Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, has announced the induction of 15 distinguished women as Honorary Members into its Alpha Omega Chapter during its Grand Boule in Indianapolis.

Leela James, an acclaimed singer known for her soulful contributions to the music industry, is among the new Honorary Members. James gained notable recognition with her debut album, “A Change Is Gonna Come,” which earned her nominations for Soul Train and NAACP Awards. With seven LPs and several Top 20 R&B singles, including the chart-topping hit “Complicated,” James has firmly established her presence in the music world.

In addition to her musical success, James is dedicated to empowering young women through her GIRLS TALK Initiative. This program focuses on preparing women to navigate life’s challenges related to love, career, health, and wellness. As a member of Zeta Phi Beta, James will align her efforts with the sorority’s Black health and wellness initiatives, particularly focusing on mental health, and will support the Zeta Youth Affiliates.

International First Vice President for Membership Gina Merritt-Epps, Esq., expressed enthusiasm about the new Honorary Members, stating, “I am honored to oversee all of Zeta Phi Beta’s membership categories and am thrilled that Zeta Phi Beta continues to attract fascinating, fierce, and finer women to carry out the vision of Zeta Phi Beta’s Founders. The newest class of Honorary Members will advance Zeta Phi Beta’s goals as Zeta Phi Beta women everywhere work together to support our communities.”

The induction ceremony took place on July 27, 2024, at the sorority’s international conference in Indianapolis, where the new members were officially welcomed into Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated.

Dr. Stacie NC Grant, International President and CEO, remarked, “The work of our 2024 Honorary Member Class is aligned with Zeta Phi Beta’s commitment to helping other people excel through mind, body, and spirit. As the number one women’s service organization established by five extraordinary Black women, we are proud to extend membership to this group of women, and I welcome them to the sisterhood on behalf of all Zeta Phi Beta members.”

Leela James joins a distinguished group of Honorary Members who will contribute to advancing the sorority’s mission and philanthropic efforts.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The day after Vice President Kamala Harris entered the race for the White House, Democratic Rep. Dan Kildee’s Michigan campaign office saw 650 people sign up to volunteer.

The next night in Nevada, Rep. Steven Horsford had another 600 volunteers register in his Las Vegas-area district. Pennsylvania Rep. Madeleine Dean’s constituents were “fired up.” New Hampshire Rep. Annie Kuster felt “palpable” enthusiasm. And by week’s end, Illinois Rep. Jan Schakowsky’s team had 400 volunteers ready to “get on the bus” to campaign for Democrats in neighboring Michigan and Wisconsin.

“The theory of the case is proving true: There’s a renewed enthusiasm within the Democratic Party for our candidate at the top of the ticket,” said Rep. Angie Craig of Minnesota, who had been among Democrats calling for President Joe Biden to step aside.

Weeks of despair among Democratic lawmakers that Biden would not only lose the White House but take congressional candidates down with him disappeared in a blink. The 2024 campaign’s static inertia was transforming into kinetic political energy after Harris took hold of the party, stunned the establishment and shook up the race against Republican Donald Trump.

Women, young people and voters of color started suddenly flocking to the Democratic campaigns. The congressional campaign committees for the House and Senate Democrats reported record-setting $1 million days for online donations, among the highest in history. Lawmakers said people showed up without prompting, asking what they could do to help.

The turnaround, just over 100 days from the election, revives the party’s hope of winning back the House and fighting to hold its Senate majority. Rather than simply being seen as a last line of defense against Trump and the Project 2025 agenda, the potential for broader Democratic wins is coming into view, despite Republican assertions that the Harris boost is a blip that won’t prove lasting.

Harris’ rise quickly quelled, for now, the painful party revolt that had thrown Democrats into weeks of anguished anxiety.

“We’re sort of right on the cusp of both existential dread and excitement for making history,” said freshman Rep. Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico.

The House in particular has been reeling from the chaotic turn of events. The party angst over Biden’s ability to lead the ticket spilled into the open after his disastrous debate performance called into question his age, 81, and his ability to serve another term.

Lloyd Doggett of Texas, the first Democratic lawmaker to call for Biden to withdraw from the race, said, “I think we were on a path to lose this election, and now we have a fighting chance to win it.”

For some, the energy and enthusiasm they are witnessing reminds them of 2008, when a young U.S. senator, Barack Obama, powered his longshot White House bid with a new coalition of Democrats, fueled partly by young millennials.

Horsford, who was among Obama’s earliest backers in Nevada, remembers the throngs of young people who worked as part of a multiracial, multigenerational coalition. And that’s what he sees now “coming out of the woodwork” to help Harris.

“It’s actually more than a campaign now,” Horsford said. “It’s a movement.”

Both the House and Senate are fiercely contested this election year, with razor-tight majorities heading into November, which means just a single seat can determine which party holds power.

In the House, some 40 seats are considered competitive, and any one of them could make or break the outcome, determining whether Republicans keep their slim majority or Democrats wrest control.

The Senate is tougher for Democrats, a candidate-versus-candidate contest less beholden to the top of the ticket. Senate Democrats hold the majority by a single seat, and among the most endangered incumbents, Montana’s Sen. Jon Tester, has yet to back Harris. A 50-50 Senate would give power to the party in the White House because the vice president can cast tie-breaking votes.

Republicans handling the House and Senate races are racing to redefine the presidential matchup with Trump, largely by defining Harris on their own terms.

GOP strategists believe the sudden flurry of support for Harris will fade and the Republicans like the prospect of replacing “Scranton Joe” with a “San Francisco liberal” who will own the Biden administration’s record on border policy and inflation, which are tops on voters’ minds.

“This whole, short-lived Harris honeymoon is over,” said Sen. Steve Daines of Montana, the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

“Age was the issue for Biden. The issue for Kamala Harris will be her far-left policies,” Daines said. “The nation is not going to elect a far-left, San Francisco radical.”

Jack Pandol, the spokesman for the House GOP’s National Republican Congressional Committee, said House Democrats are falling in line with Harris’ “extreme agenda to remake America in the image of San Francisco,” and they risk losing their elections over it.

The dynamic is being put to the test in real time as lawmakers in competitive seats watch the political ground shake beneath them in the presidential race.

“We have seen a night-and-day difference in every aspect of my campaign,” said Democratic Rep. Pat Ryan of New York, who was among some three dozen congressional Democrats who publicly called on Biden to pass the torch.

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Fundraising, grassroots support and volunteer energy all soared “through the roof” since the hand-off to Harris, he said. “This is really electrifying our campaign.”

But in another competitive New York district, Republican Rep. Nick LaLota predicted when “the dust settles, my constituents will understand that life would be even worse under a Harris administration.”

To be sure, not all Democrats in Congress wanted to see Biden end his campaign for a second term.

Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters, a senior member of the Congressional Black Caucus, said she was disturbed by the calls for Biden to step aside after all she said he has done as president.

In particular, some lawmakers worried that Harris would be thrust into the fray without adequate party support or simply be passed over as Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi and other prominent Democrats initially called for an open primary if Biden were to be replaced.

But once Biden decided it was “in the best interest of my party and the country” to end his bid, even some of those most resistant to the change welcomed the outcome.

Waters said there was such an outpouring of interest in Harris from her Los Angeles-area district that she was rushing home Friday to throw an organizing event. “We’re going to be jamming,” she said.

“He endorsed a woman — a woman of color — and it drew everybody into a new kind of possibility that could happen in this country,” she said.

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The shell-shocked crowd at San Diego Comic-Con was treated to an exclusive first look at the main title sequence for Paramount+’s upcoming Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series. The electrifying sequence, composed by Emmy-nominated Matt Mahaffey, is a high-octane prelude to the adventures that await the beloved pizza-loving heroes.

From the creative minds behind the blockbuster film Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, the new series will dive deeper into the teenage lives of Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello, and Michelangelo. As they emerge from the shadows of the sewer and into the neon-lit streets of New York City, the Turtles face unprecedented challenges and unexpected alliances.

Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a co-production between Nickelodeon Animation and Point Grey Pictures. Executive producers Chris Yost and Alan Wan are at the helm, bringing their expertise in crafting thrilling narratives. Nickelodeon’s Claudia Spinelli and Nikki Price are overseeing production for the network.

With the main title sequence unveiled, anticipation for the series is reaching a fever pitch. Fans can look forward to a fresh take on the iconic characters as they balance their teenage years with the responsibilities of protecting their city.

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All the negative predictions and chatter about disgruntled Black voters abandoning the Democratic Party are nonsense.

Admittedly, there’s a lot of frustration over the Biden administration’s failure to deliver on issues like police reform, voting rights legislation and student loan debt relief. But venting frustration doesn’t equate to disunity.

Over the years, there’s always been a fear that we won’t unite, but in the end, we do. That’s what makes Black America a powerful voting bloc.

A New York Times/Sienna College poll released last November set off alarm bells, finding that 22 percent of Black voters in six battleground states said they would support Trump. However, polls taken in June, before President Biden dropped out of the race, found that Black voters overwhelmingly disapproved of Trump and backed Biden.

And now that Vice President Kamala Harris is poised to become the Democratic nominee, Black voters are elated and even more united. Trump’s small gains with Black voters have declined with Harris as the presumptive nominee.

A narrative about Democrats losing Black men encouraged Trump’s team to do its damnedest to exploit a perceived weakness in our unity. One GOP ploy involved dispatching two Black Republicans, U.S. Reps. Wesley Hunt of Texas and Florida’s Byron Donalds, to persuade Black men at cigar and cognac events to vote for Trump.

However, Black men, even those who were leaning toward Trump, support Harris, as evidenced by scores of brothers who recently voted for her with their wallets. On Monday, more than 53,000 Black men joined a virtual event hosted by the collective group Win With Black Men and raised $1.3 million in four hours for Harris’ campaign.

On Sunday night, hours after Biden stepped down and endorsed Harris, Win With Black Women hosted a Zoom call with 44,000 participants who donated more than $1.5 million to Harris’ campaign in three hours.

According to the Associated Press, Sunday’s strong show of support was actually much larger. An estimated 90,000 sisters and their allies logged on to the event simultaneously. Usually, the platform maxes out at 1,000 participants, but a Zoom executive increased the capacity to 40,000 participants, and the meeting was streamed to another 50,000 women on other platforms.

“Anybody that does not think that Black and Brown women are the backbone of this party, they don’t know us,” Star Jones told The Washington Post. “[Harris] has already been leading by example. We are going to support her, we’re going to raise money for her, and we’re going to get out the vote for her.”

We recognize that unity is our superpower. A unified voting bloc is our means to prevent a second Donald Trump presidency that would be dangerous for our community.

If re-elected, Trump told TIME magazine that he would support the right wing’s war on so-called “anti-white” racism. The movement targeting DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) initiatives have gained momentum and could rise to a toxic level under a second Trump administration.

Shortly after Biden endorsed Harris, right-wing media outlets and MAGA lawmakers launched racist and gender attacks against Harris, calling her a “DEI hire.”

For our community, the choice on Election Day is clear. We’re unified and standing behind Harris.

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, announced this afternoon the induction of 15 distinguished women as Honorary Members into its Alpha Omega Chapter at its Grand Boule in Indianapolis.

Among the new inductees is Felicia Brokaw, an Army General renowned for her distinguished military service and leadership. General Brokaw made history as the first Black female Brigadier General in the state of Indiana. Throughout her tenure with the Army, she has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

General Brokaw has dedicated herself to empowering veterans and their families, becoming a passionate advocate for veteran welfare. She has been instrumental in organizing community outreach programs and support initiatives through various veterans’ organizations. As a new member of Zeta Phi Beta, General Brokaw will align her efforts with the Military Appreciation Program and Women Veterans Rock!, continuing her commitment to military support and appreciation.

International First Vice President for Membership Gina Merritt-Epps, Esq., expressed her enthusiasm, saying, “I am honored to oversee all of Zeta Phi Beta’s membership categories and am thrilled that Zeta Phi Beta continues to attract fascinating, fierce and finer women to carry out the vision of Zeta Phi Beta’s Founders. The newest class of Honorary Members will advance Zeta Phi Beta’s goals as Zeta Phi Beta women everywhere work together to support our communities.”

The induction ceremony took place on July 27, 2024, during the sorority’s international conference in Indianapolis, where the new members were officially welcomed into Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated.

Dr. Stacie NC Grant, International President and CEO, shared, “The work of our 2024 Honorary Member Class is aligned with Zeta Phi Beta’s commitment to helping other people excel through mind, body and spirit. As the number one women’s service organization established by five extraordinary Black women, we are proud to extend membership to this group of women and I welcome them to the sisterhood on behalf of all Zeta Phi Beta members.”

The newest class of Honorary Members reflects a diverse array of talents and achievements, each contributing to the advancement of Zeta Phi Beta’s mission and values.

Lil Rel Howery is feeling good and will not let haters steal his joy. Recently, the “Get Out” star garnered attention for his noticeable weight loss during a red-carpet appearance for his upcoming film “Harold and the Purple Crayon.”  

“This is my own appreciation post for myself,” Howery wrote on Instagram. “I’ve worked really hard on myself the last 5 years physically, mentally, spiritually, professionally and personally. I’m so proud of myself. This is the best I’ve ever felt and looked in my whole life.” 

While the actor accredits his weight loss to a lifestyle change, noting that he stopped drinking and began eating better, users in the comments questioned if Howery used any medications like Ozempic or Mounjaro to help shed some pounds. 

“Why can’t people [tell] the truth on how they lost weight,” one commenter shared, to which Howery responded: “I did but y’all [would] rather believe the bull**** because doing something right is so unbelievable lol.” 

Though stars like Tina Knowles, Terry Crews, and Yvonne Orji applauded the star on his journey, Howery still posted a follow-up video addressing the onslaught of hateful comments and accusations.  

“That’s not my journey,” he said, shutting down the claims. “I don’t know even where to get it from, to be quite honest from you.”

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“I put that post up to inspire other people,” he added. “[And to remind people] it’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon, and this is what it looks like and feels like when you actually put in the work and put in the time to do it.” 

For Howery, his religion and relationship with God were fundamental to his weight loss. Though it “wasn’t easy,” he stressed that his spiritual journey fueled his physical one. Recounting dark moments when his assistant reportedly found him crying, Howery explained how his five-year journey to wellness also improved his mental health and allowed him to find love with his fiancé, Dannella Lane. 

“I really work my butt off. I ain’t taking any supplements even with just working out…I don’t do any of that. This has just been a spiritual journey. It’s been a mental journey. It’s been a journey full of love,” he said. “I was in a dark space, but I said yes to God…And that’s just the truth.”

Regardless of how people think he lost the weight, Howery hopes his testimony inspires others. 

“Whatever you do, please do for yourself and if you can, don’t take the shortcut; really put the work in this is a whole, just straight hard work, nothing else and that’s the honest to God Truth.”

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It’s time to spook on and get ready to LOL! Hulu announced today that the first of two all-new, exclusive “Family Guy” holiday specials will premiere on Monday, October 14. The Halloween-themed episode boasts an all-star voice cast, including Glen Powell and Derek Jacobi, joining in on the fun as the Griffins get their scare on.

In the upcoming special, Peter and his merry band of misfits plot to unseat Quahog’s current champion at their annual Pumpkin Contest. Glen Powell, star of “Twisters” and “Hit Man,” has been cast as the fearless competitor. To lend a touch of class and refinement to the proceedings, in the form of Stewie’s teddy bear confidant Rupert, producers have brought in none other than Derek Jacobi, known for his stellar performances in “Gosford Park” and “Gladiator.”.

Since its launch in 1999, “Family Guy” has won millions of hearts because of its razor-sharp wit, iconic characters, and unforgettable musical numbers. It is critically acclaimed, having received a nomination for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series—an achievement unusual for an animated series. Seth MacFarlane is the creator of the series and does voices for Peter, Stewie, Brian, and Glenn Quagmire, for which he has won numerous Emmy Awards for Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance. The voice for Lois Griffin, Alex Borstein, also received Emmy recognition for her work.

The new season, Season 23, has “Family Guy” continuing to bring on the most laugh-out-loud moments as the Griffins take on new adventures. Peter’s athletic side—or rather, lack thereof—is challenged; Meg discovers a surprising new relationship; and Chris gets into a pickle inspired by “Lord of the Rings.” Meanwhile, Stewie’s world is turned upside down when he finds out the shocking origin story behind his most treasured teddy bear, Rupert.

This series is also going to parody the huge HBO series “The White Lotus,” as the Griffins put up with the ups and downs of luxury resort vacations. Stewie’s paranoia reaches a new level as he assumes that his wealthy companions have sinister intentions in store for him.

“Family Guy” remains a phenomenon of pop culture, with its characters being household names and its catchphrases part of the vernacular. The new Halloween special will no doubt prove to be tons of fun for old and new fans alike.

“Family Guy” is a production of 20th Television Animation. Seth MacFarlane created and executive-produced the series. Rich Appel and Alec Sulkin join as the series’ executive producers and showrunners, with Steve Callaghan, Tom Devanney, Danny Smith, Kara Vallow, Mark Hentemann, Patrick Meighan, and Alex Carter joining as executive producers.

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Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, announced this afternoon the induction of 15 distinguished women as Honorary Members into its Alpha Omega Chapter at its Grand Boule in Indianapolis.

Wanda Durant, widely recognized for her motivational speaking and advocacy, is among the newly inducted members. Durant, the founder of the motivational platform “Hope Dream Believe Achieve,” has made significant contributions through her work in empowering individuals to overcome adversity and reach their full potential. She also runs The Kevin Durant Charity Foundation and The Real MVP Charity, Inc., where her philanthropic efforts focus on supporting educational initiatives, youth development programs, and community outreach projects.

As a new member of Zeta Phi Beta, Ms. Durant is enthusiastic about serving on initiatives that promote the sorority’s partnerships with the American Cancer Society, Zeta National Education Foundation (Z-NEF), Zetas Helping Other People Excel (Z-HOPE™), and Zeta Youth Affiliates.

International First Vice President for Membership Gina Merritt-Epps, Esq., stated, “I am honored to oversee all of Zeta Phi Beta’s membership categories and am thrilled that Zeta Phi Beta continues to attract fascinating, fierce, and finer women to carry out the vision of Zeta Phi Beta’s Founders. The newest class of Honorary Members will advance Zeta Phi Beta’s goals as Zeta Phi Beta women everywhere work together to support our communities.”

The induction ceremony, held on July 27, 2024, at the sorority’s international conference in Indianapolis, officially welcomed the new members into Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated.

Dr. Stacie NC Grant, International President and CEO, noted, “The work of our 2024 Honorary Member Class is aligned with Zeta Phi Beta’s commitment to helping other people excel through mind, body, and spirit. As the number one women’s service organization established by five extraordinary Black women, we are proud to extend membership to this group of women and I welcome them to the sisterhood on behalf of all Zeta Phi Beta members.”

The latest class of Honorary Members exemplifies a diverse array of talents and achievements, each contributing to the advancement of Zeta Phi Beta’s mission and values.

DETROIT (AP) — The site of a transient motel in Detroit where three Black teenagers were killed, allegedly by white police officers, during the city’s bloody 1967 race riot is receiving a historic marker.

A dedication ceremony was held Friday in a park several miles north of downtown where the Algiers Motel once stood.

As parts of Detroit burned in one of the bloodiest race riots in U.S. history, police and members of the National Guard raided the motel and its adjacent Manor House on July 26, 1967, after reports of gunfire in the area.

The bodies of Auburey Pollard, 19, Carl Cooper, 17, and Fred Temple, 18, were found later. About a half dozen others, including two young white women, had been beaten.

The marker tells how the white officers were charged with murder following the deaths of Cooper, Temple and Pollard, but never convicted.

“A historical marker cannot tell the whole story of what happened at the Algiers Motel in 1967, nor adjudicate past horrors and injustices,” historian Danielle McGuire said. “It can, however, begin the process of repair for survivors, victims’ families and community members through truth-telling.”

McGuire has spent years working with community members and the Michigan Historical Marker Commission to get a marker installed at the site.

“We have a moral duty to tell the truth about the past,” she said Friday at the dedication. “A historical marker cannot change the past. It is no substitute for justice, but it can help us remember.”

Resentment among Detroit’s Black population toward the city’s mostly-white police department had been simmering for years before the unrest. On July 23, 1967, it boiled over after a police raid on an illegal after-hours club about a dozen or so blocks from the Algiers.

Five days of violence would leave about three dozen Black people and 10 white people dead and more than 1,400 buildings burned. More than 7,000 people were arrested.

Lee Forsythe was one of the young men inside the Algiers’ Manor House when police raided it.

“I saw my best friend die,” Forsythe said Friday of Cooper. “I heard him take his last breath.”

Forsythe said he was beaten about his head and needed stitches. He said the officers who beat him worked for the Detroit Police Department.

“They asked me what did I see, and put us on the wall,” he said. “And then they hit me on the back of the head, but then they told me ‘you better not fall.’ Fear can make you do a lot of things. Instead of falling, I dug my nails into a wall to keep myself from falling and dying. I was scared.”

The riot helped to hasten the flight of whites from the city to the suburbs. Detroit had about 1.8 million people in the 1950s. It was the nation’s fourth-biggest city in terms of population in 1960. A half-century later, about 713,000 people lived in Detroit.

The plummeting population devastated Detroit’s tax base. Many businesses also fled the city, following the white and Black middle class to more affluent suburban communities to the north, east and west.

Deep in long-term debt and with annual multimillion-dollar budget deficits, the city fell under state financial control. A state-installed manager took Detroit into the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history in 2013. Detroit exited bankruptcy at the end of 2014.

Today, the city’s population stands at about 633,000, according to the U.S. Census.

Mayor Mike Duggan called the marker’s dedication long overdue. Duggan said Friday that while the city has a history of innovation “we also have a history of discrimination and racial injustice and tragedy.”

The Algiers, which was torn down in the late 1970s and is now a park, has been featured in documentaries about the Detroit riot. The 2017 film “Detroit” chronicled the 1967 riot and focused on the Algiers Motel incident.

“While we will acknowledge the history of the site, our main focus will be to honor and remember the victims and acknowledge the harms done to them,” McGuire said. “The past is unchangeable. But by telling the truth about history — even hard truths — we can help forge a future where this kind of violence is not repeated.”