AURN News

As I predicted, Black folks have once again saved the summer box office. Will Smith and Martin Lawrence's "Bad Boys: Ride or Die" came in with $104.6 million for the global purse. Forget the streaming wars, Will and Martin are doing their part to get butts back in the theater seats.

The Academy Award-winner surprised a lot of people too over in South Central L.A. when he snuck into the Cinemark Baldwin Hills Theater. Fans were totally blown away when they realized, oh, Will was watching with them? Well, I have to say, this is the Black theater where folks get loud when they love a movie, so I am sure a good time was had by all. And congratulations to Will and Martin. Pulling this off once again.

Howard University says no, no, and just no. On Friday, the DC-based university announced it was revoking the honorary degree awarded to Sean "Diddy" Combs in 2014. That decision follows, of course, the release of that horrific video that shows Combs attacking his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura.

The university's board of trustees voted unanimously to rescind the degree, citing behavior that's just fundamentally incompatible with Howard University's core values and beliefs. In addition to revoking the honorary degree, the trustee's statement noted that Howard would be terminating that 2016 gift agreement with Combs, and they are disbanding the scholarship in his name. They are also returning his $1 million contribution. I'm sure he's going to need that money anyway for his legal fees.

It's almost summer, and you know what that means. Former President Barack Obama is sharing his favorite songs that keep him cool. I mean, literally, because, you know, he's one of the coolest men on the planet.

Well, the playlist features major hip hop artists like 2Pac, 21 Savage, Nicki Minaj, and Babyface Ray. He also lists some OG artists like Janet Jackson and Otis Redding. The president posted on X, "Like I do every year, here are some songs I've been listening to and I look forward to hearing what I've missed." Well, we do too. Keep it coming.

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The world is mourning one of the greatest civil rights icons, Rev. James Lawson Jr. has died at the age of 95. Known for his teachings in nonviolent protests, Lawson passed away Sunday in Los Angeles.

He was a pivotal figure in the civil rights movement. He was imprisoned in 1951 for refusing military service but later studied nonviolence in India. Returning to the U.S., he educated activists, including Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Lawson played a key role in the lunch counter sit-ins and was expelled from Vanderbilt University for his activism. He was instrumental in founding the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and led workshops that influenced major civil rights campaigns, including the Freedom Rides. Martin Luther King Jr. praised Lawson in his speeches for his relentless fight for justice.

Lawson continued to work with civil rights groups, served as a pastor in Los Angeles from 1974 to 1999, and taught at UCLA.

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Charles Rangel was born on June 11, 1930, in New York City. Celebrating his 94th birthday today, Rangel’s legacy spans over five decades of dedicated public service.

Rangel grew up in Harlem. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and served during the Korean War. Following his military service, Rangel pursued higher education, graduating from New York University and later earning a law degree from St. John’s University School of Law.

Rangel began his political career in the New York State Assembly in 1966. In 1971, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, representing New York’s 15th congressional district. He became one of the founding members of the Congressional Black Caucus.

He retired from Congress in 2017, leaving a legacy of unwavering dedication to social justice and public service.

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Today, the U.S. military resumes airdrops of aid in Gaza, and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in the Middle East to push for a ceasefire. Blinken met with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi in Cairo, emphasizing the need for Hamas to agree to President Joe Biden's ceasefire proposal, which Israel has already accepted.

Over the weekend, a botched Israeli rescue operation in Nuseirat resulted in the deaths of 274 Palestinians. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) dispute the numbers, estimating the casualties are under 100. The operation was condemned internationally for the high civilian death toll.

In response to the situation, Israeli War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz resigned, criticizing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's strategy in Gaza.

Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas called for an emergency UN council session to discuss the incident, describing it as a gruesome massacre. Leaders from Egypt, Lebanon, Iran, and Kuwait are also condemning the strikes, calling them a breach of international law and demanding accountability.

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Marcus Garvey, the leader of the Black Nationalism and Pan-Africanism movements, died in London after suffering from several strokes on this day, June 10, in 1940. He was 52.

Born in St. Ann's Bay, Jamaica, on Aug. 17, 1887, Garvey credited his father, a stone mason, for instilling in him a passion for reading and a spirit of self-determination.

His interest in activism began at age 14, when he left school to become a printer’s assistant and later became involved in union activities in Kingston, Jamaica.

In 1912, he founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), which aimed to unite the entire African diaspora.

Garvey’s legacy would later inspire the formation of the Nation of Islam and notable civil rights leaders, including Malcolm X, in the 1950s and 1960s.

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On June 7, we celebrate what would have been the 66th birthday of Prince, a musical genius who transformed the landscape of popular music.

Born in 1958 in Minneapolis, Prince Rogers Nelson dazzled the world with his innovative blend of rock, funk, and pop, creating timeless hits like "Purple Rain," "Kiss," and "When Doves Cry."

His flamboyant style and electrifying performances set him apart as an icon of creativity and individuality. Tragically, Prince passed away on April 21, 2016, at the age of 57, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire and captivate.

Happy heavenly birthday, Prince.

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Job numbers are out: employers added 272,000 jobs in May, indicating that the job market remains strong despite inflation and higher interest rates. The unemployment rate ticked up to 4 percent but is still historically low.

Economists had expected fewer job additions, and so the report was seen as a pleasant surprise. Wages are growing, with the average hourly pay increasing to $34.91 per hour -- a 4.1 percent yearly rise.

While wage growth has slowed from the COVID-19 era shortages, it’s still above the Fed’s preferred rate for controlling inflation. The Fed is watching the numbers, as strong wage growth can fuel inflation. Economists don’t expect the Fed to cut rates soon, especially if inflation remains high.

Healthcare, leisure and hospitality, and professional services were among the industries hiring the most. The public sector also saw a rebound in job gains.

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The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has called on President Joe Biden to halt all weapons deliveries to Israel indefinitely and push for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The civil rights organization believes that the ongoing conflict has led to unacceptable civilian casualties and displacement.

The NAACP’s statement emphasizes the need for the U.S. to use its influence to bring about a peaceful resolution and stop the shipment of weapons that could be used in the conflict.

The organization’s president, Derrick Johnson, stated that the U.S. must show moral leadership by ceasing the supply of weapons to Israel and other states that support Hamas and other terrorist organizations, he highlighted the importance of a ceasefire and the return of hostages held by Hamas. Johnson also urged Israel to adhere to international and humanitarian laws in its offensive strategy.

The organization’s stance reflects a growing concern among Black voters about Biden’s support for Israel and its potential impact on the November elections.

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An appeals court has halted the Georgia election interference case against former President Donald Trump and others while it reviews the lower court judge’s ruling allowing Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to remain on the case.

The Georgia Court of Appeals’ order prevents Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee from moving forward with pretrial motions while the appeal is pending. This delay makes it even less likely that the case will go to trial before the November general election, where Trump is expected to be the Republican nominee for president.

A Fulton County grand jury indicted Trump and 18 others in August, accusing them of attempting to overturn the 2020 presidential election in Georgia. Four defendants have pleaded guilty, while Trump and the others have pleaded not guilty.

Trump and eight other defendants sought to remove Willis from the case, alleging a conflict of interest due to her romantic relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade.

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Alfonso Ribeiro doesn't want to work with Tyler Perry to regain Hollywood notoriety. After a recent interview with Closer Weekly, the former Fresh Prince of Bel-Air actor shared that his acting career had stalled after famously playing Carlton Banks.

"It was one of the greatest roles that I ever was fortunate enough to play, but it was also the role that stopped me from acting again because people couldn't see me as anything else," he told the outlet.

Then, somebody suggested on social media that he work with Tyler Perry to restart his career. At which point, the television host and occasional actor shoot off the comment, "I don't need or ever want that man to do anything for me."

Okay, well you see that's because Alfonso is doing quite fine, thank you. As host of America's Funniest Videos and Dancing with the Stars, I don't think he needs any Tyler Perry money or drama.

The news this past week has been full of stories about diminishing returns at the box office, and quite frankly, the studios are a little bit worried about the summer. But we'll keep you updated on a list of things to check out.

Idris Elba is narrating a National Geographic series about the millions of soldiers erased from World War II history, and the action comedy romance, Hitman, is landing on Netflix. And you know what? There's a bunch of new television, movies, music, and games headed to a device near you and we're going to keep you updated on all of it.

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