Funeral Video: Biz Markie is laid to rest, “Celebration of Life” attended by stars

 LONG ISLAND — Family, friends and lachrymose fans got together Monday morning to bid a final farewell to Biz Markie (né Marcel Theo Hall) who died July 16th from diabetes. He was 57. The “Just A Friend” rapper received a star-studded sepulture in his hometown of Patchogue — a village in Long Island, New York. Reverend Al Sharpton delivered the panegyric. LL Cool J, Busta Rhymes, Treach of “Naughty by Nature,” Kid Capri, Montell Jordan and Fat Joe were among the many rap confrères in attendance. Read Full Article 

Johnson & Johnson Sued For Allegedly Marketing Products That Could Cause Cancer To Black Women

Pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson is being sued on allegations of marketing talc-based baby powder to Black women knowing that the product could potentially cause ovarian cancer, the Los Angeles Times reports.

On Tuesday, The National Council of Negro Women and their legal advisors, which include prominent civil rights lawyer Ben Crump, 

filed their complaint in the Superior Court of New Jersey. The lawsuit states that the company specifically targeted Black women through “deceptive marketing,” including running advertising spots and passing out free samples of its talc-based powders at salons.

“Internal documents demonstrate J&J targeted those advertisements to Black women, knowing that Black women were more likely to use the powder products and to use them regularly,” the complaint read. “We now know what J&J knew long before it pulled its talc-based products from the market — that J&J’s powder products can cause ovarian cancer. Read Full Article

3 Ways To Support The Ingenuity Of Our Black Boys

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Black male youth do not represent a problem to solve, but rather a solution to elevate.

Often when I discuss my work as the leader of an intensive mentoring program for Black male youth, people assume that I am doing charity or working to “save” otherwise hapless young people. I would say it is quite the opposite. As the Executive Director of The Hidden Genius Project, every day I have given to this work constitutes an investment in a better future for society at large.

One key investment in the future prosperity of our economy is a thriving and empowered Black male youth population. There are myriad paths to get there, but through my work I have learned that belief is imperative. Accordingly, I offer three major lessons from my personal and professional journey to illustrate the power of belief in our Black boys and young men.

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