Bring That Week Back: Week of April 19
Kerry Washington's play is a hit on Broadway. Obama slams Wall Street. Get more top stories!
1 / 22
Rapper Guru Passes - Early Monday morning, rapper Guru (born Keith Elam), half of the rap duo Gang Starr, passed away from multiple myeloma. He was 43. According to a statement released by his sister, he suffered from the condition for over a year and was in a coma from mid February until his death. He leaves behind a son.
2 / 22
Obama to Appeal Ruling Against Day of Prayer - The Obama administration announced that it will appeal a court decision that found the National Day of Prayer unconstitutional. A U.S. District judge ruled last week that the day, established by Congress 58 years ago, is a call of religious action. But the administration says that it’s simply an acknowledgement of the role of religion in the United States. Obama will still go on and issue a proclamation for the upcoming prayer day, May 6.
3 / 22
Obama to Eulogize W.Va. Coal Miners - On Sunday, President Obama will travel to West Virginia to deliver a eulogy for the 29 miners killed in a coal mine explosion earlier this month. Both he and Vice President Joe Biden will attend a memorial service for the miners in Beckley, W. Va. The tragedy was the country’s worst coal mine disaster since 1970. The president has called for stronger mining laws as a result.
4 / 22
Kerry Washington’s RACE a Success - “RACE,” the Broadway play starring actress Kerry Washington and actor David Alan Grier, has been deemed a huge success, both with critics and financially. The play is about a couple of lawyers who have been asked to defend a White man accused of raping a Black woman. Since the show opened late last year, producers have already recouped their $2.5 million investment. “RACE” will end its run on Broadway on June 13.
5 / 22
Obama Slams Wall Street - On Thursday, President Obama slammed Wall Street for its risky practices and asked its leaders for help with “updated, common sense” banking regulations to avoid any financial crisis in the future. He made the statements at Cooper Union College in New York, not too far from Wall Street.
ADVERTISEMENT
6 / 22
Dorothy Height Passes - Longtime civil rights leader Dorothy Height passed away this week. She was 98.
7 / 22
Obama Fundraises in California - Earlier this week, the president headed out to California to raise money for the Democratic Party and Sen. Barbara Boxer at various fundraisers. He faced hecklers at one event asking him to get rid of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. Obama responded saying both he and Boxer supported overturning the policy and that they should go yell at the people who support the ban. The events (three in total) were expected to raise between $3 million and $3.5 million for Boxer and the party.
8 / 22
Coolio's Baby's Mother Wants Support - Coolio’s child’s mother is demanding that he pay her $300 a month in support of their one-year-old son. According to documentation, the rapper makes just over $1,300 a month. The mom, Anabella Bellesi, told TMZ that in order to apply for Medi-Cali for her son, she has to prove that she’s exhausted all of her options.
9 / 22
Biggie’s Wrongful Death Suit Dismissed - A wrongful death suit against the city of L.A. over the fatal 1997 shooting of rapper Biggie (real name Christopher Wallace) has been dismissed. But an attorney for the late rapper’s estate said that the dismissal could just clear the way for investigators to make arrests. The suit, filed in 2002, alleged that LA officers were involved in the shooting and also claims that Death Row founder Suge Knight ordered the killing. The rapper was gunned down after leaving a late-night party in LA.
10 / 22
Spelman College Gets $1M Grant - Historically Black women’s college Spelman recently announced that it received a $1 million grant from ExxonMobil. The money will allow the school to offer scholarships to women interested in tech-related programs. Each year, six students majoring in targeted math or science areas will be chosen as ExxonMobil Scholars. The Georgia school is ranked as one the nation’s leading producers of Black females who go on to earn doctorates in science and engineering.
ADVERTISEMENT
11 / 22
Danny Glover Arrested in Maryland - Actor Danny Glover, along with 11 other activists, were arrested for trespassing while protesting outside of the Rockville, Md. headquarters of the food services company Sodexo. Protesters were speaking out against what they view as the company’s heavy-handed approach to dealing with its union employees. After being arrested, Glover was issued a citation and released. He faces a $1,000 fine or 90 days in jail.
12 / 22
Judge: Kwame Kilpatrick Violated Probation - Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick violated his probation by not reporting assets and not turning over his tax refunds, a judge ruled Tuesday. The violations could lead to jail time, when he’s sentenced next month. After pleading guilty to obstruction of justice in 2008, following the release of sex-texts with his mistress showing he’d lied about his affair, he agreed to repay the city of Detroit $1 million.
13 / 22
Man Won’t Be Charged In A.J.’s Death - Atlanta area police are dropping voluntary manslaughter charges against the man charged in the death of A.J. Jewel, the ex-fiance of "Real Housewives" star Kandi Burruss. Jewell died last October after a scuffle with a strip club manager. The announcement came after new medical experts agreed with an autopsy finding that Jewel died as a result of a sickle cell crisis.
14 / 22
Oprah Reacts to ‘So Called Biography’ - On Monday, talk show host Oprah Winfrey spoke out publicly for the first time against Kitty Kelley’s controversial new book about her. While presenting an award to her best friend Gayle King at the New York Women in Communications Matrix Awards, she told the audience that King truly cared about her as a friend and that the last week was “rough” for her when a “so-called biography came out,” People reports.
15 / 22
Grace Jones Disses Lady Gaga - Is Lady Gaga a copycat? ‘80s star Grace Jones seems to think so. When asked by London’s Guardian newspaper what she thought about Gaga, she replied, “I really don’t think of her at all. I go about my business… I wouldn’t go to see her.” She went on to say that Gaga asked if they could work together, but she turned her down. “I’d just prefer to work with someone who is more original and someone who is not copying me, actually,” she told the paper.
ADVERTISEMENT
16 / 22
Report: Kim & Nene Tag Team Dwight - According to reports, “Real Housewives of Atlanta” stars Nene Leakes and Kim Zolciak got into it with “sixth housewife” Dwight Eubanks. Nene and Kim went into a hotel to confront Dwight for supposedly spreading rumors about them, a source told RadarOnline. The confrontation turned violent when Nene attacked Dwight with a chair and Kim threw a vase, the source says. Security had to break up the fight.
17 / 22
Kelis Wants to Finalize Divorce ASAP - Kelis wants her divorce from Nas finalized as soon as possible. According to recent court documents uncovered by TMZ, Kelis says, “it would be in the best interest of both of us if our marital status is terminated as soon as possible.” Kelis also shut down any notion of being reunited with Nas stating, “I believe there is no possibility of reconciliation with [Nas].”
18 / 22
50 Cent’s “The Invitation Tour” - Rapper 50 Cent will launch a month-long tour starting May 28. The Invitation Tour will hit 19 cities (at mainly mid-sized venues), starting at the Wolstein Center in Cleveland and ending at the House of Blues in Atlantic City, New Jersey in June.
19 / 22
Chris Brown to Host Concert for Haiti - Singer Chris Brown will host a Haitian benefit concert in Virginia next month. Other featured acts will include Trey Songz, Keri Hilson, T-Pain, Ryan Leslie, Mario, Tank and Juelz Santana. Proceeds from the event, “Chris Brown & Friends, Virginia Stand Up! A Call to Action,” will go to the American Red Cross. Tickets for the May 15 concert are on sale on LiveNation’s Web site now.
20 / 22
T.I.’s New Album - Rapper T.I., who finished serving his sentence last month, recently announced his new album due out this summer will be entitled “King Uncaged.” The record will be released on August 24. The rapper will also release a mixtape with DJ Drama called “F*** A Mixtape.”
ADVERTISEMENT