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Richard Overton, a man believed to be one of the oldest men in the U.S., was reportedly the victim of identity theft, CBS local reports.

According to the news site, Overton’s social security and banking account numbers were used to make several withdrawals from the veteran’s account.

Overton’s cousin, Velma, did not disclose how much money was stolen, but she did say funds were used to set up an account using Richard’s name to purchase bonds.

“He’s going to be upset,” family friend Martin Wilford told the press. “We are trying to keep him in his home through all types of fundraisers, and someone could just take from him? You’re going to do that to him? Shame on you.”

Richard is a World War 11 veteran who was at Pearl Harbor after the attack.

SOURCE: CBS

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As Black women continue to lead the charge in advocacy, the focus on the intersection of social justice and entertainment has increasingly become a force to be reckoned with.

“Now we have the benefit of having contacts, having access to radio, using our own platforms and not having to rely on others to find benefit to our story or to find that our stories are important,” Melissa Potter said in an interview with HelloBeautiful.

Potter, 34, is the head of Social Impact and Communications for Odyssey Impact, a non-profit organization which aims to unite faith based social justice awareness through the power of film.

One of Odyssey’s most recent documentaries, “The Rape Of Recy Taylor,” covers the 1944 sexual assault of Taylor, who at the time was 24-years-old. Taylor was abducted by gunpoint and raped by six white men as she journeyed home from church. The film is scheduled to premiere July 2 on Starz Network.

“We use film and storytelling to bridge the gap between what could be extremely complex messaging that the typical person that’s not watching MSNBC everyday or isn’t reading an Michelle Alexander book might not come into contact with,” Potter said. “Issues like mass incarceration or sexual assault.”

RELATED: ‘The Rape of Recy Taylor’ Brings Black Woman’s Pain To The Forefront Of Justice

Though Taylor was vocal about her experience (even working with Rosa Parks who at the time, served as the lead investigator through the NAACP) she never saw her abusers brought to justice. For many years her story remained unknown to the general public. But, after numerous women came forward in the #MeToo movement, Taylor’s story became more important than ever.

“She [Taylor] really took a stance and she was unafraid. How do women today–how can we look at Recy and be insipired to also be unafraid? To also live in our truth and to advocate for ourselves,” said Potter.

Potter, was born in New York and has over 17 years of experience in public relations working at the intersection of advocacy and entertainment. Some of her past clients include the NAACP and the ACLU, along with notable entertainers like Missy Elliott, 50 Cent, The Roots and Wynton Marsalis.

During her time as a student at Northeastern University she majored in a five-year program which allowed her to work six months in the field, then attend class for six months.

“I’ve always been so enthralled by music and film and that passion has really carried me through my life, my schooling and my career,” she said. Potter also majored in sociology which further sparked her appeal of philanthropy and impact.

“That really allowed me to dip my toe in different areas, whether it was public relations, A&R, music management and I found that I had a passion for connecting people and writing,” she said.

But as a young Black woman working in a predominately white male space, Potter said she faced challenges of ageism, sexism and being labeled the “token.”

“There was a reticent from many people that were working with me to trust that I had the knowledge to  guide them where they needed to go,” she said.

Her position at Odyssey came about after longing to tie her two worlds together. “It’s the first time in my life where I actually looked at each bullet point where I thought….this role is absolutely perfect,” she said.

Odyssey seeks groups within their private and non-profit social justice networks to find ways to amplify and uplift the stories those specific communities aim to get across.

“It really allows us to create content that can spark a conversation that not only contains awareness an attitudes, but also drives people to action,” she said.

Odyssey’s next project, “Healing The Healers,” will focus on spiritual and wellness advisors who “find themselves thrown in really stressful and trying times,” dealing with everything from mass shootings to community healing.

In terms of her own self-care, Potter says that she relies on her family and friends and a limited consumption of the heavy news cycle at night.

She names media mogul Mona Scott and music executive, Rhonda Cowan, as the two most influential women in her career. But there are other women in the industry who she admires for their openness and fortitude.

“I think Gabrielle Union has from the beginning of her career been open about the sexual assault that she experienced as a young woman, a college student,” she said. Potter believes Union would serve as a great ambassador for the Recy Taylor film, as their stories are eerily parallel.

Her advice for anyone who wants a career in content creation is simple: go rouge.

“Create stuff that you like to do and someone will find it interesting. Don’t follow a prescribed path, Potter said.

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Source: Shareif Ziyadat / Getty

Russell Simmons and Kimora Lee Simmons’ youngest daughter Aoki Lee revealed she struggles with her perception of beauty. The talented youngster, who plays basketball, posted a touching social media update, detailing how some Internet trolls mad her feel less beautiful than her sister Ming Lee Simmons and supermodel mother Kimora Lee.

“I used to be very picky about pictures and not really show my face, and would often not post pictures of cool events or important moments because I didn’t like my smile or I was standing next to my beautiful sister. It’s easy to get insecure when your older sister and mothers are models,” she wrote.

While Aoki and Ming Lee are incredibly close, we can see how Internet trolls contribute to the insecurities young girls face on a daily basis. We’re glad to see Aoki dealing with her struggles in a healthy way.

Check out more pics of Aoki, below:

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Photo Credit: ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty Images

Agency: The Lions

Instagram: @slickwoods

Claim to Fame: She served as the flawless face behind Rihanna’s record breaking Fenty Beauty and this spring Woods was announced as the official face of Mercedes Benz.  

The Instagram bios of models as sought after as Slick Woods are usually populated with links to questionable diet teas or blinged out athletic slides but atop images of her strutting confidently in chartreuse lingerie and violet lipstick is information on a non-profit organization that helps men and women putting their lives back together after being incarcerated. 

The model, who has been previously incarcerated and struggled with substance abuse, knows about the power of a second chance.

When she was 19 years old her life was changed drastically after spending the day with an English model who believed she could become one of the biggest names in the business before she had so much as given the career a second thought.

Her quick rise to success is astounding and it makes her staunch refusal to disconnect from her humble beginnings that much more impressive.

Some would have hopped into a Mercedes and away from those still in the struggle but like ill-fitting garments and bad lace front wigs that’s not something that’s Woods’ style.

Instead she stands whole in front of some of the largest players in fashion. She doesn’t shy away from addressing the absurdities and and contradictions of the industry in the public eye unafraid that her stances will affect her bookings.

She’s quick to call out “champagne problems” and redirect questions about her bold personal style to topics like the power of innovative engineering to change the world and the struggles associated with post-traumatic stress disorder.

In a one-on one with Glamour she was frank about her feelings about cultural appropriation and tokenism saying that the industry tends to “take the hood, crunch it up, throw some glitter on that shit, and walk it down the runway.”

Woods credits the physical beauty that keeps her booked and busy to the superior genes of her  mother (currently awaiting her own second chance in prison) but her intellectual prowess is one of a kind.

Singer Jazzy Amra has gone from sleeping in a one bedroom apartment with her mother and siblings to working in the studio with Wyclef Jean and Dave East but that doesn’t mean the rising star can’t still appreciate a quick run to her local Duane Reade. We caught up with the Bronx beauty at the single release party for her track “You Got Me” to get five great tips for perfecting her signature cat eye on a struggle budget.

1.  Don’t Be Afraid To Turn Up The Volume

When it comes to making a huge impact the songstress feels like more is more. She says “Don’t be afraid to really extend the line” because it will “make your eyes look bigger” and enhance the overall look.   

2.  Take It Slow

“People definitely shouldn’t rush it” she advises. Instead she says you should take your time both manipulating your eye and applying the product really paying attention “so you can really see what you’re doing.”

3. Don’t Get Caught Up In Luxury Labels

Instead of springing for pricey brands she sticks with what feels and looks good. One of her drugstore favorites is NYX’s $7 vinyl liquid liner. “It’s affordable and it feels good on my skin.”

4. Stick To The Standard

Gel liners may provide an easy glide during application but the end results they leave aren’t always so smooth. She suggests going with a tried and true matte liquid formula for a classic look also noting that “it lasts longer.”

5. Nothing Beats Practice

The singer, who started wearing makeup as a freshman in high school, says that the number one ingredient in her perfect cat eye is the level of skill she acquired over time.  “I’ve been doing it for about 6 years now, so I could do it in my sleep honestly. By now like I don’t need a mirror or anything.”

A 15-year-old girl was reported missing in Chicago over the weekend, setting the Chicago community on high alert just one month after a series of reported kidnappings.

According to authorities, Jadi Delgado was last seen around 5:30 p.m. on June 29. The teen was visiting family in Chicago and was originally from Austin, Texas. Police describe her as 5-foot-3, 120 pounds with dark hair, brown eyes and a medium complexion.

An account on social media named “Giselle” identified as Delgado’s cousin an urged assistance for her safe return.

Delgado’s disappearance comes after a total of six young women were reported missing in Chicago. Two of the women were later found dead, while four others were safely reunited with family members.

Last week another Chicago teen named Armoni Chambers, 16, was reunited with her family in Milwaukee after she was traced to Chicago, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. According to reports, Chambers boarded a greyhound bus headed for the Windy City after she was lured by someone online. Police believe she is a victim of human trafficking.

She was located after a disturbing video surfaced on Facebook showing Chambers being assaulted by a man. Chambers was missing for over a month and last seen on May 17. The teen’s mother, Bonnie Bruno, enlisted the help of Milwaukee activist Tory Lowe to travel to Chicago to look for her.

SOURCE: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel,  Chicago Sun-Times

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The controversial death of Trayvon Martin polarized the nation, sparking a racial divide that led to organization of the #BlackLivesMatter movement. Martin was simply walking home from the store when he was attacked and gun-downed by neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman.

Shawn Carter, who brought forth the compelling and heart-wrenching Kalief Browder documentary, teamed up with The Cinemart to present Rest In Power: The Trayvon Martin Story to tell the story of the teen, whose short-lived life effected history.

MUST READ: Jay Z To Make Trayvon Martin Documentary Film Series

Zimmerman was acquitted of all charges in the death, but the case and Martin’s life remains of interest to the public.

According to the official press release, “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.”

The six-part documentary series premieres Monday, July 30 at 10pm ET/PT.

Watch the powerful trailer, below.

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The Creep Squad leaders collide on tonight’s season finale of Love and Hip-Hop Atlanta. Stevie J called Rich Dollaz down to the A to discuss Erica Mena and really to get under her skin. The former two are on the same page about her—that she gets in her own way when it comes to being successful. Rich Dollaz feels like he needs to talk to her to get some things off his chest since word on the street is, she has been talking trash about him. So, Stevie invites Rich to an upcoming peace rally for Shooter’s slain son with the hope of Rich “running into somebody.” Because a peace rally is a perfect place for a reckoning.

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Fast forward to Jessica Dime’s baby shower. Things start off without a hitch, but Stevie J thinks this is the perfect time to confront Sean Garrett. Apparently, Sean Garrett told Erica that Stevie said something about her which prompted her angry DM. So, Stevie calls Sean out with the expected results. They start going back and forth and things get really heated, especially as they nearly bump chests. Sean declares that he’ll beat Stevie’s arse and that’s when security steps in and escorts him out.

The petty is all up and through this episode.

Now we’re at the anti-gun rally. Once again, it’s another event that starts off with good vibes. We finally get to the point where Stevie J and Erica Mena have yet another chat about who said what and who did what and they manage to keep it kinda sorta civil, but then Mena gets triggered when Rich Dollaz shows up. It’s obvious that Stevie set this up so she’s pissed. Erica and Stevie start bickering back and forth and then Rich and Erica go to “talk,” but not before Erica calls Stevie a b—h, then Stevie tells Erica to go take care of her son and then tells Rich to “take that hoe back to New York.” Now Rich wants to know why she has been trash talking him. Erica gets so flustered over talking about old stupid stuff that she decides it’s best to leave since this isn’t really the time or place.

Tommie is still suspended from filming but she’s back to make amends with people she may have pissed off particularly Spice. Basically, Tommie did a lot of reflection since finding out her mother was sick, and she was embarrassed by her behavior so she called a bunch of the cast together to give them the rundown about how she’s trying to be a better person. It’s important to note (not really) that she’s wearing a weird neon FashionNova-esque spandex sport set with the butt cheeks cut out because…Tommie. Anyway, she explains to everyone that she’s been going through some things, but she apologizes for her crazy and she even premieres she and Spice’s music video as an extra special apology for giving spice a hard time. Everyone seems to be here for Tommie’s redemption.

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Finally, the episode wraps with the typical season finale vignette about who people are moving upward and onward, yatta yatta. And then we see the trailer of next week’s finale and prepare for them to come dressed like they’re going to the prom only to be scrapping like it’s Battle Royale.

See you next week for part one of the reunion special.

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Tonight’s episode Basketball Wives picks up from the Jennifer spreading rumors about Evelyn to be spiteful saga. We’re still at Tammi’s “cleansing” where the rumor was brought up. Jennifer is trying to cover herself by trying to make it look like she just casually heard the rumor but never said where she heard it. Shaunie is obviously irritated and expresses that she wishes Jennifer would own her ish, but look who we’re dealing with. Accountability might not ever come. Jennifer even tries to deflect from her transgressions by saying that Tami is just trying to start drama anyway, which is actually true. But let Tami tell it, she’s just trying to be positive and work on herself.

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Shaunie and Evelyn step away to talk alone. Evelyn makes a tearful plea claiming that she didn’t do this. Shaunie is really considering cutting everyone off and doesn’t know who to trust. Evelyn seems genuine in that she didn’t do it and it seems like Shaunie believes her. They both also feel like Tami did this to start some mess and Shaunie sums it up well: “There’s some evil ass people in this circle, and from now on I will deal with them accordingly.”

Shaunie meets up with Tami to get her side of the story because she really feels like Tami did this to be messy. Tami was being messy but she does have receipts, in the form of text messages, that shows that Jennifer was trying to take Evelyn down.

Shaunie meets back up with Evelyn on another day and by this time Shaunie has spoken to her ex. The ex in question also denies sleeping with Evelyn (they probably can’t say the ex’s name for legal reasons). Shaunie then explains the texts Tami showed her. All of this happened with Jennifer and Evelyn were in the middle of their falling out. Again, Jennifer heard the rumor and presented it to as many people as possible hoping that someone would tell Shaunie. But, the women who heard it aka Jackie and Malaysia just kept it to themselves because they didn’t want to be messy, for once, because they realized the gravity of how hurtful the rumor would be to Evelyn and Shaunie. Evelyn says she understands Jennifer’s anger and that she’s more upset at Tami for entertaining it. Shaunie says Jennifer never should have never repeated it to anyone in the first place. Both women are making valid points here, but of course, Shaunie wants to bring the group together again to “get to the bottom of things.” You know how she do…

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Now it’s time for another group ponderosa. By this point, Jennifer realizes that she should just come clean and apologizes to Shaunie because “it wasn’t her intention” to hurt her. Shaunie accepts Jennifer’s apology but she’s still cool on Jen because what she did was so malicious that “now she knows that type of evil is inside her” and she doesn’t even really want to be around Jen anymore. Dramatic much? Let’s not act like this show hasn’t thrived on Mean Girl, narcissistic behavior. Shaunie must have thought she was untouchable from the shadiness with that producer credit.

Not with these narcissists clamoring for reality TV infamy.

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Jen still doesn’t really seem to think that what she did was that wrong despite apologizing, but she did admit that she repeated it to Tami, etc with the intentions of taking Evelyn down. One of the text messages actually said, “Let’s take that bitch down.” But Tami is still getting the side eye for her “cleansing” so she attempts to try to make herself look better by claiming it’s not fair to make her look like she’s trifling too because he had the best of intentions, was trying to be a friend, yatta yatta. This is classic nice nasty church lady bs. You know, the people who are always talking about self-improvement and being positive but do the most negative things. Evelyn is superheated and calls Tami out on her BS, saying that if she was a real friend then she wouldn’t have organized that setup. They go back and forth for a bit and then Tami makes the ultimate low blow. She says that Evelyn lied on Chad, “because she was hitting him too,” and tried to ruin his life. Basically, Tami is trying to frame Evelyn someone who destroyed an “innocent” man’s career. Way to work on yourself, Tami!

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Even Shaunie is “appalled” by Trash Tam. But Shaunie likes to feign surprise. Tami has been this way since she began appearing on the show. Whatevs. Good TV, I guess. This is trash though. However, it does confirm Evelyn’s theory that Tami was being vindictive and evil the entire time.

Basketball Wolves.

Back at it next week.

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Rappers Remy Ma and Papoose’s love story is a complicated one. It’s a partnership filled with hit records, TV shows, music, a 6-year-jail stint, and unconditional commitment.

The pair renewed their vows after 10 years of marriage in a “small, intimate setting.” But there was also a major announcement the couple couldn’t wait to share. Their family of four will now be a family of five!  Remy shared the news on Instagram a day after revealing the surprise vow renewal.

“Oh yea…& then this happened, I’ve been eating right, working out, and preparing for this for almost a year. We are so happy; thank you to everyone that prayed for us and sent blessings our way sidebar: been super sick, lost an extra 7 pounds but I’m soooo much better now,” Remy wrote on her social media.

The couple struggled with infertility and documented their heartbreaking loss on “Love & Hip Hop” two seasons ago after they experienced a miscarriage.

Remy revealed her gorgeous ceremony dress with this loving message to her hubby:

“I love you so much- not only because you are the perfect soulmate but because you are the epitome of a real man, the essence of a great father, and the definition of loyalty & if I could start life over the only thing I would change is meeting you sooner so that I can spend more time with you.”

Papoose penned a similarly loving ode to his wife, explaining he still, “worships the ground she walks on.”

“I would advise all married couples to do it! It’s a reminder of the obligations, loyalty, love & respect u owe to your partner,” Papoose wrote on his Instagram post.

Remy’s gown was designed by Karen Sabag and paired with Sophia Webster shoes.

Congrats again!

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Basketball GOAT LeBron James’ $145 million dollar deal with the Los Angeles Lakers sent shockwaves through the sport’s industry.

Akron, Ohio raised James returned to the Cleveland Cavs just four years ago after his back-to-back championship winning stint with the Miami Heat, vowing to bring a championship ring to his home team. In 2014, James told Sport’s Illustrated, “Before anyone ever cared where I would play basketball, I was a kid from Northeast Ohio. It’s where I walked. It’s where I ran. It’s where I cried. It’s where I bled. It holds a special place in my heart. People there have seen me grow up. I sometimes feel like I’m their son. Their passion can be overwhelming. But it drives me. I want to give them hope when I can. I want to inspire them when I can.”

After achieving his goal, James has decided to part ways with the city and head out West, a move that some critics say could cripple the city of Cleveland.

Despite the backlash and fear mongering, the city of Cleveland wrote a letter for LeBron, saying thanks and wishing him safe passage on his journey:

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Oprah Winfrey  embodies the soul of an empress in the Edward Enninful styled August cover of British Vogue.

Mama O dons a taffeta gown by Stella McCartney and luxurious jewels by Buccellati in the photographs shot by the legendary Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott. And if the cover doesn’t blow you away, the inside images are even more stunning.

Oprah opens up about the her compelling Oscars acceptance speech that gave birth to the aspiration Oprah 2020 run. “In that political structure – all the non-truths, the bullshit, the crap, the nastiness, the backhanded backroom stuff that goes on – I feel like I could not exist,” Winfrey says. “I would not be able to do it. It’s not a clean business. It would kill me.”

And if you think Mama O isn’t just like you, she looks to Google to solve her biggest questions as well. Even Oprah questioned if she could wear white to wedding. While she was going to the royal weeding, the answer was still the same.

‘I Googled, ‘Can you wear white to a wedding? Answer: ‘No, don’t risk it.” Oprah’s pink Stella McCartney dress made headlines, but her biggest takeaway from the massive event was the power of love.

“It left me feeling that anything is possible through the power of love. Reverend Curry was right!”

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Evelyn Redic, an 89-year-old Charlotte resident said she feels diminished after she was refused restroom service at a local Circle K gas station on June 24.

“She said ‘I have never been so embarrassed,'” Katoosa Glover, Redic’s grandaughter, said in an interview with WBTV.

Redic was traveling home from Sunday service in a church van when the vehicle stopped because of a flat tire. Redic walked to the nearby gas station to use the restroom while waiting for the tire to get fixed but was told “no” when she inquired about using the bathroom. She walked back to the church van, forced to relieve herself on the side of the road.

Glover said the worker’s refusal harkens back to the Jim Crow era where Black men and women were constantly reminded of the “separate but equal” clause.

“People are tired of being mistreated,” she said, “and a woman who has been here since 1929, who has gone through that, will not experience that in 2018 without the community fighting.”

Social media has commented on Redic’s incident, calling for a boycott against the gas station. The hashtags #NotMyEvelyn and #NotMyGrandmother are being used across both Twitter and Instagram.

County Commissioner Vilma Leake said she visited the gas station on June 28 but was unable to get much information from the worker who was present. Leakes also agrees that the incident is a travesty.

“She’s a human being and they are human,” Leake said. “That is out of the ordinary to say no to somebody that age.”

However, Mecklenberg County officials say there was no foul play in the incident and point to state laws that say business owners are required to restrict bathrooms for employee use and can decide at discretion. After January 1, 2019 the law will require all new gas stations in North Carolina to have a restroom for customers to use.

Redic’s family, understanding of the measure still feel that the gas station should have made an exception and is in support of a boycott.

“I think if you are making money here in this community, you need to be taking care of your community,” Glover said. “I feel like we need some type of public apology,” she continued.

Redic was taken to the hospital after the incident but Glover says that she still remains very “weak.”

Circle K released a statement to HuffPost in response to the incident:

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HelloBeautiful.com’s “Base Level” column features the hottest new artists we’re buzzing about. Before they make it to the summit of superstardom, we spot them at base level–the beginning of their hopeful journey to the top.

Name: Kemiyyah Parker-Washington, but I only go by “Kemiyyah Washington” Other Than That “KGODDESS”

Hometown: Brooklyn, NY (Brownsville)

Musical Influences: Notorious B.I.G, Lil’ Kim, and every female in Hip Hop

Biggest Break Thus Far: Performing live at the official NYC watch party for the kick-off of the latest season of VH1’s Love and Hip Hop Atlanta.

How Do You Describe Your Sound? It’s real! The storytelling aspect is what sets it apart, the emotion I’m sharing, the struggle and the pleasure too, it’s all me putting it out there as a component of my artistry.

If you were the offspring of any entertainer (dead or alive) who would be your parents? I wouldn’t want anyone in the entertainment dead or alive to be my parent.. I’m fine with the struggle I’ve been through in the sense of support. As far as someone who has inspired me, someone I look up to… fellow Brooklynite Lil’ Kim.

What do you want fans to walk away with when they hear your music? A message.. I want fans to feel my pain and understand my growth!

What’s next? I’m open to seeing where touring takes me, and of course have my sights set on Billboard and making some big money too.

Follow K Goddess, here.

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Another Obama-era mandate was just slapped down by the Trump administration, one which sought to ensure diversity in the college admission process.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the reversal will ask institutions of higher learning to ignore race on college applications one that directly links to the broader topic of affirmative action. The move restores a Bush administration policy which “strongly encourages the use of race-neutral methods” for admission to colleges, secondary schools and elementary schools.

Last year, Attorney General Jeff Sessions asked the Justice Department to review and eliminate polices on the books that expanded past what the constitution and Supreme Court legally required. on Tuesday as a result, the Justice Department rescinded seven policy guidances from the Education Department’s civil rights division.

In 2011, Obama officials presented colleges and universities with guidance to help maintain a broader, diverse student body. Many conservatives disagreed with the plan as they said it operated outside of the legal scope of the administration’s power.

The measure comes during a lawsuit against Harvard University where a group of Asian students claim they were denied entry to maintain slots for other races. The group is being pushed by the Project on Fair Representation, a conservative tank which also backed Abigail Fisher, a white woman who took her case to the Supreme Court over her application denial from the University of Texas at Austin, the New York Times writes. Fisher later lost the case in 2016.

But Tuesday’s decision could also have a detrimental effect when it comes to Black women–in the past 42 years, Black women have become the most educated group in the United States. Even as several studies also show that in light of the rise, Black households still struggle with obtaining wealth with or without a college education.

With the impending departure of Supreme Court Justice Andrew Kennedy, the long swing vote, many are questioning the status of affirmative action if Kennedy is replaced with a Justice with stronger conservative values.

Several civil rights groups have denounced the decision on social media and in statements to the press.

SOURCE: The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, National Center For Education Statistics

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Black women unite! Our festival is upon us, which means it’s time to converge at the convention center in NOLA for a weekend of empowering panels, uplifting events, beauty booths galore, concerts and so much more.

Here’s your ultimate festival guide.

What To Bring

Source: Danielle James / Hello Beautiful

First things first. Packing light, but effective is of the essence here (get it…essence). Girl, it’s going to be hot. We’re talking hot hot, which the less clothing the better. Think bright colors (melanin-friendly) and comfortable but cute shoes because you’re going to be walking a lot.

The convention center is the central location for the Essence experience and is where you’ll find yourself spending the most time. Bring cash because the parking lot is full of delicious food and drink vendors. They might take card, but who wants to be waiting for a receipt on the black top in the heat? Exactly.

MUST SEE: 21 Hair And Makeup Inspo’s That Will Be Perfect For The Essence Festival

The Panels

The most empowering part of Essence Festival is the opportunity to see your favorite motivational speakers, celebrities and personalities on panels.

Check out some of these panels and expos:

Thursday, July 5

Boss Up! – Empowering Women Entrepreneurs- Thursday, July 5: 1:00pm

“Miles & Mimosas: Back to your Roots” A conversation with RUNGRL about Black Hair as a Barrier to Wellness- Friday, July 6th: 10:00am

Ashunta Sheriff Presents “Get Glowing: Tips & Tricks For a Flawless Glow”- Friday, July 6th: 11:05

Beauty Myths Debunked: Slay, Nay or UmKay?! feat Gia Peppers, Dr. Candrice Heath and Tahira Wright of The Cut Life- Friday, July 6th: 12:35pm- 12:55pm 

Being an Editor-in-Chic with Mikki Taylor- Friday, July 6th: 12:45pm

Building and Branding The Mpire: An MPowered Conversation with Mona Scott-Young- Friday, July 6: 2:05pm

#BlackGirlsDo: How Black Girls Practice Self-Care feat, Kela Walker, Naturi Naughton and Necole Kane- Saturday, July 7th: 4:30pm-4:50pm 

Bearded Bae Showdown: The Hottest Bearded Guys at ESSENCE Fest- Friday, July 6: 2:55pm

Saturday, July 7

Source: Jeff Kravitz / Getty

Black Panther Heroic Encounter- Saturday, July 7: 11:00am

TRESemmé Summer Slay Hair Masterclass with Unilever Hair Expert, Ursula Stephen- Saturday, July 7: 11:35am

Screening of “Claws” followed by a cast Q&A, Presented by TNT- Saturday, July 7: 12:15

Cast Appearance: Insecure, Presented by HBO with Yvonne Orji & Y’lan Noel- Saturday, July 7: 12:55

Meet the cast of Power including Joseph Sikora, Rotimi & Naturi Naughton, presented by STARZ!- Saturday, July 7: 3:25

Sunday,  July 8

Cast Appearance: The Bobby Brown Story, presented by BET Networks- Sunday, July 8: 12:15pm

“What The F?” A lively, interactive, honest girl chat about FIBROIDS, FERTILITY and being a FEMALE!- Sunday, July 8: 12:30pm

10th Annual Gospel Tribute- Sunday, July 8: 12:45pm

Tasha Cobb Leonard Performance- Sunday, July 8: 2:15pm

Johnny Gill Performance- Sunday, July 8: 4:10pm

Beauty Booths

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Throughout the convention center you will find beauty booths by various brands offering free hair, nail and spa services. That wristband will take you far. But be patient. As you can imagine, the lines to get these services can get long since we’re all trying to enjoy the perks. My Black Is Beautiful always has an elaborate set-up that will immediately capture your eye. So lookout for the #MBIB logo.

Get Ready For The Turnup

Essence Festival is Black woman central. Whether you’re coming with your girls or alone, be prepared to find a fellow melanin warrior who will become your bestie. And you’ll need her because the concerts at Essence Festival are lit! Here’s a detailed schedule of who’ performing and where.

Friday, July 6

7:00 Doug E. Fresh with Special Guest Mia X- Main Stage
7:00 Ledisi- Main Stage
7:05 Pell- Superlounges
7:15 Lloyd- Superlounges
7:30 Damien- Escobar Superlounges
7:45 Miguel- Main Stage
8:30 H.E.R.- Superlounges
8:45 Kelly Price’s “For the Love of R&B” feat Keke Wyatt and Vaughn Willis-Superlounges
9:00 MC Lyte- Superlounges
9:00 Snoop Dogg- Main Stage
10:00 Erykah Badu, Jill Scott and More in a Special Curation by The Roots- Main Stage

Saturday, July 7

7:00 Doug E. Fresh with Special Guest V. Bozeman- Main Stage
7:00 Ella Mai- Superlounges
7:15 Kelela- Superlounges
7:30 Yanina- Superlounges
7:45 Jussie Smollett- Superlounges
7:45 XSCAPE- Main Stage
8:40 Queen Latifah Presents “Ladies First” with Special Guests Missy Elliott, Remy Ma, MC Lyte, Nikki D and More- Main Stage
9:00 Idris Elba- Superlounges
10:10 Mary J. Blige- Main Stage

Sunday, July 8

6:00 Roy Wood Jr.- Main Stage
7:00 Doug E. Fresh with Special Guest Ashanti- Main Stage
7:10 DJ Jubilee- Superlounges
7:15 Ro James- Superlounges
7:30 Louis York- Superlounges
7:45 Teddy Riley’s New Jack Swing Curation feat SWV, Blackstreet, Guy and more- Main Stage
8:00 Victory Boyd- Superlounges
8:15 Mali Music- Superlounges
8:30 Big Freedia- Superlounges
8:50 DVSN- Superlounges
9:40 Big Freedia- Superlounges
9:55 Fantasia- Main Stage
10:40 Janet Jackson- Main Stage

For more information, visit EssenceFestival.com and stay tuned for more coverage on HelloBeautiful.com  and Instagram.

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HelloBeautiful.com’s “Base Level” column features the hottest new artists we’re buzzing about. Before they make it to the summit of superstardom, we spot them at base level–the beginning of their hopeful journey to the top.

Name: Tosh Alexander

Hometown: Kingston, JA

Musical Influences: Lauryn Hill, Aaliyah, Mariah Carey, Brandy, TLC, Whitney Houston, Diana King

Biggest Break Thus Far: Twerk It by Busta Rhymes feat. Nikki Minaj and myself produced by Pharrell; also signing to BruckOut/PolydorUK Record Label

How Do You Describe Your Sound? It’s eclectic —- a mix up of my Jamaican roots and pop culture. My music varies from emotion filled to dancehall vibes.

If you were the offspring of any entertainer (dead or alive) who would be your parents? Missy Elliott and Bob Marley

What do you want fans to walk away with when they hear your music? I want them to feel connected; If my music helps them to escape or relate for that moment, I would have done my job.

What’s next? I’m ready for whatever is waiting for me I’m focused on getting my music out there, giving my fans the best of me and making Tosh a household name.

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One of my greatest regrets in life, is never seeing Whitney Houston live in concert. I’ve been reduced to watching live performances on YouTube and as soul-riveting as they are, I can only imagine what it would have been like to hear “the voice” in-person. Like many others, I couldn’t comprehend the brilliance of Whitney’s immense talent until after her untimely death on February 11.

MUST READ: Why Are We Ignoring The Fact That Pusha-T Exploited Whitney Houston For Promotion?

Earlier this year, the documentary Whitney premiered at the Cannes Film Festival leaving fans and critics stunned at a bombshell revelation. Whitney was allegedly molested by her aunt Dionne Warwick’s sister Dee Warwick.

After several failed attempts to tell Whitney’s story accurately and sensitivity, the Houston family teamed up with Kevin Macdonald to put forth a film they believe portrayed Whitney in her true essence.

“I think it will impact her legacy in a positive way because I hope that it will make people feel like I’m not going to dismiss her as this drug-addicted, tabloid, ne’er do well, low-class person,” Macdonald, told IndieWire. “By understanding, you humanize. I didn’t start this as a great Whitney Houston fan, but I ended up with a credible sense of empathy for her, and a love of the music born out of that empathy.”

Macdonald attempts to get to the root of Whitney’s drug use and uncovers some ugly truths that have been buried deeper than family photo albums in the attic.

Whitney’s struggle with substance abuse captivated audiences. How could someone with vocal cords touched by God himself fall into the devil’s hands? During her famous Diane Sawyer interview, Sawyer asked Whitney ‘Who the biggest devil in her situation is?’ Whitney eerily responded, “me.” But we didn’t seem to focus on that part, we ran with the sound bite “crack is wack” and “show me the receipts.” We went for the bait and overlooked the “why.” Why does Whitney have a drug addiction?

“She has a human story just like we do and her life mirrors all of ours,” Pat Houston told Bustle. “She just had to play hers out in public, and we live our darkness in the shadow… she’s narrating and telling you the things that bothered her in life, which I’m pretty sure was a lot of silent suffering. People who go through silent suffering all the time, that’s why there are suicides. That’s why there are certain things that happen.”

Whitney debuts in theaters July 6 promising fans a never-before-seen glance into Nippy’s life. With the family’s permission, Whitney will feature raw footage from performance tapes and home video, acapella vocals at their strong point, but more impressively Whitney captures the ascension of young woman dubbed “The Voice” and her tragic fall.

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Source: Jean Baptiste Lacroix / Getty

Love is a lot of things as we know, and complicated is one of them, but when suspicion arises amid the complication that could spell disaster. On tonight’s episode of Love is, Nuri starts to have questions—the right questions anyone should have for a potential lover—but she was so caught up in the rapture that she didn’t even think about it. Hold that thought though, because we’ll get there.

We start the episode with older Nuri explaining that every couple should go through a cocoon phase in their courtship. This usually happens at the beginning and it’s where the couple shuts out the world and focuses on each other. Then we flashback to young Yasir and Nuri in their cocoon. They’re falling deeper in love. Their cocoon started from the moment they went to the Wynton Marsallis concert and according to Nuri, those 18-hours were some of the best moments of their relationship.

They took the party back to Nuri’s new house after the concert and almost got it on. It got really hot and heavy until Nuri pointed out that it’s Ramadan and they need to chill. No nookie for now. This works out because Nuri recently made a promise to herself that she didn’t want to have sex with anyone other than her husband in her new home. Yasir is cool with it and makes moves to leave, but his car won’t start. He refuses to knock on Nuri’s door to ask to borrow her triple A card. But Nuri is watching him struggle and invites him inside because she doesn’t want him to leave anyway. In hindsight (older Yasir) said he felt like that night with Nuri was his lifeline. They get through the night and manage to fight temptation.

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The next day, Nuri discovers that she got the day off work so they spend even more time cupcaking! Yasir even helps her get work done around her home. Nuri even gives him an honest run down about her boy toys, because y’all know she was a player, but things have changed and she has no problem cutting any of these men off. Their time gets cut short when Nuri discovers that she needs to go support her coworker-friend Angela on a blind date. The plan is for Nuri to “coincidentally” bump into Angela and access the situation. If Angela isn’t feeling the guy then Nuri will run a distraction to end the date early. Nuri and Yasir agree to meet up again later that night.

Yasir goes back to Ruby’s place to look for a AAA card and discovers that Ruby secretly had liposuction (she’s bandaged up and looking super sad). In Ruby’s mind, she “can’t have all the hips and butt” she has if she’s going to be a successful yoga instructor, so this is what she needed to do in order to have a successful yoga business in LA. “I do not have the body my clients want,” said Ruby. Yasir replies, “but you have the knowledge.”

Yasir is obviously disturbed seeing Ruby this way, especially because she has no one to help her recover (not even the “anorexic peron who got her into this situaton,” the person who picked her up post-op)so he tells her that he always thought she was beautiful and even helps her drain her post-operation tools and keeps her walking around to avoid blood clots. This is when Ruby reveals that she was riding him about money so hard because she was on edge about getting this surgery. Ruby also makes Yasir promise not to tell anyone about the surgery.

Then we cut back to Nuri with her mother. Her mom is super nosy and wants the scoop on Yasir only to find out that Nuri doesn’t even know his last name or his birthday. Mama lets her have it and tells her important questions though, what’s Yasir’s last name and his birthday? Mama just wants her to be more discerning. This plants some doubt in Nuri’s mind, especially after Yasir misses their evening date because he’s so caught up taking care of Ruby. The other problem is, Yasir can’t find the paper with Nuri’s number on it so he can’t reach her. Nuri can’t reach him either and gets worried but her neighbor actually comes through.

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Yasir pushed his dead car in front of said neighbor’s house and now the neighbor is concerned about Yasir so she figured she’d ask Nuri if he’s okay. Nuri reveals that she doesn’t know and that she doesn’t even know his last name. The crafty neighbor was able to roll the car window down and retrieve his registration. His last name is Omar, and she gave Nuri his address. They both also noted that “it looks like he’s living in his car.”

Meanwhile, Yasir is getting ready to give Ruby a sponge bath but there’s a knock on his door. Obviously, it’s Nuri. He’s super surprised to see her. He apologizes for standing her up but Nuri wants answers. Why did he stand her up? How does he make money? Is he homeless? Yasir says he can’t give her the answers right then but he’ll meet up with her tomorrow and tell her what’s up. He felt like Nuri deserved his full attention and this wasn’t the time or place to have the discussion. The problem is, will Nuri actually show up? We obviously know they end up getting together but it probably won’t be without a fight.

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