Rosa Parks letters, writings, photographs, and personal notes will be released to the Library of Congress today.

This treasured volume of writing was caught in a long legal battle between Parks’ heirs and friends until philanthropist Howard Buffet—son of billionaire Warren Buffett—bought the rights to the materials in 2014 and decided to lend it to the national library.

An Associated Press report revealed that Parks discussed her thoughts on the Jim Crow South. In one such note, Parks lamented about the white bus drivers who would pass by groups of African Americans waiting at bus stops, despite there being room when “he thinks enough [blacks] are standing in the aisle,” Parks said in a handwritten note. “This means a larger number [of blacks] will be waiting for the next bus.”

On a more personal level, Parks wrote of her loneliness, giving a very humanizing view of the civil rights leader. “It is such a lonely, lost feeling that I am cut off from life,” Parks wrote. “I am nothing. I belong nowhere and to no one. There is just so much hurt, disappointment and oppression one can take. The bubble of life grows larger. The line between reason and madness grows thinner.”

Source

In a continuous string of police brutality investigations promoted by Brooklyn prosecutors, the latest involves a NYPD cop kicking an unarmed man in the head. At least six more police abuse cases are expected within the next few months.

In cell phone footage of Jahmiel Cuffee’s (pictured below) arrest last July, several cops can be seen holding the 32-year-old down as he pleads, “Help me.”

Officer Joel Edouard (pictured above) was recorded pulling his handgun from the holster, but then replacing it. After briefly walking away, Edouard comes back to kick Cuffee in the head. Another cop then joins in the assault, pushing him.

Cuffee was initially arrested for having marijuana, but the charges were dropped. The Bedford–Stuyvesant resident, who works as a carpenter, was charged with attempted tampering with evidence, obstructing governmental administration and resisting arrest.

Edouard, 37, was placed on modified duty in July and has since been charged with misdemeanor assault, which carries only a year long jail sentence. The eight-year police veteran was released without bail after pleading not guilty to third-degree assault, attempted assault and official misconduct.

Cuffee thanked the Brooklyn authorities for their actions against Edouard. “I’m very grateful to the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office for taking the initiative to hold this individual accountable,” Cuffee told The New York Daily News.

Last September, Cuffee filed a $25 million notice of claim, with intentions to sue the city, the NYPD and officers involved, according to court papers.

The case against Edouard occurred just days after the choking death of Eric Garner, prompting international attention to police brutality.

Source: New York Daily News

After former FOX News host Mike Huckabee slammed Beyoncé for her risqué lyrics and sexy dance moves, along with dubbing President Barack Obama and wife Michelle “bad parents” for allowing their daughters to listen to the “Single Ladies” singer, he’s faced criticism for his strong opinions that may affect his potential bid for presidency.

Although 61 percent of Iowa Republicans believe that Huckabee “crossed a line” with his opinions of the First Family and their daughters’ music choices, 40 percent of likely Iowa Republican caucus-goers said they agreed with his thoughts on Queen Bee and her mature lyrics.

There was also a gender divide in poll responses with Republican men more likely to side with Huckabee, who served as Arkansas 44th Governor, as 45 percent agreed with his statement; only 32 percent of women agreed.

In his new no-holds-barred book, God, Guns, Grits, Gravy, the conservative politician described Beyonce’s music as “obnoxious and toxic mental poison in the form of song lyrics.” He didn’t stop there, either, slamming the 33-year-old’s choreography as “best left for the privacy of her bedroom.” He went in on her husband Jay Z, too, calling the hip-hop mogul a “pimp” for exploiting his wife’s sexuality.

While some in the music industry have learned the hard way that criticizing Bey doesn’t pay, it seems Huckabee is among those politicians who didn’t get the memo. As his detractors have pointed out, the iconic singer’s appeal crosses political lines.

On Al Sharpton’s “Politics Nation,” guest Liz Plank put it simply: “The lesson here is don’t go after Beyoncé.”

When it rains, it pours, as the public downward spiral of embattled actor Columbus Short continues.

After being booted from one of primetime’s highest rated shows, Scandal, arrested for domestic violence against his ex-wife and accused of drug and alcohol abuse, a recording of the 32-year-old threatening to murder Hollywood actor Jamie Foxx has surfaced. 

Last week, ex-boo Agostina Laneri, filed a restraining order against the Stomp the Yard actor over claims he was emotionally abusive towards her, and physically abusive to her child. Not only that, Laneri, who recorded Short’s comments, added that he had Foxx, born Eric Marlon Bishop, in mind for his hit-list.

“If I choose to kill one of these n*ggas, I will do that. I’m that crazy n*gga that will be on the news as the n*gga that murked Jamie Foxx. Y’all should be very afraid. Very afraid,” said a voice on the recording.

Luckily the two have not crossed paths, but the alleged verbal threat is being taken seriously, according to reports. Short, who has been ordered to stay at least 100 yards from Laneri and her son, has an extended rap sheet including public intoxication, felony battery with admitted cocaine drug use.

A TransAsia Airways GE235 airplane plunged into a nearby river on Wednesday in Taipei, the capital of Taiwan.  58 people were on board, 26 are declared dead, and over a dozen are still missing.  A driver recorded the horrific accident on a dashboard camera.

The crash happened just three minutes after the flight, which was headed to the island of Kinmen, took off at 10:53 a.m.  Before the wreck, the control tower heard the pilot and his crew yell “Mayday!” three times.  Then they shouted “Engine flameout!” (An engine flameout is when defective combustion occurs, resulting in the engine to fail.)

While driving along a bridge, an eyewitness’ dashboard camera captured the ATR 72-600 plane as it avoided striking a building, turned sideways and hit another vehicle in front of the driver and the side of the bridge with its left wing before diving into the Keelung River.  The driver of the stricken car was taken to the hospital with severe head wounds.

Of the 58 people on board— 5 crew members and 53 passengers, including 31 from mainland China— at least 26 passengers are dead, with 14 of them being found lifeless and the rest dying before reaching the hospital. There were 15 survivors, including four children.  Survivors were boarded onto lifeboats, and afterwards, some were transported to a nearby hospital, while others were able to simply walk away from the scene on their own.

So far, 18 people are still missing.  Authorities say that the front section of the plane was stuck underwater and the remaining passengers are likely trapped inside.  Expectations are doubtful that there will be any more survivors, but the rescue crew is still attempting to pull out the remaining wreckage from underwater.

“The focus of our work is to try to use cranes to lift the front part of the wreckage, which is submerged under the water and is where most of the other passengers are feared trapped,” Wu Jun-hong, a Taipei Fire Department head, said to reporters. “At the moment, things don’t look too optimistic. Those in the front of the plane are likely to have lost their lives.”

It is unknown whether the pilot, Liao Jianzong, survived, but Taiwanese news outlets are praising the captain for avoiding landing the plane near buildings, which could have caused more deaths.  The pilot reportedly had about 5,000 hours of flying experience.

This is the second TransAsia accident in a year.  In July, amid stormy weather, an ATR-7 crashed onto the island of Penghu, killing 48 and injuring 10.

Charlie Sifford, who broke the color barrier as the first African American PGA Tour member, passed away Tuesday night. The North Carolina native, who had recently suffered a stroke, was 92.

Sifford dominated the all-black United Golfers Association, winning five straight national titles, but yearned to play the best. He challenged the PGA’s white-only clause and it was rescinded in 1961. He went on to win the Greater Hartford Open in 1967 and the Los Angeles Open in 1969. In 1975, five years before the Champion’s Tour was created, he won the Senior PGA Championship.

He faced many hardships in desegregating the PGA. In his autobiography, Just Let Me Play, Sifford spoke of the words he received from Jackie Robinson, who was facing the same battle in baseball.

“He asked me if I was a quitter,” Sifford wrote. “I told him no. He said, ‘If you’re not a quitter, you’re probably going to experience some things that will make you want to quit.'”

When Sifford participated in the 1952 Phoenix Open, one of the only PGA tournaments he could play before the clause was rescinded, he found human feces in the cup when he got to the green. At the 1961 Greater Greensboro Open, he received death threats over the phone and suffered racial slurs as he walked the fairways. He still finished fourth and did not quit.

His career was fully recognized when he became the first black person to be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2004. President Obama bestowed him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom last November, an honor only two other golfers have ever received.

“His love of golf, despite many barriers in his path, strengthened him as he became a beacon for diversity in our game,” said Derek Sprague, PGA of America President. “By his courage, Dr. Sifford inspired others to follow their dreams. Golf was fortunate to have had this exceptional American in our midst.”

He certainly inspired Tiger Woods, who spoke of Sifford’s influence in his life: “It’s not an exaggeration to say that without Charlie, and the other pioneers who fought to play, I may not be playing golf,” Woods said in an email to The Associated Press late last year. “My pop likely wouldn’t have picked up the sport, and maybe I wouldn’t have either.”

Woods tweeted about Sifford’s death as well, referring to him as his “grandfather.”

Terrible loss for golf and me personally. My grandfather is gone and we all lost a brave, decent and honorable man. I’ll miss u Charlie.

— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) February 4, 2015

Sifford knew that he had played an important role in the history of golf and was gratified by his achievements.

“If I hadn’t acted like a professional when they sent me out, if I did something crazy, there would never be any blacks playing,” he said. “I toughed it out. I’m proud of it. All those people were against me, and I’m looking down on them now.”

A 9-year old was shot and injured while selling Girl Scout cookies in Indianapolis on Tuesday, according to police. Sinai Miller was walking near her home with her two younger sisters when a passing vehicle fired shots. She was hit in the leg and sent to the hospital in stable condition before being released home.

“They walked outside the door, and they didn’t even get to make it across the lot and then the shots start ringing out,” said Mark Chandler, the boyfriend of the girl’s mother.

Indianapolis police officers were dispatched to the Retreat Cooperative apartments just after 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Witnesses reported seeing someone’s arm sticking out of an SUV window and firing the gun aimlessly before taking off. Police are now searching for a blue Ford Expedition.

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department spokesman Officer Christopher Wilburn said that detectives do not believe the shots were meant for the girl.

Sinai’s family says that she has been asking, “What did I do wrong?”

“We cannot complete our mission to build girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place when they are afraid to play in their own neighborhoods,” said Deborah Hearn Smith, CEO of Girl Scouts of Central Indiana.

Snoop Lion Dogg stood by his son Cordell Broadus on Wednesday afternoon as he committed to play football at UCLA in the fall.

Broadus has earned a name for himself outside of being Snoop’s son. He is considered a four-star prospect ranked among the top preps in the country. The 6-foot-3 teen plays wide receiver for Nevada powerhouse Bishop Gorman.

During his senior season, Broadus was the focus of ESPN reality show “Snoop and Son: A Dad’s Dream” that chronicled his efforts on the field — and undoubtedly provided more exposure for his talents. Broadus caught 39 passes for 602 yards and 11 touchdowns, helping his team win their sixth straight title this fall.

“This kid is a legit Division I player,” Rivals.com national recruiting analyst Mike Farrell said in a phone interview. “He’s fast. He can go up and get the ball. But he needs a little refining.”

Broadus picked UCLA over Arizona State, LSU, and his father’s favorite team, USC.

“I’m going to back him up 1,000 percent,” Snoop Dogg said with a laugh, while wearing a UCLA jersey, on ESPN. “I’m throwing all my USC drawers away. I’m going UCLA 1,000 percent.”

“I just felt like that was the best place for me,” Broadus said of his decision. “I had the offer since the ninth grade, so I have a great relationship with the staff. I just wanted to play in front of my family and keep ballin’ out. It’s been a hectic process.”

Snoop isn’t the only celebrity parent with an athletically inclined child. Keep clicking to see what other famous progeny have sports skills.

Diddy and Justin Combs

Broadus won’t be the only rapper’s son on the gridiron at UCLA. Sean “Diddy” Combs’ son Justin has been on the UCLA football team for two years as a cornerback. However, Broadus is expected to have more time on the field, as Justin hasn’t played much since joining the team.

Will and Trey Smith

Will Smith’s eldest son Trey also made a name for himself on the football field. Trey played for noted football school Oaks Christian Academy as a wide receiver. During his tenure, the son of legendary quarterback Joe Montana was also on the field. Trey got some attention from recruiters and even received a scholarship offer, but he opted to deejay full-time upon graduating in 2010.

Alfre Woodard and Mavis Spencer

Alfre Woodard’s daughter, Mavis, is a nationally ranked equestrian. She is an accomplished show jumper who won a silver medal at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival in 2009. According to JustWorldInternational, “Mavis Spencer began riding with coaches Dick Carvin and Susie Schroer in 2000. Under their tutelage, Mavis has advanced from the three-foot equitation division to competing in the 2008 Adequan/ USEF National Junior Jumper Championship in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where she won Team and Individual Silver medals and was honored with the William C. Steinkraus Style of Riding Award.”

Master P and Romeo

Master P, himself, was offered a tryout spot in the NBA when he was younger, so it comes as no surprise that his son Romeo also played basketball. In 2006, Romeo was invited to the prestigious ABCD camp, where he played against the likes of Derrick Rose, OJ Mayo, and Kevin Love. Romeo didn’t fare well at the camp, averaging only two points per game, but he was still offered a full scholarship to USC. However, after playing only nine games over two seasons, he left the school before his junior season.

Denzel and John David Washington 

John David Washington was a true high school jock, playing three different sports. He focused on football while at Morehouse College and made a significant impact there. He held the school record for rushing yards in a game (set in 2003) and career rushing yards before his records were broken in 2011 and 2012 respectively. He signed with the NFL‘s St. Louis Rams in 2006 as an un-drafted free agent and stayed with them through training camp before getting cut. He signed on for their practice squad, but wound up playing for a team in a semi-pro league before it folded.

What do you do when you want to go-in on your ex-wife? Blast her on Twitter, of course. Wiz Khalifa held nothing back during a Tuesday Twitter rant about his former boo and baby mother, Amber Rose. The 27-year-old rapper called Amber a “foul creature” while describing visitation issues over the couple’s 2-year-old son, Sebastian.

a woman who would do something to a kid to spite that kids father is a foul creature.

— Cameron (@wizkhalifa) February 4, 2015

Seen my boy. All is well.

— Cameron (@wizkhalifa) February 4, 2015

Sucks when people try to use that against you but the cool part is figuring out how much self control you have.

— Cameron (@wizkhalifa) February 4, 2015

That’s pretty much the only thing that can spin my universe out of control.

— Cameron (@wizkhalifa) February 4, 2015

as long as he’s playing and smiling i’m cool. can’t be pissed when i see that handsome face.

— Cameron (@wizkhalifa) February 4, 2015

And if that wasn’t bad enough, a fan tweeted the Pittsburgh native telling him to “get his wife back.” Before giving us a piece of his mind, he replied with a simple, “no thanks.” Ouch.

Things between the pair seem to get worse by the week, as the nasty divorce, rumored new boos, and subliminal social media posts has given the public a front row seat to the spectacle. Amber, former flame of Kanye West, filed for divorce in September 2014 after only one year of marriage. They later accused each other of cheating.

Wiz, born Cameron Jibril Thomaz, has been rumored to have moved on with “Flava of Love” winner Deelishis according to numerous Instagram posts on her account, while Amber has denied rumors that she’s found love with newly-divorced Nick Cannon.

Vivica A. Fox and Geraldo Rivera spoke candidly about the wild #Phonegate scandal that went down on “Celebrity Apprentice” Monday, as they both point the finger at “Real Housewives of Atlanta” cast mate Kenya Moore as the thieving culprit.

After Kenya’s team lost to their competitors over a Kings Hawaiian bread challenge, the former Miss USA attempted to blast the Kill Bill actress for her tweeting about menopause and her ex-flame 50 Cent. After bickering and ego-shattering insults, Vivica accused Kenya of stealing her phone, and of course, Moore denied it. But forget denying it, Vivica says the proof is in the pudding and she can prove it. She says her makeup artist was an eye-witness to the 44 year old’s thievery. Vivica plans on taking Kenya to court over the theft.

Vivica’s teammate Geraldo, the outspoken and strong-willed news reporter and former talk show host, was literally smack dab in the middle of the dueling divas. In the boardroom Geraldo vouched for Vivica, stating that her phone was ironically missing. But after the show aired, he took to Twitter and his blog, telling us how he really felt about Kenya.

told you it was no hype #CelebrityApprentice was real deal @KenyaMoore is prime suspect.

— Geraldo Rivera (@GeraldoRivera) February 3, 2015

“It turned out that Kenya had either stolen or caused to be stolen Vivica’s phone. And then wrote the self-damning tweets. Busted on the air, Kenya was shameless and avoided either accepting responsibility or admitting culpability,” Rivera wrote. “Mr. Trump fired her on the spot, but it was a breath-taking display of the ruthless nature of this game.”

Singer Bobby Brown is turning 46-years-old today, but he won’t be celebrating his birthday. A mix of emotions is an understatement for what the former New Edition singer is likely feeling. His wife, Alicia Etheredge is reportedly four months pregnant with their second, while his daughter, Bobbi Kristina, remains on life support, as doctors warn family members to prepare for the worst.

Bobbi Kristina Brown, only daughter of the late Whitney Houston, was found unresponsive January 31, face down in her bathtub due to an alleged drug overdose. She was found by her purported husband, Nick Gordon, nearly three years after her mother died from being found in similar circumstances.

The 21-year-old aspiring singer was recently moved to Emory University Hospital earlier this week after being treated at North Fulton Hospital in Roswell, Georgia.

Bobby and his second wife have one son together, 5-year-old Cassius. Bobby has three other children from previous relationships: Landon, 28, LaPrincia, 24, Bobby, Jr. 22.

While many are sending up prayers for Bobbi, others, including “The View” co-host Rosie Perez, are speculating about what might have led to the tragedy. The Do the Right Thing star thinks the Lifetime biopic may have been too much for Bobbi to handle.

“Just thought about the movie that came out, and this is no disrespect to Angela Bassett because I love [her], but this unauthorized bio of her mom must have killed her,” Rosie said Tuesday, before reconsidering her word choice. “That was terrible phrasing. It must have hurt her deeply to watch that. We forget these people are human beings. We put them in the tabloids, and we forget they’re human beings.”

This month, R&B songstress Jazmine Sullivan covers the first ever HelloBeautiful.com & StuffFlyPeopleLike.com co-branded digital cover. Sullivan has been a fan favorite since her much loved debut album, “Fearless” in 2008. After a three-year hiatus, she has a new story and a helluva story to tell. In an exclusive interview, Sullivan discusses being a domestic abuse survivor, returning to the music industry,  and more.

On Surviving Domestic Abuse

“It took me a long time to feel comfortable enough to say it. I went through a lot of guilt myself, like, should I expose this? Am I being petty by talking about it? It’s a lot of feelings that women have in regards to this. But, [I realized] this can possibly help somebody to see that someone that they look up to, or listen to, or are a fan of have actually been through it, and not only have I been through it, but I came out of it. I just felt like it’s a part of my story so why not share it? I’m the face of my own situation. I don’t know if I can be the face for everybody, but I definitely want to share my story the way I’ve experienced it and I hope people can learn from it like I have.”

On Leaving The Music Industry

“A lot of people think that the pressure of the industry and–you know–my weight and everything, kind of made me stop… and me feeling like I was getting the short end of the stick. But that was not it at all. That had a little bit to do with it but a lot of it was that I was dealing with my own mess in my own life, personally, and it all just happened to be too much and I had to stop.”

Link to full interview here.

By Caprece Cotton-Sturdivant

Getting fit is one of the most popular declarations that people make at the start of the New Year. And living healthy means making time for fitness, which can be difficult for some. Personally, with work and motherhood keeping me busy, getting to the gym doesn’t happen as often as I would like. But fret not, thanks to Instagram I can get fit in the comfort of my own home and so can you!

The hugely popular social media platform is host to a wealth of trainers, some of whom offer nutrition and fitness advice for free. These ladies prove you can squeeze in a quick set of burpees without missing a beat. Here are 7 of my favorite Instagram trainers that will get you instantly fit …

Massiel Arias: @massy.arias

Known to her one million-plus followers as “Mankofit,” certified personal trainer Massiel Arias offers nutritional guidance as well as expert training advice on her IG: @massy.arias.

Nic B: @GETFITWITHNIC_

She’s fierce, she’s funny, but more importantly she’s serious about fitness. Nic B inspires her followers daily with her #ICANYOUCANWECAN approach to fitness. IG: @GETFITWITHNIC_.

Jeanette Jenkins: @MSJEANETTEJENKINS

Known as “The Hollywood Trainer,” Jeanette Jenkins has sculpted the bodies of some of your favorite stars. And I can attest that her Bikini Body Workout is no joke! Phew! IG: @MSJEANETTEJENKINS.

Dawn Estelle Archer: @estellearcher

Inspiring her followers with her weight loss story Dawn Estelle Archer created SWEAT, a high-energy, high-impact workout that gets you moving. IG: @estellearcher.

Queenetta Moore: @wrkoutqueenie

She’s a plant-based powerhouse and certified personal trainer, Queenetta Moore, aka @wrkoutqueenie, gives insight and information for those looking to transition to a plant-based lifestyle.

Lita Lewis: @followthelita

Personal trainer Lita Lewis understands that all bodies aren’t created equal, and that’s a good thing. She’s team THICKFIT and proud, sharing inspirational messages as well as awesome workouts. IG: @followthelita.

Brittne Jackson: @Brittnebabe

And last but most certainly not least, Brittne Jackson, who uses the moniker @brittnebabe proves that lifting weights can help you build the body of your dreams. Don’t believe me? Check out her Instagram for a list of satisfied clients. IG: @Brittnebabe.

Bobbi Kristina Brown has reportedly been taken off of life support at Emory Hospital in Atlanta, after five days of reports revealing minimal brain activity, according to a police source.

Initial accounts of Bobbi Kristina’s status came from a source within her circle of family and friends who told People magazine that loved ones were gathering around her to say their goodbyes.

“Everyone is coming to the hospital to say goodbye,” said the source. “If you saw her, you’d think she was just sleeping.”

Today is significant for her father, singer Bobby Brown. Feb. 5 is his birthday. He also recently announced that his wife is pregnant. As a result of the tragedy that has stricken his only daughter with deceased superstar Whitney Houston, he has been appearing deeply somber in recent pictures.

“Bobby has been crying nonstop since yesterday,” revealed the insider. “We are grieving.”

Bobbi Kristina was found face down and unresponsive in her bathtub on Saturday in her Roswell, Georgia home. Contrary to initial reports, her friend, Max Lomas, found her and called the police, while the man who Bobbi Kristina called her husband, Nick Gordon, performed CPR on her.

On Jan.14, Lomas was charged with drug and gun possession after Roswell police were called and told that he drugged his girlfriend and held her against her will. But Lomas’ lawyer, Phillip Holloway, said that his client is not a suspect in this case.

“…We’re doing all we can to cooperate to find out exactly what happened to Bobbi Kristina, and under what circumstances. That’s everybody’s goal, including Max,” Holloway told “Access Hollywood.”

It is not clear whether Bobbi Kristina had passed out due to drugs, but authorities allegedly found narcotics in her house after searching the residence for a second time.

Roswell residents who reside near Bobbi Kristina’s house, police have been asking locals if they saw any suspicious persons around the home on Saturday. Some say authorities were searching for any known surveillance footage of the area, which had lead some to believe that another person may be involved in the incident.

Bobbi Kristina’s mother was eerily found in almost the same position as her daughter nearly three years ago. On Feb. 11 2012, Houston, who had a long history of narcotics abuse, was discovered dead in a Beverly Hills hotel suite bathtub face down in scolding hot water.

When asked about her mother’s death that year, Bobbi Kristina told Oprah Winfrey that her mother spoke to her the very next day after she died.

“I woke up and I heard her say, ‘All right, come home now,’” she said. “I can hear her voice in spirit talking to me, ‘Keep talking to me. I got you.’ She’s always with me. I can always feel her. I can always feel her with me. She always asked me, ‘Do you need me?’ And I caught myself, out of nowhere, I didn’t even know I said it, I said, ‘I’ll always need you.’”

RELATED: Another Person May Be Responsible for Bobbi Kristina’s Incident

Tennis great Serena Williams wrote an article in Time announcing that she will return to the Indian Wells tennis tournament 14 years after she and her family endured racism there. In 2001, a then-19-year-old Serena was set to play at Indian Wells (which is now the BNP Paribas Open) in California with her sister, Venus Williams.

“When I arrived at Indian Wells in 2001, I was looking to take another title. I was ready. But however ready I was, nothing could have prepared me for what happened in the final. As I walked out onto the court, the crowd immediately started jeering and booing,” recalled the tennis champ.

When her sister had to pull out of the game due to tendinitis, the audience grew more angry and accused the sisters of orchestrating “fixed” matches.

“The false allegations that our matches were fixed hurt, cut and ripped into us deeply. The under­current of racism was painful, confusing and unfair,” she wrote.

She cried for hours over the incident. Serena says that her whole family was hurt from the experience, including her father, who was there that day. She stated that her father having to watch his daughters being mistreated “sparking cold memories of his experiences growing up in the South.”

Now at 33, the athlete, who recently won her 19th grand slam title trophy at the Australian Open after beating Maria Sharapova, is wiser, more successful, and ready to return to the one place that scared her away. She said that when Russian tennis official Shamil Tarpischev made derogatory comments about her and Venus and was immediately disciplined by the league, it made her realize that the sport has changed for the better.

“I’m fortunate to be at a point in my career where I have nothing to prove. I’m still as driven as ever, but the ride is a little easier,” wrote Serena. “I play for the love of the game. And it is with that love in mind, and a new understanding of the true meaning of forgiveness, that I will proudly return to Indian Wells in 2015.

She continues, “Indian Wells was a pivotal moment of my story, and I am a part of the tournament’s story as well. Together we have a chance to write a different ­ending.”

The tournament is set to begin next month.

Huge congratulations are in order for Adrienne Bailon, as she is officially engaged to her longtime boyfriend Lenny Santiago. The Senior VP of A&R at Roc Nation proposed to the his singer girlfriend of six years this week, which she revealed on The Real. During her talk show hosting duties, Adrienne told her co-hosts that the magazines were missing a big story for that week, which was the news she was keeping a secret. She then pulled out her engagement ring, leaving her co-hosts in absolute shock.

After bombarding her with hugs and demands to see her engagement bling, Adrienne told the story of the adorable proposal. Apparently, Lenny took her out to dinner with the family, and took them to an empty restaurant in upstate New York. He then gave a speech to her family about how much he loves her, and then gave a gift to everyone, which was a box of carrots. She questioned, “was this like the harvest of our love?” before expressing her appreciation of the gift. After he saw how much she admired the carrots, he got on his knees and popped the question, displaying the beautiful bling for her.

YES! @kodaklens I will soon be Mrs. Lenny S.

A photo posted by Adrienne Bailon (@adrienne_bailon) on Feb 5, 2015 at 3:16pm PST

She said yes. Adrienne also revealed the news on her Instagram, captioning a photo of her with her ring, while getting a kiss from her boo, “YES! ❤️ @kodaklens I will soon be Mrs. Lenny S.” Congrats to the happy couple. See the clip of Adrienne sharing the news on The Real here.

Kerry Washington landed another magazine cover for InStyle magazine, which made its way around the web yesterday, but it’s been accompanied with some backlash. The cover of the March 2015 issue shows the Scandal star a few shades paler than usual. Many fans believe the lightening is the result of Photoshop tweaking, as opposed to the lighting setup.

After many fans and followers spoke out against Kerry’s look on the cover, the magazine issued a statement on its website. “We are super fans of Kerry Washington here at InStyle. To feature her on the cover of our March spring fashion issue is both an honor and a delight. We have heard from those who have spoken out about our newsstand cover photograph, concerned that Kerry’s skin tone was lightened. While we did not digitally lighten Kerry’s skin tone, our cover lighting has likely contributed to this concern. We understand that this has resulted in disappointment and hurt. We are listening, and the feedback has been valuable. We are committed to ensuring that this experience has a positive influence on the ways in which we present all women going forward,” read the statement.

Kerry got word of the statement, amongst the backlash, to which she responded on Twitter by retweeting the link to the mag’s response, and thanking them for opening up the discussion on skin-lightening in photos. She tweeted, ““Beautiful statement. Thank u 4 opening this convo. Its an important 1 that needs to be had.”

So that’s where the magazine and its cover star stand. How do you feel about the picture?” Kerry made sure to give her fans the chance to discuss the issue, and let their voices be heard.

Source: InStyle Magazine

The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition began as a way for the magazine to keep its audience entertained during sports’ uneventful winter months. But after the first issue was published in 1964, it became a vehicle that models used to skyrocketed their careers. Throughout the annual publication’s five decades of featuring fresh-faced models in skimpy swimwear, many women have proudly broken barriers by posing for the magazine. The latest groundbreaking model is 27-year-old Ashley Graham, who will be the first plus-sized model to be featured on the SI Swimsuit Edition pages.

Here are eight women who were “first” at something awesome in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition.

First Plus-Sized Model

Full-figured model Ashley Graham will be featured in an ad for the online retailer, Swimsuitsforall, for the magazine’s Feb. 9 issue. “I know my curves are sexy and I want everyone to know that theirs are too,” said the brunette beauty, who is a size 16.

First Cover Model

The Swimsuit Edition took off in 1964 with German model Babette March on its cover. At that time, she was considered the “highest paid model of her day.”

First Black Cover Model

In 1997, Tyra Banks graced the cover of the sporting magazine as the first Black model ever to do it. As we know, the “American’s Next Top Model” host became a certified supermodel and mogul afterward.

First NFL Cheerleaders

The Swimsuit Edition first included NFL cheerleaders within its pages in 2008, and featured women from 11 teams: the Texans, Buccaneers, Chargers, Cowboys, Dolphins, Eagles, Falcons, Jaguars, Patriots, Raiders, and Redskins.

First Cover Model to Appear Five Times

Elle Macpherson first landed on the cover in 1986, and then she made the cover again, three years in a row. She appeared again in 1994, and once more in 2006, making her the model with the most Swimsuit Edition covers.

First Singer and Non-Model, Non-Athlete to Cover

Mega pop star Beyoncé became the first singer who was not a model or athlete to hit the publication’s cover page in the 2007 music issue. She posed in a bikini belonging to her mother’s House of Dereon fashion collection.

First Repeat Cover

Cheryl Tiegs first became a Swimsuit Edition cover girl in 1970, and then again five years later. Tiegs is often considered the “first American supermodel.”

First Dual Cover Models

Swedish twins Yvette and Yvonne Sylvander were on the first Swimsuit Edition cover that featured more than one model. The girls were also featured inside the magazine.

President Barack Obama attended the National Prayer Breakfast yesterday in Washington, D.C., and stirred up quite the controversy when offering some words to the packed crowd. Raising some eyebrows, the leader of the country spoke on slavery, the crusades, and how Christians should reconsider passing judgment on religious extremists.

Discussing the tensions that are brought from religion, Obama told the audience, “Humanity has been grappling with these questions throughout human history. And lest we get on our high horse and think this is unique to some other place, remember that during the Crusades and the Inquisition, people committed terrible deeds in the name of Christ. In our home country, slavery and Jim Crow all too often was justified in the name of Christ.” While speaking on the Islamic state, Obama called it “a brutal, vicious death cult that, in the name of religion, carries out unspeakable acts of barbarism.”

He also shared his opinions on why these horrible things happen through religious tensions.

“There is a tendency in us, a sinful tendency, that can pervert and distort our faith.” President Obama did have kind words to say on the Dalai Lama, who was in attendance of the event. He told the crowd that he was “a good friend” and “a powerful example of what it means to practice compassion.” He also said that he “inspires us to speak up for the freedom and dignity of all human beings.”

Critics believe that Obama should be focusing on enemies within the Unite States, before addressing those outside of the country. Although Obama’s comments might have angered many Republicans, his approval rating reportedly rose to 50 precent just before his State of the Union address last month.

Source: Washington Post

One of my biggest complaints about Black History Month is how the same stories and figures seem to be continually rehashed year after year after year without any deeper investigation of other historic figures and events that need to be highlighted. Every year, names like Malcolm, Martin, Rosa, and Harriet are constantly praised (as they should be), yet names like Marcus, Ida, and Fannie Lou are relegated to perpetual obscurity. The great Jackie Robinson may be the greatest example of this problem. Most people erroneously believe Robinson was the first Black man to integrate a professional sport, when he played for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. However, there were other great Black athletes who effectively kicked down the doors of racist organizations, that did their best to keep African-Americans out, before Robinson and after.

Here are the lesser known Black athletes who broke color barriers …

Charlie Sifford: The first Black golfer on the PGA TOUR

In 1961, when he was 38 years old, Charlie Sifford did the unthinkable. He integrated the great, white American pastime of golf, with the polarizing Civil Rights Movement as a backdrop. The interesting thing about golf is that, unlike team sports, its individuality really enforces a me-against-the-world mentality, which could be even more suffocating when you are facing a level of hatred and prejudice no one else on the tour is even aware of or affected by. Sifford faced the slings, the barbs, and the arrows, yet triumphed. He won two PGA TOUR events. Sifford was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in November.

The great Charlie Sifford passed away on Tuesday. He was 92.

Wendell Scott: The first Black driver in NASCAR

The color barrier that Wendell Scott broke is highly under appreciated by many Black folks because of our cultural disconnect with the racing culture. However, when you really think about what he faced, you have no choice but to gain a new level of respect for this man. Think about the violent, in-game prejudice that Jackie Robinson faced (i.e. pitchers throwing at his head, base runners sliding high and cleats up, etc.) now try and extrapolate that behavior to a race course. Now, that sounds scary. Scott frequently encountered racist drivers who attempted to wreck him at high speeds because they didn’t appreciate his attempts at integrating NASCAR. But, despite their efforts, he became the first African-American to win a race in the Grand National Series, which is now known as the Sprint Cup.

Willie O’Ree: The first Black player in the NHL

Although Willie O’Ree is a Canadian born in Fredicton, New Brunswick, he was the first Black man to play in the NHL, which took him to cities all over North America. O’Ree constantly had to absorb racist comments from fans and competitors alike. But what made him stand apart was how little he let those remarks affect his play on the ice. Oh, and he did all of this while being 95 percent blind in his right eye.

Fritz Pollard: The first Black head coach in the NFL

After leaving an astonishing legacy as an All-American running back at Brown University, Fritz Pollard was recruited to play for the Akron Pros, a team in the American Professional Football Association, which became the National Football League a year later, in 1921. The team went undefeated thanks to Pollard and Bobby Marshall, both of whom are recognized as the African-Americans who broke the color barrier as players in professional football. But what makes Pollard so special is that he also doubled as head coach while playing, becoming the first-ever Black head coach in NFL history. We wouldn’t see another Black head coach in the league until the Los Angeles Raiders owner Al Davis hired Art Shell in 1989.

Alice Coachman: The first Black woman to win an Olympic Gold Medal

Since we so often attribute sports with masculinity, we often ignore the amazing contributions by women and overlook the barriers that Black women had to overcome in pursuit of their own dreams. Alice Coachman, who became the first Black woman to win an Olympic Gold medal, stepped into history during the 1948 Olympics in London when she dominated the field in the high jump. But here’s the really crazy part: Coachman had been dominant since 1939, and due to the Olympic games being cancelled in 1940 and 1944 due to World War II, many analysts believe she could have definitely brought home golds in both of those events and gone down in history as one of the greatest American Olympic athletes ever.

LAB

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.