theroot--2020-09-01--Want to Know What's New and Black on Netflix in September 2020? Let's Set It Off!

The soulfully crooning ladies on “ Missing You ” sang “ I ’ ll find a way to get tha-rouuuuugh !
” and I feel like that ’ s a big mood for 2020 .
Speaking of that song , it ’ s on the soundtrack for one of the films on Netflix in September !
This is a great jumping-off point to start the list… First up , Set It Off .
This film holds a very special place in my heart as I watched it over and over with my younger cousin at my late aunt ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t wait to rewatch this on Netflix and rehash a years-long argument : Should the ladies have given T.T .
( Kimberly Elise ) a cut of the money even though she didn ’ t participate in that particular bank heist that day ?
She needed that money !
But , do you think she should ’ ve gotten it ?
Either way , the film is now on Netflix .
We already gave y ’ all a preview of the 1990s/2000s content that ’ s coming to Netflix , but this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( Seasons 1-6 on Sept. 1 ) , and Girlfriends ( Seasons 1-8 on Sept. 11 ) .
Also coming at the top of the month are Barbershop , Menace II Society , Anaconda , Bookmarks : Celebrating Black Voices , Lakeview Terrace and Glory ( get out your tissues for the latter , but do realize all your tears won ’ t beat Denzel Washington ’ s single tear ) .
Greenleaf fans can rejoice because Season 5 of the series will be on Netflix starting Sept. 10 .
You see what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ TV show called Country-ish and if you ’ re thinking what I ’ m thinking—you ’ re wrong !
This is not a Kenya Barris Universe ( KBU ) spinoff show , it ’ s actually a reality series following country artist Coffey Anderson and it drops on Sept. 25 .
Another unfamiliar title I see is A Love Song for Latasha , which is a documentary about the killing of 15-year-old Latasha Harris , which became a “ flashpoint ” for the 1992 uprising in Los Angeles .
Netflix docs tend to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ watching this when it premieres on Sept. 21 .
There ’ s so much more !
The full September line-up is below : I ’ ll see y ’ all in October ( teaser : that blog may or may not be pumpkin-flavored ) .

Tonja Renée Stidhum on The Grapevine, shared by Tonja Renée Stidhum to The Root

The soulfully crooning ladies on “Missing You” sang “I’ll find a way to get tha-rouuuuugh!” and I feel like that’s a big mood for 2020.
Speaking of that song, it’s on the soundtrack for one of the films on Netflix in September! This is a great jumping-off point to start the list…
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First up, Set It Off. This film holds a very special place in my heart as I watched it over and over with my younger cousin at my late aunt’s house when I visited. I can’t wait to rewatch this on Netflix and rehash a years-long argument: Should the ladies have given T.T. (Kimberly Elise) a cut of the money even though she didn’t participate in that particular bank heist that day? She needed that money! But, do you think she should’ve gotten it? Either way, the film is now on Netflix.
We already gave y’all a preview of the 1990s/2000s content that’s coming to Netflix, but this month is dedicated to Sister, Sister (Seasons 1-6 on Sept. 1), and Girlfriends (Seasons 1-8 on Sept. 11). Also coming at the top of the month are Barbershop, Menace II Society, Anaconda, Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices, Lakeview Terrace and Glory (get out your tissues for the latter, but do realize all your tears won’t beat Denzel Washington’s single tear).
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Greenleaf fans can rejoice because Season 5 of the series will be on Netflix starting Sept. 10.
You see what I see? There’s a TV show called Country-ish and if you’re thinking what I’m thinking—you’re wrong! This is not a Kenya Barris Universe (KBU) spinoff show, it’s actually a reality series following country artist Coffey Anderson and it drops on Sept. 25.
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Another unfamiliar title I see is A Love Song for Latasha, which is a documentary about the killing of 15-year-old Latasha Harris, which became a “flashpoint” for the 1992 uprising in Los Angeles. Netflix docs tend to be top-notch so I look forward to watching this when it premieres on Sept. 21.
There’s so much more! The full September line-up is below:
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I’ll see y’all in October (teaser: that blog may or may not be pumpkin-flavored).


theroot--2020-09-01--The Metallic Edition of Le Wand Petite Wand Is Here for Your Staycation, Baecation, or Actual Vacati

The Metallic Edition of Le Wand Petite Wand Is Here for Your Staycation, Baecation, or Actual Vacation

If you ’ re headed out of town for the long weekend don ’ t forget to pack the essentials @ @ @ @ @ from Ella Paradis to the list too .
Le Wand Petite just got a makeover @ @ @ @ @ .
The new metallic blue color is mesmerizing .
Take 33 % off ( with @ @ @ @ @ new travel buddy for the most relaxing vacay ever .
Le Wand Petite is a @ @ @ @ @ big sister with all of the power and less noise .
All the classic features @ @ @ @ @ body-safe silicone , flexible neck , and shower friendliness .
T he ten ultra-powerful vibes @ @ @ @ @ six different patterns .
The travel case lets you be discreet and the lock keeps @ @ @ @ @ with the old fashioned model , this one is also c ordless and r echargeable @ @ @ @ @ ll even get a pleasure guide to help with play and a one year warranty @

Sheilah Villari on Kinja Deals, shared by Ignacia to The Root

Metallic Blue Le Wand Petite | $117 | Ella Paradis | Use Code BEACHY
If you’re headed out of town for the long weekend don’t forget to pack the essentials. Add this fan favorite from Ella Paradis to the list too . Le Wand Petite just got a makeover and it’s stunning. The new metallic blue color is mesmerizing . Take 33% off ( with the code BEACHY) your new travel buddy for the most relaxing vacay ever.
Le Wand Petite is a more portable version of its big sister with all of the power and less noise. All the classic features are still there including the body-safe silicone, flexible neck, and shower friendliness . T he ten ultra-powerful vibes pack a pintsized punch in six different patterns. The travel case lets you be discreet and the lock keeps it for keeps. As with the old fashioned model, this one is also c ordless and r echargeable by USB. You’ll even get a pleasure guide to help with play and a one year warranty .
Free shipping on all domestic orders.


theroot--2020-09-01--Naomi Osaka Honors Breonna Taylor With Mask at U.S. Open, Has 6 More Masks Lined Up Because She Ain'

Naomi Osaka Honors Breonna Taylor With Mask at U.S. Open, Has 6 More Masks Lined Up Because She Ain't Losing Any Time Soon

Just so we ’ re clear , Naomi Osaka has no intention of losing in the U.S. Open anytime soon .
I say that because , on Monday night , she took the court at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York City donning a black face mask with Breonna Taylor ’ s name on it .
She then proceeded to stomp a mudhole in Misaki Doi ( 6-2 , 5-7 , 6-2 ) in their first-round match .
Afterward , she revealed she has aspirations to do the exact same thing six more times because she has seven masks on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Open—each presumably adorned with a different name of a victim of racialized violence .
“ It ’ s quite sad that seven masks isn ’ t enough for the amount of names , ” she said .
“ So hopefully , I ’ ll get to the finals and you can see all of them.
” Last week , the 2018 U.S. Open champ stood in solidarity with the Milwaukee Bucks and other sports teams who refused to play as a result of the police shooting of Jacob Blake .
Prior to her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Western & Southern Open semifinals , Osaka announced that she would not be taking the court .
“ Hello , as many of you are aware I was scheduled to play my semifinals match tomorrow , ” she tweeted .
“ However , before I am an athlete , I am a Black woman .
And as a Black woman I feel as though there are much more important matters at hand that need immediate attention , rather than watching me play tennis.
” As we reported here at The Root , hours @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Western & Southern Open decided to suspend all matches that were scheduled that day : The rest of the sports world better prepare accordingly , because much like everyone else , I plan on seeing all seven of those masks .

Just so we’re clear, Naomi Osaka has no intention of losing in the U.S. Open anytime soon.
I say that because, on Monday night, she took the court at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York City donning a black face mask with Breonna Taylor’s name on it.
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She then proceeded to stomp a mudhole in Misaki Doi (6-2, 5-7, 6-2) in their first-round match. Afterward, she revealed she has aspirations to do the exact same thing six more times because she has seven masks on deck for the duration of the U.S. Open—each presumably adorned with a different name of a victim of racialized violence.
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“It’s quite sad that seven masks isn’t enough for the amount of names,” she said. “So hopefully, I’ll get to the finals and you can see all of them.”
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Last week, the 2018 U.S. Open champ stood in solidarity with the Milwaukee Bucks and other sports teams who refused to play as a result of the police shooting of Jacob Blake. Prior to her scheduled match against Elise Mertens during the Western & Southern Open semifinals, Osaka announced that she would not be taking the court.
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“Hello, as many of you are aware I was scheduled to play my semifinals match tomorrow,” she tweeted. “However, before I am an athlete, I am a Black woman. And as a Black woman I feel as though there are much more important matters at hand that need immediate attention, rather than watching me play tennis.”
As we reported here at The Root, hours after Osaka’s announcement, the Western & Southern Open decided to suspend all matches that were scheduled that day:
“As a sport, tennis is collectively taking a stance against racial inequality and social injustice that once again has been thrust into the forefront in the United States.”
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The rest of the sports world better prepare accordingly, because much like everyone else, I plan on seeing all seven of those masks.


theroot--2020-09-01--35 Things I Thought Were Signs of Extreme Wealth When I Was Younger

3 .
A fiberglass basketball hoop ( if you had this , I assumed you were Warren Buffet ) 9 @ @ @ @ @ and school shoes and playing around at home shoes 10 .
Buying food from the @ @ @ @ @ s and not the extra value menu 14 .
A house that gave out full-size @ @ @ @ @ .
A house with two bathrooms with showers 17 .
One of those refrigerators that @ @ @ @ @ still believe that the people who have one of these are rich ) 21 .
@ @ @ @ @ valet 22 .
A Black girl who only has white friends 30 .
Getting on @ @ @ @ @ a Super Soaker when they first came out 33 .
Owning an inflatable pool ( @ @ @ @ @ was reserved for Scrooge McDuck ) 34 .
Bringing Valentine ’ s Day cards and @ @ @ @ @ and not just your friends

Damon Young on Very Smart Brothas, shared by Damon Young to The Root

1. A garage
2. A basketball hoop on said garage
3. A fiberglass basketball hoop (if you had this, I assumed you were Warren Buffet)
4. A pantry
5. A finished basement
6. A family with two cars
7. A salary of over $60,000 a year
8. Annual family vacations
9. Having separate hoop shoes and school shoes and playing around at home shoes
10. Buying food from the regular menu at Wendy’s and not the extra value menu
11. A porch
12. Cable TV in multiple rooms
13. Braces
14. A house that gave out full-size candy bars at Halloween
15. Eating shrimp
16. A house with two bathrooms with showers
17. One of those refrigerators that dispense water (I actually still believe that the people who have one of these are rich)
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18. An answering machine
19. Lawn furniture
20. A desktop computer
21. Being somewhere that required a valet
22. A Black girl who only has white friends
23. A Discman
24. A living room with no TVs
25. Being Asian-American
26. Credit cards
27. Grey Poupon (those commercials worked)
28. Healthy grandparents
29. Good credit
30. Getting on an airplane
31. Living in the suburbs
32. Having a Super Soaker when they first came out
33. Owning an inflatable pool (owning an actual inground pool was reserved for Scrooge McDuck)
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34. Bringing Valentine’s Day cards and candy to school for everyone and not just your friends
35. Virginity


theroot--2020-09-01--Plot Twist: Niecy Nash Just Had the Greatest Coming Out Party Ever—Her Wedding to Singer Jessica Bet

Plot Twist: Niecy Nash Just Had the Greatest Coming Out Party Ever—Her Wedding to Singer Jessica Betts

The rainbow over Hollywood shone a little brighter on Monday , as perennial fave Niecy Nash made a major announcement : She ’ s newly married !
Adding her name to the list of celebs who ’ ve been making major life changes during these months of quarantine ( we ’ re looking at you , Elaine Welteroth and Jodie Turner-Smith ) , Nash staged a seemingly gorgeous surprise wedding with an added surprise to many of her fans : She took her third and hopefully final trip down the aisle to marry musician , Jessica Betts .
Using her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ posted a celebratory picture of her flower-festooned outdoor nuptials , planned by William P. Miller ( we ’ re still awaiting details on her incredible dress ) .
She captioned the post : Betts confirmed the good news , writing , “ I got a whole Wife 👽💍 , ” adding the adorable hashtag “ # Bettsofbothworlds # LoveWins.
” Love wins , indeed .
We have no idea how long the duo have been together , but as People noted , the two were also pictured in an Instagram story on Nash @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ poignant love song “ Catch Me , ” ending with a picture of the couple embracing tagged “ # Plot Twist ” with a rainbow emoji .
And it really is ; Nash filed for divorce from ex-husband Jay Tucker in December 2019 , after the two reportedly separated the previous June , days after their eighth wedding anniversary .
She publicly referenced their years together as a “ gorgeous ride , ” stating that she felt “ fortunate for the love we share—present tense.
” Nash again spoke on the split @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vanguard Award at this year ’ s Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards Luncheon , as reported by People this February : “ The untethering from my family ’ s beliefs , the internet ’ s expectations and my marriage ending caused me so much pain , ” she said , as she recalled asking her family , “ ‘ But what about my happiness ?
’ ” Additionally , she shouted out “ a sisterhood that ... absolutely blessed me where I was.
” Her “ village ” included Gabrielle Union , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Winfrey also reportedly played a role , asking Nash at one point : “ Who are you without a man ?
” “ I said , ‘ Girl , I don ’ t know , ’ ” Nash recounted , adding .
“ There was a huge myth that I inherited from the women in my family specifically , which is ‘ You are nothing without a man .
Get one , keep one , no matter what .
Blind , cr ippled , crazy , married or lazy .
Get one baby @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ...
This long line of women that I come from had never been taught what choosing themselves looks like.
” We ’ d wager that Oprah meant “ without a partner , ” and was simply referencing Nash ’ s relationships to date ; but regardless , the actress said she did the emotional work necessary to break a dysfunctional cycle , going to therapy and practicing self-forgiveness and accountability .
“ The only way to get back was to do the work .
I did my work .
I put my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” she told the Essence audience , noting that she was breaking that “ generational curse ” for her daughters .
“ I can ’ t help you do your work but what I can do is invite you to think differently , ” she added .
“ I can encourage you to walk in your truth , to heal your trauma and live your best damn life ... You will always be the thing , whether you have a man or not .
Whether you have one chasing you , it does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thing and you get up every single day and you choose yourself and you teach your children how to do the same.
” Nash turned 50 later that month , celebrating the milestone with a rollerskating party and seminude photo shoot .
“ I have never been better in my entire life and I don ’ t belong to nobody but myself , ” she told People .
“ There is something about knowing exactly who you are and curating a life that brings you joy every day.
” “ I felt I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she added , “ and now the things that I was becoming , have manifest .
I ’ m out of the cocoon .
I ’ ve got my wings.
” In Betts , Nash has also got her new life partner , plot twist , or no .
Since we know sexuality is fluid , ever-evolving and exists on a spectrum , “ out of the cocoon ” feels a better way to reference Nash ’ s same-sex marriage than “ out of the closet.
” Most importantly , this qualifies as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Like her , we believe in love—and love wins .

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

The rainbow over Hollywood shone a little brighter on Monday, as perennial fave Niecy Nash made a major announcement: She’s newly married! Adding her name to the list of celebs who’ve been making major life changes during these months of quarantine (we’re looking at you, Elaine Welteroth and Jodie Turner-Smith), Nash staged a seemingly gorgeous surprise wedding with an added surprise to many of her fans: She took her third and hopefully final trip down the aisle to marry musician Jessica Betts.
Using her given first and middle name, Nash posted a celebratory picture of her flower-festooned outdoor nuptials, planned by William P. Miller (we’re still awaiting details on her incredible dress). Photographed by Robert Ector, s he captioned the post:
“Mrs. Carol Denise Betts 💍 @jessicabettsmusic #LoveWins🌈 📸”
Betts confirmed the good news, writing, “I got a whole Wife 👽💍,” adding the adorable hashtag “#Bettsofbothworlds #LoveWins.”
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Love wins, indeed. We have no idea how long the duo have been together, but as People noted, the two were also pictured in an Instagram story on Nash’s page, which features Betts’ poignant love song “Catch Me,” ending with a picture of the couple embracing tagged “#Plot Twist” with a rainbow emoji. And it really is; Nash filed for divorce from ex-husband Jay Tucker in December 2019, after the two reportedly separated the previous June, days after their eighth wedding anniversary. She publicly referenced their years together as a “gorgeous ride,” stating that she felt “fortunate for the love we share—present tense.” Nash again spoke on the split during an emotional acceptance of the 2020 Vanguard Award at this year’s Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards Luncheon, as reported by People this February:
“The untethering from my family’s beliefs, the internet’s expectations and my marriage ending caused me so much pain,” she said, as she recalled asking her family, “‘But what about my happiness?’”
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Additionally, she shouted out “a sisterhood that...absolutely blessed me where I was.” Her “village” included Gabrielle Union, Kerry Washington and Iyanla Vanzant—and Oprah Winfrey also reportedly played a role, asking Nash at one point: “Who are you without a man?”
“I said, ‘Girl, I don’t know,’” Nash recounted, adding. “There was a huge myth that I inherited from the women in my family specifically, which is ‘You are nothing without a man. Get one, keep one, no matter what. Blind, crippled, crazy, married or lazy. Get one baby girl because they will validate you,’ ... This long line of women that I come from had never been taught what choosing themselves looks like.”
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We’d wager that Oprah meant “without a partner,” and was simply referencing Nash’s relationships to date; but regardless, the actress said she did the emotional work necessary to break a dysfunctional cycle, going to therapy and practicing self-forgiveness and accountability.
“The only way to get back was to do the work. I did my work. I put my life back together piece by piece,” she told the Essence audience, noting that she was breaking that “generational curse” for her daughters.
Advertisement
“I can’t help you do your work but what I can do is invite you to think differently,” she added. “I can encourage you to walk in your truth, to heal your trauma and live your best damn life...You will always be the thing, whether you have a man or not. Whether you have one chasing you, it does not matter. You’re the thing and you get up every single day and you choose yourself and you teach your children how to do the same.”
Nash turned 50 later that month, celebrating the milestone with a rollerskating party and seminude photo shoot. “I have never been better in my entire life and I don’t belong to nobody but myself,” she told People. “There is something about knowing exactly who you are and curating a life that brings you joy every day.”
Advertisement
“I felt I was becoming for a while,” she added, “and now the things that I was becoming, have manifest. I’m out of the cocoon. I’ve got my wings.”
In Betts, Nash has also got her new life partner, plot twist, or no. Since we know sexuality is fluid, ever-evolving and exists on a spectrum, “out of the cocoon” feels a better way to reference Nash’s same-sex marriage than “out of the closet.” Most importantly, this qualifies as the Hollywood ending the Claws star deserves. Like her, we believe in love—and love wins.


theroot--2020-09-01--Chop Your Heart Out With a Kyoku Damascus Chef Knife, Down to $77

If you ’ re a regular to Kinja Deals , you should know we ’ re big fans of Kyoku @ @ @ @ @ super-sharp and is a necessity for any aspiring home cook .
This eight-inch chef knife @ @ @ @ @ Damascus steel , and has an ergonomic handle .
It ’ s only $ 77 @ @ @ @ @ with the additional clipped coupon on the page .
Grab it before it ’ s @ @

Ignacia on Kinja Deals, shared by Ignacia to The Root

Kyoku Damascus Chef Knife | $65 | Promo Code KYOKU63K + Clip Coupon
If you’re a regular to Kinja Deals, you should know we’re big fans of Kyoku knives. They’re super-sharp and is a necessity for any aspiring home cook. This six-inch utility knife is made with Japanese, Damascus steel, and has an ergonomic handle. It’s only $65 with the promo code KYOKU63K with the additional clipped coupon on the page. Grab it before it’s gone.
This deal was originally published by Ignacia Fulcher in September 2020 and updated by Quentyn Kennemer with new information on 11/12/2020.


theroot--2020-09-01--Baltimore Ravens Apply Pressure, Urge Mitch McConnell to Do His Damn Job by Bringing George Floyd Po

Baltimore Ravens Apply Pressure, Urge Mitch McConnell to Do His Damn Job by Bringing George Floyd Police Reform Bill to Vote

In the immediate aftermath of the Milwaukee Bucks refusing to take the floor during Game 5 of their NBA playoffs series in response to the police shooting of Jacob Blake , the Baltimore Ravens canceled practice on Friday and issued a statement demanding police reform and addressing systemic oppression in America .
“ This is bigger than sports , ” the statement said .
“ Racism is embedded in the fabric of our nation ’ s foundation and is a blemish on our country ’ s history .
If we are to change course and make our world a better @ @ @ @ @ @ @ head-on and act now to enact positive change .
It is time to accept accountability and acknowledge the ramifications of slavery and racial injustice.
” Looking to keep that same energy , NBC Sports reports that the Ravens signed a letter on Monday urging Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-Ky. ) to bring the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020 to the Senate floor .
“ We can no longer tolerate a system that has too often failed to serve , protect and value the lives of Black Americans , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reading the letter aloud .
The letter is signed by team President Richard Cass and familiar names such as Mark Ingram , Calais Campbell , Justin Tucker and Robert Griffin III .
According to the Congressional Black Caucus , this police reform bill will ban no-knock warrants and chokeholds , work towards eliminating racial profiling and bias , make lynching a federal crime , limit the use of military weaponry and equipment and address other issues of concern regarding police interactions with communities of color .
The bill prides itself on being the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to addressing systemic racism and bias within law enforcement .
The bill passed the House in late June .
As great as it is to see professional athletes become much more politically engaged in recent months , team owners must follow suit and use their vast wealth and resources to serve as catalysts for change as well .

In the immediate aftermath of the Milwaukee Bucks refusing to take the floor during Game 5 of their NBA playoffs series in response to the police shooting of Jacob Blake, the Baltimore Ravens canceled practice on Friday and issued a statement demanding police reform and addressing systemic oppression in America.
“This is bigger than sports,” the statement said. “Racism is embedded in the fabric of our nation’s foundation and is a blemish on our country’s history. If we are to change course and make our world a better place, we must face this problem head-on and act now to enact positive change. It is time to accept accountability and acknowledge the ramifications of slavery and racial injustice.”
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Looking to keep that same energy, NBC Sports reports that the Ravens signed a letter on Monday urging Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to bring the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020 to the Senate floor.
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“We can no longer tolerate a system that has too often failed to serve, protect and value the lives of Black Americans,” the team says in a video reading the letter aloud.
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The letter is signed by team President Richard Cass and familiar names such as Mark Ingram, Calais Campbell, Justin Tucker and Robert Griffin III.
According to the Congressional Black Caucus, this police reform bill will ban no-knock warrants and chokeholds, work towards eliminating racial profiling and bias, make lynching a federal crime, limit the use of military weaponry and equipment and address other issues of concern regarding police interactions with communities of color. The bill prides itself on being the “first-ever bold, comprehensive approach” to addressing systemic racism and bias within law enforcement.
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The bill passed the House in late June.
As great as it is to see professional athletes become much more politically engaged in recent months, team owners must follow suit and use their vast wealth and resources to serve as catalysts for change as well.


theroot--2020-09-01--Whose Storm Is This?

Whose Storm Is This?

Storm is my favorite character from the X-Men lore .
So , I never tolerate any disrespect of the baddest bitch in comics land .
Cue this shit—a visual character profile of Storm quickly circulated the internet , in promotion of the upcoming Role-Playing Game ( RPG ) , Marvel Future Fight .
What in the colorstruck clusterfuck ?
!
As writer-editor @ ConStar24 aptly tweeted , “ When they said Storm was an African superhero , they didn ’ t mean Charlize Theron.
” And thus , “ Charlize Theron ” became a trending topic on Twitter .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her Twitter name won ’ t let you forget ) , Theron was born in Benoni which is near Johannesburg , South Africa .
In case you need a refresher , here is why Storm shouldn ’ t fucking look like that , via the X-Men Fandome site : Storm is the descendant of an ancient line of African priestesses all of whom have white hair , blue eyes , and the potential to wield magic .
Her mother , N ’ Dare , was the princess of a tribe in Kenya .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and moved with him to Manhattan , where Ororo was born .
When Ororo was seven months old , she and her parents moved to Cairo , Egypt .
At the age of five , during a bombing in an Arab-Israeli Conflict , a plane crashed into their home .
In addition to the comics , the main Storm I recognize and acknowledge is the one in X-Men : The Animated Series .
Of course , I am a huge fan of Halle Berry , but color ( heh ) me surprised when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ powerful princess .
That same light-skinned energy carried over into the film franchise ’ s prequel series when Alexandria Shipp was cast .
Now more than ever , the desire for a dark-skinned Storm ( finally ! )
in a major film or live-action television series is brolic .
Names such as Michaela Coel ( I May Destroy You ) , Dominique Jackson ( Pose ) , Teyonah Parris ( Candyman ) and Yetide Badaki ( American Gods ) have entered the fan cast conversation , especially once it was known that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through the 20th Century Fox acquisition ) .
Shipp didn ’ t handle the colorism critiques too well .
Let ’ s get back to the game .
Per the official website , the aim of the game is as follows : Harpo ( and Marvel ) , who dis white woman ?
!
This is the comic-book version of the “ white woman dipped in chocolate ” phenomenon that has plagued the professional modeling industry .
This is the mutant version of the carbon copy white women wearing Black-ass T-shirts on merchandising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is Breeze , at best .

Storm is my favorite character from the X-Men lore. So, I never tolerate any disrespect of the baddest bitch in comics land.
Cue this shit—a visual character profile of Storm quickly circulated the internet, in promotion of the upcoming Role-Playing Game (RPG), Marvel Future Fight.
Advertisement
What in the colorstruck clusterfuck?! As writer-editor @ConStar24 aptly tweeted, “When they said Storm was an African superhero, they didn’t mean Charlize Theron.”
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And thus, “Charlize Theron” became a trending topic on Twitter. In case you didn’t know (her Twitter name won’t let you forget), Theron was born in Benoni which is near Johannesburg, South Africa.
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In case you need a refresher, here is why Storm shouldn’t fucking look like that, via the X-Men Fandome site:
Storm is the descendant of an ancient line of African priestesses all of whom have white hair, blue eyes, and the potential to wield magic. Her mother, N’Dare, was the princess of a tribe in Kenya. She married the American photojournalist David Munroe and moved with him to Manhattan, where Ororo was born. When Ororo was seven months old, she and her parents moved to Cairo, Egypt. At the age of five, during a bombing in an Arab-Israeli Conflict, a plane crashed into their home.
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In addition to the comics, the main Storm I recognize and acknowledge is the one in X-Men: The Animated Series. Of course, I am a huge fan of Halle Berry, but color (heh) me surprised when I realized she was cast as the powerful princess. That same light-skinned energy carried over into the film franchise’s prequel series when Alexandria Shipp was cast. Now more than ever, the desire for a dark-skinned Storm (finally!) in a major film or live-action television series is brolic. Names such as Michaela Coel (I May Destroy You), Dominique Jackson (Pose), Teyonah Parris (Candyman) and Yetide Badaki (American Gods) have entered the fan cast conversation, especially once it was known that the brand was finally scooped by Disney/Marvel (through the 20th Century Fox acquisition). Shipp didn’t handle the colorism critiques too well.
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Let’s get back to the game. Per the official website, the aim of the game is as follows:
YOU MUST GATHER THE MARVEL UNIVERSE’S MIGHTIEST SUPER HEROES AND VILLAINS, AND PREPARE FOR THE FINAL BATTLE TO SAVE OUR TIMELINE IN A GROUNDBREAKING NEW ACTION RPG: MARVEL FUTURE FIGHT!
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Harpo (and Marvel), who dis white woman?! This is the comic-book version of the “white woman dipped in chocolate” phenomenon that has plagued the professional modeling industry. This is the mutant version of the carbon copy white women wearing Black-ass T-shirts on merchandising websites. This ain’t Storm—this is Breeze, at best.
This ain’t it.


theroot--2020-09-01--9 Proper Nouns That Sound Better When You Add the Oh-So-Necessary, Very Unnecessary Extra 'S' on the

9 Proper Nouns That Sound Better When You Add the Oh-So-Necessary, Very Unnecessary Extra 'S' on the End

If you are Black in America , there ’ s a better than 50 percent chance ( this is non-scientific , by the way ) that you watched Monday night ’ s Verzuz featuring Brandy and Monica , two singers of significant renown with a sordid history that was very much on display ( to me ) during the Verzuz .
At its peak , it topped out at 1.2 MILLION concurrent viewers .
( I have no idea how many billions of people Swizz will probably say they actually impacted , but either way , it was an event @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , pretty much , on who you thought was going to win going into it .
Brandy has better , bigger songs ; Monica has the jams .
I think Monica won—I like jams .
Anywho , that ’ s not why we ’ re here .
We ’ re here because of a moment during the Verzuz that reminded me of something that I ’ ve been meaning to remind other folks about .
After Monica played her song , “ For You I Will , ” she let us know that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jams ” soundtrack .
Except , the name of the movie was actually Space Jam , minus the last “ s. ” I obviously wasn ’ t the only person who noticed this ; Lena Waithe commented on IG “ You better add an S to Space Jam.
” Waithe is well-versed in the ways of the Blackness .
So here ’ s the thing : The name of the movie is Space Jam , but space , as a place , does jam .
Space jams , ya dig ?
But also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ words where no “ s ” exists is a Black sport .
I do not know if non-Black people do this .
I also do not care .
I have lots of degrees and letters behind my name and yet , my Blackness has superseded all of those things at times .
Adding “ s ” to words is one of those supersedational places .
So here is a list of persons , places or things ( nouns , basically ) that I automatically add an “ s ” to because it just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you have a list , in fact , I know you do .
Sharing is caring and for you , I will .
See what I did there ?
Lehgo .
Here are 9 .
True story , I ’ m still in some disbelief that it ’ s NOT Barnes & Nobles because I worked out of one for years and I ’ d swear before God and three white men that at one point it was Nobles , not Noble .
Even now I had to go to the website to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just Noble .
Yep , still just Noble .
They should change it .
I blame my grandma for this .
I ’ m not even sure which grandma to blame for this but at least one , maybe more , definitely called it JCPenneys .
Aight , this one is amazing because I ONLY looked this up because I was like , ‘ I wonder if an “ s ” that belongs there ; like , really belongs there.
’ Turns out , it ’ s just Kroger .
Wow .
Just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ probably Midwesterners ; I ’ ve only been to Meijer in Michigan ) .
My grandmother in Michigan definitely called this Meijers , which throws my whole “ Black sport ” statement into flux because she ’ s an old white woman from France .
So this is a wild card because not only is there no “ s ” on the end of this one , the whole name is wrong .
I mentioned this on Facebook because of the news that Lord & TAYLOR is closing its stores .
For most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the name of the store was Lord & Tariq , not Lord & Taylor , because I don ’ t read good and also because , well , it looked like Tariq to me .
And Tariq , ALSO like Taylor , needs an “ s ” because it just sounds better .
I hear you looking at me .
Stop judging me .
I was today years old when I realized it ’ s not actually Nordstroms .
It should be though .
There are two of them on my feet usually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actually ALSO thought there was an “ s ” on Girbaud until just now , which is kind of terrible considering the number of Girbaud shirts I ’ ve owned .
Still , it also LOOKS better with an “ s ” on it .
Yeah , so what you got ?

Panama Jackson on Very Smart Brothas, shared by Panama Jackson to The Root

If you are Black in America, there’s a better than 50 percent chance (this is non-scientific, by the way) that you watched Monday night’s Verzuz featuring Brandy and Monica, two singers of significant renown with a sordid history that was very much on display (to me) during the Verzuz. At its peak, it topped out at 1.2 MILLION concurrent viewers. (I have no idea how many billions of people Swizz will probably say they actually impacted, but either way, it was an event.) Who you think won depends, pretty much, on who you thought was going to win going into it. Brandy has better, bigger songs; Monica has the jams. I think Monica won—I like jams.
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Anywho, that’s not why we’re here. We’re here because of a moment during the Verzuz that reminded me of something that I’ve been meaning to remind other folks about. After Monica played her song, “For You I Will,” she let us know that the song was from the “Space Jams” soundtrack. Except, the name of the movie was actually Space Jam, minus the last “s.” I obviously wasn’t the only person who noticed this; Lena Waithe commented on IG “You better add an S to Space Jam.” Waithe is well-versed in the ways of the Blackness.
So here’s the thing: The name of the movie is Space Jam, but space, as a place, does jam. Space jams, ya dig? But also, adding an “s” to words where no “s” exists is a Black sport. I do not know if non-Black people do this. I also do not care. I have lots of degrees and letters behind my name and yet, my Blackness has superseded all of those things at times. Adding “s” to words is one of those supersedational places. So here is a list of persons, places or things (nouns, basically) that I automatically add an “s” to because it just feels better. I’m sure you have a list, in fact, I know you do. Sharing is caring and for you, I will. See what I did there? Lehgo. Here are 9.
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1. Barnes & Noble
True story, I’m still in some disbelief that it’s NOT Barnes & Nobles because I worked out of one for years and I’d swear before God and three white men that at one point it was Nobles, not Noble. Even now I had to go to the website to check to make sure it is still just Noble. Yep, still just Noble. They should change it.
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2. JCPenney
I blame my grandma for this. I’m not even sure which grandma to blame for this but at least one, maybe more, definitely called it JCPenneys.
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3. Kroger
Aight, this one is amazing because I ONLY looked this up because I was like, ‘I wonder if an “s” that belongs there; like, really belongs there.’ Turns out, it’s just Kroger. Wow. Just wow.
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4. Meijer
For my Michigan folks (probably Midwesterners; I’ve only been to Meijer in Michigan). My grandmother in Michigan definitely called this Meijers, which throws my whole “Black sport” statement into flux because she’s an old white woman from France.
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5. Montgomery Ward
I mean, come on.
6. Lord & Tariq
So this is a wild card because not only is there no “s” on the end of this one, the whole name is wrong. I mentioned this on Facebook because of the news that Lord & TAYLOR is closing its stores. For most of my young life, I thought the name of the store was Lord & Tariq, not Lord & Taylor, because I don’t read good and also because, well, it looked like Tariq to me. And Tariq, ALSO like Taylor, needs an “s” because it just sounds better.
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I hear you looking at me. Stop judging me.
7. Nordstrom
I was today years old when I realized it’s not actually Nordstroms. It should be though.
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8. Air Jordan
There are two of them on my feet usually; Jordans make more sense.
9. Marithe + Francois Girbaud
I actually ALSO thought there was an “s” on Girbaud until just now, which is kind of terrible considering the number of Girbaud shirts I’ve owned. Still, it also LOOKS better with an “s” on it.
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Yeah, so what you got?


theroot--2020-09-01--You And Bae Can Have Sexy Times With This $39 Ella Paradis Sex Toy Bundle

Get off with bae with this Baecation Bundle from Ella Paradis .
It ’ s only $ 39 and includes @ @ @ @ @ , massage oil , lace cuffs for kinky shit , massage oils , lube , @ @ @ @ @ hold it all .
Why not safely have sex with your partner on Labor Day @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s gone !

Ignacia on Kinja Deals, shared by Quentyn Kennemer to The Root

Baecation Bundle | $ 39 | Ella Paradis
Get off with bae with this Baecation Bundle from Ella Paradis. It’s only $39 and includes a Better Love wand vibe , massage oil, lace cuffs for kinky shit, massage oils, lube, and a satin bag to hold it all. Why not safely have sex with your partner on Labor Day vacay? Grab it before it’s gone!


theroot--2020-09-01--Brandon Ingram Wins 2019-20 NBA Most Improved Player Award Over Bam Adebayo and NBA Twitter Has Ques

Brandon Ingram Wins 2019-20 NBA Most Improved Player Award Over Bam Adebayo and NBA Twitter Has Questions

Heading into the 2019-20 NBA season , there were plenty of questions about New Orleans Pelicans star Brandon Ingram .
Could he stay healthy ?
Could all that tantalizing potential finally translate into consistent play ?
Was he worth a max contract ?
The 22-year-old responded with a career year in which he averaged 24.3 points , 6.3 boards , 4.3 assists and one steal per game prior to the NBA suspending play in March due to the coronavirus .
And for busting the entire league ’ s ass , he was named this season ’ s Most Improved Player @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his fourth season , the 22-year-old Ingram becomes the first player to win the Kia NBA Most Improved Player Award with New Orleans .
The annual award is designed to honor an up-and-coming player who has made a dramatic improvement from the previous season or seasons .
Ingram received 42 first-place votes from a global panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters and earned 326 total points .
He edged Miami Heat center-forward Bam Adebayo , who finished in second place with 295 points ( 38 first-place votes ) .
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka @ @ @ @ @ @ @ points ( 12 first-place votes ) .
If you ’ re like me and wondering how Ingram responded to finding out that he won such a prestigious honor , you ’ re welcome in advance .
Ingram was surprised by Pelicans owner Gayle Benson , teammate Lonzo Ball , and his own family during the announcement .
There ’ s no doubt that the Duke product held it down this season for the Pelicans , but Ingram does have his detractors—myself included—who believe other players *COUGH* Bam Adebayo *COUGH* were more deserving of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spoken and both Adebayo and Jason Tatum are probably too busy competing in the Eastern Conference Semifinals ( for those keeping track at home , yes , that was shade ) to pay any attention to the backlash that Ingram is receiving .
So congrats to Ingram…I guess .

Heading into the 2019-20 NBA season, there were plenty of questions about New Orleans Pelicans star Brandon Ingram. Could he stay healthy? Could all that tantalizing potential finally translate into consistent play? Was he worth a max contract?
The 22-year-old responded with a career year in which he averaged 24.3 points, 6.3 boards, 4.3 assists and one steal per game prior to the NBA suspending play in March due to the coronavirus. And for busting the entire league’s ass, he was named this season’s Most Improved Player:
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From NBA.com:
A first-time NBA All-Star selection in his fourth season, the 22-year-old Ingram becomes the first player to win the Kia NBA Most Improved Player Award with New Orleans. The annual award is designed to honor an up-and-coming player who has made a dramatic improvement from the previous season or seasons. Ingram received 42 first-place votes from a global panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters and earned 326 total points. He edged Miami Heat center-forward Bam Adebayo, who finished in second place with 295 points (38 first-place votes). Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Dončić finished in third place with 101 points (12 first-place votes).
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If you’re like me and wondering how Ingram responded to finding out that he won such a prestigious honor, you’re welcome in advance.
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Ingram was surprised by Pelicans owner Gayle Benson, teammate Lonzo Ball, and his own family during the announcement.
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There’s no doubt that the Duke product held it down this season for the Pelicans, but Ingram does have his detractors—myself included—who believe other players *COUGH* Bam Adebayo *COUGH* were more deserving of the award.
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But the jury has spoken and both Adebayo and Jason Tatum are probably too busy competing in the Eastern Conference Semifinals (for those keeping track at home, yes, that was shade) to pay any attention to the backlash that Ingram is receiving. So congrats to Ingram…I guess.


theroot--2020-09-01--Black Kenosha News Editor Resigns Over Jacob Blake Rally Coverage

Editor Daniel Thompson wasn ’ t covering the Saturday rally for Jacob Blake but attended it anyway .
The 30-year-old digital editor of the Kenosha News watched as speaker after speaker took the stage : among them were Jacob Blake ’ s uncle , Justine Blake , Wisconsin Lt .
Governor Mandela Barnes , Rep. Gwen Moore , local activist Ma ’ kia Hughes and national organizer Dijuan Wash .
They delivered touching remarks to Blake and his family , called on urgent social and criminal justice reforms to protect Black lives and urged Black people to vote at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been with many of the Black Lives Matter protests around the country this summer—outlined the need for change and called on the crowd to do what they could to push that change forward .
Then , one speaker came forward and gave a message with a remarkably different tenor : “ If you kill one of us , it ’ s time for us to kill one of yours , ” he told the crowd .
When Thompson later checked coverage of the event at the Kenosha News , he found a headline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s remarks : “ WATCH NOW : Kenosha Speaker : ‘ If you kill one of us , it ’ s time for us to kill one of yours.
’ ” He was incensed , finding the framing of the story misleading .
“ The story is about the entire reaction of all the speakers and people in attendance , and that quote is one outlier falling within a flood of positive ones , ” Thompson said in an interview with the New York Times .
Thompson reached out to Bob Heisse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ News , via text message , passing along a screenshot of the headline , the Times reports .
“ I don ’ t even know if I can associate with the company after that , ” Thompson wrote .
“ I need to calm down , but I wanted you to know immediately.
” “ Yes you should calm down , ” Heisse responded .
“ That is a public threat , and it is an exact quote at a rally that was to that point totally on message.
” The journalist—the only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the experience on Facebook shortly after his resignation .
“ I did what I did because today is about Jacob Blake .
It ’ s about his family , it ’ s about moving forward together peacefully , and I saw that today , and that headline did not reflect it , ” Thompson said in a Facebook Live video .
“ And when they refused to change it , I quit.
” The incident highlights an ongoing debate in the media about representation and coverage .
At a time when Kenosha @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kenosha News is without any Black full-time staffer to help tell the story of what is happening in the city .
It also highlights the disproportionate impact journalists can have on a story , simply by the editorial choices they make .
Journalist and author Wesley Lowery pointed out that the very subjective choice of highlighting one speaker over another speaks to the very fallacy of “ objective ” journalism .
Thompson told the Times he ’ s now considering how viable running his own media company in Kenosha would be and has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Invest in new Kenosha media.
” Interestingly , editors at the paper did end up changing the headline of the article Thompson found offensive the next day .
“ Kenosha speaker strays from message at rally , ” the headline read on Sunday .
After seeing the change , Thompson quipped on Facebook , “ Wow .
Only took me quitting .
”

Editor Daniel Thompson wasn’t covering the Saturday rally for Jacob Blake but attended it anyway. The 30-year-old digital editor of the Kenosha News watched as speaker after speaker took the stage: among them were Jacob Blake’s uncle, Justine Blake, Wisconsin Lt. Governor Mandela Barnes, Rep. Gwen Moore, local activist Ma’kia Hughes and national organizer Dijuan Wash.
They delivered touching remarks to Blake and his family, called on urgent social and criminal justice reforms to protect Black lives and urged Black people to vote at the polls. The overall messaging—as it has been with many of the Black Lives Matter protests around the country this summer—outlined the need for change and called on the crowd to do what they could to push that change forward.
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Then, one speaker came forward and gave a message with a remarkably different tenor: “If you kill one of us, it’s time for us to kill one of yours,” he told the crowd.
When Thompson later checked coverage of the event at the Kenosha News, he found a headline that specifically focused in on the speaker’s remarks: “WATCH NOW: Kenosha Speaker: ‘If you kill one of us, it’s time for us to kill one of yours.’” He was incensed, finding the framing of the story misleading.
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“The story is about the entire reaction of all the speakers and people in attendance, and that quote is one outlier falling within a flood of positive ones,” Thompson said in an interview with the New York Times.
Thompson reached out to Bob Heisse, the executive editor of the Kenosha News, via text message, passing along a screenshot of the headline, the Times reports.
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“I don’t even know if I can associate with the company after that,” Thompson wrote. “I need to calm down, but I wanted you to know immediately.”
“Yes you should calm down,” Heisse responded. “That is a public threat, and it is an exact quote at a rally that was to that point totally on message.”
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Thompson’s next message was succinct: “Then I quit.”
The journalist—the only Black full-time staffer at the Kenosha News—talked about the experience on Facebook shortly after his resignation.
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“I did what I did because today is about Jacob Blake. It’s about his family, it’s about moving forward together peacefully, and I saw that today, and that headline did not reflect it,” Thompson said in a Facebook Live video. “And when they refused to change it, I quit.”
The incident highlights an ongoing debate in the media about representation and coverage. At a time when Kenosha is roiled by racial injustice, the Kenosha News is without any Black full-time staffer to help tell the story of what is happening in the city. It also highlights the disproportionate impact journalists can have on a story, simply by the editorial choices they make.
Advertisement
Journalist and author Wesley Lowery pointed out that the very subjective choice of highlighting one speaker over another speaks to the very fallacy of “objective” journalism.
Advertisement
Thompson told the Times he’s now considering how viable running his own media company in Kenosha would be and has started a GoFundMe under the title “Invest in new Kenosha media.” Interestingly, editors at the paper did end up changing the headline of the article Thompson found offensive the next day. “Kenosha speaker strays from message at rally,” the headline read on Sunday.
After seeing the change, Thompson quipped on Facebook, “Wow. Only took me quitting.”


theroot--2020-09-01--The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air 30-Year Reunion Is Coming This Thanksgiving—I Think We All Know Which Au

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air 30-Year Reunion Is Coming This Thanksgiving—I Think We All Know Which Aunt Viv Will Be There

The year 2020 has flipped and turned our lives upside down—specifically , our sense of time .
How do I know this ?
Well , the general shock of “ OMG we ’ re getting old !
” that accompanies a story about a nostalgic piece of art , event , or famous person has been exacerbated .
Celebrating 30 years , Westbrook Media has announced The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Reunion , which will be an unscripted special reminiscing on the series as a whole as well as the social impact it had .
Thirty years ?
!
Wow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
!
Then again , 2020 has also been 30 years , so what do I even know anymore ?
The reunion will tape on the actual 30th anniversary of the series ’ premiere in 1990 , Sept. 10 .
Here ’ s the detailed scoop , from a press release sent to The Root : Bringing the Banks family back together , series star Will Smith will be joined by series regulars Tatyana Ali , Karyn Parsons , Joseph Marcell , Daphne Maxwell Reid and Alfonso Ribeiro as well as the recurring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and heartfelt night full of music , dancing , and special surprise guests , in honor of the series that ran for six seasons and 148 episodes .
Marcus Raboy ( Laugh Aid , Whitney Cummings : Can I Touch It ? )
will direct the special , which will be executive produced by Rikki Hughes , who will serve as showrunner , as well as Miguel Melendez , Lukas Kaiser , and Brad Haugen for Westbrook Media .
From the list , it looks like all of the usual suspects will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ course , we will miss the presence of the late James Avery .
We ’ re sure the cast has a very heartfelt tribute for him in the works , though .
I ’ d be remiss to not mention the obvious here—obviously , only light-skinned Aunt Viv ( Reid ) will be joining the special .
Still , it would be peak 2020 if Janet Hubert made a surprise appearance .
Seriously , imagine Hubert entering the building doing the choreography from her epic dance sequence .
Plus , the timing is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ project to promote .
We recently reported the fact that the rapper-turned-actor is producing a drama reboot of the popular sitcom .
I ’ m looking forward to catching up with the Banks family !
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Reunion special will air exclusively on HBO Max ( where you can already watch the series on-demand ) around Thanksgiving .

The year 2020 has flipped and turned our lives upside down—specifically, our sense of time. How do I know this? Well, the general shock of “OMG we’re getting old!” that accompanies a story about a nostalgic piece of art, event, or famous person has been exacerbated.
Celebrating 30 years, Westbrook Media has announced The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Reunion, which will be an unscripted special reminiscing on the series as a whole as well as the social impact it had. Thirty years?! Wow, it’s been that long?! Then again, 2020 has also been 30 years, so what do I even know anymore?
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The reunion will tape on the actual 30th anniversary of the series’ premiere in 1990, Sept. 10.
Here’s the detailed scoop, from a press release sent to The Root:
Bringing the Banks family back together, series star Will Smith will be joined by series regulars Tatyana Ali, Karyn Parsons, Joseph Marcell, Daphne Maxwell Reid and Alfonso Ribeiro as well as the recurring DJ Jazzy Jeff, for a funny and heartfelt night full of music, dancing, and special surprise guests, in honor of the series that ran for six seasons and 148 episodes. Marcus Raboy (Laugh Aid, Whitney Cummings: Can I Touch It?) will direct the special, which will be executive produced by Rikki Hughes, who will serve as showrunner, as well as Miguel Melendez, Lukas Kaiser, and Brad Haugen for Westbrook Media.
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From the list, it looks like all of the usual suspects will be in the building, though, of course, we will miss the presence of the late James Avery. We’re sure the cast has a very heartfelt tribute for him in the works, though.
Advertisement
I’d be remiss to not mention the obvious here—obviously, only light-skinned Aunt Viv (Reid) will be joining the special. Still, it would be peak 2020 if Janet Hubert made a surprise appearance. Seriously, imagine Hubert entering the building doing the choreography from her epic dance sequence.
Plus, the timing is perfect business-wise as Smith has a new project to promote. We recently reported the fact that the rapper-turned-actor is producing a drama reboot of the popular sitcom.
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I’m looking forward to catching up with the Banks family! The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Reunion special will air exclusively on HBO Max (where you can already watch the series on-demand) around Thanksgiving.


theroot--2020-09-02--Tenet: It’s Ambitious, Glossy and the Black James Bond We’ve Been Waiting For

As have many , the film industry has been hit hard by COVID-19 , with small budget films being canceled , cinemas only recently opening and release dates for major films pushed back by studios .
Christopher Nolan ’ s Tenet has increasingly been touted as the film that will change all of that—the film that will have people running back to their local cinema ( with a mask on , of course ) .
Nolan as the messiah of the cinema industry , swooping in to resurrect the industry , in these trying times ?
It ’ s not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has an impressive track record and the marketing for Tenet has been second to none .
Even before viewing it in my native London—and certainly , for those eagerly anticipating it elsewhere—it really has felt like that film .
John David Washington leads the cast as “ The Protagonist , ” a CIA spy who , having proved his worth and loyalty to the organization , is inducted into a faceless underground organization named Tenet .
The Protagonist , only named so in the end-credits , is placed on the trail of time-reversing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Russian oligarch Andrei Sator , played excellently by Kenneth Branagh , in a bid to avoid a cold war .
“ Nuclear holocaust ?
” asks Washington ’ s protagonist .
But no— this is worse .
Tenet defiantly declares itself pretty early on as a film that is categorically not about time travel—instead , here we have time inversion .
In a scene where she explains that the bullets work off “ technology that can reverse an object ’ s entropy , ” Clemence Poésy ’ s scientist Laura explains to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ try to understand it.
” Nolan seems to be saying the same , encouraging the audience to trust the film and just go with it.
, a Nolan motif , at this point For all its talk of entropy and inversion , Tenet does find a balance between sci-fi film and Hollywood blockbuster .
It ’ s high stakes and high budget —James Bond on steroids .
Within the first hour , we ’ re greeted with explosions , high-speed car chases and bungee jumping , as we globetrot with the cast ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ India , Estonia , Norway , the UK and the US ) .
But it ’ s not a Bond replica—though likely inspired by the classic series , Tenet manages to be a different kind of spy film .
It ’ s refined excess , a fresh take on the spy genre , and fronts us with a fresh lead .
Calls for a Black James Bond have been floating around for years now , with multiple actors stating they ’ d love to take up the role .
But what Nolan and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around the 007 playground with their own toys , without the pressure and obligation of history .
Washington doesn ’ t miss a beat in Tenet .
He ’ s not a playboy with a Martini glued to his hand , but instead , he toes the line between suave and assumed , remaining magnetic throughout the film with deadpan humor , slick outfits and a confidence that is compelling to watch .
Accordingly , the plea for a Black James Bond is basically answered here—in Clemence Poésy ’ s physicist Laura , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pattinson ’ s Neil , we have an ally ; another 00 agent , of sorts , with whom Washington ’ s Protagonist forms a muted bromance with ; Branagh ’ s Andrei Sator , a Russian arms dealer , is an archetypal villain .
We have all the working parts—just run through a physics time-inverted machine at full speed , so fast it ’ s often hard to keep up .
But do try .
Because even if you don ’ t completely understand it , it ’ s made clear throughout @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is another letter of appreciation in Nolan ’ s love affair with time—from Inception , Memento and Interstellar , he again uses time not as a plot device or metaphor , but as the very crux of the film .
The cast is brilliant , and the ambitious plot means it may not make sense to all viewers at any one given time but allowing yourself to bypass that and enjoy it is a decision you won ’ t regret .
Ore Abiona is a freelance journalist and content creator born in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a film and music enthusiast who ’ s always been rooting for everybody Black .

Ore Abiona on The Grapevine, shared by Maiysha Kai to The Root

As have many, the film industry has been hit hard by COVID-19, with small budget films being canceled, cinemas only recently opening and release dates for major films pushed back by studios. Christopher Nolan’s Tenet has increasingly been touted as the film that will change all of that—the film that will have people running back to their local cinema (with a mask on, of course).
Nolan as the messiah of the cinema industry, swooping in to resurrect the industry, in these trying times? It’s not crazy to suggest such. The director has an impressive track record and the marketing for Tenet has been second to none. Even before viewing it in my native London—and certainly, for those eagerly anticipating it elsewhere—it really has felt like that film.
Advertisement
John David Washington leads the cast as “The Protagonist,” a CIA spy who, having proved his worth and loyalty to the organization, is inducted into a faceless underground organization named Tenet.
Advertisement Advertisement
The Protagonist, only named so in the end-credits, is placed on the trail of time-reversing bullets, leading him to a face-off with Russian oligarch Andrei Sator, played excellently by Kenneth Branagh, in a bid to avoid a cold war. “Nuclear holocaust?” asks Washington’s protagonist. But no—this is worse.
Tenet defiantly declares itself pretty early on as a film that is categorically not about time travel—instead, here we have time inversion. In a scene where she explains that the bullets work off “technology that can reverse an object’s entropy,” Clemence Poésy’s scientist Laura explains to The Protagonist, “don’t try to understand it.” Nolan seems to be saying the same, encouraging the audience to trust the film and just go with it., a Nolan motif, at this point
Advertisement
For all its talk of entropy and inversion, Tenet does find a balance between sci-fi film and Hollywood blockbuster. It’s high stakes and high budget —James Bond on steroids. Within the first hour, we’re greeted with explosions, high-speed car chases and bungee jumping, as we globetrot with the cast (quite literally—filming took place in Italy, India, Estonia, Norway, the UK and the US). But it’s not a Bond replica—though likely inspired by the classic series, Tenet manages to be a different kind of spy film. It’s refined excess, a fresh take on the spy genre, and fronts us with a fresh lead.
Calls for a Black James Bond have been floating around for years now, with multiple actors stating they’d love to take up the role. But what Nolan and John David Washington do here is run around the 007 playground with their own toys, without the pressure and obligation of history. Washington doesn’t miss a beat in Tenet. He’s not a playboy with a Martini glued to his hand, but instead, he toes the line between suave and assumed, remaining magnetic throughout the film with deadpan humor, slick outfits and a confidence that is compelling to watch.
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Accordingly, the plea for a Black James Bond is basically answered here—in Clemence Poésy’s physicist Laura, we have a Q; in Robert Pattinson’s Neil, we have an ally; another 00 agent, of sorts, with whom Washington’s Protagonist forms a muted bromance with; Branagh’s Andrei Sator, a Russian arms dealer, is an archetypal villain. We have all the working parts—just run through a physics time-inverted machine at full speed, so fast it’s often hard to keep up.
But do try. Because even if you don’t completely understand it, it’s made clear throughout that that’s okay. Tenet is another letter of appreciation in Nolan’s love affair with time—from Inception, Memento and Interstellar, he again uses time not as a plot device or metaphor, but as the very crux of the film. The cast is brilliant, and the ambitious plot means it may not make sense to all viewers at any one given time but allowing yourself to bypass that and enjoy it is a decision you won’t regret.
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Ore Abiona is a freelance journalist and content creator born in the U.K. and made by south London; a film and music enthusiast who’s always been rooting for everybody Black.


theroot--2020-09-03--'I Was Guilty Before Proven Innocent': San Antonio Man Speaks Out About His Wrongful Arrest and Raci

'I Was Guilty Before Proven Innocent': San Antonio Man Speaks Out About His Wrongful Arrest and Racial Profiling

White people often don ’ t understand why Black people tend to respond so aggressively to police officers after being racially profiled .
They watch a video of a Black man being detained for nonsensical reasons and daring to get upset about it , and they say , “ If he would only stay calm and follow instructions , everything would be fine.
” ( Because in their world , Philando Castile never existed . )
What they don ’ t get is that constant racial profiling—whether by police or by the public in general—takes its toll .
It gets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are human beings , there will be days when we just ain ’ t in the mood and ain ’ t got the time .
Mathias Ometu was arrested on August 25 in San Antonio , Tx.
, after police said he fit the description of a domestic violence suspect they were looking for in the area , “ even though the victim ’ s description differed from Ometu ’ s physical profile , ” according to KSAT 12 .
On Wednesday , Ometu and his attorneys held a press conference and he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first time .
While jogging near Interstate 10 and Woodstone Drive , Ometu said he noticed a police car slow down by him before speeding past him and turning back around toward him .
Ometu said he felt targeted by the police , who were looking for Darren Smith Jr. , who was arrested Friday on an unrelated robbery warrant .
Smith has not been charged in connection with the family violence incident .
When police told Ometu they wanted to take him to the apartment complex so the victim would identify him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remaining where he is .
“ Once those doors close on you , you never know when they ’ re going to open again , ” Ometu said .
A struggle ensued as officers forcefully tried to place him in the car .
During the struggle , officers said they were kicked by Ometu .
“ I did not intentionally kick , scratch , or harm any officer , ” Ometu said .
Despite him not being the suspect they were looking for , the officers arrested Ometu and charged him with assault @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in jail , where he said he “ experienced true darkness.
” “ I was guilty before proven innocent , ” Ometu said .
“ I was treated unfairly , and that has to be addressed .
I was physically , emotionally and mentally harmed , and that has to be addressed.
” San Antonio Police Chief William McManus , who said officers acted appropriately during the arrest—a comment Ometu ’ s attorneys are now demanding an apology for—said in a statement that the arresting officers requested to have the charges dropped “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heal in a time where policing and race has been scrutinized on a national level , ” KSAT reports .
What occurred was an unfortunate situation for everyone involved .
Although he fit the description of a domestic violence suspect , Mr. Ometu was doing nothing wrong when he was stopped , and the officers were only doing their jobs when they stopped him .
Both officers wish that things had turned out differently given Mr. Ometu turned out not to be the suspect .
Although the police officers were assaulted , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they have asked that the charges against Mr. Ometu be dismissed .
They also do not want Mr. Ometu to suffer any adverse consequences from the incident .
Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales has agreed to drop the charges .
Both officers felt it important to use this incident as an opportunity for unity and understanding at a time when it is most needed .
It is clear that pursuing charges against Mr. Ometu would not bring us closer to our goals of building trust and creating partnerships with our community .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a dialogue on policing in San Antonio , and that invitation will remain open .

White people often don’t understand why Black people tend to respond so aggressively to police officers after being racially profiled. They watch a video of a Black man being detained for nonsensical reasons and daring to get upset about it, and they say, “If he would only stay calm and follow instructions, everything would be fine.” (Because in their world, Philando Castile never existed.) What they don’t get is that constant racial profiling—whether by police or by the public in general—takes its toll. It gets annoying and inconvenient and because Black people are human beings, there will be days when we just ain’t in the mood and ain’t got the time.
Mathias Ometu was arrested on August 25 in San Antonio, Tx., after police said he fit the description of a domestic violence suspect they were looking for in the area, “even though the victim’s description differed from Ometu’s physical profile,” according to KSAT 12.
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On Wednesday, Ometu and his attorneys held a press conference and he spoke publicly about what happened for the first time.
From KSAT:
While jogging near Interstate 10 and Woodstone Drive, Ometu said he noticed a police car slow down by him before speeding past him and turning back around toward him. Ometu said he felt targeted by the police, who were looking for Darren Smith Jr., who was arrested Friday on an unrelated robbery warrant. Smith has not been charged in connection with the family violence incident. When police told Ometu they wanted to take him to the apartment complex so the victim would identify him as the suspect, he persisted on remaining where he is. “Once those doors close on you, you never know when they’re going to open again,” Ometu said. A struggle ensued as officers forcefully tried to place him in the car. During the struggle, officers said they were kicked by Ometu. “I did not intentionally kick, scratch, or harm any officer,” Ometu said.
Despite him not being the suspect they were looking for, the officers arrested Ometu and charged him with assault. For two days, Ometu was in jail, where he said he “experienced true darkness.”
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“I was guilty before proven innocent,” Ometu said. “I was treated unfairly, and that has to be addressed. I was physically, emotionally and mentally harmed, and that has to be addressed.”
San Antonio Police Chief William McManus, who said officers acted appropriately during the arrest—a comment Ometu’s attorneys are now demanding an apology for—said in a statement that the arresting officers requested to have the charges dropped “in an effort to help the community heal in a time where policing and race has been scrutinized on a national level,” KSAT reports.
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Here’s McManus’ full Statement:


theroot--2020-09-02--Does Art of Sport Live up To This Fancy Grooming Boy’s Standards?

20 % off Art of Sport Trial Kit ( 5-Piece ) | Clip Coupon on Page I don ’ t mean to brag but my grooming regimen whips ass .
I ’ ve got every conceivable base covered in my bathroom sink/cabinet lineup , from toners to oils to serums .
There are four different kinds of cologne in my rotation right now .
I do not need to be told how to groom myself .
I am grooming personified .
So when I was first approached with the opportunity to review some new grooming line calling itself Art of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I break from the perfection of my current grooming routine ?
It took years to fine-tune .
What ’ s the point in disrupting it for a new line that looks like it ’ s made for jocks and doesn ’ t have a single fancy accent mark in its name ?
Do any of these products have sandalwood odors ?
Hard pass !
Still , curiosity got the best of me .
Maybe there was something to be found in their lineup worth holding onto .
Maybe it ’ s never too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you need to know about Art of Sport is that it ’ s not like the other men ’ s hygiene lines , your Old Spices and Axe body sprays .
Art of Sport is designed for athletes , and not just any athletes .
Check out their website and you ’ ll be greeted with a giant photo of NBA superstar James Harden .
Have you ever watched James Harden play basketball ?
He ’ s athletic as heck !
Dude ’ s always jumping and running and sweating all over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can ’ t help but wonder if my dainty aluminum-free deodorant might not be as effective for him were he to use it .
What works for James Harden might not work for me , and vice versa .
Although , I thought , the distance between myself and traditional athleticism isn ’ t quite as vast as it was ten years ago when I first began putting together a serious grooming routine .
The skinny comic nerd who once read about how allowing a little pit sweat can be healthy isn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this slightly less skinny comic nerd who now runs , boxes , lifts weights , and does yoga five or six days a week .
And those fancy aluminum-free deodorants ( not antiperspirants ) may have worked then , but they definitely leave me uh , a little smellier than usual come bedtime than I ’ m comfortable with these days .
Am I ... an athlete ?
Do I need grooming gear designed for athletes ?
Is this what I ’ ve become ?
Well , let ’ s not go that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fancy boy in need of very fancy grooming products .
My jeans ?
Skinny .
My hair ?
Quaffed with product .
Still , upon receiving my box of Art of Sport gear , I found myself genuinely impressed with the brand ’ s offerings .
Their deodorants and antiperspirants proved super effective , keeping me from stinking up my apartment immediately post-workout and smelling fresh throughout the day after showering .
The brand offers four scents , all super basic ( in a good way ) rather than the complex and overpowering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lines ( to be clear , Art of Sport is gender-neutral ) .
I found the antiperspirants super effective during and after workouts .
There was no more going to bed stinky for this guy , and the product even kept me from getting too nasty during runs and boxing sessions , typically the activities that leave me the most drenched in sweat .
The scents were subtle , leaving plenty of room for my prized colognes to shine while keeping at bay any lingering nasty guy scents throughout the day .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trickier to review .
The brand also produces shampoos , skincare essentials , and soap .
They ’ re solid top to bottom , especially the shampoos , but not quite personally my thing .
If you ’ re someone like me who ’ s been into grooming gear for a good long while , you might find them a little underwhelming .
This isn ’ t necessarily a knock on the product , mind you .
I found the skincare products to be super solid introductory products for anyone looking to establish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heavy one at that ( the SPF 50 sunscreen is crazy effective ) .
That said , if you ’ re already a Kiehl ’ s loyalist or something , you probably don ’ t need to break any habits over Art of Sport ’ s face wash.
I ’ m prepared to admit it : I was wrong .
I was pretentious .
I was judgemental .
Why would I , a veritable grooming Superman with not one but TWO serums in his lineup currently , need some bro-ey deodorant ?
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only was I wrong , I was wrong to think so to begin with .
Sometimes the perfect piece in your skincare arsenal can come from the most unlikely of sources , be it your girlfriend ’ s bathroom drawer ( shoutout to Biore Pore Strips ) or a line of athletic grooming gear endorsed by an NBA All-Star .

Tres Dean on The Inventory, shared by Gabe Carey to The Root

20% off Art of Sport Trial Kit (5-Piece) | Clip Coupon on Page
I don’t mean to brag but my grooming regimen whips ass. I’ve got every conceivable base covered in my bathroom sink/cabinet lineup, from toners to oils to serums. There are four different kinds of cologne in my rotation right now. I do not need to be told how to groom myself. I am grooming personified.
So when I was first approached with the opportunity to review some new grooming line calling itself Art of Sport, I scoffed. Why would I break from the perfection of my current grooming routine? It took years to fine-tune. What’s the point in disrupting it for a new line that looks like it’s made for jocks and doesn’t have a single fancy accent mark in its name? Do any of these products have sandalwood odors? Hard pass!
Still, curiosity got the best of me. Maybe there was something to be found in their lineup worth holding onto. Maybe it’s never too late to learn.
The first thing you need to know about Art of Sport is that it’s not like the other men’s hygiene lines, your Old Spices and Axe body sprays. Art of Sport is designed for athletes, and not just any athletes. Check out their website and you’ll be greeted with a giant photo of NBA superstar James Harden. Have you ever watched James Harden play basketball? He’s athletic as heck! Dude’s always jumping and running and sweating all over the place, so much so that I can’t help but wonder if my dainty aluminum-free deodorant might not be as effective for him were he to use it. What works for James Harden might not work for me, and vice versa.
Advertisement
Although, I thought, the distance between myself and traditional athleticism isn’t quite as vast as it was ten years ago when I first began putting together a serious grooming routine. The skinny comic nerd who once read about how allowing a little pit sweat can be healthy isn’t living in the same body as this slightly less skinny comic nerd who now runs, boxes, lifts weights, and does yoga five or six days a week. And those fancy aluminum-free deodorants (not antiperspirants) may have worked then, but they definitely leave me uh, a little smellier than usual come bedtime than I’m comfortable with these days.
Am I ... an athlete? Do I need grooming gear designed for athletes? Is this what I’ve become?
Well, let’s not go that far. I am still a very fancy boy in need of very fancy grooming products. My jeans? Skinny. My hair? Quaffed with product. Still, upon receiving my box of Art of Sport gear, I found myself genuinely impressed with the brand’s offerings. Their deodorants and antiperspirants proved super effective, keeping me from stinking up my apartment immediately post-workout and smelling fresh throughout the day after showering. The brand offers four scents, all super basic (in a good way) rather than the complex and overpowering odors you get from many hypermasculine hygiene lines (to be clear, Art of Sport is gender-neutral).
Advertisement Advertisement
I found the antiperspirants super effective during and after workouts. There was no more going to bed stinky for this guy, and the product even kept me from getting too nasty during runs and boxing sessions, typically the activities that leave me the most drenched in sweat. The scents were subtle, leaving plenty of room for my prized colognes to shine while keeping at bay any lingering nasty guy scents throughout the day.
Advertisement
The rest of the line is a bit trickier to review. The brand also produces shampoos, skincare essentials, and soap. They’re solid top to bottom, especially the shampoos, but not quite personally my thing. If you’re someone like me who’s been into grooming gear for a good long while, you might find them a little underwhelming. This isn’t necessarily a knock on the product, mind you. I found the skincare products to be super solid introductory products for anyone looking to establish a regular skincare routine, and a heavy one at that (the SPF 50 sunscreen is crazy effective). That said, if you’re already a Kiehl’s loyalist or something, you probably don’t need to break any habits over Art of Sport’s face wash.
Advertisement
I’m prepared to admit it: I was wrong. I was pretentious. I was judgemental. Why would I, a veritable grooming Superman with not one but TWO serums in his lineup currently, need some bro-ey deodorant? I thought I was above it and not only was I wrong, I was wrong to think so to begin with. Sometimes the perfect piece in your skincare arsenal can come from the most unlikely of sources, be it your girlfriend’s bathroom drawer (shoutout to Biore Pore Strips) or a line of athletic grooming gear endorsed by an NBA All-Star.


theroot--2020-09-02--Mississippi Chooses 'The New Magnolia' Flag Design to Replace Confederate Emblem. Now, It's Up to Vo

Mississippi Chooses 'The New Magnolia' Flag Design to Replace Confederate Emblem. Now, It's Up to Voters

In late June , Mississippi lawmakers introduced the state to the 21st century by voting to get rid of the ode to racial oppression that was its state flag .
On Wednesday , a new flag design was selected and submitted for voter approval in November .
NBC News reports that “ The New Magnolia ” flag was chosen from nearly 3,000 flag designs submitted by the public to replace the flag with the Confederate symbol .
Along with “ The Great River Flag , ” the “ New Magnolia ” was among the five finalists that were unveiled late @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Magnolia ” flag will go before voters in November for approval .
The Commission to Redesign the Mississippi State Flag also agreed on Wednesday to brand the flag “ The In God We Trust ” flag .
“ The New Magnolia , ” designed by Rocky Vaughan , “ is anchored in the center field by a clean and modern Magnolia blossom , a symbol long-used to represent our state and the hospitality of our citizens , ” according to the Mississippi Department of Archives and History .
“ The New Magnolia also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and rebirth , as the Magnolia often blooms more than once and has a long blooming season .
The New Magnolia is sleek and updated to represent the forward progression of Mississippi , ” according to the department .
Sixty percent of people who partook in an online poll also favored “ The New Magnolia ” flag .
The Commission to Redesign the Mississippi State Flag had actually discussed putting both design finalists on the ballot but it was determined that adding “ The Great River Flag ” would only delay the vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make the November ballot .
If voters reject “ The New Magnolia ” the state commission will have to wait until the 2021 session to present the legislature with a new flag design .
According to NBC , Mississippi was the last state in the U.S. with a flag featuring the Confederate emblem .

In late June, Mississippi lawmakers introduced the state to the 21st century by voting to get rid of the ode to racial oppression that was its state flag. On Wednesday, a new flag design was selected and submitted for voter approval in November.
NBC News reports that “The New Magnolia” flag was chosen from nearly 3,000 flag designs submitted by the public to replace the flag with the Confederate symbol. Along with “The Great River Flag,” the “New Magnolia” was among the five finalists that were unveiled late last month.
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From NBC:
The “The New Magnolia” flag will go before voters in November for approval. The Commission to Redesign the Mississippi State Flag also agreed on Wednesday to brand the flag “The In God We Trust” flag. “The New Magnolia,” designed by Rocky Vaughan, “is anchored in the center field by a clean and modern Magnolia blossom, a symbol long-used to represent our state and the hospitality of our citizens,” according to the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. “The New Magnolia also represents Mississippi’s sense of hope and rebirth, as the Magnolia often blooms more than once and has a long blooming season. The New Magnolia is sleek and updated to represent the forward progression of Mississippi,” according to the department. Sixty percent of people who partook in an online poll also favored “The New Magnolia” flag.
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The Commission to Redesign the Mississippi State Flag had actually discussed putting both design finalists on the ballot but it was determined that adding “The Great River Flag” would only delay the vote, which would mean neither design would make the November ballot. If voters reject “The New Magnolia” the state commission will have to wait until the 2021 session to present the legislature with a new flag design.
According to NBC, Mississippi was the last state in the U.S. with a flag featuring the Confederate emblem.


theroot--2020-09-02--Akon Says His Senegalese Smart-City Will Be a Safe Haven for African Americans. Some Locals Wonder I

Akon Says His Senegalese Smart-City Will Be a Safe Haven for African Americans. Some Locals Wonder If There’s Room for Them, Too

Akon is plowing ahead with his plans to build the Pan-African , high-tech “ Akon City ” in Senegal , announcing at a press conference Monday that he had laid down the first stone in the coastal village of Mbodiene .
The singer appeared in the capital city of Dakar , some 62 miles away from his proposed city , next to Senegal minister for tourism Alioune Sarr .
At the event , Akon also shared digital renderings of what the city was expected to look like .
What Akon , née Aliaune Thiam , unveiled was a 2,000-acre , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and curvaceous , chrome-colored skyscrapers crowded among more conventional towers .
The unconventional buildings were modeled after “ real African sculptures they make in the villages , ” the Senegalese-American musician told the crowd .
“ Akoin , ” his brand of cryptocurrency , would be the city ’ s central currency .
Akon City would provide opportunities to Senegalese people , he said , but he also wanted to create a futuristic , upscale retreat for African Americans looking to connect with their roots , or perhaps repatriate to escape America ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home [ in the US ] treats them unfairly in so many different ways that you can never imagine , ” Akon said on Monday , according to the Guardian .
“ And they only go through it because they feel that there is no other way .
If you ’ re coming from America or Europe or elsewhere in the diaspora and you feel that you want to visit Africa , we want Senegal to be your first stop.
” Akon ’ s vision has been compared to Wakanda , the fictional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ character .
And the point of a development like Akon City is to reduce the continent ’ s dependence on Western countries .
But as the Washington Post reports , some Senegalese have raised concerns about how much the city will actually reflect them .
So far , there are no Senegalese architects or city planners attached to the project , though the city has the support of the Senegalese government , which gave Akon the land on which to build the development .
Construction of the city is expected to cost $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about $ 4 billion of his goal , but he did not disclose who his business partners were .
The Post reports that the investors signed nondisclosure agreements .
Senegalese architect Nzinga Mboup , after taking a look at the Akon City blueprints , told the Post there was no real specificity to the architectural look— “ These shapes could be anywhere : Phoenix , Dubai.
” Others online questioned the practicality of the designs .
The buildings appeared to be made out of concrete , glass , and other metals—all surfaces that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ climate .
But tourism minister Sarr didn ’ t seem mired by the details on Monday .
“ We can show to the rest of the world that Senegal is a destination despite the impact of COVID-19 , ” Sarr said .
“ That Africa is a land of opportunity.
” Officials from Mbodiene also said they welcomed the change , which would dramatically change the rural area .
Akon promised that , although farmland would be lost , agricultural jobs would be replaced with better jobs , reports the Post .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he would pay them “ as much as I can.
” But even if the benefits and functionality of the city for locals seem murky , Akon appears to already be thinking beyond Senegal .
The Guardian spoke to the U.S.-based consulting and engineering firm KE international , which says it has been contracted to create Akon City .
According to the company , plans are already being considered to franchise the smart-city development to other countries in Africa .

Anne Branigin on The Grapevine, shared by Anne Branigin to The Root

Akon is plowing ahead with his plans to build the Pan-African, high-tech “Akon City” in Senegal, announcing at a press conference Monday that he had laid down the first stone in the coastal village of Mbodiene.
The singer appeared in the capital city of Dakar, some 62 miles away from his proposed city, next to Senegal minister for tourism Alioune Sarr. At the event, Akon also shared digital renderings of what the city was expected to look like. What Akon, née Aliaune Thiam, unveiled was a 2,000-acre, solar-powered city filled with eco-friendly tourist resorts and curvaceous, chrome-colored skyscrapers crowded among more conventional towers. The unconventional buildings were modeled after “real African sculptures they make in the villages,” the Senegalese-American musician told the crowd. “Akoin,” his brand of cryptocurrency, would be the city’s central currency.
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Akon City would provide opportunities to Senegalese people, he said, but he also wanted to create a futuristic, upscale retreat for African Americans looking to connect with their roots, or perhaps repatriate to escape America’s racism.
“The system back home [in the US] treats them unfairly in so many different ways that you can never imagine,” Akon said on Monday, according to the Guardian. “And they only go through it because they feel that there is no other way. If you’re coming from America or Europe or elsewhere in the diaspora and you feel that you want to visit Africa, we want Senegal to be your first stop.”
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Akon’s vision has been compared to Wakanda, the fictional kingdom of Marvel’s Black Panther character. And the point of a development like Akon City is to reduce the continent’s dependence on Western countries. But as the Washington Post reports, some Senegalese have raised concerns about how much the city will actually reflect them.
So far, there are no Senegalese architects or city planners attached to the project, though the city has the support of the Senegalese government, which gave Akon the land on which to build the development. Construction of the city is expected to cost $6 billion, and Akon has secured about $4 billion of his goal, but he did not disclose who his business partners were. The Post reports that the investors signed nondisclosure agreements.
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Senegalese architect Nzinga Mboup, after taking a look at the Akon City blueprints, told the Post there was no real specificity to the architectural look—“These shapes could be anywhere: Phoenix, Dubai.” Others online questioned the practicality of the designs. The buildings appeared to be made out of concrete, glass, and other metals—all surfaces that seem incompatible with Senegal’s hot climate.
But tourism minister Sarr didn’t seem mired by the details on Monday.
“We can show to the rest of the world that Senegal is a destination despite the impact of COVID-19,” Sarr said. “That Africa is a land of opportunity.”
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Officials from Mbodiene also said they welcomed the change, which would dramatically change the rural area.
Akon promised that, although farmland would be lost, agricultural jobs would be replaced with better jobs, reports the Post. He pledged job training for locals, and that he would pay them “as much as I can.”
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But even if the benefits and functionality of the city for locals seem murky, Akon appears to already be thinking beyond Senegal. The Guardian spoke to the U.S.-based consulting and engineering firm KE international, which says it has been contracted to create Akon City. According to the company, plans are already being considered to franchise the smart-city development to other countries in Africa.


theroot--2020-09-02--Yes, Cardi B Actually Did Want Lizzo's Wet Ass Presence in the 'WAP' Music Video

Now from the top , let us drop any further speculation about Lizzo ’ s absence from the hit “ WAP ” music video by Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion because Cardi has covered those bases .
But before we get there , let ’ s back it up a bit .
If you can remember , along with the video ’ s raunchy lyrics and vivacious visuals , no one could stop talking about the surprise guests who made an appearance .
But , given the female empowerment tone of the song and video , it would ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in terms of plus-size artists .
Of course , the most prominent name that stood out for most was Lizzo !
Hell , a bunch of us would ’ ve happily traded Kylie Jenner for Lizzo if it was an issue of available slots .
They could ’ ve had a bad bitch !
But , as it turns out , it was actually a scheduling conflict , instead .
Cardi really wanted Lizzo in the video just as bad as us , y ’ all !
“ I ’ m cool with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hot 97 in a recent interview .
“ Like , we ’ ve been sending DMs to each other and all that .
But she was on vacation and she wasn ’ t in town.
” Well , there you have it !
Lizzo was getting her self-care on !
Sure , it would ’ ve been amazing to see Lizzo gyrating and thrusting in peak joy with the other ladies , but ultimately , we hope Lizzo got some much-needed rest and peace .
“ I was like , ‘ Oh my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whole vision about how I want to see Lizzo and everything , ’ Cardi added .
I completely believe she had all of these grand visualizations .
I mean , look at this behind-the-scenes clip that made the rounds around the time the video dropped : “ It was so important to me to include different women that are different races and come from different backgrounds , but are so powerful and influential , ” Cardi continued .
So , now we know exactly why Lizzo couldn ’ t join the WAP party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the way…perhaps we still have a chance to make this happen !
Maybe a remix ?
You can check out the full Hot 97 interview below :

Now from the top, let us drop any further speculation about Lizzo’s absence from the hit “WAP” music video by Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion because Cardi has covered those bases.
But before we get there, let’s back it up a bit. If you can remember, along with the video’s raunchy lyrics and vivacious visuals, no one could stop talking about the surprise guests who made an appearance.
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But, given the female empowerment tone of the song and video, it would’ve been great to see better representation in terms of plus-size artists. Of course, the most prominent name that stood out for most was Lizzo! Hell, a bunch of us would’ve happily traded Kylie Jenner for Lizzo if it was an issue of available slots.
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They could’ve had a bad bitch! But, as it turns out, it was actually a scheduling conflict, instead. Cardi really wanted Lizzo in the video just as bad as us, y’all!
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“I’m cool with Lizzo and everything,’ she told Hot 97 in a recent interview. “Like, we’ve been sending DMs to each other and all that. But she was on vacation and she wasn’t in town.”
Well, there you have it! Lizzo was getting her self-care on! Sure, it would’ve been amazing to see Lizzo gyrating and thrusting in peak joy with the other ladies, but ultimately, we hope Lizzo got some much-needed rest and peace.
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“I was like, ‘Oh my gosh,’ because I had a whole vision about how I want to see Lizzo and everything,’ Cardi added.
I completely believe she had all of these grand visualizations. I mean, look at this behind-the-scenes clip that made the rounds around the time the video dropped:
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“It was so important to me to include different women that are different races and come from different backgrounds, but are so powerful and influential,” Cardi continued.
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So, now we know exactly why Lizzo couldn’t join the WAP party. Now that we got that out of the way…perhaps we still have a chance to make this happen! Maybe a remix?
You can check out the full Hot 97 interview below: