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Political experts and fans alike believe, Democratic Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani emerged victorious from his first NYC mayoral debate on Oct. 16. Facing off against former Governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican politician Curtis Sliwa, Zohran Mamdani appeared confident and composed as he tackled a wide range of issues, from policing New York City and addressing the mental health crisis to unveiling an ambitious plan to tax the wealthy to make the city more affordable for millions. “Well, really, what happened is you had Zohran Mamdani going into this as the clear frontrunner in nearly every poll that we have seen since his upset Democratic primary win back in June. And quite frankly, he left this debate as the clear frontrunner,” said Nick Reisman, a political reporter with Politico, during an interview with CBS News on Oct. 17. “Mamdani did not have really any major mistakes that he made,” Reisman continued. “Andrew Cuomo tried to trip him up on a few key issues that have been really kind of difficult for Mamdani during this campaign, like Israel and public safety, and Mamdani, for the most part, was able to parry a lot of those attacks, and he got through on his message about affordability and the cost of living.”   Zohran Mamdani On Israel And Hamas The NYC mayoral debate began with Mamdani addressing his position on the conflict between Israel and Hamas and responding to questions about the recent ceasefire agreement. Earlier in his campaign, Mamdani had said he didn’t hold “opinions about the future of Hamas and Israel beyond the question of justice and safety,” but on Thursday night, the 33-year-old made his position clear. “Of course, I believe that they should lay down their arms. I’m proud to be one of the first elected officials in the state who called for a ceasefire,” he told the moderators. “Calling for a ceasefire means seizing fire. That means all parties have to cease fire and put down their weapons. And the reason that we call for that is not only for the end of the genocide, but also an unimpeded access of humanitarian aid. I, like many New Yorkers, am hopeful that this ceasefire will hold.” On Policing And Mental Health When it came to tackling the issue of policing in NYC and the city’s mental health crisis, Mamdani stressed that he does not support defunding the NYPD, but instead advocates for reforming the system by implementing a multi-layered response model for mental health crises. He referenced the approach taken in Eugene, Oregon, where mental health professionals are dispatched alongside police during certain emergency calls. Under his plan, operators would be specially trained to assess crises and involve law enforcement only when necessary. He also made it clear that he would oppose any use of the National Guard in NYC for public safety purposes, contrasting his stance with what’s being done in cities like Chicago and Los Angeles by the Trump administration. “We do not need the National Guard here in New York City. We do not need them for the purpose of safety, because if it was safety that President Trump was so concerned about, he would send them to the eight out of 10 states that have the highest levels of crime in this country, but he won’t, because they’re all run by Republicans,” Mamdani said. “What New Yorkers need is a mayor who can stand up to Donald Trump and actually deliver on that safety. When Donald Trump sent ICE agents on people in Los Angeles, Andrew Cuomo said that New Yorkers need not overreact. That is the furthest answer that New Yorkers are looking for. They are looking for someone who will lead.” On How He Plans To Fund His Vision For The City Mamdani’s platform includes approximately $10 billion in proposed new spending, which he says will be funded through increased taxes on the wealthy and large corporations. Despite Governor Kathy Hochul’s stance against raising income taxes on millionaires, Mamdani remained firm on his plan during the NYC mayoral debate. “A lot of people have called even my campaign a non-starter when we first began, and now I stand before you proud to be the Democratic nominee who got the most votes in city primary history. And I believe we will see the same thing with our push to ensure that we are taxing the wealthiest and the most profitable corporations the fair amount that they should pay,” he said with conviction. The Democrat added, “Now there are those who will say that, because it will be hard, you should give up. We saw what giving up looked like when Andrew Cuomo was the governor. He gave up on fighting for working-class New Yorkers and instead caved in to his billionaire donors.” On Making New York City Affordable Again Mamdani outlined several ways to ease the cost of living in the city, with proposals like free and faster bus service, universal childcare, and freezing rents, all while increasing revenue through tax reforms and budget efficiency. “Look, I’ve said very clearly, making buses fast and free costs about $700 million a year. Making universal child care a reality costs about $5 or $6 billion a year. If you raise the state’s top corporate tax rate to match that of New Jersey, you’ll be raising $5 billion in of itself,” he explained. “We have also put forward a plan to save money here in New York City with a billion dollars in savings through procurement reform, through following the independent Budget Office’s assessment about hiring more fiscal auditors, and an action to collect the fines and fees from bad landlords,” he continued. “Freezing the rent doesn’t require any fiscal infusion, so that will be something we’ll be pursuing immediately. And universal childcare—after housing—is the second cost. Childcare is the second cost pushing New Yorkers out of this city, twenty and a half thousand dollars a year is the estimate we’ve seen. That will be a priority.” Social

Kim Kardashian is pulling back the curtain on her “toxic” marriage and kurrent ko-parenting life with her ex-husband, Ye, and she’s not sugarcoating a thing. In a candid sit-down on the Call Her Daddy podcast, Kimmy Kakes got real about the highs, lows, and hard lessons learned while raising four children with the rap mogul. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Kim opened up about the early days of her relationship with Ye, describing him as “larger than life,” before admitting that his first public mental health struggles were a turning point for their marriage. The pair first tied the knot in 2014, had four kids, and finalized their divorce in 2022, but co-parenting after such a public split hasn’t been easy, according to the SKIMS founder. “I mean, I raise the kids full-time. They live with me,” Kim shared, explaining that while she encourages a healthy relationship between Ye and their children, things haven’t been smooth. “It’s probably been a couple months since we’ve heard from him.” In the Call Her Daddy interview, Kim added that the kids have grown used to their father’s fast-paced, globe-trotting lifestyle, noting: “They always knew that he had a big life traveling before and was always on tour and all of that…and that he lives in different countries all the time.” Still, Kardashian said she’s worked hard to protect her kids’ peace. “Every time he has asked, I will always let them see their father,” she emphasized. “I just grew up seeing my family co-parent so great…I welcome healthy relationships, but it’s not easy.” When asked how she deals with public narratives, often started by Ye, that accuse her of keeping the kids away, Kim didn’t hold back: “It’s not a kidnapping, it’s a divorce,” she said. Despite the rollercoaster, Kim made it clear she has no regrets about her decade-long relationship with Ye. Co-parenting is just another chapter in the Kardashian-West saga; Kim also discussed divorcing the rapper after their marriage turned “toxic.” Kim Kardashian Details Ending “Toxic” Ye Marriage When asked about a breaking point in her marriage, Kim cited Kanye’s erratic behavior and financial decisions, as well as his kopious komments about her mom and sisters. “Just not feeling safe, you know, not even physically, just like maybe emotionally or even, you know, financially,” she said on Call Her Daddy. “I would like come home, and we had like five Lamborghinis and I’d come home and they’d all be gone if he was in an episode. And I’d be like, ‘Oh, wait. Where’s all our cars? Like, my new car?’ And it would be like, oh, he gave them away to all of his friends.” She also noted that Ye’s mental health struggles were affecting her ability to parent their children; North, 12, Saint, 9, Chicago, 7, and Psalm, 6. “Once my mental health starts to get affected and then I can’t parent the way that I need to and I can’t be present and focused, then there’s gotta be one of us that can,” she said. “And I had to save myself in order to be a better mom for everyone. And I think, like, when everyone’s older, they’ll be able to understand it and see that all.” What do YOU think about Kimmy Kakes’ kandid komments? Check out the full episode of Call Her Daddy with Kim Kardashian below. RELATED: Real Life Angel: Baller Babe Angel Reese Makes Her Catwalk Debut At The 2025 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, Stunner’s Gorgeous Gams Garner Rave Reviews The post Kimmy Kakes Kandidly Komments On The Breaking Point In Her ‘Toxic’ Ye Marriage—’I Had To Save Myself’ appeared first on Bossip.

Whether she’s on the court or on the catwalk, Angel Reese is always the star of the show. The Chicago Sky star made her way down the runway for the very first time on Wednesday, October 15, wearing two all-pink ensembles as she got her Victoria’s Secret Angel wings. For her first look, Reese walked like a pro in a coordinating white bra, garter, and panties set, completely embellished with pink flowers. She also had a pink shawl draped over her arms, which was covered in even more flowers to complete the look. For her second ensemble, the WNBA star rocked a simpler set, making her bombshell silver-and-white wings the star of the show. She wore a pink tee with a cheeky cut-out around her chest and a slit above her waist. The slits unveiled a matching pink bra and underwear, completing the look with strappy silver sandals and an undeniable mug. A week before stepping on the iconic stage, Reese opened up about her feelings leading up to the big moment, telling PEOPLE: “I’m ready to swap my Angel Reese 1s for heels on Wednesday night!” She also recalled her reaction to when she first got the news that she would be a Victoria’s Secret Angel, admitting, “I literally could not stop smiling!” “It’s such a surreal and full-circle moment — just last year I was in the audience manifesting being on that runway, completely inspired and in awe of all the powerful women walking down the runway, and now I get to return as an Angel,” she continued. “This will be an unforgettable night that I’ll forever be grateful for.” Reese went on to say that she was “so proud and excited” to become the first professional athlete to participate in the show. Another star who made their debut at last night’s show was Missy Elliott, who took to the runway to perform a medley of her songs, including the smash hit, “Work It.” She rocked an all-black, sparkly look for the occasion, contrasting all of the pink and white on the catwalk. Law Roach and Jodie Turner-Smith were also in attendance, sitting front row to watch Missy’s performance. The actress looked absolutely stunning in an ethereal white ensemble and clean girl glam, all tied up in a bow with a slick-back ponytail. The first model to take the runway was pregnant Jasmine Tookes, who looked absolutely ethereal in a netted dress and Victoria’s Secret’s wings made to look like a seashell. The star, who is pregnant with her second child, a boy, with her husband, Juan David Borrero, showed off all her curves while strutting down the runway, making her growing baby bump the star of the show. Former WNBA player Kysre Gondrezick has been embracing other opportunities since her departure from the Chicago Sky, walking the red carpet wearing vintage Mugler. The baller was there to show her support for fellow athletes Suni Lee and, of course, her former teammate Angel Reese. Another beauty who walked the iconic stage was model Anok Yai, who likened her preparation for the show to how an athlete trains. “I’ve been getting my ass handed to me seven days a week by my trainer,” she said in an Oct. 14 Instagram post. “I’m getting my back muscles ready for the wings. I’m passing my walk, and my ass is going to be nice and round.” Precious Lee also made her Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show debut, wearing a lacy pink set with black accents, complete with a fluffy, showgirl-esque headpiece. To see more looks, watch the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, in full, down below: Source: @angelreese 5 The post Real Life Angel: Baller Babe Angel Reese Makes Her Catwalk Debut At The 2025 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, Stunner’s Gorgeous Gams Garner Rave Reviews appeared first on Bossip.

Source: Alexis Reed / Alexis Reed The Waiting and the Weight of Uncertainty Weeks have passed since the death of De’Martravion “Trey” Reed, and still, there is no definitive verdict. The public waits for answers: the release of the second autopsy, official statements from authorities, and words that might bring comfort to a grieving family. In the absence of clarity, rumors, mistrust, and speculation have filled the void. Online conversations, often driven by grief and outrage, have turned into a whirlwind of misinformation that adds pain to those already mourning. A History That Shapes Our Doubt For many Black Americans, disbelief in the face of a reported suicide by hanging is not mere suspicion—it’s a historical reflex born of centuries of racial violence. During the lynching era, it was not uncommon for the deaths of Black men to be ruled as suicides to cover up murders committed by white mobs or law enforcement. The Civil Rights and Restorative Justice Project at Northeastern University has documented dozens of such cases between 1930 and 1956. This collective memory lingers. When Trey Reed’s death was announced as a “suicide,” it resonated with a painful pattern—one that reminds us how often Black death has been misrepresented, minimized, or dismissed. The Modern Spectacle of Grief and Rumor In 2025, the public square has moved from courthouse steps to social media feeds. Unverified details, viral posts, and sensational headlines spread rapidly. Claims of “broken bones,” “foul play,” or “cover-ups” circulate before facts are confirmed. This digital rumor mill, while fueled by legitimate pain and distrust, often overshadows the victim and the family’s humanity. The story becomes a spectacle—one that extracts grief for clicks and shares, rather than centering compassion and truth. If Foul Play Is Found—Justice Must Follow Should the second autopsy confirm evidence inconsistent with suicide—signs of trauma, struggle, or manipulation—the call for justice must be loud and sustained. Accountability would need to reach beyond individuals to include institutions: law enforcement, campus security, and the media. Who shaped the initial narrative? Who withheld evidence or delayed transparency? These questions demand answers, not for the sake of outrage, but for truth and reform. If Suicide Is Confirmed—We Must Confront the Stigma If the autopsy confirms that Trey Reed took his own life, that truth carries its own urgent call. It would require a collective reckoning with the realities of mental health in Black communities. For too long, discussions of depression, trauma, and suicide among Black men have been shrouded in silence and stigma. Accepting the possibility of suicide does not diminish the tragedy—it expands it. It challenges us to confront despair, alienation, and the systemic pressures that weigh heavily on young Black lives. Rejecting Silence and Spectacle Alike Regardless of the final report, one thing must remain central: Trey Reed was a son, a student, and a human being. His life deserves dignity beyond rumor or sensationalism. As a society, we must resist both erasure and exploitation—the twin dangers of silence and spectacle. Whether this tragedy stems from violence or internal pain, the path forward demands transparency, empathy, and care. Let Grief Lead, Not Speculation When the full truth of Trey Reed’s death emerges, may it be met with mourning before judgment. Let the rumors end, the lies fall away, and the healing begin. Grief, when acknowledged and shared with honesty, can be the starting point of justice. Before we frame explanations or assign blame, we must first recognize the humanity that was lost—and the community that continues to ache for truth. By Dr. Stacey PattonAward-winning journalist and author of “Spare The Kids: Why Whupping Children Won’t Save Black America” and the forthcoming “Strung Up: The Lynching of Black Children in Jim Crow America.” SEE ALSO: When Humbling Black Women Is A Political Game Black Unemployment Is Not An Accident, It Is A Racial Purge

Nicki Minaj is setting the record straight after reports claimed that her Los Angeles mansion was at risk of being sold over an unpaid debt. The “Super Bass” rapper fired back at the allegations — and took aim at Roc Nation once again. Reports Claim Nicki Minaj’s Home Is in Jeopardy On October 14, Us Weekly reported that Nicki Minaj and her husband, Kenneth Petty, were allegedly facing the possible sale of their Los Angeles mansion due to an unpaid legal debt. The situation stems from a lawsuit filed by Thomas Weidenmuller, who was reportedly awarded $503,000 earlier this month after alleging that Petty assaulted him during a 2019 concert. According to court documents, Weidenmuller asked the court to order Minaj’s home to be sold to collect the money owed. The 2019 Incident That Sparked the Lawsuit Weidenmuller’s lawsuit claims that the incident occurred on March 22, 2019, while he was working security at one of Nicki’s shows. He alleges that a fan broke through the barricade and reached the stage, leading to a heated exchange between Minaj and a female guard. When Weidenmuller tried to calm the situation, Nicki allegedly became upset and informed Petty about the incident. The lawsuit claims that Petty later summoned Weidenmuller to Minaj’s dressing room, where Petty allegedly struck him “without warning,” causing severe facial injuries that required jaw surgery. Weidenmuller’s attorney said, “Although it is regrettable that the extraordinary measure of forcing the sale of Minaj’s dwelling is required, that result is entirely the product of her intransigence in not making payment.” He added that Minaj’s estimated net worth of $150–190 million makes her “highly capable” of paying the judgment. Nicki Minaj Fires Back: “Roc Nation’s Behind This” Following the reports, Nicki Minaj took to TikTok and X (formerly Twitter) to respond — and once again accused Roc Nation and its CEO Desiree Perez of being behind a smear campaign. On TikTok, she posted a screenshot of Page Six’s coverage with a bold caption directed at Perez: “DESIREE PEREZ YOU GOT BIGGER FISH TO FRY BOOKIE. Conspiracy. False imprisonment. Civil rights violation. Oh cock nation y’all suck.” She continued her rant, claiming media outlets like Us Weekly and Page Six were “on Roc Nation’s payroll.” Later on X, Minaj tweeted: “Dear US WEEKLY & PAGE 6, you just f**ked yourselves.” Fans Rally Behind Nicki Minaj Minaj retweeted fans defending her, including one who wrote: “I will NEVER trust a newspaper or blog who allows fabricated stories just because they’re on someone’s payroll.” She continued firing off posts criticizing Desiree Perez and Jay-Z, and later shocked fans by saying she’s done with music: “Ok I’m not going to put out the album anymore. No more music. Hope you’re happy now. Bye Barbz. Love you for life.” Nicki Minaj Denies Being Served in the Lawsuit In her final posts, Nicki Minaj claimed she was never personally served with court papers and blamed a former business manager for the confusion. “The papers were given to a business manager who never told me,” she wrote. “That same business manager STOLE from me many times… then was accused of killing a woman and leaving her in a hotel room.” Minaj added that she has “evidence” to back up her claim and suggested that misinformation has fueled the controversy. Final Thoughts While the legal case continues, Nicki Minaj is adamant that the reports are false and that her home is not in jeopardy. The rapper’s latest outburst reignites her long-standing feud with Roc Nation, proving once again that she’s not afraid to call out her industry rivals.

For months, we’ve been flooded with stories about the sudden rise in Black unemployment. Nearly every one of them, from Politico to Axios to Time Magazine to MSNBC News, has focused on Black women. We’ve seen the same template: sympathetic portraits of college-educated women juggling multiple jobs, stuck in low-wage positions, or pushed out of professional spaces they helped build. Each piece comes wrapped in the same language of concern with phrases like “economic headwinds,” “policy shifts,” and “labor market cooling.” But beneath that polite vocabulary lies a truth most of these outlets refuse to say out loud: what’s happening to Black workers isn’t a downturn, it’s a pattern hiding in plain sight and a deliberate racial targeting. The latest example came from the New York Times in a piece titled Black Unemployment Is Surging Again. This Time Is Different. The article, published over the weekend, walks readers through a familiar scene featuring a young Black woman with a degree and drive, struggling to find a job that matches her education. Her story is framed in soft light and muted tones, a tragic inevitability rather than a predictable outcome of racist economic policy. The Times offers the usual explanations: high prices, expired subsidies, and slow hiring. But these aren’t natural forces. They’re choices. The Trump administration deliberately ended pandemic-era subsidies that had cushioned working families, froze federal hiring, and ordered federal contractors to stop pursuing racial equity. Each of those moves directly undercut the modest racial gains made during the recovery when Black wages rose, unemployment dropped to record lows, and household wealth briefly ticked upward. Now, in just four months, Black unemployment has jumped from 6% to 7.5%, while white unemployment has dipped slightly to 3.7%. That’s not an economic “imbalance.” That’s a recalibration. The Old Game with New Excuses Every time Black Americans start to inch toward economic stability, when homeownership increases, wages climb, and the wealth gap narrows, white America finds a new excuse to hit the brakes. Sometimes it’s “budget restraint.” Sometimes it’s “fiscal responsibility.” Sometimes it’s “market correction.” But the meaning never changes: Black progress must be temporary. Every economic cycle becomes a racial reset. Every recovery becomes a reminder of where we’re allowed to stand. The federal government has historically been one of the few employers where Black workers could thrive without the open discrimination of the private sector. Those jobs provided stability, pensions, and a path into the middle class. So when this administration cuts over 200,000 federal positions, it isn’t trimming fat, it’s gutting one of the few remaining ladders of upward mobility for Black families. A July “deferred-resignation” program had already nudged over 154,000 federal employees to resign under the guise of voluntary departure.  Now, overlay that with a government shutdown that is being used as legal cover to fire thousands more. The White House has begun executing substantial layoffs amidst the funding impasse, formally initiating Reduction-in-Force (RIF) procedures that target more than 4,000 federal workers so far. Many agencies like Health and Human Services, Education, Treasury, and Homeland Security are being told to identify roles deemed non-essential and purge them. It’s a multi-front assault: resignations, firings, reclassifications, freezes—in total, shrinking the federal civil service by design. Let’s keep it real, this isn’t a temporary furlough. These are job eliminations, on top of the sweeping federal purge that’s already erased hundreds of thousands of government workers from payrolls. And there’s no credible talk of restoring them. Even as Vice President Vance warned of “deeper cuts ahead,” there’s no plan on the table to rebuild. In practice, the shutdown is intensifying the racial purge. When the shuttering of government becomes the pretext for targeting Black federal workers, the very people who relied on these jobs as anchors, this is not governance. It’s racial culling. And by refusing to speak of these cuts in racial terms, the institutional press lets the purge pass as procedural. None of this is accidental. It’s economic retribution, wrapped in the language of governance. Journalism That Washes Away Intent What’s most infuriating isn’t just the policy itself.  It’s how the press covers it. The Times and other legacy outlets document the pain while protecting the perpetrators. They don’t name them.  They don’t call a thing a thing. They use neutral verbs for violent acts. Black unemployment “surged.” Wages “stagnated.” Conditions “deteriorated.” The story writes itself as if no one made these decisions and as if racism were an atmospheric condition instead of an agenda. Behind every “freeze” is a signature. Behind every “cut” is a hand. Behind every “policy shift” is an ideology that sees Black labor as expendable and Black stability as an economic threat. That’s why these stories always end the same way: a photo of a Black woman looking out a window, a quote about resilience, and no mention of rage. The coverage humanizes suffering but sanitizes the cause. But that truth doesn’t make it into the paper. Instead, we get a familiar tableau: a photo of a young Black woman, eyes soft, framed by natural light, gazing out of a window into the distance of her uncertainty. Her name becomes a headline prop, her anxiety converted into empathy content. She’s presented as a symbol of endurance, not a casualty of political violence. This is how the New York Times uses Black pain as texture, as visual proof that it cares enough to notice but not enough to indict. The story centers her struggle while erasing the system that caused it. It teaches readers to admire her perseverance while accepting her suffering as natural. The camera lingers on her posture, not her power. The quotes chosen make her sound hopeful, humble, never furious. Rage would make the story too complicated. Rage would demand accountability. And what does that do to us, the readers, the people living inside the crisis instead of reading about it? Each of these stories, dressed in sympathy but stripped of politics, becomes another drip in the slow psychological erosion of

Just hours after his father D’Angelo’s unfortunate passing was confirmed, Michael Archer II paid tribute to his dad while reflecting on losing his mother, Angie Stone, just 7 months ago. Source: Angie Stone, D’Angelo, and Michael Archer II – Michael Archer II’s own photo “I am grateful for your thoughts and prayers during these very difficult times, as it has been a very rough and sad year for me,” said Archer in a statement shared with BOSSIP. “I ask that you please continue to keep me in your thoughts as it will not be easy, but one thing that both my parents thought [sic] me was to be strong, and I intend to do just that.” As previously reported, Archer’s Neo-Soul legend dad, D’Angelo (born Michael Eugene Archer), died on Tuesday, Oct. 14, after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He was 51.   In a statement shared with BOSSIP, a representative for the D’Angelo Estate said, “The shining star of our family has dimmed his light for us in this life…After a prolonged and courageous battle with cancer, we are heartbroken to announce that Michael D’Angelo Archer, known to his fans around the world as D’Angelo, has been called home, departing this life today, October 14th, 2025.” The statement continued: “We are saddened that he can only leave dear memories with his family, but we are eternally grateful for the legacy of extraordinarily moving music he leaves behind. We ask that you respect our privacy during this difficult time but invite you all join us in mourning his passing while also celebrating the gift of song that he has left for the world.” PEOPLE magazine offered an update on D’Angelo’s passing after speaking with a source confirming that his declined in recent weeks. “He was in hospice for two weeks but had been in the hospital for months.” Angie Stone Was Killed In A Car Crash In March D’Angelo’s passing comes just months after the death of his former partner and Michael’s mother, singer Angie Stone, who tragically died earlier this year.   In March, Stone was involved in a fatal car accident following a performance in Mobile, Alabama. As previously reported, she and several others were en route to Atlanta when the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van they were traveling in reportedly lost control in Montgomery County, Alabama. Stone’s death was just one day before Michael’s birthday. BOSSIP is sending sincere thoughts and prayers to Michael Archer II.  

Religion has always played a powerful role in shaping societies. Unfortunately, it has also been used to defend injustice. One of the darkest examples in American history is how Christian slaveholders used the Bible to justify slavery. By twisting scripture, they built a false moral foundation for one of humanity’s greatest crimes. Biblical Justifications for Slavery During the 18th and 19th centuries, pro-slavery Christians repeatedly quoted certain Bible verses to defend their position. They often cited Ephesians 6:5, which reads: “Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.” Another verse used was Colossians 3:22, which reinforced similar language. These passages, taken out of context, were interpreted to mean that slavery was sanctioned by God. Even more troubling, many white preachers referenced Genesis 9:25–27, known as the “Curse of Ham.” They claimed Africans were descendants of Ham and thus destined to be servants. This distorted reading provided false moral and religious justification for racial enslavement. In reality, these interpretations ignored the broader Biblical message of love, mercy, and equality. They reduced a complex, ancient text into a tool of control and exploitation. Religion as a Tool of Control Christianity was not only a justification for slavery — it became a means to control the enslaved. Many enslaved Africans were converted to Christianity, but their exposure to scripture was heavily censored. Slaveholders promoted a version of the Gospel that emphasized obedience and submission while erasing verses about freedom and justice. For example, slave Bibles were printed with major portions of the Old and New Testaments removed — especially any stories about liberation, like the Exodus or Galatians 3:28, which says: “There is neither slave nor free, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” These omissions weren’t accidental. They were part of a deliberate effort to prevent enslaved people from finding spiritual or social empowerment through faith. By controlling what scriptures were taught, slaveholders weaponized religion to maintain power and suppress rebellion. Abolitionist Christianity and the Fight for Truth Not all Christians accepted this corrupted theology. In fact, many abolitionist leaders used the same Bible to argue for freedom and equality. Figures like Frederick Douglass, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and William Lloyd Garrison saw slavery as a direct violation of Christian morality. Douglass, who escaped from slavery, famously said there was a difference between “the Christianity of this land” and “the Christianity of Christ.” He condemned the hypocrisy of those who prayed on Sunday and whipped slaves on Monday. Abolitionist preachers pointed to scriptures that celebrated liberation and condemned oppression — from Isaiah’s call for justice to Christ’s teachings about love and mercy. Their voices helped awaken the moral conscience of the nation. The Lasting Impact on American Christianity The use of the Bible to justify slavery left deep scars on American Christianity. Churches in the South and North split over the issue, and those divisions have echoed for generations. Even today, scholars and theologians continue to examine how these distorted interpretations contributed to systemic racism and inequality within religious institutions. Understanding this painful history allows believers to confront and dismantle the lingering effects of theological racism. What We Can Learn Today The story of how Christian slaveholders used the Bible to justify slavery is more than a history lesson — it’s a warning. It shows how sacred texts can be misused when people seek to justify their own power and prejudice. True faith, rooted in love and compassion, challenges oppression rather than supports it. When read in full context, the Bible calls for justice, mercy, and equality — values that stand in direct opposition to slavery and racism. Conclusion The Bible was never meant to be a weapon of oppression. Yet, for centuries, Christian slaveholders turned it into one. By understanding this dark chapter in history, modern readers can ensure that scripture is interpreted through the lens of truth and love. Faith should unite, not divide. It should liberate, not enslave. That’s the enduring message that outlives even the darkest distortions of the past.

Soul legend and “Brown Sugar” hitmaker D’Angelo has died. He was 51. On Tuesday, Oct. 14, TMZ reported that D’Angelo (born Michael Eugene Archer) confirmed news of his death after a private battle with pancreatic cancer. DJ Premier, who collaborated with him on the 1998 track “Devil’s Pie,” shared a post via X on Oct. 14 confirming the news.”Such a sad loss to the passing of D’angelo. We have so many great times. Gonna miss you so much. Sleep Peacefully D’ Love You KING,” he wrote. The Richmond-born son of a Pentecostal minister began playing the piano at the age of 3 and by 5 years old, he was playing the instrument with his father at church. A few years later, he began playing the piano at his grandfather’s Pentecostal church. Growing up, he and his two cousins formed the group Three of a Kind and began performing at local talent shows. By 16, he formed another band called Michael Archer and Precise with his brother, Luther. That year, D’Angelo landed a slot during Amateur Night at the Apollo, where he sang “Feel the Fire” by Peabo Bryson. While he didn’t win at the time, he returned to the stage the following year to perform “Rub You the Right Way” by Johnny Gill in 1991 and took the first place. With his monetary prize, he returned to Richmond, bought a four-track recorder and started writing what would become most of the songs that made up his 1995 debut album Brown Sugar. He landed a record deal two years later. Brown Sugar peaked at No. 4 on the U.S. Billboard Top R&B Albums chart went platinum within a year of its release. It also earned D’Angleo four Grammy Award nominations. In 2000, D’Angelo released his sophomore album Voodoo, which peaked at No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Top R&B Albums chart and the U.S. Billboard 200 chart. The album also won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Album and his song “Untitled (How Does It Feel)” received Best Male R&B Vocal Performance, along with a nomination for Best R&B Song.