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A Lil Positivity: J. Cole’s Dreamville Nonprofit Just Launched A Hurricane Florence Relief Fund

Photo by Tabatha Fireman/Getty Images J. Cole Starts Hurricane Relief Fund Following record-breaking rainfall, flooding rivers, and mass power outages wrought by Hurricane Florence–which made landfall in North Carolina last Friday, September 14– J. Cole  has just launched a storm relief fund through his nonprofit, Dreamville Foundation. The foundation is currently soliciting donations on its website and is set to target its relief efforts in Cole’s hometown of Fayetteville, N.C. Mandatory evacuations have impacted thousands of households, who were ordered along the Cape Fear River, which runs through the city and remains in major flood status, according to the National Weather Service. The  Fayetteville Observer  has reported that three deaths in the city’s surrounding Cumberland County may be attributed to Florence. “The Dreamville Foundation is looking to lend a helping hand to the community, children, and families affected by Hurricane Florence,” reads the announcement from the fund. “There will be hot food stations placed throughout the city, temporary housing options for families, and stocking of food pantries/shelters, as well as supporting other local non profits who help provide services for the people in Fayetteville.” The rapper is currently traveling through North America on his K.O.D. Tour. His first ever Dreamville Festival was scheduled to take place in his hometown of Raleigh, North Carolina earlier this month, but was cancelled due to safety concerns related to the storm. Before the event was forced to be cancelled, a portion of proceeds from the festival were intended to benefit Cole’s nonprofit. Those who want to contribute to the cause can donate to J. Cole’s Hurricane Florence relief fund on the Dreamville Foundation website, here .

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A Lil Positivity: J. Cole’s Dreamville Nonprofit Just Launched A Hurricane Florence Relief Fund

Twitter Reacts To Maroon 5 Performing The Super Bowl Halftime Show In Atlanta + Why It’s Not All Bad

Source: Kevin Kane / Getty When you think of Atlanta, you think of T.I., you think of a Welcome to Atlanta medley with Jermaine Dupri and Ludacris. You think of Gucci Mane, Future, Jeezy, even the Migos. But one thing that I would never think of when referring to Atlanta is Maroon 5. But the NFL doesn’t care what we think. Maroon 5, which is a great band by the way (we love Adam Whatshisname), has been tapped to headline the halftime show at the 2019 Super Bowl. As much as we love Adam though, he doesn’t make us think of Atlanta or even want to visit Atlanta. The NFL made a questionable decision. We couldn’t be the only ones who had feelings about the halftime show so we decided to check Twitter for reactions. It looks like we weren’t alone. When the NFL picks Maroon 5 to perform at halftime of the Super Bowl. In. Atlanta. pic.twitter.com/2CG1IxVtS5 — Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) September 19, 2018 To be honest, we would have really liked to have seen “March Madness” go off in the new Mercedez-Benz stadium. having the super bowl in atlanta and getting maroon 5 to perform at halftime is like going to pappadeaux and asking the waiter to bring you some long john silver’s https://t.co/tmtBfkX46C — Shea Serrano (@SheaSerrano) September 19, 2018 We agree with Shea Serrano. Honestly, it’s just not practical.   NFL: “We need a halftime show for the Super Bowl this year in Atlanta” The city of Atlanta: Migos Usher OutKast CeeLo Green Future 2 Chainz Big Boi Ludacris Jeezy T.I. Gucci NFL: “How does Maroon 5 sound?” —

Australian Football Players Dress Up In Blackface As Serena & Venus Williams [PHOTO]

Source: Derrick Salters/WENN.com / WENN Some Australian football players are now apologizing after dressing up in blackface and posting it on social media. The players dressed up as Venus Williams and Serena Williams to celebrate the end of their football season. According to PEOPLE magazine, the picture posted on Facebook first began to outrage users. Outrage as Tasmanian football players dress in Serena Williams blackface https://t.co/KNp1Ls3ycK pic.twitter.com/BY5UwOZscc — SBS News (@SBSNews) September 19, 2018 Sign Up For Our Newsletter! Close Thank you for subscribing! Please be sure to open and click your first newsletter so we can confirm your subscription. Email Submit The photo has been removed from social media since being posted, but players Mitch Stanley and Matt Chamberlain were in the photo wearing tennis skirts and black wigs. Their faces were painted in Black as well as their bodies. One user on the post said,”Some Australians still have no clue what is considered racist. This Mad Monday ‘costume’ is clearly racist. And I’m a person who is fed up with today’s over-the-top political correctness.” The term “Mad Monday” is usually used in Australia to have the end-of-season festivities for football players. RELATED:  Serena Williams Coach Admits He Wasn’t The Only One Helping Out At The US Open [EXCLUSIVE VIDEO] The Penguin Football Club issued an apology, but also double downed the apology by saying,”It was not their intention to upset anyone and all they meant to do was dress as one of their sporting idols. Their actions were never intended to be racist in any way. Those concerned have been reprimanded and will be given support to make sure they understand that their behavior was racist and hurtful and that it will not happen again.” Do you think next season these Australian football players should be suspended for the first couple of games? RELATED:  Stephen A. Smith Disagrees With Serena Williams Sexism Claims During US Open [EXCLUSIVE] RELATED:  Venus Williams Launches Plus-Size Clothing Line [ione_media_gallery src=”https://rickeysmileymorningshow.com” id=”1939385″ overlay=”true”]

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Australian Football Players Dress Up In Blackface As Serena & Venus Williams [PHOTO]

Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms Talks Falcon’s, Possible influx of Jobs & More with Reec

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Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms Talks Falcon’s, Possible influx of Jobs & Her Dance Moves with Reec Filling the Gulch. Why is it important to vote             How Do You Build Wealth in Youth with NIKE       #ReecQOTD  – Would you let your baby moms new BF fix a plate at the family BBQ

Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms Talks Falcon’s, Possible influx of Jobs & More with Reec

Maroon 5 To Headline Super Bowl LIII Halftime Show In Atlanta, Twitter Reacts

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Source: Supplied by WENN.com / WENN Maroon 5 is set to perform at the Super Bowl LIII halftime show in 2019 in Atlanta, according to Variety.com . Neither the NFL or reps for the band confirmed the news, but two sources close to Variety say it’s a go.   Sign Up For Our Newsletter! Close Thank you for subscribing! Please be sure to open and click your first newsletter so we can confirm your subscription. Email Submit “It’s a Super Bowl tradition to speculate about the performers for the Pepsi Halftime Show,” a rep for the NFL said. “We are continuing to work with [longtime sponsor] Pepsi on our plans but do not have any announcements to make on what will be another epic show.” RELATED:  5 Side Hustles To Get Money While The Super Bowl Is In Atlanta Past epic performances have included Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Justin Timberlake, Janet Jackson, Prince, Black Eyed Peas, Katy Perry, Paul McCartney and more.   If the Maroon 5 rumors are true, some football fans who hoped Atlanta artists would get a little shine are already disappointed. From the looks of Twitter, Outkast was on a lot of performance wish lists.   Check out the reactions below…   RELATED:  T.I. Explains Why He Will Boycott The 2019 Super Bowl In Atlanta [VIDEO] Imagine how sick a show consisted of some of these legends could be: T.I. Outkast Ludacris Jeezy Lil' Jon & Eastside Boyz Jermain Dupri/Brat 112 Xscape T-Boz & Chili Usher Ciara I hope Maroon 5 reaches out in some way, but there was a golden opportunity here they are missing. https://t.co/BvPnf2JTk5 — KD Drummond (@KDDrummondNFL) September 19, 2018 Atlanta, home of Outkast, T.I., Future, Ludacris, Usher, etc., gets Maroon 5 to play the damn Super Bowl. pic.twitter.com/KHpGNRsJGX — Jake Reuse (@ReuseRecruiting) September 19, 2018 How you gone have a super bowl in ATLANTA and not have OutKast do a reunion performance for the super bowl? https://t.co/A9N1uSFrpY — Alphonse Taylor (@SHANKK50) September 19, 2018 The Super Bowl is in Atlanta. The NFL could’ve given us OutKast, Ludacris, Lil Jon, Future, T.I., Gucci Mane, Jermaine Dupri, Killer Mike, Waka Flocka Flame, and CeeLo all on one stage, but instead they said, “ya know what? Maroon 5 is still hot. Let’s call them.” — Colin Deaver (@ColinDeaverTV) September 19, 2018 Even if you think OutKast is dated (and I will cut you if you do), there’s Migos, Janelle Monae, Childish Gambino, and a shit ton more. Y’all give us MAROON 5?!? — Charlie (@notcharchar) September 19, 2018 Outkast doing the Super Bowl halftime show in Atlanta is maybe the easiest decision in the history of humankind but instead we get… Maroon 5. — Adam Best (@adamcbest) September 19, 2018 OutKast didn’t declare “The South got something to say” at the 1995 Source Awards in the midst of the East Coast/West Coast rap war for Maroon goddamn 5 to play the Super Bowl in Atlanta. — Ashley Leckwold (@misskittyf) September 19, 2018 The Super Bowl halftime show airs next year on CBS.   [ione_media_gallery src=”https://rickeysmileymorningshow.com” id=”1866509″ overlay=”true”]

Maroon 5 To Headline Super Bowl LIII Halftime Show In Atlanta, Twitter Reacts

You Weren’t Tripping, Former ‘Sesame Street’ Writer Says Bert & Ernie Were A Couple

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Source: WENN / WENN UPDATE 9/18/18 at 4:11 P.M. EST : Despite the former writer’s claims, Sesame Workshop released a statement saying Bert & Ernie were just best friends: “They were created to teach preschoolers that people can be good friends with those who are very different from themselves. Even though they are identified as male characters and possess many human traits, and characteristics (as most  Sesame Street  Muppets do), they remain puppets and do not have a sexual orientation.” — Everything you thought you knew (or didn’t know) about Bert and Ernie on Sesame Street as a child has just been confirmed by one of the show writers: They were gay.   Sign Up For Our Newsletter! Close Thank you for subscribing! Please be sure to open and click your first newsletter so we can confirm your subscription. Email Submit Their tight chemistry makes sense now…   Mark Saltzman , who joined the writing team in 1984, said he wasn’t trying to push any agenda, but the two characters’ connection was inspired by his own same-sex relationship with film editor Arnold Glassman, according to Queerty.com . Mark was Ernie, and Arnold was Bert. If you remember, Bert & Ernie were roommates at the 123 Sesame Street apartment. They always slept in separate beds, but they also always went back and forth with each other like couples tend to do.   Saltzman, who was already with his partner before he became a Sesame Street writer, says he didn’t know else to write them, “but as a loving couple.” Follow @TheRSMS Saltzman on speculation around Bert and Ernie back in the day…   I remember one time that a column from ‘The San Francisco Chronicle,’ a preschooler in the city turned to mom and asked “are Bert & Ernie lovers?” And that, coming from a preschooler was fun. And that got passed around, and everyone had their chuckle and went back to it. And I always felt that without a huge agenda, when I was writing Bert & Ernie, they were. I didn’t have any other way to contextualize them. The other thing was, more than one person referred to Arnie & I as “Bert & Ernie.” Saltzman on ways Bert and Ernie’s scenes reflected his relationship… How could it not permeate? The things that would tick off Arnie would be the things that would tick off Bert. How could it not? I will say that I would never have said to the head writer, “oh, I’m writing this, this is my partner and me.” But those two, Snuffalupagus, because he’s the sort of clinically depressed Muppet…you had characters that appealed to a gay audience. And Snuffy, this depressed person nobody can see, that’s sort of Kafka! It’s sort of gay closeted too. The writer says his personal relationship embodied the Bert & Ernie relationship. “I wrote sketches. Arnie’s OCD would create friction with how chaotic I was. And that’s the Bert & Ernie dynamic,” he said.   Need a refresher on that dynamic? Watch this: [ione_media_gallery src=”https://rickeysmileymorningshow.com” id=”1840979″ overlay=”true”] Latest News : 6orn & Zaytoven Drop “Ferragamo” [Audio] You Weren’t Tripping, Former ‘Sesame Street’ Writer Says Bert & Ernie Were A Couple These 5 Petty Republican Attacks On Black Candidates Show The GOP’s Desperation Heartbreaking: College Student Dies After Family Says He Was Repeatedly Hazed Beauty and Brains: 6 Stars Who Went to HBCUs SOURCE:  Queerty.com

You Weren’t Tripping, Former ‘Sesame Street’ Writer Says Bert & Ernie Were A Couple

Heartbreaking: College Student Dies After Family Says He Was Repeatedly Hazed

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A 20-year-old Black college student has died following what his family said was a fraternity hazing incident in California late last week. Police are investigating the death and are considering hazing as a possible factor. RELATED:  Hazing Horrors: More Students Being Beaten, Degraded And Humiliated At High Schools Tyler Hilliard , 20, who would have become a junior with an engineering major at the University of California Riverside, lost his life after pledging Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, the young man’s family said. The African-American fraternity has a firm anti-hazing policy, defining hazing as “illegal and a crime in most jurisdictions,” according to its website . “Pledging has been officially abolished as a means of obtaining membership in Alpha Phi Alpha, and pledge ‘lines’ have been officially abolished by the fraternity,” the APA statement also said. Hilliard began pledging the fraternity and participating in activities in July, his family said. The young man was allegedly pushed into eating an entire onion drenched in hot sauce and had to drink a lot of water. He also was allegedly paddled with a cactus, ABC-owned KABC   reported. COLLEGE STUDENT DEATH: Family members say the 20-year-old was forced to eat an entire onion covered in hot sauce, drink large amounts of water and was paddled with cactus. https://t.co/KiO7DzcOEg — ABC13 Houston (@abc13houston) September 18, 2018 The young man, who had no medical problems, was recently treated at a hospital for breathing issues before he was released, his family said. However, things took a tragic turn when after fraternity pledges took part in a strenuous run on Saturday night that ended with him being rushed to the hospital. He was later pronounced dead. UC Riverside released a statement and its condolences. The school has offered support to the young man’s family and counseling services to the campus community. The university is working with its police department to determine the official cause of Hilliard’s death. Police are waiting on the result of an autopsy, according to KABC. “A mother should never have a bury a child like that. He’s only 20. He hasn’t even begun to live his life. He had a bright future ahead of him,” said Hilliard’s mother, Myeasha Kimble,  according to CBS Los Angeles . SEE ALSO: Where Is Amber Guyger? Dallas Cop Who Killed Botham Jean Moves Out Of Apartment Complex Where She Shot Him There’s Growing Concern That Police Are Not Seriously Investigating The Murder Of Botham Jean [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”3827083″ overlay=”true”]

Heartbreaking: College Student Dies After Family Says He Was Repeatedly Hazed

There’s Growing Concern That Police Are Not Seriously Investigating The Murder Of Botham Jean

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D oubts are increasing that law enforcement officials will conduct a thorough investigation into the killing of Botham Jean , an unarmed Black man who was shot dead in his own apartment by a Dallas police officer. SEE ALSO: Botham Jean’s Mother Demands Justice And Calls Out ‘The Devil,’ Amber Guyger S. Lee Merritt , one of the civil rights attorneys representing Jean’s family, retweeted a message on Saturday night from activist Shaun King that’s adding fuel to the concerns. “A key eyewitness told us today that investigators didn’t take a single note when they interviewed her. Said they never called her back. We asked the DA if they had even heard that this witness existed and the DA said the Texas Rangers never even mentioned the witness,” King tweeted. In an earlier post, King said a sixth person joined other witnesses who contradicted Dallas Police Officer Amber Guyger ’s version of how the shooting unfolded. BREAKING: Another close neighbor of Botham Jean came forward today to say that they also heard Dallas Police Officer Amber Guyger in the hallway, banging on the door, yelling for Botham to open the door. That’s SIX witnesses who say this happened. Debunks her fabrications. — Shaun King (@shaunking) September 16, 2018 Dallas’ Black community had hoped that the conviction in August of a white former officer , Roy Oliver , who shot unarmed Black teenager Jordan Edwards in the head was a turning point in the city’s long history of cops going unpunished for killing Black people. But the investigation into the slaying of Jean suggests to many that things have not changed, the Dallas Morning News reported. “We consider that to be progress. But whether it’s precedent or some kind of aberration, only time will tell,” John Fullinwider , co-founder of Dallas’ Mothers Against Police Brutality, said of the Oliver verdict as he attended Jean’s vigil. Many have complained about the police giving Guyger special treatment. She has stated multiple and conflicting versions of the circumstances that led to the shooting. Guyger claimed that she mistakenly entered Jean’s apartment, thinking that it was her own place, and shot 26-year-old Jean. It took days for law enforcement officials to arrest her. Neighbors have said they heard Guyger banging on Jean’s door , but the officer has claimed that it was open when she entered. “If she had been arrested like anyone would be, the community would have felt a little more at ease. There’s no story, of the multiple stories she’s told, that should not have prompted an arrest on the spot,” said Edwin Robinson , executive director of the religious-based network Faith in Texas. SEE ALSO: Police Department Hires White Supremacist As If It’s No Big Deal R. Kelly’s Own Brother Claims He Molested Their 14-Year-Old Cousin [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”3825344″ overlay=”true”]

There’s Growing Concern That Police Are Not Seriously Investigating The Murder Of Botham Jean

National Park Service Grants HBCUs $8.6M To Conserve Historic Sites

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T he National Park Service is continuing to preserve landmarks that are embedded in the fabric of American history. According to Diverse Issues in Higher Education , the agency recently provided 18 historically Black colleges and universities with grants in efforts to conserve historic buildings and statues that live on campuses. National Park Service Awards $8.6M to HBCUs for Preservation Projects https://t.co/1U3qithspS #HBCU #HBCUnews — HBCU Lifestyle (@HBCU_Lifestyle) September 10, 2018 The grants—which total $8.6 million—will be put towards the revitalization of structures as well as projects that are relative to preservation, the news outlet writes. The grant money was provided through the National Park Service’s Historic Preservation Fund. Amongst the HBCUs selected for the grants are Howard University, Clark Atlanta University, Hampton University, Virginia State University, Delaware State University and others. “HBCUs have played an important role in our country’s pursuit of equality, civil rights, and higher education for all Americans,” National Park Service Deputy Director P. Daniel Smith said in a statement, according to the news outlet. “These grants will help restore and enhance landmark buildings that are a source of pride on campuses in nine states.” Howard University plans on using the grant to upgrade their Founders Library. There has been a concerted effort to involve HBCUs in preserving Black sites across the country. In July, a program dubbed “Preservation in Practice” was created by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the National Park Service and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation as an avenue to empower students at historically Black colleges and universities to pursue careers in historic preservation. SEE ALSO: Program Aims To Increase Racial Representation In Historic Preservation, Urban Planning Nina Simone To Be Honored By The National Trust for Historic Preservation [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”3825344″ overlay=”true”]

National Park Service Grants HBCUs $8.6M To Conserve Historic Sites

Trump On Colin Kaepernick Headlining Nike’s Campaign: ‘A Terrible Message!’

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C olin Kaepernick stays winning. Even though the NFL tried to destroy him, he brushes the hate off his shoulder and comes out on top whether it’s a series with Ava DuVernay or becoming one of the faces of Nike’s 30th anniversary campaign of their “Just Do It” motto, which just happened yesterday. Of course Trump spoke out and he is in an orange outrage. SEE ALSO:  From Al Sharpton To Barack Obama: Here’s How Aretha Franklin Was Celebrated At Her Funeral In an interview with  The Daily Caller , Trump babbled, I think it’s a terrible message that they’re sending and the purpose of them doing it, maybe there’s a reason for them doing it. But I think as far as sending a message, I think it’s a terrible message and a message that shouldn’t be sent. There’s no reason for it.” He also issued an implicit threat, “Nike is a tenant of mine. They pay a lot of rent.” Maybe that means Nike will have to look for a new space — if this is true because we all know how Trump like to believe he owns everyone. For example, when he wrongfully said Aretha Franklin worked for him. The ad dropped on social media yesterday with a photo of Kaepernick and the text, “Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything.”   See below: BREAKING: Nike had been paying Colin Kaepernick all along, waiting for the right moment. That moment is now, as he becomes the face of the company’s 30th anniversary of the “Just Do It” campaign. pic.twitter.com/uccpDStbq5 — Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) September 3, 2018 Gino Fisanotti , Nike’s vice president of brand for North America, told ESPN , “We believe Colin is one of the most inspirational athletes of this generation, who has leveraged the power of sport to help move the world forward.” He continued, “We wanted to energize its meaning and introduce ‘Just Do It’ to a new generation of athletes.” Again, Colin just keeps winning. SEE ALSO: Meet Jogger Joe, The Man Who Took Racist Cue From BBQ Becky In Tossing Homeless Man’s Clothes Trump-Supporting DA Calls ‘Ghetto’ Maxine Waters A ‘Bitch,’ Can’t Believe She Hasn’t Been Shot This Colin Kaepernick Retweet Says Everything You Need To Know About The NFL Players’ Anthem Grievance

Trump On Colin Kaepernick Headlining Nike’s Campaign: ‘A Terrible Message!’