Talk Dat Talk | Your Black Celebrity Gossip, Culture News & Trending Tea

Tag: Newark

  • Spring Events: Celebrate Black Culture Nationwide

    The weather is warming up, and so is the social calendar! Spring is the perfect season to get out and experience the richness of Black culture across the nation. Whether you’re a foodie, a bookworm, a wellness enthusiast, or a lover of live music, there’s an event calling your name. Many of these gatherings offer affordable or even free options, making it easier than ever to connect with community and enjoy the season without breaking the bank.

    A Taste of Spring: Food, Wine & Coffee

    For the wine connoisseurs, the Fine Wine Series is hosting a delightful rosé and riesling event in Brooklyn. If you’re more of a coffee lover, the Black Girl Vitamins Coffee Pop-Up Tour is hitting major cities like Chicago, Texas, Detroit, Atlanta, and North Carolina, partnering with Black-owned coffee shops. And don’t miss Keith Lee’s Familee Day, an all-day event celebrating food, family, music, and games with special guests like Kirk Franklin and Andra Day.

    Literary & Creative Connections

    Missed Book Con? Black Writer’s Weekend is expanding to Newark, New Jersey, and later Atlanta, Georgia, featuring storytellers like Jess Hillarious and Ashley Hobbs. The creative homecoming conference, Culture Con, is launching a multi-city tour with coffee-themed meetups designed for deeper connection. For content creators, the Black Girls In Media Lights Camera Influence Summit aims to bring together creators in the South to help each other level up.

    Music, Love, and Culture on Tour

    Gospel music’s favorite couple, David and Tamela Mann, are hitting the road with their Love & Relationship Tour, offering nights of music and intimate conversation in cities like Newark, Baltimore, and Philadelphia. For a unique musical experience, Orchestra Noir is transforming hip-hop and R&B hits into classical arrangements on their tour, with stops in Newark, D.C., and New Orleans. Baltimore’s AFRAM festival is offering a star-studded lineup including Tamia, SWV, Normani, Charlie Wilson, Mario, and The Lox for FREE!

    Wellness, Community & Empowerment

    Prioritize your well-being at the #L2LMixer: It’s YOU Season Wellness Event in Nashville, Tennessee, hosted by Brittney Oliver’s Lemons 2 Lemonade. This event features music, matcha, mental health activities, sound baths, and fireside chats. For those seeking connection and celebration, the HUE Affair expo is back, showcasing Black-owned brands, and the King and Queen of Reality Tour brings Carlos King and Nene Leakes together for a night of wit and humor.

    Theater and Community Causes

    Theater lovers can experience a reimagined production of Ntozake Shange’s ‘for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf’ in Newark, New Jersey. For a good cause, join The Black and Missing Foundation Inc. 5K Run/Walk to support the fight for vanished loved ones. And wrap up spring with the ultimate day party at Queens’ Citi Field for the Dear Summer Festival, featuring DJs, food vendors, and souvenirs.

    Which of these spring events are you most excited to attend? Let us know in the comments below, and share your own favorite local spring happenings!

  • Newark Mourns Young Victims of Weekend Shootings

    Newark is reeling from a profoundly tragic weekend that saw two lives cut short by gun violence, including a devastating loss for a family and the city itself. A 10-year-old child and a 21-year-old woman were killed in separate shootings, leaving officials and community members demanding answers and urging the perpetrators to come forward.

    A ‘Dark Weekend’ for Newark

    Essex County Prosecutor Theodore Stephens II described the past weekend as a “dark weekend” for the region. The violence has sent shockwaves through Newark, a city that has, in recent years, managed to buck the national trend of rising murder rates. After reporting 81 murders in 2022, the city had seen a significant decrease, with only 38 murders recorded so far this year, making these recent events particularly jarring.

    Authorities have not yet indicated whether the shootings are gang-related or provided any information regarding a motive. As of Monday, November 17, 2025, no arrests have been made, intensifying the urgency for information and justice.

    Victims Identified, Community Demands Justice

    The victims have been identified as 21-year-old Kiyah Mae Scott and 10-year-old Jordan Garcia. Tragically, three other individuals were injured in the violence: Garcia’s 11-year-old brother, Masi Rogers (19), and Sheppard Miller (60). The city is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to arrests.

    Newark Mayor Ras Baraka issued a strong plea for the shooters to surrender immediately, stating, “The community is on alert, on lookout, and we will make sure that justice is done.” Surveillance footage captured the harrowing moments on Saturday when two gunmen opened fire on a group outside a liquor store, striking the victims.

    A Mother’s Grief and a Plea for Accountability

    Kiyah Mae Scott, a young mother, was reportedly out picking up an item from the store when she was caught in the crossfire. Her mother, Annette Ryan, described Kiyah as “outgoing, loving to her family and friends,” and a devoted mother who “loved her son dearly.” This heartbreaking loss comes seven years after Ryan lost another daughter to cancer, adding an unimaginable layer of grief.

    You reap what you sow. Everybody has family. You me be the one that may be sitting in my seat one day – your family. Your child. — Annette Ryan, Mother of Kiyah Mae Scott

    Ryan’s message to the killers is a powerful testament to the universal pain of loss and a plea for empathy and accountability. Meanwhile, Jordan Garcia’s 11-year-old brother, Masi Rogers, and Sheppard Miller remain hospitalized, with Rogers in critical condition, according to Prosecutor Stephens.

    This is a devastating tragedy for Newark. What are your thoughts on the ongoing issue of gun violence in our communities? Share your perspective in the comments below.

  • DaBaby, Jadakiss Headline Newark’s 24 Hrs. of Peace

    Newark, New Jersey, is gearing up for a major celebration of music, community, and peace. Mayor Ras J. Baraka has announced the return of the annual 24 Hrs. of Peace festival, a free event that uses Hip-Hop culture as a catalyst for unity and positive change. This year’s festival, running from September 5th to 6th, boasts an impressive lineup featuring some of the biggest names in music across generations.

    A Star-Studded Lineup for a Cause

    The festival, held at South 10th Street and Central Avenue in the city’s West Ward, will feature performances from artists like Allure, Kool G Rap, Jacquees, RL, Case, DaBaby, Jadakiss, Scarlip, Zeddy Will, 41, and NJ’s own DJ Taj, among others. This diverse roster promises a dynamic mix of R&B, Hip-Hop, and Jersey Club sounds, all contributing to the event’s core message.

    Mayor Baraka emphasized the festival’s commitment to nonviolence and peace, stating, “Non-violence and peace are critical elements of city life that can always be plumbed to deeper levels, every day, in every neighborhood.” He highlighted the event’s ability to merge Newark’s unique vibe with Hip-Hop’s powerful vibrations, creating a synergy for transformation and celebration.

    From Neighborhood Call to Major Tradition

    Launched 15 years ago by Mayor Baraka when he was a South Ward Council Member, the 24 Hrs. of Peace festival has grown significantly. What began as a local initiative to promote peace has evolved into a major annual tradition, drawing together families, neighbors, artists, business owners, and faith leaders. The event fosters community connection through music, food, and access to valuable resources.

    Over the years, the festival has attracted cultural heavyweights, including Queen Latifah, who hosted in 2022 and praised it as “Newark at its best, Jersey at its best.” Past lineups have featured stars like Fabolous, Faith Evans, and Mya, alongside Newark’s own Jersey Club pioneers. This year’s event continues that legacy of bringing top-tier talent to the community.

    More Than a Festival: A Peace Initiative

    The 24 Hrs. of Peace festival is an integral part of Newark’s broader Peace Week initiative, which aims to combat violence through community outreach and cultural engagement. The streets of Newark transform into vibrant hubs of food, fashion, art, and fun during this period. Mayor Baraka views crime and violence as public health issues, advocating for approaches that promote healing and positive social change.

    Co-founder and Hip-Hop icon Hakim Green echoed this philosophy, describing the festival as embodying “the true meaning of Hip-Hop: peace, love, unity, safety, and having fun.” The event serves as a powerful platform to teach younger generations the importance of peace, respect, and reconciliation, fostering a culture of harmony and mutual care.

    Are you excited about Newark’s 24 Hrs. of Peace festival? Which artist on the lineup are you most looking forward to seeing? Share your thoughts in the comments below!