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Trap Yoga to Nike : Brandon Copeland

WASHINGTON INFORMER — In January, Nike launched its first yoga apparel collection, acknowledging its athletes who use the ancient Indian practice to enhance their performance. Just one month prior, a casting agency working with Nike reached out to D.C based yoga instructor, Brandon “Brando” Copeland. They sent a direct message via Instagram to Copeland, who is the creator of “Trap Yoga”, inviting him to be a part of the inaugural campaign shoot in Los Angeles.

Published

6 years ago

August 23, 2019

Oakland Post

Brandon Copeland (Photo by: washingtoninformer.com)

By Christopher Harris

In January, Nike launched its first yoga apparel collection, acknowledging its athletes who use the ancient Indian practice to enhance their performance. Just one month prior, a casting agency working with Nike reached out to D.C based yoga instructor, Brandon “Brando” Copeland. They sent a direct message via Instagram to Copeland, who is the creator of “Trap Yoga”, inviting him to be a part of the inaugural campaign shoot in Los Angeles.

Copeland, 29, says it was “surreal” to hear from Nike, since he had pitched an idea involving yoga to the athletic retail giant eight years ago, when a representative visited his college: Howard University. “[Back then] I didn’t receive a response,” Copeland recalls. “In January, I was flown out to L.A. to shoot the first campaign and it was fantastic.”

Copeland claims that he is the first African-American [nonprofessional athlete] male in The Nike Yoga Collection. He credits himself “being aligned” for the opportunity but can’t forget the times when he says he was just a “scrappy little kid with a baby” who was unsure of himself and his purpose.

Growing up in Atlanta, GA Copeland played traditional sports like soccer, and basketball, but fell in love with swimming when he was eight-years-old. In high school, he continued to swim competitively and saw some success. Yoga, to Copeland at the time, didn’t seem like an option. But as a junior at Howard University, Copeland needed an outlet to help him deal with his stress while at school. Not only was he worried about his GPA, but Copeland also had a child on the way.

“I took a yoga class and it helped me think clearly,” Copeland said. “It was just a contrast to what I had been used to. It helped me be okay with my feelings.”

On Sundays at Trinity University, Copeland teaches “Soul Flow”, an R&B infused yoga experience meant to clarify and detoxify participants by using restorative practice as its base for healing and intention setting. He’s been teaching for over eight years now, and his company Khepera Wellness offers classes three times a week.

There’s the Ashtanga class, a hot and energetic form of yoga which assists with breath control and posture, the “Soul Flow” class, a “Black Girl Magic” class, and the company’s most popular event, “Trap Yoga,” held at Red Rocks on H St.

Copeland can’t find the playlist for his first “Trap Yoga” event on his iPhone but says the first one, held at the Lululemon in Georgetown, certainly had a lot of Future, Jeezy, and some TI.

“It’s the first time I felt like a “big deal,” Copeland said. “It was my birthday (October 25), 50-60 people showed up they were mostly white, but you had black people in this class for the first time — that was special. It was a faster-paced class. My son was there and I just taught it. It went really well.”

The concept Copeland created, has been replicated all across the country. “Trap Yoga” intertwines thumping trap beats with Ashtanga style movements and sequences. This combination, Copeland has noticed, has drawn more black people to partake in yoga — and he’s excited about it. Ever since his first class at Yoga District, Copeland felt like he could serve his community with yoga. “We need it the most I feel like,” he said. “ I can take it to any black person and help them feel connected to their breath. Small microaggressions start with your breath.

“I want to see more black people teaching, more black people practicing even outside of the music involved in it.”

This post originally appeared in The Washington Informer.

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Black Feminist Movement Mobilizes in Response to National Threats

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — More than 500 Black feminists will convene in New Orleans from June 5 through 7 for what organizers are calling the largest Black feminist gathering in the United States.

Published

4 days ago

May 30, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

More than 500 Black feminists will convene in New Orleans from June 5 through 7 for what organizers are calling the largest Black feminist gathering in the United States. The event, led by the organization Black Feminist Future, is headlined by activist and scholar Angela Y. Davis. Paris Hatcher, executive director of Black Feminist Future, joined Black Press USA’s Let It Be Known to outline the mission and urgency behind the gathering, titled “Get Free.” “This is not just a conference to dress up and have a good time,” Hatcher said. “We’re building power to address the conditions that are putting our lives at risk—whether that’s policing, reproductive injustice, or economic inequality.” Hatcher pointed to issues such as rising evictions among Black families, the rollback of bodily autonomy laws, and the high cost of living as key drivers of the event’s agenda. “Our communities are facing premature death,” she said.

Workshops and plenaries will focus on direct action, policy advocacy, and practical organizing skills. Attendees will participate in training sessions that include how to resist evictions, organize around immigration enforcement, and disrupt systemic policies contributing to poverty and incarceration. “This is about fighting back,” Hatcher said. “We’re not conceding anything.” Hatcher addressed the persistent misconceptions about Black feminism, including the idea that it is a movement against men or families. “Black feminism is not a rejection of men,” she said. “It’s a rejection of patriarchy. Black men must be part of this struggle because patriarchy harms them too.” She also responded to claims that organizing around Black women’s issues weakens broader coalitions. “We don’t live single-issue lives,” Hatcher said. “Our blueprint is one that lifts all Black people.”

The conference will not be streamed virtually, but recaps and updates will be posted daily on Black Feminist Future’s YouTube channel and Instagram account. The event includes performances by Tank and the Bangas and honors longtime activists including Billy Avery, Erica Huggins, and Alexis Pauline Gumbs. When asked how Black feminism helps families, Hatcher said the real threat to family stability is systemic oppression. “If we want to talk about strong Black families, we have to talk about mass incarceration, the income gap, and the systems that tear our families apart,” Hatcher said. “Black feminism gives us the tools to build and sustain healthy families—not just survive but thrive.”

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Hoover’s Commutation Divides Chicago as State Sentence Remains

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Hoover was convicted of murder and running a criminal enterprise. Although some supporters describe him as a political prisoner, the legal and public safety concerns associated with his name remain substantial.

Published

5 days ago

May 29, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

The federal sentence for Gangster Disciples founder Larry Hoover has been commuted, but he remains incarcerated under a 200-year state sentence in Illinois. The decision by Donald Trump to reduce Hoover’s federal time has reignited longstanding debates over his legacy and whether rehabilitation or continued punishment is warranted. The commutation drew immediate public attention after music executive Jay Prince and artist Chance the Rapper publicly praised Trump’s decision. “I’m glad that Larry Hoover is home,” said Chance the Rapper. “He was a political prisoner set up by the federal government. He created Chicago Votes, mobilized our people, and was targeted for that.”

But Hoover, the founder of the Gangster Disciples, is not home—not yet. Now in federal custody at the Florence Supermax in Colorado, Hoover was convicted of murder and running a criminal enterprise. Although some supporters describe him as a political prisoner, the legal and public safety concerns associated with his name remain substantial. “There is a divide in the Black community here,” said Chicago journalist Jason Palmer during an appearance on the Let It Be Known morning program. “Some view Hoover as someone who brought structure and leadership. Others remember the violence that came with his organization.” Palmer explained that while Hoover’s gang originally formed for protection, it grew into a criminal network responsible for extensive harm in Chicago. He also noted that Hoover continued to run his organization from state prison using coded messages passed through visitors, prompting his transfer to federal custody.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who is widely considered a potential 2028 presidential contender, has not issued a statement. Palmer suggested that silence is strategic. “Releasing Hoover would create enormous political consequences,” Palmer said. “The governor’s in a difficult spot—he either resists pressure from supporters or risks national backlash if he acts.” According to Palmer, Hoover’s federal commutation does not make him a free man. “The federal sentence may be commuted, but he still has a 200-year state sentence,” he said. “And Illinois officials have already made it clear they don’t want to house him in state facilities again. They prefer he remains in federal custody, just somewhere outside of Colorado.”

Palmer also raised concerns about what Hoover’s case could signal for others. “When R. Kelly was convicted federally, state prosecutors in Illinois and Minnesota dropped their charges. If a president can commute federal sentences based on public pressure or celebrity support, others like R. Kelly or Sean Combs could be next,” Palmer said. “Meanwhile, there are thousands of incarcerated people without fame or access to public platforms who will never get that consideration.” “There are people who are not here today because of the violence connected to these organizations,” Palmer said. “That has to be part of this conversation.”

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WATCH: Five Years After George Floyd: Full Panel Discussion | Tracey’s Keepin’ It Real | Live Podcast Event

Join us as we return to the city where it happened and speak with a voice from the heart of the community – Tracey Williams-Dillard, CEO/Publisher of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

Published

6 days ago

May 28, 2025

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https://youtube.com/watch?v=OsNLWTz6jU0&feature=oembed

May 25, 2020. The world stopped and watched as a life was taken.

But what has happened since?

Join us as we return to the city where it happened and speak with a voice from the heart of the community – Tracey Williams-Dillard, CEO/Publisher of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

She shares reflections, insights, and the story of a community forever changed. What has a year truly meant, and where do we go from here?

This is more than just a date; it’s a moment in history. See what one leader in the Black press has to say about it.

Recorded live at UROC in Minneapolis, this powerful discussion features:

Panelists: