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President Donald Trump blasted New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani over his tax policies on social media, claiming “people are fleeing.”

A new rant by President Donald Trump is zeroing in on New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s proposal on taxing the second homes of the wealthy. Trump blasted the mayor in a post on his Truth Social media platform on Thursday (April 16).
“Sadly, Mayor Mamdani is DESTROYING New York! It has no chance! The United States of America should not contribute to its failure,” Trump wrote, continuing: “It will only get WORSE. The TAX, TAX, TAX Policies are SO WRONG. People are fleeing. They must change their ways, AND FAST. History has proven, THIS ‘STUFF’ JUST DOESN’T WORK.”
The “Pied-à-Terre” tax was announced on Wednesday (April 15) by Mamdani and Governor Kathy Hochul. It will levy an annual surcharge on individuals who, according to the city’s press release, own “one to three family homes, condominiums and co-ops valued above $5 million when owners have a separate primary residence outside of New York City.”
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The tax is aimed at the ultra-wealthy, and the press release notes that the proposal was supported by 93% of New Yorkers. Democratic leaders note that it would raise $500 million for New York City, and Mamdani stated in a press conference on Thursday that it would count toward lowering the city’s $5.4 billion budget deficit. Hochul said that the tax would affect 13,000 properties.
Trump’s rant against Mamdani comes weeks after the two had another productive meeting at the White House, where they both discussed potential projects to expand affordable housing in New York City. It occurred as a student at Columbia University was abducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. Trump directed the student to be released soon after his meeting with Mamdani.
Trump had previously called Mamdani a “despot” as well as a “communist” during the assemblyman’s campaign for mayor, but warmed up to him during their first meeting last November, even defending him from questions from the press that could be deemed adversarial.
Trump Rant Claims Mamdani “Destroying” New York City was originally published on hiphopwired.com
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The October Gallery Museum places art in the community. Here are partner locations where you can have an art experience.
Some locations art is installed inside buildings and visits are during regular business hours. Other locations are by appointment only. Schools are not open to the public. In addition, we have many outdoor installations that you can enjoy around the clock. Check each location below for details. Tours are available upon request. 215-352-3114.
Here are some of our patrons that have donated art and art related items installed as part of our Art in the Community program. Thanks!
Watson and Sonia Brown
Stephanie Daniel
Chad Cortez Everett
Gail Gaines
Dr. Darryl J. Ford
Kelly R. Harrison
Deborah Kelly
Betty Ann D. Lawrence
David Lawrence
Leon McDuffie
Michael Muhammad
Jay R. Ogilvie
Marjorie H. Ogilvie
Junious Rhone, Sr.
Robin Rhone
Shirley Rhone
April Rice
Karen Roach
Monica Rocha
Steve Satell
Deborah Stephens
Staci Watson 
Stephanie R. West
Horace Wright

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Art and art related items may be returned to October Gallery in good condition within twenty (20) days of the purchase for store credit ONLY – unless otherwise stated on an invoice.
Items on layaway or even items paid for will be held by the gallery for no more than ninety (90) days from the original sale date. Refund is in store credit ONLY – unless other stated on an invoice.

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April 21, 2026
The Senior Citizens League, a nonpartisan senior advocacy group, estimates that COLA could increase by 2.8% in 2027 based on inflation data.
As costs of daily goods and services rise, Social Security recipients could see a slight bump to mitigate the impact on their wallets.
According to CNBC, the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) could increase in 2027 due to rising fuel prices. Mary Johnson, a Social Security and Medicare policy analyst, told the outlet that her predictions are based on March’s consumer price index data, which show that inflation has climbed to its highest level in nearly two years. Johnson said inflation increased largely due to the war in Iran.
It’s not uncommon for Social Security and Supplemental Security Income beneficiaries to receive a cost-of-living adjustment each year.  Having a COLA ensures that rising costs don’t impact the purchasing power of their benefits.
The Senior Citizens League, a nonpartisan senior advocacy group, estimates that COLA could increase by 2.8% in 2027 based on inflation data.
“The average benefits check for retired workers would increase by $56.69, from $2,024.77 to $2,081.46,” the organization noted.
As BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported, an estimated 75 million Social Security and Supplemental Security Income recipients received a 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment earlier this year.  Most beneficiaries received an additional $56 per month. The last increase came as two-thirds of Americans (67%) reported living paycheck to paycheck, according to PNC’s Financial Wellness in the Workplace Report.
According to a report from eMarketer, the biggest hurdle is that wages are simply not keeping up with the cost of living.
Social Security faces challenges. According to the Senior Citizens League, Social Security faces a potential 24% cut in benefits in 2032 unless Congress intervenes to address lagging finances.
There’s currently a new proposal from the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget to cap beneficiaries’ payments at $50,000 per year or $100,000 per couple. The proposal would close about three-fifths of the program’s projected shortfall over the next 75 years, the organization states.
Seniors, however, are likely to resist this plan because it will result in a cut for some Americans. TSCL’s research finds that 95% of seniors oppose benefits cuts for current retirees, while 66% oppose cuts for future retirees.
RELATED CONTENT: Auto-Registration For Military Draft Goes In Effect December 2026 For Eligible Men 

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April 21, 2026
The expanding legalization of cannabis in the United States has led more Black celebrities to both promote the culture and create equity by investing in the industry. These figures are using their influence and capital to reshape a multibillion-dollar market through venture capital and premium cannabis brands, which were historically built on communities affected disproportionately by prohibition.
Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter achieved major advancements in the cannabis industry through a strategic investment approach that includes both brand ownership and venture capital. In 2020, he introduced Monogram as a luxury cannabis brand and became a leader at Casa Verde Capital, which manages large investment funds for cannabis startups. Carter invests in both California and national cannabis markets to expand minority participation. He began his cannabis industry career by advocating for racial equality in the War on Drugs, helping establish pathways for business ownership that generate wealth across generations.
Since 2015, Wiz Khalifa’s Khalifa Kush has expanded into a multi-state cannabis brand operating in California, Florida, and Pennsylvania. Khalifa Kush represents the artist’s lifestyle and has become a pioneer in celebrity cannabis brands by achieving top sales results. Khalifa directs his investment approach toward authentic cannabis culture by expanding products nationally and developing genuine products.
In 2016, Snoop Dogg became the first major celebrity to create a fully branded cannabis line. Following his acquisition of Death Row Records in 2022, he launched Death Row Cannabis, aligning the brand with the cultural legacy of the iconic record label. He operates his cannabis business mainly from Colorado and other legal states while expanding his investments through Casa Verde Capital and other ventures.
In 2020, Method Man of the Wu-Tang Clan started the cannabis brand TICAL (Taking Into Consideration All Lives). The company focuses on delivering premium products while maintaining social equity as one of its core values. The brand maintains operations across different legalized states, such as California and New York, dedicating resources to community reinvestment and establishing minority partnerships.
Isiah Thomas, a member of the NBA Hall of Fame, has achieved significant progress in the cannabis industry through his investment in One World Pharma. Through substantial financial backing, he has increased his participation in worldwide hemp and cannabis production. Thomas changed his business approach from retail branding to supply chain strategy positioning, utilizing a scalability-driven strategy to take advantage of global markets.
The actor Ice Cube, who created the Friday film franchise, entered the cannabis business through Fryday Kush, which he developed with prominent producers. The California-based brand uses nostalgic value to market its high-quality cannabis products. Through his market entry, Cube uses cultural intellectual property to expand his brand into a fast-expanding and profitable market.
Whoopi Goldberg is a multifaceted cannabis investor and innovator. Following her initial venture, she launched Emma & Clyde under the WhoopFam umbrella, a brand named after her mother and brother. The brand focuses on premium flower and wellness-based products, aiming to normalize cannabis use among women and wellness consumers by introducing it to health and lifestyle applications beyond recreation.
Former NBA star Al Harrington founded Viola Brands in 2011, naming it after his grandmother. Harrington has evolved into one of the industry’s most influential advocates for social equity, focusing on vertical integration from cultivation to retail. Through his Viola Cares initiative, he works to increase minority participation, famously pledging to help create 100 Black millionaires through cannabis entrepreneurship.
In 2019, Lil Wayne entered the market with GKUA Ultra Premium, a brand designed to provide consumers with high natural levels of THC. Wayne’s approach focuses on the “connoisseur” experience, emphasizing high-potency products and consistent quality curated by the artist himself. By partnering with expert growers who meet his standards, Lil Wayne has expanded the brand from California into several other legal states.
NFL Hall of Famer Calvin Johnson Jr. and his former teammate Rob Sims co-founded Primitiv to advocate for the medicinal benefits of cannabis, particularly for athletes dealing with chronic pain and recovery. Based in Michigan, Primitiv is a wellness-focused cannabis company that operates a cultivation facility and multiple retail locations. The duo is deeply involved in research, partnering with institutions to study the plant’s effects on CTE and traumatic brain injuries.
RELATED CONTENT: 4/20 Guide: Cannabis, Music And Business Events To Get With

© 2026 Black Enterprise. All Rights Reserved.

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Ashley Everett joins a long list of Black women who have been policed while traveling or while taking up space in luxury settings. 

There’s always at least one person who knows every beat of the iconic choreography to Beyoncé’s hit “Single Ladies” like it’s their job, and in this case, it truly was—so you can only imagine the disappointment when Ashley Everett, veteran dancer and former dance captain for Beyoncé, was kicked off the stage on a Virgin Voyages cruise mid–hand flip.
On Tuesday, April 21, the 37-year-old professional dancer revealed in a series of posts on Threads that, while dancing on stage to “Single Ladies” on a Virgin Voyages ship, she was “kicked off” the stage.
“Virgin Voyages wants Black creators and all their sauce—but doesn’t acknowledge, highlight, or actually know them,” the professional dancer began in a post.
“I was kicked off the @virginvoyages club stage while dancing to the SINGLE LADIES song for the CONTENT CREATOR CRUISE I was INVITED ON—all because someone complained…” she continued in a follow-up post. “They kicked me off. I left—immediately after they let all the complaining white folks up on that same stage.”
The dancer, who has appeared alongside Beyoncé in numerous videos and during several of her biggest tours over two decades, including most recently in 2024 when the R&B and pop icon performed in Houston during the Baltimore Ravens and the Houston Texans’ Christmas Day game, added, “FYI. I’m in the ‘Single Ladies’ music video, btw. I know they’re not cause it’s only three of us lol.”
Neither Everett nor Virgin Voyages immediately responded to requests for comment.
Just days before Everett’s account surfaced online, the adult-only cruise line announced it was partnering with TikTok to launch one of its largest creator activations yet, setting sail for three nights from Miami to Bimini in the Bahamas with more than 1,000 content creators, including Everett. The trip, which took place aboard the Scarlet Lady, was billed as a fully immersive, creator-led voyage and marked the largest activation in the company’s history, significantly expanding the scale of its previous sailings.
Since the cruise set sail, plenty of content—from GRWMs for on-ship parties to daily recaps, POVs, and room tours—has flooded social platforms, showcasing the lively festivities. Among the creators onboard, several are Black, although one of Everett’s core complaints is that, based on her experience, the brand doesn’t seem to truly “know” its audience.
“Virgin—do better. Know and LEARN your crowd,” she added.
For many reacting online, Everett’s experience echoes a pattern of high-profile incidents involving Black travelers, particularly Black women, being scrutinized or removed while simply just enjoying themselves in public. Earlier this year, former Vogue editor Gabriella Karefa-Johnson said she gave up her first-class seat after facing microaggressions from both passengers and staff. Meanwhile, last year, Carnival Cruises sparked backlash after imposing new rules that many found to be anti-Black at the time. Serena Williams was denied entry to a restaurant in Paris during the 2024 Paris Olympics. And few have forgotten how, in 2015, a group of 11 Black women were removed from the Napa Valley Wine Train in an incident that later sparked national backlash and a settlement.
Situations like these always tend to resonate so strongly because they reflect how Black women’s presence—and joy—is still so often policed in spaces tied to leisure and luxury. They always raise the question of whether Black people are safe and welcome to indulge in the experience, bringing their whole selves, or if they should take their patronage elsewhere.
In later posts, Everett suggested the situation may have also been influenced by respectability politics around hair, noting she was wearing cornrows at the time.
“I also like to switch my hair styles, especially while traveling to tropical places—but sadly, I notice a drastic difference in how I’m treated, based on the styles I choose,” she wrote, alongside a photo of her long, thick cornrows paired with pink blossom earrings.
Since stepping back from her role as Beyoncé’s lead dancer, Everett has moved into entrepreneurship, content creation, and other ventures—work that ultimately brought her on the trip. The timing couldn’t be worse, as the cruise coincided with her birthday.
“Took a chance & rang my birthday in on a brand trip who I’ve since learned doesn’t give a flying f*%# about me,” she wrote.
In another post, she added, “Alsooooo, @virginvoyages did NOTHIGN to try to make my birthday special yesterday… thank god for my friend @kimberlycherrell I’m sadly very disappointed in them so far and I still have two more days to go smh. They better not try to blacklist me either cause that would be even more obvious they hate me.”
There was, however, at least one member of the Virgin Voyages team who recognized Everett and appreciated the moment. Everett reposted a Story post from a dancer currently employed with the cruise line who shouted her out.
“I’m a very proud show captain,” Haylee Wyman wrote over a photo of herself in her dressing room. “We performed for Richard Branson and Ashley Everett all in the same night.”
“Meanwhile… But @virginvoyages is the ones not getting it,” Everett added over the repost.
Update — At 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 21, a representative from Virgin Voyages’ PR team replied, providing further context and clues as to how they’ve attempted to resolve the situation:
“During a late-night set at The Manor, a number of Sailors joined the stage, which isn’t something we typically allow. As the group grew and moved into the DJ area, our Crew stepped in to address what had become a safety concern and asked everyone on stage to continue the celebration from the dance floor. This was a safety-based decision made in the moment, not directed at any one individual. Our team reached out to Ashley during the voyage to listen and better understand her experience, because creating a welcoming, inclusive environment is core to who we are. This sailing was intentionally curated to bring together a diverse group of creators across backgrounds and communities. We take any suggestion of discrimination seriously, and we remain committed to making sure every Sailor feels respected while keeping our spaces safe for everyone on board.”
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The organization, with long-held ties to the Civil Rights Movement, is accused of paying informants with donors’ money to infiltrate extremist groups.
The Southern Poverty Law Center is under indictment, but not for reasons you might think.
In a news conference on Tuesday, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel announced federal fraud charges were levied against the longtime nonprofit civil rights organization, alleging that it improperly raised millions of dollars to pay informants to infiltrate the Ku Klux Klan and other extremist groups.
Per the indictment, the Justice Department is alleging the group defrauded donors by using donations to fund extremist groups it was sworn to fight against. From 2014 to 2023, $3 million was paid out to individuals who were affiliated with groups such as the Ku Klux Klan, the United Klans of America, and the National Socialist Party of America.
In total, the group is charged with bank fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
The SPLC itself revealed the existence of a criminal investigation into their program for the informant scheme as a means to infiltrate said extremist groups and gather information on their activities. The group also said the program was created to monitor threats of violence, and that the information gathered from informants was shared with local and federal law enforcement.
“When we began working with informants, we were living in the shadow of the height of the Civil Rights Movement, which had seen bombings at churches, state-sponsored violence against demonstrators, and the murders of activists that went unanswered by the justice system,” SPLC CEO Bryan Fair said. “There is no question that what we learned from informants saved lives.”
Fair said the organization will “will vigorously defend ourselves, our staff, and our work.”
“The SPLC was not dismantling these groups. It was instead manufacturing the extremism it purports to oppose by paying sources to stoke racial hatred,” Blanche said.
He added, “They’re required to under the laws associated with a nonprofit to have certain transparency and honesty in what they’re telling donors they’re going to spend money on and what their mission statement is and what they’re raising money doing.”
Under Patel, the FBI severed ties with the organization last December after a push from MAGA allies, calling it a “partisan smear machine” that established a “hate map” that highlighted anti-government and hate groups inside the United States. Conservative Republicans accused the group of working with the Biden administration “to target Christian and conservative Americans and deprive them of their constitutional rights to free speech and free association.”

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The Roots drummer and acclaimed filmmaker gave his thoughts on the film, which has split longtime fans and critics ahead of its April 24 release.
Like many devoted Michael Jackson fans, Questlove went into his screening of the new Jackson biopic “Michael” with a critic’s eye. Instead, The Roots drummer and acclaimed filmmaker came away with a different feeling after turning off the superfan side of his brain.
In a lengthy Instagram post hours after watching the film, Questlove reflected on what he saw on the screen, crediting Jaafar Jackson for channeling his late uncle and how Antoine Fuqua’s film offered him a perspective he might not have considered initially going into the theater.
“This project does the impossible: it strips away the spectacle and shows us the person. For the first time, we aren’t looking at the “THE KING”—we’re looking at a human being,” he wrote in his review on Monday (Apr. 20). “It’s a side of him a lot of us seemed to forget after 1984.”
He continued, “I’ll admit, as a diehard, I started out taking notes: “Wrong year,” “Song wasn’t out yet,” “He didn’t wear that jacket until…” But I eventually put my weapons down. Why? Because they captured the SOUL of it all & gave him back his humanity. If this is the final word on his legacy, showing his humanity was more important to me than any technical faux pas.”
A post shared by Questlove (@questlove)
Fans who’ve caught early previews have found themselves in debates online about the film. While influencers were among the first to share reviews of the movie, critics have given their thoughts, ranging from unfavorable to worse.
The film, which centers on Jackson’s career up to the “Bad” era in 1988, has undergone several reshoots, delays and debates on what the film should focus on, the totality of MJ’s life, the parts not covered in the 1992 miniseries “The Jacksons: An American Dream” and more.
Fans will continue the debate ahead of the film’s theatrical release on Friday, which Quest says he’ll be among those watching the movie “again and again.” The drummer emphasized his biggest takeaway from the film: leaning into your gifts.
“This film is a MASTERCLASS in how to channel a gift,” he wrote. “We’ve been fed the “Hard Work & Sacrifice” narrative for generations—the same one passed down from our ancestors and overseers. I’m ready to let that go because it’s not serving us anymore … we have to want a change now as bad as he wanted to give his gift to the world.”
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April 22, 2026
Tomlin recently resigned as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers
After resigning his head coaching position with the Pittsburgh Steelers after this past season, long-time coach Mike Tomlin is heading to the NBC studio booth for the upcoming football season.
According to The Athletic, Tomlin will be joining the NBC Sunday night pregame show, “Football Night in America.” The 54-year-old will join the current team of Maria Taylor, Jason Garrett, and Devin McCourty, as the other hosts who appeared on the show last season are question marks.
Former NFL Hall of Fame head coach Tony Dungy confirmed he will not be on the program after being an analyst on the show for 17 years.
Tomlin will most likely slide into the role of a knowledgeable former head coach, offering expert opinion as a veteran coach and Super Bowl winner. Dungy was also a Super Bowl-winning coach and former NFL player.
The former Steelers coach broke an NFL record for the longest coaching career without a losing record, spanning 19 straight years starting with his first year with the franchise.
It was more than likely, with two years remaining on his Steelers contract, that he would not return to the sidelines. If he did return to coaching with an NFL team, that team would have had to get permission from the Steelers to allow him to coach. 
While at the helm, Tomlin’s teams have won one Super Bowl, two conference championships, and eight division titles. In only his second season, he coached the team to the Super Bowl title, becoming the youngest head coach, at 36, to win the championship, defeating the Arizona Cardinals 27–23 in 2009. The Steelers had an 8-12 playoff record. According to ESPN, Tomlin informed the team that he would not be coaching the day after the Steelers were eliminated from the playoffs. As successful as Tomlin has been during the regular season, he also has a nine-year losing streak in the postseason. The Steelers have not won a playoff game since 2016, when they beat the Kansas City Chiefs, 18-16.
RELATED CONTENT: Pittsburgh Steelers Lose Top 2 Quarterbacks To New York Teams

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April 20, 2026
The incident allegedly took place after a car crash
A man has been arrested after being accused of shooting and killing three people at a Detroit gas station.
According to 7 News Detroit, a car crash took place before two cars pulled up at a Detroit gas station, and after four people approached a man at his vehicle, the man shot three of them, and they all died at the scene.
The incident occurred on April 19 at a Sunoco gas station. The media outlet obtained surveillance video showing the two cars arriving at the station. One car blocks the shooter’s car from leaving. After the passengers left the vehicle, they approached the driver. Upon opening his car door, one of the victims lunges at him, and the driver is seen firing his gun before the footage stops.
Police are currently investigating the shooting.
7 News Detroit spoke to the gas station attendant who witnessed the incident.
The attendant said that he heard six or seven shots before he locked the doors and called 911. He then explained to the media outlet what he witnessed as he watched the cameras while the drama unfolded.
“Two cars pulled up. One of them was trying to leave, and the black car blocked in the Dodge.”
“Whoever was driving the Dodge just shot at them.”
The female victim ran across the street, but “she ended up dying,” as one of the other victims died right away. He then told the media outlet that the last victim was still alive when police arrived, but was unable to save him.
The media outlet said that family members and friends identified 25-year-old Trevor Sheeler and said the woman was his sister. Her identity was not confirmed. No other information has been released about the alleged shooter, the reason for the altercation, charges he may be facing, or anything about the victims.
RELATED CONTENT: Cheating Prank Leads To Shots Fired And Boyfriend Behind Bars

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“Ricky” tells the story of a man released after 15 years in prison, exploring mistakes, grace, and the village it takes to heal.
Before you write off “Ricky” as another film about the criminal justice system, here’s what director and writer Rashaad Frett needs you to understand: 90-something percent of it doesn’t even take place in prison. The film, starring Stephan James and Sheryl Lee Ralph and co-written by Frett and Lin Que Ayong, is less about what happens behind bars and far more about what happens when a man who’s been gone for 15 years has to find his way back to a world that moved on without him. It’s a story about second chances. And depending on how honest you’re willing to be with yourself, you may see yourself in the story, too. 
“This almost could have happened to anybody,” James told theGrio. “Ricky wasn’t some degenerate kid. He made a mistake, and that mistake changed the course of his whole life.”
That’s the point James, 32, was most determined to make. When preparing for the role, the “If Beale Street Could Talk” actor wanted to understand two things simultaneously: the innocence of a 15-year-old who doesn’t yet know what’s at stake, and the psychological weight of a man who’s spent the better part of his life inside a system not designed to heal him. 
“I really wanted to dive back into the mind of a 15-year-old young man,” he explained, “to understand where they were in life, what’s being taken away from them when they enter into a system like this.” As a result, Ricky’s humanity becomes the film’s most pivotal element. 
“We’ve all been guilty of those things at one point or another in our lives, usually earlier in our lives,” James says of the kind of youthful mistakes that can spiral into life-altering consequences depending on your zip code, your resources, and frankly, your luck. “I wanted to make that very clear. I wanted to make him relatable in that way.”
Frett, who has spent years studying the lives of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people, made a point to cast real inmates in the film, a decision that became one of the most formative parts of the entire production. For James the experience of watching an “an inmate pretending to be an actor” while being an “actor pretending to be an inmate” made the project even more meaningful. 
“I found myself laughing with them, joking with them, wanting to cry with them,” he recalled, ultimately serving as a reminder that “there’s a whole person behind the cell that I really wanted to give people a chance to see through Ricky.” 
That insistence on full humanity extends to everyone the film touches. “This story centers around Ricky, but it really is about how that incarceration affected all the people,” Ayoung shared in an interview with theGrio. “The parents do time. Families do time. The loved ones, the friends; everybody’s doing time. it was important that we saw how much of a village people need.” 
“It really transcends prison. Any one of us can grow up with trauma that stunts our growth in some way, shape, or form. And it does take a village to bring us back, to heal, to get to the point that we need to be,” she continued. “It was important that we showed the different perspectives surrounding recidivism, that it’s not just about the person you know who is going through this.”
For Frett, who has seen the impacts of recidivism in his personal and professional life, working on documentaries, “Ricky” spotlights the void communities often miss. 
“One of the many questions that I hope that this film [sparks] is, ‘how can we support ex-offenders more when they come out,’” the director shared. “I knew people, friends, family members, been in and out of the criminal justice system. I knew people that worked in programs that helped ex offenders outside of the prison, and what was brought to my attention is that the actual transition from going in to going out, there’s like a void of that transition, and there needs to be more support.”
While discussing the transition, Frett draws a striking parallel to ancient warrior cultures like the Maasai of East Africa, who built healing and cleansing rituals for warriors returning from the battlefield to combat trauma. 
“When you come from a very intense environment and you’re adjusting back to being around civilization,” Frett explained, “there’s a huge disconnect. Some people can’t snap back.”
Echoing the conversation about recidivism and “How could we create better systems within the system to be conducive to rehabilitation, James also notes that the film spotlights the important conversations surrounding mental health. But the conversation Ayong seems most invested in is the one about what we owe each other.
“’Ricky’ is about second chances,” she shares. “I feel like all our growth is stunted in some way, shape, or form. And I’m talking about our [Black] community, but in so many other people’s communities. Our growth is stunted, and we all have these preconceived ideas about other people, whatever that other is, and we go around in life, living by these stereotypes, but if we give people a chance, we may actually learn something…like we’re all we all we have like commonalities.”
That, ultimately, is what “Ricky” is asking of its audience. “Ricky” isn’t asking you to fix the prison industrial complex by the time you leave theaters. It’s asking something smaller but equally impactful: to sit with the version of yourself that didn’t know better yet and extend that same mercy and grace outward. 
See “Ricky” in theaters on April 24.
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The departure of Elam, who worked at the network for two decades, adds to a growing trend among Black journalists, whether by choice or due to layoffs.
For more than two decades, Stephanie Elam was a familiar face at CNN. The Howard University alum had covered everything from the deaths of Michael Jackson and Prince to the volatile swings of the stock market and last year’s devastating Eaton fire that displaced many Californians, particularly in the primarily Black city of Altadena.
That familiarity is set to end as Elam announced her departure from the network Saturday (Apr. 18).
“For more than 20 years I’ve been in the CNN orbit developing and delivering news stories on everything from the environment and entertainment to business and breaking news of all kinds,” she said in a statement shared by Variety. “I’m so proud of my CNN career. Live or taped, writing packages or doing a show-and-tell, I’ve done it all — and having a front row seat to document history has been a gift.” 
A post shared by Stephanie Elam (@stephelamtv)
Elam’s exit, albeit on her own terms, is the latest in a series of Black faces who once called network TV home but have since left, whether by their own volition or through layoff. In March, Shawna Thomas, a noted producer for “CBS Mornings,” announced she was preparing to leave the network by summarily telling colleagues she was “tired.”
“This isn’t THE GREAT GOODBYE NOTE,” Thomas wrote at the time. “But you should know I’ve been thinking about this for a while and, frankly, I’m tired y’all.”
She continued, “Today is not my last day at CBS Mornings, but it begins a countdown to my alarm going off a little bit later […] For five years, I’ve tried to make this show something she and everybody on this team want to be a part of. Want to watch. Want to learn from. And in return, this team has made me more thoughtful, empathetic, and expanded my personal definition of storytelling. I’ve had the privilege of helping to make 10 (now 12!) hours of television each week that goes out free to people everywhere. I’ve taken that responsibility of trying to inform, educate, entertain, and make people care about the world around them very seriously, and I know the people here do, too.”
One of Elam’s most poignant on-air moments came in 2025 when she eulogized her dear friend, former MTV VJ Ananda Lewis. Lewis, who died from breast cancer at the age of 52, took part in a sit-down conversation with Elam and CNN anchor Sara Sidner, who was also battling cancer. The moment allowed viewers to see Elam beyond her time as a journalist, but as a friend who deeply believed in sisterhood, especially with two of the women she was closest to.
A post shared by Stephanie Elam (@stephelamtv)
“Stephanie brought clarity, credibility, and heart to every story she touched over her two decades at CNN. Her versatility and natural ability to connect with audiences made her a trusted voice and a valued colleague,” CNN said in a statement. “We are grateful for her many contributions and wish her continued success in her next chapter.”
While Elam did not divulge what her next chapter would be, her absence from television is felt. Just as it was when mass layoffs occurred at networks like NBC and CBS. Last year, Maurice DuBois left “CBS Evening News,” and Michelle Miller, who was a co-host on “CBS Saturday Morning,” also departed the network amid restructuring from CBS’s parent company, Paramount.
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Founded in 1951, the Southbank Centre is the UK’s largest arts centre.
Photo: Ogulcan Aksoy. Courtesy Adobe Stock
The UK government has given the Southbank Centre in London £10m to help carry out urgent repairs during its 75th anniversary this year. The investment forms part of a £128m funding package, administered and delivered by Arts Council England on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, designed to save 130 culture venues across the UK.
“Great art needs great infrastructure and this vital funding will help us fix leaking roofs, replace failing glazing, and modernise our rigging systems, ensuring our doors stay wide open for the millions of visitors who bring this site to life every year,” said Elaine Bedell, the chief executive of the Southbank Centre, in a LinkedIn post.
A major renovation of the Southbank Centre, which began in 2005, created 35% more capacity in the Royal Festival Hall (the refurbishment was budgeted at £111m but the final cost was £117m). The Queen Elizabeth Hall, Purcell Room and Hayward Gallery all reopened in 2018 following a two-year refurbishment led by the architects Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios. The centre has struggled financially in recent years, in part due to the debts accrued during the renovation.
The sizeable £10m award was given as part of the £96m Creative Foundations Fund (CFF) which will benefit 74 arts and culture venues in total including Autograph ABP photography centre in London (£499,950), the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead (Baltic Flour Mills Visual Arts Trust, £3.6m) and Firstsite gallery in Colchester (£995,000).
According to the CFF application guidelines, applicants must state how the projects to be funded will meet “communities’ diverse needs and consider users’ and stakeholders’ input and feedback”; organisations must also provide a “detailed project timetable”.
The government announced two additional funds: the £25.5m Museum Estate and Development Fund—which supports 28 museums including Bristol Museums (£3.6m) and Compton Verney (£794,750)—and the Libraries Improvement Fund which will deliver £6.3m to 28 library services. These three funding strands are part of the first tranche of the government’s Arts Everywhere Fund, a £1.5bn funding package announced earlier this year.
Nicholas Serota, Arts Council England chair, said in a statement: “After significant financial pressures in recent years, this vital investment will help organisations to secure futures where they thrive and not just survive.”
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A Brooklyn student goes viral for becoming the first at her high school to gain Ivy League admission, with classmates’ emotional reaction capturing widespread attention online.
A 17-year-old student from Brooklyn is gaining national attention after a classroom celebration of her Ivy League acceptance went viral.
Olivia Connie-Perkins, a senior at Success Academy High School of the Liberal Arts, became the first student in her school’s history to be accepted into an Ivy League institution when she received admission to Brown University.
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The moment was captured in a video shared by the school in December 2025. In the clip, a principal announces the milestone over the intercom, prompting an immediate and emotional response from classmates. Students can be seen cheering, clapping, and celebrating as Connie-Perkins reacts with visible surprise, covering her mouth as the room erupts.
“It made me realize how great our Success Academy community is. We always celebrate each other and our accomplishments. It felt really nice to experience that and it’s also been great to celebrate all of my peers’ acceptances,” shared Connie-Perkins in an interview with People.
The video quickly spread online, resonating with viewers who were struck not just by the achievement, but by the genuine support shown by her peers. The video, and Olivia’s accomplishments even landed her on “The Jennifer Hudson Show.”
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Speaking about the moment, Connie-Perkins said the reaction highlighted the culture within her school. She described the environment as one where students actively celebrate each other’s successes, adding that the experience made the milestone even more meaningful.
“I’ve always cared deeply about my education, and I know how lucky I am to go to a school that has not only supported my academic career but also provided so much opportunity to explore my passions and extracurricular activities. I know that many children do not get these same opportunities, so I am grateful that I was able to attend a school like Success Academy, where I was given the ability to explore my different interests while being set up for academic success,” said Connie-Perkins.
School officials confirmed that while this is the first Ivy League acceptance for the Brooklyn campus, which opened in 2022, Success Academy schools overall have a track record of strong college admissions outcomes. According to school leadership, graduates have achieved a 100% college acceptance rate for nine consecutive years, with many gaining entry into highly selective institutions.
For Connie-Perkins, the accomplishment reflects years of academic dedication. She completed a rigorous course load that included numerous Advanced Placement classes while also pursuing creative interests such as art and leading a student club.
As a first-generation college student, her acceptance carries added significance. She noted that attending Brown had long been a goal, citing its open curriculum and campus environment as major draws.
The viral moment, while brief, has come to represent more than a single achievement. It underscores the impact of supportive school communities and highlights how collective encouragement can amplify individual success.
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President Donald Trump blasted New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani over his tax policies on social media, claiming “people are fleeing.”

A new rant by President Donald Trump is zeroing in on New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s proposal on taxing the second homes of the wealthy. Trump blasted the mayor in a post on his Truth Social media platform on Thursday (April 16).
“Sadly, Mayor Mamdani is DESTROYING New York! It has no chance! The United States of America should not contribute to its failure,” Trump wrote, continuing: “It will only get WORSE. The TAX, TAX, TAX Policies are SO WRONG. People are fleeing. They must change their ways, AND FAST. History has proven, THIS ‘STUFF’ JUST DOESN’T WORK.”
The “Pied-à-Terre” tax was announced on Wednesday (April 15) by Mamdani and Governor Kathy Hochul. It will levy an annual surcharge on individuals who, according to the city’s press release, own “one to three family homes, condominiums and co-ops valued above $5 million when owners have a separate primary residence outside of New York City.”
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The tax is aimed at the ultra-wealthy, and the press release notes that the proposal was supported by 93% of New Yorkers. Democratic leaders note that it would raise $500 million for New York City, and Mamdani stated in a press conference on Thursday that it would count toward lowering the city’s $5.4 billion budget deficit. Hochul said that the tax would affect 13,000 properties.
Trump’s rant against Mamdani comes weeks after the two had another productive meeting at the White House, where they both discussed potential projects to expand affordable housing in New York City. It occurred as a student at Columbia University was abducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. Trump directed the student to be released soon after his meeting with Mamdani.
Trump had previously called Mamdani a “despot” as well as a “communist” during the assemblyman’s campaign for mayor, but warmed up to him during their first meeting last November, even defending him from questions from the press that could be deemed adversarial.
Trump Rant Claims Mamdani “Destroying” New York City was originally published on hiphopwired.com

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Alex Margo Arden’s Accounts (2025) © the artist. Arts Council Collection, Southbank Centre London.
The artist list and themes have been announced for the next British Art Show—billed as the largest and most significant recurring exhibition of contemporary art in the UK—which will tour five UK cities over the next two years.
The tenth edition (British Art Show 10) under the curator Ekow Eshun is entitled A Chorus of Strangers and asks “what forms might empathy or shared imagination take” in turbulent political times, a statement says. It adds that the show will “provide a vital overview of the most exciting art produced in the UK during the past five years”.
The influential exhibition launched in 1979 and takes place every five years, with the next edition due to open in Coventry this autumn (2 October–10 January 2027), before travelling to various venues in four other cities until June 2028. The show is developed and produced by Hayward Gallery Touring, a contemporary art organisation producing touring exhibitions that is part of the Southbank Centre in London.
Eshun has chosen works by 30 artists such as Alex Margo Arden, Liz Johnson Artur, Alvaro Barrington, Shiraz Bayjoo, Lubna Chowdhary, Shawanda Corbett, Jesse Darling, Lindsey Mendick and Osman Yousefzada. The artist roster sparked debate online: “pertinent topic and a sterling selection,” said one commentator on Instagram while another noted: “Where are Barbara Walker, Claudette Johnson and Phoebe Boswell?”
Eshun, the curator of the exhibition In the Black Fantastic at the Hayward Gallery in 2022, is the former director of the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London. His curatorial vision for British Art Show 10 centres on three themes inspired by renowned writers and theorists: “Moments of Being”, inspired by Virginia Woolf, spotlights dreams, memory and the subconscious; “Ways of Living” looks at how politics and history effect culture and identity, drawing on the ideas of the academic Stuart Hall, who was dubbed the “godfather of multiculturalism”; and finally, “States of Nature” is inspired by the philosopher Timothy Morton’s call for a “greater awareness of our relationship with the environment”.

The British Art Show 10 venues are: The Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Mead Gallery and Coventry University, Coventry (2 October–10 January 2027); Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Elysium Gallery, GS Artists, Mission Gallery and Volcano Theatre, Swansea (12 February–16 May 2027); Arnolfini, Spike Island, Bristol Museum and RWA Bristol, Bristol (19 June–19 September 2027); Millennium Gallery, Graves Gallery, Site Gallery, Yorkshire Artspace and Arts Catalyst, Sheffield (23 October 2027–20 February 2028); Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, Newcastle Contemporary Art, Laing Art Gallery and Shipley Art Gallery, Newcastle and Gateshead (24 March–18 June 2028).
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Theme-less this year, the triennial covers all generations and styles

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April 20, 2026
Now-viral videos shows a Black woman being chased down by Zara employees in Lynwood, Washington, accusing her of stealing.
A Black woman in Lynwood, Washington, has gone viral after sharing video footage of Zara employees accusing her of theft and chasing her from a mall, claims police could not prove.
A TikTok user named Douniya racked up over two million views on a 30-second video documenting her experience of “shopping at Zara while Black.” The viral clip shows her being chased out of Alderwood Mall by multiple store employees.
In a longer follow-up video, Douniya shares police bodycam and mall surveillance footage showing Zara employees pursuing her after she left the store. The footage captures a tense verbal exchange as she tries to exit the mall, with multiple employees following her—at times grabbing her—and trailing her to her car.
In the clip, officers attempt to assess the situation and ask the staff to explain why they believe she stole merchandise.
“She said you guys were chasing her down,” the officer said.
“Well, obviously,” one Zara staffer replied.
Back in the store’s office, police told Zara’s staff that Douniya had consented to a full search of her car and that no merchandise was found. Employees then alleged she had “ditched” the items before police arrived.
“When she got in the car with her bag, which stuff was yours?” the cop asks.
In the video, another Zara employee alleges Douniya was carrying stolen items in her arms. However, in the caption, Douniya says she was holding her own jacket.
“I didn’t see,” said one staffer.
The officer told Zara’s staff there was no evidence to support a theft claim beyond their allegations, so no action could be taken. In a separate bodycam clip, Douniya is seen emotional but firm in denying any wrongdoing, calling out employees for pursuing her like loss prevention. The officer agreed the situation was mishandled and noted it wasn’t the first time he’d responded to that store for similar incidents involving staff chasing suspected shoplifters.
“It happens quite often. Their employees act as their loss prevention,” the officer said.
After the videos surfaced, many viewers criticized Zara and its staff, urging Douniya to pursue legal action against the employees, the store location, and the company.
“I’d sue the company n sue them separately as well. Good look beloved,” one user wrote.
“Girrl, get you a lawyer and sue them for harassment and defamation,” added someone else.
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