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Most Memorable Black Moments Of 2023

CHICAGO DEFENDER — The year began with the nation reckoning with the police beating of Tyre Nichols. This summer, millions of fans flocked to Beyonce’s Renaissance World. To close out the year, Diddy faced bombshell sexual abuse allegations from Cassie.
The post Most Memorable Black Moments Of 2023 first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

2 years ago

December 25, 2023

Chicago Defender Staff

Black Information Network | Chicago Defender

From fake kidnappings to tragic injustices, 2023 was filled with unforgettable moments for Black Americans.

The year began with the nation reckoning with the police beating of Tyre Nichols. This summer, millions of fans flocked to Beyonce’s Renaissance World. To close out the year, Diddy faced bombshell sexual abuse allegations from Cassie.

These are just a few of the many events that rocked the Black community. Keep scrolling to look back at more of the most memorable moments in 2023.

Carlee Russell Fake Kidnapping

Russell made headlines in July after she suddenly disappeared following a 911 call where she reported a child walking alone on the side of the highway. The 26-year-old previously claimed she was kidnapped after getting out of her vehicle to check on the child. She returned home on foot two days after her alleged abduction.

At the time of her return, Russell’s loved ones said she “was literally fighting for her life for 48 hours” and asked the public to give her grace until “she’s physically & mentally stable again.”

Russell ultimately admitted that she fabricated the entire situation, from the 911 call to her abduction. She was charged and found guilty in October of false reporting to law enforcement and falsely reporting an incident.

Jada and Will Smith Relationship Revelations

Will and Jada had the internet buzzing after the actress said they were still legally married but had been separated for seven years during an October interview with Hoda Kotb.

“It was not a divorce on paper,” Hoda posed during the interview.

“Right,” Jada responded.

“…but it was a divorce,” Hoda said.

“Divorce,” Jada replied.

The interview came just ahead of the release of her memoir, Worthy, in which she also revealed that “unclear on the reason why Will is so upset” when Chris Rock made a joke about her alopecia before the infamous 2022 Oscars slap.

“We had been living separate lives and were there as family, not as husband and wife. But when I hear Will yell “wife” in the chaos of the moment, an internal shift of Oh s— . . . I am his wife! happens instantly,” Jada wrote in the book.

However, after her comments went viral, Jada clarified in follow-up interviews that she and Will were working toward “healing” their relationship.

Tyre Nichols Death

The police beating and death of Tyre Nichols shook the nation at the top of the year. Police footage showed Memphis police officers repeatedly punched, kicked, and hit Nichols with a baton during a traffic stop on January 7. Nichols was hospitalized following the beating and ultimately succumbed to his injuries three days later.

Five officers, who were a part of the Memphis Police Department’s SCORPION unit, which has since been deactivated, were fired and charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct, and official oppression. They were also indicted by a federal grand jury in September on charges relating to the deprivation of rights under color of law, including excessive force and failure to intervene as well as deliberate indifference, and conspiracy to witness-tamper.

Alabama Boat Brawl

The viral Alabama boat brawl was one of the biggest unifying moments for the Black community this year. A brawl unfolded in August at the Montgomery Riverfront Park after Damien Pickett, the Black co-captain of the Harriott ll, moved a pontoon boat that was illegally parked in his boat’s docking location.

Chaos ensued after Pickett moved the boat. Video showed Pickett being violently attacked by a group of white assailants on the dock of the riverfront park.

As Pickett attempted to fight back against his attackers, onlookers jumped to his defense, with one person swimming up to the dock to take on the assailants while another infamously wielded a folding chair.

Three white men, all of whom came from the pontoon boat, were initially arrested in connection to the incident. Another white woman, Mary Todd, and Reggie Ray, who wielded a folding chair as a weapon in defense of Pickett, are also facing charges in connection to the brawl.

Ms Jacky Oh’s Death

On May 31, Jacky Oh!, DC Young Fly’s longtime partner and Wild ‘N Out star, reportedly died in Miami after having a “mommy makeover.”

BET Media Group confirmed her death on June 1. She was 32.

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Jacklyn Smith, known to the world as Jacky Oh, a talented Wild ‘N Out family member whose impact will be forever treasured and missed,” BET Media Group wrote in an Instagram post. “Jacky Oh was a loving friend and beloved colleague of the Wild ‘N Out cast throughout five seasons. More importantly, she was a tremendous mother to three beautiful children.”

A medical examiner ruled her death accidental, and officials declined to launch a criminal investigation after she died from surgery complications.

Beyoncé’s Renaissance Tour

Beyoncé took the globe by storm when she kicked off her Renaissance World Tour this summer. Fans came out in droves in chrome, “Alien Superstar” themed costumes to watch Bey perform.

Viral moments from the concert included Bey’s daughter, Blue Ivy, serving as her backup dancer during the tour and the “Mute Challenge,” which saw cities competing with each other to see who could remain silent during a few seconds of the artist’s performance of “Energy.” The Grammy Award winner also released a concert film in December highlighting her journey on the monumental tour.

Rihanna’s Halftime Baby Reveal

After years of fans begging for her to return to music, Rihanna performed her hit songs “Umbrella,” “Work,” “Diamonds,” and more during the 2023 Super Bowl halftime show. The most memorable part of the show was Rihanna showing off her pregnant belly in a red jumper.

The artist later confirmed that she was having a second baby with A$AP Rocky. The couple welcomed Riot Rose in August 2023.

Keke Palmer/Darius Jackson Split and Abuse Allegations

Keke and her former partner Darius Jackson initially made headlines after he criticized the outfit she wore to an Usher concert in Las Vegas.

“It’s the outfit tho.. you a mom,” Jackson infamously tweeted and deleted in July.

Jackson received widespread backlash on social media for his comment but still doubled down on his stance in a follow-up tweet.

“We live in a generation where a man of the family doesn’t want the wife & mother to his kids to showcase booty cheeks to please others & he gets told how much of a hater he is,” Jackson later wrote. “This is my family & my representation. I have standards & morals to what I believe. I rest my case.”

After break-up reports surfaced, Palmer filed for legal and physical custody of her son, Leodis, who she shares with Jackson, as well as a temporary restraining order against her former partner in November. Palmer claimed that Jackson was “unhinged, volatile, and dangerous” and abused her “multiple times over the past 2+ years,” according to court documents.

Halle Bailey’s Little Mermaid Release

Beginning with the debut of the trailer, Black women and girls all over the world shared in their excitement about Halle Bailey playing the role of Ariel in the 2023 remake of The Little Mermaid.

The film faced a wave of racist backlash from people who believed Disney was “too woke” for casting Bailey as Ariel, but The Little Mermaid still prevailed as one of the biggest box office hits of 2023.

Black women of all ages shared videos on social media of their reactions to Bailey taking on the groundbreaking role, using hashtags like #representationmatters to note the importance of diversity in media.

Jonathan Majors Assault Case

As his stardom was on the rise, a trial began for Creed and Marvel star Jonathan Majors, who was charged with assault and aggravated harassment in connection to a March dispute with his former girlfriend, Grace Jabbari. According to a complaint, Majors struck Jabbari “about the face with an open hand, causing substantial pain and a laceration behind her ear.”

Amid the trial, text messages submitted in court appeared to reveal that Majors admitted to previous physical violence against his now-ex. In the September 2022 texts, Majors urged Jabbari to not go to the hospital for a head injury due to fears of an investigation and that they would “suspect something.”

Majors has maintained his innocence.

Tory Lanez Sent To Prison

In August, Lanez was handed down a 10-year prison sentence after he was found guilty of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, having a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle, and discharging a firearm with gross negligence in connection with the shooting of Megan Thee Stallion.

Meg testified that Lanez told her to “dance, b*tch,” and shot at her feet following a July 12, 2020, get-together at Kylie Jenner’s home. The rapper said at the time she had no doubt that Lanez fired the shots “over nothing more than a bruised ego.”

“When Megan insulted his ability as an artist — that’s what set him off that night,” a prosecutor previously said of Lanez.

Angel Reese and LSU Women’s Basketball Team Championship Win

Led by star forward Angel Reese, the LSU Tigers defeated the Iowa Hawkeyes to become this year’s NCAA women’s basketball national champions.

Reese, who was crowned the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, faced backlash after hitting Hawkeyes star Caitlin Clark with the “you can’t see me” hand motion and pointing at the finger where she would soon wear her national championship ring during the title game.

There were also headlines around Reese’s reaction to first lady Jill Biden suggesting that both the Tigers and Hawkeyes receive an invite to the White House, an honor that is usually only reserved for the winner. Reese initially expressed that she was hurt by the comment and wouldn’t visit the White House, but she ultimately participated in the tradition.

Cassie Sues Diddy Over Abuse Allegations

In November, Cassie’s lawsuit against Diddy sent shockwaves over the internet. The lawsuit alleged Cassie was subjected to years of sexual assault and trafficking at the hands of the mogul.

Cassie and Diddy, however, settled the lawsuit shortly after it was filed. Combs’ lawyer said the settlement wasn’t an admission of guilt.

“Just so we’re clear, a decision to settle a lawsuit, especially in 2023, is in no way an admission of wrongdoing,” the lawyer said.

Similar allegations later surfaced against Diddy including a woman alleging that the artist, his longtime lieutenant Harve Pierre, and a third unidentified man “gang raped” her when she was 17 inside a Manhattan recording studio.

Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes

Earlier this year, Coach Prime left Jackson State University for a head coaching position with the Colorado Buffaloes.

All eyes were on Prime and Buffaloes when they started the season 3-0, including a win against TCU football, who made it to the College Football National Championship Game last year. However, the Buffaloes ultimately finished the season 4-8, sparking criticism of Sanders’ coaching and presence in the media.

Tennessee 3

Tennesee House Republicans faced widespread criticism after they voted to expel Rep. Justin Jones and Rep. Justin Pearson, who are Black, for protesting gun violence on the chamber floor in the wake of a March shooting at Nashville’s The Covenant School. A third Democrat, Rep. Gloria Johnson, who is white, also joined the protest but wasn’t expelled from the House.

Days after their expulsions, local government bodies voted to reinstate Jones and Pearson to their seats. However, under state law, both were required to run for their old seats in primary and general elections. The two ultimately won special elections to keep their state seats.

Jeezy Files For Divorce From Jeannie Mai

O’Shae Sibley Killed At Gas Station For Voguing To Beyoncé

In July, O’Shae Sibley, a professional dancer and choreographer who is gay, and his friends were dancing to Beyoncé’s Rennaisance while filling up their tank before he was fatally stabbed in an apparent anti-LGBTQ attack.

The fatal incident unfolded after the friends were approached by a group of men who yelled slurs at them and demanded they stop dancing. Sibley and Otis Pena, one of his friends, told the men: “Stop saying that. There is nothing wrong with being gay.”

An argument between Sibley and the group ensued before one of the men stabbed him, police said. Sibley was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Following Sibley’s death, Bey paid tribute to the dancer on her official website.

Hip Hop’s 50th Anniversary

Throughout 2023, hip-hop celebrated its 50th anniversary. Vice President Kamala Harris hosted a first-of-its-kind celebration at her home of 50 years of hip-hop.

“To be clear, hip-hop culture is America’s culture,” the VP said in a statement. “It is music and melody and rhyme. Hip-hop is also an ethos of strength and self-determination; of ambition and aspiration; of pride, power, and purpose. Hip-hop is a declaration of identity. It says I love who I am. I represent where I come from, and I know where I’m going.”

Several music award shows including the Grammys also paid tribute to the momentous occasion.

Coco Gauff Becomes Grand Slam Champion

In September, Gauff won her first-ever Grand Slam, claiming a 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 win against Aryna Sabalenka in the U.S. Open final.

Gauff called out the people who doubted her during her post-match interview at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

“Honestly, thank you to the people who didn’t believe in me,” Gauff said. “Like a month ago, I won a 500 title and people said I would stop at that. Two weeks ago, I won a 1000 title and people were saying that was the biggest I was going to get. So three weeks later, I’m here with this trophy right now. I tried my best to carry this with grace and I’ve been doing my best.

Don Lemon’s CNN Exit

This year saw Lemon departing from his longtime role at CNN. In April, the now-former anchor said he was unexpectedly fired by CNN after 17 years with the network.

“I am stunned. After 17 years at CNN, I would have thought that someone in management would have had the decency to tell me directly. At no time was I ever given any indication that I would not be able to continue to do the work I have loved at the network,” Lemon tweeted at the time.

However, CNN fired back at Lemon’s statement calling it “inaccurate.”

“Don Lemon’s statement about this morning’s events is inaccurate. He was offered an opportunity to meet with management but instead released a statement on Twitter.”

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The post Most Memorable Black Moments Of 2023 appeared first on Chicago Defender.

The post Most Memorable Black Moments Of 2023 first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

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Black Artists in America, Installation Three Wraps at the Dixon Gallery and Gardens

TRI-STATE DEFENDER — With 50+ paintings, sculptures and assemblages, the exhibit features artists like Varnette Honeywood from Los Angeles, whose pieces appeared in Bill Coby’s private collection (before they were auctioned off) and on “The Cosby Show.” Also included are works by Alonzo Davis, another Los Angeles artist who opened one of the first galleries there where Black Artists could exhibit.

Published

2 weeks ago

March 24, 2026

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By Candace A. Gray | Tri-State Defender

The tulips gleefully greet those who enter the gates at the Dixon Gallery & Gardens on an almost spring day. More than 650,000 bulbs of various hues are currently on display. And they are truly breathtaking.

Inside the gallery, and equally as breathtaking, is the “Black Artists in America, From the Bicentennial to September 11” exhibit, which runs through Sunday, March 29. This is the third installment of a three-part series that started years ago and illustrates part of the Black experience through visual arts in the 20th century.

“This story picks up where part two left off,’’ said Kevin Sharp, the Linda W. and S. Herbert Rhea director for the Dixon. “This era is when we really start to see the emergence of these important Black artists’ agency and freedom shine through. They start to say and express what they want to, and it was a really beautiful time.”

With 50+ paintings, sculptures and assemblages, the exhibit features artists like Varnette Honeywood from Los Angeles, whose pieces appeared in Bill Coby’s private collection (before they were auctioned off) and on “The Cosby Show.” Also included are works by Alonzo Davis, another Los Angeles artist who opened one of the first galleries there where Black Artists could exhibit.

“Though [Davis] was from LA, he actually lived in Memphis for a decade,” said Sharp. “He was a dean at Memphis College of Art, and later opened the first gallery in New York owned and operated by black curators.”

Another featured artist is former NFL player, Ernie Barnes. His work is distinctive. Where have you seen one of his most popular paintings, Sugar Shack? On the end scene and credits of the hit show “Good Times.” His piece Saturday Night, Durham, North Carolina, 1974 is in this collection.

Memphis native James Little’s “The War Baby: The Triptych” is among more than 50 works featured in “Black Artists in America, From the Bicentennial to September 11” at the Dixon Gallery & Gardens, the final installment of a three-part series highlighting the impact and evolution of Black artists through 2011.

The exhibit features other artists with Memphis ties, including abstract painter James Little, who was raised in a segregated Memphis and attended Memphis Academy of Art (before it was Memphis College of Art). He later moved to New York, became a teacher and an internationally acclaimed fixture in the art world in 2022 when he was named a Whitney Biennial selected artist at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York.

Other artists like Romare Bearden, who had a Southern experience but lived up North, were featured in all three installments.

“During this period of time, he was a major figure,” said Sharp. “He wrote one of the first books on the history of African American art during a time when there were more Black academics, art teachers, more Black everything!”

Speaking of Black educators, Sharp said the head curator behind this tri-part series and Dixon’s partner in the arts is Earnestine Jenkins, Ph.D., an art history professor at the University of Memphis, who also earned a Master of Arts degree from Memphis State University (now UofM). “We began working with Dr. Jenkins in 2018,” he said.

Sharp explained that it takes a team of curators, registrars, counterparts at other museums, and more, about three years to assemble an exhibit like this. It came together quite seamlessly, he added. Each room conjured up more jaw-dropping “wows” than the one before it. Each piece worked with the others to tell the story of Black people and their collective experience during this time period.

One of the last artists about whom Sharp shared information was Bettye Saar, who will turn 100 years old this year. She’s been working in Los Angeles for 80 years and is finally getting her due. Her medium is collages or assemblages, and an incredible work of hers is on display. She’s married to an artist and has two daughters, also artists.

The exhibit catalogue bears some of these artists’ stories, among other scholarly information.

The exhibit, presented by the Joe Orgill Family Fund for Exhibitions, is culturally and colorfully rich. It is a must see and admission to the Dixon is free.

Visit https://www.dixon.org/ to learn more.

Fun Facts: An original James Little design lives in the flooring of the basketball court at Tom Lee Park, and he makes and mixes his own paint colors.

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Grief, Advocacy, and Education: A Counselor Reflects on Black Maternal Health

SAN DIEGO VOICE & VIEWPOINT — Last month healthcare leaders, birth workers, and community members gathered to honor the legacy of Charleston native Dr. Janell Green Smith, a nurse-midwife and doctor of nursing practice who died in January from childbirth complications. She had participated in more than 300 births and specialized in helping Black women give birth safely.

Published

2 weeks ago

March 24, 2026

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By Jennifer Porter Gore | Word-In-Black | San Diego Voice and Viewpoint

In 2024, the number of U.S. mothers who died as a result of pregnancy or childbirth dropped compared to 2023. But while slightly fewer Black mothers died that year, they still had three times the mortality rate of white women.

South Carolina’s rates of maternal deaths outpaced even the national rates. In fact, the state’s overall rate of maternal deaths between 2019 and 2023 was higher than all but eight states and the District of Columbia.

Last month healthcare leaders, birth workers, and community members gathered to honor the legacy of Charleston native Dr. Janell Green Smith, a nurse-midwife and doctor of nursing practice who died in January from childbirth complications. She had participated in more than 300 births and specialized in helping Black women give birth safely.

Her death shocked the community and her colleagues who are determined to address concerns about Black maternal health. The event also covered the importance of protecting mental health during grief and of men’s role in solving the maternal health crisis.

As both a therapist and a father, Lawrence Lovell, a licensed professional counselor and founder of Breakthrough Solutions, discussed ways the event’s attendees could process their grief over Green Smith’s death. He also shared ways male partners can advocate for women’s maternal health during pregnancy and childbirth.

Lovell spoke not just as a therapist but also as a father whose own family had briefly crossed paths with Green Smith. The event, he said, emerged organically from a moment of collective mourning.

Despite the grief, “it was still, like, a really beautiful event, a much-needed event, and it almost felt like we were all giving each other a collective family hug,” says Lovell.

His connection to Green Smith, Lovell says, was brief but meaningful during his wife’s pregnancy with their second child. Green Smith was practicing at the same birthing center where they had their child. She began practicing in Greenville a short time later.Even that short connection carried significance for Lovell, given the small number of Black maternal health professionals.

Lovell did not initially plan to become a mental health practitioner; he chose the career path after graduating from college, when someone suggested he consider psychology. His interest deepened when he noticed how few Black men work in mental health.

“Being Black man and playing football in college, there weren’t a lot of people that look like me talking about mental health,” says Lovell. “[I wanted] to give people that look like me an opportunity to work with someone that looks like them.”

Working with Expectant and New Parents

Lovell often counsels couples preparing for parenthood by, helping partners understand what a successful pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum recovery look like. That often means helping women manage postpartum depression.

As a man, Lovell says, it’s “humbling” that a woman “just trusts me enough to work with me through their pregnancy or their postpartum recovery.”

In his work, Lovell has noticed how few men understand pregnancy before they experience it with their partner. Because early pregnancy symptoms are often invisible, he says, men may underestimate how much support a mom-to-be actually needs.

“Sometimes they may not realize they don’t know much about pregnancy and what to expect in those three trimesters,” Lovell says. “I tell a lot of the men that just because you can’t see [she’s pregnant] doesn’t mean that she won’t appreciate your intense support in that first trimester.”

Education about pregnancy and postpartum recovery, he says, can change how men support their partners.

Teaching Advocacy in the Delivery Room

Another major focus of Lovell’s counseling is preparing men to advocate for mothers during labor.

“Helping men understand what pregnancy looks like: what delivery is going to look like, and what are the realistic expectations that I should have of myself in postpartum,” he says.

Lovell encourages partners to be honest about their expectations for what will happen during delivery. He helps them prepare for the big day by discussing the birth plan and knowing how to quickly recognize problems. Clear communication, he says, prevents misunderstandings.

He regularly trains men to ask their partners detailed questions about their expectations during and after pregnancy. Advocacy in medical settings can be especially important and requires attention to details the mother may not be able to address.

“It’s always important to fine-tune things and truly understand what helps your partner feel most supported,” Lovell says. “Instead of guessing, you should ask.”

Lovell recalls a moment during the birth of his first child when he had to take that role.

During the delivery, “I felt like something wasn’t as sanitary as I’d like it to be,” he says. “I asked, ‘Hey, can you switch those out? Can you change your gloves?’”

Lovell has a succinct but powerful message he regularly shares with clients’ families, and he shared it with attendees at last month’s event.

“Just to believe women,” he says. “I’ve worked with different couples, and sometimes I’m not really sure that there’s enough empathy from the men.”

That includes how women express pain.

“If a woman says, ‘my pain is at a nine,’ just because how you would express yourself at a nine is different than how she’s expressing herself at [that level] doesn’t mean you shouldn’t believe her,” he says.

Empathy, he says, can change outcomes far beyond the delivery room.

“We’ve got to believe women when they’re talking about their experiences and their feelings and their pain,” he says. “I think there’s a lot that we can prevent if we empathize better.”

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Future of Florida’s Black History Museum in Limbo

JACKSONVILLE FREE PRESS — A proposal sponsored by Tom Leek, a Republican from Ormond Beach, has now passed the Senate in back-to-back legislative sessions. But the House version, filed by Kiyan Michael, a Jacksonville Republican, did not receive final approval in either year, effectively stalling the effort.

Published

2 weeks ago

March 24, 2026

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Jacksonville Free Press

Plans to establish a long-awaited Black history museum in Florida are once again on hold after legislation needed to advance the project failed to clear the state House for a second consecutive year, despite repeated approval in the Senate.

A proposal sponsored by Tom Leek, a Republican from Ormond Beach, has now passed the Senate in back-to-back legislative sessions. But the House version, filed by Kiyan Michael, a Jacksonville Republican, did not receive final approval in either year, effectively stalling the effort.

Under Florida law, identical or similar bills must pass both chambers before heading to the governor’s desk. Without House approval, the legislation has been unable to move forward, leaving the project in limbo. Long journey, contested location.

The proposed museum, formally known as the Florida Museum of Black History, has been years in the making, with lawmakers and community leaders framing it as a long-overdue institution to preserve and showcase the state’s African American heritage .A central point of contention has been the museum’s location. St. Augustine — widely recognized as the nation’s oldest city and a site deeply tied to both slavery and early Black history — emerged as the leading contender. Supporters argue the city’s historical significance makes it a natural home for the museum. However, competing interests and regional considerations have fueled debate, slowing consensus among lawmakers.

While the Senate-backed measure has consistently advanced, the lack of alignment in the House has underscored ongoing divisions about how and where the project should take shape.

The holdup in the Florida House appears to be less about opposition to the museum itself and more about a combination of procedural bottlenecks, unresolved structural issues, and lingering disagreements over how the project should be formalized and governed.

Despite the legislative setbacks, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has publicly voiced support for the museum. Speaking last month during the unveiling of a statue of abolitionist Frederick Douglass in St. Augustine, DeSantis said the project would move forward “one way or another,” signaling an intent to see the museum built regardless of legislative hurdles.

The anticipated museum has already cleared several hurdles. St. Johns County signed an agreement last year with Florida Memorial University to use the land that once housed its campus last year’s legislative session netted $1 million in funding for St. Johns County to work on planning and design for the museum. However, its anticipated that a million $3 million is needed.

Still, without statutory approval to finalize key components — including governance, funding mechanisms and site selection — the project remains largely conceptual.
With the House bill failing again, the timeline for the museum’s development is unclear. Lawmakers could revisit the proposal in the next legislative session, but any further delays risk pushing the project back several more years. Advocates warn that continued inaction could stall momentum for a museum many see as critical to telling a fuller, more accurate story of Florida’s past. For now, the effort remains paused — caught between political support at the top and legislative gridlock within the Capitol.