Entertainment
The 2024 CIAA Tournament highlights Black culture, sports and the impact of HBCUs
Photo credit: Kim Hairston
Baltimore has long been the epicenter of black culture. Its roots in abolitionism, the advancement of jazz, and the civil rights movement, amongst others, only add to the city’s undeniable contributions to American history. As the world slowly recovered from the effects of the global pandemic in 2021, Charm City added one other layer to its wealthy history by introducing Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Tournament to Maryland.
From February 26 to March 3, the famous tournament returned to Baltimore for a series of events going down at the newly renovated CFG Bank Arena. In addition to the range of activities participants can engage in, one of the most significant points of the CIAA weekend is that all of it takes place against the backdrop of this beautiful seaside city. “Baltimore is in the spotlight right now – our arts, culture, health and technology industries are tremendous assets that enhance our city’s attractiveness as a cultural center,” says Al Hutchinson, president and CEO of Visit Baltimore. “As for the CIAA, our entire community has truly embraced the tournament in a way that energizes our local businesses and brings great energy to CFG Bank Arena and beyond.”
It’s protected to say that now, greater than ever, is the perfect time to plan a visit to this iconic destination. To find out about the city’s history, visitors can go to places equivalent to Reginald F. Lewis Museumwhich houses works of art and artifacts dating back to 1784, or cultural centers equivalent to Maryland Center for History and Cultureor Lillie Carroll Jackson Civil Rights Museum. In terms of event chronology, 2024 is the fiftieth anniversary of NCAA Division II and the twentieth anniversary of the Mister and Miss CIAA scholarship competition and the Ball Girl/Ball Boy tournament program. Through these groundbreaking initiatives, CIAA continues to leverage its influence to influence the next generation of athletes and entrepreneurs.
In addition to the 26 games on this 12 months’s Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championship Tournament, the CIAA once more hosted fan-favorite events for all ages, including Fan Fest, the Career Expo, the eighth annual Samaritans’ Feet “Shoes of Hope” initiative, the John B. McClendon Jr. exhibit. Hall of Fame Breakfast and other exciting events. CIAA has also partnered with Visit Baltimore to host its third annual series of town hall meetings and symposia. Here, fans enjoyed annual entertainment events held during tournament week equivalent to the CIAA Legends of Hip Hop Party, CIAA High School and Greek Step Shows, CIAA Alumni Party and more.
CIAA’s family-friendly environment makes it a destination for people from all walks of life, but especially graduates and students of historically black colleges and universities – higher often called HBCUs. These institutions of higher learning were created to serve African Americans in a time when our opportunities are limited. Now, people of color can advance their careers with a level from a prestigious HBCU. These universities have grown in popularity lately, and CIAA is using its resources to further highlight them.
“It’s great to see more emphasis on HBCUs and their importance in American society, especially in recent years, although I think it’s long overdue,” Hutchinson says. “HBCUs are critical institutions for society at large because they advance education and create opportunities for historically marginalized communities while promoting social equity and diversity. These institutions also serve as champions of culture and heritage, preserving and celebrating the rich history and contributions of African Americans to the broader American experience.”
With tons of of 1000’s of people flocking to Baltimore for CIAA, the city could showcase its unique cuisine to the masses. During the weekend, Black-owned restaurant tour in Baltimore began. The third edition of BORT was intentionally aligned with the tournament dates, creating a chance to highlight local Black-owned restaurants while basketball fans were on the town. Each night, a number of restaurants would host a special menu or event and feature venues equivalent to Rooted spit, City Oyster, Soul of the Diaspora, Papi’s Kitchenand more.
After games, parties and plenty of food, visitors had plenty of places to pick from to loosen up. Baltimore has long been home to a set of boutique properties which are Black-owned and/or operated by leaders who bring the city’s local culture and history to their locations. Hotel Revival is the city’s only boutique art hotel, The Ivy is Baltimore’s only black-owned luxury property, and Sagamore Pendry in Fell’s Point is a luxury resort with sweeping views of Baltimore’s inner harbor, a shocking waterfront pool, and a whiskey bar offering locally distilled Sagamore Rye.
For many, the CIAA weekend is a chance to reconnect with old friends, strengthen ties under the universal umbrella of sports, and find out about the history and culture of one of the largest cities in the country. The beautiful thing about this tournament is that it might provide much more to participants annually. “The CIAA Tournament is one of the largest and most prestigious basketball tournaments in the country and for anyone, whether you have played or not, this is a chance to come out and experience something incredibly special inside and outside the facility, but the venue is the best place to start this event by getting tickets and observing these young people and their talent,” says CIAA Commissioner Jacqie McWilliams in an interview with ESSENCE.
“I mean, there’s so much heritage that they’ll be able to have an experience right there, but when they’re gone, there’s plenty for everyone to enjoy,” he continues. “It doesn’t matter how old you are, you can definitely be embedded in the CIAA family. And whether you went to an HBCU or not, it doesn’t matter. “It doesn’t matter if you are black, white, red or yellow, you will be a part of it if you come and experience something at this conference that I believe is greatness.”
Entertainment
Kendrick Lamar Releases Surprise Album ‘GNX’; group chats are going crazy
There are few things more exciting than receiving an infinite barrage of text messages at the very same time in numerous group chats. This normally implies that something vital has happened in popular culture. Well, the exact same thing happened about noon on November 22, within the yr of our Lord two thousand and twenty-four. Kendrick Lamar Duckworth, higher often called Kendrick Lamar, released the album “GNX”, nod towards Buick Grand National Regal GNXa rare muscle automobile released in 1987 – which also happens to be the yr Kendrick was born.
“GNX” is coming to the tip of what has been a banner yr for Kendrick Lamar. From epic diss records geared toward Drake, to creating the largest song of his profession (and a Drake diss track) on “Not Like Us”, to the “Pop Out” concert streaming live to tell the tale Amazon Prime, Kendrick won this yr. He even received seven Grammy nominations, mostly for “Not Like Us.” And this victory will proceed in the brand new yr. In September, it was announced that Kendrick would stay Super Bowl 2025 headliner will happen in New Orleans. This announcement sparked some controversy and comments from several New Orleans legends similar to Juvenile and most notably Lil Wayne, who felt disrespected; Kendrick immediately refers to this topic within the opening song of the album (all stylized in lower case), “wacced out murals”.
The thing is, Kendrick didn’t sleep for many of 2024. And then, while the remaining of us were minding our own business, listening to other albums that had just dropped, like Ice Cube’s “Man Down,” I began receiving text after text… and I knew that would only mean that something vital happened.
At this point in my life (and possibly even yours), Kendrick Lamar releases are a drop-everything-and-listen event. I immediately went to the streaming service, launched “GNX” and pressed “Play”.
I need to admit that the primary time I heard the album I used to be a bit confused. Kendrick has probably never been more popular or famous; if there was ever a time to drag a Kanye West and release his own version of “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” – an album largely produced as Kanye’s best and most representative of Kanye’s greatness – now could be the time. “GNX” has a far more modern West Coast vibe and is certainly more for his die-hard fans than anyone who just began gaining attention due to his beef with Drake. Maybe that was the purpose; possibly not.
Either way, I can imagine that folks whose favorite lines are “OV-Ho” won’t be immediately thrilled. I wasn’t immediately blown away (though very amused by how sensitive Kendrick is to what people say about him on social media, well, everyone), but as is all the time the case with Kendrick albums, repeated listens are likely to correct any immediate monotony that I even have about his projects. For example, now that I’ve listened to it just a few times, I can not wait to listen to black college bands playing “tv off” style, which seems like a cousin of “Not Like Us.” The Shoot, Bayou Classic, which also takes place yearly in New Orleans on Thanksgiving Day, stands out as the first time we hear a band playing “TV off.”
Since the album didn’t come out long enough to be reviewed, group chats and social media were abuzz with immediate reactions. This is the a part of music releases I really like, where everyone seems to be listening to the identical thing, offering premature takes that will not even delay the following day. I’m not different; I’m sure I’ll say something about this album that can sound silly by Monday. Shoot, I can have already done it. But that is what happens when great artists release music. We spend time with others after which we refer to them, analyze them, criticize them, praise them, destroy them and let all our prejudices fly free. Love it.
It’s value noting that certainly one of Drake’s diss tracks that did not appear during last summer’s fracas was titled “The Heart Part 6,” and was an apparent try to usurp Kendrick’s pre-album practice of removing a non-album song titled “The Heart.” Well, Kendrick has a song on his recent album called, you guessed it, “The Heart, Pt. 6,” which I feel will probably be released soon Drake. Good job, Kenny.
Argue.
Entertainment
New music this week: Tyla, Lola Brooke, Coco Jones and more – Essence
Happy Friday, people! Whether you are drinking a warm beverage or preparing for a fun-filled weekend, this week’s latest music releases set the tone. From sensual R&B melodies to powerful hip-hop anthems, these songs have something for everybody.
Coco Jones leads the pack along with her seasonal album, and Tyla offers a heartfelt change of tone with “Tears.” Miguel’s smooth “Always Time” and Jorja Smith’s tender “Stay Another Day” showcase R&B at its finest, while Lola Brooke and Killer Mike turn up the warmth on “Go To Yo Head” and “Warryn’s Groove,” respectively. Today’s list also includes music from Eric Bellinger, Coi Leray, Blxst and more.
Below you possibly can read our list of latest products.
Entertainment
Serena Williams is cutting short divorce talks for a second time after the couple reunited and put months of rumors to rest
Serena Williams and her husband Alexis Ohanian are still doing well despite months of unconfirmed divorce rumors.
On November 17, Williams and the Reddit co-founder took a walk down memory lane and tested one another by asking questions on themselves and their family in a recent promotional ad. The couple ate a few of their favorite meals and meanwhile checked their glucose levels using Hello Lingo, a glucose monitoring device.
Nearly five minutes into the recording, Williams tested her husband’s memory by asking, “Who said I love you first?”
Ohanian, who shares two daughters, Olimpia and Adira, with the tennis legend, responds quickly by saying, “Mmm,” before writing his answer on the board.
“It’s like ‘The Newlywed Game,'” Williams said, writing down her answer, referring to the mid-Nineteen Sixties show “The Newlywed Game,” which tested couples who had been married for lower than two years to see if how much they learn about their relationship. amplifier.
Both Williams and Ohanian turn the board over to reveal their answers and, quite shockingly, they received two different answers. Ohanian wrote that Williams said it first, but Williams claims it was Ohanian.
“Come now. Are you going to lie about this? he declared to Williams, who responded with a laugh: “I said I would be honest.”
“That’s not an honest answer,” Ohanian continued. “I still keep in mind that phone call. Oh, you realize I felt the same, but you certainly said it first.
Williams joked: “My glucose levels were high. I ate some ice cream, my glucose level was too high. Then I tell this guy and I feel like saying things I would not normally say. The moment ended with Williams replaying how she told Ohanian those three special words.
Of course, there was no shortage of reactions from fans who showed their love for the couple and how well they interact of their normal element.
One YouTube commenter he wrote“It’s great to see Serena and Alexis in this normal environment, they are so lovely and have great charisma. I love them even more now and I feel great chemistry between them.”
Someone else said: “I liked this part. They seem to really like each other.”
However, as rumors swirled about problems of their marriage, one fan was confused by the video shared on Instagram.
“I thought I read that they got divorced?” he wrote one person in Williams’ comment section.
Someone else also addressed the rumors, writing: “Where are the haters who said divorce was imminent? Sometimes people will be crazy. Seriously, how are you going to even start assuming things like that about people you have never met?
We got married here 7 years ago. Now we will take these two out for donuts. Happy anniversary 🎉 Thank you for giving me two of the best people we’ve got ever met. You are a tremendous mom. I’m very glad to have met you @serenawilliams @olympiaohanian @adiraohanian pic.twitter.com/5ntPujrYDh
— Alexis Ohanian 🇦🇲 (@alexisohanian) November 17, 2024
This summer, fans began speculating that Williams and her seven-year marriage to Ohanian were in trouble after they noticed she hadn’t posted from him on her social media pages in some time.
Moreover, Ohanian was noticeably absent from the June premiere of the documentary “In the Arena: Serena Williams” and was also absent from her side at the Met Gala in May.
But they got back together this summer after they attended the Paris Olympics with their daughter Olympia in July.
Among the many viral moments spent with the Ohanian family, she organizes: umbrella for his wife and the European commentator – who didn’t realize he was her husband – and called Ohanian Serena’s “umbrella holder”.
The tech guru reacted to the moment hilariously by snapping a photo of himself holding an umbrella over himself and his daughter.
Ohanian joked, “I am also a personal Olympia umbrella owner. Sidebar: You all set the bar too low for me and celebrity daddies only get flowers for *admitting* they have kids.”
The proud dad is probably also Adira’s personal umbrella holder.
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