theroot--2020-07-07--White People Have Weaponized ‘I Feel Threatened’ the Same Way They Have Weaponized the Police

This won ’ t be long , because I am not going to belabor the point .
Much in the same way white people have weaponized the police against Black bodies , they have also adopted the language of those who protect and uplift whiteness and white supremacy—the police .
Historically , we ’ ve seen that the only thing a cop needs to say in order to get away with killing a Black person is “ I feared for my life.
” Similarly , white people are using “ I felt threatened ” or that their life was in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a gun , to get away with the extrajudicial killing of Black people .
When Amy Cooper encountered Christian Cooper in Central Park , she didn ’ t like it that a Black man asked her ( no matter how politely ) to leash her dog .
Never mind that they were in an area of Central Park where dogs are required to be leashed ; Amy decided this uppity- ass nigger wasn ’ t going to tell her what to do .
Not tuh-day , honey .
So she went into white @ @ @ @ @ @ @ victim voice and lied and told the police that Christian was threatening her and her dog .
She made sure to mention that he was a ) a man and b ) Black , and she included the lie that he was threatening her because “ Black man ” and “ threat ” are a racist dog whistle to cops—especially cops who disregard Black lives and don ’ t mind taking them .
Her stupid- ass apology aside , Amy knew exactly what she was doing when she weaponized the cops against Christian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so , it could result in bodily harm coming to him .
She wanted him to be put in his place , and she wanted him to see and be aware that she could make that happen .
It was a gross display of white supremacy , white woman victimhood and white privilege .
She knew whiteness would protect her , and she knew the police would land on the side of her whiteness .
Similarly , when George Zimmerman killed Trayvon Martin in 2012 , he said he did so because he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stand Your Ground ” law had his back , making it possible for a grown-ass man to get away with killing the 17-year-old Black boy he chased and stalked against the advice of 911 dispatchers .
The thing is : w hen you feel threatened by someone or something , don ’ t you move away from it ?
I am allergic to bees .
When I see bees , I get the fuck out of the way .
I don ’ t be bullshitting , either .
We could be in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I see a bee— bitch , fuck whatever it was you were saying .
I ’ m moving away from said bee even if that means moving away from you right when you are ( finally ) getting to the juicy part of the story .
Similarly , when people are afraid of dogs , they don ’ t go running toward them .
They run away from them .
All that said , make this make sense : A Florida man ( lol ) was caught on video losing his shit in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elderly woman asked him to please wear a mask .
When Mr. Roid Rage became aggressive with the woman who asked , a kind bystander stepped in to defend her .
Said bystander also started filming with their phone .
Wearing a red T-shirt with the words “ Running the world since 1776 ” ( the irony is making me constipated ) , Roid Rage charges toward the person filming .
He first yells “ You ’ re harassing me , ” and when he is told that he is not being harassed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ person filming and yells “ I feel threatened !
Back off !
Threaten me again !
Back the fuck off and put your fucking phone down !
” From the way the video is shot , you can tell that as Roid Rage advances , the person behind the camera continues to try and retreat away from him .
How are you being threatened by someone who is running away from you ?
That is a question for every cop , and I suppose now it will become one for everyday regular degular @ @ @ @ @

This won’t be long, because I am not going to belabor the point.
Much in the same way white people have weaponized the police against Black bodies, they have also adopted the language of those who protect and uplift whiteness and white supremacy—the police.
Historically, we’ve seen that the only thing a cop needs to say in order to get away with killing a Black person is “I feared for my life.”
Advertisement
Similarly, white people are using “I felt threatened” or that their life was in danger or that they thought someone had a gun, to get away with the extrajudicial killing of Black people.
When Amy Cooper encountered Christian Cooper in Central Park, she didn’t like it that a Black man asked her (no matter how politely) to leash her dog. Never mind that they were in an area of Central Park where dogs are required to be leashed; Amy decided this uppity- ass nigger wasn’t going to tell her what to do. Not tuh-day, honey. So she went into white woman- mode, put on her best victim voice and lied and told the police that Christian was threatening her and her dog. She made sure to mention that he was a) a man and b) Black, and she included the lie that he was threatening her because “Black man” and “threat” are a racist dog whistle to cops—especially cops who disregard Black lives and don’t mind taking them.
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Her stupid- ass apology aside, Amy knew exactly what she was doing when she weaponized the cops against Christian, and she knew that in doing so, it could result in bodily harm coming to him. She wanted him to be put in his place, and she wanted him to see and be aware that she could make that happen.
It was a gross display of white supremacy, white woman victimhood and white privilege.
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She knew whiteness would protect her, and she knew the police would land on the side of her whiteness.
Similarly, when George Zimmerman killed Trayvon Martin in 2012, he said he did so because he felt threatened. Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law had his back, making it possible for a grown-ass man to get away with killing the 17-year-old Black boy he chased and stalked against the advice of 911 dispatchers.
Advertisement
The thing is: w hen you feel threatened by someone or something, don’t you move away from it?
I am allergic to bees. When I see bees, I get the fuck out of the way. I don’t be bullshitting, either. We could be in the middle of a conversation, and if I see a bee— bitch, fuck whatever it was you were saying. I’m moving away from said bee even if that means moving away from you right when you are (finally) getting to the juicy part of the story.
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Similarly, when people are afraid of dogs, they don’t go running toward them. They run away from them.
All that said, make this make sense:
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A Florida man (lol) was caught on video losing his shit in the middle of Costco after a nice elderly woman asked him to please wear a mask.
When Mr. Roid Rage became aggressive with the woman who asked, a kind bystander stepped in to defend her. Said bystander also started filming with their phone.
Advertisement
Wearing a red T-shirt with the words “Running the world since 1776” (the irony is making me constipated), Roid Rage charges toward the person filming. He first yells “You’re harassing me,” and when he is told that he is not being harassed, he begins advancing menacingly toward the person filming and yells “I feel threatened! Back off! Threaten me again! Back the fuck off and put your fucking phone down!”
From the way the video is shot, you can tell that as Roid Rage advances, the person behind the camera continues to try and retreat away from him.
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How are you being threatened by someone who is running away from you?
That is a question for every cop, and I suppose now it will become one for everyday regular degular white people, too.


theroot--2020-07-07--Trump’s Niece Confirms It: The President Is a Neglected Child Who Has Always Been a Liar

President Trump ’ s niece Mary L. Trump is doing the Lord ’ s work by single-handedly exposing him for being the petulant child we all know and hate .
According to big news sites that have received copies of Mary Trump ’ s tell-all book , Too Much and Never Enough : How My Family Created the World ’ s Most Dangerous Man ( The Root only receives books by authors who self-publish and mostly those are Tyler Perry-esque books about B lack love and betrayal and bad wigs ) , they found that the entire family is one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a daunting patriarch who ‘ destroyed ’ Donald Trump by short-circuiting his “ ability to develop and experience the entire spectrum of human emotion , ” reports the Washington Post , who was lucky enough to get a copy of the book .
The difference between Mary ’ s book on the Trumps and other books on the Trumps is that she was with them shooting in the dysfunctional gym .
She didn ’ t just live through the experience , but she later became a clinical psychologist and offers psychological analysis of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just 16 , Mary lost her father , Fred Jr. , the president ’ s older brother , to an alcohol-related illness .
Trump told the Post last year that he and his father pushed Fred Jr. to join the family business .
It ’ s a decision he now regrets or at least he told the Post that he did .
Mary , 55 , writes that Donald avoided his father ’ s wrath because “ his personality served his father ’ s purpose .
That ’ s what sociopaths do : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their own ends—ruthlessly and efficiently , with no tolerance for dissent or resistance.
” I don ’ t normally talk like this but , “ Yes , hunty !
Yes !
” Apparently , Fred Jr. took the heat from his father and Donald Trump witnessed that and worked to avoid it .
“ By limiting Donald ’ s access to his own feelings and rendering many of them unacceptable , Fred perverted his son ’ s perception of the world and damaged his ability to live in it.
” Again , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : “ Bitch , you better shut the front door !
” Mary Trump explains that each of her grandfather ’ s children lied to him but they did so for different reasons .
For her father , “ lying was defensive—not simply a way to circumvent his father ’ s disapproval or to avoid punishment , as it was for the others , but a way to survive.
” For her uncle Donald , however , “ lying was primarily a mode of self-aggrandizement meant to convince other people he was better @ @ @ @ @ @ @ writes , the Post reports .
Being fun and easygoing didn ’ t play well in a Trump house .
Mary writes that her father had a “ natural sense of humor , sense of adventure , and sensitivity , ” and he was forced to hide this part of himself from his father .
“ Softness was unthinkable in his namesake , ” she writes , the Post reports .
“ Fred [ Sr. ] hated it when his oldest son screwed up or failed to intuit what was required of him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when , after being taken to task , Freddy [ Fred Jr. ] apologized .
Mary wrote that her grandfather often mocked her dad for being apologetic as he wanted “ his oldest son to be a ‘ killer.
’ ” Mary believes that Donald being almost eight years younger than Fred allowed him time to learn what not to do to piss his father off .
“ The lesson he learned , at its simplest , was that it was wrong to be like Freddy : Fred didn ’ t respect his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Mary notes that at an early age , Donald showed signs of being a pain in the ass .
He apparently loved to fuck with his little brother Robert and would take his beloved Tonka trucks that he ’ d gotten for Christmas and hide them and then act like he didn ’ t know where they were—much like Donald Trump has done now with his tax returns .
And if Robert didn ’ t stop crying , punk-ass Donald would threaten to break the trucks in front of him .
All @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the light of day after Robert Trump filed a petition in New York Supreme Court in an attempt to stop the publication of the book , noting that a confidentiality agreement signed after Mary took her aunts and uncles to court to fight for her and her brother ’ s share of her father ’ s settlement prevented her from telling this story .
“ But the court ’ s appellate division ruled last week that the publisher , Simon & Schuster , was not a party to that agreement and lifted a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Post notes .
The Post also points out that Mary Trump was quiet during Trump ’ s campaign but once he won the presidential election she went to Twitter to write : “ Worst night of my life.
” She reportedly wrote that some 12 times before deleting the tweets .
“ We should be judged harshly … I grieve for our country , ” she also tweeted .
The book , on pre-orders alone , has already become a bestseller , and the publisher has moved the book ’ s release @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the original release date , the Post reports .

President Trump’s niece Mary L. Trump is doing the Lord’s work by single-handedly exposing him for being the petulant child we all know and hate.
According to big news sites that have received copies of Mary Trump’s tell-all book, Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World’s Most Dangerous Man (The Root only receives books by authors who self-publish and mostly those are Tyler Perry-esque books about B lack love and betrayal and bad wigs), they found that the entire family is one big ball of trauma “exacerbated by a daunting patriarch who ‘destroyed’ Donald Trump by short-circuiting his “ability to develop and experience the entire spectrum of human emotion,” reports the Washington Post, who was lucky enough to get a copy of the book .
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The difference between Mary’s book on the Trumps and other books on the Trumps is that she was with them shooting in the dysfunctional gym. She didn’t just live through the experience, but she later became a clinical psychologist and offers psychological analysis of her uncle.
In 1981, at just 16, Mary lost her father, Fred Jr., the president’s older brother, to an alcohol-related illness. Trump told the Post last year that he and his father pushed Fred Jr. to join the family business. It’s a decision he now regrets or at least he told the Post that he did.
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Mary, 55, writes that Donald avoided his father’s wrath because “his personality served his father’s purpose. That’s what sociopaths do: they co-opt others and use them toward their own ends—ruthlessly and efficiently, with no tolerance for dissent or resistance.”
I don’t normally talk like this but, “Yes, hunty! Yes!”
Apparently, Fred Jr. took the heat from his father and Donald Trump witnessed that and worked to avoid it.
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“By limiting Donald’s access to his own feelings and rendering many of them unacceptable, Fred perverted his son’s perception of the world and damaged his ability to live in it.”
Again, I don’t speak this way but: “Bitch, you better shut the front door!”
Mary Trump explains that each of her grandfather’s children lied to him but they did so for different reasons.
Advertisement
For her father, “lying was defensive—not simply a way to circumvent his father’s disapproval or to avoid punishment, as it was for the others, but a way to survive.”
For her uncle Donald, however, “lying was primarily a mode of self-aggrandizement meant to convince other people he was better than he actually was,” Trump writes, the Post reports.
Advertisement
Being fun and easygoing didn’t play well in a Trump house. Mary writes that her father had a “natural sense of humor, sense of adventure, and sensitivity,” and he was forced to hide this part of himself from his father.
“Softness was unthinkable in his namesake,” she writes, the Post reports.
“Fred [Sr.] hated it when his oldest son screwed up or failed to intuit what was required of him, but he hated it even more when, after being taken to task, Freddy [Fred Jr.] apologized.
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Mary wrote that her grandfather often mocked her dad for being apologetic as he wanted “his oldest son to be a ‘killer.’”
Mary believes that Donald being almost eight years younger than Fred allowed him time to learn what not to do to piss his father off.
Advertisement
“The lesson he learned, at its simplest, was that it was wrong to be like Freddy: Fred didn’t respect his oldest son, so neither would Donald.”
Mary notes that at an early age, Donald showed signs of being a pain in the ass. He apparently loved to fuck with his little brother Robert and would take his beloved Tonka trucks that he’d gotten for Christmas and hide them and then act like he didn’t know where they were—much like Donald Trump has done now with his tax returns. And if Robert didn’t stop crying, punk-ass Donald would threaten to break the trucks in front of him.
Advertisement
All this scalding hot tea almost never saw the light of day after Robert Trump filed a petition in New York Supreme Court in an attempt to stop the publication of the book, noting that a confidentiality agreement signed after Mary took her aunts and uncles to court to fight for her and her brother’s share of her father’s settlement prevented her from telling this story.
“But the court’s appellate division ruled last week that the publisher, Simon & Schuster, was not a party to that agreement and lifted a temporary restraining order against it,” the Post notes.
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The Post also points out that Mary Trump was quiet during Trump’s campaign but once he won the presidential election she went to Twitter to write: “Worst night of my life.”
She reportedly wrote that some 12 times before deleting the tweets.
“We should be judged harshly … I grieve for our country,” she also tweeted.
The book, on pre-orders alone, has already become a bestseller, and the publisher has moved the book’s release to July 14, two weeks ahead of the original release date, the Post reports.


theroot--2020-07-07--Stay Cool for the Summer With $50 off This Dyson Hot + Cool Fan

If you ’ re fortunate enough to have a heater and/or cooler in your home , you probably don ’ @ @ @ @ @ maintaining a comfortable temperature .
Not every house comes equipped with them , though , @ @ @ @ @ even more miserable .
A good circulator fan might do the job for some people @ @ @ @ @ re looking for something more heavy duty , a fan like this one from Dyson @ @ @ @ @ and summer alike .
Typically , it costs around $ 220 , but a refurbished @ @ @ @ @ 170 right now on Newegg .

Jordan McMahon on Kinja Deals, shared by Ignacia to The Root

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Perfect for night-time purification: The Quiet Mark-accredited Dyson AM11 purifier fan is engineered for night-long purification.
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Remote control: 10 precise airflow settings. Magnetized to store on the machine.
In The Box: Remote Control


theroot--2020-07-07--Memes Are Robbing Breonna Taylor of Her Story

If you believe what you read on the internet , it ’ s a beautiful day to arrest the cops who killed Breonna Taylor .
The turn of phrase has become near-ubiquitous on social media in recent weeks as attention for her case dwindles once again .
Early participants in the growing meme earnestly sought to draw attention to Taylor , a 26-year-old EMT from Louisville , Kentucky , who was killed in her home by three police officers when they executed a no-knock warrant on the apartment she shared with her boyfriend Kenneth Walker .
Her death drew limited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her remained employed and uncharged .
But what began as sincere tweets and photos , urging people to remember to show up for Taylor ’ s case , quickly morphed into a distasteful meme genre of its own .
Absent any specific call to actions , “ arrest the cops who killed Breonna Taylor ” became a clarion call , divorced from Taylor ’ s life and image—the newest virtue signal of choice , one that defies the current conversation around the abolition of police and prisons .
Pithy fake-out tweets about everyday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and baking became avenues for users to signal that they were Good People™ and had not forgotten about Taylor ’ s case .
Over on Instagram , they accompanied selfies and implied nudes .
Once the momentum passed , people found creative ways to go back to doing what they ’ d always been doing .
Focus shifted from Breonna herself and onto the same sort of clever one-upmanship typically rewarded by social media .
This violation added to the injustice of Breonna Taylor ’ s death , which did not appear to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ felt for Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd .
There were far fewer people who saw a Black woman ’ s death as a tragedy in need of immediate mobilization—a fact that incensed and injured the Black women left behind to see her name and story be erased in real-time .
I was one of those Black women .
And as the protests in support of George Floyd received wall-to-wall media coverage , I created the # BirthdayForBreonna social media campaign to try to bring her story back into the media cycle on June @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 27th birthday .
I wanted to create space not just to remember Taylor , but for all the Black women who were once again swallowing the bitterness of seeing the way we are continually erased from the collective narrative around police brutality in service of elevating the stories of Black men .
We needed to publicly mourn her because we were the only ones who would .
To be blunt , it worked .
Just as I had asked , people flooded social media with remembrances for Breonna Taylor , followed the action @ @ @ @ @ @ @ birthday cards to the Louisville Attorney General demanding action in her case .
It was a show of support much larger than I ever could have hoped for , and it was incredibly moving to see total strangers take it upon themselves to go above and beyond in her name .
One woman flew from Florida to Kentucky to attend a rally .
Another baked Breonna a cake and sold slices , with proceeds benefiting the Louisville bail fund .
Her family ’ s GoFundMe—initially with a modest ask of $ 500,000—is still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ranging from Charlize Theron to Busy Philipps to Neko Case encouraged people to participate and donate .
Alicia Keys sang her happy birthday .
Gugu Mbatha-Raw painted her portrait .
A month later , little has changed .
“ No-knock ” warrants are now banned in Louisville , but no criminal charges have been filed against the officers .
While on the ground protests and demonstrations have continued , Taylor ’ s name has once again fallen out of the news .
Unfortunately , her memory has been continuously invoked in the proliferation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goals of those who want to see her get justice .
But the definition of what that justice should look like has shifted significantly in a manner of weeks .
Activists have succeeded in making police abolition a mainstream political consideration , meaning that calling for the arrest of the officers in Taylor ’ s case is now a message that is out of step with the current demands for police and prison abolition .
As a result , people invested in Taylor ’ s case are divided into two factions : those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ justice and those who want to use her case as an example of how to enact alternative , more progressive means of redress that can be modeled for the future .
Taylor ’ s is the only case of the three mentioned above that has not seen any arrests .
One of the officers involved , Brett Hankison , was fired from the police force , but only after unrelated allegations of repeated sexual assault were made against him .
The other two officers—Jon Mattingly and Myles Cosgrove—have been placed on administrative leave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the infuriatingly slow pace of the case , it makes sense that supporters would try to bring it back into focus in an effort to earn the same consequences for all of her killers .
But as Miranda Robinson , a Black project manager from Boston told me in a brief interview , the facile simplicity of these deft memetic turns “ doesn ’ t call on people to do any deep thinking about reconciling their calls to abolish the police with demanding we ‘ arrest ’ these cops.
” I reached @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disaffection for the growing trend and many shared similar sentiments .
Arika Thames , a Black woman from Washington D.C. , said that “ sharing these memes does a disservice to the abolitionist movement because it seeks to legitimize and uphold the prison system that we are currently trying to tear down.
” “ It ’ s literally lip service , ” Katherine Terumi , a mixed-race communications strategist from San Francisco , told me .
And it ’ s easy to see why she ’ d think so .
Reposting a meme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s nothing very novel about it .
“ It ’ s the easiest way for them to nod to the movement and seem woke without interrupting their scheduled programming .
The vast majority of people will see a photo and double-tap and keep it moving.
” Robinson agreed .
“ People are desperate to go back to posting their selfies and memes but still want to get their cookies for caring about Black lives , with a cherry on top for their cleverness .
It feels dismissive .
Like she ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You could slot any name , or frankly any cause , into their little captions and it wouldn ’ t change a thing because it ’ s totally divorced from lifting her up , mourning her , or preventing more like her , ” she said .
The acceptance of this kind of humor , Robinson believes , is a sting of disrespect for Black women .
“ I think there would be tone policing about this lack of solemnity were it regarding anyone other than a Black woman , ” she said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these memes feels like yet another way in which Black women are erased .
Even in death , Taylor has not been allowed to stay at the center of her own story .
Coverage of and reverence for Black people killed by police divide cleanly along gender lines , with Black women squarely on the wrong side .
Rapper Jay-Z released an open letter demanding justice for George Floyd , and within the week , the officers involved in his case were charged .
Beyoncé released a similar letter in support of Breonna @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Louisville ’ s city administration .
It ’ s hard to conclude anything other than that Black women have been deemed disposable .
Black women ask for consideration and get nothing but dismissal in return .
Christine Boyer , a white writer from Boston , told me the memes flatten the potential of Taylor ’ s life .
“ When she ’ s diluted down to a glib , cutesy meme it ’ s a dishonor to her .
She was very much a real person , with real thoughts and dreams and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of hurting family , friends , and acquaintances.
” Thames felt the memes also disregarded Taylor ’ s family .
“ Imagine being her family member and everyone on the internet is trying to make the best meme about your loved one ’ s death , ” she said .
It ’ s additional cruelty that Black women now know what is on the table should they meet their own demise .
I believe and support the abolitionist arguments in the abstract : It is clearly true that we can not look to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s life to then somehow validate it .
The carceral system destroys lives and elides justice ; defunding police and reinvesting into communities is a common-sense way to eliminate the need for policing in the first place .
And given how often police officers escape conviction in the rare occasions in which they are arrested and charged , asking for justice from a system that routinely exonerates them for killing Black people feels like merely delaying heartbreak .
As Kelsey Dickson , a Black sales administrator , told me , “ Police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anyone .
There need to be firings with no new cops hired to replace them.
” The goal , therefore , is not to punish , but to prevent further harm .
While that demand makes sense with the goal of dismantling police and prisons in mind , it still feels like an injustice that all these men should lose is their jobs .
People lose their jobs every day , and it is hard to reconcile that in exchange for snuffing out a promising young life , the only thing of value @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And then there ’ s the unequal treatment .
Why should Breonna Taylor be the only one whose family doesn ’ t get the catharsis of an arrest ?
It ’ s far too easy for Black women to be left out when synthesizing a movement into specific goals .
As Dr. Brittney Cooper noted in a conversation with For Harriet ’ s Kimberly N. Foster , in a world without police , Black women are particularly vulnerable .
It ’ s a reasonable concern given that more than 40 percent of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their lifetime .
When Black women are in critical danger , there needs to be someone who will intervene .
The problem , of course , is that with police , Black women are still vulnerable .
So if we ’ re being harmed either way , why not abolish the system we know for sure causes additional institutional harm and build something new in its wake ?
A simple quest to ensure Breonna Taylor was not forgotten as the country entered what felt like an unprecedented moment of racial reckoning became a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ built out of the ashes of the carceral system might be beyond my personal imagination , but these memes , well-intentioned as they may be , merely reinforce the very systems that led to Breonna ’ s death .
And that ’ s a problem we can fix today .

Cate Young on Jezebel, shared by Genetta M. Adams to The Root

If you believe what you read on the internet, it’s a beautiful day to arrest the cops who killed Breonna Taylor.
The turn of phrase has become near-ubiquitous on social media in recent weeks as attention for her case dwindles once again. Early participants in the growing meme earnestly sought to draw attention to Taylor, a 26-year-old EMT from Louisville, Kentucky, who was killed in her home by three police officers when they executed a no-knock warrant on the apartment she shared with her boyfriend Kenneth Walker. Her death drew limited national attention while the officers who killed her remained employed and uncharged.
Advertisement
But what began as sincere tweets and photos, urging people to remember to show up for Taylor’s case, quickly morphed into a distasteful meme genre of its own. Absent any specific call to actions, “arrest the cops who killed Breonna Taylor” became a clarion call, divorced from Taylor’s life and image—the newest virtue signal of choice, one that defies the current conversation around the abolition of police and prisons.
It became a clarion call, divorced from Taylor’s life and image.
Pithy fake-out tweets about everyday errands, album announcements, affirmations, and baking became avenues for users to signal that they were Good People™ and had not forgotten about Taylor’s case. Over on Instagram, they accompanied selfies and implied nudes. Once the momentum passed, people found creative ways to go back to doing what they’d always been doing. Focus shifted from Breonna herself and onto the same sort of clever one-upmanship typically rewarded by social media.
Advertisement
This violation added to the injustice of Breonna Taylor’s death, which did not appear to provoke the same visceral reaction that was felt for Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd. There were far fewer people who saw a Black woman’s death as a tragedy in need of immediate mobilization—a fact that incensed and injured the Black women left behind to see her name and story be erased in real-time.
I was one of those Black women. And as the protests in support of George Floyd received wall-to-wall media coverage, I created the #BirthdayForBreonna social media campaign to try to bring her story back into the media cycle on June 5, 2020—what would have been her 27th birthday. I wanted to create space not just to remember Taylor, but for all the Black women who were once again swallowing the bitterness of seeing the way we are continually erased from the collective narrative around police brutality in service of elevating the stories of Black men. We needed to publicly mourn her because we were the only ones who would.
To be blunt, it worked. Just as I had asked, people flooded social media with remembrances for Breonna Taylor, followed the action steps I laid out, and sent birthday cards to the Louisville Attorney General demanding action in her case. It was a show of support much larger than I ever could have hoped for, and it was incredibly moving to see total strangers take it upon themselves to go above and beyond in her name. One woman flew from Florida to Kentucky to attend a rally. Another baked Breonna a cake and sold slices, with proceeds benefiting the Louisville bail fund. Her family’s GoFundMe—initially with a modest ask of $500,000—is still going at over $6,000,000. Celebrities ranging from Charlize Theron to Busy Philipps to Neko Case encouraged people to participate and donate. Alicia Keys sang her happy birthday. Gugu Mbatha-Raw painted her portrait.
A month later, little has changed. “No-knock” warrants are now banned in Louisville, but no criminal charges have been filed against the officers. While on the ground protests and demonstrations have continued, Taylor’s name has once again fallen out of the news. Unfortunately, her memory has been continuously invoked in the proliferation of a grotesque meme—a perversion of the goals of those who want to see her get justice.
Advertisement
But the definition of what that justice should look like has shifted significantly in a manner of weeks. Activists have succeeded in making police abolition a mainstream political consideration, meaning that calling for the arrest of the officers in Taylor’s case is now a message that is out of step with the current demands for police and prison abolition. As a result, people invested in Taylor’s case are divided into two factions: those who want to pursue traditional means of justice and those who want to use her case as an example of how to enact alternative, more progressive means of redress that can be modeled for the future.
Taylor’s is the only case of the three mentioned above that has not seen any arrests. One of the officers involved, Brett Hankison, was fired from the police force, but only after unrelated allegations of repeated sexual assault were made against him. The other two officers—Jon Mattingly and Myles Cosgrove—have been placed on administrative leave but remain employed.
Given these facts and the infuriatingly slow pace of the case, it makes sense that supporters would try to bring it back into focus in an effort to earn the same consequences for all of her killers. But as Miranda Robinson, a Black project manager from Boston told me in a brief interview, the facile simplicity of these deft memetic turns “doesn’t call on people to do any deep thinking about reconciling their calls to abolish the police with demanding we ‘arrest’ these cops.”
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I reached out to some women after spotting their disaffection for the growing trend and many shared similar sentiments. Arika Thames, a Black woman from Washington D.C., said that “sharing these memes does a disservice to the abolitionist movement because it seeks to legitimize and uphold the prison system that we are currently trying to tear down.”
“It’s literally lip service,” Katherine Laubscher , a mixed-race communications strategist from San Francisco, told me. And it’s easy to see why she’d think so. Reposting a meme falls within routine internet parlance. There’s nothing very novel about it. “It’s the easiest way for them to nod to the movement and seem woke without interrupting their scheduled programming. The vast majority of people will see a photo and double-tap and keep it moving.”
Robinson agreed. “People are desperate to go back to posting their selfies and memes but still want to get their cookies for caring about Black lives, with a cherry on top for their cleverness. It feels dismissive. Like she’s an idea rather than a person. You could slot any name, or frankly any cause, into their little captions and it wouldn’t change a thing because it’s totally divorced from lifting her up, mourning her, or preventing more like her,” she said.
The acceptance of this kind of humor, Robinson believes, is a sting of disrespect for Black women. “I think there would be tone policing about this lack of solemnity were it regarding anyone other than a Black woman,” she said.
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Even in death, Taylor has not been allowed to stay at the center of her own story.
For many, the proliferation of these memes feels like yet another way in which Black women are erased. Even in death, Taylor has not been allowed to stay at the center of her own story. Coverage of and reverence for Black people killed by police divide cleanly along gender lines, with Black women squarely on the wrong side. Rapper Jay-Z released an open letter demanding justice for George Floyd, and within the week, the officers involved in his case were charged. Beyoncé released a similar letter in support of Breonna Taylor and was met with indignation from Louisville’s city administration. It’s hard to conclude anything other than that Black women have been deemed disposable. Black women ask for consideration and get nothing but dismissal in return.
Christine Boyer, a white writer from Boston, told me the memes flatten the potential of Taylor’s life. “When she’s diluted down to a glib, cutesy meme it’s a dishonor to her. She was very much a real person, with real thoughts and dreams and dislikes. She leaves behind a world of hurting family, friends, and acquaintances.”
Thames felt the memes also disregarded Taylor’s family. “Imagine being her family member and everyone on the internet is trying to make the best meme about your loved one’s death,” she said. It’s additional cruelty that Black women now know what is on the table should they meet their own demise.
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I believe and support the abolitionist arguments in the abstract: It is clearly true that we cannot look to the same violent system that took Breonna’s life to then somehow validate it. The carceral system destroys lives and elides justice; defunding police and reinvesting into communities is a common-sense way to eliminate the need for policing in the first place. And given how often police officers escape conviction in the rare occasions in which they are arrested and charged, asking for justice from a system that routinely exonerates them for killing Black people feels like merely delaying heartbreak. As Kelsey Dickson, a Black sales administrator, told me, “Police policing other police doesn’t liberate anyone. There need to be firings with no new cops hired to replace them.” The goal, therefore, is not to punish, but to prevent further harm.
While that demand makes sense with the goal of dismantling police and prisons in mind, it still feels like an injustice that all these men should lose is their jobs. People lose their jobs every day, and it is hard to reconcile that in exchange for snuffing out a promising young life, the only thing of value these men might lose is their pensions. And then there’s the unequal treatment. Why should Breonna Taylor be the only one whose family doesn’t get the catharsis of an arrest?
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It’s far too easy for Black women to be left out when synthesizing a movement into specific goals. As Dr. Brittney Cooper noted in a conversation with For Harriet’s Kimberly N. Foster, in a world without police, Black women are particularly vulnerable. It’s a reasonable concern given that more than 40 percent of Black women will experience domestic abuse in their lifetime. When Black women are in critical danger, there needs to be someone who will intervene. The problem, of course, is that with police, Black women are still vulnerable. So if we’re being harmed either way, why not abolish the system we know for sure causes additional institutional harm and build something new in its wake?
A simple quest to ensure Breonna Taylor was not forgotten as the country entered what felt like an unprecedented moment of racial reckoning became a complicated mass of issues. What we built out of the ashes of the carceral system might be beyond my personal imagination, but these memes, well-intentioned as they may be, merely reinforce the very systems that led to Breonna’s death. And that’s a problem we can fix today.
Update 7/8/20: This post has been updated to include Katherine Laubscher’s full name.


theroot--2020-07-07--Hair Love to Young Love: HBO Max Orders TV Series Based on Matthew A. Cherry's Oscar-Winning Animate

Hair Love to Young Love: HBO Max Orders TV Series Based on Matthew A. Cherry's Oscar-Winning Animated Short

Matthew A. Cherry—the ‘ A ’ stands for accomplishments—and mannnn , does he have many .
That man is winning !
Related to the huge news of his first-look deal with Warner TV , HBO Max has confirmed an order of a 12-episode season of a new 2D animated television series called Young Love , based on Cherry ’ s animated short film , Hair Love .
Unless you ’ ve been living under a rock with absolutely no joy and light , you ’ ve seen Hair Love by now , the adorable Sony Pictures Animated short followed a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his daughter Zuri ’ s hair .
HBO Max provides the scoop on Young Love , via a press release sent to The Root : The all-new animated series Young Love expands on the family introduced in Hair Love .
Filled with comedy and heart , Young Love is an honest look into the world of the Young family – including millennial parents Stephen and Angela , their daughter Zuri and her pet cat Rocky – as they juggle their careers , marriage , parenthood , social issues , and multi-generational dynamics all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for themselves .
Cherry , who created the series , will also act as co-showrunner along with animation vet Carl Jones ( The Boondocks , Black Dynamite ) .
Executive producers will be Monica A .
Young from Blue Key Entertainment as well as Lion Forge Animation ’ s David Steward II and Carl Reed .
“ I am beyond excited to continue telling the story of Stephen , Angela and Zuri and further explore the family dynamics of a young Black millennial family we established in our short film Hair Love as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a statement .
“ Couldn ’ t ask for better partners in Sony Pictures Animation and HBO Max in helping us get Young Love out to the world.
” “ Hair Love struck a chord that is still resonating deeply with audiences of all ages , ” Billy Wee , SVP , Original Animation , HBO Max added .
“ Matthew and Sony Animation ’ s creative voices are a welcomed addition to the HBO Max family and we can ’ t wait to bring this joyous story to the world.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cherry and producer Karen Rupert Toliver ( executive vice president of creative at Sony Pictures Animation ) an Oscar .
Additionally , Cherry was recently invited into the 2020 Academy Class .
“ It ’ s a privilege to continue our partnership with Matthew Cherry , who has a gift for tapping into meaningful stories that touch our hearts .
I personally can ’ t wait to collectively laugh and cry with the Young family , ” Toliver added .
Now , t hey ’ re still super early in the TV development @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s no scheduled premiere date yet , but we ’ ll keep you posted !
Consider my calendar pre-marked !

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

Matthew A. Cherry—the ‘A’ stands for accomplishments—and mannnn, does he have many. That man is winning!
Related to the huge news of his first-look deal with Warner TV, HBO Max has confirmed an order of a 12-episode season of a new 2D animated television series called Young Love, based on Cherry’s animated short film, Hair Love.
Advertisement
Unless you’ve been living under a rock with absolutely no joy and light, you’ve seen Hair Love by now, the adorable Sony Pictures Animated short followed a Black father who was tasked with doing his daughter Zuri’s hair.
Advertisement Advertisement
HBO Max provides the scoop on Young Love, via a press release sent to The Root:
The all-new animated series Young Love expands on the family introduced in Hair Love. Filled with comedy and heart, Young Love is an honest look into the world of the Young family – including millennial parents Stephen and Angela, their daughter Zuri and her pet cat Rocky – as they juggle their careers, marriage, parenthood, social issues, and multi-generational dynamics all while striving to make a better life for themselves.
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Cherry, who created the series, will also act as co-showrunner along with animation vet Carl Jones (The Boondocks, Black Dynamite). Executive producers will be Monica A. Young from Blue Key Entertainment as well as Lion Forge Animation’s David Steward II and Carl Reed.
“I am beyond excited to continue telling the story of Stephen, Angela and Zuri and further explore the family dynamics of a young Black millennial family we established in our short film Hair Love as an animated series,” Cherry said in a statement. “Couldn’t ask for better partners in Sony Pictures Animation and HBO Max in helping us get Young Love out to the world.”
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“Hair Love struck a chord that is still resonating deeply with audiences of all ages,” Billy Wee, SVP, Original Animation, HBO Max added. “Matthew and Sony Animation’s creative voices are a welcomed addition to the HBO Max family and we can’t wait to bring this joyous story to the world.”
Advertisement
The widely beloved Hair Love won writer-director Cherry and producer Karen Rupert Toliver (executive vice president of creative at Sony Pictures Animation) an Oscar. Additionally, Cherry was recently invited into the 2020 Academy Class.
“It’s a privilege to continue our partnership with Matthew Cherry, who has a gift for tapping into meaningful stories that touch our hearts. I personally can’t wait to collectively laugh and cry with the Young family,” Toliver added.
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Now, t hey’re still super early in the TV development game at this point, so there’s no scheduled premiere date yet, but we’ll keep you posted! Consider my calendar pre-marked!


theroot--2020-07-07--While Black Shoppers Participate in #BlackoutDay2020, Sephora Shows Us the Receipts on Its Retail Bi

While Black Shoppers Participate in #BlackoutDay2020, Sephora Shows Us the Receipts on Its Retail Bias Study

Today at The Glow Up , we ’ re not celebrating a typical Big Beauty Tuesday , where we primarily focus on Black-owned beauty and fashion brands .
Instead , as Black shoppers are encouraged to shop exclusively Black ( or not at all ) for # BlackoutTuesday2020—work we do almost daily—we ’ re once again turning our attention to the many major retailers who displayed black boxes and statements of solidarity on June 2 for # BlackoutTuesday .
In the five weeks since , we ’ ve kept an eye on what initiatives are emerging to guarantee more inclusion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fashion—industries that have long excluded Black and Brown consumers , creatives and qualified talents alike .
But what about # ShoppingWhileBlack ?
The phrase and hashtag have gained significant traction over the past several years , as Black shoppers have become more vocal about the racism we ’ ve encountered in any number of retail environments—from “ dollar ” to luxury department stores—often , just for daring to browse while Black .
Among well-known retailers like Barneys New York , Macy ’ s and Victoria ’ s Secret , beauty emporium Sephora famously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former employee-turned-star chanteuse SZA reported being racially profiled in the retailer ’ s Calabasas , Calif. location .
Soon after , Sephora hosted a day of company-wide diversity training last May .
This June , their social media solidarity was backed up by a commitment to designer Aurora James ’ 15 Percent Pledge , which asked several major retailers to devote at least 15 percent of their shelf space to Black-owned prestige brands ( reflecting the just-over 13 percent of the population that African Americans comprise ) .
Sephora was the first of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pledge .
As the company shared with The Glow Up , “ Sephora recognized the importance of driving necessary change , beginning with its own business.
” Today , Tuesday , July 7 , Sephora honored # BlackoutDay2020 with the latest in a series of training sessions for corporate and store employees which incorporated both racial bias training and the results of Sephora ’ s Retail Bias Study .
The study , commissioned late last year , is “ a first-of-its-kind in size and scope national study on racial bias in retail.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for all employees to mitigate bias and drive positive change , ” Sephora partnered with the experts of the NeuroLeadership Institute ; leading the multi-phasic study are Dr. Cassi Pittman Claytor , Climo Junior Professor , Department of Sociology , Case Western Reserve University , and Dr. David K. Crockett , Professor of Marketing , Darla Moore School of Business , University of South Carolina .
Its goal ?
“ To better understand how racial hierarchies privilege some consumers and disadvantage others in stores and business ...
The study examines both consumers ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sephora and while shopping more broadly .
It takes an intersectional approach that examines the experiences of consumers across racial groups.
” “ I have to admit that I was surprised , pleasantly surprised , to have been invited to work with Sephora on the study that they commissioned on racial bias and racism in retail settings , ” Dr. Pittman Claytor said in a statement .
“ Without a doubt , retail racism is a pervasive problem , but rarely do you see companies willing to act beyond superficial and quickly implemented @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in lasting change .
By taking a step back and first conducting a systematic study , Sephora is taking the first step to employ a data-driven approach , which will generate the findings necessary so that real solutions—solutions based on information gleaned from experiences of customers and employees—can be developed and implemented .
“ While it is not feasible to completely eliminate racial bias in retail settings , it is possible to implement formal policies and to incentivize and encourage informal policies that promote inclusion and ensure that all customers have a satisfactory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I am optimistic that the results of this study will help not only Sephora but other retailers take bold steps that will ensure that Black clients , as well as other marginalized groups , are treated with the respect that they deserve.
” The results of Sephora ’ s study couldn ’ t come at a better time—and hopefully , those aforementioned other retailers really are watching : On Sunday , CNBC spoke with Pittman Claytor about the persistent issue of retail bias even in the face of the well-documented power of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : “ As Black buying power grows , racial profiling by retailers remains [ a ] persistent problem.
” None of the above issues is news to Black consumers , but perhaps most striking were the results of a Gallup poll cited in CNBC ’ s article , which read ( italics mine ) : In addition to collating existing research and data , Drs .
Pittman Claytor and Crockett “ produced a new and innovative model that helps to explain the underlying processes that generate retail racism and contribute to the pervasiveness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Their completed first phase of research confirms not only the existence but the pervasiveness of racial bias across “ all retail settings , ” pointing out that it accordingly “ impacts all customers at every stage of the shopping experience , granting some preferential treatment and others exclusionary treatment.
” While those findings may seem to state the obvious , the researchers go further in explaining how “ racially-biased and exclusionary treatment ( RBET ) “ manifests in customers ’ experiences , including what they call “ RBET as a tax ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ways in which RBET shows up in the shopping experience by explaining how a lack of policy and expectations in mitigating racial bias “ may allow individual employees to use their own discretion when interacting with a client , which can lead to unfair treatment .
This goes beyond ‘ poor service ’ and really exposes what may be happening while shopping , ” they report .
The unfair treatment manifests in myriad bias-related issues , like “ gatekeeping ” —an example of which is code words used to profile black shoppers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a customer ’ s presumed needs , status or income ; and organizational choices such as strategic merchandising that reinforces bias and exclusivity .
However , perhaps of most importance to retailers , they also demonstrate how such treatment and practices can affect their bottom line .
“ We used the first phase of our study as a teaching tool for both front-line and corporate employees to show how racial bias can create unfair barriers for consumers anywhere in the retail journey .
Now , we ’ re diving deeper , ” says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Deborah Yeh .
“ The next phases of research will help us understand how racial bias shows up for consumers of different racial backgrounds , retail employees , and in stores across the U.S. retail landscape .
While we ’ re always piloting ways to improve our service , we know we can do better , and findings should help prioritize interventions that will make the biggest impact for Sephora and the retail industry.
” To Yeh ’ s point , while the rest of retail scrambles ( and in some cases , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equity for both its employees and customers , Sephora seems to have had a headstart , as it has been launching initiatives to create a more supportive environment for several years now .
This includes the 2018 launch of its SephoraIN Communities , employee support and resource networks that include SephoraNoir for Black employees and allies ; SephoraPrism , dedicated to the interests of the LGBTQA+ community ; Mi Gente , for Hispanic employees ; leadership and development programs for female employees , working parents and more .
In addition to over $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on empowering Black communities and fund matching and points donation initiatives , as the uprisings across America amplified calls for structural changes across industries , Sephora shared data on the percentage of Black and minority employees across the company as part of Black beauty entrepreneur and Glow Up 50 honoree Sharon Chuter ’ s # PullUpForChange initiative , further “ committing to improving representation at every level from recruiting to executive leadership.
” ( At Sephora , executive-level leadership across teams is currently comprised of 45 percent people of color and 6 percent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help inform this and other initiatives to resolve racial bias and equity , the company has assembled a team of Sephora Equity Advisors , “ a group of leaders and activists who work at the intersection of race , culture , and social justice , ” including activist April Reign , who coined the viral # OscarsSoWhite hashtag .
“ Racism and racial bias are complex issues ; for organizations looking to effectively take that on , it ’ s important that companies take into account the perspective of experts in this space @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” says Reign .
“ As Sephora ’ s Equity Advisors and Partners , we are equipped to do just that .
From providing inputs to execution of the Retail Bias Study to ongoing counsel on a range of issues facing the company today , we are proud to work alongside Sephora to bring about much-needed change within the retail industry , for the betterment of our communities.
” Updated : Tuesday , 7/7/20 at 5:55 p.m. : Sephora r eached out to The Glow Up on Tuesday afternoon to clarify that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ iversity training was not , in fact , in response to SZA ’ s experience in the Calabasas location .
According to their team , “ the store closure was part of a long journey in Sephora ’ s aspiration to create a more inclusive beauty community and workplace .
While it is true that SZA ’ s experience occurred prior to the launch of the ‘ We Belong to Something Beautiful ’ campaign , neither the campaign nor training session was the result of [ her ] t weet [ about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ edited to reflect this clarification .

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

Today at The Glow Up, we’re not celebrating a typical Big Beauty Tuesday, where we primarily focus on Black-owned beauty and fashion brands. Instead, as Black shoppers are encouraged to shop exclusively Black (or not at all) for #BlackoutTuesday2020—work we do almost daily—we’re once again turning our attention to the many major retailers who displayed black boxes and statements of solidarity on June 2 for #BlackoutTuesday. In the five weeks since, we’ve kept an eye on what initiatives are emerging to guarantee more inclusion, parity and opportunity in beauty and fashion—industries that have long excluded Black and Brown consumers, creatives and qualified talents alike.
Advertisement
But what about #ShoppingWhileBlack? The phrase and hashtag have gained significant traction over the past several years, as Black shoppers have become more vocal about the racism we’ve encountered in any number of retail environments—from “dollar” to luxury department stores—often, just for daring to browse while Black.
Among well-known retailers like Barneys New York, Macy’s and Victoria’s Secret, beauty emporium Sephora famously faced their own challenges last year when former employee-turned-star chanteuse SZA reported being racially profiled in the retailer’s Calabasas, Calif. location. Soon after , Sephora hosted a day of company-wide diversity training last May. This June, their social media solidarity was backed up by a commitment to designer Aurora James’ 15 Percent Pledge, which asked several major retailers to devote at least 15 percent of their shelf space to Black-owned prestige brands (reflecting the just-over 13 percent of the population that African Americans comprise). Sephora was the first of the retailers James called upon to take the pledge.
Advertisement Advertisement
As the company shared with The Glow Up, “Sephora recognized the importance of driving necessary change, beginning with its own business.” Today, Tuesday, July 7, Sephora honored #BlackoutDay2020 with the latest in a series of training sessions for corporate and store employees which incorporated both racial bias training and the results of Sephora’s Retail Bias Study. The study, commissioned late last year, is “a first-of-its-kind in size and scope national study on racial bias in retail.”
Advertisement
To develop their “research-driven curriculum for all employees to mitigate bias and drive positive change,” Sephora partnered with the experts of the NeuroLeadership Institute; leading the multi-phasic study are Dr. Cassi Pittman Claytor, Climo Junior Professor, Department of Sociology, Case Western Reserve University, and Dr. David K. Crockett, Professor of Marketing, Darla Moore School of Business, University of South Carolina. Its goal? “To better understand how racial hierarchies privilege some consumers and disadvantage others in stores and business...The study examines both consumers’ and retail workers’ experiences, at Sephora and while shopping more broadly. It takes an intersectional approach that examines the experiences of consumers across racial groups.”
“I have to admit that I was surprised, pleasantly surprised, to have been invited to work with Sephora on the study that they commissioned on racial bias and racism in retail settings,” Dr. Pittman Claytor said in a statement. “Without a doubt, retail racism is a pervasive problem, but rarely do you see companies willing to act beyond superficial and quickly implemented solutions, that are unlikely to result in lasting change. By taking a step back and first conducting a systematic study, Sephora is taking the first step to employ a data-driven approach, which will generate the findings necessary so that real solutions—solutions based on information gleaned from experiences of customers and employees—can be developed and implemented.
Advertisement
“While it is not feasible to completely eliminate racial bias in retail settings, it is possible to implement formal policies and to incentivize and encourage informal policies that promote inclusion and ensure that all customers have a satisfactory experience,” Pittman Claytor continued. “I am optimistic that the results of this study will help not only Sephora but other retailers take bold steps that will ensure that Black clients, as well as other marginalized groups, are treated with the respect that they deserve.”
The results of Sephora’s study couldn’t come at a better time—and hopefully, those aforementioned other retailers really are watching: On Sunday, CNBC spoke with Pittman Claytor about the persistent issue of retail bias even in the face of the well-documented power of the Black dollar for an article titled: “As Black buying power grows, racial profiling by retailers remains [a] persistent problem.”
Getting snubbed by a salesperson. Followed and looked at suspiciously by a store employee. Hassled by security—and in some cases, reported to police...retail environments are one of the places where Black Americans say discrimination is prevalent, even as Black buying power grows.
Advertisement
None of the above issues is news to Black consumers, but perhaps most striking were the results of a Gallup poll cited in CNBC’s article, which read (italics mine):
Nearly 30% of Black Americans said they were treated unfairly because of their race when shopping in the past 30 days, according to the 2018 Gallup poll, the most recent data available. That’s higher than the percentage of Black Americans who reported recent mistreatment in dealings with police, at the workplace, in a health-care environment or at a restaurant or other entertainment place during that same period.
Advertisement
In addition to collating existing research and data, Drs. Pittman Claytor and Crockett “produced a new and innovative model that helps to explain the underlying processes that generate retail racism and contribute to the pervasiveness of a racial hierarchy across retail settings.” Their completed first phase of research confirms not only the existence but the pervasiveness of racial bias across “all retail settings,” pointing out that it accordingly “impacts all customers at every stage of the shopping experience, granting some preferential treatment and others exclusionary treatment.”
While those findings may seem to state the obvious, the researchers go further in explaining how “racially-biased and exclusionary treatment (RBET)“ manifests in customers’ experiences, including what they call “RBET as a tax”:
Some customers of color (e.g. Black men) pay more in this tax than others, and the added costs could consist of time spent waiting, or in the form of an emotional toll...RBET [is] a pattern of exclusion and inequality—barriers and detours that end progress or distort it for marginalized groups, including structural conditions that negatively impact all consumers of a particular racial group, irrespective of who the salesperson is, and policies, even those that seem race-neutral, that are implemented across an organization that adversely impact an entire class of consumers.
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The Phase I research further identifies the ways in which RBET shows up in the shopping experience by explaining how a lack of policy and expectations in mitigating racial bias “may allow individual employees to use their own discretion when interacting with a client, which can lead to unfair treatment. This goes beyond ‘poor service’ and really exposes what may be happening while shopping,” they report. The unfair treatment manifests in myriad bias-related issues, like “gatekeeping”—an example of which is code words used to profile black shoppers; “curating” products based on a customer’s presumed needs, status or income; and organizational choices such as strategic merchandising that reinforces bias and exclusivity. However, perhaps of most importance to retailers, they also demonstrate how such treatment and practices can affect their bottom line.
Consumers have adopted a range of coping mechanisms in response to RBET, the most common being to leave the store. When this occurs, retailers may lose out on a valuable and loyal customer, as well as lose valuable client feedback and the opportunity to combat and prevent unjust treatment in the future.
Advertisement
“We used the first phase of our study as a teaching tool for both front-line and corporate employees to show how racial bias can create unfair barriers for consumers anywhere in the retail journey. Now, we’re diving deeper,” says Sephora’s Chief Marketing Officer, Deborah Yeh. “The next phases of research will help us understand how racial bias shows up for consumers of different racial backgrounds, retail employees, and in stores across the U.S. retail landscape. While we’re always piloting ways to improve our service, we know we can do better, and findings should help prioritize interventions that will make the biggest impact for Sephora and the retail industry.”
To Yeh’s point, while the rest of retail scrambles (and in some cases, struggles) to remove bias and improve equity for both its employees and customers, Sephora seems to have had a headstart, as it has been launching initiatives to create a more supportive environment for several years now. This includes the 2018 launch of its SephoraIN Communities, employee support and resource networks that include SephoraNoir for Black employees and allies; SephoraPrism, dedicated to the interests of the LGBTQA+ community; Mi Gente, for Hispanic employees; leadership and development programs for female employees, working parents and more.
Advertisement
In addition to over $1 million in donations to organizations focused on empowering Black communities and fund matching and points donation initiatives, as the uprisings across America amplified calls for structural changes across industries, Sephora shared data on the percentage of Black and minority employees across the company as part of Black beauty entrepreneur and Glow Up 50 honoree Sharon Chuter’s #PullUpForChange initiative, further “committing to improving representation at every level from recruiting to executive leadership.” (At Sephora, executive-level leadership across teams is currently comprised of 45 percent people of color and 6 percent Black or African American.)
Advertisement
To help inform this and other initiatives to resolve racial bias and equity, the company has assembled a team of Sephora Equity Advisors, “a group of leaders and activists who work at the intersection of race, culture, and social justice,” including activist April Reign, who coined the viral #OscarsSoWhite hashtag.
“Racism and racial bias are complex issues; for organizations looking to effectively take that on, it’s important that companies take into account the perspective of experts in this space and those who have lived this experience,” says Reign. “As Sephora’s Equity Advisors and Partners, we are equipped to do just that. From providing inputs to execution of the Retail Bias Study to ongoing counsel on a range of issues facing the company today, we are proud to work alongside Sephora to bring about much-needed change within the retail industry, for the betterment of our communities.”
Advertisement
Updated: Tuesday, 7/7/20 at 5:55 p.m.: Sephora r eached out to The Glow Up on Tuesday afternoon to clarify that last year’s widely publicized d iversity training was not, in fact, in response to SZA’s experience in the Calabasas location. According to their team, “the store closure was part of a long journey in Sephora’s aspiration to create a more inclusive beauty community and workplace. While it is true that SZA’s experience occurred prior to the launch of the ‘ We Belong to Something Beautiful’ campaign, neither the campaign nor training session was the result of [her] t weet [about the incident] .” Our copy was edited to reflect this clarification.


theroot--2020-07-07--A List of Things Longer Than the Confederacy Was

1 .
The ( still growing ) gap between Anti and whatever Rihanna decides to release when she ’ s bored hawking drawers to thirsty Deltas .
3 .
The ( approximate ) driving distance between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia .
4 .
The stretch of time between middle and high school when I was just really into Chili from TLC , Tatyana Ali , Ananda Lewis and the rest of the sort of wavy-haired black girls that would have been models on Just For Me product boxes .
5 .
Don Lemon ’ s journey from Judas to ... someone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I guess .
6 .
The coma the Bride from Kill Bill was in .
7 .
The amount of time the coronatine would have to be before I started baking bread like the rest of y ’ all sourdough-ass niggas been doing .
Note from News Editor Monique Judge : Put some respect on ( managing editor ) Genetta ’ s name , Damon .
8 .
The lines at Essence Fest in 2018 in front of every restaurant name-dropped by Beyoncé .
( I still want to fight her for this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gates at Hartsfield–Jackson International Airport .
11 .
The fall from the top edge of the sunken place to the bottom , which is how Jason Whitlock has a full head of hair now .
12 .
The gap between releasing and sharing and promoting and talking about and writing about and making tour appearances with a book , and the very last Facebook-connected friend—who you know is on your page every day—saying “ Hey , why didn ’ t you tell me your book was out ?
” to you .
13 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ d really like Kanye West to just sit somewhere and read .
14 .
The bizarre and creepy Stefan Urquelle plotline on Family Matters .
( Seriously . )
15 .
The line of black women outside of IKEA each day if it changed its name to Yahya Abdul-Mateen ’ s OnlyFans .

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

1. The (still growing) gap between Anti and whatever Rihanna decides to release when she’s bored hawking drawers to thirsty Deltas.
2. The not-yet-produced comprehensive oral history of Shaun King’s greatest “investment opportunities.”
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3. The (approximate) driving distance between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.
4. The stretch of time between middle and high school when I was just really into Chili from TLC, Tatyana Ali, Ananda Lewis and the rest of the sort of wavy-haired black girls that would have been models on Just For Me product boxes.
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5. Don Lemon’s journey from Judas to...someone who is just not Judas anymore, I guess.
6. The coma the Bride from Kill Bill was in.
7. The amount of time the coronatine would have to be before I started baking bread like the rest of y’all sourdough-ass niggas been doing.
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Note from News Editor Monique Judge: Put some respect on (managing editor) Genetta’s name, Damon.
8. The lines at Essence Fest in 2018 in front of every restaurant name-dropped by Beyoncé. (I still want to fight her for this.)
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9. Tyler Perry’s wig budget.
10. The distance between gates at Hartsfield–Jackson International Airport.
11. The fall from the top edge of the sunken place to the bottom, which is how Jason Whitlock has a full head of hair now.
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12. The gap between releasing and sharing and promoting and talking about and writing about and making tour appearances with a book, and the very last Facebook-connected friend—who you know is on your page every day—saying “Hey, why didn’t you tell me your book was out?” to you.
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13. The list of books I’d really like Kanye West to just sit somewhere and read.
14. The bizarre and creepy Stefan Urquelle plotline on Family Matters. (Seriously.)
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15. The line of black women outside of IKEA each day if it changed its name to Yahya Abdul-Mateen’s OnlyFans.


theroot--2020-07-07--Figuring Out Sex Toy Storage, Part 3: Oddball Options

As part of a continuing series exploring the wide world of sex toy storage options , today we ’ ll take a look at some of the more unusual options out there—things that go well beyond a nice little pouch to stash in a bedside table drawer .
Before you buy any kind of storage piece or system , and this is true for things that are not sex toys , is to count and measure your collection to be sure the storage will fit your needs .
Consider , too , what accessories you need to store in addition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lube , condoms , chargers , etc .
should all have a home in whatever storage system you hit on .
And finally , it ’ s always a good idea to invest in storage that allows your collection to grow ( if you ’ re in the market for something new to play with , we have recommendations ! )
UVee Pro is a sterilizing unit that ’ s fitted with UV lights that sterilize toys and other items like cell phones , AirPods , face masks , etc .
The UV @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is complete , so the box itself can also serve as storage for sex toys when they ’ re not in use .
UVee also acts as a wireless charger for any toys ( or whatever else you might want to disinfect ) that are QI-enabled .
I ’ m going to level : I ’ m not really sure how great I feel about this toy storage option .
I like the idea of a pillow that is actually a secret hidey-hole for toys !
But then I think about the conditions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stored and I get worried about its health because of a lack of air circulation … so I don ’ t know , you guys !
These things exist , is I guess the extent to which I ’ m bringing this product to your attention .
Storage That Can Grow with Your Collection Stackable storage bins with lids are everywhere , like plastic underbed boxes or fabric-covered file boxes , but while in theory they ’ re great , in practice they can be a total pain to get into .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bins is that the opening is on the front side , rather than on the top where other bins are stacked , of the unit making accessing whatever you ’ re storing within very easy to grab .
And , you can expand the storage as your needs also expand by purchasing add-on boxes .
If you have an especially large collection of toys or a collection that ( wisely !
! )
includes bulky accessories like a wedge pillow , absorbent blanket , or bondage kits , a lidded storage bench is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tucked away but still close-at-hand for easy access .
There are loads of options when it comes to storage benches , both in size and in appearance—so finding something that fits with your decor and taste shouldn ’ t be a problem .
In addition to this linen-upholstered flip-top lidded bench ( which also comes in blue ) , some styles to look at are this faux leather ottoman that comes in black , brown , or beige ; this linen-esque fabric storage bench with a divided interior section ; and this blue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smaller ?
Try something like this round , tufted storage ottoman .
One last tip to mention if you ’ re going to go the larger storage option route , i.e .
one of the storage benches or bins : It ’ s important to put each toy into its own protective bag , because when toys of similar material are stored together , they can actually degrade from being in too close contact ( this is especially true of silicone toys ) .
We rounded up a bunch of different storage bag @ @ @ @ @ @ @ check out , but this set of simple drawstrings bags is a perfect , inexpensive choice for individually storing toys in a larger space .

Jolie Kerr on The Inventory, shared by Ignacia to The Root

As part of a continuing series exploring the wide world of sex toy storage options, today we’ll take a look at some of the more unusual options out there—things that go well beyond a nice little pouch to stash in a bedside table drawer.
Before you buy any kind of storage piece or system, and this is true for things that are not sex toys, is to count and measure your collection to be sure the storage will fit your needs. Consider, too, what accessories you need to store in addition to the toys themselves; things like lube, condoms, chargers, etc. should all have a home in whatever storage system you hit on. And finally, it’s always a good idea to invest in storage that allows your collection to grow (if you’re in the market for something new to play with, we have recommendations!)
Advertisement
UVee Pro is a sterilizing unit that’s fitted with UV lights that sterilize toys and other items like cell phones, AirPods, face masks, etc. The UV light will shut off when its cycle is complete, so the box itself can also serve as storage for sex toys when they’re not in use. UVee also acts as a wireless charger for any toys (or whatever else you might want to disinfect) that are QI-enabled.
Advertisement Advertisement
I’m going to level: I’m not really sure how great I feel about this toy storage option. I like the idea of a pillow that is actually a secret hidey-hole for toys! But then I think about the conditions under which the toy is actually being stored and I get worried about its health because of a lack of air circulation … so I don’t know, you guys! These things exist, is I guess the extent to which I’m bringing this product to your attention.
Advertisement
Stackable storage bins with lids are everywhere, like plastic underbed boxes or fabric-covered file boxes, but while in theory they’re great, in practice they can be a total pain to get into. The beauty of these stackable, lidded storage bins is that the opening is on the front side, rather than on the top where other bins are stacked, of the unit making accessing whatever you’re storing within very easy to grab. And, you can expand the storage as your needs also expand by purchasing add-on boxes.
Advertisement
If you have an especially large collection of toys or a collection that (wisely!!) includes bulky accessories like a wedge pillow, absorbent blanket, or bondage kits, a lidded storage bench is a discreet way to keep your goodies tucked away but still close-at-hand for easy access. There are loads of options when it comes to storage benches, both in size and in appearance—so finding something that fits with your decor and taste shouldn’t be a problem. In addition to this linen-upholstered flip-top lidded bench (which also comes in blue), some styles to look at are this faux leather ottoman that comes in black, brown, or beige; this linen-esque fabric storage bench with a divided interior section; and this blue and white patterned bench. Need something smaller? Try something like this round, tufted storage ottoman.
Advertisement
One last tip to mention if you’re going to go the larger storage option route, i.e. one of the storage benches or bins: It’s important to put each toy into its own protective bag, because when toys of similar material are stored together, they can actually degrade from being in too close contact (this is especially true of silicone toys). We rounded up a bunch of different storage bag and pouch options, which you can check out, but this set of simple drawstrings bags is a perfect, inexpensive choice for individually storing toys in a larger space.


theroot--2020-07-07--Thandie Newton Says the Film Business Doesn't Care 'If You're a Young Black Girl and You Get Raped'

Thandie Newton has a history of being quite outspoken about issues that matter to her .
But in her most recent interview , she got quite vulnerable about her own trauma .
In a feature interview with Vulture , the Emmy-winning Westworld actress did not hold back about the toxic culture in Hollywood , especially as it pertains to its exploitation of Black women .
She also opened up about her personal bouts with traumatic and triggering experiences within the entertainment industry , including her struggles with anorexia and self-worth as a result of sexual abuse .
Trigger Warning : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assault and rape .
Newton talked about her experiences filming the 1991 film , Flirting , which was my first introduction to Newton , actually .
Vulture Senior Writer E. Alex Jung brought up a valid point in that , during the press run of the film , the alleged grooming and sexual abuse that was allegedly perpetrated by director John Duigan was inaccurately reported as an “ affair.
” Newton was only 16 years old at the time .
“ I would talk about it a lot in the press , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I think it ’ s because I was traumatized .
If someone brought it up—and of course they ’ re going to bring it up in a fucking interview , man—if they spoke about it in a way that ’ s not sympathetic or they called it an affair , it was insult to injury .
It ’ s like re-abuse .
I think the reason I talked about it a lot , too , is I ’ m trying to find someone who understands .
I ’ m looking for help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to me .
What is the point if we don ’ t expose what needs to be exposed ?
” “ When I look at my career and see how affected it was by my speaking out about sexual abuse in the industry , it was massively affected in two ways , ” Newton added .
“ One , because I was dealing with my trauma—and talk about being in a triggering environment , right ?
Also , I ’ d come across people that were doing the same shit , and so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get out of it , or not want to work with people.
” Additionally , being a young Black actress unfortunately meant being exploited in various ways .
Back in 2016 , Newton recalled the time she was pressured to expose herself on camera by a director at a callback .
In a particularly poignant moment of the interview , Newton said : What I am evidence of is : You can dismiss a Black person .
If you ’ re a young Black girl and you get raped , in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to fucking care .
You can tell whoever the fuck you want , and they ’ ll call it an affair .
Until people start taking this seriously , I can ’ t fully heal .
There are so many problems [ with ] feeling disenfranchised .
But I keep finding myself alone .
There is now an appetite for listening to women , but there ’ s women and then , right at the bottom of the pile , is women of color .
So careful what you do , everybody @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over a little brown girl at the beginning of a career , when no one knows who she is and no one gives a fuck .
She might turn out to be Thandie Newton winning Emmys .
When it comes to other details of her lived experiences , Newton revealed she has a “ little black book , which will be published on [ her ] deathbed.
” “ I ’ m not doing it when I ’ m alive , ” she mused .
“ I don ’ t want to deal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their side of the story .
There is no side of the story when you ’ re sexually abused .
You give that up .
I ’ m also a Black girl , and I absolutely [ felt like I was ] being passed around .
Being Black is important .
Because certainly at the beginning of my career , when it was just , like , me and Halle Berry in our age group going up for every role : ‘ Oh , this is novel .
This is a little quick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ll let you come in for a minute .
’ ”

Tonja Renée Stidhum on The Glow Up, shared by Tonja Renée Stidhum to The Root

Thandie Newton has a history of being quite outspoken about issues that matter to her. But in her most recent interview, she got quite vulnerable about her own trauma.
In a feature interview with Vulture, the Emmy-winning Westworld actress did not hold back about the toxic culture in Hollywood, especially as it pertains to its exploitation of Black women. She also opened up about her personal bouts with traumatic and triggering experiences within the entertainment industry , including her struggles with anorexia and self-worth as a result of sexual abuse .
Trigger Warning: The following article contains quotes regarding sexual assault and rape.
Newton talked about her experiences filming the 1991 film, Flirting, which was my first introduction to Newton, actually. Vulture Senior Writer E. Alex Jung brought up a valid point in that, during the press run of the film, the alleged grooming and sexual abuse that was allegedly perpetrated by director John Duigan was inaccurately reported as an “affair.” Newton was only 16 years old at the time.
“I would talk about it a lot in the press, as you know,” Newton recalled. “I think it’s because I was traumatized. If someone brought it up—and of course they’re going to bring it up in a fucking interview, man—if they spoke about it in a way that’s not sympathetic or they called it an affair, it was insult to injury. It’s like re-abuse. I think the reason I talked about it a lot, too, is I’m trying to find someone who understands. I’m looking for help. It’s so fucking obvious to me. What is the point if we don’t expose what needs to be exposed?”
“When I look at my career and see how affected it was by my speaking out about sexual abuse in the industry, it was massively affected in two ways,” Newton added. “One, because I was dealing with my trauma—and talk about being in a triggering environment, right? Also, I’d come across people that were doing the same shit, and so I would challenge them, or want to get out of it, or not want to work with people.”
Additionally, being a young Black actress unfortunately meant being exploited in various ways. Back in 2016, Newton recalled the time she was pressured to expose herself on camera by a director at a callback.
In a particularly poignant moment of the interview, Newton said:
What I am evidence of is: You can dismiss a Black person. If you’re a young Black girl and you get raped, in the film business, no one’s going to fucking care. You can tell whoever the fuck you want, and they’ll call it an affair. Until people start taking this seriously, I can’t fully heal. There are so many problems [with] feeling disenfranchised. But I keep finding myself alone. There is now an appetite for listening to women, but there’s women and then, right at the bottom of the pile, is women of color. So careful what you do, everybody, because you might find yourself fucking over a little brown girl at the beginning of a career, when no one knows who she is and no one gives a fuck. She might turn out to be Thandie Newton winning Emmys.
When it comes to other details of her lived experiences, Newton revealed she has a “little black book, which will be published on [her] deathbed.”
“I’m not doing it when I’m alive,” she mused. “I don’t want to deal with all the fallout and everyone getting their side of the story. There is no side of the story when you’re sexually abused. You give that up. I’m also a Black girl, and I absolutely [felt like I was] being passed around. Being Black is important. Because certainly at the beginning of my career, when it was just, like, me and Halle Berry in our age group going up for every role: ‘Oh, this is novel. This is a little quick flash in the pan. We’ll let you come in for a minute.’”