Editor's note: This article was originally published on February 24, 2023. It has since been updated. Angela Davis is a 79-year-old author and symbol of the Black Power movement. As a political activist and truth seeker, Davis appeared on the February 21, 2023, episode of "Finding Your Roots" to uncover the mysteries of her family's past. Hosted by Henry Louis Gates Jr., the show presented Davis with some answers to questions she'd had for decades. The first question posed to Gates' team was to find the identity of Davis' maternal grandparents, whom her mother, Sallye Bell, never knew. Though they were unable to learn her grandmother's name, the team was able to trace her father's identity: John Austin Darden, a white Alabama lawyer. When Davis saw a photo of Darden, she noted the family resemblance, "He has my mother's lips. It's so funny, I can see her in him". The team also learned that Darden had four sons and two daughters, leaving the possibility that her mother had other Black half-siblings.

Angela Davis 'can't believe' ancestral lineage after finding she's a descendant of the Mayflower pilgrim

North Carolina State

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Town Talks

Biscuitville, a North Carolina-based chain, has been named the No. 1 fast-food breakfast spot in the nation by USA Today's 10Best. This accolade comes after a month-long voting period where people across the country chose their favorite breakfast destinations.

North Carolina-based chain ranks No. 1 in the nation for fast-food breakfast. Here’s why

PopCulture

The former 'American Pickers' star 'is alive and kicking,' according to his friend.

'American Pickers' Star Frank Fritz's Friend Addresses Death Rumors

Herbie J Pilato

It's been eight years since former TV child star Sawyer Sweeten, best known from Everybody Loves Raymond, died tragically by suicide at only 19 years old. Sawyer Sweeten, his twin brother Sullivan Sweeten, and their older sister Madylin, played Ray Romano's TV children on Everybody Loves Raymond, the Emmy-winning sitcom that originally aired on CBS 1996 to 2005.

The Tragic Suicide of Former TV Child Star Sawyer Sweeten ('Everybody Loves Raymond'): 9 Years Later

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J. Souza

A retired military officer who had been struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) tragically died after jumping from the world’s largest cruise ship last month, authorities confirmed.

Cruise Passenger Who Jumped from World's Largest Ship After Dispute Suffered with PTSD

Louisiana State

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Adams County, MS

Mississippi News Group

Written with artificial intelligence assistance. July 26, 2024 – According to the Darkhorse Press, a late-night raid led by the Adams County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Group resulted in significant drug and firearm seizures, as well as multiple arrests.

Early Morning Drug Bust Leads to Multiple Arrests in Adams County

TIME

From Anna Marie Tendler's memoir to T.J. Newman's thriller

The Best New Books to Read in August 2024

Virginia State

Editor's note: This article was originally published on February 17, 2022. It has since been updated. When Kimberly Morris started tracing her family roots, stretching back to her ancestors' enslavement in the 1800s, she didn't expect to uncover an incredible piece of history. Her genealogy journey led her to a decaying, one-room schoolhouse hidden in the woods of Virginia's Caroline County, a place overtaken by nature since her father's childhood. "This is my family's history," Morris told The Washington Post about the century-old building with its torn-up floor, precarious roof, and missing windows.

Black woman digging for her roots discovers father's segregated schoolhouse decaying in Virginia woods

Having experiences that feel as if one is interacting with a deceased person are common. These experiences tend to be positive and may even be experienced as therapeutic. Research finds that after-death communication experiences can occur outside of grief. Co-authored with Imants Barušs, Ph.D. After-death communications (ADCs) refer to...

What We Know About After-Death Communication Experiences

Although real-world conspiracies do exist, we frequently seem to find them where they are not. The forces of apophenia can drive our minds to create such patterns, when in fact they really don't exist. A clear if fictional example of this is to be seen in Umberto Eco's classic novel...

Conspiracies in Mind

NewsNinja

A lady is cautioning others about purchasing budget earrings from Amazon, Shein, and H&M, after she experienced keloid formations on her earlobes due to wearing them. On a TikTok post that has garnered more than 334,000 likes, Sailor Rozema (@sailor.rozema), a content creator, shares a warning with her community of "dangly earring girls": the inexpensive jewelry found in fast fashion can have negative impacts on your well-being.

‘I’ll never be wearing earrings for the rest of my life’: Customer warns against buying from Shein

Halfway through the year is a good time to take stock of our reading. The spare elegies of winter have left their mark; the elegant literary novels of spring have come and gone; the big juicy beach reads of summer are just beginning. Let’s pause here and take a look at what good things the year has already brought to us before we look ahead to the riches of the fall. Here are the 10 best books from the first half of 2024.

The best books of the year (so far)

Thank you to Red Tower Books for a copy of Apprentice to the Villain in exchange for an honest review. Apprentice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer. Evie Sage works for the most notorious bad guy in all of Rennedawn, The Villain. Someone as optimistic and cheery as Evie may seem out of place at Massacre Manor but do not judge a book by its cover. Sage has paid attention while working for the ruthless (and handsome) Trystan Maverine and has learned a few things. Just in time too because something is draining the magic in Rennedawn which puts Evie’s newfound family in danger.

Book Review: APPRENTICE TO THE VILLAIN

rolling out

Starting a conversation with someone new can often feel intimidating. Whether you’re at a networking event, a party or just meeting someone for the first time, breaking the ice is crucial to establishing a connection. Ice-breaking conversations are more than just small talk; they’re the gateway to deeper, more meaningful interactions. Finding the right topics to start a conversation can set the tone for a pleasant and engaging exchange. Here are five ice-breakers people find interesting, designed to captivate attention and spark curiosity.

5 conversation icebreakers people find interesting

Georgia State

Atlanta, GA

Daily Coffee Press

A 40-year-old man has been sentenced to over 28 years in prison for distributing significant amounts of fentanyl and other controlled substances to dealers in the Middle Georgia region. Authorities revealed that investigators uncovered evidence linking the drugs provided by the defendant, 40-year-old Lagary Williams, also known as "Frog," from Atlanta, to a fatal overdose.

Atlanta Man Sentenced to 28 Years for Supplying Deadly Fentanyl Linked to Fatal Overdose

Pompano Beach, FL

Akeena

In a shocking revelation, Kings Mart, a grocery store in Pompano Beach, has been slapped with a series of severe health violations by the Florida Department of Agriculture. The inspection, carried out by Francis Odio, uncovered a disturbing range of problems that have led to the immediate closure of several sections of the store.

An inspection found bugs in the food and rodent poop on the shelves at a Florida grocery store

There is news in the bestseller list category: the Publishers Weekly list has gone subscribers only…which seems strange, because what’s the appeal of being included on a bestseller list that very few people can see? Most of the New York Times content is paywalled, and they have public bestseller lists.

The Bestselling Books of the Week, According to All the Lists

Colorado State

David Heitz

A bill quietly introduced this spring in the Colorado legislature to decriminalize the possession of drug paraphernalia obtained by harm reductionists has become law. As low-key as the legislation was introduced, the bill was signed into law without fanfare June 6. It garnered little to no media attention.

Colorado legalizes needles, pipes for meth and crack if obtained by harm reduction group

Black history is rich, diverse, and full of remarkable achievements. From inventors to activists, Black people have made significant contributions to society. Did you know that the first open-heart surgery was performed by a Black surgeon, Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, in 1893? Or that Madam C.J. Walker became the first female self-made millionaire in America through her hair care empire? Black culture has also profoundly influenced music, art, and literature globally. Understanding these facts not only honors their legacy but also enriches our collective knowledge. Let's dive into 15 fascinating facts about Black people that highlight their incredible impact on the world.

15 Facts About Black People

Ohio State

The Lantern

On Tuesday, licensed Ohio dispensaries began legally selling non-medical marijuana to consumers; however, the drug’s possession, growth and/or usage are still prohibited on Ohio State’s campus. Credit: Jefferee Woo/Tampa Bay Times/TNS [Original caption: Four citizen-led petitions with proposals to update Dallas’ charter hit the 20,000 valid signature threshold to make it on the Nov. 5 election ballot, including one that would ban police officers from arresting or citing people carrying less than four ounces of marijuana.] As of Tuesday, students 21 and older can now legally purchase marijuana in Ohio.

Dispensary sales of recreational marijuana began Tuesday; possession and usage still prohibited on Ohio State’s campus

NewsBreak

Jake Casella Brookins Reviews Weird Black Girls by Elwin Cotman

Elwin Cotman (Scribner 978-1-66801-885-9, 330pp, $17.99, tp) April 2024. Cover by Michael Morris. There are plenty of speculative elements in Elwin Cotman’s newest collection, Weird Black...

Jake Casella Brookins Reviews Weird Black Girls by Elwin Cotman

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