By Charise Wallace, Special to the AFRO Two students from Washington, D.C., were chosen to receive scholarships through the Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) and United Negro College Fund (UNCF), but once they learned that comedian Kevin Hart was also in on the surprise, they were left stunned. Hart has partnered with KIPP and UNCF through […]
Category: Media
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, ENTERTAINMENT, Media, National Sports, Sports
Silence on Kaepernick Raises Outcry Over Madden ‘19
By J. K. Schmid, Special to the AFRO Despite no protest at the NFL Hall of Fame game August 2, a kneeling Colin Kaepernick still casts a shadow over the NFL brand off the field. A trial release of “Madden NFL ‘19,” known for its deep and deeper simulation of the NFL football experience and […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, ENTERTAINMENT, Media, TV and Film
FX Plans: Chris Rock, Nick Offerman, Joining ‘Fargo’
By The Associated Press BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) — FX is diversifying its offerings, picking up a drama about a cutting-edge tech company starring Nick Offerman, sinking resources into a limited series based in feudal Japan and returning for a fourth series of “Fargo,” this time with Chris Rock. The network revealed some of its […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, Books, BUSINESS, ENTERTAINMENT, Media, NEWS, Washington D.C. News
Bookstore Solid State Books Opens in Historic H Street
By Hamzat Sani, Special to the AFRO When Jake Cumsky-Whitlock decided to open Solid State Books he knew he wanted a store that could serve as a third space that would intellectually feed the District’s book ravenous crowd but he also knew that he wanted it to be in a community that was diverse enough […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, Books, ENTERTAINMENT, LIFE & STYLE, Living, Media, National News, NEWS
Michelle Obama’s Memoir Conveys Lessons of an Eventful Life
By CHEVEL JOHNSON, Associated Press NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Former first lady Michelle Obama said Friday that her upcoming memoir “Becoming” is a “re-humanization effort” that shares the “ordinariness of a very extraordinary story” that she hopes will give voice to people who feel voiceless. Obama made the remarks as she helped kick off the […]
Posted inAfro Briefs, Books, BUSINESS, ENTERTAINMENT, Media, National News, NEWS
Target, American Greetings Apologize for Racially Insensitive ‘Baby Daddy’ Card
The Associated Press American Greetings has apologized for a Father’s Day card that drew criticism on social media for depicting a Black couple over the words “Baby Daddy.” The inside of the card reads: “You’re a wonderful husband and father — and I’m so grateful to have you as my partner, my friend, and my […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Iconic BET Exec Leaving Network
By Lenore T. Adkins/Special to the AFRO Debra Lee, chairman and chief executive officer of BET Networks, is leaving the company after spending 32 years there, Lee announced May 25. Her last day is May 28. The Hollywood Reporter reported that Lee won’t be replaced and that her departure comes months after she shifted her […]
Posted inAfro Briefs, ENTERTAINMENT, Media, TV and Film
Morgan Freeman Apologizes in Wake of Harassment Accusations
By The Associated Press Oscar-winning actor Morgan Freeman apologized on Thursday to anyone who may have felt “uncomfortable or disrespected” by his behavior, after CNN reported that multiple women have accused the A-list actor of sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior on movie sets and in other professional settings. “Anyone who knows me or has worked […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Oprah Keeps it Unpresidential in Address to California Grads
By ANDREW DALTON, AP Entertainment Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — Oprah Winfrey paused before talking politics Friday as she stood in front of a crowd of graduates at the University of Southern California. Then she decided it was safe. “The rumors from my last big speech have finally died down,” she said to laughter and […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Crow, Common Part of New Grammys Inclusion Task Force
By The Associated Press Sheryl Crow and Common are among the artists and executives on the Recording Academy’s new task force on inclusion and diversity. The academy announced the team’s 16 members — 13 of whom are women — in a statement May 9. Common and Sheryl Crow are among the artists and executives on […]
Posted inNEWS
Camille Cosby’s Comparison of Husband’s Conviction to Slavery, Emmitt Till Draws Criticism
By AFRO Staff Camille Cosby, wife of famed comedian Bill Cosby who was recently convicted in a Pennsylvania court with the drugging and raping of plaintiff Andrea Constandt, is now in the public crosshairs after a spirited defense of her husband in which she compared his conviction to the horrors of slavery and lynching. In […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
James Cone, Founder of Black Liberation Theology, Dies at 79
By The Associated Press Theologian James Cone, who as a founder of Black liberation theology linked Christian faith with the struggle against racism and oppression, has died. He was 79. Cone was hospitalized last week and died at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center on Saturday, a spokeswoman for Union Theological Seminary said. The cause of […]