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Written by @ShortyRocNYC

This past weekend, a remarkable event took place as Dedrick Thomas celebrated his 50th birthday in true style. The evening was filled with love, admiration, and an undeniable sense of community, reflecting the character and influence Thomas has cultivated over the years. His milestone celebration was a testament to the impact he has had on those around him, personally and professionally.

The event was nothing short of spectacular, hosted in a vibrant atmosphere that radiated positive energy and class. Thomas, who has significantly shaped culture through his work with Hideoki Bespoke, continues to leave a lasting impression on the industry and beyond. His dedication and contributions have made a profound difference, and this celebration was a fitting acknowledgment of his accomplishments.

Among the distinguished guests were familiar faces from the entertainment world, including Danny Glover, Steve Smith, Domani, David Banner, and members of Kountry Wayne's circle Adding to the prestige of the evening was the attendance of Atlanta's Mayor, Andre Dickens, whose presence underscored the significance of the occasion.

The celebration highlighted the essence of life—not just in the meals shared but in the company kept. It was a night filled with camaraderie, celebration, and reflection, marking a significant moment in the life of a man who has touched many lives with his generosity and leadership. The event stands as a beautiful reminder of the power of community and the joy of celebrating milestones together.

CLICK HERE FOR ALL PHOTOS FROM THIS EVENT

The Khaliseum TV Network Reflects on an Inspiring Evening at Butternomics LIVE

The Khaliseum TV Network had the pleasure of attending *Butternomics LIVE* at The Gathering Spot, an event presented by Butter.ATL, Creatives of Color, and iHeart Podcasts. It was a memorable evening filled with valuable insights, dynamic conversations, and networking among Atlanta's creative professionals. Hosted by Brandon Butler, Founder and CEO of Butter.ATL, the event featured an inspiring guest, Jai Ferrell, who made history as the first woman of color to become CEO of the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta, a 100-year-old institution.

Jai Ferrell captivated the audience with her powerful journey, sharing how she shattered barriers to lead one of Atlanta’s most iconic organizations. Her conversation touched on the intersection of business, culture, and legacy branding, offering those in attendance a rare glimpse into the way empathy and enterprise can intersect to build brands and drive impactful movements. Her insights resonated deeply with the crowd, providing invaluable lessons for those looking to make their mark in their respective industries.

The evening was an incredible opportunity to hear from two of Atlanta’s most influential leaders, complete with an engaging live Q&A session. The energy in the room was electric, and the networking opportunities for creative professionals were abundant, making it an event we won’t soon forget.

As we reflect on this inspiring evening, The Khaliseum TV Network looks forward to attending future events like *Butternomics LIVE*, which continue to elevate voices, share stories of resilience, and unite Atlanta’s creative community.

SUBSCRIBE FOR $3 TO SEE PHOTOS FROM THIS EVENT:

 https://www.thekhaliseum.com/news/eventphotos

I married my best friend. Not everyone gets to say that so I’m grateful. At the time my now husband proposed, we’d been dating for a year and a half. We got married four months after he popped the question. We didn’t need anything too fancy, or pricey. Rather than simply prepare for a wedding together, we prepared for a lifetime together.  That’s what marrying your best friend does. It gives you perspective on what’s important. A lifetime of love is what every married couple wants. Marrying your best friend is one way to get it.

3 Ways Marrying Your Best Friend Ensures a Lifetime of Love

1. Respect – Keeping it real means keeping it respectful with your best friend.
2. Loyalty – You never have to wonder who’s your ride or die.
3. Love – The better, worse, richer, poorer, sickness, health kind of love.

With the divorce rate standing at 50% in this country, it’s clear that at least half of us get married for the wrong reason or to the wrong person.

Watch some of these “reality” shows and you’ll realize that some of those couples have no business getting married. Bachelor party sex romps and wedding day cuss-fests make it clear that the relationship has devolved into a fight for ratings rather than a relationship.

https://blackandmarriedwithkids.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/TNMCoupleArgueHand-293x196.jpg 293w, https://blackandmarriedwithkids.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/TNMCoupleArgueHand-389x260.jpg 389w" alt="" width="600" height="401" />

So, what’s the cure? Well, “cure” might be a strong word. Maybe what’s needed is the right recipe. There are many ingredients to a good marriage. There are even more to a healthy marriage. But ultimately, they all boil down to three things when you’re married to your best friend: respect, loyalty, and love. Keeping these three as the main ingredients makes it easier to season your days and spice up your nights with the one who knows you best.

Respect

Keeping it real means keeping it respectful with your best friend. On the one hand, you can get so comfortable that you don’t care how you communicate with your partner. But when someone is truly the closest human soul to you, you choose to guard your tongue. The last thing you want to do is hurt them.

When your best friend hurts, you hurt. So during tough conversations, rather than fly off the handle, you speak your truth with respect. You speak to your spouse with love. A lifetime of communicating that way means a lifetime of peace, even when times get hard.

https://blackandmarriedwithkids.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/TNMCoupleTalkFence-294x196.jpg 294w, https://blackandmarriedwithkids.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/TNMCoupleTalkFence-390x260.jpg 390w" alt="" width="600" height="400" />

Loyalty

You never have to wonder who’s your ride or die after marrying your best friend. It’s a given that respect in your relationship leads to loyalty. Your spouse has your back and you have theirs. Always. Without doubt. In public. In private.

There’s an unbreakable bond that’s forged when two people have each other’s best interests at heart. When loyalty is evident, it also puts everyone else on notice. In fact, “what God has joined together, let no one separate” is loyalty’s creed. Essentially, a lifetime of love with your best friend is easier when loyalty is on the table.

Love

Love is a tricky word. If you think about it, most marriages claim to have that as the main ingredient. So how can the divorce rate be so high? Well, I’m talking about the “for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health” kind of love. This is the kind that will last a lifetime after marrying your best friend. With it comes laughter, joy, pain, sorrow, courage, fear, falling down, and getting up. It’s a love that will take you through anything life throws at your relationship. It’s not just a noun, it’s a verb. In effect, it must move beyond words into action. So sure, it’s a tricky word. But when marrying your best friend, it doesn’t have to be.

My husband is still my best friend. He became that for many reasons. But when it comes to our marriage, respect, loyalty, and love have remained constant. And for that, I’ll be grateful for a lifetime.

Source: https://blackandmarriedwithkids.com/

Another weekend has come and gone and you and your spouse spent it doing the “same ole, same ole.” He mowed the lawn. You did the laundry. Later, you both watched TV then went to bed. Yawn! Don’t get me wrong. The love is still there. However, you weren’t shocked to find your wedding picture next to “boring marriage” on the internet. How did this happen? You two were the talk of the town during your courtship. You had so much fun together. But, at some point, you settled into a routine that left your marriage wanting. Now, you’re ready to turn the tables and set things back in motion. The question is, where should you start?

Boring Marriage? 2 Stupid Simple Ways to Spice Things Up

1. Turn off the TV.
2. Leave the house.

Making a decision to spice things up in your relationship is the easy part. Following through is where things get tough. Chances are you’ve worked pretty hard all week. By the time Friday comes around, you’re beyond tired. In fact, just the thought of doing anything outside of curling up in front of the TV wears you out. But a boring marriage isn’t what you signed up for so it’s time to make some changes. It’s time to spice things up and here are two extremely stupid simple ways to do just that!

Turn off the TV

Stupid. Simple. Not much else needs to be said here. However, just in case you’ve fooled yourself into thinking TV is a “fun” part of your relationship, let me help you out. Whether it’s watching Game of Thrones, a saving the whales documentary, or Martin re-runs, a night spent in front of the tube makes the “boring list” for marriage activity. Sure, once in a while, a night of Netflix and chill can turn into something more. But chances are if your marriage is boring, it’s time to let that idea go.

Whip out some cards and play strip poker. Grab a photo album and reminisce about the good old days. Have some friends over and get your spades game on. Turn on the radio. Dance a little salsa. Or let Luther take you…ahem…there.

Whatever you choose, just turn off the TV and make it spicy!

Leave the House

The comforts of home can make slaves of us all. At home, you don’t have to deal with the hassle of dressing to the nines and putting on makeup and tipping the server. Complacency creeps in and excitement creeps out. Finding a sitter takes a backseat to finding the right channel. What were once nights to remember have turned into nights you’d just as soon forget.

Enough said. It’s time to leave the house.

But for a couple whose nightlife has grown stale, what’s there to do? It wouldn’t hurt to call up some friends and schedule a double date. If your dating game is a little rusty, there’s no shame in tagging along with a couple who’s always on the move. Once you get started, you’ll find yourself planning some wild nights on the town by yourself. Here are some things you can look forward to:

• Take some dance lessons together
• Spice up your life with a cooking class
• Go enjoy a day at an amusement park
• Take in an outdoor…or indoor concert
• A picnic in the park can be a lot of fun
• Drive to a nearby city and take in the sights
• Dinner without the movie also has its perks
• A day at the beach, the lake, the pond…make it work for you

There are options galore for bringing some spice back into your relationship. But first, you have to take a sobering look at your time and see if you’re sharing the best time of your life with the love of your life. If you give in to complacency and neglect your thirst for excitement, your marriage will suffer.

I promised you two stupid-simple ways to spice up your boring marriage. And, that’s what you got. But by doing just those two things alone, you open up your relationship to a host of possibilities. Consider the effort you put into dating your spouse. Light that fire again in your marriage and sparks are bound to fly!

Source: https://blackandmarriedwithkids.com/

I dated a millionaire miser. His name was Peter, and it was one of the most toxic relationships I’d ever been in. But, it was also one of the most transformational.

I can thank Peter for teaching me a few surprising things about love and money. Maybe you’ll benefit from learning them, too.

Money Is a Stand-In for Many of Our Values

I grew up in a household where money was hard to come by. Once I entered the working world, I became obsessed with saving money as a way to avoid poverty, as opposed to building wealth or funding professional and personal opportunities for growth. My thinking has since evolved, and I have come to view money as a tool to help me live life on my terms, which includes saving, spending, donating and investing.

In dating a miser, I witnessed how money could be used as a weapon to punish and control. Peter believed his wealth entitled him to speak poorly to waitresses, department store staff or anyone that he felt had less money than he did.

Dating a Financial Extreme Can Be the Wake-Up Call You Need

While dating Peter, I saw him read books in their entirety and return them to bookstores, haggle over the price of end-of-day pizza, skimp on tips and manipulate situations to get out of buying costly gifts. Observing these behaviors forced me to reflect on my own. While I had never done any of these things, it made me think about some of my unsavory financial actions and motivations.

Since dating Peter, I’ve adjusted some of my money behaviors: I tip at least 15 percent; I still love a discount, but don’t become despondent when I don’t receive one (specifically if I can outright afford it); I think about price as much as I do value when making a purchase.

Love should be easy in the beginning, but I soon found myself rolling my eyes at how Peter treated money, and by extension, the world around him: one-sided, self-absorbed and extremely demanding. In hindsight, I should have ended the three-month relationship sooner, but the bottom line was that it had to end and it did.

Misers Make Financial Intimacy Hard, but Financial Infidelity Easy

Cultivating financial intimacy, or the ability to communicate openly and honestly about money with your partner, is difficult to do with a miser. In the short time that we dated, Peter didn’t like the idea that I worked and wanted me to stop working if we were to get serious, despite my core (non-negotiable) beliefs of financial independence and career fulfillment. Even though there was never a chance that I would ever marry this man, I already thought about ways to hide my financial and career advancements and achievements while we dated, which would only deepen in a marriage to a man that wanted to dominate, if not, oppress financially.

I ended this jaunt of a relationship with Peter nearly ten years ago. It’s still one of the most memorable relationships I’ve had — not for the love, but for the lessons. If my life were a book, then Peter would have been my foil, the character that shows qualities that are in contrast with the qualities of the protagonist (me). The foil’s ultimate objective is to highlight the traits of the other character.

From Peter, I learned about how much love I had to give (and wanted to give) by how much love he withheld. From Peter, I learned that I wanted to use money as a way to express gratitude and appreciation for myself and others by experiencing how he systemically shortchanged and reduced the people in his life, including me. And for that, I will always be grateful.

Source: http://www.thefrugalfeminista.com/blog/

One of my dearest friends got married at the end of last year. The destination wedding, which took place on some of the most gorgeous beaches of Mexico, was hands-down one of the most exquisite ceremonies I had ever witnessed. And, as one of her five bridesmaids, it was also one of the most expensive. 

When I agreed to accept the invitation of being a bridesmaid, I knew I was also accepting the financial responsibilities that accompanied a destination wedding.

Bridesmaid Costs for a Destination Wedding

Regarding numbers, there were several costs that I had to incur. Here’s exactly how much it cost me to be a bridesmaid at a wedding in Mexico:

Being a Bridesmaid: Cost vs. Value

Witnessing my girlfriend’s journey from single woman to married woman with a man that she loves was one of my deepest joys. I loved landing in Mexico and feeling my advanced Spanish flow out of me — I felt like a bilingual goddess. I loved ordering room service and eating Mexican burritos in my underwear every morning for breakfast. I loved all of the hoopla and fuss associated with the day; I loved running to a fellow bridesmaid’s hotel room and faux freaking out about getting to the wedding on time. I loved being silly and looking at how round our booties were in the mirror once we put on our bridesmaid dresses. I loved taking #selfies and #usies at the reception and chitchatting with the invitees at my table.

http://www.thefrugalfeminista.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/IMG_1393-113x150.jpg 113w, http://www.thefrugalfeminista.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/IMG_1393-768x1022.jpg 768w, http://www.thefrugalfeminista.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/IMG_1393-610x812.jpg 610w" alt="" width="331" height="440" />I’ve known the bride since we were in high school. We interned at the same soul-sucking insurance company for two years and wobbled down Wall Street’s cobbled corners in high heels together. She was also my bridesmaid. And a deft one at that: She played referee when my mom and I went almost to blows on the floors of David’s Bridal when searching for my wedding dress.

In short, when I think of our 20-year friendship and all the various way this woman taught me about the power of family, forgiveness and faith, it was an honor to be one of the chosen ones. As a bridesmaid, I was able to create another memory with my friend and the cost of it, though hefty, was outweighed by the emotional returns of that day.

When the Value Is High but So Is the Cost

I understand my perspective is not the same for everyone. The decision to drop nearly $2,000 — the equivalent of startup funds for an online business, a mortgage payment or two, a used car or the cost of a college course at a local college — requires a lot of financial thinking, analysis and planning, even when you care deeply about the bride and groom. Consider asking yourself the following questions to help you determine whether accepting a role in the wedding party at a far-off destination is really worth it:

• • Will participating in this wedding put me into debt?

• • Can I afford to pay for everything in cash?

• • Have recent or upcoming life events like purchasing a home, a layoff or divorce created financial holes or gaps?

• • Do I consider this person a true friend?

• • Would they do the same for me?

• Could I recoup the cost in some way? Could it be covered as a business expense? Could I extend my stay so I can have a vacation?

No matter what you decide, when it becomes to being a bridesmaid, your friend — if they are a true friend — will respect your (financial) decision.

Source: http://www.thefrugalfeminista.com/blog/

Over the weekend, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials embarked on a relatively small operation to arrest immigrants of undocumented status, Reuters reports. President Donald Trump first announced the raid in June via Twitter, where he promised widespread, mass deportations of “millions” of immigrants across the United States.

Immigrants and advocates were bracing for the worst, with many expecting thousands of arrests to take place on Sunday (July 14). However, according to Reuters, “there were only reports of low-profile operations in a few cities.”

Southern Poverty Law Center’s Mary Bauer told the news agency that large southern cities like Atlanta actually saw no ICE arrests over the weekend. “Immigrants and immigrant communities all over the country are in hiding and people are living in these terrified, terrorized ways, because that is the point of this whole action, whether enforcement actions take place or not,” said Bauer.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio also said there were no ICEarrests in his city. “This is a political act by this president, he’s politicized a United States government agency to help him win re-election,” he told Reuters. 

And though no immigrants of undocumented status were arrested in Miami, a representative of the Florida Immigrant Coalition posted on Facebook that some fearful immigrants were sheltering at home. “They’ve been stocking up on groceries and making plans to stay in their homes with the lights off and the blinds down,” the group posted. “Some are staying home from work.”

The news outlet pointed out that ICE arrests thousands of immigrants in a typical week, per government records. Most of those raids, however, are not posted on Twitter by the president of the United States. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for ICE declined to give Reuters a comment on the agency’s operations, citing the safety of the agency’s personnel.

Source: https://www.colorlines.com/

*NEW YORK — ESSENCE, the number one content, commerce and technology company aimed at Black women, today announced July 4-7, 2019 as the official dates for its franchise event, the ESSENCE Festival®.  2019 will mark the ESSENCE Festival’s 25^th anniversary, with a 4-day celebration set to take place in New Orleans, Louisiana.

On the heels of this year’s record-setting Festival, which attracted more than 510,000 attendees and achieved a first-ever sell-out of its 3-night concert series, the Essence Fest community is encouraged to register here for information and early access to 2019 weekend ticket packages.

“The ESSENCE Festival represents culture, community and a powerful convening around one of the largest curated content experiences in the world,” commented ESSENCE Communications President Michelle Ebanks.  “As we look forward to the Festival’s 25^th anniversary celebration in 2019, we will continue to offer curated platforms of entertainment, empowerment, entrepreneurship, activism and more that will both engage and inspire Black women globally.”

The reach and scale of the annual ESSENCE Festival is unmatched, with more than 100 performing artists across the Louisiana Superdome and the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. In addition, more than 200 influencers, leaders, creators and celebrities participated in the Festival’s daytime experience – rebranded as ‘Conference & Expos’ with programming across eight tracks spanning Beauty & Style to Business & Entrepreneurship.

Also engaging millions across the globe, simultaneous live streams of the daytime experience on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, and partnerships with Getty, IGTV and Snapchat Live ultimately generated trending status on social media.

For a full recap of all the exciting moments from the 2018 ESSENCE Festival, visit ESSENCE.com and log in to the ESSENCE Festival News Center for photo and video footage highlights.

About Essence Communications Inc.
Essence Communications is the number one content, commerce and technology company aimed at Black women; inspiring a global audience of more than 15 million through diverse storytelling and immersive original content.  With a multi-platform presence in publishing, experiential and online, ESSENCE encompasses its signature magazine; digital, video and social platforms; television specials; books; as well as live events, including Black Women in Music, Black Women in Hollywood, Street Style and the ESSENCE Festival.  Essence Communications is owned by Essence Ventures, an independent African-American owned company focused on merging content, community and commerce to meet the evolving cultural and lifestyle needs of women of color.

source:
ESSENCE
Dana Baxter
dbaxter@essence.com

Sheila Harris
sharris@essence.com

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/07/official-dates-announced-for-the-2019-essence-festival-july-4-7-2019/

*Cedric The Entertainer celebrated 30 Years in Show Business surrounded by close family, friends, and fans as he received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce honored the comedian and actor on Thursday, July 19, with the well-deserved award for his work in entertainment.

Cedric the Entertainer expressed to EURweb how it felt to get his star on the walk of fame.

“On my star day, its official and it’s so great to be recognized. I’ve been doing this a long time, starting in stand-up then having the opportunity to go to television and film. Doing comedy in a little place in St Louis [and have it] take me all around the world to this moment where I got a star on the walk of fame is unique and a blessing.”

Celebrities on hand for the event included former cast mates Niecy Nash, Terri J. Vaughn, Michael Blackson, Comedian Rell and more.  Also in attendance was the cast of his New CBS show “The Neighborhood,” Max Greenfield, Hank Greenspan, Shawn McKinney, and  Marcel Spears.

Cedric’s friends and fellow Walk of Famers Magic Johnson and George Lopez helped to unveil the star with amazing speeches dedicated to Cedric.

EURweb correspondent Miss Conversation Piece got some quotes from those closest to Cedric to congratulate him on the award.

“Way before all the jokes, Ced and I went to college together so what I really saw in him was a good person.” -Eric Rhone, manager

It is an amazing feeling right now to see another brother that I grew up with doing stand-up get his name on a star. That just gave everybody hope, every comedian hope especially us black ones. Congratulations Cedric you have opened the doors for all of us. – Michael Blackson, Comedian

I would like to think of a word more than happy or congratulations and all that kinda stuff but I can think of nothing but I’m just tickled pink.  One of the things that I would like for you all to know is when Ced was growing up the kids in the neighborhood used to call him Hollywood so it’s come to fruition that they called him Hollywood now he is Hollywood. – Kittrell Kyles, Cedric’s Father

You know the one thing about Hollywood is that everybody comes from someplace else and you come here from Clark Gables to Marilyn Monroe to Michael Jackson to George Clooney and those doors are always closed at first. Your talent opens the doors. I look at myself as the unofficial mayor of Los Angeles and this man is deserving because I’ve never seen anyone that people embrace so much someone that they have never said a negative word about which is almost impossible in this industry and this time of social media. As an African American performer when you walk the streets of Hollywood Boulevard you look down and you see the people of color and they mean more to you because you know that it’s not easy to be on that sidewalk. I told him today take your wife and daughter to go there touch it and understand what it means. – George Lopez, Friend & Actor

I feel completely inspired seeing him get the star we are fortunate to be working with who we consider being two legends Tischina Arnold and Cedric the Entertainer. We’ve been watching since we were kids so watching him do this is a career path. Follow these stars right to him and follow in his footsteps and God willing this will happen.  –Sheaun McKinney, Cast member of ‘The Neighborhood’

It really makes it tangible seeing Ced get the star because I grew up watching him do what he does. Like he is brilliant and he is so generous and the fact that I get to work with him and I get to see this big milestone in his life its really inspiring and something I can hope to look forward to. – Marcel Spears, Cast member of the ‘The Neighborhood’

Be sure to check out Cedric the Entertainer’s latest work on CBS this fall premiering Oct 1, 2018, at 8pm.

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/07/cedric-the-entertainer-receives-star-on-the-hollywood-walk-of-fame-after-30-years-in-the-business/

*Chicago-based television production company Central City Productions (CCP) announced the 2018 Black Music Honors, the annual two-hour television special that honors artists and musicians who have influenced and made significant contributions to American music. The television special is set to film on Thursday, August 16th in Nashville, TN.

This year’s recipients include Bobby Brown, who will receive the R&B Soul Music Icon Award for his 40 years in entertainment and 32 years as a solo artist, Bebe and Cece Winans, who will be co-honorees of the Gospel Music Icon Award, chart-topping music producer and label executive Dallas Austin, who will be presented with the Music Innovator Icon Award, and multi-platinum, Grammy Award-winning recording artist, songwriter and producer Faith Evans, who is set to receive the Urban Music Icon Award.

“The vision of the Black Music Honors is to recognize the trailblazers in African American music who have paved the way for the artists of today. Many of these artists have never received their much-deserved recognition,” said Don Jackson, founder and CEO of Central City Productions.

Television and radio personality Rickey Smiley and Grammy Award-winner and actress LeToya Luckett return as co-hosts of the show, which is set to air on broadcast syndication on Sept. 8-30, 2018. This year’s sponsors include AT&T, McDonald’s, Walmart, Johnson & Johnson, and Chevrolet with State Farm tapped as the title sponsor.

Ticket proceeds will benefit the 2019 opening of the National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM) in Nashville. NMAAM’s mission is to educate the world, preserve the legacy, and celebrate the central role African Americans play in creating the American soundtrack.

This epic event will be held at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC) located at 505 Deaderick St., Nashville, TN. Doors open at 6 p.m. with the show taping at 7 p.m.

Tickets are available HERE.

For more information on Black Music Honors, head to www.blackmusichonors.com and connect with us on social media for more updates @blackmusichonors.

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/07/bobby-brown-faith-evans-bebe-cece-winans-dallas-austin-recipients-of-2018-black-music-honors-awards/

*Grammy® Award-winning rapper, Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter, lead MC of the hip-hop band The Roots, has recorded an original composition, “Rest In Power,” that will air as part of a new six-part original documentary series, “Rest in Power: The Trayvon Martin Story.

The series, produced by the Peabody Award-winning team behind last year’s critically acclaimed series “TIME: The Kalief Browder Story,” Shawn Carter and The Cinemart, will premiere Monday, July 30 at 10 PM, ET/PT.

Trotter’s powerful original musical tribute pays homage to the life and legacy of Trayvon Martin, whose death became the catalyst for the Black Lives Matter movement. Filmed in Gotham Hall, footage from the original documentary series becomes larger than life as it is projected behind Tarik while he performs his original piece for the music video directed by Rohan Blair-Mangat.

The full music video can be viewed on Paramount Network’s YouTube Channel and ParamountNetwork.com. With the song’s commanding lyrics and the video’s powerful imagery, Trotter and Paramount collectively agreed that the project deserved a bigger audience. On Monday July 23rd, 2018 both the video and track will be available on all digital streaming platforms with 100% of the proceeds going to The Trayvon Martin Foundation.

Trayvon Martin was an unarmed 17-year old African American high school student shot and killed by a neighborhood watch member in the Sanford, Florida community on February 26, 2012 where he was visiting a friend with his father. George Zimmerman was acquitted of a second-degree murder charge utilizing Florida’s Stand Your Ground Law, claiming he shot Martin in self-defense.

The fatal encounter between Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman and the subsequent trial polarized the nation, sparking outrage and protests and shined an unforgiving light on issues including race, politics, power, money and, gun control.

Interviews combined with home videos, family photos, and news footage will take viewers beyond the news cycle and offer an intimate look at the story of a young life tragically cut short and that spurred a movement giving rise to a rallying cry that still resonates today, #BlackLivesMatter.

“Rest in Power: The Trayvon Martin Story” also addresses the significant cultural and societal issues surrounding the tragedy as well as an in-depth examination into the investigation, trial, and the not-guilty verdict.

“Rest in Power: The Trayvon Martin Story” is produced for Paramount Network by Shawn Carter and The Cinemart. Executive Producers are Shawn Carter, Mike Gasparro, Jenner Furst, Julia Willoughby Nason, Nick Sandow, David C. Glasser, Chachi Senior, Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin. Furst and Nason are co-directors on the project.

source:
Carleen Donovan
carleen@donovanpublicrelations.com

Chloe Snyder
chloe@donovanpublicrelations.com

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/07/trayvon/

*The family and friends of Marvin Gaye will hold a press conference today (07-25-18) at 12Noon Pacific in Los Angeles to announce that a bill to name a post office for Marvin Gaye was signed in to law by President Donald Trump.

“Marvin Gaye’s music has transcended generations and gave (us) the ’70s and ’80s a sound,” said Rep. Karen Bass, D-Los Angeles, who introduced HR 1496 to name the post office at 3585 S. Vermont Avenue, the Marvin Gaye Post Office.

Because of solo hits such as “How Sweet It Is,” “Ain’t That Peculiar,” “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” and his duet singles with such singers as Mary Wells and Tammi Terrell, Gaye was dubbed “The Prince of Motown” and “The Prince of Soul.”

Gaye won Grammys in 1983 for best male rhythm and blues vocal performance and best R&B instrumental performance for “Sexual Healing.” Gaye was elected to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1987 and received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

“On behalf of the Gaye Family we are truly grateful and humbly appreciate Congresswoman Karen Bass for her dedicated work and blessing the Gaye family with such a prestigious honor to dedicate and name a United States Post Office after our beloved Marvin Gaye Jr.

“And to activist Najee Ali we also appreciate your efforts in bringing the Marvin Gaye Post office proposal to Congressmember Bass and helping get this bill passed.We thank both of you from the bottom of our hearts with much love.” – Zeola Gaye, Marvin’s baby sister.

Press conference
Date: Wednesday – July 25, 2018
Time: Noon
Address: U.S. Post Office
3585 S.Vermont Ave (Across from USC)
Los Angeles CA

source:
Project Islamic Hope

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/07/marvin-gaye-post-office-naming-press-conference-set-for-today-in-la/

*(ATLANTA, GA) — Double Grammy® and Double Oscar® Award-Winning Balladeer, Peabo Bryson, is killing the game! Just a few months after announcing the upcoming release of his 21st studio album, Stand For Love, his first single, “Love Like Yours and Mine,” has taken position in the #3 spot on Billboard’s Adult R&B chart … and he’s just getting started!

Now, the music legend has released an exclusive video for his next hit single, “All She Wants To Do Is Me” – an uptempo dance groove that has already premiered on an episode of Showtime’s hit series, The Chi, and is sure to be a steppers anthem for generations to come!

“It was placed in a scene for a block party,” confirms Bryson regarding the song’s feature on The Chi. “That’s unusual for a Peabo Bryson record, or should I say ‘new and exciting’ for Peabo Bryson, and it’s one of those songs for all you steppers out there.”

He continues, “It’s a song called ‘All She Wants To Do Is Me,’ and if you’re fortunate to have this kind of relationship, where all you want to do is each other… is the bomb-ziggity!”

Stand for Love is Peabo’s 21st studio album. Set to release on Friday, August 3, it is already being considered a 9-track masterpiece, not only because of his legendary voice, but also because of his collaboration with the world-renowned, super-producer duo, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis!

“All of the right elements fell into place for this project,” says Bryson. “I challenged Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis to make me current…while maintaining the integrity of what I have built as an important body of work. I have to say, it is nothing less than amazing!”

With a musical career that includes two GRAMMYs®, two Oscars®, multiple gold albums, multiple #1 songs and chart-topping singles in R&B, Pop and Contemporary Jazz, Bryson’s return is a breath of fresh air to both seasoned fans and those of younger generations.

“Peabo is just one of the greatest voices of our time,” mentions Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis in a joint statement. “He exudes a class and sophistication that’s so needed in music today. I know R&B needs Peabo Bryson especially now. And his fans both old and new will fall in love with Stand For Love.”

Fans can pre-order Stand For Love through various music service providers including iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, Apple Music, Google Play, WalMart today! Click here for details: https://PeaboBryson.lnk.to/StandForLove.

For a full list of tour dates and music updates, visit www.TheRealPeaboBryson.com.

UPCOMING 2018 TOUR DATES

Full list of 2018 tour dates available at www.TheRealPeaboBryson.com

source:
Candace Ledbetter
Candace@CNBetterMedia.com

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/07/peabo-bryson-drops-exclusive-video-of-new-single-all-she-wants-to-do-is-me-watch/

*Founded in 1985 by the late Lu Vason, The Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo has traveled to many cities and is known as the world’s only touring African American rodeo. The rodeo employs men and women of all ages, not only as rodeo participants, but as animal handlers, stable hands, cooks, and a large variety of administrative tasks.

Student workers often obtain scholarships for college and it is known throughout the youth that a good rodeo performance caught on tape could land them a full ride at one of the many historically black colleges and universities.  That means hard work can land them, not only fun, healthy habits, but there is a potential to set them on a positive path for success in life.

The Bill Pickett Rodeo website features not only information about their current champions, but also information on all the events and how black cowboys have affected the sport.

According to the website, “Annually, dust will fly as spectators cheer for their favorite Black Cowboys and Cowgirls competing during thrilling Calf Ropin’, exhilarating Bareback Ridin’, Bull Doggin, Ladies Barrel Racin’, Junior Barrel Racin’, Ladies Steer Undercoatin’, and gripping Bull Ridin.’”

The Bill Pickett Rodeo Series moves to Atlanta, GA on Saturday, August 4, 2018, at 7:30 pm and Sunday, August 5, 2018, at 3:30 pm at the Georgia International Horse Park.  Following that, the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo will be moving on to the DC-Virginia area with it’s ‘Rodeo for Kidz Sake’ on Friday, September 21, 2018, at 10:00 AM. The Bill Pickett Championship Rodeo will continue in the DC-Virginia area on Saturday, September 22, 2018, 1:30 pm & 7:30 pm at The Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro, MD.

The Star of this year’s rodeo was this unnamed bull.  Aside from the flagrant flaunting of his personality, this bull possessed a white stripe along his nose, short horns, and glossy black fur.

One thing to remember, these animals, despite their great strength and fearsome looks, are peaceful beasts who don’t want to hurt anyone, but sometimes accidents happen.  

Sometimes, like with the bull with the white stripe along his nose, the animals decide not to follow the traditional directions and show a bit of its own personality.

Here a cowboy ropes a stubborn bull.  This bull decided that he’d had his fun and peacefully returned to the stable with the other bulls.  

When the same cowboy tried to lasso the bull with the white stripe, the bull turned toward the cowboy and faked a charge resulting in a quick retreat and dropping of the rope.

It should be noted that every time this particular cowboy twirled his lasso, it found its way around the neck of some loose animal, but the majority of the time, especially with the smaller animals and horses, they were ‘wrangled’ or guided into the stable adjacent the arena floor without the need of ropes, whips or any type of aggressive actions. 

Surely this bull has a name, known by his trainers and owners, however before the EURWeb staff could get back to ask his name, he charged and bucked a trainer seriously injuring his leg.  The trainer will be ok, and paramedics were quick to respond after his wife and co-workers managed to secure the animal.

Playing with the animals, as this trainer learned, is not always advised, even though it is necessary to get the bull, and other animals, to do what is needed with the least amount of contact.  The animals are well trained and know where to go.

For information about the history of the rodeo, read EURWeb’s coverage of last year’s rodeo at https://www.eurweb.com/2017/08/the-history-of-the-rodeo-featuring-black-cowboy-bill-pickett/.

For show tickets, reviews, rodeo championship information or more information, go to http://www.billpickettrodeo.com/.

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/07/the-bill-pickett-rodeo-entertains-in-los-angeles-photos/

*Motherhood has made Cardi B realize that money isn’t everything and as a result, she has backed out of her highly lucrative tour plans with Bruno Mars. That’s all well and good for her, but for Bruno, it’s a problem. A BIG PROBLEM.

Needless to say, Bruno Mars, like everyone else, was shocked at the news. And being without an opening act, puts the upcoming tour in jeopardy, to say the least.

Sources connected to Bruno’s tour — slated to kick off in Sept. — told TMZ that he’s without an opener and, so far, there has been no replacement made for Cardi. Bruno’s people were supposedly burning up the phones Friday … starting conversations with reps from a number of musicians but nothing is close to being locked down.

RELATED NEWS: CARDI B EXITS BRUNO MARS TOUR; CHIPOTLE GIVES HER LIFETIME SUPPLY OF FREE CHIPS & GUAC COUPONS

Digging deeper, the report says Cardi’s decision to back out of the tour has created some issues … dancers were hired, costumes made and stage backdrops built.

As we reported, Cardi B realized se was in too deep and made the decision to tell Bruno she could do the tour because she “underestimated this whole mommy thing.” She explained to fans she needs more time to recover and isn’t ready to part with her daughter, Kulture, while she goes on the road.

Bruno Mars responded with a heartfelt message of support and understanding, adding …

“We love you Cardi and we will play Bodak Yellow every night in your honor.”

In other Cardi B news, The Bronx born  rapper just showed off her post-baby bod for the first time since she and Offset welcomed their daughter, Kulture, into the world on July 10. And it goes without question that Cardi is looking real good parked on the hood of her new Lamborghinian.

Speaking of which. It doesn’t hurt she and her hubby are also flaunting 2 hot new Lamborghinis. She captioned the pic above, “Blessed & Gifted … Official Lamb Owners.”

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/07/uh-oh-cardi-bs-backing-out-of-bruno-mars-tour-creates-a-big-problem/

*This month, Reflektions, threw a party to promote their live video streaming app.

App founder, Dion Pouncil, held a sit down dinner at the infamous James Goldstein Estate in Beverly Hills to connect top leaders across multiple industries.

The pre Espy’s event labeled “The Syndicate” is described as an exclusive network of leaders across technology, sports, finance and entertainment.

Attendees included political advocate Angela Rye, comedian Torrei Hart and “Teen Mom” star Farrah Abrahams.

“It’s important for the culture because right now we can use some laughs and some light-hearted moments,” shared Rye. “We have a disaster in the White House so anytime we can come together to fellowship, share jokes and create memories is a great thing.”

The night included a cocktail reception followed by a panel discussion with seasoned talent and catered cuisine. NBA Players Delon Wright, Eric Mooreland and Isiah Taylor lead the sports panel conversation. Lo Toney, Dirk Ahlborn, Kobie Fuller and Chris Gray shared their expertise during the tech talk.

“When I was growing up I had AOL dial-up,” joked Rye. “Technology has shifted quite a bit and when you think about the wave of the future…the internet and technology rule the world so [coding courses and tech curriculum in primary school] should no longer be optional but required.”

Reflektions connects creators, viewers and influencers directly to their fans. Users can follow their favorite celebs, watch their videos and create their own video content to share. According to reps, there’s always something new and unexpected for viewers to explore and discover like courses from music to yoga, from web development to photography.

The social media app is only available for iOS (9.0 or later) devices, for more information download the app in the App Store.

The official sponsors for “The Syndicate” are World of Crypto Con, Trussi, Theragun, and Lemond.

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/07/angela-rye-espys-tech-watch/

*LOS ANGELES –  J. Cole has announced actor, rapper, singer and songwriter Jaden Smith will join his highly anticipated North American KOD Tour as support, as well as Dreamville artist Earthgang and rapper Kill Edward. The new acts join previously announced special guest Young Thug for one of the can’t miss tours of the year, kicking off August 9 in Miami, FL.

Produced by Live Nation, the tour will also make stops in Atlanta, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles and more, before wrapping in Boston, MA on October 10. See below for full itinerary.

Tickets for the KOD tour are on sale now to the general public at www.dreamville.com and LiveNation.com.

Released via Dreamville with distribution through Roc Nation/Interscope Records, KOD arrived on April 20 and debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200, marking J. Cole’s fifth consecutive #1 on the chart. Along with scoring the biggest streaming week for an album so far in 2018, KOD has earned the third-biggest streaming week for an album in all of chart history.

Cole KOD Tour Dates:

Aug 9 – Miami, FL – AmericanAirlines Arena

Aug 11 – Tampa, FL – Amelia Arena+

Aug 12 – Atlanta, GA – Infinite Energy Center

Aug 14 – New Orleans, LA – Smoothie King Center

Aug 15 – Houston, TX – Toyota Center

Aug 17 – San Antonio, TX – AT&T Center

Aug 18  – Dallas, TX – American Airlines Center

Aug 21 – Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Arena

Aug 22 – San Diego, CA – Viejas Arena at Aztec Bowl SDSU

Aug 24 – Los Angeles, CA – Staples Center

Aug 25 – Los Angeles, CA – Staples Center+

Aug 29 – Oakland, CA – Oracle Arena*

Sep 2 – Boise, ID – Taco Bell Arena*

Sep 4 – Sacramento, CA – Golden 1 Center

Sep 5 – Anaheim, CA – Honda Center

Sep 7 – Las Vegas, NV – T-Mobile Arena

Sep 8 – Salt Lake City, UT – Vivint Smart Home Arena

Sep 10 – Denver, CO – Pepsi Center

Sept 12 – Little Rock, AR – Verizon Arena

Sep 13 – Birmingham, AL – Legacy Arena at The BJCC

Sep 17 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena

Sep 18 – Kansas City, MO – Sprint Center

Sep 19 – Minneapolis, MN – Target Center

Sep 21 – Detroit, MI – Little Caesar’s Arena

Sep 22 – Chicago, IL – Allstate Arena

Sep 23 – Columbus, OH – Schottenstein Center

Sep 25 – Buffalo, NY – KeyBank Center*

Sep 26 – Hartford, CT – XL Center

Sep 28 – University Park, PA – Bryce Jordan Center

Oct 1 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden

Oct 4 – Toronto – Air Canada Centre

Oct 5 – Montreal – Bell Centre*

Oct 6 – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center

Oct 8 – Washington, DC – Capital One Arena

Oct 10 – Boston, MA – TD Garden

*Jaden Smith not performing

+Earthgang not performing

The fifth studio album from J. Cole, KOD follows his critically acclaimed, platinum-selling 2016 album 4 Your Eyez Only. In the week ending April 26, KOD sold 397k equivalent album units, while its songs amassed 322 million audio streams. That makes J. Cole only the third artist in history to surpass 300 million audio streams in its debut week—an achievement that’s especially remarkable considering that KOD only contains 12 songs.

Retail: http://smarturl.it/KODJCole

Amazon: http://smarturl.it/KODJCole/amazonmusicbuy

Apple: http://smarturl.it/KODJCole/applemusic

Google: http://smarturl.it/KODJCole/googleplay

ITunes: http://smarturl.it/KODJCole/itunes

SoundCloud: http://smarturl.it/KODJCole/soundcloud

Spotify: http://smarturl.it/KODJCole/spotify

Tidal:  http://smarturl.it/KODJCole/tidal

A North Carolina native, J. Cole was the first artist signed to Jay-Z’s Roc Nation label, which released his official debut Cole World: The Sideline Story in 2011. To date, he’s received five Grammy Award nominations, including Best New Artist and Best Rap Album (for 2014’s 2014 Forest Hills Drive). Arriving in December 2016, 4 Your Eyez Only debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 and gained acclaim from outlets like the New York Times (who praised it as “spartan but sumptuous, emotionally acute but plain-spoken…one of the year’s most finely drawn [albums]”). 4 Your Eyez Only was J. Cole’s first release for Dreamville, the label he launched in 2007. Like all of J. Cole’s first four albums, it’s certified platinum.

Young Thug is a rapper and fashion icon who defies borders. He has close to 11 million monthly listeners on Spotify and his projects are critically acclaimed (4 received scores of 8 or higher on Pitchfork). Thug recently released his mixtape Super Slimy with Future and scored his first Billboard No. 1 on Camila Cabello’s ‘Havana’.

For more about J. Cole:

https://soundcloud.com/j-cole

https://twitter.com/JColeNC

https://www.facebook.com/JColeMusic/

https://www.instagram.com/realcoleworld

ABOUT LIVE NATION ENTERTAINMENT
Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) is the world’s leading live entertainment company comprised of global market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts, and Live Nation Sponsorship. For additional information, visit www.livenationentertainment.com.

source:
Emily Bender
EmilyBender@livenation.com

Monique Sowinski
MoniqueSowinski@livenation.com

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/07/j-cole-announces-jaden-smith-earthgang-and-kill-edward-as-special-guests-on-kod-tour/

*Author, literary agent, educator and publishing guru Joylynn Ross invites authors, publishes and book fans to this year’s inaugural conference “Act Like An Author, Think Like A Business,” sponsored by Path to Publishing.

The event will be held September 20^th – 22^nd 2018 at Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada and features Diane Rembert, Aletheia Mason, Stephanie Bridges and Lila Holley, among others. Conference topics include E-books, Print & Audio books, Distribution Set-up, Wholesalers, Distributors, Pre-Publication Campaigns, Contracts, Agreements, Taxes, making a living as a writer and more!

Diane Rembert is the founder of Diamond’s Literary World LLC. She hosts a weekly blog talk radio show called Diamond’s Literary World and she’s also a book reviewer and influencer in the literary world. Diane will conduct a FREE session during the conference on Friday, September 21^st from 6-9:00 PM. For details on that specified event click here.

Aleatheia “Memory Maker” Mason will also present at the “Act Like An Author, Think Like A Business” conference.  Aleatheia uses her lens to tell stories and to inspire others to cultivate the gift of communicating through photography. Aleatheia and J & A Photography will present “Get Over Your Selfie.” 

Author Stephanie Bridges, founder of In Spirit Power and Truth Publishing, LLC., is also attending the “Act Like an Author, Think Like a Business” 2018 Conference.  Bridges was awarded a grant to attend the conference and will elaborate on how she went through this process in her presentation titled “Seeking & Securing Individual Artist Grants.” 

Lila Holley will provide a keynote at the “Act Like An Author, Think Like A Business” conference.  Lila’s a US Army veteran who assists women in telling their stories and experiences.  Her award-winning “Camouflaged Sisters” book series is an Amazon bestseller. Lila’s presentation “The Art of Monetizing Literary Collaborations”complements Day 3’s general session.

Of course the anchor of the event is the effervescent Joylynn Ross, who will intersperse each day’s activities with valuable and game changing insights for anyone who is already in or who seeks to enter the world of book publishing. For registration and full conference schedules go to www.pathtopublishing.com. For interviews contact info@pathtopublishing.com. Phone: 725-605-4054.

About Path to Publishing: Path To Publishing helps authors find the right path to publication for their particular literary project, and stay on it. They serve authors of every genre no matter where they are on their literary journey. The Path To Publishing community is not just writers writing books. They are literary architects building literary empires.

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/07/act-like-an-author-think-like-a-business/

*LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Applications are being accepted now through Oct. 31, 2018, for the Disney Dreamers Academy with Steve Harvey and Essence magazine. This annual outside-the-classroom mentoring program is scheduled for March 21-24, 2019, at the Walt Disney Resort in Florida.

The program helps 100 select high school students, ages 13-19, from across the United States jump-start their life goals and pursue their dreams.

Disney Dreamers Academy turns the entire magical setting of Walt Disney World into a vibrant classroom. Students participate in a series of sessions and workshops designed to help them imagine bright futures, make exciting discoveries and learn how to put their goals into action. Disney Dreamers engage in a wide variety of experiences at Walt Disney World while working side by side with celebrities, community and industry leaders and Disney cast members.

For more than a decade, Disney Dreamers Academy has inspired young people from across the country by fueling their dreams and showing them a world of possibilities as they prepare for the future. Each year, students participate in hands-on, immersive career seminars in a wide range of disciplines found at Walt Disney World. Participants learn how to improve their communication skills, what it means to be a leader and networking strategies, among other skills. They are also inspired by celebrity speakers and other special guests who share their stories and provide insights on how to achieve their life goals.

The second decade of Disney Dreamers Academy is focused on challenging young people to relentlessly pursue their dreams through the “Be 100” campaign. This promotional push is inspired by the powerful impact Disney Dreamers Academy has made on graduates, who have gone on to become doctors, nurses, engineers, pilots, journalists and more. Some have started their own public relations firms, while others have worked with national political leaders.

Applicants must answer essay questions about their personal journeys and dreams for the future. Students are selected based on a combination of attributes, including strong character, positive attitude and determination to achieve their dreams. A parent or guardian accompanies each student on the trip.

This four-day, all-expenses-paid experience at Walt Disney World will continue to help change the lives of young people in 2019. For more information or to apply, visit DisneyDreamersAcademy.com.

source:
Annette Gibbs
Public Relations Manager
Annette.gibbs@disney.com
Walt Disney World Resort

——————————

Martina Smith
Public Relations
Walt Disney World Resort
Martina.J.Smith@disney.com

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/08/applications-now-open-for-disney-dreamers-academy-at-walt-disney-world-resort/