This Week in Good Black News: Michelle Obama’s New Podcast, Ms. Lauryn Hill’s Powerful Tribute, and Doechii’s Much-Talked-About Co-Sign
This week, we’re diving into stories of legacy, resilience, and quick-thinking heroes. Michelle Obama is stepping back into the podcasting world—this time alongside her brother for a new series featuring deep, thoughtful conversations with some of our favorite stars.
Meanwhile, Lauryn Hill continues to cement her influence, paying tribute to the legendary Roberta Flack with a powerful performance at her memorial service and passing the torch to rising rap star Doechii during an unforgettable duet.
And in Ohio, a school bus driver’s routine morning turned into a life-or-death situation—one that he handled with the kind of heroism that deserves to be celebrated. Let’s get into it.
Michelle Obama and her brother launch a podcast
Michelle Obama is bringing her voice back to the podcasting world—this time with a bit of help from her big brother. The former first lady and Craig Robinson, executive director of the National Association of Basketball Coaches, are teaming up for a new weekly series, IMO with Michelle Obama & Craig Robinson.
Designed to explore “everyday questions shaping our lives, relationships, and the world around us,” the podcast will feature a lineup of high-profile guests from entertainment, sports, health, and business. Confirmed guests include Keke Palmer, Tyler Perry, Tracee Ellis Ross, Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade, and more.
The first two episodes—an introduction and a conversation with Issa Rae—are out now, and new episodes are available weekly on all major audio platforms and YouTube. The series is produced by Higher Ground, the media company founded by Barack and Michelle Obama in 2018.
Coco Gauff’s latest New Balance Shoe is a tribute to her roots
Coco Gauff is celebrating her 21st birthday in a way that’s both personal and impactful—by launching a new sneaker that pays tribute to her hometown and the people who helped shape her.
Her latest collaboration with New Balance, Coco Delray, is more than just a tennis shoe; it’s a love letter to Delray Beach, Florida, and her grandmother, Yvonne Lee Odom, a key figure in her upbringing.
The campaign’s promotional video, narrated by Odom, takes viewers back to Pompey Park, the public courts where Gauff first honed her skills. “Delray Beach helped spark my tennis journey,” Gauff shared. “So it’s special to me to tell the story of this community that influenced exactly why I love this sport.”
The sneaker, which retails at $110, is designed to be affordable for players of all levels. The Coco Delray is available globally as of March 13, with additional colorways dropping throughout the year.
Lauryn Hill delivers a heartfelt tribute to Roberta Flack
Lauryn Hill honored the legendary Roberta Flack with a heartfelt tribute at a memorial service held at Harlem’s Abyssinian Baptist Church on Monday (March 10). The Grammy-winning artist, who famously reimagined Flack’s “Killing Me Softly” with the Fugees, expressed deep admiration for the late icon before performing a moving rendition of “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.”
Hill spoke highly of the late singer. “Her existence was a form of resistance,” she told the crowd. “I adore Ms. Roberta Flack. Roberta Flack is a legend.”
Wyclef Jean and Stevie Wonder later joined her for a surprise performance of “Killing Me Softly,” a song that solidified Flack’s influence on future generations.
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Doechii receives the ultimate co-sign
When Ms. Lauryn Hill gives you her stamp of approval, it’s a moment that transcends hip-hop—and Doechii just earned that honor.
During her Jazz in the Gardens Festival set on March 8 at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, Hill surprised fans by bringing the rising rap star onstage for a duet of her 1998 classic “Doo Wop (That Thing).”
Introducing Doechii as her “sister,” the hip-hop icon set the stage for an unforgettable moment.
The moment was especially significant given their shared legacy—both women are among the only three female rappers to ever win a Grammy for Best Rap Album. Hill took home the award in 1999 for “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill,” while Doechii won last month for her mixtape “Alligator Bites Never Heal.”
Ohio school bus driver saves 15 students from a burning bus
A Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District bus driver is being recognized for his quick actions when he safely evacuated 15 students without injury after a fire broke out on his school bus.
Dorian Pace was driving students to Monticello Middle School on Feb. 27 when he heard an explosion beneath the vehicle. The fire, which began near the rear wheel, spread quickly, sending thick black smoke into the air. “What was going through my mind was, ‘I can't lose any kids,’” Pace told “Good Morning America.”
He immediately activated evacuation procedures and directed students out of the bus before flames engulfed the back of the vehicle.
