Actor Shemar Moore is making a return to The Young and the Restless. Moore, who plays FBI detective Derek Morgan for the past nine years on Criminal Minds, is making a comeback to the soap opera that helped launch his acting career.

The former model will return to daytime television for the first time since 2005 as Malcolm Winters for two episodes airing September 10 and 11. Moore says he has yet to see a script, but it’s known that Winters will return home to “make amends” with his family, including his brother Neil, played by Kristoff St. John.


“I just knew at some point when I thought it made sense I would love to go back if they would have me … to act in the show and play with my old family,” Moore told the New York Post. “I’m not leaving ‘Criminal Minds’ but I’m getting a chance to go back to where it all started.

“When they asked me to go back [to ‘Y&R’] it was a no-brainer,” he says. “I have a feeling when I get there it will feel just like yesterday and I’ll give Kristoff a big old hug and jump right back into [Malcolm’s] shoes.

Photo credit: Instagram/Shemar Moore

Nicki Minaj threw the social media world into an uproar last week when she posted the cover art for her latest single, “Anaconda.” The single was set to be released this week, but the star announced yesterday that it will not debut next Monday, August 4th.

If you haven’t not seen the cover art by now, it is a revealing photo of the rapper crouching backwards in a hot pink bikini thong that leaves absolutely nothing to the imagination. Minaj claims the postponement of the single isn’t the result of backlash for the racy cover. In fact, she announced the delay by releasing even racier photos.

When Minaj posted the cover art on Instagram, it went viral almost instantly. The butt-exposing image was tweeted about and reposted on Instagram, and then the memes popped up everywhere. Minaj’s dedicated fans, her Barbiez or Team Minaj, seemed to embrace the photo with open arms. Others, however, were not so happy with the nude display.

To combat the backlash and to point out a double standard, Minaj took to Instagram again. This time she posted pictures of white and light skin models displaying their buttocks in advertisements also. The image featured Chrissy Teigen, Nina Agdal, and Lily Aldridge on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue with the caption: “Acceptable.” Minaj has a point. If white women can show it all and be labeled as classy, sexy, or just plain “modelesque,” then why can’t she?

Even some people from the hip hop industry are anti-Nicki because of this photo. The owner of AllHipHop.com, Chuck Creekmur, wrote “Dear Nicki Minaj: An Open Letter from a Father” for MommyNoire.com. In the letter he states how supportive he is and has been of her career, but now needs to reevaluate his support, as he realizes his young daughter could take after her. Cheekmur writes:

“Nicki is already evolving into somebody that my daughter may get to listen to on my watch. Maybe. I’ve been in the music game a minute now so I know how it goes. So, when I peeped the artwork for your latest single, I wasn’t even shocked, I was just disappointed. “

Cheekmur even suggests Minaj seek a mini-therapy session, asking her to look within and reflect on some questions about herself, like:

“How is Onika Tanya Maraj doing? What is your higher purpose with young girls (and boys)? How will boys, already conditioned to sexualize girls at a young age, internalize this big booty of yours?”

Others, however, are not so surprised by the photo. Jamilah Lemieux, senior editor of Ebony magazine criticizes Creekmur for criticizing Minaj, saying that his letter was “ill-conceived and wrought with irony.” On Ebony.com, she writes:

“As a still somewhat-new mother of a daughter, I didn’t share Creekmur’s fear that Minaj’s bare bottom is what forces young men to ‘sexualize girls at a young age.’ Instead, I was annoyed that once again, a man has suggested that the onus of behaving ‘respectably’ should be placed on the shoulders of a woman, while men and boys pretty much get a free pass to do whatever we ‘let’ them do. Because surely, they require our permission to ‘sexualize’ us, right?”

Then, there are people that completely embrace the photo, like Katy Perry:

I wanna take a nap on dat pillow doe @NICKIMINAJ

— KATY PERRY (@katyperry) July 25, 2014

What do you think about the “Anaconda” cover art backlash? Is this an artistic expression? Or has Minaj finally gone too far?

I taught a workshop recently where one of the participants, on the cusp of her 30th birthday, believed she would never find love. She had been hurt and so she decided that men could not be trusted.

“All men,” I asked.

“Well, most,” she replied.

She didn’t really want to believe this theory of hers and I could see how it was causing her to suffer.

As the workshop progressed, we talked about our own unique geniuses, life, love, business, etc. Slowly, the woman’s heart began to soften and she dared to acknowledge that she really was hopeful about finding love again. As we closed, I challenged her and everyone else present, not to take everything so personally. I explained that as a mother of a 19 year old son, I encourage him to use his 20s to meet people, date, and get to know himself better in and out of relationships. I tell him to be honest of course, but my feeling is that young people should use this precious period in their lives to learn, grow, develop skills, travel, get to know themselves, and be free to explore what relationships are all about. I told the beautiful woman in the workshop, that she was now at the age where she would meet guys who are now ready for a more serious commitment and that now was the time to be brave and open her heart instead of becoming hard and fearful.

Several people can be in the same place, at the same time, witnessing the same event, movie, conversation, whatever it is…and all have a completely different perspective. Some may feel nothing, while others may have a dramatic, moving experience. If you want to experience the world differently, you have to dare to change the lens of your glass and see the world with different eyes. You have to be willing to challenge your own beliefs and what you call your “truth”.

Our truth feels real, because for us at that time, it is. We have personal experiences, cultures, parents, beliefs, and emotions… all of which inform and guide us. However, to love and connect with each other, we must be willing to check our egos, accept differences of opinion, and stop taking everything so personally. Sometimes “it’s you”, but sometimes it really isn’t.
Remember, you are amazing!

Wendy is an entertainment attorney and founder of the Executive and Spiritual Life Coaching Company, Spanda Coaching – Follow her on twitter at IamWendyCredle or contact her at www.spandacoaching.com

Photo credit: Shutterstock

Sports journalist and TV host Stephen A. Smith is still in hot water over his assertions regarding domestic violence, and he apparently needs to be punished. ESPN has suspended Smith for a week for the comments that stemmed from the NFL slapping Ray Rice on the wrist for beating his girlfriend.

The suspension means the often-controversial and never-timid figure will not appear on his show “First Take” or his ESPN radio show until next Wednesday.

During a discussion with Skip Bayless about Rice’s suspension, Smith said he would tell women to make sure they’re not doing anything “to provoke wrong actions.”  He went on to instruct men on what not to do should they find themselves in a predicament in which an intimate partner is instigating a fight with them.

Smith apologized on Tuesday before ESPN released a statement, reading:

“We will continue to have constructive dialogue on this important topic. Stephen’s comments last Friday do not reflect our company’s point of view … As his apology demonstrates, he recognizes his mistakes and has a deeper appreciation of our company values.”

Kendrick Johnson‘s parents will not stop fighting for justice, even though the teen’s bizarre and untimely death is technically considered an accident. The 17-year-old student athlete’s corpse was found inside a gym mat in early 2013. Johnson’s parents insist their son was murdered.

The parents, Kenneth and Jacquelyn Johnson, filed a wrongful death suit against the school board on Monday, claiming the Lowndes County Board of Education allowed their son to die “at the hands of one or more students” on school property, while school was in session. The lawsuit alleges the school board didn’t stop another student from repeatedly harassing Johnson.

The mysterious case has not had any leads despite Johnson’s schoolmates being served subpoenas to testify. Local investigators insist that Johnson’s death was an accident, stemming from the teen falling into the mat and dying of asphyxiation.

The boy’s body was crushed in such a way that many, his parents included, believe foul play was involved.

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[Image: Jean Ross/CBS Radio]

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A man once found guilty of killing a rival over a gambling dispute must have a completely new trial, all because his mother couldn’t find a seat during jury selection.

According to Daily Mail, 23-year-old Daniel Floyd, was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison over the 2008 Brooklyn shooting death of father Leon Hill.  The young man left angrily after losing money in a game of dice, returning with a gun.

As shocking as this may seem, law requires that for trials to be deemed public, proper seating must be available. His conviction was overturned in April 2013 by the Court of Appeals.

Floyd’s mother, 41-year old Melissa Floyd, was unable to find a seat in the courtroom, therefore making the trial not public.

The mother of the victim, Linda Dixon Hill, called the verdict “frustrating.”

Floyd’s mother was present in court on Monday for her son’s pre-retrial hearing. His next court date is on September 12.

Photo Credits: NYP; Shutterstock

Since 1985, actress Regina King has proven she’s got the juice. The childhood actress has been making successful moves in both Black Hollywood and mainstream Hollywood throughout her long career. Who can forget some of her most memorable roles, from a sassy teen on “227″ to a troubled alcoholic in Poetic Justice to voicing both Huey and Riley Freeman on “The Boondocks”? King’s career continues to thrive with major acting and directing deals on the horizon. Some of her upcoming projects include acting roles in two network television dramas, ABC’s “American Crime” and CBS’s “The Big Bang Theory,” and directing  the 16th episode of the drama-packed world of gladiators on the upcoming season of “Scandal.” King will also be on both sides of the camera as an actor and director for T.D. Jakes‘ television film that will be based on Reshonda Tate Billingsley‘s novel Let the Church Say Amen. 

The 40-something-year-old actress is among those in Hollywood blessed to look as if they drink from the fountain of youth regularly. When spotted on the red carpet, she adorns her petite, physically-fit frame with sophisticated looks that are chic and timeless. Here are some of the most fabulous looks spotted on this week’s Star Style, Regina King.

Many women like to sparkle in sequins for cocktail parties and other special events, but knowing which scale of sequins is right for your body size is key. Full-figured and petite women should opt for smaller-sized sequins.

This white and black cocktail dress is everything on King! The silhouette perfectly accents her petite frame. Although many only consider lace for night, the texture is a worth trying for day, too.

King color-blocked her Shoshanna dress with a pair of red pumps in a subtle and chic way.

Open necklines, such as those that are asymmetrical, are perfect for petite women. King’s dress elongates her neck and shows off her toned shoulders.

Live a little and go grown, sexy, and sheer when it comes to your next LBD.

Both the color and shape of this frock give off a flirty, yet sophisticated vibe.

Typically, bold necklaces and baubles should be avoided by petite women. However, the main reason this jeweled neckline works is because there’s a keyhole and the adornment does not cut off her neckline.

For petites hitting the beach should consider either vertical stripes, small prints, or a bikini to elongate their frame.

Straight leg and skinny jeans are hands down the two best jeans fits for petite frames, thanks to the lean and lengthening illusion they give.

Looking to give the illusion of an hourglass or small waistline? Try sharp shoulders on dresses, shirts, and blazers.

If you have been wanting to add bold prints to your wardrobe, keep in mind not only the scale of the dress but also the length and neckline. Going for large prints, on a dress past your knees with a scoop neckline would make you appear much shorter.

With autumn being around the corner, you might want to invest in summer basics that can easily be layered. A short-sleeved dress as spotted on King can simply be coordinated with a hot fall boot and blazer or jacket.

By Karu F. Daniels

The Great White Way recently received a long overdue splash of color when Norm Lewis took on the title role in The Phantom of the Opera— becoming the first African American to star in Broadway’s longest-running show. Lewis, 51, has been treading the boards for over two decades— starring in a bevy of popular shows including Les Misérables and his Tony Award-nominated turn in 2012’s The Gershwins’ Porgy & Bess—but he gained national notoriety playing Olivia Pope’s love interest, Senator Edison Davis, on ABC’s Scandal.

Here, the veteran musical theater actor opens up about racism in his native Florida, playing his toughest role, his guiltiest pleasure and sharing kisses with Kerry Washington.

Growing up in Florida… I never really experienced any blatant racism until my junior year in high school when someone called me a nigger, [which] was an eye-opener. I was stopped in my tracks emotionally, physically and the whole thing. I was like ‘Wow, this shit really happens.’

My light bulb moment… [happened while] I was working in advertising at the Orlando Sentinel and I was singing on the side. One night, a guy who was a producer for a cruise ship [offered me a job]. I had a choice. My supervisor at work said, ‘You don’t want to be 85 years old saying coulda, woulda, shoulda.’

No one gave me… affirmation that I had a voice. I just sang for God. I joined the choir when I was around nine or 10. You gave your life to God, you confessed in front of the church and you joined the choir. It was a social outlet.

My toughest role ever… was Porgy because of the physicality, the emotional aspect of it and the eight shows a week. The Phantom is definitely very intense because you have to come out blazing and there’s no stopping. And there’s a lot of climbing, I have to go on some scaffolding, I have to climb ladders.

My guiltiest pleasure… is a warm brownie with ice cream and bananas. I’m semidomesticated. I still like to go out and have dinner. But, because I live alone, it’s hard to cook for myself. So, unless I have someone over, it’s a challenge.

My favorite Broadway musical… is Dreamgirls. I prefer the stage production. I think [director] Bill Condon did a great job [with the film] and I was happy for Jennifer Hudson. I just prefer being able to hear those voices live. There’s nothing like it.

I would like to… bring back that old variety show, like The Carol Burnett Show or The Dean Martin Show and just have fun [with] my friends onstage and we can do skits and I could bring on performers.

There’s nothing like… talented black people onstage.

People are going crazy for After Midnight and Motown… I’ve heard stories of African American shows breaking records. But we can do more. I would love the chance for people to see us in many different facets.

People want… to see someone that they can identify with onstage. I remember going to see The Color Purple on the opening night and it was basically Oprah Winfrey’s phone book in the audience. Then I returned and saw a sea of black people. There needs to be some sort of marketing campaign to reach out to people of color. A lot of people have money and they want to see theatre.

Kissing Kerry Washington was… (laughs) I had to sign a confidentiality agreement. Those lips are real and they are so soft. That’s all I can tell you!

The Ebola epidemic shows no signs of slowing down, as it continues to spread in Africa. The deadly disease that is concentrated in West Africa has made its way to other parts of Africa and has claimed the life of one American.

Patrick Sawyer, of Minnesota, before his passing from Ebola in Lagos

Patrick Sawyer, of Minnesota, was working in Liberia as an official in the Liberian Ministry of Finance when he contracted the highly contagious disease. He was heading home to celebrate his daughter’s birthday when he collapsed after getting off the plane in Lagos. Sawyer died in the hospital only five days later.

Last week, the World Health Organization confirmed that there were 800 cases on the continent, with Sierra Leone having the highest outbreak of 525 cases, and Guinea suffering from the most deaths. Sawyer is the first American to die from the disease. He is also the first person to die from it outside the regions of Sierra Leone, Guinea, and epidemic’s home base Liberia.

Sierra Leone’s chief doctor, Sheik Umar Khan also died from the virus. Khan had treated over 100 patients infected by the disease. Officials report that the disease is so contagious that it generally kills 90 percented of those infected.

Although the Ebola epidemic hasn’t physically reached the United States, it is important to remain alert on the recent outbreaks. Other Americans, including two aid workers in Monrovia, have contracted the disease. Confirmed cases are generally quarantined and hospitalized, but you can never be too safe since there is no vaccination for the outbreak.

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[Images: Yahoo News, NBC News]

By Ronda Racha Penrice

Before Bill Clinton came along, Arkansas was mired by its Jim Crow past. But, these days, the state is distinguishing itself with very progressive projects. From the clinton presidential library in little rock to the even newer Crystal Bridges Museum of american art in Bentonville, the “natural state” is generating buzz.

Capital Gains

Known as “the front porch of Little Rock,” the historic Capital Hotel dates back to 1870 and was many things, including “bachelor quarters,” before settling into the suite life in 1877. Its ginormous elevator was supposedly built so President Ulysses S. Grant could take his horse to his room. After a two year shuttering, the “Grand Dame” of downtown re-emerged in 2007 with its historic integrity intact, as well as new, modern amenities, including flat-screen TVs and WiFi. One of its biggest coups: snagging French chef Joël Antunes—the winner of the James Beard Best Chef of the Southeast Award while helming Atlanta’s Joël—for Ashley’s, the Capital’s fine dining gem.

Palatial & Presidential

Scoring a library is a perk of being a former commander-in-chief and the William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum is one heck of a parting gift. Located in the River Market District, the tourist attraction has transformed the once-depressed area. Inside the impressive structure, which takes cues from the Long Room of Dublin’s Trinity College and is situated within a 30-acre park, Clinton’s presidential armored Cadillac and the A Campaign for the Future exhibit on his successful ’92 and ’96 runs are among the highlights. On-site eatery Forty Two, overlooking the Arkansas River, is an affordable lunch spot (center admission is not required).

Bravehearts

In 1957, when nine African Americans enrolled in then all-white Central High School amid heavy opposition, including that of Governor Orval Faubus, they pushed the landmark 1954 Brown v. Board Supreme Court school desegregation decision to the limit and helped propel the nation forward. Today, NBA star Joe Johnson’s alma mater is both an active school and a National Historic Site.

Trouble in paradise rumors continue to fly as Beyoncé and Jay Z continue the west coast leg of their successful On The Run tour. Just recently news broke that Beyoncé is shopping for a bachelorette pad in Chelsea, NY.

Beyoncé seems to be doing damage control … or just giving the fans what they want to see on Instagram. Yesterday the star posted a picture of Jay and Blue Ivy happily on the beach with the caption, “My favorite hue is Jay Z Blue,” which says a lot considering the famed entertainer rarely formulates a caption.

The defense pics, including a series of Bey and Jay enjoying a beach sunset and vino, come at a time when rumors continue to flare about their storied marriage being OVER. This kind of gossip in nothing new for the couple, but the list of Jay’s rumored side-chicks seem to be getting longer and longer.

After CarterGate, Jay Z was linked to many beautiful women, from Mya to Rachel Roy to Rihanna to Rita Ora. In Touch Weekly even claims to have discovered Jay’s current side-piece, Casey Cohen, who appeared on reality show “Princesses: Long Island” and now works at celeb hot-spot 1OAK.

Casey Cohen, Jay Z’s rumored side-chick

Beyoncé hasn’t escaped the cheating rumors either. There have been reports that she is having an affair with her bodyguard, Julius De Boer. And now homegirl seems to be looking for a new place for her, Blue Ivy, and possibly the new man in her life. This is where the single mom might live …

The New York Daily News reports that Bey was spotted penthouse condo shopping in Chelsea. The building at 520 West 19th St. has a distinctive midnight blue terracotta facade, and a doorman to ensure the privacy and safety of its residents. The potential duplex home boasts five large bedrooms and bathrooms, a massive terrace facing the Empire State Building, a 20-foot dining room, double fireplaces, and a library. Although this apartment is much smaller than her 8,000-square-foot marital home in Tribeca, it should be enough room for Bey, her wigs, and Baby Blue, as she and Blue will need a temporary home after the divorce.

Keep clicking to see more images of Beyoncé’s potential bachelorette pad …

James Brown was more than the Godfather of Soul to Yamma Brown. He was her dad. And her book, Cold Sweat: My Father James Brown and Me (Chicago Review Press, $24.95), due out in September, sheds light on growing up as the daughter of the man who made it cool to be “black and proud” and how it still impacts her life today.

Far from sugarcoating, Brown, who has a PhD in Pharmacy from Georgia’s Mercer University, delves deep. “[It’s] about the lessons that I learned from him. I grew up with him but I didn’t, and there was a reason for that,” she explains. “My mother was physically abused by him and that’s why they divorced. And I ended up getting into a marriage where I was verbally and physically abused.”

Brown says she grapples with “how somebody even as ‘educated’ as myself could get involved in something that I said, while growing up, I would never allow to happen to me. I saw my mom being abused. That wasn’t something you wanted to see. You still love both of your parents, but it’s difficult growing up like that.”

The effects were so devastating that even as the world watched the drama and fallout of her father’s unexpected death on Christmas Day 2006, especially the difficulties in actually laying his body to rest, Brown was enduring her own personal hell. “I literally had to bury my dad when my cornea [was] slashed two days before [during] a physical altercation with my husband,” the longtime Atlanta resident reveals. “I had bruises up and down my body while I was burying my father.”

After the funeral, her life continued to spiral out of control. “It was a nightmare. I divorced at the end of 2007 and then [my ex-husband] was murdered. Two weeks later, I found out I had Lupus. It was tough.”

Brown, along with her sister and mother, consulted on Get on Up—the long-awaited biopic about her dad, starring Chadwick Boseman (42) out in August. “There is no way that anybody could have planned this,” she says of the timing of both the film and her book, which may be controversial for some. “It’s my memoir about it all [from how] I grew up to where I am now,” she says. “It’s going to be an eye-opener for some people that [being the child of a celebrity] is not always what you think it is.”

During an interview conducted after the U.S. team’s practice for the World Cup on Tuesday, Kevin Durant said he’s feeling the pressure to return home to Washington, D.C. to join the Wizards. The Oklahoma City Thunder star says, “Everybody is asking me about it every time I go on Instagram or Twitter. All my friends ask me about it. I’m not going to sit here and act like I’m naïve to the fact that people think about that stuff … I tell everybody, ‘Look, I’m here in Oklahoma City. I love it here. Who knows what will happen?’ I will never close the door on anything, but I like where I’m at right now.”

Durant even texted his congratulations to Lebron James after the former Heat star made the decision to return to his home state of Ohio, where he began his basketball career with the Cavaliers.

“I thought it was well thought out. It was classy,” Durant said. “Great move to do it through a letter. That was pretty cool. It’s fun to see a guy think about more than basketball for once than himself. I’m not saying LeBron is always thinking about himself, but he thought about the city where he comes from and Northeast Ohio and how he can affect so many kids.

Durant called the decision “bigger than basketball” and offers more support to James, adding, “So many guys get criticized for making a decision that is best for them instead of what’s best for everybody else. And he’s a guy who did that. I applauded him.”

Durant, born in Washington D.C., has traveled home during summers to play in the Pro-Am Goodman League. This month, he traveled back to Chocolate City to attend a family reunion. While he doesn’t say “never” to talk of returning home for good, Durant says he is content with his position in Oklahoma for now.

“I’m not focused on down the line. I’m focused on today. I love my teammates and my coaches. I love Oklahoma City.”

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A few guards just went from in front of the jail bars to behind them. Seven correction officers have been charged with drug smuggling at New York jail, Rikers Island, said authorities Tuesday.

The Drug Enforcement Agency accused the officers of sneaking cocaine and oxycodone into the facility and charging inmates $400 to $900 per package. Officers Infinite Divine Rahming (left) and Steven Dominguez (center) even claimed they would use their “badge and gun” to protect drug dealers. The third officer, Deleon Gifth (right) retired this year, but was still caught during the five-month sting operation that involved several city and federal agencies.

However, between Feb. 25 and June 23, the pills the officers were sneaking into one of the nation’s largest jails were fake.

Prosecutors say Rahming and Dominguez told an undercover DEA agent that they had been smuggling cocaine and oxycodone into the prison for five months. Gifth was charged with arranging to have a friend sneak oxycodone into the facility. Another four unnamed officers face either demotion or firing in relation to the case.

A DEA agent helped conduct the investigation by going undercover as a relative of an inmate.

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[Image: Shutterstock]

It’s been a tough week for Stephen A. Smith. And I definitely don’t want to pile on when I feel that he didn’t say anything that warranted a week-long suspension, but as I watch this Renisha McBride trial, I can’t help but remember his shameless ‘stan-ing’ of Mark Cuban’s bigoted rant from a few months ago. In the wake of the Donald Sterling fiasco, Cuban defended the besieged Clippers owner by stating that everyone has racial prejudices and then announcing that he’s a bigot. He even said, “If I see a Black kid in a hoodie on my side of the street, I’ll move to the other side of the street.” Personally, I found those comments absolutely disgusting, but what offended me more was the fact that so many white people actually agreed with him (guess that whole post racial thing is officially over huh?). And what I found even more absurd than the caucasian reaction, was how many Black folks (like Smith) who praised Cuban for being honest and illuminating.

Now, it’s one thing to say, “Hey Mark, at least you are not hiding your racist inclinations,” but it’s an entirely different thing to exalt his xenophobia. Mark Cuban didn’t even add any variables to the Black kid OR the hoodie such as gang colors, a menacing look, an obscene neck tattoo or a crazy fight scars that could give his claim more adequate support.

He simply equated Black person + hoodie = threatening, regardless of whether or not the hoodie-wearer is Theo Huxtable or Kimbo Slice. Hell, he would be threatened by one of his own players in that context. But it should also be noted that he never specified gender either, and while everyone assumed he only meant Black boys, the truth is that there is a very irrational fear of Black girls in our society that we seem to NEVER talk about.

When Theodore Wafer began preparing his defense with his lawyers, it was obvious that he was going to rely on the fact that he was “scared” when she came banging on his door in the middle of the night after drunkenly crashing her car and requiring help. To be honest, I would be scared too if some random person was frantically knocking on my door at 4:30 am and I would be inclined to keep my door closed and contact the authorities. But no matter how hard Wafer’s defense team attempts to prove his fears were justifiable, the main point that may go overlooked in this case is that after she banged on the door, and after he opened it and saw her injured state, he chose to gun her down like a dog because her Blackness was irreconcilably dangerous.

After Stephen A. Smith was reamed on Twitter by the few folks with enough common sense to realize his propagation of Cuban’s comments was complete BULLSHIT, ESPN invited Dr. Michael Eric Dyson on Smith’s show, First Take. Dr. Dyson brilliantly dissected why Cuban’s comments were troubling and unacceptable by unpacking what that collective xenophobia leads to. When you criminalize Black skin in your head, and deem Blackness to be wildly violent, unpredictable, and wholly inferior, your actions towards Blacks will change towards being more defensive and less sympathetic.

When Renisha McBride showed up on Water’s stoop looking for help, he didn’t see a wounded woman – he saw a potential evil nigger, just like the police officers who shot Jonathan Ferrel to death when he ran to the police looking for help after a car wreck. It’s easy to shoot a Black person dead when you fail to see their intrinsic humanity based on prejudiced assumptions.

Renisha McBride, just like many other young (and old) Black women who are constantly labelled as violent and impure, deserve better than a society that treats them as sub-human. While Black men are busy praising white men for ultimately being racist, there is far too little conversation about the very real problem with white American’s fear of people of color.
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Lincoln Anthony Blades blogs daily on his site ThisIsYourConscience.com, he’s an author of the book “You’re Not A Victim, You’re A Volunteer” and a weekly contributor for UPTOWN Magazine. He can be reached via Twitter @lincolnablades and on Facebook at This Is Your Conscience.

A 5-year-old New Jersey girl told authorities that she witnessed her mother being beaten to death by her boyfriend. Last week, police found 41-year-old Jennifer Bongco‘s lifeless body on the side of a road near her Winslow Township home. Bongco was covered in blood after enduring multiple stab wounds. She was taken to a local hospital, where she later died.

Hours earlier, video from a local Wawa gas station showed Bongco and her daughter together at 12:20 a.m. before returning home. They were picking up Bongco’s boyfriend Kevin Ambrose, 52. Just nine minutes later, someone from inside the home requested police assistance from a 911 operator. When authorities arrived, Bongco’s daughter, identified by only her J.F. initials, was alone with blood on her clothes.

Upon questioning, J.F. told police that “Kevin hurt mommy,” during an early morning altercation. She reported that her mother and Ambrose had been arguing inside the car, and he started hitting Bongco when they exited the car.

Police were dispatched to Erial Road, near Wiltons Landing Road, were a passing pizza delivery driver spotted a body. Police identified the body as Jennifer Bongco.

Ambrose was arrested in Atlantic City on July 25. He is jailed on $2 million bail, while he awaits arraignment.

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[Image: Shutterstock]

[Homepage image: Shutterstock]

During the summertime, there’s nothing like spending your lunch break dining al fresco, sipping a flavored (or spiked) lemonade, and thumbing through a good book. But in between chapters of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie‘s Americanah, it might be fun to indulge in a little guilty pleasure. So why not pick up a celebrity tell-all?

These gems are perfect if you’ve always wondered how Jay Z takes his coffee, or what Oprah‘s favorite curse word is, or which member of YMCMB is the best in the sack. Celebrity tell-alls are also a way for stars and those close to them to give their side of the story, and possibly transform their careers — although not much (Ahem, Confessions of a Video Vixen, anyone?). Read on to find out who is spilling the tea all over your reading list.

One of the most colorful musicians in pop culture history, it’s no surprise that Rick James‘ autobiography would be riddled with juicy stories. Glow, his second posthumous book release, features anecdotes about his time as a pimp while working for Motown, getting his stage name from Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles‘ advice about drugs and music, and plenty of the “very freaky” stuff he was into.

Release Me: My Life, My Words is the newly published book from Olivia Longott, former First Lady of G-Unit and “Love & Hip Hop: New York” cast member. The “Candy Shop” singer dishes about her time with 50 Cent, as well as her separation from his clique. She also shares her opinion on a few other names in the industry, including Wendy Williams.

While many of her fans worship her for her talent and style, Lady Gaga‘s former assistant is one unhappy little monster. Jennifer O’Neill worked for the “Applause” singer from 2009-2011, before launching a six-figure lawsuit against her for unpaid wages and damages. The two settled out of court, but that didn’t stop O’Neill from striking a book deal to the tune of $1 million for an upcoming tell-all, titled Fame Monster.

When she’s not ruffling feathers on R&B Divas: LA, or complaining about Prince‘s pitch — and being subsequently dragged by him for it — Lil’ Mo is apparently doing some writing. The voice behind hits like “Superwoman” and “Put It On Me” has penned her first book, . Called “part memoir and part tell-all,” the book will chronicle her experience in the music industry.

Sebastian McKissack, the son of old school R&B singers El Debarge and Pebbles, is set to release a tell-all, Deceptions of Achieving, this summer. The 20 year old (whose mother was married to L.A. Reid from 1989 to 1996 and was instrumental in bringing TLC to fame) will reveal what life was like as the secret lovechild of the two entertainers, and what their distance from him meant.

Ja Rule was one of the most successful musicians of the late 1990s and early 2000s. The “Holla Holla” rapper had a slew of radio hits and an unmistakable voice. But a beef with 50 Cent, the collapse of his label, and a stint in federal prison brought an end to his reign. Ja’s latest release, a memoir called Unruly: The Highs and Lows of Becoming a Man, will detail his complicated career and life after Murder, Inc.

Singer Alicia Keys and husband Swizz Beatz are expecting their second child. The couple revealed her pregnancy via Instagram with super cute pictures.

Keys, 33, posted a cute picture on Instagram earlier today, showing off her baby bump and her admiring husband. She captioned the beautiful picture with: “Happy Anniversary to the love of my life @therealswizzz !!” She added: “And to make it even sweeter we’ve been blessed with another angel on the way!! You make me happier than I have ever known! Here’s to many, many more years of the best parts of life! ☺️”

Swizz, 35, returned the favor on his Instagram, posting a similar photo with the caption: “Love is life & life is love and we’re so excited for another GIFT from up above Happy Anniversary my Goddess 4 years of greatness & cheers to 100 plus more inshallah @aliciakeys ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥”

The lovebirds married on July 31, 2010, after a media firestorm involving rumors of infidelity with Swizz Beats ex-wife Mashonda Tifere. Swizz, real name Kasseem Dean, divorced his ex-wife and married Keys in the same year.

The couple has one son, Egypt, who will turn four in October. Swizz is also the father of three other children, including Kasseem Jr. with Mashonda.

Healthcare company Johnson & Johnson has recalled its special surgery devices for the treatment of fibroids, fearing the spread of undetected cancer. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) discouraged the use of their power morcellators used for hysterectomy surgeries, or the removal of the uterus, and myomectomy, the removal of uterine fibroids in April. The FDA has requested all doctors and hospitals to return the surgical device, which has been surrounded by controversy ever since its debut.

Now, Johnson & Johnson’s Ethicon unit, which makes the controversial device, said that it is recalling the power morcellators from the market due to the unknown risks of using the device in hysterectomies and myomectomies.

Johnson & Johnson will decide how to proceed with the surgical device pending an update from the medical community.

The FDA said that out of the 350 women undergoing surgery using morcellators, one may have a type of cancer that can quickly spread beyond the uterus. The spread of diseased cells to other parts of the body could have a significant impact on a woman’s chances for survival.

Last week, news outlet WGRZ reported on the rise of shootings in Lockport, New York. With a mug shot of the man suspected in some of the shootings, one particular phrase in the police report was quickly noted as offensive and insensitive.

The mug shot of 19 year old Shamir Allen was described as “negro” next to the line describing complexion. Next to negro read “DA.” According to Lockport Police, the acronym means dark.

“This right here is insulting, it is disrespecting, it is inaccurate and it’s a word that should have gone away at least since the 1960s. In the 1960s, it became very inappropriate to call someone a negro,” said Erie County Legislator Betty Jean Grant, an African American leader in Buffalo, New York.

Wanting to better understand the backlash that followed, Mark Sanders, Lockport PD’s Community Policing Aide took to their Facebook page to poll fans about the offensiveness of the term.

To be expected, the crowdsourced response was a resounding ‘don’t ever use that word.’

According to Lockport Police, officers in the department use a specific type of computer software to describe the complexion of suspects. When officers go to the complexion tab, there are about 12 options to choose from, and amongst the descriptions are the options of light, medium and dark, in addition to “light Negro” and “dark Negro.” The system is rarely updated.
Lockport Police say they will conduct diversity training in the next couple of weeks to explain to officers why the word Negro is unacceptable.

In the future, in addition to race, all suspects will be listed with a light, medium or dark complexion.

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Image credit: Lockport Police;  Unite4Humanity