theroot--2020-07-30--I Think I Might Owe Jhene Aiko An Apology. My Bad, Jhene

Since we ’ ve all been some manner of “ at home ” since March , one of the most consistent forms of Black entertainment has been Verzuz—not always for the right reasons ; doesn ’ t it seem like forever ago that Teddy Riley was trending ?
—and the arguments , speculation and unsolicited social media advice offered to multimillionaire entertainers who apparently all forgot how to work a crowd ( or their catalogs ) as soon as Swizz Beatz or Timbaland called .
Truly , in a sea of political and real-world nonsense , the entire culture around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Anyway , one of the frequent spin-offs of the actual Verzuz battles is speculating on who would make for solid matchups .
That little exercise had me arguing for a full day on social media about whether or not Bow Wow was a hip hop legend .
Either way , what looked , to me , like a simple “ hey girl hey ” from Keyshia Cole to Ashanti in the comments during the recent Snoop vs. DMX Verzuz turned into a full speculation by Al Gore ’ s internet about a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ things of note before we go any further : 1 ) The Internet is both undefeated and trash .
No matter how big or beloved you are , folks hop on social media and kick dirt on your name just because somebody said your name .
Especially when it comes to singers and rappers .
2 ) I ’ m going to attempt to do something that feels impossible : convince you that I ’ m not taking shots at individuals even though I ’ m about to write a bunch of paragraphs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m letting the choppa spray .
Why are those noted important ?
Because we ’ re talking about Ashanti versus Keyshia Cole .
And then because I ’ m going to include Jhene Aiko .
Which brings me to the point : I think I might owe Jhene Aiko an apology .
I grew up on the crime side , the New York Times side , staying alive was no jive .
Literally none of that is true .
That ’ s a classic bar from the Wu-Tang Clan ’ s Raekwon on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Even though that wasn ’ t my life , I did grow up during the time when that song was a hit in real time .
I came of musical age in the 90s and aughts .
I was present and accounted for during the heydays of many golden eras , to include the time when Ja Rule wasn ’ t a laughing stock , but was the hottest thing smoking .
And during that time—the Murder , Inc. era—Ashanti blossomed .
Ashanti Shequoiya Douglas hit the scene under the Murder , Inc. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ filled with bangers .
Just two days ago I ran my whole household through an Ashanti primer by playing non-stop Ashanti hits .
Even though the New York Times wrote a piece in 2003 that I ’ m sure they have framed in their entertainment pod as one of their greatest misses , at that time , Ashanti was poised to be a huge star .
And she was quite successful for many , many reasons .
Keyshia Cole , who hits the scene in 2004 , is also a star .
Both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Enough for a Verzuz ?
Eh , maybe .
But as artists , they were big enough , successful enough and known enough to show up on a Verzuz stage and let the songs do the work .
Here ’ s the thing : neither of them are “ good ” singers .
They were successful singers , but good ?
Eh .
I realize this is super subjective , but there is a category of singers that includes Whitney and Mariah and then there are singers who are like Amerie , Ashanti @ @ @ @ @ @ @ probably more vocalists , bringing their unique talents to the masses .
There ’ s a whole generation of this in the late 90s and early aughts .
Even Aaliyah might fit here .
The multiple “ A ” artists are totally coincidental , by the way .
I joked on Facebook that Keyshia Cole is the singer version of Meek Mill and nobody needs an explanation on that .
Ashanti though , is a very interesting bridge .
For instance , Ashanti ’ s entire vocalizing is very much wistful , softer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , whom I love dearly , but wouldn ’ t be on anybody ’ s vocalist Mt .
Rushmore either .
There is this very light-toned , almost whispery , but strong enough to be a force on every record .
Again , Ashanti has her lane , and she ’ s good in it , and she is a good songwriter .
You don ’ t get to be successful in music without it .
Point is , in my generation , we made Ashanti a star because she should have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ features aplenty , Ashanti is certified .
And what ’ s important to note here is that not only was Ashanti a star , I actually liked her singing enough to want her to win .
I knew who Jhene Aiko was before I realized I knew who she was .
She was on Kendrick Lamar ’ s Overly Dedicated project and a smattering of other projects in the early 2010s .
By the time she ’ d released her own solo debut , Souled Out , in 2014 I had mostly heard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she made but because folks I knew didn ’ t think she could sing very well .
Now , if I ’ m being completely honest , early on , I probably felt the same way .
In fact , as this current mash-up of trap & b took hold and music shifted to a vibe-centric , airy-vocalized stylings I ’ m sure most of the artists who sang in this vein probably caught a lot of “ what is this mess ?
” flack .
Except I actually like Jhene Aiko ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ ve come around on this .
For instance , I genuinely like her album , Trip .
Whenever she shows up on songs , I find myself thinking , “ this is alright.
” Plus , she is responsible for one of the greatest song lyrics of all time—and I don ’ t mean this with even a hint of hyperbole—when she said “ I might let your boy chauffeur me , but he got ta eat the booty like groceries ” on Omarion ’ s song “ Post To Be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I wrote a whole article about the absurdity of this lyric , but it works so well even if it doesn ’ t .
For what it ’ s worth , that article is probably my favorite thing I ’ ve ever written ; I ’ m not sure how I feel about this or if this is the kind of thing that makes your parents proud , but I really enjoyed writing that article .
Anyway , at some point , I definitely took shots at Jhene Aiko ’ s vocal stylings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like groceries ” article I even mentioned that she ironically titled a song “ The Worst ” and even now I ’ m not sure why I did that .
Is she a great singer ?
I suppose that depends on who you ask .
But , she is effective as hell at performing her songs and getting her emotions across .
Plus , my generation , including me , made Ashanti a star singing very similarly .
So how is it that we could enjoy Ashanti so much , even while poking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around and give artists like Jhene ( who are very successful so she probably couldn ’ t care less ) the blues over their vocals ?
So many mid-90s artists were literally vocalists as opposed to strong singers .
Jhene , my bad for any shots I took .
I like your music .
I even like your vocal stylings .
I even like the songs I ’ ve clowned .
Perhaps my tastes have changed and I ’ ve matured .
Or maybe I got caught up in the rapture of love @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
All I know is that I ’ m better now and while thinking about a potential Verzuz between Ashanti and Keyshia Cole , I realized that I ’ m championing a sound and vocals ( I ’ d love to see that Verzuz ) where if you swapped out the name I ’ d be quick to be like , “ whew chile , the ghetto.
” I ’ m a fan and I ’ m wrong and for that I apologize .
P.S .
I love the song “ Jukai ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , you did that shit !
Join the discussion !
The Root is hosting its first-ever , virtual Root Institute , presented by Target , featuring several of the leading minds in our community talking about politics , culture , health , community building and social impact .
Subscribe for updates today !

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

Since we’ve all been some manner of “at home” since March, one of the most consistent forms of Black entertainment has been Verzuz—not always for the right reasons; doesn’t it seem like forever ago that Teddy Riley was trending?—and the arguments, speculation and unsolicited social media advice offered to multimillionaire entertainers who apparently all forgot how to work a crowd (or their catalogs) as soon as Swizz Beatz or Timbaland called. Truly, in a sea of political and real-world nonsense, the entire culture around the Verzuz battles has been extremely entertaining.
Anyway, one of the frequent spin-offs of the actual Verzuz battles is speculating on who would make for solid matchups. That little exercise had me arguing for a full day on social media about whether or not Bow Wow was a hip hop legend. Either way, what looked, to me, like a simple “hey girl hey” from Keyshia Cole to Ashanti in the comments during the recent Snoop vs. DMX Verzuz turned into a full speculation by Al Gore’s internet about a matchup between the two.
Advertisement
A few things of note before we go any further: 1) The Internet is both undefeated and trash. No matter how big or beloved you are, folks hop on social media and kick dirt on your name just because somebody said your name. Especially when it comes to singers and rappers. 2) I’m going to attempt to do something that feels impossible: convince you that I’m not taking shots at individuals even though I’m about to write a bunch of paragraphs that will absolutely sound like I’m letting the choppa spray.
Why are those noted important? Because we’re talking about Ashanti versus Keyshia Cole. And then because I’m going to include Jhene Aiko. Which brings me to the point: I think I might owe Jhene Aiko an apology.
Advertisement Advertisement
I grew up on the crime side, the New York Times side, staying alive was no jive. Literally none of that is true. That’s a classic bar from the Wu-Tang Clan’s Raekwon on their hit song, “C.R.E.A.M.” Even though that wasn’t my life, I did grow up during the time when that song was a hit in real time. I came of musical age in the 90s and aughts. I was present and accounted for during the heydays of many golden eras, to include the time when Ja Rule wasn’t a laughing stock, but was the hottest thing smoking. And during that time—the Murder, Inc. era—Ashanti blossomed. Ashanti Shequoiya Douglas hit the scene under the Murder, Inc. umbrella and her first few albums were filled with bangers. Just two days ago I ran my whole household through an Ashanti primer by playing non-stop Ashanti hits.
Even though the New York Times wrote a piece in 2003 that I’m sure they have framed in their entertainment pod as one of their greatest misses, at that time, Ashanti was poised to be a huge star. And she was quite successful for many, many reasons. Keyshia Cole, who hits the scene in 2004, is also a star. Both women had a string of hits. Enough for a Verzuz? Eh, maybe. But as artists, they were big enough, successful enough and known enough to show up on a Verzuz stage and let the songs do the work.
Advertisement
Here’s the thing: neither of them are “good” singers. They were successful singers, but good? Eh. I realize this is super subjective, but there is a category of singers that includes Whitney and Mariah and then there are singers who are like Amerie, Ashanti, etc who are stars, but probably more vocalists, bringing their unique talents to the masses. There’s a whole generation of this in the late 90s and early aughts. Even Aaliyah might fit here. The multiple “A” artists are totally coincidental, by the way. I joked on Facebook that Keyshia Cole is the singer version of Meek Mill and nobody needs an explanation on that. Ashanti though, is a very interesting bridge. For instance, Ashanti’s entire vocalizing is very much wistful, softer toned singing, a la Janet Jackson, whom I love dearly, but wouldn’t be on anybody’s vocalist Mt. Rushmore either. There is this very light-toned, almost whispery, but strong enough to be a force on every record. Again, Ashanti has her lane, and she’s good in it, and she is a good songwriter. You don’t get to be successful in music without it. Point is, in my generation, we made Ashanti a star because she should have been. With super successful solo albums and features aplenty, Ashanti is certified. And what’s important to note here is that not only was Ashanti a star, I actually liked her singing enough to want her to win.
I knew who Jhene Aiko was before I realized I knew who she was. She was on Kendrick Lamar’s Overly Dedicated project and a smattering of other projects in the early 2010s. By the time she’d released her own solo debut, Souled Out, in 2014 I had mostly heard of her because of the vibe music she made but because folks I knew didn’t think she could sing very well. Now, if I’m being completely honest, early on, I probably felt the same way. In fact, as this current mash-up of trap&b took hold and music shifted to a vibe-centric, airy-vocalized stylings I’m sure most of the artists who sang in this vein probably caught a lot of “what is this mess?” flack.
Advertisement
Except I actually like Jhene Aiko’s vocals. I’m thinking I’ve come around on this. For instance, I genuinely like her album, Trip. Whenever she shows up on songs, I find myself thinking, “this is alright.” Plus, she is responsible for one of the greatest song lyrics of all time—and I don’t mean this with even a hint of hyperbole—when she said “I might let your boy chauffeur me, but he gotta eat the booty like groceries” on Omarion’s song “Post To Be” (a great song). I wrote a whole article about the absurdity of this lyric, but it works so well even if it doesn’t. For what it’s worth, that article is probably my favorite thing I’ve ever written; I’m not sure how I feel about this or if this is the kind of thing that makes your parents proud, but I really enjoyed writing that article.
Anyway, at some point, I definitely took shots at Jhene Aiko’s vocal stylings. In the “eatin’ booty like groceries” article I even mentioned that she ironically titled a song “The Worst” and even now I’m not sure why I did that. Is she a great singer? I suppose that depends on who you ask. But, she is effective as hell at performing her songs and getting her emotions across. Plus, my generation, including me, made Ashanti a star singing very similarly. So how is it that we could enjoy Ashanti so much, even while poking fun on occasion, and then turn around and give artists like Jhene (who are very successful so she probably couldn’t care less) the blues over their vocals? So many mid-90s artists were literally vocalists as opposed to strong singers.
Advertisement
Jhene, my bad for any shots I took. I like your music. I even like your vocal stylings. I even like the songs I’ve clowned. Perhaps my tastes have changed and I’ve matured. Or maybe I got caught up in the rapture of love and social media clownery. Who knows? All I know is that I’m better now and while thinking about a potential Verzuz between Ashanti and Keyshia Cole, I realized that I’m championing a sound and vocals (I’d love to see that Verzuz) where if you swapped out the name I’d be quick to be like, “whew chile, the ghetto.” I’m a fan and I’m wrong and for that I apologize.
P.S. I love the song “Jukai” from Trip. At the 2:13 mark, you did that shit!
Join the discussion! The Root is hosting its first-ever, virtual Root Institute, presented by Target, featuring several of the leading minds in our community talking about politics, culture, health, community building and social impact. Subscribe for updates today!


theroot--2020-07-30--'A Man of Pure Joy and Unbreakable Perseverance': Barack Obama, Activists and More Pay Their Final R

'A Man of Pure Joy and Unbreakable Perseverance': Barack Obama, Activists and More Pay Their Final Respects to John Lewis

Civil rights icon and 17-term Georgia congressman John Lewis was mourned and honored Thursday at Atlanta ’ s Ebenezer Baptist Church Horizon Sanctuary , where three former U.S. presidents and a number of activists , politicians and distinguished leaders came together to say their final farewells to a hero and ever-vigilant opponent of racism in America .
President Barack Obama delivered an inspiring eulogy in which he described Lewis as “ an American whose faith was tested again and again.
” He said those tests produced “ a man of pure joy and unbreakable perseverance.
” Obama also spoke about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lewis by honoring what he stood for .
“ George Wallace may be gone , but we can witness our federal government sending agents to use tear gas and batons against peaceful demonstrators , ” Obama said .
“ If politicians want to honor John , let ’ s revitalize the law that he was willing to die for.
” Obama also called for the elimination of the legislative filibuster—which he called “ another Jim Crow relic ” —to pass new federal voting laws “ in order to secure the God-given rights of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bush and Bill Clinton also spoke at Lewis ’ funeral .
Bush said that Lewis ’ “ lesson for us it is that we must all keep ourselves ... open to hearing the call of love , the call of service and a call to sacrifice for others.
” “ John and I had our disagreements , of course .
But in the America John Lewis fought for and the America I believe in , differences of opinion are inevitable elements and evidence of democracy in action , ” Bush continued .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country today because of John Lewis and his abiding faith in the power of God , in the power of democracy and in the power of love to lift us all to a higher ground .
The story that began in Troy isn ’ t ending here today , nor is the work.
” “ He got into a lot of good trouble along the way , but let ’ s not forget he also developed an absolutely uncanny ability to heal troubled waters , ” Clinton said .
“ When he could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his adversaries , he tried to get converts instead .
He thought the open hand was better than the clenched fist.
” Clinton ’ s speech was very nice until he started taking random , inappropriate shots at civil rights leader Stokely Carmichael ( who now goes by Kwame Ture ) , which The Root ’ s Stephen A. Crockett Jr. covered here .
Rev .
Dr. Bernice King , CEO of the King Center and daughter of Rev .
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. , le d attendees in a beautiful prayer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a double portion in this generation to get into good trouble until there is radical reform in policing in our nation .
Anoint us a double portion to get into good trouble until voter suppression is no longer a part of our body politic .
Anoint us with the double portion to get into good trouble until there is an equitable distribution of wealth in this nation , until everyone has a livable wage and affordable housing and good health care .
Anoint us , o God , with a double portion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ labor is treated with dignity .
Grant us , o Father , a double portion to get into good trouble until the school-to-prison pipeline is non-existent and every child gets an equitable education .
Grant us , dear god , a double portion to get into good trouble until white supremacy around the world is uprooted and dismantled in all of our policies and everyday practices and behaviors no longer reflect white supremacy .
Grant us a double portion , God , to get into good trouble until this nation truly becomes a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ultimately a great nation is a compassionate nation .
Grant us , God , a double portion of anointing to get into good trouble until Black bodies are no longer a threat in this world and Black lives have equitable representation power and influence in every arena .
Grant us , finally , Father God , that a double portion to get into good trouble until love becomes the way we live , the way we lead , the way we legislate and until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ God , for this great man who lived among us who now joins the great cloud of freedom fighters and , Lord , we thank you for his life and his legacy , and we will continue to get into good trouble as long as you grant us the breath to do so.
” Other speakers included House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , senior pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church Rev .
Dr. Raphael G. Warnock , and civil rights leader Xernona Clayton , who spoke about how she set Lewis up with his wife @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Lillian was single , and so I decided that Lillian needed a good man , not just the bums who were approaching her , ” she said while speaking at Lewis ’ funeral .
“ I wanted her to have someone who really would appreciate her skills and her talent , so I looked around and decided that I liked John .
But Lillian didn ’ t like John , particularly.
” It was a beautiful service that ended with Lewis ’ casket being carried out of the church by an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ final resting place at Southview Cemetery in Atlanta .
According to CNN , attendees still inside the church as Lewis was being carried out danced to the song “ Happy ” by Pharrell Williams , which was reportedly a favorite song of Lewis ’ and one he was seen dancing to in a viral video .
And yeah , you know we ’ re about to watch that one , too .
Rest well , John Lewis , and thank you for all you did for Black people and for America .

Civil rights icon and 17-term Georgia congressman John Lewis was mourned and honored Thursday at Atlanta’s Ebenezer Baptist Church Horizon Sanctuary, where three former U.S. presidents and a number of activists, politicians and distinguished leaders came together to say their final farewells to a hero and ever-vigilant opponent of racism in America.
President Barack Obama delivered an inspiring eulogy in which he described Lewis as “an American whose faith was tested again and again.” He said those tests produced “a man of pure joy and unbreakable perseverance.”
Advertisement
Obama also spoke about racial equality and challenged politicians to honor Lewis by honoring what he stood for.
“George Wallace may be gone, but we can witness our federal government sending agents to use tear gas and batons against peaceful demonstrators,” Obama said. “If politicians want to honor John, let’s revitalize the law that he was willing to die for.”
Advertisement Advertisement
Obama also called for the elimination of the legislative filibuster—which he called “another Jim Crow relic”—to pass new federal voting laws “in order to secure the God-given rights of every American.”
Former presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton also spoke at Lewis’ funeral.
Bush said that Lewis’ “lesson for us it is that we must all keep ourselves ... open to hearing the call of love, the call of service and a call to sacrifice for others.”
Advertisement
“John and I had our disagreements, of course. But in the America John Lewis fought for and the America I believe in, differences of opinion are inevitable elements and evidence of democracy in action,” Bush continued. “We live in a better and nobler country today because of John Lewis and his abiding faith in the power of God, in the power of democracy and in the power of love to lift us all to a higher ground. The story that began in Troy isn’t ending here today, nor is the work.”
“He got into a lot of good trouble along the way, but let’s not forget he also developed an absolutely uncanny ability to heal troubled waters,” Clinton said. “When he could have been angry and determined to cancel his adversaries, he tried to get converts instead. He thought the open hand was better than the clenched fist.”
Advertisement
Clinton’s speech was very nice until he started taking random, inappropriate shots at civil rights leader Stokely Carmichael (who now goes by Kwame Ture), which The Root’s Stephen A. Crockett Jr. covered here.
Advertisement
Rev. Dr. Bernice King, CEO of the King Center and daughter of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., le d attendees in a beautiful prayer to honor Lewis.
From CNN:
“Anoint us with a double portion in this generation to get into good trouble until there is radical reform in policing in our nation. Anoint us a double portion to get into good trouble until voter suppression is no longer a part of our body politic. Anoint us with the double portion to get into good trouble until there is an equitable distribution of wealth in this nation, until everyone has a livable wage and affordable housing and good health care. Anoint us, o God, with a double portion to get into good trouble until all labor is treated with dignity. Grant us, o Father, a double portion to get into good trouble until the school-to-prison pipeline is non-existent and every child gets an equitable education. Grant us, dear god, a double portion to get into good trouble until white supremacy around the world is uprooted and dismantled in all of our policies and everyday practices and behaviors no longer reflect white supremacy. Grant us a double portion, God, to get into good trouble until this nation truly becomes a compassionate nation because as daddy reminded us ultimately a great nation is a compassionate nation. Grant us, God, a double portion of anointing to get into good trouble until Black bodies are no longer a threat in this world and Black lives have equitable representation power and influence in every arena. Grant us, finally, Father God, that a double portion to get into good trouble until love becomes the way we live, the way we lead, the way we legislate and until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream, thank you, o God, for this great man who lived among us who now joins the great cloud of freedom fighters and, Lord, we thank you for his life and his legacy, and we will continue to get into good trouble as long as you grant us the breath to do so.”
Advertisement
Other speakers included House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, senior pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church Rev. Dr. Raphael G. Warnock, and civil rights leader Xernona Clayton, who spoke about how she set Lewis up with his wife Lillian Miles, who died in 2012.
“Lillian was single, and so I decided that Lillian needed a good man, not just the bums who were approaching her,” she said while speaking at Lewis’ funeral. “I wanted her to have someone who really would appreciate her skills and her talent, so I looked around and decided that I liked John. But Lillian didn’t like John, particularly.”
It was a beautiful service that ended with Lewis’ casket being carried out of the church by an honor guard to be taken to his final resting place at Southview Cemetery in Atlanta.
Advertisement
According to CNN, attendees still inside the church as Lewis was being carried out danced to the song “Happy” by Pharrell Williams, which was reportedly a favorite song of Lewis’ and one he was seen dancing to in a viral video.
And yeah, you know we’re about to watch that one, too.
Rest well, John Lewis, and thank you for all you did for Black people and for America.


theroot--2020-07-24--These Glasses Can Help Block Out Blue Light, and They're 10% off Right Now at GlassesUSA

Chances are , you ’ ve probably been spending more time in front of a screen lately .
If your days are anything like mine , they probably look like this : spending eight hours in front of your work computer , logging off to doomscroll on Twitter for a bit , and then sinking into the couch and watching a few episodes of something on Netflix .
That ’ s a lot of screens !
Sure , it ’ s fun to like a few funny tweets and get a few laughs out of The Good Place , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to kick in .
Blue light glasses , which filter out some of the rays that bug your eyes , can help , and you can get 10 % off a pair of glasses at GlassesUSA right now .
There ’ s lots of frames to choose from , too .
The Westons , Ray-Bans , and Muse M ’ s all look pretty sleek .
That said , I ’ m not a style expert , and I don ’ t know what ’ ll look good on your face , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what might be a good fit for you .
Once you ’ ve found a good pair , just use the code BLUEASE10 to get your discount , and you ’ ll be seeing clearly in no time .
Need to add in an extra pair for a family member or loved one ?
GlassesUSA is also offering a BOGO sale on select frames ( excluding premium frames , sale items , and contact lenses ) .
Use the code BOGOFREE at checkout to cash in on the deal .
Even if you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need , an extra pair might come in handy in case a pup ( or kiddo ) gets hold of your specs and mangles them up , or something—not that I ’ m speaking from experience or anything .

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

10% off Blue Light Glasses | GlassesUSA
Chances are, you’ve probably been spending more time in front of a screen lately. If your days are anything like mine, they probably look like this: spending eight hours in front of your work computer, logging off to doomscroll on Twitter for a bit, and then sinking into the couch and watching a few episodes of something on Netflix. That’s a lot of screens!
Sure, it’s fun to like a few funny tweets and get a few laughs out of The Good Place, but at some point, eye fatigue is going to kick in. Blue light glasses, which filter out some of the rays that bug your eyes, can help, and you can get 10% off a pair of glasses at GlassesUSA right now. There’s lots of frames to choose from, too. The Westons, Ray-Bans, and Muse M’s all look pretty sleek. That said, I’m not a style expert, and I don’t know what’ll look good on your face, so take a look around and see what might be a good fit for you. Once you’ve found a good pair, just use the code BLUEASE10 to get your discount, and you’ll be seeing clearly in no time.
Need to add in an extra pair for a family member or loved one? GlassesUSA is also offering a BOGO sale on select frames (excluding premium frames, sale items, and contact lenses). Use the code BOGOFREE at checkout to cash in on the deal. Even if you don’t have someone else in need, an extra pair might come in handy in case a pup (or kiddo) gets hold of your specs and mangles them up, or something—not that I’m speaking from experience or anything.


theroot--2020-07-30--REVOLT TV Announces New Unscripted, Kenya-Based Series What's Good Africa

REVOLT TV , owned by Sean “ Diddy ” Combs , announced the premiere of a new half-hour unscripted show called What ’ s Good Africa .
The series is part of REVOLT ’ s new partnership with What ’ s Good Networks and their production company , the award-winning What ’ s Good Studios , based in Nairobi , Kenya .
“ Hip-hop is a global culture that truly transcends borders , ” Jonathyn Pankratz , VP of Programming at REVOLT said in a press release obtained by The Root .
“ We ’ re very excited to partner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What ’ s Good Studios to spotlight the vibrant Hip Hop scene in Africa , which is full of the young , innovative artists , influencers , and entrepreneurs REVOLT has been championing since our launch.
” The 10-episode season , hosted by African television personalities Remmy Majala and Nick Ndeda , will begin airing on August 12 on REVOLT at 9:30 p.m .
ET .
It also airs on NTV Kenya , in Tanzania ( via Azam TV ) , and Uganda ( via DSTV ) .
“ We feel it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stories and REVOLT really championed us putting our unique storytellers front and center so they can be recognized and celebrated the world over , ” Josephat Keya , Executive Producer of What ’ s Good Studios , says in a statement .
This is the latest development in REVOLT ’ s latest wave of programming , which includes social justice-centered content such as REVOLT Black News .
The entertainment industry at large is highlighting the importance of Africa ’ s rich cultural heritage and influence and bringing the talented creatives hailing from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced earlier this month that Audiomack would be expanding and opening an office in Lagos , Nigeria .
Billboard reports that in addition to the new office , the free music streaming service made three new hires who will “ be based in Nigeria but work on initiatives across the continent.
” Back in May , Universal Music Group announced the launch of Def Jam Africa , which aims to “ [ support ] the best in African hip-hop talent and culture across the continent , ” per a statement obtained by The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Root is hosting its first-ever , virtual Root Institute , presented by Target , featuring several of the leading minds in our community talking about politics , culture , health , community building and social impact .
Subscribe for updates today !

J'na Jefferson on The Grapevine, shared by J'na Jefferson to The Root

REVOLT TV, owned by Sean “Diddy” Combs, announced the premiere of a new half-hour unscripted show called What’s Good Africa. The series is part of REVOLT’s new partnership with What’s Good Networks and their production company, the award-winning What’s Good Studios, based in Nairobi, Kenya.
“Hip-hop is a global culture that truly transcends borders,” Jonathyn Pankratz, VP of Programming at REVOLT said in a press release obtained by The Root. “We’re very excited to partner with What’s Good Networks and What’s Good Studios to spotlight the vibrant Hip Hop scene in Africa, which is full of the young, innovative artists, influencers, and entrepreneurs REVOLT has been championing since our launch.”
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The 10-episode season, hosted by African television personalities Remmy Majala and Nick Ndeda, will begin airing on August 12 on REVOLT at 9:30 p.m. ET. It also airs on NTV Kenya, in Tanzania (via Azam TV), and Uganda (via DSTV).
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“We feel it is vital for Africans to tell our own stories and REVOLT really championed us putting our unique storytellers front and center so they can be recognized and celebrated the world over,” Josephat Keya, Executive Producer of What’s Good Studios, says in a statement. This is the latest development in REVOLT’s latest wave of programming, which includes social justice-centered content such as REVOLT Black News.
The entertainment industry at large is highlighting the importance of Africa’s rich cultural heritage and influence and bringing the talented creatives hailing from the continent to the forefront.
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It was announced earlier this month that Audiomack would be expanding and opening an office in Lagos, Nigeria. Billboard reports that in addition to the new office, the free music streaming service made three new hires who will “be based in Nigeria but work on initiatives across the continent.” Back in May, Universal Music Group announced the launch of Def Jam Africa, which aims to “[support] the best in African hip-hop talent and culture across the continent,” per a statement obtained by The Root.
Join the discussion! The Root is hosting its first-ever, virtual Root Institute, presented by Target, featuring several of the leading minds in our community talking about politics, culture, health, community building and social impact. Subscribe for updates today!


theroot--2020-07-30--Should Black Voters Form Their Own Party? Too Late, Someone Already Did

While that colloquialism may seem innocuous to many people , in Black communities across America , those two words are both a threat and a promise .
It is the most acceptable answer to the question “ What are you gon na do about it ?
” and is roughly translated as : “ I can show you better than I can tell you !
” As it relates to politics , there wasn ’ t a lot that Black America could do historically to hold politicians from both parties ’ feet to the fire when they reneged on promises @ @ @ @ @ @ @ church services .
For most of American history , the Republican Party had a stranglehold on the Black vote .
After racist white southerners defected to the Republican Party between 1948 and the early ’ 70s , the Democratic Party became the party of Black America .
And in exchange for at least 83 percent of the African American vote in every presidential election since 1980 , the Democratic Party has given Black people ... Well , not much .
To be clear , the Democratic Party has been marginally better for Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party ’ s leadership has continued to reflect the status quo of the old , white male power structure and responded to any talk of criminal justice reform , reparations , social justice and progressive ideas by asking : “ What are you gon na do about it ?
Are you saying you ’ re gon na vote for the party that supports voter suppression , states ’ rights and white supremacy ?
Isn ’ t that how we got here in the first place ?
” For years , activists and advocates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ major parties will never offer Black America anything more than lip service and off-beat clapping to Black choirs during campaign season unless Black voters form a separate political collective that represents the specific interests of Black communities .
And now , a group of young politicos , organizers and community leaders are doing just that .
Our Black Party is a “ political home for those who are fiercely committed to improving the lives of Black people across this country and demanding meaningful political action that prioritizes the needs of Black people.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the party exists to “ advance a political agenda that addresses the needs of Black people.
” “ We have to recognize the power that we have , ” explained Dr. Wes Bellamy , who served as vice mayor of Charlottesville , Va. , and chairs the political science department at Virginia State University .
“ I think that ’ s something that some of us question .
When you hear things like : ‘ Why start a party now ?
You ’ re going to mess up the presidential election , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ always understand the leverage that we already have .
The fact of the matter is that if we—as a collective group of Black folks and our allies—can say that centering the needs , the wants and desires of Black folk is that can mess up a presidential election , that shows the collective power and leverage that we already have.
” Along with Hyattsville , Md.
, Mayor Candace Hollingsworth , Bellamy is one of the organizers of Our Black Party , which is based on the concept that “ we own our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a network of Black community leaders in and outside of the political system who understand that the Black vote should not be freely handed out to any candidate or political party that doesn ’ t demonstrate a specific focus on their Black constituents .
Of course , there are many who hear the words “ Black Party ” and assume that the coalition is competing with the Democratic Party for votes .
However , the leaders of OBP envision an America where “ Black people are liberated and participate freely in the political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work together for our benefits.
” To quell any fears of dividing the Democratic Party , the leaders insisted that this idea is not a novel idea in the political arena .
The Tea Party , the conservative “ silent majority , ” and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee ( AIPAC ) are among the many powerful voting blocs that have wielded the power of their communities ’ votes as a way of impacting the existing political structures .
“ You can want to stop Trump while still requiring Biden to earn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ And that ’ s what we want to do .
We want to simultaneously make sure B lack folks recognize that there ’ s power in their votes and also make any of the candidates aware—particularly presidential candidates—that B lack folks are waking up to the power that is in their votes.
” “ It ’ s not enough to just come to the church or to come to the convention and speak about the issues that you ’ ve heard us talk about for years , ” Hollingsworth said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ real policies , not just assemble a taskforce to tell you what you already know .
They must actually put Black people in place of leadership to be able to shepherd those policies through.
” “ We have to be very clear , ” added Bellamy .
“ Before you were a Democrat , before you were a Republican , before you were an independent , you were Black .
So this isn ’ t just about the Democratic Party .
“ Many cities across the country run nonpartisan elections , ” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in elected office that are not running on a Democrat or Republican or independent platform , yet they are still not meeting the needs of their local community .
This is about holding all elected officials and those who desire to be in office accountable to the constituencies that they serve and accountable to the fact that there is a , there is a shared humanity .
It ’ s about knowing that if any of us are marginalized in the communities , all of us are marginalized in our community.
” Here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work : Black voters in communities across the country would have input on creating a Black agenda that featured policy initiatives specifically addressing the needs of their individual communities .
Candidates for office would have to appeal to Our Black Party by demonstrating a commitment to these goals , in exchange for a partnership with activists and organizers helping the politicians get elected and achieving the goals in the Black agenda .
Referencing Malcolm X ’ s speech , “ the Ballot or the Bullet , ” Bellamy noted that this is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know which local , state and national political candidates are committed to a Black agenda .
The elephant in the room , of course , is the “ bullet ” part of the equation .
If Black voters support these candidates en masse , only to have the candidates repeatedly ignore Black issues , then what is the bullet ?
What specifically can Black voters do to politicians who ignore them or lie to them ?
“ Well , we do the same thing that every other constituency does , ” Hollingsworth explained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We ’ re done with you .
We know that fundraising and political power depends on longevity .
The Democratic Party will eventually get tired of having to replace one-term candidates and start paying attention to our vote .
And , for the candidates who keep their promises , we have to not only support them with our votes , but we have to work alongside them in our communities .
That ’ s how you gain power.
” Both Hollingsworth and Bellamy are aware that there are many Black people among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ age-old , politically proven strategy .
However , they also note that there wouldn ’ t be a need for a Black Party if the current way of doing things was working for Black America .
And if things aren ’ t working , they asked , why would anyone object to trying something new ?
“ We have to recognize that both parties have failed Black Americans , ” said Hollingsworth .
“ The fact is , Black Americans have continued to participate overwhelmingly in local elections and voting for Democratic candidates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that vote for granted over the years .
We continue to vote Democratic because we believe in this democracy that we envision , although the one that we dream of is not one that has ever existed here for us .
So our goal is to simply raise the standard.
” Join the discussion !
The Root is hosting its first-ever , virtual Root Institute , presented by Target , featuring several of the leading minds in our community talking about politics , culture , health , community building and social impact .
@ @ @ @ @

“Aight, bet.”
While that colloquialism may seem innocuous to many people, in Black communities across America, those two words are both a threat and a promise. It is the most acceptable answer to the question “What are you gonna do about it?” and is roughly translated as: “I can show you better than I can tell you!”
As it relates to politics, there wasn’t a lot that Black America could do historically to hold politicians from both parties’ feet to the fire when they reneged on promises made during performative visits to barbershops and church services. For most of American history, the Republican Party had a stranglehold on the Black vote. After racist white southerners defected to the Republican Party between 1948 and the early ’70s, the Democratic Party became the party of Black America.
Advertisement
And in exchange for at least 83 percent of the African American vote in every presidential election since 1980, the Democratic Party has given Black people...Well, not much.
To be clear, the Democratic Party has been marginally better for Black America than the GOP. But the party’s leadership has continued to reflect the status quo of the old, white male power structure and responded to any talk of criminal justice reform, reparations, social justice and progressive ideas by asking: “What are you gonna do about it? Are you saying you’re gonna vote for the party that supports voter suppression, states’ rights and white supremacy? Isn’t that how we got here in the first place?”
Advertisement Advertisement
For years, activists and advocates have argued that America’s two major parties will never offer Black America anything more than lip service and off-beat clapping to Black choirs during campaign season unless Black voters form a separate political collective that represents the specific interests of Black communities. And now, a group of young politicos, organizers and community leaders are doing just that.
Our Black Party is a “political home for those who are fiercely committed to improving the lives of Black people across this country and demanding meaningful political action that prioritizes the needs of Black people.” According to the group’s website, the party exists to “advance a political agenda that addresses the needs of Black people.”
Advertisement
“We have to recognize the power that we have,” explained Dr. Wes Bellamy, who served as vice mayor of Charlottesville, Va., and chairs the political science department at Virginia State University. “ I think that’s something that some of us question. When you hear things like: ‘Why start a party now? You’re going to mess up the presidential election,’ I don’t think people always understand the leverage that we already have. The fact of the matter is that if we—as a collective group of Black folks and our allies—can say that centering the needs, the wants and desires of Black folk is that can mess up a presidential election, that shows the collective power and leverage that we already have.”
Along with Hyattsville, Md., Mayor Candace Hollingsworth, Bellamy is one of the organizers of Our Black Party, which is based on the concept that “we own our votes.” Their goal is to build a network of Black community leaders in and outside of the political system who understand that the Black vote should not be freely handed out to any candidate or political party that doesn’t demonstrate a specific focus on their Black constituents.
Advertisement
Of course, there are many who hear the words “Black Party” and assume that the coalition is competing with the Democratic Party for votes. However, the leaders of OBP envision an America where “Black people are liberated and participate freely in the political, economic, and social systems that work together for our benefits.”
To quell any fears of dividing the Democratic Party, the leaders insisted that this idea is not a novel idea in the political arena. The Tea Party, the conservative “silent majority,” and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) are among the many powerful voting blocs that have wielded the power of their communities’ votes as a way of impacting the existing political structures.
Advertisement
“You can want to stop Trump while still requiring Biden to earn your vote,” explained Hollingsworth. “And that’s what we want to do. We want to simultaneously make sure Black folks recognize that there’s power in their votes and also make any of the candidates aware—particularly presidential candidates—that Black folks are waking up to the power that is in their votes.”
“It’s not enough to just come to the church or to come to the convention and speak about the issues that you’ve heard us talk about for years,” Hollingsworth said. “But they have to commit to some real policies, not just assemble a taskforce to tell you what you already know. They must actually put Black people in place of leadership to be able to shepherd those policies through.”
Advertisement
“We have to be very clear, ” added Bellamy. “Before you were a Democrat, before you were a Republican, before you were an independent, you were Black. So this isn’t just about the Democratic Party.
“Many cities across the country run nonpartisan elections,” he noted. “So you have folks in elected office that are not running on a Democrat or Republican or independent platform, yet they are still not meeting the needs of their local community. This is about holding all elected officials and those who desire to be in office accountable to the constituencies that they serve and accountable to the fact that there is a, there is a shared humanity. It’s about knowing that if any of us are marginalized in the communities, all of us are marginalized in our community.”
Advertisement
Here’s how Our Black Party would work:
Black voters in communities across the country would have input on creating a Black agenda that featured policy initiatives specifically addressing the needs of their individual communities. Candidates for office would have to appeal to Our Black Party by demonstrating a commitment to these goals, in exchange for a partnership with activists and organizers helping the politicians get elected and achieving the goals in the Black agenda. Referencing Malcolm X’s speech, “the Ballot or the Bullet,” Bellamy noted that this is the only way to ensure that Black voters know which local, state and national political candidates are committed to a Black agenda.
Advertisement
The elephant in the room, of course, is the “bullet” part of the equation. If Black voters support these candidates en masse, only to have the candidates repeatedly ignore Black issues, then what is the bullet? What specifically can Black voters do to politicians who ignore them or lie to them?
“Well, we do the same thing that every other constituency does,” Hollingsworth explained. “ We find someone who will. We’re done with you. We know that fundraising and political power depends on longevity. The Democratic Party will eventually get tired of having to replace one-term candidates and start paying attention to our vote. And, for the candidates who keep their promises, we have to not only support them with our votes, but we have to work alongside them in our communities. That’s how you gain power.”
Advertisement
Will it work?
Both Hollingsworth and Bellamy are aware that there are many Black people among the Democratic faithful who will resist this age-old, politically proven strategy. However, they also note that there wouldn’t be a need for a Black Party if the current way of doing things was working for Black America. And if things aren’t working, they asked, why would anyone object to trying something new?
Advertisement
“We have to recognize that both parties have failed Black Americans,” said Hollingsworth. “The fact is, Black Americans have continued to participate overwhelmingly in local elections and voting for Democratic candidates. And the Democratic Party has taken that vote for granted over the years. We continue to vote Democratic because we believe in this democracy that we envision, although the one that we dream of is not one that has ever existed here for us. So our goal is to simply raise the standard.”
Aight, bet.
Join the discussion! The Root is hosting its first-ever, virtual Root Institute, presented by Target, featuring several of the leading minds in our community talking about politics, culture, health, community building and social impact. Subscribe for updates today!


theroot--2020-07-30--Emmy Nominations Spark Conversations About Latinx Representation and Anti-Blackness

Recently , the Television Academy and ceremony producers announced that the 2020 Emmys will be officially going virtual , a day after announcing the nominees .
However , a much more important conversation materialized out of the nomination results , particularly as it relates to race and culture .
On Tuesday , John Leguizamo ( When They See Us ) , tweeted a link to an L.A. Times article titled , “ Emmys 2020 : Black Nominees Gain Ground , Latino Representation Still Abysmal ” noting , “ Why can ’ t we Latinx have a piece of the pie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in America and missing as if we didn ’ t exist !
” As the article referenced , there were no Latinx performers nominated among the lead and supporting primary categories at the Emmys this year , which was a noticeable snub , considering the acclaimed content such as One Day At A Time , On My Block , Vida , Pose and Gentified .
Along with many pointing out that the L.A. Times article was divisive in and of itself , the tweet sparked an ongoing discussion about the anti-Blackness within Latinidad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for inclusion tend to come up as a pushback to the progress the Black community is making .
This is an issue for many reasons , one of which is the obvious—Afro-Latinx people exist .
So , where do they fit in this divided conversation ?
“ Well we should start with supporting each other and celebrating ALL [ of ] our Latinx community , ” Selenis Leyva ( Orange Is The New Black ) responded , alluding to the intra-community issues with race .
“ Many of us DO NOT and I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Let ’ s unite , make noise demand change !
Latinos in Hollywood stop the BS and unite .
Yeah I said it.
” Leyva ’ s OITNB co-star , Dascha Polanco ( When They See Us ) then responded to her tweet noting , “ If Its only us speaking up on it , no one cares .
It ’ s the silence from those that fight for equality but only their equality .
Diversity but diverse enough to include thyself [ of ] that mentality of ‘ As long as I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t see a damn thing.
’ ” For context , both Leyva and Polanco have stated they identify as Afro-Latina .
Leguizamo who was born in Bogotá , Columbia , has stated that his paternal grandfather was of Italian and Puerto Rican descent and he ethnically identifies as Latinx .
Polanco has since clarified her statement on Instagram , as her tweet appeared to be a snide comment about the Black American community being unsupportive of other minority groups .
“ It was not shading our Black community , ” Polanco confirmed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a Dominican , as an Afro-Latina , as a whole .
What I ’ m referring to is we can not sit here and say snubbed and write this articles and all these kinds of things when we , ourselves are not doing our due diligence to create the work , the opportunities .
We can ’ t say , let ’ s claim diversity , but when you ’ re good , then everything else is OK. ” She went on to say that diversity does not only include race , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and more .
Now , I will preface this by noting that I am not a member of the Latinx community and I do believe it is important for Latinxs , especially Afro-Latinxs to lead this conversation .
As the entertainment writer at The Root , my role is to report on what I believe to be a very timely , relevant , important and ongoing discussion .
As I ’ ve realized over the years via social media , this conversation certainly isn ’ t new—but , it is complicated .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least—make sure we document what happened now to further the conversation .
The difficult discussion touched on a couple of points : Afro-Latinx erasure is real and is a major issue .
When one pits two cultural identities against each other in what is typically described as “ Oppression Olympics , ” it neglects to include those who live within the intersections or those who live with multi-layered identities .
Centering the conversation as , “ Latinx vs. Black ” inherently ignores Afro-Latinx people .
Specifically , in this very conversation about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ examples given as a solution were shows such as One Day At A Time , but not shows featuring Afro-Latinx characters such as Pose ( e.g.
, co-stars Indya Moore and MJ Rodriguez ) .
Further , in a very informative episode of Unpack That , The Root Video Producer Felice León broke down the complexities in which some Black and Indigenous Millennials have rejected identifying with Latinidad , rather focusing on race instead of ethnic descriptors .
Notably , many in the Black community called out the stark contrast , noting that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of pushback uniquely reveals itself when Black Americans are progressing in some form .
Additionally , there ’ s the grievance that the same people who call out Black people to support their missions become crickets when it comes to our specific issues .
Nadia Hallgren ( who is Afro-Latinx ) , the director of Michelle Obama ’ s Netflix documentary , Becoming , is among the nominees .
The doc was nominated under the Outstanding Documentary or Non-Fiction Special , Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Non-Fiction Program , Outstanding Cinematography for a Non-Fiction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Documentary Series or Special ( Original Dramatic Score ) categories .
Plus , it was just last year that Jharrel Jerome ( who is Afro-Latinx ) won the 2019 Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Emmy for his stirring performance as Korey Wise in When They See Us .
While these nominations and wins aren ’ t nearly enough , it is noteworthy that non-Black Latinxs who are critical of the lack of representation in major award shows have been criticized for not supporting Latinx representation that does not look like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the above-referenced educational links provided , Blactina Media founder Nadia Simone created a directory for Afro-Latinx and Caribbean people who work in film and TV .
The divide is rooted in white supremacy .
Though this discussion is complex , it isn ’ t simply “ black and white.
” T here are layers of grey , however , when it comes to race , we really could break this down to Black vs. white representation .
As many have touched on before , there can be white Latinx people as well as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dr. Blanca E. Vega noted , white supremacy creates this type of division and “ makes us fight for crumbs ” and that this argument essentially takes the minuscule amount of crumbs that Black people are finally getting .
“ If your racial justice analysis hinges on comparing your community ’ s visibility or access to the crumbs of resources that Black folks WORKED FOR for decades , or you ’ re constantly doing a comparative analysis on what Black folks “ get ” , it ’ s not racial justice , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and advocate Alicia Sanchez Gill tweeted on Wednesday .
Overall , the path to racial justice will never be paved with white supremacist asphalt .
Entertainment Weekly news writer Rosy Cordero summed it up perfectly noting , “ While the topic is complicated , the easy answer to the problem is that there needs to be more representation across the board .
”

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

Recently, the Television Academy and ceremony producers announced that the 2020 Emmys will be officially going virtual, a day after announcing the nominees. However, a much more important conversation materialized out of the nomination results, particularly as it relates to race and culture.
On Tuesday, John Leguizamo (When They See Us), tweeted a link to an L.A. Times article titled, “Emmys 2020: Black Nominees Gain Ground, Latino Representation Still Abysmal” noting, “Why can’t we Latinx have a piece of the pie? We are the largest ethnic group in America and missing as if we didn’t exist!”
Advertisement
As the article referenced, there were no Latinx performers nominated among the lead and supporting primary categories at the Emmys this year, which was a noticeable snub, considering the acclaimed content such as One Day At A Time, On My Block, Vida, Pose and Gentified.
Advertisement Advertisement
Along with many pointing out that the L.A. Times article was divisive in and of itself, the tweet sparked an ongoing discussion about the anti-Blackness within Latinidad, specifically because these types of calls for inclusion tend to come up as a pushback to the progress the Black community is making. This is an issue for many reasons, one of which is the obvious—Afro-Latinx people exist. So, where do they fit in this divided conversation?
“Well we should start with supporting each other and celebrating ALL [of] our Latinx community,” Selenis Leyva (Orange Is The New Black) responded, alluding to the intra-community issues with race. “Many of us DO NOT and I repeat DO NOT SUPPORT each other. Let’s unite, make noise demand change ! Latinos in Hollywood stop the BS and unite. Yeah I said it.”
Advertisement
Leyva’s OITNB co-star, Dascha Polanco (When They See Us) then responded to her tweet noting, “If Its only us speaking up on it, no one cares. It’s the silence from those that fight for equality but only their equality. Diversity but diverse enough to include thyself [of] that mentality of ‘As long as I’m good; I don’t see a damn thing.’”
For context, both Leyva and Polanco have stated they identify as Afro-Latina. Leguizamo who was born in Bogotá, Columbia, has stated that his paternal grandfather was of Italian and Puerto Rican descent and he ethnically identifies as Latinx.
Advertisement
Polanco has since clarified her statement on Instagram, as her tweet appeared to be a snide comment about the Black American community being unsupportive of other minority groups.
“It was not shading our Black community,” Polanco confirmed. “Blackness is in my DNA, as a Dominican, as an Afro-Latina, as a whole. What I’m referring to is we cannot sit here and say snubbed and write this articles and all these kinds of things when we, ourselves are not doing our due diligence to create the work, the opportunities. We can’t say, let’s claim diversity, but when you’re good, then everything else is OK.” She went on to say that diversity does not only include race, but also pay equity, gender identity and more.
Advertisement
Now, I will preface this by noting that I am not a member of the Latinx community and I do believe it is important for Latinxs, especially Afro-Latinxs to lead this conversation. As the entertainment writer at The Root, my role is to report on what I believe to be a very timely, relevant, important and ongoing discussion. As I’ve realized over the years via social media, this conversation certainly isn’t new—but, it is complicated. As such, I want to—at the very least—make sure we document what happened now to further the conversation.
Advertisement
The difficult discussion touched on a couple of points:
Afro-Latinx erasure is real and is a major issue.
When one pits two cultural identities against each other in what is typically described as “Oppression Olympics,” it neglects to include those who live within the intersections or those who live with multi-layered identities. Centering the conversation as, “Latinx vs. Black” inherently ignores Afro-Latinx people. Specifically, in this very conversation about the Emmys snubs, some noticed that the examples given as a solution were shows such as One Day At A Time, but not shows featuring Afro-Latinx characters such as Pose (e.g., co-stars Indya Moore and MJ Rodriguez).
Advertisement
Advertisement
Further, in a very informative episode of Unpack That, The Root Video Producer Felice León broke down the complexities in which some Black and Indigenous Millennials have rejected identifying with Latinidad, rather focusing on race instead of ethnic descriptors.
Advertisement
Notably, many in the Black community called out the stark contrast, noting that it is quite telling that this type of pushback uniquely reveals itself when Black Americans are progressing in some form. Additionally, there’s the grievance that the same people who call out Black people to support their missions become crickets when it comes to our specific issues.
Advertisement
Nadia Hallgren (who is Afro-Latinx), the director of Michelle Obama’s Netflix documentary, Becoming, is among the nominees. The doc was nominated under the Outstanding Documentary or Non-Fiction Special, Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Non-Fiction Program, Outstanding Cinematography for a Non-Fiction Program and Outstanding Music Composition for a Documentary Series or Special (Original Dramatic Score) categories.
Advertisement
Plus, it was just last year that Jharrel Jerome (who is Afro-Latinx) won the 2019 Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Emmy for his stirring performance as Korey Wise in When They See Us.
Advertisement
Advertisement
While these nominations and wins aren’t nearly enough, it is noteworthy that non-Black Latinxs who are critical of the lack of representation in major award shows have been criticized for not supporting Latinx representation that does not look like them.
Advertisement
That said, along with the above-referenced educational links provided, Blactina Media founder Nadia Simone created a directory for Afro-Latinx and Caribbean people who work in film and TV.
Advertisement
The divide is rooted in white supremacy.
Though this discussion is complex, it isn’t simply “black and white.” T here are layers of grey, however, when it comes to race, we really could break this down to Black vs. white representation. As many have touched on before, there can be white Latinx people as well as Black Latinx people.
Advertisement
As Assistant Professor Dr. Blanca E. Vega noted, white supremacy creates this type of division and “makes us fight for crumbs” and that this argument essentially takes the minuscule amount of crumbs that Black people are finally getting.
Advertisement
“If your racial justice analysis hinges on comparing your community’s visibility or access to the crumbs of resources that Black folks WORKED FOR for decades, or you’re constantly doing a comparative analysis on what Black folks “get”, it’s not racial justice, it’s anti-Blackness,” longtime organizer and advocate Alicia Sanchez Gill tweeted on Wednesday.
Advertisement
Overall, the path to racial justice will never be paved with white supremacist asphalt. Entertainment Weekly news writer Rosy Cordero summed it up perfectly noting, “While the topic is complicated, the easy answer to the problem is that there needs to be more representation across the board.”
Advertisement
Period.


theroot--2020-07-30--120 Anti-Racism Protesters Were Arrested in Omaha. Protesters and Police Tell Different Versions of

120 Anti-Racism Protesters Were Arrested in Omaha. Protesters and Police Tell Different Versions of What Happened

Around 120 anti-racism protesters were arrested in Omaha , Neb.
, Saturday after police officers in riot gear blocked off both exits of the highway overpass that protesters had marched onto .
Surprising to absolutely no one , police officers and protesters have very different accounts of what happened that night .
The Omaha World-Herald reports that protesters marched from near Midtown Crossing to downtown Omaha and were headed back to Farnam Street where they first gathered .
By the time the demonstrators had gotten a couple of blocks from where the march started , police officers reportedly began announcing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assembly ” and eventually began making arrests and firing pepper balls into the crowd .
According to the Herald , the event was organized by 23-year-old Alexander Matthews , one of the leaders of local activist group , proBLAC .
The march was meant as a show of solidarity with protesters in Portland , Ore. , as well as an opportunity to demand justice for James Scurlock , an Omaha protester who was shot and killed by a bar owner on May 30 .
The bar owner was not charged in Scurlock ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ released a statement Wednesday saying that Matthews “ did not contact police for safety assistance and had not obtained a parade permit.
” They also said they spent nearly an hour warning people that their protest was illegal before they started making arrests .
The protest began at 7:30 p.m. as a gathering in Turner Park at 30th and Farnam Streets .
After the rally at Turner Park , Matthews said , he and other proBLAC leaders planned to go to the City-County Building for another rally but decided to mount a full @ @ @ @ @ @ @ march down Farnam and show everybody whose streets these are , ” he said .
“ There was no malicious intent whatsoever.
” Matthews and other protesters told The World-Herald that they noticed police cruisers blocking cross streets and following them as they marched downtown , around the Old Market and back along Farnam .
No acts of vandalism were reported by police , but they said protesters knocked over construction barrels and cones .
Doing that impeded cruisers from following the group and “ caused a safety issue for anyone else utilizing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) passage.
” Police said they repeated the warnings at 19th and Farnam , 13th and Howard Streets and 12th and Howard .
At the Farnam Street bridge over Interstate 480 , the announcement changed to “ you are under arrest.
” At 9:36 p.m. , police said , all remaining protesters were on the bridge over I-480 .
Police then blocked both ends of the bridge .
Police said the lieutenant supervising the protest “ had a plan in place to make arrests on the bridge as it had better containment of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Police said a police sergeant yelled 12 times that the group was under arrest while Matthews yelled with a megaphone : “ We are peaceful protesting.
” Some protesters deny that they heard any warnings at all until they had returned to the Farnam bridge .
Others say they were planning to disperse but were arrested before they got a chance .
“ We were two blocks away from where we had started , and if police had let us continue we would have gone back to the park and immediately dispersed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It would have been over within 10 minutes , but they chose to end it on their terms and commit unnecessary acts of violence.
” Vondrasek was among the first protesters to be arrested .
Officers say he blocked a police cruiser with his bicycle in the Old Market and that they saw him “ turn his bicycle towards officers , load his pedal and attempt to flee while riding his bicycle directly at officers.
” According to the police report , officers made an “ attempt to stop Vondrasek from fleeing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bicycle ” into an officer .
What Vondrasek said happened was that he “ sort of moved to the front , and I had an opportunity to try to bike away .
I tried to and ( officers ) caught me .
They sort of started throwing me around , they shot me with some pepper balls and tackled me to the ground.
” He called the actions of police officers “ excessive.
” Another protester , 28-year-old Cole Christensen , told Vice that he was shot by police with pepper balls while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know for damn sure that I was not once warned before they walled us off on that bridge and said , ‘ You are being detained , ’ ” Christensen said .
Protesters also complained about the conditions at the Douglas County Correctional Center where they were detained after the march .
25-year old Emma Mills told vice that she and other protesters were detained on the overpass for hours and that after she finally got to the jail she was left zip-tied in the parking lot for another six hours .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Mills said .
“ We had no idea what was going on that whole time.
” Video journalists Melanie Buer and Jazari Kua told KETV 7 that Omaha police escalated tensions during what was a peaceful protest .
“ The entire time they [ protesters ] were marching , OPD was a block down on each side of the protesters , redirecting traffic , ” Kual said .
“ I think it was a disproportionate response , truly , ” Buer said .
“ The department has put out a lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of months and I don ’ t think they went through the points there .
”

Around 120 anti-racism protesters were arrested in Omaha, Neb., Saturday after police officers in riot gear blocked off both exits of the highway overpass that protesters had marched onto. Surprising to absolutely no one, police officers and protesters have very different accounts of what happened that night.
The Omaha World-Herald reports that protesters marched from near Midtown Crossing to downtown Omaha and were headed back to Farnam Street where they first gathered. By the time the demonstrators had gotten a couple of blocks from where the march started, police officers reportedly began announcing that the march was an “unlawful assembly” and eventually began making arrests and firing pepper balls into the crowd.
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According to the Herald, the event was organized by 23-year-old Alexander Matthews, one of the leaders of local activist group, proBLAC. The march was meant as a show of solidarity with protesters in Portland, Ore., as well as an opportunity to demand justice for James Scurlock, an Omaha protester who was shot and killed by a bar owner on May 30. The bar owner was not charged in Scurlock’s death.
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The Omaha Police Department released a statement Wednesday saying that Matthews “did not contact police for safety assistance and had not obtained a parade permit.” They also said they spent nearly an hour warning people that their protest was illegal before they started making arrests.
From the Herald:
The protest began at 7:30 p.m. as a gathering in Turner Park at 30th and Farnam Streets. After the rally at Turner Park, Matthews said, he and other proBLAC leaders planned to go to the City-County Building for another rally but decided to mount a full march instead. “We wanted to march down Farnam and show everybody whose streets these are,” he said. “There was no malicious intent whatsoever.” Matthews and other protesters told The World-Herald that they noticed police cruisers blocking cross streets and following them as they marched downtown, around the Old Market and back along Farnam. No acts of vandalism were reported by police, but they said protesters knocked over construction barrels and cones. Doing that impeded cruisers from following the group and “caused a safety issue for anyone else utilizing the streets after the (protesters’) passage.” Police said they repeated the warnings at 19th and Farnam, 13th and Howard Streets and 12th and Howard. At the Farnam Street bridge over Interstate 480, the announcement changed to “you are under arrest.” At 9:36 p.m., police said, all remaining protesters were on the bridge over I-480. Police then blocked both ends of the bridge. Police said the lieutenant supervising the protest “had a plan in place to make arrests on the bridge as it had better containment of individuals and was a better safety option.” Police said a police sergeant yelled 12 times that the group was under arrest while Matthews yelled with a megaphone: “We are peaceful protesting.”
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Some protesters deny that they heard any warnings at all until they had returned to the Farnam bridge. Others say they were planning to disperse but were arrested before they got a chance.
“We were two blocks away from where we had started, and if police had let us continue we would have gone back to the park and immediately dispersed,” 29-year-old Mark Vondrasek said. “It would have been over within 10 minutes, but they chose to end it on their terms and commit unnecessary acts of violence.”
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Vondrasek was among the first protesters to be arrested. Officers say he blocked a police cruiser with his bicycle in the Old Market and that they saw him “turn his bicycle towards officers, load his pedal and attempt to flee while riding his bicycle directly at officers.” According to the police report, officers made an “attempt to stop Vondrasek from fleeing, at which time Vondrasek crashed his bicycle” into an officer.
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What Vondrasek said happened was that he “sort of moved to the front, and I had an opportunity to try to bike away. I tried to and (officers) caught me. They sort of started throwing me around, they shot me with some pepper balls and tackled me to the ground.” He called the actions of police officers “excessive.”
Another protester, 28-year-old Cole Christensen, told Vice that he was shot by police with pepper balls while standing next to Vondrasek.
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“I know for damn sure that I was not once warned before they walled us off on that bridge and said, ‘You are being detained,’” Christensen said.
Protesters also complained about the conditions at the Douglas County Correctional Center where they were detained after the march.
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From Vice:
They were taken to the Douglas County Correctional Center, where protesters told VICE News they were routinely denied water and bathroom access. Those arrested were also told the jail was experiencing issues with its computer system, which made officials unable to quickly process and release them, and some languished until Sunday night, either zip-tied in the parking lot or inside the crowded facility.
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25-year old Emma Mills told vice that she and other protesters were detained on the overpass for hours and that after she finally got to the jail she was left zip-tied in the parking lot for another six hours.
“It was just a very harrowing experience,” Mills said. “We had no idea what was going on that whole time.”
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Video journalists Melanie Buer and Jazari Kua told KETV 7 that Omaha police escalated tensions during what was a peaceful protest.
“The entire time they [protesters] were marching, OPD was a block down on each side of the protesters, redirecting traffic,” Kual said.
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“I think it was a disproportionate response, truly,” Buer said. “The department has put out a lot of de-escalation literature in the last couple of months and I don’t think they went through the points there.”


theroot--2020-07-30--Will Someone Come Get Bill Clinton? He Just Shaded Stokely Carmichael During John Lewis’ Funeral

No matter how on beat they seem during the “ Electric Slide ” or how good their blaccent may be , there is a reason not every white person can come to the proverbial B lack cookout .
On Thursday , during the funeral for civil rights messiah John Lewis , former President Bill Clinton fixed his crime-bill-ass-mouth to say that the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee lost its way under Stokely Carmichael ( who later changed his name to Kwame Ture ) .
Clinton started off strong , noting that Lewis ’ posthumous op-ed in the New York Times was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lost heart .
He fought the good fight , he kept the faith , ” Clinton said , USA Today reports .
“ It is so fitting on the day of his service , he leaves us our marching orders : ‘ Keep moving.
’ ” And then Clinton had to say this bullshit : “ Just three years later , he lost the leadership of SNCC to Stokely Carmichael because it was a pretty good job for a guy that young and come from Troy , Alabama .
It must have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a young man there ’ s some things that you just can not do to hang on to a position because if you do , then , you won ’ t be who you are anymore .
And I say there were two or three years there , where the movement went a little too far towards Stokely , but in the end , John Lewis prevailed.
” Basically Clinton was doing fine and then he Dascha Polanco ’ d right off a fucking cliff .
There was no reason on Rihanna @ @ @ @ @ @ @ invoke Stokely ’ s good name in any of this .
Also , who uses a funeral to talk shit about someone else who was also doing the work ?
Also-also , Clinton doesn ’ t have any space to say a fucking word about SNCC or the work that was done under anyone ’ s leadership .
But this is what happens when y ’ all started calling Clinton the first B lack president and went all bananas after he played saxophone on Arsenio ’ s show .
And then all y @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he got some oral “ sax ” in the White House .
Bill Clinton has never been on the righteous side of right and he couldn ’ t even keep his pettiness out of a funeral speech .
That shit was written down and read out loud in front of Black people there to honor a fallen hero , and it doesn ’ t matter how many cans of seasoning salt ( I don ’ t know WTF “ seasoned ” salt is ) the Clintons have , I ain ’ t fucking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one thing .

No matter how on beat they seem during the “Electric Slide ” or how good their blaccent may be, there is a reason not every white person can come to the proverbial B lack cookout.
On Thursday, during the funeral for civil rights messiah John Lewis, former President Bill Clinton fixed his crime-bill-ass-mouth to say that the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee lost its way under Stokely Carmichael (who later changed his name to Kwame Ture).
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Clinton started off strong, noting that Lewis’ posthumous op-ed in the New York Times was just like Lewis.
“He never lost heart. He fought the good fight, he kept the faith,” Clinton said, USA Today reports. “It is so fitting on the day of his service, he leaves us our marching orders: ‘Keep moving.’”
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And then Clinton had to say this bullshit:
“Just three years later, he lost the leadership of SNCC to Stokely Carmichael because it was a pretty good job for a guy that young and come from Troy, Alabama. It must have been painful to lose, but he showed as a young man there’s some things that you just cannot do to hang on to a position because if you do, then, you won’t be who you are anymore. And I say there were two or three years there, where the movement went a little too far towards Stokely, but in the end, John Lewis prevailed.”
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Basically Clinton was doing fine and then he Dascha Polanco’d right off a fucking cliff. There was no reason on Rihanna’s green earth for Clinton to invoke Stokely’s good name in any of this.
And. At. A. Civil. Rights. Legend’s. Funeral.
Also, who uses a funeral to talk shit about someone else who was also doing the work? Also-also, Clinton doesn’t have any space to say a fucking word about SNCC or the work that was done under anyone’s leadership. But this is what happens when y’all started calling Clinton the first B lack president and went all bananas after he played saxophone on Arsenio’s show.
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And then all y’all wanted to defend him after he got some oral “sax” in the White House.
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Bill Clinton has never been on the righteous side of right and he couldn’t even keep his pettiness out of a funeral speech. That shit was written down and read out loud in front of Black people there to honor a fallen hero, and it doesn’t matter how many cans of seasoning salt (I don’t know WTF “seasoned” salt is) the Clintons have, I ain’t fucking with nothing they are cooking. Not one thing.


theroot--2020-07-30--Give This Sucky Summer the Accessory It Deserves With a Giant Bag of Ring Pops

Ring Pops are still hands down my favorite impulse buy at the drug store .
I will put a ring @ @ @ @ @ they ’ re tasty and nostalgic .
Save $ 8 on this massive bag of @ @ @ @ @ the rest of the summer sucking in style .
They are individually wrapped so you @ @ @ @ @ with you wherever you go .
I used to take them to the movie theater @ @ @ @ @ : All five classic flavors are in the bag too : cherry , strawberry , @ @ @ @ @ and berry blast .
I really like that in the instructions they ’ ve listed @ @ @ @ @ for virtual parties.
” What a time we live in .
But I mean how @ @ @ @ @ wear a huge edible piece of jewelry ?
Looks cute , tastes awesome .

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

50 Ring Pops | $14 | Amazon Gold Box
Ring Pops are still hands down my favorite impulse buy at the drug store. I will put a ring on all of it, they’re tasty and nostalgic. Save $8 on this massive bag of 50 Ring Pops are spend the rest of the summer sucking in style.
They are individually wrapped so you can share or take them with you wherever you go. I used to take them to the movie theater. ::shreds tear:: All five classic flavors are in the bag too: cherry, strawberry, watermelon, blue raspberry, and berry blast. I really like that in the instructions they’ve listed that they are “great for virtual parties.” What a time we live in. But I mean how often do you get to wear a huge edible piece of jewelry? Looks cute, tastes awesome.
Free one-day shipping for Prime members.


theroot--2020-07-30--Roc Nation to Release Social Justice-Themed Compilation Album 'Reprise'; Jorja Smith Drops First Sin

Roc Nation to Release Social Justice-Themed Compilation Album 'Reprise'; Jorja Smith Drops First Single

The world has transformed into a more socially conscious place in recent months , and if any medium captures the moments our world lives through best , it ’ s music .
Whether Sam Cooke was pouring out his life experiences during the Civil Rights Movement for “ A Change Is Gon na Come ” in 1964 , or Childish Gambino was showing us the straight truth , no chaser for 2018 ’ s “ This Is America , ” music serves as a snapshot for the times .
Roc Nation announced that they will release a collection of songs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ titled Reprise later in the year .
According to a press release obtained by The Root , Reprise “ is a forthcoming initiative , comprised of multiple artists uniting to let their voices be heard.
” The project aims to bring awareness to social justice issues , and a portion of the proceeds made from the album “ will go to funding organizations that support victims of police brutality , hate crimes , and other violations of civil rights.
” For years , Roc Nation has worked to provide stronger justice initiatives as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was announced that Roc Nation and Jay-Z would be partnering with the NFL to form “ an entertainment and social justice partnership.
” They also have a philanthropy extension of their brand which focuses on “ helping athletes , artists , partners and the company as a whole maximize the impact of charitable giving and activism ” through programs , campaigns and more .
Grammy-nominated artist Jorja Smith will be featured on the album , however , details regarding which other musicians will be a part of the project are few and far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ song “ By Any Means ” was released July 30 , and features the British songbird crooning about her experiences as a young Black woman , and being aware of the truths of the world .
“ Won ’ t stay silent for things that I love , ” she coos , “ ‘ Cause we know them na care about us.
” “ The inspiration behind ‘ By Any Means ’ really came from going to the Black Lives Matter protest and leaving thinking , what can I do to keep this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It ’ s not just a post on social media , it ’ s life.
” Smith is no stranger to mentioning social justice issues on wax ; in 2016 , she released a song centered around police brutality titled “ Blue Lights.
” We ’ re eager to see what else will be featured on Reprise in the coming months .
Join the discussion !
The Root is hosting its first-ever , virtual Root Institute , presented by Target , featuring several of the leading minds in our community talking about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ building and social impact .
Subscribe for updates today !

The world has transformed into a more socially conscious place in recent months, and if any medium captures the moments our world lives through best, it’s music. Whether Sam Cooke was pouring out his life experiences during the Civil Rights Movement for “A Change Is Gonna Come” in 1964, or Childish Gambino was showing us the straight truth, no chaser for 2018’s “This Is America,” music serves as a snapshot for the times.
Roc Nation announced that they will release a collection of songs serving as a “musical protest” titled Reprise later in the year. According to a press release obtained by The Root, Reprise “is a forthcoming initiative, comprised of multiple artists uniting to let their voices be heard.” The project aims to bring awareness to social justice issues, and a portion of the proceeds made from the album “will go to funding organizations that support victims of police brutality, hate crimes, and other violations of civil rights.”
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For years, Roc Nation has worked to provide stronger justice initiatives as a label. In 2019, it was announced that Roc Nation and Jay-Z would be partnering with the NFL to form “an entertainment and social justice partnership.” They also have a philanthropy extension of their brand which focuses on “helping athletes, artists, partners and the company as a whole maximize the impact of charitable giving and activism” through programs, campaigns and more.
Advertisement Advertisement
Grammy-nominated artist Jorja Smith will be featured on the album, however, details regarding which other musicians will be a part of the project are few and far between. Smith’s haunting new song “By Any Means” was released July 30, and features the British songbird crooning about her experiences as a young Black woman, and being aware of the truths of the world.
“Won’t stay silent for things that I love,” she coos, “‘Cause we know them na care about us.”
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“The inspiration behind ‘By Any Means’ really came from going to the Black Lives Matter protest and leaving thinking, what can I do to keep this conversation going?” Smith shares. “It’s not just a post on social media, it’s life.”
Smith is no stranger to mentioning social justice issues on wax; in 2016, she released a song centered around police brutality titled “Blue Lights.”
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We’re eager to see what else will be featured on Reprise in the coming months.
Join the discussion! The Root is hosting its first-ever, virtual Root Institute, presented by Target, featuring several of the leading minds in our community talking about politics, culture, health, community building and social impact. Subscribe for updates today!


theroot--2020-07-30--Oprah Magazine Pays Tribute to Breonna Taylor With Solo Cover: ‘We Can’t Be Silent.’

For the past 20 years , the cover of O , The Oprah Magazine has served as a glossy , aspirational testimonial to the powers of manifestation : reading lists and reviews , career hacks , advice dispelled by all manner of gurus and girlbosses .
And always , there was Oprah herself : beaming , often stately , always joyous .
Until now .
Oprah Winfrey announced Thursday morning that , for the first time in her publication ’ s history , someone other than herself will be featured on the magazine : Breonna Taylor .
“ Breonna Taylor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And like everyone who dies unexpectedly , she had plans , ” Winfrey said in a statement announcing the cover on Twitter .
Taylor died in her Louisville , Ky. , home in the early hours of March 13 , after narcotics officers serving a no-knock warrant stormed through her door .
The officers shot up the house , injuring her boyfriend , Kenneth Walker , and killing Taylor , who had been asleep in her room when the police arrived .
In her monthly “ What I know for sure , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Winfrey spoke to Taylor ’ s mother , Tamika Palmer , who told Winfrey , “ I still can ’ t grasp the concept of her being gone .
It feels so surreal .
I ’ m still waiting for her to come through the door.
” Winfrey , leaning on the memories shared by Palmer , homed in on the life and aspirations of the 26-year-old emergency medical technician , writing a brief , vivid portrait of the short , yet joyful life Taylor lived .
Breonna Taylor loved cars and treated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ friend .
Breonna Taylor loved chicken any way you could cook it .
Breonna Taylor put hot sauce on everything , especially eggs .
Breonna Taylor appreciated every kind of music and the dances that went along .
Breonna Taylor treated all her friends like besties .
Breonna Taylor was a force in the life of her 20-year-old sister .
Breonna Taylor felt meaning and purpose in her work as an emergency room technician .
Breonna Taylor was saving to buy a house .
Breonna Taylor had plans .
Breonna Taylor had dreams @ @ @ @ @ @ @ night five bullets shattered her body and her future .
“ What I know for sure : We can ’ t be silent , ” Winfrey concluded .
“ We have to use whatever megaphone we have to cry for justice.
” September issues are widely accepted as the most prestigious of all the monthly glossies .
Notably , Winfrey also made the decision to place Taylor on the cover as the magazine phases out its print version ( it will switch to all-digital in 2021 ) .
The simple cover , containing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Taylor that ’ s familiar to many .
But 24-year-old self-taught digital artist Alexis Franklin breathed new life into the picture by converting it into a digital portrait .
In an interview outlining her process , Franklin admitted she had begun to guard herself against news of brutal , unjust police killings of Black people after the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castille in 2016 .
“ But when Breonna Taylor was killed , I couldn ’ t even try to shut it out , ” said Franklin .
“ I was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there was no shoving it down.
” For months , there was hardly any coverage of Taylor ’ s killing .
That changed in May when Taylor ’ s family hired prominent civil rights attorney Ben Crump to represent them .
Still , of all the officers involved in her killing , only one—Brett Hankison , who has also been accused of sexual assault and planting evidence—was dismissed from the Louisville Metro Police Department .
No one has been charged in her killing and the LMPD remains fully funded .
Join the discussion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , virtual Root Institute , presented by Target , featuring several of the leading minds in our community talking about politics , culture , health , community building and social impact .
Subscribe for updates today !

Anne Branigin on The Glow Up, shared by Anne Branigin to The Root

For the past 20 years, the cover of O, The Oprah Magazine has served as a glossy, aspirational testimonial to the powers of manifestation: reading lists and reviews, career hacks, advice dispelled by all manner of gurus and girlbosses. And always, there was Oprah herself: beaming, often stately, always joyous. Until now.
Oprah Winfrey announced Thursday morning that, for the first time in her publication’s history , someone other than herself will be featured on the magazine : Breonna Taylor.
Advertisement
“Breonna Taylor. She was just like you. And like everyone who dies unexpectedly, she had plans,” Winfrey said in a statement announcing the cover on Twitter.
Advertisement Advertisement
Taylor died in her Louisville, Ky., home in the early hours of March 13, after narcotics officers serving a no-knock warrant stormed through her door. The officers shot up the house, injuring her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, and killing Taylor, who had been asleep in her room when the police arrived.
In her monthly “What I know for sure,” letter, which leads every issue , Winfrey spoke to Taylor’s mother, Tamika Palmer, who told Winfrey, “I still can’t grasp the concept of her being gone. It feels so surreal. I’m still waiting for her to come through the door.”
Advertisement
Winfrey, leaning on the memories shared by Palmer, homed in on the life and aspirations of the 26-year-old emergency medical technician, writing a brief, vivid portrait of the short , yet joyful life Taylor lived.
Breonna Taylor loved cars and treated her 2019 Dodge Charger like a trusted friend. Breonna Taylor loved chicken any way you could cook it. Breonna Taylor put hot sauce on everything, especially eggs. Breonna Taylor appreciated every kind of music and the dances that went along. Breonna Taylor treated all her friends like besties. Breonna Taylor was a force in the life of her 20-year-old sister. Breonna Taylor felt meaning and purpose in her work as an emergency room technician. Breonna Taylor was saving to buy a house. Breonna Taylor had plans. Breonna Taylor had dreams. They all died with her the night five bullets shattered her body and her future.
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“What I know for sure: We can’t be silent,” Winfrey concluded. “We have to use whatever megaphone we have to cry for justice.”
September issues are widely accepted as the most prestigious of all the monthly glossies. Notably, Winfrey also made the decision to place Taylor on the cover as the magazine phases out its print version (it will switch to all-digital in 2021).
Advertisement
The simple cover, containing little text, uses an image of Taylor that’s familiar to many. But 24-year-old self-taught digital artist Alexis Franklin breathed new life into the picture by converting it into a digital portrait. In an interview outlining her process, Franklin admitted she had begun to guard herself against news of brutal, unjust police killings of Black people after the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castille in 2016.
“But when Breonna Taylor was killed, I couldn’t even try to shut it out,” said Franklin. “I was uncontrollably angry and hurt. This time there was no shoving it down.”
Advertisement
For months, there was hardly any coverage of Taylor’s killing. That changed in May when Taylor’s family hired prominent civil rights attorney Ben Crump to represent them. Still, of all the officers involved in her killing, only one—Brett Hankison, who has also been accused of sexual assault and planting evidence—was dismissed from the Louisville Metro Police Department. No one has been charged in her killing and the LMPD remains fully funded.
Join the discussion! The Root is hosting its first-ever, virtual Root Institute, presented by Target, featuring several of the leading minds in our community talking about politics, culture, health, community building and social impact. Subscribe for updates today!