theroot--2020-09-25--Charles Barkley, Candace Owens Combine Forces to Be Loud and Wrong About Breonna Taylor, Defunding t

Charles Barkley, Candace Owens Combine Forces to Be Loud and Wrong About Breonna Taylor, Defunding the Police

Stop me if you ’ ve heard this before , but Charles Barkley said something stupid—again .
On Thursday , as hundreds of figures throughout the sports world shared their reactions to the Breonna Taylor verdict , the 11-time NBA All-Star offered his own opinion on TNT ’ s Inside the NBA .
“ I just feel bad that the young lady lost her life , ” he said .
“ But we do have to take into account that her boyfriend shot at the cops and shot a cop .
So like I say , even though I am @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I just don ’ t think we can put this in the same situation as George Floyd or Ahmaud Arbery.
” Mind you , Chuck is talking about an innocent Black woman who was killed in her sleep after police entered her apartment with a no-knock warrant .
He ’ s also inferring that unlike Floyd or Arbery , Breonna ’ s victimhood falls into question because her boyfriend , Kenneth Walker , fired at intruders who barged into his crib after midnight without announcing themselves .
So if the police weren ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ executed that warrant , then why in the hell did the city of Louisville just cut Breonna ’ s family a $ 12 million check ?
He then went on to question the purpose behind defunding the police .
“ I hear these fools on TV talking about defund the police and things like that .
We need police reform and prison reform and things like that because you know who ain ’ t gon na defund the cops ?
White neighborhoods and rich neighborhoods , ” Barkley said .
“ Who are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Busters when we have crime in our neighborhood ?
[ ... ] We need to stop the defund or abolish the police crap.
” The biggest problem with defunding the police is that far too many people argue against doing so without a ) educating themselves on why it ’ s even being said and b ) using basic human logic .
So to put this as succinctly possible , defunding the police doesn ’ t mean getting rid of the police entirely ; it means reducing police budgets and instead reallocating those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ improve public safety , such as youth services , public health , housing programs , education , etc .
So instead of relying on the police to solve every goddamn problem themselves , you instead focus on addressing mental illness , poverty , etc.
, directly by—wait for it—actually investing in communities .
In what realm of reality does this not make perfect fucking sense ?
To the surprise of no one , Barkley ’ s co-host , Shaquille O ’ Neal—a whole-ass deputy himself—co-signed his foolishness , as did the only Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Congratulations to @ SHAQ and Charles Barkley for having the courage to TELL THE TRUTH about # BreonnaTaylor on live TV , ” Her Ashiness tweeted .
“ It is rare for respected athletes to have the spine to buck the DISHONEST media narrative but the facts are the facts .
Try it Lebron !
” And I ’ m clearly not the only person who feels that way , as the 57-year-old became a trending topic on Twitter shortly after spewing his nonsense .
In a perfect world , Charles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these social issues that he so fervently speaks on , but I guess I ’ m asking for too much .

Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but Charles Barkley said something stupid—again.
On Thursday, as hundreds of figures throughout the sports world shared their reactions to the Breonna Taylor verdict, the 11-time NBA All-Star offered his own opinion on TNT’s Inside the NBA.
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“I just feel bad that the young lady lost her life,” he said. “But we do have to take into account that her boyfriend shot at the cops and shot a cop. So like I say, even though I am really sorry she lost her life, I just don’t think we can put this in the same situation as George Floyd or Ahmaud Arbery.”
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Mind you, Chuck is talking about an innocent Black woman who died in the hallway after being shot six times after police entered her apartment with a no-knock warrant. He’s also inferring that unlike Floyd or Arbery, Breonna’s victimhood falls into question because her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, fired at intruders who barged into his crib after midnight without announcing themselves (Editor’s note: Kentucky Attorney General David Cameron said in a press conference Wednesday that a single witness heard police officers announce themselves, but at least a dozen witnesses have said they did not hear police announ ce themselves. Walker has maintained he did not hear the police announce themselves. ) . So if the police weren’t in the wrong for how they executed that warrant, then why in the hell did the city of Louisville just cut Breonna’s family a $12 million check?
Chuck, you’re buggin’.
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He then went on to question the purpose behind defunding the police.
“I hear these fools on TV talking about defund the police and things like that. We need police reform and prison reform and things like that because you know who ain’t gonna defund the cops? White neighborhoods and rich neighborhoods,” Barkley said. “Who are black people supposed to call? Ghost Busters when we have crime in our neighborhood? [...] We need to stop the defund or abolish the police crap.”
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The biggest problem with defunding the police is that far too many people argue against doing so without a) educating themselves on why it’s even being said and b) using basic human logic. So to put this as succinctly possible, defunding the police doesn’t mean getting rid of the police entirely; it means reducing police budgets and instead reallocating those funds into various social programs that can improve public safety, such as youth services, public health, housing programs, education, etc. So instead of relying on the police to solve every goddamn problem themselves, you instead focus on addressing mental illness, poverty, etc., directly by—wait for it—actually investing in communities.
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In what realm of reality does this not make perfect fucking sense?
To the surprise of no one, Barkley’s co-host, Shaquille O’Neal—a whole-ass deputy himself—co-signed his foolishness, as did the only Black girl devoid of magic, Candace Owens.
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“Congratulations to @SHAQ and Charles Barkley for having the courage to TELL THE TRUTH about #BreonnaTaylor on live TV,” Her Ashiness tweeted. “It is rare for respected athletes to have the spine to buck the DISHONEST media narrative but the facts are the facts. Try it Lebron!”
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Again, Chuck—you’re buggin’.
And I’m clearly not the only person who feels that way, as the 57-year-old became a trending topic on Twitter shortly after spewing his nonsense.
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In a perfect world, Charles would actually read up on some of these social issues that he so fervently speaks on, but I guess I’m asking for too much.
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Correction, 9/26/20, 9:02 a.m.: An earlier version of this story misstated the location where Breonna Taylor died. She was killed while in the hallway of her home. Prior to the arrival of the police, she had been asleep but was awaken by the noise. The story has been updated.


theroot--2020-09-25--The Root's Clapback Mailbag: 10 Things I Love About White People

I know I ’ ve made fun of white people in the past but I hate being negative all the time .
So today ’ s Clapback mailbag is dedicated to all the things I truly admire about our Caucasian brethren .
Our first letter contains four things I love about people who stick their feet out of car windows and comes from someone who stumbled across an old article .
Black people who preach hatred against white people , as you do all day every day , are considered social justice activists and civil rights heroes and it only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who say anything mildly offensive about black people , like suggesting that not every problem and failure of black people is the result of white people and white racism , they have their lives ruined .
And your takeaway from this is that blacks must be braver than whites because you ’ re a typical nigger who can ’ t formulate any thoughts other than “ white = bad , black = good ” .
Also , why are countless numbers of Africans trying to move to America , Europe , Canada @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oppressive ?
No one ’ s stopping you from moving to Africa , right ?
I ’ m sure it would be just like the movie if there were no cavebeasts around , na ’ m saying muthafucka ?
And I can ’ t help but notice that blacks in South Africa had better living standards under apartheid than under the ANC .
10 .
When white people are offended : The first thing I love about white people is the Caucasianwide belief that Black people hate white people .
They said it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preached love .
They said it about Malcolm X , who preached self-reliance .
They said the same thing about the nonviolent resistance as they said about the Black Panthers .
No matter what Black people say ; no matter how we say it , white people can transform any position on anti-racism into something about anti-whiteness , which begs the question : If anything a Black person says about their own oppression is inherently offensive to white people , then why would anyone couch their speech in some Pollyanna-ish , benign form @ @ @ @ @ @ @ !
Why the fuck would anyone tiptoe around a racist ’ s feelings , anyway ?
What the fuck are they going to do , be more racist ?
No , my friend , Black people don ’ t hate white people .
They hate racism .
Wait ... are you trying to argue that Black people hate all white people because all white people are ... You said it , not me .
9 .
When white people are offensive : Whenever a mayosapien begins to explain why Black people are too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re about to say some foul shit .
I was just about to dig through a pile of old emails to illustrate this point when I realized this motherfucker defended “ White people who say anything mildly offensive about black people ” and then called me a “ typical nigger ” in the next sentence .
It doesn ’ t get any better than that .
8 .
When white people have the answers : I love when white people insist that they have the answers to racism because it always involves a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and never addresses the actual shit we have to get over .
It ’ s like bashing someone ’ s leg with a crowbar and asking : “ Why are Black people always talking about that time I broke their leg ?
Typical nigger—always demanding crutches.
” 7 .
When white people talk about Africa : I love every single version of “ Go back to Africa ” because white people really know a lot about Africa ... except for the fact that white people did the same shit over there .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actually stopped us from going .
It ’ s like bashing someone in the leg with a crowbar and asking : “ Why don ’ t you go back to Africa ?
” 6 .
When white people give financial advice : I absolutely love that white people think there ’ s some kind of huge profit in explaining the realities of white supremacy but white supremacy gives them no financial advantage .
Or , maybe they just keep forgetting to mail my race-baiting residuals .
Keith was big mad at Zack Linly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m not going to link to the article he was talking about because , honestly , it could have been anything Zack wrote .
5 .
When black people are the real racist .
Because it takes one to know one .
4 .
When white people know which came first , the racist chicken or the racist egg : The notion that talking about racism is what causes racism is one of my absolute favorite forms of whitesplaining because the book of Ginnuhsis in the King Linly version of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racism 1 In the beginning Jerome T ’ Challa G ’ od created the heaven and the earth .
2 And the earth was without form , and void like the inside of Donald Trump ’ s brain ; and darkness was upon the face of the deep .
And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters .
3 And God said , “ Let there be light : ” and there was not light because he had not paid the deposit for the light bill .
4 And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a light bill ?
” 4 And God saw the electric bill , and paid a small deposit and did not set up autopay because he don ’ t trust those motherfuckers at the power company like that .
5 And God called the light Day , and the darkness he called Night , and told the angels in Heaven they better not be running in and out his Pearly Gates running up his light bill .
And the evening and the morning were the first day .
6 And God said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the midst of the waters , and let it divide the waters .
7 But no one knew what a “ firmament ” was so he said : “ The sky , nigga !
” 9 And God said , Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place , and let the dry land appear : and it was so .
10 And God said , Let the earth bring forth grass , the herb yielding seed , and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind , whose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earth : and then there was watermelon and sweet potatoes .
11 And the evening and the morning were the second day .
12 And the earth brought forth grass , and herb yielding seed after his kind , and the tree yielding fruit , whose seed was in itself , after his kind : and God took some of the herbs , grass and seedlings , rolled them in a leaf and said : “ That ’ s it for today , fellas .
“ Y ’ all wan na hit this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the morning were the third day .
14 And God said , Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night ; and let them be for signs , and for seasons , and for days , and years : 15 And God made two great lights ; the greater light to rule the day , and the lesser light to rule the night : he made the stars also .
16 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day and over the night , and to divide the light from the darkness : and someone said : “ Remind me again , which one is the firmament ?
” And God said : “ Bring me some of the good herbs but this time , leave out the seedlings .
Y ’ all working my last nerve.
” 17 And the evening and the morning were the fourth day .
18 And God said , Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life , and fowl that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ open firmament of heaven .
19 And God created great whales , and every living creature that moveth , which the waters brought forth abundantly , after their kind , and every winged fowl after his kind .
20 And God blessed them , saying , Be fruitful , and multiply , and fill the waters in the seas , and let fowl multiply in the earth .
21 And someone said : “ Hey , God ... ” So God said : “ If you ask me about that damn firmament one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your ass.
” And someone said , “ Nah , I was just gon na ask if you had some more of that herb .
The one without the seedlings .
I ’ ll pay you for some.
” And God did give some of the seedlingless herb to his angels .
And as they sat under the moon and stars and partook in the herbs of the earth , the archangel asked : “ Hey ... Do you ever think someone will go to the moon up there in the firmament.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Ain ’ t shit up there.
” And the angel said “ Yeah ... You ’ re right .
Also ... What does ‘ smite ’ mean ?
” 22 And the evening and the morning were the fifth day .
23 And God said , Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind , cattle , and creeping thing , and beast of the earth after his kind : and it was so .
And God made the beast of the earth after his kind , and cattle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that creepeth upon the earth after his kind : and God saw that it was good .
24 And an angel said : “ Hey God ... ” And God said : “ We can ’ t smoke up all the herb , bruh.
” And the angel said : “ No worries , I was just gon na ask if you have ever thought about what those winged fowls and that cattle would taste like if we put it on the barbecue grill ?
” God tried it .
But there were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who ’ s going to eat all this barbecue ?
” 25 So God said , Let us make man in our image , after our likeness : and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea , and over the fowl of the air , and over the cattle , and over all the earth , and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth .
26 So God created man in his own image , in the image of God created he him ; male and female created @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some of the fish in the grease .
27 And God said , Behold , I have given you every herb bearing seed , which is upon the face of all the earth , and every tree , in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed ; to you it shall be for meat .
28 And to every beast of the earth , and to every fowl of the air , and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth , wherein there is life , I have given @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was so .
29 And God saw every thing that he had made , and , behold , it was very good .
And God , who was still eating on a pork chop said : “ I ’ m glad there are no white people here.
” And an angel said : “ What ’ s white people ?
” And God said : “ It ’ s kinda like the man I already made , but kinda racist.
” 30And the angel asked : “ What does racist mean ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ up .
I ’ ll show you ... ” “ But first , we ’ re gon na need more herbs.
” And that ’ s why talking about racism created racism .
See ?
It ’ s in the Bible .
Finally , some people objected to our article about the Virginia Military Institute and used three of our favorite white things to explain their anger : I just want to let you know that your statement that “ Black people built America ” is a clear sign that you may be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at what sub-Saharan Africa looked like before white explorers made contact with the primitive Black tribes that inhabited that region .
They were living a Stone-Age existence without the invention of the wheel .
That is probably as a result of the average IQ of 75 that pure Blacks have .
The best thing that ever happened to the progeny of Black slaves is that their ancestors were brought to the US .
Otherwise , Blacks would still be living a primitive existence to this day .
When is it that primitive , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ invent the iPhone , airplanes , computers , etc.
?
You should be thankful that you are in a position to enjoy the fruits of the brilliance of non-Blacks .
You are just along for the ride and you think that you “ built America.
” You didn ’ t and you can ’ t build anything .
You sure do know how to tear down and to demand hand-outs , though .
Blacks are experts at demanding other peoples ’ property .
Now sit down and shut up and continue to let @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3 .
When white people are smarter than black people : White people are so smart that they needed to steal labor from Africans , firearms from Asians and every bit of knowledge , art and technology from other cultures to build the superior civilizations that they created through theft , murder and mayhem .
And everyone else is savage .
2 .
When white people deny the existence of racism : Apparently , all of the black students at VMI are telling the same lie .
And , somehow , they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , faculty and former cadets to paint VMI as a racist institution .
Even though these people have nothing to gain from this narrative , they all mysteriously manufactured similar stories independent of each other just so they could embarrass a school that they admit that they still love and only want to make better .
And they devised this elaborate hoax despite the fact that exposing the racism at VMI will cause them more headaches than it will benefit them .
The only other possibility is that the VMI ’ s white @ @ @ @ @ @ @ N-word , historically excluded non-whites and worship monuments to white supremacy , are lying to protect white supremacy .
Which one seems more true ?
1 .
When white people don ’ t believe the shit that actually happened : This is my absolute favorite thing about white people .
See , white people work harder than everyone else .
They have better morals and of course , they are smarter than every non-white person on the planet .
But nothing pleases me more than how they have deluded themselves into believing a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is kinda sorta based on an almost true story .
Take Greg , for instance .
He suggested that I should “ take a look at what sub-Saharan Africa looked like before white explorers made contact with the primitive Black tribes that inhabited that region , ” so I did .
See , I knew that sub-Saharan African explorers actually made contact with white people when white people were still trying to figure out how science works .
When Plato and Socrates learned “ Greek Philosophy ” ; When Archimedes calculated Pi after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the “ Father of Geometry after Africans taught it to him ; studied in Alexandria and Egypt , white people like to think that all that information they took from the cities that were the world capitals of knowledge somehow rained out of the sky and landed in northern Africa .
Who do you think brought science and engineering there ?
Who do you think built the pyramids , reversed the flow of the Nile and built all that shit in Egypt that was just replicas of shit that already existed all over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mansa Musa crashed the Western European economy if they were so backward and poor ?
Why did Jesus go there and come back as a savior ?
Why were sub-Saharan Africans inoculating their people from diseases centuries years before white people ?
Or , take Daniel and Shari .
Daniel claims that “ no one on the Confederate side was charges with treason ” so I replied to Daniel with an actual document showing that Robert E. Lee had to be pardoned for his treasonous acts against their country .
In fact , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restored until 1975—and Jefferson Davis was arrested and charged with treason but the trial never happened because Andrew Jackson issued a blanket pardon for Confederates .
I received a shitload of letters explaining how VMI and the Confederacy were n ’ t racist but perhaps the most revealing moment came when Managing Editor Genetta Adams asked why VMI ’ s Director of Communications and Marketing signed the school ’ s response to our request for comment this way : She wanted to know if the “ Virginia Militia ” was a newspaper or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Virginia law actually mandates an “ unorganized militia ” led by the governor , composed of the students and administrators at VMI .
In 1788 , at Virginia ’ s state Constitutional Convention , George Mason and Virginia and Gov .
Patrick Henry refused to ratify the US Constitution because they were afraid that black people would take up arms .
So , to convince the slaveowners in one of the most important colonies to become part of the United States , Madison agreed to change the whole document by sliding in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relic of white supremacy and white people ’ s fear of a Black uprising .
It still remains the shortest Constitutional amendment : And that ’ s why every student and administrator at VMI is technically a member of a slave patrol .

I know I’ve made fun of white people in the past but I hate being negative all the time. So today’s Clapback mailbag is dedicated to all the things I truly admire about our Caucasian brethren.
Alexa, play “My Favorite Things.”
Our first letter contains four things I love about people who stick their feet out of car windows and comes from someone who stumbled across an old article.
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From: David
To: Michael Harriot Black people who preach hatred against white people, as you do all day every day, are considered social justice activists and civil rights heroes and it only leads to more career opportunities. White people who say anything mildly offensive about black people, like suggesting that not every problem and failure of black people is the result of white people and white racism, they have their lives ruined. And your takeaway from this is that blacks must be braver than whites because you’re a typical nigger who can’t formulate any thoughts other than “white = bad, black = good”. Also, why are countless numbers of Africans trying to move to America, Europe, Canada, Australia if we’re so oppressive? No one’s stopping you from moving to Africa, right? I’m sure it would be just like the movie if there were no cavebeasts around, na’m saying muthafucka? And I can’t help but notice that blacks in South Africa had better living standards under apartheid than under the ANC.
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10. When white people are offended: The first thing I love about white people is the Caucasianwide belief that Black people hate white people. They said it about Martin Luther King Jr., who preached love. They said it about Malcolm X, who preached self-reliance. They said the same thing about the nonviolent resistance as they said about the Black Panthers. No matter what Black people say; no matter how we say it, white people can transform any position on anti-racism into something about anti-whiteness, which begs the question:
Why worry about offending white people?
If anything a Black person says about their own oppression is inherently offensive to white people, then why would anyone couch their speech in some Pollyanna-ish, benign form of rhetoric? Make those motherfuckers mad! Why the fuck would anyone tiptoe around a racist’s feelings, anyway? What the fuck are they going to do, be more racist?
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No, my friend, Black people don’t hate white people. They hate racism.
Wait... are you trying to argue that Black people hate all white people because all white people are...
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You said it, not me.
9. When white people are offensive: Whenever a mayosapien begins to explain why Black people are too sensitive, you can bet they’re about to say some foul shit. I was just about to dig through a pile of old emails to illustrate this point when I realized this motherfucker defended “White people who say anything mildly offensive about black people” and then called me a “typical nigger” in the next sentence.
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It doesn’t get any better than that.
8. When white people have the answers: I love when white people insist that they have the answers to racism because it always involves a variation of “get over it” and never addresses the actual shit we have to get over. It’s like bashing someone’s leg with a crowbar and asking:
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“Why are Black people always talking about that time I broke their leg? Typical nigger—always demanding crutches.”
7. When white people talk about Africa: I love every single version of “Go back to Africa” because white people really know a lot about Africa... except for the fact that white people did the same shit over there. I wonder if he knows that white people actually stopped us from going. It’s like bashing someone in the leg with a crowbar and asking:
“Why don’t you go back to Africa?”
White people like crowbars.
6. When white people give financial advice: I absolutely love that white people think there’s some kind of huge profit in explaining the realities of white supremacy but white supremacy gives them no financial advantage.
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Or, maybe they just keep forgetting to mail my race-baiting residuals.
Keith was big mad at Zack Linly for writing something about white people. I’m not going to link to the article he was talking about because, honestly, it could have been anything Zack wrote.
From: Keith Johnson
To: Zack Linly I read your article— “caucasity”.... really? Bigot. It’s people like you writing crap like that which fans the flames of racial divide, lawlessness, retardedness and cowardice. Nobody thinks police are perfect and there are plenty of black officers that might have your smug attitude but your portrayal is nothing but a fucking lie. You are the biggest here.
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5. When black people are the real racist. Because it takes one to know one.
4. When white people know which came first, the racist chicken or the racist egg: The notion that talking about racism is what causes racism is one of my absolute favorite forms of whitesplaining because the book of Ginnuhsis in the King Linly version of the Bible actually tells the origin story of racism
1 In the beginning Jerome T’Challa G’od created the heaven and the earth. 2 And the earth was without form, and void like the inside of Donald Trump’s brain; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. 3 And God said, “Let there be light:” and there was not light because he had not paid the deposit for the light bill. 4 And God said: “What the fuck is a light bill?” 4 And God saw the electric bill, and paid a small deposit and did not set up autopay because he don’t trust those motherfuckers at the power company like that. 5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night, and told the angels in Heaven they better not be running in and out his Pearly Gates running up his light bill. And the evening and the morning were the first day. 6 And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters. 7 But no one knew what a “firmament” was so he said: “The sky, nigga!” 9 And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so. 10 And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and then there was watermelon and sweet potatoes. 11 And the evening and the morning were the second day. 12 And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God took some of the herbs, grass and seedlings, rolled them in a leaf and said: “That’s it for today, fellas. “Y’all wanna hit this?” 13 And the evening and the morning were the third day. 14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: 15
And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. 16 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and someone said: “Remind me again, which one is the firmament?” And God said: “Bring me some of the good herbs but this time, leave out the seedlings. Y’all working my last nerve.” 17 And the evening and the morning were the fourth day. 18 And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. 19 And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind. 20 And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth. 21 And someone said: “Hey, God...” So God said: “If you ask me about that damn firmament one more time, I’mma smite your ass.” And someone said, “Nah, I was just gonna ask if you had some more of that herb. The one without the seedlings. I’ll pay you for some.” And God did give some of the seedlingless herb to his angels. And as they sat under the moon and stars and partook in the herbs of the earth, the archangel asked: “Hey... Do you ever think someone will go to the moon up there in the firmament.” And God says: “Probably not. Ain’t shit up there.” And the angel said “Yeah... You’re right. Also...What does ‘smite’ mean?” 22 And the evening and the morning were the fifth day. 23 And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so. And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good. 24 And an angel said: “Hey God...” And God said: “We can’t smoke up all the herb, bruh.” And the angel said: “No worries, I was just gonna ask if you have ever thought about what those winged fowls and that cattle would taste like if we put it on the barbecue grill?” God tried it. But there were leftovers. And God said: “who’s going to eat all this barbecue?” 25 So God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 26 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And he even put some of the fish in the grease. 27 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. 28 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so. 29 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And God, who was still eating on a pork chop said: “I’m glad there are no white people here.” And an angel said: “What’s white people?” And God said: “It’s kinda like the man I already made, but kinda racist.” 30And the angel asked: “What does racist mean?” And God said: “Hold up. I’ll show you...” “But first, we’re gonna need more herbs.”
And that’s why talking about racism created racism.
See? It’s in the Bible.
Finally, some people objected to our article about the Virginia Military Institute and used three of our favorite white things to explain their anger:
Name: Daniel M Herold
Subject: Your recent article reference VMI Sir, I began to read your article about VMI and I had to stop. I stopped because of your blazing ignorance. Apparently you either don’t know or don’t care that no one on the Confederate side was charges with treason for the very simple reason that there was not an oath taken to pledge allegiance to the U.S... The oath that were taken prior to the civil war were to the states a person resided in. Hence, Jefferson Davis, a creep of the 1st order was held for a long period of time and released with no charges. Perhaps you could do more and better research before you make allegations ? Thank you, Dan Herold
From: Greg Wright
To: Michael Harriot
Subject: “Black people built America” I just want to let you know that your statement that “Black people built America” is a clear sign that you may be mentally ill. You should take a look at what sub-Saharan Africa looked like before white explorers made contact with the primitive Black tribes that inhabited that region. They were living a Stone-Age existence without the invention of the wheel. That is probably as a result of the average IQ of 75 that pure Blacks have. The best thing that ever happened to the progeny of Black slaves is that their ancestors were brought to the US. Otherwise, Blacks would still be living a primitive existence to this day. When is it that primitive, 75 IQ African Blacks were going to invent the iPhone, airplanes, computers, etc.? You should be thankful that you are in a position to enjoy the fruits of the brilliance of non-Blacks. You are just along for the ride and you think that you “built America.” You didn’t and you can’t build anything. You sure do know how to tear down and to demand hand-outs, though. Blacks are experts at demanding other peoples’ property. Now sit down and shut up and continue to let White people feed and clothe you.
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3. When white people are smarter than black people: White people are so smart that they needed to steal labor from Africans, firearms from Asians and every bit of knowledge, art and technology from other cultures to build the superior civilizations that they created through theft, murder and mayhem.
And everyone else is savage.
2. When white people deny the existence of racism: Apparently, all of the black students at VMI are telling the same lie. And, somehow, they are working with all of the black alumni, faculty and former cadets to paint VMI as a racist institution.
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Even though these people have nothing to gain from this narrative, they all mysteriously manufactured similar stories independent of each other just so they could embarrass a school that they admit that they still love and only want to make better. And they devised this elaborate hoax despite the fact that exposing the racism at VMI will cause them more headaches than it will benefit them.
The only other possibility is that the VMI’s white stakeholders, who haphazardly throw around the N-word, historically excluded non-whites and worship monuments to white supremacy, are lying to protect white supremacy.
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Which one seems more true?
1. When white people don’t believe the shit that actually happened: This is my absolute favorite thing about white people.
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See, white people work harder than everyone else. They have better morals and of course, they are smarter than every non-white person on the planet. But nothing pleases me more than how they have deluded themselves into believing a Caucasian-friendly, whitewashed version of history that is kinda sorta based on an almost true story.
Take Greg, for instance. He suggested that I should “take a look at what sub-Saharan Africa looked like before white explorers made contact with the primitive Black tribes that inhabited that region,” so I did.
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Well, kinda.
See, I knew that sub-Saharan African explorers actually made contact with white people when white people were still trying to figure out how science works. When Plato and Socrates learned “Greek Philosophy”; When Archimedes calculated Pi after Africans taught him; when Euclid became the “Father of Geometry after Africans taught it to him; studied in Alexandria and Egypt, white people like to think that all that information they took from the cities that were the world capitals of knowledge somehow rained out of the sky and landed in northern Africa. Who do you think brought science and engineering there? Who do you think built the pyramids, reversed the flow of the Nile and built all that shit in Egypt that was just replicas of shit that already existed all over sub-Saharan Africa?
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Why do you think Mansa Musa crashed the Western European economy if they were so backward and poor? Why did Jesus go there and come back as a savior? Why were sub-Saharan Africans inoculating their people from diseases centuries years before white people?
Or, take Daniel and Shari.
Daniel claims that “no one on the Confederate side was charges with treason” so I replied to Daniel with an actual document showing that Robert E. Lee had to be pardoned for his treasonous acts against their country. In fact, Lee’s citizenship wasn’t restored until 1975—and Jefferson Davis was arrested and charged with treason but the trial never happened because Andrew Jackson issued a blanket pardon for Confederates.
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I received a shitload of letters explaining how VMI and the Confederacy were n’t racist but perhaps the most revealing moment came when Managing Editor Genetta Adams asked why VMI’s Director of Communications and Marketing signed the school’s response to our request for comment this way:
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She wanted to know if the “Virginia Militia” was a newspaper or something. So I informed her that Virginia law actually mandates an “unorganized militia” led by the governor, composed of the students and administrators at VMI.
In 1788, at Virginia’s state Constitutional Convention, George Mason and Virginia and Gov. Patrick Henry refused to ratify the US Constitution because they were afraid that black people would take up arms.
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The NY Times explains:
Mason and Henry raised many arguments against ratification. One concerned the militia. To appreciate their arguments, we must bear three things in mind about the time and place of the debate. First, the majority population in eastern Virginia were enslaved blacks. Whites lived in constant fear of slave insurrection... Second, the principal instrument for slave control was the militia. In the main, the South had refused to commit her militias to the war against the British during the American Revolution out of fear that, if the militias departed, slaves would revolt... Third, previously the militias were creatures of state governments. The new Constitution changed that... During the debate in Richmond, Mason and Henry suggested that the new Constitution gave Congress the power to subvert the slave system by disarming the militias. “Slavery is detested,” Henry reminded the audience. “The majority of Congress is to the North, and the slaves are to the South,” he said.
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So, to convince the slaveowners in one of the most important colonies to become part of the United States, Madison agreed to change the whole document by sliding in a single sentence. It is just a relic of white supremacy and white people’s fear of a Black uprising. It still remains the shortest Constitutional amendment:
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
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And that’s why every student and administrator at VMI is technically a member of a slave patrol.
White people don’t know shit.


theroot--2020-09-25--Auntie Unfiltered: Can White Women Be Aunties, Too?

This week on Auntie Unfiltered , I go into the mailbag and answer a question from a white woman who wants to know whether white women can be “ aunties ” as well .
The short answer ?
Sure .
If you are an actual aunt to nieces and nephews and your nieces and nephews actually call you “ Auntie ” - whatever , then you are an auntie to those children .
Where it gets into tricky territory is when women who are not black try to adopt the colloquialism that Black people use to show reverence and respect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them .
I wasn ’ t sure if the email was trolling me or not , but I gave it the benefit of the doubt and answered honestly .
As always , I want to hear from you .
Your messages are so encouraging , so thank you to everyone who has reached out so far .
If you have questions , comments , or concerns , or if you have a topic you think I should address , please hit me up at AuntieSubmissions @ theroot.com and I ’ ll see you @ @ @

We may earn a commission from links on this page.
Black News and Black Views with a Whole Lotta Attitude


theroot--2020-09-25--9 Songs That Are Basically Beyoncé Songs...For Dudes

Even if you are not a fan of Beyoncé—I don ’ t understand how this is a real thing , but do yo ’ thang—you have to admit that Mrs. Knowles-Carter has some jams .
If she never makes another record , she will always have a wedding , revival and club jam in “ Single Ladies , ” and her catalog is full of dance floor bangers that have turned dance floors into “ yassss ” echo chambers .
She has a song for every occasion really .
Let ’ s say you are utilizing a free version of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for an upgrade .
I mean , is there a better time for customer service to call and play “ Upgrade U ” over the phone ?
I think not .
And don ’ t even get me started on the self-esteem jams “ Me , Myself and I ” ( and Peggy ! )
and “ Irreplaceable.
” At this point in life when it ’ s time to turn left , I always say “ to the left to the left.
” Here ’ s the thing , while Beyoncé doesn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to jam to , she doesn ’ t make songs for dudes not to jam to , either .
I mean , I dance when I hear music and I ’ m a fan and I love her songs ( usually ) so I can find a way to enjoy them , but she ain ’ t every dude ’ s ministry .
At the same time , there are definitely songs that elicit what could be considered a Beyoncé-song like reaction .
This is not a list of Beyoncé songs that dudes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of songs that get the male reaction of how women respond when they hear the opening of “ Single Ladies.
” Here is a quick list of 9 jams that are basically Beyoncé songs ... for dudes .
( Admittedly , this list will be for an older bunch of dudes ; I ’ m 41 , I have no idea what 25 year old Beyonce-dude songs are . )
I mean , don ’ t you just feel like robbing somebody when you hear “ Ante Up ” ?
I know I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on returning the property .
I even instinctively start reaching for my real Timbs , not that Burlington boot stuff you know who was rocking .
Also , I heard this on a Questlove Supreme some time ago ( I wish I could remember on what episode ) and nodded my head in agreement so hard I almost broke my neck because it ’ s true and because I ’ ve been trying to convince the homies of this for years .
Every time I ’ ve been in a club or not-a-club @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vast majority of the homies start talking that drug talk like we ’ re all drug dealers , or at least were in a former life .
We all start yelling at the ceiling about how came into this motherfucke 100 grand stong—9 to be exact .
I ’ ve never confused myself for Big Meech .
Or Larry Hoover , for that matter .
And yet , when this song comes on ( well came on , it rarely gets burn now ) all the dudes were talking that shit .
You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ men are big fans of hip hop education since we tend to love so many songs where folks either spell or do math problems in songs .
Shoulders , chest , pants , shoes .
Every dude you know is doing the moves .
And if they ’ re not , they ’ re fighting the urge to do so in hopes of maintaining cool points .
Some men forget women tend to like a man who dances .
This song is waaaaaay longer than it feels like , which is probably why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve ever listened to the whole thing , but that intro is guaranteed to get the brosephs looking around at everything and nothing in particular .
One dude is guaranteed to give you the screwface .
I ’ m a pretty affable guy , which is to say I don ’ t have a ton of enemies .
As soon as this intro comes on I hate everybody and I ’ m ready to ride .
It ’ s my ambition , ya know .
As a ridah .
This song came out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comes on I am willing to be a solid bunch of niggas nearing too old to be wherever we are will yell out , “ who the fuck you think you fuckin ’ with I ’ m the fuckin ’ BOSS… ” I mean , have you heard this song ?
It still fuckin ’ goes and well , every dude loves yelling “ A WEEK AGO.
” I don ’ t know why , maybe it ’ s all slavery ’ s fault .
Either way , we did all that shit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Still .
Let ’ s us all live out our hoop dreams and show everybody around our basketball form .
Immediate reaction jam .
What other songs are Beyonce songs for dudes ?

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

Even if you are not a fan of Beyoncé—I don’t understand how this is a real thing, but do yo’ thang—you have to admit that Mrs. Knowles-Carter has some jams. If she never makes another record, she will always have a wedding, revival and club jam in “Single Ladies,” and her catalog is full of dance floor bangers that have turned dance floors into “yassss” echo chambers. She has a song for every occasion really. Let’s say you are utilizing a free version of some creative app that has an option for an upgrade. I mean, is there a better time for customer service to call and play “Upgrade U” over the phone? I think not.
And don’t even get me started on the self-esteem jams “Me, Myself and I” (and Peggy!) and “Irreplaceable.” At this point in life when it’s time to turn left, I always say “to the left to the left.”
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Here’s the thing, while Beyoncé doesn’t NOT make songs for dudes to jam to, she doesn’t make songs for dudes not to jam to, either. I mean, I dance when I hear music and I’m a fan and I love her songs (usually) so I can find a way to enjoy them, but she ain’t every dude’s ministry.
At the same time, there are definitely songs that elicit what could be considered a Beyoncé-song like reaction. This is not a list of Beyoncé songs that dudes might enjoy, this is a list of songs that get the male reaction of how women respond when they hear the opening of “Single Ladies.”
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Here is a quick list of 9 jams that are basically Beyoncé songs...for dudes.
(Admittedly, this list will be for an older bunch of dudes; I’m 41, I have no idea what 25 year old Beyonce-dude songs are.)
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I mean, don’t you just feel like robbing somebody when you hear “Ante Up”? I know I do. Of course, you plan on returning the property. I even instinctively start reaching for my real Timbs, not that Burlington boot stuff you know who was rocking. Also, I heard this on a Questlove Supreme some time ago (I wish I could remember on what episode) and nodded my head in agreement so hard I almost broke my neck because it’s true and because I’ve been trying to convince the homies of this for years.
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2. Jay Z “U Don’t Know”
Every time I’ve been in a club or not-a-club and this joint comes on, the vast majority of the homies start talking that drug talk like we’re all drug dealers, or at least were in a former life. We all start yelling at the ceiling about how came into this motherfucke 100 grand stong—9 to be exact.
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3. Rick Ross “B.M.F.”
I’ve never confused myself for Big Meech. Or Larry Hoover, for that matter. And yet, when this song comes on (well came on, it rarely gets burn now) all the dudes were talking that shit.
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4. Foxx, Lil Webbie and Boosie “Wipe Me Down”
You know, you can argue that Black men are big fans of hip hop education since we tend to love so many songs where folks either spell or do math problems in songs. Shoulders, chest, pants, shoes. Every dude you know is doing the moves. And if they’re not, they’re fighting the urge to do so in hopes of maintaining cool points. Some men forget women tend to like a man who dances.
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5. Lil Wayne “A Milli”
This song is waaaaaay longer than it feels like, which is probably why I don’t think I’ve ever listened to the whole thing, but that intro is guaranteed to get the brosephs looking around at everything and nothing in particular. One dude is guaranteed to give you the screwface.
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6. 2Pac “Ambitionz Az a Ridah”
I’m a pretty affable guy, which is to say I don’t have a ton of enemies. As soon as this intro comes on I hate everybody and I’m ready to ride. It’s my ambition, ya know. As a ridah.
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7. Rick Ross “Hustlin’”
This song came out forever ago and yet, if it comes on I am willing to be a solid bunch of niggas nearing too old to be wherever we are will yell out, “who the fuck you think you fuckin’ with I’m the fuckin’ BOSS…”
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8. Bobby Shmurda “Hot Nigga”
I mean, have you heard this song? It still fuckin’ goes and well, every dude loves yelling “A WEEK AGO.” I don’t know why, maybe it’s all slavery’s fault. Either way, we did all that shit about A WEEK AGO.
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9. Jim Jones “We Fly High (Ballin’)”
Yep. Still. Let’s us all live out our hoop dreams and show everybody around our basketball form. Immediate reaction jam.
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What other songs are Beyonce songs for dudes?


theroot--2020-09-25--It's National Comic Book Day! Here are the Best Comic Books by Black Creators Right Now

It ’ s National Comic Book Day and what better way to celebrate than to get into these groundbreaking comics by Black creators .
Not sure where to start ?
How about a Black-owned comic book store ?
We decided to reach out to the owner of Third Coast Comics in Chicago , Terry “ Doc Midnight ” Gant .
He has been described as the “ local human comic encyclopedia ” and will not only quickly recommend titles based on your interests but may even suggest a drink to pair with it .
“ When people come into my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black comic book [ store ] owner , they are more apt to broach the subject of what ’ s hot in the Black comic book universe.
” Gant states .
“ My all-time favorite is Justice Society in the ‘ 90s and early 2000 's .
It had four different characters who were Black , including the leader , ‘ Mr .
Terrific .
’ There are also so many independent comic books , too.
” Though the pandemic has slowed down foot traffic , Third Coast Comics is thriving online .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ National Comic Book Day , he laughed and replied , “ I ’ m open .
I have survived.
” In the short video above , he shares five must-have comics , featuring Black lead characters , written by Black authors .
If you ’ ve been a bit out the loop like myself , you ’ ll be surprised by some of these cool titles by major authors .
Support creators of color and your local comic book store !


theroot--2020-09-25--Skip the Gym and Get a BodyBoss Portable Home Gym for $150, Today Only

Decided to hold out on those gym days a little while longer ?
That doesn ’ t mean the workouts @ @ @ @ @ BodyBoss 2.0 is a portable home gym platform that features bars and bands to give @ @ @ @ @ training you so heavily crave .
Reviewers suggest this is a solid home workout option @ @ @ @ @ 200 , Amazon is knocking $ 50 off the price for just one day and @ @ @ @ @ for good measure , so give it a try if you don ’ t have @ @ @ @ @ or money ) for traditional equipment .
Most models ship by the first week of @ @ @ @ @ originally published in July 2020 and updated with new information on 9/25/2020 .

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

BodyBoss Portable Home Gym 2.0 | $12 0 | Amazon Gold Box
Decided to hold out on those gym days a little while longer? That doesn’t mean the workouts have to end. The BodyBoss 2.0 is a portable home gym platform that features bars and bands to give you the weight and resistance training you so heavily crave. Reviewers suggest this is a solid home workout option for beginners. Usually $179 , Amazon is knocking $59 off the price for just one day and throwing in two extra bands for good measure, so give it a try if you don’t have a lot of space (or money) for traditional equipment. Multiple color options are available at this price right now.
This deal was originally published by Quentyn Kennemer in July 2020 and updated by Andrew Hayward with new information on 04/20/2021.


theroot--2020-09-25--The Root Jams Weekly (9/25/2020): 'It's Lit'

Today , The Root launches its new weekly podcast , “ It ’ s Lit , ” that centers Black @ @ @ @ @ of the culture ’ s best and brightest authors .
The podcast is hosted by @ @ @ @ @ , Danielle Belton , and The Glow Up ’ s managing editor , Maiysha Kai @ @ @ @ @ , we ’ re dropping a playlist full of our favorite storytelling jams .
Because @ @ @ @ @ s lit .
Get it ?
Of course you do .
Stevie Wonder “ As @ @ @ @ @ ” Gladys Knight “ Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me ” Gladys Knight “ @ @ @ @ @ In My Book ”

Today, The Root launches its new weekly podcast, “It’s Lit,” that centers Black literature and will feature some of the culture’s best and brightest authors. The podcast is hosted by The Root’s editor-in-chief, Danielle Belton, and The Glow Up’s managing editor, Maiysha Kai. To celebrate the launch, we’re dropping a playlist full of our favorite storytelling jams. Because why? Because it’s lit. Get it? Of course you do.
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Maiysha Kai
Sarah Vaughan “I Could Write a Book”
Oddisee feat. Nick Hakim “Book Covers”
Elvis Costello & the Attractions “Every Day I Write the Book”
Love “My Little Red Book”
Slick Rick “Children’s Story”
Prince “Ballad of Dorothy Parker”
Angie Stone “Life Story”
Stevie Wonder “As If You Read My Mind”
Jerry Butler “I Could Write a Book”
Gladys Knight “Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me”
Earth, Wind & Fire “I’ll Write a Song for You”
Danielle Belton
Amerie “1 Thing”
Luther Vandross “Never Too Much”
PJ Rickards
Scarface “Now I feel ya”
Calypso Rose “Calypso Blues’
Johnny Cash “The Mercy Seat”
Tracy Chapman “Fast Car”
Jay Connor
The Notorious B.I.G. “Warning”
Nas “Rewind”
Redman “Soopaman Luva 3”
Kendrick Lamar “How Much a Dollar Cost”
Pharaohe Monch “Queens”
Anne Branigin
A Tribe Called Quest “I Left My Wallet in El Segundo”
Aretha Franklin “The Weight”
Outkast “West Savannah”
Mos Def “Ms Fat Booty”
Elton John “Rocket Man”
Lauryn Hill “Zion”
Lost Boyz “Renee”
Panama Jackson
Lupe Fiasco “Alan Forever”
Father John Misty “Ballad of a Dying Man”
Wyclef “To All The Girls”
Jidenna “White Niggas”
Pete Rock & CL Smooth “They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)“
Geto Boys “Minds Playin’ Tricks On Me”
Ice Cube “It Was a Good Day”
Mobb Deep “Trife Life”
Michael Harriot
Ice Cube “Gangsta Fairy Tale”
Bill Withers “I Can’t Write Left Handed”
Gladys Knight “You’re Number One In My Book”
Jay-Z “The Story of O.J.”


theroot--2020-09-25--'Black People Are America's True Founding Fathers': The Root Presents: It's Lit! Launches With 1619

'Black People Are America's True Founding Fathers': The Root Presents: It's Lit! Launches With 1619 Project Creator Nikole Hannah-Jones

“ I just want people to know the date 1619 , ” is what New York Times investigative journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones told her editor when pitching the journalistic opus we now know as The 1619 Project .
Launched in August 2019 , the landmark issue compiled some of the greatest writers and thought leaders of our time to commemorate the arrival of enslaved Africans on American soil—and most importantly , recognize that our ancestors were founding fathers , too .
“ Like , most Americans don ’ t know that this date even exists , ” Hannah-Jones , our number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , tells us during the first episode of our new literary podcast , The Root Presents : It ’ s Lit !
“ And if they ’ re forced to confront that slavery predates the founding of our nation by one hundred and fifty years , it forces you to think about it as foundational in a way that we haven ’ t. ” That daring but long overdue shift in the way we have traditionally been taught to interpret American history rightfully garnered Hannah-Jones the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for Commentary .
Coincidentally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same ceremony a posthumous Pulitzer was awarded to her idol , Ida B .
Wells , for whom the Ida B .
Wells Society for Investigative Reporting was named by Hannah-Jones and several industry co-founders to cultivate more Black talent in journalism .
In our conversation , the acclaimed journalist discusses the response to her groundbreaking project , the pushback from those afraid to honestly reckon with our nation ’ s legacy , and the outstanding debt America owes to the descendants of the enslaved .
“ A debt delayed does not mean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” says Hannah-Jones .
“ But that ’ s been really the stance in this country.
” With The 1619 Project now in school curriculums around the country–as well as in the crosshairs of our current administration , there is no doubt that her vision and tenacity have made an indelible impact upon American culture and our understanding of history .
It has since also attracted the attention of Oprah Winfrey , who will be working alongside Hannah-Jones , the Times and Lionsgate Entertainment to develop The 1619 Project into film and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Over 400 years from the date of that fateful arrival in what would become America , what can we expect from the evolution of 1619 ?
“ [ N ] othing is more important to me than maintaining the rigor and the standards and the honesty of the project .
And that means that we can ’ t water it down , ” Hannah-Jones tells us .
“ And we ’ re certainly not going to be telling Black stories through white saviors.
” Hear this and more in our inaugural episode of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lit !
, featuring the fearless Nikole Hannah-Jones , now live on Apple , Spotify , Stitcher , iHeart Radio , Google Podcasts , Amazon , NPR One , TuneIn , and Radio Public .
A transcript of The Root Presents : It ’ s Lit , Ep .
1 : Nikole Hannah-Jones is available below :

“I just want people to know the date 1619,” is what New York Times investigative journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones told her editor when pitching the journalistic opus we now know as The 1619 Project. Launched in August 2019, the landmark issue compiled some of the greatest writers and thought leaders of our time to commemorate the arrival of enslaved Africans on American soil—and most importantly, recognize that our ancestors were founding fathers, too.
“Like, most Americans don’t know that this date even exists,” Hannah-Jones, our number one 2020 Root 100 honoree for 2020, tells us during the first episode of our new literary podcast, The Root Presents: It’s Lit! “And if they’re forced to confront that slavery predates the founding of our nation by one hundred and fifty years, it forces you to think about it as foundational in a way that we haven’t.”
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That daring but long overdue shift in the way we have traditionally been taught to interpret American history rightfully garnered Hannah-Jones the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for Commentary. Coincidentally, the honor was bestowed in the same ceremony a posthumous Pulitzer was awarded to her idol, Ida B. Wells, for whom the Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting was named by Hannah-Jones and several industry co-founders to cultivate more Black talent in journalism.
https://www.theroot.com/nikole-hannah-jones-creator-of-the-new-york-times-1619-1843248539
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In our conversation, the acclaimed journalist discusses the response to her groundbreaking project, the pushback from those afraid to honestly reckon with our nation’s legacy, and the outstanding debt America owes to the descendants of the enslaved. “A debt delayed does not mean that the debt is no longer owed,” says Hannah-Jones. “But that’s been really the stance in this country.”
With The 1619 Project now in school curriculums around the country–as well as in the crosshairs of our current administration, there is no doubt that her vision and tenacity have made an indelible impact upon American culture and our understanding of history. It has since also attracted the attention of Oprah Winfrey, who will be working alongside Hannah-Jones, the Times and Lionsgate Entertainment to develop The 1619 Project into film and television programming, among other mediums.
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Over 400 years from the date of that fateful arrival in what would become America, what can we expect from the evolution of 1619?
“[N]othing is more important to me than maintaining the rigor and the standards and the honesty of the project. And that means that we can’t water it down,” Hannah-Jones tells us. “And we’re certainly not going to be telling Black stories through white saviors.”
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Hear this and more in our inaugural episode of The Root Presents: It’s Lit!, featuring the fearless Nikole Hannah-Jones, now live on Apple, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeart Radio, Google Podcasts, Amazon, NPR One, TuneIn, and Radio Public.
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A transcript of The Root Presents: It’s Lit, Ep. 1: Nikole Hannah-Jones is available below:


theroot--2020-09-25--Doc Rivers, NBA Offer Help After Troubling Photo of Former NBA Player Delonte West Surfaces Online

The Delonte West story is defined by both triumph and tragedy .
Prior to becoming an NBA player , the Washington , D.C. native had to overcome a tumultuous childhood that included self-harm , drug abuse , financial instability and even being admitted to children ’ s hospitals .
It was basketball that helped him to persevere , and he eventually spent eight seasons in the NBA as a valued contributor to five different teams .
However , try as he may to outrun his demons , his self-destructive behavior and continued legal issues led to his eventual exile from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ purpose and salvation : basketball .
So with his playing career in the rear-view , the now 37-year-old who once made headlines for knocking down baseline three-pointers and showcasing exemplary defense , now only makes the news for all the wrong reasons .
TMZ reports that after a disturbing photo of West surfaced online earlier this week , the NBA , his former St. Joseph ’ s teammate Jameer Nelson , his former coach Doc Rivers and the NBA Players Association have offered help .
In the photo , reportedly taken in Dallas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shape while holding a sign near a busy intersection .
As news of West ’ s situation began to circulate , many took to Twitter to express concern for the former hoop star ’ s condition .
As we previously reported at The Root , in January , a pair of disturbing videos surfaced in which West was brutally attacked : In one video circulating on social media , the eight-year NBA veteran is brutally beaten in the middle of the street by an unidentified assailant .
As he lies limp on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ punches to the face before eventually being stomped in the head .
In a second video , which is presumably the aftermath of this altercation , West rambles incoherently while handcuffed on a curb .
He mentions that his assailant approached him with a gun , but thus far , those claims are unsubstantiated .
It ’ s abundantly clear that West is in dire need of help , and hopefully , he ’ s able to get back on his feet and receive the professional assistance that he needs .

The Delonte West story is defined by both triumph and tragedy.
Prior to becoming an NBA player, the Washington, D.C. native had to overcome a tumultuous childhood that included self-harm, drug abuse, financial instability and even being admitted to children’s hospitals. It was basketball that helped him to persevere, and he eventually spent eight seasons in the NBA as a valued contributor to five different teams.
However, try as he may to outrun his demons, his self-destructive behavior and continued legal issues led to his eventual exile from the one thing that brought him both purpose and salvation: basketball. So with his playing career in the rear-view, the now 37-year-old who once made headlines for knocking down baseline three-pointers and showcasing exemplary defense, now only makes the news for all the wrong reasons.
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TMZ reports that after a disturbing photo of West surfaced online earlier this week, the NBA, his former St. Joseph’s teammate Jameer Nelson, his former coach Doc Rivers and the NBA Players Association have offered help.
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In the photo, reportedly taken in Dallas, West appears to be in bad shape while holding a sign near a busy intersection. As news of West’s situation began to circulate, many took to Twitter to express concern for the former hoop star’s condition.
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As we previously reported at The Root, in January, a pair of disturbing videos surfaced in which West was brutally attacked:
In one video circulating on social media, the eight-year NBA veteran is brutally beaten in the middle of the street by an unidentified assailant. As he lies limp on the ground, he absorbs a flurry of punches to the face before eventually being stomped in the head. In a second video, which is presumably the aftermath of this altercation, West rambles incoherently while handcuffed on a curb. He mentions that his assailant approached him with a gun, but thus far, those claims are unsubstantiated.
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It’s abundantly clear that West is in dire need of help, and hopefully, he’s able to get back on his feet and receive the professional assistance that he needs.


theroot--2020-09-24--Sunday Scaries' 10mg CBD Gummy Bundle Aims to Put an End to, Well, Sunday Scaries for $37 (Baseball

Sunday Scaries' 10mg CBD Gummy Bundle Aims to Put an End to, Well, Sunday Scaries for $37 (Baseball Cap Included)

Sunday scaries , everyone gets ‘ em .
You know the night before you have to go back to work , when you ’ re filled with anxiety with nowhere left to turn ?
I ’ ve found CBD helps , and what better way to enjoy the relaxing , non-psychoactive cannabinoid than in gummy form ?
If you want to be chill and look chill doing it , check out the Everyday Scaries bundle , now discounted 25 % using the promo code ESINV25 ( automatically applied at checkout ) .
The brainchild of Sunday Scaries and surf company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only a 20-count bottle of gummies but a matching hat to go with it .
Beachgoers looking to continue radiating those summer 2020 vibes can sit at home drink hot cider , and pop a couple CBD gummies for a relaxing Sunday afternoon , as opposed to the normal kind spent nervously dreading that awful Monday morning adjusting to the workday routine .
Instead of wasting an entire weekend moaning and groaning about what ’ s to come , join me and the thousands of other Sunday Scaries customers raving about their products @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much higher caliber of CBD than your over-the-counter bodega stuff .
Because , for one , it actually works and doesn ’ t give you diarrhea .

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

Everyday Scaries Bundle | $37 | Sunday Scaries | Promo Code ESINV25
Sunday scaries, everyone gets ‘em. You know the night before you have to go back to work, when you’re filled with anxiety with nowhere left to turn? I’ve found CBD helps, and what better way to enjoy the relaxing, non-psychoactive cannabinoid than in gummy form? If you want to be chill and look chill doing it, check out the Everyday Scaries bundle, now discounted 25% using the promo code ESINV25 (automatically applied at checkout). The brainchild of Sunday Scaries and surf company Everyday California, the bundle includes not only a 20-count bottle of gummies but a matching hat to go with it.
Beachgoers looking to continue radiating those summer 2020 vibes can sit at home drink hot cider, and pop a couple CBD gummies for a relaxing Sunday afternoon, as opposed to the normal kind spent nervously dreading that awful Monday morning adjusting to the workday routine. Instead of wasting an entire weekend moaning and groaning about what’s to come, join me and the thousands of other Sunday Scaries customers raving about their products. Trust me, this is a much higher caliber of CBD than your over-the-counter bodega stuff. Because, for one, it actually works and doesn’t give you diarrhea.


theroot--2020-09-25--Reggie Hayes Speaks on Battling Congestive Heart Failure and Girlfriends Being Undervalued

It ’ s been twenty years since the premiere of Girlfriends and one of its co-stars , Reggie Hayes , has some things to say .
Though the series delightfully centered Black women , Hayes ’ “ William Jerrowme Dent , Esq.
” was a recurring staple in the lives of Joan ( Tracee Ellis Ross ) , Toni ( Jill Marie Jones ) , Maya ( Golden Brooks ) , and Lynn ( Persia White ) .
Recently relaunching on Netflix and sparking sheer nostalgic joy , Girlfriends is the talk of the town lately and we ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alike .
In the midst of that , however , Hayes hasn ’ t received steady work since the series ended and is now suffering from serious health issues .
Shortly after the big Netflix news was announced , Hayes revealed he had been admitted to the hospital .
“ Fuck you 2020 .
It ’ s just one step forward and two steps back this year , ” Hayes wrote in an Instagram caption posted with his selfie , lying in a hospital bed .
“ Sending LOTS OF LOVE and prayers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the comments of the post .
As it turns out , the 51-year-old actor suffered congestive heart failure .
“ We ’ re still not sure what ’ s going on , I got ta take more tests , ” Hayes , a Chicago native , told Chicago Tribune ’ s Nina Metz in a phone call .
“ But I have congestive heart failure and it was difficult to breathe .
Here in L.A. , the sky has been orange with smoke ( because of wildfires ) and it was just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hospital overnight , they were having trouble getting my blood pressure back down .
Seems like the more they look , the more problems they find .
The good thing is , I don ’ t have the coronavirus.
” Though he found success on Girlfriends , the last decade or so has been challenging .
“ It ’ s not my most proud time , ” he said .
Few TV actors make enough money to never have to work again , and Hayes said he wasn ’ t getting many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ close .
“ I had starred on this long running show but I wasn ’ t Matt LeBlanc or one of the other kids from Friends who had doors opening for them after their show ended .
Pretty much , I was just another guy.
” There had been talk of a Girlfriends spinoff starring Hayes , but that never materialized .
“ I was getting a lot of winks and nods about that , and it just didn ’ t work out.
” Naturally , Hayes also reminisced on Girlfriends and its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that paved the way for future Black sitcoms , but the beloved 2000s sitcom created by Mara Brock Akil didn ’ t always get the flowers it truly deserved ( nor did the notable network it aired on , UPN ) , as Hayes pointed out .
“ There was definitely a lack of crossover into the general world of television , ” Hayes said , noting that William is “ like 90 percent ” of him .
“ I always said I was the least important man on the least important show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But it was such a blessing .
It really changed my life .
Of all the parts I could have played on TV , I think that was the best job I could have gotten .
”

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

It’s been twenty years since the premiere of Girlfriends and one of its co-stars, Reggie Hayes, has some things to say.
Though the series delightfully centered Black women, Hayes’ “William Jerrowme Dent, Esq.” was a recurring staple in the lives of Joan (Tracee Ellis Ross), Toni (Jill Marie Jones), Maya (Golden Brooks), and Lynn (Persia White). Recently relaunching on Netflix and sparking sheer nostalgic joy, Girlfriends is the talk of the town lately and we’re celebrating with live-tweets and intimate Zoom panels alike.
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In the midst of that, however, Hayes hasn’t received steady work since the series ended and is now suffering from serious health issues. Shortly after the big Netflix news was announced, Hayes revealed he had been admitted to the hospital.
“Fuck you 2020. It’s just one step forward and two steps back this year,” Hayes wrote in an Instagram caption posted with his selfie, lying in a hospital bed.
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“Sending LOTS OF LOVE and prayers your way,” co-star Jones wrote in the comments of the post.
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As it turns out, the 51-year-old actor suffered congestive heart failure.
“We’re still not sure what’s going on, I gotta take more tests,” Hayes, a Chicago native, told Chicago Tribune’s Nina Metz in a phone call. “But I have congestive heart failure and it was difficult to breathe. Here in L.A., the sky has been orange with smoke (because of wildfires) and it was just really terrible. So I was in the hospital overnight, they were having trouble getting my blood pressure back down. Seems like the more they look, the more problems they find. The good thing is, I don’t have the coronavirus.”
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Chicago Tribune further reports:
Though he found success on Girlfriends, the last decade or so has been challenging. “It’s not my most proud time,” he said. Few TV actors make enough money to never have to work again, and Hayes said he wasn’t getting many opportunities when the show came to a close. “I had starred on this long running show but I wasn’t Matt LeBlanc or one of the other kids from Friends who had doors opening for them after their show ended. Pretty much, I was just another guy.” There had been talk of a Girlfriends spinoff starring Hayes, but that never materialized. “I was getting a lot of winks and nods about that, and it just didn’t work out.”
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Naturally, Hayes also reminisced on Girlfriends and its impact. It is undoubtedly a sitcom that paved the way for future Black sitcoms, but the beloved 2000s sitcom created by Mara Brock Akil didn’t always get the flowers it truly deserved (nor did the notable network it aired on, UPN), as Hayes pointed out.
“There was definitely a lack of crossover into the general world of television,” Hayes said, noting that William is “like 90 percent” of him. “I always said I was the least important man on the least important show on the least important network on television. But it was such a blessing. It really changed my life. Of all the parts I could have played on TV, I think that was the best job I could have gotten.”


theroot--2020-09-25--Attica Scott, the Only Black Woman in Kentucky's State Legislature, Arrested for Felony Rioting Duri

Attica Scott, the Only Black Woman in Kentucky's State Legislature, Arrested for Felony Rioting During Breonna Taylor Protest

People continued marching through the streets of Louisville Thursday night to protest the meager charges brought against the Louisville Metro Police department in the killing of Breonna Taylor .
Among them was one Rep. Attica Scott ( D ) , the only Black female representative in Kentucky ’ s state legislature and the lawmaker who has proposed the state ’ s most substantive police reform since Taylor ’ s death .
On Thursday night , Scott , along with a handful of other protesters , was arrested and charged with first-degree rioting , a felony , and two misdemeanors for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reports the Louisville Courier-Journal .
According to the Washington Post , which cited reports from WAVE , Scott and the other protesters were arrested near the First Unitarian Church and the Louisville Free Public Library , which a police report alleged had been set on fire .
Louisville-based reporter Ryan Van Velzer captured Scott ’ s arrest on video .
In the background , voices can be heard shouting Scott ’ s name and occupation to police , while another person yelled to the lawmaker , “ We love you !
” Also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ashanti Scott , and prominent local activist Shameka Parrish-Wright , who leads the Louisville chapter of the Bail Project , an organization that has helped detained protesters post bond .
Shortly after Scott and Parrish-Wright ’ s arrest on Thursday night , State Rep. Josie Raymond called for them to be released .
“ If you arrest the loudest voices fighting racial injustice in Louisville , we have to believe you want to silence the fight against racial injustice , ” Raymond wrote on Twitter .
Online court records show Scott and Parrish-Wright @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday on personal recognizance bonds , which do not require a cash payment .
They are both scheduled to be arraigned on Oct. 6 .
According to police , 24 protesters were arrested on Thursday night .
In the wake of Taylor ’ s killing , Scott has called for increased police accountability at the state level .
In August , she sought to expand Louisville ’ s “ Breonna ’ s law , ” which bans “ no-knock warrants , ” to apply throughout the state .
The legislation she proposed would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use of forced entry when serving a warrant , and that in those instances , officers must have their body cameras on .
In addition , Scott ’ s version of “ Breonna ’ s Law ” would require police be screened for drug and alcohol after any deadly incident or use of their firearm on duty .
Scott was among many who expressed anger at the grand jury ’ s decision to charge one former Louisville officer who fatally shot Taylor , Brett Hankison , with three counts of wanton endangerment .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s killing , but the danger Hankison posed to Taylor ’ s neighbors , none of whom were actually shot on the night LMPD raided Taylor ’ s apartment .
“ Justice also is hardly ever served when it ’ s police officers murdering Black people , ” Scott told NPR after the charges were announced Wednesday .
“ And so we are clear that our call to action is to continue to make sure that the city of Louisville understands that we will not go away , that we will continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the dismantling of this police department because it ’ s corrupt from the inside out , from the bottom to the top .
And it can not continue to function in the way that it does.
” An increasing number of people have called for Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron , who led the investigation into Taylor ’ s killing , to release the evidence presented to the grand jury , reports HuffPost .
This includes Kentucky Gov .
Andy Beshear and Senate candidate Amy McGrath , who is running against Sen. Mitch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Breonna ’ s family and Kentucky deserve to know what happened the night she was killed , ” McGrath tweeted Thursday afternoon .
“ The fact that the grand jury did not even consider charges in the events that led to her death created confusion and anger .
”

People continued marching through the streets of Louisville Thursday night to protest the meager charges brought against the Louisville Metro Police department in the killing of Breonna Taylor. Among them was one Rep. Attica Scott (D), the only Black female representative in Kentucky’s state legislature and the lawmaker who has proposed the state’s most substantive police reform since Taylor’s death.
On Thursday night, Scott, along with a handful of other protesters, was arrested and charged with first-degree rioting, a felony, and two misdemeanors for failure to disperse and unlawful assembly, reports the Louisville Courier-Journal.
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According to the Washington Post, which cited reports from WAVE, Scott and the other protesters were arrested near the First Unitarian Church and the Louisville Free Public Library, which a police report alleged had been set on fire. Louisville-based reporter Ryan Van Velzer captured Scott’s arrest on video. In the background, voices can be heard shouting Scott’s name and occupation to police, while another person yelled to the lawmaker, “We love you!”
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Also arrested were Scott’s daughter, Ashanti Scott, and prominent local activist Shameka Parrish-Wright, who leads the Louisville chapter of the Bail Project, an organization that has helped detained protesters post bond.
Shortly after Scott and Parrish-Wright’s arrest on Thursday night, State Rep. Josie Raymond called for them to be released.
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“If you arrest the loudest voices fighting racial injustice in Louisville, we have to believe you want to silence the fight against racial injustice,” Raymond wrote on Twitter.
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Online court records show Scott and Parrish-Wright were released from Louisville Metro Corrections on Friday on personal recognizance bonds, which do not require a cash payment. They are both scheduled to be arraigned on Oct. 6. According to police, 24 protesters were arrested on Thursday night.
In the wake of Taylor’s killing, Scott has called for increased police accountability at the state level. In August, she sought to expand Louisville’s “Breonna’s law,” which bans “no-knock warrants,” to apply throughout the state. The legislation she proposed would also mandate that a judge approve the use of forced entry when serving a warrant, and that in those instances, officers must have their body cameras on.
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In addition, Scott’s version of “Breonna’s Law” would require police be screened for drug and alcohol after any deadly incident or use of their firearm on duty.
Scott was among many who expressed anger at the grand jury’s decision to charge one former Louisville officer who fatally shot Taylor, Brett Hankison, with three counts of wanton endangerment. Those charges were not related to Taylor’s killing, but the danger Hankison posed to Taylor’s neighbors, none of whom were actually shot on the night LMPD raided Taylor’s apartment.
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“Justice also is hardly ever served when it’s police officers murdering Black people,” Scott told NPR after the charges were announced Wednesday. “And so we are clear that our call to action is to continue to make sure that the city of Louisville understands that we will not go away, that we will continue to demand the defunding of police and the dismantling of this police department because it’s corrupt from the inside out, from the bottom to the top. And it cannot continue to function in the way that it does.”
An increasing number of people have called for Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, who led the investigation into Taylor’s killing, to release the evidence presented to the grand jury, reports HuffPost. This includes Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and Senate candidate Amy McGrath, who is running against Sen. Mitch McConnell in the November election.
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“Breonna’s family and Kentucky deserve to know what happened the night she was killed,” McGrath tweeted Thursday afternoon. “The fact that the grand jury did not even consider charges in the events that led to her death created confusion and anger.”


theroot--2020-09-25--The Trump Administration Gave a Journalist an Award Then Took it Back After Realizing She Criticized

The Trump Administration Gave a Journalist an Award Then Took it Back After Realizing She Criticized Trump and Then They Lied About All of it

Last year , they honored a journalist from Finland and then took that shit back after learning that she ’ d posted some harsh words about the great white leader of whiteness on social media .
Then , they lied about taking the honor back .
According to the Washington Post , apparently journalistic honors are only good if the journalist never says anything bad about the president .
Because Jessikka Aro has two eyes that allowed her to see all of the fuckshit the Trump administration continuously does on a regular basis , she talked shit on social media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
U.S. officials reportedly got worried about the tweets being a bad look for the president , and to avoid any more public embarrassment for this bucket-naked-ass administration , they took the award back .
Aro was selected for the State Department ’ s International Women of Courage Awards for her reporting on Russian propaganda activities , which is funny because , obvious .
Aro ’ s work exposed Russian troll factories which surely didn ’ t help the president get elected .
But whatever .
She was told that Trump ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her flight options when State Department interns learned that she was sneak dissing on social media .
In one tweet , she noted that “ Trump constantly labels journalists as ‘ enemy ’ and ‘ fake news , ’ ” the State Department ’ s internal watchdog report found , according to the Post .
In another , she was excited to learn that Trump and his boo Russian President Vladimir Putin were meeting in Helsinki where “ Finnish people can protest them both .
Sweet.
” According to meeting notes obtained by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ argued that Aro ’ s invitation should be withdrawn , including the acting director of the Office of Global Women ’ s Issues .
The director ’ s concerns included the possibility that the “ media could highlight the tweets and Facebook posts during the ceremony , ” which could cause “ potential embarrassment to the Department , particularly given the involvement of the Secretary and the First Lady [ Melania Trump ] .
” After the State Department withdrew Aro ’ s invitation and the story became public in a report by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ press office told reporters that Aro had been “ incorrectly notified ” that “ she ’ d been selected as a finalist .
This was an error .
This was a mistake.
” The department also told Congress that Aro “ ultimately was not selected to receive the award , due to the highly competitive selection of candidates.
” But the IG ultimately found that the decision to give her the award was not a mistake and was included in a memo approved by Pompeo .
It also noted that the decision to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discovery of the social media posts despite public claims otherwise .
“ Every person Office of Inspector General interviewed in connection with this matter acknowledged ” that had her social media posts not been flagged , “ Ms .
Aro would have received the IWOC Award , ” the report said .
For the TL ; DR crowd , basically , the Trump administration was on their usual fuckshit .
“ Secretary Pompeo should have honored a courageous journalist willing to stand up to Kremlin propaganda .
Instead , his department sought to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who , day after day , tries to take pages out of Putin ’ s playbook , ” Sen. Robert Menendez ( D-N.J. ) , the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee told the Post .
“ The State Department owes Ms. Aro an apology .
”

The Trump administration is skullduggerish AF.
Last year, they honored a journalist from Finland and then took that shit back after learning that she’d posted some harsh words about the great white leader of whiteness on social media. Then, they lied about taking the honor back.
According to the Washington Post, apparently journalistic honors are only good if the journalist never says anything bad about the president. Because Jessikka Aro has two eyes that allowed her to see all of the fuckshit the Trump administration continuously does on a regular basis, she talked shit on social media, and why did she do that? U.S. officials reportedly got worried about the tweets being a bad look for the president, and to avoid any more public embarrassment for this bucket-naked-ass administration, they took the award back.
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Aro was selected for the State Department’s International Women of Courage Awards for her reporting on Russian propaganda activities, which is funny because, obvious . Aro’s work exposed Russian troll factories which surely didn’t help the president get elected. But whatever.
She was told that Trump’s administration loved her and had even offered her flight options when State Department interns learned that she was sneak dissing on social media.
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In one tweet, she noted that “Trump constantly labels journalists as ‘enemy’ and ‘fake news,’” the State Department’s internal watchdog report found, according to the Post. In another, she was excited to learn that Trump and his boo Russian President Vladimir Putin were meeting in Helsinki where “Finnish people can protest them both. Sweet.”
From the Post:
According to meeting notes obtained by the Inspector General, senior U.S. officials argued that Aro’s invitation should be withdrawn, including the acting director of the Office of Global Women’s Issues. The director’s concerns included the possibility that the “media could highlight the tweets and Facebook posts during the ceremony,” which could cause “potential embarrassment to the Department, particularly given the involvement of the Secretary and the First Lady [Melania Trump].” After the State Department withdrew Aro’s invitation and the story became public in a report by Foreign Policy, the department’s press office told reporters that Aro had been “incorrectly notified” that “she’d been selected as a finalist. This was an error. This was a mistake.” The department also told Congress that Aro “ultimately was not selected to receive the award, due to the highly competitive selection of candidates.” But the IG ultimately found that the decision to give her the award was not a mistake and was included in a memo approved by Pompeo. It also noted that the decision to withdraw the award was due to the discovery of the social media posts despite public claims otherwise. “Every person Office of Inspector General interviewed in connection with this matter acknowledged” that had her social media posts not been flagged, “Ms. Aro would have received the IWOC Award,” the report said.
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For the TL;DR crowd, basically, the Trump administration was on their usual fuckshit.
“Secretary Pompeo should have honored a courageous journalist willing to stand up to Kremlin propaganda. Instead, his department sought to stifle dissent to avoid upsetting a president who, day after day, tries to take pages out of Putin’s playbook,” Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee told the Post. “The State Department owes Ms. Aro an apology.”