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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

3 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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COMMENTARY: Jim Crow 2.0 at the Pentagon

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — The American people are expected to believe that one extraordinary officer after another suddenly fails to meet some undefined standard of excellence. We are expected to ignore impeccable service records while accepting that political appointees alone possess the wisdom to determine who is worthy of advancement.

Published

4 weeks ago

August 3, 2026

bpusa-syndication

Pete Hegseth insists that he is restoring “merit” to the United States military. But after months of dismissals, blocked promotions, and ideological purges, the evidence tells a different story. His campaign against so-called “diversity, equity, and inclusion” has become something far more dangerous: an assault on equal opportunity that falls with particular force on African Americans, while also targeting women, Latinos, gay Americans, and transgender service members.

The latest example is both troubling and infuriating.

Once again, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has reportedly blocked the promotion of an exceptionally qualified woman—Rear Admiral Amy Bauernschmidt. Bauernschmidt is no ordinary officer. She became the Navy’s first woman to command a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, one of the most demanding leadership assignments in the world. Her career reflects decades of exemplary performance, operational excellence, and leadership under extraordinary pressure.

Yet once again, a distinguished military career appears to have been subordinated to an ideological agenda masquerading as “merit.”

I call BS!

The American people are expected to believe that one extraordinary officer after another suddenly fails to meet some undefined standard of excellence. We are expected to ignore impeccable service records while accepting that political appointees alone possess the wisdom to determine who is worthy of advancement.

The pattern has become impossible to ignore.

General Charles Q. Brown Jr., only the second African American to serve as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was dismissed despite a career that placed him among the most accomplished military leaders of his generation.

Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the first woman ever to serve as Chief of Naval Operations, was removed despite decades of distinguished command experience.

Reports have documented interventions that blocked or delayed the promotions of Black officers and women selected through the military’s rigorous promotion system.

Now Rear Admiral Amy Bauernschmidt joins the growing list of highly accomplished officers whose careers have been derailed for reasons that have never been persuasively explained.

Where is Congress?

Its silence has become deafening.

Congress has an independent constitutional responsibility to oversee the armed forces. Instead, too many lawmakers have watched silently while one of the nation’s most respected institutions is subjected to ideological litmus tests and political interference.

This is not military reform. It is testosterone-fueled performative masculinity disguised as a philosophy of military excellence.

The irony is impossible to miss. Hegseth repeatedly invokes “merit,” yet his rhetoric begins with the assumption that Black officers, women, and other historically excluded Americans must somehow justify their achievements in ways that white male officers are rarely required to do.

That is not meritocracy. It is prejudice wrapped in patriotic language.

No one is asking that anyone be promoted because of race or gender. Americans simply expect that promotions be based on demonstrated competence, leadership, integrity, and service. The officers being targeted have already proven themselves repeatedly under one of the world’s most demanding evaluation systems.

Their records speak for themselves.

The attack on African American military leadership has been especially pernicious.

For generations, Black Americans fought in segregated units, earned decorations while denied equal treatment, and repeatedly demonstrated loyalty to a nation that often failed to extend them full citizenship. They broke barriers not because standards were lowered but because excellence finally overcame institutional discrimination.

Today’s campaign against “diversity” threatens to revive old assumptions under new slogans.

The implication that Black generals and admirals somehow owe their success to affirmative action rather than extraordinary performance echoes some of the ugliest stereotypes of the Jim Crow era. Yesterday’s segregationists claimed Black Americans were inherently less qualified. Today’s culture warriors simply employ more politically acceptable language while inviting the same suspicion about Black achievement.

That is why Hegseth’s campaign increasingly resembles Jim Crow 2.0.

The targets may now wear stars on their shoulders instead of military patches on segregated uniforms, but the underlying message is hauntingly familiar: Black excellence is presumed suspect, while white excellence is presumed earned.

America’s military became the finest fighting force in history because it opened its doors to talent wherever it could be found. It grew stronger after President Truman desegregated the armed forces. It became stronger when women assumed greater command responsibilities. It became stronger when every qualified American was given the opportunity to serve to the fullest extent of their abilities.

Diversity is not a concession. It is a strategic advantage.

The nation’s adversaries do not fear an American military because it is racially homogeneous. They fear it because it draws upon the talents of more than 340 million Americans whose diverse experiences, perspectives, and abilities make our armed forces unmatched anywhere in the world.

Every politically motivated dismissal of a distinguished officer sends a chilling message throughout the ranks: excellence alone may no longer be enough if you belong to the wrong demographic group.

That weakens morale. It weakens recruitment. It weakens retention.

And ultimately, it weakens national security.

Pete Hegseth has every right to pursue military readiness. He has no right to redefine merit in ways that repeatedly cast suspicion upon the accomplishments of Black officers, women, and others who have devoted their lives to defending this nation.

America deserves better. The men and women who wear the uniform deserve better. The Constitution deserves better.

And unless Congress finds the courage to exercise meaningful oversight, history may well remember this period not as a restoration of military excellence, but as the moment political ideology attempted to resurrect, in modern form, the old poison of exclusion.

Jim Crow did not strengthen America. Jim Crow 2.0 will not strengthen America’s military. It will only diminish it

Wade Henderson
Strategic Advisor
Civil and Human Rights
wade@wadejhenderson.com

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New Judge Could Decide if Karmelo Anthony Gets a New Trial

By Emilie St. John (Contributor) Karmelo Anthony will return to court next month in his first step to overturn his murder conviction. Anthony was found guilty last month in the stabbing death of Austin Metcalf and sentenced to 35 years in prison. His new legal team has filed motions seeking the recusal of State District […]
The post New Judge Could Decide if Karmelo Anthony Gets a New Trial appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

4 weeks ago

July 31, 2026

Oakland Post

By Emilie St. John
(Contributor)

Karmelo Anthony will return to court next month in his first step to overturn his murder conviction.

Anthony was found guilty last month in the stabbing death of Austin Metcalf and sentenced to 35 years in prison. His new legal team has filed motions seeking the recusal of State District Judge John Roach Jr. from overseeing the appeals process.

Two hearings have been scheduled on the motion for Aug. 9 and 10 in the Collin County Courthouse in McKinney, Texas, according to Fox4 News.

On July 14, Senior Judge Sid L. Harle of the 226th District Court was assigned to preside over the defense’s motion to recuse Collin County Judge John Roach. The assignment took effect immediately and authorized Harle to handle all matters related to the recusal request, the filing read.

The Collin County District Attorney’s Office continues to defend its handling of the case by issuing a statement to NBC 5 DFW.

“The defendant’s new lawyers have filed a motion containing several inaccurate characterizations of the trial proceedings. The entire prosecution team and I conducted this trial ethically and in full compliance with the Court’s rulings and any agreements with defense counsel. We look forward to addressing these claims thoroughly in a Court of law in the coming weeks. The jury heard extensive evidence over the course of the trial and returned a unanimous verdict. We remain confident in that verdict and the fairness of the proceedings.”

Anthony’s new legal team, made up of appellate, civil rights, and criminal defense attorneys, was retained following Anthony’s conviction.

“Our responsibility is to determine whether a legal error occurred and to ensure that every issue supported by the record is fully and vigorously presented on appeal,” the team said in a statement.

“We recognize the profound loss suffered by one young man’s family and the uncertainty facing another, and we extend our respect to everyone whose lives have been forever changed by these events,” the release reads.

Anthony was charged with the stabbing death of Austin Metcalf during a track meet in Frisco, Texas, April 2, 2025. Anthony has long maintained it was an act of self-defense.

The attorneys are representing Anthony pro bono. The nearly 200-page notice of appeal seeks a new trial because his Sixth Amendment right to a public trial was violated.

“The cumulative and practical effect of these provisions was to exclude members of the public from proceedings at every stage,” the filing reads.

The filing also focused on an alleged “handshake deal” that kept Anthony from taking the stand in his defense.

The defense filing said the agreement was that the jury would not hear that Metcalf and his twin brother had been accused of racism and bullying in the past. In exchange, they also would not see Anthony’s cellphone records or his school disciplinary record, according to court documents reported by the Dallas Morning News.

Anthony’s former defense attorney, Mike Howard, said the defense relied heavily on that deal. The team chose not to ask certain questions of witnesses or call on a separate expert witness based on that agreement. It also abandoned plans to introduce testimony and evidence about the allegations against Metcalf and his brother.

Appellate attorney Russell Wilson is now handling post-trial proceedings and Anthony’s appeal. He recently sat down for an interview, stating, “The court committed multiple errors during the June murder trial, preventing him from receiving a fair trial.”

“You know, we file motions that we expect to prevail on, but we understand that there’s two sides to every story. And at the end of the day, it’ll be a judge that has to make these decisions, but we feel confident in the positions that we’re taking,” Wilson said during an interview with WFAA. “There were substantial issues that we thought a reviewing court needed to look at. We thought these were constitutional irregularities, and we could have them addressed now. And so, we put them into a motion for a new trial.”

Bree West, a former Dallas County Assistant District Attorney, found it startling that so little time was given to Anthony’s team for such a serious “life or death” situation.

“I do think that it’s really challenging that potentially a court decided that you have 10 minutes to make that level of decision when it has the potential of being life-altering,” said West during an interview with Fox 4 News.

Judge Harle is no stranger to high-profile cases, having presided over the prosecution of a police officer charged in connection with the 2022 mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde.

Anthony was convicted on June 9 of the murder of Austin Metcalf and sentenced to 35 years in prison.

The post New Judge Could Decide if Karmelo Anthony Gets a New Trial appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

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COMMENTARY: LSMFT! Lord Save Me from Trump!

WESTSIDE GAZETTE — The author criticizes Donald Trump’s rhetoric, noting his use of terms like “Dumbocrats” and “Communist” to describe Democrats and democracy. The column asserts that Trump’s current strategy involves creating doubt about midterm elections due to a lack of Republican agenda.
The post COMMENTARY: LSMFT! Lord Save Me from Trump! appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

4 weeks ago

July 31, 2026

Oakland Post

Frankly Speaking

Wow! Wow! Wow! The swamp drainers have truly stepped down to new levels of stupidity. You remember Weapons of Mass Destruction? We now have Weapons of Mass Distraction. Trump has introduced Dumbocrats and Communists into the conversation about Democrats and Democracy.

Trump lies so much, and his current strategy is to set up doubt about midterm elections because he and Republicans have no agenda!

He has no “Trump “ card, but Iran has a strait! He called it a skirmish; it’s now a War. He said five days; now it’s five months. He said few casualties; now it’s 18 deaths. He knew nothing about Project 2025 but hired its architects! Trump lies about the lies and often forgets these little inventions called cameras and phones

We see and hear and then see and hear the inconsistencies.

I didn’t like 45 and dislike 47 even more!

The post LSMFT! Lord Save Me From Trump! appeared first on The Westside Gazette.

Based on reporting by Westside Gazette.

The post COMMENTARY: LSMFT! Lord Save Me from Trump! appeared first on BlackPressUSA.