The Obama administration has a policy of force-feeding Guantanamo Bay detainees at night, and plan to continue to do so in spite of the month-long fast. Many Muslim leaders are calling on the administration to reconsider its tactics. Rapper and actor Yasiin Bey (formerly Mos Def) volunteered to appear in a short film made to shed light on the force-feeding process by undergoing that process himself.
A Fourth of July parade in a small North Carolina town took a disturbing turn when a “White History Month” float made its way into the parade procession.
At just 16-years-old, Toronto’s own Ebony Oshunrinde – aka Wondagurl – produced a beat that made its way onto Jay-Z’s new album!
At least 73 people were shot over Fourth of July weekend in Chicago.11 were killed, and at least 62 people wounded between Thursday and Sunday night.
On his radio with Tavis Smiley, Cornel West praised the Supreme Court’s ruling striking down DOMA, but also lamented its gutting of the Voting Rights Act. According to West, the black community is suffering from waning visibility
Howard University could be in very serious financial trouble. In a letter drafted by the school’s academic deans, they warn that fiscal mismanagement is putting Howard’s reputation and future in danger. Howard President Sidney Ribeau rejects the allegations.
Openly gay, former NFL player Wade A. Davis, Jr. and LGBT writer/activist Darnell L. Moore in partnership with the National Basketball Association present the inaugural “YOU Belong” Sports and Leadership Camp for LGBTQ and Straight Allied Youth (LGBTQA)
Actress Meagan Good is getting some flack for her choice of dress at the BET Awards. Good presented the award for “Best Gospel Artist” in a fairly revealing gown, which many commentators on social media are blasting as inappropriate and disrespectful.
Pro-Palestinian organization called the U.S. Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation has created an online petition, calling on Alicia Keys to cancel a concert in Israel scheduled for July 4th.
Rev. Al Sharpton has announced plans to relocate to Chicago to address and bring attention to the city’s gun violence crisis. Sharpton vows to make the move in September, where he’ll rent an apartment and work with community leaders and organizations.
While being featured on CNN’s recent “n-word” discussion, LeVar Burton shared his protocol for dealing with being stopped by the police: “I take my hands, I stick them outside the window and on the door of the driver’s side because I want that officer to be relaxed as possible when he approaches my vehicle. And I do that because I live in America.”
A Georgia family is suing a Stone Mountain Middle School aide and teacher for allegedly disciplining their autistic child with a broomstick. A consultant brought in the observe their son Wesley reportedly witnessed the use of a thick broomstick, which was slammed a against a desk and poked at Wesley.
