theroot--2020-09-23--Rinse off With the Best Shower Heads, According to Reviewers

I don ’ t know if you know this , but a good shower can make or break your day , and taking one requires a decent shower head .
I prefer a handheld option , myself , to really get some warm water on my shoulders and all the suds out of my hair while washing it or any one of my four dogs .
Tons of reviewers spilled the tea on five of the best shower heads based on water pressure , ease of installation , and their experiences overall .
Let ’ s get to it !
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ works as a handheld shower .
I like options when it comes to my water flow and readers do , too .
Reviewers also found it easy as hell to install , which is perfect when you don ’ t want to spend your weekend on a home project and just want to get clean .
Sure , it ’ s on the higher end of the spectrum , but it ’ s worth it to be squeaky clean .
If the water pressure in your space is trash , check out this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the best for low flow and high pressure and ordinary users agree .
With sturdy , all-metal construction , it ’ ll give you a strong-ass spray to massage those stiff shoulders after an incredibly taxing workout or annoying day .
With over 2,000 reviews , the Aquadance Rainfall is well worth the $ 35 .
It ’ s all chrome and has two showerheads , one 7 '' , and the other 4 '' , both with six settings including power rain , pulsating massage , power mist , rain massage , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mode .
You ’ ll also be able to change easily between the two showers at the flick of a switch .
Some reviewers even bought two , so consider this a shoo-in for at least one bathroom .
So if you ’ re trying to be extra high-tech and love rain showers above all others , maybe you should splurge on the American Standard Spectra eTouch .
It has a remote you can attach to your shower wall that ’ ll easily switch between spray patterns .
You ’ ll also be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gallons of water coming out per minute , but it ’ ll still be soft and sensitive on your skin , leaving you relaxed and ready to take on the day or settle down for bed .
Your choice .
So if you can ’ t be bothered with dual showerheads or rainfall showerheads , and prefer something nice and simple , the Waterpik Powerpulse Handheld for $ 40 is your best bet .
Reviewers at Bed , Bath , and Beyond rated this a solid 4 out of 5 .
It has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jets to massage your skin while you ’ re getting clean .
And if you don ’ t clean your bathroom often ( which you should !
! )
, it has anti-clog nozzles so grime won ’ t block your good time .

Ignacia on Roundups, shared by Ignacia to The Root

Top Pick: Moen® Aromatherapy Handshower in Chrome | $70 | Bed, Bath & Beyond
Whether you like to start or end your day with a shower, nothing really comes close to how clean and wonderful you feel afterwards. It’s just so nice to feel the water running over you, and nothing makes you feel cleaner.
As with so many things in life though, there are a lot of options out there if you’re looking to upgrade your current shower. You obviously want one of the best shower heads around, but which one of them is the right choice for you. Well, we’ve gone ahead and brought together a list of the best shower heads right here, so you can find out right now.
“I’m well aware that inviting Alexa—and therefore Amazon—into my shower is probably not-so-smart. Nevertheless, I love shower karaoke and my bathroom Bluetooth speakers weren’t cutting it. Some fell down off the tile wall because of their weak suction cups. Others sounded muffled because of the shower curtain. So it was in this exasperated state that I installed the Kohler Moxie Showerhead + Wireless Speaker... Pairing the device to your phone is also easy—it’s the same process as pairing any other Bluetooth speaker, though you can also go through the Kohler Konnect app. (I didn’t find the app itself added much to the experience.)
Once I enabled Amazon Alexa, it was very easy to ask Alexa to play a certain artist or playlist. Sometimes it struggled with less common names—I’ve yet to find a digital assistant that identifies Mitski correctly 100% of the time—but for the most part, Alexa got the job done... Design-wise, the Moxie is sleek and inoffensive. At $200, this is the priciest showerhead that I, a cheapskate, have ever used. But if you’re willing to splurge just a little bit, or can split the cost with roommates/a significant other? The Kohler Moxie is actually a convenient way to get a nicer showerhead and a good quality shower speaker in one easily installed package.” - Victoria Song, Gizmodo.
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If you’re after something a little bit different, then you’ll be happy to know that the best handheld shower head isn’t just a shower head. T he Moen Aromatherapy Handshower Showerhead comes with an INLY capture , which means you can actually use it to spread a little bit of aromatherapy in your bathroom too.
It just makes things feel a little bit more special when you’re showering, and it’s a great way to wind down after a long day. Don’t just take our word for it though, have a read of this user review:
“The aromatherapy scents smell great. I had mine on medium with the zen scent paired with my Bath & Body Works lavender and sea salt shower gel... This was so worth the buy! Very relaxing... BUY THIS NOW YOU WON’T REGRET IT” - Joselyn, Bed, Bath & Beyond
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The Waterpik VBE-453 Hand Held Head Eco Showerhead is a beautiful eco-friendly addition to any bathroom. With a chrome finish, this showerhead has three settings and a five-foot hose for ultimate freedom in the shower. Plus, this showerhead has a 1.6 gallon per minute flow rate, which is even lower than the standard. Know that high-quality low-flow showerheads will feel great at both high and low shower pressure.
“Great shower head. This is the second I’ve owned. Strong spray, significant massage action, easy to install.” -DWT, Amazon Reviewer
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The Aqua Elegante 3-Inch Showerhead won’t clog or spray in weird directions. It’s engineered to have self-cleaning nozzles made from mineral-resistant silicone.
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Also, you don’t even need a plumber to install it! Just twist it right in, and you’re good to go! It even comes with clear, step-by-step instructions WITH PICTURES to guide you through the process.
“I am not exaggerating when I say this shower head makes showering a pleasurable experience finally.” - Barry, Amazon Reviewer
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Best Shower Head from Consumer Reports: Delta Traditional Collection
Consumer Reports used the Delta Traditional Collection Touch-Clean in a lab test and discovered that this product has a number of amazing features. To start, its settings can be navigated very easily. It’s easy to install and has an intense full-body spray. The showerhead is designed so that calcium and lime build-up can be cleaned effortlessly.
“Have 2 of these shower heads—they rock! We’re on a well and the 60 PSI water pressure is more than sufficient for this shower head. Great coverage, low water usage, plenty of water—easy to clean by rubbing your figure across the nubs.” - Howard, Amazon Customer
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Looking to splurge on yourself? Look no further than the PULSE ShowerSpas Aquarius 2.5GPM Rain 2-in-1 Showerhead. With an oversized rain showerhead, this product delivers a spa-quality experience. It has a built-in diverter so, you can use the wand-shaped handheld showerhead independently of the fixed one. It has a 2.5 GPM maximum flow rate for brushed nickel and 2.0 GPM for the chrome finish. Plus, it even comes with a limited lifetime warranty.
“I love how you just gently pull down on the wand from its holder to use it, and you can adjust the balance of spray between the shower head and the hand held wand using both simultaneously or independent of each other. Also love that you can completely stop all water flow from the little twisty ring where the wand enters it’s holder. It’s at a very convenient height, and it’s really nice if you want to lather up for a sec and not waste water. This is a lot nicer quality than the picture gives it credit. My husband installed it in just a few minutes. Wish we’d have bought this sooner!” - Cher, BB&B Customer
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The Dura Faucet Premium Handheld Shower Wand & Hose Kit features innovative technology and has an easy eco-friendly switch for water conservation. This shower wand’s lightweight construction is ideal for motorhomes, trailers, and campers. Installation is super easy, and the product comes with a limited lifetime warranty.
“I purchased this to replace the outdated shower and hose in my Motorhome. Super easy to install and looks so much better. Great upgrade to the bathroom shower.” - Tracey Hall, Amazon Customer
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With the pandemic being far from over, many of us still don’t feel ready to travel. If you fit under this category, try buying a rainfall showerhead and instantly transport yourself to a tropical rainforest. The HarJue High-Pressure Large Stainless Steel Showerhead with Arm is a great option. It features 144 silicon nozzles and can be rotated 360 degrees. With a chrome finish, this product is stylish, beautiful, and functional.
“This set comes complete and is well made. Installation took me 10 minutes and I also attached a diverter for a handheld showerhead. Shower stream is perfect and even. Arm and joints adjust 2 ways as long as its installed properly. The showerhead has a mirror finish which is a big bonus.” - Anonymous, Amazon Customer
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This story was originally published by Ignacia Fulcher on 09/23/2020 and updated with new information by Juliana Clark on 02/10/2022.


theroot--2020-09-23--A 'Confederacy of Whiteness': Virginia Military Academy's Uncivil War Against Its Black Students

When Vice President Mike Pence visited the Virginia Military Academy , the Black students disappeared .
That is not a metaphor .
Everyone loves a good metaphor .
But Mike Pence is not the personification of VMI ’ s racism , and there are much better ways to compare 181-year old VMI—the oldest state-supported military college in the U.S.—with the 244-year-old country in which it sits .
Geologists have never seen a molehill evolve into a mountain range .
Few veterinarians can recall a camel spine being fractured by a straw .
And VMI is not a metaphor for America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Virginia Military Institute , on the other hand , began as an all-white male college .
Black people were in Virginia since 1619 but Black students couldn ’ t enroll at VMI for the school ’ s first 129 years .
While America pretends to be a democracy , VMI does not .
America feigns progress while VMI unapologetically clings to its past .
At least America tries to camouflage institutional inequality .
VMI , however , will not even concede that systemic racism exists .
For years , Black students at VMI @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the leadership how the school fosters an environment that is openly hostile to non-white students .
They told professors .
They wrote letters .
They spoke to the media .
The authorities at VMI met each successive attempt with indifference and contempt .
According to a dozen current and former VMI cadets who spoke to The Root , the administrators won ’ t even pretend to substantively address issues of racism , sexism and harassment at the school .
Instead , VMI ’ s position seems to be that cadets at VMI can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because there is no race at the beloved institution .
So , when VMI welcomed Mike Pence—along with Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy and U.S. Rep. Michael Waltz ( R-Fla. ) , both VMI grads—to its campus on Sept. 10 , a group of students decided to protest by becoming a literal example of their treatment .
The school ’ s overseers still haven ’ t publicly acknowledged that students are disgruntled .
They have yet to offer anything other than performative rhetoric that ignores the students ’ requests and doubled down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respond to Black students ’ allegations of inequality by saying nothing and doing even less .
If metaphors were adequate explainers , the school ’ s response to racism at VMI would be a perfect allegory for the Trump administration ’ s response to ongoing protests against injustice and inequality .
But Mike Pence ’ s visit was not the last straw ; Black students were not making a mountain out of a molehill and VMI is not America .
This story is not a metaphor .
Mike Pence is as racist as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ... Because the Virginia Military Institute is like America .
Nestled in the tiny town of Lexington , Va. , the Virginia Military Institute was founded in 1839 as an all-white male military college .
U.S. News ’ most recent rankings list VMI as the 69th best liberal arts college in the country and the 11th best in Virginia .
Its distinguished alumni include current Virginia Gov .
Ralph Northam , who graduated from VMI in 1981 with a degree in biology .
The college was an important supplier of Confederate soldiers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decided they would rather not be a part of America if it meant they couldn ’ t indiscriminately rape , torture and enslave Africans .
In 1968 , VMI became the last public college in the state of Virginia to admit Black students .
It would be almost another three decades before a female cadet enrolled in the school .
It is Virginia ’ s only state-supported college or university without an office of inclusion or diversity .
The student body of 1,698 is six percent Black , according to the State Council @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If you see a Black person on campus , it ’ s fair to assume that he ’ s an NCAA athlete , ” said one senior cadet who spoke to The Root on the condition of anonymity .
“ And most of the time you ’ d be correct.
” The notion that the majority of VMI ’ s B lack student cadets are athletes was a common theme of every individual who spoke to The Root and was confirmed by our analysis of the college ’ s athletic rosters .
During @ @ @ @ @ @ @ VMI ’ s 102 African American students played an NCAA Division I sport .
Although the school existed for 20 years before Virginia joined 12 other Southern States to form a white supremacist nation , the institute prides itself on its ties to Confederate culture , a fact highlighted by its most celebrated alumnus , Thomas Stonewall Jackson , who remains at the literal center of the campus tradition and culture .
Jackson was a member of VMI ’ s faculty when he left to lead the Confederate Army ’ s “ Stonewall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an unrivaled place of prestige and glory at the institute .
VMI ’ s infamous statue of Stonewall Jackson has become the symbol for the institution ’ s oppression and mistreatment of its Black students because the school ’ s culture is simile steeped in white supremacy ... like America .
“ When you first get there , you ’ re on the bottom of the totem pole , ” explained 2020 graduate Kaleb Tucker to The Root .
“ When you leave your barracks—which are your dorms—rats have to salute Stonewall Jackson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a Confederate leader.
” “ Rats ” is VMI ’ s nickname for first-year cadets on the school ’ s “ Rat Line ” —a tradition of informal indoctrination “ designed to instill and reinforce character traits that will serve a cadet well during his or her cadet years and in life after VMI.
” While the rats are no longer formally required to salute the monument to a literal military traitor , the practice is still honored by many students and informally encouraged by upperclassmen , who are essentially the rats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it off paper but it ’ s still enforced , ” said Tucker .
“ It ’ s a class system , so anyone can order you to do anything .
They can get you in trouble , scream in your face , haze you during workouts and even [ subject rats to ] administrative trouble .
Somebody will get you in trouble for something else but really it ’ s for not saluting the statue.
” “ There ’ s two types of people at VMI , ” Tucker added .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : ‘ This is what the school stands for and if you don ’ t like it , you shouldn ’ t have come here.
’ Then there are the people that say “ It ’ s tradition and these Confederate people that are memorialized here were really great people and great leaders .
And the school was built on great leaders and great people .
So it ’ s traditional to keep those aspects around and there ’ s no racial side of it.
” So those are the two main narratives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are also “ encouraged to integrate the philosophies of Confederate figures into the curriculum , ” according to a former faculty member who spoke to The Root .
“ It ’ s drilled into your head as you ’ re being hazed , ” Tucker added .
“ You have something called a Rat Bible .
You ’ re forced to read this bible , which is basically how great Stonewall Jackson was ; why you should respect him ; why he has this statue there—stuff like that .
There ’ s no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s all just drilled into your head by people or by the rules.
” Rats are eventually sworn in during another one of the college ’ s annual traditions .
Each year , the students travel to New Market , Va. , to commemorate the 1864 South ’ s victory in the Battle of New Market .
The reenactment of Confederate traitors charging the field to kill American soldiers culminates with VMI cadets laying a wreath at the feet of the statue of “ Virginia Mourning Her Dead , ” followed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ died protecting the institution of human bondage .
The glorification of the Confederacy isn ’ t the only reason VMI is so white .
In spite of General Order No .
16 ( pdf ) —the university ’ s written policy against discrimination , harassment and sexual misconduct—current and former VMI cadets describe a campus atmosphere openly hostile to anyone who is not a white male .
In 2017 , Col. William Wanovich , VMI ’ s commandant of cadets , posed for a picture as he pretended to climb students dressed as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Halloween .
No disciplinary action was taken .
Another former student wrote that an upperclassman spit in his face the day he chose to transfer , telling him that he was only there because the school “ needs minorities.
” Eight students described how Black students are routinely targeted for violations of the school ’ s honor code , sometimes for offenses like “ being ratchet ” or “ ghetto.
” And , because the college is student-run , even when Black students report the incidents , the jury in the cadet-led “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ white males .
“ VMI doesn ’ t like to keep any statistic based on race because they say ‘ the only race at VMI is green ’ , ” one student told The Root .
“ But I ’ d be willing to bet that Black cadets get more demerits and honor-code violations than white cadets.
” Another current cadet and a VMI alumnus recounted another incident that illustrates the climate at VMI .
According to both sources , who spoke independently of each other , a prospective Black athlete was visiting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a white cadet decided to introduce himself .
“ The white kid walked up and said—and I quote : ‘ What ’ s up with all this nigger shit ?
’ ” said the alumnus , who witnessed the incident .
“ To sum it up , there was no disciplinary action taken on that cadet .
And the second in command kind of made light of it , like we were in the wrong for even caring about it.
” “ You hear the n-word a lot of from people who aren @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , while other students revealed that Confederate flags are commonplace in the barracks .
Students say when students speak out , their pleas are ignored or routinely dismissed .
Because VMI is a public institution , Black cadets are sure to encounter “ flaggers ” —Confederate enthusiasts who flock to the campus to worship the white supremacist monuments sprinkled around campus .
And while VMI embraces its alumni who betrayed their country , it recently warned Black students not to participate in Black Lives Matter protests or even the local Martin Luther King @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same weekend as Virginia ’ s Lee-Jackson parade honoring Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson .
The parade traditionally ended at VMI until the school banned neo-Confederate re-enactors from bringing their weapons on campus .
“ When they recruit you , they make it seem like it ’ s hard but it ’ s fair , ” one current rat who earned an athletic scholarship told The Root .
“ Being that I play football , I ’ m used to white people trying to be tough but fair .
But it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ white .
If you ’ re not , you have to put up with a lot .
It ’ s not just the statues .
It ’ s the whole Confederacy of whiteness.
” And if you think it ’ s hard being a Black man on campus , try being a Black woman at a school that is 76 percent white and 89 percent male .
“ This place has truly broken me down mentally physically and emotionally , ” wrote Ingrid , a Black female cadet , who is also Muslim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and tries to punish us for who we are.
” “ They were asking us to commemorate people on the wrong side of history and to celebrate people who wanted African Americans in bondage , raped and enslaved , ” Virginia gubernatorial Jennifer Carroll Foy told the Washington Post .
“ The problem is that Black Americans think that heritage is full of hate.
” Aside from her quest to become America ’ s first Black female governor , Foy was also one of the first Black women to graduate from VMI .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t think the culture at VMI is racist .
Students think VMI is racist .
White faculty members think VMI has a toxic culture of white supremacy .
VMI ’ s Black alumni have experienced insidious discrimination .
Many of the school ’ s white alumni witnessed it .
“ I can ’ t tell you how conflicted I was & how many times I called my now wife who is a POC in tears to share my witnessing institutional racism but didn ’ t speak out , ” tweeted J.B. Weber @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I was a coward .
I saw racism happening before my eyes and was too afraid of the system to speak .
I should have used my position and White privilege to protect [ Black and non-white , male cadets ] .
” Jamie ( not her real name ) , a white former VMI professor who spent years teaching at the institution , says she was diagnosed with PTSD after leaving VMI .
In tears , she shared how she witnessed a white cadre ( upperclassmen ) tell a Black rat that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back where he came from.
” “ When I got to VMI , I was the trademark ‘ good white person.
’ ” Jamie explained .
“ By the end of my first year at VMI , I realized that I was a terrible white person who just thought she was good .
Being at VMI , seeing experiences in the classroom where white students threatened to report Black students to the commandant ’ s office because they thought their hair was not in regulation ... Having those experiences , it radicalized me.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is Gen. J.H .
Binford Peay III .
Peay is a VMI alumnus and a retired Army general whose sons attended VMI as did his father before him .
He has ruled VMI with a strong hand since 2003 , and as one senior cadet said : “ General Peay doesn ’ t give a fuck.
” After the death of George Floyd and the subsequent protests , Kaleb Tucker organized a petition asking Peay and others in the faculty to address racism and remove the monuments to white supremacy .
The petition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ urged for the removal of the Stonewall Jackson statue , explaining : To his credit , Peay responded with an eloquent , seven-page letter that can be summed up with one word : “ Our school ’ s history has been intertwined with the history of Virginia and the Civil War , ” read General Peay ’ s letter .
“ Stonewall Jackson was a professor at VMI , a West Point graduate who served in combat in the Mexican War , a military genius , a staunch Christian , and yes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the primary focus on honoring VMI ’ s history has been to celebrate principles of honor , integrity , character , courage , service , and selflessness of those associated with the institute .
It is not to in any way condone racism , much less slavery.
” In a second letter to students , Peay doubled down on the notion that celebrating a nation that condoned slavery isn ’ t the same as celebrating or condoning slavery .
Peay explained that VMI will “ retain the foundation of values and principles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years ” but shift the focus to celebrating the “ remarkable history of our second century.
” As soon as the 2020 school year began , VMI illustrated its commitment to racial healing by hosting a renowned advocate for diversity—Mike Pence—who once said Confederate monuments helped Americans “ remember our history.
” “ It ’ s in poor taste , tone-deaf and counter to everything Gen. Peay said in those emails , ” a member of VMI ’ s Promaji Club ( from a Swahili word meaning “ togetherness ) told The Root @ @ @ @ @ @ @ changing the culture here and making a place for VMI in this movement we ’ d have a speaker we trust to come and share real knowledge of this social movement.
” The club , which promotes diversity and operates much like a Black Student Union ( remember , there is no race at VMI ) , has invited members of the VMI faculty to every meeting since its inception but , for some reason , none of VMI ’ s leadership have accepted the invitation .
“ We ’ ve invited the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Promaji member .
“ None of them have ever shown up .
None of them ever sent a delegate or anything like that.
” Promaji Club members were used to being ignored .
But members were dismayed by the school ’ s invitation to Pence ; the club wrote a letter directly to Peay asking him to disinvite Pence .
“ These past few months , evidence of systematic and institutional racism abounds , ” wrote the club .
“ The wrongful police executions of Black men and women such as George @ @ @ @ @ @ @ events in Los Angeles and Kenosha , the racism exhibited by former commandant stag members here in our own institution.
” “ Hosting the Vice President , in light of his recent divisive rhetoric regarding police brutality , the tragic Kenosha shootings , and the current racial tension facing our nation will only further divide the corps of cadets and perpetuate the polarization and division within our ranks , ” the cadets noted .
“ [ I ] t is our greatest wish that you would reconsider hosting this event on the grounds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Mike Pence in our dear home will categorically and unambiguously result in not only further division , but ultimately perpetuate the mistreatment and ostracisation of minority cadets and those who support them.
” “ Our [ Promaji Club ] adviser is a faculty member ; he ’ s in and out of meetings with the commandant and Gen. Peay ’ s chief of staff , Col. Iman , ” a Promaji member told The Root two days before Pence ’ s Sept. 10 visit .
“ They may allow us to not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for sure .
Because if it ’ s optional for a group then it has to be optional for the corps and that will not happen here especially with these two visitors.
” So the cadets came up with two options : • Plan A : If they were forced to go , they would flip over their masks during Pence ’ s speech to reveal the names of victims of police brutality .
• Plan B : Peay would allow the cadets to skip the Pence hootenanny , and the club would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thanking him for not making us go ( In a sly respectful , but lowkey disrespectful kind of way ) and explain why we didn ’ t go.
” Apparently , aware that shenanigans were afoot , the students were forbidden from bringing cameras or cell phones to document the speech or the planned protest .
“ I had to like literally walk people through the process of what ’ s worth it and what ’ s not worth it because so many students were upset and they just wanted to walk out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I know they wanted to make a statement that was big and loud , but I know that the repercussions are not like a regular school .
At regular school , you get thrown out and that ’ s the end of it .
Here , we got a lot more on the line .
Some students played basketball , football ; some of us are commissioning as officers in the military , and you know doing something here like that will be death .
“ That would have embarrassed Gen. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sure he would dangle that in front of our faces .
So a lot of students wanted to take it to a hundred , and it took some convincing to bring them down and to say that we ’ ve got to be a little bit more strategic .
It might not be worth doing all that.
” So the mostly Black group of students arrived at the pre-speech formation ready to hear Pence .
But , curiously , some of them still had cell phones .
Others arrived at formation dressed in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ white cadre wouldn ’ t let the Black cadets get away with these slight discrepancies .
So the student leaders sent the Black students back to the barracks to change their uniforms , and the Black students simply didn ’ t return .
Had the Black students not received the message ?
Were they dumb ?
Was this just a metaphor for resistance ?
For some strange reason , none of the major photo services have pictures of Mike Pence ’ s visit to VMI .
The few photos that exist do not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ look at the only picture of the audience that we could find , you ’ ll notice an astonishing lack of Black faces .
Two days after Mike Pence ’ s visit , the leaders of the Promaji Club were notified that Gen. Peay wanted to meet with the club to “ figure out what ’ s wrong in the barracks.
” At the conclusion of each interview with VMI ’ s Black alumni and students , I asked each of them the same question .
“ If your brother or little cousin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they were thinking about attending VMI , what would you tell them ?
” Despite the oppression , the trauma and literally being forced to salute white supremacy , every single student said they would caution their loved one about the campus atmosphere but would give VMI their blessings .
They all cited the institution ’ s “ great education .
They really believed it instilled them with treasured values.
” Well , it all goes back to the Pence revolt .
When VMI ’ s faculty caught wind of the Black cadets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to come up with another strategy , so the group devised a tactic that they knew wouldn ’ t fail .
Their plan was based on their experience at “ Mother I ” and the inescapable history of this country .
Black VMI alums and students would allow their loved ones to attend VMI for the same reason the cadets knew they would be sent back to the barracks—they know similes .
In response to The Root ’ s request for an interview with Gen. Peay , Col. Bill Wyatt , VMI ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pointed us to Peay ’ s July letter , adding that Peay was not available for an interview .
“ Additionally , the VMI Board of Visitors affirmed Gen. Peay ’ s way forward at their meeting earlier in the week , ” Wyatt told The Root in an email .
“ Senior administrators are in the process of developing action items to achieve the vision and will report their progress to the Board of Visitors prior to their next meeting in January .
Gen. Peay met with cadets ( including those of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as he was developing his vision and continues to meet with them on a regular basis .
As he said in his letter , racism and discrimination have no place at VMI .
”

When Vice President Mike Pence visited the Virginia Military Institute , the Black students disappeared.
That is not a metaphor.
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Everyone loves a good metaphor. But Mike Pence is not the personification of VMI’s racism, and there are much better ways to compare 181-year old VMI—the oldest state-supported military college in the U.S.—with the 244-year-old country in which it sits. Geologists have never seen a molehill evolve into a mountain range. Few veterinarians can recall a camel spine being fractured by a straw. And VMI is not a metaphor for America.
Black people built America. The Virginia Military Institute, on the other hand, began as an all-white male college. Black people were in Virginia since 1619 but Black students couldn’t enroll at VMI for the school’s first 129 years. While America pretends to be a democracy, VMI does not. America feigns progress while VMI unapologetically clings to its past. At least America tries to camouflage institutional inequality. VMI, however, will not even concede that systemic racism exists.
For years, Black students at VMI have used every conceivable method to tell the leadership how the school fosters an environment that is openly hostile to non-white students. They told professors. They wrote letters. They spoke to the media. The authorities at VMI met each successive attempt with indifference and contempt.
According to a dozen current and former VMI cadets who spoke to The Root, the administrators won’t even pretend to substantively address issues of racism, sexism and harassment at the school. Instead, VMI’s position seems to be that cadets at VMI cannot be “victims of racism” because there is no race at the beloved institution. So, when VMI welcomed Mike Pence—along with Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy and U.S. Rep. Michael Waltz (R-Fla.), both VMI grads—to its campus on Sept. 10, a group of students decided to protest by becoming a literal example of their treatment.
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They became invisible.
The school’s overseers still haven’t publicly acknowledged that students are disgruntled. They have yet to offer anything other than performative rhetoric that ignores the students’ requests and doubled down on white supremacy. They continue to respond to Black students’ allegations of inequality by saying nothing and doing even less.
If metaphors were adequate explainers, the school’s response to racism at VMI would be a perfect allegory for the Trump administration’s response to ongoing protests against injustice and inequality. But Mike Pence’s visit was not the last straw; Black students were not making a mountain out of a molehill and VMI is not America.
This story is not a metaphor.
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This story is a simile.
Mike Pence is as racist as the white supremacist Confederacy revered by VMI...
Because the Virginia Military Institute is like America.
Why Is #VMISoWhite?
Nestled in the tiny town of Lexington, Va., the Virginia Military Institute was founded in 1839 as an all-white male military college. U.S. News’ most recent rankings list VMI as the 69th best liberal arts college in the country and the 11th best in Virginia. Its distinguished alumni include current Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, who graduated from VMI in 1981 with a degree in blackface technology biology. The college was an important supplier of Confederate soldiers, including 15 generals, when Southern states decided they would rather not be a part of America if it meant they couldn’t indiscriminately rape, torture and enslave Africans.
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In 1968, VMI became the last public college in the state of Virginia to admit Black students. It would be almost another three decades before a female cadet enrolled in the school. It is Virginia’s only state-supported college or university without an office of inclusion or diversity. The student body of 1,698 is six percent Black, according to the State Council of Higher Education For Virginia.
“If you see a Black person on campus, it’s fair to assume that he’s an NCAA athlete,” said one senior cadet who spoke to The Root on the condition of anonymity. “And most of the time you’d be correct.”
The notion that the majority of VMI’s Black student cadets are athletes was a common theme of every individual who spoke to The Root and was confirmed by our analysis of the college’s athletic rosters. During the 2019-2020 school year, 58 of VMI’s 102 African American students played an NCAA Division I sport.
Although the school existed for 20 years before Virginia joined 12 other Southern States to form a white supremacist nation, the institute prides itself on its ties to Confederate culture, a fact highlighted by its most celebrated alumnus, Thomas Stonewall Jackson, who remains at the literal center of the campus tradition and culture. Jackson was a member of VMI’s faculty when he left to lead the Confederate Army’s “Stonewall Brigade,” earning the slave-owning traitor an unrivaled place of prestige and glory at the institute.
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VMI’s infamous statue of Stonewall Jackson has become the symbol for the institution’s oppression and mistreatment of its Black students because the school’s culture is simile steeped in white supremacy...like America.
“When you first get there, you’re on the bottom of the totem pole,” explained 2020 graduate Kaleb Tucker to The Root. “When you leave your barracks—which are your dorms—rats have to salute Stonewall Jackson. In other words, pay respect to a Confederate leader.”
“Rats” is VMI’s nickname for first-year cadets on the school’s “Rat Line”—a tradition of informal indoctrination “designed to instill and reinforce character traits that will serve a cadet well during his or her cadet years and in life after VMI.” While the rats are no longer formally required to salute the monument to a literal military traitor, the practice is still honored by many students and informally encouraged by upperclassmen, who are essentially the rats’ de-facto superiors.
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“They took it off paper but it’s still enforced,” said Tucker. “It’s a class system, so anyone can order you to do anything. They can get you in trouble, scream in your face, haze you during workouts and even [subject rats to] administrative trouble. Somebody will get you in trouble for something else but really it’s for not saluting the statue.”
“There’s two types of people at VMI,” Tucker added. “There’s the people that say: ‘This is what the school stands for and if you don’t like it, you shouldn’t have come here.’ Then there are the people that say “It’s tradition and these Confederate people that are memorialized here were really great people and great leaders. And the school was built on great leaders and great people. So it’s traditional to keep those aspects around and there’s no racial side of it.” So those are the two main narratives that you get from people.”
Instructors are also “encouraged to integrate the philosophies of Confederate figures into the curriculum,” according to a former faculty member who spoke to The Root.
“It’s drilled into your head as you’re being hazed,” Tucker added. “You have something called a Rat Bible. You’re forced to read this bible, which is basically how great Stonewall Jackson was; why you should respect him; why he has this statue there—stuff like that. There’s no actual education on the Confederacy. It’s all just drilled into your head by people or by the rules.”
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Rats are eventually sworn in during another one of the college’s annual traditions. Each year, the students travel to New Market, Va., to commemorate the 1864 South’s victory in the Battle of New Market. The reenactment of Confederate traitors charging the field to kill American soldiers culminates with VMI cadets laying a wreath at the feet of the statue of “Virginia Mourning Her Dead,” followed by a tribute to the treasonous alumni who died protecting the institution of human bondage.
The glorification of the Confederacy isn’t the only reason VMI is so white. In spite of General Order No. 16 (pdf) —the university’s written policy against discrimination, harassment and sexual misconduct—current and former VMI cadets describe a campus atmosphere openly hostile to anyone who is not a white male.
In 2017, Col. William Wanovich, VMI’s commandant of cadets, posed for a picture as he pretended to climb students dressed as “Trump’s wall” for Halloween.
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No disciplinary action was taken.
Another former student wrote that an upperclassman spit in his face the day he chose to transfer, telling him that he was only there because the school “needs minorities.” Eight students described how Black students are routinely targeted for violations of the school’s honor code, sometimes for offenses like “being ratchet” or “ghetto.” And, because the college is student-run, even when Black students report the incidents, the jury in the cadet-led “honor court” are usually composed of white males.
“VMI doesn’t like to keep any statistic based on race because they say ‘the only race at VMI is green’,” one student told The Root. “But I’d be willing to bet that Black cadets get more demerits and honor-code violations than white cadets.”
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Another current cadet and a VMI alumnus recounted another incident that illustrates the climate at VMI. According to both sources, who spoke independently of each other, a prospective Black athlete was visiting the school on a recruiting trip when a white cadet decided to introduce himself.
“The white kid walked up and said—and I quote: ‘What’s up with all this nigger shit?’” said the alumnus, who witnessed the incident. “To sum it up, there was no disciplinary action taken on that cadet. And the second in command kind of made light of it, like we were in the wrong for even caring about it.”
“You hear the n-word a lot of from people who aren’t Black,” said Tucker, while other students revealed that Confederate flags are commonplace in the barracks. Students say when students speak out, their pleas are ignored or routinely dismissed.
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Because VMI is a public institution, Black cadets are sure to encounter “flaggers”—Confederate enthusiasts who flock to the campus to worship the white supremacist monuments sprinkled around campus. And while VMI embraces its alumni who betrayed their country, it recently warned Black students not to participate in Black Lives Matter protests or even the local Martin Luther King Jr. parade, which occurs on the same weekend as Virginia’s Lee-Jackson parade honoring Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson. The parade traditionally ended at VMI until the school banned neo-Confederate re-enactors from bringing their weapons on campus.
“When they recruit you, they make it seem like it’s hard but it’s fair,” one current rat who earned an athletic scholarship told The Root. “Being that I play football, I’m used to white people trying to be tough but fair. But it’s only fair if you’re white. If you’re not, you have to put up with a lot. It’s not just the statues. It’s the whole Confederacy of whiteness.”
And if you think it’s hard being a Black man on campus, try being a Black woman at a school that is 76 percent white and 89 percent male.
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“This place has truly broken me down mentally physically and emotionally,” wrote Ingrid, a Black female cadet, who is also Muslim. “VMI takes away our identity and tries to punish us for who we are.”
“They were asking us to commemorate people on the wrong side of history and to celebrate people who wanted African Americans in bondage, raped and enslaved,” Virginia gubernatorial Jennifer Carroll Foy told the Washington Post. “The problem is that Black Americans think that heritage is full of hate.”
Aside from her quest to become America’s first Black female governor, Foy was also one of the first Black women to graduate from VMI.
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When I got to VMI, I was the trademarked “good white person.” By the end of my first year at VMI, I realized that I was a terrible white person who just thought she was good. Being at VMI...It radicalized me.
To be clear, Black students don’t think the culture at VMI is racist.
Students think VMI is racist. White faculty members think VMI has a toxic culture of white supremacy. VMI’s Black alumni have experienced insidious discrimination. Many of the school’s white alumni witnessed it.
“I can’t tell you how conflicted I was & how many times I called my now wife who is a POC in tears to share my witnessing institutional racism but didn’t speak out,” tweeted J.B. Weber, a white VMI alum. “I was a coward. I saw racism happening before my eyes and was too afraid of the system to speak. I should have used my position and White privilege to protect [Black and non-white, male cadets].”
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Jamie (not her real name), a white former VMI professor who spent years teaching at the institution, says she was diagnosed with PTSD after leaving VMI. In tears, she shared how she witnessed a white cadre (upperclassmen) tell a Black rat that they were going to send him “back where he came from.”
“When I got to VMI, I was the trademark ‘good white person.’” Jamie explained. “By the end of my first year at VMI, I realized that I was a terrible white person who just thought she was good. Being at VMI, seeing experiences in the classroom where white students threatened to report Black students to the commandant’s office because they thought their hair was not in regulation...Having those experiences, it radicalized me.”
At the center of the dispute is Gen. J.H. Binford Peay III. Peay is a VMI alumnus and a retired Army general whose sons attended VMI as did his father before him. He has ruled VMI with a strong hand since 2003, and as one senior cadet said: “General Peay doesn’t give a fuck.”
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The Pence Rebellion
After the death of George Floyd and the subsequent protests, Kaleb Tucker organized a petition asking Peay and others in the faculty to address racism and remove the monuments to white supremacy. The petition has garnered nearly 1,500 signatures and specifically urged for the removal of the Stonewall Jackson statue, explaining:
The Virginia Military Institute strives on the tradition and structure that it was built on in 1839. Unfortunately, that same tradition and structure has been the root of racism at the institute. This petition was created with the purpose of forcing VMI to acknowledge the racism and Black prejudice that still occurs at VMI. A starting point do doing that is to tear down the statue of Stonewall Jackson, a confederate general.
To his credit, Peay responded with an eloquent, seven-page letter that can be summed up with one word:
“Nah.”
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“Our school’s history has been intertwined with the history of Virginia and the Civil War,” read General Peay’s letter. “Stonewall Jackson was a professor at VMI, a West Point graduate who served in combat in the Mexican War, a military genius, a staunch Christian, and yes, a Confederate General. Throughout the years, the primary focus on honoring VMI’s history has been to celebrate principles of honor, integrity, character, courage, service, and selflessness of those associated with the institute. It is not to in any way condone racism, much less slavery.”
In a second letter to students, Peay doubled down on the notion that celebrating a nation that condoned slavery isn’t the same as celebrating or condoning slavery. Peay explained that VMI will “retain the foundation of values and principles set in the Institute’s early years” but shift the focus to celebrating the “remarkable history of our second century.”
As soon as the 2020 school year began, VMI illustrated its commitment to racial healing by hosting a renowned advocate for diversity—Mike Pence—who once said Confederate monuments helped Americans “remember our history.”
“It’s in poor taste, tone-deaf and counter to everything Gen. Peay said in those emails,” a member of VMI’s Promaji Club (from a Swahili word meaning “togetherness) told The Root. “If he was serious about changing the culture here and making a place for VMI in this movement we’d have a speaker we trust to come and share real knowledge of this social movement.”
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The club, which promotes diversity and operates much like a Black Student Union (remember, there is no race at VMI), has invited members of the VMI faculty to every meeting since its inception but, for some reason, none of VMI’s leadership have accepted the invitation.
“We’ve invited the leadership to many meetings,” said a Promaji member. “None of them have ever shown up. None of them ever sent a delegate or anything like that.”
Promaji Club members were used to being ignored. But members were dismayed by the school’s invitation to Pence; the club wrote a letter directly to Peay asking him to disinvite Pence.
“These past few months, evidence of systematic and institutional racism abounds,” wrote the club. “The wrongful police executions of Black men and women such as George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, the recent events in Los Angeles and Kenosha, the racism exhibited by former commandant stag members here in our own institution.”
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“Hosting the Vice President, in light of his recent divisive rhetoric regarding police brutality, the tragic Kenosha shootings, and the current racial tension facing our nation will only further divide the corps of cadets and perpetuate the polarization and division within our ranks,” the cadets noted. “[I]t is our greatest wish that you would reconsider hosting this event on the grounds that we believe the presence of Vice President Mike Pence in our dear home will categorically and unambiguously result in not only further division, but ultimately perpetuate the mistreatment and ostracisation of minority cadets and those who support them.”
“Our [Promaji Club] adviser is a faculty member; he’s in and out of meetings with the commandant and Gen. Peay’s chief of staff, Col. Iman,” a Promaji member told The Root two days before Pence’s Sept. 10 visit. “They may allow us to not go. We don’t know for sure. Because if it’s optional for a group then it has to be optional for the corps and that will not happen here especially with these two visitors.”
So the cadets came up with two options:
Plan A: If they were forced to go, they would flip over their masks during Pence’s speech to reveal the names of victims of police brutality.
If they were forced to go, they would flip over their masks during Pence’s speech to reveal the names of victims of police brutality. Plan B: Peay would allow the cadets to skip the Pence hootenanny, and the club would write a “note to General Peay thanking him for not making us go (In a sly respectful, but lowkey disrespectful kind of way) and explain why we didn’t go.”
But remember, General Peay doesn’t give a fuck. He made attendance mandatory.
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Apparently, aware that shenanigans were afoot, the students were forbidden from bringing cameras or cell phones to document the speech or the planned protest.
“I had to like literally walk people through the process of what’s worth it and what’s not worth it because so many students were upset and they just wanted to walk out altogether,” a senior cadet explained. “I know they wanted to make a statement that was big and loud, but I know that the repercussions are not like a regular school. At regular school, you get thrown out and that’s the end of it. Here, we got a lot more on the line. Some students played basketball, football; some of us are commissioning as officers in the military, and you know doing something here like that will be death.
“That would have embarrassed Gen. Peay, and I’m pretty sure he would dangle that in front of our faces. So a lot of students wanted to take it to a hundred, and it took some convincing to bring them down and to say that we’ve got to be a little bit more strategic. It might not be worth doing all that.”
So the mostly Black group of students arrived at the pre-speech formation ready to hear Pence. But, curiously, some of them still had cell phones. Others arrived at formation dressed in out-of-regulation uniforms.
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Of course, the white cadre wouldn’t let the Black cadets get away with these slight discrepancies. So the student leaders sent the Black students back to the barracks to change their uniforms, and the Black students simply didn’t return. Had the Black students not received the message? Were they dumb? Was this just a metaphor for resistance?
For some strange reason, none of the major photo services have pictures of Mike Pence’s visit to VMI. The few photos that exist do not show the crowd. But if you look at the only picture of the audience that we could find, you’ll notice an astonishing lack of Black faces.
One person did notice.
Two days after Mike Pence’s visit, the leaders of the Promaji Club were notified that Gen. Peay wanted to meet with the club to “figure out what’s wrong in the barracks.”
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At the conclusion of each interview with VMI’s Black alumni and students, I asked each of them the same question.
“If your brother or little cousin came to you tomorrow and told you they were thinking about attending VMI, what would you tell them?”
Despite the oppression, the trauma and literally being forced to salute white supremacy, every single student said they would caution their loved one about the campus atmosphere but would give VMI their blessings. They all cited the institution’s “great education. They really believed it instilled them with treasured values.”
Why?
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Well, it all goes back to the Pence revolt.
When VMI’s faculty caught wind of the Black cadets’ plans, the students were forced to come up with another strategy, so the group devised a tactic that they knew wouldn’t fail. Their plan was based on their experience at “Mother I” and the inescapable history of this country.
Black VMI alums and students would allow their loved ones to attend VMI for the same reason the cadets knew they would be sent back to the barracks—they know similes.
The Virginia Military Institute is racist...
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Like America.
In response to The Root’s request for an interview with Gen. Peay, Col. Bill Wyatt, VMI’s director of communication and marketing, pointed us to Peay’s July letter, adding that Peay was not available for an interview.
“Additionally, the VMI Board of Visitors affirmed Gen. Peay’s way forward at their meeting earlier in the week,” Wyatt told The Root in an email. “Senior administrators are in the process of developing action items to achieve the vision and will report their progress to the Board of Visitors prior to their next meeting in January. Gen. Peay met with cadets (including those of color), faculty, and staff as he was developing his vision and continues to meet with them on a regular basis. As he said in his letter, racism and discrimination have no place at VMI.”


theroot--2020-09-23--NFL Legend Gale Sayers Dead at 77

NFL Legend Gale Sayers Dead at 77

Gale Sayers , one of the greatest running backs in the history of the NFL , has died at the age of 77 .
The Chicago Sun-Times and ESPN report that Sayers ’ transition comes after he was diagnosed with dementia in 2012 .
In 1977 , the Chicago Bears legend was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame after accumulating 56 touchdowns and almost 5,000 rushing yards in a career cut short by injuries .
In seven seasons , he was named to the All-Pro team five times and led the league in rushing twice before becoming the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ever at 34 years old .
“ The NFL family lost a true friend today with the passing of Gale Sayers .
Gale was one of the finest men in NFL history and one of the game ’ s most exciting players , ” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement .
“ Gale was an electrifying and elusive runner who thrilled fans every time he touched the ball .
He earned his place as a first-ballot Hall of Famer .
We will also forever remember Gale for his inspiration and kindness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ belied his determination , competitiveness and compassion.
” Despite hanging up his cleats in 1971 , the “ Kansas Comet ” still holds the NFL record for touchdowns by a rookie ( 22 ) and career kickoff return average ( 30.6 ) .
He ’ s also still tied for the NFL record for touchdowns in a game ( six ) and holds Bears franchise records for touchdowns in a season ( 22 ) , in a game ( six ) , all-purpose yards in a season ( 2,440 ) and several others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to circulate , friends and fans of the legendary running back took to Twitter to offer their condolences .
Dave Zirin , sports editor at The Nation , also made it a point to remind mourners that Sayers ’ “ final major gesture ” as a college student was participating in a sit-in at the University of Kansas .
After retiring from football , Sayers returned to school at Kansas to earn both his bachelor ’ s and master ’ s degrees before serving as the athletic director at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death , the NFL legend occupied himself with business interests and philanthropic efforts .
“ It was a great honor to play in the National Football League , and I consider myself very lucky to have played here in Chicago for you , the great Chicago Bear fans , ” Sayers said at his jersey retirement ceremony in 1994 .
Our thoughts are with his family .

Gale Sayers, one of the greatest running backs in the history of the NFL, has died at the age of 77.
The Chicago Sun-Times and ESPN report that Sayers’ transition comes after he was diagnosed with dementia in 2012.
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In 1977, the Chicago Bears legend was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame after accumulating 56 touchdowns and almost 5,000 rushing yards in a career cut short by injuries. In seven seasons, he was named to the All-Pro team five times and led the league in rushing twice before becoming the youngest Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee ever at 34 years old.
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“The NFL family lost a true friend today with the passing of Gale Sayers. Gale was one of the finest men in NFL history and one of the game’s most exciting players,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. “Gale was an electrifying and elusive runner who thrilled fans every time he touched the ball. He earned his place as a first-ballot Hall of Famer. We will also forever remember Gale for his inspiration and kindness. Gale’s quiet unassuming demeanor belied his determination, competitiveness and compassion.”
Despite hanging up his cleats in 1971, the “Kansas Comet” still holds the NFL record for touchdowns by a rookie (22) and career kickoff return average (30.6). He’s also still tied for the NFL record for touchdowns in a game (six) and holds Bears franchise records for touchdowns in a season (22), in a game (six), all-purpose yards in a season (2,440) and several others.
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As news of his passing began to circulate, friends and fans of the legendary running back took to Twitter to offer their condolences.
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Dave Zirin, sports editor at The Nation, also made it a point to remind mourners that Sayers’ “final major gesture” as a college student was participating in a sit-in at the University of Kansas.
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After retiring from football, Sayers returned to school at Kansas to earn both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees before serving as the athletic director at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale from 1976-81. In the time before his death, the NFL legend occupied himself with business interests and philanthropic efforts.
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“It was a great honor to play in the National Football League, and I consider myself very lucky to have played here in Chicago for you, the great Chicago Bear fans,” Sayers said at his jersey retirement ceremony in 1994.
Our thoughts are with his family.


theroot--2020-09-23--LeBron James Claps Back at LA County Sheriff Who Came for Him: 'What's Right Is Right, and What's Wr

LeBron James Claps Back at LA County Sheriff Who Came for Him: 'What's Right Is Right, and What's Wrong Is Wrong'

As arguably the most influential and astute athlete of this generation , LeBron James might be a lot of things , but stupid isn ’ t one of them .
So last week , when Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva took a break from attempting to reinstate former deputies accused of domestic violence in order to issue a challenge to King James , the three-time NBA champion wasn ’ t going for it .
As we previously reported at The Root , Villanueva went on a local radio show and pressed LeBron to double the reward money being offered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the individual ( s ) responsible for shooting two LA county deputies on September 12 .
He called out LeBron specifically because of LeBron ’ s penchant for calling out racial inequity and police misconduct .
So after the Lakers got their asses kicked by the Nuggets on Tuesday night , the Akron , Ohio , native decided it was the opportune time to issue a retort .
He began by dismissing Villanueva ’ s challenge , saying he had “ zero comment , ” then set a few things straight .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years ever condoned violence .
Never have .
But I also know what ’ s right is right , and what ’ s wrong is wrong , ” James told reporters .
“ I grew up in the inner city in a Black community in what we call the hood or the ghetto .
[ ... ] I ’ ve seen a lot of accounts firsthand of a lot of Black people being racially profiled because of our color .
And I ’ ve seen it throughout my whole life .
“ And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cops are bad [ ... ] But when you see the videos that ’ s going on and you can see all over the—not only my hometown but all over America—you continue to see the acts of violence toward my kind , I can ’ t do nothing but to speak about it and see the common denominator .
“ But not one time have I ever said , ‘ Let ’ s act violent toward cops.
’ I just said that what ’ s going on in our community is not OK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and we fear for our lives .
It ’ s something that we go on every single day as a Black man and a Black woman and a Black kid , a Black girl .
We fear .
We fear that moment when we ’ re pulled over.
” King James ain ’ t tell not one lie .
He ’ s also not foolish enough to fall for Villanueva ’ s trap .
Like I said before : if the LA County Sheriff ’ s office made it a point to consistently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we ’ d be a lot more apt to help bring this shooter to justice .
This man expects the public to entrust him with our safety , but he might want to clean up his own raggedy-ass house first before he attempts to come for anyone .
Especially someone as astute as King James .

As arguably the most influential and astute athlete of this generation, LeBron James might be a lot of things, but stupid isn’t one of them.
So last week, when Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva took a break from attempting to reinstate former deputies accused of domestic violence in order to issue a challenge to King James, the three-time NBA champion wasn’t going for it.
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As we previously reported at The Root, Villanueva went on a local radio show and pressed LeBron to double the reward money being offered for information leading to the arrest of the individual(s) responsible for shooting two LA county deputies on September 12. He called out LeBron specifically because of LeBron’s penchant for calling out racial inequity and police misconduct.
Again, LeBron ain’t stupid.
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So after the Lakers got their asses kicked by the Nuggets on Tuesday night, the Akron, Ohio, native decided it was the opportune time to issue a retort. He began by dismissing Villanueva’s challenge, saying he had “zero comment,” then set a few things straight.
“I’ve never in my 35 years ever condoned violence. Never have. But I also know what’s right is right, and what’s wrong is wrong,” James told reporters. “I grew up in the inner city in a Black community in what we call the hood or the ghetto. [...] I’ve seen a lot of accounts firsthand of a lot of Black people being racially profiled because of our color. And I’ve seen it throughout my whole life.
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“And I’m not saying that all cops are bad [...] But when you see the videos that’s going on and you can see all over the—not only my hometown but all over America—you continue to see the acts of violence toward my kind, I can’t do nothing but to speak about it and see the common denominator.
“But not one time have I ever said, ‘Let’s act violent toward cops.’ I just said that what’s going on in our community is not OK, and we fear for that, and we fear for our lives. It’s something that we go on every single day as a Black man and a Black woman and a Black kid, a Black girl. We fear. We fear that moment when we’re pulled over.”
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King James ain’t tell not one lie.
He’s also not foolish enough to fall for Villanueva’s trap.
Like I said before: if the LA County Sheriff’s office made it a point to consistently treat Black people like human beings, we’d be a lot more apt to help bring this shooter to justice. This man expects the public to entrust him with our safety, but he might want to clean up his own raggedy-ass house first before he attempts to come for anyone.
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Especially someone as astute as King James.


theroot--2020-09-23--Save Hundreds on Furniture and Kitchen Gear During Wayfair’s Way Day Sale

Way Day !
Way Day !
It ’ s that time of year again for Wayfair fans : the furniture retailer is blowing out thousands of items with its best prices of the year .
It ’ s actually a two-day event , but that ’ s still a slim amount of time to take advantage of enormous savings on chairs , beds , mattresses , coffee tables , cribs , outdoor furniture , kitchen appliances , and plenty more—even Christmas trees .
We ’ ve picked out our favorite deals from across the entire sale , including some of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other eye-catching items , but there are hundreds more worth scoping out over at the Way Day landing page .
The sale runs through September 24 , so hurry !
Time for a mattress upgrade ?
We feel you .
Luckily , Way Day has some serious mattress deals in the mix , and Wayfair ’ s own Sleep brand has some of the best .
Right now , you can save up to 61 % off the price of this 12 ” medium firm memory foam mattress , ranging from $ 180-350 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capabilities in a hurry with this Rachael Ray Cucina 10-piece nonstick bakeware set .
It ’ s more than half off the regular price , and nets you a pair of baking/cookie sheets , four cake pans , one muffin/cupcake pan , two loaf pans , and lids .
It ’ s available in Latte Brown with Cranberry Red Handles .
Use promo code COOK20 to take the price down to $ 74 .
This coffee table has a great , semi-rustic look to it , living up to the “ Modern Farmhouse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ above .
Along with the large wood slab on top , you get a smaller one at the bottom of holding magazines and knick-knacks , with a metal frame keeping it all together .
Save 41 % on this one during Way Day .
Always wanted one of those cereal dispenser displays seen at hotel breakfast buffets ?
Hey , me too !
Now we can both snag one for just $ 31 at Way Day , a savings of 24 % off the list price .
Just twist the knob to fill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boxes again .
Check out this classy-looking seat , which is slathered in faux leather with individually hand-applied nails for detail .
You won ’ t get an ottoman or throw pillows with this chair , but you will get massive savings : the 2 Tone Espresso style is 67 % off the list price .
If your current work-from-home setup isn ’ t doing any favors for your back , then maybe it ’ s time for a proper office chair .
This Hashtag Home Halverson ergonomic mesh task chair offers lumbar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There are several styles available at Way Day , each one marked down significantly from the $ 250 list price .
If you ’ re looking for a fancier flusher than you have in your home right now , this Swiss Madison St. Tropez elongated one-piece toilet is a striking throne .
It has a slim back and a long seat , complete with a dual-flush system and quiet-close seat .
Best of all , it ’ s a whopping 69 % off the $ 916 list price during Way Day .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a new bed from Andover Mills .
You ’ ll save as much as 82 % off ( depending on size ) of this bed , which pairs a poplar frame with linen upholstery and an adjustable headboard .
Pair it with the aforementioned memory foam mattress to get a full new bed replacement at an incredible discount .
Here ’ s another steal on a large Rachael Ray Cucina kitchen bundle , this time saving you $ 196off the list price of a 12-piece aluminum nonstick cookware set .
It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comes with all of the pots , pans , lids , and utensils you need to boost your kitchen game in a hurry .
Drop in promo code COOK20 at checkout to take the price down to $ 104 .
Tired of the hassle of buying and maintaining a real Christmas tree each year , or just on the hunt for a better fake one ?
Way Day has some premium artificial trees available , including this Laurel Foundry Modern Farmhouse option .
Depending on size , it ’ s priced between $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lush look , pinecones , and already-strung lights .
You ’ ll save 48 % off the list price .
Add more vertical storage to your space with this Langley Street ladder bookcase , which stands just over 4.5 feet tall and is two feet wide .
With four shelves that get longer as they near the ground and and three color options available , you ’ ll save 55 % off the list price .
While the changing seasons may make outdoor furniture less practical in the coming months , this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a set for next summer .
Three Posts ’ Burruss patio sectional with cushions is knocked down $ 626 off the list price right now , giving you a cozy place to relax when the weather ’ s nice .

Sheilah Villari and Andrew Hayward on Roundups, shared by Gabe Carey to The Root

Featured Deal: Hurst Steel Wood Burning Outdoor Fire Pit | $17 0
Are you ready to cash in on one of Wayfair’s biggest sales of the year? That’s right, I’m talking about the Memorial Day Sale, where you can save up to 70% off on the website’s best-selling products.
Be sure to cash in on all of the summer essentials and everything you’ll need to host BBQs seamlessly. Spice up your indoor and outdoor spaces with the latest styles in decor and furniture!
While you’re at it, why not finance your sale with the Wayfair Mastercard? When you open a Wayfair credit card, not only will you get $40 off your first qualifying order of $250.
Here are some of the best discounts that Wayfair has to offer!
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How many of you are tired of heading off to your dingy local laundromat? Why not treat yourself to an in-unit laundry appliance, starting with the Samsung 4.5 Cubic Feet Cu. Ft. Front Load Washer. This washer is Energy Star Certified and highly efficient (because Samsung is looking out for your electrical bill). At 4.5 cubic feet, the drum will allow you to wash more in a single load to spend more time focusing on work, friends, and family. It also features an improved drum pattern to extract more water, more quickly during the rinse cycle and prevent snags during washes.
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At a whopping 59 % off, the Sealy 12" Plush Memory Foam Mattress provides the medium firmness to keep you snug at night. The knit cover is luxuriously soft, so you can enjoy the full benefits of this premium mattress. It also has low-motion transfer, so you won’t wake up when your partner rolls over at night. It’s even hypoallergenic and works well with adjustable bases for the ultra-sensitive sleeper.
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Does Joanna Gaines have you wishing your home had a rustic flair? Well, you’re in luck the Sand & Stable Laguna Coffee Table with Storage (Natural Pine Brown) is the perfect item to complete your living room transformation. Not only is it available in three beautiful finishes, but its metal accents will be the perfect accent for that farmhouse chic look you’re going for. This table even comes with a shelf for extra storage space.
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This Rachael Ray Cucina bakeware set is a must for your kitchen. This set is non-stick and PFOA and PTFE free for the ultimate ease and safety. Each baking pan is oven safe to 450°F and even has heat-safe silicone grips at the top and bottom of the handles to protect your hands. Just note that these pans are not dishwasher safe.
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Get the perfect chair to rock your baby to sleep with the Sand & Stable Baby & Kids Albie Upholstered Manual Glider Recliner. Available in Gray linen, beige, and dark gray, this product has a full 360°swiveling, reclining, and gliding capabilities. And the poped trim gives it a coastal farmhouse chic look! Note that the frame is built from solid and engineered wood with scooped arms and a wingback.
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For those lucky enough to experience warm weather year-round, it might be time to upgrade your outdoor decor. The Zipcode Design Wicker/Rattan 4 - Person Seating Group is perfect for chilling poolside or catching up with friends over drinks and a charcuterie board. Crafted from a steel frame, each piece is constructed with wicker rattan and is designed to outlast harsh sun and relentless rainstorms. This set also comes with removable cushions for your cleaning needs.
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Did you know that a fire pit can really tie an outdoor space together? At 59 % off, the Hurst Steel Wood Burning Outdoor Fire Pit is a great, high-quality option. Constructed from durable steel, this pit is guaranteed to outlast years of use. It’s also stylish and practical, complete with a mesh screen and handles that make it easy to lift and dump ashes.
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Finding the right tv stand that can pull a whole room together can definitely be a challenge. But not with the Three Posts Lorraine. This stand makes curling up on the couch such a cozy experience with a fireplace included. It even has two cabinets with shelves included, so you can organize your belongings as you see fit.
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Perfect your bedroom or sitting room with the Dmitry Tall Drawer End Table. This table’s bright color and compact design are great for sprucing up any room in your home. The drawers and lower shelf also provide some really handy storage and display options.
This article was originally published by Sheillah Villari on 5/19/22 and was updated by Miranda Martin on 9/7/22.


theroot--2020-09-23--President Trump Continues to Be a Racist, Upholds Ban on Race Discrimination Training

On Tuesday , President Trump extended his ban on race sensitivity and sex-based discrimination training because the president is a serial sexual assaulter who is also a raging racist .
And you know who this appeals to ?
His base , which is a large swath of America ’ s racists who also believe in sex-based discrimination .
His base also carries spit cups and orders from McDonald ’ s Dollar Menu .
( I know this feels elitist , and I ’ m OK with that . )
According to the Hill , “ The White House released an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ divisive concepts , ’ such as the idea that one race or sex is superior , that the United States is fundamentally racist or sexist , that any individual should feel ‘ discomfort , guilt , anguish ’ or physiological distress because of their race or sex or that an individual bears responsibility for past actions by others of the same race or sex.
” “ [ T ] raining like that discussed above perpetuates racial stereotypes and division and can use subtle coercive pressure to ensure conformity of viewpoint , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may be fashionable in the academy , but they have no place in programs and activities supported by Federal taxpayer dollars.
” And you already know that Trump ’ s Senior Policy Advisor and resident white nationalist Stephen Miller authored this shit .
Trump doesn ’ t care about anything other than winning another four years and prolonging a possible jail sentence , should he leave office .
I used to believe that he was Steve Bannon ’ s puppet but then one day it dawned on me : Trump is the puppet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can help him win .
And whenever there is a doctrine like this that uses language like “ divisive concepts ” around race sensitivity training , you can best believe that Miller ’ s sweaty hands have been all over it .
The Hill notes that the order applies to executive departments and agencies , including “ the U.S. military , federal contractors and federal grant recipients.
” The president of white privilege ordered that federal agencies stop any programs that discuss “ white privilege ” or “ critical race theory ” because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forbid America learns that white people succeed at a higher rate because of systematic structures put in place to ensure that white people succeed at a higher rate .
Instead of pushing Congress to run us our stimulus money , Trump has spent several weeks ensuring that systematic racism stays intact by making sure American school children don ’ t learn the true and violent history of America and its inherent racism .
Last week , Trump announced his white curriculum for a new and improved White America called the “ 1776 Commission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York Times ’ 1619 Project .
Trump ’ s 1776 Commission is basically the New Kids on the Block to the Times ’ New Edition .
It ’ s the acoustic version of Kendrick Lamar ’ s “ Alright ” barefoot in an abandoned zoo .

On Tuesday, President Trump extended his ban on race sensitivity and sex-based discrimination training because the president is a serial sexual assaulter who is also a raging racist.
And you know who this appeals to? His base, which is a large swath of America’s racists who also believe in sex-based discrimination. His base also carries spit cups and orders from McDonald’s Dollar Menu. (I know this feels elitist, and I’m OK with that.)
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According to the Hill, “The White House released an executive order that outlaws the teaching of ‘divisive concepts,’ such as the idea that one race or sex is superior, that the United States is fundamentally racist or sexist, that any individual should feel ‘discomfort, guilt, anguish’ or physiological distress because of their race or sex or that an individual bears responsibility for past actions by others of the same race or sex.”
“[T]raining like that discussed above perpetuates racial stereotypes and division and can use subtle coercive pressure to ensure conformity of viewpoint,” the order states. “Such ideas may be fashionable in the academy, but they have no place in programs and activities supported by Federal taxpayer dollars.”
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And you already know that Trump’s Senior Policy Advisor and resident white nationalist Stephen Miller authored this shit. Trump doesn’t care about anything other than winning another four years and prolonging a possible jail sentence, should he leave office. I used to believe that he was Steve Bannon’s puppet but then one day it dawned on me: Trump is the puppet of anyone who has an idea that can help him win. And whenever there is a doctrine like this that uses language like “divisive concepts” around race sensitivity training, you can best believe that Miller’s sweaty hands have been all over it.
The Hill notes that the order applies to executive departments and agencies, including “the U.S. military, federal contractors and federal grant recipients.”
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The president of white privilege ordered that federal agencies stop any programs that discuss “white privilege” or “critical race theory” because the secret would be out. God forbid America learns that white people succeed at a higher rate because of systematic structures put in place to ensure that white people succeed at a higher rate.
Instead of pushing Congress to run us our stimulus money, Trump has spent several weeks ensuring that systematic racism stays intact by making sure American school children don’t learn the true and violent history of America and its inherent racism.
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Last week, Trump announced his white curriculum for a new and improved White America called the “1776 Commission,” a clear jab at the New York Times’ 1619 Project. Trump’s 1776 Commission is basically the New Kids on the Block to the Times’ New Edition. It’s the acoustic version of Kendrick Lamar’s “Alright” barefoot in an abandoned zoo.
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Basically it’s some racist bullshit.


theroot--2020-09-23--UGA Fraternity Suspended and Under Investigation After Black Student Pulls Receipts on Racist Group

UGA Fraternity Suspended and Under Investigation After Black Student Pulls Receipts on Racist Group Chat

A fraternity at the University of Georgia has been suspended and is under investigation after a Black student posted screenshots to social media that show bigoted comments made in a group chat .
According to the New York Times , it all started on Sept. 4 when junior Arianna Mbunwe mocked a group of sorority sisters who were out at a bar and taking zero precautions to prevent COVID-19 spread despite recent news of a rise in infection cases at UGA .
The tweet captioned , “ GETTING COVID-19 w the GIRLYS ” included photos taken by the bargoers and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we all know what happened next : The fine students at UGA saw Mbunwe ’ s post , immediately recognized the error in their ways and vowed to put on those masks , keep their distance from each other and avoid crowds from now on .
Nah , I ’ m bullshittin ’ —they decided to be racist as hell .
But it was a tip unrelated to masks or parties that led to the suspension of the university ’ s Lambda Chi Alpha chapter .
Ms. Mbunwe , 20 , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a group message that included members of the fraternity making racist statements about her .
“ Definitely another black girl , ” one person said .
“ Lord give me the strength to not call that woman a racial slur , ” said another , according to the screen shots Ms. Mbunwe posted on Saturday .
“ What a foul , miserable creature , ” said a message attached to a photo of Ms. Mbunwe .
One person , whose user name was “ Ghost of Aunt Jemima , ” made a comment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and said she was “ mad she didn ’ t get a bid , ” a reference to the selection process for sororities and fraternities .
Somebody probably should have warned the good folks at Lambda Chi Alpha about the way Black women pull receipts on that ass .
The fraternity ’ s national organization posted a statement to Twitter Monday saying “ we unequivocally condemn any acts of homophobia , misogyny and racism , ” and that the UGA chapter has been “ immediately suspended.
” UGA also posted a statement saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the “ matter is now being investigated by the University ’ s Equal Opportunity Office.
” Of course , the only issue there is that it turns out UGA ’ s Equal Opportunity Office appears to be pretty trash too , as an official there emailed Mbunwe essentially asking her how posts she ’ s made calling out racism are any different than that of white people being racist .
Once again , receipts were provided .
More from the Times : On Tuesday , Ms. Mbunwe shared on Twitter an email @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Equal Opportunity Office , in which the office ’ s associate director , Kristopher Stevens , compared her tweets critical of “ all white sororities ” to the comments Ms. Mbunwe had reported to his office .
“ It concerns me that you do not know the basic definition of discrimination , ” Ms. Mbunwe said in an emailed reply to Mr. Stevens .
“ Further to my point you do not understand that reverse racism does not exist.
” In a text message to the Times on Tuesday , Mbunwe said that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the chat to be expelled and for the fraternity ’ s charter at the university to be revoked .
Lambda Chi Alpha ’ s general counsel , Lynn Chipperfield , said that whatever disciplinary action is taken against the students would depend on “ the nature of what happened and who was involved .
”

A fraternity at the University of Georgia has been suspended and is under investigation after a Black student posted screenshots to social media that show bigoted comments made in a group chat.
According to the New York Times, it all started on Sept. 4 when junior Arianna Mbunwe mocked a group of sorority sisters who were out at a bar and taking zero precautions to prevent COVID-19 spread despite recent news of a rise in infection cases at UGA.
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The tweet captioned, “GETTING COVID-19 w the GIRLYS” included photos taken by the bargoers and posted to social media.
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So obviously, we all know what happened next: The fine students at UGA saw Mbunwe’s post, immediately recognized the error in their ways and vowed to put on those masks, keep their distance from each other and avoid crowds from now on.
Nah, I’m bullshittin’—they decided to be racist as hell.
From the Times:
But it was a tip unrelated to masks or parties that led to the suspension of the university’s Lambda Chi Alpha chapter. Ms. Mbunwe, 20, who is Black, received screen shots of a group message that included members of the fraternity making racist statements about her. “Definitely another black girl,” one person said. “Lord give me the strength to not call that woman a racial slur,” said another, according to the screen shots Ms. Mbunwe posted on Saturday. “What a foul, miserable creature,” said a message attached to a photo of Ms. Mbunwe. One person, whose user name was “Ghost of Aunt Jemima,” made a comment speculating about Ms. Mbunwe’s genitalia and said she was “mad she didn’t get a bid,” a reference to the selection process for sororities and fraternities.
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Somebody probably should have warned the good folks at Lambda Chi Alpha about the way Black women pull receipts on that ass.
The fraternity’s national organization posted a statement to Twitter Monday saying “we unequivocally condemn any acts of homophobia, misogyny and racism,” and that the UGA chapter has been “immediately suspended.”
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UGA also posted a statement saying pretty much the same thing but adding that the “matter is now being investigated by the University’s Equal Opportunity Office.”
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Of course, the only issue there is that it turns out UGA’s Equal Opportunity Office appears to be pretty trash too, as an official there emailed Mbunwe essentially asking her how posts she’s made calling out racism are any different than that of white people being racist. Once again, receipts were provided.
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More from the Times:
On Tuesday, Ms. Mbunwe shared on Twitter an email she received from the university’s Equal Opportunity Office, in which the office’s associate director, Kristopher Stevens, compared her tweets critical of “all white sororities” to the comments Ms. Mbunwe had reported to his office. “It concerns me that you do not know the basic definition of discrimination,” Ms. Mbunwe said in an emailed reply to Mr. Stevens. “Further to my point you do not understand that reverse racism does not exist.”
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In a text message to the Times on Tuesday, Mbunwe said that she wanted the students who were involved in the chat to be expelled and for the fraternity’s charter at the university to be revoked.
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Lambda Chi Alpha’s general counsel, Lynn Chipperfield, said that whatever disciplinary action is taken against the students would depend on “the nature of what happened and who was involved.”


theroot--2020-09-23--Designer Romeo Hunte Alleges Burberry Copied His Latest Collection

Fashion Week ended less than a week ago , but at least one spring collection is already sparking drama .
Burberry ’ s Spring-Summer 2021 presentation was a forest fantasy , but designer Romeo Hunte delivered a reality check this week , accusing the luxury label—and by proxy , its creative director , Riccardo Tisci—of copying looks from Hunte ’ s Spring-Summer 2020 collection .
“ To notice an established brand such as Burberry plagiarizing our ideas and showing them on their runway for profit is really disheartening , ” Hunte said in a statement obtained by Page Six .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ about presenting those styles to the buyers at market and hav [ ing ] them say that we already bought those ideas already from Burberry.
” The specific designs in question are a series of mixed-media trench coats created as part of a collaboration between Hunte and Tommy Hilfiger , constructed from archival Hilfiger pieces .
“ As an industry , we need to be extra cognizant about protecting and celebrating the work of aspiring designers , and create opportunities for recognition and access for the new voices that are paving the way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Hilfiger told Page Six .
As for the similarities between the designs , you can compare for yourself below .
Both use elements of denim , wool and leather jackets as replacement panels and sleeves on the traditional trench coat—which has long been considered the hero piece of Burberry ’ s brand , and one it has reinvented several times over in it 164-year history .
Perhaps that ’ s why Tisci and his crew may be grasping for new ideas , at this point—and while Hunte ’ s six-year-old label is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concept are cringingly unmistakable .
But is there such a thing as plagiarism in fashion ?
It ’ s been a long-contested issue , particularly amid the rise of fast fashion , which openly knocks off high-end designs , mass-producing them for a broader , less affluent consumer base ( Zara and H & M , we ’ re looking at you ) .
Burberry ’ s status in the luxury realm doesn ’ t preclude them from being guilty of the same behavior ; in fact , they may feel entitled to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ implications , it ’ s a bit less clear-cut .
In fact , the United States has notoriously lax restrictions on specific fashion designs as proprietary entities , as pointed out by the Njord law firm , located in the much stricter Estonia : In the United States , fashion designs as such are not protected by copyrights , since clothes and accessories hold a useful and practical function in addition to having an aesthetic value , which in that country does not deserve an automatic protection by copyright .
In the US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ copyright protection is having the design registered by the author .
That involves proving your design is wholly unique , which is notoriously difficult and time-consuming to do within the already constrictive timeframe of season-to-season collections—which means Hunte may have little ammunition beyond making the issue , which he understandably considers “ unacceptable , ” public .
“ As a Black designer…it is very challenging to express your point of view and be accepted for it , ” he said in his statement , noting that the timing of this controversy is perhaps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a year in which racial justice is at the forefront of conversations around the world .
“ To see this being done now with what ’ s going on with the world…shows a lack of sensitivity , carelessness and inconsideration .
”

Maiysha Kai on The Glow Up, shared by Maiysha Kai to The Root

Fashion Week ended less than a week ago, but at least one spring collection is already sparking drama. Burberry’s Spring-Summer 2021 presentation was a forest fantasy, but designer Romeo Hunte delivered a reality check this week, accusing the luxury label—and by proxy, its creative director, Riccardo Tisci—of copying looks from Hunte’s Spring-Summer 2020 collection.
“To notice an established brand such as Burberry plagiarizing our ideas and showing them on their runway for profit is really disheartening,” Hunte said in a statement obtained by Page Six. “I’m very much worried about presenting those styles to the buyers at market and hav[ing] them say that we already bought those ideas already from Burberry.”
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The specific designs in question are a series of mixed-media trench coats created as part of a collaboration between Hunte and Tommy Hilfiger, constructed from archival Hilfiger pieces.
“As an industry, we need to be extra cognizant about protecting and celebrating the work of aspiring designers, and create opportunities for recognition and access for the new voices that are paving the way for the industry’s future,” Hilfiger told Page Six.
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As for the similarities between the designs, you can compare for yourself below. Both use elements of denim, wool and leather jackets as replacement panels and sleeves on the traditional trench coat—which has long been considered the hero piece of Burberry’s brand, and one it has reinvented several times over in it 164-year history. Perhaps that’s why Tisci and his crew may be grasping for new ideas, at this point—and while Hunte’s six-year-old label is a comparative upstart, the similarities in concept are cringingly unmistakable.
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But is there such a thing as plagiarism in fashion? It’s been a long-contested issue, particularly amid the rise of fast fashion, which openly knocks off high-end designs, mass-producing them for a broader, less affluent consumer base (Zara and H&M, we’re looking at you). Burberry’s status in the luxury realm doesn’t preclude them from being guilty of the same behavior; in fact, they may feel entitled to it. But as far as legal implications, it’s a bit less clear-cut. In fact, the United States has notoriously lax restrictions on specific fashion designs as proprietary entities, as pointed out by the Njord law firm, located in the much stricter Estonia:
In the United States, fashion designs as such are not protected by copyrights, since clothes and accessories hold a useful and practical function in addition to having an aesthetic value, which in that country does not deserve an automatic protection by copyright. In the US, the prerequisite for fashion pieces having copyright protection is having the design registered by the author.
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That involves proving your design is wholly unique, which is notoriously difficult and time-consuming to do within the already constrictive timeframe of season-to-season collections—which means Hunte may have little ammunition beyond making the issue, which he understandably considers “unacceptable,” public.
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“As a Black designer…it is very challenging to express your point of view and be accepted for it,” he said in his statement, noting that the timing of this controversy is perhaps more of a slap in the face in a year in which racial justice is at the forefront of conversations around the world. “To see this being done now with what’s going on with the world…shows a lack of sensitivity, carelessness and inconsideration.”