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Bloody Sunday, the day when hundreds of people peacefully marched from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, yet were met with violence, occurred 60 years ago (March 7, 1965) today. In the decades since the disturbing events of Bloody Sunday, some strides were made, yet racial tensions remain as strained as ever in parts of the country.
The efforts of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) in the southern states were noteworthy as there existed the tendrils of Jim Crow despite landmark rulings such as the Civil Rights Act being passed in 1964. The SNCC rallied its efforts to bring forth voter equality for the Black electorate and was met with barriers of all sorts.
With the brutal police shooting death of activist and deacon Jimmie Lee Jackson, SNCC and SCLC leaders used the moment as a spark for a peaceful march from Selma to Montgomery. The march was comprised of around 600 people, with Rev. Hosea Williams, just 19, leading the charge on the SCLC’s behalf. SNCC’s chairman, John Lewis, met with Williams at the Brown Chapel AME Church with his members, and there were plans to have Martin Luther King Jr. join the march at some point.
It was hoped that the march would demonstrate the unity of the SNCC and SCLC and push their larger agenda of equal rights for Black voters and civil rights as a whole. What did occur on that fateful day would shock the nation.
When the marchers reached the Edmund Pettus Bridge, state troopers and white residents began to impose their will. Dallas County Sheriff Jim Clark made a wide call to all white men to essentially come to arms and gave out deputy status to anyone who volunteered. The officers attempted to tell the marchers to turn around verbally. From there, the troopers became aggressive and unleashed blows with their nightsticks regardless of age or gender. Adding to this, some troopers fired tear gas into the crowd.
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Lewis was severely injured during the Bloody Sunday march, and images of the future politician are still jarring. Among the dozens of images to emerge from Bloody Sunday, the image of civil rights activist and Dallas County native Amelia Boynton Robinson (who had been registering voters for years) being held by a fellow marcher also stirred the souls of many.
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With the photos of the violence of the march hitting every major news outlet in the States and around the globe, the civil rights movement once more found a catalyst to push for equal voting rights. In the same year, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965 into law.
Williams, who was with King on the night of his assassination in 1968 in Memphis, became the executive director of the SCLC and remained in the position until 1979. He was elected to the Georgia General Assembly in 1974, holding that post for a decade before yielding the seat to his wife, Juanita. Williams later was elected to the Atlanta City Council and was also the DeKalb County commissioner.
Lewis remained connected with the SNCC in the wake of Bloody Sunday and King’s passing but moved on to other organizations, involving himself in voter registration work and advancing civic participation. Like Williams, Lewis was elected to the Atlanta City Council in the early 1980s and later was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1986. Lewis worked as a congressman until July 2020.
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The Jazz and Soul music giant Roy Ayers has passed away. He was 84.
Variety reports that the Jazz vibraphonist’s family confirmed that he passed away on Tuesday, March 4, after a “long illness.”
“It is with great sadness that the family of legendary vibraphonist, composer, and producer Roy Ayers announce his passing which occurred on March 4, 2025 in New York City after a long illness,” reads the Ayers family’s statement. “He lived a beautiful 84 years and will be sorely missed. A celebration of Roy’s life will be forthcoming.”
Ayers is perhaps best known for his song “Everybody Loves The Sunshine,” from his 1976 album of the same name, which has been sampled countless times by Hip-Hop and R&B musicians. Ayers often credited Mary J. Blige’s 1994 “My Life,” which liberally samples the aforementioned song, with reviving his career and enriching his bank account.
Also a composer and record producer, Ayers’ deep and rich catalog of music has long been mined for samples that got flipped into new beats that hipped a new generation of listeners to his grooves. Some of those recognizable songs include “We Live In Brooklyn, Baby,” “Searching,” and “Running Away,” where were in turn chopped and massaged into new works from the like of Pete Rock & CL Smooth, Mos Def, Kendrick Lamar. A Tribe Called Quest and many, many more. Also notable was Ayers’ crafting of the soundtrack to the Blaxploitation classic Coffy, which stars Pam Grier.
One of this writers favorites was Ayers connecting with The Roots on their “Proceed II.”
Rest in powerful peace Roy Ayers.
This story is developing.
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Nike and Tom Sachs are back on good terms, which means a crispy pair of sneakers. The latter, dropped a couple of photos of the forthcoming NikeCraft Mars Yard 3.0 which is guaranteed to be one of the most hyped—and likely difficult to acquire (for retail price)—sneakers of the year, already.
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However, you can’t gloss over the fact Sachs—a renowned but controversial contemporary artist—and Nike were recently on the outs after allegations of his abuse behavior toward employees began to surface in early 2023. At the time, Sachs and Nike were in the midst of pushing the NikeCraft General Purpose Shoe, which came to a quick halt after the allegations and just several colorways were released. Although the model (which sported a more democratized purchase process that meant easier access and more pairs) was paused, Nike never completely severed ties with Sachs, taking a wait and see approach, and officially resuming their partnership in late 2024. “Tom has demonstrated and recommitted to fostering a culture of respect and inclusivity,” said Nike in a statement at the time.
As far as we can tell, Sachs’ hasn’t generated any new troubling headlines, and he’s back in official business with the Swoosh, and the NikeCraft Mars Yard 3.0 is set to drop in September per his Instagram post. At first glance, the sneaker itself doesn’t look like a radical departure from the Mars Yard 2.0 (which dropped in 2012 and 2017) but it is more like an optimization. Some of those updates include Nike’s React cushioning in the midsole, a black TPU toecap and a carbon fiber plate.
The Mars Yard 2.0 from 2017 was a smooth $200 (and fetches $1600 on StockX at the moment) so you can probably expect the 2025 version to be at least a bit pricier. Good hunting—we suggest you call up your sneaker plug not now but right now.
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Megan Thee Stallion turned 30 over Valentine’s Day Weekend and looked stunning doing so as we were privileged to witness via social media. The Houston Hottie herself is now expanding her business portfolio by way of her new tequila brand, Chicas Divertidas.
Announced on Megan Thee Stallion’s birthday (Feb. 15), Chicas Divertidas aims to be more than a celebrity tequila brand and is produced and sourced at Casa Centinela (NOM 1140), which has been distilling the famed Mexican spirit for over 120 years. As with all tequilas, the juice is made from 100% Blue Weber agave as legally mandated by the Consejo Regulador del Tequila (CRT) and can only be made from the plant in one of the designated regions in the country.
Hot Girl Meg is known as someone who enjoys a good beverage responsibly and shared her vision of Chicas Divertidas with her legion of fans.
“As someone who values good vibes and great memories, I knew I wanted to create a tequila that was designed to be shared and savored with my Hotties,” Megan shared in a statement. “Smooth, sultry, and premium. This process has been years in the making, and I’m so proud to take this next step in my journey as an entrepreneur and launch this brand. I know the Hotties are ready, it’s time to give them a drink made by me! I’m excited to share this labor of love with you all and hope you are inspired to enter your CHICAS ERA!”
Currently, Chicas Divertidas is offered in Blanco (SRP $70), which is unaged tequila that can be either sipped with meals or mixed and Reposado (SRP $80), which means “rested” and is a slightly aged version of tequila that can be sipped or make an excellent base for an Oaxacan Old Fashioned.
There is a presale link for Chicas Divertidas ahead of its wider national distribution, which can be found here.
Congratulations to Megan Thee Stallion.
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Photo: Chicas Divertidas Tequila
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Kendrick Lamar is upping the ante when it comes to his Super Bowl appearance. The “Not Like Us” rapper has partnered with Willy Chavarria for a capsule collection in honor of the big game.
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As spotted on GQ, the 2025 edition of football’s biggest night will come with some very unique wearables. Designer Willy Chavarria has curated merch in conjunction with Kendrick Lamar. While the drop covers your usual streetwear staples (i.e., t-shirts, shorts, hooded sweatshirts, etc.) it is clear the creative had a specific narrative in mind he was trying to convey with the overall aesthetic.
Featured throughout all the items is bold typography that incorporates some of Kendrick Lamar’s lyrics from GNX. “FOOT UP ON THE GAS, BUT SOMEBODY GOTTA DO IT” is featured on the hoodies. This collection is also is a nod to sports. We not only get some NFL emblem integration but apparel like performance jerseys and a satin varsity jacket.
The Kendrick Lamar Super Bowl Halftime performance capsule collection is available now. Proceeds from this drop will go support to those impacted by the Los Angeles wildfires.
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NLE Choppa has made it well-known that he proudly stands behind the LGBTQ community and though he doesn’t claim to be gay or bisexual, the man has been accused of gay baiting in the past. So when he posed up a storm for the latest issue of Playgirl, y’all already knew those accusations would once again go into overdrive.
Looking particularly zesty for his photoshoot in the January issue of Playgirl, many in the Hip-Hop community have once again taken to social media to call NLE Choppa out for baiting the gay community while others feel the man may just be slowly coming out the closet. Either way, that’s his business.
Still, it seems like the gay baiting accusations isn’t sitting too well with NLE Choppa. He explained that he did not care what others think about how he’s portraying himself for his fans, but does want people to stop saying he’s a “gay baiter just because I’m comfortable enough to show off the perfection that God has orchestrated over my physical, my mental, my spiritual and even my emotions.”
Homie low-key went from sounding conceited to humble in one sentence.
Continuing on with his statement of the gay baiting sentiment, NLE Choppa added, “I am not a gay baiter because I post a selfie in the mirror showing off how beautiful I am. I am not a gay baiter if I post a picture showing off how much God has blessed me from below the waist with something that got women going crazy. I am not a gay baiter because in my Playgirl shoot I showed a piece of my ass. I can’t show a piece of my own ass without being called a name? It’s my ass! I am not a gay baiter because I showed my ass to a lady photographer.”
Well, he’s not wrong, but y’all already know heads are going to think what they want to think, and they’re thinking he’s either gay baiting or simply gay on the low (not that there is anything wrong with that). That’s just the game.
Still, NLE doesn’t seem to care what anyone thinks of him and once again reiterated his support of the gay community saying, “I love gay people but I would never want to bait gay people to love me for a certain reason. That’s not what I wanna do.”
Good for you, NLE. Now, go put some pants on, b.
Check out NLE Choppa’s statement and let us know your thoughts on his statement in the comments section below. And peep the CassiusLife cover story while you’re at it.
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Popeyes, the fried chicken fast food chain, and Don Julio, one of the top tequila brands in the world, aren’t exactly in the same wheelhouse on several fronts but it appears things are changing. Don Julio and Popeyes look to be hinting at an upcoming collaboration and those who make up Black Xitter on the X platform had some thoughts.
Last Thursday, Popeyes posted a video on its Instagram account that teases the Don Julio collaboration featuring a vibrant party scene and a woman DJ decked out in gear adorned with the chain’s namesake along with some fancy Black boxes featuring the tequila brand’s name as well.
The caption for the video read, “The kitchen is heating up for the big game. Party starts 1.31.25,” which we assume is meant to illustrate that the Super Bowl contest between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs is happening soon on Feb. 9.
While we’ll have to wait until the end of the month to find out what exactly Popeyes and Don Julio are up to, fans on X, formerly Twitter, are chiming in with a wild variety of theories. Naturally, with the drop happening on the eve of Black History Month, some eyebrows were raised.
Will it be a new tequila-based glaze? Will there be Mexican-themed spices in a new drop? Is it a fashion collaboration considering the DJ’s outfit in the clip? It’s all over the place.
Check out the teaser clip below.
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Looks like another reality TV romance has bitten the dust. Ashley Adionser and Tyler Francis, the Season 7 couple from Netflix’s hit series, Love is Blind, who once set our hearts aflutter, have decided to call it quits.
A little over a year after jumping the broom together on the show, the crowd-favorite coupe has parted ways, with Ashley issuing a statement confirming their decision to end their relationship, saying:
“After much reflection, I want to share that Tyler and I have been separated for several weeks and have now made the difficult decision to end our marriage,” Ashley said in a statement to People. “While I had hoped for mutual understanding and transparency in our relationship, it has become clear that our paths are no longer aligned, making it impossible for me to continue in this marriage.” She added that she knows that this decision is “necessary” for her own “growth and peace.”
While Ashley’s statement to People didn’t offer details, she concluded her message sharing that she “will value the time and love [they] shared.
“While this chapter is ending, I will always hold respect for the time and love we shared,” Ashley continued. “I kindly ask for privacy during this deeply personal time as I focus on healing and building a new future. Thank you for your understanding and support.”
The couple’s onscreen love story hit a bump when Tyler revealed that he had donated sperm to help a friend, fathering three children that he initially said he had no relationship with. Photos challenging his story, as well as claims from the mother of said children, later circulated online when the season aired. Tyler, who spoke about wanting to have kids multiple times in the show, was side-eyed by many viewers (some of whom began calling him Tyler the Procreator).
During the reunion, Tyler acknowledged that he had lied about not knowing what the children looked like and suggested that he had wanted to protect their privacy. Ashley also clarified that she knew about the situation before having an on-camera discussion, calling it “insulting” to her intelligence for people to “imply that she was blindsided.”
Tyler has yet to publicly comment on the split.
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President Donald Trump was sworn in on Monday (Jan. 20) and the spectacle of the inauguration has concluded with many in the media offering their observations On X, President Donald Trump’s rambling and sometimes unfocused acceptance speech was dissected at great lengths with some pointing out the fallacies and falsehoods spewed from the pulpit.
President Donald Trump spoke at length from inside the U.S. Capitol Rotunda, using the moment to essentially echo many of his campaign talking points to raucous applause from his subordinates and supporters. It was more of the same tough talk and bluster most have come to expect, and there were soft lobs toward Black and Hispanic communities coupled with promises of cleaning up the crime in cities across the nation.
Trump also promised to tap into natural resources on the domestic level despite the threat to the climate it poses and wants to transform America into a manufacturing giant once more. He also made appeals to the auto industry and directed domestic companies to ramp up production. There were also the long-existing threats of tariffs against other nations and the promise of eliminating the cost to American citizens.
In a bizarre moment, Trump went back to his desire to rename the Panama Canal and said that the country “broke its promises” to America. He also used this moment to take a direct swipe at China, saying that he intends to snatch the canal back from the rival superpower.
Pastor Lorenzo Sewell’s passionate prayer in support of Trump also garnered some responses given the dramatic histrionics on display and the religious leader evoking Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Free At Last” speech inappropriately. It was, in a word, “something.”
Like much of Trump’s presidential campaign, the unchecked bravado of the former business mogul was on full display with a full-throated embrace from those in attendance who applauded nearly every word. However, how these plans are expected to move forward was not illustrated in any visible detail. Trump also circled and repeated his points, appearing to speak off script and barely spoke to the concerns of average Americans and largely aimed his words at his rabid base. There was also an unnecessary jab at the LBGTBQ community, in particular regarding gender presentation.
On X, users are chiming in regarding the inauguration of President Donald Trump and dissecting his words and a higher level than legacy media would ever dare. Check out those reactions below.
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Martin Luther King Jr. is, with little doubt, one of the more notable figures in the annals of Black history, and his sacrifice for the greater good of all maintains its resonance in modern times. In the wake of the transition of power within the White House on January 20, Hip-Hop Wired is electing to honor Martin Luther King Jr. instead and will share ways to uphold the great leader’s lasting legacy.
Hip-Hop Wired and the entire Urban One family for years have highlighted the incredible accomplishments of Martin Luther King Jr., and the sting of his light being snuffed out in 1968 nearly upended the Civil Rights Movement as over 100 cities rioted after his assassination in Memphis, Tenn. At just 39 years of age at the time, King was close to achieving the impossible feat of unifying the country and wisely highlighted the true divide in America of race and class. And in the decades since King’s passing, Black people in America achieved incredible feats in the face of insurmountable odds only to conquer those barricades admirably.
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Check out a portion NewsOne’s profile and recognition of Martin Luther King Jr,’s 96th birthday below:
In 1957, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) was formed following the efforts and response to the “Montgomery Bus Boycott” in 1955. Rosa Parks jump-started the Civil Rights Movement that same year, after refusing to give up her seat to a White person. Dr. King and several other leaders joined the boycott, creating the SCLC.
With the help of the Quakers, Dr. King traveled to India in 1959 to visit with Gandhi. The trip was the necessary push needed to galvanize Dr. King’s desire to employ a similar approach with non-violent disobedience protests Stateside. SCLC activist Bayard Rustin, also a student of Gandhi’s teaching, served as King’s right hand in planning the 1963 “March On Washington” and was a trusted ally.
Releasing just a handful of books during his lifetime, Dr. King’s written work contained nearly the entire scope of his personal and academic pursuits. “Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story” was released in 1958. His last work, “Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos Or Community,” saw a 1967 release.
Please read the entire profile here.
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One of the most viable ways one can engage the world using the philosophies of King comes by way of The King Center, helmed by Dr. Bernice A. King, the leader’s youngest child. Dr. King has enacted the training and education module Nonviolence365™️, which aids in the practice of nonviolent social activism. We could not think of another way to honor Martin Luther King Jr. other than pointing directly to all of the amazing efforts and activations sparked by The King Center.
Learn more by visiting The King Center website and check out the variety of resources there.
Adding to this, MLK Day is largely seen as a day of service. In that regard, search your local community organizations and volunteer to be in service of your neighbors, including the disabled and elderly. This can also include working in soup kitchens, homeless shelters, or your local houses of worship. A gripping cold has taken over much of the country and several groups could use all hands on deck to bring warmth and comfort to the less fortunate.
On X, Martin Luther King Jr. is trending and we’ve gathered some replies to share with our readers below.
An urgent need… #MLK #MLKDay #KingHoliday pic.twitter.com/aP41uBs5ol
— The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center (@TheKingCenter) January 19, 2025
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