? From the pulpit of the Apostolic Church of God on Chicago’s South Side, Obama basically implied that Black men are just overgrown boys who abandon their responsibilities. His message? “Hey, Black dads, fatherhood isn’t just about making babies—don’t think your job is done after conception. Oh, and while you’re at it, maybe turn off SportsCenter and actually engage with your kids.” The next year at the NAACP National Convention he scolded Black men about personal responsibility, again emphasizing fatherhood and accountability, while neglecting to address the broader socioeconomic barriers...

Vice President Kamala Harris called out former president Donald Trump for spreading misinformation about the federal government’s response to hurricanes Helene and Milton while making a campaign stop at a Black church in Greenville, North Carolina on Oct 13. According to The Associated Press, while Harris did not mention the former president by name, it was clear who she was referring to. Trump is among the most prominent voices pushing conspiracy theories and other falsehoods about FEMA and disaster relief efforts from the federal government. Harris told the crowd that despite the heroes who were helping relief efforts without respect...

Maurice C. Simmons, a South Carolina-based barber, has drawn praise and created conversation after saying in a now-viral video that a run in with a former customer who could no longer afford to get his hair cut at the barber’s shop inspired him to lower his prices. Many social media users chimed in regarding how pandemic era prices for personal grooming have not gone down. Some pointed to the barber’s idea of returning to a lower price point as a model for other barbers and beauticians. Others said that they have to also receive support from their respective communities to...

Aoki Lee Simmons is breaking away from her emerging modeling career. The daughter of Kimora Lee And Russell Simmons says she’s quitting due to unfair comparisons to her supermodel mother. The 22-year-old socialite took to Instagram to explain her frustrations with the “hard” industry. In the clips, she details how tired she is of being considered not pretty enough for the profession. Live Bitez reshared footage of Simmons venting. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Watch Live Bitez (@livebitez) “I...

Kamala Harris has unveiled her Opportunity Agenda for Black men. The plan, released by the Harris-Walz campaign, aims to help Black men achieve financial freedom for themselves and their families while protecting their rights. Harris released the plan on Oct. 14, which would expand her goals for business owners and explore mentorship opportunities for this demographic. First, she hopes to provide 1 million loans, which would be fully forgivable for up to $20k, for Black entrepreneurs, as well as those with businesses in underserved communities. View this post on Instagram ...

Police arrested a Las Vegas man for having illegal firearms outside of former President Donald Trump’s rally in Coachella, California. Authorities found Vem Miller with two loaded firearms while stopped at a checkpoint ahead of Trump’s arrival at the Oct. 12 event. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department confirmed Miller had an illegal shotgun, handgun, and high-capacity magazine for the handgun as well. Politico also reported Miller drove an unregistered black SUV with a handmade license plate. The county’s sheriff, Chad Bianco, also detailed fake driver’s licenses and passports in Miller’s possession. According to the sheriff, Miller originally told law enforcement that...

NBA TV co-hosts Sam Mitchell and Chris Miles appeared to get into a heated back and forth during a segment during the network’s broadcast of the pre-season tilt between the Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings on an Oct. 11 episode of NBA TV’s NBA Gametime Live. According to Awful Announcing, their row started after a discussion about the fact that the coaches of the United States Men’s National Basketball Team do not receive medals for accomplishments in the Olympics, unlike the players. Mitchell, a former NBA player, assistant, and head coach, commented that the lack of medals or other compensation for...

Toni Vaz, the actor and stunt performer who founded the NAACP Image Awards, has died on Oct. 4. Vaz was 101 years old. A spokesperson confirmed to Deadline that Vaz died at the Motion Picture Fund campus in Los Angeles. While born and raised in New York City, Vaz moved in adulthood to begin her career in Hollywood. However, it was during her years of auditioning that she discovered stunt work. Breaking barriers for Black women in stunts, Vaz went on to stand in for Cecily Tyson for her role in “Mission: Impossible,” alongside other acclaimed actresses like Eartha...

Two siblings and descendants of enslavers who operated successful cotton mills in North Carolina, Buck and Gracie Close are privately funding a basic income program in Louisiana. The program is designed to transfer wealth from them to victims of racist policing, which they see as reparations. According to Business Insider, the program is part of the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana under its Truth and Reconciliation Project. That project selected 12 individuals who, per the ACLU of Louisiana’s website, were “survivors of police misconduct who did not receive restitution in the courts.” Since November 2023, each recipient selected by the project...

Jussie Smollett is stepping back into the spotlight and expressing gratitude to the Black women who supported him through the difficult past five years. Not much has been seen from the “Empire” star in recent years following his hate crime hoax scandal in 2019. However, Smollett is boldly returning to the Hollywood scene amid the release of his new film, The Lost Holliday. Smollett wrote, directed, and produced the family drama that stars Vivica A. Fox as Cassandra Marshall, a grieving mother who travels to Los Angeles to arrange the funeral of her estranged son, Damien Holliday (Jabari Redd). To her surprise,...

Police arrested an 11-year-old boy who confessed to the fatal shooting of a former Louisiana mayor and his adult daughter last month. Now, new details are emerging of possible alleged misconduct by way of the slain city official. The arrest followed the murders of Joe Cornelius Sr., 82, and Keisha Miles, 31, who were found dead inside the former politician’s home in Minden, Louisiana, on Sept. 1. The boy was a relative of Cornelius. Still, a motive has not been revealed due to the child’s age limiting what authorities could reveal about his relationship with the victims, Chief Jared McIver confirmed. However,...

On Oct. 11, Derrick Thompson, the son of former Minnesota state Rep. John Thompson, was found guilty of one count of possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, one count of possessing a firearm as a felon, and one count of carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug crime, all federal charges. According to CBS News, Thompson also faces state charges of criminal vehicular homicide and third-degree murder. The murder charge was added in September after the Hennepin County Attorney’s office characterized Thompson’s actions as consistent with a “lengthy record of dangerous driving, the trail of devastation...

In 2017, Brad Edwards expected to become a father of twin boys. Instead, he and his partner experienced an incalculable loss, both of the babies were delivered stillborn. Edwards, like far too many men, initially compressed his feelings and buried them, but like a dam holding back a flood, eventually, he broke. As Edwards told STLMag, he broke down in tears with his friends after talking with them about it as they watched a football game. “I held any of the emotions I had from my experience for years, and it took one day, sitting in my basement with my friends...

Interscope Geffen A&M Records will launch an HBCU-focused initiative that will take place the next year. The label will partner with multiple HBCUs for its “Homecoming SZN” album campaign. The initiative launches with the album “Homecoming SZN Compilation Vol. 1,” featuring songs from Interscope’s extensive catalog. The vinyl-only release includes hit tracks like Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us,” Glorilla’s “TGIF,” and Soulja Boy’s “Turn My Swag On,” along with two new songs from emerging artists. “Historically Black Colleges and Universities have produced some of the most prominent figures in our country’s history,” shared Interscope Geffen A&M’s executive VP/head of urban marketing,...

Tylee Craft, a 23-year-old wide receiver at the University of North Carolina, died on Oct. 12 following his battle with cancer. According to a press release shared by UNC, he fought against the disease for two years. Head football coach Mack Brown said in a statement that Craft lived beyond the expectations of his doctors. “This young man fought so hard for his two-and-a-half years, the doctors told us he outlived what he should’ve. And he did it with the Spirit, he did it with a smile on his face, he didn’t miss a meeting, he didn’t miss practice, he coached...

A popular radio show host and comedian in Atlanta, Wanda Smith, has died a day after her birthday. Her former radio station, V-103, confirmed the news. Smith, 59, was an influential figure within Atlanta’s media and entertainment sphere, with her voice heard across the city through V-103’s popular “Frank Ski and Wanda In the Morning” show. V-103’s Senior Vice President, Rick Caffey, expressed the station’s condolences in an Instagram post upon the news of Smith’s unexpected passing. View this post on Instagram ...

According to Lauren Pisciotta, West admitted the sexual encounter after arguing with his unnamed ex-wife, assumed to be Kim Kardashian. A former assistant of Kanye “Ye” West has accused the rapper of drugging and sexually assaulting her while at a party co-hosted by Sean “Diddy” Combs.

Zelig Williams, a Broadway dancer known for his performances in “Hamilton” and “MJ: The Musical,” remains missing after disappearing in his home state of South Carolina. According to NBC New York, Williams was last seen on Oct. 3 in Columbia, South Carolina. After his family could not reach him, they informed law enforcement that next day. While the professional dancer was not in any shows at the moment, he returned to the southern state to teach an audition workshop at Palmetto Performing Arts. “This bootcamp is perfect for aspiring performers looking to hone their skills and take their gifts and...

As Black women are more likely to receive a diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer than their white counterparts, knowing the facts and symptoms of the illness remain as prevalent as ever. Metastatic breast cancer, also known as stage IV or advanced breast cancer, occurs when cancer cells break away from their original location to form a new tumor in a different tissue or organ. Known as metastasis, the cells often spread outside the breast tissue to organs such as the bones, liver, lungs or brain. According to Living Beyond Breast Cancer, doctors typically diagnose this form of cancer through imaging...

At the event attendees underscored how vital the upcoming election is for Black men. Vice President Kamala Harris has made it a point to engage Black men during this election cycle, as she told an National Association of Black Journalists interview panel in September, she believes that the vote of Black men must be earned, like any other constituency.