Sam Long and Ronit Pinto, founders of Honeysuckle Magazine, are at the center of a controversy following allegations of assault that surfaced yesterday. Witnesses reported that Long and Pinto were involved in violent altercations with multiple individuals, including breaking one victim’s phone during the incident.
Honeysuckle Magazine, known for its features on affluent white individuals profiting from the burgeoning cannabis industry, has not yet issued a public statement. However, shortly after the incident, the founders’ social media accounts were mysteriously deleted, raising further questions about their response to the allegations.
🚨 IDENTIFIED: Sam Long is founder of Honeysuckle Magazine. He assaulted two women in NYC pic.twitter.com/xI8781CMZ4
The Travel Agency: A Cannabis Store, which has had previous affiliations with Honeysuckle Magazine, issued a strong condemnation of the actions of Long and Pinto. In a statement released today, the company declared:
“The Travel Agency is appalled to witness the recent violence involving the Founders of Honeysuckle Magazine. In accordance with our zero tolerance policy for violence, and our commitment to creating a safe and inclusive community for our staff and customers, we have made the decision to immediately sever all ties with Honeysuckle Magazine and the individuals involved in this abhorrent occurrence.”
Authorities have not yet confirmed any charges against Long and Pinto, but investigations are reportedly underway.
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Since the late 1800s, African Americans have celebrated Juneteenth, a commemoration of June 19, 1865, when enslaved African Americans in Texas received word of their freedom – two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, an executive order declaring the end of slavery.
Now that Juneteenth is a federal holiday, families across the country have more time to reflect and celebrate together. Reading a good book is one of the best ways to learn more about the history of Juneteenth and honor the significance of the day. From children’s books to historical fiction, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite books that should be on your required reading list this Juneteenth.
WASHINGTON (AP) — It was the middle of the night in the summer of 2021 when I — Darren Sands — finally found the missing piece of my family history.
My great-great-great-great grandfather Hewlett Sands, born into slavery in Oyster Bay, New York in 1820, was one of the more than 200,000 names listed on the African American Civil War Memorial in Washington, D.C. That meant he was a soldier who served in a United States Colored Troops regiment that fought for the Union – and the freedom we still celebrate today.
As the screen glowed, a mix of emotions — anxiety, elation, pride — washed over me. It was the first step in understanding the story of his life. I want to share what I know about him!
I had to resist the urge to race to the Spirit of Freedom statue and trace my fingers over his name etched on the nearby Wall of Honor. I held off until the sun came up.
This Juneteenth I returned to the memorial to honor him and all who served our country, one that spent its first two centuries seeing most of its Black people as someone else’s property. In a special ceremony Wednesday, I was helping carry on the more than 150-year-old commemoration of enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, finding out on June 19, 1865, that they’d been freed. It’s been a longtime sacred celebration for many Black Americans, but only recently was recognized as a federal holiday.
Associated Press reporter Darren Sands, right, reads the names of United States Colored Troops regimental soldiers, including his great-great-great-great grandfather Hewlett Sands, at the African American Civil War Memorial as part of Juneteenth commemorations on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) –
I didn’t go just for myself or my family. I also wanted to celebrate Frank Smith, a civil rights leader and the memorial’s director, whose work preserving this lesser-known American history helped me understand where I came from and who I was.
One of Smith’s biggest wishes is for the National Parks Service to assign a full-time ranger to the memorial site. If there was ever a candidate, it would be Marquett Awa-Milton. I first met him when I came to find my ancestor’s name. He serves the memorial daily in full Civil War regalia, and was taking selfies and gladhanding visitors with his rifle sticking above his head as I arrived.
Soon, the ceremony began. Smith, who once presided over this event with just his staff and very little fanfare, opened the ceremony by welcoming about 150 people, many tucked under the shade as temperatures rose. Smith then asked me and two-dozen other volunteers to read the names of soldiers who were in Galveston when the war ended, including the 26th Regiment. After I read Hewlett Sands’ name aloud, I took my wife, Jummy, by the hand and showed her the tiny corner of the memorial symbolizing his sacrifice. I felt again the same mix of pride and gratitude I first felt in the summer of 2021.
“Congratulations on finding your ancestor,” Smith had told me again last week, as he had after he first told me in 2021 after I found my connection to Hewlett Sands. I think it is what he says to everyone who finds their ancestor on the wall, a thank you for all those men who sacrificed.
I learned about Hewlett Sands while researching my family’s history, hoping to interweave it into a book I’m writing about Coretta Scott King’s work to try and transform America into a nonviolent society after the assassination of her husband, Martin Luther King Jr. in April 1968.
Over the many decades since the Civil War, there was a lot of displacement among my ancestors; people moved away and never came back and a lot of our family stories were lost.
But I do know that the Sands men served valiantly in World War II. There was a newspaper headline about “The Sands Family Fights” with a photograph of several of them. We knew a lot more about World War II than the Civil War.
According to the records I found, Hewlett Sands was born on Nov. 29, 1820, in the home of the Townsend family, a wealthy and powerful family on Long Island who held many enslaved people before New York abolished slavery in 1827.
It’s not clear to me how he spent much of his life between 1820 and 1852. He apparently worked as a farm laborer, and even as a clam digger. When he was 32, he met and married a young widow named Anne Amelia Payne, who took Sands as her last name.
In April 1861, Confederates fired on Fort Sumter in South Carolina, igniting the Civil War.
In January 1864, Hewlett Sands would collect a $300 bounty and join the 26th United States Colored Troops infantry regiment, which prepared for war along with thousands of other soldiers on Riker’s Island. His enlistment papers say he was 42, but in fact he was about to turn 44.
According to military records, his regiment — after enduring rugged conditions in camp — boarded a ship named Warrior in March 1864 bound for South Carolina, where they fought in the battle at Honey Hill and other engagements.
Associated Press reporter Darren Sands points to the name of his great-great-great-great grandfather Hewlett Sands listed with the names of other United States Colored Troops soldiers on the African American Civil War Memorial during Juneteenth commemorations on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) –
Life after the war for Hewlett Sands was defined by a series of economic hardships. He fell and lost vision in one eye; and he lost an inheritance he intended to pass down to his family through the generations. He died on April 8, 1901, at the age of 81.
But his and Amelia’s son, James Edward Sands, got married and had two children, one of whom was Alfred Sands. Among Alfred’s children was my grandfather Alonzo, who served with his brothers in World War II. In June 1960, Alonzo and Catherine Sands gave birth to a boy, Lonnie, who is my dad.
Like Hewlett Sands, I grew up in Long Island, in the town of Roslyn, where I developed a love for reading. I first read about the life of Martin Luther King at the Bryant Library, and by age 11 was giving speeches about him and his impact on my life. It was in Roslyn, as a boy, that I decided I wanted to be a journalist, after a compassionate Newsday reporter visited to get our family’s side of the story in an article about a neighborhood controversy.
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Now, working on this Juneteenth story as a journalist, I feel it’s part of my mission to educate and inform people about all this. And to be able to share it with my dad, my mom — all of my family.
I have a very strong sense of connection to the idea Hewlett Sands risked his life for not just his family, but for a higher ideal. I think all those men shared a sense of doing something that was going to impact generations that they would never meet.
No one living had ever seen Hewlett’s grave, and I went just the other day. On a cloudless day, my dad and I discovered his tombstone, inscribed Co. D 26th U.S. INF. Somehow, we felt a little closer to him, and a little closer to each other.
Three rookies are making serious noise in the race for Rookie of the Year honors, putting on impressive performances in June.
Aaliyah Edwards Makes Her Case
UConn alumna Aaliyah Edwards has forced her way into the Rookie of the Year conversation with a dominant June. Averaging a double-double (12.1 points, 9.4 rebounds) when playing at least 25 minutes, Edwards sits fourth in scoring among rookies and leads the pack in both rebounds and blocks per game (1.6) in that timeframe. Her defensive prowess is further highlighted by her ranking as the league’s third-best rookie defender.
Cardoso Overcomes Early Struggles
South Carolina’s Kamilla Cardoso battled back from injuries that sidelined her for the season’s first six games. Since her return, she’s averaged a solid 8.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in limited minutes (22.3 per game). Even more impressive is her recent surge, averaging a double-double (11.3 points, 7.0 rebounds) over the last four games, including her first career feat in the category against the Indiana Fever.
Jackson: A Scoring Machine
Another strong contender for Rookie of the Year is Rickea Jackson. As predicted in her player spotlight, Jackson has proven to be a scoring machine, averaging 10.3 points per game despite playing just 23 minutes. June saw her take her game to new heights, averaging 13.6 points and 5.2 rebounds when playing over 25 minutes. Notably, she’s the only rookie averaging over 10 points while shooting over 45% from the field. With increased playing time, her well-rounded skillset could see her stats rise across the board, solidifying her position as a top-tier scorer and potential Rookie of the Year.
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The Los Angeles Sparks’ season has taken a tough turn after rookie forward Cameron Brink was diagnosed with a torn ACL in her left knee during Tuesday’s game against the Connecticut Sun. Brink exited the game after just four minutes of play and was officially ruled out at halftime. The injury is a significant blow for both the Sparks and the WNBA.
For the Sparks, currently struggling at 4-11, losing Brink creates a significant hole, particularly on defense. The young forward was a defensive force, ranking third in the league with an impressive 2.3 blocks per game. Her rim protection and defensive presence will be sorely missed by a team in need of wins.
The WNBA also loses a rising star with Brink’s injury. Drafted second overall by the Sparks, Brink was part of a highly touted 2024 draft class that has helped fuel a surge in popularity for the league. Despite her short time on the court, Brink’s talent was undeniable.
While not excelling at any one offensive skill, she showcased a well-rounded skillset that had opposing defenses on their toes. She averaged a respectable 7.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game. But it was her defensive impact that truly stood out. Averaging 1.1 steals per game to complement her impressive block numbers, Brink displayed a high defensive IQ and a relentless motor.
Brink’s offensive versatility was another intriguing aspect of her game. Though not a lights-out shooter (32.3% from three), she possessed enough offensive tools to keep defenses honest. Her 20.0 percent usage rate, despite the limited sample size, hinted at a player who could create problems for opponents within the flow of the offense.
One area for improvement identified for Brink was her foul trouble. Her aggressive defensive style sometimes led to fouls, averaging 4.0 per game. However, this was seen as a coachable aspect of her game, and the potential rewards on the defensive end far outweighed the risks.
Brink’s injury is a setback, but the glimpses of her talent suggest a bright future. Once healthy, she has the potential to be not only a leader for the Sparks but also one of the faces of the WNBA. Her well-rounded skillset, defensive prowess, and high basketball IQ make her a player to watch for years to come. The road to recovery will be long, but Brink’s determination and work ethic should see her back on the court, ready to dominate, sooner rather than later.
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PARIS (AP) — In the run-up to the Paris Olympics, Louis Vuitton celebrated the beauty of humans and their skin in a star-studded menswear showcase at the headquarters of the U.N. cultural agency UNESCO in Paris. Models wearing garb in all the hues of human flesh paraded around a giant globe on grass patterned in Vuitton’s signature Damier check, creating a visual symphony of diversity.
Here are some highlights of spring 2025 shows:
Vuitton’s human
“It was an homage to human beings,” said menswear designer Pharrell Williams, who name-checked the Summer Olympics, for a show that felt like a journey across continents against a backdrop of the Eiffel Tower and a giant shell globe. “It went from black to dark brown to brown to light brown to beige, a little bit of gray … and then finally to white,” the singer-turned-couturier said of the spring display.
The spectacular collection prominently featured checks in shades of green, blue and black, drawing inspiration from the designs of Air Afrique luggage. This airline, which operated from the 1960s and for decades, has become a symbol of diasporic creativity, according to Vuitton. With contributions from creatives like Lamine Diaoune and Djiby Kebe, Williams infused the collection with a sense of global unity.
Creative director Pharrell Williams, center, accepts applause following the Louis Vuitton Spring Summer 2025 collection, that was presented in Paris, Tuesday, June 18, 2024. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP) –
Inspired by the U.N. cultural headquarters populated with ambassadors, Williams explored various archetypes. The diplomat was featured in deep, rich tones of 1970s-inflected tailoring. The explorer appeared in sturdy yet stylish outerwear, including utility jackets and vests. The dandy, another key figure, strutted down the Damier-check grass runway in jackets and coats adorned with rhinestones and pearl embroidery.
Set against a dramatic sky, with shifting clouds and fluttering world flags, the collection’s progression of colors mirrored the diversity of the models, moving from darker to lighter tones in multicultural harmony. This theme extended to the garments, which included pixelated python skin patterns and world maps centered on Africa. A reinterpretation of the Damier pattern featured pale brown checks with multicolored accents. Soccer ball leather designs paid tribute to the world’s favorite sport.
The show blended complexity with apparent simplicity — and the richness of the diaspora.
Enamel maps were embedded in buttons, and the LV logo appeared subtly embossed on materials. Intricate details like black-on-black embroidery and crystal and pearl accents added layers of sophistication. Elsewhere, vintage-inspired designs in soft leather had oversized monogram patterns and aged leather trims.
Once again, the celebrity designer made the show almost more about the act of putting on a spectacle, rather than a showcase for clothes. This appears to be the zeitgeist. Among the stars applauding were Alicia Vikander and Michael Fassbender.
Speaking about the tumult of the world currently, and the prevalence of the world’s flags around the U.N. building representing some nations at loggerheads or worse, Pharrell said that he would “never dare to think (this show) could be a reason for people to come together. But to present that notion (of peace) and to present the possibility in a poetic way, is the only thing that we can do.’”
Saunders thespian melting pot
Bianca Saunders’ models trod the broads for a spring collection Wednesday that riffed on the boho thespian — all upon an old-school bricked runway.
This latest collection by the British-Jamaican designer, known for her digital-first approach and inclusive designs, showcased her signature blend of minimalism and cultural references.
Pantomime-style boots in soft leather and plimsoll-style shoes fused with unexpected, haphazard touches and flashes of eye-popping blue created a melting pot feel. It was like a theater casting director had opened a chic dressing-up box. These elements highlighted Saunders’ ability to mix tradition with modernity, a theme she consistently explores.
Models wear creations as part of the Louis Vuitton Spring Summer 2025 collection, that was presented in Paris, Tuesday, June 18, 2024. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP) –
A blue mesh onesie and cap added an urban touch while playing on the theatricality present throughout the collection. Similarly, a satin blue foulard T-shirt shimmered beautifully with its generous proportions, emphasizing Saunders’ knack for innovative use of textures and fabrics.
Netted bobble hats were a perfect archetype of the spring fare — part East London net shopping bag, part Old Master artist. This clever use of materials and accessories is a testament to Saunders’ commitment to sustainability, often utilizing deadstock fabrics from platforms like Nona Source and materials from Positive Materials and Isko.
At times, Saunders seemed to align with fashion brand Loewe’s latest aesthetics, yet she maintained her distinct identity through her cultural references and innovative approach to menswear.
Reggae superstar Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley is back with a brand new single, “Wisemen,” and it’s all about the never-ending quest for true love.
Marley, a four-time GRAMMY winner, cooked up this soulful track himself. It’s his first solo release of 2024, and it’s a mid-tempo jam that gives a fresh take on relationships.
“Wisemen” dives into the real stuff – the search for love, the ups and downs, and why we keep looking even when it gets tough. Marley sings about how true love isn’t easy to find, but that doesn’t stop us from trying, right?
This theme of love’s journey isn’t new for Marley. Fans know him for songs like “Searching” from his way-back-when 1996 album ‘Mr. Marley’ and “Still Searching” from 2001’s ‘Halfway Tree’. He’s always been one to pour his heart out in his music, and “Wisemen” is no different. Tracks like the beautiful “Beautiful” with Bobby Brown (remember that one from ‘Welcome to Jamrock’?) and the heartfelt “Affairs of the Heart” are proof. “Wisemen” is sure to join those classics,adding another verse to his love story saga.
This new track follows Marley’s January release, “My Sweet Lord,” a cool reggae version of George Harrison’s song. That one got a big thumbs up from Olivia Harrison and the George Harrison Estate, no less! Both “My Sweet Lord” and “Wisemen” are out on Ghetto Youth International (GYI), the record label Marley runs with his brothers Stephen and Julian.
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Everyone knows there’s no such thing as running into Target for a few things. Even when you have the best intentions of sticking to your list, the force inside that red and white multiverse pulls you down other aisles you weren’t planning to shop.
But lately, I’ve been justifying my impulse buys by supporting the amazing Black-owned brands featured in the store and on the website. And with Juneteenth upon us, there’s no better time to support Black business.
So on your next Target run, check out some of the things we can’t wait to get our hands on this summer. And the best part? Everything is $100 or less. Believe me when I tell you, there’s something by us for us in almost every department.
Maryland this week became the latest state to announce mass pardons for people convicted of marijuana-related crimes as the nation wrestles with how to make amends for the lives disrupted in the decadeslong war on drugs.
Under Gov. Wes Moore’s plan, more than 175,000 convictions for possession of cannabis or drug paraphernalia will be pardoned, but not permanently erased from people’s criminal records.
Here’s a look at where the U.S. stands in addressing old marijuana convictions.
A fraction of cannabis convictions have been expunged or pardoned
NORML, a group that advocates for legalized marijuana, has tallied about 2.5 million expungements and pardons for cannabis convictions in recent years.
“It’s also a drop in the bucket when you consider the reality that over the last 50 years or so, over 30 million Americans have been arrested at the state or local level for marijuana,” Paul Armentano, NORML’s deputy director, said in an interview.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore signs an executive order to issue more than 175,000 pardons for marijuana convictions on Monday, June 17, 2024 in Annapolis, Md. (AP Phopto/Brian Witte) –
Pardons forgive people for their crimes. A pardon can restore civil liberties, such as voting, serving on juries and gun ownership. Expungements go further, hiding the record of convictions entirely; that can clear the way for receiving federal college tuition assistance, qualifying for public housing and allowing parents to participate in their children’s school activities, among other benefits.
Executive branch officials such as mayors, governors and the president can offer pardons on their own, and relatively few executives have done sweeping ones like Maryland’s. They’ve done so in Massachusetts, Nevada, Oregon, Birmingham, Alabama; and Kansas City, Missouri.
President Joe Biden has ordered multiple rounds of pardons for those convicted of possession on federal lands or in the District of Columbia. It’s not clear exactly how many people are covered. For proof they’ve been pardoned, people have to apply for a certificate; as of this month, only a little over 200 covered by Biden’s pardon had done so.
It takes a court — often at the direction of a law — to order expungements, though Oregon provides those along with pardons, and the Maryland approach makes it easier to obtain an expungement.
Clearing crimes is rooted in legalizing marijuana
Marijuana laws have changed vastly since the late 1990s when states began allowing medical marijuana, something most states have since done. Twenty-four states have legalized recreational use for adults, 26 have decriminalized it and the U.S. Justice Department this year moved to reclassify it as a less dangerous drug, a move that gives hope to advocates in the remaining 12 states that it could be legalized there, too.
When Colorado and Washington became the first states to legalize marijuana in 2012, it raised an issue: Is it OK for people convicted in the past of something that’s legal now to continue to suffer consequences?
Increasingly, voters and lawmakers have been saying no. Most states that have legalized the drug recently have had as part of that policy a way to clear convictions for past use. An expungement-by-application provision was included when Maryland’s voters approved legalizing marijuana in a 2022 ballot measure.
But often those provisions require people with convictions to petition to have their records expunged, a process that can take time and require the help of a lawyer.
Policies like Maryland’s can address racial disparities
Advocates say that granting pardons or expungements in one swoop, as Maryland did, is a way to address long-standing racial disparities.
A major toll of the nation’s drug policies is that Black people have suffered more direct consequences than white people, even though studies have found they use marijuana at similar rates.
An ACLU analysis of federal crime data found that Black people were more than three times as likely as white people to be charged with marijuana possession in 2018. There were disparities in every state.
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Automatic pardons and expungements cover everyone who qualifies and don’t introduce more chances for disparities.
A 2020 study by University of Michigan Law School professors found that less than 7% of the people eligible for expungement there were granted it. Most didn’t apply.
“Under the old petition model, you needed a lot of resources to get an expungement,” said Adrian Rocha, policy manager at Last Prisoner Project, which, like other advocacy groups, is pushing for large-scale pardon and expungement policies.
“The blanket pardons for whole categories of activities that were previously criminalized — they do help Black and brown communities and help address the impacts that all communities have faced,” said Cat Packer, director of drug markets and legal regulation at Drug Policy Alliance.
