theroot--2020-10-13--Let the Record Show: Amy Coney Barrett Draws Scrutiny for Ruling Saying ‘N-Word’ Doesn’t Prove a Wor

Let the Record Show: Amy Coney Barrett Draws Scrutiny for Ruling Saying ‘N-Word’ Doesn’t Prove a Workplace Is Hostile

As Senate confirmation hearings for Donald Trump ’ s Supreme Court candidate Amy Coney Barrett began on Tuesday , her record on big-ticket issues will come under increased scrutiny as people on both sides of the aisle try to discern exactly what kind of Justice she might be .
While the confirmation hearings themselves may be revealing—and soundbites may be looped hundreds of thousands of times on cable news channels and social media over the coming days—Barrett ’ s time spent as an appellate judge offers plenty to parse through .
As the Associated Press reports , Barrett has written @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years serving on the 7th U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals .
Among these are two cases , one involving voting rights , the other a discrimination suit , that could disproportionately impact Black Americans .
Just last year , Barrett wrote a revealing decision on behalf of a three-judge panel regarding a case about racial discrimination in the workplace , reports the Associated Press .
The panel upheld the original ruling , which tossed out a discrimination suit filed by a Black Illinois transportation employee , Terry Smith , who said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supervisor , Lloyd Colbert .
In fact , Barrett reinforced that Smith was to blame for his termination because of his “ poor track record.
” From AP : “ The n-word is an egregious racial epithet , ” Barrett wrote in Smith v. Illinois Department of Transportation .
“ That said , Smith can ’ t win simply by proving that the word was uttered .
He must also demonstrate that Colbert ’ s use of this word altered the conditions of his employment and created a hostile or abusive working environment.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Smith “ introduced no evidence that Colbert ’ s use of the n-word changed his subjective experience of the workplace .
To be sure , Smith testified that his time at the Department caused him psychological distress .
But that was for reasons that predated his run-in with Colbert and had nothing to do with his race .
His tenure at the Department was rocky from the outset because of his poor track record.
” This judgment differs considerably from one given by the most recent addition to the high court , Justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2013 decision as an appellate judge found that one instance of using the n-word was enough to establish a hostile work environment .
On Tuesday , Barrett told the Senate that she considers herself—like many Republican judicial appointees—an originalist .
“ That means that I interpret the Constitution as a law ...
I understand it to have the meaning that it had at the time people ratified it .
That meaning doesn ’ t change over time and it ’ s not up to me to update it or infuse my policy views @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a clip that spread quickly on social media .
MSNBC anchor Joy Reid shared a common knee-jerk reaction to the comment , noting that at the time the Constitution was ratified , founders codified the idea that Black people should only count as 3/5ths of a person .
During an election cycle where many fear the possibility of mass voter suppression or a constitutional crisis spurred by a president who refuses to vacate the office , even if he loses , concerns about voting rights have once again leaped to the fore .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ rights activists fear that a 6-3 Supreme Court conservative majority could fundamentally alter the constitutionally protected rights of Americans who have been historically underrepresented and disenfranchised .
Challenges to Census results may go before the court , as well as cases involving gerrymandering and new district maps .
While SCOTUS ruled against construction election maps on the basis of race , it allowed for local and state officials to redraw maps according to the political preferences of a region .
The fear is that these new maps will be so dramatically and purposefully @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a given party ( in this case , Republicans , who are overrepresented in state legislatures ) to entrench their electoral advantages for the foreseeable future .
Barrett hasn ’ t made a ruling on voting rights itself but did impart some of her feelings about it on a decision about gun rights .
Barrett dipped into constitutional history to note that states did more to protect the rights of people to own guns than their right to vote .
In some states , people who were convicted of crimes lost the right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to legally have a gun , she wrote .
“ And as a right that was exercised for the benefit of the community ( like voting and jury service ) , rather than for the benefit of the individual ( like free speech or free exercise ) , it belonged only to virtuous citizens , ” Barrett wrote .
The distinction is telling , suggesting her rationale for why certain rights can be revoked or infringed upon by the state ( voting , which requires an element of “ virtue ” as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rights , free speech ) have been—and presumably ought to be more—more stringently protected .
As The Guardian noted in a summary of the hearings , Barrett dodged questions on abortion , healthcare and election laws during the first day of hearings —a frustrating but not unsurprising development .
Still , Barrett ’ s record has said plenty about how she feels about some of these issues already .
For those concerned about the rights of Black people in their workplaces or free and fair elections , she has certainly said enough to @ @ @ @

As Senate confirmation hearings for Donald Trump’s Supreme Court candidate Amy Coney Barrett began on Tuesday, her record on big-ticket issues will come under increased scrutiny as people on both sides of the aisle try to discern exactly what kind of Justice she might be. While the confirmation hearings themselves may be revealing—and soundbites may be looped hundreds of thousands of times on cable news channels and social media over the coming days—Barrett’s time spent as an appellate judge offers plenty to parse through. As the Associated Press reports, Barrett has written about 100 opinions in more than three years serving on the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Among these are two cases, one involving voting rights, the other a discrimination suit, that could disproportionately impact Black Americans.
Just last year, Barrett wrote a revealing decision on behalf of a three-judge panel regarding a case about racial discrimination in the workplace, reports the Associated Press. The panel upheld the original ruling, which tossed out a discrimination suit filed by a Black Illinois transportation employee, Terry Smith, who said he was called a racial slur by his supervisor, Lloyd Colbert.
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In fact, Barrett reinforced that Smith was to blame for his termination because of his “poor track record.” From AP:
“The n-word is an egregious racial epithet,” Barrett wrote in Smith v. Illinois Department of Transportation. “That said, Smith can’t win simply by proving that the word was uttered. He must also demonstrate that Colbert’s use of this word altered the conditions of his employment and created a hostile or abusive working environment.” Barrett went on to say that Smith “introduced no evidence that Colbert’s use of the n-word changed his subjective experience of the workplace. To be sure, Smith testified that his time at the Department caused him psychological distress. But that was for reasons that predated his run-in with Colbert and had nothing to do with his race. His tenure at the Department was rocky from the outset because of his poor track record.”
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This judgment differs considerably from one given by the most recent addition to the high court, Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who, in a 2013 decision as an appellate judge found that one instance of using the n-word was enough to establish a hostile work environment.
On Tuesday, Barrett told the Senate that she considers herself—like many Republican judicial appointees—an originalist.
Advertisement
“That means that I interpret the Constitution as a law...I understand it to have the meaning that it had at the time people ratified it. That meaning doesn’t change over time and it’s not up to me to update it or infuse my policy views into it,” Barrett explained in a clip that spread quickly on social media.
MSNBC anchor Joy Reid shared a common knee-jerk reaction to the comment, noting that at the time the Constitution was ratified, founders codified the idea that Black people should only count as 3/5ths of a person.
Advertisement
During an election cycle where many fear the possibility of mass voter suppression or a constitutional crisis spurred by a president who refuses to vacate the office, even if he loses, concerns about voting rights have once again leaped to the fore.
Advertisement
Similar to reproductive justice advocates, voting rights activists fear that a 6-3 Supreme Court conservative majority could fundamentally alter the constitutionally protected rights of Americans who have been historically underrepresented and disenfranchised. Challenges to Census results may go before the court, as well as cases involving gerrymandering and new district maps. While SCOTUS ruled against construction election maps on the basis of race, it allowed for local and state officials to redraw maps according to the political preferences of a region. The fear is that these new maps will be so dramatically and purposefully reconstructed that they would allow members of a given party (in this case, Republicans, who are overrepresented in state legislatures) to entrench their electoral advantages for the foreseeable future.
Barrett hasn’t made a ruling on voting rights itself but did impart some of her feelings about it on a decision about gun rights.
Advertisement
From AP:
Barrett dipped into constitutional history to note that states did more to protect the rights of people to own guns than their right to vote. In some states, people who were convicted of crimes lost the right to vote, but not the right to legally have a gun, she wrote. “And as a right that was exercised for the benefit of the community (like voting and jury service), rather than for the benefit of the individual (like free speech or free exercise), it belonged only to virtuous citizens,” Barrett wrote.
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The distinction is telling, suggesting her rationale for why certain rights can be revoked or infringed upon by the state (voting, which requires an element of “virtue” as a citizen), while others (gun rights, free speech) have been—and presumably ought to be more—more stringently protected.
As The Guardian noted in a summary of the hearings, Barrett dodged questions on abortion, healthcare and election laws during the first day of hearings —a frustrating but not unsurprising development. Still, Barrett’s record has said plenty about how she feels about some of these issues already. For those concerned about the rights of Black people in their workplaces or free and fair elections, she has certainly said enough to be worried about.


theroot--2020-10-13--Megan Thee Stallion Pens New York Times Op-Ed, Says ‘'Protect Black Women' Should Not Be Controversi

Megan Thee Stallion Pens New York Times Op-Ed, Says ‘'Protect Black Women' Should Not Be Controversial’

My dad emailed me about a week ago , with a barrage of questions : “ Did you watch Saturday Night Live ?
Did you see the musical artist ?
What did you think of her performance ?
” He was referring to Megan Thee Stallion , an artist he ’ d previously been unfamiliar with and wasn ’ t entirely sure he understood—specifically , how to reconcile her unapologetically sex-positive image ( by her own design ) with the mid-song declaration she made in defense of Black women while performing her hit , “ Savage ” on SNL .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ well-accustomed to the traditional “ good girl/bad girl ” binary , Meg ’ s identity as both righteous and ratchet might prove challenging , at first glance .
My dad ’ s always been a fast learner ( a trait he thankfully passed on ) , and we had a brief but very constructive conversation about exactly how limiting and destructive that binary is for Black women—limitations being something he ’ s never wanted for his daughters .
Regardless of how anyone might receive their imaging or messages ( and we are always @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Meg is among a generation of Black female entertainers challenging us to consider Black women in their multitudes—you know , classy , bougie , and ratchet , not inherently either/or .
I had a receptive audience , but perhaps no one can explain this better than Thee Stallion herself , who published an op-ed in the New York Times titled , “ Why I Speak Up for Black Women , ” writing , in part : I ’ ve received quite a bit of attention for appearance as well as my talent ... @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to present myself have often been judgmental and cruel , with many assuming that I ’ m dressing and performing for the male gaze .
When women choose to capitalize on our sexuality , to reclaim our own power , like I have , we are vilified and disrespected .
Echoing the famous excerpt of the Malcolm X speech she played during her SNL appearance , she wrote : In the weeks leading up to the election , Black women are expected once again to deliver victory for Democratic candidates .
We have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a highly courted voting bloc—all in little more than a century .
Despite this and despite the way so many have embraced messages about racial justice this year , Black women are still constantly disrespected and disregarded in so many areas of life ... Black women are not naïve .
We know that after the last ballot is cast and the vote is tallied , we are likely to go back to fighting for ourselves .
Because at least for now , that ’ s all we have .
These are well-established @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Meg continues to drop them , citing disconcerting data on maternal mortality rates for Black mothers and the disproportionate amount of violence against Black transgender and gender-nonconforming people , as well as the ways in which Black women are especially subject to a system that historically says “ there can only be one.
” But as a woman who has recently been the victim of gun violence at the hands of a man—one she claims not to have been in a relationship with , for the record—Megan has a deeply personal perspective on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black women , as well as further explaining her initial silence following the shooting .
After a lot of self-reflection on that incident , I ’ ve realized that violence against women is not always connected to being in a relationship .
Instead , it happens because too many men treat all women as objects , which helps them to justify inflicting abuse against us when we choose to exercise our own free will .
From the moment we begin to navigate the intricacies of adolescence , we feel the weight of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expectations and misguided preconceptions .
Many of us begin to put too much value to how we are seen by others .
That ’ s if we are seen at all .
Perhaps this better explains ( aside from the fact that she wanted to , and he warranted it ) why Megan felt the need to publicly take Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron to task during her October 3 performance .
“ There ’ s not much room for passionate advocacy if you are a Black woman , ” she writes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my pops , might not get it—at least , not at first .
But you know what ?
I ’ m not afraid of criticism .
We live in a country where we have the freedom to criticize elected officials .
And it ’ s ridiculous that some people think the simple phrase “ Protect Black women ” is controversial .
We deserve to be protected as human beings .
And we are entitled to our anger about a laundry list of mistreatment and neglect that we suffer .
You can read Megan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ video segment—on the New York Times .

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

My dad emailed me about a week ago, with a barrage of questions: “Did you watch Saturday Night Live? Did you see the musical artist? What did you think of her performance?”
He was referring to Megan Thee Stallion, an artist he’d previously been unfamiliar with and wasn’t entirely sure he understood—specifically, how to reconcile her unapologetically sex-positive image (by her own design) with the mid-song declaration she made in defense of Black women while performing her hit, “Savage” on SNL. For my pops—and no doubt many others well-accustomed to the traditional “good girl/bad girl” binary, Meg’s identity as both righteous and ratchet might prove challenging, at first glance.
Advertisement
My dad’s always been a fast learner (a trait he thankfully passed on), and we had a brief but very constructive conversation about exactly how limiting and destructive that binary is for Black women—limitations being something he’s never wanted for his daughters. Regardless of how anyone might receive their imaging or messages (and we are always welcome not to like things), Meg is among a generation of Black female entertainers challenging us to consider Black women in their multitudes—you know, classy, bougie, and ratchet, not inherently either/or.
Advertisement Advertisement
I had a receptive audience, but perhaps no one can explain this better than Thee Stallion herself, who published an op-ed in the New York Times titled, “Why I Speak Up for Black Women,” writing, in part:
I’ve received quite a bit of attention for appearance as well as my talent...But the remarks about how I choose to present myself have often been judgmental and cruel, with many assuming that I’m dressing and performing for the male gaze. When women choose to capitalize on our sexuality, to reclaim our own power, like I have, we are vilified and disrespected.
Advertisement
Echoing the famous excerpt of the Malcolm X speech she played during her SNL appearance, she wrote:
In the weeks leading up to the election, Black women are expected once again to deliver victory for Democratic candidates. We have gone from being unable to vote legally to a highly courted voting bloc—all in little more than a century. Despite this and despite the way so many have embraced messages about racial justice this year, Black women are still constantly disrespected and disregarded in so many areas of life...Black women are not naïve. We know that after the last ballot is cast and the vote is tallied, we are likely to go back to fighting for ourselves. Because at least for now, that’s all we have.
Advertisement
These are well-established and statistically supported facts, not opinions—and Meg continues to drop them, citing disconcerting data on maternal mortality rates for Black mothers and the disproportionate amount of violence against Black transgender and gender-nonconforming people, as well as the ways in which Black women are especially subject to a system that historically says “there can only be one.” But as a woman who has recently been the victim of gun violence at the hands of a man—one she claims not to have been in a relationship with, for the record—Megan has a deeply personal perspective on the very real repercussions of disrespect for Black women, as well as further explaining her initial silence following the shooting.
After a lot of self-reflection on that incident, I’ve realized that violence against women is not always connected to being in a relationship. Instead, it happens because too many men treat all women as objects, which helps them to justify inflicting abuse against us when we choose to exercise our own free will. From the moment we begin to navigate the intricacies of adolescence, we feel the weight of this threat, and the weight of contradictory expectations and misguided preconceptions. Many of us begin to put too much value to how we are seen by others. That’s if we are seen at all.
Advertisement
Perhaps this better explains (aside from the fact that she wanted to, and he warranted it) why Megan felt the need to publicly take Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron to task during her October 3 performance. “There’s not much room for passionate advocacy if you are a Black woman,” she writes, even while acknowledging that some, like my pops, might not get it—at least, not at first.
But you know what? I’m not afraid of criticism. We live in a country where we have the freedom to criticize elected officials. And it’s ridiculous that some people think the simple phrase “Protect Black women” is controversial. We deserve to be protected as human beings. And we are entitled to our anger about a laundry list of mistreatment and neglect that we suffer.
Advertisement
You can read Megan’s op-ed in its entirety—plus a video segment—on the New York Times.


theroot--2020-10-13--The 10 Best Deals of October 13, 2020

The 10 Best Deals of October 13, 2020

It ’ s October 13 , Prime Day : Part 1–Uprising , and we at Kinja Deals are bringing you the top 10 deals of the day .
Double-check that you ’ re getting the recommended 10,000 steps per day around your living room with a new FitBit Versa 2 .
Expand Alexa ’ s domain over your home/office/gym by snagging an Echo Flex with a LIFX Smart Bulb .
And if the cold weather has you craving some homemade soup , take a gander at the Instant Pot Ultra 10-in-1 .
If you ’ re still itching for more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s best deals overall .
Ever since Vava blew me away with their 4K ultra-short-throw laser smart TV projector at CES earlier this year , I ’ ve had back and forth conversations nearly every week trying to score a discount for Kinja Deals readers .
Today is the day it finally happened .
As the prophecy foretold , you can slash $ 600 off the list price , no promo code required , for only the next 12 hours .
Available in both black and white finishes , this is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just in time for the eagerly anticipated Borat 2 , which I ’ ll be watching , as one does , with MY WIIIIIFE later this month on Amazon Prime .
This deal was originally published by Gabe Carey .
The Instant Pot has become a phenomenon in the last few years , and some varieties such as the Instant Pot Ultra are featured in Amazon ’ s Prime Day 2020 sale at 58 % off .
It ’ s the perfect appliance for the coming holidays such as Thanksgiving and can be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while you can focus on the other tasks at hand .
This article was originally published by Daryl Baxter .
The Roomba has become a staple in houses these last few years .
It can abide to a schedule or be given commands through Amazon Alexa , Google Assistant , or through its own app .
The 692 model is 38 % off its usual price on Amazon Prime Day 2020 , so it would be a perfect gift for someone who may need assistance in cleaning their home for when they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was originally published by Daryl Baxter .
Sony ’ s new WH-1000XM4 headphones are leading the way in their noise-cancellation technology , alongside the gestures that come with these new models .
They will pause the track once it detects you ’ re speaking , and will also switch off the noise-cancellation when a hand is put on the right-cup .
They feature fantastic sound and are able to be paired for up to two devices , so you can switch between your phone and your tablet with ease .
As this also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , you ’ re to spend that on something else for Prime Day .
This deal was originally published by Daryl Baxter .
Everything changes when an electric toothbrush arrives .
More plaque is removed here , mainly thanks to the 2-minute timer it gives , split into smaller chunks for each section of the mouth .
This device has Bluetooth so it can track how well your brushing is going through an app .
It ’ s also rechargeable , so there ’ s a low chance of it losing charge when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Daryl Baxter .
As every year passes memory cards become more expansive and cheaper , and that ’ s further shown here on Amazon ’ s Prime Day .
This SanDisk 512GB Extreme microSDXC can be slotted into a Nintendo Switch or a Camera that supports this memory type , and you can store as many videos , photos , and games as the memory card can handle , alongside very fast read and write speeds .
This deal was originally published by Daryl Baxter .
On Prime Day 2020 , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is 71 % off , which enables you to have Alexa wherever there is an electric socket in your home .
Alongside this , the deal also comes with a smart bulb that can be added as an Alexa skill , so you can command it to switch on or off whenever you need it to .
This deal was originally published by Daryl Baxter .
Samsung ’ s flagship Galaxy smartphones are pretty expensive now , and that ’ s because they come with a ton of cutting edge tech and high-end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pros .
But today , you can save $ 250 on the 128GB Samsung Galaxy Note 20 5G , unlocked for use on almost any GSM or CDMA carrier in the United States , including Verizon .
This is a Prime Day exclusive deal .
This deal was originally published by Quentyn Kennemer .
This smartwatch from Fitbit is 29 % off for Prime Day , where it can measure your sleep and fitness throughout the day .
It also has Alexa built-in , so you can command any lights or music that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as soon as you speak into the Versa 2 .
It comes with small and large bands so you can make sure that the Versa 2 fits your wrist , while also feeling comfortable .
This deal was originally published by Daryl Baxter .
If you ’ re on the hunt for a warm and cozy comforter to keep you shielded from the cold in the months and years ahead , you can find a great deal during Prime Day .
This Abakan luxury down alternative comforter is claimed to be “ hotel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it either as-is or to fill a duvet cover .
However you use it , the price is appealing indeed : the twin size version of the ivory version seen above is nearly 50 % off at $ 40 right now , and there are other size and color combinations that hit even higher percentage discounts .
Have a look while these Prime member-exclusive prices last !
This deal was originally published by Andrew Hayward .

Juliana Clark on Kinja Deals, shared by Gabe Carey to The Root

Tuesday’s Best Deals | Kinja Deals
It’s October 13, Prime Day: Part 1–Uprising, and we at Kinja Deals are bringing you the top 10 deals of the day. Double-check that you’re getting the recommended 10,000 steps per day around your living room with a new FitBit Versa 2. Expand Alexa’s domain over your home/office/gym by snagging an Echo Flex with a LIFX Smart Bulb. And if the cold weather has you craving some homemade soup, take a gander at the Instant Pot Ultra 10-in-1.
If you’re still itching for more deals, feel free to peruse Tuesday’s best deals overall.
#1: vava 4k uhd laser projector
Ever since Vava blew me away with their 4K ultra-short-throw laser smart TV projector at CES earlier this year, I’ve had back and forth conversations nearly every week trying to score a discount for Kinja Deals readers. Today is the day it finally happened. As the prophecy foretold, you can slash $600 off the list price, no promo code required, for only the next 12 hours. Available in both black and white finishes, this is the perfect excuse to overhaul your home theater just in time for the eagerly anticipated Borat 2, which I’ll be watching, as one does, with MY WIIIIIFE later this month on Amazon Prime.
This deal was originally published by Gabe Carey.
#2: Instant pot ultra 10-in-1
The Instant Pot has become a phenomenon in the last few years, and some varieties such as the Instant Pot Ultra are featured in Amazon’s Prime Day 2020 sale at 58% off. It’s the perfect appliance for the coming holidays such as Thanksgiving and can be easily programmed to cook many different foods while you can focus on the other tasks at hand.
This article was originally published by Daryl Baxter.
#3: irobot roomba 692
The Roomba has become a staple in houses these last few years. It can abide to a schedule or be given commands through Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, or through its own app. The 692 model is 38% off its usual price on Amazon Prime Day 2020, so it would be a perfect gift for someone who may need assistance in cleaning their home for when they are out on an errand.
This deal was originally published by Daryl Baxter.
#4: sony wh-1000xm4 headphones
Sony’s new WH-1000XM4 headphones are leading the way in their noise-cancellation technology, alongside the gestures that come with these new models. They will pause the track once it detects you’re speaking, and will also switch off the noise-cancellation when a hand is put on the right-cup. They feature fantastic sound and are able to be paired for up to two devices, so you can switch between your phone and your tablet with ease.
As this also comes with a $25 gift card, you’re to spend that on something else for Prime Day.
This deal was originally published by Daryl Baxter.
#5: Oral-b pro 5000 electric toothbrush
Everything changes when an electric toothbrush arrives. More plaque is removed here, mainly thanks to the 2-minute timer it gives, split into smaller chunks for each section of the mouth. This device has Bluetooth so it can track how well your brushing is going through an app. It’s also rechargeable, so there’s a low chance of it losing charge when needed.
This deal was originally published by Daryl Baxter.
#6: Sandisk extreme 512gb microsd Card
As every year passes memory cards become more expansive and cheaper, and that’s further shown here on Amazon’s Prime Day. This SanDisk 512GB Extreme microSDXC can be slotted into a Nintendo Switch or a Camera that supports this memory type, and you can store as many videos, photos, and games as the memory card can handle, alongside very fast read and write speeds.
This deal was originally published by Daryl Baxter.
#7: echo flex and smart bulb
On Prime Day 2020, the Echo Flex with a LIFX Smart Bulb is 71% off, which enables you to have Alexa wherever there is an electric socket in your home. Alongside this, the deal also comes with a smart bulb that can be added as an Alexa skill, so you can command it to switch on or off whenever you need it to.
This deal was originally published by Daryl Baxter.
#8: samsung galaxy note 20 5g
Samsung’s flagship Galaxy smartphones are pretty expensive now, and that’s because they come with a ton of cutting edge tech and high-end features meant mostly for the pro-iest of pros. But today, you can save $250 on the 128GB Samsung Galaxy Note 20 5G, unlocked for use on almost any GSM or CDMA carrier in the United States, including Verizon. This is a Prime Day exclusive deal.
This deal was originally published by Quentyn Kennemer.
#9: Fitbit versa 2
This smartwatch from Fitbit is 29% off for Prime Day, where it can measure your sleep and fitness throughout the day. It also has Alexa built-in, so you can command any lights or music that are connected, to be switched on as soon as you speak into the Versa 2. It comes with small and large bands so you can make sure that the Versa 2 fits your wrist, while also feeling comfortable.
This deal was originally published by Daryl Baxter.
#10: abakan down alternative comforter
If you’re on the hunt for a warm and cozy comforter to keep you shielded from the cold in the months and years ahead, you can find a great deal during Prime Day. This Abakan luxury down alternative comforter is claimed to be “hotel quality,” and you can use it either as-is or to fill a duvet cover.
However you use it, the price is appealing indeed: the twin size version of the ivory version seen above is nearly 50% off at $40 right now, and there are other size and color combinations that hit even higher percentage discounts. Have a look while these Prime member-exclusive prices last!
This deal was originally published by Andrew Hayward.


theroot--2020-10-13--Jada Pinkett Smith Says She Was 'Mom-Shamed' Because She Didn't Raise Jaden and Willow in a 'Typical

Jada Pinkett Smith Says She Was 'Mom-Shamed' Because She Didn't Raise Jaden and Willow in a 'Typical' Way

Jada Pinkett Smith , Adrienne “ Gammy ” Banfield-Norris and Willow Smith talked mom-shaming on the latest episode of Red Table Talk .
The latest episode description , via Facebook Watch ’ s press release sent to The Root : The Smiths have been a high-profile family for a while now and their moves are still often the “ cause of all this conversation , ” as Beyoncé sings in “ Formation.
” ( One word : entanglement . )
But , if we reminisce a bit , it was the Smith children who prompted a lot of the discussion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ business tends to be everyone ’ s business ( even when said choices don ’ t affect the general public ) , Willow shaving her head made headlines and caused debate at one point .
“ For me , looking at how my children were being affected , that ’ s what [ counted ] , ” Jada recalled .
“ When people were like , ‘ Oh my god I can ’ t believe you shaved Willow ’ s head !
’ If they could have seen this child ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hair falling to the ground .
So me , as a mom , looking at that , experiencing that with her , there is nothing that anyone could say to me to tell me that it was wrong .
Not one person , because I was there , I was looking at her .
I saw her face .
I knew the journey that she and I took together to get to that point .
And so , it didn ’ t really matter what anybody said.
” It ’ s important to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have happened in the Black community—specifically when it comes to the more “ conservative ” way to raise our children .
There has definitely been an ongoing debate on firm discipline versus the significance of allowing Black children to express themselves freely .
In fact , Willow admits feeling the ramifications of this when it came to Black communal acceptance .
“ Specifically with the African American community , I felt like me and Jaden were shunned a little bit , ” Willow admitted .
“ Like , we ’ re not going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re too different , they ’ re too weird ...
Even some of our family members , I would feel they thought we ’ re too different.
” Jada also mentioned that if she had to compare the two , she probably got even more flack for Jaden ’ s decisions than Willow ’ s , referencing his gender-bending wardrobe choice for the Louis Vuitton womenswear campaign in 2016 .
“ I think as Jaden got older , you know when he did the Louis Vuitton thing and he was wearing a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he isn ’ t what people consider your typical Black man , which is like , what is that supposed to be ?
” Jada inquired .
Willow scoffed at the thought , asking whether he should ’ ve been wearing sagging pants instead—would that have made for a more comfortable or acceptable display of Black masculinity ?
“ Even in the community we create stereotypes around ourselves and it ’ s something that we , as a community , really have to learn how to let go of , ” Jada added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like it ’ s dangerous ... you know what it ’ s like to be a Black or Brown person in this world .
You are doing your kids a disservice .
I understood where that fear came from , but I also understood , from having been on the streets and having had not been your conventional Black girl in the streets of Baltimore , I knew that self-confidence is what helped me survive.
” The “ Mom-Shaming : The New Epidemic ” episode of Red Table Talk is now available to @ @ @ @ @

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

Jada Pinkett Smith, Adrienne “Gammy” Banfield-Norris and Willow Smith talked mom-shaming on the latest episode of Red Table Talk.
The latest episode description, via Facebook Watch’s press release sent to The Root:
“Mom-Shaming: The New Epidemic” | With mom-shaming at an all-time [high], Jessica Alba and Ashley Graham come to the table to share their experiences as frequent targets. Jada shares her own stories of being mom-shamed and Willow reveals how that affected her. Plus, RTT favorite Dr. Ramani reveals the devastating effects mom-shaming can have.
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The Smiths have been a high-profile family for a while now and their moves are still often the “cause of all this conversation,” as Beyoncé sings in “Formation.” (One word: entanglement.) But, if we reminisce a bit, it was the Smith children who prompted a lot of the discussion a few years ago. Since celebrities’ business tends to be everyone’s business (even when said choices don’t affect the general public), Willow shaving her head made headlines and caused debate at one point.
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“For me, looking at how my children were being affected, that’s what [counted],” Jada recalled. “When people were like, ‘Oh my god I can’t believe you shaved Willow’s head!’ If they could have seen this child’s expression of freedom, looking at her hair falling to the ground. So me, as a mom, looking at that, experiencing that with her, there is nothing that anyone could say to me to tell me that it was wrong. Not one person, because I was there, I was looking at her. I saw her face. I knew the journey that she and I took together to get to that point. And so, it didn’t really matter what anybody said.”
It’s important to specify the types of intra-community conversations that have happened in the Black community—specifically when it comes to the more “conservative” way to raise our children. There has definitely been an ongoing debate on firm discipline versus the significance of allowing Black children to express themselves freely. In fact, Willow admits feeling the ramifications of this when it came to Black communal acceptance.
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“Specifically with the African American community, I felt like me and Jaden were shunned a little bit,” Willow admitted. “Like, we’re not going to take pride in them because they’re too different, they’re too weird...Even some of our family members, I would feel they thought we’re too different.”
Jada also mentioned that if she had to compare the two, she probably got even more flack for Jaden’s decisions than Willow’s, referencing his gender-bending wardrobe choice for the Louis Vuitton womenswear campaign in 2016.
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“I think as Jaden got older, you know when he did the Louis Vuitton thing and he was wearing a skirt, you know? And then he isn’t what people consider your typical Black man, which is like, what is that supposed to be?” Jada inquired.
Willow scoffed at the thought, asking whether he should’ve been wearing sagging pants instead—would that have made for a more comfortable or acceptable display of Black masculinity?
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“Even in the community we create stereotypes around ourselves and it’s something that we, as a community, really have to learn how to let go of,” Jada added. “I know that people felt like it’s dangerous...you know what it’s like to be a Black or Brown person in this world. You are doing your kids a disservice. I understood where that fear came from, but I also understood, from having been on the streets and having had not been your conventional Black girl in the streets of Baltimore, I knew that self-confidence is what helped me survive.”
The “Mom-Shaming: The New Epidemic” episode of Red Table Talk is now available to view on Facebook Watch.


theroot--2020-10-13--The Only Thing More Exciting Than Borat 2 Is Saving $600 on a 4K Laser Projector to Watch It With MY

The Only Thing More Exciting Than Borat 2 Is Saving $600 on a 4K Laser Projector to Watch It With MY WIFE

Ever since Vava blew me away with their 4K ultra-short-throw laser smart TV projector at CES earlier this year , @ @ @ @ @ and forth conversations nearly every week trying to score a discount for Kinja Deals readers @ @ @ @ @ it finally happened .
As the prophecy foretold , you can slash $ 600 off @ @ @ @ @ promo code required , for only the next 12 hours .
Available in both black @ @ @ @ @ is the perfect excuse to overhaul your home theater just in time for the eagerly @ @ @ @ @ I ’ ll be watching , as one does , with MY WIIIIIFE later this @ @ @ @ @ This deal was originally published by Gabe Carey on 8/5/2020 and updated with new information @ @ @

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

Vava 4K UHD Laser TV Projector | $1,95 0 | Amazon
Ever since Vava blew me away with their 4K ultra-short-throw laser smart TV projector at CES earlier this year, I’ve had back and forth conversations nearly every week trying to score a discount for Kinja Deals readers. Today is the day it finally happened. As the prophecy foretold, you can slash $85 0 off the list price, no promo code required, through the end of the day. Available in both black and white finishes, this is the perfect excuse to overhaul your home theater to watch Oscar contender Borat 2, as I did last month with MY WIIIIIIFE on Amazon Prime.
This deal was originally published by Gabe Carey on 8/5/2020 and updated with new information on 11/28/2020.


theroot--2020-10-13--ESPN, Alliance for Women in Media Announce Sponsorship for the Next Generation of Black Female Journ

ESPN, Alliance for Women in Media Announce Sponsorship for the Next Generation of Black Female Journalists

As The Root ’ s resident sports junkie—who moonlights as its sports , culture and music writer—I can ’ t help but take tremendous pride in fellow Black reporters and commentators like Malika Andrews , Maria Taylor , Jemelle Hill and Cari Champion every time they drop gems on some of my favorites sports shows .
Just yesterday , I had the privilege of watching Malika cook on ESPN ’ s The Jump and was blown away as she described what it was like to report on the NBA bubble while also having the unique experience of living there herself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capabilities , these types of opportunities are few and far between for Black reporters—especially those who are women .
But in looking to address this disparity , the Alliance for Women in Media has partnered with ESPN to provide Black women with an easier path to a career in sports media by announcing a new student scholarship .
By assisting one female undergraduate student and one female graduate student , the goal is to help diversify a sports media landscape that far too often omits the input and perspectives of some of its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It has been wonderful to collaborate with ESPN to conceptualize this scholarship , ” Becky Brooks , the executive director of Alliance for Women in Media Foundation , said in a statement to The Root .
“ Through this strong partnership , we ’ re proud to continue our work in pursuing greater diversity in the sports journalism workforce.
” “ Diversity and inclusion is ESPN ’ s No .
1 focus , and we want to support and create concrete ways to grow the pipeline of Black talent in the sports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vice President , Corporate Communications at ESPN and Alliance for Women in Media Board Member , in a statement to The Root .
“ The ESPN and AWMF scholarship is the perfect way to fulfill ESPN ’ s mission of supporting Black and African-American women pursuing careers in media.
” So how can you ( or someone you know ) be down ?
Student winners will be selected from a pool of applicants who knock out a 750 to 1,000-word essay highlighting the importance of Black women in sports media .
And winners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ payable to their educational institution , they ’ ll also get a complimentary ( yes , free ) ticket to the Gracie Awards Luncheon in New York City in June 2021 .
So with applications due on November 20 , you might wan na start writing .
To learn more about this scholarship and apply , hit up the Alliance for Women in Media website .
Good luck !

As The Root’s resident sports junkie—who moonlights as its sports, culture and music writer—I can’t help but take tremendous pride in fellow Black reporters and commentators like Malika Andrews, Maria Taylor, Jemelle Hill and Cari Champion every time they drop gems on some of my favorites sports shows.
Just yesterday, I had the privilege of watching Malika cook on ESPN’s The Jump and was blown away as she described what it was like to report on the NBA bubble while also having the unique experience of living there herself for over 100 days.
Despite their capabilities, these types of opportunities are few and far between for Black reporters—especially those who are women. But in looking to address this disparity, the Alliance for Women in Media has partnered with ESPN to provide Black women with an easier path to a career in sports media by announcing a new student scholarship.
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By assisting one female undergraduate student and one female graduate student, the goal is to help diversify a sports media landscape that far too often omits the input and perspectives of some of its most valuable contributors: Black women.
“It has been wonderful to collaborate with ESPN to conceptualize this scholarship,” Becky Brooks, the executive director of Alliance for Women in Media Foundation, said in a statement to The Root. “Through this strong partnership, we’re proud to continue our work in pursuing greater diversity in the sports journalism workforce.”
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“Diversity and inclusion is ESPN’s No. 1 focus, and we want to support and create concrete ways to grow the pipeline of Black talent in the sports industry,” said Katina Arnold, Vice President, Corporate Communications at ESPN and Alliance for Women in Media Board Member, in a statement to The Root. “The ESPN and AWMF scholarship is the perfect way to fulfill ESPN’s mission of supporting Black and African-American women pursuing careers in media.”
So how can you (or someone you know) be down?
Student winners will be selected from a pool of applicants who knock out a 750 to 1,000-word essay highlighting the importance of Black women in sports media. And winners won’t only receive a scholarship payable to their educational institution, they’ll also get a complimentary (yes, free) ticket to the Gracie Awards Luncheon in New York City in June 2021.
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So with applications due on November 20, you might wanna start writing.
To learn more about this scholarship and apply, hit up the Alliance for Women in Media website. Good luck!


theroot--2020-10-13--Talks With Mama Tina: Tina Knowles Lawson Wants Us All to Take Pride in Voting

She may have come into our consciousness as the costume and fashion-designing , hairstyling matriarch of the star-laden Knowles clan—now expanded to include the Carter and Lawson surnames—but Tina Knowles Lawson , better known as ” Ms .
Tina ” to followers , is indisputably a star in her own right .
Whether telling “ mom jokes ” on social media or running mentorship and community-building arts initiatives through the WACO ( Where Art Can Occur ) Theater Center , which she co-founded with her husband , veteran actor Richard Lawson , Ms. Tina has rightfully built her own fanbase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hollywood glamour and Texas-bred wisdom .
Amid the concurrent crises that have beset our country in recent months , the powerhouse has been using her influence and passion for justice in even more creative ways , lobbying Congress to pass the HEROES Act , sponsoring COVID-19 testing drives with daughter Beyoncé , and distributing much needed PPE to hospitals in often underserved Black communities .
And as another major election looms , Ms. Tina has been using both her platform to rally the vote , teaming up with legacy haircare brand African Pride @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hagan to produce an Instagram Live series titled “ Talks With Mama Tina.
” “ I just feel so blessed because , you know , I knew I wanted to do something , ” Ms. Tina recently told The Glow Up , as she appeared on our Big Beauty Tuesday .
“ And I ’ m always on people about voting ... And so , I talked to Trell and I said , ‘ I really want to get involved with some kind of organization because I think I could be helpful , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ getting on my Instagram.
’ ” “ And then , African Pride came along because we wanted to do something that got the word out , ” she continued , “ And they were so gracious to sponsor me having a Live every week ...
I just really appreciate them so much because they put their money where their mouth is , you know ?
” We stan a brand that is civically responsible—and curl-cultivating , to boot .
And they couldn ’ t have picked a better ambassador to get the word @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on our current political stakes—wisdom she and husband Lawson readily share with the 90-plus youngsters they mentor through the “ Tina ’ s Angels ” and “ Richard ’ s Warriors ” programs at WACO .
“ [ T ] hey were like , ‘ Well our voting won ’ t make a difference.
’ And it just hurt me to my heart because so many of our people feel that way , especially people in underserved communities , ” she shared .
“ They feel like their vote is not going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a voice .
And it breaks my heart.
” Educating not only those kids but communities everywhere about the true power of their vote ( hint : Think down-ballot , not just the presidency ) is Ms. Tina ’ s current crusade ; but with Halloween looming—and the Knowles-Carter-Lawson clan notoriously creative when it comes to costuming , we , of course , had to ask if there were any teasers Ms. Tina would share about their plans for this unprecedented year .
“ I ’ m working on something and I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” she responded , playing it coy .
What she would share is that Tina ’ s Angels and Richard ’ s Warriors will be basing their costumes on R & B and hip-hop entertainers—and yes , there will be lip-syncing involved .
While we know Ms. Tina does a mean rendition of another famous Tina , does this mean we ’ ll finally see where the Knowles girls got their legendary stage presence ?
“ You know , my children didn ’ t get that dance moves from their mama , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ else we got from Ms. Tina ?
Check out this week ’ s Big Beauty Tuesday !

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Black News and Black Views with a Whole Lotta Attitude


theroot--2020-10-13--More Officers Were Fired for Killing Porcupines Than for Killing Breonna Taylor

Let me first just say that porcupine lives matter .
Two Maine police officers were fired and criminally charged in connection with the beating and killing of 11 POC .
( Porcupines of color ... because I ’ m pretty sure they ’ re all black and brown although , to be fair , I ’ ve never actually seen a porcupine .
I ’ ve also never met anyone from Maine but I will reluctantly concede that the state exists . )
The Courier-Gazette reports that 27-year-old Addison Cox and 30-year-old Michael Rolerson were both fired from the Rockland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oct. 2 and were charged with aggravated animal cruelty and a misdemeanor for night hunting .
Cox was also charged with misdemeanor unlawful use or possession of implements or aids , while Rolerson was charged with misdemeanor illuminating wild animals or birds .
( Between “ night hunting ” and “ illuminating wild animals or birds , ” I ’ m pretty sure J. K. Rowling is writing the laws in Maine . )
A third officer , Kenneth Smith , was placed on administrative leave for recording and posting a video of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s unclear what led to the deadly use of force on nearly a dozen members of the porcupine community , but I have a few guesses .
First of all , those piners with the hard R were probably resisting arrest .
I ’ m sure they were asked several times to put down their weapons and those pesky PLM terrorists refused .
Never mind that their weapons are attached to their backs , when a cop tells you to put them down , you put them down .
The only thing I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ senseless killings of these poor creatures didn ’ t happen due to the botched execution of a search warrant obtained through sketchy circumstances—way too many firings and criminal charges came out of this for that to be the case .
I will admit that this was a clear case of species profiling .
I mean , I ’ ve never seen this kind of thing happen to polar bears or albino hedgehogs .
( Of course , those damn raccoons stay in the Sunken Place thinking respectability politics will ensure that extrajudicial killings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brown asses , but they all find out the truth when they become roadkill and their bodies are just left in the streets and shown no respect . )
Rolerson , the Brett Hankinson of animal abusers , clearly targeted the porcupines in what should be considered a hate crime .
The report said that footage published in June showed Rolerson allegedly beating a porcupine using his baton and saying , “ I got him.
” A picture of the dead animal was posted shortly after , according to the outlet .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the porcupines .
Rolerson said he killed approximately eight porcupines , while Cox said he killed three , the Courier-Gazette reported .
A fellow officer reported the incident in August , telling her supervisor that “ Officer Rolerson not only chased the animal into the woods to kill it , but returned with a smile on his face and appeared as though he enjoyed it , ” according to the Courier-Gazette .
You got ta love it when the analogy pretty much writes itself .
I ’ m just waiting for the Rockland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Daniel Cameron to explain to the people that , while his condolences go out to the families of the deceased porcupines as well as the families of the fine police officers accused of killing them , the case shouldn ’ t be decided in the court of public opinion and justice will be served in accordance to the law .
I don ’ t care if the woodland creatures of Maine and the rest of America burn all this shit down .

Let me first just say that porcupine lives matter.
Two Maine police officers were fired and criminally charged in connection with the beating and killing of 11 POC. (Porcupines of color...because I’m pretty sure they’re all black and brown although, to be fair, I’ve never actually seen a porcupine. I’ve also never met anyone from Maine but I will reluctantly concede that the state exists.)
The Courier-Gazette reports that 27-year-old Addison Cox and 30-year-old Michael Rolerson were both fired from the Rockland Police Department on Sept. 22 and on Oct. 2 and were charged with aggravated animal cruelty and a misdemeanor for night hunting. Cox was also charged with misdemeanor unlawful use or possession of implements or aids, while Rolerson was charged with misdemeanor illuminating wild animals or birds. (Between “night hunting” and “illuminating wild animals or birds,” I’m pretty sure J. K. Rowling is writing the laws in Maine.) A third officer, Kenneth Smith, was placed on administrative leave for recording and posting a video of the brutality on Snapchat.
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It’s unclear what led to the deadly use of force on nearly a dozen members of the porcupine community, but I have a few guesses.
First of all, those piners with the hard R were probably resisting arrest. I’m sure they were asked several times to put down their weapons and those pesky PLM terrorists refused. Never mind that their weapons are attached to their backs, when a cop tells you to put them down, you put them down.
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The only thing I’m sure of is that the senseless killings of these poor creatures didn’t happen due to the botched execution of a search warrant obtained through sketchy circumstances—way too many firings and criminal charges came out of this for that to be the case.
I will admit that this was a clear case of species profiling. I mean, I’ve never seen this kind of thing happen to polar bears or albino hedgehogs. (Of course, those damn raccoons stay in the Sunken Place thinking respectability politics will ensure that extrajudicial killings will never happen to their black and brown asses, but they all find out the truth when they become roadkill and their bodies are just left in the streets and shown no respect.)
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Rolerson, the Brett Hankinson of animal abusers, clearly targeted the porcupines in what should be considered a hate crime.
From Insider:
The report said that footage published in June showed Rolerson allegedly beating a porcupine using his baton and saying, “I got him.” A picture of the dead animal was posted shortly after, according to the outlet. The two officers later told investigators they killed the porcupines. Rolerson said he killed approximately eight porcupines, while Cox said he killed three, the Courier-Gazette reported. A fellow officer reported the incident in August, telling her supervisor that “Officer Rolerson not only chased the animal into the woods to kill it, but returned with a smile on his face and appeared as though he enjoyed it,” according to the Courier-Gazette.
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You gotta love it when the analogy pretty much writes itself.
I’m just waiting for the Rockland Police Department to hire Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron to explain to the people that, while his condolences go out to the families of the deceased porcupines as well as the families of the fine police officers accused of killing them, the case shouldn’t be decided in the court of public opinion and justice will be served in accordance to the law.
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I don’t care if the woodland creatures of Maine and the rest of America burn all this shit down.


theroot--2020-10-13--Light up Your Home With an Echo Flex and a Smart Bulb for Just $10

On Prime Day 2020 , the Echo Flex with a LIFX Smart Bulb is 71 % off , which enables @ @ @ @ @ ver there is an electric socket in your home .
Alongside this , the deal @ @ @ @ @ bulb that can be added as an Alexa skill , so you can command it @ @ @ @ @ whenever you need it to .

Daryl Baxter on Kinja Deals, shared by Gabe Carey to The Root

Echo Flex with Alexa Sengled Smart Bulb | $10 | Amazon
In Amazon’s Gold Box today, the Echo Flex with a Sengled Smart Bulb is just $10, which enables you to have Alexa wherever there is an electric socket in your home. Alongside this, the deal also comes with a smart bulb that can be added as an Alexa skill, so you can command it to switch on or off whenever you need it to.
This bundle is usually $35, so at this price it’s like a budget-friendly smart home starter kit, in case you haven’t taken the plunge. Give it a shot. You can always add more connected devices down the line and use your voice to control ‘em.
This post was originally published by Daryl Baxter on 10/13/2020 and updated by Andrew Hayward with new information on 12/29/2020.


theroot--2020-10-13--Goddamnit, Joe. Not Like This: Biden Campaign Launches Battle Rap Ad

I hate when old people do this .
You know the thing where they try to show that they are hip and not old and they wade into the hip waters and start throwing “ jiggy ” into their normal conversations except they pause right after they use the word for acknowledgment that they are in fact “ cool.
” It ’ s secondhand embarrassing AF .
It ’ s cringey .
It ’ s totally a fanny pack worn because it ’ s convenient when traveling only learning that young people are doing it , too .
It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so happen to look like those big ass Balenciagas .
I like things to be what they are as I like my oatmeal and women thick and my old people , old .
So there are words that should never go together like , “ social influencer Osama Bin Laden ” and “ Joe Biden ’ s campaign launches a battle rap ad.
” Goddamnit , Joe .
There is a basement in your home for a reason : Go sit in it and eat your dinner off the TV tray in front @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Judy comes on and let Kamala handle this .
Because I assure you a few things : Yes , Kamala claims that Tupac is her favorite living rapper , but she didn ’ t sign off on this .
According to a magazine named after President Trump ’ s adult diaper size , XXL : Goddamnit Kamala !
Not you !
You went to Howard University , for Christ ’ s sake .
An aside : In third grade I ran for Sergeant at Arms of my class .
I delivered a rap-speech @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one campaign poster that read “ Breakin ’ , Poppin ’ , there ’ s no stoppin ’ Stephen Crockett for Sgt .
at Arms ” the poster showed me breakdancing .
This was 1984 and was also the last successful merger between hip-hop and politics .
Also from the magazine named after the White House toilet , XXL : “ So , when you tell me to go and vote , go and vote/Well , the reason why it ’ s such a hard one/ ’ Cause how we expect our people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t even get the job done , ” Charlie Clips spits to DNA halfway through the campaign ad .
While the initial scene of the ad takes place on a basketball court in Washington , D.C. , near Howard University , the visual later transitions to the two men standing feet away from the White House.
“ So , you think because you brought me here that I ’ m just supposed to confide in Biden ?
/What about the innocent Blacks that get snatched out of their car just for riding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for much/All we do is ask for respect/Before they did what they did to George Floyd/This country had they foot on our necks/Now , do you understand why I ’ m upset ?
” Clips rhymes.
“ I feel you/ ’ Cause every time we throw the system a uppercut , all they give us in return is low blows/But Biden and Harris got a plan to outlaw the chokehold/It ’ s inspiring/Donald Trump is The Apprentice/But now it ’ s our turn to do the firing , ” DNA responds off the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whole thing below :

I hate when old people do this.
You know the thing where they try to show that they are hip and not old and they wade into the hip waters and start throwing “jiggy” into their normal conversations except they pause right after they use the word for acknowledgment that they are in fact “cool.”
It’s secondhand embarrassing AF. It’s cringey. It’s totally a fanny pack worn because it’s convenient when traveling only learning that young people are doing it, too. It’s orthopedic shoes for comfort that just so happen to look like those big ass Balenciagas.
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I like things to be what they are as I like my oatmeal and women thick and my old people, old.
So there are words that should never go together like, “social influencer Osama Bin Laden” and “Joe Biden’s campaign launches a battle rap ad.”
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Goddamnit, Joe. There is a basement in your home for a reason: Go sit in it and eat your dinner off the TV tray in front of you around the time that Judge Judy comes on and let Kamala handle this. Because I assure you a few things: Yes, Kamala claims that Tupac is her favorite living rapper, but she didn’t sign off on this.
According to a magazine named after President Trump’s adult diaper size, XXL:
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and his running mate for vice president, Senator Kamala Harris, have joined forces with the Ultimate Rap League (URL) to emphasize the importance of voting on Nov. 3 in a unique and untraditional, yet conceivable manner.
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Goddamnit Kamala! Not you! You went to Howard University, for Christ’s sake.
An aside: In third grade I ran for Sergeant at Arms of my class. I delivered a rap-speech that my parents wrote. I remember one campaign poster that read “Breakin’, Poppin’, there’s no stoppin’ Stephen Crockett for Sgt. at Arms” the poster showed me breakdancing. This was 1984 and was also the last successful merger between hip-hop and politics.
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Also from the magazine named after the White House toilet, XXL:
“So, when you tell me to go and vote, go and vote/Well, the reason why it’s such a hard one/’Cause how we expect our people to get jobs and the president can’t even get the job done,” Charlie Clips spits to DNA halfway through the campaign ad. While the initial scene of the ad takes place on a basketball court in Washington, D.C., near Howard University, the visual later transitions to the two men standing feet away from the White House.“So, you think because you brought me here that I’m just supposed to confide in Biden?/What about the innocent Blacks that get snatched out of their car just for riding?/We don’t even ask for much/All we do is ask for respect/Before they did what they did to George Floyd/This country had they foot on our necks/Now, do you understand why I’m upset?” Clips rhymes.“I feel you/’Cause every time we throw the system a uppercut, all they give us in return is low blows/But Biden and Harris got a plan to outlaw the chokehold/It’s inspiring/Donald Trump is The Apprentice/But now it’s our turn to do the firing,” DNA responds off the top of the dome.
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Watch the whole thing below:


theroot--2020-10-13--Georgia Sees Unprecedented Turnout, Long Lines on First Day of Early In-Person Voting

They began lining up in the predawn hours .
While it was still dark , Georgia ’ s hopeful voters relied on cell-phone flashlights from others in line to fill out pre-registration forms .
Some brought bagged meals with them ; others folding chairs and books to pass the time .
Reporters watched as parking lots filled up and lines began snaking around designated polling stations .
By the time polls closed on Monday , the first day of in-person voting in Georgia , some had waited more than 10 hours to cast their ballots .
In total , 126,876 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , CNN reports , citing numbers from the Georgia Secretary of State .
It was a record for the first day of early voting in a state that is among the most closely scrutinized in this year ’ s election—and , depending on who you talk to , the long lines are a sign of enthusiasm , voting issues , or both .
Georgia is being closely watched by elected officials from both parties , as well as voting and civil rights activists , for a number of reasons : It is widely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ history of voter purges , as well as allegations of voter suppression in the 2018 midterms , led many to question the integrity of the Peach State ’ s voting processes even before the coronavirus pandemic shifted the way many Georgians plan to vote .
“ Planning to vote in person is really demonstrative of a commitment to making sure that our votes are counted and that we can at least know that when we press that button on that machine , that our votes have been submitted , ” Alicia Garza , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the political advocacy group Black Futures Lab told The Root recently .
These concerns cropped up in a number of ways on Monday , with images of long lines at polling stations in Metro Atlanta—a region that has higher shares of Black residents than other parts of the state—going viral on social media .
Among the places experiencing long lines was voting super-center the State Farm Arena , home to the NBA ’ s Atlanta Hawks .
The basketball arena saw an additional one-hour delay on Monday morning after a glitch with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to re-import voter databases , CNN reports .
Steve Koonin , president and CEO of the Atlanta Hawks and the State Farm Arena , told CNN that poll workers rebooted 60 electronic poll books because identification cards were being rejected by machines .
Voters were able to cast their ballots without a hitch once the machines were rebooted .
There was also a last-minute ruling in which a federal judge decided not to institute a change that would require the state to use hand-marked paper ballots in lieu of voting machines .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ came from election integrity activists who said the hand-marked method was the safest and most secure way for voters to cast their ballots .
But Judge Amy Totenberg , while noting “ profound issues ” with the electronic machines , in which voters use touchscreens to mark their choices , ruled on Sunday that she couldn ’ t justify upending the voting process so clo se to the beginning of early in-person voting .
“ [ T ] he Court can not jump off the legal edge and potentially trigger major disruption in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the conduct of elections based on a preliminary evidentiary record , ” Totenburg wrote .
While a record number of Georgians have requested mail-in ballots—about 1.5 million , according to CNN—some voters , many of them Black , opted to do early in-person voting out of concerns about their ballot being counted .
The long lines seen in Georgia on Monday were indicative of “ excitement and enthusiasm of the upcoming election , ” Walter Jones , a spokesperson for Georgia ’ s secretary of state ’ s office , told CNN .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ need to be aware of all of their options including three weeks of early voting , no-excuse absentee and in-person voting day of the election , ” Jones said .
Seth Clark , a newly elected member of the Macon-Bibb County Commission , cast his vote in Macon after waiting in line for three hours .
“ I ’ ve never seen this many people on the first day of early voting , ” Clark told the Associated Press .
“ It seems to be going smoothly , ” Clark said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Early voting typically favors Democrats , and polling from this year suggests that Black people , in particular , prefer voting in person over casting a ballot via mail , despite concerns about spreading the novel coronavirus .
CNN , citing data from Catalist , which tracks voter databases across the country , reports that among competitive states for the 2020 presidential election , Georgia has the largest share of ballots cast by Black voters .
Black voters—considered one of the most stalwart and influential voting blocs of the Democratic party—also represent a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Georgia than they did four years ago , Catalist ’ s numbers show .
In 2016 , they made up 29 percent of all early voting ; so far in 2020 , Black voters have comprised 35 percent of all early ballots .
In total , 425,000 votes have been cast in the state thus far .
Many online called the long lines—especially in counties with large Black populations—unacceptable , and some accused state election officials of trying to suppress the vote .
One Cobb County voter reported waiting more than 9 hours @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Johntá Austin wrote on Twitter that he stood in line for 11 hours on Monday waiting to cast a ballot .
Steve Davidson was one of many Black Georgians who endured long lines to vote , and told the AP he drew inspiration from the late Georgia congressman John Lewis and other activists who fought for voting rights .
“ They ’ ve been fighting for decades .
If I ’ ve got to wait six or seven hours , that ’ s my duty to do that .
I ’ ll do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nationwide , The Guardian reports that more than 9.4 million people have already voted in the 2020 election—an “ unprecedented number .
”

They began lining up in the predawn hours. While it was still dark, Georgia’s hopeful voters relied on cell-phone flashlights from others in line to fill out pre-registration forms. Some brought bagged meals with them; others folding chairs and books to pass the time. Reporters watched as parking lots filled up and lines began snaking around designated polling stations. By the time polls closed on Monday, the first day of in-person voting in Georgia, some had waited more than 10 hours to cast their ballots.
In total, 126,876 Georgians went to the polls on Monday, CNN reports, citing numbers from the Georgia Secretary of State. It was a record for the first day of early voting in a state that is among the most closely scrutinized in this year’s election—and, depending on who you talk to, the long lines are a sign of enthusiasm, voting issues, or both.
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Georgia is being closely watched by elected officials from both parties, as well as voting and civil rights activists, for a number of reasons: It is widely considered a battleground state and its recent history of voter purges, as well as allegations of voter suppression in the 2018 midterms, led many to question the integrity of the Peach State’s voting processes even before the coronavirus pandemic shifted the way many Georgians plan to vote.
“Planning to vote in person is really demonstrative of a commitment to making sure that our votes are counted and that we can at least know that when we press that button on that machine, that our votes have been submitted,” Alicia Garza, co-founder of Black Lives Matter and head of the political advocacy group Black Futures Lab told The Root recently.
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These concerns cropped up in a number of ways on Monday, with images of long lines at polling stations in Metro Atlanta—a region that has higher shares of Black residents than other parts of the state—going viral on social media. Among the places experiencing long lines was voting super-center the State Farm Arena, home to the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks. The basketball arena saw an additional one-hour delay on Monday morning after a glitch with its digital poll books forced election workers to re-import voter databases, CNN reports.
Steve Koonin, president and CEO of the Atlanta Hawks and the State Farm Arena, told CNN that poll workers rebooted 60 electronic poll books because identification cards were being rejected by machines. Voters were able to cast their ballots without a hitch once the machines were rebooted.
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There was also a last-minute ruling in which a federal judge decided not to institute a change that would require the state to use hand-marked paper ballots in lieu of voting machines. The suit, which began in 2017, came from election integrity activists who said the hand-marked method was the safest and most secure way for voters to cast their ballots.
But Judge Amy Totenberg, while noting “profound issues” with the electronic machines, in which voters use touchscreens to mark their choices, ruled on Sunday that she couldn’t justify upending the voting process so clo se to the beginning of early in-person voting.
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“[T]he Court cannot jump off the legal edge and potentially trigger major disruption in the legally established state primary process governing the conduct of elections based on a preliminary evidentiary record,” Totenburg wrote.
While a record number of Georgians have requested mail-in ballots—about 1.5 million, according to CNN—some voters, many of them Black, opted to do early in-person voting out of concerns about their ballot being counted. The long lines seen in Georgia on Monday were indicative of “excitement and enthusiasm of the upcoming election,” Walter Jones, a spokesperson for Georgia’s secretary of state’s office, told CNN.
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“Long lines are to be expected—voters need to be aware of all of their options including three weeks of early voting, no-excuse absentee and in-person voting day of the election,” Jones said.
Seth Clark, a newly elected member of the Macon-Bibb County Commission, cast his vote in Macon after waiting in line for three hours.
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“I’ve never seen this many people on the first day of early voting,” Clark told the Associated Press.
“It seems to be going smoothly,” Clark said. “It’s just a lot.”
Early voting typically favors Democrats, and polling from this year suggests that Black people, in particular, prefer voting in person over casting a ballot via mail, despite concerns about spreading the novel coronavirus. CNN, citing data from Catalist, which tracks voter databases across the country, reports that among competitive states for the 2020 presidential election, Georgia has the largest share of ballots cast by Black voters. Black voters—considered one of the most stalwart and influential voting blocs of the Democratic party—also represent a greater share of pre-Election Day votes in Georgia than they did four years ago, Catalist’s numbers show. In 2016, they made up 29 percent of all early voting; so far in 2020, Black voters have comprised 35 percent of all early ballots. In total, 425,000 votes have been cast in the state thus far.
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Many online called the long lines—especially in counties with large Black populations—unacceptable, and some accused state election officials of trying to suppress the vote. One Cobb County voter reported waiting more than 9 hours in line, while singer and songwriter Johntá Austin wrote on Twitter that he stood in line for 11 hours on Monday waiting to cast a ballot.
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Steve Davidson was one of many Black Georgians who endured long lines to vote, and told the AP he drew inspiration from the late Georgia congressman John Lewis and other activists who fought for voting rights.
“They’ve been fighting for decades. If I’ve got to wait six or seven hours, that’s my duty to do that. I’ll do it happily,” Davidson said.
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Nationwide, The Guardian reports that more than 9.4 million people have already voted in the 2020 election—an “unprecedented number.”


theroot--2020-10-13--‘Accidentally’ Cut Wire Shuts Down Voter Registration in Virginia. Don’t Worry, It’s Only the Last D

‘Accidentally’ Cut Wire Shuts Down Voter Registration in Virginia. Don’t Worry, It’s Only the Last Day to Register

In Virginia , voter registration is down after a wire was “ accidentally ” cut .
It ’ s all good though , there ’ s still plenty of time for- It ’ s the last day for voters to register ?
The Hill reports a fiber optic cable was cut that affected data circuits and VPN connectivity for various agencies , including the citizen ’ s registration portal and registrar ’ s office .
The Virginia Department of Elections tweeted that technicians were currently on site , working to repair the wire .
They didn ’ t give an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be complete .
Virginia Lt. Gov .
Justin Fairfax ( D ) has called for the voter registration deadline to be extended as a result of the “ accident.
” “ I am officially calling for Virginia ’ s Registration Deadline to be extended beyond today due to the service outages impacting voters ’ ability to register statewide .
We will work with the Administration to resolve this issue and ensure all voters have access to [ vote ] , ” Fairfax tweeted .
This isn ’ t the first time that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gone down at a pivotal moment .
In 2016 , Virginia ’ s voter registration website went down after too many were trying to access it on the last day to register .
According to WTOP , a federal judge extended the deadline by a day and a half to allow folks to register who couldn ’ t .
While the accident has prevented people from registering to vote , it hasn ’ t prevented people from being able to cast early ballots .
Voters can also still register in person at their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Unfortunately , I ’ ve got 300 staff sitting around here waiting to mail out absentee ballots and process registration applications who really can ’ t do anything , ” Gary Scott , director of elections , told WTOP .
“ Everything else has come to a stop , ” he added .
Last week , technical difficulties with Florida ’ s voter registration site resulted in the voter registration deadline being extended by a day .
There has yet to be any official word on if Virginia will do the same .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ boxes to just one per county , fake ballot boxes are appearing throughout California , and in New York people reported receiving faulty early ballots .
I ’ m just saying , between the blatant attempts at voter suppression and frequent “ accidents , ” it almost feels like there ’ s an ongoing effort by a certain group of people to maintain power by suppressing the vote .
That would be crazy , though .
I mean , it ’ s not like Republicans have a history of stealing elections or anything @

In Virginia, voter registration is down after a wire was “accidentally” cut. It’s all good though, there’s still plenty of time for-
What’s that?
It’s the last day for voters to register?
...Well, shit.
The Hill reports a fiber optic cable was cut that affected data circuits and VPN connectivity for various agencies, including the citizen’s registration portal and registrar’s office. The Virginia Department of Elections tweeted that technicians were currently on site, working to repair the wire. They didn’t give an estimated time frame for when the repairs would be complete.
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Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax (D) has called for the voter registration deadline to be extended as a result of the “accident.”
“I am officially calling for Virginia’s Registration Deadline to be extended beyond today due to the service outages impacting voters’ ability to register statewide. We will work with the Administration to resolve this issue and ensure all voters have access to [vote],” Fairfax tweeted.
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This isn’t the first time that Virginia’s voter registration systems have gone down at a pivotal moment. In 2016, Virginia’s voter registration website went down after too many were trying to access it on the last day to register. According to WTOP, a federal judge extended the deadline by a day and a half to allow folks to register who couldn’t.
While the accident has prevented people from registering to vote, it hasn’t prevented people from being able to cast early ballots. Voters can also still register in person at their local registrar’s office.
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“Unfortunately, I’ve got 300 staff sitting around here waiting to mail out absentee ballots and process registration applications who really can’t do anything,” Gary Scott, director of elections, told WTOP. “Everything else has come to a stop,” he added.
Last week, technical difficulties with Florida’s voter registration site resulted in the voter registration deadline being extended by a day. There has yet to be any official word on if Virginia will do the same.
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In Texas, the governor limited ballot boxes to just one per county, fake ballot boxes are appearing throughout California, and in New York people reported receiving faulty early ballots.
I’m just saying, between the blatant attempts at voter suppression and frequent “accidents,” it almost feels like there’s an ongoing effort by a certain group of people to maintain power by suppressing the vote.
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That would be crazy, though.
I mean, it’s not like Republicans have a history of stealing elections or anything.


theroot--2020-10-13--Don't Stir the Pot: Save $70 on an Instant Pot Pressure Cooker Instead

The Instant Pot has become a phenomenon in the last few years , and some varieties such as the Instant @ @ @ @ @ Amazon ’ s Prime Day 2020 sale at 58 % off .
It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ coming holidays such as Thanksgiving and can be easily programmed to cook many different foods @ @ @ @ @ the other tasks at hand .

Instant Pot Ultra 10-in-1 | $50 | Amazon
The Instant Pot has become a phenomenon in the last few years, and some varieties such as the Instant Pot Ultra are featured in Amazon’s Prime Day 2020 sale at 58% off. It’s the perfect appliance for the coming holidays such as Thanksgiving and can be easily programmed to cook many different foods while you can focus on the other tasks at hand.


theroot--2020-10-13--VanillaISIS Also Discussed Kidnapping Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, FBI Says

The white male terrorists accused of plotting to kidnap Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer also contemplated “ taking out ” Virginia Gov .
Ralph Northam , an FBI agent revealed Tuesday .
According to CNBC , during a bond hearing in federal court in Grand Rapids , Michigan , for three of the VanillaISIS members , a disclosure by FBI Special Agent Richard Trask revealed that the white terrorists also reportedly considered kidnapping Northam .
Last week six white men were arrested and charged after federal and state law enforcement officials in Michigan found that they ’ d planned to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her vacation home , and one domestic terrorist reportedly planned to put her on trial for “ treason.
” In total , 13 men were arrested on various charges .
“ Seven other men known to be members or associates of the militia group Wolverine Watchmen were charged under the Michigan state anti-terrorism law , ” CNBC reports .
Militia is merely coded language for “ white terrorists ” because America and mainstream media have a problem labeling white men as the terrorists even when they PLANNED ON KIDNAPPING GOVERNORS !
Surely , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do with the president ’ s “ LIBERATE MICHIGAN !
” tweet in April , which referenced “ Whitmer ’ s strict lockdown orders for the state to deal with the coronavirus pandemic , ” the Post reports .
Trump also tweeted , “ LIBERATE VIRGINIA , and save your great 2nd Amendment .
It is under siege !
, ” on the same day that month , The Post notes .

The white male terrorists accused of plotting to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer also contemplated “taking out” Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, an FBI agent revealed Tuesday.
According to CNBC, during a bond hearing in federal court in Grand Rapids, Michigan, for three of the VanillaISIS members, a disclosure by FBI Special Agent Richard Trask revealed that the white terrorists also reportedly considered kidnapping Northam.
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Last week six white men were arrested and charged after federal and state law enforcement officials in Michigan found that they’d planned to kidnap Whitmer, a Democrat, from her vacation home, and one domestic terrorist reportedly planned to put her on trial for “treason.” In total, 13 men were arrested on various charges.
“Seven other men known to be members or associates of the militia group Wolverine Watchmen were charged under the Michigan state anti-terrorism law,” CNBC reports. Militia is merely coded language for “white terrorists” because America and mainstream media have a problem labeling white men as the terrorists even when they PLANNED ON KIDNAPPING GOVERNORS!
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Surely, this whole MayoISIS plot had something to do with the president’s “LIBERATE MICHIGAN!” tweet in April, which referenced “Whitmer’s strict lockdown orders for the state to deal with the coronavirus pandemic,” the Post reports.
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Trump also tweeted, “LIBERATE VIRGINIA, and save your great 2nd Amendment. It is under siege!,” on the same day that month, The Post notes.


theroot--2020-10-13--Vote or Die: Sean John Relaunches a Classic Campaign With a Message More Urgent Than Ever

When Sean John launched its first “ Vote or Die ” campaign in 2004 , America was still emotionally recovering from the 9/11 terrorist attack , we ’ d waged war on Iraq , and the second term of George W. Bush ’ s presidency was at stake—and many of us couldn ’ t have imagined those stakes could possibly get higher .
Fast-forward 16 years , and the slogan “ Vote or Die ” feels terrifyingly literal as we contemplate the possibility of another four years of a Trump presidency .
Not only are we in the throes of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 200,000 deaths , millions of infections , and arguably could ’ ve been contained months ago , had we had a competent and compassionate administration at the helm .
Instead , we are watching a sycophantic leader attempt to gaslight the public into believing that since he has survived the coronavirus ( after receiving all the best and most expedient treatment our taxpayer money can buy ) , the rest of us pedestrians have nothing to fear .
With this in mind , “ Vote or Die ” has indeed taken on new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ John ’ s now-iconic tee—part of a capsule collection including several other of-the-moment , message-driven designs—more timely than ever .
“ If not now , when ?
” asks one T-shirt design—and with three short weeks to go before our next election and not only the presidency but everything from local offices , to Senate seats up for grabs ( as well as the future of the Supreme Court ) , it ’ s a valid question .
While Sean John itself may be celebrity-founded ( we see you , Diddy ) and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign focuses on the everyday people most affected by bad governmental policies , also launching several powerful videos driving home why our votes matter more than ever , across generations .
The Vote or Die “ Vote For ... ” campaign comes 16-years after Sean John rolled out the initial campaign .
Sean John is taking an intentional approach with an action-driven campaign highlighting the stories and profiles of everyday men and women that are directly impacted and feel heartily about the unfair current events and injustices that continue to occur in America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who ’ ve been on the frontline of “ bringing awareness to the issues affecting a majority of the people in this country , ” as well “ a thought-provoking and emotional video featuring former Obama press aide , Desiree Barns , ” says the brand .
To develop and produce the digital campaign , Sean John partnered with full-service marketing agency RO-NY and Brooklyn Circus founder Ouigi Theodore ; the campaign itself directs customers from the Sean John site to Pro-Vote.US , “ an anti-racism resource page created in response to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ America , to receive the most up-to-date , and relevant voter and # Blacklivesmatter coverage and information , ” reads the release .
For more information and updates on the Vote or Die campaign , visit seanjohn.com/voteordie .

When Sean John launched its first “Vote or Die” campaign in 2004, America was still emotionally recovering from the 9/11 terrorist attack, we’d waged war on Iraq, and the second term of George W. Bush’s presidency was at stake—and many of us couldn’t have imagined those stakes could possibly get higher.
Fast-forward 16 years, and the slogan “Vote or Die” feels terrifyingly literal as we contemplate the possibility of another four years of a Trump presidency. Not only are we in the throes of a pandemic that has resulted in over 200,000 deaths, millions of infections, and arguably could’ve been contained months ago, had we had a competent and compassionate administration at the helm. Instead, we are watching a sycophantic leader attempt to gaslight the public into believing that since he has survived the coronavirus (after receiving all the best and most expedient treatment our taxpayer money can buy), the rest of us pedestrians have nothing to fear.
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With this in mind, “Vote or Die” has indeed taken on new meaning, making a relaunch of Sean John’s now-iconic tee—part of a capsule collection including several other of-the-moment, message-driven designs—more timely than ever.
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“If not now, when?” asks one T-shirt design—and with three short weeks to go before our next election and not only the presidency but everything from local offices, to Senate seats up for grabs (as well as the future of the Supreme Court), it’s a valid question. While Sean John itself may be celebrity-founded (we see you, Diddy) and has plenty of well-known supporters, the campaign focuses on the everyday people most affected by bad governmental policies, also launching several powerful videos driving home why our votes matter more than ever, across generations.
Per a release from Sean John:
The Vote or Die “Vote For...” campaign comes 16-years after Sean John rolled out the initial campaign. Sean John is taking an intentional approach with an action-driven campaign highlighting the stories and profiles of everyday men and women that are directly impacted and feel heartily about the unfair current events and injustices that continue to occur in America.
Advertisement
The videos and campaign feature activists who’ve been on the frontline of “bringing awareness to the issues affecting a majority of the people in this country,” as well “a thought-provoking and emotional video featuring former Obama press aide, Desiree Barns,” says the brand. To develop and produce the digital campaign, Sean John partnered with full-service marketing agency RO-NY and Brooklyn Circus founder Ouigi Theodore; the campaign itself directs customers from the Sean John site to Pro-Vote.US, “an anti-racism resource page created in response to the protests and ongoing conversations surrounding race in America, to receive the most up-to-date, and relevant voter and #Blacklivesmatter coverage and information,” reads the release.
For more information and updates on the Vote or Die campaign, visit seanjohn.com/voteordie.


theroot--2020-10-13--Don't Stir the Pot: Save $70 on an Instant Pot Pressure Cooker Instead (Sold Out!)