While the world is caught up in the tomfoolery that is Olympian Ryan Lochte and company’s Rio shenanigans, something beautiful was happening in Rio at the actual Olympic games. Rheana Murray of Today.com is righting the ship with her story on 2016 track and field Olympian Will Claye’s proposal to fellow athlete Queen Harrison. Moments after Will Claye won a silver medal in the triple jump he proposed Harrison. Claye says his biggest obstacle to the proposal was actually getting up to the stands which were crowded with spectators.
“I just knew today was going to be the best day of my life,” Claye told NBC Olympics. “When I woke up I was like, ‘I’m going to be engaged to my best friend…She’s the one for me and I just had to do it today.”
(Instagram)
Harrison, who graduated from Hermitage High School in Richmond and attended Virginia Tech, just posted on Monday about how “it has been difficult to be in Rio and not be competing.” Harrison, an American hurdler and sprinter competed in the 400 meter hurdles at the 2008 Summer Olympics. The 2010 Bowerman winner and 2015 Pan American Games gold medalist missed qualifying for this year’s Olympic games by one second. Now, she has another milestone to celebrate.
Ex-footballer Dalian Atkinson died after being tasered by the police.
(Photo: Google Images)
Ex-footballer Dalian Atkinson died after being tasered by the police. (Photo: Google Images)
BBC is reporting former Premier League footballer Dalian Atkinson has died after being shot with a taser near his father’s home in the British town of Telford on Thursday. The writer identified as Shropshire reports:
“Police said the weapon was deployed at about 01:30 BST in Telford, Shropshire after officers were called to a report of concern for a man’s safety.
A neighbor described seeing the former Aston Villa star, 48, being Tasered after ‘stumbling towards’ police.
Mr Atkinson went into cardiac arrest on his way to hospital, where he was pronounced dead at about 03:00.
Paula Quinn, who lives in a first-floor flat near the Atkinson property in Trench, said: ‘They were shouting and kicking so much all I could hear were the boots hitting him.
‘And then the officer who released the Taser stepped back while the other officer still continued to kick and then I could hear him shout to the other officer that was still kicking, ‘Back off, back off, back off.’
‘And then the officer with the Taser asked the gentleman to put his hands behind his back and did so probably two or three times and reactivated the Taser another four or five times after that. ‘
The death has been referred to the police watchdog, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).”
Atkinson’s nephew Fabian told reporters that the former soccer star was undergoing dialysis for kidney problems. Police have said the amount of force used against Atkinson is why the incident has been referred to the IPCC. IPCC is currently investigating four deaths after the use of a taser by police.
Women react during a protest demanding security forces to search harder for 200 schoolgirls abducted by Islamist militants two weeks ago, outside Nigeria's parliament in Abuja April 30, 2014. Scores of suspected Boko Haram gunmen stormed an all-girls secondary school in the village of Chibok, in Borno state, on April 14, packing the teenagers onto trucks and disappearing into a remote, hilly area along the Cameroon border. REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde (NIGERIA - Tags: CIVIL UNREST RELIGION EDUCATION TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) - RTR3NB21
(Photo: BBC Africa)
BBC Africa is reporting Nigerian Islamist group Boko Haram has released a video showing some of the 276 school girls they abducted from the northern town of Chibok in 2014. The article states:
“Some 50 girls are shown with a gunman who demands the release of fighters in return for the girls, and says some girls died in air strikes.
The government says it is in touch with the militants behind the video…
The group is said to be holding more than 200 of the 276 final-year girls it seized from a school in April 2014.
Non-Muslims were forcibly converted to Islam, and it is feared that many of the schoolgirls have been sexually abused and forced into “marriage” by their captors.
Parents of the missing girls have described their anguish at seeing their daughters in captivity.”
The video shows the captors saying some of the girls have life-threatening injuries from airstrikes, and they will never be returned unless captured Boko Haram members are released by the government. The captor who was holding a gun also said the girls were forcibly converted to Islam and 40 were married to Boko Haram members.
Women react during a protest demanding security forces to search harder for 200 schoolgirls abducted by Islamist militants two weeks ago, outside Nigeria’s parliament in Abuja April 30, 2014. Scores of suspected Boko Haram gunmen stormed an all-girls secondary school in the village of Chibok, in Borno state, on April 14, packing the teenagers onto trucks and disappearing into a remote, hilly area along the Cameroon border. REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde (NIGERIA – Tags: CIVIL UNREST RELIGION EDUCATION TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) – (Google Images)
In April 2014, 276 girls were kidnapped from school in Borno State, Nigeria. The kidnappings drew worldwide attention leading to a global #Bring Back our Girls campaign demanding the return of the school girls.
Grammy-winning singer Chaka Khan makes her stage comeback at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta.
Grammy-winning singer Chaka Khan makes her stage comeback at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta.
Music icon Chaka Khan blazed the stage at Atlanta’s Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in her first performance since her voluntary stint in a treatment program for an addiction to prescription painkillers. The 10-time Grammy-winning powerhouse songstress, songwriter, philanthropist, entrepreneur and best-selling author turned a 75-minute career retrospective into a t series of magic moments to remind her adoring fans that her fiery vocal still rests perfectly atop the throne.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominee’s siren delivery dressed enchanted in a black leather and sequins opened with the percussive Rufus classic “Do You Love What You Feel.” “I Feel For You,” her biggest solo hit to date, came with the song’s opening drop, her signature staccato refraining of her name (of course). This time, Khan took her time in delivering her verses, giving the track a rather chill flow.
Selling well over 70 million records worldwide, Khan’s trip down memory lane continued with the dulcet “Papillion (Hot Butterfly)” before she seamlessly segued into “What You Gonna Do For Me.” A few scales of “Stay” and “Sweet Thing” came later in the show. Khan’s contralto breaths worked sonic miracles on another Rufus ballad, “Everlasting Love” before her tranquil “come to Jesus” moment on the Sunday morning service-like ballad “Love Me Still.”
The show’s midpoint was a time for Khan to share the spotlight with her band. Ronald Brunner, Jr.’s drum solo, keyboardist Tracy Carter’s scatting, guitarist Rob Bacon’s robotic talkbox and funky riffs offered a rather strong climactic point. Background singers Toni Scruggs, Audrey Wheeler and Tiffany Smith belted out “Through the Fire” in ways that would definitely make Khan proud.
Coming back out on-stage in a sparkling rose-colored ensemble, the gracious, plum-haired Khan scatted out a jazzed-up rendition of “My Funny Valentine,” and got the audience on its feet with the funky “Tell Me Something Good.” Following the anthem “I’m Every Woman” and before the “Ain’t Nobody” encore, Councilman Kwanza Hall presented Khan with a proclamation declaring it Chaka Khan Day in the City of Atlanta.
The entire evening was evidence that Khan is still one of the reigning queens of music, no matter the style or era or obstacles.
This post was written by Christopher A. Daniel, pop cultural critic and music editor for The Burton Wire. He is also a contributing writer for Urban Lux Magazine and Blues & Soul Magazine. Follow Christopher @Journalistorian on Twitter.
ESPN personality John Saudnders dies at 61.
(Photo: Google Images)
ESPN personality John Saudnders dies at 61. (Photo: Google Images)
The sports world is still reeling from the news of the death of longtime ESPN sports personality John Saunders, who died Wednesday at age 61. Video of Saunders’ friend and colleague Hannah Storm delivering the news from her post at the Rio Olympics has gone viral. A visibly shaken Storm struggled through the announcement of the loss of her friend.
In addition to Storm, Stephen A. Smith of ESPN’s First Take, who is known for tough talk and commentary, broke down when talking about the loss of his friend and colleague.
John Saunders was born Feb. 2, 1955, in Ajax, Ontario. He joined ESPN in 1986, hosting the sports network’s program titled ‘The Sports Reporters.’ At the time of his death, he was the host of ABC’s coverage of college football. Before moving to the U.S. to work as a sports anchor at a Baltimore, Maryland, television station, Saunders was a news director for an Ontario radio station and a sports anchor at an Ontario TV station. Many sports writers, athletes and entertainers Tweeted their sadness about the loss of the sports broadcaster.
Other sports broadcasters like Scott Van Pelt of ESPN‘s One Big Thing offered remembrances of Saunders. Like many of his colleagues, Van Pelt considered Saunders a friend and mentor.
Fox Sports Colin Cowherd talked about Saunders professionalism and excellent skill set for commentating.
Off screen, the veteran broadcaster advocated for juvenile diabetes research. He was also a founding member of the Jimmy V Foundation for cancer research. Saunders is survived by his wife, Wanda, and two daughters, Aleah and Jenna.
Brand New Heavies original members Simon Bartholomew (l.), Andrew Levy (c.) and N'Dea Davenport performed in Atlanta at Buckhead Theatre this past July (Photo Credit: Brand New Heavies).
Brand New Heavies original members Simon Bartholomew (l.), Andrew Levy (c.) and N’Dea Davenport performed in Atlanta at Buckhead Theatre this past July (Photo Credit: Brand New Heavies).
In the early Nineties, multiracial acid jazz/funk/soul ensemble The Brand New Heavies exploded onto the music scene with a retro image and an infectious danceable sound impossible to deny. Led by multi-talented vocalist N’Dea Davenport, the band signed to Delicious Vinyl Records and consistently released timeless songs like “Dream Come True,” “Never Stop,” “Dream on Dreamer” and “Stay This Way.”
Davenport, who recently performed in Atlanta with The Brand New Heavies at Buckhead Theatre, equates playing the reunion shows with original members, guitarist Simon Bartholomew and keyboardist/bassist Andrew Levy, to being on vacation. She takes a few moments to address the band’s series of lineup rotations and how they’ve manage to overcome conflict. “Families go through different variations of multiple relationships and circumstances,” acknowledges an extremely relaxed Davenport. “We’re no different. The dynamics have been a bit of estrangement and togetherness, but fans have been really waiting for a long, long time.”
The Brand New Heavies originated around 1985 out of the club and acid jazz circuit in London. Simultaneously, Davenport frequented the Los Angeles club circuit, connecting with a series of DJs, creatives and performing background on various projects. When she signed with Delicious Vinyl as a solo act in 1990, the label executives asked for her perspective on the Brand New Heavies’s music. She made the decision to join the band who didn’t have a lead singer, delaying her plans to record her debut effort.
“They were some other younger musicians that wanted to try music,” says Davenport, “and still trying to hold the tradition of soul and funk music. It was very organic how we got together. I didn’t know what they looked like. It didn’t matter. We didn’t even have time to catch our breath (chuckles).”
As The Brand New Heavies were gearing up to release their project, Davenport was just returning from being a part of pop star Madonna’s camp. The ambitious Clark College (now Clark Atlanta University) alumnae provided background vocals to the 1990 hit “Vogue” along with several tracks on the Dick Tracy soundtrack I’m Breathless. As tempting as it was for Madonna to extend the offer to Davenport to join the Material Girl on the Blond Ambition World Tour and in the Truth or Dare documentary, Davenport says she couldn’t accept the opportunity.
It was more important for Davenport, she says, to put her own recording career goals first. “I’d made a commitment that I wanted to go on, do my solo record and take my career to a different degree,” she says. “I thought if I was gonna be a background singer, I may have ended up being a background singer for the rest of my life. There wouldn’t have been myself or Brand New Heavies. Sometimes you have to say no a lot to get the right yes.”
Davenport released her self-titled debut LP in 1998. Along the way, she collaborated with a slew of talent like the late Guru of Gang Starr, J.Dilla, Sly and Robbie, Mark Ronson and Malcolm McLaren. She still has flashbacks about recording “Trust Me” with Guru on his Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1 compilation.
The two performers originally bypassed one another on the Atlanta University Center campus. Guru attended Morehouse College with Davenport next door at Clark. Their groundbreaking collaboration is a musical moment Davenport takes pride in discussing. “When he put together the Jazzmatazz project, it was definitely one of the first and finest in how it was conceived,” states Davenport.
“It started being the norm to put an emcee with a vocalist. That set up a certain precedence, too, that’s really not recognized. He definitely deserves a lot of props for his contributions.”
Appearing on the predominately female-laden Lilith Fair concert festival alongside Sarah McLachlan, Natalie Merchant, Meshell Ndegeocello, Bonnie Raitt, Indigo Girls and India.Arie was just as monumental for Davenport. Her cumulative experiences in music, she believes, have allowed her to better understand who she is along with her collaborators.
“Music has allowed me to be accepting of myself,” expresses Davenport while nibbling on brunch. “Therefore, I can be accepting of others and continue to work on that. I can’t be no one else but me.”
The band, on the other hand, has featured singers Jay Ella Ruth, Carleen Anderson, Siedah Garrett, Sy Smith, Nicole Russo and Dawn Joseph over the years. Davenport is still the signature vocalist synonymous with the band’s legacy. It makes her proud to know that The Brand New Heavies can still perform live with great fanfare and anticipation. She describes the synergy between the band, also addressing their stage presence in the process.
“It’s actually a lot that hasn’t changed much,” she says. “We’re a lot more seasoned as musicians. It’s still very electric and energetic. It’s a nice vibe to see people like live music. It’s a perfect situation for the moment.”
This post was written by Christopher A. Daniel, pop cultural critic and music editor for The Burton Wire. He is also contributing writer for Urban Lux Magazine and Blues & Soul Magazine. Follow Christopher @Journalistorian on Twitter.
A photo of a Baltimore Police Department vehicle.
(Photo: Google Images)
A photo of a Baltimore Police Department vehicle. (Photo: Google Images)
The Department of Justice released a report on Wednesday on the Civil Rights investigation into the Baltimore Police Department following the death of Freddie Gray while in police custody. The investigation was requested by the Mayor’s office and Baltimore City Council. The findings include:
Making unconstitutional stops, searches and arrests
Using enforcement strategies that produce severe and unjustified disparities in the rates of stops, searches and arrests of African Americans
Using excessive force
Retaliating against people engaging in constitutionally-protected expression
The report also stated the following:
This pattern or practice is driven by systemic deficiencies in BPD’s policies, training, supervision, and accountability structures that fail to equip officers with the tools they need to police effectively and within the bounds of federal law.
The report supports what Baltimore residents have been saying for decades. Will this report actually result in systemic change or just offer confirmation of a knowingly broken system that has no interest in being repaired?
This post was written by Nsenga K. Burton, founder & editor-in-chief of The Burton Wire. Follow her on Twitter @Ntellectual.
Thousands flee as violence escalates in South Sudan.
(Photo: Cisanewsafrica.com)
Thousands flee as violence escalates in South Sudan. (Photo: Cisanewsafrica.com)
Deborah Bloom of CNN Africa is reporting 60,000 people, mostly women and children, are fleeing South Sudan into neighboring countries to escape violence. Reportedly 111 people were killed over the weekend in clashes outside of Juba. Bloom writes:
“Violence in South Sudan over the past three weeks has prompted a massive flight of refugees into neighboring countries, according to the United Nations. More than 60,000 people, most of whom are women and children, have fled the country since fighting began at the end of June, the U.N.’s refugee agency UNHCR reported on Tuesday.
‘The refugees have brought to us very disturbing reports,’ UNHCR Spokesman Melissa Fleming said at a briefing in Geneva. Armed groups ‘are looting villages, murdering civilians, and forcibly recruiting young men and boys into their ranks,’ Fleming said. ‘We are very concerned, and are appealing for parties to move back to the peace agreement.’
Despite a peace deal brokered on July 11, clashes between forces loyal to the country’s President Salva Kiir and those allied with former Vice President Riek Machar seem to be ongoing.”
In Sparta, Georgia, police are being sent to black households to serve subpoenas for them to prove they are voters or 'lose their voting rights.'
(Photo: Google Images & TBW)
In Sparta, Georgia, police are being sent to black households to serve subpoenas for them to prove they are voters or ‘lose their voting rights.’ (Photo: Google Images & TBW)
Fresh from our, “Is it 1816 or 2016” file, multiple news media outlets are reporting the Hancock County Board of Elections and Registration has been “systematically questioning the registrations of more than 180” black residents in Sparta, Georgia “by dispatching deputies with summonses commanding them to appear in person to prove their residence or lose their voting rights,” reports Brad Reed of Raw Story, citing a New York Times article.
The black residents targeted make up 1/5th of the total population of the town. Reed writes:
“A new lawsuit is alleging that the Hancock County Board of Elections enacted this policy to help white candidates win more elections in Sparta, although county attorney Barry Fleming told the Times that the board’s policies have nothing to do with race.”
We suppose they haven’t heard of voter suppression, voter intimidation or read any studies that prove voter fraud is mythical and a tool used by the GOP to violate the constitutional rights of citizens of color.
Who do you turn to in a town like Sparta, Georgia when the menacing, harassment and intimidation is coming from the Sheriff’s office and local government? We’ll wait.
ABC NEWS - 7/19/16 - Coverage of the 2016 Republican National Convention from the Convention Center in Cleveland, Ohio, which airs on all ABC News programs and platforms. GOOD MORNING AMERICA broadcasts from the convention floor. (Photo by Ida Mae Astute/ABC via Getty Images) DONNA BRAZILE
Rep. Marcia Fudge, Donna Brazile and Leah Daughtry hold the three top positions in the DNC. (Photos: Google Images)
Breanna Edwards of The Root is reporting a history making event at the 2016 Democratic National Convention. Three black women are in the top leadership positions, which is a first in the history of the convention. Edwards writes:
Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio) took her place as chair of the Democratic National Convention, and although the role was unexpected, NBCBLK notes, the Ohio congresswoman made a point to open with a call for unity and respect.
“We’re all Democrats and we need to act like it,” Fudge said Monday, vowing a “different kind of convention than the one we saw last week.”
Fudge is one of three black women who are currently running the DNC; she is joined by Donna Brazile who is acting as interim Democratic National Committee chair, and Leah Daughtry, the CEO of the convention.
‘We have three black women now running this convention: Rep. Marcia Fudge, Donna Brazile and Leah Daughtry,’ Melanie Campbell, president of the National Coalition of Black Civic Participation, told NBCBLK.
According to the site, back in November, Daughtry—who first led the convention as CEO in Denver in 2008—had promised ‘the most diverse and the most forward-looking convention that we’ve had in recent history.’
And, as all accounts go, Fudge is rising to her new role.
‘I know there are many of you in this room who don’t know me,’ Fudge said, addressing the thousands of delegates gathered for the Democratic convention. ‘I intend to be fair, I want to hear the varying opinions here. I’m gong to be respectful of you, and I want you to be respectful of me.’
Fudge told NBC News that she was prepared for her role.”
