The two brothers apprehended by Chicago police in connection to the Jussie Smollett attack were allegedly paid by the actor to stage an assault.During the alleged late January attack, assailants reportedly hurled racist and homophobic slurs at Empire co-star. CNN reports two law enforcement sources with some intel on the investigation claims the brothers, Olabinjo and Abimbola Osundairo, brought a rope at a local hardware store.They also reportedly placed a noose around his neck and poured bleach on him. The siblings were background actors on the hit Fox show. Reports indicate they were also burgeoning actors who were also pursuing bodybuilding.As reported by Deadline, Smollett's attorneys released a statement following this latest revelation, refuting claims the 36-year-old played a part in orchestrating the attack.Blavitize your inbox! Join our daily newsletter for fresh stories and breaking news."As a victim of a hate crime who has cooperated with the police investigation, Jussie Smollett is angered and devastated by recent reports that the perpetrators are individuals he is familiar with," the statement to media read."He has now been further victimized by claims attributed to these alleged perpetrators that Jussie played a role in his own attack. Nothing is further from the truth and anyone claiming otherwise is lying."Chicago Police announced they are changing the "trajectory of their investigation" due to new evidence discovered. However, the actor and singer's attorneys are not responding to the specific claims of unnamed law enforcement sources."At the present time, Jussie and his attorneys have no inclination to respond to 'unnamed' sources inside of the investigation, but will continue discussions through official channels," the statement read.The Osundairo brothers were released from police custody Saturday after 12 hours of detainment. Immediately after their release, new claims supporting allegations of a faked assault were reported by CNN.PageSix reports Smollett was adamant about going on TV to share his story. An unidentified source close to the Good Morning America booking told the outlet he pushed for a TV interview.“But Jussie was adamant that he wanted TV right away," a source said. "He raised his voice and said, ‘I need to do this right now. I’m a Black gay man and people need to know what happened to me. I want to tell my story.’ He wanted media right away.”Rumors around the case claimed Smollett staged the attack in an effort to stay in the limelight when he learned he could be leaving Empire. None of the allegations have been confirmed and Smollett has vehemently denied all claims against him. Now, check these out:Two Brothers Arrested In Connection With Alleged Attack On Jussie Smollett Released Without ChargingHuman Rights Campaign Report Finds Nearly Half Of Black LGBTQ Youth Are Ridiculed By Family Members21 Savage Performed A Song Featuring Anti-ICE Lyrics Days Before His...

This piece is part of a 28-day series celebrating modern black love among millennials. It was created by Chuck Marcus and Michelle Nance, exclusively distributed by Blavity.Her: Bianca Kea | 27 | Content SpecialistHer: Tannis Spencer | 28 | Digital MarketingRelationship Status: Dating | 2.5 YearsWhen Bianca saw Tannis’ profile pop up on her Tinder feed she immediately thought she was accidentally being served her profile and almost didn't swipe right. But an instinct told her to do it, so she did, and a match was made.While they began dating in New York, it was the time spent long distance that would help them grow into to the right space as individuals so that they could come together as a couple. After spending about a year in California, Bianca moved back to New York where the couple now lives together in Harlem and pride themselves on pushing the boundaries by showing up as themselves, two black women in love, everywhere they go.What’s the hardest part about being a queer millennial in a relationship?Bianca: Nowadays it’s almost popular to be in a transient state, just like it’s popular to be a traveling entrepreneur. It’s kind of hard to find a relationship where you know that both people are looking for longevity. And then to add LGBT to that it’s kind of difficult. Having that same sort of mindset, a lot of people don’t think long term.And then from a queer perspective, I’ve found it hard to be in a queer space and find another woman who is secure with her sexuality and interested in dating another woman long term. When I was in Michigan I found a lot of queer women who were interested but weren’t sure or they liked women but didn’t know if they could see themselves longterm with a woman so it’s just all these layers where it’s hard to find someone else who will say I want this.Tannis: I would agree with that. I kind of have an interesting perspective because I’m still learning about the LGBT community and finding my place in it. What’s interesting for us is that there is not a lot of particularly LGBTQ aspects of our relationship that define us. There’s nothing about being with her as a woman that makes it any more difficult than being with her as a guy.Who do you look to as an example of a successful relationship?Tannis: In terms of relationship success, I’ve always had my parents to look at. My mom and dad have been together now for almost 35 years. I’ve always said I want exactly what my parents have. Doesn’t matter if it’s with a woman or a man I just want that connection.Bianca: My mom is a single parent, I saw my parents together when I was younger but they separated when I was in middle school and then got divorced when I was older so I never really saw a union growing up. Even aunts and uncles were either in a long term committed relationship or dating but never married. I honestly didn’t start looking towards couples for success in terms of black love and successful relationships until I started dating her and that’s when she opened my eyes to what black love could look like. Especially her parents, I even look to them.Tannis: I think I had so much representation of black love growing up. A lot of our family friends are judges, lawyers, doctors and the kids all grew up together and we’d get together for the holidays. So I grew up seeing black people loving on each other.Bianca: I grew up seeing black people who created families and they lusted for each other but the love was a miss, something just wasn’t working out. So I never had that representation. If I wanted it I would have to turn on The Cosby Show or like, My Wife & Kids. I never had an actual example.Tannis: My Wife & Kids, that’s hilarious I’ve never thought about that show as a representation of black love.Blavitize your inbox! Join our daily newsletter for fresh stories and breaking news.How did you know you were ready to commit?Bianca: I feel like we were just going with the flow to be honest. I was living in California, she was living here [New York] and we just started talking. I was living in New York for a year and a half and towards the end of that time that’s when I met her. I moved away for a job in LA and we didn’t talk for a minute and then we rekindled. It was like a long distance thing. It worked out really well because I didn’t know if I wanted a relationship yet and she was coming into her sexuality. Having that distance really allowed us to figure some shit out. After some time when I moved back to NY I still thought we were going with the flow and it wasn’t until she was like “well, this isn’t for play play” that I was like, oh we’re doing this. It’s not like I thought there would be no longevity here but we didn’t have that serious conversation.Tannis:I never utilize these dating apps for anything but dating. My intention in getting on Tinder wasn’t to find someone for a random hookup.Bianca: But you probably didn’t get on there thinking I’m going to find the person I’m going to marry. No one gets on there thinking that.Tannis: I definitely went into it with a hope for something more than one night and so from there if you’re a normal human being and I’m a normal human being and we both like talking to each other there’s no reason why we can’t continue this. The idea of frivolously doing things never really crossed my mind.What does black love mean to the black community?Bianca: It’s really important, representation matters. Growing up I didn’t see examples of black love IRL. And then to have queer black love. I had the aunties who had a friend and that was their best friend for years but not to be outright being themselves in their true entity and loving one another without holding back. I think it’s really important that whoever it is, young or old, that they see black love can also be queer love. We shouldn’t have to hide our love just because we’re two women.Tannis: I don’t think I realized the importance of that sort of representation until I got in a relationship with her. We would say, “who else looks like us?” We’d find couples online who are both sort of feminine and they’re not feeding into a stereotype that people have of lesbians and for me that was something that I grappled with because I wasn’t looking to fit someone’s stereotype. I don’t want to immerse myself in something just because. I’m going to do it if it makes sense. One thing I’ve realized is being visible, being happy, just existing is important. I never realized that for women like me who think the same as me how important it was to see me in love with someone and just be myself.All relationships require compromise, how do you avoid losing yourself yet maintain and keep your partner happy in the process?Tannis: One thing I've always talked about is that you’ve been living your life the way you want for twenty five plus years now, so here we are together and I’m supposed to expect you to do the things that I like? You have to realized that people have been who they are for so long and compromise takes more than one fight to change something. We’re going to have to fight about this for a couple years for me to realize that I really do have to change something and work on accepting our differences and figuring out how to work through a change or a compromise. We can’t just say alright, you’re right I’m just gonna change what I’ve been doing my whole life that easily. We know there are things we have to compromise on we may not have gotten there yet but at least we know we’re going to figure it out.Bianca: Compromise is hard, I’m not a patient person. If I asked her of something and she didn’t do it right away I’d be like well why isn’t she changing or I shouldn’t have to ask multiple times. But, we’re all human and habits take time to break and it takes time to learn new ones.Tannis: To truly change something because you want to and because you realize it’s better. If you were to change yourself just to appease someone that’s when you’re changing yourself for the wrong reason, and losing yourself. But if you say I want to change a behavior because it doesn’t benefit my partner or it isn’t conducive to the unit and if I care more about this unit than this one habit I’ll find a way to change it.Bianca: She taught me [to work through things]. I didn’t realize that. I used to tell her all the time when we would get into fights in the beginning like “is this the end?”. We got into an argument so I would assume we were going to break up. That goes to show you from my perspective, I didn’t grow up in a two-parent household so I didn’t see that relationship when they were pushing through hard times. And like you said, as millennials, instant gratification says that if we can’t fix it now it’s not going to get fixed.Tannis: Have you ever built a friendship? How are we supposed to build a relationship that way if you just nix all your friends? I think people spend so much time finding issues and not finding solutions. So we got into an argument, maybe we just don’t talk for a couple of days.If you could describe love in one word, what would it be and why?Bianca: Compromise. Love is never black and white, it’s always gray. I say that because when I was younger, right before I fell in love the first time, I said to my mom “why doesn’t she just leave her boyfriend”. And my mom said, “love is never black and white, it’s gray”. And then you fall in love and you’re like, wow, love is gray. You can’t say I’m going to do these things and expect the other person so do what you want. You can’t fall in love without being vulnerable, without compromising, without meeting that person halfway. You can’t say I’m going to stay in my black bubble while you’re stuck in your white bubble and hope we find love. You have to break some walls down and get vulnerable, it gets messy.Tannis: I feel like love is a choice, I know it’s such a great quotable that people like but it’s so true. You can love someone, but love is not a feeling love is a choice it’s a decision to come back over and over again. It has nothing to do with how you feel. I can feel something for you and not want to argue with you ever again. But deciding to be committed to someone, choosing to do those things intentionally and with a purpose is what love...

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) partnered with the University of Connecticut to release a groundbreaking report on the lives of more than 1,600 Black LGBTQ youth, a mostly untapped research population.The report borrows from a more extensive survey investigating the life of LGBTQ youth in the United States. The results shed light on the experiences of individuals living with multiple marginalized identities.The study found that 77 percent of Black LGBTQ youth have heard family members say negative things about the LGBTQ community, nearly 50 percent were taunted or mocked by a family member and under 20 percent said they could “definitely” be themselves at home. The report also shared some startling statistics about the mental and emotional health of Black LGBTQ youth. Of those surveyed, 80 percent stated they usually feel depressed or down, 71 percent usually feel helpless or worthless, and 80 percent usually feel worried, nervous or panicked.Blavitize your inbox! Join our daily newsletter for fresh stories and breaking news.The survey comes in time for the HRC Foundation’s sixth annual Time to Thrive conference, which takes place on Friday and Saturday. The conference hosts hundreds of youth-serving professionals seeking best practices for working with and caring for LGBTQ youth and their families. The report will also be a panel topic during the conference.“We must confront the very real and present discrimination and institutional obstacles that prevent too many Black and African American LGBTQ young people from fully thriving and living as who they are,” said Director of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's Children, Youth & Families Program Ellen Kahn.During the Time to Thrive conference on Friday, HRC President Chad Griffin shared the disheartening results of the report but noted that the potential for Black LGBTQ youth remains endless. "But let’s be clear, these young people are also leading the way forward. And that should give us all hope. As this report makes clear, there are also stories of empowerment, resilience, activism, and advocacy," he remarked. "Across the country, Black and African American LGBTQ youth are taking a stand and advocating for inclusivity and equality in their homes, in their schools, and in their communities -- and increasingly demanding the same of their elected officials. You’ll hear from some of these amazing young advocates this weekend."Now check these out:Black Women And LGBT Students At Higher Risk Of Sexual Assault.Black LGBT Health: Why It's A Serious MatterBlack Queer & Trans Rights Are A Part of Black...

Black Girls Code, an organization dedicated to teaching girls of color about coding and tech, is under fire from a professor claiming discrimination. Mark Perry, a University of Michigan-Flint’s School of Management professor, claimed the organization violated federal Title IX. According to MLive, the allegation of discrimination stemmed from a coding camp hosted at Wayne State University last summer. “I was saying that program should not be hosted at Wayne State,” Perry said in a statement. “That program is discriminatory based on race and sex.”The program is not part of Wayne State, but the school takes federal funds which could violate Title IX, Perry claimed.He has also taken his grievances to the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights. Because he feels Black Girls Code is an openly discriminatory group that does not allow boys to partake.Wayne State is not the only university to host the camp. Perry has filed 35 complaints regarding other universities. Blavitize your inbox! Join our daily newsletter for fresh stories and breaking news.“I’m challenging the discriminatory, girls-only summer STEM camps at 35 universities across the country,” he said. “After spending a quarter of a century in higher education – there’s systematic and open gender discrimination. I’ve just taken this on as a mission to change the gender discrimination that takes place across the country.”Wayne State University believes the complaints against them and the program are unfounded. Spokesman Matt Lockwood said that there are other programs similar to Black Girls Code hosted by the university. Black Girls Code allows all girls of different races to participate. “Black Girls Code is a voluntary youth service organization and a 501(c) tax-exempt organization, and Wayne State hosts co-educational programs in coding and other STEM fields similar to Black Girls Code for both boys and girls,” Lockwood said in a statement. "Therefore, the university is not in violation of Title IX or any other statute or law prohibiting discrimination based on sex. In addition, Black Girls Code allows girls from all racial backgrounds to participate in its programs.”Now, check these out: Colin Kaepernick, Eric Reid Reach Settlement In Collusion Case Against The NFLVogue Style Director Accused Of Hosting Slavery Themed Party Has ResignedWhite Man Sentenced To 10 Years In Prison For Shooting Black Men Trying To Escape Hurricane...

Update (February 16, 2019): Two Nigerian siblings arrested as potential suspects in the Jussie Smollett attack have been released by Chicago Police.Within 12 hours of their detainment, Olabinjo and Abimbola Osundairo were released due to the discovery of new evidence, according to The New York Times. Police raided their apartment Wednesday and found items such as bleach and scripts that could link them to the assault on the Empire co-star."Due to new evidence as a result of today’s interrogations, the individuals questioned by police in the Empire case have now been released without charging and detectives have additional investigative work to complete,” Anthony Guglielmi, the Chicago Police Department spokesman, said in a statement.Case Update: Due to new evidence as a result of today's interrogations, the individuals questioned by police in the Empire case have now been released without charging and detectives have additional investigative work to complete. pic.twitter.com/Hswn1Qjgcy— Anthony Guglielmi (@AJGuglielmi) February 16, 2019 The new evidence in question was not disclosed, but police said it was obtained during questioning. According to The Chicago Tribune, the Osundairo brothers played football at Quincy University and then launched a career in acting and bodybuilding. Reports state both men had small background roles on the hit Fox show.Their attorney, Gloria Schmidt, expressed concern for her clients. She told media the brothers did not understand why they were arrested to begin with.“They’re really baffled why they are people of interest. They really don’t understand how they even got information that linked them to this horrific crime. But they’re not guilty of it. They know that the evidence is going to prove them innocent. They send their best to Jussie.”Original: Two brothers have been arrested in connection with the alleged homophobic and racist attack on Empire star Jussie Smollett.The two men had been questioned by police over the past two days and were formally arrested Friday. Although the attackers were believed to be white, CBS Chicago reports the detained men are of Nigerian descent. On Thursday, Chicago police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said the brothers were people of interest and not yet suspects. According to NBC News, the men were apprehended by police at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport after they returned from a trip to Nigeria Wednesday.The men were questioned, and police obtained a warrant to search their home. Police reportedly found an Empire script, a black balaclava, a red hat, bleach, receipts and a phone.Gloria Schmidt, an attorney for the brothers, said the men have worked on the Empire set and were "baffled" to learn they were people of interest.“When they first learned about what happened to him they were horrified," Schmidt said. "This is someone they know. This is someone they’ve worked with, so they don’t want to see somebody go through that."The attorney added, "They really don't understand how [the police] even got information that linked them to this horrific crime. They're not guilty of it. They know that the evidence is going to prove them innocent."Blavitize your inbox! Join our daily newsletter for fresh stories and breaking news.The police reportedly identified the brothers using surveillance cameras near the location Smollett said the incident occurred. It is also reported that the brothers live near this location.Smollett has yet to comment on the arrest. As Blavity reported, the actor appeared on Good Morning America Thursday and told his story publicly for the first time."I heard 'Empire,' and I don’t answer to Empire," Smollett said. "My name ain’t 'Empire,' and I didn’t answer. I kept walking, and then I heard 'f****t Empire n****r.' So, I turned around, and I said, 'The f**k did you just say to me?'” “'This MAGA country, n****r.' Punches me right in the face," Smollett continued. "So I punched his a** back. And then we started tussling, and it was very icy.”The brothers are still being questioned but are expected to be formally charged late in the day Friday.Now, check these out:Jussie Smollett Addresses Cynics While Discussing Alleged Racist, Homophobic Attack On 'GMA': 'I'm Pissed Off'Smollett Family Speaks Out For The First Time Since Jussie Smollett Attack, Responds To Those Say Assault Was A HoaxJussie Smollett Sets The Record Straight On Alleged Assault During Return To The Stage: 'I Fought The F**k...

Longtime judge Cheri Beasley will become North Carolina's first Black Chief Justice amid Republican opposition. In a move some claim breaks with tradition, North Carolina's Governor Roy Cooper (D) appointed Beasley to Supreme Court's highest position. Local outlet ABC 11 reports she was announced February 12 following news her predecessor, Mark Martin, would retire. "I know Justice Beasley to be fair and deeply committed to all North Carolinians," Cooper told media. "I appreciate her willingness to serve our state in this appointed role." Beasley's resume speaks for itself. The 53-year-old  graduated from Rutgers University and obtained her J.D. from the University of Tennessee. In 1999, she was appointed to a state bench position and then served as an Associate Judge on the court of appeals. Since 2012, Beasley has served on the state's highest court.I am grateful to @NC_Governor for appointing me to serve as the next Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina. I am truly honored by his confidence in my abilities to successfully lead the Supreme Court and the Judicial Branch. pic.twitter.com/qe6jRVF7p5— Cheri Beasley (@JusticeCBeasley) February 13, 2019The monumental appointment came during Black History Month and 20 years after the state's first Black justice, Henry Frye, was appointed to the Supreme Court. "It is not lost on me — this historic fact — especially since this is Black History Month," Beasley told media in a press junket. "I know that the work we do is hugely important, but the other thing I think about are the little girls along the way, who ought to have a sense of promise and hope for their futures, and so I hope that in some way my service inspires young people especially, but really I hope it is a show of symbolism for where we are in North Carolina.""This is certainly not the North Carolina of 200 years ago, and so I'm excited about the fact that North Carolina has moved forward," Beasley added.Blavitize your inbox! Join our daily newsletter for fresh stories and breaking news.Stiff opposition from the Right criticized Cooper's decision. The Raleigh News & Observer reports Senior Associate Justice Paul Newby would have been Chief Justice. He was on the Supreme Court since 2004. Newby cites political partisanship. "The Governor's decision further erodes public trust and confidence in a fair judiciary, free from partisan manipulation," Newby said in a statement. "While many talk of removing partisan politics from the courts, the Governor's actions today in using party label to make his selection is a reminder that actions speak louder than words."North Carolina Republican Party Chairman Robin Hayes piggybacked on Newby's criticism. Hayes believes if Newby was a Democrat, he would be Chief Justice because he has more experience."Today Governor Cooper decided to skip over two more experienced justices and elevated a justice with less Supreme Court experience to the open post of Chief Justice," Hayes said. "One can only believe the reason Cooper decided to ignore the longstanding, nonpartisan tradition of the Court was purely politics. Cooper's constant calls to keep our courts free from political interference rings hollow with this decision."Nevertheless, Beasley will be the first Black woman to lead to court in the state's history. She will officially become Chief Justice in March. Now, check these out:  Colin Kaepernick, Eric Reid Reach Settlement In Collusion Case Against The NFL Vogue Style Director Accused Of Hosting Slavery Themed Party Has Resigned White Man Sentenced To 10 Years In Prison For Shooting Black Men Trying To Escape Hurricane Katrina...

Defining Blackness has always been a bit of a conundrum. For many, it’s a matter of birthright; being a direct descendant of enslaved ancestors, who were stolen away from the African continent and brought to the Americas. For many, it’s about how one looks and presents themselves—whether it be physical features or even their skin tone. For others, it’s about the culture—how the people live and the languages they speak.However, Blackness is not monolithic. It's a continuum that runs so differently across the African diaspora, but it is also about shared experiences among the collective — ones we relate to in spirit and in the physical. As the infamous song “One Blood" by Junior Reid states, "Yuh coulda come from Libya or yuh come from ‘merica/ Coulda come from Europe or yuh come from Africa." There are one or many things that Black people associate with Blackness and the black experience, no matter where they're from. Paying homage to Black History Month and Black-ass things Black folks relate to as "Black-Black," here are nine Black-ass things Black folks consider Black-Black:1. Staged Living RoomsPlastic-covered furniture is tacky, but it made its way into the living rooms of many Black homes circa 1960s and ‘70s. It was hot in the summer and cold in the winter, yet stuck to your skin throughout all the seasons. It was staple to the most decorated space in the house, the one that mimicked the furniture store display, and that nobody could go into lest risk an ass whooping or punishment.2. Velvet ArtBack in the day, if your peoples were hip, or woke, had basement parties and smoked weed outta bongs chances are one of these were hanging on some wall at their crib. Velvet poster art then is what Afrofuturism art is now — all the rave.3. Recycled OilAlexandria Ocasio-Cortez should have holla’d at some Black folks when drafting her Green New Deal initiative, because when it comes to recycling, remixing and repurposing, Black people pretty much invented that shit. The minute that Crisco can became empty, it was used a grease receptacle. French fry grease, turned into chicken grease which was eventually used for fish grease. Cornmeal could be seen floating at the top.4. Jheri Curl ProductsJheri curls go down in history as a Black phenomenon, and hair care businesses had a good run when the infamous Jheri curls were popular. Although there were innumerable curl activator brands, Care Free Curls and Luster Curls had the game on lock. Spray bottles, rollers, curl picks and plastic caps are memorable, as well.5. Hair BeadsListen: braids with beads had the same cult appeal as doobie wraps and blow outs in the late 1900s.6. Seasoned SkilletsThe magic of many Black meals relied on the ability and know-how to use this heavy-ass skillet, clean it and season it to prevent it from rusting. Till this day, cast iron cookware graces many stoves in many Black households.7. Roots Youtube |  Jason MayAlex Haley’s Roots, a film adaptation of the book by its same name, was a seminal story in both the film and literature industry. The story traces the family tree of the author, telling the story of many Black families affected by the Transatlantic Slave Trade. An intricately woven tale, it entered Black homes on the small screen and was a staple book on Black bookshelves, too.8. Soul Train Youtube | Charlie Perez When American Bandstand counted out Black music lovers and entertainers, Don Cornelius counted them in with his iconic show. Cornelius showcased the latest and greatest acts on his platforms. A most revered segment of his show is the Soul Train dance line that is incorporated in Black celebrations and gatherings: birthdays, family reunions, weddings you name it. The BET network recently aired American Soul, a series about the life of Cornelius9. The SwitchThankfully outlawed, ass whoopings were a disciplinary tradition known to plenty of Black households. Many believe the practice is a remnant of slavery. If you grew up in a Black household where corporal punishment was a thing, then you may be familiar with some of the items used to break you off. A few dishonorable mentions, as the above image indicates, is the extension cord, a belt, a slipper—sometimes with a foot attached, and possibly the derivative of such sayings like ass-kicking, break a foot off in that ass—a switch of your own choosing and a broom.If at anytime you’ve experienced these things, it is likely you were engaging in some of the Blackest shit known to Blackness.Blavitize your inbox! Join our daily newsletter for fresh stories and breaking news.Liking this content? Check these out: 23 Magnificent Black Moments In Recent History That Changed Our World #BlackHistoryIsNow: A Look Back At 2018's Black Excellence Moments 17 Of The Blackest Moments From...

Living a life as a millennial can come with many pros and cons. Although we share similar joys, we also deal with setbacks that can keep us from living our best life, one of which being financial debt. Whether it’s student loans or credit card payments, a vast majority of millennials can’t get past the hurdle of dealing with their financial frustrations.According to a poll conducted by NBC News, as of April 2018, “A quarter of millennials — those 18 to 34 years old — [were] over $30,000 in debt, including 11 percent who [were] over $100,000 in debt. Only 22 percent of millennials [were reported as] debt free.” Frankly, it seems like none of us can find a way to get out of it.Fortunately, Devon Horace, a 26-year-old financial consultant from Rochester, NY, has found a way to become part of the 22 percent of millennials who are debt free.Back in 2015, when Horace graduated from college, he owed a total of $47,238.38 — $37,238.38 in student loans and $10,000 in credit card debt. It wasn’t until May 2016 that he decided to take his loans seriously, and started his journey toward eradicating his debt — which he accomplished in only 10 months!Want to know how he did it? Check out these five budgeting strategies Horace suggests to help millennials not only save money, but pay off existing debt in less than a year.1. Take Inventory of Your ExpensesFirst thing’s first, write down all of the debt that you owe. Horace told Blavity that when he began figuring out his personal budget, he wrote out all of his student loans in a notebook, arranging the list in descending order starting with the largest dollar-amount loan dollar amount and the highest interest rate and working down. To constantly remind himself of this challenge and keep track of his progress, he made sure his list was easily visible and accessible.Horace also said it’s important to record your spending habits, as well. For example, Apple Music, Netflix and Hulu all add up, so having a list can help you determine what you’re paying in just entertainment alone.“You have to have a budget,” Horace said. “A budget is going to save your life, because you’re going to see where your money is being allocated.”2. Focus on Small VictoriesLooking at your debt as a whole can definitely make you feel defeated and overwhelmed. According to Horace, when saw his total balance the first time, he even doubted his own ability to pay his debt back. However, he did not allow the initial shock to prevent him from taking on his debt, one small step at a time. Horace advises everyone to take a similar approach, addressing their debt in small bites by dealing with one loan at a time, ultimately setting small benchmarks that lead to achievable goals.“I always advise my clients to focus on the smaller victories, because if you look at your debt on a huge scale, of course, it’s going to feel impossible,” he said.He then broke down his loans into numbers, labeling each like loan one, loan two, loan three and so on. After one loan is paid off, the ability to cross it off your list will leave you more motivated and determined to pay off the rest.“Focus on one debt total at a time,” Horace said. “This is a marathon, not a sprint.”3. Pay More Than the Minimum PaymentsHorace strongly advises millennials to set up auto pay while paying off their loans. When he set up his auto-pay account with Navient, a student loan provider, he was able to reduce a percentage of his interest rates on his loan.“When I set up auto pay, I asked my lender to pay the lowest amount I can,” Horace said. “The extra money went toward the principle of the loan.”Additionally, he wasn’t afraid or ashamed to make this request to his lender, and you shouldn’t be either. It’s important to capitalize off of that opportunity.“They are not going to deny you — they want their money now or later,” Horace said. “Once I applied this method, along with paying more than [my] minimum payments [and] targeting one loan at a time, I was able to pay off my loans faster. “Paying the bare minimum per loan payment across each of his loans enabled Horace to eventually them off, in manageable increments, and taking one step at a time allowed him to enjoy the succession small victories mentioned in No. 2.4. Pick Up an Extra Job or Another Source of IncomeHaving a side job is definitely a great way to save money and pay off debt. There are many options to choose from, like freelancing, selling unwanted items, babysitting, shoveling snow, driving for a ride-share service tutoring — the list goes on.“Let’s be real: When you’re in debt, it’s already hard enough to find a job. But a lot of people always make it seem like you have to eat, sleep, breathe, hustle — and you got to just be down to your socks and [unable to] buy anything,” Horace explained. “Yes, it’s true, but one thing a lot of people miscommunicate or don’t mention at all is that sometimes you just need to make more money.”Because Horace was so determined to pay off his debt, he took on any gig he could find.“When people say, ‘I can’t make extra money,’ it’s like they’re not trying at all.  [However,] there are so many ways to make money today, and you have to increase your source of income in order to pay off your debt faster. Now, some people don’t have to, but if you really want to eliminate your debt faster, within 90 days, pick up a few more sources of income.”He also strongly warns those who are juggling multiple jobs to save money to avoid tiring themselves out. Just as it’s important to have a budgetary strategy, it’s important to come up with a strategy that provides a healthy work-life balance.5. Redefine Your Personal Standards for Basic LivingDue to the level of discipline and focus required for this step, Horace considers this to be the hardest of them all. However, this is essential in order to reach your goal of becoming debt free.“Every day, we are marketed the latest fashion, the latest tech [or] the latest product for us to spend our hard-earned money [on],” Horace said. “To avoid this, I limited my connection to it. You have to get rid of all of this excess stuff.”While Horace was paying off his debt, he didn’t have a TV in his apartment and limited his time on Instagram. He cut his expenses down so much that he could pay all of his bills using only half of one paycheck. Also during this time, he only had two pairs of pants, and would wear black or white Hanes T-shirts from Target. When his friends would also ask him to come out, if the plan involved spending money, he would decline their invite. In addition, he even ate pasta with tomato sauce for a year straight, to only spend approximately $20 per month on groceries alone.“That’s the level of discipline and sacrifices I made to during my debt-free journey,” Horace said. “Now, everyone is different, but think about what risks you are willing to take. Don’t worry too much about missing out. [Instead], think about all the things you will be able to buy and be a part of when you are debt free again, this is only temporary, because once you are out of debt, you can buy whatever you want. Right now, I still keep that minimalist mindset, because — again — it was training for me,” he explained.After limiting his access to life’s luxuries over an extended period of continuous focus and self-discipline, Horace’s sacrifices paid off. Today he owns and invests in six-figure businesses, has his own financial consulting firm, Horace Consulting, owns a few properties, and has two years of living expenses saved up.“Yes, things will get tough and it was an emotional roller coaster,” Horace said. “There were many times I wanted to give up and ‘live my life', but I stayed committed and disciplined. [Radio host] Dave Ramsey once said, ‘Live like no one else, so later you may live and give like no one else.”Horace is planning to start a Facebook group to provide financial tips and advice on how to handle debt. He advises millennials to pick up The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason, to help start you off on a good foot as you begin saving. He says this book taught him how to save 10 percent of all coins he earned.The financial guru believes nothing that is worthwhile comes easy, especially when it comes to financial freedom and wealth building for your family. However, if you are truly committed, you can make it happen.Blavitize your inbox! Join our daily newsletter for fresh stories and breaking...

In 1996, life without parole was the fate of the 16-year-old Black teen, Michele Benjamin, who allegedly killed a White man soliciting her for sex in New Orleans.Backtracking to 1994 on a Sunday at midnight, the Appeal reported that Benjamin and an 18-year-old friend, Chanda DeSilva were out exploring the city's French Quarter, when they were approached on Bourbon Street by Martin Hecker, a German serviceman stationed at an Alabama army base, Fort Rucker. Benjamin said Hecker told the young women he could walk them home. According to State V. DeSilva, the story darkens at about 4 a.m., as grounds patrol officer Dwight Powell finds Hecker with a gunshot wound in the middle of the street near Louis Armstrong Park with DeSilva standing adjacent to his lifeless body. An autopsy report showed that Hecker died from one gunshot wound to the left side of his body, which subsequently injured his left lung, spleen and aorta. State v. DeSilva further details Benjamin's following account of what happened:Ms. Benjamin stated that as they were walking, the victim told them his wife was in Germany, that he had no companion in New Orleans, and that he was looking for a "date." Ms. Benjamin insisted she refused to be his date, and she dropped back behind the victim and the defendant [DeSilva]. As they neared the corner of Marais and St. Philip, the victim produced a gun, and it discharged. She stated she was afraid he would shoot her, and she grabbed the gun. She stated she and the victim struggled over the gun, and she kicked him in the groin. She stated she was able to turn the gun toward the victim, and the gun discharged again. She stated the victim "body-slammed" her to the ground. She stated she got up and ran from the scene. She denied taking anything from the victim, and she insisted no one discussed money. She also insisted neither she nor the defendant [DeSilva] had a gun.According to the Uptown Messenger, DeSilva was first considered a witness but later became a suspect as her story changed countless times. DeSilva turned in Hecker's wallet to the police and also stated Benjamin pulled the gun on Hecker seeking to rob him. The Uptown Messenger stated that there were no records found on the gun past September 1973, when it arrived in a store on Howard Avenue.Make sure you're following Blavity:Politics on Instagram and join our daily newsletter to stay engaged and informed.The Appeal states that Orleans Parish prosecutors were suspect of Benjamin's story because of her status in a society- a homeless Black teenage mother. Still, they acknowledged Hecker did solicit Benjamin and her friend for sex. Benjamin had no previous criminal history.  DeSilva and Benjamin were charged with first-degree murder. According to the Uptown Messenger, Desilva was convicted of manslaughter serving 20 years and in a separate one-day trial, Benjamin was convicted of second-degree murder with a dim future of spending the rest of her teen days and life behind bars. In 2012, hope began to shine through for Benjamin's conviction with the Supreme Court ruling of Miller V. Alabama, which "forbids a sentencing scheme that mandates life in prison without the possibility of parole for juvenile homicide offenders." The only problem was that this case applied to future cases, not past cases. What was pivotal in Benjamin's release was the 2016 Supreme Court ruling, Montgomery v. Louisiana, which ensured that the former case applied to past cases of juvenile offenders like Benjamin. According to the Appeal, Benjamin was sentenced to life with the option for parole in 2016.Fast-forward to 2019, Loyola University New Orlean's Stuart H. Smith Law Clinic and Center for Social Justice's continuous filing of appeals since 2012 on behalf of Benjamin proved successful. The now 41-year-old has been granted parole and the chance to spend her life outside of a prison cell.Community platforms such as case management service organization Women with A Vision, Sister Hearts Re-Entry Program and Strength for Today Mentorship Program are offering social services as a part of Benjamin's transition back into everyday society. “If she was a white teen that attended a prestigious high school—who wasn’t homeless, who wasn’t a teenage mother, who wasn’t poor, I wonder if she would have been sentenced the same or charged the same or even arrested at all,” said Christine Breland Lobre, program director of Women With A Vision. “I wonder if she would have been seen as a victim rather than an offender.”Eliana Green, a third-year law student that participated in Loyola's felony criminal defense clinic, acted as legal representation along with her clinic professor, Dr. Majeeda Snead. Green was responsible for crafting a pro-bono plan for re-entry for Benjamin, in terms of preparing oral arguments for parole hearings and helping her to secure employment, housing and letters of recommendation."My goal is to redistribute power to gain methods of creating black liberation," said Green. "I'm honored to advocate for women like Michele and remind them that they are valuable, they are important and they are worthy of love."Check these out: Ohio College Student Reportedly Abducted Then Killed By Father Of Her ChildAs A Victim Of Domestic Abuse, My Story Is Proof That Protecting Black Women's Lives Requires Real ActionThe Silent Shame of Domestic Abuse: Why We Need To Speak...

The California African American History Museum has an important exhibition exploring slavery in California, and Blavity was there to take a tour of it with museum curator Tyree Boyd-Pates as our guide. "California Bound: Slavery on the New Frontier, 1848-1865" delves into California’s long history with slavery, beginning with the enslavement of Native Americans by Spanish settlers.The state’s slaves were briefly freed while the land was a part of Mexico following Mexico’s independence from Spain, but once the U.S. seized large swaths of its southern neighbor (including what is now California) following the Mexican-American War, slavery was once again alive and well on the West Coast.The discovery of gold in California only swelled its population of enslaved people as slave-owning speculators from the South rushed West, bringing their slaves with them.In 1849, one year after the rush began and one year before the California territory became the U.S.’ 31st state, lawmakers crafted the territory’s first Constitution, which said, “Neither slavery, nor involuntary servitude, unless for the punishment of crimes, shall ever be tolerated in this State.”Blavitize your inbox! Join our daily newsletter for fresh stories and breaking news.What the Constitution said and what was enforced were two different things, unfortunately. Prosecutors rarely raised a hand against slaveowners bringing slaves into the state, and laws were passed allowing slaves to remain slaves as long as their masters didn’t take up permanent residency. Boyd-Pates explains California gaining statehood further complicated the status of the state’s slaves. There was some pushback from other states about California entering the Union, as it wanted to join as a free state, which would tip the ratio of free to slave states in favor of those allowing for emancipation. Boyd-Pates tells us a compromise was hammered out to appease slave states that led to a new federal fugitive slave law. The law gave slave owners wide-ranging powers to recapture escaped slaves, particularly those that had escaped to free states. Abuse of the law led to many emancipated people being illegally sold back into slavery or even being sold into slavery for the first time. In California, this meant free Black people, including those who’d bought their freedom after finding gold during the Gold Rush, were continuously in danger of once again becoming slaves.As was the case with the Constitution, California’s status as a free state was widely ignored by slave owners, including by the owner of a slave Boyd-Pates focuses on during the last part of his tour, Bridget “Biddy” Mason.He explains Mason was brought to California by her master; through lies, manipulation and bribes, she and other slaves owned by her master were illegally kept in bondage for years. After a group of free Black Californians finally helped Mason win the freedom that was lawfully hers, she thrived. As a free woman, Mason used her natural talents with medicine and midwifery which her master had exploited for his gain for her benefit, becoming a skilled and sought-after midwife and nurse. She then used the money she earned to become a Los Angeles real estate mogul, later using her fortune to found and support a major Black church.Ultimately, the stories Boyd-Pates tells serve as a sad reflection of the reality of slavery in free states, but also feature personalities like Mason worth celebrating. He works to link past and present, both through stories of adversity and through looking at the law, reminding us at tour’s end that the 13th Amendment continues to hold some Americans in bondage to this day.Check out the full tour for yourself above, and if you are fortunate enough to be in Los Angeles this Black History Month, be sure to visit the California African American Museum to see "California Bound" and the museum’s other excellent exhibitions in person.Now, check these out:7 Great Reads To Celebrate Black History MonthEsquire Slammed For Publishing Cover Story About Being A White Man In America In The Middle Of Black History MonthNorth Carolina Catholic School Cancels Black History Program After Parents Complain About Openly Lesbian...

Haiti is suffering the effects of $4 billion in unaccounted development funds, as 78 inmates escape prison in Aquin following anti-government protests and understaffed prisons. The Guardian reported that four lives have been claimed due to violent demonstrations. The anti-government protests stem from the unregulated allocation of development funds set aside for economic and infrastructure development, as a part of the Petrocaribe deal, a Venezuelan government energy cooperation agreement that provides some Caribbean and Latin American countries with subsidized petroleum products and financing spread over a 25 year period. The deal led to Haiti building up billions in debt to Venezuela.According to the Guardian, months of violent demonstrations surge with protesters using the slogan“Kot kòb Petrocaribe a?” (“Where’s the Petrocaribe money?”) as Haitian President Jovenel Moise confirms that the alleged misuse of funds will be investigated. Jovenel tweeted, "no one will escape justice. It’s a moral and judicial duty.”The Guardian also reported that prison guards have patrolled nearby demonstrations leading to unmonitored prisons, leading to 78 prisoners recently fleeing after a scheduled shower. Intertwined with Haiti's recovery efforts from both the 2010 earthquake that rocked Port-au-Prince and Hurricane Matthew that struck southwestern Haiti near Les Anglais in 2016, is the backdrop of Venezuela's political and economic turmoil, which the deal was originally intended to alleviate and help with the overall political influence of the nation. Instead, President Maduro, who has been criticized for his alleged authoritarian leadership style has sought to tighten the terms of the agreement, with the implosion of Venezuela's oil market and the decline of oil production from 3.4 million barrels a day to less than 1.4 million barrels in 2018. Make sure you're following Blavity:Politics on Instagram and join our daily newsletter to stay engaged and informed.Back in 2017, a special Haitian Senate commission accused more than 12 former government officials and heads of private firms of embezzling $2 billion in Venezuelan oil loans which could have helped to rebuild efforts after the 2010 earthquake. Moise has responded to this by backing efforts to remove all forms of corruption within the Haiti government and attempting to end fuel subsidies, which was then reversed due to public discontent. “What we are enduring today is because of Jovenel [Moise] … they are hungry,” said Joseph to the Guardian. His stock of fish was ransacked by looters during a recent demonstration.According to the World Bank, despite international efforts, Haiti is the most impoverished country in the Americas with 59 percent of Haiti’s population living below the national poverty line of $2.41 a day and approximately 24 percent of the population living in extreme poverty on less than $1.23 a day. Joseph continued, “We don’t have good leaders: if there was work in the country, this would never have happened.”Liking this story? Check these out:This Twitter Thread Of Black Women Posing In Front Of The Mona Lisa Is A Work Of Art On Its OwnU.S. Accuses Ghana Of Refusing Deported Citizens, Hits Country With SanctionsAt Least 21 Haitians Dead After Men Dressed In Police Uniforms Massacre Port-au-Prince...

Dave Chappelle recently helped right a wrong when he personally gave North Carolina fans tickets to his show.CBS News reports Deidra Dickens intended to surprise her husband, Eddie Dickens, with tickets to Chappelle's set at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center on Valentine’s Day in Charlotte, North Carolina. In an attempt to find wheelchair-accessible seats for her husband, Dickens scoured Craigslist and picked up what she thought was a great deal.Deidra reportedly paid a Craiglist seller $500 for four tickets. But Deidra told WBTV she couldn't reach the seller after she'd transferred the money.Deidra filed a report with the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department following the incident, and her story was picked up by local news outlets.Chappelle got word of the news story and reached out to WBTV in order to set up a surprise for the couple.In an attempt to smooth over the disappointment, the Dickenses and the couple who'd planned to join them at Chappelle's show opted to celebrate Valentine's day with a double dinner date. The popular comedian crashed that dinner, personally delivering four tickets to his show.Last night we told you this Charlotte couple was scammed out of hundreds of dollars trying to buy @DaveChappelle tickets on Craigslist. Tonight we were there as DAVE HIMSELF hand-delivered the group tickets! Awesome! @WBTV_News pic.twitter.com/tHMElvDcZE— Alex Giles WBTV (@AlexGilesNews) February 15, 2019Blavitize your inbox! Join our daily newsletter for fresh stories and breaking news."Always get your tickets from reliable sources," Chappelle advised after surprising the group. As the couples thanked him for his generosity, he responded, "It's my pleasure, man, I'm so glad it worked out.""It felt good," Chappelle later said about his good deed. "It felt like I just got to make something that was wrong right. And it didn't hurt me or cost me anything to do it, so I'm just happy it worked out." The couples were more than grateful for the irreplaceable moment. "Holy moley," said Deidra. "Dave Chappelle handing us tickets to the show. I cannot even describe how I'm feeling right now."Now, check these out:R. Kelly, Who Seems To Lack In Both Morals And Sense Of Humor, Allegedly Wanted To Fight Dave Chappelle After Infamous SkitColin Kaepernick And Dave Chappelle Honored With Harvard University's W.E.B. DuBois Black Culture AwardWhy Dave Chappelle Is Now Being Sued By The Heckler Who Threw A Banana Peel At...