Solange Calls for Accountability in Sonya Massey’s Fatal Shooting

Photo Courtesy Sangamon County Jail

The fatal shooting of Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman, by a Sangamon County sheriff's deputy has sparked widespread protests and calls for police reform, amplified by the voice of singer and activist Solange Knowles.

Body-camera footage released Monday shows a disturbing encounter between Massey and the deputies responding to her 911 call for help. The video captures Massey pleading, "Don't hurt me," before Deputy Sean Grayson, armed and agitated, threatens her with, "You better fing not or I swear to God I'll fing shoot you in the f***ing face," as she held a pot of boiling water. Grayson then fires three fatal shots.

Knowles, reacting to the footage on social media, highlighted the irony of Massey's initial plea for safety. "The first words Sonya Massey said at her front door were 'don't hurt me'," she tweeted. "She was told, 'Why would we hurt you, you called us.'" Knowles questioned the efficacy of such reassurances, asking, "When have those words meant anything when you're Black and a woman in this country? When do those words protect you from not being murdered in your kitchen, in your bedroom, with your babies, or on your lawn?"

first words Sonya Massey said at her front door were “don’t hurt me”

she was told “why would we hurt you, you called us”

when have those words meant anything when your black and woman in this country

when do those words protect you from not being murdered in your kitchen,…

— solange knowles (@solangeknowles) July 23, 2024

Grayson, 30, faces charges of second-degree murder and official misconduct. Records reveal Grayson's turbulent law enforcement history, including employment at six different agencies over four years and two prior DUI arrests. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.

#NEW Sean Grayson has been employed at other police departments in central Illinois.

This is information from the Illinois Law Enforcement Board of Standards.

I have already sent FOIA requests to these departments. @wandtvnews pic.twitter.com/4pkVxL8SNE

— Caryn Eisert (@CarynEisert) July 18, 2024

Knowles' impassioned response has resonated with many calling for enhanced de-escalation training, stricter accountability, and increased community oversight of law enforcement. The tragic incident has reignited a national conversation about police violence and systemic issues within the criminal justice system, particularly as they affect Black women.

Motown's Love Song Ends: Abdul 'Duke' Fakir, Last Four Top, Dies

Photo Credit: Jay Goodwin

Fakir at the LBJ Presidential Library in 2019.

Abdul "Duke" Fakir, the last surviving member of the Four Tops, the Motown quartet whose soaring harmonies and heartbreaking lyrics helped define the sound of a generation, died Monday. He was 88.

Fakir died of heart failure at his home in Detroit, surrounded by family, according to a spokesperson. His passing marks the end of an era for one of the most popular acts of the 1960s, known for hits like "Reach Out I'll Be There" and "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)."

NEW YORK (AP) - Abdul "Duke" Fakir, the last surviving original member of the beloved Motown group the Four Tops that was known for such hits as "Reach Out, I'll Be There" and "Standing in the Shadows of Love," has died at age 88.
Fakir died Monday of heart failure, according to… pic.twitter.com/xvWoon944I

— Chris Walker (@WalkerATX) July 22, 2024

As the lead tenor, Fakir provided the bedrock for the group's distinctive sound, his smooth voice blending seamlessly with Levi Stubbs' powerful baritone and the rich harmonies of Renaldo "Obie" Benson and Lawrence Payton. Their music, often infused with themes of love, loss, and longing, resonated with audiences worldwide and continues to be celebrated today.

Born in 1935 in Detroit, Fakir's journey to musical stardom began in the city's vibrant gospel scene. He initially aspired to be a professional athlete but found his true calling in music, forming the Four Tops with his childhood friend Stubbs and fellow singers Benson and Payton.

The group's breakthrough came in 1963 when they signed with Motown Records and were paired with the legendary songwriting and production team Holland-Dozier-Holland. The collaboration yielded a string of chart-topping hits that solidified the Four Tops' place in music history.

(1/3) In Memoriam: 1990 Inductee Abdul “Duke” Fakir was the last remaining original member of the Four Tops, one of the mightiest vocal groups of all time. pic.twitter.com/VsFpyP99hX

— Rock Hall (@rockhall) July 22, 2024

Between 1964 and 1967, they achieved 11 Top 20 hits, including two No. 1 singles: "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)" and "Reach Out I'll Be There." Other notable songs included "Baby I Need Your Loving," "Bernadette" and "Just Ask the Lonely."

Initially called the Four Aims, the group changed their name to avoid confusion with the Ames Brothers. They had recorded for several labels, including Chess Records, with little commercial success before their association with Motown.With Fakir as lead tenor, the Four Tops became known for their tight, haunting harmonies behind Stubbs' powerful baritone. Their music often reflected themes of romantic pain and loss, contributing to their lasting legacy in the music industry.

After Holland-Dozier-Holland left Motown in 1967, the Four Tops continued to have sporadic success with hits like "Still Water (Love)" and "Keeper of the Castle." Their last Top 20 hit came in the early 1980s with "When She Was My Girl."

Despite changes in the music industry, the Four Tops remained a popular concert act, touring with latter-day members of the Temptations and maintaining their unity until Payton's death in 1997. Benson died in 2005 and Stubbs in 2008.

“The things I love about them the most — they are very professional, they have fun with what they do, they are very loving, they have always been gentlemen,” Stevie Wonder said when he helped induct the Four Tops into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.

The group was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998 and received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009.

Fakir, who was married twice, most recently to Piper Gibson for the last 50 years, had seven children, six of whom survive him. He recently completed a memoir titled "I'll Be There," published in 2022, and was working on a planned Broadway musical based on the group's life.

Hot Girl Meg Sparks Emergency Power Program for Elderly Amid Texas Outages

Megan Thee Stallion is launching an initiative to provide generators for senior citizens across her native Houston to prepare them for future natural disasters. After Hurricane Beryl recently left 2 million people without power, the rapper decided to take action.

The rapper, whose real name is Megan Pete, is partnering with Bread of Life, Inc. to launch the Emergency Power Program through her Pete and Thomas Foundation. The organizations will provide generators to elderly residents in Houston, granting them the ability to maintain electricity during natural disasters.

"It's been painful to watch the elderly population in Houston suffer without electricity during these devastating storms,” she said in a statement. “That's why we wanted to partner with Bread of Life to take a strategic approach to this problem and secure generators to help protect our senior citizens. We need to do our part to provide our elders with the best resources possible to withstand future emergencies.”

Earlier this week, more than 200,000 CenterPoint Energy customers were still without power, struggling with the heat one week after Hurricane Beryl swept through southeast Texas. CenterPoint Energy, the Houston-area utility, said it has restored power faster than in recent storms and expected full restoration by Friday.

Rudy Rasmus, Executive Director and Founder of Bread of Life, Inc., emphasized the urgency of the initiative.

"We want to expand our support of the most vulnerable people in the city, and Hurricane Beryl, the derecho, and other storms have highlighted that our seniors are in dire need of assistance," Rasmus said. "Through our partnership with Megan Thee Stallion and her Pete and Thomas Foundation, we hope to provide generators to senior personal care homes this hurricane season. Our goal is to provide generators to our most vulnerable seniors ahead of storms or other events that knock out power so there is no interruption in service."

The initiative is timely, as Hurricane Beryl left at least 18 people dead and millions without power for several days. Reliable backup power has become critical for Houston’s most vulnerable residents.

Megan Thee Stallion, a three-time Grammy Award winner, recently released her third album, "Megan," and performed at the BET Awards 2024. She established the Pete and Thomas Foundation in February 2022 to support women, children, senior citizens, and underserved communities.

Recognizing the increasing frequency of severe weather events in Houston, the Pete and Thomas Foundation and Bread of Life, Inc. established the Emergency Power Program to support senior citizens in the short term and provide a long-term solution to protect them from future emergencies and power outages.