When NBA center Jason Collins announced he was gay, I wondered whether his decision to speak up would encourage other gay athletes in major team sports to speak up or bolt the door even tighter. It didn’t take long for some in the blogosphere to say that the 34-year-old free agent’s announcement might make that […]

Who killed Kendrick Johnson? Nobody knows. Or at least nobody is talking. And police investigators are no closer to solving Johnson’s death today. Johnson, a popular high school football player, was found dead on January 11. Johnson’s family deserves answers – and right now. It’s unconscionable that after three months, police have no suspects, have […]

Leo Branton, Jr. was the African American lawyer responsible for the acquittal of activist Angela Davis in 1972. Davis was on trial for murder, kidnapping and conspiracy. Branton was up against an all-white jury. The WWII veteran had served as counsel for Nat King Cole, Dorothy Dandridge, the estate of Jimi Hendrix and the Black […]

Fantasia is back out on the scene with a new album, new attitude and new slimmer figure! In a recent interview with Essence.com, the “Lose to Win” singer revealed how she was able to drop 50 pounds after the birth of her son and get back in shape in time for her album’s release. “Working out […]

Over the weekend, actress Zoe Saldana attended the “Star Trek Into Darkness” photocall in Berlin, Germany. For the occasion the starlet rocked an on trend crop top and A-line skirt look that was so effortlessly chic. Zoe kept her accessories to a minimum, opting only for a pair of beige perforated t-strap heels. Fierce! Her makeup consisted […]

Are more women going under the knife to get Michelle Obama’s arms? According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, people in the U.S. spent $11 billion on the cosmetic procedures alone. But the society chose to highlight one procedure that is less familiar: the upper arm-lift.  In 2012, 15,457 patients, 98% of them women, spent a total […]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House is commending NBA veteran Jason Collins for becoming the first active male player in the four major American professional sports to come out as gay. White House spokesman Jay Carney called that decision courageous and says the White House supports Collins. He says he hopes the 34-year-old center’s team […]

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Retired Archbishop Desmond Tutu‘s foundation says the anti-apartheid hero was released from a hospital in Cape Town on Monday following five days of successful treatment for a persistent infection. The Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation said a battery of tests to determine the underlying cause of the infection, and its persistence, […]

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — Police in Tacoma could soon be in real trouble over pot. The department could be found in contempt if they continue to refuse to return a small amount of marijuana seized from a man after a traffic stop. Municipal Court Judge Jack Emery repeated an order to police Thursday to return […]

Ray-J “I Hit It First” [BHS] Stevie J may have a bus but that’s no comparison to Ray J’s jet, which makes an appearance in the behind the scenes footage for his controversial video “I Hit It First.” Ostentatious as usual, Ray-J finds himself in the midst of beautiful women and fancy cars while enjoying his current […]

Vibe magazine has seen better days. According to the New York Times, the 21-year-old R&B and hip-hop magazine has been brought out by SpinMedia, the company that houses websites like TMZ, Gawker, BuzzFeed and JustJared. The sale, which was for a disclosed amount, also included Vibe.com and Vibevixen.com. Steve Hansen, SpinMedia’s chief executive, described the magazine […]

NEW YORK (AP) — NBA veteran Jason Collins became the first active male player in the four major American professional sports to come out as gay. The 34-year-old center, who has played for six teams in 12 seasons, wrote a first-person account that was posted on Sports Illustrated’s website Monday. Collins finished the season with […]