This Black History Month BET tells the story of Aminata Diallo (Aunjanue Ellis, "The Help") and her travels from Mali to Britain during slavery in the mini-series, "Book of Negroes." Last night during its premiere, viewers were introduced to the courageous early life of Diallo as she entered slavery/servitude in South Carolina.
"If I can't say a word, I just wave my hand." These words from an Old 100 hymn are indeed an appropriate reaction to the story thus far. The history of Blacks from Africa to America is astounding to the point it can be numbing. Much can and has been said about the highs and lows of the "Black Experience." This is the first time I am hearing the story from the perspective of a non-American and woman (it is Canadian made) and thus far have no words to describe the feeling I experienced as I gasped, looked away and at times stared blankly into the eyes of the lead character. The acting and directing kept me completely enraptured.
As an African American, I was literally moved to reverential silence, with respect to the captivity, Middle Passage and arrival of Africans to a strange new land. Tonight, part 2 of the epic, 3-part event airs on BET at 8:00 p.m. #blackhistorymatters https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNHG_3-Zad8
Pastor Da’Quarius Green , a 31-year-old leader of Elba Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Alabama, was shot on Dec. 23, 2025 and died several days later in the hospital after a domestic dispute at his home in Level Plains . Authorities have described the shooting as a “domestic incident” involving his wife, 𝐐𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐲. Local news station WTVY reported "c ourt records show that Green was arrested on misdemeanor domestic violence charges 3 times in Houston County last year, with each of those cases dismissed. Also in 2024, a woman filed a protection order against Green in Houston County in which she believed him to be a danger," but did not confirm Mrs. Massey as the suspect. Various reports indicate the couple's children were present when he was shot in the head. In one instance, a woman who shared children with Green alleged that he repeatedly struck her , including once when she was pregnant. The sitution appears to be shaping int...