In a world of conflict and division, poet and activist Pelumi Olatinpo taps into the power of poetry to cut through the noise and focus attention on oppression, violence, the plight of undocumented immigrants, racism, hatred, and the urgent need for change.

In his groundbreaking collection, POETA: Sonetas and Sonnets (September 17, 2024; TogetherInWitness, Olatinpo offers a searing exploration of what it means to be human in the 21st century, using an electrifying new poetic language: the soneta.

Poet and activist Pelumi Olatinpo’s story

Pelumi Olatinpo knows injustice and suffering intimately. As a boy, he lived under military dictatorships in his home country, Nigeria. At age 14, he moved to Italy with his family, yet struggled with the language barrier and lack of opportunities for people of color. After several challenging months, Pelumi and his siblings were treated to a vacation in Toronto, Canada. A few weeks later, his mother and youngest brother returned to Italy. Thanks to the resources of a family friend, Pelumi and his 12-year-old sister stayed—with a bold plan to start their new life in America. Together, under the cover of moonlight, they took a 15-minute speedboat trip on the Niagara River and crossed the wide open Canadian border into the United States. They arrived on the shores of Buffalo, New York, as undocumented immigrants.

As Pelumi would quickly learn, “illegals” faced financial strain, social stigma, and barriers to education, employment, healthcare, and many basic rights. When their brother died in drowning accident, Pelumi and his sister could not travel to Italy to see his body or mourn with their parents. Embracing the core American values of hard work and equality, Pelumi completed high school and gained admission into six colleges—but couldn’t attend any due to his status. In 2003, he enrolled in local nursing school. Two years later, he graduated and passed the board exam. Despite his credentials as a licensed practical nurse, he was often thwarted by his lack of papers and spent nearly ten years working inconsistently and wherever available as an independent contractor. Out of frustration, he considered returning to Nigeria.

Fortunately, President Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program offered hope for a change. At last, Pelumi and his sister were able to obtain Employment Authorization Documents, Social Security numbers, and a path to citizenship. Inspired by the digital transformation sweeping the globe, he went on to study technology and cofounded a consulting services company. In 2022, he became a proud United States citizen.

About POETA

In POETA, Pelumi Olatinpo draws on his experiences to explore the struggles of immigrants, the brutal reality of racism, and other issues of outrage. His tool for raising awareness is the soneta. What makes this poetic form not only innovative but truly revolutionary:

• Brevity and Impact: In six lines, with a maximum of ten words per line, the sonata forces a distillation of raw emotion and complex ideas, demanding the reader’s full attention.
• Versatility: From war and oppression to love and resilience, the soneta confronts the full spectrum of human experience.
• A Weapon for Change: The soneta’s intensity makes it the perfect tool to expose injustice, spark dialogue, and inspire action.
• Bridging Divides: The sonata invites the blending of languages and cultures, promoting understanding and connection in a fractured world.

Urging readers to engage in a dialogue with poetry, POETA provides a compelling exploration of immigration, injustices, war, and other issues that cut to the core of our humanity.

You can follow Pelumi Olatinpo on Twitter.

Investigation Discovery has announced that it has partnered with Maxine Production on a docuseries exploring the rise and influence of Sean “Diddy” Combs and the allegations of violent behavior and illegal activity that have trailed the music mogul.

Combs, 54, was arrested at a Manhattan hotel on the night of Monday, Sept. 16. He’s charged with sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution.

Sean “Diddy” Combs Docuseries

As accounts of sexual assault, abusive behaviors, and other disturbing claims surface, the docuseries traces the story of this self-proclaimed Bad Boy, unraveling allegations of a pattern of depravity. The multipart docuseries is set to premiere in 2025 on ID and Max.

Unheard Voices

Furthering ID’s commitment to elevating survivors’ stories, the docuseries will feature the voices of many who have alleged acts of violence and brutality.

Through access to archival footage and in-depth reporting from Rolling Stone, along with harrowing testimony from survivors as well as friends and colleagues who knew and worked with Combs before his stardom, the multi-part docuseries will offer insight into unfolding allegations against the once untouchable superstar.

It will also highlight the toxic power dynamic that played out within the industry and kept many survivors silenced – until now.

The project is being produced for ID by Maxine Productions and IPC in association with Rolling Stone Films.

Combs has pled not guilty to the charges and is ordered to remain behind bars until trial. He faces up to life imprisonment if convicted on the top charge.

A federal judge has ruled that Breonna Taylor’s boyfriend was responsible for the beloved EMT’s death.

From the case, the judge also dismissed major felony charges against two former Louisville officers accused of falsifying a warrant that led police to Breonna Taylor’s door before they fatally shot her.

Judge rules Breonna Taylor’s death was not from warrant

U.S. District Judge Charles Simpson’s ruling declared that the actions of Taylor’s boyfriend Kenneth Walker, who fired a shot at police the night of the raid, were the legal cause of her death, not a warrant.

Charges dismissed

Federal charges against former Louisville Police Detective Joshua Jaynes and former Sgt. Kyle Meany were filed by U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland in 2022. Garland accused Jaynes and Meany, who were not present at the botched raid, of knowing they had falsified part of the warrant and put Taylor in a precarious situation by sending armed officers to her apartment.

But Simpson wrote in the Aug 27 Tuesday ruling that “there is no direct link between the warrantless entry and Taylor’s death.” Simpson’s ruling effectively reduced the civil rights violation charges against Jaynes and Meany, which had carried a maximum sentence of life in prison, to misdemeanors.

The judge did not dismiss the conspiracy charge against Jaynes and another charge against Meany, who is accused of making false statements to investigators.

Botched raid

When police executed a drug warrant and broke down Taylor’s door in March 2020, Walker fired a shot that struck an officer in the leg. Walker said he believed an intruder was bursting in. Officers returned fire, striking and killing 26-year-old Taylor in her hallway.

Simpson resolved that Walker’s “conduct became the proximate, or legal, cause of Taylor’s death.”

“While the indictment alleges that Jaynes and Meany set off a series of events that ended in Taylor’s death, it also alleges that (Walker) disrupted those events when he decided to open fire” on the police, Simpson wrote.

Breonna Taylor’s boyfriend lawsuit

Walker was initially arrested and charged with attempted murder of a police officer.

The charge was later dismissed after his attorneys successfully argued Walker didn’t know he was firing at police.

He later filed a federal lawsuit against the city and police and received a $2 million settlement.

CBS reports a U.S. Justice Department spokesperson confirmed to the news outlet that the department is reviewing the judge’s decision and assessing next steps.