A popular Washington, D.C.-area pizza chain is facing backlash after introducing a recent dessert earlier this week based on the infamous drug possession arrest of former D.C. Mayor the late Marion Barry.

Local franchise &Pizza announced the addition of powdered berry-stuffed dough knots, called “Marion Berry Knots,” and showcased them at an event at the Hive Hotel. Shortly thereafter, city leaders and members began calling for a boycott of the fast casual chain, which led them to remove the item from the menu.

Prior to its launch, the Dessert Knots were advertised as “a new secret menu item inspired by none other than the city’s vibrant political scene.” Washington Eater reported. From that point on, the marketing of the mistaken treat became more direct. According to Eater, the release said, “The Marion Berry Knots have enough powdered sugar to make customers bump elbows when ordering and even make the DEA double-check.”

For DC News Nowadditional marketing language boasted that knots “may not be the perfect dessert, but they are the perfect dessert for DC”

Promotional photos included a shot of a silver tray covered in a mound of white powder.

The marketing gimmick was a reference to the infamous 1990 arrest of then-Mayor Marion Barry for using crack cocaine, which ultimately led to the politician’s possession conviction and 6 months in prison. Thirty years later, this legacy continues to be complicated for a lot of in the region, especially the Black community and Barry’s family.

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On Monday, Barry’s widow, Cora Masters Barry, spoke to DC News Now about the distasteful dessert.

“I just think it’s racist. It’s outrageously racist in this city,” she told the website, adding: “It’s racist and disrespectful.”

IN entry on X on Monday, At-Large DC Councilmember Christina Henderson said, “This is not smart marketing (and pizza). It’s tone deaf and damn disrespectful.”

On Tuesday, District 8 Councilmember Trayon White called for a boycott in a post about: Instagram for “shameless and tasteless exploitation of Marion S. Barry’s legacy.”

After & Pizza CEO Mike Burns initially issued statements that seemingly ignored the growing controversy in the Washington Post and Washingtonian magazine, community leaders held a rally and press conference on Wednesday. Organizers used the hashtag #KNOTINDC, and Ronald Moten of Don’t Mute DC gave an impassioned speech.

“We just want you to know that we are coming as a united front. It’s not one person. It’s not two people. It (isn’t) black. It (isn’t) white. This is Washington and we want to tell you: not in Washington,” Moten said, based on Eater.

Later Wednesday, Burns finally apologized in a statement, promising to contact community leaders to learn the way he could higher work with them in the future.

“Although humor was our intention, unfortunately it did not come out well,” Burns wrote. “The parody of the former mayor and the portrayal of addicts was inappropriate. We have read countless messages and social media posts and understand the frustration this has caused – especially for the Barry family.”

October takes on latest meaning in Bermuda because the island nation celebrates its second annual Arts Month.

Black enterprise received an exclusive introduction to the growing event, featuring art exhibitions, walking tours, Bacardi tastings, sipping and painting sessions in a gleaming centuries-old cave, and more. Launched in 2023, Bermuda Arts Month: A Celebration of Culture, Creativity and Connection includes a diverse range of events that capture the essence of Bermuda’s vibrant artistic spirit.

The Bermuda Tourism Authority has created a special program of fascinating art tours, thought-provoking panel discussions, high-caliber exhibitions and interactive art sessions in stunning locations across Bermuda for the only real purpose of demonstrating how the island’s scenic locales function a canvas for creativity to unfold.

I had the pleasure of spending an enjoyable three nights at Bermuda’s Hamilton Princess and Beach Club. For over a century, the enduring “Pink Palace” has welcomed elite travelers from world wide, earning a status for elegance, exceptional hospitality and exceptional quality. More than simply a hotel, Hamilton Princess can be a beautiful walking museum with a rare art collection displayed in the general public areas, with works by famous artists akin to Henri Matisse, Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Pablo Picasso, Jeff Koons and more. Offering a guided art tour where you’ll be able to see iconic names in contemporary art on every corner, Hamilton Princess is the proper place to remain during Bermuda Arts Month.

My visit to Bermuda Masterpieces Museum introduced me to her latest exhibition by a rare Bermudian artist Gherdai Hasselltitled . This contemporary exhibition tells the story of Bermuda through art, featuring Hassell’s charming painted portraits mixed with a wide range of materials. The exhibition also includes her collaborations with other Bermudian artists and chosen works from the Masterworks Permanent Collection. Exploring themes of gender, identity and Bermuda’s heritage, the exhibition reflects the island’s history under Spanish and British rule, in addition to the varied cultural backgrounds of the descendants of slaves and early settlers.

Exhibits from the museum’s everlasting collection include works by artists native to Bermuda or inspired by their time spent on the island. The most significant of them are Nude in a Garden (circa Nineteen Fifties) by the Bermudian artist Charles Lloyd Tucker (1913–1971) and an intimate drawing by the renowned artist Georgia O’Keeffe (1887–1986), who visited Bermuda within the spring of 1933 and 1934 while recovering from depression. A standout work within the exhibition is Gherdai Hassell’s “Bermuda Onion,” symbolizing the island’s history as a big exporter of onions and a metaphor for peeling back layers to disclose deeper meaning. Separate exhibitionfeatures documentary-style photography that beautifully captures the varied essence of life in Bermuda.

Our next stop was the National Gallery of Bermuda where we visited Bermuda Biennial. Since its inception in 1994, this open invitation to Bermudian artists and islanders has been a cornerstone of Bermuda’s contemporary art scene. This 12 months’s theme, Places, Presence & Poetics: An Unpacking, features 32 artworks by 25 artists across a wide range of scales and media. The exhibition provides insight into topics that fascinate contemporary artists. Featured artists included Gherdai Hassell Organic Waters, further highlighting her significant role in Bermuda’s contemporary art landscape.

I had the pleasure of taking two walking tours led by Bermudian historian Kristin White, who took an in-depth take a look at Bermuda’s art scene and how black artists uplift and support one another in a rustic with a history of segregation. During the tour, we learned concerning the stories of Gombey dancers Sally Bassett and Mary Prince, who encourage the influential works of local black artists. Bermuda also honors Mary Prince with a national holiday, making it the one country on the planet to have a good time and recognize a black woman with such an honor on Mary Prince Day.

We also learned concerning the challenges many contemporary artists face when commissioning public works. One like that artistShanna Hollis, fastidiously considered her approach when asked to create a mural within the historic St. Peter’s Square. George. Inspired by the work of her brother, fellow painter Nashon Hollis, Shanna took the chance to have interaction the community in her work. The resulting mural pays tribute to Bermuda’s rich history, spanning many eras.

Art is best enjoyed on a full stomach with an excellent drink, and Bermuda attracts tourists. Arts Month coincides with the Taste of Bermuda festival, which runs from September 30 to October 2 and goals to have a good time the island’s diverse restaurants and showcase local culinary talent. We were delighted to participate in The Art of the Pour Bartending Competition at Bacardi’s headquarters in Hamilton, where 15 of Bermuda’s best bars and restaurants competed for one of the best cocktail in Bermuda.

The Wild Herbs N Plants foraging tour with Doreen Williams provided an immersive and refreshing experience, introducing us to Bermuda’s edible wild plants and medicinal properties. We sampled fresh fennel, prickly pear and grapes, and then Mrs. Doreen treated us to a totally vegan lunch by the beach. Her homemade spreads included pumpkin spice donuts, shortbread cookies, fresh chips and salsa, and handmade natural juice. We ended the trip with a well-deserved leisure on the attractive Cooper’s Island beach.

Our last night was truly unforgettable as we headed to Grotto Bay for a charming Sip and Paint session in a surprising illuminated cave. While having fun with some laid-back R&B and reggae, we sipped white wine, ate sandwiches, and received expert guidance from Bermuda’s Alshanté Foggo. Thanks to her help, I transformed my kindergarten painting right into a murals that I proudly held on the wall.

By sharing my personalized itinerary, I hope to remind you that Bermuda has so way more to supply than simply pink sand beaches and Swizzles – although you’ll be able to enjoy each while immersing yourself within the island’s vibrant art scene. Bermuda Arts Month invites locals and international visitors to immerse themselves within the island’s charming artistic culture and heritage. This monthly event fosters collaboration between local artists, galleries and cultural institutions who share a passion for art, culture and creativity. Participants can deepen their appreciation of Bermuda’s culture through educational workshops, a wide range of exhibitions, and connections with other art lovers. Plan your visit next October because the island’s art month becomes an annual tradition on its cultural calendar.

One thing about Cardi B: She’s going to be honest about her life online.

This week, the 32-year-old “Bodak Yellow” rapper shared her grievances on social media, condemning each the alleged joker and her “narcissistic” estranged husband, rapper Offset.

On Saturday, September 19, the mother of three reported survive Instagram that someone had made a prank call that resulted in Child Protective Services arriving at her home around 11 p.m.

“So I want to make this very clear because I can’t even breathe right now,” she said in a live video that was captured by fans and later shared on social media. “Mothers have gone…too far when you mess with my fucking kids.”

CPS allegedly got here to her home after receiving a call regarding concerns for the welfare and physical safety of the three children, ages six to 6 weeks, that she shares with Offset. The “Bongos” rapper promised to analyze the matter and discover who was liable for the prank.

She continued: “For Child Protective Services to come to my f**king house? Not my house, just my gated residence at 11 p.m. while my children are asleep because we received an anonymous call… that my children were being abused and beaten. Are you fucking stupid?”

Cardi confirmed that nobody has ever hit her children, noting that their happiness and safety are the most vital thing.

– We don’t play this…. My children live an exquisite life,” she said, adding: “My children have never been touched, never been hit, regardless of how annoying they were.”

During the broadcast, the Grammy-winning musician said she plans to rent a personal investigator to assist find the person liable for the call, and plans to sue the caller and CPS. She also explained the pressure this incident has placed on her family, which to her knowledge is the only Black and Latino family in her neighborhood.

“We are absolutely the only people of color in my neighborhood and that’s why mothers come to my house with police officers and child protective services because you mothers want to conduct an anonymous phone call involving my children,” Cardi said. “I promise you this, I will sue CPS for coming to my house at any time. (I will sue) the person who made this anonymous call.”

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Cardi shares 6-year-old daughter Kulture, 3-year-old son Wave, and a newborn daughter, whose name has not yet been revealed, with ex Offset. Days after she responded to the joke, she took to social media again, this time to answer further complaints about her ex.

On Tuesday night, Cardi sent a series of tweets explaining her current feelings toward Offset, two months after announcing that she can be filing for divorce for the second time.

“Brother, I wish the worst for this man,” she wrote in now-deleted posts on X, per Billboard AND Complex. “I have never hated anyone so much and these girls were so (hungry) to have him, please take this man off my hands, this garbage bag is (too) heavy!”

Cardi called the father of her children “a dark cloud that obscures the life of anyone it enters into.”

When a fan suggested that she should move on from the father of her children, Cardi replied, “Yes, that’s why I don’t wish him dead… but I really hate that dirty, narcissistic piece of shit…”

She also called out Offset’s family and friends for allowing him to behave like this, adding, “that’s why he will always be a piece of s–t person.”

Even though Cardi and Offset’s divorce papers stated that their split was “amicable,” as Billboard reported, things have been off between them ever since. In September, the Migos rapper accused Cardi of cheating on him during her last pregnancy, after which she seemingly confirmed it and slammed him on Instagram Live. “I am too much of a woman for you,” she said at the time. – I’m an excessive amount of of a boss for you. And I used to be all the time too good for you.