ICYMI: Texas Woman Thought She Was Black for 70 Years

Plus, Russell Simmons calls out NYC mayor.

#NotRachel: Texas Woman Thought She Was Black for 70 Years - Verda Byrd, 72, was adopted by Black parents in 1943. For seven decades, Byrd lived her life as a Black woman. Yet, in 2013, Byrd discovered that her biological parents were white. Byrd described the experience as “overwhelming.” She also discovered that she had 10 biological siblings, four of whom are still alive. (Photo: ABC)

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#NotRachel: Texas Woman Thought She Was Black for 70 Years - Verda Byrd, 72, was adopted by Black parents in 1943. For seven decades, Byrd lived her life as a Black woman. Yet, in 2013, Byrd discovered that her biological parents were white. Byrd described the experience as “overwhelming.” She also discovered that she had 10 biological siblings, four of whom are still alive. (Photo: ABC)

Report: White Americans Found to Be Largest Terror Threat  - A new study has found that more Americans have been killed by attacks orchestrated by right-wing groups than Muslim extremist groups since the attack on the Twin Towers. Of the 26 attacks carried out since 9/11, 19 were planned by non-Muslim groups. Most of these non-Muslim groups are radical anti-government groups or white supremacists. (Photo: EPA/ERIK S. LESSER /LANDOV)

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Report: White Americans Found to Be Largest Terror Threat  - A new study has found that more Americans have been killed by attacks orchestrated by right-wing groups than Muslim extremist groups since the attack on the Twin Towers. Of the 26 attacks carried out since 9/11, 19 were planned by non-Muslim groups. Most of these non-Muslim groups are radical anti-government groups or white supremacists. (Photo: EPA/ERIK S. LESSER /LANDOV)

Finding Your Roots Suspended  - The third season of PBS's Finding Your Roots has been suspended due to an exclusion of Ben Affleck’s slaveholding ancestry. A series of emails between the show’s host Henry Louis Gates Jr. and Sony Chairman William Lynton were uncovered, which revealed the editing process. (Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

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Finding Your Roots Suspended  - The third season of PBS's Finding Your Roots has been suspended due to an exclusion of Ben Affleck’s slaveholding ancestry. A series of emails between the show’s host Henry Louis Gates Jr. and Sony Chairman William Lynton were uncovered, which revealed the editing process. (Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

Oldest Woman in the World Passes Away  - Jeralean Talley, the world’s oldest person, has died at age 116. Talley was born in Montrose, Ga., in 1899 and moved to Michigan in the 1930s. Talley was recently hospitalized for fluid in her lungs before returning home to “where she wanted to be.” Talley is survived by her family members, including a 2-year-old great-great grandson. (Photo: Elisha Anderson/Detroit Free Press via AP Photo, fie)

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Oldest Woman in the World Passes Away  - Jeralean Talley, the world’s oldest person, has died at age 116. Talley was born in Montrose, Ga., in 1899 and moved to Michigan in the 1930s. Talley was recently hospitalized for fluid in her lungs before returning home to “where she wanted to be.” Talley is survived by her family members, including a 2-year-old great-great grandson. (Photo: Elisha Anderson/Detroit Free Press via AP Photo, fie)

Russell Simmons Calls Out NYC Mayor  - In a recent interview with Hot 97’s Ebro in Morning, Russell Simmons criticized New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio for not confronting the city’s police commissioner, William Bratton, and New York’s governor, Andrew Cuomo. Simmons called out Gov. Cuomo for not appointing special prosecutors to review police brutality cases. Regarding the Eric Garner case, he also criticized Mayor Bill de Blasio for “getting pushed around” and “not doing his job.” (Photos from Left: Joshua Blanchard/Getty Images for Dr. Mona Vand, Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

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Russell Simmons Calls Out NYC Mayor  - In a recent interview with Hot 97’s Ebro in Morning, Russell Simmons criticized New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio for not confronting the city’s police commissioner, William Bratton, and New York’s governor, Andrew Cuomo. Simmons called out Gov. Cuomo for not appointing special prosecutors to review police brutality cases. Regarding the Eric Garner case, he also criticized Mayor Bill de Blasio for “getting pushed around” and “not doing his job.” (Photos from Left: Joshua Blanchard/Getty Images for Dr. Mona Vand, Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

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Miles Morales Is the New Spider-Man  - Miles Morales, a biracial teen of African-American and Hispanic descent, will be the new face of Spider-Man. Although Peter Parker will always be known as the “original Spider-Man,” Morales will be behind the mask of the Spider-Man reboot. The decision comes in response to readers who stated that they “didn’t need another white Spider-Man.” (Photo: Marvel Entertainment via Youtube)

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Miles Morales Is the New Spider-Man  - Miles Morales, a biracial teen of African-American and Hispanic descent, will be the new face of Spider-Man. Although Peter Parker will always be known as the “original Spider-Man,” Morales will be behind the mask of the Spider-Man reboot. The decision comes in response to readers who stated that they “didn’t need another white Spider-Man.” (Photo: Marvel Entertainment via Youtube)

President Obama Allows Public to See His Emotional Side  - In the past year, the country has seen a very different side of President Obama. Famous for his stoic nature, Obama has been spotted allowing his emotions to convey his true feelings. Most recently, the president fought back tears as he delivered an eulogy for Vice President Biden’s son, Beau Biden, who recently passed away from brain cancer. He has also claimed to “start crying in the middle of the day” when he thinks about his daughters growing up. (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

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President Obama Allows Public to See His Emotional Side  - In the past year, the country has seen a very different side of President Obama. Famous for his stoic nature, Obama has been spotted allowing his emotions to convey his true feelings. Most recently, the president fought back tears as he delivered an eulogy for Vice President Biden’s son, Beau Biden, who recently passed away from brain cancer. He has also claimed to “start crying in the middle of the day” when he thinks about his daughters growing up. (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

2016 Candidates Weigh in on Confederate Flag Debate  - After the attack on Emanuel AME, a fierce debate regarding the display of the Confederate Flag on government property has erupted. This debate has also been a hot topic regarding candidates running in the upcoming 2016 election. Recently, South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley called for the removal of the flag from the State Capitol grounds. (Photo: read MLADEN ANTONOV/AFP/Getty Images)

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2016 Candidates Weigh in on Confederate Flag Debate  - After the attack on Emanuel AME, a fierce debate regarding the display of the Confederate Flag on government property has erupted. This debate has also been a hot topic regarding candidates running in the upcoming 2016 election. Recently, South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley called for the removal of the flag from the State Capitol grounds. (Photo: read MLADEN ANTONOV/AFP/Getty Images)

Hamas and Israeli Defense Forces Accused of War Crimes  - The ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israeli Defense Forces has been reviewed by the United Nations. In the report, the U.N. has found violations of human rights on both sides of the decade long war. The killing of 21 suspected collaborators by Hamas is cited as a violation. Various Israeli operations in residential Palestinian neighborhoods are also cited as war crimes. (Photo: Mustafa Hassona/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

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Hamas and Israeli Defense Forces Accused of War Crimes  - The ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israeli Defense Forces has been reviewed by the United Nations. In the report, the U.N. has found violations of human rights on both sides of the decade long war. The killing of 21 suspected collaborators by Hamas is cited as a violation. Various Israeli operations in residential Palestinian neighborhoods are also cited as war crimes. (Photo: Mustafa Hassona/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

Nursery Programs Help Prisoners Stay Out of the System  - There is a decrease in recidivism rates among mothers who are allowed to care for their newborns while serving time in prison. A 10-year study found that 50 percent of women who had been separated from their newborns were taken back into custody. Only 17 percent of “nursery participants” returned back to prison. This policy also saves a significant amount of tax payer dollars. “Nursery programs” within women’s correctional facilities cost 40 percent less than placing a child in foster care. (Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images)

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Nursery Programs Help Prisoners Stay Out of the System  - There is a decrease in recidivism rates among mothers who are allowed to care for their newborns while serving time in prison. A 10-year study found that 50 percent of women who had been separated from their newborns were taken back into custody. Only 17 percent of “nursery participants” returned back to prison. This policy also saves a significant amount of tax payer dollars. “Nursery programs” within women’s correctional facilities cost 40 percent less than placing a child in foster care. (Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images

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Miami Beaches Provide Free Sunscreen  - Mount Sinai Medical Center has partnered with the city of Miami Beach to provide dispensers of sunscreen. Similar to a water fountain, beachgoers can gain access to SPF 30 sunscreen free of charge. The partnership comes as an effort to combat a rising number of skin cancer cases, which is the most preventable type of the dangerous disease. (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

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Miami Beaches Provide Free Sunscreen  - Mount Sinai Medical Center has partnered with the city of Miami Beach to provide dispensers of sunscreen. Similar to a water fountain, beachgoers can gain access to SPF 30 sunscreen free of charge. The partnership comes as an effort to combat a rising number of skin cancer cases, which is the most preventable type of the dangerous disease. (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Stanford Students Create Controversial App  - Whatsgoodly, an app created by Stanford students, features polls about many controversial topics. As an anonymous user, one can create a poll about any topic and poll other users on their thoughts. Questions have ranged from “Does the United States have a ‘rape culture’?” to “Best cleaning ladies: foreign or not foreign?” (Photo: Whatsgoodly)

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Stanford Students Create Controversial App  - Whatsgoodly, an app created by Stanford students, features polls about many controversial topics. As an anonymous user, one can create a poll about any topic and poll other users on their thoughts. Questions have ranged from “Does the United States have a ‘rape culture’?” to “Best cleaning ladies: foreign or not foreign?” (Photo: Whatsgoodly)

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Hidden Supreme Court Cases  - Obamacare and marriage equality cases aren’t the only “big cases” rolling through the Supreme Court. This summer, the Supreme Court will be deciding on two important cases regarding the environment and the Fair Housing Act. Michigan v. Environmental Protection Agency challenges the EPA’s consideration of costs of regulation when setting emission standards. Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs v. the Inclusive Communities Project Inc. explores whether the Fair Housing Act applies to intentional discrimination as well as institutional racism. (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

New App Matches Women to Top Tech Startups  - Small startups often lack the resources to focus on hiring a diverse staff. Once they grow into bigger companies, this trend continues. A new startup, Doxa, has been founded to change that. Doxa operates in an “OKCupid-style” that allows women to find businesses where female employees thrive. Based on their website, Doxa’s goal is to “cast a light on the best places to work.” A user signs in with their LinkedIn and takes a quiz to find which company in the Doxa database fits them. (Photo: Caiaimage/Sam Edwards/Getty Images)

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New App Matches Women to Top Tech Startups  - Small startups often lack the resources to focus on hiring a diverse staff. Once they grow into bigger companies, this trend continues. A new startup, Doxa, has been founded to change that. Doxa operates in an “OKCupid-style” that allows women to find businesses where female employees thrive. Based on their website, Doxa’s goal is to “cast a light on the best places to work.” A user signs in with their LinkedIn and takes a quiz to find which company in the Doxa database fits them. (Photo: Caiaimage/Sam Edwards/Getty Images)