B illionaire Robert F. Smith ’s act of kindness has inspired other entrepreneurs across the country to pay it forward. A Black-owned barbershop in North Carolina raised money to help high school seniors pay off their debt so they would be able to graduate, WBTV reported. Season Bennett learned 14 seniors at East Mecklenburg High School in Charlotte wouldn’t get their diplomas with the rest of their class if the overdue school fees weren’t paid. So Bennett asked the community for help eliminating the $4,500 debt. https://t.co/tELwhA0miB — NewsChannel 12 (@wcti12) May 30, 2019 After seeing Smith’s commencement speech—where he promised to eliminate the student loan debt of Morehouse College’s entire 2019 graduating class— Season Bennett was prompted to do something special for students in Charlotte. Bennett, who owns Headlines Barbershop with her husband, got in contact with the staff at East Mecklenburg High School to see if any seniors had outstanding debts that would prevent them from graduating. After learning that 14 students collectively had $4,500 in debt, Bennett decided to raise funds for the teenagers. Many of the fees they had were tied to their participation in the school’s band program. With the help of her local community, she was able to raise enough money to cover the debt. NFL player Thomas Davis was instrumental in helping Bennett and the barbershop reach its goal. “It seems like that’s just basic in our culture. You need to get at least your high school diploma,” Bennett told the news outlet. Several individuals have stepped up to help high school students pay off their debt to walk across the graduation stage and receive their hard-earned diplomas. In May Valerie Castile —the mother of Philando Castile —paid off the lunch debt for students at Robbinsdale Cooper High School so that they could graduate. Outstanding high school lunch debt has become an evolving issue across the country. According to USA Today , 75 percent of school districts in the U.S. had unpaid student meal debt during the 2016-2017 academic year. SEE ALSO: Philando Castile’s Mother Pays Off Lunch Debt For High School Students In Minnesota Army Sgt. Surprises Daughter At High School Graduation [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”3853200″ overlay=”true”]
Source: miodrag ignjatovic / Getty I f you’re single like me, chances are you finished some of the latest additions on Netflix . The good news is, April is going to be a great month in new and Black titles on the streaming service. Kevin Hart ‘s latest comedy special Irresponsible is available now and he doesn’t shy away from talking about any of the career catastrophes he’s faced as of late. Yes, Hart addresses the Oscars controversy and more. “As a father of three on his second marriage, Kevin Hart proves that being him is indeed a tall order in a fresh special inspired by his own mistakes,” a synopsis reads on Netflix’s website. It’s definitely worth tuning into. Obsessed starring Beyoncé , Idris Elba , and Ali Larter is also available for your viewing pleasure — AND, we know you heard all about Beyoncé’s Homecoming special that will be available on April 17 . Presenting a historic look at the international superstar’s 2018 Coachella performance, in which she paid homage to historically Black colleges and universities all over the nation, the film “traces the emotional road from creative concept to cultural movement.” We’re poised and ready to watch the queen work. Not your cup of tea? Tune into a number of other for-the-culture movies hitting Netflix this month, including action thriller I Am Legend , psychological thriller Lakeview Terrace , romantic comedy Someone Great (due 4/19), documentary Grass Is Greener (due 4/20), and civil war tale The Hateful Eight: Extended Version (due 4/25). There’s a little something for (almost) everybody. On the series side of things, the second season of On My Block is out now and it does not disappoint. If you aren’t up on game, the show follows four teenagers navigating adolescence, friendship, and love as they try to stay safe in their gang-infested L.A. neighborhood. All American is also turning out to be a great show to binge-watch. Only in its first season, cultures clash as one-star football player is recruited from South L.A. to play on the Beverly Hills high school team. We told you we’ve got you covered. Stay tuned to Bingeworthy for new must-see TV and film moments every month.
Florida finally got it right! Michael Dunn Sentenced To Life Plus 105 Years Michael Dunn will spend the rest of his life behind bars for the murder of unarmed teen Jordan Davis! NBC News reports: A Florida man convicted of first-degree murder for shooting a teenager to death over loud music was sentenced to life without parole Friday. Michael Dunn, 47, was convicted of killing Jordan Davis, 17, in November 2012 after he shot into a SUV of four teenagers 10 times when an argument broke out over loud music coming from the teens’ vehicle. Dunn was sentenced to an additional 90 years in prison for three attempted murder convictions and another 15 years for firing into an occupied vehicle. “Our justice system works. This case demonstrates that our justice system does work,” said Judge Russell Healey at the sentencing. Dunn was found guilty on three counts of second-degree attempted murder in January, but a mistrial was declared on the first-degree murder charge. A jury in early October found Dunn, who is white, guilty of murdering Davis, who was black. Testimony during the sentencing, including a statement by Davis’ father, Ron Davis, lasted about an hour. Prosecutors did not pursue the death penalty, according to NBC South Florida. BLACK…LIFE…MATTERS!!! Now can they PLEASE arrest Darren Wilson ?!
There are certain videos that go viral on social media that I choose to ignore. Teenagers setting themselves on fire, trying to choke each other til they pass out, people fighting, etc. I just have no interest in seeing violence – people hurting themselves or anyone else – which is why I was surprised when I caught myself watching a viral video of a mother abusing her child…a baby. She was pounding the baby with a pillow, slapping her in her face with an open hand, pinching her arms and legs and smacking her on her head, all while the baby cried in pain. My heart broke in a million pieces as I watched the mother slap away the baby’s hand as it reached out to her for comfort and consolation. And what pissed me off the most was that there was someone taping it on their phone rather than stepping in to help this poor defenseless baby who was suffering at the hands of its mother…or who I assume is her mother…. Madamenoire
It’s Divergent week! Let’s celebrate the release of the post-apocalyptic teen drama by rounding up some of the craziest things Shailene Woodley has said during her many recent interviews. From sun-tanning her vagina to eating clay, Shailene has a lot of, uh, INTERESTING habits. I suspect if we DID all live in a destroyed future-Chicago Shailene would either survive way longer than any of us (foraging for food! making her own cheese!) or she’d be the first one killed (sharing her aloha soul with the wrong people sounds dangerous). Maybe we should have seen this coming – after all, she is Divergent . Read 13 of her craziest quotes below and see what we mean: 13 Craziest Shailene Woodley Quotes Open Slideshow 1. The second I wake up, I scream very loudly … Waking up in the morning is an event. View As List The second I wake up, I scream very loudly [sings to the tune of “Good Morning” from Singin’ in the Rain], “Good morning! Good morning!” And then I scream out, “Exciting day! Exciting day!” I feel like it completely sets the mood for the whole day. Shailene Woodley Permalink: The second I wake up, I scream very loudly Added: March 20, 2014 1. The second I wake up, I scream very loudly … Waking up in the morning is an event. I like to give my vagina a little vitamin D, Shailene Woodley Permalink: I like to give my vagina a little vitamin D, Added: March 20, 2014 2. Giving the vadge some Vitamin D On how to avoid gynecological problems. Some movies have made me laugh, but I’ve never thought, ‘Wow, if it weren’t for that movie, I’d be a different person.’ Except Pocahontas. Shailene Woodley Permalink: Except Pocahontas. Added: March 20, 2014 3. Except Pocahontas. On movies that changed her life. You can do something called ‘oil pulling’ where you swish coconut or sesame oil in your mouth when you wake up and spit it out. It’s amazing! It really makes your teeth whiter, because the plaque on your teeth is not water soluble, it’s fat-soluble. So the lipids have to dissolve in fats, which is why oil works in your mouth. Shailene Woodley Permalink: So the lipids have to dissolve in fats, which is why oil works in your mouth. Added: March 20, 2014 4. Oil works in your mouth On how to whiten your teeth. If I wasn’t an actress, I’d probably do something with food. Finding seeds, planting seeds, watching them grow, harvesting the fruits, cooking the fruits, eating them, seeing how my body reacts, and even digesting. Shailene Woodley Permalink: If I wasn’t an actress, I’d probably do something with food. Added: March 20, 2014 5. If I wasn’t an actress, I’d probably do something with food. On her life if she wasn’t acting. Shailene Woodley: the way in which our epidermis heals itself leaves me humbled and amazed. cells working their magic and re-weaving the web of skin :)))))))) Permalink: the way in which our epidermis heals itself leaves me humbled and amazed. Added: March 20, 2014 6. Humbled and amazed by … Tweeting deep thougths about skin. Teenagers are so smart. I was probably smarter as a 16-year-old than I am today. Shailene Woodley Permalink: I was probably smarter as a 16-year-old than I am today. Added: March 20, 2014 7. I was probably smarter as a 16-year-old than I am today. On getting dumber with age. The world Aloha, if you break it down, means breath and spirit, so when Hawaiians say Aloha, they are not only saying hello or goodbye. They are saying, ‘I am seeing your spirit, and I am giving you mine.’ Shailene Woodley Permalink: I am seeing your spirit, and I am giving you mine. Added: March 20, 2014 8. I am seeing your spirit, and I am giving you mine. On the word ‘Aloha’. Most people have never heard of clay, or spring water, or chlorophyll, which shocks me because that’s what I revolve my life around, but then it shocks them that I know nothing about a big designer, or director, or producer. Shailene Woodley Permalink: Most people have never heard of clay, or spring water, or chlorophyll Added: March 20, 2014 9. Most people have never heard of clay, or spring water, or chlorophyll On how she might secretly be a plant. I first heard about the benefits of eating clay from a taxi driver. Shailene Woodley Permalink: I first heard about the benefits of eating clay from a taxi driver. Added: March 20, 2014 10. I first heard about the benefits of eating clay from a taxi driver. On where she gets medical advice. It’s amazing what our inner children, our previous selves, can teach us about our present-day lives. Shailene Woodley Permalink: It’s amazing what our inner children, our previous selves, can teach us about our present-day… Added: March 20, 2014 11. It’s amazing what our inner children, our previous selves, can teach us about our present-day… On her inner child. I make my own medicines; I don’t get those from doctors. I make my own cheese and forage wild foods and identify wild plants. It’s an entire lifestyle. It’s appealing to my soul. Shailene Woodley Permalink: I make my own cheese and forage wild foods and identify wild plants. Added: March 20, 2014 12. I make my own cheese and forage wild foods and identify wild plants. On where to get the best cheese. gaia. aloha. rewilding. sacralizing the feminine. gratitude. Shailene Woodley Permalink: gaia. aloha. rewilding. sacralizing the feminine. gratitude. Added: March 20, 2014 13. gaia. aloha. rewilding. sacralizing the feminine. gratitude. Shailene’s Twitter bio.
This is a powerful video. Group Makes Tribute Video To Bullied Teen Bullying is such a cowardly action. It’s good to see young people doing something positive with their talent. According to Staten Island Advanced: Nearly one year after Tottenville High School Student Felicia Garcia jumped in front of a Staten Island Railway train as a result of being bullied, the spotlight is on a Boston, hip hop group’s release of “Felicia,” a song meant to bring attention to the plight of bullying. Since Ms.Garcia’s death at the Huguenot train station on Oct. 24, 2012, she has become a national symbol for what can happen as a result of bullying. In light of October being National Bullying Prevention month, hip hop group, “Fame or Juliet,” wants to bring attention to Felicia’s story. “We wanted to bring Felicia Garcia’s story to life,” said Jeremias Jimenez, who along with Jason Nambouh and Caleb Michel make up Fame or Juliet, a fledgling group quickly gaining popularity in Massachusetts. Group members learned of Ms. Garcia’s death via news reports, and were inspired to write a song about her in hopes of preventing other teenagers from taking their own lives as a result of bullying by peers. Checkout the video below: What do you think needs to be done to prevent bullying?
Kate Middleton played some volleyball this morning in her third formal public appearance since giving birth at an East London event for the charity SportsAid. The athletic Duchess is a patron for the organization, and she showed her affinity for sports again today in a Breton-style top, skinny jeans and five inch wedges. At one point, Kate Middleton jumped and spiked, baring her midriff as she leapt for the ball, no doubt causing London’s tabloid editors to have heart palpitations. Bump, set, spoke … in sales! Kate Middleton Plays Volleyball in Heels Middleton’s inadvertent stomach reveal showed it to be stunningly flat, with nary a sign that she was very pregnant less than three months ago. Some women just make it look so easy. The image comes on the heels of the Kim Kardashian Selfie Seen ‘Round The World that had Kanye West bragging he was HEADING HOME NOW. Both moms have made it clear that their bodies have returned to their pre-baby versions. Even if one flaunts it on social media more than the other. And by that, we mean all the time versus not at all. Kim Kardashian promotes herself around the clock, while Kate leads a relatively normal life and just happens to have people photograph her her every second. To each their own, right? It’s a living. In any case, in the celebrity gossip business, you don’t often get your material gift-wrapped like this from someone so likable as well as beautiful. Sporty, too? She’s a keeper, William.
Maksim Chmerkovskiy may be an expert dancer, but he’s no longer dancing around his personal life. The former Dancing with the Stars cemented his status as Most Hated Man in America this week by confirming he’s seen Kate Upton nude . The two are dating. Kate Upton, Maksim Chmerkovskiy “She’s an amazing person,” Chmerkovskiy tells Us Weekly. “We have an incredible time together… I definitely didn’t see that coming and I think neither did she. “We enjoy each other’s company very much and like I said, she’s a great girl that I never thought anything romantic like this could have happened.” Rumors of Chmerkovskiy and Upton hooking up first spread in September, as the pair were spotted holding hands in New York City. But this is the first time either has spoken out about the romance. Upton has previously been linked to Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander, while Chmerkovskiy likely had sex with ex-DWTS partner Erin Andrews. Seriously. Most Hated Man in America.
The fallout from Sex Club Gate continues to Kylie Jenner and Kendall Jenner. On Tuesday night, the teenagers were brought to a lounge in West Hollywood that features topless dancers and what it hyped as a “nudity experience.” Scott Disick and Khloe Kardashian acted as their irresponsible chaperones. Controversy has since erupted over the outing because the establishment only allows patrons over 21 years of age. Kylie and Kendall Jenner: Caught Clubbing! Did the girls use a fake ID? Did the bouncers let Kylie and Kendall in due to their fame? How the young women gained entrance is one major question that has resulted from the night out. And here’s another: Did they drink while inside? According to TMZ sources, The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control is very focused on this issue, as the organization looks to send a message to underage imbibers everywhere. The Department has asked for surveillance footage from the nightclub and hope it will determine whether the Jenners used a fake ID at the door. The establishment is cooperating with these authorities and if Kylie and Kendall do get busted having used phony identification to enter the club… let’s face it. Nothing at all will happen to them.
