Listen Live
97.9 The Beat Featured Video
CLOSE

A ‘Black Lightning’ DC Superhero Series Is In Development from Salim & Mara Brock Akil

2011 Winter TCA Tour - Day 2

Source: Frederick M. Brown / Getty

Who isn’t excited to see “Luke Cage” on Netflix later this month?

Well, he won’t be the only Black superhero on the small screen. It’s being reported that comic icon “Black Lightning” will be developed into a new series. Even better? It will be created by Being Mary Jane and The Game’s Salim and Mara Brock Akil.

According to Deadline, “Black Lightning” centers on Jefferson Pierce who made a choice: “He hung up the suit and his secret identity years ago, but with a daughter hell-bent on justice and a star student being recruited by a local gang, he’ll be pulled back into the fight as the wanted vigilante and DC legend Black Lightning.”

Dope.

This project is being fronted by Warner Bros TV and studio-based Berlanti Productions and Akil Productions, and is currently being pitched to networks. “Black Lightning,” which debuted in 1977, was one of DC Comics’ first major African American superheroes, Deadline noted.

The Akils have a lot on their plate right now. As HELLO BEAUTIFUL previously reported, ABC just green-lit the duo’s new comedy project Documenting Love, which Deadline reported will “draw parallels to [the 90’s sitcom] ‘Mad About You.’” For this show, the real-life couple will draw parallels to the Akils, who have been married for 17 years.

Can’t wait to see all of this!

Iowa Cop Filmed Yanking Suspect’s Dreadlocks While Punching Him In The Head

A policeman guarding the crime scene, all residents of the...

Source: Pacific Press / Getty

Another day, another video released of police using excessive force and not being held accountable for it.

According to The Grio, an Iowa police officer who was caught on tape yanking a suspect’s dreadlocks while repeatedly punching him in the head, will not be charged with assault, despite the fact that the suspect had already surrendered before the beating.

Officer Adam Wittmayer was “disciplined” by the Waterloo police chief for assaulting 24-year-old Montavis Keller instead of being suspended or fired. The two crossed paths during a 90 mile an hour high speed chase on April 19, which was led by Keller. Audio of the video shows Officer Wittmayer yelling “God! F*cking moron. You’re a stupid motherf*cker, you know that?” before he punched Keller twice in the back of the head, The Grio noted.

Iowa attorney general’s office also reviewed the tapes and said that he doesn’t believe a jury will convict Wittmayer in a court of law, especially given that Keller didn’t seem hurt by the blows.

Huh?

Meanwhile, Keller’s lawyer Tom Frerichs stressed that only police are allowed to behave like this.

“I can’t think of any other job in which an employee is allowed to repeatedly hit another person, pull out some of their hair and still keep their job,” he said.

Yes! Obama Commutes ‘Harsh’ Sentences for Over 100 Inmates

Democratic Party convention in USA

Source: Anadolu Agency / Getty

According to NBC News, 111 federal inmates saw their prison sentences reduced by the Obama administration on Tuesday, including nearly three dozen people with life sentences. This comes weeks after he did the same for more than 200 inmates, a total of 670 inmates with nonviolence drug charges since President Obama took office.

“The 325 commutations the president has granted in just one month is more than any president granted in a single year for nearly a century,” the White House recently wrote.

“They are individuals who received unduly harsh sentences under outdated laws for committing largely nonviolent drug crimes, for example, the 35 individuals whose life sentences were commuted today,” the White House said.

“For each of these applicants, the president considers the individual merits of each application to determine that an applicant is ready to make use of his or her second chance,” they added.

Afternoon Minute: Salim And Mara Brock Akil Developing ‘Black Lightning’ DC Superhero Series  was originally published on hellobeautiful.com