By Hillel Italie Darlene Love will never stop thinking of her holiday classic, “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home).” At this time of year, she couldn’t if she tried. “The post office, grocery store, elevator,” she says with a laugh, listing a few locations where she keeps hearing the song. “It just feels funny that my […]
Author Archives: Hillel Italie
AP National Writer
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Jimmy Cliff, reggae giant and star of landmark film ‘The Harder They Come,’ dead at 81
Jimmy Cliff, the legendary Jamaican reggae musician and actor who starred in the landmark film “The Harder They Come,” has died at 81. Known for hits like “Many Rivers to Cross” and “You Can Get It If You Really Want,” Cliff’s music and performances spread messages of resilience and joy worldwide, earning him Grammys, a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, and global acclaim as a reggae ambassador.
Posted inMusic
Sly Stone, leader of funk revolutionaries Sly and the Family Stone, dies at 82
Sly Stone, the visionary frontman of Sly and the Family Stone, died at age 82 on June 9, 2025, after a groundbreaking career that revolutionized popular music with its blend of funk, soul, rock, and social commentary. Celebrated for uniting Black and White musicians and addressing the highs and lows of the 1960s-’70s era, Stone’s influence continues to resonate through generations of artists.
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Sly Stone, leader of funk revolutionaries Sly and the Family Stone, dies at 82
Sly Stone, the legendary musician and showman who transformed popular music with hits like “Everyday People” and “Stand!”, died at the age of 82 after a battle with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other ailments.
Posted inPolitics
Ex-White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre left Democratic Party, publisher of her book says
Former White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has left the Democratic Party and become an independent, as revealed in her upcoming book “Independent: A Look Inside a Broken White House, Outside the Party Lines,” which explores President Biden’s decision not to seek reelection and critiques the current political system. The book, set for release on Oct. 21, 2025, offers insider insights into the final weeks of Biden’s campaign and calls for moving beyond party lines to address national challenges.
Posted inENTERTAINMENT
Roberta Flack, Grammy-winning ‘Killing Me Softly’ singer with an intimate style, dies at 88
Roberta Flack, the Grammy-winning singer and pianist, died at the age of 88, leaving behind a legacy of music and activism.
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Tina Turner, unstoppable superstar and cultural icon, dead at 83
By HILLEL ITALIE, AP National Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Tina Turner, the unstoppable singer and stage performer who teamed with husband Ike Turner for a dynamic run of hit records and live shows in the 1960s and ‘70s and survived her horrifying marriage to triumph in middle age with the chart-topping “What’s Love Got […]
Posted inNational News
Harry Belafonte, activist and entertainer, dies at 96
By HILLEL ITALIE, AP National Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Harry Belafonte, the civil rights and entertainment giant who began as a groundbreaking actor and singer and became an activist, humanitarian and conscience of the world, has died. He was 96. Belafonte died Tuesday of congestive heart failure at his New York home, his wife […]
Posted inBooks
6 popular Black authors co-write teen romance ‘Whiteout’
BY Hillel Italie, AP National Writer Dhonielle Clayton is not just a bestselling author of young adult fiction. She’s an organizer, a former teacher and a founder of the grassroots publishing movement We Need Diverse Books. She’s also the kind of friend who can convince five of her well-known peers to collaborate on a single […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
Poet Sonia Sanchez to receive Edward MacDowell Medal
By Hillel Italie, Associated Press The poet, activist and educator Sonia Sanchez is this year’s winner of the Edward MacDowell Medal, a lifetime achievement honor started in 1960. The award has previously been given to Robert Frost, Toni Morrison and Stephen Sondheim, among others. “I had tears in my eyes as I learned about this […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Oscar winner and groundbreaking star Sidney Poitier dies
By HILLEL ITALIE, AP National Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Sidney Poitier, the groundbreaking actor and enduring inspiration who transformed how Black people were portrayed on screen, became the first Black actor to win an Academy Award for best lead performance and the first to be a top box-office draw, has died. He was 94. Poitier, winner […]
Posted inENTERTAINMENT
Amanda Gorman writes end-of-year poem, ‘New Day’s Lyric’
By HILLEL ITALIE, AP National Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Amanda Gorman is ending her extraordinary year on a hopeful note. The 23-year-old poet, whose reading of her own “The Hill We Climb” at President Joe Biden’s inauguration made her an international sensation, posted a new work and accompanying video Wednesday on Instagram to mark […]