theroot--2020-06-09--‘I Can’t Breathe’: Another Case of a Black Man Dying in Police Custody in Texas Is Under New Scrutin

‘I Can’t Breathe’: Another Case of a Black Man Dying in Police Custody in Texas Is Under New Scrutiny Amid George Floyd Coverage

“ I can ’ t breathe ” isn ’ t just a hashtag or a rallying cry , they are actual words said by actual people before they died in police custody .
The phrase became a slogan for the Black Lives Matter movement in 2014 after the death of Eric Garner and that energy was reignited after the recent death of George Floyd .
Since Floyd ’ s death , at least two past cases where black men have said those words before dying while being detained by police have been uncovered .
One of those cases is that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on last week—and the other is that of 40-year-old Javier Ambler , who died in police custody in Austin , Texas in 2019 .
Javier Ambler was driving home from a friendly poker game in the early hours of March 28 , 2019 , when a Williamson County sheriff ’ s deputy noticed that he failed to dim the headlights of his SUV to oncoming traffic .
Twenty-eight minutes later , the black father of two sons lay dying on a north Austin street after deputies held him down and used Tasers on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A & E ’ s reality show “ Live PD ” filmed .
Ambler , a 40-year-old former postal worker , repeatedly pleaded for mercy , telling deputies he had congestive heart failure and couldn ’ t breathe .
He cried , “ Save me , ” before deputies deployed a final shock .
Ambler ’ s death didn ’ t receive any major media coverage and there were no subsequent protests .
According to USA Today , local media outlets had been trying for months to pry information out of the Williamson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s case .
Now , in light of recent events , Williamson County police have released documents and video footage that provide a closer look at what happened to Ambler .
The newly released information has also put a spotlight on Williamson County Sheriff Robert Chody and his department ’ s involvement with the Live PD reality show .
“ It is of very serious concern to any of us who are in law enforcement that the decision to engage in that chase was driven by more of a need to provide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safe , ” Travis County District Attorney Margaret Moore said , USA Today reports .
Moore ’ s civil rights division has been investigating Ambler ’ s death for well over a year and she told reporters her office plans to bring his case before a grand jury .
Investigators have claimed that Chody and producers for Live PD have repeatedly obstructed their attempts to get information on Ambler ’ s arrest , including footage from the chase .
On May 18 , the Texas attorney general ’ s office ordered Chody ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The footage shows Deputy J.J. Johnson , who appeared regularly on Live PD , attempting to pull Ambler over for having his brights on .
Ambler didn ’ t stop and a 22-minute chase ensued during which Johnson narrated what was going on for the film crew riding along with him .
The chase ended after Ambler crashed .
Johnson , who had no backup at the time , drew his gun demanding him to get out of the car .
When Ambler appeared to turn toward his car door , Johnson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ internal investigative report the Statesman obtained under the Texas Public Information Act .
Ambler fell on one knee , rolled onto his back and stomach and acted as though he was trying to stand .
Backup Deputy Zachary Camden , who is white and was also accompanied by a “ Live PD ” crew , arrived and shoved his Taser into Ambler ’ s upper back “ in a drive-stun motion.
” Deputies yell at Ambler to lay on his stomach and put his hands behind his back .
One presses a Taser @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have congestive heart failure , ” Ambler says .
“ I have congestive heart failure .
I can ’ t breathe.
” As the deputies scream orders , Ambler , between gasps , tells them he ’ s trying to follow their commands .
Another four times he tells the deputies he can ’ t breathe .
“ I am not resisting , ” Ambler cries .
“ Sir , I can ’ t breathe .
… Please .
… Please.
” The deputies , who are on top of Ambler , continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behind his back .
“ Do what we ’ re asking you to do !
” a deputy yells .
“ I can ’ t , ” Ambler says , the last words the video captures from him just before one of the deputies deploys his Taser a fourth and final time at 1:47 a.m. Ambler ’ s hands go limp , and the deputies place handcuffs around his wrists .
Moments later , they realized he was unconscious and his pulse had stopped .
Deputies performed CPR for four minutes until medics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Seton Medical Center worked for 50 minutes to keep Ambler alive .
He was pronounced dead at 2:37 a.m. Ambler ’ s death was ruled a homicide but the Williamson County Sheriff ’ s Department internal affairs investigators concluded in a report that the deputies had not violated any pursuit or use-of-force policies .
The report doesn ’ t indicate that any of them faced any disciplinary action related to the incident .
Because Ambler isn ’ t alive to tell his side of the story , we ’ ll never know why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ died afraid and after repeatedly crying out to police those now infamous words : “ I can ’ t breathe .
”

“I can’t breathe” isn’t just a hashtag or a rallying cry, they are actual words said by actual people before they died in police custody. The phrase became a slogan for the Black Lives Matter movement in 2014 after the death of Eric Garner and that energy was reignited after the recent death of George Floyd. Since Floyd’s death, at least two past cases where black men have said those words before dying while being detained by police have been uncovered. One of those cases is that of Manuel Ellis—whose story The Root reported on last week—and the other is that of 40-year-old Javier Ambler, who died in police custody in Austin, Texas in 2019.
From USA Today:
Javier Ambler was driving home from a friendly poker game in the early hours of March 28, 2019, when a Williamson County sheriff’s deputy noticed that he failed to dim the headlights of his SUV to oncoming traffic. Twenty-eight minutes later, the black father of two sons lay dying on a north Austin street after deputies held him down and used Tasers on him four times while a crew from A&E’s reality show “Live PD” filmed. Ambler, a 40-year-old former postal worker, repeatedly pleaded for mercy, telling deputies he had congestive heart failure and couldn’t breathe. He cried, “Save me,” before deputies deployed a final shock.
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Ambler’s death didn’t receive any major media coverage and there were no subsequent protests. According to USA Today, local media outlets had been trying for months to pry information out of the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office on Ambler’s case. Now, in light of recent events, Williamson County police have released documents and video footage that provide a closer look at what happened to Ambler. The newly released information has also put a spotlight on Williamson County Sheriff Robert Chody and his department’s involvement with the Live PD reality show.
“It is of very serious concern to any of us who are in law enforcement that the decision to engage in that chase was driven by more of a need to provide entertainment than to keep Williamson County citizens safe,” Travis County District Attorney Margaret Moore said, USA Today reports.
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Moore’s civil rights division has been investigating Ambler’s death for well over a year and she told reporters her office plans to bring his case before a grand jury. Investigators have claimed that Chody and producers for Live PD have repeatedly obstructed their attempts to get information on Ambler’s arrest, including footage from the chase. On May 18, the Texas attorney general’s office ordered Chody’s office to release the requested information.
The footage shows Deputy J.J. Johnson, who appeared regularly on Live PD, attempting to pull Ambler over for having his brights on. Ambler didn’t stop and a 22-minute chase ensued during which Johnson narrated what was going on for the film crew riding along with him. The chase ended after Ambler crashed. Johnson, who had no backup at the time, drew his gun demanding him to get out of the car.
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From USA Today:
“Get down!” Johnson repeated several times. When Ambler appeared to turn toward his car door, Johnson used his Taser, according to an internal investigative report the Statesman obtained under the Texas Public Information Act. Ambler fell on one knee, rolled onto his back and stomach and acted as though he was trying to stand. “You’ll get it again,” Johnson shouted. Backup Deputy Zachary Camden, who is white and was also accompanied by a “Live PD” crew, arrived and shoved his Taser into Ambler’s upper back “in a drive-stun motion.” Deputies yell at Ambler to lay on his stomach and put his hands behind his back. One presses a Taser into his upper back. “I have congestive heart failure,” Ambler says. “I have congestive heart failure. I can’t breathe.” As the deputies scream orders, Ambler, between gasps, tells them he’s trying to follow their commands. Another four times he tells the deputies he can’t breathe. “I am not resisting,” Ambler cries. “Sir, I can’t breathe. … Please. … Please.” The deputies, who are on top of Ambler, continue yelling at him to put his arms behind his back. “Save me,” Ambler cries. “Do what we’re asking you to do!” a deputy yells. “I can’t,” Ambler says, the last words the video captures from him just before one of the deputies deploys his Taser a fourth and final time at 1:47 a.m. Ambler’s hands go limp, and the deputies place handcuffs around his wrists. Moments later, they realized he was unconscious and his pulse had stopped. Deputies performed CPR for four minutes until medics arrived. Medics and doctors at Dell Seton Medical Center worked for 50 minutes to keep Ambler alive. He was pronounced dead at 2:37 a.m.
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Ambler’s death was ruled a homicide but the Williamson County Sheriff’s Department internal affairs investigators concluded in a report that the deputies had not violated any pursuit or use-of-force policies. The report doesn’t indicate that any of them faced any disciplinary action related to the incident.
Because Ambler isn’t alive to tell his side of the story, we’ll never know why he ran but we do know he died afraid and after repeatedly crying out to police those now infamous words: “I can’t breathe.”


theroot--2020-06-09--Have a Cute Cookout With a $30 Mini Cuisinart Charcoal Grill

If you ’ re stuck in a little apartment , don ’ t have proper outdoor space , and want @ @ @ @ @ the summer I have a solution—a mini charcoal grill .
Only $ 30 , the @ @ @ @ @ get you those juicy burgers and ribs you ’ ve been dreaming about , and @ @ @ @ @ inches !
The grill is only two pounds , which means you can carry it @ @ @ @ @ or even take it camping without it taking up much room .
Grab it before @ @ @ @ @

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

Cuisinart Charcoal Grill | $21 | Amazon
If you’re stuck in a little apartment, don’t have proper outdoor space, and want to get into grilling for the summer I have a solution—a mini charcoal grill. Down to $21, the Cuisinart Portable Grill can honestly get you those juicy burgers and ribs you’ve been dreaming about, and it’s only 14 inches! The grill is only two pounds, which means you can carry it with you to the park or even take it camping without it taking up much room. Grab it before it’s gone!
This article was originally published by Ignacia Fulcher on 6/05/2020 and updated by Joe Tilleli with new information on 5/28/2020.


theroot--2020-06-09--Pittsburgh Paper Expands Reporting Ban to Reporters Who Stood With Black Journalists Banned From Pro

Pittsburgh Paper Expands Reporting Ban to Reporters Who Stood With Black Journalists Banned From Protest Coverage

When it comes to the recent , nationwide wave of Black Lives Matter protests , there is a clear demarcation line between who is on the right and who is on the wrong side of history .
The owners of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette have picked their side—and it ain ’ t the right one .
According to Post-Gazette energy reporter Anya Litvak , the paper ’ s management has expanded its muzzling of journalists , telling dozens of reporters who expressed solidarity with black colleagues banned from covering the protests that they have “ conflicted out ” of covering the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Pittsburgh City Paper , citing numbers provided by the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh , reports that 82 people have been banned from covering the protests , which have pushed for massive , systemic changes to policing .
The conflict between the paper ’ s management and its reporters began on May 31 , when Alexis Johnson , a black reporter , posted a viral tweet that highlighted the hypocrisy of people voicing concerns about “ looting ” and destruction of property at the protests .
Johnson says she was pulled aside by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ raised questions of whether she was “ biased , ” and that it thus compromised her credibility and that of the newsroom .
She was taken off coverage of the protests .
But the barring of black journalists didn ’ t stop there .
Photographer Miguel Santiago , who was part of the paper ’ s Pulitzer-prize winning team in 2019 for its coverage of the Tree of Life synagogue shooting , was also barred from covering the protests last week .
The paper also pulled an article by journalist Ashley Murray without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brutality and proposed reforms .
In solidarity with Johnson , dozens of Post-Gazette reporters retweeted her viral post on Friday .
On Monday morning , the Newspaper Guild announced that over 3,000 letters of complaint had been sent to P-G ’ s management .
“ The letters reflect the Guild ’ s demands : to rescind the ban on Johnson and Santiago ; to apologize to them , the staff , and readers ; to stop retaliating against their supporters ; and to ethically cover the ongoing protests , ” writes the City @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of the single most important stories of the last few years is a serious matter , in and of itself .
But make no mistake : by blocking reporters who stood up in support of their black colleagues—reporters who demonstrated both collective solidarity and outrage at the marginalization of their peers—the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is punishing the types of people most qualified to cover the nationwide protests and uprisings .
It is punishing black people .
People with lived experience—which is to say , knowledge—about discrimination , marginalization , and over-policing .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ black colleagues .
People who are more likely to understand the systemic racism at play , which means people who are more equipped to understand protesters ’ demands and how to properly contextualize , frame , and report it .
This is exactly who the Post-Gazette is silencing .
And their paper will suffer for it .
“ During this week of chaos , it ’ s clear to see that the vacuum of leadership , moral authority , and ethics proves why millions of people are in the streets protesting .
Systemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The Post-Gazette is on the wrong side of history , and we are on the right side of history .
We have a responsibility to fight for our members , and to fight for nondiscrimination , equality , and journalistic ethics .
And we ’ re going to continue to do that until this is resolved .
”

When it comes to the recent, nationwide wave of Black Lives Matter protests, there is a clear demarcation line between who is on the right and who is on the wrong side of history. The owners of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette have picked their side—and it ain’t the right one.
According to Post-Gazette energy reporter Anya Litvak, the paper’s management has expanded its muzzling of journalists, telling dozens of reporters who expressed solidarity with black colleagues banned from covering the protests that they have “conflicted out” of covering the largest civil rights story in decades.
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The Pittsburgh City Paper, citing numbers provided by the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh, reports that 82 people have been banned from covering the protests, which have pushed for massive, systemic changes to policing.
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The conflict between the paper’s management and its reporters began on May 31, when Alexis Johnson, a black reporter, posted a viral tweet that highlighted the hypocrisy of people voicing concerns about “looting” and destruction of property at the protests.
Advertisement
Johnson says she was pulled aside by management and told that the tweet had raised questions of whether she was “biased,” and that it thus compromised her credibility and that of the newsroom. She was taken off coverage of the protests.
But the barring of black journalists didn’t stop there. Photographer Miguel Santiago, who was part of the paper’s Pulitzer-prize winning team in 2019 for its coverage of the Tree of Life synagogue shooting, was also barred from covering the protests last week.
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The paper also pulled an article by journalist Ashley Murray without explanation. The article focused on police brutality and proposed reforms.
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In solidarity with Johnson, dozens of Post-Gazette reporters retweeted her viral post on Friday. On Monday morning, the Newspaper Guild announced that over 3,000 letters of complaint had been sent to P-G’s management.
“The letters reflect the Guild’s demands: to rescind the ban on Johnson and Santiago; to apologize to them, the staff, and readers; to stop retaliating against their supporters; and to ethically cover the ongoing protests,” writes the City Paper.
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Restricting your newsroom from covering one of the single most important stories of the last few years is a serious matter, in and of itself. But make no mistake: by blocking reporters who stood up in support of their black colleagues—reporters who demonstrated both collective solidarity and outrage at the marginalization of their peers—the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is punishing the types of people most qualified to cover the nationwide protests and uprisings. It is punishing black people. People with lived experience—which is to say, knowledge—about discrimination, marginalization, and over-policing. It is punishing people unafraid of supporting their black colleagues. People who are more likely to understand the systemic racism at play, which means people who are more equipped to understand protesters’ demands and how to properly contextualize, frame, and report it.
This is exactly who the Post-Gazette is silencing. And their paper will suffer for it.
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“During this week of chaos, it’s clear to see that the vacuum of leadership, moral authority, and ethics proves why millions of people are in the streets protesting. Systemic racism exists,” said Fuoco. “The Post-Gazette is on the wrong side of history, and we are on the right side of history. We have a responsibility to fight for our members, and to fight for nondiscrimination, equality, and journalistic ethics. And we’re going to continue to do that until this is resolved.”


theroot--2020-06-09--What Could Possibly Be Going Wrong With Primary Voting in Brian Kemp’s Georgia?

When I was young , I had a friend named Luck .
He was called Luck because he did a bunch of rotten shit and never got caught .
Once he stole a 30-gallon fish tank from the pet store in Prince Georges Plaza by walking into the store and walking out with it .
He didn ’ t try to hide it .
He didn ’ t play it off like he was looking at something else— he just walked right in and wrapped both his arms around the big-ass box and walked right out of the front of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for him and couldn ’ t believe it when he walked out holding this big-ass fish tank .
When I asked him later about stealing the fish tank ( which he sold to an older dude in our neighborhood as fighting fish was big between the drug dealers back then ) , he told me that when you steal something big , it ’ s better to walk in like you ’ re supposed to be taking it out of the store .
“ Plus ” he added , “ Where the fuck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fish tank ?
” Tuesday is Georgia ’ s primary election day and that means that Georgia was up to its old tricks again—meaning Gov .
Brian Kemp is still in charge of things and for some reason , he just can ’ t seem to figure out how to make it easy for people in his state to vote .
Voting began early in the morning and it didn ’ t take long to hear reports of long lines , delays , broken voting machines and inexperienced election workers .
N ot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going on during a global pandemic , which just so happens to disproportionately affect African Americans at a higher rate .
The “ presidential preference primary , general primary , nonpartisan general election and a special election , ” are all on Tuesday ’ s ballot .
“ Democrats are looking to defeat two Republican senators in 2020 in a state where a Democratic senator has not been elected in 20 years , ” CNN reports .
Machines were reported down at multiple locations by voters , including at First Baptist Church in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Voter Monica Hickman told CNN she was in line starting at about 6:45 a.m. and was finally able to vote about two hours later due to 10 machines being down .
“ It was after 7:30 when we went inside the voting area only to be told the machines were down .
We had to use provisional ballots .
I filled it out and left it there , ” Hickman said .
“ When it ’ s time to vote , everything should work properly because we ’ re living in critical times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our voices can be heard.
” Dan Upshaw was in line to vote at the Joseph McGhee Tennis Center in Atlanta starting at 8 a.m. because poll workers told him they only had one functioning voting machine .
“ We were told Fulton County was on site working on them , ” he told CNN .
“ Last official update was that there were three machines working , but voters are saying there are only two.
” When he spoke to CNN , he believed he had about 45 minutes longer to wait @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters are leaving early , ” he said .
Surely , this couldn ’ t be by design , could it ?
Does Gov .
Brian Kemp have a history of suppressing the black vote ?
Well , sure he does .
The Root ’ s senior writer Michael Harriot has written extensively about the games Kemp plays with votes .
Does any of this mean that Kemp has had a hand in today ’ s voting woes ?
Of course , it doesn ’ t , but I find it a bit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the biggest airports in the country , lay claim to some of the biggest blaxploitation television the world has ever known and create some of the biggest asses that Spandex has ever seen and yet can ’ t get this little voting thing together .
“ We have reports of poll workers not understanding set- up or how to operate voting equipment .
While these are unfortunate , they are not issues of the equipment but a function of counties engaging in poor planning , limited training , and failures of leadership .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ throughout the state of Georgia , ” Gabriel Sterling , the state ’ s voting implementation manager told CNN .
The whole thing just sounds like a clusterfuck—or as Robb Pitts , the chairman of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners , told CNN , it could just be a perfect storm of catastrophic events .
“ We had a problem where seven people who would normally work at the polls , six of them decided they didn ’ t want to work because of the virus , so we had to scramble @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers , ” he said .
He also suggested that “ there ’ s a lot of technology involved now and a lot of our poll workers have typically been retired people and the technology can be a challenge sometimes.
” This is true .
My mother , God bless her heart , still can ’ t log into her email without assistance .
It probably hasn ’ t helped matters that it ’ s super hot .
S ome areas are reporting temperatures as high as 90 degrees and standing in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bit much .
Pitts also added that lines look longer because of social distancing , and voting time is a bit longer because of the number of people allowed in each room at a time , not to mention disinfecting the area after each use .
So why didn ’ t voters just ask for absentee ballots ?
Well , they did .
“ There have been a significant number of complaints from voters in Fulton County who requested a ballot via email but still hadn ’ t received it the Sunday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ A source in the secretary of state ’ s office conceded that some counties in the state are straining under the volume of absentee ballots that have been received so far .
Fewer than 40,000 people typically vote by absentee ballot in Georgia , but already , the state has received more than 1.2 million absentee ballots , a primary participation record , Raffensperger has said .
Of those ballots cast , 951,970 were mail-in ballots , according to numbers provided by his office.
” I ’ m sure all of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mean this couldn ’ t be a preliminary round for an eventual dubious presidential election .
That couldn ’ t be it , could it ?
I mean where the fuck is Brian Kemp supposed to hide a fish tank ?

When I was young, I had a friend named Luck. He was called Luck because he did a bunch of rotten shit and never got caught. Once he stole a 30-gallon fish tank from the pet store in Prince Georges Plaza by walking into the store and walking out with it. He didn’t try to hide it. He didn’t play it off like he was looking at something else—he just walked right in and wrapped both his arms around the big-ass box and walked right out of the front of the store.
We were waiting outside for him and couldn’t believe it when he walked out holding this big-ass fish tank. When I asked him later about stealing the fish tank (which he sold to an older dude in our neighborhood as fighting fish was big between the drug dealers back then), he told me that when you steal something big, it’s better to walk in like you’re supposed to be taking it out of the store. “Plus” he added, “Where the fuck am I going to hide a fucking fish tank?”
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Tuesday is Georgia’s primary election day and that means that Georgia is up to its old tricks again—meaning Gov. Brian Kemp is still in charge of things and for some reason, he just can’t seem to figure out how to make it easy for people in his state to vote.
Voting began early in the morning and it didn’t take long to hear reports of long lines, delays, broken voting machines and inexperienced election workers. Not to mention that all of this is going on during a global pandemic, which just so happens to disproportionately affect African Americans at a higher rate.
Advertisement Advertisement
The “presidential preference primary, general primary, nonpartisan general election and a special election,” are all on Tuesday’s ballot. “Democrats are looking to defeat two Republican senators in 2020 in a state where a Democratic senator has not been elected in 20 years,” CNN reports.
From CNN:
Machines were reported down at multiple locations by voters, including at First Baptist Church in downtown Powder Springs in Cobb County. Voter Monica Hickman told CNN she was in line starting at about 6:45 a.m. and was finally able to vote about two hours later due to 10 machines being down. “It was after 7:30 when we went inside the voting area only to be told the machines were down. We had to use provisional ballots. I filled it out and left it there,” Hickman said. “When it’s time to vote, everything should work properly because we’re living in critical times and this is one of the ways our voices can be heard.” Dan Upshaw was in line to vote at the Joseph McGhee Tennis Center in Atlanta starting at 8 a.m. because poll workers told him they only had one functioning voting machine. “We were told Fulton County was on site working on them,” he told CNN. “Last official update was that there were three machines working, but voters are saying there are only two.” When he spoke to CNN, he believed he had about 45 minutes longer to wait until he could vote. “Some voters are leaving early,” he said.
Surely, this couldn’t be by design, could it? Does Gov. Brian Kemp have a history of suppressing the black vote? Well, sure he does. The Root’s senior writer Michael Harriot has written extensively about the games Kemp plays with votes.
Advertisement
Here:
Advertisement
And here:
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Does any of this mean that Kemp has had a hand in today’s voting woes? Of course it doesn’t, but I find it a bit unsettling that Georgia can have one of the biggest airports in the country, lay claim to some of the biggest blaxploitation television the world has ever known and create some of the biggest asses that Spandex has ever seen and yet can’t get this little voting thing together.
“We have reports of poll workers not understanding set-up or how to operate voting equipment. While these are unfortunate, they are not issues of the equipment but a function of counties engaging in poor planning, limited training, and failures of leadership. Well over 2,000 precincts are functioning normally throughout the state of Georgia,” Gabriel Sterling, the state’s voting implementation manager told CNN.
Advertisement
The whole thing just sounds like a clusterfuck—or as Robb Pitts, the chairman of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners, told CNN, it could just be a perfect storm of catastrophic events.
“We had a problem where seven people who would normally work at the polls, six of them decided they didn’t want to work because of the virus, so we had to scramble at the last minute to find new workers,” he said.
Advertisement
He also suggested that “there’s a lot of technology involved now and a lot of our poll workers have typically been retired people and the technology can be a challenge sometimes.”
This is true. My mother, God bless her heart, still can’t log into her email without assistance.
Advertisement
It probably hasn’t helped matters that it’s super hot. Some areas are reporting temperatures as high as 90 degrees and standing in a long-ass line waiting to vote can be a bit much. Pitts also added that lines look longer because of social distancing, and voting time is a bit longer because of the number of people allowed in each room at a time, not to mention disinfecting the area after each use.
So why didn’t voters just ask for absentee ballots? Well, they did.
“There have been a significant number of complaints from voters in Fulton County who requested a ballot via email but still hadn’t received it the Sunday before the election,” CNN reports.
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“A source in the secretary of state’s office conceded that some counties in the state are straining under the volume of absentee ballots that have been received so far. Fewer than 40,000 people typically vote by absentee ballot in Georgia, but already, the state has received more than 1.2 million absentee ballots, a primary participation record, Raffensperger has said. Of those ballots cast, 951,970 were mail-in ballots, according to numbers provided by his office.”
I’m sure all of this was just an accident. I mean this couldn’t be a preliminary round for an eventual dubious presidential election. That couldn’t be it, could it? I mean where the fuck is Brian Kemp supposed to hide a fish tank?


theroot--2020-06-09--30 Days of Iconic Music Video Blackness With VSB, Day 9: Eddie Murphy 'Party All the Time'

Eddie Murphy singing was a thing in the ‘ 80s .
And not just a random thing .
He released three music albums .
While most people remember “ Party All The Time , ” which was written and produced by Rick James , what is less remembered is that Eddie had music from the likes of Stevie Wonder , Nile Rogers ... and even Michael Jackson .
It ’ s like he took music seriously—especially in music video format—even though there was no discernible reason to do so .
Hell , Eddie was even signed to Motown for his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This brings us to the iconic video for Eddie Murphy ’ s one true hit , “ Party All The Time.
” This song charted well—it was an actual top 5 pop chart hit and it featured the stylings and production oomph of one of his best friends , Rick James , who was killing it at the time ( mid-80s ) so it only made sense to keep the buzz going with a video .
This video clearly had one goal and one goal only—to illustrate that Eddie was actually a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do that ?
Well , you do an in-studio video of course where you show him singing and recording with actual musicians like Rick James but you remove all of the cocaine that must have been a staple , which was notably missing—it was the “ Cocaine ’ 80s , ” after all—and have Eddie perform and sing while folks kickin ’ it in the studio jam along .
Two very fun things to note about this video which I think take it to iconic levels : 1 ) Eddie really took this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to show us by walking into a room full of happy people with a serious gait because he was a serious musician about to record some serious music .
Eddie needed us to know he was for real for real , which means that he didn ’ t go full Eddie at first .
And 2 ) I can not stress enough how odd it is that SO many folks were entirely off-beat while dancing in this video , including Rick James and an odd assortment of maybe-famous people clapping , but not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for this video .
Also , Eddie can ’ t dance for shit .
Rick James is directing traffic from the control room and Eddie is straight business .
He even does a few runs just to show his range .
What I enjoy most about this video is all of the people in the studio , both the control room and in the booth with him who just know they have a hit on their hands .
They are dedicated to letting Eddie know that he is both killing it and that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rick James , not high at all , then goes into the booth to add his guitar section and sing some runs that blow Eddie entirely out the water , instantly .
I love it .
Listen , if I wasn ’ t a singer and I wanted you to take me seriously as one then perhaps I ’ d create a video that shows me getting busy in the booth as well , complete with folks plugging shit into shit and loading up sessions and all that shit that looks like a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And most importantly , the song jams .
It ’ s like one of the best worst songs ever .
But we have Rick James at the height of his powers , Eddie Murphy coming off of his 48 Hrs.
, Trading Places and Beverly Hills Cop trilogy , so there was literally no better time to drop an album for him .
And that all culminates with this video for this song that leads to comedian Eddie Murphy becoming a legend in three games .
At least for 1985 .
And that @ @ @

Panama Jackson on Very Smart Brothas, shared by Panama Jackson to The Root

Eddie Murphy singing was a thing in the ‘ 80s. And not just a random thing. He released three music albums. While most people remember “Party All The Time,” which was written and produced by Rick James, what is less remembered is that Eddie had music from the likes of Stevie Wonder, Nile Rogers...and even Michael Jackson. It’s like he took music seriously—especially in music video format—even though there was no discernible reason to do so. Hell, Eddie was even signed to Motown for his last album. Let that sink in.
This brings us to the iconic video for Eddie Murphy’s one true hit, “Party All The Time.” This song charted well—it was an actual top 5 pop chart hit and it featured the stylings and production oomph of one of his best friends, Rick James, who was killing it at the time (mid-80s) so it only made sense to keep the buzz going with a video.
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Eddie Murphy “Party All The Time” (1985)
This video clearly had one goal and one goal only—to illustrate that Eddie was actually a musical artist. And how do you do that? Well, you do an in-studio video of course where you show him singing and recording with actual musicians like Rick James but you remove all of the cocaine that must have been a staple, which was notably missing—it was the “Cocaine ’80s,” after all—and have Eddie perform and sing while folks kickin’ it in the studio jam along.
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Two very fun things to note about this video which I think take it to iconic levels: 1) Eddie really took this music shit seriously, and he had to show us by walking into a room full of happy people with a serious gait because he was a serious musician about to record some serious music. Eddie needed us to know he was for real for real, which means that he didn’t go full Eddie at first. And 2) I cannot stress enough how odd it is that SO many folks were entirely off-beat while dancing in this video, including Rick James and an odd assortment of maybe-famous people clapping, but not on-beat.
The overdub game was trash for this video. Also, Eddie can’t dance for shit.
Rick James is directing traffic from the control room and Eddie is straight business. He even does a few runs just to show his range. What I enjoy most about this video is all of the people in the studio, both the control room and in the booth with him who just know they have a hit on their hands. They are dedicated to letting Eddie know that he is both killing it and that they need to take him seriously. Rick James, not high at all, then goes into the booth to add his guitar section and sing some runs that blow Eddie entirely out the water, instantly. I love it.
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Listen, if I wasn’t a singer and I wanted you to take me seriously as one then perhaps I’d create a video that shows me getting busy in the booth as well, complete with folks plugging shit into shit and loading up sessions and all that shit that looks like a real jammy jam is going down. And most importantly, the song jams. It’s like one of the best worst songs ever.
But we have Rick James at the height of his powers, Eddie Murphy coming off of his 48 Hrs., Trading Places and Beverly Hills Cop trilogy, so there was literally no better time to drop an album for him. And that all culminates with this video for this song that leads to comedian Eddie Murphy becoming a legend in three games. At least for 1985. And that is iconic.


theroot--2020-06-09--Charlotte Hornets, Carolina Panthers End Partnerships With Security Firm After CEO Outs Himself as a

Charlotte Hornets, Carolina Panthers End Partnerships With Security Firm After CEO Outs Himself as a Racist Ass Racist

I believe the old adage is “ Freedom of speech doesn ’ t mean freedom from consequences.
” In the latest edition of Musty Racists Exposed , the Charlotte Hornets , Carolina Panthers , Charlotte Knights , the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and the University of South Carolina have all decided to cut ties with a local security company after its CEO went peak-CrossFit and spewed some racist bullshit .
WCNC and Yahoo Sports report that despite many of these organizations having a partnership with CPI Security for years , its CEO , Ken Gill , couldn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when Queen City Unity leader Jorge Millares sent out a mass email to groups and organizations in the Charlotte area pressuring them to take action in light of the death of George Floyd .
In return , Millares put him on blast and almost immediately , eloquent statements like these began to pour from the heavens as Gill ’ s net worth evaporated before our eyes : Not to be outdone , Gill took a break from “ but what about black-on-black crime ” -ing to try and save face : “ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an email from a former employee that failed to directly address the need for racial justice and equality in the wake of George Floyd ’ s senseless killing , ” Gill begged and pleaded to no avail on Facebook .
“ I have listened to the feedback , and now more than ever realize the need for continued dialog to help end racism within our community .
Working alongside our diverse employee base and community partners , I remain committed to being part of the solution.
” CPI employees have also chucked the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ customers who want nothing to do with lining the pockets of a musty racist .
“ Y ’ all one [ of ] our friends was on hold for 225 minutes to cancel their CPI contract !
It ’ s that serious !
” @ mrsdavis58 tweeted .
“ Stand behind your black and non-white friends !
# EndRacismNow !
!
!
# America is for all ... and if it wasn ’ t it WILL BE !
” I also regret to inform you that the YMCA of Greater Charlotte will no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gill .
Stories like these lower my blood pressure and keep my teeth white , so shoutout to Jorge Millares for yanking the pants off of this bigoted bitch .
But before I go , I believe Milares has a question for you , Bojangles :

I believe the old adage is “Freedom of speech doesn’t mean freedom from consequences.”
In the latest edition of Musty Racists Exposed, the Charlotte Hornets, Carolina Panthers, Charlotte Knights, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and the University of South Carolina have all decided to cut ties with a local security company after its CEO went peak-CrossFit and spewed some racist bullshit.
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WCNC and Yahoo Sports report that despite many of these organizations having a partnership with CPI Security for years, its CEO, Ken Gill, couldn’t keep his inner bigot at bay when Queen City Unity leader Jorge Millares sent out a mass email to groups and organizations in the Charlotte area pressuring them to take action in light of the death of George Floyd.
Gill’s response?
“Please spend your time in a more productive way. A better use of time, would be to focus on the black on black crime and senseless killing of our young men by other young men. Have a great day, Ken Gill.”
In return, Millares put him on blast and almost immediately, eloquent statements like these began to pour from the heavens as Gill’s net worth evaporated before our eyes:
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Not to be outdone, Gill took a break from “but what about black-on-black crime”-ing to try and save face:
“I want to apologize for my response to an email from a former employee that failed to directly address the need for racial justice and equality in the wake of George Floyd’s senseless killing,” Gill begged and pleaded to no avail on Facebook. “I have listened to the feedback, and now more than ever realize the need for continued dialog to help end racism within our community. Working alongside our diverse employee base and community partners, I remain committed to being part of the solution.”
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No thanks!
CPI employees have also chucked the deuce en masse, as have other customers who want nothing to do with lining the pockets of a musty racist.
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“Y’all one [of] our friends was on hold for 225 minutes to cancel their CPI contract! It’s that serious!” @mrsdavis58 tweeted. “Stand behind your black and non-white friends! #EndRacismNow!!! #America is for all...and if it wasn’t it WILL BE!”
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I also regret to inform you that the YMCA of Greater Charlotte will no longer be naming its new facility after Gill.
Tragic.
Stories like these lower my blood pressure and keep my teeth white, so shoutout to Jorge Millares for yanking the pants off of this bigoted bitch. But before I go, I believe Milares has a question for you, Bojangles:


theroot--2020-06-09--Celebrities, Activists, Sports Stars and More to Participate in Instagram Initiative #PassTheMicNow

A new Instagram campaign featuring black actresses , activists , designers , Olympic athletes , politicians and more aims to shine a light on magnifying black voices .
According to a press release obtained by The Root , # ShareTheMicNow will find black women speaking about the importance of listening to black voices , and they will share their messages from the Instagram accounts of white women across industry lines who have large followings and platforms .
The event , which will be held on Wednesday , is being spearheaded by Bozoma Saint John ( chief marketing officer at Endeavor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and speakers Luvvie Ajayi Jones and Glennon Doyle , and Alice + Olivia fashion line founder Stacey Bendet Eisner .
“ The intention of this campaign is to magnify black women and the important work that they ’ re doing in order to catalyze the change that will only come when we truly hear each other ’ s voices , ” the statement reads .
“ The # ShareTheMicNow campaign was born from relationships and is aimed at encouraging black and white women in relationship to recreate this action in their own spaces.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to create a network of disruptors who know and trust each other , ” as well as “ to create action that could make change.
” For far too long , people have solely listened to the words of white women , leaving black voices out of the conversation .
By white women opening their platforms to black women , hopefully , their voices will be heard .
Take a look at the women who will participate in the initiative tomorrow .

J'na Jefferson on The Glow Up, shared by J'na Jefferson to The Root

A new Instagram campaign featuring black actresses, activists, designers, Olympic athletes, politicians and more aims to shine a light on magnifying black voices.
According to a press release obtained by The Root, #ShareTheMicNow will find black women speaking about the importance of listening to black voices, and they will share their messages from the Instagram accounts of white women across industry lines who have large followings and platforms. The event, which will be held on Wednesday, is being spearheaded by Bozoma Saint John (chief marketing officer at Endeavor), New York Times bestselling authors and speakers Luvvie Ajayi Jones and Glennon Doyle, and Alice + Olivia fashion line founder Stacey Bendet Eisner.
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“The intention of this campaign is to magnify black women and the important work that they’re doing in order to catalyze the change that will only come when we truly hear each other’s voices,” the statement reads. “The #ShareTheMicNow campaign was born from relationships and is aimed at encouraging black and white women in relationship to recreate this action in their own spaces.”
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The #ShareTheMicNow Campaign aims “to create a network of disruptors who know and trust each other,” as well as “to create action that could make change.” For far too long, people have solely listened to the words of white women, leaving black voices out of the conversation. By white women opening their platforms to black women, hopefully, their voices will be heard.
Take a look at the women who will participate in the initiative tomorrow.
Black women: Alencia Johnson, Alexa Idama, Angelica Ross, Austin Channing Brown, Bozoma Saint John, Brittney Cooper, Candace Marie, Cari Champion, Christina Rice, Deesha Dyer, Devi Brown, Elaine Welteroth, Elle Hearns, Eunique Jones Gibson, Fresco Steez, Gia Peppers, Ibtihaj Muhammad, Jessica O. Matthews, Jovian Zayne, Julee Wilson, Justina Omokhua, Kahlana Barfield Brown, Keah Brown, Kimberly Blackwell, Latham Thomas, Lauren Wesley Wilson, Lindsay Peoples Wagner, Luvvie Ajayi Jones, Melina Abdullah, Miatta Johnson, Monique Melton, Myleik Teele, Naima Cochrane, Nikki Ogunnaike, Nimotalai Ganiyu, Opal Tometi, Rachel Cargle, Seun Adigun, Stephanie Thomas, Stephanie Young, Tai Beauchamp, Tarana Burke, Thasunda Brown Duckett, Tiffany Aliche, Yaba Blay, Yvette Noel Schure
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White women: Abby Wambach, Ali Krieger, Arianna Huffington, Ashley Graham, Ashley Judd, Ashlyn Harris, Barb Schmidt, Brandi Carlile, Brené Brown, Brie Larson, Busy Philipps, Cameron Esposito, Chelsea Handler, Cheryl Strayed, Chrissy Metz, Debra Messing, Diane von Furstenberg, Elizabeth Gilbert, Esther Perel, Glennon Doyle, Gwyneth Paltrow, Hilary Swank, Jen Hatmaker, Jenny Mollen, Jessica Seinfeld, Julia Roberts, Julianne Hough, Kathryn Budig, Katie Couric, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Kourtney Kardashian, Liz Plank, Mandy Moore, Megan Rapinoe, Melissa Urban, Michelle Monaghan, Nina Tame, Sara Bareilles, Sarah McBride, Sarah Paulson, Sarah Sophie Flicker, Seane Corn, Selma Blair, Sophia Bush, Stacey Bendet, Sue Bird


theroot--2020-06-09--Momma, What Happens When You Make It? Yvonne Orji on Her Comedy Special and Friendships After Succes

Momma, What Happens When You Make It? Yvonne Orji on Her Comedy Special and Friendships After Success

Yvonne Orji is not Molly , y ’ all .
She just plays her on TV ( on HBO ’ s Insecure , in fact ) .
But , there ’ s a part of her that can relate to Molly and Issa Dee ’ s devolving friendship .
Writer ’ s Note : There are spoilers from Insecure Ep .
409 included in this article .
With the super success of Insecure , her podcast ( with Luvvie Ajayi ) and her upcoming book , Orji is on a roll .
Now , after years of working in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ landed the coveted sweet spot—a whole comedy special .
A “ whole ” her ?
!
Yes .
On the night of June 6 , Yvonne Orji : Momma , I Made It !
debuted on HBO .
The breakdown of the comedy special , via HBO : So , I recently hopped on a phone call with Orji to discuss how exactly she got bit by the comedy bug , how she relates to Molly , the difficult process of Africans and black Americans coming together on common ground , and whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
If you watched the penultimate episode of Insecure ’ s fourth season , you know that Issa and Molly have realized they may have outgrown each other and accordingly parted ways .
While I conducted this interview prior to this episode ’ s airing ( and prior to seeing it myself ) , Orji ’ s words ring even truer with hindsight .
It may be painful to reconcile with , but we ’ ve been watching Issa and Molly slowly grow apart throughout several seasons and we ’ re finally here—realizing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ different points in their lives .
“ Once you get to a certain level , yo , one of the hardest [ things has been ] losing friends , ” Orji mused .
“ Friends who don ’ t understand the new level you ’ re at or friends who will put their issues on you and you ’ re like , how did we get here ?
Nobody is actually supposed to be here !
I think I pulled from that [ to portray Molly and her friendship breakup with Issa ] @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strength of Issa and Molly ’ s friendship , too , because [ there ’ s the ] hope that , hopefully , we ’ ll get it together .
The people you love the most , hurt you the most and make you have such a visceral reaction because you love them the most.
” Speaking of getting to a certain level , I ’ m always fascinated by how comedians know exactly when they have that comedic gift .
Comedians are naturally very observant and are able to transform even the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I didn ’ t know I had the gift until the first time I did comedy , ” Orji confirmed .
After a real-life back-and-forth with Jesus , she decided to take the leap of faith onto that terrifying spotlit stage .
“ [ I sat down and thought about ] , what ’ s funny about being Nigerian-American because , at the time , it was a very specific event that I was performing at , ” Orji recalled .
“ But , what ’ s funny is that is what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s this dual lens and duality of identity that I have [ and I realized ] that ’ s actually what makes me interesting.
” Since her special is very much interspersed with the smell of Jollof and the boastful energy of # NaijaNoDeyCarryLast , I had to ask the tough questions with regard to the ongoing tensions between Nigerians/Nigerian-Americans and black Americans .
Whether it ’ s years-long miscommunication , ignorance , pride , hurt , frustration and more , there are many strong emotions I ’ d be remiss @ @ @ @ @ @ @ war ” on social media , I often find myself watching the cyclical , unproductive arguments and the shambles it leaves behind , every time .
Will we ever reach a middle ground ?
Even speaking from my experience , I grew up feeling a tug of longing for an origin story and a place to ultimately call home .
However , even as I gained more knowledge , I still maintained curiosity for where my people originated from , pre-chattel slavery ( the cruel irony that we have to pay for those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nevertheless , I ’ ve grown to respect and admire the very culture black Americans have established right there .
As we ’ ve seen time and time again , the way we talk , cook , dress , move and more—highly influences other cultures .
“ I think it requires both people .
[ ... ] There needs to be an understanding on all continents , ” Orji noted .
“ Slavery was horrible .
I think we should just put a period there .
There ’ s no confusion .
Slavery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ African Americans , period .
And like , [ for ] anybody to argue that , we got beef .
The end .
Though not in the same way colonialism has ruined Africa in so many ways .
You mean to tell me that , in countries of Africa where you find the most oil , the most gold , the most like rubber , everything ... we are still considered third world ?
” Orji went on to talk about the fact that the same stereotypical images of black America that are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are also broadcast overseas .
As such , it creates an institutionalized disconnect , causing African parents to instill a dissociation in their children once they do immigrate to the U.S. “ Let ’ s appreciate our differences and make our differences be the things that divide us , ” Orji concluded .
“ I think once you can have that conversation , be real about it , not be selfish and not be so quick-tempered [ with each other ] .
That ’ s exactly what colonialism and slavery was trying to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bit to unpack ... and unpack again .
Lastly , as someone who has attended many parties and functions where Orji was a guest , I can attest that she ’ s arguably the best hype woman in Hollywood right now .
One schtick she ’ s well-known for is impersonating DMX , so I had to ask her whether or not she ’ d met him .
“ I went to a DMX concert in 2014 and he sang ‘ Happy Birthday ’ to me , since [ I was in ] @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I was like , ‘ It ’ s my birthday !
’ and I have a video of him singing ‘ Happy Birthday.
’ My friends clowned me like , ‘ You ’ re going to a DMX concert in 2014 , is it 2008 ?
!
’ But , DMX does not know me , he does not know who I am ...
I don ’ t even know if he knows I exist .
But , mark my words , we are going to put out a gospel compilation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ read the New Testament together .
There ’ s going to be some collaboration !
” You can currently stream Yvonne Orji : Momma , I Made It !
on HBO Max , HBO Now , HBO Go , HBO On Demand and its partners ’ streaming platforms .
This interview has been edited and condensed .

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

Yvonne Orji is not Molly, y’all. She just plays her on TV (on HBO’s Insecure, in fact). But, there’s a part of her that can relate to Molly and Issa Dee’s devolving friendship.
Writer’s Note: There are spoilers from Insecure Ep. 409 included in this article.
Advertisement
With the super success of Insecure, her podcast (with Luvvie Ajayi) and her upcoming book, Orji is on a roll. Now, after years of working in the comedy scene, the 36-year-old entertainer has landed the coveted sweet spot—a whole comedy special. A “whole” her?! Yes. On the night of June 6, Yvonne Orji: Momma, I Made It! debuted on HBO.
The breakdown of the comedy special, via HBO:
Interspersed with vibrant, personal footage shot in Nigeria, Yvonne’s native home, during a milestone trip in early January, Yvonne Orji: Momma, I Made It! takes an intimate, hilarious look at what being Nigerian-American means to Yvonne—from her international haggling addiction and having her phone tapped by her parents as a kid, to the fine line between cursing people out and putting curses on them. The special was filmed before a live audience at the Howard Theatre in Washington, D.C.
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So, I recently hopped on a phone call with Orji to discuss how exactly she got bit by the comedy bug, how she relates to Molly, the difficult process of Africans and black Americans coming together on common ground, and whether or not she’s met DMX.
If you watched the penultimate episode of Insecure’s fourth season, you know that Issa and Molly have realized they may have outgrown each other and accordingly parted ways. While I conducted this interview prior to this episode’s airing (and prior to seeing it myself), Orji’s words ring even truer with hindsight. It may be painful to reconcile with, but we’ve been watching Issa and Molly slowly grow apart throughout several seasons and we’re finally here—realizing that they’re at two totally different points in their lives.
Advertisement
“Once you get to a certain level, yo, one of the hardest [things has been] losing friends,” Orji mused. “Friends who don’t understand the new level you’re at or friends who will put their issues on you and you’re like, how did we get here? Nobody is actually supposed to be here! I think I pulled from that [to portray Molly and her friendship breakup with Issa]. But I also pulled from the strength of Issa and Molly’s friendship, too, because [there’s the] hope that, hopefully, we’ll get it together. The people you love the most, hurt you the most and make you have such a visceral reaction because you love them the most.”
Speaking of getting to a certain level, I’m always fascinated by how comedians know exactly when they have that comedic gift. Comedians are naturally very observant and are able to transform even the most mundane occurrence into something hilarious.
Advertisement
“I didn’t know I had the gift until the first time I did comedy,” Orji confirmed. After a real-life back-and-forth with Jesus, she decided to take the leap of faith onto that terrifying spotlit stage.
Advertisement
“[I sat down and thought about], what’s funny about being Nigerian-American because, at the time, it was a very specific event that I was performing at,” Orji recalled. “But, what’s funny is that is what kind of set off my brand. It’s this dual lens and duality of identity that I have [and I realized] that’s actually what makes me interesting.”
Since her special is very much interspersed with the smell of Jollof and the boastful energy of #NaijaNoDeyCarryLast, I had to ask the tough questions with regard to the ongoing tensions between Nigerians/Nigerian-Americans and black Americans. Whether it’s years-long miscommunication, ignorance, pride, hurt, frustration and more, there are many strong emotions I’d be remiss to ignore. Dubbed the “diaspora war” on social media, I often find myself watching the cyclical, unproductive arguments and the shambles it leaves behind, every time. Will we ever reach a middle ground?
Advertisement
Even speaking from my experience, I grew up feeling a tug of longing for an origin story and a place to ultimately call home. However, even as I gained more knowledge, I still maintained curiosity for where my people originated from, pre-chattel slavery (the cruel irony that we have to pay for those DNA results is another conversation). Nevertheless, I’ve grown to respect and admire the very culture black Americans have established right there. As we’ve seen time and time again, the way we talk, cook, dress, move and more—highly influences other cultures.
“I think it requires both people. [...] There needs to be an understanding on all continents,” Orji noted. “Slavery was horrible. I think we should just put a period there. There’s no confusion. Slavery was a horrible thing that happened to African Americans, period. And like, [for] anybody to argue that, we got beef. The end. Though not in the same way colonialism has ruined Africa in so many ways. You mean to tell me that, in countries of Africa where you find the most oil, the most gold, the most like rubber, everything...we are still considered third world?”
Advertisement
Orji went on to talk about the fact that the same stereotypical images of black America that are fed to us right here in America are also broadcast overseas. As such, it creates an institutionalized disconnect, causing African parents to instill a dissociation in their children once they do immigrate to the U.S.
Advertisement
“Let’s appreciate our differences and make our differences be the things that divide us,” Orji concluded. “I think once you can have that conversation, be real about it, not be selfish and not be so quick-tempered [with each other]. That’s exactly what colonialism and slavery was trying to do.”
We certainly have quite a bit to unpack...and unpack again.
Lastly, as someone who has attended many parties and functions where Orji was a guest, I can attest that she’s arguably the best hype woman in Hollywood right now. One schtick she’s well-known for is impersonating DMX, so I had to ask her whether or not she’d met him.
Advertisement
“I went to a DMX concert in 2014 and he sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to me, since [I was in] the front row,” Orji recalled. “I was like, ‘It’s my birthday!’ and I have a video of him singing ‘Happy Birthday.’ My friends clowned me like, ‘You’re going to a DMX concert in 2014, is it 2008?!’ But, DMX does not know me, he does not know who I am...I don’t even know if he knows I exist. But, mark my words, we are going to put out a gospel compilation album! We’re going to read the New Testament together. There’s going to be some collaboration!”
Advertisement
You can currently stream Yvonne Orji: Momma, I Made It! on HBO Max, HBO Now, HBO Go, HBO On Demand and its partners’ streaming platforms.
This interview has been edited and condensed.


theroot--2020-06-09--Big Beauty Tuesday: We Don’t Know How Mahisha Dellinger Does It

We ’ d be the first to admit that it feels like a strange time to celebrate our regularly scheduled Big Beauty Tuesday .
While life does indeed go on , even amid protests and pandemic , right now , it should be anything but business as usual .
But this pivotal moment in American history also proving to be a time to expand our thinking , and The Glow Up knows few bigger thinkers than serial entrepreneur Mahisha Dellinger .
While we initially taped our conversation with Dellinger weeks ago , it ’ s surely no coincidence that as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , there is a renewed focus on black-owned beauty brands—accompanied by the rude if belated awakening ( for some ) that a few of our best-loved haircare faves aren ’ t black-owned , even after being black-founded .
As the creator of the popular and pioneering haircare brand Curls ( a fave here at TGU ) , Dellinger was an early success story in the now-booming black beauty space and has not only retained but continued to grow her empire since launching in 2002 .
In recent years , she ’ s helped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first as host and mentor on OWN ’ s Mind Your Business With Mahisha , and now with her podcast # SelfMade and informational appearances on IG Live—in fact , you can catch some of her entrepreneurial wisdom tonight , June 9 , at 7 pm CST .
And then , there ’ s Dellinger ’ s response to COVID-19 .
While attempting to pivot her business to help provide and donate much-needed PPE to those on the frontline of the epidemic , Rapid Med was born .
Created to stem the price-gouging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic , Rapid Med creates hand sanitizer and provides masks to help keep us affordably protected during this pandemic .
Add to that the development of a new nutraceutical while homeschooling three of her four children , and you ’ ve got one multitasking maven—and while we don ’ t know how she does it , she found some time to discuss it all with The Glow Up .

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

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Black News and Black Views with a Whole Lotta Attitude


theroot--2020-06-09--Save Time and Money With This $20 Meal Prep Kit

Do you even prep bro ?
But really , meal prep is a great way to introduce p ortion control into your routine and help maintain weight .
Studies have shown it is safe to eat food within seven days of prep although really five days is ideal so this six-piece glass kit is perfect .
And it ’ s 60 % off its original price .
The feature I think is the most clever is that the utensils snap-in and come with each container .
How many times have you made a great meal or had leftovers to bring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
I ’ ve done it so many times , this is such a great idea to avoid a headache after you made a lovely meal .
These containers have an airtight and watertight seal to help with freshness and keep your food ’ s aromas to itself .
The glass is easy to clean and can be used over and over .
This saves you both money and time , to very valuable t hings .
If you ’ ve read a few of our pieces on SideDeal before and you like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a $ 5 monthly fee to get free shipping on all of your orders no matter how many .
Otherwise , it ’ s a flat rate of $ 8 .

Sheilah Villari on Kinja Deals, shared by Quentyn Kennemer to The Root

Genicook 24-Piece Glass Food Containers with Lids | $29 | MorningSave
Do you even prep bro? But really, meal prep is a great way to introduce portion control into your routine and maintain weight. Studies have shown it is safe to eat food within seven days of prep, although really five days is ideal. This twelve-piece glass food container set is the perfect way to get started, and it’s 52% off its original price.
How many times have you made a great meal or had leftovers, and you can’t find matching lids? I’ve done it so many times, with twelve of them, surely this will never happen again. These containers have an airtight and watertight seal to help with freshness and keep your food’s aromas to themselves. The glass is easy to clean and can be used over and over. Pop them in the microwave, oven, freezer, and dishwasher; it’s all safe. You’ll get twelve rectangle, square, and round containers, each with its own lids. This saves you both money and time, two very valuable things.
If you’ve read a few of our pieces on MorningSave before and you like what you’ve seen, they offer a $5 monthly fee to get free shipping on all of your orders, no matter how many. Otherwise, it’s a flat rate of $8.
This story was originally published by Sheilah Villari in January 2021 and updated with new information on 5/03/2021.


theroot--2020-06-09--Officer Involved in Breonna Taylor Shooting Accused of Sexual Assault by 2 Women and Planting Drugs

Officer Involved in Breonna Taylor Shooting Accused of Sexual Assault by 2 Women and Planting Drugs on a Suspect

It ’ s been nearly three months since Breonna Taylor was fatally shot by three police officers during a botched no-knock search-warrant attempt on March 13 .
Now , sexual assault allegations by two women against one of the officers involved in Taylor ’ s death have surfaced .
People reports that on June 4 , two women posted to social media about their experiences with Officer Brett Hankison .
Both women claim their assaults began after they accepted Hankison ’ s offer to give them a ride home .
A woman identified on Facebook as Margo Borders claimed that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a bar with some friends ” and when she got ready to leave and started to call an Uber home , Hankison offered her a ride which she was comfortable accepting since he was someone she “ had interacted with on many occasions at bars in St. Matthews.
” “ He drove me home in uniform , in his marked car , invited himself into my apartment and sexually assaulted me while I was unconscious , ” she wrote .
“ I never reported him out of fear of retaliation .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he had the upper hand because he was a police officer .
Who do you call when the person who assaulted you is a police officer ?
Who were they going to believe ?
I knew it wouldn ’ t be me .
“ The second woman told a similar story except she allegedly didn ’ t make it out of Hankison ’ s car before inappropriate contact began .
A woman identified as Emily Terry posted her allegations on Instagram the same day Borders posted hers to Facebook .
“ In early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bar intoxicated , ” Terry wrote .
“ A police officer pulled up next to me and offered me a ride home .
I thought to myself , ‘ Wow .
That is so nice of him.
’ And willingly got in .
He began making sexual advances towards me ; rubbing my thigh , kissing my forehead , and calling me ‘ baby ’ .
Mortified , I did not move.
” Terry said that once they pulled up to her home , she got out of the car and “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apartment building .
She said her friend reported what happened to her the next day but “ nothing came from it.
” Both women noted that Hankison is one of the officers involved in Taylor ’ s death and said he has a history of “ corrupt behavior , ” including allegations of planting drugs on suspects in addition to multiple sexual assault allegations .
Apparently , they are referring to the case of Kendrick Wilson , who filed a federal lawsuit against Hankison in October 2019 alleging that Hankison repeatedly harassed him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thought Wilson “ for one reason or another , had to be engaging in illegal activity , and that he had to ensure his conviction , ” according to the Courier-Journal .
Wilson ’ s suit outlines three times in which Hankison arrested Wilson in 2016 and 2018 , all of which originated at bars where Hankison sometimes worked as off-duty security .
It also says that Wilson and Hankison have had various interactions outside of the arrests , “ including over a relationship with the same woman.
” The first arrest was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , when Hankinson arrested Wilson for assault .
The charges were dismissed in November .
The citation said Hankison recovered a plastic bag of suspected powder cocaine on the ground and arrested Wilson .
But the lawsuit , citing body camera footage , said Hankison located the bag “ on the sidewalk several feet away from where the altercation took place.
” “ He then jokes with other LMPD officers about ‘ planting dope ’ when Mr. Wilson expressed shock over the locating of these drugs , ” the suit says .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an unnamed civilian , who can be heard communicating with Mr. Wilson that he saw an officer drop the drugs on the sidewalk before he retrieved them , ” the suit says .
The next month , Hankison arrested Wilson a third time , this time at Sullivan ’ s Tap House .
Hankison wrote on the arrest citation that he located a “ large bag of powder cocaine ” that weighed “ an excess of 5 grams ” on Wilson .
A civilian video taken of the incident showed Hankison “ taunting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her that “ he was planting ‘ dope ’ again , ” according to the suit .
The charges were dropped two months later .
Wilson ’ s criminal case from his first arrest is still pending .
Hankison denies all of Wilson ’ s allegations .
Hankison , along with Sgt .
Jonathan Mattingly and Officer Myles Cosgrove , was placed on admini strative reassignment after the Taylor shooting and the investigation into her death is still ongoing .
To date , none of the officers have been criminally charged in Taylor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sexual assault claims , a spokesperson for the Louisville Metro Police Department told People via email , “ We encourage anyone with direct information about this situation to contact us and share that information with an investigator at ( 502 ) 574-7144 .
”

It’s been nearly three months since Breonna Taylor was fatally shot by three police officers during a botched no-knock search-warrant attempt on March 13. Now, sexual assault allegations by two women against one of the officers involved in Taylor’s death have surfaced.
People reports that on June 4, two women posted to social media about their experiences with Officer Brett Hankison. Both women claim their assaults began after they accepted Hankison’s offer to give them a ride home.
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A woman identified on Facebook as Margo Borders claimed that in April 2018 she “went out to a bar with some friends” and when she got ready to leave and started to call an Uber home, Hankison offered her a ride which she was comfortable accepting since he was someone she “had interacted with on many occasions at bars in St. Matthews.”
“He drove me home in uniform, in his marked car, invited himself into my apartment and sexually assaulted me while I was unconscious,” she wrote. “I never reported him out of fear of retaliation. I had no proof of what happened and he had the upper hand because he was a police officer. Who do you call when the person who assaulted you is a police officer? Who were they going to believe? I knew it wouldn’t be me. “
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The second woman told a similar story except she allegedly didn’t make it out of Hankison’s car before inappropriate contact began. A woman identified as Emily Terry posted her allegations on Instagram the same day Borders posted hers to Facebook.
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“In early fall, I began walking home from a bar intoxicated,” Terry wrote. “A police officer pulled up next to me and offered me a ride home. I thought to myself, ‘Wow. That is so nice of him.’ And willingly got in. He began making sexual advances towards me; rubbing my thigh, kissing my forehead, and calling me ‘baby’. Mortified, I did not move.”
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Terry said that once they pulled up to her home, she got out of the car and “ran to the back” of her apartment building. She said her friend reported what happened to her the next day but “nothing came from it.”
Both women noted that Hankison is one of the officers involved in Taylor’s death and said he has a history of “corrupt behavior,” including allegations of planting drugs on suspects in addition to multiple sexual assault allegations.
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Apparently, they are referring to the case of Kendrick Wilson, who filed a federal lawsuit against Hankison in October 2019 alleging that Hankison repeatedly harassed him and planted evidence on him because he thought Wilson “for one reason or another, had to be engaging in illegal activity, and that he had to ensure his conviction,” according to the Courier-Journal.
From the Courier-Journal:
Wilson’s suit outlines three times in which Hankison arrested Wilson in 2016 and 2018, all of which originated at bars where Hankison sometimes worked as off-duty security. It also says that Wilson and Hankison have had various interactions outside of the arrests, “including over a relationship with the same woman.” The first arrest was in 2016 at the Tin Roof bar, when Hankinson arrested Wilson for assault. The charges were dismissed in November. The citation said Hankison recovered a plastic bag of suspected powder cocaine on the ground and arrested Wilson. But the lawsuit, citing body camera footage, said Hankison located the bag “on the sidewalk several feet away from where the altercation took place.” “He then jokes with other LMPD officers about ‘planting dope’ when Mr. Wilson expressed shock over the locating of these drugs,” the suit says. “Also visible on the body camera is an unnamed civilian, who can be heard communicating with Mr. Wilson that he saw an officer drop the drugs on the sidewalk before he retrieved them,” the suit says. The next month, Hankison arrested Wilson a third time, this time at Sullivan’s Tap House. Hankison wrote on the arrest citation that he located a “large bag of powder cocaine” that weighed “an excess of 5 grams” on Wilson. A civilian video taken of the incident showed Hankison “taunting” Wilson’s girlfriend and telling her that “he was planting ‘dope’ again,” according to the suit. The charges were dropped two months later.
Wilson’s criminal case from his first arrest is still pending. Hankison denies all of Wilson’s allegations. Hankison, along with Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly and Officer Myles Cosgrove, was placed on admini strative reassignment after the Taylor shooting and the investigation into her death is still ongoing. To date, none of the officers have been criminally charged in Taylor’s death.
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As for the sexual assault claims, a spokesperson for the Louisville Metro Police Department told People via email, “We encourage anyone with direct information about this situation to contact us and share that information with an investigator at (502) 574-7144.”


theroot--2020-06-09--Trump Believes the 75-Year-Old Man Pushed to the Ground by Buffalo, NY, Cops May Have Been an Antifa

Trump Believes the 75-Year-Old Man Pushed to the Ground by Buffalo, NY, Cops May Have Been an Antifa Operative

By now , we ’ ve all seen the horrific footage of 75-year-old Martin Gugino being shoved to the ground by two Buffalo , N.Y. , police officers during a George Floyd protest Thursday .
If you haven ’ t seen it , let me describe it for you using my third eye .
A 75-year-old man ( or maybe a young man acting as if he ’ s 75 ) is seen walking ( or he could ’ ve been running at 75-year-old man speed ) to a group of officers all dressed to look like G.I .
Joes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regular man in a 75-year-old man bodysuit ) appears to ask the officers a question .
The officers , who are all in full-on Space Force regalia , can ’ t be bothered with old-man questions ( in truth , it could ’ ve been a dad-joke question—and everyone hates those ) so they push the old man ( or fake old man ) to the ground .
A pool of blood ( or fake blood ) can be seen gathering around the old man ’ s ( or young man pretending to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ head .
Police officers continue to walk by the old man as onlookers ( possibly paid protesters ) can be heard shouting , “ He ’ s bleeding.
” Since the footage was released and went viral , two officers—Robert McCabe , 32 , and Aaron Torgalski , 39—have been suspended without pay and have pleaded not guilty to the charges of second-degree assault , a felony , NBC News reports .
But now , the president of people who believe that mainstream media makes up lies on the White House because they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his own theory as to what happened on this day : Yes , you read this correctly : t he P resident of the United States is suggesting that Gugino is possibly an antifa operative who was working to block police radios , and I just ...
I don ’ t even know what to make of this .
In fact , I ’ ve typed several times that the P resident of the United States believes that a 75-year-old man who was shoved to the ground by police , with blood pouring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ secret agent for a political protest movement , and I don ’ t even know what to make of it .
It appears that Trump didn ’ t come up with this theory on his own , as it originated on a conservative blog The Conservative Treehouse , Axios reports .
According to Axios , One America News Network ( OANN ) , the network news channel that makes Fox News look like a legitimate news station , pushed the theory that Gugino was antifa without any actual evidence .
OANN “ reporter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a “ Russian national who also writes for Kremlin-owned Sputnik ” pushed the story that the 75-year-old man injured by police is secretly antifa .
You may remember OANN from their various White House stunts , which often seem to be pre-coordinated with the president .
One reporter from this distinguished news service attempted to defuse concerns about calling the novel coronavirus “ the China virus ” by asking the president if the term “ Chinese food ” is racist .
Apparently , this was supposed to be clever .
Notice in that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ name for anyone who might be interested in tuning in for more of this .
Symbiosis !
In some cases , the president can not help completely telegraphing that he ’ s instructed the OANN plant to ask him about something , because while he can do reality-show improv , the president is no good with fully scripted TV .
If you are confused as to why the president would push such a ridiculous theory , you aren ’ t alone .
Gugino ’ s lawyer also wondered why the chief of dangerous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thing :

By now, we’ve all seen the horrific footage of 75-year-old Martin Gugino being shoved to the ground by two Buffalo, N.Y., police officers during a George Floyd protest Thursday. If you haven’t seen it, let me describe it for you using my third eye.
A 75-year-old man (or maybe a young man acting as if he’s 75) is seen walking (or he could’ve been running at 75-year-old man speed) to a group of officers all dressed to look like G.I. Joes. The 75-year-old man (or a regular man in a 75-year-old man bodysuit) appears to ask the officers a question. The officers, who are all in full-on Space Force regalia, can’t be bothered with old-man questions (in truth, it could’ve been a dad-joke question—and everyone hates those) so they push the old man (or fake old man) to the ground. A pool of blood (or fake blood) can be seen gathering around the old man’s (or young man pretending to be an old man’s) head. Police officers continue to walk by the old man as onlookers (possibly paid protesters) can be heard shouting, “He’s bleeding.”
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Since the footage was released and went viral, two officers—Robert McCabe, 32, and Aaron Torgalski, 39—have been suspended without pay and have pleaded not guilty to the charges of second-degree assault, a felony, NBC News reports.
But now, the president of people who believe that mainstream media makes up lies on the White House because they don’t like the president has his own theory as to what happened on this day:
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Yes, you read this correctly: t he P resident of the United States is suggesting that Gugino is possibly an antifa operative who was working to block police radios, and I just...I don’t even know what to make of this. In fact, I’ve typed several times that the P resident of the United States believes that a 75-year-old man who was shoved to the ground by police, with blood pouring from his head, is really a secret agent for a political protest movement, and I don’t even know what to make of it.
It appears that Trump didn’t come up with this theory on his own, as it originated on a conservative blog The Conservative Treehouse, Axios reports. According to Axios, One America News Network (OANN), the network news channel that makes Fox News look like a legitimate news station, pushed the theory that Gugino was antifa without any actual evidence. OANN “reporter” Kristian Rouz, who is also a “Russian national who also writes for Kremlin-owned Sputnik” pushed the story that the 75-year-old man injured by police is secretly antifa.
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From Esquire:
You may remember OANN from their various White House stunts, which often seem to be pre-coordinated with the president. One reporter from this distinguished news service attempted to defuse concerns about calling the novel coronavirus “the China virus” by asking the president if the term “Chinese food” is racist. Apparently, this was supposed to be clever. Notice in that clip how Trump spells out the OANN name for anyone who might be interested in tuning in for more of this. Symbiosis! In some cases, the president cannot help completely telegraphing that he’s instructed the OANN plant to ask him about something, because while he can do reality-show improv, the president is no good with fully scripted TV.
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If you are confused as to why the president would push such a ridiculous theory, you aren’t alone. Gugino’s lawyer also wondered why the chief of dangerous white people would tweet out such a thing:


theroot--2020-06-09--Bonnie Pointer, One of the Founding Members of the Pointer Sisters, Dies at 69 From Cardiac Arrest

Patricia Eva “ Bonnie ” Pointer , one of the founding members of The Pointer Sisters has died .
She was 69 years old .
According to Variety , a representative confirmed that Bonnie ’ s cause of death was cardiac arrest .
“ It is with great sadness that I have to announce to the fans of the Pointer Sisters that my sister Bonnie died this morning , ” Bonnie ’ s sister Anita Pointer said in a statement on Monday .
“ Our family is devastated .
On behalf of my siblings and I and the entire Pointer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at this time.
” The Pointer Sisters ’ notable hits include “ I ’ m So Excited , ” “ Jump ( For My Love ) , ” “ Automatic , ” “ Fire , ” “ He ’ s So Shy , ” “ Slow Hand , ” “ Neutron Dance ” and more .
The legendary group has won three Grammys and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame .
Born July 11 , 1950 , Bonnie and her sisters sang at the West Oakland Church of God ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oakland , Calif .
Helping form The Pointer Sisters in 1969 ( they started as a trio with Bonnie , June and Anita—eldest sister June joined in 1972 ) , Bonnie remained with the group until 1977 , when she left to pursue a solo career .
Bonnie ’ s biggest solo hit was “ Heaven Must Have Sent You.
” She also recorded four solo albums .
In Ruth Pointer ’ s memoir , I ’ m So Excited : My Life as a Pointer , she talked about her sister .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ citing a desperate need to do something with her life .
She was wild , fierce , and not to be denied .
She hung out in Haight-Ashbury with the hippies , protested at Berkeley , wrote poetry with Angela Davis , and dated Huey Newton , co-founder of the Black Panther Party.
” Said Bonnie Pointer in a 2013 interview with Alan Mercer : I knew I didn ’ t want to work a regular 9 to 5 job .
I wanted to do something that I like to do .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ always done that since I was a little girl .
My mother always used to tell me to dance for her friends .
When my parents went to church , me and my sisters would get up on the coffee table and sing .
We would use a pie pan as a tambourine .
Then , when I was in high school someone told me I could sing .
I never thought I really could .
I would sing along with Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell .
So when they told me I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Performing for her was “ desperation .
I wanted out of the ghetto .
I wasn ’ t even in the ghetto really , but I still wanted out .
Bonnie is survived by her sisters Ruth and Anita Pointer and brothers Aaron and Fritz .
“ Bonnie was my best friend and we talked every day , ” Anita added .
“ We never had a fight in our life .
I already miss her and I will see her again one day .
”

Patricia Eva “Bonnie” Pointer, one of the founding members of The Pointer Sisters has died. She was 69 years old.
According to Variety, a representative confirmed that Bonnie’s cause of death was cardiac arrest.
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“It is with great sadness that I have to announce to the fans of the Pointer Sisters that my sister Bonnie died this morning,” Bonnie’s sister Anita Pointer said in a statement on Monday. “Our family is devastated. On behalf of my siblings and I and the entire Pointer family, we ask for your prayers at this time.”
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The Pointer Sisters’ notable hits include “I’m So Excited,” “Jump (For My Love),” “Automatic,” “Fire,” “He’s So Shy,” “Slow Hand,” “Neutron Dance” and more. The legendary group has won three Grammys and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Born July 11, 1950, Bonnie and her sisters sang at the West Oakland Church of God (their father’s church) in Oakland, Calif. Helping form The Pointer Sisters in 1969 (they started as a trio with Bonnie, June and Anita—eldest sister June joined in 1972), Bonnie remained with the group until 1977, when she left to pursue a solo career. Bonnie’s biggest solo hit was “Heaven Must Have Sent You.” She also recorded four solo albums.
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Variety adds:
In Ruth Pointer’s memoir, I’m So Excited: My Life as a Pointer, she talked about her sister. “Bonnie in particular was driven, citing a desperate need to do something with her life. She was wild, fierce, and not to be denied. She hung out in Haight-Ashbury with the hippies, protested at Berkeley, wrote poetry with Angela Davis, and dated Huey Newton, co-founder of the Black Panther Party.” Said Bonnie Pointer in a 2013 interview with Alan Mercer: I knew I didn’t want to work a regular 9 to 5 job. I wanted to do something that I like to do. I am an entertainer and I’ve always done that since I was a little girl. My mother always used to tell me to dance for her friends. When my parents went to church, me and my sisters would get up on the coffee table and sing. We would use a pie pan as a tambourine. Then, when I was in high school someone told me I could sing. I never thought I really could. I would sing along with Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell. So when they told me I could sing I started to believe them.” Performing for her was “desperation. I wanted out of the ghetto. I wasn’t even in the ghetto really, but I still wanted out.
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Bonnie is survived by her sisters Ruth and Anita Pointer and brothers Aaron and Fritz. “Bonnie was my best friend and we talked every day,” Anita added. “We never had a fight in our life. I already miss her and I will see her again one day.”
Rest in Power, Ms. Bonnie Pointer.


theroot--2020-06-09--Time to Channel Your Inner Grandma Because Pyrex Dishes Are 40% Off

Ok , so Pyrex bakeware is like 40 % off its original list price .
We all know what Pyrex @ @ @ @ @ know they don ’ t fucking break and last FOREVER .
This is the cheapest @ @ @ @ @ to your kitchen and honestly , you should go ahead and go for it .
@ @ @ @ @ 21 and comes with two easy-grab baking dishes as well as two storage containers along @ @ @ @ @ dishes are microwave and dishwasher-safe .
What are you waiting for ?
Buy it .
@ @ @ @ @ you made the purchase .

Ignacia on Kinja Deals, shared by Ignacia to The Root

Pyrex Glass Bakeware | $21 | Amazon
Ok, so Pyrex bakeware is like 40% off its original list price. We all know what Pyrex dishes are and we also know they don’t fucking break and last FOREVER. This is the cheapest investment you’ll make to your kitchen and honestly, you should go ahead and go for it. The 8-set is only $21 and comes with two easy-grab baking dishes as well as two storage containers along with their lids. Pyrex dishes are microwave and dishwasher-safe. What are you waiting for? Buy it. Your grams would be proud you made the purchase.