Kenyan Esther Kiama's husband had a bipolar disorder, but his family thought she had cast a spell.
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Sunday, February 9, 2020
Baseball Little League All-Star pitcher Mo’ne Davis makes Hampton University softball debut
Six years after she grabbed the hearts of the world as the first girl in the baseball Little League World Series to pitch a winning game, Mo’ne Davis is going on to burn up the fields for the well-known HBCU Hampton University.
In her inaugural game for Hampton, located in Hampton, Va., Davis helped the Pirates beat North Carolina A & T 15-4 in the team’s season opener, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
Davis, who is from Philadelphia, told the news organization she was a little jumpy about her college-level debut in Greensboro, N.C.
”On the bus ride, I was nervous,” said Davis, 18. “It was the first real game that actually matters so I was a little nervous. But once Coach Angie (Nicholson) said, ‘Go out there and have fun. You guys have worked so hard, just play your game,’ that just shook the nerves away.”
READ MORE: Shaq honors Kobe Bryant at ‘Fun House’ party during Miami Super Bowl weekend
Davis said she is enjoying the calm outside of the spotlight that vaulted her to the cover of Sports Illustrated in 2014 and made her a national hero. For now, she told the Inquirer, she just wants to enjoy the college experience and work on her game.
“I wasn’t really big into the spotlight,” she said. “That’s not who I am. It’s nice to be out here. It’s just fun to be with this team.”
Nicholson told the news organization that one of Davis’ best qualities is her humility.
“It’s the coolest thing ever,” Nicholson said. “She doesn’t make it a big deal. That’s what’s great about it. You would never know it. She doesn’t see herself in that light.”
READ MORE: Jay-Z and Beyoncé did not stand for the National Anthem during Super Bowl
Nicholson said Davis is one of her best players but she still has to work on her hitting.
Davis said she hopes to improve enough to land a spot on the conference all-freshman team.
”I think this should be a fun season,” she said. “Really, overall, I just want us to do well at as a team, hopefully win the conference — but just to go out there and fight with my brand new family I have and play for them.”
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(WATCH) Congress Members Respond to President Donald Trump’s Tweets
Just a few hours before President Donald Trump took the stage to address the nation at this year’s State of the Union, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, hosted her annual Millenial Media Row. It was an event created to open up a space between digital media outlets and members of the Congressional Caucus.
“This is perhaps the most important event that we do all year,” she told TheGrio. “The whole idea is, we got to invite people into this capital that normally don’t get invited into the capital. We want you all to know this is yours too.”
Congresswoman Waters, or as we affectionally know her as “Auntie Maxine”, is not afraid to voice her disapproval towards the President and she has been a driving force behind his impeachment. President Trump was recently acquitted by the Senate after being charged for two articles of impeachment: one for abusing his power and the other for obstruction of Congress.
READ MORE: True Story: Maxine Waters Talks Politics, Feminism & Being “Auntie Maxine”
“He is so disruptive, so dishonorable that he should be impeached. As a matter of fact, the House of Representatives did impeach him. I believe it was December the 18th, about 8:20 in the evening. We voted to impeach him. We sent it on over to the Senate. They have been intimidated by this president. They don’t want to stand up to this president. They don’t have the guts to do what America needs. And so whatever he says, just dismiss it as another lie,” Waters said.
Auntie Maxine is not the only one fighting to get the president out of office. TheGrio spoke with other members of Congress about their current views of the president, especially his case of twitter fingers.
President Trump has become notorious for voicing his opinions and thoughts on twitter, and we brought up some of his latest tweets to the congress members to get their initial reactions and their take.
My Approval Rating in the Republican Party = 95%, a record! Big Iowa win. Approval Rating overall = 53%, a new high. With our great Economy and other major successes, would be 20 points higher without the phony Witch Hunts and Hoaxes???
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 4, 2020
“So ninety-five percent is very suspicious,” Congresswoman Gwen Moore told TheGrio. “It is so sad to see people who are very decent people are abdicating their own moral conscious, their own intelligence. For this president who is corrupt, who’s abused his power, who has questionable mental health and has no values. It’s sad for our democracy.”
Where’s the Whistleblower? Where’s the second Whistleblower? Where’s the Informer? Why did Corrupt politician Schiff MAKE UP my conversation with the Ukrainian President??? Why didn’t the House do its job? And sooo much more!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 3, 2020
Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence– MI 14, simply called out the president on his lack of clarity on the term “Whistleblower”. “President Trump, I often struggle with your ignorance. The whole purpose of a whistleblower law is to protect and to allow them to be anonymous. I struggle with your ignorance.”
Wall is moving along strong, tall and quickly. Thank you Jim for all of your help! https://t.co/1dlC0dZ0ui
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 2, 2020
In response to the Wall tweet, Congresswoman Barbara Lee called out Trump’s bluffs “Another lie. What can I say? He just lies, lies, lies.”
READ MORE: Stacey Abrams predicts she’ll be president by 2040
And of course, we couldn’t leave out President Trump’s infamous error on what state Superbowl Champions the Kansas City Chiefs were based. He mistakenly tweeted and deleted Sunday, that the Kansas City Chiefs represented the Great State Kansas very well, not realizing that the team is based in Missouri. Although, the tweet was deleted social media users were quick to screenshot and blast Trump.
“Let me introduce you, Mr. President, to a map and give you a geography lesson 101. Or perhaps you could actually check with your staff before hitting post because Kansas City Chiefs play in Missouri. Duh.” said Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz.
The list of tweets from President Trump goes on and on, and the congress members were not holding back with their responses to the Commander in Chief.
The full digital story “Trump Tweets” can be found above.
The post (WATCH) Congress Members Respond to President Donald Trump’s Tweets appeared first on TheGrio.
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Disgraced school principal resigns after saying ‘karma’ caused Kobe Bryant’s death
A high school principal in Washington state has resigned after suggesting that ‘karma’ caught up with basketball great Kobe Bryant, who died in a helicopter crash Jan. 26 in Calabasas, Calif., along with his daughter, Gianna, 13, and seven others.
Liza Sejkora, former principal of Camas (Wash.) High School, was referring to allegations of rape made against Bryant in a highly publicized 2003 case, thrown out of criminal court when the accuser declined to testify. A civil case with Bryant’s accuser, a Colorado hotel employee, was settled out of court.
On Friday, schools Superintendent Jeff Snell announced Sejkora’s departure, KGW8 reported.
“This has been a tumultuous week,” Snell said in a statement. “However, I’ve been impressed with the level of professionalism our staff members have displayed as well as the caring and compassion from our families.”
The superintendent said the school district is working on a transitional plan, according to KGW8.
The development comes after a swift national backlash in reaction to Sejkora’s comment, made in a now-deleted Facebook post the day Bryant died.
“Not gonna lie,” the former principal wrote. “Seems to me that karma caught up with a rapist today.”
She ended the post with an emoji of someone shrugging.
A screenshot of the post was taken in the hour that Sejkora had it up, drawing widespread criticism and a plan by students to stage a walkout.
READ MORE: Date set for Kobe Bryant and Gigi’s public memorial service at Staples Center
On Friday, Sejkora said in a statement that she was working on a departure plan with school district officials.
“I am working with the Camas leadership to resign my position as principal of Camas High School,” she said. “Students and staff deserve to have a learning environment free of disruptions.”
Before the principal’s resignation, Snell said he could not understand the remarks.
“Anytime there’s a loss of life, I hope that all of us come together and rally around that,” KGW8 quoted Snell as saying. “It didn’t come across that way. That’s really unfortunate.”
The post Disgraced school principal resigns after saying ‘karma’ caused Kobe Bryant’s death appeared first on TheGrio.
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Philly girl gifted with charter school scholarship by Trump at State of the Union already enrolled at the school
Well, this is uncomfortable… It turns out that the Black Philadelphia girl that President Trump announced at his recent State of the Union address would be getting a scholarship to be able to attend the charter school of her choice is already a student at the school.
Janiyah Davis was one of a handful of people of color asked to stand during the president’s State of the Union speech on Tuesday.
READ MORE: Nancy Pelosi shreds Donald Trump’s State of the Union speech. Right there on the podium.
Trump, entering a re-election campaign that some experts predict will largely hinge on Black voters, characterized the fourth-grader as one of many youngsters reportedly trapped in failing public schools.
in actuality, Davis already is attending a charter school and it’s one that is well- known and highly sought, the Philadelphia Inquirer is reporting. In September, Janiyah transferred to Math, Science and Technology Community Charter School III, also known as MaST III. It is funded by taxpayers and, so, there is no tuition.
Janiyah’s mom, Stephanie Davis, told the news organization that there was a lot of confusion around her daughter’s invitation to the president’s annual speech at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. A few weeks ago, she got a telephone call from the principal at her daughter’s former school, Olney Christian School, saying Janiyah may be up for a scholarship. Then, Davis told the Inquirer, she received a call from a man who repeated the scholarship possibility and advised Davis to expect a call from the White House.
“I thought it was a scam,” Davis said, adding that she didn’t believe it until she received an official email from the administration.
READ MORE: George Washington University president apologizes for racially insensitive comment
Even then, the teacher’s assistant and mom said, she had no idea she and her daughter would be asked to stand during the speech.
“I never knew it was going to be this big,” Davis told the Inquirer.
Janiyah’s previous school cost $5,200 a year, which Davis was struggling to pay, she said.
Davis said she was “surprised” and “honored” about being asked to stand during the 90-minute speech. She said she also was surprised about the scholarship.
Angela Morabito, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Education, told the Inquirer that Janiyah was picked for a scholarship because “Education freedom is about going to the best school for your child. Even the ‘best’ school, as ranked by statistics and averages, isn’t the best fit for every child.”
The post Philly girl gifted with charter school scholarship by Trump at State of the Union already enrolled at the school appeared first on TheGrio.
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Snoop Dogg insists he wishes no harm for Gayle King in wake of the Kobe Bryant interview fracas
Rapper Snoop Dogg is clarifying an important point when it comes to his recent scathing words about CBS’ Gayle King’s recent interview about basketball great Kobe Bryant‘s legacy.
Snoop, 48, took to Instagram Saturday to explain he has no ill-will towards King, lead anchor of CBS This Morning, who has been dragged across social media for asking WNBA star Lisa Leslie to discuss Bryant’s 2003 rape charges in a TV interview that aired Feb. 4.
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P. S. A. From the peoples champ now carry on and be nice to others 💯🙏🏿 KB8/24. 🙏🏿💜💛
“I’m a non-violent person,” Snoop said in the video. “When I said what I said, I spoke for the people who felt like Gayle was very disrespectful toward Kobe Bryant and his family.”
To be clear, what Snoop said on Instagram on Thursday was that King, 65, was a “funky, dog-haired bitch” for asking Leslie about the rape allegations against Bryant. The case was dropped after Bryant’s accuser, a Colorado hotel employee, refused to testify. A civil case was settled out of court.
Snoop and many others across the country have said it was too soon to bring up the rape case after Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others died in a Jan. 26 helicopter crash near Calabasas, Calif.
For his part in the debate, Snoop explained in his Instagram video that he was disappointed about the comments but does not wish harm to come to King.
“What I look like wanting some harm to come to a 70-year-old woman?” Snoop asked. “I was raised way better than that. I don’t want no harm to come to her and I didn’t threaten her. All I did was said, ‘Check it out – you outta pocket for what you doing and we watching you. Have a little more respect for Vanessa (Bryant’s widow), her babies and Kobe Bryant’s legacy.’”
King has faulted CBS for picking out the most salacious part of her interview with Leslie, Bryant’s friend, and using it to promote the piece.
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King’s good friend, Oprah Winfrey, has come to her defense and shared that King is deeply upset and has been feeling attacked over the public dragging and death threats.
And in recent days, many others like Barack Obama’s former national security advisor, Susan Rice and scholar Dr. Marc Lamont Hill have been coming to King’s defense, saying that King was doing her job as a journalist and while it is okay to criticize King’s line of questioning in the interview, the derogatory name-calling and death threats are inappropriate and unnecessary.
The post Snoop Dogg insists he wishes no harm for Gayle King in wake of the Kobe Bryant interview fracas appeared first on TheGrio.
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Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson shares emotional video of him delivering his father’s eulogy
In a gripping 11-minute video posted to Facebook and Instagram, grieving actor/professional wrestler Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson shared clips from his eulogy at the funeral of his dad, Rocky Johnson, who died Jan. 15th of a heart attack.
Johnson, 47, thanked the public for the wave of condolences and shared about the moment he learned his 75-year-old father had passed away. Rocky Johnson, a native of Canada, blazed wrestling trails and was the first Black Georgia Heavyweight Champion.
READ MORE: Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson calls Elizabeth Warren ‘a baller’
“Man, I wish I had one more shot you know just to say goodbye, say I love you, say thank you, say I respect you, but you know, I have a feeling he’s watching, he’s listening,” Johnson said.
“I know my dad would be saying, ‘Kayfabe the tears,’ ” Johnson added with a chuckle, using the professional wrestling term that refers to staged portions of the sport.
The gentle giant appeared to be struggling to keep his composure as he gripped the lectern and spoke to the crowd.
“As you guys know, he went very quick,” Johnson said. “I was on my way to work the other day on Jan. 15th and I was just pulling into work and we were shooting that day and it was the very first day of production.”
Johnson was referring to the Netflix production of Red Notice.
Johnson said his wife, Lauren, called, and he got the news from an unidentified person named Cora as he was pulling into the parking lot of the production site. He described being in a fog and wishing everything was just a dream as he walked onto the set and hundreds of members of the production staff bustled around, waving to him and wishing him a good morning. The video showed a portrayal of that time from Johnson’s perspective.
“In that moment, I just thought, ‘What do I need to do? What’s the next thing that I need to do?’ And I heard a voice say ‘Well, hey, the show must go on,’ and that was my dad, that was my old man who told me that.”
READ MORE: Nick Gordon died from a heroin overdose
As Johnson recounts this, the video shows the elder Johnson at one of his victories and a much younger Dwayne Johnson, sporting a short afro, in the audience.
The younger Johnson acknowledged his dad’s upbringing and said he’s built upon it to raise his own children. He recognized his dad as a racial trailblazer.
“For my dad, when he broke into the business in the mid-’60s and throughout the late ’60s and into the ’70s in the United States where racial tension and divide was very strong, and in the ’60s and the ’70s you have a black man coming in, it’s an all-white audience and all these small little towns that eventually I would go on to wrestle in — but at that time he changed the audience’s behavior and actually had them cheer for this black man,” Johnson said.
The post Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson shares emotional video of him delivering his father’s eulogy appeared first on TheGrio.
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Cleveland Browns Name Andrew Berry EVP of Football Operations and General Manager
The Cleveland Browns just hired the youngest general manager in NFL history. Andrew Berry has been named executive vice president of Football Operations and general manager, according to the Cleveland Browns official website.
Berry was previously employed by the Browns as the vice president of Player Personnel before leaving to become the vice president of Football Operations with the Philadelphia Eagles last year.
“I’m honored and blessed to lead the Football Operations of the Cleveland Browns,” Berry said. “I’m appreciative of the Haslam family for entrusting me to be a steward of a franchise that is so rich in tradition and history. The passion for football courses through the veins of Northeast Ohio in a manner that is unique to that of any other region. Our fan base’s devotion to the Browns is the catalyst for such affection for the sport.”
“Rewarding YOU all—our loyal and faithful Dawg Pound—will energize and motivate me daily to attack the challenge ahead of us. It is for that reason that I am excited to partner with Kevin Stefanski—a coach I know our city will embrace because of his leadership skills, work ethic, humility, and character—to work tirelessly and with immediate urgency toward building a winning organization that will make the people of Cleveland proud.”
Berry initially joined the Browns in 2016, working with Executive Vice President of Football Operations Sashi Brown and then with General Manager John Dorsey. He was involved in all talent evaluation efforts for the club, which included college prospects and NFL free agents. He also helped in overseeing the club’s scouting department and worked closely with other high-ranking members of the front office.
“We are thrilled Andrew will lead our football operations,” Cleveland Brown co-owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam said. “We have always been profoundly impressed with him as a consummate professional who has meticulously studied his craft every place he has worked and is extremely dedicated to utilizing every resource to improve an organization and to enhance his own knowledge.”
“He will be a tremendous partner with Kevin as he embraces the critical nature of his relationship with the head coach. We know he can’t wait to get to work.”
Berry went to Harvard University and graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in economics and a master’s degree in computer science in four years. He also played football and was a four-year starter as a cornerback, a three-time All-Ivy League team selection, and an All-America honoree.
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This Single Mom of Three Started New Orleans’ Newest Black-Owned Wine Company
Kim Lewis, an entrepreneur, is now in the rare club of the 1% of black-owned women wine companies.
Lewis, an avid traveler, often enjoyed tasting different wines from various regions during her travels. She often joked with friends that she should start a wine company. Those jokes became a reality when Lewis decided to create Ole’ Orleans Wines.
“Being a black woman with a wine company makes me feel on top of the world,” Lewis told Travel Noire.
Initially, Lewis reached out to major labels hoping they could help her start a wine company, but the response was lacking. She then later learned another option would be to hire a consultant for around $20,000 to help her navigate the complicated process.
“When I learned how much money it cost, I said let me see if I can complete this paperwork on my own,” Lewis said. “I was able to do it, submit it, and get approved for my license on the first try.”
The next step in the process was to find a vineyard to partner with and procure the necessary grapes. Lewis’ first choice was to look in Napa Valley, California, but that proved to not be cost-effective. She also looked at a vineyard in Texas, before her ultimate choice in Louisiana.
From there, Ole’ Orleans Wines was born. According to the website: “Ole’ Orleans Wines, a tribute to New Orleans and it’s historic legacy. Richly flavored, New Orleans very own handcrafted wines, created in Louisiana. La Nouvelle-Orléans, located along the Mississippi River is well known for its Creole and Cajun roots. Displaying its French and Spanish heritage through an elegant decay.”
Two white blends are currently available, Ole Carollton and Tchoupitoulas, and can be found in the local New Orleans market and on the Tasting Room website. Lewis plans to release 10 additional blends in the future.
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