theroot--2020-12-23--Pandemic be Damned, NBA Opening Night Was a Win for Everybody But COVID-19

I don ’ t know how you spent your Tuesday night , but since the coronavirus won ’ t let any of us be great , I hope you stayed your ass home a nd watched NBA basketball like the rest of us .
But in the unfortunate event that you were off running the streets and being a super spreader like a selfish heathen , here ’ s what you missed during the NBA ’ s opening night .
First up in the NBA on TNT ’ s doubleheader was the Golden State Warriors vs. the Brooklyn Nets .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ league to continue to incorporate the grandiose digital boards and virtual fans that made the NBA bubble such a unique experience , we were in for a rude awakening .
Instead , the empty Barclay Center stands were covered with black tarps—which was a bit jarring at first , but a much better alternative than the empty rec league look the league was going for during the preseason .
Also noticeably absent in the broadcast presentation was fake crowd noise , which meant fans at home were treated to play-by-play announcer Marv Albert @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our surround sound systems instead .
As for the game itself , things got ugly quick .
With Draymond Green out with a sore right foot and the remaining Warriors seemingly uninterested in even pretending to play defense—or offense—Andrew Wiggins and Kelly Oubre Jr. took turns assaulting the backboard and before I knew it , the Nets were up 40-25 by the end of the first quarter .
It only got uglier from there as flameflower Caris LeVert checked into the game off the bench and proceeded to join in on the vicious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who was playing his first game in over a year since he tore his Achilles in the 2019 playoffs , that boy got busy .
Not even five minutes into the game , he had 10 points already , but at least he was kind enough to show Steph some love before ripping out his throat .
More importantly , KD had all the confidence in the world as he continues to recover from such a significant injury and had zero hesitancy in crossing niggas up , attacking the rim , or taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suffer any setbacks and is able to maintain this level of play for the rest of the season , the rest of the league is in serious trouble .
Kyrie did his thing , too , looking explosive as hell while still remaining committed to moving the ball around the court ( I know , I couldn ’ t believe it myself ) .
He finished with 26 points and helped propel the Nets to a 125-99 victory .
And afterward , he gave new head coach Steve Nash the game ball .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ between the Lakers and the Temecula Clippers , who have been banished from the kingdom of Los Angeles ever since they embarrassed themselves in the 2020 playoffs .
The festivities began with the Lakers receiving their championship rings , which were designed by jeweler Jason Arasheben , and pay tribute to both Kobe Bryant and the unending social justice movement .
As for the game , history almost repeated itself with the Clippers allowing their 22-point lead to evaporate into thin air before the team dug deep and stopped the bleeding .
Paul @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criticized for not only his inconsistent play but his lack of accountability in addressing the Clippers ’ shortcomings , went the entire fuck off in the second half , knocking down 10 of his 12 shots—four of which were treys—on his way to a 33-point night in the Clippers 116-109 win .
We ’ ll also pretend this never happened : Kawhi did the damn thing , too , adding 26 points of his own to give Ty Lue his first win as the Clippers ’ new head coach .
After the game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the team is still haunted by their unprecedented collapse in September ’ s Western Conference Semifinals .
“ We aren ’ t thinking about last year , ” he told reporters .
“ It ’ s a different team .
I ’ m just happy that we kept playing basketball the right way pretty much .
Even if we lost the game , the lead , we turned around , we stayed positive , we kept playing our basketball pretty much .
We ran our offense .
And that is what I take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each other ’ s back and speaking positive and we kept communicating on the floor and pushed out a win.
” I just need the Clippers to keep that same energy in the playoffs .
Because a win on opening night against the Lakers means absolutely nothing in the grand scheme .
All in all , it was a beautiful night of basketball .
Let us hope and pray that COVID-19 stays the hell away from the NBA for as long as humanly possible .

I don’t know how you spent your Tuesday night, but since the coronavirus won’t let any of us be great, I hope you stayed your ass home a nd watched NBA basketball like the rest of us. But in the unfortunate event that you were off running the streets and being a super spreader like a selfish heathen, here’s what you missed during the NBA’s opening night.
First up in the NBA on TNT’s doubleheader was the Golden State Warriors vs. the Brooklyn Nets. For those of us who expected the league to continue to incorporate the grandiose digital boards and virtual fans that made the NBA bubble such a unique experience, we were in for a rude awakening. Instead, the empty Barclay Center stands were covered with black tarps—which was a bit jarring at first, but a much better alternative than the empty rec league look the league was going for during the preseason.
Advertisement
Also noticeably absent in the broadcast presentation was fake crowd noise, which meant fans at home were treated to play-by-play announcer Marv Albert’s loud-ass, heavy-ass breathing into our surround sound systems instead.
Advertisement Advertisement
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As for the game itself, things got ugly quick. With Draymond Green out with a sore right foot and the remaining Warriors seemingly uninterested in even pretending to play defense—or offense—Andrew Wiggins and Kelly Oubre Jr. took turns assaulting the backboard and before I knew it, the Nets were up 40-25 by the end of the first quarter.
Advertisement
It only got uglier from there as flameflower Caris LeVert checked into the game off the bench and proceeded to join in on the vicious curb-stomping.
As for Kevin Durant, who was playing his first game in over a year since he tore his Achilles in the 2019 playoffs, that boy got busy. Not even five minutes into the game, he had 10 points already, but at least he was kind enough to show Steph some love before ripping out his throat.
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More importantly, KD had all the confidence in the world as he continues to recover from such a significant injury and had zero hesitancy in crossing niggas up, attacking the rim, or taking charges. If he doesn’t suffer any setbacks and is able to maintain this level of play for the rest of the season, the rest of the league is in serious trouble.
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Kyrie did his thing, too, looking explosive as hell while still remaining committed to moving the ball around the court (I know, I couldn’t believe it myself). He finished with 26 points and helped propel the Nets to a 125-99 victory. And afterward, he gave new head coach Steve Nash the game ball.
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The second game of the night was between the Lakers and the Temecula Clippers, who have been banished from the kingdom of Los Angeles ever since they embarrassed themselves in the 2020 playoffs.
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The festivities began with the Lakers receiving their championship rings, which were designed by jeweler Jason Arasheben, and pay tribute to both Kobe Bryant and the unending social justice movement.
Advertisement
As for the game, history almost repeated itself with the Clippers allowing their 22-point lead to evaporate into thin air before the team dug deep and stopped the bleeding. Paul George, who’s been fairly criticized for not only his inconsistent play but his lack of accountability in addressing the Clippers’ shortcomings, went the entire fuck off in the second half, knocking down 10 of his 12 shots—four of which were treys—on his way to a 33-point night in the Clippers 116-109 win.
We’ll also pretend this never happened:
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Kawhi did the damn thing, too, adding 26 points of his own to give Ty Lue his first win as the Clippers’ new head coach. After the game, Kawhi also addressed whether or not the team is still haunted by their unprecedented collapse in September’s Western Conference Semifinals.
“We aren’t thinking about last year,” he told reporters. “It’s a different team. I’m just happy that we kept playing basketball the right way pretty much. Even if we lost the game, the lead, we turned around, we stayed positive, we kept playing our basketball pretty much. We ran our offense. And that is what I take pride in tonight, that everyone had each other’s back and speaking positive and we kept communicating on the floor and pushed out a win.”
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I just need the Clippers to keep that same energy in the playoffs. Because a win on opening night against the Lakers means absolutely nothing in the grand scheme.
All in all, it was a beautiful night of basketball. Let us hope and pray that COVID-19 stays the hell away from the NBA for as long as humanly possible.


theroot--2020-12-23--Trump Pardons 20 Federal Prisoners, Including Convicted Trump Allies and Soldiers Who Killed Unarmed

Trump Pardons 20 Federal Prisoners, Including Convicted Trump Allies and Soldiers Who Killed Unarmed Iraqi Civilians

What do war criminals , Trump allies , embezzlers and other white-collar criminals have in common ?
Y ’ all ’ s almost-former president is spending his last days in office freeing them from prison .
On Tuesday , Donald Trump pardoned or granted clemency to 20 prisoners and former prisoners , including three Republican congressmen , two people convicted of crimes during the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential race and security contractors who shot and killed more than a dozen unarmed Iraqi civilians during the Iraq war .
So as much as I would love to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , you get a pardon , EVERYBODY GETS A PARDON ” joke , I ’ m just pretty sure Oprah Winfrey never gave free cars to people who committed acts overseas that would get them branded high-profile terrorists if they were foreign soldiers murdering U.S. citizens .
The pre-Christmas pardons and commutations came as the president has been exploring how to reward friends and allies in his waning days in the White House , with more acts of clemency expected to come .
Trump has told advisers he wants to be liberal with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaving office on Jan. 20 , according to people familiar with his views .
The White House has been flooded with requests from dozens of members of Congress , one senior administration official said , as well as lawyers , lobbyists , allies and other supporters of the president .
The first batch released Tuesday night shows how the president is using the power of his office to undo the work of the Russia probe that shadowed much of his term , undercut major cases that took on political corruption and wave away @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a massacre during the Iraq War .
So let ’ s take a look at some of the people Trump sang , “ I ’ m dreaming of a white-collar criminal Christmas ” to : George Papadopoulos is a former foreign policy adviser to Trump ’ s 2016 campaign who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI during its probe into Russian election interference .
Papadopoulos served his 14-day prison sentence for lying to the FBI about his correspondence with a London-based professor who claimed Russia had thousands of emails worth of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then-Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton .
He sought a pardon to expunge his record in order to back his whiney-ass claims that he was unfairly targeted by special counsel Robert S. Mueller and other U.S. officials , the Post reports .
Dutch attorney Alex van der Zwaan also got a Trump buddy-pass after he pleaded guilty to lying to Mueller ’ s team during the Russian probe .
Former Congressman Duncan D. Hunter ( R-Calif. ) pleaded guilty to using thousands of dollars in campaign funds to pay for family vacations and shit ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pleaded guilty to being involved in an insider-trading scheme and lying to the FBI , and Congressman Steve Stockman ( R-Texas ) served two years out of a 10-year sentence after being convicted in 2018 of conspiring to take hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations that were meant for charity and voter education .
All three of these men got a Trump pardon for Christmas because the man who ’ s been shouting about fraud since he lost reelection only actually cares about fraud when it ’ s ... well ... imaginary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ correct the wrong that Mueller ’ s team inflicted on so many people , ” the White House said in a statement Tuesday , the Post reports .
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam B. Schiff ( D-Calif. ) had a different take .
“ If you lie to cover up for the president , you get a pardon , ” Schiff said .
“ If you are a corrupt politician who endorsed Trump , you get a pardon .
If you murder civilians while at war , you get a pardon.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ones granted to four Blackwater Worldwide security contractors—Nicholas Slatten , Paul Slough , Evan Liberty and Dustin Heard—who were involved in a 2007 shooting that killed 14 civilians—including 9-year-old Ali Kinani—and injured 17 more .
Other pardons included border patrol agents who shot a suspected smuggler who fled their custody and a bunch of other Republicans who are just lucky Trump is only tough on crime when it comes to criminals he hasn ’ t likely shared a golf cart with .
According to the Post , Trump told his advisers that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plans to hand out more get-out-of-jail-free cards before leaving office .
( That ’ s assuming he ’ s done acting like a grown-ass toddler crying about voter fraud and refusing to admit he ’ s no longer president . )
There are approximately 14,000 prisoners who have petitioned for pardons and commutations , but because Trump typically did n ’ t even bother consulting with the Justice Department ’ s pardon attorney for recommendations and mostly just freed the homies , only seven of the 20 people he pardoned Tuesday actually had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
So while it may not be the greatest time to be an average-Joe Trump supporter , it ’ s apparently a great time to be the type of criminal that Trump favors .

What do war criminals, Trump allies, embezzlers and other white-collar criminals have in common? Y’all’s almost-former president is spending his last days in office freeing them from prison.
On Tuesday, Donald Trump pardoned or granted clemency to 20 prisoners and former prisoners, including three Republican congressmen, two people convicted of crimes during the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential race and security contractors who shot and killed more than a dozen unarmed Iraqi civilians during the Iraq war. So as much as I would love to make the “you get a pardon, you get a pardon, EVERYBODY GETS A PARDON” joke, I’m just pretty sure Oprah Winfrey never gave free cars to people who committed acts overseas that would get them branded high-profile terrorists if they were foreign soldiers murdering U.S. citizens.
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From the Washington Post:
The pre-Christmas pardons and commutations came as the president has been exploring how to reward friends and allies in his waning days in the White House, with more acts of clemency expected to come. Trump has told advisers he wants to be liberal with pardons and plans to sign more before leaving office on Jan. 20, according to people familiar with his views. The White House has been flooded with requests from dozens of members of Congress, one senior administration official said, as well as lawyers, lobbyists, allies and other supporters of the president. The first batch released Tuesday night shows how the president is using the power of his office to undo the work of the Russia probe that shadowed much of his term, undercut major cases that took on political corruption and wave away the crimes of Americans convicted of participating in a massacre during the Iraq War.
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So let’s take a look at some of the people Trump sang, “I’m dreaming of a white-collar criminal Christmas” to:
George Papadopoulos is a former foreign policy adviser to Trump’s 2016 campaign who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI during its probe into Russian election interference. Papadopoulos served his 14-day prison sentence for lying to the FBI about his correspondence with a London-based professor who claimed Russia had thousands of emails worth of “dirt” on Trump’s then-Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton. He sought a pardon to expunge his record in order to back his whiney-ass claims that he was unfairly targeted by special counsel Robert S. Mueller and other U.S. officials, the Post reports.
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Dutch attorney Alex van der Zwaan also got a Trump buddy-pass after he pleaded guilty to lying to Mueller’s team during the Russian probe.
Former Congressman Duncan D. Hunter (R-Calif.) pleaded guilty to using thousands of dollars in campaign funds to pay for family vacations and shit; former Congressman Chris Collins (R-N.Y.) pleaded guilty to being involved in an insider-trading scheme and lying to the FBI, and Congressman Steve Stockman (R-Texas) served two years out of a 10-year sentence after being convicted in 2018 of conspiring to take hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations that were meant for charity and voter education. All three of these men got a Trump pardon for Christmas because the man who’s been shouting about fraud since he lost reelection only actually cares about fraud when it’s...well...imaginary.
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“Today’s pardon helps correct the wrong that Mueller’s team inflicted on so many people,” the White House said in a statement Tuesday, the Post reports.
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam B. Schiff (D-Calif.) had a different take.
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“If you lie to cover up for the president, you get a pardon,” Schiff said. “If you are a corrupt politician who endorsed Trump, you get a pardon. If you murder civilians while at war, you get a pardon.”
The most egregious pardons he gave out were the ones granted to four Blackwater Worldwide security contractors—Nicholas Slatten, Paul Slough, Evan Liberty and Dustin Heard—who were involved in a 2007 shooting that killed 14 civilians—including 9-year-old Ali Kinani—and injured 17 more.
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Other pardons included border patrol agents who shot a suspected smuggler who fled their custody and a bunch of other Republicans who are just lucky Trump is only tough on crime when it comes to criminals he hasn’t likely shared a golf cart with.
According to the Post, Trump told his advisers that he isn’t done and he plans to hand out more get-out-of-jail-free cards before leaving office. (That’s assuming he’s done acting like a grown-ass toddler crying about voter fraud and refusing to admit he’s no longer president.)
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There are approximately 14,000 prisoners who have petitioned for pardons and commutations, but because Trump typically did n’t even bother consulting with the Justice Department’s pardon attorney for recommendations and mostly just freed the homies, only seven of the 20 people he pardoned Tuesday actually had active petitions listed in Justice Department records.
So while it may not be the greatest time to be an average-Joe Trump supporter, it’s apparently a great time to be the type of criminal that Trump favors.


theroot--2020-12-23--Trailer Roundup: Saying Peace Out 2020 Is a Highlight of 2020 Because...It's The Little Things

This isn ’ t the last week of 2020 , but it feels like it since most folks have taken off work until the new year ( except me , obviously ... and the person editing this piece ) .
It ’ s technically the last full week of 2020 , so there ya go !
But , since we ’ re still in 2020 , let ’ s get to some escapism in the form of trailers ... First Impression : Written and performed by Timothy Ware-Hill ( who also co-directed with Arnon Manor ) , Cops & Robbers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , half-live-action based on Ware-Hill ’ s poem that he wrote in response to the police killing of Ahmaud Arbery .
Peace Out 2020 ( Facebook Watch ; Release Date : Dec. 29 at 3 p.m .
ET ) First Impressions : Hosted by Keke Palmer and David Dobrik , this farewell special is basically a roast of 2020 , which is much deserved .
Along with Snoop Dogg ( as you see in this sneak peek ) , Peace Out 2020 will feature Black-ass celebs such as Keegan-Michael Key , La La @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Unsung Presents : Music & the Movement ( TV One ; Release Date : Jan. 18 , 2021 at 8 p.m .
ET ) First Impressions : This two-part documentary will premiere on MLK Day and will highlight music by artists that served as the soundtrack to the fight for justice and equality such as Aretha Franklin , Public Enemy , Stevie Wonder , Gil Scott-Heron and Beyoncé .
I see some familiar faces in this trailer serving as talking heads in this doc , such as writer-editor Keith Murphy and The Root @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : This animated film stars Rosario Dawson and Craig Robinson and it seems like it follows the villains as protagonists , kind of like Suicide Squad .
Soooo , similar to Quibi ( R.I.P . )
, I don ’ t really know anyone who watches Tubi , but the above content ( and much more ) will debut for free so check it out with your fellow quarantining fam if you have some free time over your holiday break !
First Impressions : This psychological thriller stars Denzel Washington ( as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s a trifecta of Academy Award winners ! )
who becomes engrossed in this intense search for a killer in this city .
The desert scene at the end of the trailer is giving me Seven vibes ... are we going to get a “ What ’ s in the box ?
?
?
” type moment again ?
!
Tiger ( HBO ; Release Date : Part I , Jan. 10 , 2021 at 9 p.m .
ET and Part II , Jan. 17 , 2021 at 9 p.m .
ET ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Tiger King , but the king of golf is Tiger Woods .
There ’ s another documentary about Tiger from The Undefeated called , Tiger Woods : America ’ s Son , but it looks like HBO scored the coveted single-name title .
Per the press release , this two-part doc will feature “ never-before-seen footage and revealing interviews with those who know the golfer best.
” Whitney Houston & Bobbi Kristina : Didn ’ t We Almost Have It All ( Lifetime ; Release Date : Feb. 6 , 2021 at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ & Bobbi Kristina : Didn ’ t We Almost Have It All trailer / YouTube First Impressions : Sigh .
Even the title itself is heartbreaking , so watching the trailer is even more emotional .
I ’ m not even sure how I ’ ll muster the strength to watch the doc just yet .
Per Billboard , the doc will “ celebrate their lives and open up about their tragic deaths , featuring interviews from close friends , family and co-workers.
” First Impressions : Directed , produced , written by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Rich “ Philly Filthy Rich ” Harris , The Bid is a comedy about two rappers framed by a police officer and are forced to fight the Philly prison system from the inside .
This Is It ( ; Now Streaming ) This Is It trailer / YouTube First Impressions : This Is It , is a Nigerian film about a newlywed couple dealing with the challenges that come with being married .
Per a press release sent to The Root , Comcast NBCUniversal/SKY recently invested in the independent global platform founded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we actually have a few titles ( available to watch for free ) to spotlight today ... First Impressions : Plan B , a film from Kenya , is exactly what the name implies—a woman who deals with the consequences of a one night stand .
Yes ... pregnancy .
The film is written/directed by LowlaDee .
First Impressions : I can ’ t even summarize the synopsis of this film by paraphrasing and give it justice .
So , per the press release , “ Jade is hopelessly in love with her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the one thing keeping them from happily ever after is her inherent beauty.
” Talk your shit , Jade !
From the trailer , though , it looks like the film actually tackles the inherent colorism in UK society ... which , now I get the play on words .
First Impressions : This one , from Ghana , is full of scandal and drama as the protagonist ’ s first love comes back into her life on the worst imaginable day—her wedding day .
Yikes !
First Impressions : Time Looped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about a “ young stubborn man gets trapped on the same day until he learns to be a better husband.
” So , basically ... Groundhog Day for fuckboys .
Gotcha !
In case you missed it ( how could you ?
?
it was trending all day on Tuesday ) , we did a special shout-out to the Coming 2 America trailer .
‘ Til next week !

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

This isn’t the last week of 2020, but it feels like it since most folks have taken off work until the new year (except me, obviously...and the person editing this piece). It’s technically the last full week of 2020, so there ya go! But, since we’re still in 2020, let’s get to some escapism in the form of trailers...
Cops & Robbers (Netflix; Release Date: Dec. 28)
Cops & Robbers trailer / YouTube
First Impression: Written and performed by Timothy Ware-Hill (who also co-directed with Arnon Manor), Cops & Robbers is an interesting concept that is half-animation, half-live-action based on Ware-Hill’s poem that he wrote in response to the police killing of Ahmaud Arbery.
Advertisement
Peace Out 2020 (Facebook Watch; Release Date: Dec. 29 at 3 p.m. ET)
Advertisement Advertisement
First Impressions: Hosted by Keke Palmer and David Dobrik, this farewell special is basically a roast of 2020, which is much deserved. Along with Snoop Dogg (as you see in this sneak peek), Peace Out 2020 will feature Black-ass celebs such as Keegan-Michael Key, La La Anthony, Steve Harvey and more.
Unsung Presents: Music & the Movement (TV One; Release Date: Jan. 18, 2021 at 8 p.m. ET)
Unsung Presents: Music & the Movement trailer / YouTube
First Impressions: This two-part documentary will premiere on MLK Day and will highlight music by artists that served as the soundtrack to the fight for justice and equality such as Aretha Franklin, Public Enemy, Stevie Wonder, Gil Scott-Heron and Beyoncé. I see some familiar faces in this trailer serving as talking heads in this doc, such as writer-editor Keith Murphy and The Root contributor Ronda Racha Penrice.
Advertisement
Henchmen trailer Henchmen trailer / Courtesy of Tubi
First Impressions: This animated film stars Rosario Dawson and Craig Robinson and it seems like it follows the villains as protagonists, kind of like Suicide Squad. Soooo, similar to Quibi (R.I.P.), I don’t really know anyone who watches Tubi, but the above content (and much more) will debut for free so check it out with your fellow quarantining fam if you have some free time over your holiday break!
Advertisement
The Little Things (HBO Max; Release Date: Jan 29, 2021)
The Little Things trailer / YouTube
First Impressions: This psychological thriller stars Denzel Washington (as well as Rami Malek and Jared Leto—it’s a trifecta of Academy Award winners!) who becomes engrossed in this intense search for a killer in this city. The desert scene at the end of the trailer is giving me Seven vibes...are we going to get a “What’s in the box???” type moment again?!
Advertisement
Tiger (HBO; Release Date: Part I, Jan. 10, 2021 at 9 p.m. ET and Part II, Jan. 17, 2021 at 9 p.m. ET)
Tiger trailer / YouTube
First Impressions: We all now know the Tiger King, but the king of golf is Tiger Woods. There’s another documentary about Tiger from The Undefeated called, Tiger Woods: America’s Son, but it looks like HBO scored the coveted single-name title. Per the press release, this two-part doc will feature “never-before-seen footage and revealing interviews with those who know the golfer best.”
Advertisement
Whitney Houston & Bobbi Kristina: Didn’t We Almost Have It All (Lifetime; Release Date: Feb. 6, 2021 at 8 p.m. ET)
Whitney Houston & Bobbi Kristina: Didn’t We Almost Have It All trailer / YouTube
First Impressions: Sigh. Even the title itself is heartbreaking, so watching the trailer is even more emotional. I’m not even sure how I’ll muster the strength to watch the doc just yet. Per Billboard, the doc will “celebrate their lives and open up about their tragic deaths, featuring interviews from close friends, family and co-workers.”
Advertisement
The Bid (Theaters and Digital; Release Date: Jan. 12, 2021)
The Bid trailer / YouTube
First Impressions: Directed, produced, written by, and starring Philadelphia duo Maurquis Boone and Rich “Philly Filthy Rich” Harris, The Bid is a comedy about two rappers framed by a police officer and are forced to fight the Philly prison system from the inside.
Advertisement
This Is It ( AfroLandTV
This Is It trailer / YouTube
First Impressions: This Is It, is a Nigerian film about a newlywed couple dealing with the challenges that come with being married. Per a press release sent to The Root, Comcast NBCUniversal/SKY recently invested in the independent global platform founded by Michael Maponga and Brittin Maponga so we actually have a few titles (available to watch for free) to spotlight today...
Advertisement
Plan B (AfroLandTV; Now Streaming)
Plan B trailer / YouTube
First Impressions: Plan B, a film from Kenya, is exactly what the name implies—a woman who deals with the consequences of a one night stand. Yes...pregnancy. The film is written/directed by LowlaDee.
Advertisement
No Shade (AfroLandTV; Now Streaming)
No Shade trailer / YouTube
First Impressions: I can’t even summarize the synopsis of this film by paraphrasing and give it justice. So, per the press release, “Jade is hopelessly in love with her best friend of 10 years but discovers that the one thing keeping them from happily ever after is her inherent beauty.” Talk your shit, Jade! From the trailer, though, it looks like the film actually tackles the inherent colorism in UK society...which, now I get the play on words.
Advertisement
Poisoned Belt (AfroLandTV; Now Streaming)
Poisoned Belt trailer / YouTube
First Impressions: This one, from Ghana, is full of scandal and drama as the protagonist’s first love comes back into her life on the worst imaginable day—her wedding day. Yikes!
Advertisement
Time Looped (AfroLanTV; Now Streaming)
Time Looped trailer / YouTube
First Impressions: Time Looped is another Nollywood film, this time about a “young stubborn man gets trapped on the same day until he learns to be a better husband.” So, basically...Groundhog Day for fuckboys. Gotcha!
Advertisement
In case you missed it (how could you?? it was trending all day on Tuesday), we did a special shout-out to the Coming 2 America trailer. ‘Til next week!


theroot--2020-12-24--Aukey's True Wireless Sport Earbuds Are for Those on the Go and Looking to Save, Now Just $38

As I ’ ve been te sting a myriad of products from Aukey one thing is certain , each is @ @ @ @ @ .
This morning give yourself a Christmas treat and take 25 % off the True @ @ @ @ @ code NSHVZY8T .
As with m ost of these secure fit earbuds they ’ re @ @ @ @ @ .
These were made for the gym , hikes , runs , on the court @ @ @ @ @ those adventurers with an active lifestyle .
I ’ ve found ear-hooks are an acquired @ @ @ @ @ everything stays where it needs to .
And these are obviously waterproof to protect against @ @ @ @ @ a full sound given their size .
Expect around thirty-five hours of playtime with the @ @ @ @ @ ll get just about seven off of a single charge .
A great value for @ @ @ @ @ take on the road with you .
These will ship free for Prime members .

Sheilah Villari on Kinja Deals, shared by Elizabeth Lanier to The Root

Aukey True Wireless Sport Earbuds | $2 8 | Amazon | Clip Coupon
As I’ve been testing a myriad of products from Aukey, one thing is certain; each is great quality for the price. Don’t be a fool and miss this deal today . Treat yourself and save 45 % on these True Wireless Sport Earbuds with the clipped coupon .
As with most of these secure fit earbuds, they’re built for a fast-paced life. These were made for the gym, hikes, runs, the court, and anything else for those adventurers with an active lifestyle. I’ve found ear-hooks are an acquired taste, but they definitely ensure everything stays where it needs to. And these are obviously waterproof to protect against sweat. Great bass and full sound given their size. Expect around thirty-five hours of playtime with the case, so you’ll get just about seven hours off of a single charge. A great value for a set of earbuds to take on the road with you.
These will ship free for Prime members.
This deal was originally published in December 2020 and updated with new information on 4/1/2020.


theroot--2020-12-24--Ready for the First Night of Kwanzaa? Here Are 7 Gifts Perfect For Umoja

The first night of Kwanzaa marks the beginning of a celebration of Blackness and the power of coming together .
@ @ @ @ @ of 2020 stuck inside with my family , I can safely say that we are @ @ @ @ @ Umoja ( unity ) is about creating and fostering strength between parents and children , @ @ @ @ @ generations and races .
Here are some unique gifts you can share that represent Umoja @

The first night of Kwanzaa marks the beginning of a celebration of Blackness and the power of coming together. After having spent the majority of 2020 stuck inside with my family, I can safely say that we are all closer than ever. Umoja (unity) is about creating and fostering strength between parents and children, within a community, across generations and races.
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Here are some unique gifts you can share that represent Umoja.


theroot--2020-12-24--A Second Top Black Female Employee Reveals She Was Fired From Google Back in September

When April Christina Curley went to bed on the night of September 10 , she probably didn ’ t think she ’ d wake up the next morning and be out of a job at Google .
But that ’ s exactly what happened .
According to NBC News , Curley announced in a now viral Twitter thread on Monday that she had been fired from her role as diversity recruiter with the tech giant even though she had been “ their most successful ” recruiter within the history of their company .
Initially brought on in 2014 to help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ colleges and universities ( HBCUs ) , Curley says that before her role— the company had never hired anyone from an HBCU to serve in a tech role .
And can anyone here guess why ?
Curley then went on to reveal a series of unfair and biased hiring practices that she felt disproportionately targeted students from HBCUs , including “ ‘ screening out ’ resumes of students with ‘ unfamiliar ’ school/university names , leaving demeaning and absolutely insulting feedback about students which would ultimately result in a rejection at the hiring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interviews about the quality of the computer science curriculum that they were receiving at their HBCU , and criticizing it for ‘ not meeting the bar ’ compared to ‘ elite , ’ white institutions.
” “ The reason Google never hired an HBCU student straight out of undergrad into one of their key engineering roles is because they didn ’ t believe talent existed at these institutions- until I showed up , ” Curley wrote in one tweet .
During her time working for the company , Curley insists she tirelessly advocated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was consistently met with backlash from her superiors .
And by backlash , she means promotion and leadership opportunity denials , compensation cuts , being placed on performance improvement plans despite having rave performance metrics , getting yelled at and intentionally excluded from meetings .
One white woman manager even went so far as to tell Curley that her Baltimore accent was a disability that should ’ ve been disclosed to her peers .
All of this she feels , is what ultimately led to her termination with the company .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ awfully racist recruitment and hiring practices I saw at Google , WITH RECEIPTS , ” Curley added in a tweet .
“ Take it from ME- their most successful BLACK QUEER WOMAN recruiter who they fired in the middle of a MF pandemic because they were tired of hearing me call them out on their racist bullshit.
” At this point , Google is running 0-2 when it comes to their treatment ( or rather , mistreatment ) of their Black women employees .
Earlier this month , The Root reported that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the firing of another one of their top executives , Timnit Gebru .
Gebru , who co-led the Ethical Artificial Intelligence team at Google , told Bloomberg she was fired by the head of Google ’ s AI division in response to an internal email calling out the company ’ s treatment of minority employees , particularly those who identify as Black and female .
NBC News notes that Google has yet to comment on these allegations .

When April Christina Curley went to bed on the night of September 10, she probably didn’t think she’d wake up the next morning and be out of a job at Google. But that’s exactly what happened.
According to NBC News, Curley announced in a now viral Twitter thread on Monday that she had been fired from her role as diversity recruiter with the tech giant even though she had been “their most successful” recruiter within the history of their company.
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Initially brought on in 2014 to help improve relations between Google and historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), Curley says that before her role— the company had never hired anyone from an HBCU to serve in a tech role. And can anyone here guess why?
Yup, you guessed it. Racism.
Curley then went on to reveal a series of unfair and biased hiring practices that she felt disproportionately targeted students from HBCUs, including “‘screening out’ resumes of students with ‘unfamiliar’ school/university names, leaving demeaning and absolutely insulting feedback about students which would ultimately result in a rejection at the hiring committee stage, and questioning students in interviews about the quality of the computer science curriculum that they were receiving at their HBCU, and criticizing it for ‘not meeting the bar’ compared to ‘elite,’ white institutions.”
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“The reason Google never hired an HBCU student straight out of undergrad into one of their key engineering roles is because they didn’t believe talent existed at these institutions- until I showed up,” Curley wrote in one tweet.
During her time working for the company, Curley insists she tirelessly advocated on behalf of HBCU students though it was consistently met with backlash from her superiors. And by backlash, she means promotion and leadership opportunity denials, compensation cuts, being placed on performance improvement plans despite having rave performance metrics, getting yelled at and intentionally excluded from meetings. One white woman manager even went so far as to tell Curley that her Baltimore accent was a disability that should’ve been disclosed to her peers. All of this she feels, is what ultimately led to her termination with the company.
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“I could write FOR DAYS about alllllll the awfully racist recruitment and hiring practices I saw at Google, WITH RECEIPTS,” Curley added in a tweet. “Take it from ME- their most successful BLACK QUEER WOMAN recruiter who they fired in the middle of a MF pandemic because they were tired of hearing me call them out on their racist bullshit.”
At this point, Google is running 0-2 when it comes to their treatment (or rather, mistreatment) of their Black women employees. Earlier this month, The Root reported that the company came under scrutiny after news broke of the firing of another one of their top executives, Timnit Gebru. Gebru, who co-led the Ethical Artificial Intelligence team at Google, told Bloomberg she was fired by the head of Google’s AI division in response to an internal email calling out the company’s treatment of minority employees, particularly those who identify as Black and female.
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NBC News notes that Google has yet to comment on these allegations.


theroot--2020-12-24--Iconic Hip-Hop Artist John 'Ecstasy' Fletcher of Whodini Dies at 56

It is with great sadness that we report that John Fletcher , one third of the ’ 80s Brooklyn-based hip-hop trio Whodini , has died at the age of 56 .
Fletcher ’ s family shared the news of his passing on Wednesday in a statement sent to Billboard : The African and Native American ancestors have gathered around and chosen this day , during the Winter Solstice , Dec 23rd , 2020 to call upon a most endeared , generous , and sincere soul who graced The World ’ s heart through performance , hip-hop , family , children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fletcher was a beloved man , the life partner to Deltonia and ex-husband to Carla , twin brother to Joseph , artist , friend , and lifetime performing partner to the Legendary Jalil of Whodini .
Whodini set a hip-hop course of legendary status that we are all sure to pass on to our grandchildren .
Please send love and prayers to our family , and with open hearts we ask the ancestors to cover his soul in peace and tranquility .
Play his music if it moves you , and know he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way home this day , Dec 23rd.
” The news of Fletcher ’ s passing sent shockwaves throughout the hip-hop and broader music community .
The Roots ’ Questlove was the first to break the news , writing on social media , “ One Love to Ecstasy of the Legendary # Whodini .
This man was legendary and a pivotal member of one of the most legendary groups in hip hop .
This is sad man.
” Other hip-hop greats such as Little Brother ’ s Phonte , rapper Chuck D , Ice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Q-Tip , and Jermaine Dupri all paid tribute , expressed gratitude and shared memories of the musical giant .
Fletcher , along with vocalist Jalil Hutchins and Grandmaster Dee formed the ’ 80s rap group Whodini , rising quickly to stardom and achieving significant success .
Whodini ’ s sound has often been credited as the blueprint for the New Jack Swing era , with songs like “ Friends , ” “ Freaks Come Out at Night , ” and “ Five Minutes of Funk ” becoming major hits .
“ One @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Greatest !
There will never be another , ” wrote Hutchins .
T here was no official word on a cause of death .

Shanelle Genai on The Grapevine, shared by Shanelle Genai to The Root

It is with great sadness that we report that John Fletcher, one third of the ’ 80s Brooklyn-based hip-hop trio Whodini, has died at the age of 56.
Fletcher’s family shared the news of his passing on Wednesday in a statement sent to Billboard:
The African and Native American ancestors have gathered around and chosen this day, during the Winter Solstice, Dec 23rd, 2020 to call upon a most endeared, generous, and sincere soul who graced The World’s heart through performance, hip-hop, family, children and grandchildren. John ‘Ecstasy’ Fletcher was a beloved man, the life partner to Deltonia and ex-husband to Carla, twin brother to Joseph, artist, friend, and lifetime performing partner to the Legendary Jalil of Whodini. Whodini set a hip-hop course of legendary status that we are all sure to pass on to our grandchildren. Please send love and prayers to our family, and with open hearts we ask the ancestors to cover his soul in peace and tranquility. Play his music if it moves you, and know he’ll be hearing you on his way home this day, Dec 23rd.”
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The news of Fletcher’s passing sent shockwaves throughout the hip-hop and broader music community . The Roots’ Questlove was the first to break the news, writing on social media, “One Love to Ecstasy of the Legendary #Whodini. This man was legendary and a pivotal member of one of the most legendary groups in hip hop. This is sad man.”
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Other hip-hop greats such as Little Brother’s Phonte, rapper Chuck D, Ice Cube, A Tribe Called Quest’s Q-Tip, and Jermaine Dupri all paid tribute, expressed gratitude and shared memories of the musical giant.
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Fletcher, along with vocalist Jalil Hutchins and Grandmaster Dee formed the ’ 80s rap group Whodini, rising quickly to stardom and achieving significant success. Whodini’s sound has often been credited as the blueprint for the New Jack Swing era, with songs like “Friends,” “Freaks Come Out at Night,” and “Five Minutes of Funk” becoming major hits.
“One Love to one of Hip Hop’s Greatest! There will never be another,” wrote Hutchins.
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T here was no official word on a cause of death.