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The Republican Party’s Black leaders have broken barriers and expanded representation, while also sparking controversy for their strong conservative views.
The Republican Party has had a complex and evolving relationship with Black Americans, from its early days as an abolitionist movement to its more recent controversies over race and civil rights. One of the first African Americans to play a significant role in U.S. politics through the GOP was Hiram Revels, who made history in 1870 as the first African American to serve in Congress. Revels, a Republican from Mississippi, was elected to the U.S. Senate just after the passage of the 15th Amendment, which granted Black men the right to vote. His election was a reflection of the Republican Party’s post-Civil War commitment to civil rights and Reconstruction, according to the Senate’s website. Revels used his brief tenure to champion civil rights, promote education for freedmen, and oppose school segregation in the District of Columbia. Representing Mississippi during Reconstruction, he spoke out against racial discrimination, supported amnesty for former Confederates, and helped secure employment opportunities for Black workers.
Fast forward to the 21st century, and Black Republicans have remained an important, though controversial, part of the GOP. In the 2010s, House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy aimed to recruit more Black candidates to diversify the party’s white image. This led to the election of high-profile figures like Tim Scott (South Carolina), Burgess Owens (Utah), Wesley Hunt (Texas), Byron Donalds (Florida), and John James (Michigan). Known collectively as the starting five, critics argue that their alignment with far-right positions, including support for some of Donald Trump’s policies, conflicts with the priorities of many Black voters. They have drawn praise for challenging traditional identity politics and criticism from detractors who label them as “tokens”  for the Republican Party. Their decision not to join the Congressional Black Caucus has also sparked debate, with figures like Tim Scott arguing that his campaign “was never about race. 
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But things are getting ready to change for the Starting Five. As of 2026, several of these figures have announced their departures. Owens is retiring after being redistricted out of his seat, while Hunt is stepping down after failing to secure his party’s Senate nomination. James and Donalds are running for governor in their states. This leaves Tim Scott as the sole Black Republican in the U.S. Senate.
Let’s learn more about the history of Black GOP leaders over the years.
Throughout history, Black Republicans have played pivotal roles, yet the party’s relationship with African Americans has been fraught with tension, especially as the GOP evolved in the mid-20th century. The shift from a progressive party advocating for civil rights upon its founding in 1854 to one that increasingly used racially coded language, what some call the “Southern Strategy,” alienated many Black voters and trickled down into other social issues for the community. In simple terms, the Southern Strategy was a plan used by the Republican Party in the 1960s and 1970s to win over white voters in the South. They did this by tapping into frustrations and anger some people felt about changes brought by the Civil Rights Movement and new civil rights laws. Over time, this approach helped shift many Southern states from supporting Democrats to voting Republican.
U.C. Berkley professor and historian John A. Powell encapsulates this idea succinctly, writing in a blog post, “The Southern Strategy married the conservative politics antipathy to marginal tax rates and civil rights, labor, and environmental regulations of corporate elites with culturally conservative antipathy towards civil rights, women’s rights, and gay rights.”
After Revels, and before the Starting Five, there was Edward Brooke, who became the first African American elected to the Senate by popular vote in 1966, who helped advocate for civil rights during a period of growing partisan division. He served two full terms from 1967 to 1979. During his time in the Senate, he advocated for affordable housing, pushed for a higher minimum wage, and supported the expansion of commuter rail and public transit. He was a persistent voice for racial equality in the South and made a symbolic stand against segregation by integrating the Senate barbershop with his first visit as a senator.
In recognition of his service, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom on June 23, 2004, and later received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2008. Some historians note that he faced backlash for positioning himself as a liberal Republican while in office. Although he was a strong advocate for civil rights, Brooke openly criticized the “militancy” of certain activists in the community in the 1960s, arguing that it undermined the broader movement, which drew sharp criticism from some Black leaders.
Tim Scott, a Republican senator from South Carolina, has served in the Senate since 2013 and is the longest-serving Black Republican in U.S. congressional history. He has focused much of his work on economic opportunity, education, and criminal justice reform, and has been a leading Republican voice on issues involving race. Scott has also promoted “opportunity zones” to encourage investment in low-income communities.
At the same time, Scott has faced criticism from some opponents who argue that his policy positions, particularly his opposition to certain voting rights measures and aspects of police reform, don’t go far enough to address systemic inequality. His optimistic framing of America’s progress on race has also sparked debate.
Byron Donalds has represented Florida’s 19th congressional district since 2021. A strong conservative, he advocates for limited government, lower taxes, and school choice, while also supporting some criminal justice reforms. He has become a visible figure in national politics and is often discussed as a rising Republican leader.
Donalds has drawn controversy for his comments on race and education, including remarks about how Black families functioned “together” and were “conservative-minded” during the Jim Crow era, which critics said downplayed historical injustices. He has also been a vocal supporter of efforts to challenge the results of the 2020 United States presidential election, a stance that has remained divisive.
John James, elected to represent Michigan’s 10th congressional district in 2022, is a former U.S. Army Ranger and business executive. His political platform emphasizes economic growth, national defense, and conservative fiscal policies. Before winning his House seat, he gained national attention through two competitive but unsuccessful Senate campaigns.
James has faced criticism for aligning closely with former President Donald Trump, particularly regarding his positions on election integrity following the 2020 election. Critics argue that this alignment has contributed to political polarization, while supporters see it as Party loyalty.
Wesley Hunt represents Texas’ 38th congressional district and is a former Army combat veteran. His policy priorities include national security, energy independence, and conservative economic reforms. He is also a strong advocate for border security and Second Amendment rights. Hunt has drawn criticism for his pro-life stance on abortion and restrictive immigration policies.
Burgess Owens, a former NFL player, has represented Utah’s 4th congressional district since 2021. He is known for promoting conservative principles such as school choice, limited government, and personal responsibility. Owens frequently speaks on cultural and racial issues, often criticizing progressive policies.
His outspoken views, particularly his criticism of movements like Black Lives Matter, have generated controversy, with critics arguing that his positions overlook systemic racism, while supporters praise his emphasis on individual empowerment.
Notably, during an election debate in 2020, he said:
“Black Live Matter, BLM Inc., in their manifesto, are against capitalism, against the nuclear family and they are against God,” according to KSL.

The Republican Party’s record on racial issues remains a complicated legacy. From its founding as a party of emancipation to its controversial shifts in the 20th century, the GOP’s relationship with African Americans has evolved alongside broader societal changes. The question now is whether the Party can maintain a place for Black voices in its future, or if the trend of declining Black Republican representation will continue. The future for Black GOP leaders looks complicated.

SEE MORE:
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The History Of Black GOP Leaders was originally published on newsone.com

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May 1, 2026
LinkedIn is facing backlash after an investigation alleged the site used hidden code to monitor software and tools installed on users’ computers without their knowledge.
An April 4 report titled BrowserGate details findings from an investigation into LinkedIn that raise concerns about data collection, privacy, and corporate intelligence practices on the Microsoft-owned platform. Researchers described it as potentially “one of the largest corporate espionage and data breach scandals in digital history.”
According to a study by Fairlinked e.V., an alleged coalition of commercial users, LinkedIn may be using hidden browser scripts to scan installed extensions and gather detailed device data—potentially without user consent. Researchers say the activity resembles large-scale browser fingerprinting that could expose sensitive personal and corporate information.
The report alleges LinkedIn injects hidden JavaScript into user sessions to scan for installed browser extensions, ranging from productivity tools to enterprise software. Independent testing by BleepingComputer supports parts of the claim, identifying scripts that probe for more than 6,200 extensions, a stark increase from the about 2,000 reported earlier in 2025, suggesting the scope has rapidly expanded. The method works by attempting to access known resources tied to extension IDs; if they load, the extension is assumed to be installed.
LinkedIn is denying the allegations, claiming its practices are aimed at security and platform integrity and not surveillance. In a statement, the company acknowledged it detects certain browser extensions but said this is to identify tools that scrape data or violate its terms of service. LinkedIn also questioned the credibility of the BrowserGate report, claiming it stems from an individual whose account was restricted for policy violations.
“To protect the privacy of our members, their data, and to ensure site stability, we do look for extensions that scrape data without members’ consent or otherwise violate LinkedIn’s Terms of Service,” LinkedIn said in part.
“Unfortunately, this is a case of an individual who lost in the court of law, but is seeking to re-litigate in the court of public opinion without regard for accuracy,” the company added.
However, amid news of the report, LinkedIn is facing criticism on social media, with people urging a boycott of the platform.
“I HIGHLY recommend everyone stop using LinkedIn period,” one X user wrote. “LinkedIn sells your usage data back to the very companies you work for. Full stop, DELETE IT NOW.”
“Definitely wouldn’t recommend browsing LinkedIn right now,” another X user tweeted. “There’s like 30 browser vulnerabilities rolling out fixes too.”
RELATED CONTENT: Appeals Courts Hands Conservatives Victory, Allowing Texas To Require Ten Commandments Posted In Classrooms

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Jordyn Woods is giving her man his flowers!
The New York Knicks have eliminated the Atlanta Hawks from the NBA playoffs, finishing the series with a dominant performance that ended in a score of 140-89.
Karl-Anthony Towns was just one player on the squad who had a stellar performance, scoring his second triple double of the playoffs with 12 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.
After the game, the Knicks center’s fiancée, Jordyn Woods, celebrated the win by posting a congratulatory message to her Instagram Story. Their win over the Hawks on Thursday, April 30 advanced them to the NBA playoff semifinals, which will kick off on May 4.
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“Second triple double in the series!!!! In good company,” Woods wrote over a photo of the two of them after the game, ending the sentence with orange and blue hearts. In the photo, KAT is holding up his game-worn jersey with his signature on it, along with a longer message about his achievement.
Jordyn went on to repost a graphic from Bleacher Report about the Knicks’ win over Atlanta being the largest playoff win in New York’s franchise history. She followed that with another announcing Towns has become only the second 7-footer in NBA history to have multiple postseason triple-doubles, alongside former basketball legend Wilt Chamberlin.
Woods has been right by her fiancée’s side throughout the entire first round of the playoffs, showing off her custom outfits and attending every game in support of her man.
The happy couple began dating in 2020 and went Instagram official that September. They announced their engagement on Christmas Day 2025. Woods celebrated her bachelorette party in St. Barts prior to the playoffs, which could mean there will be wedding bells soon after the NBA finals!
Towns Triple Double! Jordyn Woods Celebrates Fiancé Karl-Anthony Towns’ Dominant Playoff Performance For The Knicks was originally published on bossip.com

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Sebastian Quimiz, The Great Restoration
Courtesy the artist and Olha Kovalevska
From breaking news and insider insights to exhibitions and events around the world, the team at The Art Newspaper picks apart the art world’s big stories with the help of special guests. An award-winning podcast hosted by Ben Luke.
This Sunday, 26 April, marks the 40th anniversary of the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear reactor in Soviet Ukraine. It is the most serious disaster ever to occur in the nuclear power industry, with widespread effects then and now. An exhibition at the Nikolaikirche in Potsdam, Germany, called The Chernobyl disaster: 40 years ago and yet still relevant, continues until Monday 27 April, and Ben Luke speaks to one of its organisers, Olha Kovalevska.
Paula Rego, The Dance, 1988
© The Estate of Paula Rego; Tate: Purchased 1989; Photo: Tate Images
A new exhibition at Munch, the museum in Oslo, explores the work of Paula Rego, with new research on her interest in the artist after whom the museum is named, Edvard Munch. Ben speaks to the curator of the exhibition, which is called Paula Rego: Dance Among Thorns, Kari J. Brandtzæg.
Gluck, Convolvulus, 1940
Courtesy of The Fine Art Society Ltd © The artist’s estate
And this episode’s Work of the Week is Convolvulus (1940) by Gluck, the mononymous British painter. The picture is part of the exhibition called Handpicked: Painting Flowers from 1900 to Today, which opens this weekend at Kettle’s Yard in Cambridge, UK. Ben speaks to its co-curator, Naomi Polonsky, about the work.
Celebrating the life and work of the Australian performance artist, how Ukrainian artists and institutions are continuing to resist, and a close look at a pair of works from an Oslo exhibition
Plus, Michelangelo at the Albertina in Vienna and Julianknxx at the Barbican in London
Plus, the challenges facing the Old Master market and a lithograph by Honoré Daumier
From the British Museum thefts to the consequences in art and heritage of the Israel-Hamas war

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In this exclusive, board-certified OB-GYN Dr. Pierre Johnson opens up about the life-saving procedure and the prevalence of fibroids.
By the time Brionna Johnson, an expectant mother in Chicago, understood what was happening inside her body, the intervention plan was clear.
A 27-pound cluster of fibroids had grown alongside her pregnancy, and doctor after doctor told her that at 17 weeks pregnant, there was no safe path forward but to remove the fibroids, end the pregnancy, and prepare to have a hysterectomy. Then she found Chicago-based fibroid specialist Dr. Pierre Johnson. 
The board-certified OB-GYN at Loretto Hospital took on her case, which even some of the most seasoned surgeons turned down, and a month ago successfully removed the 27-pound cluster, preserving both her pregnancy and her uterus. She’s expected to deliver her baby sometime in August. 
Despite the rarity of her case involving a removal of fibroids—non-cancerous muscular tumors that grow in or on the uterus wall—during an active pregnancy, Johnson, who never says no to a case and treats women from all over the world, told theGrio during a recent interview, “I knew that I could do it for her.” 
“When I heard [about her case] I knew what it was. I knew that 99 times out of 100 that this was more of a pedunculated fibroid, meaning it was stalked off the uterus,” he explained, adding, “The trick was just to really get to the stalk and control that. And once I was able to transect the fibroid off of the uterus, then everything else was just getting it out. And so I’ve done that countless times.”
He admitted the active pregnancy, presented its complexities, but what also stood out to him was the social aspect of the case, the fact that she was a Black woman experiencing a complication during pregnancy and being pushed towards the most extreme treatment option. 
“There’s so much bias and discrimination in medicine, I can’t even tell you,” the physician said. “For her case, there were strong attempts to cancel it, to not let me do it, like, without even talking to me like, they tried to not even let me do her case, so it’s even bigger than the options.”
A post shared by Pierre Johnson, MD, FACOG, Chicago, IL (@doctorp23)
This success story arriving during Black Maternal Health Week, which ran from April 11 through April 17, and at a time when Black women are navigating a Black Maternal Health Crisis and higher rates of complications like fibroids, Brionna’s story is both encouraging and also very telling about how often Black women are pushed into more extreme alternatives for complications when a closer, more careful look is all that’s required. 
Presently, while 80% of people with a uterus in general will develop fibroids during their reproductive years, by age 50, up to 90% of Black people who have a uterus will experience uterine fibroids. They are also presently two to three times more likely to get a hysterectomy to treat fibroid growths than other demographics, according to data published by the National Library of Medicine. Looking at the numbers closer, while the research shows Black women and white women have hysterectomies at roughly similar rates, the primary reason being fibroids was twice as high for Black women as it was for white women specifically (61% compared to 29%).
Johnson, who has been handling cases like Brionna’s for 13 years, has his thoughts about why the stats are the way they are. Much about fibroids, including why some develop them at such advanced stages, remains unknown. But he said, “We do know that they’re coded by genes.” 
“It’s just not like they just come and just arbitrarily attack people,” he continued. “There’s a very prevalent gene amongst all women, not just Black women, that code for these fibroids.”
There are also other factors that many who develop them at such advanced sizes have in common, including chronic stress. 
“Women of color, you know, experience chronic stress and microaggressions, something more than anybody,” he noted. “That also plays a role in how these genes that code for fibroids are regulated and dysregulated.”  
Another reason the doctor suspects could also stem from a lack of access to adequate healthcare, another factor that people of color experience disproportionately. And for the ones who maybe have had access to care, Johnson said, for women of color, there’s a legacy of distrust of the medical field.
“The medical system has been disproportionately used to weaponize women of color throughout centuries in this country,” he said, adding that after centuries of that, what you are left with is daughters, granddaughters, and nieces with the horror stories of their mothers, aunts, and grandmothers of how they were pushed to the extreme, like “sterilizing them and performing hysterectomies unnecessarily.” 
Johnson also added how more and more women of color are starting families in their 30s and 40s after grinding in their careers and building their wealth in their 20s.  
“So now you have late 30s, early 40s, movers that are trying to now start families and have more advanced cases of fibroid issues,” he said. 
With so many potential future cases out there, or even current ones, Johnson hopes people know that, while limited, they do have options. Many people are often inclined to trust the word of the first person in a white coat they encounter. They have a medical degree, but we have gut feelings and are living in our bodies. Johnson encourages anyone who may not be fully comfortable with the first approach to seek as many different opinions as possible until they find a physician more aligned with their goals.  
When it came to Brionna, who did just that, he said, “It just showed me just how vital it is to really advocate for women in these circumstances.”
Discussing what he described on social media as the “biggest” surgery of his career, he said he hopes to be a “beacon of light for women of color.” 
“You have options, you have people that care,” he said.

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April 30, 2026
The choice of July 5th intentionally aligns with the anniversary of Frederick Douglass’ 1852 landmark speech, What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?,
As the United States prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary on July 4, a new movement is underway to establish July 5th as “Martyrs Day.”
This initiative is spearheaded by Gloria J. Browne-Marshall, an EMMY Award-winning writer, playwright, and social justice attorney who serves as a Professor of Constitutional Law at John Jay College (CUNY). She is an author of works such as A Protest History of the United States. Browne-Marshall has previously served as a Resident Fellow and Visiting Professor at the Harvard Kennedy School and has litigated numerous civil rights cases.
In a press release, Browne-Marshall spoke about the concept of Martyrs Day. The author believes a key pillar of America is protest. 
“The Declaration of Independence is a protest document,” she said. “We are a nation birthed from protest. Since 1776, this country has seen many people lose their lives for the sake of equality under law.”
Professor Browne-Marshall emphasizes the cost many activists have paid to create a better, more equitable nation. Martyrs Day intends to honor that legacy and serve as a national day of remembrance for protesters who gave their lives in the ongoing struggle for justice.
The choice of July 5th intentionally aligns with the anniversary of Frederick Douglass’ 1852 landmark speech, What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?. In the speech, Douglas challenged the United States to live up to its founding ideals of freedom and equality.
Beyond a day of reflection, the Martyrs Day movement serves as a vital call to action for communities and organizations nationwide. The day will encourage the public to recognize activists, organizers, and social justice leaders from any era whose work advanced civil rights and equality.
Furthermore, the initiative seeks to foster historical memory and civic engagement through education regarding the long struggle for justice. Browne-Marshall envisions this as a moment to honor the legacy of those who helped make freedom a reality and to recommit to continuing their unfinished work.
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The move comes as the Florida state legislature advanced a new congressional map that could potentially give the GOP four new House seats. 
Last week, Virginia voters narrowly approved a constitutional amendment that would implement a new congressional map, giving Democrats a 10-1 advantage in House seats. While it looked like a victory for Democrats nationwide, on Tuesday, the Virginia Supreme Court upheld a lower-court ruling blocking certification of the vote. 
WUSA reports that Tazewell County Circuit Court Judge Jack Hurley ruled last week that the voter referendum was invalid and blocked the certification of the vote from being certified. Hurley has repeatedly tried to stop the Virginia redistricting effort, though most of his prior rulings had been dismissed by appeals courts. The Virginia Supreme Court is currently hearing arguments to determine whether or not the redistricting process was conducted illegally. 
Virginia was a surprise entrant into the nationwide redistricting war. The Virginia Grand Assembly announced the redistricting effort last October, shortly before the state’s November elections. As Virginia’s redistricting effort requires an amendment to the state’s constitution, it had to go through several steps to be approved. The Grand Assembly had to vote on the effort twice, both before and after an election, before putting it to a public vote. 
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Virginia Republicans have argued that the redistricting effort was illegal because early voting had already taken place before the Grand Assembly passed the first vote. State Democrats have countered that “before an election” means before the designated Election Day. While the Virginia Supreme Court allowed the voter referendum to proceed before it ruled, it’s still unclear where the court stands on the legality of the redistricting effort. 
The upcoming decision by the Virginia Supreme Court will be one of the most pivotal in the ongoing redistricting battle. As it stands, the Virginia map gives Democrats an advantage to take back control of the House during the upcoming midterms. Though a redistricting effort in Florida is looking to change that.
According to CBS News, the Florida House advanced a map that would create four new seats favoring Republicans. While Republicans hold a two-thirds majority in the state legislature, there were some no votes in the House, and a Republican state Senator has already spoken out against the map. The map will likely pass, but it will undoubtedly face legal pushback. Ahead of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis revealing the map, Florida Republicans voiced concern that redrawing the maps during a particularly hostile time for the GOP could stretch their voters thin and make incumbents more vulnerable. 
While it does feel like we’re entering a new era of politics in which politicians are choosing their voters rather than voters choosing their representatives, it must be noted that President Donald Trump is historically unpopular. Trump won the 2024 election due to his promises not to start any new wars and to lower prices. We’re just over one year into his second term, and Trump has started a new war that has dramatically increased fuel prices. 
As a result, Trump’s polling has continually trended downward. So while Republicans could ultimately have the advantage on paper, depending on how the Virginia Supreme Court rules, we can’t discount just how unpopular Trump, and by extension, the GOP, are heading into the midterms. 
SEE ALSO:
SCOTUS Callais Decision Delivers Major Blow To Black Voting Rights

Supreme Court Officially Reinstates Texas’ Congressional Map

Virginia Supreme Court Upholds Block Preventing Redistricting Vote Certification  was originally published on newsone.com

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“I’m being addressed not by the color of my skin but by the content of my character,” said Hunt, loosely quoting famous remarks made by civil rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Despite historic gains in the number of Black Republicans serving in the United States Congress, all four Black GOP members of the U.S. House of Representatives will be leaving by the end of the current session in January 2027.
When confronted about the mass exodus of Black Republicans leaving the House after years of the overwhelmingly majority-white party trying to recruit more diverse candidates, U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt of Texas made it clear: “I don’t care.”
“I don’t understand how that’s relevant,” said Congressman Hunt, who opted for an unsuccessful bid for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in Texas instead of seeking re-election. He told Pablo Manriquez of MediaTouch, “I’m not here because I’m Black. I am here because I’m [a] qualified representative for Congress with District 38 and the American people choose who they want to choose. And the one thing I don’t want to get into is this game of race bait all day, every day.”
He added, “If there’s four, if there’s 10, if there’s none, we are talking about who is the best person that is best qualified to fill a seat, regardless of the way that they look.”
Hunt, a 44-year-old Army veteran, emphasized that he represents a “white majority district that President Trump would have won by over 20 points,” adding, “I won by 25 points the last time I ran.”
“I’m being addressed not by the color of my skin but by the content of my character,” said Hunt, loosely quoting famous remarks made by civil rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He added, “I don’t care how many Black people are here. I want the most qualified people that are here.”
Hunt is joining U.S. Reps. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., John James, R-Mich., and Burgess Owens, R-Utah, come January 3, 2027, when all four Black Republicans say goodbye to Congress. U.S. Senator Tim Scott, R-S.C., will return to being the only Black Republican on Capitol Hill.
Like Hunt, Congressmen Donalds and James are seeking statewide office in their respective states. Donalds, who has served in Congress since 2021, is running for governor in Florida, where he enjoys a comfortable lead in polls. James, who entered Congress in 2023, is running in a competitive Republican primary for U.S. Senate in Michigan, where he was recently booed by Michigan Republicans. Owens, who was elected to Congress in 2020, announced in March that he would not seek re-election.
The departure of the Republican Party’s bench of Black members comes as the party has escalated its policies and rhetoric attacking diversity, equity and inclusion led by President Donald Trump. For decades, the Republican Party has faced criticisms for its lack of diversity, particularly in courting Black voters. Electing more Black candidates was seen as an opportunity to win over more Black voters, who overwhelmingly vote for the Democratic Party.
In 2024, 83% of Black voters cast their ballots for Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, while 15% voted for Trump. While the president remains deeply unpopular with Black voters, recent data from CNN shows the Republican Party has made a small but modest “generational” gain with Black voters.
Hunt, James, Donalds, Owens, and Scott served in critical roles in Trump’s 2024 campaign, including outreach to Black voters. Whether the party can continue to make gains with less Black representation remains to be seen.

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Big Boi is bringing his ATL stamp to the big screen, officially joining the upcoming We Ran The City documentary as an executive producer. 
Big Boi is bringing his ATL stamp to the big screen, officially joining the upcoming We Ran The City documentary as an executive producer. 
It doesn’t get more Atlanta than this. Having the Outkast legend involved adds a layer of authenticity to a story rooted in city’s history. The film will be directed by Jami McCoy, who also serves as an executive producer alongside Big Boi and Robert Slocum.
The documentary will take viewers back to the years leading up to the 1996 Summer Olympics, highlighting the groundwork, pressure and transformation Atlanta experienced while preparing to host the global event.
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“Atlanta 1996: We Ran The City delves into Atlanta’s dynamic and often tumultuous transformation during the years leading up to the 1996 Olympics. Through the eyes of a diverse cast, including hard-nosed law enforcement officers, controversial politicians, influential entrepreneurs, and notorious criminals, the documentary paints a vivid portrait of a city grappling with growth, crime, and political intrigue.”
The film will also touch on Atlanta’s emergence as “Black Hollywood,” showcasing how the city evolved culturally and economically during that era.
“Each story reveals a unique facet of Atlanta’s rise. The narrative is enriched by the insights of Dr. Maurice Hobson, who provides a historical and social context to the city’s evolution.”
With Big Boi helping shape the story, this documentary is set to give a deeper, more authentic look at a pivotal moment helped define modern-day Atlanta.
Big Boi Joins “We Ran The City” Documentary On 1996 Atlanta Olympics As Executive Producer was originally published on hiphopwired.com

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April 30, 2026
Former BET CEO, Debra Lee, is pursuing a lifelong passion for fashion with the launch of a namesake luxury handbag collection.
After years of leadership in the boardroom, Debra Lee has launched a designer handbag line that fellow women powerhouses can align with.
On April 29, the former CEO of BET unveiled The Debra Lee Collection, a new line of luxury handbags featuring four styles — the Debi, Ava, Billie Mini, and Quinn. All crafted from sustainable calf leather, the collection marks a bold new chapter after her decades-long career steering a media juggernaut.
“This collection represents a meaningful pivot in my life and career,” Lee told The Hollywood Reporter. “After decades spent building organizations and supporting culture and creativity through my work, this is an opportunity to create something personal. More than that, I hope it inspires women to follow their passions, even if the path isn’t always direct.”
Crafted in Italy, the line is designed with the “accomplished woman” in mind, offering pieces meant to move seamlessly through every aspect of her life. Featuring four signature styles made from sustainable calf leather and offered in seasonal colors, The Debra Lee Collection brings fresh options to the luxury handbag market, with prices ranging from $900 to $2,300.
A post shared by Debra Lee (@iamdebralee)
It’s a true passion project for Debra Lee, rooted in a dream she first had in college before her career took her into the executive world. Raised by two seamstress grandmothers and a mother who taught her to sew, she had early ties to fashion.
But after graduating from Brown University, earning a master’s at Harvard University, and a J.D. from Harvard Law School, her focus shifted to business. She joined BET in 1986 as general counsel, rose to president and CEO in 1996, and later became chairman and CEO in 2005 — a role she held until 2018.
“Ever since college, I dreamed of working in fashion. Life took me on a different path, one I’m deeply grateful for, but that dream never left me,” she shared in an Instagram announcement. “Today, I’m proud to introduce the Debra Lee Collection: a luxury handbag line handcrafted in Italy, designed for the woman who moves through many worlds.”
Lee continued. “My mother taught me to sew. Both of my grandmothers were seamstresses. Craftsmanship has always been part of who I am. These bags are the most personal thing I’ve ever created. Sometimes life takes you in unexpected directions. But it is never too late to take a risk and pursue something that excites you.”
Now serving on the boards of Warner Bros. Discovery, Marriott International, and Procter & Gamble, along with founding Leading Women Defined and co-founding Monarch Collective, Lee created her luxury handbag line with the ambitious woman in mind.
“After more than 30 years in business, I feel ready to take this leap and create something entirely my own,” she said. “Handbags seemed like the perfect entry point; a limited collection built on the highest quality — equal parts beautiful and functional — designed for women whose style is as distinctive as their ambitions.”
RELATED CONTENT: Elevate Your Excellence: Exalting The Renaissance Of Harlem’s Favored Rose, Teyana Taylor

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One of the gypsum burials being analysed
Photo: University of York
Some 1,700 years ago two infants were buried in York, UK, with the care, respect and expense usually reserved for Roman emperors and aristocrats, their little bodies wrapped in Tyrian purple-dyed cloth embroidered with gold thread.
The intense purple dye was among the most prized luxuries of the Roman empire, made in specialist dye works in Tyre, modern-day Lebanon, by crushing millions of murex sea snails. It is estimated that it took up to 12,000 of the molluscs to produce one gram of the dye, and it was literally worth more than its weight in gold.
The Tyrian purple dye up close
Photo: University of York
The discovery, by scientists at the University of York, is the first time traces of the dye have been found in textiles from York, one of a handful of examples from the UK and an exceptionally rare find among child burials across the Roman empire.
Maureen Carroll, a professor of Roman archaeology at the University of York, is overseeing the multidisciplinary Seeing the Dead project, which is studying an unusual group of burials from York, many excavated over a century ago on the land now covered by the railway station and museum. In a statement, she said the new discovery shed new light on the importance of children in Roman York.
“This remarkable discovery tells us a lot about the importance of children in Roman York and the willingness of the family to give their baby the best possible send off in tragic circumstances,” she said in a statement. It offers a counterpoint to some early Roman legal texts, which state that it was improper even to mourn publicly the death of a child under one year old, at a time when infant mortality was as high as one in three.
York has the largest group in the UK of the “gypsum burials”, a funeral rite—still not fully understood by archaeologists—in which liquid gypsum was poured into an open coffin or sarcophagus before it was closed. The result was effectively a layer of plaster preserving the impression of the body and even traces of the fabric shrouds, usually centuries after the actual remains decayed. In some of the York cases the Victorian excavators kept only the coffins and the gypsum casts, discarding any surviving organic material—to the dismay of modern scientists.
The burials date from the late third- or early fourth-century AD—the same period as the famous Spitalfields Woman in London, whose intact coffin and sarcophagus was opened on live television in 1999 at the Museum of London, revealing contents including a Tyrian purple and gold wrap. In York one infant, aged around two, was buried between two adults in a stone sarcophagus now on display at the Yorkshire Museum. The other much younger baby, no more than a few months old, was remarkably given its own tiny lead coffin, and covered in two layers of textiles, a tassled shawl and over that a fine textile of Tyrian purple-and-gold embroidery—a visible symbol of wealth and status—before the coffin was closed.
In both burials, although the fabric had decayed, the gypsum preserved clear impressions of the Tyrian-dyed fabric, and even faint traces of colour. Scientists extracted minute samples of the colour and subjected it to tests including liquid-chromatography tandem mass spectrometry, which revealed the main chemical compound of Tyrian purple.
Tests continue on these and others of the gypsum burials, as part of the project funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council.
Archaeologists found swords, jewellery and ear wax removers at the site
The finding of 59 sarcophagi and dozens of statuettes in Saqqara is just “the beginning of the big discovery” Egypt’s antiquities minister says
Archaeologists are “blown away” by the levels of preservation of the finds at Holborn Viaduct, which also include five oak coffins, a decorated lamp, a glass vial, and jet and amber beads
The ‘Marlow Warlord’ was buried with his weapons and luxuries for 1,400 years

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“This is bigger than Louisiana. This is bigger than the Congressional Black Caucus. This is about our democracy,” says U.S. Rep. Troy Carter.
Less than a day after the Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act and declared Louisiana’s congressional map racially discriminatory against white voters, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry has expressed his intention to suspend next month’s primary elections in order to have state legislators redraw the state’s map, targeting the state’s two Democratic congressmen, who are both Black.
As a result, U.S. Reps. Troy Carter, who represents the 2nd Congressional District, and Cleo Fields, who represents the 6th Congressional District, could be redrawn into other districts, sealing their defeats in this year’s midterm elections–or pitting them against each other. Fields, whose seat was at the center of Wednesday’s Louisiana v. Callais case, is almost certainly to be targeted.
In a statement released on Thursday, Governor Landry announced his office and the legislature are working on a path forward ahead of the state’s May 16 primary, two days before early voting was set to begin. Landry’s move comes after the Supreme Court’s conservative majority ruled that Louisiana’s current map, which contains a previously litigated second majority-Black district, is unconstitutional.
The map was intended to satisfy the Voting Rights Act of 1965 by giving Black voters, who make up one-third of Louisiana’s population, two opportunities to elect their representatives to the U.S. House through majority-minority districts. The Supreme Court, however, ruled on Wednesday that the second majority-Black district was not protected under Section 2 of the VRA and violated white voters’ 14th Amendment right under the Equal Protection clause.
The court also ruled that, moving forward, claims of racial discrimination in voting practices would have to be proven as intentional. Because Black voters overwhelmingly vote for Democrats, targeting them is based on partisanship and not race, the court essentially argues.
“The court is saying…you can’t say that gerrymandering that the state says is partisan is somehow racist, because Black people tend to vote for Democrats anyway,” Damon Hewitt, executive director at Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, told theGrio. “The jurisprudence is this assumption that partisanship is good and that partisanship can mask racism.”
Wednesday’s ruling now gives states the green light to target majority-Black districts traditionally represented by Black members of Congress that were previously considered protected under the Voting Rights Act.
During a Congressional Black Caucus press conference on Capitol Hill following the SCOTUS ruling, Congressman Fields, who entered Congress in 2025, noted that, given the Louisiana v. Callais case, he’s “never served a day in Congress without a lawsuit in the Supreme Court.” Acknowledging an inevitably redrawn map targeting his district, Fields said, “If you tell me that I got to jump a certain height, I could probably do that. Tell me I got to run a certain distance, I could probably do that too. But if you tell me I have to be white to serve in Congress from Louisiana, I can’t do nothing about that.”
Congressman Troy, who’s also in jeopardy of Republicans’ anticipated gerrymandering, said, “This is bigger than Louisiana. This is bigger than the Congressional Black Caucus. This is about our democracy.” He explained, “What this really means is far deeper than Louisiana; the impacts go throughout every congressional district, every school board district, every legislative district, every city council district.”
Republicans and Democrats are now engaged in a nationwide gerrymandering battle after President Donald Trump, seeking to keep his party in control of Congress and evade congressional oversight and possible impeachment, pushed for Republican-controlled states to redraw their congressional maps to gain more seats. Following Republicans’ successful redistricting in Texas, North Carolina, Ohio, Missouri and Utah, Democrats have hit back with major redistricting in California and Virginia.
Rep. Troy, who, along with CBC members, called for new legislation to restore voting rights, urged Americans to stand with Democrats and pro-justice leaders to fight back against Trump-led gerrymandering in the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s consequential ruling.
“If you care about justice, freedom, and fair elections, you should be as upset as we are,” said the Louisiana congressman. “You should be willing to band with us, to defend our Constitution, to defend our rule of law; to make sure that no one person, whoever that person may be, has the right to singularly tip the scales.”

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Teyana Taylor was among a list of women being honored for their success in the music industry.
The 2026 Billboard Women in Music Awards were held Wednesday night at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles, with many celebrities and artists in attendance to celebrate women in the industry. Multihyphenate Teyana Taylor was among the honorees but faced a technical mishap during her acceptance speech for the Visionary Award.
Legendary singer Dionne Warwick was on stage and presented Taylor, 35, with the honor alongside her son as they waited for the “Made It” artist’s acceptance speech to appear on the teleprompter. Taylor asked several times, “Can I get the teleprompter?” as she tried to laugh off the awkward moment, but the teleprompter later displayed, “Teyana Taylor, we have no script for you. Everyone exit stage right,” which she read aloud, according to The Jasmine Brand and INYIM Media.
A post shared by the Jasmine BRAND (@thejasminebrand)
“They messed up my mic, my ears…” Taylor said, seemingly referring to earlier technical issues with her microphone and in-ear monitor, per INYIM Media. She then added, “First my ears, now this. Come on…”
Taylor then said, “Everybody exit right,” before walking off the stage.
Warwick and her son remained on stage, and he said, “I don’t know. See you all later,” before they both exited as the awkward moment lingered.
Host Keke Palmer returned to the stage and joked about the technical issue, stating that they had “messed up my girl Teyana’s prompter.” Despite the hiccup, she insisted that the ceremony was going smoothly, per INYIM Media.
After several minutes, Palmer brought Warwick back on stage, and the “Walk On By” singer also called Taylor back, stating she had something to say. The Harlem native returned, accepting the Visionary Award and delivering a speech from the teleprompter this time.
When Warwick first appeared on stage, she spoke highly of Taylor, who is poised to portray her in the highly anticipated biopic about the music legend, INYIM Media reported.
#TeyanaTaylor was able to finish her speech at the Billboard Women in Music Awards after being prompted off stage due to technical dificulties. #awardseason
Billboard released a statement about the incident and commended Taylor for how she handled it.
“Tonight at Billboard Women in Music there was a glitch with the teleprompter, resulting in Teyana Taylor not being able to give her speech during her well-deserved moment. Before the show ended, Dionne Warwick returned to the stage and invited Taylor to share her heartfelt speech with the audience and celebrate her Visionary Award.”
Billboard representatives shared, “We want to Thank Teyana for her professionalism and patience in the face of an unexpected technical issue. Her voice, artistry and impact remain extraordinary, and we were honored to celebrate her as this year’s Visionary Award recipient,” the outlet said.
The ceremony highlighted notable women who are making significant strides in the music industry. In addition to Warwick, other presenters included Ciara, Brandi Carlile, Eva Longoria, Kim Petras, Lainey Wilson, Coco Jones, Tyla, Bella Poarch and Victoria Monét, among others.
Aside from Taylor, other award recipients included Kehlani, Impact Award; Tate McRae, Hitmaker Award; Laufey, Innovator Award; Zara Larsson, Breakthrough Award; Thalía, Icon Award; Ella Langley, Powerhouse Award; Mariah the Scientist, Rising Star Award; and KPop Demon Hunters trio EJAE, AUDREY NUNA and REI AMI, who received the Women of the Year Award, according to a news release.
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April 29, 2026
Brown’s legal team argued that the mention of his past legal battle could unfairly sway the jury.
Chris Brown wants no mention of his previous legal troubles, specifically his Rihanna assault case, in his latest lawsuit.
The singer is currently embroiled in a legal battle with his former housekeeper, who claims that she was viciously attacked by his dog while working at Brown’s Tarzana home in 2020. As the issue heads to civil trial, Brown’s legal team has requested that the presiding judge block all mentions of his 2009 assault case regarding Rihanna.
In the lawsuit, filed in 2021 by Maria Avila, the housekeeper argues that Brown should take ownership of the attack and for failing to provide a safe working environment. However, Brown’s attorneys argued that any mention of the Rihanna case is not relevant to the trial at hand but could affect the jury’s decision.
According to the motion reviewed by WBLS, Brown’s lawyers called any mention of the assault “improper, irrelevant, and unduly prejudicial.” Furthermore, they say that the case, which occurred around 17 years ago, is not relevant to the civil trial, which concerns Brown’s proposed liability for the dog attack.
Instead, Brown wants jurors to focus on the facts regarding this particular case and not let his past assault issues sway their view on the matter. However, the plaintiff, Maria Avila, and her legal team have argued otherwise. Brown pled guilty to the felony assault charge against the Barbadian singer, for which he received five years’ probation, community service, and entrance to a year-long domestic violence program.
In her complaint, Avila claimed the attack not only caused severe injuries, but also emotional distress as she seeks damages. Her attorneys also state that Brown’s legal history is crucial to their argument, sharing that it helps establish a pattern over the 36-year-old’s conduct and credibility. Furthermore, she called his request for the blanket ban “overbroad, premature, and legally incorrect,” as confirmed in the filing obtained by Rolling Stone.
Brown intends to challenge this narrative in court, also arguing that she may have provoked the dog, which could have sparked its violent reaction. On the other hand, Avila believes that Brown’s list of prior legal issues could help validate her claim of conduct issues surrounding the singer, especially if his defense tries to portray his character in a way that undermines her trauma.
“If defendants or their witnesses testify in a manner that portrays defendant as nonviolent or non-threatening, minimizes plaintiff’s fear or trauma, or otherwise attacks plaintiff’s credibility based on emotional response, then prior acts evidence may become admissible for impeachment or rebuttal, even if not admissible in plaintiff’s case-in-chief,” detailed the filing.
As both sides make their claim over the relevance of the Rihanna assault case, the judge will determine how crucial its reference is to the trial. If the judge sides with Avila, it would allow the jury to base their decision on Brown’s responsibility for the dog attack, with his past legal woes in mind.
Although previously delayed, the trial remains scheduled to begin on June 15.
RELATED CONTENT: Tyrese Brings That Turtleneck Energy To NYC Streets In Bid For Usher & Chris Brown Tour

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“There is no question our fight became harder today, but I know we are up for the battle,” said former Vice President Kamala Harris.
Former President Barack Obama and former Vice President Kamala Harris reacted to the Supreme Court’s consequential ruling that weakens protections for Black voters under the Voting Rights Act, setting up what could be a cascade of congressional maps that draw Black voters out of districts where their votes can be most impactful in election outcomes.
“Today’s Supreme Court decision effectively guts a key pillar of the Voting Rights Act, freeing state legislatures to gerrymander legislative districts to systematically dilute and weaken the voting power of racial minorities – so long as they do it under the guise of ‘partisanship’ rather than explicit ‘racial bias,’” Obama, America’s first Black president, said in a statement following the high court’s Wednesday ruling.
As theGrio previously reported, the 6-3 conservative majority ruled that a Louisiana congressional map violated the 14th Amendment and was racially discriminatory against a group of white voters. The court also updated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, passed in 1965, to help end the disenfranchisement of Black Americans, particularly in the U.S. South, where African Americans were enslaved, lynched, and racially terrorized for centuries.
The Voting Rights Act enabled Black voters to cast ballots in local, state, and federal elections, transforming American electoral democracy and fostering multiracial representation. President Obama said the Supreme Court’s ruling, essentially upending that progress, “serves as just one more example of how a majority of the current Court seems intent on abandoning its vital role in ensuring equal participation in our democracy and protecting the rights of minority groups against majority overreach.”
But, like the Voting Rights Act itself, which at the time restored rights that were stripped more than 100 years prior and after the post-slavery Reconstruction era, Obama said, “The good news is that such setbacks can be overcome.” He added, “But that will only happen if citizens across the country who cherish our democratic ideals continue to mobilize and vote in record numbers – not just in the upcoming midterms or in high profile races, but in every election and every level.”
Kamala Harris, the 2024 Democratic presidential nominee, said the SCOTUS ruling “turns back the clock on the foundational promise of equality and fairness in our election systems.”
“Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act was one of the last remaining federal protections for Black and brown voters against maps deliberately drawn to dilute their political power. That protection has been stripped away,” said America’s first Black and female vice president. “It is an outrage. But it is not a surprise. It is part of an agenda that conservatives set in place decades ago to steal power from everyday people and then cling to that power for generations.”
The Supreme Court’s ruling, which has reeled the civil rights community and Black community leaders, comes as Republicans across the country have moved to redraw congressional maps to give their party a political advantage over Democrats in elections. They have done so at the order of President Donald Trump, who set off a nationwide redistricting battle when he demanded that Texas Republicans redraw their congressional map in an unusual mid-decade redistricting effort. The objective is to ensure Trump’s party keeps control of one or both chambers of Congress.
In response to Trump’s clarion call, Democrats have fought back by drawing partisan maps of their own in states like California and Virginia. However, the difference with maps drawn by Republicans is that many of them, according to advocates and legal experts, intentionally target Black and Hispanic voters, who are high-propensity Democratic voters. However, proving the intent of racial discrimination is difficult.
Janai Nelson, a civil rights attorney who argued the Louisiana case on behalf of Black voters before the Supreme Court, told CNN, “It has left the American electorate vulnerable to racial discrimination that will run as rampant as partisan gerrymandering has in overtaking our democracy, and that has all been at the invitation of the Supreme Court.”
When asked about the Wednesday ruling, President Trump gleefully celebrated the prospect of Republicans adding more seats to Congress as a result of the Supreme Court decision.
“That’s good…that’s the kind of ruling I like,” said Trump, who didn’t know the particulars of the case and asked reporters to fill him in.
“Would you consider it a win for [Republicans]?” he asked a reporter, who gave him the affirmative. “I love it. This is very good. We can end this news conference right now.”
Harris said the court’s decision isn’t just motivated by politics but is “designed to give an upper hand to Donald Trump’s Republican Party, which faces the threat of losing the upcoming midterm elections.”
“We must pay attention to what happens next. The fight now returns to the states. Legislatures — particularly those in the South — will rush to redraw districts before voting for the midterms begins in just a few months,” the former vice president warned. “Already, Louisiana and Florida are planning to redraw their maps, and we should not be surprised if others rapidly follow suit ahead of the midterms and 2028. Their politically-motivated power grab is meant to protect elected Republicans from any consequences for their failure to make groceries, gas, health care, or housing more affordable for you and your family.”
She added, “They want to cheat and choose their voters, instead of the voters deciding who they choose. The mission before us is to restore the power of the people. There is no question our fight became harder today, but I know we are up for the battle.”

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