theroot--2020-07-08--Mississippi to Vote on Changing Jim Crow Era Voting Law

Voting laws in this country are generally crafted to favor white people at the expense of everyone else .
Whether it ’ s gerrymandering districts to the point where a court has to step in or closing down polling stations in predominantly Black areas , it ’ s sadly not uncommon to see the Black vote undermined .
In Mississippi , voting rights advocates have long argued that a law dating back to the Jim Crow-era severely impedes the effectiveness of the Black vote .
CNN reports that Mississippi voters will decide on a constitutional amendment that will strike down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state-level elections to receive the popular vote as well as win the majority of the state ’ s 122 House districts .
If the candidate doesn ’ t win both , the vote is then decided upon by the Mississippi House of Representatives which , as of now , is entirely controlled by Republicans .
The amendment will change the law so whoever wins the majority vote , wins the election .
Should no single candidate receive the majority vote , a runoff election will be held between the top two .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ faced mounting pressure and possible court action stemming from a June 2019 challenge to the Electoral College-type voting system .
The federal lawsuit , brought by four Black Mississippi voters against then-Mississippi Republican Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann and Mississippi Republican House Speaker Philip Gunn , argued that the voting process was set up to “ entrench white control ” of the state and makes it harder for Black people to win statewide races .
The suit said the distribution of voters by race through state House districts means a candidate preferred by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ districts with a much lower share of the overall vote than a candidate preferred by Black voters .
It described the provision turning over the election to the state House as a “ failsafe ” for White people in the state .
US District Judge Daniel Jordan III in November wrote that that he had “ grave concern that at least the Electoral-Vote Rule is unconstitutional.
” The next month , Jordan ruled to put the lawsuit on hold in order to give the state Legislature time to remedy the system on their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2023 .
Last week , Mississippi voted in favor of putting the amendment on the ballot for November ’ s general election .
Mississippi is one of the only states to utilize an electoral college-style system for state elections .
Multiple advocacy groups have come out in favor of the amendment .
The Mississippi Center for Justice released a statement praising the vote .
“ In the wake of the historic removal of the Confederate emblem from our state ’ s flag , we are pleased the legislature is taking this additional step @ @ @ @ @ @ @ post-Reconstruction era from Mississippi law , ” Vangela M. Wade , the organization ’ s president , said in the statement .
Eric Holder , former U.S. Attorney General and anti-gerrymandering advocate , has also spoken out in favor of the amendment .
“ As our country reviews its past , I remain hopeful that we will continue to address these unfair , painful parts of our history and set in place laws that live up to America ’ s founding ideals , ” Holder said .
The most recent instance of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during Mississippi ’ s gubernatorial race .
The election resulted in neither candidate from either party receiving a majority of the vote .
According to the New York Times , this resulted in Democrat Ronnie Musgrove being chosen by the state legislature by a vote of 86-36 .
This was the first time the Governor ’ s race was decided by the House and ended an eight year run of Republicans holding the office .

Voting laws in this country are generally crafted to favor white people at the expense of everyone else. Whether it’s gerrymandering districts to the point where a court has to step in or closing down polling stations in predominantly Black areas, it’s sadly not uncommon to see the Black vote undermined. In Mississippi, voting rights advocates have long argued that a law dating back to the Jim Crow-era severely impedes the effectiveness of the Black vote.
CNN reports that Mississippi voters will decide on a constitutional amendment that will strike down a law that requires the winners of state-level elections to receive the popular vote as well as win the majority of the state’s 122 House districts. If the candidate doesn’t win both, the vote is then decided upon by the Mississippi House of Representatives which, as of now, is entirely controlled by Republicans. The amendment will change the law so whoever wins the majority vote, wins the election. Should no single candidate receive the majority vote, a runoff election will be held between the top two.
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From CNN:
The proposed constitutional change comes as state legislators faced mounting pressure and possible court action stemming from a June 2019 challenge to the Electoral College-type voting system. The federal lawsuit, brought by four Black Mississippi voters against then-Mississippi Republican Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann and Mississippi Republican House Speaker Philip Gunn, argued that the voting process was set up to “entrench white control” of the state and makes it harder for Black people to win statewide races. The suit said the distribution of voters by race through state House districts means a candidate preferred by White voters can win the majority of districts with a much lower share of the overall vote than a candidate preferred by Black voters. It described the provision turning over the election to the state House as a “failsafe” for White people in the state. US District Judge Daniel Jordan III in November wrote that that he had “grave concern that at least the Electoral-Vote Rule is unconstitutional.” The next month, Jordan ruled to put the lawsuit on hold in order to give the state Legislature time to remedy the system on their own before the next statewide races in 2023.
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Last week, Mississippi voted in favor of putting the amendment on the ballot for November’s general election. Mississippi is one of the only states to utilize an electoral college-style system for state elections.
Multiple advocacy groups have come out in favor of the amendment. The Mississippi Center for Justice released a statement praising the vote. “In the wake of the historic removal of the Confederate emblem from our state’s flag, we are pleased the legislature is taking this additional step to remove this racist relic of the post-Reconstruction era from Mississippi law,” Vangela M. Wade, the organization’s president, said in the statement. Eric Holder, former U.S. Attorney General and anti-gerrymandering advocate, has also spoken out in favor of the amendment. “As our country reviews its past, I remain hopeful that we will continue to address these unfair, painful parts of our history and set in place laws that live up to America’s founding ideals,” Holder said.
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The most recent instance of the voting law being enforced came in 1999 during Mississippi’s gubernatorial race. The election resulted in neither candidate from either party receiving a majority of the vote. According to the New York Times, this resulted in Democrat Ronnie Musgrove being chosen by the state legislature by a vote of 86-36. This was the first time the Governor’s race was decided by the House and ended an eight year run of Republicans holding the office.


theroot--2020-07-08--What Is 'Morris Chestnut Fine'?

What Is 'Morris Chestnut Fine'?

Much like her daughters , my mama is always here for some good eye candy .
Whenever she sees a particularly attractive man , she refers to him as a “ stud muffin , ” and it cracks me up every time .
So , I immediately thought of her when I realized the reason “ Morris Chestnut ” was trending on Twitter Wednesday .
It all started with comedian Mel Mitchell bringing the following delightful joy to the timeline : “ They do not make niggas this fine no more dawg , ” Mitchell tweeted on Wednesday , captioning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ ve looked .
They not at brunch .
They not at church .
They not at the club .
They not at Publix .
Nowhere.
” Not even in a house ; not even with a mouse ; you can not , will not find that type of Morris Chestnut fine , damn !
Morris leads with smoothness .
Morris is a velvet vision .
Morris makes you want to say “ it don ’ t make no goddamn sense to be that fine !
” In fact , when I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like the words “ fine ” or “ handsome ” doesn ’ t even quite work well enough .
The perfect word for his level of good looks is best described by his own character in Two Can Play That Game : debonair .
( Editor ’ s note : Morris Chestnut really is one of Gen X ’ s Billy Dees , isn ’ t he ? )
There ’ s one scene in the film with Anthony Anderson ( Tony ) where Morris ’ Keith gives a play-by-play on what happened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ away from Vivica A.
Fox ’ s Shante in his favor .
It went a little something like this : Mitchell ’ s tweet made me wonder , though—do they ( they , meaning the Fine Ass Nigga Factory ) make them like him anymore ?
Is there a specific type of Black-ass actor that ’ s poppin ’ right now who you ’ d put under the “ Morris Chestnut Fine ” category ?
I immediately thought of Yahya Abdul-Mateen II ( Editor ’ s note : Yessir ) , but also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
For The Root ’ s Freelance Contributor Ishena Robinson , it ’ s Mahershala Ali .
Actually , she typed this exact word , in this exact style : “ MAHERSHALA , ” in about .00002 seconds after I sent the question to the team .
I mean , did she lie ?
The Glow Up ’ s Managing Editor Maiysha Kai went for Chiwetel Ejiofor ( who could read a phone book and keep me enraptured ) and suggests that for a younger demo , Kofi Siriboe is a lock ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ all remember the way Jada Pinkett Smith was staring at him in Girls Trip ! )
She also threw in the funniest addendum I read today : “ Commoners will say Idris [ Elba ] .
” I mean , he is an easy pick .
Too easy .
( See my face when I finally got to interview him . )
Then , Maiysha threw in another whammy , “ OOH TREVANTE [ RHODES ] !
” Listen , he practically reinvented Calvin Klein underwear ads as soon as he decided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , by the grace of God .
Maiysha not only won with her array of answers , but she won at life because the very topic of this blog , Morris Thee Chestnut , is following her on Twitter .
Mic dropped ; glowed up .
( Editor ’ s note : I still get a tingle just thinking about it . )
Now , the floor is yours : What popular Black actor of today would you say is “ Morris Chestnut Fine ?
” Do they make Morris Chestnuts anymore ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the comments ...

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

Much like her daughters, my mama is always here for some good eye candy. Whenever she sees a particularly attractive man, she refers to him as a “stud muffin,” and it cracks me up every time.
So, I immediately thought of her when I realized the reason “Morris Chestnut” was trending on Twitter Wednesday.
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It all started with comedian Mel Mitchell bringing the following delightful joy to the timeline:
Advertisement Advertisement
“They do not make niggas this fine no more dawg,” Mitchell tweeted on Wednesday, captioning a still shot of Chestnut. “I’ve looked. They not at brunch. They not at church. They not at the club. They not at Publix. Nowhere.”
Not even in a house; not even with a mouse; you cannot, will not find that type of Morris Chestnut fine, damn! Morris leads with smoothness. Morris is a velvet vision. Morris makes you want to say “it don’t make no goddamn sense to be that fine!”
Advertisement
In fact, when I think of Morris, it’s like the words “fine” or “handsome” doesn’t even quite work well enough. The perfect word for his level of good looks is best described by his own character in Two Can Play That Game: debonair. (Editor’s note: Morris Chestnut really is one of Gen X’s Billy Dees, isn’t he?)
There’s one scene in the film with Anthony Anderson (Tony) where Morris’ Keith gives a play-by-play on what happened the night he “transferred energy” away from Vivica A. Fox’s Shante in his favor. It went a little something like this:
Keith: I got over there about 10:00...all dressed up, looking good and suave and...debonair. Tony: Like Denzel? Keith: Better than Denzel.
That’s quite a claim, fictional Morris!
Mitchell’s tweet made me wonder, though—do they (they, meaning the Fine Ass Nigga Factory) make them like him anymore? Is there a specific type of Black-ass actor that’s poppin’ right now who you’d put under the “Morris Chestnut Fine” category?
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I immediately thought of Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Editor’s note: Yessir), but also wanted The Root Staff to weigh in.
Advertisement
For The Root’s Freelance Contributor Ishena Robinson, it’s Mahershala Ali. Actually, she typed this exact word, in this exact style: “MAHERSHALA,” in about .00002 seconds after I sent the question to the team.
Advertisement
I mean, did she lie?
The Glow Up’s Managing Editor Maiysha Kai went for Chiwetel Ejiofor (who could read a phone book and keep me enraptured) and suggests that for a younger demo, Kofi Siriboe is a lock (though, to be fair, y’all remember the way Jada Pinkett Smith was staring at him in Girls Trip!) She also threw in the funniest addendum I read today: “Commoners will say Idris [Elba].”
Advertisement
Advertisement
I mean, he is an easy pick. Too easy. (See my face when I finally got to interview him.)
Advertisement
Then, Maiysha threw in another whammy, “OOH TREVANTE [RHODES]!” Listen, he practically reinvented Calvin Klein underwear ads as soon as he decided to don a pair for the world, by the grace of God.
Advertisement
Maiysha not only won with her array of answers, but she won at life because the very topic of this blog, Morris Thee Chestnut, is following her on Twitter. Mic dropped; glowed up. (Editor’s note: I still get a tingle just thinking about it.)
Now, the floor is yours: What popular Black actor of today would you say is “Morris Chestnut Fine?” Do they make Morris Chestnuts anymore? Let’s obey our thirst in the comments...


theroot--2020-07-08--Trump’s Racist Coronavirus Response Foreshadows the Injustice to Come

Back in May , I wrote that the that the worst case response to the coronavirus was accepting the mounting death toll as the only path forward , and that it mirrored the worst possible approach to the climate crisis .
I was wrong .
There ’ s something much , much worse , and we are living through it now .
To be sure , the Trump administration has careened down that failed path .
The president has staged sparsely attended rallies , yelled on Twitter about re-opening the economy , and claimed gaining back a fraction of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a pyrrhic victory in an effort to project normalcy even as 133,000 people have died in the U.S. to-date .
And in a Washington Post report on Monday , unnamed Trump advisers said that accepting death was essentially the plan , with an unnamed administration official reportedly in touch with the campaign telling the paper , “ they ’ re of the belief that people will get over it or if we stop highlighting it , the base will move on and the public will learn to accept 50,000 to 100,000 new cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t just expecting public numbness to the rising death toll .
It ’ s the racism embedded into the Trump administration ’ s message—and what it means for the climate crisis .
In the wake of my piece in May , two new things have come to light .
The first is the widespread protests against police violence toward Black people in the wake of George Floyd ’ s killing .
These have galvanized the public and sparked calls to defund the police , tear down racist monuments , and generally reckon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violence , racism , and inequality .
Rather than engage in a dialog , the response from the Trump administration and congressional Republicans has been to go full-on racist uncle who ’ s had a few too many beers .
That ’ s ranged from dog whistles about protecting statues to full bullhorn retweets of “ white power.
” It ’ s also become increasingly clear that coronavirus is taking an outsize toll on Black and brown communities .
The New York Times published a piece on Sunday showing coronavirus rates are more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and more than two-and-a-half times higher for Black people than they are for white people .
Both groups are also twice as likely to die from the virus compared to white people in the U.S .
The Times got the story only by suing the Centers for Disease Control for demographic data—itself a damning indictment—and the report only covers data through May , missing out on the new coronavirus surge gripping the South , including some of the cities with the biggest Black and Latinx populations in the country .
And so here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Trump administration has had a care-not attitude about the coronavirus from day one .
Now , though , that attitude has melded with its full-on racism .
Its coronavirus response is essentially asking American to be okay with not just death generally , but death that continues a cycle of suffering in Black and brown communities .
Service workers from Amazon distribution centers to grocery stores to meatpacking plants have all been on the frontlines facing the virus and are staffed in large part by people of color working for low wages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out there without protections , in what is basically the most perfect distillation of a putrid philosophy .
This is a horrific approach to a public health crisis increasingly contained elsewhere by decision-making grounded in science and societies invested in each other .
To address the climate crisis will require a similar science-based approach and asking society to protect the most vulnerable over a period of time that will far outlast the time it takes to stamp out the pandemic .
That ’ s why what ’ s happening with the coronavirus is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delaying action on the climate crisis and have no real plan ; their response to the anti-police violence protests and coronavirus show they have no plan for actually addressing systemic racism .
Mapping that deliberate inaction onto the climate crisis is a nightmare .
Ultimately , the consequences of the climate crisis rest most heavily on Black and brown people , whether it ’ s the polluting infrastructure responsible for the crisis or the impacts the greenhouse gas-laden atmosphere unleashes .
In asking Americans ( or the world ) to accept climate delay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accept violent weather like Hurricane Dorian that savaged the Bahamas or Hurricane Maria ’ s enormous toll on Puerto Rico following a botched racist response by this very administration .
When Republicans are unable to put off delay any further , the climate policies they implement are all but guaranteed to favor white Americans .
The border wall is a racist approach to climate adaptation , keeping out of the U.S. people who have fled parts of Latin America destabilized in part by drought in a misguided effort to protect the homeland .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican plan to build sea walls that protect wealthy , white neighborhoods while making floods worse in poor , Black neighborhoods .
Or perhaps Republicans ’ climate priorities and commitment to injustice would manifest itself in bigger investments in predominantly “ white ” activities like farming rather than cleaning up the toxic legacy of the fossil fuel industry in places like Cancer Alley or foreign aid for drought-stricken farmers in Honduras , India , or Ethiopia .
( This is , in some cases , already happening with Trump propping farmers due to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fossil fuel infrastructure . )
If you ’ ve read Octavia Butler ’ s Parable of the Sower , a novel where climate change leads to increasing inequality , racism , and pay-for services like firefighting and policing , then you ’ ve got the outlines of a Republican climate plan .
Even some of the solutions to mitigate climate change favored by Republicans , such as planting a bunch of trees in developing countries , can have dire consequences for Indigenous communities uprooted to make space for new forests .
In my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ response , I focused largely on Republican fetish for the free market and preserving the status quo for the wealthy .
But it ’ s , of course , about much more than that .
The reason Republicans laugh off the Green New Deal and the call for justice at its core is precisely the same reason they run to the ramparts to stifle Black-led protests and water down the public health and economic response to the coronavirus .
True justice requires reckoning with America ’ s history of brutal racism and righting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , shrinking the carceral system , and cleaning toxic waste sites , among other things .
Asking Americans to accept the injustice and consequences of untethered capitalism in the context of the climate crisis is when we truly end up in some dark places .
But of course , asking us to accept this as the only way forward and actually accepting it are two different things .
A better world is indeed possible , and quite possibly being born right now .
The Movement for Black Lives put out a set of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including climate justice .
The nascent alignment of environmental and justice movements will require more work than accepting or giving into the status quo .
I don ’ t know about you , but I ’ d rather put in the work to build something better for everyone than blithely accept the nightmarish right-wing alternative currently being foisted on us .

Brian Kahn on Earther, shared by Genetta M. Adams to The Root

Back in May, I wrote that the that the worst case response to the coronavirus was accepting the mounting death toll as the only path forward, and that it mirrored the worst possible approach to the climate crisis. I was wrong. There’s something much, much worse, and we are living through it now.
To be sure, the Trump administration has careened down that failed path. The president has staged sparsely attended rallies, yelled on Twitter about re-opening the economy, and claimed gaining back a fraction of the jobs lost due to the pandemic as a pyrrhic victory in an effort to project normalcy even as 133,000 people have died in the U.S. to-date. And in a Washington Post report on Monday, unnamed Trump advisers said that accepting death was essentially the plan, with an unnamed administration official reportedly in touch with the campaign telling the paper, “they’re of the belief that people will get over it or if we stop highlighting it, the base will move on and the public will learn to accept 50,000 to 100,000 new cases a day.”
Advertisement
The real monstrosity isn’t just expecting public numbness to the rising death toll. It’s the racism embedded into the Trump administration’s message—and what it means for the climate crisis. In the wake of my piece in May, two new things have come to light.
Advertisement Advertisement
The first is the widespread protests against police violence toward Black people in the wake of George Floyd’s killing. These have galvanized the public and sparked calls to defund the police, tear down racist monuments, and generally reckon with an American history of slavery, violence, racism, and inequality. Rather than engage in a dialog, the response from the Trump administration and congressional Republicans has been to go full-on racist uncle who’s had a few too many beers. That’s ranged from dog whistles about protecting statues to full bullhorn retweets of “white power.”
It’s also become increasingly clear that coronavirus is taking an outsize toll on Black and brown communities. The New York Times published a piece on Sunday showing coronavirus rates are more than three times higher for Latinx people and more than two-and-a-half times higher for Black people than they are for white people. Both groups are also twice as likely to die from the virus compared to white people in the U.S. The Times got the story only by suing the Centers for Disease Control for demographic data—itself a damning indictment—and the report only covers data through May, missing out on the new coronavirus surge gripping the South, including some of the cities with the biggest Black and Latinx populations in the country.
Advertisement
And so here is where I was terribly wrong. The Trump administration has had a care-not attitude about the coronavirus from day one. Now, though, that attitude has melded with its full-on racism. Its coronavirus response is essentially asking American to be okay with not just death generally, but death that continues a cycle of suffering in Black and brown communities. Service workers from Amazon distribution centers to grocery stores to meatpacking plants have all been on the frontlines facing the virus and are staffed in large part by people of color working for low wages. The Trump administration has left them out there without protections, in what is basically the most perfect distillation of a putrid philosophy.
This is a horrific approach to a public health crisis increasingly contained elsewhere by decision-making grounded in science and societies invested in each other. To address the climate crisis will require a similar science-based approach and asking society to protect the most vulnerable over a period of time that will far outlast the time it takes to stamp out the pandemic. That’s why what’s happening with the coronavirus is so disturbing.
Advertisement
Republicans have spent years delaying action on the climate crisis and have no real plan; their response to the anti-police violence protests and coronavirus show they have no plan for actually addressing systemic racism. Mapping that deliberate inaction onto the climate crisis is a nightmare.
Ultimately, the consequences of the climate crisis rest most heavily on Black and brown people, whether it’s the polluting infrastructure responsible for the crisis or the impacts the greenhouse gas-laden atmosphere unleashes. In asking Americans (or the world) to accept climate delay, right-wing politicians are asking us to accept violent weather like Hurricane Dorian that savaged the Bahamas or Hurricane Maria’s enormous toll on Puerto Rico following a botched racist response by this very administration.
Advertisement
When Republicans are unable to put off delay any further, the climate policies they implement are all but guaranteed to favor white Americans. The border wall is a racist approach to climate adaptation, keeping out of the U.S. people who have fled parts of Latin America destabilized in part by drought in a misguided effort to protect the homeland. It’s easy to envision a Republican plan to build sea walls that protect wealthy, white neighborhoods while making floods worse in poor, Black neighborhoods. Or perhaps Republicans’ climate priorities and commitment to injustice would manifest itself in bigger investments in predominantly “white” activities like farming rather than cleaning up the toxic legacy of the fossil fuel industry in places like Cancer Alley or foreign aid for drought-stricken farmers in Honduras, India, or Ethiopia. (This is, in some cases, already happening with Trump propping farmers due to the trade war with China while fast-tracking fossil fuel infrastructure.)
Advertisement
If you’ve read Octavia Butler’s Parable of the Sower, a novel where climate change leads to increasing inequality, racism, and pay-for services like firefighting and policing, then you’ve got the outlines of a Republican climate plan. Even some of the solutions to mitigate climate change favored by Republicans, such as planting a bunch of trees in developing countries, can have dire consequences for Indigenous communities uprooted to make space for new forests.
In my initial warning about the coronavirus and climate response, I focused largely on Republican fetish for the free market and preserving the status quo for the wealthy. But it’s, of course, about much more than that. The reason Republicans laugh off the Green New Deal and the call for justice at its core is precisely the same reason they run to the ramparts to stifle Black-led protests and water down the public health and economic response to the coronavirus. True justice requires reckoning with America’s history of brutal racism and righting that wrong through investment in Black communities, shrinking the carceral system, and cleaning toxic waste sites, among other things. Asking Americans to accept the injustice and consequences of untethered capitalism in the context of the climate crisis is when we truly end up in some dark places.
Advertisement
But of course, asking us to accept this as the only way forward and actually accepting it are two different things. A better world is indeed possible, and quite possibly being born right now. The Movement for Black Lives put out a set of policy demands on Tuesday that center justice, including climate justice. The nascent alignment of environmental and justice movements will require more work than accepting or giving into the status quo. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather put in the work to build something better for everyone than blithely accept the nightmarish right-wing alternative currently being foisted on us.


theroot--2020-07-08--America’s Great Racial Reckoning Comes To The Auto Industry As Some Ford Employees Call For End Of C

America’s Great Racial Reckoning Comes To The Auto Industry As Some Ford Employees Call For End Of Cop Car Manufacturing

Some American corporations have been forced to come to Jesus in the past few weeks with acknowledgements of racial insensitivity , failures in workplace diversity , and other contributions to institutional racism — but for the most part this reckoning has largely bypassed the automotive industry .
Or so we thought , before hearing that Ford Motor Company has a situation brewing that could lead to a re-examination of the automaker ’ s role in law enforcement .
According to a tip in the Jalopnik inbox , a number of Black Ford employees came together to raise concern about their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
( We have since received clarification that the letter was written composed by a group of Black and white Ford employees . )
Ford wouldn ’ t be the first company to come under scrutiny for making equipment for law enforcement , as folks around the country are raising flags about who gets contracts to produce what for use by police .
From small players like bike companies — such as Trek , who makes police bikes — to behemoths like Amazon and its facial-recognition technology a number of companies are facing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t the first company with internal revolt .
But questions of Ford ’ s share in the law-enforcement market couldn ’ t have come at a more inopportune time for the automaker , as events in addition to the uprising related to the death of George Floyd might have to force some uncomfortable conversations for Ford CEO Jim Hackett — who , according to our tipster , quickly rejected the idea of Ford halting sales of police vehicles .
Back story : Ford gets tons of free visibility from making cop cars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an irreplaceable part of the revenue picture .
Per a recent release , two-thirds of police vehicles in the U.S. are Fords .
The Crown Victoria interceptor probably comes to mind first , but it was discontinued in 2011 .
Today Ford ’ s law enforcement business rolls on with utilitarian versions of Explorers , F-150s , Expeditions , Fusions and Transits .
No matter where you live or where you go , you ’ re guaranteed to see at least one service vehicle in action wearing a Blue Oval .
It reinforces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a bonus , being the chosen vehicle of law enforcement agencies gives Ford one more bragging right over their American rivals .
Because Ford essentially owns the police market , and because police departments are not going to switch to bikes and scooters anytime soon the automaker probably isn ’ t in a hurry to jump out of the police car business , even if it wouldn ’ t send them on a path to bankruptcy .
Think about your town .
Do you , like a good majority of Americans , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city or town with a government that prides itself on purchasing Made In America goods and maybe , totally misinterpreting parts of the constitution ?
Imagine the public relations headache emanating from areas like yours if Ford canceled thousands of contracts across the country with those kinds of elected officials , and then imagine if all of those towns told their populations to stop buying Fords because a Detroit company is infringing on their freedom or first-amendment rights or some crazy shit .
Giving up what on paper , amounts to a handful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into something more , which is why the automaker is fast approaching a moral crossroads .
Ford ’ s African-Ancestry Network , or FAAN , is one of the company ’ s intra-office affinity groups — which also includes individual networks of LGBT , women , Hispanic , interfaith employees and more — that promotes workplace diversity while also performing community service on behalf of the automaker outside the office .
According to a tip that came in after the this post was published , it was members of FAAN who , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ending sales to certain abusive police departments .
FAAN leadership did not agree to bring that suggestion to Ford leadership .
But , a letter to Hackett and company chairman Bill Ford is circulating at Ford ’ s headquarters , with employees being asked to digitally sign .
According to some of the text of the letter : On June 1st , you communicated to the company your commitment to “ lead from the front and fully commit to creating the fair , just and inclusive culture that our employees deserve.
” We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ initiative .
We also appreciate and fully support your statement against “ superficial actions , ” and we write to push for real action by Ford Motor Company to address our role in the structures that perpetuate racism in society .
On May 25th , 2020 George Floyd was murdered by Minneapolis Police , alongside a Ford Police Interceptor .
Days later , police officers drove Ford Police Interceptors into crowds of protesters in New York City and Los Angeles .
During these past weeks , our vehicles have been used to deploy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Throughout our history , the vehicles that Ford employees design and build have been used as accessories to police brutality and oppression .
We know that while many join , support , or supply law enforcement with good intentions , these racist policing practices that plague our society are historic and systemic—a history and system perpetuated by Ford for over 70 years—ever since Ford introduced the first-ever police package in 1950 .
As an undeniable part of that history and system , we are long overdue to “ think and act differently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Something that stood out to me is Ford ’ s stance on “ superficial actions , ” which I ’ m guessing is a sub toward the many , many public gestures of alliance to Black Lives Matter , ranging from those empty # brand statements of white text on black backgrounds to murals painted on streets that we ’ re already forgetting about .
It ’ s obvious Ford suggested it wanted to avoid that kind of empty lip service and instead pledged to make real change when an opportunity presents itself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no one in Ford ’ s C-suite was actually expecting such an opportunity to come .
Hackett reportedly caught wind of the letter early in its circulation , or was at least tipped off to the sentiment , and immediately issued an office memo — in something called “ The Huddle ” internally — saying that while Ford has been vocal about supporting Black Lives Matter and other efforts aimed toward diversity and inclusion , the company believes that there is no conflict between doing these things and continuing to make police cars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ memo : ( We asked a Ford representative for comment on this story , we were referred to Hackett ’ s message in The Huddle which is posted in full in the comments . )
I try not to nit-pick , but what exactly is a diversity “ ritual ?
” Do you have to cast spells to create a healthy environment for Ford employees of color ?
Are there wizards on the Dearborn proving grounds ?
Does a voodoo priestess say a chant over the hood over every third Mustang so that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ buy one the moment they step into a dealer ?
But jokes aside , I do question what Hackett says when he says “ our world , ” because is he really talking about the world outside Dearborn , or just the world for rich white guys making $ 17 million a year ?
But here ’ s where , in my opinion , it gets a little , uh ... yikes .
Bolded parts are my emphasis : I ’ m not a marketing whiz , but I am Black with common @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s wise for Ford to try to “ leverage ” deaths of Black people to make better police cars .
But both the letter and concerns and Hackett ’ s memo went around before Sunday , when during a demonstration in Detroit — where , incidentally , Ford is planning to move a large number of employees , which we ’ ll revisit in just a sec — a number of protesters were hit by Detroit Police officers driving through the crowd .
Their vehicle ?
A Ford Police Interceptor Utility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Explorer .
The video is terrifying , no matter which side you take .
But you might have to take one , since there ’ s debate over exactly what happened here : Activists say they were peaceful and that the police intentionally hit a protestor , while Detroit Police Chief James Craig* said that one of the protesters smashed out a back window of the SUV which officers thought was a gunshot , prompting them to get out of the scene as quickly as they could .
If Ford ’ s Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re probably wondering about how all this will play out as their employer moves further into the city of Detroit after years in Dearborn , which makes this even more complicated .
You might recall that two years ago , Ford bought Michigan Central Station , which is inside Detroit ’ s city limits , with grand plans to turn the old , vacant train station into an innovation and mobility hub .
( A sweet part of that mayor ’ s office gig was watching my colleagues buzzing like caffeine-addled bees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announcement , by the way .
I thought we were going to give away another goddamn key to the city or some shit . )
Detroit is a city that ’ s nearly 80 percent Black , and Corktown , the neighborhood Ford ’ s moving to , has been the focus of a bit of controversy itself .
Its second-most recognizable landmark behind the train station is a popular-at-auto-show-time barbecue restaurant owned by a white guy who arrived in Detroit after an underwear modeling career and then became an icon of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ majority of its residents were in financial distress .
It borders the heavily Latino part of Detroit , which has prompted concerns of gentrification there if Ford gets too comfortable .
( And we won ’ t get into the fact that Ford ’ s current hometown , Dearborn , basically had a white supremacist mayor for decades whose bigoted ideals still linger to this day . )
Obviously an automaker making police equipment when police brutality against Blacks is at its height creates tension around said automaker ’ s plans to create @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brown city — one they might accidentally gentrify .
( Or maybe not if that automaker holds to a number of community benefits agreements signed with some of my former co-workers . )
And you ’ d be remiss not to mention Ford ’ s long , complicated history with Black Detroiters that ’ s almost as old as the company itself .
Black Detroiters can ’ t deny that most of us wear that identifier because Henry Ford practically built this town as we know it .
Several of our ancestors came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my great-uncles , to work in Ford ’ s factories .
Ford ’ s roots are intertwined in all of our family trees here .
My dad ’ s father retired from a Ford plant — and became a police detective driving a Crown Vic .
My mom ’ s father owned a house literally owned by a Ford in-law .
Almost all of my relatives drive a Ford , thanks to all of us passing around friends-and-family PINs ( which technically you ’ re not supposed to do if you ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the hardworking car salesmen and saleswomen for keeping the black market going ) when we want new cars .
I have friends that went to Henry Ford High School on the west side , half the city commutes on the Edsel Ford Freeway on the east side , you ’ re likely to go to Henry Ford Hospital if you get sick , and everyone roots for the Ford family-owned Detroit Lions at Ford Field downtown .
Henry Ford was still kind of a hardcore racist ( and anti-Semite ) who bafflingly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black music , employed Black workers en masse but still thought white people were superior to them , and , despite how some historians might remember it , essentially redlined several Black Ford employees into their own city , something that still has ripple effects in 2020 as it ’ s now one of the economically undernourished in the state of Michigan .
We ’ ve sort of reckoned with this history ; all of this is acknowledged in some form or fashion at The Henry Ford , a museum that ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ford .
But during this time of loud , public grappling with corporate wrongdoing , I ’ m not sure how many folks outside of Metro Detroit know all this context .
Which brings us back to Ford ’ s new dilemma around police vehicles .
According to the letter Ford ’ s Black employees are seeking action by July 15 .
“ We can not claim to support the fight against systemic racism while supplying and supporting the very systems that perpetrate violence against Black Americans…We , the undersigned employees , call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and sale of all custom police vehicles and products .
Our resources can and should be diverted to other forms of first response and public safety , ” the group writes .
Other than your typical — because we grow up with so many of these living in Metro Detroit that you almost become numb to them — race-related incidents on the assembly line , I can ’ t think of a time when a Detroit automaker has had to publicly confront its own societal actions on a stage this large .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the chance to reckon with its controversial use of eminent domain ( enabled by former Detroit Mayor Coleman Young ) to push out residents of the Poletown neighborhood ( a vast majority of them working-class Poles , but also several Blacks , South Asians and immigrants from across Europe ) to build its Poletown plant .
GM said nothing about it , but then again , the country wasn ’ t on fire when that happened .
It ’ s a moot point now anyway , as GM is currently in the process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Ford exiting the police market would mean the company would take a sales hit , which could mean layoffs for factory employees during a pandemic .
It ’ s likely a lot of those employees would be people of color ; the Ford Police Interceptor Utility , for example , is built alongside the Explorer in the automaker ’ s Chicago Assembly Plant , and I don ’ t think I need to tell you what the demographics of Chicago are .
But keeping police vehicles in production would certainly mean more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and now , a negative image externally .
But consider this : Ford Motor Company , complex legacy and all , has been around since 1903 .
It has weathered nearly every economic storm since , was the only of the Detroit Three to not file bankruptcy in the aughts and somehow survives even the worst of scandals that come its way .
Ford is a tough company and perhaps if there was ever a time for the kind of conversation that calls it to make a difficult choice in service of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Correction : An earlier version of this post attributed the letter that was written to Bill Ford and Jim Hackett to Black ford employees .
The letter was in fact written by a group of Black employees and white allies not associated with Ford ’ s FAAN affinity group .
The post and the headline have been updated accordingly .

Aaron Foley on Jalopnik, shared by Genetta M. Adams to The Root

Some American corporations have been forced to come to Jesus in the past few weeks with acknowledgements of racial insensitivity, failures in workplace diversity, and other contributions to institutional racism — but for the most part this reckoning has largely bypassed the automotive industry. Or so we thought, before hearing that Ford Motor Company has a situation brewing that could lead to a re-examination of the automaker’s role in law enforcement.
According to a tip in the Jalopnik inbox, a number of Black Ford employees came together to raise concern about their employer’s manufacture of police vehicles. (We have since received clarification that the letter was written composed by a group of Black and white Ford employees.) Ford wouldn’t be the first company to come under scrutiny for making equipment for law enforcement, as folks around the country are raising flags about who gets contracts to produce what for use by police. From small players like bike companies — such as Trek, who makes police bikes — to behemoths like Amazon and its facial-recognition technology a number of companies are facing pressure now, and Ford certainly isn’t the first company with internal revolt.
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But questions of Ford’s share in the law-enforcement market couldn’t have come at a more inopportune time for the automaker, as events in addition to the uprising related to the death of George Floyd might have to force some uncomfortable conversations for Ford CEO Jim Hackett — who, according to our tipster, quickly rejected the idea of Ford halting sales of police vehicles.
Back story: Ford gets tons of free visibility from making cop cars, even if they’re not an irreplaceable part of the revenue picture. Per a recent release, two-thirds of police vehicles in the U.S. are Fords. The Crown Victoria interceptor probably comes to mind first, but it was discontinued in 2011. Today Ford’s law enforcement business rolls on with utilitarian versions of Explorers, F-150s, Expeditions, Fusions and Transits. No matter where you live or where you go, you’re guaranteed to see at least one service vehicle in action wearing a Blue Oval. It reinforces the brand in your mind. And as a bonus, being the chosen vehicle of law enforcement agencies gives Ford one more bragging right over their American rivals.
Because Ford essentially owns the police market, and because police departments are not going to switch to bikes and scooters anytime soon the automaker probably isn’t in a hurry to jump out of the police car business, even if it wouldn’t send them on a path to bankruptcy. Think about your town. Do you, like a good majority of Americans, live in a red state or a city or town with a government that prides itself on purchasing Made In America goods and maybe, totally misinterpreting parts of the constitution? Imagine the public relations headache emanating from areas like yours if Ford canceled thousands of contracts across the country with those kinds of elected officials, and then imagine if all of those towns told their populations to stop buying Fords because a Detroit company is infringing on their freedom or first-amendment rights or some crazy shit.
Giving up what on paper, amounts to a handful of fleet sales, could easily snowball into something more, which is why the automaker is fast approaching a moral crossroads. Ford’s African-Ancestry Network, or FAAN, is one of the company’s intra-office affinity groups — which also includes individual networks of LGBT, women, Hispanic, interfaith employees and more — that promotes workplace diversity while also performing community service on behalf of the automaker outside the office. According to a tip that came in after the this post was published, it was members of FAAN who, in a meeting with FAAN leadership, suggested ending sales to certain abusive police departments. FAAN leadership did not agree to bring that suggestion to Ford leadership.
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But, a letter to Hackett and company chairman Bill Ford is circulating at Ford’s headquarters, with employees being asked to digitally sign. According to some of the text of the letter :
On June 1st, you communicated to the company your commitment to “lead from the front and fully commit to creating the fair, just and inclusive culture that our employees deserve.” We thank you for your leadership on this initiative. We also appreciate and fully support your statement against “superficial actions,” and we write to push for real action by Ford Motor Company to address our role in the structures that perpetuate racism in society. On May 25th, 2020 George Floyd was murdered by Minneapolis Police, alongside a Ford Police Interceptor. Days later, police officers drove Ford Police Interceptors into crowds of protesters in New York City and Los Angeles. During these past weeks, our vehicles have been used to deploy chemical weapons banned by the Geneva Convention. Throughout our history, the vehicles that Ford employees design and build have been used as accessories to police brutality and oppression. We know that while many join, support, or supply law enforcement with good intentions, these racist policing practices that plague our society are historic and systemic—a history and system perpetuated by Ford for over 70 years—ever since Ford introduced the first-ever police package in 1950. As an undeniable part of that history and system, we are long overdue to “think and act differently” on our role in racism.
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Something that stood out to me is Ford’s stance on “superficial actions,” which I’m guessing is a sub toward the many, many public gestures of alliance to Black Lives Matter, ranging from those empty #brand statements of white text on black backgrounds to murals painted on streets that we’re already forgetting about. It’s obvious Ford suggested it wanted to avoid that kind of empty lip service and instead pledged to make real change when an opportunity presents itself.
From the looks of it, no one in Ford’s C-suite was actually expecting such an opportunity to come.
Hackett reportedly caught wind of the letter early in its circulation, or was at least tipped off to the sentiment, and immediately issued an office memo — in something called “The Huddle” internally — saying that while Ford has been vocal about supporting Black Lives Matter and other efforts aimed toward diversity and inclusion, the company believes that there is no conflict between doing these things and continuing to make police cars. Here’s part of that memo:
First, it should be clear both Bill Ford and I believe deeply that there is no room for the systemic repression and racism that have been exhibited by law enforcement encounters gone wrong. We’ve said clearly that Black Lives Matter and I am personally driving a review of our Diversity and Inclusion rituals, practices and behaviors. We do believe strongly that more transparency and accountability is required in police operations.
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Second, we also believe the first responders that protect us play an extraordinarily important role in the vitality and safety of our society. Our world wouldn’t function without the bravery and dedication of the good police officers who protect and serve. But safety of community must be inclusive of all members and today, it is not. Holding these two thoughts together in one’s mind is possible, but now there is tension. It’s our belief the recent issues surfacing from the George Floyd tragedy are bringing a very intensive and necessary spotlight on police training and reform. In fact, I sit on the Business Roundtable, an organization comprised of CEOs from America’s leading companies, which has committed its shared energy to the work on police training and reform.
(We asked a Ford representative for comment on this story, we were referred to Hackett’s message in The Huddle which is posted in full in the comments.)
I try not to nit-pick, but what exactly is a diversity “ritual?” Do you have to cast spells to create a healthy environment for Ford employees of color? Are there wizards on the Dearborn proving grounds? Does a voodoo priestess say a chant over the hood over every third Mustang so that a Black customer will be enchanted to buy one the moment they step into a dealer? But jokes aside, I do question what Hackett says when he says “our world,” because is he really talking about the world outside Dearborn, or just the world for rich white guys making $17 million a year?
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But here’s where, in my opinion, it gets a little, uh...yikes. Bolded parts are my emphasis:
It’s not controversial that the Ford Police Interceptor helps officers do their job. The issues plaguing police credibility have nothing to do with the vehicles they’re driving. In fact, as we imagine the future power of our connected vehicles, smarter Ford vehicles can be used to not only improve officers’ ability to protect and serve, but also provide data that can make police safer and more accountable. Just think, dating back to the Model T, Ford has more than 100 years in serving first responders and that leadership over the decades has been earned by co-developing our purpose-built vehicles and technologies with police and emergency agencies to make our vehicles the number one choice. By taking away our Police Interceptors, we would be doing harm to their safety and making it harder for them to do their job. Again, this is why, given our insights, new capabilities and leadership, I believe these unfortunate circumstances present Ford with an even greater opportunity to not only innovate new solutions but also leverage our unique position to support the dialogue and reform needed to create safer communities for all.
I’m not a marketing whiz, but I am Black with common sense and I don’t think it’s wise for Ford to try to “leverage” deaths of Black people to make better police cars.
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But both the letter and concerns and Hackett’s memo went around before Sunday, when during a demonstration in Detroit — where, incidentally, Ford is planning to move a large number of employees, which we’ll revisit in just a sec — a number of protesters were hit by Detroit Police officers driving through the crowd. Their vehicle? A Ford Police Interceptor Utility, or a police version of the Explorer.
The video is terrifying, no matter which side you take. But you might have to take one, since there’s debate over exactly what happened here: Activists say they were peaceful and that the police intentionally hit a protestor, while Detroit Police Chief James Craig* said that one of the protesters smashed out a back window of the SUV which officers thought was a gunshot, prompting them to get out of the scene as quickly as they could.
(*And here’s where I disclose two things: One, in another life, I used to write ad copy for Ford, including some very boring lines about small-town police departments using Crown Victorias in the 1950s, while working for Ford’s ad agency of record. And second, in a more recent life, I used to work for Detroit city government, and sat behind Chief Craig [still a secret Jalop, I think] each Wednesday morning for an hour in mayor’s cabinet meetings. You might say I’m biased, but I’ll say I’ve seen sausage made in a lot of factories which gives me some unique perspective. That all said, I’ve always taken the position that neither the public employees I used to work with nor contractors of a billion-dollar conglomerate are above criticism or scrutiny, so argue with me later.)
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If Ford’s Black employees are anything like me, they’re probably wondering about how all this will play out as their employer moves further into the city of Detroit after years in Dearborn, which makes this even more complicated. You might recall that two years ago, Ford bought Michigan Central Station, which is inside Detroit’s city limits, with grand plans to turn the old, vacant train station into an innovation and mobility hub. (A sweet part of that mayor’s office gig was watching my colleagues buzzing like caffeine-addled bees in the days leading up to the announcement, by the way. I thought we were going to give away another goddamn key to the city or some shit.)
Detroit is a city that’s nearly 80 percent Black, and Corktown, the neighborhood Ford’s moving to, has been the focus of a bit of controversy itself. Its second-most recognizable landmark behind the train station is a popular-at-auto-show-time barbecue restaurant owned by a white guy who arrived in Detroit after an underwear modeling career and then became an icon of this Black city during a time when the majority of its residents were in financial distress. It borders the heavily Latino part of Detroit, which has prompted concerns of gentrification there if Ford gets too comfortable. (And we won’t get into the fact that Ford’s current hometown, Dearborn, basically had a white supremacist mayor for decades whose bigoted ideals still linger to this day.)
Obviously an automaker making police equipment when police brutality against Blacks is at its height creates tension around said automaker’s plans to create a large footprint in a Black and Brown city — one they might accidentally gentrify. (Or maybe not if that automaker holds to a number of community benefits agreements signed with some of my former co-workers.)
And you’d be remiss not to mention Ford’s long, complicated history with Black Detroiters that’s almost as old as the company itself. Black Detroiters can’t deny that most of us wear that identifier because Henry Ford practically built this town as we know it. Several of our ancestors came to Detroit from the South, including my great-uncles, to work in Ford’s factories. Ford’s roots are intertwined in all of our family trees here. My dad’s father retired from a Ford plant — and became a police detective driving a Crown Vic. My mom’s father owned a house literally owned by a Ford in-law. Almost all of my relatives drive a Ford, thanks to all of us passing around friends-and-family PINs (which technically you’re not supposed to do if you’re not an immediate relative, but shout-outs to the hardworking car salesmen and saleswomen for keeping the black market going) when we want new cars. I have friends that went to Henry Ford High School on the west side, half the city commutes on the Edsel Ford Freeway on the east side, you’re likely to go to Henry Ford Hospital if you get sick, and everyone roots for the Ford family-owned Detroit Lions at Ford Field downtown.
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Henry Ford was still kind of a hardcore racist (and anti-Semite) who bafflingly hated and campaigned against the spread of Black music, employed Black workers en masse but still thought white people were superior to them, and, despite how some historians might remember it, essentially redlined several Black Ford employees into their own city, something that still has ripple effects in 2020 as it’s now one of the economically undernourished in the state of Michigan. We’ve sort of reckoned with this history; all of this is acknowledged in some form or fashion at The Henry Ford, a museum that’s, well, named after the Henry Ford. But during this time of loud, public grappling with corporate wrongdoing, I’m not sure how many folks outside of Metro Detroit know all this context.
Which brings us back to Ford’s new dilemma around police vehicles. According to the letter Ford’s Black employees are seeking action by July 15. “We cannot claim to support the fight against systemic racism while supplying and supporting the very systems that perpetrate violence against Black Americans…We, the undersigned employees, call for Ford to cease development, production, and sale of all custom police vehicles and products. Our resources can and should be diverted to other forms of first response and public safety,” the group writes.
Other than your typical — because we grow up with so many of these living in Metro Detroit that you almost become numb to them — race-related incidents on the assembly line, I can’t think of a time when a Detroit automaker has had to publicly confront its own societal actions on a stage this large. General Motors came close; it had the chance to reckon with its controversial use of eminent domain (enabled by former Detroit Mayor Coleman Young) to push out residents of the Poletown neighborhood (a vast majority of them working-class Poles, but also several Blacks, South Asians and immigrants from across Europe) to build its Poletown plant. GM said nothing about it, but then again, the country wasn’t on fire when that happened. It’s a moot point now anyway, as GM is currently in the process of converting the plant for EV production.
Ford exiting the police market would mean the company would take a sales hit, which could mean layoffs for factory employees during a pandemic. It’s likely a lot of those employees would be people of color; the Ford Police Interceptor Utility, for example, is built alongside the Explorer in the automaker’s Chicago Assembly Plant, and I don’t think I need to tell you what the demographics of Chicago are.
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But keeping police vehicles in production would certainly mean more tension between Black employees and management internally, and now, a negative image externally.
But consider this: Ford Motor Company, complex legacy and all, has been around since 1903. It has weathered nearly every economic storm since, was the only of the Detroit Three to not file bankruptcy in the aughts and somehow survives even the worst of scandals that come its way. Ford is a tough company and perhaps if there was ever a time for the kind of conversation that calls it to make a difficult choice in service of its values, it’s now.
Correction: An earlier version of this post attributed the letter that was written to Bill Ford and Jim Hackett to Black ford employees. The letter was in fact written by a group of Black employees and white allies not associated with Ford’s FAAN affinity group. The post and the headline have been updated accordingly.


theroot--2020-07-08--Christian Cooper Says He Will Not Participate in Prosecution of the White Woman Who Threatened to Ca

Christian Cooper Says He Will Not Participate in Prosecution of the White Woman Who Threatened to Call 911 on Him

Earlier this week , Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance said his office had filed charges against Amy Cooper , a white woman who went viral earlier this summer when she frantically threatened to call the cops on a Black bird watcher .
She ’ s been charged with filing a false police report , a class “ A ” misdemeanor.
” But the man directly affected by her actions , Christian Cooper , made it clear in a statement with the New York Times Tuesday that he has no intention of cooperating with prosecutors .
“ On the one hand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ steep price , ” Cooper said in a statement on Tuesday .
“ That ’ s not enough of a deterrent to others ?
Bringing her more misery just seems like piling on.
” According to the Times , Cooper “ added that he understood there was a greater principle at stake , ” and didn ’ t negate the necessity of the charges .
“ If the DA feels the need to pursue charges , he should pursue charges .
But he can do that without me , ” the 57-year-old said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York Law School and a former federal prosecutor , told the Times the district attorney has sufficient evidence to present a case against Amy Cooper without Christian Cooper ’ s cooperation .
“ There is a false weepy tone and she strategically placed significance on race , ” Bragg said .
“ She is harping on deep historical issues in our country .
She is emphasizing those words and she knows the effect it can have on the listener.
” As Black Lives Matter protests have foregrounded an array of criminal justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do with people like Amy Cooper , who attempted to weaponize the criminal justice system against a Black man—apparently with full knowledge of the threat it posed to his safety—as well as cops who have abused and killed civilians .
On one end of the spectrum are police and prison abolitionists , for whom defunding the police is just one step toward a complete dismantling and reimagining of the criminal justice system as we know it .
Among them is Josie Duffy Rice , president of the criminal justice-centered website , The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cooper had already suffered consequences for her actions .
“ Charging her is the easy solution .
It ’ s the easy way out .
And it reinforces the idea that justice can only be found in the disastrous carceral system we ’ ve created , ” Rice wrote in a viral tweet on Monday .
“ Ask yourself what criminal charges can do to Amy Cooper that hasn ’ t already been done ?
” she continued “ Has she not faced consequences ?
She did something absolutely horrible and she lost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ personal business was on the front page of the paper.
” To abolitionists like Rice , Angela Davis and Derecka Purnell , a human rights lawyer who recently wrote about her journey toward police abolition in The Atlantic , there is no police reform possible when the very foundations of policing were to suppress and oppress enslaved people , as well as immigrants and labor organizers .
But more importantly , focusing on punitive measures takes billions of dollars of resources—time , energy , manpower and funding—from tackling the root causes of crime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safe and affordable housing ( Christian Cooper tread a bit of this ground when he questioned the efficacy of legal punishment in deterring people like Amy Cooper from committing similar acts ) .
But at various other points in the spectrum are people who question the viability of abolition and are uncomfortable with those who have social , political , and legal power ( cops and Karens ) continuing to abuse those with marginalized identities without appropriate levels of punishment .
Then , there are many more who are still contemplating what is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country where , for centuries , racial caste has defined birth , death , and everything in between .
To many who are navigating what they want , what they need , and what they expect from American policing , Amy Cooper is less of a person than she is a litmus test : How far are you willing to go , and how much is worth releasing , to build the world you want ?

Earlier this week, Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance said his office had filed charges against Amy Cooper, a white woman who went viral earlier this summer when she frantically threatened to call the cops on a Black bird watcher. She’s been charged with filing a false police report, a class “A” misdemeanor.”
But the man directly affected by her actions, Christian Cooper, made it clear in a statement with the New York Times Tuesday that he has no intention of cooperating with prosecutors.
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“On the one hand, she’s already paid a steep price,” Cooper said in a statement on Tuesday. “That’s not enough of a deterrent to others? Bringing her more misery just seems like piling on.”
According to the Times, Cooper “added that he understood there was a greater principle at stake,” and didn’t negate the necessity of the charges.
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“If the DA feels the need to pursue charges, he should pursue charges. But he can do that without me,” the 57-year-old said.
Alvin Bragg, a professor at New York Law School and a former federal prosecutor, told the Times the district attorney has sufficient evidence to present a case against Amy Cooper without Christian Cooper’s cooperation.
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“There is a false weepy tone and she strategically placed significance on race,” Bragg said. “She is harping on deep historical issues in our country. She is emphasizing those words and she knows the effect it can have on the listener.”
As Black Lives Matter protests have foregrounded an array of criminal justice demands, there is friction over what to do with people like Amy Cooper, who attempted to weaponize the criminal justice system against a Black man—apparently with full knowledge of the threat it posed to his safety—as well as cops who have abused and killed civilians.
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On one end of the spectrum are police and prison abolitionists, for whom defunding the police is just one step toward a complete dismantling and reimagining of the criminal justice system as we know it. Among them is Josie Duffy Rice, president of the criminal justice-centered website, The Appeal, who pointed out that Amy Cooper had already suffered consequences for her actions.
“Charging her is the easy solution. It’s the easy way out. And it reinforces the idea that justice can only be found in the disastrous carceral system we’ve created,” Rice wrote in a viral tweet on Monday.
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“Ask yourself what criminal charges can do to Amy Cooper that hasn’t already been done?” she continued “Has she not faced consequences? She did something absolutely horrible and she lost her job, her dog, her personal business was on the front page of the paper.”
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To abolitionists like Rice, Angela Davis and Derecka Purnell, a human rights lawyer who recently wrote about her journey toward police abolition in The Atlantic, there is no police reform possible when the very foundations of policing were to suppress and oppress enslaved people, as well as immigrants and labor organizers. But more importantly, focusing on punitive measures takes billions of dollars of resources—time, energy, manpower and funding—from tackling the root causes of crime, like poverty or a lack of safe and affordable housing (Christian Cooper tread a bit of this ground when he questioned the efficacy of legal punishment in deterring people like Amy Cooper from committing similar acts).
But at various other points in the spectrum are people who question the viability of abolition and are uncomfortable with those who have social, political, and legal power (cops and Karens) continuing to abuse those with marginalized identities without appropriate levels of punishment. Then, there are many more who are still contemplating what is possible and what is probable in a country where, for centuries, racial caste has defined birth, death, and everything in between.
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To many who are navigating what they want, what they need, and what they expect from American policing, Amy Cooper is less of a person than she is a litmus test: How far are you willing to go, and how much is worth releasing, to build the world you want?


theroot--2020-07-08--No, There's Nothing Wrong With Tiffany Haddish—or Her Big Chop (and She Still Ready)

One day , all of y ’ all are going to stop worrying about women do with their own damned hair ( and reproductive systems ) , but apparently , that day is not today .
We ’ ve seen her in wigs , weaves , extensions , braids , faux locs and exceptionally swingy ponytails , but Tiffany Haddish is the latest celeb to try out the quarantine crop , the first phase of which she debuted via Instagram on Tuesday .
“ I want all this off—I want alllllllll of it off , ” she proclaimed while running @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Anticipating the inevitable onslaught of concern trolls in her comments , Haddish headed them off at the pass , quipping : “ ‘ Somebody go check on Sis , somethin ’ wrong with her .
What ’ s wrong with her mentally ?
She done lost it.
” “ Why when a woman decides , ‘ Hey I wan na cut this hair off because I want to see my scalp , ’ she got ta have a mental problem ?
” she asked , declaring her choice to go short one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nothing is wrong with my brain , you guys—I ’ m not suffering from no emotional shit , nothing .
I ’ ve literally been talking about this for years : how I wan na see my scalp .
I know every single part of my body ; I know where every single mole is ... anyone who knows me knows me knows I ’ ve been talking about this for a long time , OK ?
” “ I wan na see my moles !
” the makeup-free and famously moled star @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on her body , including one hiding behind her ear under her hair .
Haddish also announced that she ’ s not finished ; she plans to go “ baldy-bald ” when she visits the barber next week .
“ When we cut all my hair off , I ’ m a still be fine as fuck.
” she said , assuring her fans that it would grow back healthier than ever .
We kinda can ’ t wait to see it—and thankfully , we didn ’ t have to , as hours @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clippers-session in-progress , which gave remarkably clean results , with no barber necessary .
And while Haddish shared that her sister predicted she ’ d come to regret undergoing “ the big chop , ” she seemed to be reveling in the liberating moment .
“ It ’ s the first time I ’ ve ever jumped in the shower and not been concerned about getting my hair wet .
That shit felt good than a motherfucker , ” she laughed .
“ It felt so good to just be like , ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wet ’ —I don ’ t have to worry about it being nappy or whatever ... it is what it is.
” “ My head has always been covered .
So , I ’ m not tripping , ” she continued , her eyes alight as she considered the advantages afforded by her new freedom .
“ You can see my face even better , my neck don ’ t hurt ... shoulders just relaxed—my gait is better .
And now , I can go running every day ; I can train my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to worry about ‘ Oh , my hair !
’ ” That struggle is real and all too familiar to many Black women ; the choice between exercising as much or as intensely as we ’ d like ( or perhaps should ) is often inhibited by our hairstyles .
As Haddish pointed out , even protective styles like braids and faux locs not only become weighty but require maintenance to keep them looking “ neat.
” “ I don ’ t know about white women , but as a Black woman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to two , three hours of your fucking day , ” she exclaimed .
“ It is a lot of work .
So , I ’ m taking time off .
I ’ m going to use that same energy that I would be putting my hair into my mind.
” From musing about her new styling options ( “ Bitch , I ’ m gon na be wavy !
” ) to how she ’ ll be leveling up her fitness routine ( “ Y ’ all gon ’ be like ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she cut her hair—but then , you ’ re gon na be like , ‘ That body , tho.
’ ” ) , Haddish ’ s mind isn ’ t bothered , just busy with the possibilities presented by having less hair to manage .
( Can ’ t lie ; having once had a close crop myself , I ’ m once again tempted . )
“ I ’ m gon na be so cute , y ’ all don ’ t even understand , ” she said—already cute as she added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I do feel free .
”

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

One day, all of y’all are going to stop worrying about women do with their own damned hair (and reproductive systems), but apparently, that day is not today. We’ve seen her in wigs, weaves, extensions, braids, faux locs and exceptionally swingy ponytails, but Tiffany Haddish is the latest celeb to try out the quarantine crop, the first phase of which she debuted via Instagram on Tuesday.
“I want all this off—I want alllllllll of it off,” she proclaimed while running her hand over her freshly-shorn locks.
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Anticipating the inevitable onslaught of concern trolls in her comments, Haddish headed them off at the pass, quipping: “‘Somebody go check on Sis, somethin’ wrong with her. What’s wrong with her mentally? She done lost it.”
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“Why when a woman decides, ‘Hey I wanna cut this hair off because I want to see my scalp,’ she gotta have a mental problem?” she asked, declaring her choice to go short one of sound mind as she continued. “Nothing is wrong with my brain, you guys—I’m not suffering from no emotional shit, nothing. I’ve literally been talking about this for years: how I wanna see my scalp. I know every single part of my body; I know where every single mole is...anyone who knows me knows me knows I’ve been talking about this for a long time, OK?”
“I wanna see my moles!” the makeup-free and famously moled star exclaimed, boasting of over 100 moles on her body, including one hiding behind her ear under her hair.
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Haddish also announced that she’s not finished; she plans to go “baldy-bald” when she visits the barber next week.
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“When we cut all my hair off, I’m a still be fine as fuck.” she said, assuring her fans that it would grow back healthier than ever.
We kinda can’t wait to see it—and thankfully, we didn’t have to, as hours later, Haddish treated us to a clippers-session in-progress, which gave remarkably clean results, with no barber necessary. And while Haddish shared that her sister predicted she’d come to regret undergoing “the big chop,” she seemed to be reveling in the liberating moment.
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“It’s the first time I’ve ever jumped in the shower and not been concerned about getting my hair wet. That shit felt good than a motherfucker,” she laughed. “It felt so good to just be like, ‘Yeah, I can get my hair wet’—I don’t have to worry about it being nappy or whatever...it is what it is.”
“My head has always been covered. So, I’m not tripping,” she continued, her eyes alight as she considered the advantages afforded by her new freedom. “You can see my face even better, my neck don’t hurt...shoulders just relaxed—my gait is better. And now, I can go running every day; I can train my ass off every single day and not have to worry about ‘Oh, my hair!’”
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That struggle is real and all too familiar to many Black women; the choice between exercising as much or as intensely as we’d like (or perhaps should) is often inhibited by our hairstyles. As Haddish pointed out, even protective styles like braids and faux locs not only become weighty but require maintenance to keep them looking “neat.”
“I don’t know about white women, but as a Black woman, that’s a good hour to two, three hours of your fucking day,” she exclaimed. “It is a lot of work. So, I’m taking time off. I’m going to use that same energy that I would be putting my hair into my mind.”
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From musing about her new styling options (“Bitch, I’m gonna be wavy!”) to how she’ll be leveling up her fitness routine (“Y’all gon’ be like ‘Damn, Tiffany lost her mind, she cut her hair—but then, you’re gonna be like, ‘That body, tho.’”), Haddish’s mind isn’t bothered, just busy with the possibilities presented by having less hair to manage. (Can’t lie; having once had a close crop myself, I’m once again tempted.)
“I’m gonna be so cute, y’all don’t even understand,” she said—already cute as she added: “I feel free. Yes, I do feel free.”


theroot--2020-07-08--Christmas Has Truly Come in July With 50% off This Candle Trio Set From Nest

I had a friend growing up whose family really did the whole Christmas in July deal .
And honestly , @ @ @ @ @ exchange small gifts , watch holiday movies , and have a big feast with them @ @ @ @ @ % Nest ’ s holiday trio candle set and have your own X -mas in @ @ @ @ @ ’ re still social distancing and staying mostly at home a fun little celebration like @ @ @ @ @ break from the stress of everything that ’ s going on .
Nest ’ s @ @ @ @ @ this set half off is a killer deal .
The scents to create the wintery @ @ @ @ @ pine , and sparkling cassis .
They come in beautiful glass holders that can easily @ @ @ @ @ burns for about forty hours which is impressive given there size .
And they are @ @ @ @ @ Get free shipping on this if you are a Prime member .

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

Nest Petite Candle Trio | $32 | Amazon Gold Box
I had a friend growing up whose family really did the whole Christmas in July deal. And honestly , it was really fun to exchange small gifts, watch holiday movies, and have a big feast with them . Today t ake 50% Nest’s holiday trio candle set and have your own X -mas in July celebration.
If you’re still social distancing and staying mostly at home a fun little celebration like this might be a nice break from the stress of everything that’s going on . Nest’s candles are quality so getting this set half off is a killer deal. The scents to create the wintery mood are holiday, birchwood pine, and sparkling cassis. They come in beautiful glass holders that can easily be reused. Each candle burns for about forty hours which is impressive given there size. And they are made in the USA.
Get free shipping on this if you are a Prime member.


theroot--2020-07-08--21-Year Military Veteran Who Was Key Witness In Trump’s Impeachment Retiring Due to ‘Campaign of Bul

21-Year Military Veteran Who Was Key Witness In Trump’s Impeachment Retiring Due to ‘Campaign of Bullying’

Think about this for a second : a man who doesn ’ t love America , who dodged the draft because he had sensitive bones ( which may or may not have been a lie ) , has led a campaign of intimidation and retaliation so intense that a U.S. Army veteran is retiring after 21 years of service to his country .
Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman will no longer be a member of the armed forces because his future “ will forever be limited ” due to the punk-ass president and his allies , who are complete assholes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Vindman has endured a ‘ campaign of bullying , intimidation , and retaliation ’ spearheaded by the President following his testimony in the impeachment inquiry last year , ” his attorney , Amb .
David Pressman , told CNN .
All of this can be traced back to Vindman ’ s public testimony in November .
Trump fired Vindman as the top Ukraine expert on the National Security Council in February and also ousted his twin brother who also played a key role in impeachment proceedings while serving at the White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recent weeks , the controversy has centered around allegations that the White House was attempting to block Vindman ’ s upcoming military promotion to the rank of colonel .
“ The President of the United States attempted to force LTC Vindman to choose : Between adhering to the law or pleasing a President .
Between honoring his oath or protecting his career .
Between protecting his promotion or the promotion of his fellow soldiers , ” Pressman said in a statement to CNN .
“ These are choices that no one in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who has dedicated his life to serving it , ” he added , noting that Vindman “ did what the law compelled him to do ; and for that he was bullied by the President and his proxies.
” Secretary of Defense Mark Esper claims that Vindman is not being targeted , along with a CNN source claiming that the White House has been involved in Vindman ’ s attempts to get promoted .
Vindman was told that there have been discussions at the Department of Defense about holding “ his name back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the promotions of other service members , ” the source told CNN .
It is “ absurd and frightening ” for the White House to be involved in promotions at this level , the source added .
Realizing that he was fighting an uphill battle , Vindman has decided to retire from the military , as it was clear to the 21-year-veteran who senior Army officials were working against his advancement .
“ Specifically , Vindman was told by senior Army officials that he would no longer be deployable in his area of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the source familiar with the situation told CNN .
The White House and Pentagon did not respond to CNN ’ s request for comment , but given the petty nature of this president , every word of Vindman ’ s story is believable .

Think about this for a second: a man who doesn’t love America, who dodged the draft because he had sensitive bones (which may or may not have been a lie), has led a campaign of intimidation and retaliation so intense that a U.S. Army veteran is retiring after 21 years of service to his country.
Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman will no longer be a member of the armed forces because his future “will forever be limited” due to the punk-ass president and his allies, who are complete assholes, Vindman’s lawyer told CNN Wednesday.
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“Vindman has endured a ‘campaign of bullying, intimidation, and retaliation’ spearheaded by the President following his testimony in the impeachment inquiry last year,” his attorney, Amb. David Pressman, told CNN.
All of this can be traced back to Vindman’s public testimony in November.
From CNN:
Trump fired Vindman as the top Ukraine expert on the National Security Council in February and also ousted his twin brother who also played a key role in impeachment proceedings while serving at the White House as an NSC lawyer. In recent weeks, the controversy has centered around allegations that the White House was attempting to block Vindman’s upcoming military promotion to the rank of colonel. “The President of the United States attempted to force LTC Vindman to choose: Between adhering to the law or pleasing a President. Between honoring his oath or protecting his career. Between protecting his promotion or the promotion of his fellow soldiers,” Pressman said in a statement to CNN. “These are choices that no one in the United States should confront, especially one who has dedicated his life to serving it,” he added, noting that Vindman “did what the law compelled him to do; and for that he was bullied by the President and his proxies.”
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Secretary of Defense Mark Esper claims that Vindman is not being targeted, along with a CNN source claiming that the White House has been involved in Vindman’s attempts to get promoted. Vindman was told that there have been discussions at the Department of Defense about holding “his name back until after the election to avoid impacting the promotions of other service members,” the source told CNN.
It is “absurd and frightening” for the White House to be involved in promotions at this level, the source added.
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Realizing that he was fighting an uphill battle, Vindman has decided to retire from the military, as it was clear to the 21-year-veteran who senior Army officials were working against his advancement.
“Specifically, Vindman was told by senior Army officials that he would no longer be deployable in his area of expertise, which includes Ukraine,” the source familiar with the situation told CNN.
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The White House and Pentagon did not respond to CNN’s request for comment, but given the petty nature of this president, every word of Vindman’s story is believable.


theroot--2020-07-08--Idris Elba Says Luther Is 'This Close' to Becoming a Film

Luther fans !
Y ’ all ready to see your fave troubled detective John Luther on the big screen ?
Well , it looks like you may be a liiiiiiitle bit closer to making that a reality .
Hell , it ’ s been a minute since we ’ ve seen the infamous Detective Chief Inspector on any screen .
The fifth season ( or series as the Brits say it ! )
wrapped in January 2019 , which—coupled with the global pandemic ’ s effect on the concept of time and the effect it had on the show ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Speaking of the star of the show—Idris Elba is offering some faith , reinforcing his desire to see Luther again , but also noting that there ’ s a real possibility that Luther will be adapted into a film .
“ There isn ’ t a real formal plan for Luther at the moment , ” Elba recently said during a Zoom event , per Sky News .
“ I ’ ve made it very clear that I ’ d like to see Luther come back as a film .
And I can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this close to making a film of Luther.
” Debuting in 2010 , and broadcast on BBC America in the U.S. , the critically acclaimed Luther has had five seasons so far , the last of which was shown in Jan. 2019 .
Season five , which drew strong ratings in the U.K. , ended on a cliffhanger with plenty of plot points to resolve but thus far there has been no official greenlight on a sixth season .
“ It will be more murder , more Volvos , more frowning Luther , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back in 2018 , and likened the potential film experience to thrilling ‘ 90s classics such as Seven and Along Came A Spider .
“ Essentially we just want to try and take it to a much bigger remit and scale and perhaps international as well.
” As for what Elba is up to these days , he was primarily on the Zoom call to promote the third season of his semi-autobiographical show In The Long Run , which he created and stars in .
This one is for our British readers at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ One .
The third season will premiere on July 22 .

Luther fans! Y’all ready to see your fave troubled detective John Luther on the big screen? Well, it looks like you may be a liiiiiiitle bit closer to making that a reality.
Hell, it’s been a minute since we’ve seen the infamous Detective Chief Inspector on any screen. The fifth season (or series as the Brits say it!) wrapped in January 2019, which—coupled with the global pandemic’s effect on the concept of time and the effect it had on the show’s star—seems like 50-11 years ago.
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Speaking of the star of the show—Idris Elba is offering some faith, reinforcing his desire to see Luther again, but also noting that there’s a real possibility that Luther will be adapted into a film.
“There isn’t a real formal plan for Luther at the moment,” Elba recently said during a Zoom event, per Sky News. “I’ve made it very clear that I’d like to see Luther come back as a film. And I can tell you this, that we are this close to making a film of Luther.”
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As The Hollywood Reporter noted:
Debuting in 2010, and broadcast on BBC America in the U.S., the critically acclaimed Luther has had five seasons so far, the last of which was shown in Jan. 2019. Season five, which drew strong ratings in the U.K., ended on a cliffhanger with plenty of plot points to resolve but thus far there has been no official greenlight on a sixth season.
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“It will be more murder, more Volvos, more frowning Luther,” Elba told the UK newspaper Metro back in 2018, and likened the potential film experience to thrilling ‘90s classics such as Seven and Along Came A Spider. “Essentially we just want to try and take it to a much bigger remit and scale and perhaps international as well.”
As for what Elba is up to these days, he was primarily on the Zoom call to promote the third season of his semi-autobiographical show In The Long Run, which he created and stars in. This one is for our British readers at the moment as it airs on Sky One. The third season will premiere on July 22.