Source: alvarez / Getty Recently, the National Black Women’s Justice Institute released a list of policy recommendations opposing the criminalization of Black girls. Although Black men and boys are often the center of conversation when it comes to the criminalization of Black people, the current realities for Black girls and women are also grim. NBWJI’s report, entitled “ End School PushOut for Black Girls and Other Girls of Color,” says that according to the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights Data, Black girls in grades K-12 are seven times more likely to be suspended from school and four times more likely to be arrested on school grounds. These statistics reflect studies from a 2015 report called “Black Girls Matter: Pushed Out, Overpoliced And Underprotected.” The report said that data released by the Department of Education for the 2011–2012 school year showed that while Black males were suspended more than three times as often as their White counterparts, Black girls were suspended six times as often. Only 2 percent of White females faced exclusionary suspensions in comparison to 12 percent of Black girls. In 2019, it seems NBWJI is continuing the work of the 2015 report by acknowledging that punitive practices, such as expulsions or in-school arrests, can increase the risk of girls coming in contact with the juvenile and criminal justice system. With women being the fastest growing prison population , even over men, it’s paramount that Black girls be included in the conversation of decriminalizing Black people. NBWJI released a list of federal, state and local policy recommendations to help prevent the criminalization of Black girls. The recommendations are inclusive of other marginalized groups, such as Black LGBTQ+ youth, and they operate on the principle that if Black girls are centered in the conversation, it could lead to policy that decriminalizes all Black youth. On the federal level, recommendations include policies that support pregnant and parenting students in school districts and post-secondary institutions. Instead of discouraging these students from discontinuing their education, NBWJI suggests programs to support the academic success of these students such as access to quality, affordable child care. Another federal recommendation is increased funding for extracurricular activities that fully integrate girls, transgender, gender non-conforming and non-binary youth (TGNC). Finally, on the federal level, the report calls for the protection of immigrant children by eliminating and preventing the presence of Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers on school grounds. On the state level, the report suggests removing all police from schools and disarming school-based personnel. Instead of money going to law enforcement, they suggest directing it to counselors, social workers and restorative justice programming in schools. On the state and local level, the report calls for alternatives to “zero tolerance” processes. Instead of kicking students out of school via suspensions, expulsions or school-based arrests for subjective minor infractions, the report suggests alternatives like harm reduction, mindfulness and again, more restorative practices. The report especially calls for the end to suspensions and expulsions for pre-K and grades K-2 in favor of strategies to address behavioral problems and to support teachers. If you want to learn more about the policy suggestions from NBWJI’s report, you can check it out here . You can expect more discussions in the future as the conversation around Black women and girls continues to grow.
Another one! A brand new bundle of joy is on the way for DJ Khaled and his wife, Nicole Tuck. Khaled announced the new addition to his family in an Instagram video showing his wife’s belly during an ultrasound. “Almost 3 years ago when I found out my queen was expecting our son Asahd I knew my life would change forever and that OUR legacy would soon be on the way,” wrote. “After that blessing I released some of my biggest albums to date ( Grateful and Father Of Asahd ) inspired by his greatness. Just when I thought life couldn’t get any better, I received another blessing that my queen is expecting an addition to our legacy. I’m feeling more inspired than ever now.” Tuck gave birth to Asahd back in 2016. He’s turning 3 next month. No word yet on whether or not the soon-to-be big brother will have a little brother or little sister. Join Our Text Club To Get The Latest Music, Entertainment, Contests And Breaking News On Your Phone. Text BALTIMORE to 24042 to join! View this post on Instagram God is the greatest. All I ever wanted to do was inspire the world to be great and to leave a legacy. Almost 3 years ago when I found out my queen was expecting our son Asahd I knew my life would change forever and that OUR legacy would soon be on the way. After that blessing I released some of my biggest albums to date (Grateful and Father Of Asahd) inspired by his greatness. Just when I thought life couldn’t get any better, I received another blessing that my queen is expecting an addition to our legacy. I’m feeling more inspired than ever now. As we go into this journey I’m taking FANLUV along with me to keep the love and blessings flowing to the world ! #FAMILY God is the greatest. MAMA ASAHD ,ASAHD WE GOT ANOTHER ONE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ALLAH I LOVE YOU SO MUCH !!!!! MY QUEEN I LOVE YOU SO MUCH ! ASAHD I LOVE YOU SO MUCH ! And to the little boy in my QUEEN’S BELLY I LOVE YOU SO MUCH ! #WETHEBEST ! A post shared by DJ KHALED (@djkhaled) on Sep 12, 2019 at 10:17am PDT
Source: Justin Yoast / EyeEm / Getty An extremely disturbing video made its way to the Internet showing a White kid beating a Black boy in the locker room of a Florida middle school. The clip shows the kid holding him down and hitting him repeatedly while other students watch. An adult was nowhere to be found, according to the clip. The mother of the Black kid, Lauren Springfield made a Facebook post about the incident that has since gone viral. “Yesterday, my son was attacked. In a violent, malicious manner while in the school locker room at Blake Academy in Polk County,” she started. “The school nurse called us first and let us know our son was in the nurses office and could not give us any additional information. I immediately left my office and went to the school – not one school administrator contacted me on the way to the school. I got to the school to find a welt on my son’s forehead and back of head, a cut above his eye brow and bruising all around his eye.” Springfield said it wasn’t until she received videos from parents of a high school student that she realized her son was brutally attacked. “You hear the kids not only cursing but encouraging the attack and not stepping in to stop what was happening,” Springfield wrote. She said she asked the school administration how they would respond to the video and according to her, their response was “We can’t tell you.” Springfield went on to say, “This could have ended much differently, our child has one kidney and after getting kneed several times this could have resulted in permanent damage.” Springfield said she went to the courthouse in an attempt to get a restraining order against the kids. However, the judge argued that since the attack allegedly didn’t happen multiple times, Springfield would not be granted the protection for her son. “It only takes one hit for a child to die,” wrote Springfield. “How many more times would you like this to happen to our child or any other child? Throughout the entire attack this little boy laughed and smiled – and you think he won’t do it again?” Springfield also brought attention to the racial aspect of the violence. “I can guarantee you had this been a group of black students on a lone white student we would be having a completely different conversation. I am disheartened, I am tired, scared for my son and completely enraged.” Springfield finished off by saying some policy changes should be made to protect children. One Polk County school board member, Billy Townsend, responded to Springfield’s demands, writing on Facebook : “1) We as a district vastly overinterpret privacy rules so that a victim’s family receives little or no information about how we are protecting/preventing any further harm for their child. So even when a serious investigation is underway, as I believe it is here, the victim’s family doesn’t really perceive it. 2) I do not understand why we would send the child’s family to get a court injunction, rather than provide more robust engagement at the school/district level. Both of these seem like policy issues that we need to address quickly as a School Board.” Eventually, charges were brought against one of the students. The police and the superintendent of Polk County Public Schools held a press conference where they said that students were disciplined “on the school side” while one of the boys was charged with misdemeanor simple battery and has been suspended for 10 days. You can watch the full details below.
S ecretary of HUD Ben Carson has been cleared of any misconduct in the $31,000 dining room set. Guess who cleared him? A HUD Inspector General, which is quite convenient. See Also: Michael Moore Begs Michelle Obama To Run For President: ‘She’s The One Person Who Could Crush Trump’ Carson was accused of violating federal appropriations law by ordering furniture worth more than $5,000 and notifying congressional appropriators. The Washington Post reports, a 14-page report read, “We found no evidence indicating that either Secretary or Mrs. Carson exerted improper influence on any departmental employee in connection with the procurement.” The report blames the purchase on HUD staff and that Carson thought “the dollar limit applied only to his personal office — not to his entire suit.” The report also stated, “We believe that department officials involved in this process should have been aware that notification to Congress was required here. The fact that evidently no one involved in this procurement had such awareness indicates a systemic failure.” The agency has reportedly reviewed the process, , In March of 2018, Carson told the House Appropriations Committee that it was Candy Carson who purchased the $31,000 dining set for his office on the taxpayers’ dime. He said, “When I assumed the position I was told that traditionally secretaries redecorate their offices. You know, I’m not really big into decorating. If it were up to me, my office would probably look like a hospital waiting room. At any rate, I invited my wife in to come help me.” He continued, “I asked my wife also to help me with that. They showed us some catalogs. The prices were beyond what I wanted to pay and I made it clear that just didn’t seem right to me. I left it with my wife, I said ‘help choose something.’” He threw her under the bus by saying, “I wasn’t that concerned about furniture. The next thing that I quite frankly heard about it was this $31,000 table had been bought. I said ‘What the heck is this all about?’ I investigated and I immediately had it canceled.” Just like everyone in the Trump administration, Carson walks away unscathed. SEE ALSO: One Step Forward, 10 Steps Back: San Francisco’s First Black Woman Mayor Unseated By Rich White Man Jada Speaks Out For Mo’Nique And The Comedian Has More Thoughts On Amy Schumer’s Success Rihanna Just Singlehandedly Snatched Snapchat’s Wig… And Its Stock Is Going Down
Source: SOPA Images / Getty Gamestop is serious trouble financially and to combat its money woes, the company announced it will be closing up to 200 stores around the world before the end of the year. It was just two months ago GameStop announced it would be revamping its stores in hopes it would lure more shoppers, but it looks like that plan was a dub. The company revealed plans it will be shuttering somewhere between 180 and 200 GameStop locations across the globe for good with more store closings on the horizon for the struggling video game retailer. The company revealed that it’s quarter global sales were down 14.3 percent, translating into a net loss of $32 million. James Bell, GameStop’s CFO revealed during the company’s earnings call that up to 200 “underperforming” before the end of the year. He also added: “While these closures were more opportunistic, we are applying a more definitive, analytic approach, including profit levels and sales transferability, that we expect will yield a much larger tranche of closures over the coming 12 to 24 months.” GameStop hoped it’s an ambitious idea to team up with designers at R/GA to renovate stores to give them a “place in the video gaming culture” would work. The proposed concept stores were supposed to have layouts that would appeal to gamers by giving them new ways to try games before buying them. They also suggested building shops that would focus on retro games and hardware and host Esports competitions in the stores with local teams. Looks likes that didn’t solve what ails GameStop, and it’s not looking good for the company for the foreseeable future. With gamers now opting to go digital and the current console generation reaching its end, the well-known company looks like it might be dying a slow death. This could also be karma for the company for ripping us off with those lame trade-in values as well. Bell’s outlook for his company is currently bleak. He also added GameStop expecting it’s year-over-year sales to take a hit for the next three to four quarters. — Photo: SOPA Images / Getty
Source: Marcus Ingram / Getty YesJulz invited an avalanche of slander after bigging up EarthGang , and rightfully so, but throwing Big Bo i under the bus in the process. After getting corrected by the Internet for saying the Dreamville crew is like Outkast “with two Andres,” the more active half of the famed Atlanta duo brushed off the slander as cool as one can imagine. In an interview alongside vocalist and longtime compatriot Sleepy Brown, Big Boi hit the Power 105.1 studios to sit down with The Breakfast Club and addressed the chatter regarding his crew and YesJulz leaping out the gate loud and wrong. Big Boi was alerted to all the news by his son, who is now in college in New York, who initially thought something happened to his dad as he was trending on Twitter. However, Bamboo let his father known that Twitter ferociously cooked YesJulz but his final statement on the matter was all that was needed to be said. “When you reach God MC status, it’s hard for people to see you up here in these clouds,” Big Boi shared. “You just gotta pull the tape, man. Twenty-five years, when I won everything and done everything in music, and personally. I’m so proud now that I was able to maintain my family, my wife. I got three kids in college, I’m an empty-nester, I’m back slingin’ raw d*ck and Netflix, I just ain’t trying to reset the Playstation, so life is lovely, man.” That settles it. — Photo: Getty
Our very own Reec & Mz. Shyneka are hooking YOU up with gas for only $1.07 per gallon and it’s all for a great cause!!! With each gallon you purchase Mobile Fuel, PAYUSA & Exxon will match and send to the Bahamas to help gas up rescue boats, transportation vehicles and generators for our brothers and sisters devastated by Hurricane Dorian. It’s super simple: You prepay for 5, 10 or 20 gallons of gas for just $1.07 per gallon as a donation. Then meet us Sunday 9/22/19 between 4pm – 6pm and Mobile Fuel / Exxon will match what you donated and pump that gas right into your car! The mobile gas location is: One Source Auto Sales 2703 Wilson Street Austell, Ga 30168 ONE DAY ONLY: Sunday 9/22/19 4pm – 6pm Here’s How It Works: Click here at https://www.mobilefuel.me/bahamas to donate the amount you want Print or screen shot your receipt On Sunday come to the Fuel Up Location and get your gas! You MUST have your receipt to redeem your gas Watch Reec Do it here: Refueling Bahamas We are giving the hardest hit areas fuel to support rescue and recovery, as well as power generators that allow the basic electricity for rebuilding the infrastructure.
Source: Ubisoft / Ghost Recon Breakpoint Ubisoft is taking its Ghost Recon franchise in a completely different direction with Breakpoint . The gaming studio invited Hip-Hop Wired.com for a unique hands-on preview of the game, and we left quite impressed with what we experienced. The developers for Ghost Recon: Breakpoint definitely listened to the community’s concerns while playing the previous title Wildlands . With Breakpoint , they set out to battle what hampered Wildlands , mainly the game’s repetitive nature that players fervently complained about. The preview was broken up into two parts, we got the experience Breakpoint’s campaign mode first with some PvE before we checked out the multiplayer. Immediately right after you finish customizing your characters look, you realize this isn’t the Ghost Recon you have grown accustomed too. In Wildlands and other Ghost Recon titles you were always the hunter, in Breakpoint , you are the hunted. The action takes place on the island of Auroa that is home to a tech company called Skell Technology that creates drones. However, the island gets taken over by former Ghost, Cole D. Walker ( Jon Bernthal ) and his army of Rogue ghost soldiers who cut the island off from the world. Bernthal puts his entire all in the character of Walker might we add and has been a great addition to the Ghost Recon franchise. You and your team are sent to investigate and are tasked with restoring communications. Things go left quickly, and your chopper is shot down. Once you wake up from the crash, you and your squad are tasked for looking for survivors while securing weapons and items along the way because you are practically naked. Initially, you and your fellow Ghosts were tasked to investigate the island Source: Ubisoft / Ghost Recon Breakpoint The game instantly introduces you to its new injury system, teaching you how to heal your character’s injuries. While traversing the fictional island of Auroa, you will encounter all types of rugged terrain like mountains, snow, swamps. The environment will either aid you in your fight to survive or can also slow you down or hurt you if you approach them in the wrong manner. The environment in itself is a character in the game and will impact your play. You will quickly discover there is a new camouflage system that will allow you to blend in with your surroundings. When activated, it will enable you to take out a baddie while prone or hide from harder enemies like the Wolves and drones that actively search for you. Source: Ubisoft / Ghost Recon Breakpoint Fans will find Breakpoint is similar to Wildlands as far as some elements from the previous title being present. But make no mistake Wildlands is a totally different beast. Survival is the key in this game with players having to do things like drink water, eat food, and as mentioned above, treat injuries to keep your character battle-ready. Players will be able to refill their canteens by either by merely locating a river or even a swimming pool. Also new to the game are bivouac campsites. While posted at one, players can equip buffs by eating or increase their character’s stamina by stretching. You can also plan ahead for your current missions for the camps. For example, if you want to attack a base at night, you can use the bivouac to skip to a time of the night when the guards are sleeping. As you can see preparation is key to your survival, and if you head out on a mission underprepared chances of survival are definitely slim. Source: Ubisoft / Ghost Recon Breakpoint Another great addition to the game is the fact is your player is fully customizable from your weapons, gear, and class which a new feature. All of that can also be changed at the bivouac. At the start of the game, you will be asked to choose between either being a Medic, Panther, Assualt, and Sharpshooter. Each has their own unique ability, like selecting the Medic class allows you to revive teammates utilizing a drone or even self-reviving your character. Once your type is selected, you will be able to unlock other abilities using a skill tree. This doesn’t mean you will have to stick with the first class you have chosen though, as you will be able to swap out classes when you visit a bivouac. Auroa is a huge map, so of course, getting around is made simpler and safer with the help of vehicles. You can either travel using an assortment of vehicles ranging from boats, helicopters, dirtbikes, and buggies. If you’re brave, you can travel by foot, but again you have to be wary of your stamina gauge, sustaining injuries and becoming dehydrated. Source: Ubisoft / Ghost Recon Breakpoint Staying on the topic of traveling to your missions, the developers definitely stressed the importance of players exploring Auroa the way they want and playing how they want. In Breakpoint , there is no one way to complete a mission giving you a choice to either go in guns blazing or with an excellent course of action. Also, like in Ubisoft’s other franchise Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey , Breakpoint won’t tell you where you need to go when you take on a mission. Instead, you will have to explore the island and hunt for intel and speak with NPCs to obtain that information. BUT if you’re not with that idea you can always turn on guide mode, but how much fun is that? Gunplay is also very smooth and easy to get accustomed to in the game. We were happy to see that developers focused on precision shooting more this time around. Headshots and well-placed shots are vital in helping dispatch your enemies quickly in firefights. Also returning fan-favorite sync shot, you and your team can put pins on enemies and coordinate takedowns with precision. Speaking with Breakpoint’s director, Eric Couzian, he even hinted at being able to sync up to 16 targets at one time. Thanks to the games new system using drones you collect in the game will help you accomplish this feat. Source: Ubisoft / Ghost Recon Breakpoint Ghost Recon Breakpoint is a new take on the Ghost Recon franchise, but like other titles playing alongside friends is what makes this game even more fun. The world of Auroa is vast and full of dangerous enemies. While playing alone and defeating insanely difficult Wolves, and drones by yourself could be rewarding, teaming up with your buddies is what Breakpoint is about at its core. That even transfers over to PvP, which we enjoyed playing thoroughly. We took on another team in two multiplayer modes, elimination, and sabotage on three of the six multiplayer maps that will be available at launch. Our favorite was Skell Port, a perfect setting for those who enjoy sniping. Your progress from your PvE play transfers over to PvP thanks to shared progression, which is very clutch. Sabotage was also surprisingly very fun. In this mode, you either have to plant a bomb or defuse it depending on your team. Thanks to the well thought out maps, planning is very crucial in ensuring victory because running gung ho to the objective just doesn’t cut it. My team learned that the hard way our first go-around, but we quickly rebounded when we decided to come up with a gameplan. Now for those wondering if there will be AI teammates in the game, Couzian revealed that option will not be available at launch but will be coming soon. So unless you squad up, you will be on your own during solo play. Based on what we experienced at the event, Ghost Recon Breakpoint is a welcome change in the series. We left very intrigued and are looking forward to getting our hands on the full game very soon. The action, story, survival mechanics, and emphasis on team play definitely pulled us in even more. We won’t be shocked if Breakpoint is one of the better games to drop this year. — Photo: Ubisoft / Ghost Recon Breakpoint
Source: Nia Noelle / Radio One Digital Singer and songwriter PinkSweat$ is currently on tour and stopped through the Power studios and sat down with DJ Misses to chop it up about his career, how he got his name and what’s up with that next album. Get Breaking News & Exclusive Contest in Your Inbox: Close Thank you for subscribing! Please be sure to open and click your first newsletter so we can confirm your subscription. Email Submit DJ Misses went right in on the questions we all want to know…. “Where did you get the name PinkSweat$” and when Volume 3 is coming out. PinkSweat$ didn’t hold back on his answers, watch him break it all down and tell us what it is below. The Latest: ‘Basketball Wives’ Recap: They’re Still On Some Colorist Bull With OG FYI: Chrissy Teigen Says She Planned Her ‘P**** A** Bit**’ Trump Tweets With John Legend PinkSweat$ Reveals How He Got His Name X Who The G.O.A.T. Is In the Game Paul Mooney’s Sons Speak On Their Father’s Gay Rumors And Allegations He Molested Richard Pryor Jr. Megan Thee Stallion Says Her Hot Girl Semester Challenge Means No Sugar Or Bread Zippora Lewis On The Beauty Of Pole Dancing & Stunt Doubling For Anika Noni Rose #NYFWNOIR: It Took Over 2 Suitcases Of Hair To Create The Stunning Hairstyles For The Studio 189 NYFW Show High School Swim Coach Accuses Officials Of Policing ‘Dark’ & ‘Curvy’ Athletes, School District Responds This Book Will Teach You How To Win On Your OWN Terms Kristal Smith Of June’s Diary Lost Her Home In A Tragic Fire
