Allyson Felix breaks Usain Bolt's gold medal record

Allyson Felix‘s first gold medal as a mom came with this added significance, too — she broke her tie with Usain Bolt for the most gold medals in world championships history with 12.

“So special, to have my daughter here watching means the world to me,” Felix told Lewis Johnson on NBCSN. “It’s been a crazy year for me.”

Felix, 33 and the most decorated female track and field athlete at the Olympics with nine medals among four Games, was part of the winning U.S. quartet in the first world championships mixed-gender 4x400m relay, an event that makes its Olympic debut next year. She split 50.4 seconds.

[SOURCE: NBC SPORTS]

Complaint Filed Over Judge Kemp Giving Bible To Amber Guyger

Judge Tammy Kemp, who hugged Amber Guyger and gave her a Bible after the conclusion of Guyger's murder trial, is coming under scrutiny over whether she crossed an ethical line.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation, an organization which says it protects the Constitutional principals of the separation of church and state has filed a complaint against Kemp with the Texas state agency that investigates allegations of judicial misconduct.

The Wisconsin-based group said Kemp went too far after Guyger was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Guyger was convicted of fatally shooting her neighbor, Botham Jean, in his apartment.

The complaint states:

We write to raise your awareness of Judge Kemp’s actions at the close of the trial — during which she gifted a Christian bible, instructing the convicted criminal on how to read the bible and which passages to pay attention to, and witnessing to that convicted murderer. These proselytizing actions overstepped judicial authority, were inappropriate and were unconstitutional.

Courtroom video shows that after the sentencing and the victim impact statement, Judge Kemp left the courtroom, then returned holding her personal bible. She walked over to Amber Guyger at the defense table and proceeded to preach.

[SOURCE: NBCFW]

Oprah Donates Over $1 Million To United Negro College Fund

Oprah Winfrey surprised attendees at the United Negro College Fund’s 17th annual Maya Angelou Women Who Lead Luncheon in Charlotte, North Carolina., when she matched a $1.15 million donation, bringing the organization’s total donations at the event to over $2 million.

According to the Charlotte Observer, the United Negro College Fund had hoped to raise $1 million at the event on Saturday to further its support of HBCUs. And it had already done that, with a running tally at the event showing that $1.15 had already been raised, but in the words of Oprah herself, “We do want to make this the world record-breaking event.”

Oprah’s announcement of matching the $1.15 million donation was met with raucous applauds and cheers from the 1,120 people present, most of whom were women, as the Observer notes.

“I believe in the power of education,” Winfrey said during her keynote address. “There is nothing better than to open the door for someone.”

Boom! The awesomeness that is @oprah just matched the $1million dollars that was raised during the #UNCFCharlotte Maya Angelou Women Who Lead Luncheon. Yes, so now over $2million was raised to support #HBCUs this afternoon! Peep this👇🏾#UNCF #blackgirlmagic ❤️🙏🏿 @ Oprah pic.twitter.com/lYeceynhFC

— UNCF (@UNCF) September 28, 2019

[SOURCE: ESSENCE]

Jessye Norman, international opera star, dead at 74

International opera star Jessye Norman died Monday at the age of 74, according to her agent.

The New York Metropolitan Opera described Norman as "one of the great sopranos of the past half-century."

"Norman sang more than 80 performances with the company, dazzling audiences with her beautiful tone, extraordinary power, and musical sensitivity," the Met said in a statement.

Norman won four Grammy awards and a lifetime achievement award from the Recording Academy in 2006.

Chelesa Fearce went from homeless to Yale’s School of Medicine

Chelesa Fearce graduated at the top of her class, as her and her family dealt with being homeless.

Fearce, 23, is currently pursuing her MD–PhD degree at the Yale School of Medicine; a major step towards her goal of launching a career in psychiatry. Fearce’s journey to the prestigious Ivy League school was no easy feat. While attending Charles R. Drew High School in Riverdale, Georgia she and her family were homeless. She would often go without food and would use the stove lights at motels for her studying sessions. Despite living in those conditions, she earned a 4.5 grade point average and was named valedictorian of her class in 2013. Her academic accomplishments garnered her a full scholarship to Spelman College. After graduating from the historically Black college with a degree in biochemistry, she went on to work for a national health agency and started the next step in her academic journey at Yale last month.

Fearce says her experience with homelessness instilled values that she has taken with her throughout every stage of her life. “Homelessness taught me how to work hard, always persevere and never let anything get in my way,” she told the news outlet. “It really helped show my resilience when I applied for college and medical school.”

Fearce and her family have been dedicated to paying it forward and helping those in need. There was a scholarship named in her honor for homeless students determined to further their education. Her mother Reenita Shepherd has become the foster parent of four children and is currently serving as a caretaker for a former homeless shelter director.

[SOURCE: ATLANTA DAILY WORLD]