Let's face it, we all have a little nerd in us, but a select few wear that character trait with pride.

With the holiday season upon us, it's only right to gift that blerd (Black nerd) moonlighting as your longtime friend or family member, something that captures all their geeky and quirky ways.

The following eight products make great presents for the eccentric, lovable and curious blerd who is always on-hand to provide a fun fact or source of trivia only they would know. Their imagination or sense of adventure might differ from yours, but the mutual love and respect will never waver.

1. "Anime and Trap Music" sweater

Branded as "the friendly geeks," snag your favorite blerd eagerly awaiting their next convention this "Anime and Trap Music" sweater from \n\u003Cdiv style=\"padding:16px;\"> \u003Ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/Be4ET_rh780/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\"> \u003C/p>\n\u003Cdiv style=\" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"padding: 19% 0;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;\">\u003Csvg width=\"50px\" height=\"50px\" viewBox=\"0 0 60 60\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"https://www.w3.org/2000/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink\">\u003Cg stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\">\u003Cg transform=\"translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)\" fill=\"#000000\">\u003Cg>\u003Cpath d=\"M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631\">\u003C/path>\u003C/g>\u003C/g>\u003C/g>\u003C/svg>\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"padding-top: 8px;\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\"> View this post on Instagram\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\n\u003Cdiv>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\">\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"margin-left: 8px;\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\">\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"margin-left: auto;\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\">\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003Cp>\u003C/a>\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\">\u003Ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/Be4ET_rh780/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\">A post shared by The Quirk Shop (@thequirkshop_)\u003C/a>\u003C/p>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003C/blockquote>\n\u003Cp> ‘ rel=”noopener noreferrer” target=”_blank”>The Quirk Shop\u003C/a>. After one day of wearing this, they are sure to attract new friends who likely feel the same.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cblockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/Be4ET_rh780/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"13\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\"padding:16px;\">\u003Ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/Be4ET_rh780/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\"> \u003C/p>\n\u003Cdiv style=\" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"padding: 19% 0;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"padding-top: 8px;\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">View this post on Instagram\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\n\u003Cdiv>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\">\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"margin-left: 8px;\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);\">\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"margin-left: auto;\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\">\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003Cp>\u003C/a>\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\">\u003Ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/Be4ET_rh780/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\">A post shared by The Quirk Shop (@thequirkshop_)\u003C/a>\u003C/p>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003C/blockquote>\n\u003Cp>\u003C/p>\n",{"title":58,"content":59},"\"Anime baddie\" sweatshirt ","\u003Cp>Get your 90s anime-loving bestie this "Anime Baddie" sweatshirt from \u003Ca href=\"https://shop.adornedbychi.com/collections/90s-anime-athletics/products/anime-baddie-unisex-crewneck-sweatshirt\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Adored By Chi\u003C/a>.\u003C/p>\n\u003C/p>\n\u003Cblockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/CCcQMcyHpl0/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"13\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\"padding:16px;\">\u003Ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/CCcQMcyHpl0/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\"> \u003C/p>\n\u003Cdiv style=\" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"padding: 19% 0;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"padding-top: 8px;\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">View this post on Instagram\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\n\u003Cdiv>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\">\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"margin-left: 8px;\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);\">\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"margin-left: auto;\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\">\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003Cp>\u003C/a>\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\">\u003Ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/CCcQMcyHpl0/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\">A post shared by Adorned By Chi® (@adornedbychi)\u003C/a>\u003C/p>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003C/blockquote>\n\u003Cp>\u003C/p>\n",{"title":61,"content":62},"A unicorn pillow","\u003Cp>Jourdan Porte is the owner of Philadelphia-based \u003Ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/naturallyqueer_designs/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Naturally Queer\u003C/a>, a small business that caters to queer and transgender people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals who love to wear their hair curly or natural. Know someone obsessed with anything unicorns? This \u003Ca href=\"https://naturallyqueer.com/product/hand-painted-pillow/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">hand-painted pillow\u003C/a> will remind them of your gesture every time they look at it. \u003C/p>\n\u003Cblockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/Bu6SrB-llO2/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"13\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\"padding:16px;\">\u003Ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/Bu6SrB-llO2/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\"> \u003C/p>\n\u003Cdiv style=\" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"padding: 19% 0;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"padding-top: 8px;\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">View this post on Instagram\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\n\u003Cdiv>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\">\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"margin-left: 8px;\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);\">\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"margin-left: auto;\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\">\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003Cp>\u003C/a>\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\">\u003Ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/Bu6SrB-llO2/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\">A post shared by Naturally Queer™️ (@naturallyqueer_designs)\u003C/a>\u003C/p>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003C/blockquote>\n\u003Cp>\u003C/p>\n",{"title":64,"content":65},"Blerd comic pop backpack","\u003Cp>Comic pop art will never go out of style, so it's only fair to give any comic aficionado this carryall with iconic sayings from \u003Ca href=\"https://www.etsy.com/listing/779494861/blerd-comic-pop-backpack?ref=shop_home_active_63&frs=1\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Blerd Official\u003C/a>. Features include a 15" laptop sleeve and a hidden pocket to secure a mobile device. Complete the look with these \u003Ca href=\"https://www.etsy.com/listing/779495717/blerd-comic-pop-leggings?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=blerd&ref=sr_gallery-1-30&organic_search_click=1&frs=1\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">matching leggings\u003C/a>.\u003C/p>\n\u003C/p>\n\u003Cblockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/CEg83djDHGf/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"13\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\"padding:16px;\">\u003Ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/CEg83djDHGf/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\"> \u003C/p>\n\u003Cdiv style=\" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"padding: 19% 0;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"padding-top: 8px;\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">View this post on Instagram\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\n\u003Cdiv>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\">\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"margin-left: 8px;\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);\">\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"margin-left: auto;\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\">\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003Cp>\u003C/a>\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\">\u003Ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/CEg83djDHGf/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\">A post shared by Blerd™ – Blerd.com (@blerdofficial)\u003C/a>\u003C/p>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003C/blockquote>\n\u003Cp>\u003C/p>\n",{"title":67,"content":68},"Afro-futurism comics ","\u003Cp>Based in North Philadelphia, \u003Ca href=\"https://amalgamphilly.com/harriet-tubman-demon-slayer-1/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Amalgam\u003C/a> is the only Black and woman-owned comic shop, and the first Black-woman owned comic book store on the East Coast. In stock is a fantasy story centering around \u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/search/Harriet%20Tubman\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Harriet Tubman\u003C/a>, and the description is a must-gift for the Black and proud recipient with a larger-than-life imagination.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>"When slave owners can't stop the formidable ninja warrior Harriet Tubman, they call on the help of Vampires, Werewolves, Witches, & Demons to stop her," reads the book's synopsis. "Harriet Tubman must lead a family of slaves to freedom while battling an army of darkness."\u003C/p>\n\u003C/p>\n\u003Cblockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/B5GgOlnjGYa/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"13\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\"padding:16px;\">\u003Ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/B5GgOlnjGYa/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\"> \u003C/p>\n\u003Cdiv style=\" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"padding: 19% 0;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"padding-top: 8px;\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">View this post on Instagram\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\n\u003Cdiv>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\">\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"margin-left: 8px;\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);\">\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"margin-left: auto;\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\">\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003Cp>\u003C/a>\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\">\u003Ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/B5GgOlnjGYa/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\">A post shared by Amalgam Comics & Coffeehouse (@amalgamphilly)\u003C/a>\u003C/p>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003C/blockquote>\n\u003Cp>\u003C/p>\n",{"title":70,"content":71},"Black comic book series","\u003Cp>Basically, \u003Cem>The Avengers\u003C/em> with an all-Black cast, \u003Ca href=\"https://blacksuncomics.com/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Black Sun\u003C/a> is a graphic series that tells the story of people from different worlds who must work together to restore order in their homeland after it has seized from an unknown, invading alien army. For anyone who wants to escape the difficulties of another day in quarantine, this is the perfect gift.\u003C/p>\n\u003C/p>\n\u003Cblockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/CBQx4ibFNjY/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"13\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\"padding:16px;\">\u003Ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/CBQx4ibFNjY/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\"> \u003C/p>\n\u003Cdiv style=\" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"padding: 19% 0;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"padding-top: 8px;\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">View this post on Instagram\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\n\u003Cdiv>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\">\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"margin-left: 8px;\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);\">\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"margin-left: auto;\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\">\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003Cp>\u003C/a>\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\">\u003Ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/CBQx4ibFNjY/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\">A post shared by Black Sun Comics ???????? (@blacksuncomics)\u003C/a>\u003C/p>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003C/blockquote>\n\u003Cp>\u003C/p>\n",{"title":73,"content":74},"Wakanda flag pin","\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/radical_dreams_pins/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Radical Dreams\u003C/a>' mission is simple: to change the world one pin at a time. Owned and operated by Shannon P., a Black student of medicine who is also a staunch advocate for \u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/search/social%20justice\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">social justice\u003C/a>, this \u003Ca href=\"https://www.radicaldreams.net/collections/lapel-pins/products/black-panther-wakandan-flag-lapel-pin\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Wakanda flag pin\u003C/a> could make a great gift for fans of the blockbuster film who wishes every day they had access to vibranium.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003C/p>\n\u003C/p>\n\u003Cblockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned=\"\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/CEfryAgnlwq/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"13\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\"padding:16px;\">\u003Ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/CEfryAgnlwq/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\"> \u003C/p>\n\u003Cdiv style=\" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"padding: 19% 0;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"padding-top: 8px;\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">View this post on Instagram\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\n\u003Cdiv>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\">\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"margin-left: 8px;\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);\">\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"margin-left: auto;\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\">\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003Cp>\u003C/a>\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\">\u003Ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/CEfryAgnlwq/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\">A post shared by Radical Dreams Pins®️ (@radical_dreams_pins)\u003C/a>\u003C/p>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003C/blockquote>\n\u003Cp>\u003C/p>\n",{"title":76,"content":77},"\"Fly Nerd\" tee","\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https://flynerdapparel.com/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Fly Nerd\u003C/a> is the brainchild of Mimi, a Baltimore-based creative who earned degrees from Towson University and Parsons the New School of Design. A self-proclaimed "fly" nerd at heart, make your loved one an official member of the weird crew and present them with this \u003Ca href=\"https://flynerdapparel.com/products/fly-nerd-too-hype-unisex-tee?variant=31602710347845\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">unisex tee\u003C/a> for $30. Sizes go up to 4XL.\u003C/p>\n\u003C/p>\n\u003Cblockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/CBSIiZHpBCj/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"13\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\"padding:16px;\">\u003Ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/CBSIiZHpBCj/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\"> \u003C/p>\n\u003Cdiv style=\" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"padding: 19% 0;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"padding-top: 8px;\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">View this post on Instagram\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\n\u003Cdiv>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\">\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"margin-left: 8px;\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);\">\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"margin-left: auto;\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\">\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\">\n\u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\">\u003C/div>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003Cp>\u003C/a>\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\">\u003Ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/CBSIiZHpBCj/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\">A post shared by Fly Nerd Apparel (@flynerdapparel)\u003C/a>\u003C/p>\n\u003C/div>\n\u003C/blockquote>\n\u003Cp>\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Blessed should be the blerds this holiday season. \u003C/p>\n",true,false,{"disableAd":79,"disableConnatixPlayer":79,"enabledComments":79,"headScript":81},null,"article","2026-02-21T22:50:08.340Z",{"list":85,"total":226},[86,152,195],{"id":87,"author":88,"authors":99,"title":101,"subTitle":10,"excerpt":10,"slug":102,"body":103,"categories":104,"tags":113,"featuredMedia":142,"publishedAt":147,"updatedAt":148,"type":149,"listicle":150,"disableContentGate":79,"isDisabledListicleNumbers":79,"canonicalUrl":10,"socialThumbnail":10,"additional":151},72898440,{"id":89,"avatar":90,"firstName":91,"lastName":92,"displayName":93,"email":94,"username":95,"normalizedUsername":96,"description":10,"twitter":10,"facebook":10,"instagram":97,"registeredAt":98},99834,"https://cms.blavity.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,slow-connection-quality=30,onerror=redirect/https://cms.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/KyraAlessandrini-compress.jpeg","Kyra","Alessandrini","Kyra Alessandrini","[email protected]","KyraAlessandrini","kyraalessandrini","https://www.instagram.com/kyraless/","2023-04-03T03:46:17+00:00",[100],{"id":89,"avatar":90,"firstName":91,"lastName":92,"displayName":93,"email":94,"username":95,"normalizedUsername":96,"description":10,"twitter":10,"facebook":10,"instagram":97,"registeredAt":98},"Spelman Students Develop PlantGPT, An AI System That Allows Verbal Communication With Plants","spelman-students-develop-plantgpt-to-communicate-with-plants","\n\u003Cp>Students at \u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/top-colleges-us-news-world-report-2026\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Spelman College\u003C/a> have developed an \u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/sza-ai-environmental-racism\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">artificial intelligence\u003C/a> system that allows anyone to communicate verbally with their plants. PlantGPT allows houseplant owners to monitor their plants’ health and needs via conversation.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-plantgpt\">What is PlantGPT?\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>PlantGPT is a tool using data sensors, artificial intelligence and text-to-speech technology to translate the needs and conditions of a plant into speech. It was developed by Spelman College students Joy Rutledge, Temple Dees, Grace Burch, Jessica Obi and Devyn Washington.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“PlantGPT is a way to be able to talk to your plant,” one of the students said in a \u003Ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/reels/DUVwjLXjtjQ/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">video\u003C/a> shared by Spelman College earlier in February. “When your plant is dying, you need to know what type of information or resources it needs — water, sunlight, nutrients. We created sensors and connected them to an AI so you can get real-time data and adjust the conditions.”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The team first developed the project using ChatGPT but later moved to TinyLlama, an AI model that runs locally without the need for internet access, according to \u003Ca href=\"https://shinemycrown.com/spelman-college-students-develop-ai-tool-that-makes-it-possible-to-talk-plants-we-created-sensors-and-connected-them-to-an-ai/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Shine My Crown\u003C/a>.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“My classmate, Grace Burch, initially started the project using an Arduino to gather data,” one student explained, per Shine My Crown. “That data was sent to an AI model, which generated tailored care recommendations, and then sent to a Python text-to-speech library so the plant could ‘speak.’ My contribution was switching the AI model to TinyLlama and expanding features like written responses.”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The project was launched for home gardening, but the students say they would like the technology to benefit local communities.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“The next step is expanding it to small farms and urban gardens,” a student said, Shine My Crown reported. “That way local farmers can detect plant health issues early, protect crops and help ensure food security for the community.”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cblockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink=\"https://www.instagram.com/reel/DUVwjLXjtjQ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; 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font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">View this post on Instagram\u003C/div>\u003C/div>\u003Cdiv style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\">\u003C/div> \u003Cdiv style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\u003Cdiv> \u003Cdiv style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\">\u003C/div> \u003Cdiv style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\">\u003C/div> \u003Cdiv style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\">\u003C/div>\u003C/div>\u003Cdiv style=\"margin-left: 8px;\"> \u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\">\u003C/div> \u003Cdiv style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\">\u003C/div>\u003C/div>\u003Cdiv style=\"margin-left: auto;\"> \u003Cdiv style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\">\u003C/div> \u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\">\u003C/div> \u003Cdiv style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\">\u003C/div>\u003C/div>\u003C/div> \u003Cdiv style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\"> \u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\">\u003C/div> \u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\">\u003C/div>\u003C/div>\u003C/a>\u003Cp style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\">\u003Ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/reel/DUVwjLXjtjQ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\">A post shared by Spelman College (@spelman_college)\u003C/a>\u003C/p>\u003C/div>\u003C/blockquote>\n\u003Cscript async src=\"//www.instagram.com/embed.js\">\u003C/script>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-team-gained-national-recognition-for-their-invention\">The team gained national recognition for their invention\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The team of students was formally recognized for their invention and came in first in the 2025 American Association for the Advancement of Science’s Making & Innovation Showcase competition hosted in September.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“The project started as a plant sensor that had the capacity to talk back to you! With the ingenuity of my teammates and advisor, we started thinking of ways to scale it and build more features on it each with our own touch and expertise,” Rutledge told the association in a \u003Ca href=\"https://www.aaas.org/news/2025-hbcu-making-innovation-showcase-highlights-winning-inventions-reading-apps-ai-powered\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">news release\u003C/a>. “We started asking: How can this tool not only monitor plant health but also empower people to better understand their environment? In what ways can we truly personify the plant so that you would want to care for it? Those questions pushed us to scale the idea and integrate new features that promote accessibility and sustainability.”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Rutledge hopes to pursue a career using technology to protect the earth’s biodiversity, climate and food systems amid climate change. Washington said she would like to have a career in either software or game development, according to the news release.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The team shared words of encouragement for HBCU students who may be interested in innovation, invention or entrepreneurship.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“Don’t wait for the perfect idea to get involved. Talk to people, get their feedback and continue to iterate,” Dees said, per the news release.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“A mentor once told me to “learn by doing,” so don’t wait to create or build just because you don’t know how yet. The best way to learn is to start doing!” Rutledge added.\u003C/p>\n",[105,109],{"name":106,"slug":107,"id":108},"Blavity-U","blavity-u",70685,{"name":110,"slug":111,"id":112},"HBCU","hbcu",70684,[114,118,122,126,130,134,138],{"id":115,"name":116,"slug":117,"description":10,"image":10},16496,"artificial intelligence","artificial-intelligence",{"id":119,"name":120,"slug":121,"description":10,"image":10},74288,"Blavity U Top Stories","blavity-u-top-stories",{"id":123,"name":124,"slug":125,"description":10,"image":10},27036,"Communication","communication",{"id":127,"name":128,"slug":129,"description":10,"image":10},77374,"PlantGPT","plantgpt",{"id":131,"name":132,"slug":133,"description":10,"image":10},70961,"Plants","plants",{"id":135,"name":136,"slug":137,"description":10,"image":10},35168,"Spelman College","spelman-college-2",{"id":139,"name":140,"slug":141,"description":10,"image":10},44529,"top stories","top-stories",{"url":143,"thumbnail":144,"credit":145,"title":146,"alt":146,"type":50},"https://cms.blavity.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,slow-connection-quality=30,onerror=redirect/https://cms.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/GettyImages-2151717507.jpg","https://cms.blavity.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,slow-connection-quality=30,onerror=redirect/https://cms.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/GettyImages-2151717507-150x100.jpg","Photo: Getty Images","Happy young woman watering houseplants near window. Smiling female is gardening at home. She is in casuals at apartment","2026-02-10T20:25:31-05:00","2026-02-10T20:25:37-05:00","default",[],{"disableAd":79,"disableConnatixPlayer":79,"enabledComments":79,"headScript":10},{"id":153,"author":154,"authors":161,"title":163,"subTitle":10,"excerpt":10,"slug":164,"body":165,"categories":166,"tags":169,"featuredMedia":186,"publishedAt":191,"updatedAt":192,"type":149,"listicle":193,"disableContentGate":79,"isDisabledListicleNumbers":79,"canonicalUrl":10,"socialThumbnail":10,"additional":194},72898225,{"id":155,"avatar":156,"firstName":10,"lastName":10,"displayName":157,"email":158,"username":157,"normalizedUsername":159,"description":10,"twitter":10,"facebook":10,"instagram":10,"registeredAt":160},95243,"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/16fdff8cddc7bd4702273ce7e1677d1d0021c4b55e83ca690c8b22edc3cbfdf4?s=1024&r=g","Christopher Rhodes","[email protected]","christopher-rhodes","2020-09-14T00:00:00+00:00",[162],{"id":155,"avatar":156,"firstName":10,"lastName":10,"displayName":157,"email":158,"username":157,"normalizedUsername":159,"description":10,"twitter":10,"facebook":10,"instagram":10,"registeredAt":160},"FAMU Student Says School Required 'Black' To Be Removed From Black History Month Flyers","famu-student-says-school-said-black-removed-bhm-flyers","\n\u003Cp>A student at \u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/florida-driver-license-exams-to-be-administered-in-english-only\">Florida’s\u003C/a> largest \u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/judge-rejects-early-voting-at-3-north-carolina-universities\">HBCU\u003C/a> said the university attempted to take the ‘Black’ out of a student group’s Black History Month activities. The advertising restriction appears to be part of a larger effort by Florida to censor diversity, a policy that has now been replicated on the national level under the Trump administration.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-ban-on-using-black-and-other-terms-for-black-history-month-advertisement\">Ban on using ‘Black’ and other terms for Black History Month advertisement\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Florida A&M University student Aaliyah Steward, who is in her last year at the school’s College of Law, said the school required her to censor promotional material that the Black Law Students Association was using to advertise its Black History Month activities. Notably, Steward said, “We couldn’t use the word ‘Black’ in Black History Month. We need to abbreviate it.” Steward also said the university objected to other terms, including “affirmative action” and “women.” The university did not deny Steward’s claim, saying in a statement, “Florida A&M University has consistently been in full compliance with \u003Ca href=\"https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2023/266\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Senate Bill 266\u003C/a> and Board of Governors’ Regulation 9.016.” The university stated, “We support and have implemented the policy direction established by the Governor, the Legislature, and the Board of Governors as it relates to DEI, and consistent with related federal court rulings.”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\u003Cblockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\u003Cp lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">A Florida A&M University law student says the school told her to remove the word 'Black' from a Black History Month event flyer. The school says it is in full compliance with state law \u003Ca href=\"https://t.co/vATXWchmkJ\">https://t.co/vATXWchmkJ\u003C/a> \u003Ca href=\"https://t.co/GMy65A1HjV\">pic.twitter.com/GMy65A1HjV\u003C/a>\u003C/p>— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/Phil_Lewis_/status/2020540901202813093?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 8, 2026\u003C/a>\u003C/blockquote>\u003Cscript async src=\"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\">\u003C/script>\n\u003C/div>\u003C/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-censoring-discussion-of-blackness-at-an-hbcu\">Censoring discussion of Blackness at an HBCU\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“I was very angry and baffled because this is a Historically Black College and University, and for them to say we can’t use the word ‘Black’ was kind of insane,” Steward told \u003Ca href=\"https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2026/02/06/black-banned-from-flyers-for-famu-college-of-law-black-history-month-event-student-says/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">News 6 Orlando\u003C/a>. The university maintained in its statement that it “is committed to fostering a campus community that encourages the free exchange of ideas while ensuring an environment of mutual respect, safety, and awareness.” FAMU claimed that “the University recognizes that freedom of expression is fundamental to academic inquiry, personal development, and civic engagement.” Steward described a very different experience. “I just don’t want us to be censored this way. Not being able to use the word ‘Black’ is very frustrating,” she said.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-florida-republicans-anti-woke-restrictions-on-diversity\">Florida Republicans’ anti-‘woke’ restrictions on diversity\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The censorship being conducted by FAMU is a manifestation of the \u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/ron-desantis-announces-plan-to-defund-dei-programs-across-florida-universities\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">anti-DEI policies\u003C/a> put in place in Florida under the leadership of conservative Gov. Ron DeSantis. In 2023, the governor made defunding diversity, equity and inclusion programs in Florida universities a key part of his campaign against so-called “woke” ideologies. The policies put in place by DeSantis and the Republican-controlled legislature created an atmosphere that led the NAACP to issue a 2023 travel advisory warning Black people not to visit the state. Since President Donald Trump returned to the White House in 2025, he has been implementing a set of anti-diversity policies at the national level that have strictly interpreted the Supreme Court’s \u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/trump-targets-college-essays-as-part-of-dei-crackdown\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">anti-affirmative action ruling\u003C/a>; under Trump administration guidelines, any \u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/trump-official-declares-virtually-all-race-conscious-college-programming-illegal\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">race-conscious programming\u003C/a> on college campuses could be viewed as illegal.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Florida’s anti-diversity policies laid the groundwork for other states like Texas to adopt restrictive policies toward their schools, and Florida’s policies also served as a precursor to restrictions being implemented at a national level. Now, the state’s restrictions have apparently created an absurd situation in which students are being restricted from publicly advertising the “Black” aspect of Black History Month.\u003C/p>\n",[167,168],{"name":106,"slug":107,"id":108},{"name":110,"slug":111,"id":112},[170,171,175,178,182,185],{"id":119,"name":120,"slug":121,"description":10,"image":10},{"id":172,"name":173,"slug":174,"description":10,"image":10},2170,"DEI","dei",{"id":176,"name":177,"slug":177,"description":10,"image":10},26807,"famu",{"id":179,"name":180,"slug":181,"description":10,"image":10},19873,"Florida A&M University","florida-aandm-university",{"id":183,"name":110,"slug":184,"description":10,"image":10},38270,"hbcu-2",{"id":139,"name":140,"slug":141,"description":10,"image":10},{"url":187,"thumbnail":188,"credit":189,"title":190,"alt":10,"type":50},"https://cms.blavity.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,slow-connection-quality=30,onerror=redirect/https://cms.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/GettyImages-9001180462532-1-compress.png","https://cms.blavity.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,slow-connection-quality=30,onerror=redirect/https://cms.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/GettyImages-9001180462532-1-150x84.png","Photo: Don Juan Moore","GettyImages-9001180462532 (1)","2026-02-09T20:44:54-05:00","2026-02-09T20:44:58-05:00",[],{"disableAd":79,"disableConnatixPlayer":79,"enabledComments":79,"headScript":10},{"id":196,"author":197,"authors":198,"title":200,"subTitle":10,"excerpt":10,"slug":201,"body":202,"categories":203,"tags":206,"featuredMedia":217,"publishedAt":222,"updatedAt":223,"type":149,"listicle":224,"disableContentGate":79,"isDisabledListicleNumbers":79,"canonicalUrl":10,"socialThumbnail":218,"additional":225},72898213,{"id":89,"avatar":90,"firstName":91,"lastName":92,"displayName":93,"email":94,"username":95,"normalizedUsername":96,"description":10,"twitter":10,"facebook":10,"instagram":97,"registeredAt":98},[199],{"id":89,"avatar":90,"firstName":91,"lastName":92,"displayName":93,"email":94,"username":95,"normalizedUsername":96,"description":10,"twitter":10,"facebook":10,"instagram":97,"registeredAt":98},"Judge Rules Against Early Voting Sites At 3 NC Universities, Including This HBCU, Ahead Of Election","judge-rejects-early-voting-at-3-north-carolina-universities","\n\u003Cp>A federal judge ruled on Sunday against efforts to open early voting sites at three university campuses across \u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/our-blues-make-us-gold-honors-the-legacy-of-north-carolina-at\">North Carolina\u003C/a> ahead of the state’s \u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/black-women-elected-mayor-detroit-syracuse-albany\">primary election\u003C/a>. In January, a coalition of students had sued the state after officials rejected their efforts to open early voting sites on campus.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-students-have-been-advocating-for-early-voting-sites\">Students have been advocating for early voting sites\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Students from Western Carolina University, University of North Carolina Greensboro and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (the country’s largest HBCU) sued the State Board of Elections in January — alleging that the refusal to open early voting sites was in violation of the Constitution. They said the board ignored their demands and “brushed aside urgent warnings that their decisions would disproportionately burden young and Black voters and denigrated students who advocated for their rights,” according to the \u003Ca href=\"https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/election/article314602656.html\">News & Observer\u003C/a>. \u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cblockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink=\"https://www.instagram.com/reel/DT0AP_KkXs7/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\">\u003Cdiv style=\"padding:16px;\"> \u003Ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/reel/DT0AP_KkXs7/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\"> \u003Cdiv style=\" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\"> \u003Cdiv style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\">\u003C/div> \u003Cdiv style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\"> \u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\">\u003C/div> \u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\">\u003C/div>\u003C/div>\u003C/div>\u003Cdiv style=\"padding: 19% 0;\">\u003C/div> \u003Cdiv style=\"display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;\">\u003Csvg width=\"50px\" height=\"50px\" viewBox=\"0 0 60 60\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"https://www.w3.org/2000/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink\">\u003Cg stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\">\u003Cg transform=\"translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)\" fill=\"#000000\">\u003Cg>\u003Cpath d=\"M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631\">\u003C/path>\u003C/g>\u003C/g>\u003C/g>\u003C/svg>\u003C/div>\u003Cdiv style=\"padding-top: 8px;\"> \u003Cdiv style=\" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">View this post on Instagram\u003C/div>\u003C/div>\u003Cdiv style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\">\u003C/div> \u003Cdiv style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\u003Cdiv> \u003Cdiv style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\">\u003C/div> \u003Cdiv style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\">\u003C/div> \u003Cdiv style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\">\u003C/div>\u003C/div>\u003Cdiv style=\"margin-left: 8px;\"> \u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\">\u003C/div> \u003Cdiv style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\">\u003C/div>\u003C/div>\u003Cdiv style=\"margin-left: auto;\"> \u003Cdiv style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\">\u003C/div> \u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\">\u003C/div> \u003Cdiv style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\">\u003C/div>\u003C/div>\u003C/div> \u003Cdiv style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\"> \u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\">\u003C/div> \u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\">\u003C/div>\u003C/div>\u003C/a>\u003Cp style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\">\u003Ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/reel/DT0AP_KkXs7/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\">A post shared by The A&T Register (@theatregister)\u003C/a>\u003C/p>\u003C/div>\u003C/blockquote>\n\u003Cscript async src=\"//www.instagram.com/embed.js\">\u003C/script>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Students said that without early voting being made available, they will have to travel off-campus to vote, which will cost them money and time. They asked officials to open early voting sites ahead of North Carolina’s primary election on March 3.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>After their demands were rejected by the State Board of Elections in January, NC A&T State University students held a protest to push for the opening of early voting sites on campus. Board Chair Francis De Luca reportedly threatened to call the police on them.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The three universities have previously hosted early voting sites in recent elections. Western Carolina University has hosted early voting sites regularly since 2016, while UNC Greensboro and NC A&T State University have offered sites in recent presidential elections but not for midterm elections, according to the \u003Ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/north-carolina-early-voting-universities-judge-452615513f497ab51ca3c19783703073\">Associated Press\u003C/a>. Early voting is offered at other university campuses across the state with same-day registration made available on site.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-why-did-a-judge-rule-against-the-students-lawsuit\">Why did a judge rule against the students’ lawsuit?\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Federal judge William Osteen Jr., who was appointed by former President George W. Bush, ruled that it would be impossible to force universities to open early voting sites on such short notice.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“That the universities hosted early voting sites in prior elections … is one thing,” Osteen wrote, according to The News & Observer. “Whether they are able or willing to do so now, only days away from the state of the early voting period, is another.”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>He also wrote that the plaintiffs were not likely to succeed with their lawsuit because “this court does not find the burdens on plaintiffs to be severe.” The judge’s ruling can still be appealed.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Lawyers representing the State Board of Elections wrote that there are no requirements to retain voting sites used in previous elections. They added that deciding whether to open a site was based on circumstances such as cost, geographic location, parking access and previous turnout.\u003C/p>\n",[204,205],{"name":106,"slug":107,"id":108},{"name":110,"slug":111,"id":112},[207,208,212,216],{"id":119,"name":120,"slug":121,"description":10,"image":10},{"id":209,"name":210,"slug":211,"description":10,"image":10},5021,"early voting","early-voting",{"id":213,"name":214,"slug":215,"description":10,"image":10},14517,"Primary Elections","primary-elections",{"id":139,"name":140,"slug":141,"description":10,"image":10},{"url":218,"thumbnail":219,"credit":220,"title":221,"alt":221,"type":50},"https://cms.blavity.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,slow-connection-quality=30,onerror=redirect/https://cms.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/GettyImages-1776444235-1.jpg","https://cms.blavity.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,slow-connection-quality=30,onerror=redirect/https://cms.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/GettyImages-1776444235-1-150x100.jpg","Photo: Grace Cary via Getty","early voting sign","2026-02-09T13:08:51-05:00","2026-02-09T13:08:56-05:00",[],{"disableAd":79,"disableConnatixPlayer":79,"enabledComments":79,"headScript":10},266,{"list":228,"total":414},[229,305,340,360,393],{"id":230,"author":231,"authors":241,"title":243,"subTitle":10,"excerpt":10,"slug":244,"body":245,"categories":246,"tags":259,"featuredMedia":296,"publishedAt":301,"updatedAt":302,"type":149,"listicle":303,"disableContentGate":79,"isDisabledListicleNumbers":79,"canonicalUrl":10,"socialThumbnail":10,"additional":304},72900289,{"id":232,"avatar":233,"firstName":234,"lastName":235,"displayName":236,"email":237,"username":238,"normalizedUsername":239,"description":10,"twitter":10,"facebook":10,"instagram":10,"registeredAt":240},99749,"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/0e06ac718f7a550db95df4496a68adaf6c8f37c0c2d8df8f0afb068edad8ca39?s=1024&r=g","Monique","Jones","Monique Jones","[email protected]","MoniqueJones","moniquejones","2023-01-12T17:11:33+00:00",[242],{"id":232,"avatar":233,"firstName":234,"lastName":235,"displayName":236,"email":237,"username":238,"normalizedUsername":239,"description":10,"twitter":10,"facebook":10,"instagram":10,"registeredAt":240},"Mia Starr On Shocking 'Drag Race' Lip Sync Outcome: 'S**t...Maybe I Should Have Danced'","rupauls-drag-race-season-18-snatch-game-mia-starr-lip-sync","\n\u003Cp>The Snatch Game is always the true equalizer of \u003Cem>\u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/entertainment/drag-race-season-18-first-elimination-porkchop-dd-fuego\">RuPaul’s Drag Race\u003C/a>\u003C/em>, and this time, Mia Starr was the unfortunate casualty of \u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/entertainment/ciara-myst-on-drag-race-talent-show-format-strategy\">Season 18\u003C/a>. However, should she have been saved by her lip sync against Kenya Pleaser?\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Starr spoke with Blavity about the feedback she’s received about her lip sync. She said she was surprised to hear how many people felt she should have been declared the winner.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“Honestly, speaking to everybody [for press], that has been such a common response,” she said. “[It] makes me feel so good, even though I love my sister Kenya. I love her down, but that makes me feel really good — the fact that I put up a good fight.”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-snatch-game-nerves-and-second-guessing\">Snatch Game nerves and second-guessing\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>This season, the Snatch Game was redesigned as The Snatch Game of \u003Cem>Love Island\u003C/em>. The switch-up threw a lot of the queens off, including Starr, whose caricature choice was urban legend Bloody Mary. Starr said she was “so nervous” going into the challenge.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“My friends who know me were like, ‘Oh, you’re gonna kill Snatch Game.’ I was like, ‘I don’t know,'” she said. “If I start off good with the banter, maybe, but it didn’t feel like it was going to be my strongest category, you know? So I was super nervous, and I stopped having fun in that moment because I took it too seriously. I knew once that happened, I was like, ‘Oh, you in danger, girl!’ I was like, ‘Oh, shit.'”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“I did not like how I felt. I didn’t feel like my performance was doing good at all, so I just kind of closed up, which I shouldn’t have,” she continued. “I mean, it’s \u003Cem>Drag Race\u003C/em>. It’s funny. It should be fun, you know? So I took it too seriously, and I just did not like the way that I felt in that moment.”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Starr described RuPaul as the only person who can make her “fold so fiercely.”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“I don’t get starstruck from people at all, ’cause I’ve worked with a lot of artists around the world in my career. But for whatever reason, RuPaul has the ability to make me fold,” she said. “I’m like, ‘Oh, my God.’ So yeah, it was definitely a challenge. I was like, ‘Oh God, you’re too in your head.’ …The people watching at home, they don’t realize how tough Snatch Game is. Even for the funny girls. They’re like, ‘No, this is hard!'”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-facing-kenya-pleaser-in-the-bottom-2\">Facing Kenya Pleaser in the Bottom 2\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Starr said she knew she would be in the bottom two, but going against one of the queens she had grown the closest to in the competition was the bigger hurdle to come to terms with. She also wasn’t a fan of the song choice, “Head Over Heels” by The Go-Go’s.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“It wasn’t something that I was even excited to perform,” she said. “I remember telling production, ‘Damn it, I know I’m gonna be at the bottom and I don’t even like this damn song.’ You know what I mean? I mean, the song is a classic, but it’s just not my style. I was just like, ‘You know what, it is what it is.’ I’d accepted the fact that, girl, you might be going home, so you just perform, give it your all. You’re still not done, but be okay with what the outcome is if that means you have to go home.”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“I was like, ‘I don’t see dancey-dancey on this, so let me just lip sync,’ you know?” she added. “But s**t…maybe I should have danced.”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-finding-strength-in-her-florida-drag-family\">Finding strength in her Florida drag family\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>An advantage she had over other queens who have landed in the bottom two was having a built-in support system with her Florida drag family. Between Athena Dion and Juicy Love Dion, Starr said that she felt “at home” and “so safe.”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“We’re already gonna gravitate towards each other, and we are gonna have each other’s backs no matter what, you know?” she said. “I felt amazing. I would not have had it any other way.”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“The fact that I was able to share this experience with family — it was just the best feeling in the world,” she added. “Even if there’s a low moment, we were there to snap ourselves out of it [and tell each other], ‘Shut the hell up,’ you know what I mean? [We said], ‘Remember who you are, remember where you come from.’ We had that genuine sisterhood that the other girls had to grow into.”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>She added that she and her Florida family still had that same growing process, which resulted in Mia’s close relationship with Pleaser and \u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/entertainment/vita-vontesse-starr-on-drag-race-ad-challenge\">Vita VonTesse Starr\u003C/a>, as well as her good relationships with the rest of the cast.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-s-next-after-drag-race\">What’s next after ‘Drag Race’\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>As for life after \u003Cem>Drag Race\u003C/em>, Starr said that she would love to join \u003Cem>RuPaul’s Drag Race Live\u003C/em> in Las Vegas.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“I did the Britney Spears Vegas residency, so to be able to do my own residency for \u003Cem>Drag Race\u003C/em> would be so full circle and so amazing,” she said, adding that her EP of new music is now available for streaming.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“I definitely want to be able to sell out venues when fans come to see me for my art,” she said. “That would be the dream.”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cem>RuPaul’s Drag Race\u003C/em> airs Fridays at 8 p.m. on MTV.\u003C/p>\n",[247,251,255],{"name":248,"slug":249,"id":250},"Entertainment","entertainment",3,{"name":252,"slug":253,"id":254},"Interviews","interviews-sa-originals",56956,{"name":256,"slug":257,"id":258},"Television","television",100,[260,264,268,271,275,278,282,286,290,294],{"id":261,"name":262,"slug":263,"description":10,"image":10},55047,"Blavity Entertainment","blavity-entertainment",{"id":265,"name":266,"slug":267,"description":10,"image":10},6730,"Drag-Race","drag-race",{"id":269,"name":252,"slug":270,"description":10,"image":10},46740,"interviews",{"id":272,"name":273,"slug":274,"description":10,"image":10},77468,"Mia Starr","mia-starr",{"id":276,"name":277,"slug":277,"description":10,"image":10},43692,"reality",{"id":279,"name":280,"slug":281,"description":10,"image":10},66714,"Reality competition","reality-competition",{"id":283,"name":284,"slug":285,"description":10,"image":10},67010,"Reality Interviews","reality-interviews",{"id":287,"name":288,"slug":289,"description":10,"image":10},6674,"RuPaul's-Drag-Race","rupauls-drag-race",{"id":291,"name":292,"slug":293,"description":10,"image":10},34278,"Shadow and Act","shadow-and-act",{"id":295,"name":257,"slug":257,"description":10,"image":10},32488,{"url":297,"thumbnail":298,"credit":299,"title":300,"alt":10,"type":50},"https://cms.blavity.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,slow-connection-quality=30,onerror=redirect/https://cms.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/23A4654-scaled.jpg","https://cms.blavity.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,slow-connection-quality=30,onerror=redirect/https://cms.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/23A4654-150x100.jpg","Photo: MTV","_23A4654","2026-02-21T13:52:25-05:00","2026-02-21T13:52:37-05:00",[],{"disableAd":79,"disableConnatixPlayer":79,"enabledComments":79,"headScript":10},{"id":306,"author":307,"authors":317,"title":319,"subTitle":10,"excerpt":10,"slug":320,"body":321,"categories":322,"tags":324,"featuredMedia":329,"publishedAt":335,"updatedAt":336,"type":149,"listicle":337,"disableContentGate":79,"isDisabledListicleNumbers":79,"canonicalUrl":10,"socialThumbnail":338,"additional":339},72900280,{"id":308,"avatar":309,"firstName":310,"lastName":311,"displayName":312,"email":313,"username":314,"normalizedUsername":315,"description":10,"twitter":10,"facebook":10,"instagram":10,"registeredAt":316},99833,"https://cms.blavity.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,slow-connection-quality=30,onerror=redirect/https://cms.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3995-compress.jpeg","Jahaura","Michelle","Jahaura Michelle","[email protected]","JahauraMichelle","jahauramichelle","2023-04-03T03:43:50+00:00",[318],{"id":308,"avatar":309,"firstName":310,"lastName":311,"displayName":312,"email":313,"username":314,"normalizedUsername":315,"description":10,"twitter":10,"facebook":10,"instagram":10,"registeredAt":316},"'American Idol' Contestant Charged In Wife's Murder: What To Know About What Happened With Caleb Flynn","caleb-flynn-american-idol-contestant-charged-in-wifes-murder","\n\u003Cp>A former \u003Cem>\u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/american-idol-sir-blaykes-journey-from-experiencing-homelessness-to-getting-a-golden-ticket-to-hollywood\">American Idol\u003C/a>\u003C/em> contestant is facing murder charges over his wife, Ashley Flynn’s murder. She was found dead inside their home by the police. \u003Ca href=\"https://www.whio.com/news/local/husband-wife-killed-apparent-home-invasion-arrested-chief-confirms/AB6X2HNPMBFZDF3YDUJFSQBE6Q/\">WHIO\u003C/a> reported that Caleb Carl Flynn was charged with one count of murder and two counts each of felonious assault and tampering with evidence.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Flynn was booked into the Miami County Jail at approximately 5:07 p.m. on Feb. 19 and remained in jail Thursday morning. He later pleaded not guilty with a bond set at $2 million. He remains in custody, according to both jail and court records.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-when-tippy-police-officers-arrived-ashley-flynn-was-found-with-a-gunshot-wound-to-her-head\">When Tippy Police officers arrived, Ashley Flynn was found with a gunshot wound to her head\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>On Monday morning, Ashley was found dead inside her home on the 900 block of Cunningham Court. Caleb, who was later identified as the 911 caller, initially told the dispatcher that someone had broken into their home and shot Ashley twice in the head in their bed, per \u003Ca href=\"https://www.whio.com/news/local/police-scanner-traffic-reveals-first-moments-investigation-into-deadly-home-invasion/TPPJHQ7LPJCLTEQLUKPWSCQCWU/\">WHIO\u003C/a> and the \u003Ca href=\"https://www.daytondailynews.com/local/theres-blood-everywhere-911-call-released-in-ashley-flynns-murder/SLYGCXL2NJCM5ATSIHBP5BJZGM/\">Dayton Daily News\u003C/a>. “There’s blood everywhere,” Caleb said in his 911 call.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Ashley was found lying on the bed with shell casings on the floor, according to a police report, per the Dayton Daily News. One of the responding officers stated that a side door to the garage was open and that a fridge was blocking the entrance, along with the fact that someone would’ve had to push the fridge in order to open the door.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>They also discovered the center console open in a truck parked in the garage, where Caleb kept his handgun. Police confirmed that only Caleb, Ashley and their children were at home at the time of the fatal shooting.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The shooting remains an active investigation: “The Tipp City Police Department appreciates the community’s patience and support while this collaborative investigative team worked diligently on this complex case. We also extend our sincere appreciation to the many agencies that have assisted—and continue to assist—in this investigation involving a tragic loss of life,” Tipp City Police Chief Greg Adkins said in a statement obtained by WHIO.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-ashley-flynn-was-well-known-in-and-around-the-tipp-city-community\">Ashley Flynn was well-known in and around the Tipp City community\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Ashley worked as the volleyball coach for Tippecanoe Middle School, a substitute teacher and a former teacher at Tipp City Schools, \u003Ca href=\"https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/ashley-flynn-husband-charged-tipp-city-ohio/\">CBS News\u003C/a> reported. She was also a teacher at Lifewise Academy in Hillard, Ohio and a member of Christian Life Center in Dayton, Ohio.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“She was known for her beautiful smile, warmth, kindness, and the positive impact she had on so many—both in and out of the classroom and on the court,” Tipp City Schools said in a Facebook post on Monday, per CBS News.\u003C/p>\n",[323],{"name":27,"slug":28,"id":29},[325],{"id":326,"name":327,"slug":328,"description":10,"image":10},43163,"American Idol","american-idol-2",{"url":330,"thumbnail":331,"credit":332,"title":333,"alt":334,"type":50},"https://cms.blavity.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,slow-connection-quality=30,onerror=redirect/https://cms.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/GettyImages-1007572624.jpg","https://cms.blavity.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,slow-connection-quality=30,onerror=redirect/https://cms.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/GettyImages-1007572624-150x100.jpg","Photo: Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images","American Idol sign","Illuminated American Idol sign","2026-02-20T20:41:36-05:00","2026-02-20T20:41:47-05:00",[],"https://cdn.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/cd9ed7634294fd747ee6040cd12316de.webp",{"disableAd":79,"disableConnatixPlayer":79,"enabledComments":79,"headScript":10},{"id":341,"author":342,"authors":343,"title":345,"subTitle":10,"excerpt":10,"slug":346,"body":347,"categories":348,"tags":350,"featuredMedia":351,"publishedAt":355,"updatedAt":356,"type":149,"listicle":357,"disableContentGate":79,"isDisabledListicleNumbers":79,"canonicalUrl":10,"socialThumbnail":358,"additional":359},72900237,{"id":89,"avatar":90,"firstName":91,"lastName":92,"displayName":93,"email":94,"username":95,"normalizedUsername":96,"description":10,"twitter":10,"facebook":10,"instagram":97,"registeredAt":98},[344],{"id":89,"avatar":90,"firstName":91,"lastName":92,"displayName":93,"email":94,"username":95,"normalizedUsername":96,"description":10,"twitter":10,"facebook":10,"instagram":97,"registeredAt":98},"Asos Co-Founder Dies After Falling From Hotel Balcony","asos-co-founder-dies-after-falling-from-hotel-balcony","\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/women/affordable-luxury-fashion-ideas\">Asos\u003C/a> co-founder Quentin Griffiths died after falling from a hotel balcony in \u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/entertainment/lil-uzi-vert-eats-cockroach-while-visiting-thailand\">Thailand\u003C/a> earlier this month. An autopsy revealed no evidence of foul play. Here’s what we know.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-happened-to-quentin-griffiths\">What happened to Quentin Griffiths?\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Quentin Griffiths was a 58-year-old British citizen. He was staying as a long-term resident in a suite at a hotel in Pattaya. Local police found Griffiths dead on the ground on Feb. 9 after he fell from a balcony on the hotel’s 17th floor.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Griffiths was staying on his own at the suite. He was by himself prior to the time of his death, as CCTV did not show anyone entering the room. The suite was locked from the inside and there was no trace of any break-ins at the time of the death, police told the \u003Ca href=\"https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce8w0n061ryo\">BBC\u003C/a>. An autopsy revealed no evidence of foul play.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Local law enforcement suggested suicide as the cause of death in their initial investigations. One of Griffith’s friends said he had been concerned about lawsuits from his former wife, who is a Thai national. The couple was separated and was reportedly engaged in a legal dispute over a business they ran together. Griffiths was involved in two ongoing court cases prior to this death. Documents tied to the lawsuits were found in his apartment, \u003Ca href=\"https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/co-founder-asos-quentin-griffiths-dies-thailand-after-balcony-fall-2026-02-20/\">Reuters\u003C/a> reported.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“We are supporting the family of a British national who has died in Thailand and are in contact with the local authorities,” a British foreign office spokesperson said, per the BBC.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“We’re saddened to hear about the passing of Quentin, one of our original co-founders,” an Asos spokesperson said, per the BBC. “He played an important role in Asos’s earliest days and we’re forever grateful for his contribution.”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>They added, “Our thoughts are with his family and friends.”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-quentin-griffiths-co-founded-asos-in-2000\">Quentin Griffiths co-founded Asos in 2000\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>In 2000, Griffiths co-founded Asos in London with Nick Robertson, Andrew Regan and Deborah Thorpe. It was originally known as As Seen On Screen and sold clothing inspired by items worn by film and TV actors.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Asos became a leading online fashion marketplace that sold its own line alongside other brands. It established itself in the United Kingdom before expanding to other countries. \u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Griffiths worked as Asos’s marketing director before leaving in 2004, according to Reuters. Still, he remained a large shareholder for nearly 10 years.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The company struggled to compete with other e-commerce retailers in recent years. Asos’s shares went down about 96% from their peak value, according to Reuters.\u003C/p>\n",[349],{"name":27,"slug":28,"id":29},[],{"url":352,"thumbnail":353,"credit":10,"title":354,"alt":10,"type":50},"https://cms.blavity.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,slow-connection-quality=30,onerror=redirect/https://cms.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/asos.jpg","https://cms.blavity.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,slow-connection-quality=30,onerror=redirect/https://cms.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/asos-150x84.jpg","asos","2026-02-20T20:37:56-05:00","2026-02-20T20:38:04-05:00",[],"https://cms.blavity.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,slow-connection-quality=30,onerror=redirect/https://cms.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/68579eea-1775-408c-8249-81cdbeffe3a2.jpg",{"disableAd":79,"disableConnatixPlayer":79,"enabledComments":79,"headScript":10},{"id":361,"author":362,"authors":363,"title":365,"subTitle":10,"excerpt":10,"slug":366,"body":367,"categories":368,"tags":370,"featuredMedia":383,"publishedAt":389,"updatedAt":390,"type":149,"listicle":391,"disableContentGate":79,"isDisabledListicleNumbers":79,"canonicalUrl":10,"socialThumbnail":384,"additional":392},72900235,{"id":89,"avatar":90,"firstName":91,"lastName":92,"displayName":93,"email":94,"username":95,"normalizedUsername":96,"description":10,"twitter":10,"facebook":10,"instagram":97,"registeredAt":98},[364],{"id":89,"avatar":90,"firstName":91,"lastName":92,"displayName":93,"email":94,"username":95,"normalizedUsername":96,"description":10,"twitter":10,"facebook":10,"instagram":97,"registeredAt":98},"UT Austin Bans Shein On School Devices And Wi-Fi","university-of-texas-austin-bans-shein-on-school-devices","\n\u003Cp>The \u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/utt-austin-consolidates-race-ethnic-gender-study-programs\">University of Texas at Austin\u003C/a> is banning Shein, alongside other Chinese-owned companies, from being used on school devices and campus Wi-Fi. The ban, which will go into effect on Feb. 27, was enacted in order to comply with Gov. Greg Abbott’s latest directives regarding Chinese-owned companies. Texas has been banning several \u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/whats-going-on-with-tiktok-bugs-outages-users-allege-censorship-us-deal\" type=\"link\" id=\"https://blavity.com/whats-going-on-with-tiktok-bugs-outages-users-allege-censorship-us-deal\">Chinese apps\u003C/a>, websites and devices over the last few years. It recently widened the list of banned apps earlier this month.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-why-is-ut-austin-banning-shein-nbsp\">Why is UT Austin banning Shein? \u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The institution announced it is following recent bans on Chinese companies posted by the Texas government recently, \u003Ca href=\"https://qz.com/university-of-texas-austin-bans-shein\">Quartz\u003C/a> reported.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“All full- and part-time faculty, staff, contractors, fellows, post-docs, interns, and anyone performing business, including research, for the University may not use TikTok or other prohibited technology on personal devices that are also used for university business,” the university said on its \u003Ca href=\"https://compliance.utexas.edu/prohibited-technology-and-covered-applications\" type=\"link\" id=\"https://compliance.utexas.edu/prohibited-technology-and-covered-applications\">website\u003C/a>. “This includes student employees who perform any University business on a personal device.”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>UT Austin invited users to stop using personal devices for university business such as accessing university email inboxes and data or systems used by the institution.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“The University of Texas at Austin is committed to managing risks and safeguarding the university’s resources from threats posed by malware and other cyber threats. Malware includes software that intercepts information and delivers it to a third party without authorization,” the university wrote. “This policy is intended to ensure compliance with the new regulations as well as enhance awareness of potential security risks and safeguard sensitive state and university data.”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Texas updated its \u003Ca href=\"https://dir.texas.gov/information-security/covered-applications-and-prohibited-technologies\">list\u003C/a> of banned Chinese companies on Feb. 4. That list includes Shein, TikTok, RedNote, Alibaba, Alipay, WeChat, WeChat Pay, Huawei Technologies Company and TP-Link.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Since December, Shein has been under investigation by the Texas Attorney General’s office, according to a \u003Ca href=\"https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/releases/attorney-general-ken-paxton-investigates-global-fast-fashion-giant-shein-unethical-labor-practices\">press release\u003C/a>. It is being investigated over “potential violations of Texas law related to unethical labor practices and the sale of unsafe consumer products,” as well as the company’s data collection and privacy practices, “which may pose risks to millions of American consumers.”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Shien is one of the leading fast-fashion companies, with the U.S. being its biggest market, per Quartz. In 2025, the company represented 1.7% of the U.S. retail market.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-texas-has-ramped-up-its-ban-of-chinese-owned-companies\">Texas has ramped up its ban of Chinese-owned companies\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Gov. Abbott first ordered a ban on the use of TikTok on all government-issued devices in 2022. The government said the decision was made to “protect against the growing threat of the Chinese Communist Party gaining access to critical U.S. information and infrastructure,” according to a January 2025 \u003Ca href=\"https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-announces-ban-on-chinese-ai-social-media-apps\">press release\u003C/a>.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>In 2023, the governor signed into law \u003Ca href=\"https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=88R&Bill=SB1893\">Senate Bill 1893\u003C/a>, which prohibited the use of TikTok and other banned social media apps on government-issued devices. In 2025, Abbott then banned AI and any social media apps tied to China or the Chinese government.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“Texas will not allow the Chinese Communist Party to infiltrate our state’s critical infrastructure through data-harvesting AI and social media apps,” he said at the time, per a \u003Ca href=\"https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-announces-ban-on-chinese-ai-social-media-apps\" type=\"link\" id=\"https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-announces-ban-on-chinese-ai-social-media-apps\">press release\u003C/a>. “To achieve that mission, I ordered Texas state agencies to ban Chinese government-based AI and social media apps from all state-issued devices. State agencies and employees responsible for handling critical infrastructure, intellectual property, and personal information must be protected from malicious espionage operations by the Chinese Communist Party. Texas will continue to protect and defend our state from hostile foreign actors.”\u003C/p>\n",[369],{"name":106,"slug":107,"id":108},[371,375,379],{"id":372,"name":373,"slug":374,"description":10,"image":10},29227,"Greg Abbott","greg-abbott",{"id":376,"name":377,"slug":378,"description":10,"image":10},56752,"Shein","shein",{"id":380,"name":381,"slug":382,"description":10,"image":10},4610,"University of Texas at Austin","university-of-texas-at-austin",{"url":384,"thumbnail":385,"credit":386,"title":387,"alt":388,"type":50},"https://cms.blavity.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,slow-connection-quality=30,onerror=redirect/https://cms.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/GettyImages-2244511151.jpg","https://cms.blavity.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,slow-connection-quality=30,onerror=redirect/https://cms.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/GettyImages-2244511151-150x100.jpg","Photo: JULIE SEBADELHA/AFP via Getty Images","Shein logo","Logo of Asian e-commerce giant Shein","2026-02-20T20:35:31-05:00","2026-02-20T20:35:40-05:00",[],{"disableAd":79,"disableConnatixPlayer":79,"enabledComments":79,"headScript":10},{"id":394,"author":395,"authors":396,"title":398,"subTitle":10,"excerpt":10,"slug":399,"body":400,"categories":401,"tags":403,"featuredMedia":404,"publishedAt":410,"updatedAt":411,"type":149,"listicle":412,"disableContentGate":79,"isDisabledListicleNumbers":79,"canonicalUrl":10,"socialThumbnail":10,"additional":413},72900299,{"id":155,"avatar":156,"firstName":10,"lastName":10,"displayName":157,"email":158,"username":157,"normalizedUsername":159,"description":10,"twitter":10,"facebook":10,"instagram":10,"registeredAt":160},[397],{"id":155,"avatar":156,"firstName":10,"lastName":10,"displayName":157,"email":158,"username":157,"normalizedUsername":159,"description":10,"twitter":10,"facebook":10,"instagram":10,"registeredAt":160},"Lori Chavez-DeRemer's Husband Barred From Department HQ After Accusations He Sexually Assaulted 2 Staff Members","lori-chavez-deremers-husband-barred-from-department-accusations","\n\u003Cp>The husband of a member of \u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/trump-ignores-maga-black-woman-running-for-governor-of-virginia\">President Donald Trump’s\u003C/a> cabinet has allegedly been barred from the headquarters of the cabinet secretary’s department after he was accused of sexually assaulting at least two members of her staff. The shocking revelation adds to the woes of a top Trump official who is facing a separate scandal over accusations that she engaged in an extramarital affair with a member of her staff and improperly used state resources to do so.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-labor-secretary-s-husband-banned-after-allegations-of-sexual-assault\">Labor secretary’s husband banned after allegations of sexual assault\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/19/business/labor-secretary-husband-sexual-assault-allegations.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The New York Times\u003C/a> reported Thursday that Dr. Shawn DeRemer, the husband of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, was banned from the Department of Labor’s headquarters in Washington, D.C. The move was taken, according to The New York Times, after at least two female staffers reported that DeRemer had sexually assaulted them. At least one of the incidents of inappropriate touching, occurring the morning of Dec. 18, was captured on video by security cameras, according to sources at the Department of Labor who spoke to The New York Times on the condition of anonymity. The Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department is currently investigating possible forced sexual contact at the department headquarters, according to a police report viewed by The New York Times. After internal investigators learned of the women’s accusations, Dr. DeRemer was banned from the building where he had frequently visited, according to a building notice reviewed by The New York Times.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-second-major-scandal-for-labor-secretary-in-recent-months\">Second major scandal for Labor secretary in recent months\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The complaints about Dr. DeRemer came to light during an ongoing investigation into Secretary Chavez-DeRemer’s conduct. The secretary has been accused of having an extramarital affair with a separate employee, a member of her security team, and accused of misusing Labor Department resources. As the \u003Ca href=\"https://nypost.com/2026/01/09/us-news/labor-secretary-lori-chavez-deremer-under-investigation-for-inappropriate-relationship-with-employee/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">New York Post\u003C/a> first reported, a complaint was filed with the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Labor alleging the inappropriate relationship between Chavez-DeRemer and her subordinate. The complaint also accuses her of other offenses, including drinking while at work and sending employees to run personal errands. She has also been accused of “travel fraud” for directing two of her aides, her chief of staff and deputy chief of staff, to “make up” official trips, paid for with government funds, which were actually personal trips with the secretary’s family or friends. These two aides and the security guard at the center of the affair allegation have all been placed on \u003Ca href=\"https://www.politico.com/news/2026/01/23/lori-chavez-deremer-security-staffer-leave-investigation-00745067\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">leave\u003C/a> as the investigation continues.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-chavez-deremer-has-implemented-the-trump-agenda\">Chavez-DeRemer has implemented the Trump agenda\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Both Chavez-DeRemer and her husband have denied the accusations against them. Dr. DeRemer disputes the \u003Ca href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/19/us-labor-secretary-husband\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">accusations\u003C/a> of sexual assault. “I have not done any of this, and I categorically deny these things. I will absolutely, categorically fight everything in this,” he said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal. According to the New York Post, Secretary Chavez-DeRemer said through a \u003Ca href=\"https://nypost.com/2026/01/18/us-news/ig-probe-uncovers-labor-secretary-lori-chavez-deremer-visited-a-strip-club-with-subordinates/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">spokesperson\u003C/a>, “Secretary Chavez-DeRemer firmly denies any allegations of wrongdoing. Her utmost priority remains to advance President Trump’s agenda by continuing her hard and successful work for the betterment of the American people.” As she referenced in her statement, Chavez-DeRemer, a former Republican congresswoman from Oregon, has pushed Trump’s policies in the Department of Labor. This has included slashing jobs within the department and suspending operations of many \u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/job-corps-centers-paused-us-department-of-labor\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Job Corps\u003C/a> centers. The Labor Department under Chavez-DeRemer has also been accused of appealing to fascist ideas after posting a \u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/trump-admin-accused-of-using-nazi-slogans-by-rage-against-the-machine-guitarist-and-more\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">slogan\u003C/a> reminiscent of, but not identical to, one used in Nazi Germany.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>So far, it appears that the Trump administration has stood by Chavez-DeRemer, who has been a faithful aide to Trump as he pushes his agenda. Even so, the growing scandals and accusations of wrongdoing surrounding her, and now her husband, may be putting Chavez-DeRemer’s future within the Labor Department in doubt.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003C/p>\n",[402],{"name":27,"slug":28,"id":29},[],{"url":405,"thumbnail":406,"credit":407,"title":408,"alt":409,"type":50},"https://cms.blavity.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,slow-connection-quality=30,onerror=redirect/https://cms.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/GettyImages-2237136261.jpg","https://cms.blavity.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,slow-connection-quality=30,onerror=redirect/https://cms.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/GettyImages-2237136261-150x100.jpg","Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images","Secretary Scott Bessent Speaks At The Treasury Department","WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 24: U.S. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer speaks during a Financial Literacy and Education Commission panel at the U.S. Treasury Department on September 24, 2025 in Washington, DC. U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent also participated virtually from New York.","2026-02-20T20:34:14-05:00","2026-02-20T20:34:47-05:00",[],{"disableAd":79,"disableConnatixPlayer":79,"enabledComments":79,"headScript":10},76039,["Reactive",416],{},["Set"],["ShallowReactive",419],{"page-8-products-from-black-owned-brands-that-will-make-perfect-gifts-for-the-blerd-in-your-life":81,"fetch:/articles:{\"count\":3,\"tag\":\"top-stories\"}":81,"fetch:/articles:{\"count\":5,\"sort\":\"most-read\"}":81},"/8-products-from-black-owned-brands-that-will-make-perfect-gifts-for-the-blerd-in-your-life",["Reactive",422],{}]