On August 23, 1989, Yusuf Hawkins, a 16-year-old Brooklynite from East New York, traveled to the unfamiliar Brooklyn neighborhood of Bensonhurst with friends contemplating the purchase of used 1982 Pontiac. Unbeknownst to him, the largely Italian/American community was hostile to Blacks. Some male teenagers misidentified him as an interloper there to meet a White homegirl, Gina Feliciano, and attend her birthday party.

     Aside from his career as a writer, penning content for Sanford and Son, In Living Color and Chapelle’s Show, Mooney was a high-profile writer for Richard Pryor.  By several accounts, Pryor is considered the greatest Black comedian of all times.  Mooney would also collaborate with Redd Foxx and Eddie Murphy.

     Donavon Brutus’ ongoing journey is one filled with travels as he fine-tunes and experiments on his art form and tells leading stories about Black culture within and outside of his environment.

   In April, hip hop legend and rapper DMX passed away due to a heart attack. According to several reports, DMX dies due to complications from a drug overdose. This is not the first time DMX has been linked to drugs. He has been in rehab at least three times. Despite the death, his legacy still lives on through his music. Def Jam released his last album Exodus last week.