theroot--2020-10-02--Warner Bros. Is Producing a Feature Film Based on a Comic Where Only Black Folks Have Superpowers

Shhh , don ’ t tell Terry Crews , but I think a Black supremacist comic just got acquired by a major movie studio .
Seriously , according to Deadline , Warner Bros. will be adapting a feature film based on Black , a comic written and created by Kwanza Osajyefo and Tim Smith 3 .
Here ’ s the kicker—the comic is set in “ a universe where only Black people have superpowers beyond what the world believes is possible.
” Osajyefo and Smith 3 will also serve as producers on the film .
Sounds like Black supremacy to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ... tell me more !
Actually , Deadline does tell us more : Bryan Edward Hill , who is a producer on DC ’ s Titans , wrote the script .
The story centers on one young man who survives a violent event and realizes that he is part of these extraordinary people , but a secret consortium wants to control these abilities and those who possess them , and he soon finds himself at the center of a war over the future of mankind itself .
“ Part of the inspiration for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of representation in comics publishing and how that directly relates to the scarceness of black characters , ” Osajyefo , who came up with the concept for the comic over a decade ago , said in a statement .
“ For most of comics ’ history , white outcasts have been used as allegories for marginalized groups while claiming to reflect the world outside our window .
Black strips away this veneer to juxtapose superpowers with race while allowing black people to see ourselves authentically in media and inviting wider audiences into parts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ excited to bring this story to everyone through film , and thankful to Studio 8 for believing in it.
” There ’ s no director attached yet , but this would be a super huge opportunity for an up-and-comer .
If we ’ re thinking existing directors , maybe Ryan Coogler ( assuming he could be pulled away from his Marvel obligations ) , F. Gary Gray , Gina Prince Bythewood , Ava DuVernay or Dee Rees would be dope .
We ’ ll see !

Shhh, don’t tell Terry Crews, but I think a Black supremacist comic just got acquired by a major movie studio.
Seriously, according to Deadline, Warner Bros. will be adapting a feature film based on Black, a comic written and created by Kwanza Osajyefo and Tim Smith 3. Here’s the kicker—the comic is set in “a universe where only Black people have superpowers beyond what the world believes is possible.” Osajyefo and Smith 3 will also serve as producers on the film.
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Sounds like Black supremacy to me!! I’m intrigued...tell me more!
Actually, Deadline does tell us more:
Bryan Edward Hill, who is a producer on DC’s Titans, wrote the script. The story centers on one young man who survives a violent event and realizes that he is part of these extraordinary people, but a secret consortium wants to control these abilities and those who possess them, and he soon finds himself at the center of a war over the future of mankind itself.
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“Part of the inspiration for Black came from my experiencing the lack of representation in comics publishing and how that directly relates to the scarceness of black characters,” Osajyefo, who came up with the concept for the comic over a decade ago, said in a statement. “For most of comics’ history, white outcasts have been used as allegories for marginalized groups while claiming to reflect the world outside our window. Black strips away this veneer to juxtapose superpowers with race while allowing black people to see ourselves authentically in media and inviting wider audiences into parts of our experience. We’re excited to bring this story to everyone through film, and thankful to Studio 8 for believing in it.”
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There’s no director attached yet, but this would be a super huge opportunity for an up-and-comer. If we’re thinking existing directors, maybe Ryan Coogler (assuming he could be pulled away from his Marvel obligations), F. Gary Gray, Gina Prince Bythewood, Ava DuVernay or Dee Rees would be dope. We’ll see!


theroot--2020-10-02--LeBron Reveals the Secret Ingredient to the Lakers' Success—and May Have Clapped Black at Kyrie Irvi

LeBron Reveals the Secret Ingredient to the Lakers' Success—and May Have Clapped Black at Kyrie Irving in the Process

LeBron James is only three wins away from his fourth NBA championship .
And at nearly 36-years-old , he ’ s far too successful and experienced with media manipulation to entertain nonsense .
This is a valuable lesson that Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva , a professional hypocrite , learned when he came for King James in Septemeber and got his ass embarrassed .
It ’ s also a lesson that LeBron ’ s former teammate , Kyrie Irving , is learning after he seemingly threw shade at King James earlier this week .
As we previously reported at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he ’ d trust to shoot with 10 seconds left on the clock .
He responded with the following praise for new teammate Kevin Durant : “ This is the first time in my career I can look down and be like that motherfucker can make that shot , too.
” The entire free world is acutely aware that Kyrie is full of shit .
But LeBron , whose mutant power is media savvy , predictably didn ’ t take the bait .
Instead , while speaking to the media on Thursday after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrong reasons , the four-time NBA MVP explained exactly how the Lakers are busting the entire league ’ s ass without breaking a sweat—and may have included a subtle rebuttal to Kyrie ’ s assertions .
“ We ’ re not jealous of each other .
I think that ’ s the best thing , ” LeBron explained .
“ In professional sports , you have guys that join forces—you can call them alpha males .
That ’ s what they call them .
Two guys that have been dominant in a specific @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and they get together and they talk about how dominant they can be and they talk about this is going to be this and that .
I believe jealousy creeps in a lot .
And that is the absolute contrary of what we are .
“ We know who we are .
We know what we ’ re about .
We want the best , seriously , every single day , both on and off the floor , for one another .
We ’ re just not jealous of one another .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I think the sky ’ s the limit.
” Now , whether or not Kyrie was ever jealous of LeBron is up to the Duke product to divulge himself .
But Kyrie did admit in 2019 that he finally called LeBron to apologize for being immature as hell during their three seasons together .
“ I had to call ‘ Bron , and tell him I apologize for being that young player that wanted everything at his fingertips , ” Irving said at the time .
“ I wanted to be the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I wanted to be the leader .
I wanted to be all that.
” Take from that what you will .
For his part , Kyrie took to Twitter on Thursday to downplay any perceived slights at LeBron or any other current or former teammates .
“ Come on , y ’ all , don ’ t listen to the false narratives , ” he said .
“ Let people live their lives .
It ’ s just a game .
Talk about the art , talk about the sport , you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But , because we live in a clickbait society , it becomes something bigger .
You don ’ t have to defend it , that ’ s just what media is .
It ’ s entertainment .
I ’ m not gon na let it put me against anybody anymore at any point , because that ’ s not what it is about.
” Considering Kyrie can ’ t even wash dishes without missing 3-to-6 weeks with an elbow strain , let ’ s hope they have the opportunity to settle this on @ @ @ @ @

LeBron James is only three wins away from his fourth NBA championship.
And at nearly 36-years-old, he’s far too successful and experienced with media manipulation to entertain nonsense. This is a valuable lesson that Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva, a professional hypocrite, learned when he came for King James in Septemeber and got his ass embarrassed.
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It’s also a lesson that LeBron’s former teammate, Kyrie Irving, is learning after he seemingly threw shade at King James earlier this week. As we previously reported at The Root, Kyrie was asked who he’d trust to shoot with 10 seconds left on the clock. He bold-faced lied responded with the following praise for new teammate Kevin Durant: “This is the first time in my career I can look down and be like that motherfucker can make that shot, too.”
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The entire free world is acutely aware that Kyrie is full of shit. But LeBron, whose mutant power is media savvy, predictably didn’t take the bait. Instead, while speaking to the media on Thursday after Kyrie had gone viral for all the wrong reasons, the four-time NBA MVP explained exactly how the Lakers are busting the entire league’s ass without breaking a sweat—and may have included a subtle rebuttal to Kyrie’s assertions.
“We’re not jealous of each other. I think that’s the best thing,” LeBron explained. “In professional sports, you have guys that join forces—you can call them alpha males. That’s what they call them. Two guys that have been dominant in a specific sport on their own respective teams, and they get together and they talk about how dominant they can be and they talk about this is going to be this and that. I believe jealousy creeps in a lot. And that is the absolute contrary of what we are.
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“We know who we are. We know what we’re about. We want the best, seriously, every single day, both on and off the floor, for one another. We’re just not jealous of one another. I think that you align that with respect, I think the sky’s the limit.”
You hear that, Kyrie?
Now, whether or not Kyrie was ever jealous of LeBron is up to the Duke product to divulge himself. But Kyrie did admit in 2019 that he finally called LeBron to apologize for being immature as hell during their three seasons together.
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“I had to call ‘Bron, and tell him I apologize for being that young player that wanted everything at his fingertips,” Irving said at the time. “I wanted to be the guy that led us to a championship. I wanted to be the leader. I wanted to be all that.”
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Take from that what you will.
For his part, Kyrie took to Twitter on Thursday to downplay any perceived slights at LeBron or any other current or former teammates.
Advertisement
“Come on, y’all, don’t listen to the false narratives,” he said. “Let people live their lives. It’s just a game. Talk about the art, talk about the sport, you talk openly, you talk freely. But, because we live in a clickbait society, it becomes something bigger. You don’t have to defend it, that’s just what media is. It’s entertainment. I’m not gonna let it put me against anybody anymore at any point, because that’s not what it is about.”
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Considering Kyrie can’t even wash dishes without missing 3-to-6 weeks with an elbow strain, let’s hope they have the opportunity to settle this on the court next season.


theroot--2020-10-02--The 10 Best Deals of October 2, 2020

The 10 Best Deals of October 2, 2020

It ’ s October 2 , and we at Kinja Deals have decided that quarantine has been challenging enough .
It ’ s time to treat yourself !
Buy that new pair of headphones to cancel out the sound of your roommates .
Light a Yankee Candle , and find your zen .
Maybe even pretend you ’ re as savage ( *wink ) as Bad Gal Riri for the day .
And if you ’ re still craving more deals , check out Friday ’ s best deals of the day .
As I expressed in an earlier Co-op @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for my first cordless vacuum .
So while I can ’ t vouch for the Dyson V7 Origin myself , hearsay suggests it ’ s one of the better options out there ( let me know what you think in the comments ) , and Dyson generally makes high-quality products which makes this deal hard to ignore : Newegg is selling the Dyson V7 Fluffy Cordless Vacuum for $ 200 .
This deal was originally published by Gabe Carey .
The JBL brand has been associated with quality sound for several decades , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they have their own AirPods-like true wireless earbuds these days .
And at just $ 70 right now , a discount of $ 30 from the list price , the new JBL Tune 125TWS earbuds are sure to be a compelling option for fans—or anyone looking for a wallet-friendly alternative to Apple ’ s ubiquitous buds .
Amazon has them in stock in black , blue , and white right now , each promising heavy bass , 8 hours of battery life for the buds themselves , 32 hours of reserve charging available @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of included eartips to ensure a snug fit .
This article was originally published by Andrew Hayward .
If you ’ re still looking for a webcam for all that Zooming you ’ ve been forced into , Aukey has one pretty cheap .
It ’ s down to $ 50 on standard discount , and with a clipped coupon , the total plummets even further to $ 36 .
This webcam delivers up to 1080p resolution on a 1/29 '' CMOS sensor with a 65-degree viewing angle , which isn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a benefit for those with background anxiety .
Plus , there ’ s a noise-busting microphone built-in if you don ’ t fancy a separate one .
This deal was originally published by Quentyn Kennemer .
We love some Rihanna here at Kinja so when this Savage x Fenty Sale appeared we rejoiced .
Twenty-six pieces from the multitalented singer are 30 % off today only in this Amazon Gold Box deal .
Plenty of bras , bralettes , and panties to choose from .
Silky , lace , and cotton there are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rihanna intended when she started the company back in 2017 .
This lingerie brand had been a darling among fans the world over and it ’ s easy to see why in both design and quality .
There are pieces as low as $ 12 and you can easily make a set with the offerings .
Or maybe finally buy that bodysuit ( $ 42 ) you ’ ve been thinking about .
Free shipping on all these pieces for Prime members .
This deal was originally published by Sheilah Villari .
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether the noise about the ultrawide revolution is warranted , today ’ s a good chance to score a quality monitor on the cheap to decide for yourself .
Amazon has a 34 '' Acer Nitro monitor with all the works for $ 441 ( $ 59 off ) .
Though the size reads massive on paper , the monitor ’ s ultrawide aspect ratio gives it a height equivalent to a 27 '' 16:9 monitor .
With WQHD resolution ( 3440x1440 ) , you ’ ll have a sharp picture while gaming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an LG ultrawide : something like this is a must-have for multitasking work .
This one features a 1500R curve with VA panels for superior viewing angles , has AMD FreeSync support , 1ms response time , a 144Hz refresh rate , and HDR400 support , which won ’ t blow you away compared to 10-bit HDR , but it ’ s better than nothing .
The monitor also has great color reproduction in general , according to reviews .
Amazon has a solid return policy , so give it a fair try @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was originally published by Quentyn Kennemer .
We ’ ve all done it , burnt popcorn .
Microwaves are all so sensitive when it comes to the movie theater treat .
Trying to figure the perfect time to not ruin the bag or fill your house with one of the most awful smells that lingers for hours .
Well , Ecolution wants to put your mind at ease and give you the perfect batch every time .
Today take 15 % off this Popcorn Popper .
Only the red snack-size pot is on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ colors is available just for more money .
With this popper , you get to use fresh kernels each time so you avoid the bagged option which is usually packed with chemicals and sodium .
The borosilicate glass bowl is dishwasher safe so easy to clean after each use .
The lid is even designed to place a pad of butter on top so it will melt through little holes down ontop the popcorn for an even coating of margarine goodness .
This little pot will elevate your next film marathon or Netflix @ @ @ @ @ @ @ published by Sheilah Villari .
Active noise canceling , which helps block out external noise , has long been a feature exclusive to the most premium of headphones .
Lately , however , we ’ re seeing the tech creep down to more affordable options , and these Boltune cans are a key example .
Right now , you can snag Boltune ’ s hybrid active noise canceling wireless headphones for just $ 35 at Amazon when you clip the coupon on the page , shaving $ 20 off the list price .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 30 hours of battery life per charge and deep bass feedback .
And while you might think that the price tag signals so-so quality , the 4.5-star rating from more than 1,600 customer reviews suggests that they ’ re very stellar for the price .
This deal was originally published by Andrew Hayward .
If you ’ ve been looking for a way to take your temperature ( or anyone else ’ s ) without touching , you should look into Thikpo infrared forehead thermometer .
It measures the heat coming off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ best possible reading .
You can also test objects like water , milk , and has a high-temperature alarm so you ’ ll definitely know if you have a fever .
It ’ s only $ 26 , which is about 35 % off the original list price .
I would grab it before it ’ s gone .
This deal was originally published by Ignacia Fulcher .
I saw this lovingly I good candle for fall is essential at the beginning of the season .
Now that the best month of them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to officially break out everything pumpkin .
Yankee Candle has basically been the mall standard of giant quality candles for years .
Even now seeing one these on sale is pretty great .
Take $ 11 off the scent of the season right now .
Fill your home with the fragrance we wait all year for .
The pumpkin spice lattes , pies baking , the pumpkin patch , anything that conjures all those wonderful memories are connected to this wonderful scent .
Combined with spices of clove , nutmeg , and cinnamon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you not immediately fall in love with it .
These big boy candles burn for about 150 hours and the glass jar is 100 % recyclable if you don ’ t use it again in your own way .
This is the autumn home good you were waiting for , be honest .
This deal was originally published by Sheilah Villari .
If you ’ re stuck between Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa , the second-generation Sonos One comes with both built-in so you don ’ t have to choose right away .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ sounds great .
In a 2018 showdown , Gizmodo ranked it among the best sounding smart speakers , praising it for its well-balanced sound capable of filling a room .
Marry that to the two best voice assistants on the market , and you ’ ve got a pretty unbeatable combo .
Speaking of combos , you can pair a couple of these speakers together for maximum tuneage .
If you need a speaker that ’ s as good for controlling your lights and answering trivia as it is for shuffling through your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Google Home Max .
At $ 300 , it ’ s not cheap , but for you ’ re money you ’ re getting the smartest voice assistant available .
You can speak to the assistant from any Google device , like an Android phone or a Chromebook .
If you want to control your music while you ’ re strutting about your apartment during your regularly scheduled weekend deep clean , this is the way to do it .
And since the Home Max can get pretty loud , it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to shout just to change tracks .
Although , this speaker is quite bass-heavy , if that ’ s a concern .
This deal was originally published by Jordan McMahon .

Juliana Clark on Kinja Deals, shared by Ignacia to The Root

Friday’s Best Deals | Kinja Deals
It’s October 2, and we at Kinja Deals have decided that quarantine has been challenging enough. It’s time to treat yourself!
Buy that new pair of headphones to cancel out the sound of your roommates. Light a Yankee Candle, and find your zen. Maybe even pretend you’re as savage (*wink) as Bad Gal Riri for the day.
And if you’re still craving more deals, check out Friday’s best deals of the day.
#1: Dyson v7 fluffy cordless vacuum
As I expressed in an earlier Co-op, I’m on the prowl for my first cordless vacuum. So while I can’t vouch for the Dyson V7 Origin myself, hearsay suggests it’s one of the better options out there (let me know what you think in the comments), and Dyson generally makes high-quality products which makes this deal hard to ignore: Newegg is selling the Dyson V7 Fluffy Cordless Vacuum for $200.
This deal was originally published by Gabe Carey.
#2: Jbl tune 125TWS Wireless earbuds
The JBL brand has been associated with quality sound for several decades, and like most other gadget makers, they have their own AirPods-like true wireless earbuds these days.
And at just $70 right now, a discount of $30 from the list price, the new JBL Tune 125TWS earbuds are sure to be a compelling option for fans—or anyone looking for a wallet-friendly alternative to Apple’s ubiquitous buds.
Amazon has them in stock in black, blue, and white right now, each promising heavy bass, 8 hours of battery life for the buds themselves, 32 hours of reserve charging available in the case, and three sizes of included eartips to ensure a snug fit.
This article was originally published by Andrew Hayward.
#3: aukey 1080p webcam
If you’re still looking for a webcam for all that Zooming you’ve been forced into, Aukey has one pretty cheap. It’s down to $50 on standard discount, and with a clipped coupon, the total plummets even further to $36. This webcam delivers up to 1080p resolution on a 1/29" CMOS sensor with a 65-degree viewing angle, which isn’t terribly wide, but that may be a benefit for those with background anxiety. Plus, there’s a noise-busting microphone built-in if you don’t fancy a separate one.
This deal was originally published by Quentyn Kennemer.
#4: savage x fenty gold box
We love some Rihanna here at Kinja so when this Savage x Fenty Sale appeared we rejoiced. Twenty-six pieces from the multitalented singer are 30% off today only in this Amazon Gold Box deal. Plenty of bras, bralettes, and panties to choose from. Silky, lace, and cotton there are styles for all preferences and shapes as Rihanna intended when she started the company back in 2017. This lingerie brand had been a darling among fans the world over and it’s easy to see why in both design and quality. There are pieces as low as $12 and you can easily make a set with the offerings. Or maybe finally buy that bodysuit ($42) you’ve been thinking about.
Free shipping on all these pieces for Prime members.
This deal was originally published by Sheilah Villari.
#5: acer 34" ultrawide gaming monitor
If you’ve been curious to see whether the noise about the ultrawide revolution is warranted, today’s a good chance to score a quality monitor on the cheap to decide for yourself. Amazon has a 34" Acer Nitro monitor with all the works for $441 ($59 off). Though the size reads massive on paper, the monitor’s ultrawide aspect ratio gives it a height equivalent to a 27" 16:9 monitor.
With WQHD resolution (3440x1440), you’ll have a sharp picture while gaming, and take it from someone with an LG ultrawide: something like this is a must-have for multitasking work. This one features a 1500R curve with VA panels for superior viewing angles, has AMD FreeSync support, 1ms response time, a 144Hz refresh rate, and HDR400 support, which won’t blow you away compared to 10-bit HDR, but it’s better than nothing. The monitor also has great color reproduction in general, according to reviews. Amazon has a solid return policy, so give it a fair try before the deal expires.
This deal was originally published by Quentyn Kennemer.
#6: Micro-pop popcorn popper
We’ve all done it, burnt popcorn. Microwaves are all so sensitive when it comes to the movie theater treat. Trying to figure the perfect time to not ruin the bag or fill your house with one of the most awful smells that lingers for hours. Well, Ecolution wants to put your mind at ease and give you the perfect batch every time. Today take 15% off this Popcorn Popper.
Only the red snack-size pot is on sale although a family size in three colors is available just for more money. With this popper, you get to use fresh kernels each time so you avoid the bagged option which is usually packed with chemicals and sodium. The borosilicate glass bowl is dishwasher safe so easy to clean after each use. The lid is even designed to place a pad of butter on top so it will melt through little holes down ontop the popcorn for an even coating of margarine goodness. This little pot will elevate your next film marathon or Netflix binge session.
Free one-day shipping for Prime members.
This deal was originally published by Sheilah Villari.
#7: boltune noise canceling headphones
Active noise canceling, which helps block out external noise, has long been a feature exclusive to the most premium of headphones. Lately, however, we’re seeing the tech creep down to more affordable options, and these Boltune cans are a key example.
Right now, you can snag Boltune’s hybrid active noise canceling wireless headphones for just $35 at Amazon when you clip the coupon on the page, shaving $20 off the list price. These cushy-looking Bluetooth 5.0 headphones promise up to 30 hours of battery life per charge and deep bass feedback. And while you might think that the price tag signals so-so quality, the 4.5-star rating from more than 1,600 customer reviews suggests that they’re very stellar for the price.
This deal was originally published by Andrew Hayward.
#8: thikpo Infarred thermometer
If you’ve been looking for a way to take your temperature (or anyone else’s) without touching, you should look into Thikpo infrared forehead thermometer. It measures the heat coming off you in about a second for the best possible reading. You can also test objects like water, milk, and has a high-temperature alarm so you’ll definitely know if you have a fever. It’s only $26, which is about 35% off the original list price. I would grab it before it’s gone.
This deal was originally published by Ignacia Fulcher.
#9: Yankee candle SPICED PUMPKIN
I saw this lovingly I good candle for fall is essential at the beginning of the season. Now that the best month of them all is here it’s time to officially break out everything pumpkin. Yankee Candle has basically been the mall standard of giant quality candles for years. Even now seeing one these on sale is pretty great. Take $11 off the scent of the season right now.
Fill your home with the fragrance we wait all year for. The pumpkin spice lattes, pies baking, the pumpkin patch, anything that conjures all those wonderful memories are connected to this wonderful scent. Combined with spices of clove, nutmeg, and cinnamon and sweetened with brown sugar how could you not immediately fall in love with it. These big boy candles burn for about 150 hours and the glass jar is 100% recyclable if you don’t use it again in your own way. This is the autumn home good you were waiting for, be honest.
Prime members enjoy free shipping on this item.
This deal was originally published by Sheilah Villari.
#10: Best smart speakers
If you’re stuck between Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, the second-generation Sonos One comes with both built-in so you don’t have to choose right away. On top of that, it also sounds great. In a 2018 showdown, Gizmodo ranked it among the best sounding smart speakers, praising it for its well-balanced sound capable of filling a room. Marry that to the two best voice assistants on the market, and you’ve got a pretty unbeatable combo. Speaking of combos, you can pair a couple of these speakers together for maximum tuneage.
If you need a speaker that’s as good for controlling your lights and answering trivia as it is for shuffling through your favorite playlists, you should buy a Google Home Max. At $300, it’s not cheap, but for you’re money you’re getting the smartest voice assistant available. You can speak to the assistant from any Google device, like an Android phone or a Chromebook. If you want to control your music while you’re strutting about your apartment during your regularly scheduled weekend deep clean, this is the way to do it. And since the Home Max can get pretty loud, it’s good to know you won’t have to shout just to change tracks. Although, this speaker is quite bass-heavy, if that’s a concern.
This deal was originally published by Jordan McMahon.


theroot--2020-10-02--White People Have Recovered 60 Percent of the Jobs They Lost During This Recession. For Black Folks,

White People Have Recovered 60 Percent of the Jobs They Lost During This Recession. For Black Folks, That Number Is Far Lower

Earlier this year , protests to “ open the economy ” saw disproportionate amounts of white people flocking to the streets , many of them sans masks , to push back against measures local and state governments had taken to control the spread of the novel coronavirus .
Now , as parts of the economy have opened up in recent months , data shows it has also recovered more quickly for white people than everyone else .
In a piece published earlier this week , the Washington Post declared the pandemic recession the “ most unequal ” in modern U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claim , particularly because the United States has seen the same patterns of inequality—racial disparities , especially—come up during economic downturns .
But the data backs it up .
Mining data from the Department of Labor , the Post reports that about half of the employment lost between February and April has since recovered .
But race , gender and age have defined who has experienced that recovery .
While white Americans have recovered more than half of the jobs they lost during the pandemic , Americans identifying as Hispanic saw the steepest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demographic at the beginning of the recession , and have more ground to cover than other groups in order to get back to where they were before the pandemic .
Black Americans , meanwhile , have recovered just a third of the employment lost at the start of the recession .
And while women have been hit harder this recession than in past downturns ( a new report from The 19th noted that 865,000 women left the workforce in September alone ) , Black women have been left furthest behind in the recovery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months , white women have recovered 61 percent of the jobs they lost ( the highest of any demographic group , the Post notes ) , but Black women have gained back just 34 percent of the jobs they had pre-pandemic .
That figure was the lowest of all demographic groups , the Post noted .
But the rates weren ’ t much better for Black men , who have recovered slightly less than 40 percent of the jobs they ’ ve lost .
“ We know from history that Black folks ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of that is because their actual losses don ’ t peak till after the recession , ” Rebecca Dixon , executive director of the National Employment Law Project ( NELP ) , told The Root earlier this year .
But it ’ s important to keep in mind that even in “ good ” economic times , Black Americans experience higher rates of unemployment than white people .
Dixon has described the American job market as a “ Jim Crow labor market ” specifically because of the clear patterns of segregation one encounters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Black people are often in the lowest-paid jobs , the dirtiest jobs , the most dangerous jobs in our labor market .
And that ’ s been true across history , ” Dixon said .
“ Their labor is often undervalued and their jobs are more precarious than the jobs of their peers.
” During this recession , Black people are not only more likely to be unemployed , but are less likely to get unemployment benefits , a recent ProPublica article found .
This , too , is consistent with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the last recession that the Black workers are often the first fired , ” Dixon told The Root in March .
“ They are less likely to receive unemployment insurance benefits .
And it ’ s unclear whether it ’ s because they weren ’ t eligible or because they were discouraged from applying.
” Also suffering disproportionately from this recession are young Americans .
As the Post notes , people ages 20 to 24 experienced the greatest job losses of any group “ by far ” when businesses began shuttering .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how young people are overrepresented in the service industry , particularly retail and restaurant jobs that went away for months during the pandemic .
Even though young folks have recovered about half of the jobs lost , there ’ s still a deficit of 2 million jobs for college-age workers and recent graduates .
And once again , the Post reports , out of all young folks , young Black Americans have been left the furthest behind .

Earlier this year, protests to “open the economy” saw disproportionate amounts of white people flocking to the streets, many of them sans masks, to push back against measures local and state governments had taken to control the spread of the novel coronavirus. Now, as parts of the economy have opened up in recent months, data shows it has also recovered more quickly for white people than everyone else.
In a piece published earlier this week, the Washington Post declared the pandemic recession the “most unequal” in modern U.S. history. It’s a bold claim, particularly because the United States has seen the same patterns of inequality—racial disparities, especially—come up during economic downturns. But the data backs it up.
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Mining data from the Department of Labor, the Post reports that about half of the employment lost between February and April has since recovered. But race, gender and age have defined who has experienced that recovery.
While white Americans have recovered more than half of the jobs they lost during the pandemic, Americans identifying as Hispanic saw the steepest drops in employment out of any other demographic at the beginning of the recession, and have more ground to cover than other groups in order to get back to where they were before the pandemic.
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Black Americans, meanwhile, have recovered just a third of the employment lost at the start of the recession. And while women have been hit harder this recession than in past downturns (a new report from The 19th noted that 865,000 women left the workforce in September alone), Black women have been left furthest behind in the recovery thus far.
Over the last several months, white women have recovered 61 percent of the jobs they lost (the highest of any demographic group, the Post notes), but Black women have gained back just 34 percent of the jobs they had pre-pandemic. That figure was the lowest of all demographic groups, the Post noted.
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But the rates weren’t much better for Black men, who have recovered slightly less than 40 percent of the jobs they’ve lost.
“We know from history that Black folks’ recovery always took longer. And some of that is because their actual losses don’t peak till after the recession,” Rebecca Dixon, executive director of the National Employment Law Project (NELP), told The Root earlier this year.
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But it’s important to keep in mind that even in “good” economic times, Black Americans experience higher rates of unemployment than white people. Dixon has described the American job market as a “Jim Crow labor market” specifically because of the clear patterns of segregation one encounters when looking at wage or job data.
“Black people are often in the lowest-paid jobs, the dirtiest jobs, the most dangerous jobs in our labor market. And that’s been true across history,” Dixon said. “Their labor is often undervalued and their jobs are more precarious than the jobs of their peers.”
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During this recession, Black people are not only more likely to be unemployed, but are less likely to get unemployment benefits, a recent ProPublica article found. This, too, is consistent with past recessions.
“We know from the last recession that the Black workers are often the first fired,” Dixon told The Root in March. “They are less likely to receive unemployment insurance benefits. And it’s unclear whether it’s because they weren’t eligible or because they were discouraged from applying.”
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Also suffering disproportionately from this recession are young Americans. As the Post notes, people ages 20 to 24 experienced the greatest job losses of any group “by far” when businesses began shuttering. This isn’t necessarily surprising, considering how young people are overrepresented in the service industry, particularly retail and restaurant jobs that went away for months during the pandemic. Even though young folks have recovered about half of the jobs lost, there’s still a deficit of 2 million jobs for college-age workers and recent graduates.
And once again, the Post reports, out of all young folks, young Black Americans have been left the furthest behind.


theroot--2020-10-01--Get 124.8oz of Hand Sanitizer for Just $29, You Know You'll Use It All

Even if we weren ’ t in the midst of a global pandemic keeping your hands clean should just be standard .
But given where we currently are it ’ s probably not a bad idea to have a few bottles of hand sanitizer around .
Bellapierre Hand Sanitizer has two different options available today .
Grab the 6 -pack ( 10.4oz bottles ) for $ 19 , 12-pack ( 10.4oz bottles ) or the 24-pack ( 3.3oz ) both for $ 29 .
I live in a pretty big apartment with two floors a roommate and two dogs .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ every room .
So the 12-pack would be great for a situation like that .
If you ’ ve got a big household or are out a lot I ’ d recommend the 24-pack .
Those ones are travel size bottles easy to toss in a bag or keep in your car .
Plus you can share with your family .
Bellapierre ’ s formula has vitamin E and aloe so your hands won ’ t dry out , which is always a big concern with sanitizer in general .
It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your chance of spreading gross bacteria that leads to sickness and disease so kind of worth the smell .
If you ’ ve read a few of our pieces on SideDeal before and you like what you ’ ve seen they offer a $ 5 monthly fee to get free shipping on all of your orders no matter how many .
Otherwise , it ’ s a flat rate of $ 8 .

Sheilah Villari on Kinja Deals, shared by Jordan McMahon to The Root

Bellapierre Hand Sanitizer (12-pack or 24-pack) | $10-$15 | SideDeal
Even if we weren’t in the midst of a global pandemic, keeping your hands clean should just be standard. But given where we currently are it’s probably not a bad idea to have a few bottles of hand sanitizer around. Bellapierre Hand Sanitizer has two different options available today. Grab the 12-pack of 10.4oz bottles for $15 or a 24-pack of 3.3oz bottles for $10 today.
I live in a pretty big apartment with two floors a roommate and two dogs. We keep hand sanitizer stocked in just about every room. So the 12-pack of the larger bottles would be great for a situation like that. If you’ve got a big household or are out a lot I’d recommend stocking up on the 24-pack option. Those are travel-size bottles easy to toss in a bag or keep in your car. Plus you can share with your family and friends. Bellapierre’s formula has vitamin E and aloe so your hands won’t dry out, which is always a big concern with sanitizer in general. It’s slightly fragranced but you are greatly reducing your chance of spreading gross bacteria that leads to sickness and disease so kind of worth the smell.
If you’ve read a few of our pieces on SideDeal before and you like what you’ve seen they offer a $5 monthly fee to get free shipping on all of your orders no matter how many. Otherwise, it’s a flat rate of $8.
This deal was originally published in October 2020 by Sheilah Villari and was updated on 12/23/2020.


theroot--2020-10-02--Texas Governor Severely Limits Ballot Drop Boxes to Just One Per County But Don't Worry, It's Totall

Texas Governor Severely Limits Ballot Drop Boxes to Just One Per County But Don't Worry, It's Totally Not Voter Suppression

Texas Gov .
Greg Abbott ( R ) signed an order on Thursday limiting ballot drop boxes to just one per county .
CNN reports that this greatly affects Harris County , the most populous county in Texas as it has to reduce its 12 drop-off locations to just one starting Friday .
Travis County , which includes the traditionally Democratic leaning city of Austin , has to reduce its four drop off locations as well .
A statement released by the governor ’ s office said that this move was to increase ballot security .
“ The State of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maintain the integrity of our elections , ” Abbott said .
“ As we work to preserve Texans ’ ability to vote during the COVID-19 pandemic , we must take extra care to strengthen ballot security protocols throughout the state .
These enhanced security protocols will ensure greater transparency and will help stop attempts at illegal voting.
” Democratic leaders in Texas have already begun calling the governor ’ s move what it is : voter suppression .
Judge Lina Hidalgo , Harris County ’ s top elected official , told CNN on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this decision to limit us to one drop-off location other than voter suppression.
” “ If these leaders truly are doing right by you , why are they so afraid of you voting ?
” she added .
Gilberto Hinojosa , chair of Texas ’ s Democratic party , labeled the move a “ blatant voter suppression tactic ” in a press release , with voting rights organization Let America Vote releasing a statement similarly blasting the move .
“ The governor is making it harder for people to vote in the middle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lives of over 16,000 Texans , ” the group ’ s statement read .
“ It is a shameful , blatant act of voter suppression that will disproportionately impact the large number of Black and Latinx voters in Texas ’ biggest counties.
” In July , Abbot signed an order authorizing a six-day extension to early voting and for mail-in ballots to be hand delivered due to concerns surrounding the ongoing coronavirus pandemic .
In the months since , though , there have been moves in the state that undercut that order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month added age limits to no-excuse absentee voting and halted applications for mail-in ballots from being sent in Harris County .
Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins feels that Gov .
Abbot broke his word by adding these extensive obstacles to mail-in voting .
“ Going back on his word at this point harms voters and will result in widespread confusion and voter suppression .
Many mail ballots have already been dropped off by voters across Harris County , and multiple drop-off locations have been advertised for weeks , ” Hollins told CNN .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to accommodate poll watchers at mail ballot drop-off locations .
But to force hundreds of thousands of seniors and voters with disabilities to use a single drop-off location in a county that stretches over nearly 2,000 square miles is prejudicial and dangerous , ” he added .
While Texas is a traditionally red state , Democrats believe the clusterfuck that is the Trump presidency has put the state into play .
Polls have shown a close race between Biden and Trump in the state .
A recent poll shows Trump having a narrow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2016 , Trump won the state by 9 percentage points .
Republicans have undergone a concerted effort to instill doubt in the American public about the security and validity of the upcoming election .
Abbott ’ s claim that this move is to hamper “ illegal voting , ” echoes the conspiratorial narrative the President has continually pushed in recent months .
While there have been sporadic instances of voter fraud , there is no evidence that it occurs at the extreme level the Republican Party has continually alleged .
Simply put , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Party is aware it ’ s selling an unappealing platform with a historically unlikable president who ’ s responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Americans .
Since they ’ re incapable of presenting any cogent or worthwhile ideas , they do what white men have done since the dawn of time : rig the system so they can continually fail upwards .

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) signed an order on Thursday limiting ballot drop boxes to just one per county.
CNN reports that this greatly affects Harris County, the most populous county in Texas as it has to reduce its 12 drop-off locations to just one starting Friday. Travis County, which includes the traditionally Democratic leaning city of Austin, has to reduce its four drop off locations as well. A statement released by the governor’s office said that this move was to increase ballot security.
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“The State of Texas has a duty to voters to maintain the integrity of our elections,” Abbott said. “As we work to preserve Texans’ ability to vote during the COVID-19 pandemic, we must take extra care to strengthen ballot security protocols throughout the state. These enhanced security protocols will ensure greater transparency and will help stop attempts at illegal voting.”
Sure, Jan.
Democratic leaders in Texas have already begun calling the governor’s move what it is: voter suppression. Judge Lina Hidalgo, Harris County’s top elected official, told CNN on Thursday “There is no reason for this decision to limit us to one drop-off location other than voter suppression.”
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“If these leaders truly are doing right by you, why are they so afraid of you voting?” she added.
Gilberto Hinojosa, chair of Texas’s Democratic party, labeled the move a “blatant voter suppression tactic” in a press release, with voting rights organization Let America Vote releasing a statement similarly blasting the move.
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“The governor is making it harder for people to vote in the middle of a global pandemic that has claimed the lives of over 16,000 Texans,” the group’s statement read. “It is a shameful, blatant act of voter suppression that will disproportionately impact the large number of Black and Latinx voters in Texas’ biggest counties.”
In July, Abbot signed an order authorizing a six-day extension to early voting and for mail-in ballots to be hand delivered due to concerns surrounding the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. In the months since, though, there have been moves in the state that undercut that order. A series of court orders last month added age limits to no-excuse absentee voting and halted applications for mail-in ballots from being sent in Harris County.
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Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins feels that Gov. Abbot broke his word by adding these extensive obstacles to mail-in voting. “Going back on his word at this point harms voters and will result in widespread confusion and voter suppression. Many mail ballots have already been dropped off by voters across Harris County, and multiple drop-off locations have been advertised for weeks,” Hollins told CNN.
“Our office is more than willing to accommodate poll watchers at mail ballot drop-off locations. But to force hundreds of thousands of seniors and voters with disabilities to use a single drop-off location in a county that stretches over nearly 2,000 square miles is prejudicial and dangerous,” he added.
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While Texas is a traditionally red state, Democrats believe the clusterfuck that is the Trump presidency has put the state into play. Polls have shown a close race between Biden and Trump in the state. A recent poll shows Trump having a narrow 3 point lead against Biden. In 2016, Trump won the state by 9 percentage points.
Republicans have undergone a concerted effort to instill doubt in the American public about the security and validity of the upcoming election. Abbott’s claim that this move is to hamper “illegal voting,” echoes the conspiratorial narrative the President has continually pushed in recent months. While there have been sporadic instances of voter fraud, there is no evidence that it occurs at the extreme level the Republican Party has continually alleged.
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Simply put, I’m pretty sure the Republican Party is aware it’s selling an unappealing platform with a historically unlikable president who’s responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Americans. Since they’re incapable of presenting any cogent or worthwhile ideas, they do what white men have done since the dawn of time: rig the system so they can continually fail upwards.
What a country.


theroot--2020-10-02--Utah Sen. Mike Lee, Integral Member of Judiciary Committee Considering New Supreme Court Justice, Te

Utah Sen. Mike Lee, Integral Member of Judiciary Committee Considering New Supreme Court Justice, Tests Positive for COVID-19

On Friday , Utah Sen. Mike Lee , a key member of the Senate Judiciary Committee considering the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court , announced that he tested positive for COVID-19 and added that he ’ d be quarantining for 10 days .
Ten days ?
I thought the requisite number of quarantining days was two weeks or 14 days , but what would I know ?
I just wear my mask , drink water and exfoliate .
According to Politico , it turns out that Lee attended Barrett ’ s announcement at the White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday , in which he didn ’ t wear a mask during any of the meetings .
Don ’ t worry about Barrett as she ’ s already had the coronavirus this summer and… Did Barrett give Lee the coronavirus ?
Who knows .
What we do know is Barrett attended committee meetings , party lunches and spoke with reporters without a mask .
Politico notes that Lee was having what he initially believed were allergy symptoms and went to the doctors where he was tested for COVID-19 and found out that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chair Lindsey Graham ( R-S.C. ) is scheduled to begin hearings for Barrett on Oct. 12 , with Republicans planning a committee vote on the nomination on Oct. 22 .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Friday that the confirmation process was moving ‘ full steam ahead ’ despite the possible coronavirus outbreak in the White House , ” Politico reports .
McConnell is trash and is literally Ike Turner forcing the cake down America ’ s throats .
“ I have spoken with Leader McConnell and Chairman Graham , and assured them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time to join my Judiciary Committee colleagues in advancing the Supreme Court nomination , ” Lee said in a statement viewed by Politico .

On Friday, Utah Sen. Mike Lee, a key member of the Senate Judiciary Committee considering the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court, announced that he tested positive for COVID-19 and added that he’d be quarantining for 10 days.
Ten days? I thought the requisite number of quarantining days was two weeks or 14 days, but what would I know? I just wear my mask, drink water and exfoliate.
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According to Politico, it turns out that Lee attended Barrett’s announcement at the White House on Saturday and they also met again Tuesday, in which he didn’t wear a mask during any of the meetings. Don’t worry about Barrett as she’s already had the coronavirus this summer and…
Waitaminute. Hol’ up.
Did Barrett give Lee the coronavirus? Who knows.
What we do know is Barrett attended committee meetings, party lunches and spoke with reporters without a mask.
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Politico notes that Lee was having what he initially believed were allergy symptoms and went to the doctors where he was tested for COVID-19 and found out that he was positive Thursday.
“Senate Judiciary Chair Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) is scheduled to begin hearings for Barrett on Oct. 12, with Republicans planning a committee vote on the nomination on Oct. 22. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Friday that the confirmation process was moving ‘full steam ahead’ despite the possible coronavirus outbreak in the White House,” Politico reports.
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McConnell is trash and is literally Ike Turner forcing the cake down America’s throats.
“I have spoken with Leader McConnell and Chairman Graham, and assured them I will be back to work in time to join my Judiciary Committee colleagues in advancing the Supreme Court nomination,” Lee said in a statement viewed by Politico.


theroot--2020-10-02--What to Do When Your Country Turns Into a Dumpster Fire

As a certain coronavirus-y occupant of the White House brazenly intensifies his all-out assault on the Constitution , media , truth , law , order , equality , democracy and everything this beloved country supposedly stands for , our fellow Americans find themselves in a state of confusion and outright despair after wrongly assuming a free supply of “ liberty and justice for all ” was included in their membership package .
For years , political scientists , historians and a well-regarded organization called “ Every Black person who ever existed ” have diagnosed America with a neurological condition colloquially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If you , or someone you know , watched the presidential debate and now suffer from the condition experts have termed What Happened to the Illusion of Truth , Equality , National Exceptionalism and Superiority Syndrome ( WHITENESS ) , have no fear , your friendly neighborhood negroes are here .
Luckily ( for you , not for us .
This shit kinda hurts ) , Black people have acquired a few useful survival skills born from 401 years of navigating chaos and disorder in a country that ignores our concerns ; tramples @ @ @ @ @ @ @ white supremacists to “ stand by ” whenever we asked the nation to stop being so damn racist .
So , to address the concerns of those who are beginning to suspect that their country might be trash , The Root has created this handy-dandy , eight-step guide to help our Caucasian counterparts survive and—dare I say—thrive , under these adverse conditions .
You may feel overwhelmed by the rapidly spreading dumpster fire that you are currently inhaling but as someone whose been there , let me assure you : You get used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that your country might be trash .
I was Colin Kaepernick ’ s protest-years-old when I realized that some people actually believe that bullshit in the national anthem .
Look , I imagine it feels good to romanticize the past but if you squint really hard at any history book during the twilight ’ s last gleaming , you might discover that Francis Scott Key wrote “ The Star-Spangled Banner ” in 1814 , when America allowed still the state-sanctioned practice of enslaving Black people .
The U.S. would continue to permit its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ half-century , long after Britain , France , Denmark , Sweden , Spain , Portugal and the Netherlands stopped that slavery bullshit .
While racism exists in varying forms everywhere , those countries didn ’ t replicate the uniquely American versions of Jim Crow , color-based disenfranchisement and legalized second-class citizenship that still exist in the “ land of the free and the home of the brave.
” To be fair , I was disappointed when I learned that Minnesota didn ’ t have berets made out of raspberries , crying doves or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Are you outraged that everyone is mute while the current administration tries to sabotage vote-by-mail efforts ?
Were you frazzled by a clarion call to MAGAmuffin poll watchers ?
Well , you probably should ’ ve said something when Georgia ’ s Republicans purged 200,000 ballots in Georgia .
I bet you cried when they tossed another 209,000 over registrations in Wisconsin .
How about when they reduced early voting hours in Ohio ?
Did you say something about the “ poll tax ” on Florida felons ?
Did you share the study @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote ?
How did you react when all those Black votes vanished in Georgia ?
I know , I know—those incidents of voter suppression didn ’ t affect you .
Those purges , poll taxes and disappearing votes mostly affected Black people , so you probably didn ’ t say anything .
Perhaps that ’ s why the country wasn ’ t up in arms .
That ’ s actually a good point .
But if you silently watched watching someone plan a robbery , you can ’ t cry when they take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ corrupt , racist liars who tried to destroy America .
There will always be corrupt , racist liars who will try to destroy America .
But this country won ’ t be destroyed by corruption , racism , or lies .
It will be because someone recognized the corruption , racism and lies and said : You were rightfully appalled when Trump shouted out a violent white supremacist group in front of 70 million Americans .
Aside from the fact that The Root has been reporting on the Proud Boys and similar groups @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knew they existed ?
Of course , those violent , right-wing extremists didn ’ t spontaneously manifest themselves into existence .
They probably came from the right-wing militias who claim to want to “ protect the Constitution.
” Or maybe they came from the innocuous far-right groups whom the FBI and Department of Homeland Security have been warning us about for years .
The nativist movement of the 1830s , the Ku Klux Klan , the nativist movement of the 1920s , the Nazi movement , segregation movement and the alt-right all evolved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were intent on protecting American values and keeping “ America First.
” But America isn ’ t lines on a map or words on a piece of parchment .
America is just people .
Whenever someone cloaks themselves in the false flag of “ love for country ” or refers to themself as a “ patriot , ” they are usually preparing to grab their tiki torches and long guns so they can ignite a dumpster fire and start killing people who don ’ t look like them .
Even if you don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; even if you don ’ t like seasoning , even if you refuse to accept the infinite amount of studies proving systemic racism exists in voting , policing , criminal justice , education and healthcare , why would you fight against addressing these problems ?
Can we agree that police kill too many human beings ?
Why not just try to improve all schools ?
Shouldn ’ t everyone have better-paying jobs ?
Why would anyone want more people in jail or more people dying because they can ’ t afford healthcare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I really want to know why anyone would support a murderer , oppose an increase in the minimum wage or repeal a law that increased the number of insured Americans .
There are also white people who can ’ t afford insurance .
There are more poor and unemployed white people .
You know cops shoot white people too , right ?
As the Trumpocalypse devours your beloved country , we will remember how you gathered around the fire and watched us burn .
And when we begged you to help us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Perhaps this dumpster fire was ignited by people who only consider their needs instead of thinking about the greater good .
Whether it ’ s a global pandemic , “ economic anxiety ” or the prospect of a post-election free-for-all , you ’ re going to have to pick a team to represent you in the Great American Shitshow .
The choice isn ’ t between Democrat or Republican , liberal or conservative , or even white vs. Black , Indigenous , People of Color Who Use The Correct Bathroom and Have Missionary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make a choice between good and evil ; right vs. wrong .
Here are your choices : • People who believe Black lives matter or people who aren ’ t bothered by videos of Black people getting shot in the face .
• Lower taxes or poor people having access to well-funded schools , community resources , living wages , higher education and affordable healthcare .
• A global pandemic that disproportionately kills poor people or wearing a mask to Walmart .
• Guns vs. guns—but with some common sense rules .
• @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to vote if you have an ID , have never committed a crime , are employed by a company that will let you off work , live in a white neighborhood and don ’ t mind waiting in line .
Step 6 .
Do what Black people do .
Now that your country is in flames , you ’ re gon na need someone to show you how to survive the fire .
Although there are many people who have endured hardship and suffering , there is only one group of people whose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This is not to say that white people aren ’ t survivors .
They survived the bloodiest conflict in American history but they were fighting white people .
They survived the Great Depression because the New Deal simply took the tax dollars paid by Black America and built the white middle class .
They barely make it through the horrific tan suits ; terrorist fist bumps and hidden birth certificates during the Obama presidency and all they had to show for it was free health care , a healthy economy , an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and five Rihanna albums .
Black people , on the other hand , survived slavery , the Civil War , Reconstruction , separate but equal , Red Summer , redlining , the civil rights movement , Nixon , the War on Drugs , Ronald Reagan , two Bushes and Donald Trump .
And we did it with twice the unemployment , unequal schools lower pay , housing inequality , financial discrimination , racial terrorism and no health care .
And , just as she did during Trump ’ s reign of terror , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
See ?
We been doing this shit .
Step 7 : Don ’ t just stand there !
Do something !
We know you ’ re not an experienced firefighter but you can lend a hand by : • Voting for someone who ’ s not a white nationalist .
• Saying something every time you spot a microscopic bit of injustice or inequality .
• Not calling the police every time you feel uncomfortable or upset .
• Fighting for what ’ s equality even if it costs you some privilege @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whiteness over righteousness .
• Seriously , stop calling the cops all the goddamned time !
• Paying Black people the same thing you pay white people • Supporting diversity and inclusion by raising your hand and asking : “ Why are there no Black people here ?
” • Remember that thing I said about calling the cops ?
Okay ... Just checking .
And finally , I know it feels terrible to watch something you love be destroyed by racism , apathy , hate and incompetence but you have to look @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you can change a system by enacting fairer rules and injecting equity into the equation .
But sometimes you have to raze everything to the ground and start all over .
You can ’ t fix anything without dismantling the parts that are already broken .
This is just the breaking part .
The Founding Fathers were essentially wig-wearing members of antifa .
The federal government put down a white supremacist rebellion and we called it a “ Civil War.
” Examples of previous dumpster fires include the American Revolution , the Boston @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States and the white supremacists , the civil rights movement , the Black Power movement , the anti-war movement and every attempt at a reboot of the Fantastic Four .
And if this makes you uncomfortable , there ’ s also an online version of this article that isn ’ t filled with as much sarcasm , profanity and “ race-baiting , ” which eloquently says : America has always been trash .
And sometimes , the things that should have been discarded are politely hauled away by people whom we have charged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ times when those people don ’ t do their jobs and the racist , incompetent , corrupt debris starts to stink so bad that some of us can ’ t take it anymore .
And now , you are “ some of us.
” Welcome to the fire .

America is America-ing again.
As a certain coronavirus-y occupant of the White House brazenly intensifies his all-out assault on the Constitution, media, truth, law, order, equality, democracy and everything this beloved country supposedly stands for, our fellow Americans find themselves in a state of confusion and outright despair after wrongly assuming a free supply of “liberty and justice for all” was included in their membership package.
Advertisement
For years, political scientists, historians and a well-regarded organization called “Every Black person who ever existed” have diagnosed America with a neurological condition colloquially known as “being fucked up.” If you, or someone you know, watched the presidential debate and now suffer from the condition experts have termed What Happened to the Illusion of Truth, Equality, National Exceptionalism and Superiority Syndrome (WHITENESS), have no fear, your friendly neighborhood negroes are here.
Luckily (for you, not for us. This shit kinda hurts), Black people have acquired a few useful survival skills born from 401 years of navigating chaos and disorder in a country that ignores our concerns; tramples on our rights and historically called for white supremacists to “stand by” whenever we asked the nation to stop being so damn racist. So, to address the concerns of those who are beginning to suspect that their country might be trash, The Root has created this handy-dandy, eight-step guide to help our Caucasian counterparts survive and—dare I say—thrive, under these adverse conditions.
You may feel overwhelmed by the rapidly spreading dumpster fire that you are currently inhaling but as someone whose been there, let me assure you:
You get used to it.
Advertisement
Step 1: Accept that your country might be trash.
I was Colin Kaepernick’s protest-years-old when I realized that some people actually believe that bullshit in the national anthem. Look, I imagine it feels good to romanticize the past but if you squint really hard at any history book during the twilight’s last gleaming, you might discover that Francis Scott Key wrote “The Star-Spangled Banner” in 1814, when America allowed still the state-sanctioned practice of enslaving Black people.
The U.S. would continue to permit its citizens to purchase human beings for another half-century, long after Britain, France, Denmark, Sweden, Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands stopped that slavery bullshit. While racism exists in varying forms everywhere, those countries didn’t replicate the uniquely American versions of Jim Crow, color-based disenfranchisement and legalized second-class citizenship that still exist in the “land of the free and the home of the brave.”
To be fair, I was disappointed when I learned that Minnesota didn’t have berets made out of raspberries, crying doves or a single inch of purple precipitation.
Step 2: Realize you’re part of the problem.
Are you outraged that everyone is mute while the current administration tries to sabotage vote-by-mail efforts? Were you frazzled by a clarion call to MAGAmuffin poll watchers?
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Well, you probably should’ve said something when Georgia’s Republicans purged 200,000 ballots in Georgia. I bet you cried when they tossed another 209,000 over registrations in Wisconsin. How about when they reduced early voting hours in Ohio? Did you say something about the “poll tax” on Florida felons? Did you share the study that shows Black people wait longer to vote? How did you react when all those Black votes vanished in Georgia?
I know, I know—those incidents of voter suppression didn’t affect you.
Those purges, poll taxes and disappearing votes mostly affected Black people, so you probably didn’t say anything. Perhaps that’s why the country wasn’t up in arms. That’s actually a good point.
But if you silently watched watching someone plan a robbery, you can’t cry when they take your shit.
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There have been many corrupt, racist liars who tried to destroy America. There will always be corrupt, racist liars who will try to destroy America. But this country won’t be destroyed by corruption, racism, or lies. It will be because someone recognized the corruption, racism and lies and said:
“___________ .”
Step 3: Stop loving America so damn much.
You were rightfully appalled when Trump shouted out a violent white supremacist group in front of 70 million Americans. Aside from the fact that The Root has been reporting on the Proud Boys and similar groups for nearly four years, who even knew they existed?
Of course, those violent, right-wing extremists didn’t spontaneously manifest themselves into existence. They probably came from the right-wing militias who claim to want to “protect the Constitution.” Or maybe they came from the innocuous far-right groups whom the FBI and Department of Homeland Security have been warning us about for years.
Advertisement
The nativist movement of the 1830s, the Ku Klux Klan, the nativist movement of the 1920s, the Nazi movement, segregation movement and the alt-right all evolved from supposedly “patriotic” groups who were intent on protecting American values and keeping “America First.”
But America isn’t lines on a map or words on a piece of parchment. America is just people. Whenever someone cloaks themselves in the false flag of “love for country” or refers to themself as a “patriot,” they are usually preparing to grab their tiki torches and long guns so they can ignite a dumpster fire and start killing people who don’t look like them.
Step 4: Don’t fan the flames.
Even if you don’t agree that Black lives matter; even if you don’t like seasoning, even if you refuse to accept the infinite amount of studies proving systemic racism exists in voting, policing, criminal justice, education and healthcare, why would you fight against addressing these problems?
Can we agree that police kill too many human beings? Why not just try to improve all schools? Shouldn’t everyone have better-paying jobs? Why would anyone want more people in jail or more people dying because they can’t afford healthcare?
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Why fight the good shit?
This is not a rhetorical question, I really want to know why anyone would support a murderer, oppose an increase in the minimum wage or repeal a law that increased the number of insured Americans. There are also white people who can’t afford insurance. There are more poor and unemployed white people. You know cops shoot white people too, right?
As the Trumpocalypse devours your beloved country, we will remember how you gathered around the fire and watched us burn. And when we begged you to help us extinguish the flames, you replied:
“Nah. I gotta roast these marshmallows.”
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Step 5: Choose a side.
Perhaps this dumpster fire was ignited by people who only consider their needs instead of thinking about the greater good. Whether it’s a global pandemic, “economic anxiety” or the prospect of a post-election free-for-all, you’re going to have to pick a team to represent you in the Great American Shitshow.
The choice isn’t between Democrat or Republican, liberal or conservative, or even white vs. Black, Indigenous, People of Color Who Use The Correct Bathroom and Have Missionary Sex For Jesus. You have to make a choice between good and evil; right vs. wrong.
Here are your choices:
People who believe Black lives matter or people who aren’t bothered by videos of Black people getting shot in the face.
Lower taxes or poor people having access to well-funded schools, community resources, living wages, higher education and affordable healthcare.
A global pandemic that disproportionately kills poor people or wearing a mask to Walmart.
Guns vs. guns—but with some common sense rules.
The right to vote or the right to vote if you have an ID, have never committed a crime, are employed by a company that will let you off work, live in a white neighborhood and don’t mind waiting in line.
Lawry’s vs. a dash of salt.
Step 6. Do what Black people do.
Now that your country is in flames, you’re gonna need someone to show you how to survive the fire. Although there are many people who have endured hardship and suffering, there is only one group of people whose record proves them worthy of your allegiance.
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Team Black people.
This is not to say that white people aren’t survivors. They survived the bloodiest conflict in American history but they were fighting white people. They survived the Great Depression because the New Deal simply took the tax dollars paid by Black America and built the white middle class. They barely make it through the horrific tan suits; terrorist fist bumps and hidden birth certificates during the Obama presidency and all they had to show for it was free health care, a healthy economy, an international climate change agreement a nuclear-free Iran and five Rihanna albums.
Black people, on the other hand, survived slavery, the Civil War, Reconstruction, separate but equal, Red Summer, redlining, the civil rights movement, Nixon, the War on Drugs, Ronald Reagan, two Bushes and Donald Trump. And we did it with twice the unemployment, unequal schools lower pay, housing inequality, financial discrimination, racial terrorism and no health care.
And, just as she did during Trump’s reign of terror, Rihanna released very little music during Reconstruction.
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See? We been doing this shit.
Step 7: Don’t just stand there! Do something!
We know you’re not an experienced firefighter but you can lend a hand by:
Voting for someone who’s not a white nationalist. Saying something every time you spot a microscopic bit of injustice or inequality. Not calling the police every time you feel uncomfortable or upset. Fighting for what’s equality even if it costs you some privilege. Not reflexively choosing to protect whiteness over righteousness. Stop buying Katy Perry albums. Listening to Black women. Seriously, stop calling the cops all the goddamned time!
More seasoning. Paying Black people the same thing you pay white people Supporting diversity and inclusion by raising your hand and asking: “Why are there no Black people here?” Remember that thing I said about calling the cops? Okay...Just checking.
8. Let it burn.
And finally, I know it feels terrible to watch something you love be destroyed by racism, apathy, hate and incompetence but you have to look at the bright side.
You’re gonna get a brand new country!
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Sometimes, you can change a system by enacting fairer rules and injecting equity into the equation. But sometimes you have to raze everything to the ground and start all over. You can’t fix anything without dismantling the parts that are already broken.
This is just the breaking part.
The Founding Fathers were essentially wig-wearing members of antifa. The federal government put down a white supremacist rebellion and we called it a “Civil War.” Examples of previous dumpster fires include the American Revolution, the Boston Tea Party, the War Between the States and the white supremacists, the civil rights movement, the Black Power movement, the anti-war movement and every attempt at a reboot of the Fantastic Four.
And if this makes you uncomfortable, there’s also an online version of this article that isn’t filled with as much sarcasm, profanity and “race-baiting,” which eloquently says:
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In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
America has always been trash.
And sometimes, the things that should have been discarded are politely hauled away by people whom we have charged with that task. But there are times when those people don’t do their jobs and the racist, incompetent, corrupt debris starts to stink so bad that some of us can’t take it anymore.
And now, you are “some of us.”
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Welcome to the fire.


theroot--2020-10-02--Today Only Take 30% off Select Savage X Fenty Items

We love some Rihanna here at Kinja so when this Savage x Fenty Sale appeared we rejoiced .
Twenty-six pieces @ @ @ @ @ 30 % off today only in this Amazon Gold Box d eal .
Plenty of @ @ @ @ @ panties to choose from .
Silky , lace , and cotton there are styles for @ @ @ @ @ Rihana intended when she started the company back in 2017 .
T his lingerie brand @ @ @ @ @ fans the world over and it ’ s easy to see why in both design @ @ @ @ @ pieces as low as $ 12 and you can easily make a set with the @ @ @ @ @ buy that bodysuit ( $ 42 ) you ’ ve been thinking about .
Free @ @ @ @ @ for Prime members .

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

30% off Select Savage x Fenty Items | Amazon Gold Box
We love some Rihanna here at Kinja so when this Savage x Fenty Sale appeared we rejoiced. Twenty-six pieces from the multitalented singer are 30% off today only in this Amazon Gold Box d eal. Plenty of bras, bralettes, and panties to choose from. Silky, lace, and cotton there are styles for all preferences and shapes as Rihana intended when she started the company back in 2017. T his lingerie brand had been a darling among fans the world over and it’s easy to see why in both design and quality . There are pieces as low as $12 and you can easily make a set with the offerings . Or maybe finally buy that bodysuit ($42) you’ve been thinking about .
Free shipping on all these pieces for Prime members .


theroot--2020-10-02--NFL Expands COVID-19 Protocols After 2 More Players Test Positive for Coronavirus

As the NFL attempts to curtail its first coronavirus outbreak , it has expanded the COVID-19 protocols it already had in place .
ESPN reports that two more Tenessee Titans players have tested positive for the coronavirus , bringing their team total to a combined 13 players and team personnel who have tested positive this week .
In response to this disturbing news , the league is making some changes .
The enhanced protocols include two daily tests ; one is the traditional PCR ( nasal swab ) test and the other is a POC ( point of care ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tier 1 and Tier 2 employees must test negative on the POC test before entering the facility .
PPE and face masks must also be worn by all players and coaches on the practice field and gloves must be worn by everyone except quarterbacks on their throwing hand .
All meetings must be virtual and there will also be daily deep cleanings of the facility .
The protocols also include a prohibition on team or player gatherings away from the facility .
Additionally , the NFL has extended its agreement with the NFL @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during bye weeks and non-game days .
In accordance with daily testing requirements , players and coaches will be prohibited from leaving their team ’ s city during bye weeks , while those exempt from testing will be subject to daily screenings and temperature checks at the team ’ s facilities .
And for teams that have been exposed to the coronavirus , NFL chief medical officer Allen Sills will be tasked with determining how long post-exposure protocols must be in place .
Per the NFL ’ s memo , teams are to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come into contact with has a COVID infection and take appropriate precautions.
” As Donald Trump can personally attest to , the coronavirus ain ’ t no joke .
So it ’ s good to see the NFL making its best efforts to get this situation under control and attempt to prevent outbreaks in the future .

As the NFL attempts to curtail its first coronavirus outbreak, it has expanded the COVID-19 protocols it already had in place.
ESPN reports that two more Tenessee Titans players have tested positive for the coronavirus, bringing their team total to a combined 13 players and team personnel who have tested positive this week. In response to this disturbing news, the league is making some changes.
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From ESPN:
The enhanced protocols include two daily tests; one is the traditional PCR (nasal swab) test and the other is a POC (point of care) test that returns faster results. All Tier 1 and Tier 2 employees must test negative on the POC test before entering the facility. PPE and face masks must also be worn by all players and coaches on the practice field and gloves must be worn by everyone except quarterbacks on their throwing hand. All meetings must be virtual and there will also be daily deep cleanings of the facility. The protocols also include a prohibition on team or player gatherings away from the facility.
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Additionally, the NFL has extended its agreement with the NFL Players Association to continue daily COVID-19 testing during bye weeks and non-game days. In accordance with daily testing requirements, players and coaches will be prohibited from leaving their team’s city during bye weeks, while those exempt from testing will be subject to daily screenings and temperature checks at the team’s facilities. And for teams that have been exposed to the coronavirus, NFL chief medical officer Allen Sills will be tasked with determining how long post-exposure protocols must be in place.
Per the NFL’s memo, teams are to “act as if every person you come into contact with has a COVID infection and take appropriate precautions.”
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As Donald Trump can personally attest to, the coronavirus ain’t no joke. So it’s good to see the NFL making its best efforts to get this situation under control and attempt to prevent outbreaks in the future.


theroot--2020-10-02--Strong Black Animation: The Obamas and Doc McStuffins Creator Team Up on New Series Ada Twist, Scien

Strong Black Animation: The Obamas and Doc McStuffins Creator Team Up on New Series Ada Twist, Scientist

Get ready for a bit more Black in STEM representation—and this time , it ’ s animated !
As Deadline reports , Netflix has ordered forty 12-minute episodes of a new animated preschool series from Barack and Michelle Obama ’ s production company Higher Ground Productions called Ada Twist , Scientist .
The TV series , created by Doc McStuffins creator Chris Nee , is adapted from the book series written by Andrea Beaty and illustrated by David Roberts .
Deadline provides the scoop on what to expect in the series : Eight-year old Ada Twist is a pint-size scientist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discover the truth about absolutely everything .
With the help of her two best friends , Rosie Revere and Iggy Peck , Ada unravels and solves mysteries for her friends and family .
But solving the mystery is only the beginning , because science isn ’ t just about learning how and why and what — it ’ s about putting that knowledge into action to make the world a better place .
The series also will feature real scientists to inspire young viewers .
Kerri Grant ( who was in the Doc @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will serve as showrunner and co-executive producer .
“ I ’ m thrilled to be partnering with Higher Ground to bring Ada Twist to the screen , ” Nee said .
“ As a fan of the books , I was taken with the diverse characters , striking designs and vital message that science matters .
Plus , Ada fulfills my personal need to populate children ’ s television with strong girls who aren ’ t afraid to be the smartest kids in the room .
Once Kerri Grant came on board to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dream team to bring this special series to life.
” “ It brings me immense joy to be a part of bringing Ada Twist to the screen , ” Grant said .
“ As a young , curious Black girl who grew up loving TV , I simply became accustomed to rarely seeing images that reflected me onscreen — and the ones that did , represented an anti-intellectual stereotype that led me to hide my own light under a bushel .
To be a part of bringing a show to kids that features @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the smartest kid in the room , in a world as diverse and visually stunning as the one created by the book series ’ author and illustrator , fills my heart to capacity .
Working with Chris Nee , my old boss and certified preschool TV hit-maker ; and Higher Ground and their commitment to representation , dreaming big , and excellence , has been the alignment of so many stars , it ’ s truly a celestial event.
” A celestial event , indeed—Black Girl Magic , even .
The Obamas are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ multi-deal production contract with Netflix in 2018 and we ’ re sure this new project will bring so much joy to so many kids , especially Black kids !

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

Get ready for a bit more Black in STEM representation—and this time, it’s animated!
As Deadline reports, Netflix has ordered forty 12-minute episodes of a new animated preschool series from Barack and Michelle Obama’s production company Higher Ground Productions called Ada Twist, Scientist. The TV series, created by Doc McStuffins creator Chris Nee, is adapted from the book series written by Andrea Beaty and illustrated by David Roberts.
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Deadline provides the scoop on what to expect in the series:
Eight-year old Ada Twist is a pint-size scientist with a giant-size curiosity who aspires to discover the truth about absolutely everything. With the help of her two best friends, Rosie Revere and Iggy Peck, Ada unravels and solves mysteries for her friends and family. But solving the mystery is only the beginning, because science isn’t just about learning how and why and what — it’s about putting that knowledge into action to make the world a better place. The series also will feature real scientists to inspire young viewers.
Kerri Grant (who was in the Doc McStuffins writers’ room from 2013-2017) will serve as showrunner and co-executive producer.
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“I’m thrilled to be partnering with Higher Ground to bring Ada Twist to the screen,” Nee said. “As a fan of the books, I was taken with the diverse characters, striking designs and vital message that science matters. Plus, Ada fulfills my personal need to populate children’s television with strong girls who aren’t afraid to be the smartest kids in the room. Once Kerri Grant came on board to showrun, I knew we had the dream team to bring this special series to life.”
“It brings me immense joy to be a part of bringing Ada Twist to the screen,” Grant said. “As a young, curious Black girl who grew up loving TV, I simply became accustomed to rarely seeing images that reflected me onscreen — and the ones that did, represented an anti-intellectual stereotype that led me to hide my own light under a bushel. To be a part of bringing a show to kids that features a young, Black girl being unapologetically the smartest kid in the room, in a world as diverse and visually stunning as the one created by the book series’ author and illustrator, fills my heart to capacity. Working with Chris Nee, my old boss and certified preschool TV hit-maker; and Higher Ground and their commitment to representation, dreaming big, and excellence, has been the alignment of so many stars, it’s truly a celestial event.”
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A celestial event, indeed—Black Girl Magic, even. The Obamas are on a roll since first signing their multi-deal production contract with Netflix in 2018 and we’re sure this new project will bring so much joy to so many kids, especially Black kids!


theroot--2020-10-02--'We Can't Be Afraid to Challenge Our Own People': The Root Presents: It's Lit! Gets Crunk With Britt

'We Can't Be Afraid to Challenge Our Own People': The Root Presents: It's Lit! Gets Crunk With Brittney Cooper

“ There is no Black Freedom Project if you don ’ t care about Black women.
” If there ’ s one belief upon which “ crunk feminist , ” author , scholar and educator Brittney Cooper has based her life ’ s work , it ’ s this core tenet of Black feminism , as previously maintained by brilliant minds from the Combahee River Collective to 19th-century pioneers like Maria Stewart , Sojourner Truth and Anna Julia Cooper .
These are the women from whom Cooper has descended in the Black feminist tradition , and those who , along @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , intersectionality , and racial and social justice movements , formed the foundation for her third book 2018 's Eloquent Rage , a groundbreaking manifesto that landed Cooper in the 2018 class of The Root 100 .
She earned the honor again for our 2020 class , as in the wake of our current civil rights movement , Eloquent Rage found its way onto the bestsellers list ; a triumph Cooper says was understandably “ bittersweet.
” “ What does it mean to be a writer and an artist in the moment when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on behalf of Black people who are being killed ?
” she asks during a conversation with The Root ’ s Editor-in-Chief Danielle Belton , and myself , The Glow Up ’ s Managing Editor Maiysha Kai , for the second episode of our new literary podcast , It ’ s Lit !
Additionally , what does it mean to be a Black feminist in the midst of our current unrest ?
“ I think patriarchy is a system that deeply shapes Black women ’ s lives , ” says Cooper .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talking about freedom , that we ’ ve got to get rid of all the systems that beset us .
So that means that I feel compelled to be a feminist ... And so what I like to point people to is that there is a Black feminist tradition , a tradition of Black women who have written and said ‘ here is how we think about gender as being relevant to our lives.
’ ” That tradition includes examining the role Black women have played in the formation of America ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we not only fight for that democracy ( and for it to extend to all of us equally ) but face the possibility of a Black woman as second-in-command of the nation .
“ America has this deep sense of Black women as people who come in to clean up the mess that they make .
That has historically been our position .
I call it us doing the custodial work of democracy , ” Cooper maintains .
Nevertheless , like us , she can ’ t help but maintain faith in “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which is that we clean up the mess and then we , we make some new possibilities.
” Hear this and more in Episode 2 of The Root Presents : It ’ s Lit !
, featuring the always eloquent rage of Brittney Cooper , now live on Apple , Spotify , Stitcher , iHeart Radio , Google Podcasts , Amazon , NPR One , TuneIn , and Radio Public .
A transcript of The Root Presents : It ’ s Lit , Ep .
2 : Brittney Cooper is available below @

“There is no Black Freedom Project if you don’t care about Black women.” If there’s one belief upon which “crunk feminist,” author, scholar and educator Brittney Cooper has based her life’s work, it’s this core tenet of Black feminism, as previously maintained by brilliant minds from the Combahee River Collective to 19th-century pioneers like Maria Stewart, Sojourner Truth and Anna Julia Cooper.
These are the women from whom Cooper has descended in the Black feminist tradition, and those who, along with her own incisive reading of history, intersectionality, and racial and social justice movements, formed the foundation for her third book 2018's Eloquent Rage, a groundbreaking manifesto that landed Cooper in the 2018 class of The Root 100. She earned the honor again for our 2020 class, as in the wake of our current civil rights movement, Eloquent Rage found its way onto the bestsellers list; a triumph Cooper says was understandably “bittersweet.”
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“What does it mean to be a writer and an artist in the moment when you’re being called to testify on behalf of Black people who are being killed?” she asks during a conversation with The Root’s Editor-in-Chief Danielle Belton, and myself, The Glow Up’s Managing Editor Maiysha Kai, for the second episode of our new literary podcast, It’s Lit! Additionally, what does it mean to be a Black feminist in the midst of our current unrest?
“I think patriarchy is a system that deeply shapes Black women’s lives,” says Cooper. “I think that if we’re talking about freedom, that we’ve got to get rid of all the systems that beset us. So that means that I feel compelled to be a feminist...And so what I like to point people to is that there is a Black feminist tradition, a tradition of Black women who have written and said ‘here is how we think about gender as being relevant to our lives.’”
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That tradition includes examining the role Black women have played in the formation of America’s democracy—which has never been more relevant as we not only fight for that democracy (and for it to extend to all of us equally) but face the possibility of a Black woman as second-in-command of the nation.
“America has this deep sense of Black women as people who come in to clean up the mess that they make. That has historically been our position. I call it us doing the custodial work of democracy,” Cooper maintains. Nevertheless, like us, she can’t help but maintain faith in “the thing that Black women typically do, which is that we clean up the mess and then we, we make some new possibilities.”
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Hear this and more in Episode 2 of The Root Presents: It’s Lit!, featuring the always eloquent rage of Brittney Cooper, now live on Apple, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeart Radio, Google Podcasts, Amazon, NPR One, TuneIn, and Radio Public.
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A transcript of The Root Presents: It’s Lit, Ep. 2: Brittney Cooper is available below: