The 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Commission Promises Reparations To Victims

Of the many moments in American history where the country’s deep-rooted racial tensions can be seen most visibly, the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre ranks high. The massacre occurred between May and June in 1921 in the thriving, predominantly Black Greenwood District of Tulsa Oklahoma, when mobs of white residents attacked Black residents and businesses. The white mob, numbered in the thousands, destroyed all 36-square-blocks of the bustling community, burning and bombing everything in their path. 


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It’s estimated upwards of 300 Black citizens were massacred and buried in mass graves, with the total mob-damage estimated to be at or around 200 million in today’s currency. Neither the City of Tulsa nor the Tulsa County has provided any sort of restitution or reparations for the three living survivors nor descendants of the tragic slaughter. According to a new statement from The 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission, this is about to change. 

“We believe strongly in reparations. Our focus is on the larger scope of reparations, which means repairing past damages and making amends through acknowledgment, apology, and atonement. This process is central to racial reconciliation in Tulsa,” the statement reads. 

They go on to declare, “Survivors and descendants deserve remedy and reparation for the atrocities of 1921. The Centennial Commission’s work toward reparations falls in restitution through advocacy for investment in education, infrastructure and economic development in North Tulsa.”

In terms of exactly what the reparations will look like, they explained, “Reparations may take both individual and communal forms. Monetary damages are a type of individual reparations, and we believe that this is an important subject for discussion.” They added, ” Monetary investments in public spaces, public facilities, and economic initiatives are a type of communal reparations. These forms of reparations are complementary, not mutually exclusive. Both are important.


Survivor Kinney Booker poses for a portrait. Mike Simons/Liaison/Getty Images

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Saweetie + Quavo Really Over, Nas Gets His Flowers – Again, VERZUZ Updates + More

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West Coast rapper Saweetie really handed Quavo his boyfriend walking papers, Nas‘ all-time classic finally gets its proper flowers, VERZUZ dominates headlines all week long and much more in this new wrap up!

The post Saweetie + Quavo Really Over, Nas Gets His Flowers – Again, VERZUZ Updates + More appeared first on SOHH.com.

Flee Lord & DJ Muggs Connect On “Rammellzee”

It was a busy year for both Flee Lord and DJ Muggs. The protegé of Prodigy and the Soul Assassins head honcho had impressive runs in 2020 separately, only to reconnect for a brand new project titled, Rammellzee. Released under Soul Assassins, Flee Lord tackles DJ Muggs soulful, sample-based production with tales of the streets. The two artist enlist a slew of revered MCs to bring the project to life. Ghostface Killah makes an appearance on “Wallabees & Gucci Loafers.” Mayhem Lauren also drops a stellar verse on “Queens Get $$$.” Other features on the project include West Coast rapper T.F. and New Jersey’s CRIMEAPPLE.

Check out the new project from Flee Lord and DJ Muggs below and sound off in the comment section with your favorite track off of Rammellzee.

Draymond Green Claims He’s The Best Defender In NBA History

Draymond Green is one of those athletes who aren’t afraid to say exactly how they feel. If there is something at the top of Green’s mind, he is going to come out and say it. We’ve seen this play out numerous times over the last few years and as of late, Green has made sure to give fans and the media plenty of soundbites that they will come to appreciate.

During the Warriors’ dynasty run from 2015 to 2019, Green was considered to be one of the best defenders out there. Recently, Green was on the “Dubs Talk” podcast where he was asked who the best defender in the NBA is. This led to a classic Green response in which he claimed he is the greatest of all-time.

“I think I’m the best defender to ever play this game,” Green said. This is definitely a bold claim but we would expect nothing less from the Dubs superstar. When you’ve accomplished as much as Green, you earn the right to make these kinds of proclamations, even if they are going to annoy the fans to no end.

There are certainly some great defenders who have played in the NBA, and Green is up there. Whether or not he is the best is up to his peers, and those who played the game before him. As for the fans, well, we’re sure there are some who will disagree.

Draymond Green

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Utah Governor Signs Bill Requiring All Phones Sold In-State To Block Porn

In an extreme legislative move, Utah governor Spencer Cox signed a bill on Tuesday that requires any phone or tablet sold in the state to come with a filter that blocks pornographic content. Utah activists have had a longtime plan to eradicate porn in the state, something that the opposition calls an infringement on freedom of speech. The bill was allegedly written to help parents keep their kids away from porn, especially as younger and younger children have access to technology. 

Kid on tablet
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According to the sponsor of the bill, Representative Susan Pulishper, the filter can be removed from the phone, but the idea is that kids would never dare to have that conversation with parents, so it would prevent them from accessing the content until they’re older. 

It does not appear that the punishment for not implementing the filter is very severe, however. Each violation comes alongside a $10 fine, and the fines are capped at $500. Cox considers the bill to be more about sending an “important message” than anything else, but this is likely a moot point considering that five other states would need to pass similar bills in order for it to take effect. 

What do you think, should phones come with a filter that blocks out explicit content? Let us know your thoughts in the comments. 

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Nipsey Hussle’s Alleged Killer Requests Break On $6.5M Bail, Says He’s Not A Risk: Report

Nipsey Hussle was tragically gunned down outside his Marathon Clothing store in South Los Angeles two years ago this month. The alleged gunman Eric R. Holder, who was reported to have confronted the rapper earlier in the day before the shooting, was arrested and charged with the murder shortly thereafter. The 31-year-old is reportedly asking for a judge to grant him a break on his “extremely high” multi-million dollar bail, claiming he poses no risk to society. 


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According to Daily News, Holder appeared in a Los Angeles courtroom Thursday (March 25) where his public defender revealed she filed the bail reduction motion on his behalf. The public filing argues that the defendant’s criminal history before the alleged shooting was minimal and only included one felony conviction in 2012 for carrying a concealed firearm. 

“Based on the isolated nature of this case, Mr. Holder does not pose a risk of harm to the public,” the motion states.

“Even a reduction of bail down to $4 million should satisfy any concerns by the court and the District Attorney,” the filing from public defender Lowynn Young continues on to say.

The filing leverages that Holder is not a flight risk considering he does not hold a passport and also has significant family ties to the surrounding community, including a father who works for the city government. 

Judge Curtis B. Rappé gave prosecutors until Tuesday to consider and respond to the motion, with a hearing set for next week on April 6th. We’ll keep you updated on further developments in the bail reduction hearing. 


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Magic Johnson Explains When He Knew Michael Jordan’s Era Had Started

Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan are two legends of the game and over the years, they had some pretty incredible battles. Of course, Magic and Larry Bird came into the league before Jordan, and when MJ was a rookie, Bird and Magic were in the midst of some pretty incredible NBA battles. Eventually, Johnson and Bird took a backseat to MJ who started to win championships and a pretty remarkable rate.

While speaking to Bakari Sellers for The Ringer, Johnson was asked about when he knew it was officially the Jordan Era of basketball. Unsurprisingly, Johnson brought it back to 1991 when Jordan won his first title against the Lakers, in just five games.

“He came up on the right side and he came up with the tongue out,” Johnson recalled. “We all jumped, we thought we had him. And in mid-air he switched it to the left hand. We said ‘you know what…passing of the torch.’ I told him it’s your turn. It’s your time now.”

Johnson also went on to talk about Jordan’s brief retirement and ability to come back and win three more championships. Needless to say, Magic was amazed by what Jordan was able to do, and his six rings will certainly live on forever.

Michael Jordan

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Alex Beresford Likes Tweet That Seemingly Shades Piers Morgan

Earlier this month, Piers Morgan quit Good Morning Britain after an on-air spat with fellow TV personality Alex Beresford. The fight erupted when the two were discussing Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle, who said she was left “suicidal” when tensions within the Royal Family rose during her pregnancy. Morgan originally said he didn’t “believe a word she says,” prompting Alex Beresford to call Morgan out for being insensitive and rude. Morgan refused to apologize, walking out of the show in early March and quitting shortly after. 

This week, Alex Beresford returned to GMB as a presenter following Morgan’s abrupt exit, hosting the show alongside Kate Garraway. The episode went on relatively normally, with Kate saying it was “lovely” to have Alex back on the show. It seems as though Alex felt pretty justified about being welcomed back to GMB, liking a Tweet a few hours later from former radio presenter Maya Jama that said, “good things come when you’re not a prick.” 

Despite this Tweet that seemingly shades Piers Morgan, Beresford has insisted that he did not want Morgan to quit the show. “I didn’t want him to quit – but I did want him to listen,” Beresford said. “Piers’ departure sincerely wasn’t the conclusion I was hoping for… He’s given me advice on several occasions and for that I am grateful. I wish him well!”

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Benny Blanco Recalls A Few Awkward Encounters With Drake

Benny Blanco’s produced some of the biggest hits alongside some of the biggest names in music but it appears that he hasn’t completely adjusted to being constantly surrounded by celebrities. During a recent sit-down with Zane Lowe, he recounted a few awkward tales regarding his encounters with Drake which apparently included a brief run-in with the Toronto rapper in the bathroom at the Grammys. “Drake walks into the bathroom and he’s right next to me at the stall and I’m like, ‘What am I…’ … What am I going to say to him?” he said, noting that he ended up dashing out the stall.

Though that encounter took place about a decade ago, the pair ran into each other, once again, at the Grammys shortly after. This time, Benny, who brought his parents, sat next to Drake and Rihanna. He said his mom sat next to Drake while his father was seated next to Rihanna. “Then my mom is sitting there and she starts talking to Drake and she’s like, ‘You know, my son makes music.’ And he’s like, ‘Oh, who’s your son?’ And then she was like, ‘Oh Benny Blanco.’ And he’s like, ‘Oh, I love him. Yeah. Set us up. We got to…’ And then he literally switched seats with his dad because I think my mom was probably being so annoying that he actually switches,” he said.

The two encounters finally culminated into a moment that he described as “straight out of a Seth Rogen movie.” Blanco and Ed Sheeran were touring the roads of Canada around the time WATTBA came out when they were invited to a party at “some place that Drake owns.” According to Blanco, there were approximately 67 women and six goofy men in the corner before Drake even arrived. 

“We’re on the dance floor, doing the robot and then everyone’s hating on us at the beginning. And then eventually everyone’s like, ‘Okay!’ And we’re dancing with everyone. We start the party. And then Drake comes in, we have a small interaction,” he explained.

Check out a clip from Blanco’s interview with Zane Lowe below. 

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