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Mother Awarded $3.5 Million For Son’s Prison Death

Al Sharpton — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 14:49:38 +0000

New York will pay $3.5 million to a mother whose son died when two prison aides violently restrained him at the former Tryon Boys Residential Center in Fulton County, NY in 2006.

According to the lawsuit, Darryl Thompson stopped breathing and died shortly after prison workers failed to respond to his pleas for help.

The agreement, approved last week by a U.S. District Judge, awards 2.28 million to Anntwanisha Thompson after legal fees for the death of her son.

“There’s no amount of money that is going to compensate for this boy’s life,” the family’s attorney, E. Robert Keach III, told theGrio.

Hundreds Gather At Funeral FAMU Music Student

Al Sharpton — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 19:53:42 +0000

DECATUR, Ga. (AP) — The funeral for a Florida A&M University drum major turned into a call for action Wednesday as speakers urged for an end to the hazing linked to the death of Robert Champion.

Hundreds of friends and family crowded the pews at a church near Atlanta, and Champion’s drum major uniform was on display next to his open casket. Members of the marching band from Southwest DeKalb High School, where Champion attended, performed in full regalia at the beginning and end of the service.

Beulah Missionary Baptist Church pastor John Tatum urged the crowd to stop the “foolish” hazing in college fraternities and marching bands.

“If there’s anything about this man’s legacy we need to put a stop to, it’s hazing,” he said to a chorus of amens. “I call upon every parent, every mother, every father … do what is necessary now to stop this tragedy from ever happening again.”

The 26-year-old junior was found dead Nov. 19 on a bus parked outside an Orlando, Fla., hotel after the school’s football team lost to a rival. Police said Champion, a clarinet player, had been vomiting and complained he couldn’t breathe shortly before he collapsed, but they have not released any other details.

Since Champion’s death, Julian White, the band director at the historically black university in Tallahassee has been fired. The school has announced an independent probe, and the university president said he will work to end the long practice of hazing in the marching band.

Speaking at the service, White said Champion was like a son to him. He said he saw Champion shortly after he was found unconscious and he “looked in peace.”

“This is a difficult time for me. You may see me smile, and you probably won’t see me cry,” he said. “I’m happy that I knew Robert.”

The group that oversees Florida’s public universities announced Tuesday it wanted to investigate whether the school did enough to respond to hazing.

Champion fell in love with music when he was about age 6. He started in bands in middle school and his mother said he was so enthusiastic about performances she called him “Mr. Band.”

The Florida A&M band, known as the “Marching 100,” was one of the most prominent in the nation. The band has performed at Super Bowls, the Grammys and presidential inaugurations.

University president James Ammons pledged to “stamp out hazing at FAMU.”

“I vow that Robert’s death will not be in vain,” he said.

Floyd Mayweather Picking Up Tab For Joe Frazier’s Funeral

RobinRazzi — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 19:04:13 +0000

Funeral arrangements for the legendary boxer Joe Frazier are scheduled for Monday morning at the Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church in Philadelphia. His body will lie in state at the Wells Frago Center Friday from 10am to pm and Saturday from 10am to 1pm. In lieu of flowers donations can be made in Frazier’s name t... Read more..

Young Black, Hispanic Men Likely To Be Jobless, Imprisoned Or Dead

Larry Young — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 18:57:50 +0000

NORTH CAROLINA — According a new study by the College Board’s Advocacy & Policy Center, young Black and Hispanic men are heading down a socially downward spiral.

The study found that 51 percent of Hispanic males and 45 percent of African American males ages 15-24 will end up unemployed, incarcerated or dead.

ABC News Channel 3 in North Carolina Reports:

The College Board report on educational experience observed, “…Men, especially minority men, lag behind their female counterparts in college access, educational attainment and employment. Minority men outpace their female counterparts only in negative post-secondary outcomes: unemployment, incarceration and death.”

In order to accomplish President Obama’s goal of the United States retaking its position as the world’s best educated nation, improvements must be made in the rate men of color enroll in and graduate from college, the report stated.

Congressman Elijah Cummings Mourns Death Of Murdered Nephew

RobinRazzi — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 16:12:47 +0000

Congressman Elijah Cummings is now mourning the loss of his nephew Christopher Cummings. Cummings, 20, and his roommate Jake Carey were shot in an off-campus shooting near Old Dominion University. Carey crawled across the street for help and Cummings passed shortly after. Carey is currently in critical cond... Read more..

Rumor: Whitney Houston Diagnosed With Deadly Emphysema?

Larry Young — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 21:09:49 +0000

via: myhoustonmajic.com

There is buzz going around originally printed from the National Enquirer that singer Whitney Houston is battling emphysema. Here’s more of the story:

On the heels of sub par and canceled live performances, Whitney Houston now has a much more serious low to battle — emphysema. According to the National Enquirer, doctors informed the singer that she is suffering from early stages of the lung disease, an obvious culprit to Houston’s poorly received vocal performances, as of late.

“She’s developed emphysema — and her doctors are warning her she’ll die a horrible death,” a friend of the singer told the Enquirer.

We will keep you updated on whether this story has been confirmed true.

David M. French, Physician and Civil Rights Activist, Dies At 86

Larry Young — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 23:52:50 +0000

Dr. David M. French was a former Howard University professor of pediatric surgery who treated the injuries of civil rights protesters in the 1960s and fought to stop the segregation of health-care facilities. He passed away on March 31 at the age of 86. Dr. French was also a founding member of the Medical Committee for Human Rights, a civil ri... Read more..

Remembering Elizaberth Taylor Via Michael Jackson’s Tribute [VIDEO]

Elev8 — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 13:44:07 +0000

Actress Elizabeth Taylor has died at the age of 79. The cause was congestive heart failure.

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Loleatta Holloway: Sang From Her Soul With Love Sensation (R.I.P.)

Elev8 — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 15:00:33 +0000

Loleatta Holloway (November 5, 1946 – March 21, 2011) was an American singer, mainly known for disco songs such as “Hit and Run” and “Love Sensation”, both of which have been sampled extensively.

Loletta Holloway was able to sing form her soul, the quality that arouses emotion and sentiment. Soul music is defined as a type of Black music resulting from the addition of jazz, gospel, and pop elements to the urban blues style. The reality is, as a singer, you either can come from your soul or you can’t.

Soul and Disco singer Loleatta Holloway died Monday evening following a brief illness. She was 64 years old.

Holloway’s death was confirmed Monday by her manager, Ron Richardson.

For more details on the life and passing of Loletta Holloway check out: (SpinningSoul.com “RIP Loletta Hollaway”)

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Marvin Sapp Preaches For The First Time Since Wife’s Death

Larry Young — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 13:26:10 +0000

VIA BCNN1.COM

Just a month and a day after the memorial service of his wife MaLinda Sapp, Grand Rapids pastor and gospel music artist Marvin Sapp was back in the pulpit Sunday, addressing his congregation at Lighthouse Full Life Center Church on Burton Avenue SE.

Pastor Marvin Sapp leads the Sunday morning worship service of the Lighthouse Full Life Center Church.

“I’m not saying it’s been easy. … It’s been very difficult for me and for my family as a whole,” Sapp, 43, told more than 250 worshipers at the church’s 11 a.m. service.

“But I do realize the Bible is right: keep holding us up in prayer.”

MaLinda Prince Sapp died Sept. 9 following an 18-month struggle with cancer, leaving Sapp and their three children, Marvin II, 16; Milaila, 13; and Madisson, 11.

She had been a counselor and college instructor, and was serving as administrative pastor at the church, as well as manager of her husband’s successful gospel music career.

Nevertheless, Sapp said MaLinda had prepared well for the transition, and her legacy and their shared vision will continue.

“Her mentality was to ‘keep it moving,’” recalled Sapp of a phrase often spoken at her memorial service last month.

“She brought our whole leadership team to the house when she was (bedridden), and poured into them things they needed to know to keep things moving,” said Sapp, 43, during a post-worship interview. READ MORE