theroot--2020-09-21--What’s on the Minds of Young Black Voters? BET Hosts Panel Discussion Between Kamala Harris and HBCU

What’s on the Minds of Young Black Voters? BET Hosts Panel Discussion Between Kamala Harris and HBCU Students

If you ’ ve heard it time and time again—Black voters are the cornerstone of the Democratic party , even as they have , historically and presently , faced substantial obstacles to having their voices heard at the ballot box .
What is less certain , however , is to what degree young Black voters will turn up at the polls .
On Tuesday , Sept. 22 , BET will shine a spotlight on young Black voters , televising a virtual dialogue held between Democratic vice-presidential candidate Kamala Harris and a panel of student leaders from HBCUs around the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Sep. 18 , the first Black Voter Day .
BET will air the special , “ Black America Votes : The Kamala Harris Interview with HBCU Students ” on its website and across its social media platforms tomorrow , which also marks National Voter Registration Day .
Recognized on the third Tuesday of September , National Voter Registration Day typically sees a surge of registration in the hundreds of thousands .
During the 2018 midterm elections , 865,000 Americans registered to vote .
Organizers say they are looking to reach record highs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesses launching their own initiatives and tools : Girl Trek ’ s Black Girl Justice League will have its own voter registration portal , while Sirius XM will host a special program , “ The Vote Must Go On : In person or By Mail ” on its Urban View Channel 126 .
Participating in BET ’ s panel conversation will be students from Harris ’ alma mater , Howard University , as well as Spelman , Morehouse , Florida A & T , Carolina A & T , Tuskegee University and Hampton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that many of the universities represented in the panel are in key battleground states , and several of the panelists will be first-time voters .
Young voters , generally , tend to vote at much lower rates than older voters .
Many blame this squarely on apathy , but voting rights experts note that young voters have been actively targeted for voter suppression .
A 2019 New York Times article observed that between 2014 and 2018 , the number of college students casting a ballot doubled ; these rates were quickly met with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , particularly in states where GOP strongholds are seen to be eroding .
The BET special will hopefully provide a peek into the concerns and interests of young Black voters , who have been decidedly less enthusiastic about Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden than their elders .
A Time article from August , citing data from American University ’ s Swing Black Voter Project , found that institutional distrust helped fuel that disengagement .
“ Young African Americans don ’ t have confidence that the system will or can function in a way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Sam Fulwood III , a fellow in the Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies at American University .
“ They have no evidence—or little evidence—that the system will improve their lives .
When they engage with the system , more often than not , it is adverse .
In some ways , it is destructive and life-threatening to them .
Young Black people are statistically more likely to be victims of police brutality .
They ’ ve also seen local , state and federal governments increasingly divest from the institutions that are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , like public schools and universities .
Due to the coronavirus , many will be graduating into a job market with limited prospects , and stagnant wages have not been keeping up with increasing amounts of student loan debt ( an issue that disproportionately affects Black grads ) and housing costs .
Still , Harris offers hope here .
A proud Howard Bison , she has specific inroads with young Black voters attending HBCUs .
And as the same Time article noted , 73 percent of Black voters under 30 said they would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ veep .
Provided Black people have their votes counted fairly come November , now that Harris is on the campaign trail , Fulwood echoed many pundits when he told Time , “ the Black turnout now is going to be bigger than it would have been before .
”

If you’ve heard it time and time again—Black voters are the cornerstone of the Democratic party, even as they have, historically and presently, faced substantial obstacles to having their voices heard at the ballot box. What is less certain, however, is to what degree young Black voters will turn up at the polls.
On Tuesday, Sept. 22, BET will shine a spotlight on young Black voters, televising a virtual dialogue held between Democratic vice-presidential candidate Kamala Harris and a panel of student leaders from HBCUs around the country. The conversation was recorded on Friday, Sep. 18, the first Black Voter Day.
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BET will air the special, “Black America Votes: The Kamala Harris Interview with HBCU Students” on its website and across its social media platforms tomorrow, which also marks National Voter Registration Day. Recognized on the third Tuesday of September, National Voter Registration Day typically sees a surge of registration in the hundreds of thousands. During the 2018 midterm elections, 865,000 Americans registered to vote. Organizers say they are looking to reach record highs this year, with many groups and businesses launching their own initiatives and tools: Girl Trek’s Black Girl Justice League will have its own voter registration portal, while Sirius XM will host a special program, “The Vote Must Go On: In person or By Mail” on its Urban View Channel 126.
Participating in BET’s panel conversation will be students from Harris’ alma mater, Howard University, as well as Spelman, Morehouse, Florida A&T, Carolina A&T, Tuskegee University and Hampton University, among others. BET noted that many of the universities represented in the panel are in key battleground states, and several of the panelists will be first-time voters.
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Young voters, generally, tend to vote at much lower rates than older voters. Many blame this squarely on apathy, but voting rights experts note that young voters have been actively targeted for voter suppression. A 2019 New York Times article observed that between 2014 and 2018, the number of college students casting a ballot doubled; these rates were quickly met with more roadblocks to voting on college campuses, particularly in states where GOP strongholds are seen to be eroding.
The BET special will hopefully provide a peek into the concerns and interests of young Black voters, who have been decidedly less enthusiastic about Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden than their elders. A Time article from August, citing data from American University’s Swing Black Voter Project, found that institutional distrust helped fuel that disengagement.
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“Young African Americans don’t have confidence that the system will or can function in a way that will advantage their lives,” said Sam Fulwood III, a fellow in the Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies at American University. “They have no evidence—or little evidence—that the system will improve their lives. When they engage with the system, more often than not, it is adverse. In some ways, it is destructive and life-threatening to them.
Young Black people are statistically more likely to be victims of police brutality. They’ve also seen local, state and federal governments increasingly divest from the institutions that are supposed to care for and develop them, like public schools and universities. Due to the coronavirus, many will be graduating into a job market with limited prospects, and stagnant wages have not been keeping up with increasing amounts of student loan debt (an issue that disproportionately affects Black grads) and housing costs.
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Still, Harris offers hope here. A proud Howard Bison, she has specific inroads with young Black voters attending HBCUs. And as the same Time article noted, 73 percent of Black voters under 30 said they would back a Biden ticket with a Black veep. Provided Black people have their votes counted fairly come November, now that Harris is on the campaign trail, Fulwood echoed many pundits when he told Time, “the Black turnout now is going to be bigger than it would have been before.”


theroot--2020-09-21--Chioma Nnadi Is the New Editor of Vogue.com

As racial unrest and black boxes sprang forth in abundance in early June , Condé Nast Artistic Director Anna Wintour made a startling but not surprising admission : “ I want to say plainly that I know Vogue has not found enough ways to elevate and give space to Black editors , writers , photographers , designers and other creators , ” Wintour wrote in a note to staff .
“ We have made mistakes too ...
I take full responsibility for those mistakes .
“ It can ’ t be easy to be a Black employee at Vogue , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I know that it is not enough to say we will do better , but we will , ” she added .
On Monday , Wintour , who recently helped issue a $ 1 million grant to Harlem ’ s Fashion Row through the launch of the CFDA/Vogue A Common Thread Fund , made another step in remedying those so-called “ mistakes , ” announcing the promotion of Vogue.com Fashion News Director Chioma Nnadi as the site ’ s new editor-in-chief .
“ I am so thrilled that Chioma will be the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wintour in a release obtained by Fashionista .
“ Above all , we know her as someone who intuitively understands fashion and brings to it a genuine love of discovery .
She looks in unexpected places and all over the world to find out who is doing the best work and who we should be celebrating now .
I absolutely rely on her eye and her cosmopolitanism and her taste .
Even better , she is forward-looking and understands that Vogue needs to reach new audiences and do so in new ways.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helm of the Vogue digital masthead has been a decade in the making .
After stints at London ’ s Evening Standard Magazine , Trace , and as Style Director at Fader , Nnadi became a fashion writer at Vogue in 2010 , promoted to Fashion News Director in 2014 .
With her newest promotion , she joins British Vogue ’ s Edward Enninful and Teen Vogue ’ s Lindsay Peoples Wagner among the Black editors-in-chief within the Vogue global franchise .
Recent weeks have also seen the announcement of Dawn Davis as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ imprint Bon Appetit , Simone Oliver as the new editor-in-chief of Refinery29 , Asad Syrkett taking over the editorial reins at Elle Decor , and Tiffany Reid as vice president of fashion at Bustle Digital Group ( h/t Fashionista ) .
Nnadi acknowledged her latest achievement simply and succinctly on Instagram , writing : “ Super excited for the road ahead in my new role as editor of Vogue.com.
” So are we .
Congrats , Chioma !

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

As racial unrest and black boxes sprang forth in abundance in early June, Condé Nast Artistic Director Anna Wintour made a startling but not surprising admission:
“I want to say plainly that I know Vogue has not found enough ways to elevate and give space to Black editors, writers, photographers, designers and other creators,” Wintour wrote in a note to staff. “We have made mistakes too...I take full responsibility for those mistakes.
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“It can’t be easy to be a Black employee at Vogue, and there are too few of you. I know that it is not enough to say we will do better, but we will,” she added.
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On Monday, Wintour, who recently helped issue a $1 million grant to Harlem’s Fashion Row through the launch of the CFDA/Vogue A Common Thread Fund, made another step in remedying those so-called “mistakes,” announcing the promotion of Vogue.com Fashion News Director Chioma Nnadi as the site’s new editor-in-chief.
“I am so thrilled that Chioma will be the new editor of Vogue.com,” said Wintour in a release obtained by Fashionista. “Above all, we know her as someone who intuitively understands fashion and brings to it a genuine love of discovery. She looks in unexpected places and all over the world to find out who is doing the best work and who we should be celebrating now. I absolutely rely on her eye and her cosmopolitanism and her taste. Even better, she is forward-looking and understands that Vogue needs to reach new audiences and do so in new ways.”
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Nnadi’s ascension to the editorial helm of the Vogue digital masthead has been a decade in the making. After stints at London’s Evening Standard Magazine, Trace, and as Style Director at Fader, Nnadi became a fashion writer at Vogue in 2010, promoted to Fashion News Director in 2014. With her newest promotion, she joins British Vogue’s Edward Enninful and Teen Vogue’s Lindsay Peoples Wagner among the Black editors-in-chief within the Vogue global franchise. Recent weeks have also seen the announcement of Dawn Davis as the new editor-in-chief at fellow Condé Nast imprint Bon Appetit, Simone Oliver as the new editor-in-chief of Refinery29, Asad Syrkett taking over the editorial reins at Elle Decor, and Tiffany Reid as vice president of fashion at Bustle Digital Group (h/t Fashionista).
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Nnadi acknowledged her latest achievement simply and succinctly on Instagram, writing: “Super excited for the road ahead in my new role as editor of Vogue.com.”
So are we. Congrats, Chioma!


theroot--2020-09-21--Federal Buildings Closed All Week in Louisville in Anticipation of Possible Breonna Taylor Announcem

Federal Buildings Closed All Week in Louisville in Anticipation of Possible Breonna Taylor Announcement

Throughout the investigation into Breonna Taylor ’ s death , Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron has refused to give a timeline as to when his office will announce its decision on whether to press charges against the Louisville police who killed her .
But while Cameron has still given no indication on when he will announce his findings , several federal buildings in downtown Louisville will be shut down from Monday to Friday this week .
The closures are seen as an indication that an announcement is imminent , reports CNN .
The Gene Snyder United States Courthouse will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the request of the General Services Administration , which manages the facility , according to the Louisville Courier Journal .
According to the local paper , a courthouse official confirmed the building was being closed in anticipation of a major announcement .
Presiding judges at the federal courthouse were advised to delay all their scheduled in-court appearances or convert them to video-conference proceedings .
The US Citizenship and Immigration Services field office in Louisville will also be closed this week due to a “ court order , ” according to CNN .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked the Department of Homeland Security to send federal agents to further fortify the Snyder courthouse and the ICE office , as well as the Mazzoli Building and the US Attorney ’ s office , which are all in close proximity to each other .
Federal agents have been a presence at hotbeds of protest around the country , including Portland and Chicago .
It has been more than six months since Taylor was shot and killed by Louisville Metro Police , who raided her home as part of a narcotics investigation into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her bed when police barged in through her door .
Her boyfriend , Kenneth Walker , fired a warning shot , believing the officers to be intruders .
While Walker survived the ensuing hail of bullets from the officers , the 26-year-old emergency medical technician did not .
After months of protests , no charges have been filed against the three officers who invaded Taylor ’ s home .
One , Brett Hankison , was fired from the department ; he was the subject of several previous complaints , including allegations of sexual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 , a grand jury was empaneled to consider the evidence in the Taylor case .
Cameron has said little about the case publicly , tweeting on Sep. 9 , “ My office is continually asked about a timeline regarding the investigation into the death of Ms. Breonna Taylor .
An investigation , if done properly , can not follow a specific timeline.
” Last week , the city of Louisville agreed to pay a $ 12 million settlement to Taylor ’ s family , along with a slate of police reforms .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for identifying officers with “ red flags , ” as well as a housing stipend paid out to officers who live in certain low-income neighborhoods in the city .

Throughout the investigation into Breonna Taylor’s death, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron has refused to give a timeline as to when his office will announce its decision on whether to press charges against the Louisville police who killed her.
But while Cameron has still given no indication on when he will announce his findings, several federal buildings in downtown Louisville will be shut down from Monday to Friday this week. The closures are seen as an indication that an announcement is imminent, reports CNN.
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The Gene Snyder United States Courthouse will be closed for the duration of the week at the request of the General Services Administration, which manages the facility, according to the Louisville Courier Journal. According to the local paper, a courthouse official confirmed the building was being closed in anticipation of a major announcement. Presiding judges at the federal courthouse were advised to delay all their scheduled in-court appearances or convert them to video-conference proceedings.
The US Citizenship and Immigration Services field office in Louisville will also be closed this week due to a “court order,” according to CNN. Last week, US Attorney Russell Coleman asked the Department of Homeland Security to send federal agents to further fortify the Snyder courthouse and the ICE office, as well as the Mazzoli Building and the US Attorney’s office, which are all in close proximity to each other.
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Federal agents have been a presence at hotbeds of protest around the country, including Portland and Chicago.
It has been more than six months since Taylor was shot and killed by Louisville Metro Police, who raided her home as part of a narcotics investigation into her ex-boyfriend. Taylor was asleep in her bed when police barged in through her door. Her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, fired a warning shot, believing the officers to be intruders. While Walker survived the ensuing hail of bullets from the officers, the 26-year-old emergency medical technician did not.
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After months of protests, no charges have been filed against the three officers who invaded Taylor’s home. One, Brett Hankison, was fired from the department; he was the subject of several previous complaints, including allegations of sexual assault and planting evidence.
On Sep. 10, a grand jury was empaneled to consider the evidence in the Taylor case. Cameron has said little about the case publicly, tweeting on Sep. 9, “My office is continually asked about a timeline regarding the investigation into the death of Ms. Breonna Taylor. An investigation, if done properly, cannot follow a specific timeline.”
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Last week, the city of Louisville agreed to pay a $12 million settlement to Taylor’s family, along with a slate of police reforms. These include an early action warning system for identifying officers with “red flags,” as well as a housing stipend paid out to officers who live in certain low-income neighborhoods in the city.


theroot--2020-09-21--The HBCU Movement Continues: Deion Sanders Named Head Coach of Jackson State Tigers

After days of speculation , it ’ s officially official : Deion Sanders is the next head coach of the Jackson State Tigers .
ESPN reports that the NFL Hall of Famer , who currently serves as the offensive coordinator at Trinity Christian High School in Cedar Hill , TX , made the big reveal on the debut episode of his new podcast that I will probably never in life listen to , 21st & Prime .
“ God called me to Jackson State , ” Sanders said .
In becoming a first-time head coach at the collegiate level , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but the school hopes he ’ ll make up for it in charisma and fanfare .
“ It ’ s very big for Jackson State University , ” Jackson State athletic director Ashley Robinson said .
“ Not only for Jackson State University , this is very big for the country right now .
Very big for the state of Mississippi .
To Coach Prime , Jackson State University—a blue blood program full of Hall of Famers—it ’ s just a great time.
” In recent months we ’ ve seen a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the power dynamics of collegiate sports by attending HBCUs , and in July , five-star recruit Makur Maker did exactly that by committing to Howard in hopes of “ making the HBCU movement real so that others will follow.
” In deciding to coach football at Jackson State , one of the biggest HBCUs in the country , Sanders ’ makes the school a much bigger draw for potential recruits based on his reputation on the field and meaningful relationships with both pro and college players .
There ’ s also speculation that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a four-star quarterback who committed to play at Florida Atlantic in July , could de-commit and join his father in Mississippi .
“ I am truly blessed to be the 21st Head football coach of Jackson State University , ” the 53-year-old said in a statement .
“ This amazing HBCU has always enjoyed a high level of commitment academically and athletically .
It ’ s my desire to continue this storied tradition and history of JSU and prayerfully bring more national recognition to the athletes , the university , the Sonic Boom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ general .
I am TRULY proud to be a part of the JSU Tiger family .
‘ I BELIEVE ’ .
” This is a big move for Jackson State and while the results have yet to be seen on the field , one thing is for sure : Prime Time still knows how to make an entrance .

After days of speculation, it’s officially official: Deion Sanders is the next head coach of the Jackson State Tigers.
ESPN reports that the NFL Hall of Famer, who currently serves as the offensive coordinator at Trinity Christian High School in Cedar Hill, TX, made the big reveal on the debut episode of his new podcast that I will probably never in life listen to, 21st & Prime.
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“God called me to Jackson State,” Sanders said.
In becoming a first-time head coach at the collegiate level, Prime Time will be short on experience, but the school hopes he’ll make up for it in charisma and fanfare.
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“It’s very big for Jackson State University,” Jackson State athletic director Ashley Robinson said. “Not only for Jackson State University, this is very big for the country right now. Very big for the state of Mississippi. To Coach Prime, Jackson State University—a blue blood program full of Hall of Famers—it’s just a great time.”
In recent months we’ve seen a big push for college athletes to shift the power dynamics of collegiate sports by attending HBCUs, and in July, five-star recruit Makur Maker did exactly that by committing to Howard in hopes of “making the HBCU movement real so that others will follow.”
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In deciding to coach football at Jackson State, one of the biggest HBCUs in the country, Sanders’ makes the school a much bigger draw for potential recruits based on his reputation on the field and meaningful relationships with both pro and college players.
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There’s also speculation that Sanders’ son, Shedeur Sanders, a four-star quarterback who committed to play at Florida Atlantic in July, could de-commit and join his father in Mississippi.
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“I am truly blessed to be the 21st Head football coach of Jackson State University,” the 53-year-old said in a statement. “This amazing HBCU has always enjoyed a high level of commitment academically and athletically. It’s my desire to continue this storied tradition and history of JSU and prayerfully bring more national recognition to the athletes, the university, the Sonic Boom of the South, and HBCUs in general. I am TRULY proud to be a part of the JSU Tiger family. ‘I BELIEVE’.”
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This is a big move for Jackson State and while the results have yet to be seen on the field, one thing is for sure: Prime Time still knows how to make an entrance.
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Congrats to Deion and Jackson State.


theroot--2020-09-21--'I Am a Descendent From People Who Have Interrupted Empire': Afro-Indigenous Poet Alán Pelaez Lopez

'I Am a Descendent From People Who Have Interrupted Empire': Afro-Indigenous Poet Alán Pelaez Lopez Explores the Beauty of Radical Blackness in La Negritud

Growing up , Alán Pelaez Lopez always knew that they were indigenous—but , the Oaxaca , Mexico-native didn ’ t realize that they were Black until kindergarten .
“ I remember the [ kindergarten ] teacher , she was going through like a list of animals .
It was a children ’ s book .
And I remember her going to a monkey and then pointing at me and saying that the monkey looked like me , ” the poet said .
“ I was like , oh , I ’ m not just indigenous .
I ’ m a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years old , this was Pelaez Lopez ’ s first experience of racialized violence .
They were in Mexico City , a place far whiter than their pueblo in Oaxaca .
But the traumatizing memory remains today .
Today the Afro-Indigenous poet and cultural worker understands their Blackness to be a form of resistance .
Indeed , Pelaez Lopez helped popularize the # LatinidadIsCancelled movement that became popular in 2019 .
During this Latinx Heritage Month , The Root celebrates the beauty of Blackness through a three-part video series , La Negritud .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alán Pelaez Lopez , a Black Zapotec from Mexico .
See the entire video above .

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Black News and Black Views with a Whole Lotta Attitude


theroot--2020-09-21--Ruth Bader Ginsburg Could've Died in Peace If White People Were Better People

Propped on the pavement , planted in yards , and sitting on stoops in every block in my neighborhood this morning are kaleidoscopic signs encouraging people to register to vote and reminding us , of course , that Black Lives Matter .
I do not know which organization created them .
Definitely one of the dozens ( hundreds ? )
targeting Black , and Latino , and Black-ish communities , with the ( accurate ) presumption that the more of us who vote , the less likely Donald Trump wins a second term .
The push to get more of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In our mailboxes , on the commercials airing during NBA playoff games , within every social media platform , accompanying Emmy acceptance speeches , likely in an ad above this essay , and , most notably , embedded in progressive media ’ s election narrative framing .
If Trump wins , it ’ ll be because enough of us didn ’ t vote .
If he loses , it ’ ll be because we saved the country .
This is how the flaccid campaign of a rapper who really should just be on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instead of running for president , merits a New York Times profile .
He might siphon enough Black votes from Biden to swing the election , the narrative holds , so we must take him seriously .
( He won ’ t .
But knowing that would require knowing actual Black people . )
This hum reached a fever pitch Friday evening , after Ruth Bader Ginsburg—a woman who was considered , by white liberals , as less of a human being and more of a fascism-blocking levee—died .
And the statement dictated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed ” ) amplified the din .
Altogether , this just reminds me , again , that we ( Black people ) are expected to carry this weight because white people are too reliably bad at American citizenship—either too racist or too inert to prevent their friends and family members from being too racist—to be trusted with it .
So we must vote because 90 percent of us can be trusted to hold our noses and make a republic-saving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters can ’ t .
Perhaps my math ain ’ t mathing right , but I think Trump loses if just 5.2 out of 10 white voters were white supremacists instead of 5.5 .
So yeah , we need to vote and shit—and we will—but this is on white people .
The millions of white people who prefer the preservation of whiteness ’ status to their own livelihoods .
And the millions of white people who allowed—either through apathy or vanity or sheer uselessness—the other millions to be that way .
And this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg ’ s death .
Imagine how peacefully that woman could ’ ve died if the energy and bandwidth and money exhausted being sad and mad today was spent being less racist yesterday .

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

Propped on the pavement, planted in yards, and sitting on stoops in every block in my neighborhood this morning are kaleidoscopic signs encouraging people to register to vote and reminding us, of course, that Black Lives Matter. I do not know which organization created them. Definitely one of the dozens (hundreds?) targeting Black, and Latino, and Black-ish communities, with the (accurate) presumption that the more of us who vote, the less likely Donald Trump wins a second term.
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The push to get more of us to vote is everywhere now: In our mailboxes, on the commercials airing during NBA playoff games, within every social media platform, accompanying Emmy acceptance speeches, likely in an ad above this essay, and, most notably, embedded in progressive media’s election narrative framing. If Trump wins, it’ll be because enough of us didn’t vote. If he loses, it’ll be because we saved the country. This is how the flaccid campaign of a rapper who really should just be on a porch somewhere playing with his kids instead of running for president, merits a New York Times profile. He might siphon enough Black votes from Biden to swing the election, the narrative holds, so we must take him seriously. (He won’t. But knowing that would require knowing actual Black people.)
This hum reached a fever pitch Friday evening, after Ruth Bader Ginsburg—a woman who was considered, by white liberals, as less of a human being and more of a fascism-blocking levee—died. And the statement dictated to her granddaughter (“My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed”) amplified the din.
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Altogether, this just reminds me, again, that we (Black people) are expected to carry this weight because white people are too reliably bad at American citizenship—either too racist or too inert to prevent their friends and family members from being too racist—to be trusted with it. So we must vote because 90 percent of us can be trusted to hold our noses and make a republic-saving decision, while 55 percent of white voters can’t. Perhaps my math ain’t mathing right, but I think Trump loses if just 5.2 out of 10 white voters were white supremacists instead of 5.5.
So yeah, we need to vote and shit—and we will—but this is on white people. The millions of white people who prefer the preservation of whiteness’ status to their own livelihoods. And the millions of white people who allowed—either through apathy or vanity or sheer uselessness—the other millions to be that way. And this includes the white people so distraught over Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death. Imagine how peacefully that woman could’ve died if the energy and bandwidth and money exhausted being sad and mad today was spent being less racist yesterday.


theroot--2020-09-21--New York Attorney General Changes Body Camera Policy Following Daniel Prude's Death

The New York attorney general has made a significant change to the state ’ s body camera policy in the wake of how Daniel Prude ’ s death was handled .
NBC News reports that state Attorney General Letitia James announced on Sunday that local law enforcement agencies will no longer determine when body camera footage is released in cases where police shoot unarmed people .
James said her office will be more “ proactive ” in releasing body camera footage in an effort to make investigations more transparent .
“ This process has caused confusion , delays and has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be as open as possible , ” she said .
James added that her office ’ s special prosecutions unit will begin releasing video after the victim ’ s relatives have seen it , a policy that immediately goes into effect .
This change comes following the controversy that ensued from how the Rochester Police Department handled the death of Daniel Prude .
In March , Prude ’ s family called the police for help as Prude was behaving erratically .
When they arrived , Prude was walking through the streets naked .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rochester Police handcuffed Prude , placed a spit hood over his head , and an officer held his knee on Prude ’ s back for over three minutes until Prude stopped breathing .
Prude was placed on life support and eventually died a week later .
Video of the incident wasn ’ t released until Sept. 4 , almost six months after Prude had died .
The Rochester Police Department has come under increased scrutiny for the moves it made to suppress the release of the footage .
Records show that in June @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the ongoing protests surrounding the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor , saying there would be “ violent blowback ” should the footage be released in the “ current climate.
” “ We certainly do not want people to misinterpret the officers ’ actions and conflate this incident with any recent killings of unarmed black men by law enforcement nationally , ” Simmons wrote in an email to former Police Chief La ’ Ron Singletary .
Singletary ’ s actions in particular received significant backlash .
Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s death , telling the Mayor that Prude died from a drug overdose .
Singletary was set to retire at the end of the month but he was fired by the Mayor last week following an investigation by the deputy mayor .
Warren said that the investigation revealed “ a pervasive problem , ” in the Rochester Police Department .
“ It shows that Mr. Prude ’ s death was not taken as seriously as it should have been by those who reviewed the case throughout city government and at every level @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month , James announced that she had impaneled a grand jury to investigate Prude ’ s death .

The New York attorney general has made a significant change to the state’s body camera policy in the wake of how Daniel Prude’s death was handled.
NBC News reports that state Attorney General Letitia James announced on Sunday that local law enforcement agencies will no longer determine when body camera footage is released in cases where police shoot unarmed people. James said her office will be more “proactive” in releasing body camera footage in an effort to make investigations more transparent.
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“This process has caused confusion, delays and has hampered transparency in a system that should be as open as possible,” she said. James added that her office’s special prosecutions unit will begin releasing video after the victim’s relatives have seen it, a policy that immediately goes into effect.
This change comes following the controversy that ensued from how the Rochester Police Department handled the death of Daniel Prude. In March, Prude’s family called the police for help as Prude was behaving erratically. When they arrived, Prude was walking through the streets naked. During the course of the altercation, Rochester Police handcuffed Prude, placed a spit hood over his head, and an officer held his knee on Prude’s back for over three minutes until Prude stopped breathing. Prude was placed on life support and eventually died a week later.
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Video of the incident wasn’t released until Sept. 4, almost six months after Prude had died. The Rochester Police Department has come under increased scrutiny for the moves it made to suppress the release of the footage. Records show that in June, Deputy Chief Mark Simmons made reference to the ongoing protests surrounding the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, saying there would be “violent blowback” should the footage be released in the “current climate.”
“We certainly do not want people to misinterpret the officers’ actions and conflate this incident with any recent killings of unarmed black men by law enforcement nationally,” Simmons wrote in an email to former Police Chief La’Ron Singletary.
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Singletary’s actions in particular received significant backlash. Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren said that Singletary downplayed the circumstances regarding Prude’s death, telling the Mayor that Prude died from a drug overdose. Singletary was set to retire at the end of the month but he was fired by the Mayor last week following an investigation by the deputy mayor.
Warren said that the investigation revealed “a pervasive problem,” in the Rochester Police Department. “It shows that Mr. Prude’s death was not taken as seriously as it should have been by those who reviewed the case throughout city government and at every level,” she said.
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Earlier this month, James announced that she had impaneled a grand jury to investigate Prude’s death.


theroot--2020-09-21--Work From Home In Bed With 17% off an Adjustable Laptop Stand

Remember those mornings you didn ’ t want to get out of bed for work ?
Well , if you @ @ @ @ @ no longer have to compromise , and this AmazonBasics laptop table makes it easy .
@ @ @ @ @ a 17 % discount , you ’ re given adjustability in both height and angle @ @ @ @ @ back and tap away on the keyboard in your favorite posture .

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

AmazonBasics Laptop Table | $36 | Amazon
Remember those mornings you didn’t want to get out of bed for work? Well, if you work from home, you no longer have to compromise, and this AmazonBasics laptop table makes it easy. Down to $36 after a 17% discount, you’re given adjustability in both height and angle, allowing you to sit back and tap away on the keyboard in your favorite posture.


theroot--2020-09-21--Artist Denys Cowan Talks Static Shock and the Return of Milestone Media

Denys Cowan is a true legend of the comic book game .
He was one of the original founders of Milestone Media , the legendary ‘ 90s comic imprint that birthed heroes like Hardware , Icon and Static , and it was announced earlier this year that Cowan , along with writer and 72nd Annual Emmy Awards director Reginald Hudlin would be bringing back the Milestone Media imprint to DC Comics .
The Root was lucky enough to sit down with Cowan to discuss the recently released zero issue for DC FanDome , how the characters have changed for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s most enjoyed about Milestone ’ s return .
The Root : I read the zero issue you guys put out for FanDome and man , I thought I couldn ’ t be more excited for the return of Milestone but I was wrong .
Denys Cowan : Really ?
Thank you .
We were nervous [ about ] how people were going to respond to that issue .
Especially me ; I was like , “ It ’ s been so long , we ’ ve been promising so much for so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
” So far , the response has been very positive so we ’ ve been pleased .
TR : Is the new Milestone going to be set in its own separate world or is it going to interact with the larger DC Universe in any way ?
DC : I think right now , it ’ s going to be the Dakota universe .
The Milestone universe that we occupied before , it ’ s still the same .
So it ’ s going to be a pretty self-contained universe .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s going to be many visits from DC characters as themselves , you know ?
Like Superman drops in or Batman drops into Dakota , I don ’ t think that ’ s going to happen .
Maybe some version of them might but that remains to be seen .
Right now there are no plans , it ’ s a self-contained universe .
TR : Are the new comics going to take place in the old continuity or is this a whole new interpretation of Dakota ?
DC : I think it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We ’ re introducing some new characters and by introducing some new characters we ’ re introducing some new environments within Dakota and people associated with those characters so it ’ s kinda like a new thing .
We ’ ll also be addressing some of the loose plot threads that were left hanging all those years ago .
Some of the continuity will pick up depending on the characters we ’ re talking about .
So there ’ s definitely a throughline of continuity .
Whether it ’ ll all be like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ picking up right where we left off !
” it ’ s not gon na be quite like that .
But there will be enough for people to be like “ Damn , that was dope !
I remember that !
” TR : That ’ s really cool !
As you ’ ve been working on these characters , how have they changed at all for the new generation ?
On e thing I really want to know is how you guys are going to handle Icon .
His big thing was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ considering the direction that party has taken— DC : Some of the characters , like Static , got a slight tweak to his origin .
Instead of a gang fight , it was a Black Lives Matter protest that all these kids were gathered at that sparked a confrontation .
We tweaked it that way to make it more relatable to people today .
As far as Icon is concerned , I believe he is still a conservative .
Even in the age of crazy acting political parties .
A true conservative is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conservative wants to conserve .
That ’ s what conservative means .
It doesn ’ t mean racist or anything else , it means to conserve .
I don ’ t have any problem with Icon remaining a conservative in his political outlook as long as he remains true to his own principles .
What balances him out and what the book was always about , was Rocket .
Like ideally the book should ’ ve been called Rocket and Icon because the whole story is told from her point of view , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he ’ s thinking , we only see what he does and what he says , but we always are inside her head .
She kinda directs what goes on with the book and she balances him out in a great way .
It ’ s always been about the dynamic between those two .
Her activism and his conservatism are what compliment each other .
It provides that friction and that thing that makes that book work , too .
TR : What are some of the issues and themes you ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Milestone ?
DC : If we ’ re not talking about the things that are happening today in society amongst African Americans , people of color , amongst all people , then we ’ re not doing what we ’ re supposed to be doing .
If we ’ re talking about just the standard superhero fights and the supervillain of the month , well , there ’ s plenty of comics that do that .
We ’ ll give you that , but we ’ ll also give you a bit more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a texture , a little bit more of an environment that you ’ re familiar with , that ’ s real to you , with these fantastic elements thrown in .
Our mission remains the same as it was years ago , perhaps even more so now .
That ’ s to bring characters and creators of color and multicultural talents together and make world-class entertainment .
Stuff that makes you think and also keeps you engaged .
TR : What was it like realizing Milestone was really coming back this time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enthusiasm , fully like let ’ s do this for the third or fourth time we ’ re ramping up to do it but also like , you know , anything can go wrong .
Hopefully , there won ’ t be any more lawsuits or something could trip us up .
And then it was the DC implosion that tripped us up and we went “ Oh my god , everything just changed at DC Comics , are we going to be changed along with it ?
” As it turns out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s support in what we ’ re doing .
We had Jim Lee ’ s support and the people at DC , Michael Shelling and all the people that have been helping us out .
Reggie and I are very pumped that DC is doing it and are fully committed .
I think it ’ s all things in its time , too .
If Milestone came back in 2013 or whenever we talked about this , it was a different time than now .
Now is when we ’ re really needed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , now it feels like a necessity .
TR : I was also thinking that .
It ’ s awful times but it ’ s weirdly the best time for Milestone to come back .
TR : What have you enjoyed most about working on these characters and returning to this world ?
DC : You know , I ’ ve enjoyed the whole process .
I ’ ve enjoyed all the creative conversations , I ’ ve enjoyed talking to different writers and artists about what we want to do .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve gotten from friends of mine and different people .
I ’ ve enjoyed the enthusiasm .
I ’ ve enjoyed all the people sending in all their headshots to play Static .
All the music producers who hit me up like “ I got the perfect soundtrack !
” It ’ s been incredible .
I ’ ve enjoyed drawing the material that I ’ ve drawn so far .
It ’ s been a trip because it ’ s really revisting stuff that you did a long time ago .
What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ created , with my partners , a lot of these characters and I certainly designed mostly all of them , drawing them again has been a trip because I don ’ t remember how to draw these characters after 30 years !
I ’ ve been doing other things .
So it ’ s been a process of relearning how to do these characters , looking at not necessarily my old work but by looking at what other people have done .
I ’ m like “ okay , ” *squints eyes* “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Icon , alright.
” And then I can do it which is a bizarre experience .
DC : It ’ s interesting , it ’ s interesting .
These 30 year gaps , it ’ s not like riding a bicycle .
Some people are “ Yeah , I just got back on it was nothing , ” no , it was something .
It was like , “ damn !
” Milestone Media will make its triumphant return early next year .
In the lead up to its arrival , the back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expected to gradually arrive on digital platforms .
I , for one , can not wait to see what surprises Cowan , Hudlin and the team at Milestone have in store for us .

Denys Cowan is a true legend of the comic book game. He was one of the original founders of Milestone Media, the legendary ‘90s comic imprint that birthed heroes like Hardware, Icon and Static, and it was announced earlier this year that Cowan, along with writer and 72nd Annual Emmy Awards director Reginald Hudlin would be bringing back the Milestone Media imprint to DC Comics.
The Root was lucky enough to sit down with Cowan to discuss the recently released zero issue for DC FanDome, how the characters have changed for the modern era, and what he’s most enjoyed about Milestone’s return.
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The Root: I read the zero issue you guys put out for FanDome and man, I thought I couldn’t be more excited for the return of Milestone but I was wrong.
Denys Cowan: Really? Thank you. We were nervous [ about] how people were going to respond to that issue. Especially me; I was like, “It’s been so long, we’ve been promising so much for so long. Will they even like it?” So far, the response has been very positive so we’ve been pleased.
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TR: Is the new Milestone going to be set in its own separate world or is it going to interact with the larger DC Universe in any way?
DC: I think right now, it’s going to be the Dakota universe. The Milestone universe that we occupied before, it’s still the same. So it’s going to be a pretty self-contained universe. I don’t know if there’s going to be many visits from DC characters as themselves, you know? Like Superman drops in or Batman drops into Dakota, I don’t think that’s going to happen. Maybe some version of them might but that remains to be seen. Right now there are no plans, it’s a self-contained universe.
Advertisement
TR: Are the new comics going to take place in the old continuity or is this a whole new interpretation of Dakota?
DC: I think it’s a mixture of both. We’re introducing some new characters and by introducing some new characters we’re introducing some new environments within Dakota and people associated with those characters so it’s kinda like a new thing. We’ll also be addressing some of the loose plot threads that were left hanging all those years ago. Some of the continuity will pick up depending on the characters we’re talking about.
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So there’s definitely a throughline of continuity. Whether it’ll all be like “from day 1 we’re picking up right where we left off!” it’s not gonna be quite like that. But there will be enough for people to be like “Damn, that was dope! I remember that!”
TR: That’s really cool! As you’ve been working on these characters, how have they changed at all for the new generation? On e thing I really want to know is how you guys are going to handle Icon. His big thing was that he was a conservative hero and considering the direction that party has taken—
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DC: Interesting, right?
TR: Yeah!
DC: Some of the characters, like Static, got a slight tweak to his origin. Instead of a gang fight, it was a Black Lives Matter protest that all these kids were gathered at that sparked a confrontation. We tweaked it that way to make it more relatable to people today.
Advertisement
As far as Icon is concerned, I believe he is still a conservative. Even in the age of crazy acting political parties. A true conservative is not a crazy Republican, a true conservative wants to conserve. That’s what conservative means. It doesn’t mean racist or anything else, it means to conserve. I don’t have any problem with Icon remaining a conservative in his political outlook as long as he remains true to his own principles.
What balances him out and what the book was always about, was Rocket. Like ideally the book should’ve been called Rocket and Icon because the whole story is told from her point of view, not his. We never know what he’s thinking, we only see what he does and what he says, but we always are inside her head.
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She kinda directs what goes on with the book and she balances him out in a great way. It’s always been about the dynamic between those two. Her activism and his conservatism are what compliment each other. It provides that friction and that thing that makes that book work, too.
TR: What are some of the issues and themes you’re looking to explore with this new Milestone?
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DC: If we’re not talking about the things that are happening today in society amongst African Americans, people of color, amongst all people, then we’re not doing what we’re supposed to be doing. If we’re talking about just the standard superhero fights and the supervillain of the month, well, there’s plenty of comics that do that. We’ll give you that, but we’ll also give you a bit more than that. A little bit more of a texture, a little bit more of an environment that you’re familiar with, that’s real to you, with these fantastic elements thrown in.
Our mission remains the same as it was years ago, perhaps even more so now. That’s to bring characters and creators of color and multicultural talents together and make world-class entertainment. Stuff that makes you think and also keeps you engaged.
Advertisement
TR: What was it like realizing Milestone was really coming back this time?
DC: Cautious optimism. Full enthusiasm, fully like let’s do this for the third or fourth time we’re ramping up to do it but also like, you know, anything can go wrong. Hopefully, there won’t be any more lawsuits or something could trip us up. And then it was the DC implosion that tripped us up and we went “Oh my god, everything just changed at DC Comics, are we going to be changed along with it?”
Advertisement
As it turns out, fortunately, we had DC’s support in what we’re doing. We had Jim Lee’s support and the people at DC, Michael Shelling and all the people that have been helping us out. Reggie and I are very pumped that DC is doing it and are fully committed.
I think it’s all things in its time, too. If Milestone came back in 2013 or whenever we talked about this, it was a different time than now. Now is when we’re really needed. Before it was a nostalgia trip, now it feels like a necessity.
Advertisement
TR: I was also thinking that. It’s awful times but it’s weirdly the best time for Milestone to come back.
DC: Yup, yup.
TR: What have you enjoyed most about working on these characters and returning to this world?
Advertisement
DC: You know, I’ve enjoyed the whole process. I’ve enjoyed all the creative conversations, I’ve enjoyed talking to different writers and artists about what we want to do. I’ve enjoyed the pitches I’ve gotten from friends of mine and different people. I’ve enjoyed the enthusiasm. I’ve enjoyed all the people sending in all their headshots to play Static. All the music producers who hit me up like “I got the perfect soundtrack!” It’s been incredible.
I’ve enjoyed drawing the material that I’ve drawn so far. It’s been a trip because it’s really revisting stuff that you did a long time ago. What I found is that even though I created, with my partners, a lot of these characters and I certainly designed mostly all of them, drawing them again has been a trip because I don’t remember how to draw these characters after 30 years! I’ve been doing other things. So it’s been a process of relearning how to do these characters, looking at not necessarily my old work but by looking at what other people have done.
Advertisement
I’m like “okay,” *squints eyes* “So that’s how you draw Icon, alright.” And then I can do it which is a bizarre experience.
TR: I never thought about that.
DC: It’s interesting, it’s interesting. These 30 year gaps, it’s not like riding a bicycle. Some people are “Yeah, I just got back on it was nothing,” no, it was something. It was like, “damn!”
Advertisement
Milestone Media will make its triumphant return early next year. In the lead up to its arrival, the back issues of the old Milestone comics are expected to gradually arrive on digital platforms. I, for one, cannot wait to see what surprises Cowan, Hudlin and the team at Milestone have in store for us.


theroot--2020-09-21--New York City, Portland, Ore., and Seattle Declared 'Anarchist Jurisdictions' by Department of Justi

New York City, Portland, Ore., and Seattle Declared 'Anarchist Jurisdictions' by Department of Justice

The United States Department of Justice has declared New York City , Portland , Ore. , and Seattle “ anarchist jurisdictions , ” setting the stage for federal funds to be withheld from those locales until they comply with the wishes of Donald Trump .
NBC New York reports the Justice Department cited “ New York City ’ s rising gun violence , cuts to the NYPD ’ s budget , and moves by various district attorneys not to prosecute charges related to protests earlier this summer ” as reasons for the designation .
Protests erupted across the country in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the hands of Minneapolis police officers .
Floyd ’ s death is one of many cited in a long line of what many see as the extrajudicial killing of unarmed Black people at the hands of police .
His death came on the heels of national attention highlighting the death of Breonna Taylor , an EMT in Louisville , Ky. , who was killed in her home when police officers attempted to serve a no-knock warrant on a person who no longer resided there and was already in custody .
The DOJ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump on Sept. 2 that specifically named NYC , Portland and Seattle as cities that were “ permitting anarchy , violence and destruction in American cities.
” “ It is the policy and purpose of the United States Government to protect the lives and property of all people in the United States from unlawful acts of violence and destruction , ” Trump “ wrote ” in the memo .
“ Without law and order , democracy can not function .
Americans can not exercise their rights , including their rights to peaceful expression @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is destroyed , and innocent citizens are injured or killed.
” It ’ s weird that there is none of this concern when sports teams lose and angry ( white ) fans tear up cities , burn cars and generally act a fool over a score in a ball game .
It ’ s odd that it ’ s only when people protest the senseless killing of unarmed Black people who pose no threat that the “ president ” sees this as a necessary action .
The memo goes on to state that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contributed to the violence and destruction in their jurisdictions by failing to enforce the law , disempowering and significantly defunding their police departments , and refusing to accept offers of Federal law enforcement assistance.
” The memo goes on to directly cite the July protests in both Seattle and Portland as well as protests that took place in NYC during May and June as examples of said “ anarchy.
” Yes .
People exercising their First Amendment rights is anarchy .
Never mind that many of the so-called rioters were outliers not directly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occurred .
Nevermind that the vast majority of protests over the summer were peaceful .
This memo is basically a threat to cities and states that they will lose federal funding if they do not comply with Trump ’ s wishes and “ control their darkies , ” so to speak , or else .
For his part , Evil John Goodman , aka right-wing Fred Flinstone , toed the company line and justified his actions by saying in a statement , “ We can not allow federal tax dollars to be wasted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the balance .
It is my hope that the cities identified by the Department of Justice today will reverse course and become serious about performing the basic function of government and start protecting their own citizens.
” I guess it doesn ’ t matter when people are literally protesting and begging to protect the citizenry from unhinged police officers .
Bill de Blasio , who Senior Editor Stephen A. Crockett Jr. keeps reminding me has a Black son named Dante , pushed back on the decision Monday , saying , “ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I saw peace , tranquility , I saw people going about their business , people excited that it ’ s the first day of school – I saw anything but anarchy .
This is just another one of President Trump ’ s games .
It ’ s insulting to the people of New York City and his effort to withhold our funding is unconstitutional.
” Both the city and the state of New York have threatened to sue the government over the “ anarchist jurisdiction ” designation .

The United States Department of Justice has declared New York City, Portland, Ore., and Seattle “anarchist jurisdictions,” setting the stage for federal funds to be withheld from those locales until they comply with the wishes of Donald Trump.
NBC New York reports the Justice Department cited “New York City’s rising gun violence, cuts to the NYPD’s budget, and moves by various district attorneys not to prosecute charges related to protests earlier this summer” as reasons for the designation.
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Protests erupted across the country in response to the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officers. Floyd’s death is one of many cited in a long line of what many see as the extrajudicial killing of unarmed Black people at the hands of police. His death came on the heels of national attention highlighting the death of Breonna Taylor, an EMT in Louisville, Ky., who was killed in her home when police officers attempted to serve a no-knock warrant on a person who no longer resided there and was already in custody.
The DOJ is following a memo put out by Trump on Sept. 2 that specifically named NYC, Portland and Seattle as cities that were “permitting anarchy, violence and destruction in American cities.”
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“It is the policy and purpose of the United States Government to protect the lives and property of all people in the United States from unlawful acts of violence and destruction,” Trump “wrote” in the memo. “Without law and order, democracy cannot function. Americans cannot exercise their rights, including their rights to peaceful expression, assembly, and protest. Property is destroyed, and innocent citizens are injured or killed.”
It’s weird that there is none of this concern when sports teams lose and angry (white) fans tear up cities, burn cars and generally act a fool over a score in a ball game. It’s odd that it’s only when people protest the senseless killing of unarmed Black people who pose no threat that the “president” sees this as a necessary action.
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The memo goes on to state that “several State and local governments have contributed to the violence and destruction in their jurisdictions by failing to enforce the law, disempowering and significantly defunding their police departments, and refusing to accept offers of Federal law enforcement assistance.”
Hmm.
The memo goes on to directly cite the July protests in both Seattle and Portland as well as protests that took place in NYC during May and June as examples of said “anarchy.”
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Yes. People exercising their First Amendment rights is anarchy. Never mind that many of the so-called rioters were outliers not directly tied to the many peaceful protests that occurred. Nevermind that the vast majority of protests over the summer were peaceful. This memo is basically a threat to cities and states that they will lose federal funding if they do not comply with Trump’s wishes and “control their darkies,” so to speak, or else.
For his part, Evil John Goodman, aka right-wing Fred Flinstone, toed the company line and justified his actions by saying in a statement, “We cannot allow federal tax dollars to be wasted when the safety of the citizenry hangs in the balance. It is my hope that the cities identified by the Department of Justice today will reverse course and become serious about performing the basic function of government and start protecting their own citizens.”
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I guess it doesn’t matter when people are literally protesting and begging to protect the citizenry from unhinged police officers.
Bill de Blasio, who Senior Editor Stephen A. Crockett Jr. keeps reminding me has a Black son named Dante, pushed back on the decision Monday, saying, “I was out in Elmhurst Queens this morning, I saw peace, tranquility, I saw people going about their business, people excited that it’s the first day of school – I saw anything but anarchy. This is just another one of President Trump’s games. It’s insulting to the people of New York City and his effort to withhold our funding is unconstitutional.”
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Both the city and the state of New York have threatened to sue the government over the “anarchist jurisdiction” designation.


theroot--2020-09-22--Amazon’s Durable, Content-Packed Fire HD Kids Tablets Are $50 off

No , it ’ s not an iPad—but Amazon really does right by parents with its Fire HD Kids Edition tablets .
As you ’ ll see from the image , they ’ re wrapped in a thick rubber shell/convertible stand that helps protect it from dings and drops .
Still , kids will find a way to break almost anything , and Amazon is ready there too .
Each Kids Edition tablet has a 2-year worry-free guarantee , so if your child still manages to bust the thing , you ’ ve got a free replacement coming .
Amazon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of games , apps , books , and streaming services available , and the Kids Edition comes with the handy bonus of a year ’ s subscription to Amazon FreeTime Unlimited .
The gated-off service provides a wealth of kid-friendly content within a colorful launcher , and then you can choose whether or not to pay monthly once the year is done .
Right now , Amazon is knocking $ 50 off the 8 ” tablet and ditto for the 10 ” tablet , making it an ideal time to bring one ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into your family .
Grab ‘ em in blue , purple , and pink .
This deal was originally published by Andrew Hayward in July 2020 and updated by Quentyn Kennemer with new information on 9/22/2020 .

Andrew Hayward on Kinja Deals, shared by Gabe Carey to The Root

Amazon Fire 7 Kids Edition Tablet | $70 | Amazon
Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Pro Edition Tablet | $70 | Amazon
Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro Edition Tablet | $140 | Amazon
No, it’s not an iPad—but Amazon does right by parents with its Fire Kids Edition tablets. And they’re all on sale right now. As you’ll see from the image, they’re wrapped in a thick rubber shell/convertible stand that helps protect them from dings and drops. Still, kids will find a way to break almost anything, and Amazon is ready there too. Each Kids Edition tablet has a 2-year worry-free guarantee, so if your child still manages to bust the thing, you’ve got a free replacement coming. Right now, Amazon is knocking $40 off the 7" tablet, $70 off the 8” HD tablet, or $60 off the 10" HD tablet making it an ideal time to bring one (or more) of these durable devices into your family. Grab ‘em in multiple colors.
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This deal was originally published by Andrew Hayward in July 2020 and updated by Joe Tilleli with new information on 08/17/2022.


theroot--2020-09-22--David McAtee's Family Sues National Guard and Louisville Metro Police Over Shooting

The family of David McAtee , the 53-year-old restaurant owner who was shot and killed by a National Guardsman in Louisville , Ky. , during a June protest , has filed a lawsuit against the National Guard and Louisville Metro Police .
According to the Courier-Journal , attorneys for the family believe that an overuse of force and several protocol violations made by officers and soldiers directly resulted in McAtee ’ s death .
The suit comes a week after the Louisville Metro Government settled a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Breonna Taylor ’ s family for $ 12 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attorney representing the family , has said that a lack of information provided to the family , such as the guard ’ s role , policies , and chain of command that night , was partially responsible for the suit .
The plaintiffs are McAtee ’ s 85-year-old mother Odessa Riley and his niece Maychelle McAtee , who was working alongside McAtee in the restaurant when he was shot and killed .
The family is seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages due to wrongful death , assault on David and Maychelle McAtee , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emotional distress .
According to Jean Porter , a spokeswoman for Mayor Greg Fischer , the lawsuit is still being reviewed by city officials .
“ As the mayor has said before , David McAtee was a friend to many , and his death was a tragedy , ” Porter said .
Kentucky Gov .
Andy Beshear did not comment on the lawsuit and the National Guard did not immediately respond to the Courier Journal ’ s request for comment .
Last month , a state official leading a Beshear-sanctioned joint Kentucky State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that it was “ substantially complete ” and had been sent to the Commonwealth Attorney ’ s Office for review , but that the case isn ’ t closed .
J. Michael Brown , Beshear ’ s Executive Cabinet secretary , also said there ’ s nothing to suggest a significant difference between the findings and what had been preliminarily determined by police based on surveillance video : The shots fired at McAtee were justified .
“ This investigation has been comprehensive and includes more than 170 interviews , KSP lab reports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Brown said in August .
The FBI is also conducting a separate investigation that ’ s not completed .
On the night of June 1 , McAtee was at his restaurant preparing food for some friends and family members .
His home and restaurant were located across from Dino ’ s Food Mart , where LMPD officers and the National Guard were dispatched to disperse a crowd .
While there were reports of protests erupting into violence in different parts of the city , there weren ’ t any coming from 26th @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 .
“ As we said repeatedly , the administration seems to continue to sell this lie that there was some sort of unrest at 26th and Broadway , ” Romines told the Courier Journal .
Surveillance footage of the area shows that there were no real protests or crowds that night and of the 20 or so people seen on LMPD ’ s street camera footage , the majority of them were patronizing the food mart .
In the complaint , Romines says that neither David nor Maychelle were aware of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ street at Dino ’ s .
LMPD Officer Katie Crews could be seen in surveillance footage taking a different route to the restaurant than her colleagues .
She began to fire pepper balls , chemical and projectile weapons meant to disperse the crowd , sending several people rushing into McAtee ’ s restaurant .
Crews is then seen walking up to the property line of McAtee ’ s restaurant and firing pepper balls , including inside the kitchen .
Footage shows there was no crowd outside to be dispersed so it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ From inside the kitchen , Maychelle McAtee and David McAtee did not know that the persons firing ( pepper balls ) at the restaurant were law enforcement officers , ” the complaint reads .
As McAtee tried to investigate what was going on , nonlethal projectiles went off near the door of the restaurant , filling the restaurant with smoke and others went off in the kitchen , hitting Maychelle as she stood next to David .
He then fired two shots before the guard , Officer Crews and Officer Austin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with one of them striking McAtee in the chest , killing him .
Body camera footage of the shooting is unavailable as the officers had turned them off during the incident .
This resulted in Mayor Fischer firing then Police Chief Steve Conrad and making body cameras mandatory at all times for LMPD officers .
The complaint lists a number of protocol violations allegedly committed by LMPD and the National Guard during the lead up to the shooting .
Ultimately , the complaint concluded a failure to follow established protocol was the “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s injuries and McAtee ’ s death .

The family of David McAtee, the 53-year-old restaurant owner who was shot and killed by a National Guardsman in Louisville, Ky., during a June protest, has filed a lawsuit against the National Guard and Louisville Metro Police.
According to the Courier-Journal, attorneys for the family believe that an overuse of force and several protocol violations made by officers and soldiers directly resulted in McAtee’s death. The suit comes a week after the Louisville Metro Government settled a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Breonna Taylor’s family for $12 million.
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Steve Romines, the civil rights attorney representing the family, has said that a lack of information provided to the family, such as the guard’s role, policies, and chain of command that night, was partially responsible for the suit. The plaintiffs are McAtee’s 85-year-old mother Odessa Riley and his niece Maychelle McAtee, who was working alongside McAtee in the restaurant when he was shot and killed.
The family is seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages due to wrongful death, assault on David and Maychelle McAtee, excessive use of force, negligence and emotional distress. According to Jean Porter, a spokeswoman for Mayor Greg Fischer, the lawsuit is still being reviewed by city officials. “As the mayor has said before, David McAtee was a friend to many, and his death was a tragedy,” Porter said.
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Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear did not comment on the lawsuit and the National Guard did not immediately respond to the Courier Journal’s request for comment.
From Courier Journal:
Last month, a state official leading a Beshear-sanctioned joint Kentucky State Police investigation into McAtee’s death said that it was “substantially complete”and had been sent to the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office for review, but that the case isn’t closed. The investigation hasn’t been publicly released. J. Michael Brown, Beshear’s Executive Cabinet secretary, also said there’s nothing to suggest a significant difference between the findings and what had been preliminarily determined by police based on surveillance video: The shots fired at McAtee were justified. “This investigation has been comprehensive and includes more than 170 interviews, KSP lab reports and information obtained from federal agencies,” Brown said in August. The FBI is also conducting a separate investigation that’s not completed.
On the night of June 1, McAtee was at his restaurant preparing food for some friends and family members. His home and restaurant were located across from Dino’s Food Mart, where LMPD officers and the National Guard were dispatched to disperse a crowd. While there were reports of protests erupting into violence in different parts of the city, there weren’t any coming from 26th and Broadway on the night of June 1.
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“As we said repeatedly, the administration seems to continue to sell this lie that there was some sort of unrest at 26th and Broadway,” Romines told the Courier Journal.
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Surveillance footage of the area shows that there were no real protests or crowds that night and of the 20 or so people seen on LMPD’s street camera footage, the majority of them were patronizing the food mart.
In the complaint, Romines says that neither David nor Maychelle were aware of the “ raid” being conducted across the street at Dino’s. LMPD Officer Katie Crews could be seen in surveillance footage taking a different route to the restaurant than her colleagues. She began to fire pepper balls, chemical and projectile weapons meant to disperse the crowd, sending several people rushing into McAtee’s restaurant.
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Crews is then seen walking up to the property line of McAtee’s restaurant and firing pepper balls, including inside the kitchen. Footage shows there was no crowd outside to be dispersed so it’s not clear why Crews was doing this.
“From inside the kitchen, Maychelle McAtee and David McAtee did not know that the persons firing (pepper balls) at the restaurant were law enforcement officers,” the complaint reads.
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As McAtee tried to investigate what was going on, nonlethal projectiles went off near the door of the restaurant, filling the restaurant with smoke and others went off in the kitchen, hitting Maychelle as she stood next to David. He then fired two shots before the guard, Officer Crews and Officer Austin Allen fired 19 shots in return, with one of them striking McAtee in the chest, killing him.
Body camera footage of the shooting is unavailable as the officers had turned them off during the incident. This resulted in Mayor Fischer firing then Police Chief Steve Conrad and making body cameras mandatory at all times for LMPD officers. The complaint lists a number of protocol violations allegedly committed by LMPD and the National Guard during the lead up to the shooting.
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From Courier Journal:
Officers are supposed to identify themselves by name and rank, issue a dispersal order, give people a reasonable amount of time to disperse and warn people before the use of any chemical agent, of which “the defendants did none of.” Officers are also required to fire pepper balls at the ground, not at people, the complaint says. Maychelle was hit in the thigh, shoulder and neck. When Crews was firing into the restaurant door, “no individual had used any force toward any law enforcement officer,” the complaint says. The complaint also says Kentucky National Guard soldiers didn’t receive proper command, instruction, equipment or training from local officials before assignment to the streets of Louisville. The chain of command for each “group” of soldiers wasn’t clear, and they were “not to make arrests or fire their weapons without proper instruction from their commanding officers,” Romines says in the complaint.
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Ultimately, the complaint concluded a failure to follow established protocol was the “direct and proximate” reason for Maychelle’s injuries and McAtee’s death.


theroot--2020-09-22--Super-Absorbent Huckberry Onsen Bath Towels Are 15% off Right Now

Huckberry is offering 15 % off of its premium onsen bath towels .
This brings a two bath towel set @ @ @ @ @ bath bundles ( which also include face and hand towels ) for $ 133 .
@ @ @ @ @ at first glance to some , but these specially-designed towels are so absorbent that not @ @ @ @ @ quickly , the towels will also dry promptly afterward .
According to many of the @ @ @ @ @ helps the towels remain mildew-resistant and odor-free .
This means you can comfortably re-use the @ @ @ @ @ towels before washing , saving time , money , and the environment with reduced laundry @ @ @ @ @ was originally published by Elizabeth Lanier on 9/19/2020 and updated by Gabe Carey with new @ @ @ @

Elizabeth Lanier on Kinja Deals, shared by Gabe Carey to The Root

Huckberry Onsen Bath Towel Sets | $85- 133 | Huckberry
Huckberry is offering 15% off of its premium onsen bath towels. This brings a two bath towel set down to $85 and bath bundles (which also include face and hand towels) for $133. The price may seem steep at first glance to some, but these specially-designed towels are so absorbent that not only can you dry off quickly, the towels will also dry promptly afterward. According to many of the reviews, this feature also helps the towels remain mildew-resistant and odor-free.
This means you can comfortably re-use the towels more often than standard towels before washing, saving time, money, and the environment with reduced laundry loads— win-win-win.
This deal was originally published by Elizabeth Lanier on 9/19/2020 and updated by Gabe Carey with new information on 9/22/2020.


theroot--2020-09-22--California City Announces $4 Million Settlement in Case of Mentally Ill Black Man Shot by Police

On Friday , the city of Walnut Creek , Calif. , announced a $ 4 million settlement in the federal lawsuit filed by the family of Miles Hall , a 23-year-old Black man fatally shot by the police while suffering a mental health crisis .
CNN reports that on June 2 of last year , Walnut Creek Police received multiple calls regarding Miles Hall threatening family members and wandering through his neighborhood with a metal pry bar .
Four of the five people who called 911 that day had told dispatchers that Hall suffered from mental health issues .
When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out on the street with a red bandana on his face and the metal bar still in his hand .
Security camera footage shows Hall running towards the police officers after they call his name .
After several bean bag rounds failed to stop Hall , two officers opened fire with their weapons .
Hall died after being taken to a local hospital .
An investigation by the district attorney into the shooting is expected to be completed by the end of the year .
Hall ’ s mother , Taun , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the police long before this incident .
She hoped that informing them that her son had mental health issues but had never been violent would stop a situation like this from happening .
“ People still need the police , we still need them to help and answer calls , ” Hall told CNN .
“ But I mean , is it worth it when it could result in the death of your child ?
I say no.
” “ The police were aware that Miles was mentally impaired , ” John Burris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CNN .
“ The family was engaged with the police to protect their son from being shot and killed by the police .
But point of fact is , the very thing they were protecting from actually happened.
” Walnut Creek p olice released a video shortly after Hall had died saying that they had previously responded to multiple calls involving M iles Hall .
Hall had “ no significant criminal history and the majority of these incidents were handled as mental health issues and not criminally prosecuted , ” Walnut Creek P @ @ @ @ @ @ @ video .
Hall ’ s death has inspired city leaders to find a new solution for what responses to mental health crises look like , with county leaders currently working on a non-law enforcement program to handle non-violent mental health incidents .
In a statement released alongside the settlement , the city revealed that it allocated $ 600,000 towards diversity and implicit bias training programs for officers and city employees , as well as the formation of a Diversity and Inclusion Task Force .
Taun Hall said that while the settlement doesn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does allow the family to focus on the work they ’ re doing through the Miles Hall Foundation , which is fighting to reform responses to mental health emergencies .
“ Money is not going to give us peace , it ’ s not going to give us satisfaction , ” Taun Hall told reporters at a news conference .
“ Justice will be when we are able to have a non-police response for the mentally ill , at least here to start in Contra Costa County .
And then , it could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ”

On Friday, the city of Walnut Creek, Calif., announced a $4 million settlement in the federal lawsuit filed by the family of Miles Hall, a 23-year-old Black man fatally shot by the police while suffering a mental health crisis.
CNN reports that on June 2 of last year, Walnut Creek Police received multiple calls regarding Miles Hall threatening family members and wandering through his neighborhood with a metal pry bar. Four of the five people who called 911 that day had told dispatchers that Hall suffered from mental health issues.
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When officers arrived at the scene Hall was out on the street with a red bandana on his face and the metal bar still in his hand. Security camera footage shows Hall running towards the police officers after they call his name. After several bean bag rounds failed to stop Hall, two officers opened fire with their weapons.
Hall died after being taken to a local hospital. An investigation by the district attorney into the shooting is expected to be completed by the end of the year. Hall’s mother, Taun, said that she had been in contact with the police long before this incident. She hoped that informing them that her son had mental health issues but had never been violent would stop a situation like this from happening.
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“People still need the police, we still need them to help and answer calls,” Hall told CNN. “But I mean, is it worth it when it could result in the death of your child? I say no.”
“The police were aware that Miles was mentally impaired,” John Burris, the Hall family attorney, told CNN. “The family was engaged with the police to protect their son from being shot and killed by the police. But point of fact is, the very thing they were protecting from actually happened.”
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Walnut Creek p olice released a video shortly after Hall had died saying that they had previously responded to multiple calls involving M iles Hall. Hall had “no significant criminal history and the majority of these incidents were handled as mental health issues and not criminally prosecuted,” Walnut Creek P olice Lt. Tracie Reese said in the video.
Hall’s death has inspired city leaders to find a new solution for what responses to mental health crises look like, with county leaders currently working on a non-law enforcement program to handle non-violent mental health incidents. In a statement released alongside the settlement, the city revealed that it allocated $600,000 towards diversity and implicit bias training programs for officers and city employees, as well as the formation of a Diversity and Inclusion Task Force.
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Taun Hall said that while the settlement doesn’t mean justice for Miles, it does allow the family to focus on the work they’re doing through the Miles Hall Foundation, which is fighting to reform responses to mental health emergencies.
“Money is not going to give us peace, it’s not going to give us satisfaction,” Taun Hall told reporters at a news conference. “Justice will be when we are able to have a non-police response for the mentally ill, at least here to start in Contra Costa County. And then, it could be something... throughout the nation.”


theroot--2020-09-22--Black Athena: How Hades Gets Its Gods Right

I love Hades .
It ’ s a great roguelike , has a cleverly-crafted story , and is stuffed with beautiful art and design .
But what I like most about it is its commitment to diversity among its characters .
Hades ’ pantheon of Greek gods is diverse .
Athena is a dark-skinned Black woman .
Dionysus is south Asian .
Hermes is east Asian .
Eurydice , my favorite , is a Black woman crowned with a beautiful afro made from the branches and canopy of a tree .
Yet when I highlighted this wealth of people of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I was told by a commenter that “ Greek mythological heroes and POC does [ sic ] not fit together.
” Though completely ahistorical , a lot of video games featuring these myths seem to believe the same , at least in terms of their design .
When I think about other games featuring gods and heroes—God of War for example—those worlds are overwhelmingly white-passing .
I ’ m not really looking for a diverse cast in that series ( even though I personally think of Kratos as Black—no doubt assisted by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Carson and Christopher Judge . )
I ’ ve been Black all of my life and a gamer for most of it , and I ’ ve seen for myself that few games are made with diverse representation in mind .
That sucks , but I accept it .
Likewise , though it is a bitter and disappointing pill , I accept when games that don ’ t have to feature an all- white cast of characters do .
I ’ m also pretty excited when they break that trend .
Greg Kasavin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , told me that Hades ’ diversity was the result of an epiphany during the game ’ s development .
“ We knew going into Hades that we wanted this to be the story of a big dysfunctional family set in the Underworld of Greek myth , told from the Underworld ’ s point of view , ” he wrote in an email .
“ As we discussed and researched the Olympians from canon sources , something stood out that in retrospect was obvious : They ’ re called the Greek gods because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not because they themselves are ethnically Greek.
” In other words , they didn ’ t all have to be Greek , or even white-passing for that matter .
Greece sits in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea .
Through trade and war , ancient Greeks came into contact with all sorts of ethnically diverse people , with Africa to the south and Asia to the east .
Cultures blended , as did religions and families .
What made you Greek depended on where you came from , not your color .
Besides @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Zeus rules all the heavens , not just the airspace over Greece , ” Kasavin wrote .
“ Poseidon rules all the sea and land .
They sprang from the Titans , who sprang from primordial Chaos , the source of all creation .
So it stands to reason that the gods represent all the people of the world , at least indirectly.
” To say this statement shocked me with it s simplicity , is an understatement .
More like it smote my heart like a thunderbolt hurled from Zeus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ’ s where you choose to invest your belief , are for everyone .
It reminds me of the slogan I ’ ve seen Norse Pagans adopting to combat the homophobia and white supremacy that have sprung up around their religion .
“ It ’ s the All-Father , not the some-Father.
” While I don ’ t know that I wouldn ’ t have played Hades if it had a monochromatic cast , I do know my enthusiasm for it would be much less .
Hades ’ design represents imagination not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ historical accuracy ” and it is the most fervent wish of my heart that more game makers understand this .
Supergiant rightly understood that this game is based in fantasy—there are no rules stating how it should represent their characters .
Plus , what sense does it make to bind a game about gods to rules , anyway ?
In a game where it would have been perfectly acceptable , if not expected , for everyone to pass as white , Hades decided not to limit how limitless gods could be portrayed .

Ash Parrish on Kotaku, shared by Monique Judge to The Root

I love Hades. It’s a great roguelike, has a cleverly-crafted story, and is stuffed with beautiful art and design. But what I like most about it is its commitment to diversity among its characters.
Hades’ pantheon of Greek gods is diverse. Athena is a dark-skinned Black woman. Dionysus is south Asian. Hermes is east Asian. Eurydice, my favorite, is a Black woman crowned with a beautiful afro made from the branches and canopy of a tree.
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Yet when I highlighted this wealth of people of color in my gushing over Hades, I was told by a commenter that “Greek mythological heroes and POC does [sic] not fit together.” Though completely ahistorical, a lot of video games featuring these myths seem to believe the same, at least in terms of their design.
When I think about other games featuring gods and heroes—God of War for example—those worlds are overwhelmingly white-passing. I’m not really looking for a diverse cast in that series (even though I personally think of Kratos as Black—no doubt assisted by the talented voice work of both Terrence C. Carson and Christopher Judge.) I’ve been Black all of my life and a gamer for most of it, and I’ve seen for myself that few games are made with diverse representation in mind. That sucks, but I accept it. Likewise, though it is a bitter and disappointing pill, I accept when games that don’t have to feature an all- white cast of characters do. I’m also pretty excited when they break that trend.
Advertisement Advertisement
Greg Kasavin, the creative director of Supergiant Games, told me that Hades’ diversity was the result of an epiphany during the game’s development.
Advertisement
“We knew going into Hades that we wanted this to be the story of a big dysfunctional family set in the Underworld of Greek myth, told from the Underworld’s point of view,” he wrote in an email. “As we discussed and researched the Olympians from canon sources, something stood out that in retrospect was obvious: They’re called the Greek gods because they were worshiped in ancient Greece, not because they themselves are ethnically Greek.” In other words, they didn’t all have to be Greek, or even white-passing for that matter.
Greece sits in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. Through trade and war, ancient Greeks came into contact with all sorts of ethnically diverse people, with Africa to the south and Asia to the east. Cultures blended, as did religions and families. What made you Greek depended on where you came from, not your color. Besides, we are talking about literal gods.
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“Zeus rules all the heavens, not just the airspace over Greece,” Kasavin wrote. “Poseidon rules all the sea and land. They sprang from the Titans, who sprang from primordial Chaos, the source of all creation. So it stands to reason that the gods represent all the people of the world, at least indirectly.”
Advertisement
To say this statement shocked me with it s simplicity, is an understatement. More like it smote my heart like a thunderbolt hurled from Zeus’ own hand. Gods, if that’s where you choose to invest your belief, are for everyone. It reminds me of the slogan I’ve seen Norse Pagans adopting to combat the homophobia and white supremacy that have sprung up around their religion. “It’s the All-Father, not the some-Father.”
While I don’t know that I wouldn’t have played Hades if it had a monochromatic cast, I do know my enthusiasm for it would be much less. Hades’ design represents imagination not bound to the flawed concept of “ historical accuracy” and it is the most fervent wish of my heart that more game makers understand this. Supergiant rightly understood that this game is based in fantasy—there are no rules stating how it should represent their characters. Plus, what sense does it make to bind a game about gods to rules, anyway? In a game where it would have been perfectly acceptable, if not expected, for everyone to pass as white, Hades decided not to limit how limitless gods could be portrayed.