Black Women at Greater Risk of Becoming Victims of Homicidal Domestic Violence

Funeral of Deanna Cook, daughter of lady in Blue, who was killed by her ex-husband in her home as she called 911

Domestic violence is a crime that cuts a painful swath across all races, socioeconomic levels and cultures.
But experts in the field say that one set of victims — black women — is at a far greater risk to experience the grimmest of all domestic violence statistics:

They are about three times more likely to die at the hands of a partner or ex-partner than members of other racial groups. Intimate-partner homicide is also among the leading causes of death for black women ages 15 to 35.

And, the experts add, their plight may not change anytime soon because of complex underlying causes that in some cases stretch back generations: unemployment, poverty, lack of education, incarceration and violent environments.

Magazine Covers - Michelle Obama Talks Higher Education With Essence

First Lady Michelle Obama has always been vocal about her passion for higher learning, and she expounds on that in her candid conversation with ESSENCE Editor-in-Chief Vanessa K. Bush. 

A big part of the recipe for success has to do with nurturing reslience in our children, she says.

"I know I tell my kids all the time that they shouldn't shy away from difficult things, because that is the point at which you are really growing. It's not just about grades or test scores. Today our kids may shy away from applying to college if they think they don't have the right grade or test score. But the truth is that the kids who succeed and go on to be successful professionals are the ones who know how to work hard."

Beyonce Tops List of Forbes’ Most Powerful Celebrities, Earned $115 Million Last Year Alone

Beyoncé Knowles (No. 1) topped Forbes’ 15th annual Celebrity 100 ranking of the world’s most powerful celebrities for the first time since she debuted on the list in 2004. 

Beyonce raked in a reported $115 million in 2014 alone. Wow! Five of the celebs on the top ten were women and the other half men. And it's not just about money, but also influence and star power.

This is the top 10 on the list and how much they earned from June 2013 to June 2014.

1. Beyonce: $115million
2. LeBron James - $72million,
3. Dr. Dre - $620million
4.Oprah Winfrey-  $82million
5. Ellen DeGeneres  - $70million
6 .Jay Z - $60million
7. Floyd Mayweather- $105million
8. Rihanna -  $48million
9. Katy Perry- $40million
10. Robert Downey Jnr - $75million.

Adaeze Yobo Defends Husband Joseph Yobo Against Criticism For Own Goal

Joseph Yobo has been criticised on various social media platforms for scoring an own goal [see here] during Nigeria’s match against France yesterday and his wife has come to his defense.

But really, it was not his fault, Enyeama had not thrown out the ball completely when it came from the corner kick by France. Joseph Yobo barely touched the ball before it moved further into the net. Seriously, any one can score an own goal, and it wasn't as if we were winning the match before then.

Anyway Adaeze Yobo did not take kindly to those yabbing her husband, especially on her own Instagram page. She slammed them while defending her husband Joseph Yobo and the Super Eagles.

Whitney Houston’s Daughter Bobbi Kristina Shades Angela Bassett, Says She Looks Male?

Bobbi Kristina is not happy that she isn't being cast to play any role, especially that of her mother  in the upcoming Lifetime movie about Whitney Houston. 

The movie will be directed by well known actress, Angela Basset, who is also a friend to Whitney after they acted together in Waiting To Exhale.

Bobbi Kristina went on Twitter over the weekend to respond to comments said to have been made by Angela Basset on selecting the best actress to play the role of Whitney Houston in the movie.

Angela spoke about the movie which is now in pre-production in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, and said she never thought of selecting Bobbi to play her famous mother because she didn't regard her as an actress.

Lupita's Side Hustle in College Was Braiding Hair For Friends, Watch Her Show Her Skills!

Lupita Nyong'o is smart, beyond talented, and all around amazing. But what most of us didn't know was that she loves braiding hair for her friends.

On her recent photoshoot with Vogue [see here], the Oscar-winning actress filmed an intimate hair video where she braided a group of her closest girlfriends' hair—basically giving us a direct view into what it’s really like to be her bestie.

I was expecting to see Chimamanda Adichie there, and though she's not, it's easy to see that the two will be besties in due time.

Lupita explains that she learnt how to braid hair in Kenya intending for it to be her side hustle while in college and graduate school in the US, but while she braided her college friends hair all the time, she didn’t have the heart to charge them after all.

Married at 14, Pregnant at 15, Dead at 21? Child Bride Facing Execution For Killing Abusive Husband

Razieh Ebrahimi was married at 14, had a child at 15, shot her husband at 17 and is now on death row aged just 21.

Charities including Human Rights Watch are fighting to have her sentence repealed and hold it up as an example of brutal capital punishment in Iran and other countries.

 International law prohibits the execution of child offenders but in Iran, girls as young as nine and boys aged 15 or older can be killed for some crimes, including murder.

 Authorities arrested Ebrahimi – called “Maryam” in the local press – four years ago after she shot her husband in the head as he was sleeping and buried his body in the garden, a source told Human Rights Watch.

Magazine Covers - Burn Victim Turia Pitt is Inspirational

Australian Women's Weekly decided to feature burn victim Turia Pitt as the cover girl for its July issue, and the reaction has been overwhelmingly positive. 

Major women's magazines are typically covered by models, or celebrities. Hollywood actresses, superstar singers or athletes are photographed in the best lights, and then they are photoshopped and airbrushed to perfection.

Turia Pitt is not in any of those professions, but her cover is more inspirational than any I've usually seen. Both on her part, and also on the part of the Magazine editors.

Pitt, who was part of a panel for the mag's annual Women of the Future scholarship awards, was chosen for her inspirational story.

When Did You Learn that #LikeAGirl Was A Bad Thing?

Using #LikeAGirl as an insult is one of those little underhanded ways society keeps putting girls and women down and somehow, we never really think much about it.

However, it is indeed a hard knock against any adolescent girl. And since the rest of puberty's really no picnic either, it's easy to see what a huge impact it can have on a girl's self-confidence.

Sometimes I get scared about being potentially a mom to a little girl that I have to nurture to adulthood with her self-esteem intact when she will keep meeting all these bumps in the road. Remember Ban Bossy?

Watch the video and let's discuss. Do you do stuff like YOURSELF or you do it #LikeAGirl - the way society tells you?

T.I and Tiny Back Together? The Couple Attended BET Awards and Pre-Party Together

Rumors of divorce or at least a break-up have been trailing rapper T.I and his wife Tiny for months now after both had been noted subbing the other on social media. In many cases it has been T.I calling out his wife on pictures she posts on Instagram.

T.I also got into a street fight with Floyd Mayweather in Vegas last month [read here], and then a social media war with fellow rapper Azalea a couple of weeks ago [here].

Now, it seems T.I and Tiny have kissed and made up, and want to put the speculations of divorce to rest.

The couple were photographed sitting together at the BET Awards last night, and were also spotted cuddling up and holding hands at T.I.'s BET pre-show mansion party.