Latest news with #BlackExcellence
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Malia Obama's bold Nike debut honors HBCU culture
When Malia Obama stepped behind the camera to direct her first commercial, she didn't just make art—she made history. The Nike spot, launching A'ja Wilson's signature 'A'One' sneaker on May 6, did more than promote a shoe; it's a cinematic love letter to Black excellence, athletic greatness, and the undeniable rhythm of HBCU culture. For HBCU sports fans, this moment hits different. Advertisement Obama's direction centers Wilson's roots in Columbia, South Carolina, and her deep ties to Benedict College—where her father, Roscoe Wilson, was once a standout player. The commercial's heart-pounding choreography, performed by Benedict College dancers, mirrors the precision and pride seen every fall on HBCU football sidelines. It's a nod to the halftime shows, the battle of the bands, the sweat and swagger of Black college sports that too often go unseen by mainstream media. 'When you think about HBCUs, you think about tradition, you think about family,' Wilson said. 'That's what raised me.' Wilson, now a two-time WNBA MVP and Olympic gold medalist, continues to shine a spotlight on the communities that molded her. And thanks to Malia's storytelling, that spotlight now beams globally. The 'A'One' isn't just a shoe—it's the first Nike signature sneaker for a Black woman athlete in over a decade. The campaign itself breaks barriers, and with Obama at the helm, it speaks to a new generation of fans who want to see authenticity in sports marketing. Advertisement For HBCU alumni and athletes, this commercial is more than representation—it's validation. Let this be the start, not the exception. Demand more stories rooted in HBCU greatness. Because when the culture leads, the world watches. Related: Charlotte's bold power play to bring CIAA Tournament home Related: Shaquille O'Neal sends strong message by showing HBCU pride on TNT
CTV News
6 days ago
- General
- CTV News
‘The Art of Leadership Women' to feature Dr. Chika Stacy Oriuwa as guest speaker
Next month, Dr. Chika Stacy Oriuwa, whose memoir 'Unlike the Rest: A Doctor's Story' is available now, will speak at 'The Art of Leadership Women' in Calgary. Next month, Dr. Chika Stacy Oriuwa, whose memoir 'Unlike the Rest: A Doctor's Story' is available now, will speak at 'The Art of Leadership Women' in Calgary. Dr. Chika Stacy Oriuwa to speak at 'The Art of Leadership Women' As a Black Canadian, Dr. Chika Stacy Oriuwa is accustomed to feeling like a minority. That status was never more apparent than when she attended the University of Toronto medical school—the only Black student among 259 people. 'I want to dismantle this idea of Black exceptionalism, that I am somehow unlike the rest of the Black community and that's how I was able to make it into medical school. I actually believe that I am a beautiful reflection of the intelligence and capacity and the tenacity within the Black community,' Oriuwa told CTV News. Next month, Dr. Chika Stacy Oriuwa, whose memoir 'Unlike the Rest: A Doctor's Story' is available now, will speak at 'The Art of Leadership Women' in Calgary. Next month, Dr. Chika Stacy Oriuwa, whose memoir 'Unlike the Rest: A Doctor's Story' is available now, will speak at 'The Art of Leadership Women' in Calgary. Oriuwa became the valedictorian of her medical school class and received another honour, too. Mattel created a Barbie doll in her likeness, part of a series acknowledging frontline health-care heroes. 'As a little girl, I would spend a lot of my time playing with Barbies, but I never actually had a Barbie that looked like me,' she said. 'To then fast forward 20 years—to have this opportunity where I could have a Barbie made in my likeness, that was incredibly surreal.' Oriuwa is a guest speaker at The Art of Leadership Women conference at the Telus Convention Centre in Calgary on June 9. Her memoir is Unlike the Rest: A Doctor's Story.
News24
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News24
SA's Tyla, Maglera Doe Boy and Dlala Thukzin strike a chord with 2025 BET nods
South Africa's Tyla, Maglera Doe Boy, and Dlala Thukzin earned nods in the Best International Act and Best New International Act categories at the upcoming BET Awards. 'Culture's biggest night' will take place on 10 June, streaming live from Los Angeles on BET Africa. International stars like Kendrick Lamar, SZA, and Drake lead with multiple nominations. South African superstars Tyla, Maglera Doe Boy, and Dlala Thukzin proudly flew the South African flag high after receiving nominations in the Best International Act and Best New International Act categories at the upcoming 2025 BET Awards. Dubbed 'culture's biggest night', the awards are slated for Tuesday, 10 June, at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles. They will also air live on BET Africa (DStv 129) at 02:00. View this post on Instagram A post shared by BET (@bet) Other local talents who received nominations were South Africa's TxC, also in the Best New International Act category, Nigeria's Shallipopi, and Tanzania's Abigail Chams. Nigeria's Ayra Starr and Rema received nominations in the Best International Act category, along with Ghana's Black Sherif and Eswatini's Uncle Waffles. Internationally acclaimed Burna Boy was added to those flying the Nigerian flag high with a nomination in the Best Male Hip-Hop Artist category. 'At BET, we are proud to continue elevating and celebrating black excellence on a global scale. The 2025 nominations reflect the incredible creativity, influence and impact of African artists who are shaping culture and pushing boundaries,' Monde Twala, senior vice president and co-general manager of Paramount Africa and Lead, said. 'From Ayra Starr, Burna Boy, Tems, Tyla, Odeal, Shallipopi, Maglera Doe Boy, Black Sherif, Uncle Waffles – these talents represent the diversity and heartbeat of a new generation and the global resonance of our sounds. I'd also like to take this opportunity to congratulate the nominees from Brazil, the UK and France. BET remains committed to showcasing the voices and visions of African creatives on the world stage.' Internationally, rapper Kendrick Lamar led the 2025 BET Award nominations with a whopping 10 nods in categories including Album of the Year, Video of the Year and Viewer's Choice Award. View this post on Instagram A post shared by BET (@bet) Fellow rappers Drake, Future, GloRilla and Doechii received six nominations, with Metro Boomin earning five nominations and SZA and The Weeknd tying at four nominations. See the full list of nominees here: Album of the year: $OME $EXY $ONGS 4 U - Drake & Partynextdoor 11:11 DELUXE - Chris Brown ALLIGATOR BITES NEVER HEAL - Doechii COWBOY CARTER - Beyoncé GLORIOUS - GloRilla GNX - Kendrick Lamar HURRY UP TOMORROW - The Weeknd WE DON'T TRUST YOU - Future & Metro Boomin Best Female R&B/Pop Artist: Ari Lennox Ayra Starr Coco Jones Kehlani Muni Long Summer Walker SZA Victoria Monét Best Male R&B/Pop Artist: Bruno Mars Chris Brown Drake Fridayy Leon Thomas Teddy Swims The Weeknd Usher Best Group: 41 Common & Pete Rock Drake & Partynextdoor Flo Future & Metro Boomin Jacques & Dej Loaf Larry June, 2Chainz, The Alchemist Maverick City Music Best Collaboration: 30 for 30- SZA feat. Kendrick Lamar Alter Ego - Doechii feat. JT Are You Even Real - Teddy Swims feat. Givēon Beckham- Dee Billz feat. Kyle Richh, Kai Swervo, KJ swervo Bless - Lil Wayne, Wheezy & Young Thug Like That - Future & Metro Boomin & Kendrick Lamar Luther - Kendrick Lamar & SZA Sticky - Tyler, The Creator feat. GloRilla, Sexyy Red & Lil Wayne Timeless - The Weeknd feat. Playboi Carti Best Female Hip-Hop Artist: Cardi B Doechii Doja Cat GloRilla Latto Megan Thee Stallion Nicki Minaj Rapsody Sexyy Red Best Male Hip-Hop Artist: Bigxthaplug Bossman Dlow Burna Boy Drake Future Kendrick Lamar Key Glock Lil Wayne Tyler, The Creator Video of the Year: 3am in Tokeyo - Key Glock A Bar Song (tipsy) - Shaboozey After Hours - Kehlani Denial Is A River - Doechii Family Matters - Drake Not Like Us - Kendrick Lamar Timeless - The Weeknd feat. Playboi Carti Type Shit - Future, Metro Boomin, Travis Scott & Playboy Carti Video Director of the Year: Anderson Paak B Pace Productions & Jacquees Benny Boom Cactus Jack Cole Bennett Dave Free & Kendrick Lamar Dave Meyers Foggieraw Tyler, The Creator Best New Artist: 41 Ayra Starr Bigxthaplug Bossman Dlow Dee Billz Leon Thomas October London Shaboozey Teddy Swims Dr Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award: A god (There Is) - Common & Pete Rock feat. Jennifer Hudson Amen - Pastor Mike Jr. Better Days - Fridayy Church Doors - Yolanda Adams feat. Sir The Baptist & Donald Lawrence (Terry Hunter remix) Constant - Maverick City Music, Jordin Sparks, Chandler Moore & Anthony Gargiula Deserve To Win - Tamela Mann Faith - Rapsody Rain Down On Me - GloRilla feat. Kirk Franklin, Maverick City Music Viewer's Choice Award: Residuals - Chris Brown Denial Is A River - Doechii Nokia - Drake Like That - Future & Metro Boomin feat. Kendrick Lamar TGIF - GloRilla Not Like Us - Kendrick Lamar Luther - Kendrick Lamar & SZA Brokey - Latto Best International Act: Any Gabrielly (Brazil) Ayra Starr (Nigeria) Bashy (United Kingdom) Black Sherif (Ghana) Ezra Collective (United Kingdom) Joé Dwèt filé (france) Mc Luanna (Brazil) Rema (Nigeria) SDM (France) Tyla (South Africa) Uncle Waffles (Swaziland) Best New International Act: Abigail Chams (Tanzania) Ajuliacosta (Brazil) Amabbi (Brazil) Dlala Thukzin (South Africa) Dr Yaro (France) KWN (United Kingdom) Maglera Doe Boy (South Africa) Merveille (France) Odeal (United Kingdom) Shallipopi (Nigeria) Txc (South Africa) BET Her: Beautiful People - Mary J. Blige Blackbiird - Beyoncé feat. Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy & Reyna Roberts Bloom - Doechii Burning - Tems Defying Gravity - Cynthia Erivo feat. Ariana Grande Heart of a Woman - Summer Walker Hold On - Tems In My Bag - Flo & GloRilla Best Movie: Bad Boys: Ride or Die Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F Luther: Never Too Much Mufasa: The Lion King One Of Them Days Rebel Ridge The Piano Lesson The Six Triple Eight Best Actor: Aaron Pierre Aldis Hodge Anthony Mackie Colman Domingo Denzel Washington Jamie Foxx Joey Bada$$ Kevin Hart Sterling K. Brown Will Smith Best Actress: Andra Day Angela Bassett Coco Jones Cynthia Erivo Keke Palmer Kerry Washington Quinta Brunson Viola Davis Zendaya Youngsters Award: Akira Akbar Blue Ivy Carter Graceyn 'Gracie' Hollingsworth Heiress Harris Melody Hurd Thaddeus J. Mixson Tyrik Johnson Vanvan Sportswoman of the Year: A'ja Wilson Angel Reese Claressa Shields Coco Gauff Dawn Staley Flau'jae Johnson Juju Watkins Sha'carri Richardson Simone Biles Sportsman of the Year: Aaron Judge Anthon Edwards Deion Sanders Jalen Hurts Jayson Tatum Lebron James Saquon Barkley Stephen Curry
CBC
16-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Black students in Windsor-Essex embrace event honouring culture, arts
Windsor-Essex students come together for Black Joy, Black Excellence symposium 3 hours ago Duration 1:40 Hundreds of local students gathered for an event Tuesday celebrating Black culture and creativity. The Greater Essex County District School Board hosted its second annual Black Joy – Black Excellence Student Symposium at the St. Clair Centre for the Arts. "It's only once in a lifetime that you get to have something like this, everyone come together under one roof to really enjoy and celebrate something that you can't really do anywhere else," said Jalen Hamilton, a grade 12 student at Kennedy Collegiate Institute. Hamilton was among the more than 500 students the school board said would attend the "Express Yourself"-themed event. "Our students asked for something to be done this year in the format of arts and movement and theatre and different things like that, so we made sure that that happened," said high school teacher Natalie Browning-Morgan. Browning-Morgan, who serves as the board's graduation coach for Black, African and Caribbean students, said last year's inaugural event was smaller and focused on speaking with students about what was happening in their schools. But this year's symposium featured spoken word poetry, art, dancing and a resource fair, among other things. "The students need to hear the positive things about what it means to be Black, African, or Caribbean and we're just enjoying that," she said. Hamilton said the event was "on a whole different level" compared to last year. "We have so many more guests, so many more kids here that can finally express themselves thoroughly," he said. "It's a night and day difference." Alaa Ebrahim, a Grade 11 student at Riverside Secondary School, said this year's event was much more student-led. "Everything altogether just really made this event this year so much better because the student voice is really heard," she said. Ebrahim, one of the event's emcees, said it's important for younger students to "get the chance to see themselves in places that they might not see themselves normally." One of the symposium's other highlights was a fashion show that included both casual and cultural attire. Hamilton, a model in the show who got to wear his own pieces, called it "absolutely incredible." Hamilton, who was also a keynote speaker for the student panel, said Tuesday was about embracing the positive. "For a very long time, people that have looked like me haven't had the opportunity to fully express themself due to our very, very tainted and dark history," he said. "But today is the day to not even highlight that, but to highlight what joy can come, what happiness can come, what empowerment we can bring to the youth."
Chicago Tribune
11-04-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Lake County school officials mulling future of DEI programs; ‘We are poised to pivot when needed'
A recent exchange of letters between the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) and Illinois Superintendent of Education Tony Sanders has some Lake County educators wondering how to continue or implement programs aimed at helping students from low-income families. At the heart of the exchange is President Donald Trump's desire to withhold funding from school districts with diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs, which local educators believe give all children an equal opportunity to succeed. At risk for running afoul of federal policies is the loss of millions of dollars in Title I money from the U.S. government, which is given to schools with large populations of low-income families like Waukegan, North Chicago and the Round Lake area. John Price, the superintendent of North Chicago School District 187, said the quandary has prompted the district to stall the implementation of a Black Excellence program designed to help a particular student group that does not perform as well as others on certain standardized tests. 'We've had to hold off on this new initiative,' Price said. 'Our mission is for every student to be able to write their own story of success. This has to get resolved before we can serve all of our students well.' Officials at schools receiving Title I funding in Lake County remain nervous but encouraged after Sanders told the DOE in a letter Thursday the state has provided the 'requisite guarantee' all districts in Illinois comply with federal law. In addition to showing test results for all students in each district, the Illinois State Board of Education's annual school report card lists them for Black, Hispanic, diverse and English language learners, Price said. 'The state purposely disaggregates different student groups like those in special education or diverse learners,' he said. 'This gives us a chance to see who may need more support.' District 1987 received just under $2 million in Title I funding for the current school year. Price said it was used to support student programs and personnel working with them, which fostered academic growth and community engagement. Loss of the money means a reduction in the plan. Price said the relationship with federal funding is much bigger in large part because of the number of families from Naval Station Great Lakes whose children go to school there. The U.S. government provides approximately $12,000 a student in impact aid since no property tax revenue is generated from the naval base property. Every school in Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 qualifies for Title I funding. Gwen Polk, the associate superintendent for business and financial services, said the district received $7.1 million for the 2023-2024 school year and has budgeted $7.8 million this term. 'The money goes to academic programs which will help improve student performance,' Polk said. 'It is used to help close achievement gaps which exist.' Though the money is in the budget to help the students, Polk said no changes are necessary at this point. If the federal government does stop distributing the funds because the money will no longer go to the state for distribution to the entitled school districts, Waukegan will adjust, she said. 'We are poised to pivot when needed,' Polk said. 'We see where we may go and what resources we can use. As of now, we have no indication the funding is at risk.' District 60 Superintendent Theresa Plascencia said in an email that educators like those in the district are responsible for assuring that students feel safe and are 'empowered to succeed' in 'a supporting learning environment.' 'We remain focused on meeting the individual needs of each student,' Plascencia said. 'We continue to explore how we can maintain programs that serve students who may need additional support so that every child has the opportunity and resources to thrive.' In its letter received by Sanders, the DOE, asked him to certify that all school districts in the state are in compliance with the provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bans discrimination on the 'grounds of race, color or national origin.' Using DEI 'programs to the advantage of one race over another is impermissible,' according to the DOE letter. The DOE said, 'Use of DEI programs can violate federal law.' Writing in his response that no specific examples of how DEI programs may violate federal law are outlined in the letter, Sanders said it is also an 'abrupt shift from previous positions' on DEI from the first Trump administration. The letter itself violates federal law, he wrote. 'We are concerned that USDOE seemingly seeks to change the terms and conditions of the Illinois State Board of Education's award without formal administrative process,' Sanders wrote. 'USDOE cannot make changes to legal assurances and impose new requirements on recipients without adhering to rulemaking procedures.'
