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  An Atlanta police vehicle sits parked outside State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. | Atlanta is often recognized as a leader in Black excellence and leadership and continues to enjoy status as a Black Mecca. But instead of keeping up the appearance of a caring community, city leaders should take action and prioritize a time-tested program that keeps our families and communities safe. Atlanta’s Policing Alternatives & Diversion Initiative (PAD) is a program that provides pre-arrest diversion services and needed resources to people in the community who are experiencing extreme poverty, substance abuse, or mental health crises. PAD plays a critical role in keeping people out of jail unnecessarily and is also a trusted asset that utilizes community-focused strategies to advance health and safety. Nearly ten years ago, before public safety became a national conversation, community leaders, legal system partners and elected officials in Atlanta built PAD as a national model for policing alternatives and diversion. Now, the initiative that received immense support and investments from the City of Atlanta is in jeopardy. As it currently stands, PAD will be forced to end its services on January 1, 2025, despite serving about 6,300 people since 2017 alone while being around for the past seven years. How does a heralded program like PAD go from being named one of seven models for nationwide law enforcement-assisted diversion to possibly closing its doors? Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens even likes to brag and take credit for such a successful program. How could it possibly be at risk? Unfortunately, we are seeing our elected leaders stray from their outlined processes and instead choose chaos. PAD followed the city’s processes, went through all the paperwork, and was awarded the contract to become the official pre-arrest diversion program serving the city of Atlanta. Instead of operating from grants and individual donors, PAD would receive budgetary funding from the City, cementing its work in the community. The terms of the multi-year contract allowed PAD to continue providing mobile response to calls received by 311 or transferred out of 911, as well as provide mobile pre-arrest diversion. Instead of receiving a simple vote from the Council to pass necessary funding for the contract, PAD faced months of delays, nearly forcing the organization to close its doors because it could not afford further operations. After calls were made by numerous civil rights organizations and community members — the city council approved month-to-month funding on October 7 that keeps PAD operating through December 31. While this wasn’t the full funding approval that was expected, it at least kept PAD’s doors open temporarily.   But the unexpected challenges, lack of transparency and disregard for process didn’t stop there. After the Atlanta City Council deviated from its own processes by delaying the vote, the Mayor’s office began a “special procurement” process – that was closed to the public – requesting a pre-arrest diversion contractor for the city of Atlanta. The Southern Center for Human Rights (SCHR) submitted an open records request to receive more information about the special procurement, and the records that SCHR received called the city’s actions further into question. The outlined scope of services in the special procurement was nearly identical to what PAD proposed in its winning bid. With nearly identical scopes, why is the special procurement process needed? Despite vague claims that the special process was necessary for the opening of the new Center for Diversion and Services in late October, the truth is that the center’s opening was already contemplated in PAD’s original proposal and award from the city. In fact, PAD was always expected to work in step with the new diversion center. It seems the city is, once again, skirting its own processes and choosing chaos over community. Processes aside, let’s talk dollars and cents. The per day cost of housing someone in Fulton County custody is somewhere between $78 and $97. If someone spends 10 days in custody for an otherwise divertible offense, the cost is then between $780 and $970 to the taxpayers. Not to mention spending 10 days in jail is likely to cause other ripple effects, which include loss of employment and, consequently, loss of stable housing. In our 2022 report, “There are Better Solutions,” the ACLU of Georgia analyzed the population of the Fulton County Jail and provided various recommendations to alleviate overcrowding, systemic burdens, and personal upheaval. PAD was a large part of the recommendations offered to the City of Atlanta, and it remains relevant two years later. With so much uncertainty looming nationally, local officials in Atlanta have the opportunity to do what is right for the safety and well-being of their residents. The deplorable conditions of the Fulton County Jail are no secret. Just last week, the United States Department of Justice released a report finding that the jail’s conditions are unconstitutional and illegal. It is also no secret that as much as 30 percent of bookings in Atlanta jails are for crimes associated with homelessness and poverty. By funding PAD, the Atlanta City Council can make our communities safer, healthier, and more just. Local organizations like Women on the Rise GA have also done the work to lessen the population in the jail by providing service to the women inside while Executive Director– Robyn Hasan-Simpson is a chair on the county’s Justice Review Vision Board. The presidential election may be over, but many of the council members who have the final say on PAD’s future in Atlanta will be seeking re-election in municipal races next year. Constituents will remember which candidates showed up for them – which ones chose community. Their votes to fund PAD could be the deciding factor in our votes for their seats. We implore the Atlanta City Council to vote for funding for PAD. Dominique Grant, MBA, is the current Campaign and Operations Manager for Women on the Rise GA, a nonprofit organization devoted to elevating the voices of justice-affected women. SEE ALSO: The ‘Mecca’ Is A Mirage: Police Brutality

Source: youtube / Youtube A Black man is suing the San Diego Police Department after he was shot with beanbag rounds and bitten by a police dog during an arrest last month. According to Fox 5 San Diego, the incident occurred Oct. 24 at a home in in Valencia Park. Police showed up at the residence responding to a report of a man threatening a woman with a gun, according to SDPD. Police say that after they arrived at the home, they called for the suspect, who was later identified as 31-year-old Marcus Evans. Police claim Evans was “repeatedly ordered” to surrender but did not. After shooting Evans with the non-lethal bean bag rounds, officers let their K-9 loose on Evans. “I don’t know why they used this force and I think that is a burning question for the community to know. Why was this type of force used and applied on this person at this time,” Evans’ lawyer, Dante Pride, told Fox 5/KUSI. The video captured of the incident paints a different story than the one initially told by the police. In the video, Marcus Evans can be seen walking out of the house without shoes or a shirt, holding his hands up and complying with officers. “I have no gun,” Evans told the officers while his hands were in the air. Evans then sat down on a ledge in front of the home with his hands still in the air. Officers then shot Evans with beanbag rounds, hitting him in the abdomen and causing him to fall to the ground in visible pain, according to Fox 5. Cops can be heard shouting, “We said hands,” as Evans lays on the ground in obvious agony. Evans can then be heard asking officers, “Why did you shoot me?” A few moments later, Evans sits up with his hands still in the air. Officers then shoot Evans with a second round of beanbags and release the K-9 on the unarmed Black man. The dog appears to bite Evans as he can be heard pleading, “Stop please.” When officers place Evans in handcuffs, he can be heard saying, “I can’t feel my hand, please stop.” According to police, Evans was transported to a local hospital for injuries sustained to his arm, stomach, chest, groin and shin. He was later charged with assault with a deadly weapon and resisting arrest. The charges were ultimately dropped, but the damage had already been done. According to Evans’ lawyer, due to his injuries, he was forced to leave his job in construction, a job he was just recently granted. “I’m hurt, I’m devastated. It’s deep, the wound is very deep,” Evans’ mother, Glenda Evans, said during a press conference last week. “I hope no other child, no other Black male — anybody, I don’t care what their color is … I hope no one ever has to go through this type of injustice again.” The lawsuit claims Evans was no threat to police at all. “Despite posing absolutely zero threat to officers, SDPD officers inexplicably decided to deploy multiple attacks of force … in contravention of both SDPD’s training policies and POST standards,” the claim, filed by Pride on behalf of Evans, reads. “This misconduct resulted in serious and traumatic injuries to (Evans).” POST, short for the state’s Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training, certifies California law enforcement officers and sets training standards. In the meantime, the family waits for justice hoping Evans will get the justice he deserves. “We’re trying to get through this,” Glenda said. “It’s a long road to healing and recovery.” SEE ALSO: What Happened To Dennoriss Richardson? FBI Investigates Black Man Found Hanging In Rural Alabama Trump Nominates Inexperienced Fox News Host To Replace Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, A Qualified Black Man  

  There is outrage in a Southern Maryland community after a local elementary school downplayed one of its students allegedly trying to hang a Black classmate by his neck in what seems glaringly similar to an attempted lynching, complete with alleged racist language. The incident resulted in the 7-year-old victim being hospitalized. C. Paul Barnhart Elementary School in Charles County issued a statement trying to minimize the situation as “horseplaying” during the encounter on Friday in a school bathroom, while the victim’s mother penned an angry Instagram post in response to her son’s attempted hanging that went viral. “My child who is a second grader was hung in the boys’ bathroom by a fourth grader,” the mother wrote on social media before adding later: I’m feeling anger and seeing red, but my son is here by the grace of GOD, and I will forever be thankful!” The second-grader’s mother also described her son’s injuries from the ordeal. “If you look at my son, he has marks under his eyes, like blood vessels, he still has bruises on his neck from being choked,” she added before emphasizing: “He’s traumatized. It’s going to take time. This is not something he’s going to just get over overnight.” C. Paul Barnhart Elementary School Principal Carrie Burke shared a statement with much less urgency than the student’s mother. Burke described a situation that unfolded by accident and used the term “horseplaying” to refer to the students’ actions. “Two of our students were reportedly horseplaying in a school bathroom when one student’s jacket got caught on a stall door hook,” Burke wrote on Saturday in a note addressed to parents, guardians and school staff. “The student was not able to free themselves and the other student involved was also not able to help them. This student left the bathroom to seek help from staff and reported the incident to administrators. Administrators responded and were able to assist, but staff called 911 for additional precautionary medical support.” Burke then introduced the idea of the incident being “a possible suicide attempt” that was compounded after the victim’s mother wrote her Instagram post, “causing a bit of community concern.” Burke added that her note to the school community was meant “to dispel any inaccurate information beginning to circulate.” The victim’s mother responded to Burke’s note incredulously saying the explanation doesn’t make any sense. “If you’re horse playing, how do you get caught on a hook? Like we need answers, I want answers, and we won’t stop till we get answers,” the mother wrote while also claiming there was a racial element to the incident. “My son did tell me that when they were in the bathroom, he said the little boy told him ‘I’m going to show you how I did people back in the day,’ that’s why I feel like it’s bullying,” his mother told WUSA9 News. “It’s not telling how many other kids this has happened to.” The school district continued to do damage control on Sunday by releasing another statement in part insisting that neither it nor Burke “are hiding anything” and that investigations into the incident by the school and local police are ongoing. The incident in Charles County could have serious legal implications if a similar situation in Massachusetts is any indication. Last year, John Sheeran, a white teen in Cape Cod, was charged with attempted murder for allegedly attempting to drown a Black boy while another white teen called the victim “George Floyd.” One of the white teens allegedly “picked up a stone, threatened the victim with it” and called him the N-word. According to the Cape & Islands District Attorney’s Office, the Black boy put on a life jacket and told the two white teens he couldn’t swim. When all three of the boys entered the water, the alleged suspect grabbed the Black child’s life jacket and forced him underwater multiple times.  In that case, Sheeran’s lawyer told the Boston Globe that the charges his client was facing are “over the top” for what amounted to “horseplaying” that “got out of control.” Sound familiar? This is America. SEE ALSO: After Trump Made Historic Gains With Black Men, He Hasn’t Picked Any To Serve In His Administration Pause: NBA Fines LaMelo Ball $100K For ‘Derogatory Comment’ Rooted In Homophobia  

  LaMelo Ball #1 of the Charlotte Hornets reacts to a call during the first half of a basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Spectrum Center on November 16, 2024, in Charlotte, North Carolina. | The NBA fined one of the professional basketball league’s brightest young stars for using “offensive and derogatory” language that’s also a popular slang phrase rooted in homophobia. The NBA announced on Sunday it was fining LaMelo Ball, of the Charlotte Hornets, for his choice of words following a controversial one-point win against the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday afternoon. Ball hit the game-winning free throws in the waning seconds following a questionable call by a referee to secure the victory in dramatic fashion. MORE: Black Boy Joy: LeBron James, Bronny And Quincy Olivari Open New NBA Season With Magical Moments But it was Ball’s behavior off the court after the game that made headlines more than his play between the lines during those consequential 48 minutes in Charlotte. When Ball was pulled aside by a sideline reporter and asked about a late-game play involving Bucks star Giannis Antetekoumpo, the Hornets’ star point guard explained as only he could. “We loaded up,” Ball began before adding, “no homo.” Ball continued to speak, but it was those fateful two words that caught the ear of the NBA, which announced Ball would be penalized $100,000 for uttering that phrase. The NBA described those two words as “an offensive and derogatory comment.” For the uninitiated, those two words are slang associated with a phenomenon unofficially known as “the pause game” and used by participants when any words spoken might contain context that could remotely suggest any semblance of homosexuality. The Urban Dictionary website defines those two words more bluntly and says they are “used to show that whatever you did no matter how gay isn’t gay as long as you say no homo.” It’s as inane as it is offensive to the LGBTQ+ community and beyond. The phrase is often used interchangeably with the word “pause” and has become all but a staple in hip-hop references, as evidenced in part by its repetition on the popular It Is What Is Is sports podcast hosted by rappers Cam’ron and Ma$e. The NBA fine is consistent with past disciplinary actions handed down to its players for using homophobic language. Most notably, the late Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant was fined $100,000 in 2011 for calling a referee a homophobic slur. Four years later, Sacramento Kings guard Rajon Rondo was ejected for directing the same word toward referee Bill Kennedy. Rondo was subsequently suspended for a game, forfeiting his $83,000+ payday for that absence. Less than two weeks later, Kennedy revealed that he was gay. Critics have said the penalty doesn’t fit the proverbial crime, particularly since NBA players tend to enjoy inflated contracts that deem such fines as $100,000 relatively inconsequential. Bryant, for instance, was earning more than $380,000 per game when he was fined for his transgression. For perspective’s sake, NBA teams play 82 regular season games, not including the playoffs. Ball, who is earning more than $35 million for the 2024-25 NBA season, did not immediately comment on his $100,000 fine. SEE ALSO: Former NBA Player AJ Griffin ‘Gave Up Basketball To Follow Jesus’  Dikembe Mutombo Remembered By Former Teammate As ‘So Much More’ Than A Basketball Player  

U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) (R) introduces Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump, at a roundtable discussion with community members on October 18, 2024, in Auburn Hills, Michigan. President-elect Donald Trump has rewarded the historic percentage of Black men who voted for him by not including any of them among his choices of top presidential advisers. After making a flurry of nominations over the past week, punctuated by the candidates’ concerning collision of white supremacy and inexperience for their chosen positions, the Black people – particularly the Black men – who were open and proud in their support of Trump’s candidacy, sharing rhetoric about how Trump’s election would be better for the Black U.S. population, are apparently excluded from the top levels of Trump’s “concepts of a plan” to purportedly make America great again. MORE: Trump Promises ‘Restitution’ To ‘Victims’ Of DEI ‘Discrimination’ In other words, after infamously saying in a presidential debate that immigrants were “taking Black jobs,” it may just turn out that there aren’t any “Black jobs” in the second go-round of Trump’s White House. Some observers might label this turn of events as irony. But, of course, that would be tantamount to an open admission of obliviousness during this past election cycle, which was replete with unabashed racist dog whistling strategically wielded to attract Black voters. Source: X screenshot As it turns out, most of those Black voters who were swayed by his messages (during publicity stunts in, um, a chicken fast food restaurant and, er, speaking about the first Black woman vice president in racially stereotypical terms, for example) were men.  And while the gains Trump made with Black men this year compared to 2020 were likely inconsequential to his election, especially compared to decisive voting trends from other key demographics like white women and Latinos, the persisting, amplified narrative nonetheless has centered on Democrats losing grip of their loyal base of African American male voters. It’s not without reason. After all, the 2024 election reflected the smallest share of Black voters supporting a Democratic nominee since 2016, emphasizing Trump’s gains. Black men like South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott and Florida Rep. Byron Donalds – both loyal MAGA Republicans, the former who didn’t hesitate to widen his eyes and show all of his teeth every chance he got and the latter who wasn’t afraid to have white colleague pat and rub his head in public – were among the national leaders spreading that aforementioned narrative in hyperbolic terms. Bruh!! They did not just pat Byron Donalds on the head when he switched his vote to McCarthy!!! I’m dying!! byu/ComicVineDebates inPoliticalHumor Lest we forget how Scott has repeatedly and falsely insisted that America is not a racist nation while Donalds made headlines at an event for Black men called “Congress, Cognac and Cigars” where he openly lamented how the Jim Crow era was better for Black families in the U.S. Considering that impressive display of tapdancing for Trump’s approval, and what with Trump’s consistent and unbelievable denial of being racist, it seemed almost obligatory that there would be at least one Black person nominated to serve in Trump’s cabinet and/or senior presidential administration capacities.  But more than a week into Trump’s selections of at least 24 people, the only person on that list with any hint of brown skin is Vivek Ramaswamy, the billionaire MAGA loyalist who once lied on live TV about an exchange he had with a Black man in Springfield, Ohio, who told him very clearly and unmistakably that he had been called the N-word “twice this week,” which he attributed to Trump’s and JD Vance’s thoroughly debunked racist nonsense regarding Haitian immigrants abducting and eating the pets of Springfield residents. Source: X screenshot In fact, Ramaswamy and the others on Trump’s list of cabinet hopefuls all largely represent levels of various extremism that run counter to the general interests of Black America.  It’s important to remember that Republicans have a long history of using Black people as props for political theater performances. And that brings us back to Scott and Donaldson, both of whom have seemingly been jockeying for position for this very moment – to be chosen as the proverbial “one” Black person in Trump’s upcoming administration. Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) (2nd-R) speaks as Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump (L), North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum (2nd-R) and Vivek Ramaswamy (R) listen during a campaign rally in the basement ballroom of The Margate Resort on January 22, 2024 in Laconia, New Hampshire. Both Burgum and Ramaswamy have been nominated for Trump’s cabinet, not Scott. | Source: Chip Somodevilla / Getty But while Trump had several Black people in his administration at various times – including fellow Apprentice star Omarosa Manigault Newman and former HUD Secretary Ben Carson, both of whom critics said were unqualified for their positions – he seems poised to surround himself without the presence of a single African American. Scott, seemingly understanding that Trump probably doesn’t want him or any other Black people in his administration, last week was selected by his fellow Republican Senators to be the next chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee. Still, despite, the apparent snub, Scott suggested that his new “Black job” would be to help increase Republican representation in the U.S. Senate and, as he told Fox News, make sure Trump “does not have two years with a Republican majority in the Senate, he has four years in control.” Donalds, meanwhile, who, like Trump, represents Florida, has been conspicuously absent from a steady stream of politicos from the Sunshine State selected to serve in the upcoming presidential administration. That includes the likes of Congressman Matt Gaetz, who was the subject of a bipartisan House investigation into alleged sexual activity with a minor and drug use, for U.S. Attorney General; Congressman Mike Waltz for National Security Advisor; and Sen. Marco Rubio for Secretary of State. Source: X screenshot But at the end of the day, this is

On Nov. 15, Gabrielle Union announced that she was deactivating her X (formerly Twitter) account, making her the latest celeb to exit the social media app after Trump’s presidential victory.   The actress posted a lengthy statement about her decision to formally part ways with the Elon Musk-controlled app, which recently updated its terms of services to protect itself against lawsuits and increasing criticism. “Platforms like X were founded on authentic connections, true engagement and creative expression, all anchored in respect for user privacy and trust,” Union said in her statement. “Yet, with the recent and upcoming changes to the terms of condition—and the return of volatile figures—I find myself at a crossroads, facing a direction that I can no longer fully support. I am committed to engaging in spaces that truly value inclusivity, respect, and integrity in the digital world. Sometimes, that means recognizing the last straw and knowing when to step away.” She also let fans know that she’ll be using the BlueSky app, which has grown in popularity in the weeks following the election.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by The Shade Room (@theshaderoom) Our girl Gabby isn’t the only public figure to say so long to Elon and his MAGA minions on X as of late. Former CNN correspondent Don Lemon also bid farewell to the social platform this week, citing growing concerns about free speech and the possibility of it being used for Trump propaganda.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Don Lemon (@donlemonofficial) “I once believed it was a place for honest debate and discussion, transparency and free speech, but now I feel it does not serve that purpose,” he said in a statement. Lemon also encouraged fans to follow him on BlueSky. It seems like a mass exodus of X is imminent, and celebrities are helping to lead the charge. BlueSky was formerly started in 2019 by the original Twitter founder, Jack Dorsey, but the platform split from him in 2022, according to USA Today. Today, it is owned and operated by Jay Graber, Jeremie Miller, Mike Masnick, and Kinjal Shah. The post So Long, Elon! Gabrielle Union Is Latest Star To Deactivate X Account Post-Election, Several Celebs Flocking To BlueSky appeared first on Bossip.

  Jake Paul defeated an aged Mike Tyson in Netflix’s first-ever live sporting event leaving social media in an uproar. Last night Netflix extended dominance in live streaming with the highly anticipated Jake Vs Mike Tyson global boxing event. Unfortunately, the live stream suffered buffer after buffer leaving many unable to watch on their smart tvs while iPhones and iPad reigned supreme. As the bell sounded it was evident to everyone with eyes Mike’s muscle memory was there but his legs however were not the same. While Jake pulled punches on the boxing legend Mike was attempting to go for blood but couldn’t quite get himself in position. Towards the end, the usually cocky Paul coasted the icon to the finish line. “Yeah, definitely. Definitely a bit. I wanted to give the fans a show, but I didn’t want to hurt someone that didn’t need to be hurt.” Paul confirmed when asked if he let off the gas after round three. Paul also saw the backlash on social media and revealed he didn’t feel Tyson’s power, which likely prompted a change in the match’s game plan. “I tried to give the best fight I possibly could, but when someone’s just surviving in the ring, basically it’s hard to make it exciting.” Paul explained. “So I couldn’t really get him to engage me or slip shots and do something super cool or whatever, but I don’t care about what people have to say. They’re always going to have something to say and that it is what it is.” According to CNN, Paul’s unanimous win came with judges ruling 80-72-,79-73 and 79-73. While the fight was entertaining Mike had zero business in the ring. Immediately after the event Gervonta Davis wasted no time calling Jake Paul a “bozo” for stepping in the ring with Mike and not getting the knockout. “To the bozo that shared the ring w Mike..you a whole bozo for this and you didn’t get the job done [sh*t emoji] head..” – Gervonta posted on Instagram. ”One more thing… ima beat the brakes off Jake when I catch em…upper cut jap jap left hook upper cut..hook. Watch.” wrote Davis in a follow up post. This was a strategic play to make Netflix’s night about himself as he is the face of traditional boxing. Jake Paul surprisingly accepted his challenge responding “I mean I’d be down let’s run it” before taking a jab at Davis’ height. With the insane payday attached it’s only a matter of time before Gervonta or Conor McGregor step up to get in the ring with Paul. The post Jake Paul Unsurprisingly Defeats Mike Tyson, Accepts Gervonta Davis’ Challenge To Step In The Ring appeared first on Bossip.

The brothers behind a self-financed film and production powerhouse are opening up about beginnings, business acumen, and the generational wealth-growing work they’ve accomplished.   Brothers Victor and Vanzil Burke are the moguls behind Burke Entertainment, a self-financed film and production powerhouse that stands firm on their familial foundation. After suffering the tremendous loss of their middle brother, Von, Vanzil told BOSSIP that he and Victor grew closer, and the building blocks for them to become business partners were set in place. Their company, initially a talent management firm launched in 2007 by CEO Vanzil and joined by Victor, the president, in 2009, eventually shifted into film and television production, and according to Vanzil, the transition just made sense. “While we were in the management space, we realized that talent representation alone wasn’t the full answer. That’s based on actors going out and booking the role, and that’s when you get 10%. Unless you have a huge roster of A and B list actors, it’s not something that’s very lucrative.   Vanzil said that his brother Victor told him there had to be another way, so they took a leap into film and television. Part of that leap included a deeper understanding of industry trends and production possibilities inspired by reading business literature, specifically the book CAA Powerhouse, which details how it became the biggest talent agency in the world. “I read the book and it changed our perspective in our lives as far as how we did the business because what CAA did under Michael Obis, one of the founding partners, is they started packaging. CAA started the business of packaging, so they’ll have the writer, the director, the lead actor,–the package and they’ll take it to a network and make a hit movie. My brother Victor said, ‘That’s what we need to start doing, representing directors and writers as our producing our own content. That’s the answer.’” Now for Burke Entertainment, part of that answer includes working with Coke Daniels, who’s collaborated with them on His, Hers & the Truth, 2021’s Karen, which made waves as the #1 independent film in the country for two weeks straight, and 2024’s Waterboyz which saw Daniels garner “Best Director” at ABFF.    “Coke became like our brother,” Victor told BOSSIP. “Our mom used to call him son, and we made him an honorary member of our neighborhood where we grew up. It’s been a very solid business relationship with Coke.” As they continue expanding in entertainment, they are also collaborating with T.I., who recently directed, produced, and starred in City of Situationships, alongside Terrence J, Jessie Woo, DC Young Fly, Too $hort, DomiNque Perry, and Young Dro. Despite initial hesitations, Vanzil expressed his confidence in the rapper-turned-director’s performance, especially after the King of the South asked for an opportunity to prove himself. “Victor, Vanzil, I got this. I know I could do this, man. I just need you guys to believe in me,” Vanzil recalled him saying. “But I know I could do this. When I tell you that T.I. did exactly that—jumping behind the camera, giving directions, and jumping in front of the camera—I was blown away by his talent. He was brilliant, I want to attest that he’s a brilliant brother.”   Victor agreed with his brother’s sentiments. “The very first thing that you notice from Tip is two things. Number one, you’re going to see how brilliant and smart he is, his vocabulary is off the charts. Secondly, you’re going to see creativity oozing out of his pores because he is just a talent like I have never witnessed while on set. When his mind and his heart are set on something, he’s not going to stop until he gets support.”   Other upcoming projects for the Burke brothers include the horror thriller Werewolves, which will be released in theaters on December 6, and Christmas in the Friendly Skies, a romantic holiday comedy. As their projects grow in scale, the brothers remain grounded in their shared values and hope to be examples of familial legacy and a successful Black business. “We’ve seen that it can be challenging to work together in our community,” said Vanzil who’s already scouting out the next generation of their family who can carry on their legacy. “But we also want to show that it’s possible to work through issues. Yes, there will be bumps in the road, but that doesn’t mean we have to part ways. You can sit down, talk it out, and find ways to move forward together.” “When people ask if we’re really brothers, we tell them, yes, we’re real brothers,” added his brother Victor. “That makes everyone be in awe of us this because we are real brothers, it makes people feel like they want to be part of this.This is a family business and it’s respectable, it’s very respectable.”   Ultimately, the two respect each other in their respective positions as President and CEO, and according to Vanzil he’s beyond grateful to make the waves with his big brother by his side. “I’ve been grateful and I thank God every day when I pray. I thank God for my brother and this relationship.”   The post Burke Entertainment’s Victor & Vanzel Burke Talk Brotherhood, Their Self-Financed Film & Production Powerhouse & Work With T.I. [Exclusive] appeared first on Bossip.

  Pacman Jones was arrested after Jake Paul Vs Mike Tyson for alleged public intoxication and assaulting an officer. This weekend Mike Tyson’s return to the ring against Jake Paul garnered the attention of people across the globe. The event was hosted at Jerry Jones’ “Jerry World” in Dallas Texas prompting many NFL legends to make the trip to watch. While the event went exactly like most expected everyone had a great time. Unfortunately for Pacman Jones the fun was over once he made it to his hotel nearby the arena. According to TMZ, Jones was arrested in the early morning after the Loews Arlington Hotel fight. Allegedly Pacman was charged with public intoxication, evading arrest, assault on a police officer, and evading arrest. Since it is the weekend the former NFL player will stay in jail until he can see a judge on Monday. “Like thousands of other people in Dallas last night, Pac was in town for the fight and was enjoying himself, spending time with the fans.” reps for Pacman said. “Pacman was returning to his hotel to wind down for the evening. He was not looking for trouble.” While it’s still unclear what exactly went down reps for Pacman seem ready to plead their case. Jones has had several run-ins with the police in recent years including a recent arrest at the Cincinnati. Jones’s airport arrest allegedly involved him being intoxicated as well. Hopefully this can be sorted out and put behind him with help from Mr. Jerry Jones. The post Pacman Jones Arrested After Netflix’s Jake Paul & Mike Tyson Event For Allegedly Assaulting An Officer appeared first on Bossip.

https://bossip.com/2739324/horoscopes-week-of-november-10/https://bossip.com/2737857/horoscopes-week-of-november-3/” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>a brand new set of horoscopes to help you plan for the week ahead by checking what the stars have in store! Source: iOne Digital / Tommy de Yampert Here’s another week of astrological forecasts, courtesy of our favorite — Psychic Zya. Astro Overview: Whew weee! Ya’ll we are headed into the biggest transit — possibly of our lifetimes! On the 19th Pluto enters Aquarius and stays there for the next 20 years. Yes the next twenty years! Now you may be asking yourself- what exactly is the significance of this? Pluto is a planet of cosmic force of power, extreme change, mystery, and control. It’s not cuddly and takes no prisoners. You will be forever changed once this planet goes on about its business after the next two decades. Not only does this transit only happen every 240 plus years but the last time this happened (1778 to 1798) our global planet went through major shifts such as the American Revolution, the French Revolution and the start of the Industrial Revolution which completely changed how we lived and worked and functioned as a society. In its present incarnation we can expect to see changes in how the patriarchy and the non-melanated population stays in power. Big shifts in currency, Western culture and family values. We can also expect to see massive change in technology as well as themes of the return to power to the many instead of the 1%. Use this energy to plan some power moves and learn how to quietly observe the energy of the masses as well as the shifts in power dynamics both politically and locally! It’s gonna be a wild, bumpy ass ride! Yuuuup! Alrighty to help you prepare for this energy a bit better this week I took a look to see just how this powerful transit will affect your sign. Be sure to read your Moon, Jupiter and Mercury signs as well. Did you know that you can get a psychic reading with Zya? Try her out at BOOKZYA.com. Source: iOne Digital / Tommy de Yampert CAPRICORN: You may find yourself called to slow down and start to ease your way into more of a relaxed and simpler lifestyle. Many of you may even take an early retirement or leave the rat race for a Digital Nomad lifestyle. This powerful transit will cause you to deeply re-evaluate what’s important to you right now and what you truly wish for your life to look and FEEL like for the foreseeable future. I’m happy for you! This message will also apply to those with Capricorn Moon, Mercury, Jupiter, and Venus.  PS: Moving abroad for a better quality of life would serve you very well at this time. RED FLAG: They say forgiveness is for you, not the other person …if this resonates then dig deep to do the inner work to forgive who you need to forgive and just move on. SWEET SPOT: There’s someone in your circle who has a pure heart and pure intentions. Be sure to invest in this person with your time and emotional support. Keep reading for more BOSSIP horoscopes! The post BOSSIP Horoscopes: Week Of November 17 appeared first on Bossip.