theroot--2020-07-27--Why I'm Not Going to Give My Kids 'The Talk'

“ So , ” the moderator asked , during a public ( and socially distant ) book talk last week—my first time being indoors anywhere other than my house or a grocery store since early March— “ what would you change if you wrote that chapter to your daughter today ?
” I ’ ve been asked a variant of that question dozens of times in the seventeen months that I ’ ve been talking about What Doesn ’ t Kill You Makes You Blacker in front of people .
So much so that I ’ ve learned how to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ isn ’ t addressed to my daughter ; it ’ s about my anxiety and ambivalence on what to teach her—in the first half of the first sentence of my answer without losing momentum .
“ So , in the chapter about my daughter , I ’ d ... ” What comes next is always the same .
I ’ m still learning , still discovering , still determining the best way to raise her and her little brother , and the chapter already reflects that , so there ’ s not much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s what I said .
But then she asked a follow-up : “ With the danger law enforcement poses to Black people , when do you plan on giving your children “ The Talk ” —assuming you haven ’ t already ?
” “ The Talk , ” of course , is the ritualistic conversation Black parents are expected to have with their children about the police that reminds them of their Blackness , informs them that people with guns and the legal power to shoot them will consider them to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ecosystem of behaviors intended to mitigate that risk .
It ’ s a micro-curricula within what they presumably already know about America ; a lesson that encompasses diction and clothing choices ; eye contact and tone ; body language and sentence construction ; hand movement and , if driving , music listened to .
The goal of it is simple : to exit interactions with the police unkilled by them .
There are dozens of articles and studies about it .
Television shows have devoted episodes to it .
It even has its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an expected part of the process of parenting while Black that I ’ ve never been asked if I was planning on giving my children “ The Talk , ” just when .
( My daughter will be five in November , which might be an appropriate time for her to hear it .
My son , who will be two in December , would get two sentences through it before he tried to bite my face . )
My children will know about America .
They will know America better than most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how America sleeps , shits and snores .
They will know that my income grants them certain privileges that many other Black children don ’ t receive—and that their dad was one of those kids—but I will do my best to ensure they don ’ t act privileged .
They will also know that , once they leave the house , the house they happen to live in doesn ’ t matter to the people who don ’ t know them—which is most people .
And I believe that ’ s enough .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Talk ” is , it only provides our kids with a false sense of camouflage—that if they do this and this and this and this and this , the cops won ’ t fuck with them—while injecting fear into them .
The law dictates that the badge makes police officers authority figures , and my children will be aware of that .
But while they have the power to end a life , those motherfuckers ain ’ t God .
There ’ s no reason to cower or to offer them a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t even give your own grandparents .
And if a cop decides , out of racism or boredom or whim , to fuck with one of my kids , I don ’ t want them believing that it ’ s somehow their fault .
That there ’ s something they could ’ ve done differently to prevent it .
That just obeying the law and listening and following directions wasn ’ t enough , and that they should ’ ve been able to predict that this grown man would be threatened by a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s the reality that “ The Talk ” saves lives , so any semantic or theoretical argument I have against it should pale in comparison to wanting my children to remain unkilled .
But I ’ m not convinced that it does .
I ’ m not convinced that it prevents anything that a nuanced understanding of America and being Black in America doesn ’ t already .
I ’ m not convinced that it ’ s not more for the parents ’ benefit—so that we feel better about sending our children into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like we ’ ve equipped them with everything they need .
I am convinced that it centers whiteness ; that it encourages our kids to flatten themselves before America does the flattening .
And I am convinced that it shifts responsibility from those actually responsible for police brutality to the brutalized .
I shared this with the moderator , who seemed surprised by my answer .
I was too—because I ’ d never said it aloud before .
I ’ d felt this way for a while , but never thought it made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a funny word .

Damon Young on Very Smart Brothas, shared by Damon Young to The Root

“So,” the moderator asked, during a public (and socially distant) book talk last week—my first time being indoors anywhere other than my house or a grocery store since early March—“what would you change if you wrote that chapter to your daughter today?”
I’ve been asked a variant of that question dozens of times in the 17 months that I’ve been talking about What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Blacker in front of people. So much so that I’ve learned how to embed the correction to that question—the chapter isn’t addressed to my daughter; it’s about my anxiety and ambivalence on what to teach her—in the first half of the first sentence of my answer without losing momentum.
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“So, in the chapter about my daughter, I’d...”
What comes next is always the same. I’m still learning, still discovering, still determining the best way to raise her and her little brother, and the chapter already reflects that, so there’s not much I’d change. And that’s what I said.
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But then she asked a follow-up:
“With the danger law enforcement poses to Black people, when do you plan on giving your children “The Talk”—assuming you haven’t already?”
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“The Talk,” of course, is the ritualistic conversation Black parents are expected to have with their children about the police that reminds them of their Blackness, informs them that people with guns and the legal power to shoot them will consider them to be threats, and arms them with an ecosystem of behaviors intended to mitigate that risk. It’s a micro-curricula within what they presumably already know about America; a lesson that encompasses diction and clothing choices; eye contact and tone; body language and sentence construction; hand movement and, if driving, music listened to. The goal of it is simple: to exit interactions with the police unkilled by them.
There are dozens of articles and studies about it. Television shows have devoted episodes to it. It even has its own Wikipedia page.
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It is such an expected part of the process of parenting while Black that I’ve never been asked if I was planning on giving my children “The Talk,” just when. (My daughter will be 5 in November, which might be an appropriate time for her to hear it. My son, who will be 2 in December, would get two sentences through it before he tried to bite my face.)
And I think I’ll pass.
My children will know about America. They will know America better than most white Americans do. They will know how America sleeps, shits and snores. They will know that my income grants them certain privileges that many other Black children don’t receive—and that their dad was one of those kids—but I will do my best to ensure they don’t act privileged. They will also know that, once they leave the house, the house they happen to live in doesn’t matter to the people who don’t know them—which is most people.
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And I believe that’s enough. I believe that as well-intentioned as “The Talk” is, it only provides our kids with a false sense of camouflage—that if they do this and this and this and this and this, the cops won’t fuck with them—while injecting fear into them.
The law dictates that the badge makes police officers authority figures, and my children will be aware of that. But while they have the power to end a life, those motherfuckers ain’t God. There’s no reason to cower or to offer them a respect and a reverence you wouldn’t even give your own grandparents. And if a cop decides, out of racism or boredom or whim, to fuck with one of my kids, I don’t want them believing that it’s somehow their fault. That there’s something they could’ve done differently to prevent it. That just obeying the law and listening and following directions wasn’t enough, and that they should’ve been able to predict that this grown man would be threatened by a sneeze.
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Of course, there’s the reality that “The Talk” saves lives, so any semantic or theoretical argument I have against it should pale in comparison to wanting my children to remain unkilled. But I’m not convinced that it does. I’m not convinced that it prevents anything that a nuanced understanding of America and being Black in America doesn’t already. I’m not convinced that it’s not more for the parents’ benefit—so that we feel better about sending our children into the world. So that we feel like we’ve equipped them with everything they need. I am convinced that it centers whiteness; that it encourages our kids to flatten themselves before America does the flattening. And I am convinced that it shifts responsibility from those actually responsible for police brutality to the brutalized.
I shared this with the moderator, who seemed surprised by my answer. I was too—because I’d never said it aloud before. I’d felt this way for a while, but never thought it made much sense. “Sense” is a funny word.


theroot--2020-07-27--NBA Says LA Clippers' Lou Williams Has to Quarantine for 10 Days After Visiting Magic City in Atlant

NBA Says LA Clippers' Lou Williams Has to Quarantine for 10 Days After Visiting Magic City in Atlanta

Lou Williams of the Los Angeles Clippers apparently loves the food at the Magic City strip club in Atlanta so much that he ’ s willing to endure 10 days under quarantine for it .
That ’ s the punishment the shooting guard has been dished out from the NBA , reports ESPN , after he left the campus ‘ bubble ’ where players are being kept in Orlando , Fla. and made a stop at the notorious strip club after attending a funeral in Atlanta .
According to a tweet from Williams , he went to Magic City because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also his “ favorite restaurant.
” “ Ask any of my teammates what ’ s my favorite restaurant in Atlanta is .
Ain ’ t nobody partying , ” he said .
Though many people have been backing up the player ’ s claim on Twitter that the food from Magic City is that good , the NBA is not playing around .
The league announced Williams ’ quarantine on Sunday , three days after Williams was photographed by the rapper Jack Harlow at an Atlanta strip club .
Harlow quickly deleted the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday , “ That was an old pic of me and Lou .
I was just reminiscing cuz I miss him.
” In the photograph , Williams is holding a drink and wearing an NBA mask given out on the Orlando campus .
Sources told ESPN that Williams , 33 , has been interviewed by NBA security about his whereabouts while he was away from campus , and he told them that he went to the Magic City strip club in Atlanta for a short time on Thursday , but there were no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The 10-day quarantine the NBA enforced in response to Williams ’ excursion means he will miss the first two games of the season restart on July 30 and August 1 , when the Clippers will face the Los Angeles Lakers and the New Orleans Pelicans , respectively .

Lou Williams of the Los Angeles Clippers apparently loves the food at the Magic City strip club in Atlanta so much that he’s willing to endure 10 days under quarantine for it.
That’s the punishment the shooting guard has been dished out from the NBA, reports ESPN, after he left the campus ‘bubble’ where players are being kept in Orlando, Fla. and made a stop at the notorious strip club after attending a funeral in Atlanta.
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According to a tweet from Williams, he went to Magic City because the establishment where epic ass-shaking happens is also his “favorite restaurant.”
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“Ask any of my teammates what’s my favorite restaurant in Atlanta is. Ain’t nobody partying,” he said.
Though many people have been backing up the player’s claim on Twitter that the food from Magic City is that good, the NBA is not playing around.
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From ESPN:
The league announced Williams’ quarantine on Sunday, three days after Williams was photographed by the rapper Jack Harlow at an Atlanta strip club. Harlow quickly deleted the post from his Instagram story and tweeted Friday, “That was an old pic of me and Lou. I was just reminiscing cuz I miss him.” In the photograph, Williams is holding a drink and wearing an NBA mask given out on the Orlando campus. Sources told ESPN that Williams, 33, has been interviewed by NBA security about his whereabouts while he was away from campus, and he told them that he went to the Magic City strip club in Atlanta for a short time on Thursday, but there were no entertainers present while he was there.
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The 10-day quarantine the NBA enforced in response to Williams’ excursion means he will miss the first two games of the season restart on July 30 and August 1, when the Clippers will face the Los Angeles Lakers and the New Orleans Pelicans, respectively.


theroot--2020-07-27--6 Reasons Why Ray J's Song 'One Wish'—Which Just Turned 15—Is One of the Greatest Songs of All Time

6 Reasons Why Ray J's Song 'One Wish'—Which Just Turned 15—Is One of the Greatest Songs of All Time of Ever

On July 25 , 2005 , William Ray Norwood , Jr. better known to the world as Ray J , released his classic single , “ One Wish.
” Whether you agree or not with this next statement doesn ’ t matter , for its truth is indisputable : “ One Wish ” is one of the greatest songs of all time of ever .
Fifteen years later , “ One Wish ” still sounds as prescient and as necessary as it did on that warm July day in 2005 when it was unleashed upon the world .
I hear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to yourself , “ what is wrong with this fool , ‘ One Wish ’ is cool and all but you bein ’ real hyperbolic , P !
” Am I ?
Maybe .
But allow me to present a case .
Or don ’ t , but I will anyway .
It ’ s my one wish .
Do you see what I did there ?
You probably do .
Let ’ s keep it movin ’ , yeah yeah to the K.I.M .
Here are 6 reasons why Ray J ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the greatest songs of all time of ever .
1 .
Let ’ s just start at the top , the Rodney “ Darkchild ” Jerkins production is top-notch .
It ’ s just a good damn piece of music .
There ’ s some solid piano work , some solid MIDI-orchestra work leading into the hook , it has a nice swing to it .
I mean , if you were trying to make one of the best songs of ever , that ’ s not a bad place to start @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we ’ re about to go on a Ray J-a-thon in the next 5 bullets .
Buckle up , Buttercup .
2 .
Woooooo chile , this nigga Ray spittin ’ .
Let ’ s call a spade a spade , his vocals are so bad on this song that they ’ re actually really good .
I know that makes no sense but it is also clearly by design .
And I don ’ t mind Ray J ’ s vocals at all , like , in general .
Would I ask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( or funeral ) , probably not , but if he promised to sing “ One Wish ” I might .
Also , I ’ ve never seen Ray live .
I can not imagine him trying to sing this song live .
Half of the notes don ’ t even sound like you could chart them .
There ’ s some straining .
But even through the somewhat strained Amerie-esque vocalizing , he is dropping bars .
But let ’ s not get ahead of ourselves , just know like the meme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3 .
You know why this song is also so good ?
You literally can not hear anybody else singing it .
It ’ s such a signature song that Ray is literally the only human being I can imagine performing this song .
I think it ’ s a testament to the vocal stylings provided on the record .
I mean , Ray J , a nigga who was not birthed to sing and do vocal runs , does runs .
His runs sound painful , almost like he had tried to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them .
I love it .
I mean there is a real , true to life vocal run that he does here that I ’ m almost entirely sure you could put in a museum as the only distinct performance of its kind .
No cap ( as the kids say ) , I love this shit .
I have tried to do it twice this morning and while I can not land them shits , Ray J can ’ t either but he makes me believe I can .
At the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2o hit doing it so who am I to judge , really ?
Ray J da Gawd .
4 .
Perfect .
Karaoke .
Song .
This is indisputable .
You know how there can only be one Diamond at the strip club and that should go to the best dancer ?
Well , that ’ s how I feel about “ One Wish.
” Only the person who truly gives 110 percent at all times should be able to sing “ One Wish ” at karaoke night .
You can ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 75 percent .
You need body gyrations and movements to hit those notes .
5 .
The video .
ZOMG THE VIDEO is the most wonderful thing ever .
For one , I would argue that it is the last good dancing in the rain video .
I don ’ t even have post-2005 comparisons off the top of my head , but I ’ m so sure that they don ’ t come close that I ’ m ready to die on this hill .
Rihanna ’ s “ Umbrella ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Plus , for half of the video they ’ re throwing CGI-water at her .
It ’ s just not the same .
I mean , this nigga Ray J is ticking during the video .
Doing whole foot stomps and shit .
Also , there ’ s really no good reason to be outside singing in the rain in this video .
For one , pneumonia .
For two , that shit is stalkerish and probably not exactly going to increase his chances of seeing one of his 6 ( or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re getting there ) .
Also , did he go back on a rainy day just to dance in the rain in front of her house in hopes that she ’ d see his dedication ?
Because it ’ s not raining when he ’ s calling her trying to get into the house and dream sequencing successfully getting that second chance .
Just saying , there ’ s no reason to be dancing in the rain , but Ray J believes that rain-dancing takes it to the next level .
I agree @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The song is called “ One Wish.
” By my count , Ray asks for 6 wishes ( I could make a case that he asks for 14 ) even though he says he ’ ll be okay if he gets one , but he never quite points out which one he would prefer .
Also , calling a song “ One Wish ” where you say “ here ’ s my wish list ” is banoodles .
For starters , assuming that there ’ s a genie present , he offers up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s talk about this second one .
He says , “ second one , I ’ ll take yours and fill it all up.
” I don ’ t know if he means he ’ ll take her heart and fill it all up , which , morbid .
Or if he means he ’ ll take her wish and fill it all up , which , selfish .
Also , I don ’ t know how you fill up her wish .
Maybe her wish is a balloon .
Either way , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ odd one , but a wish nonetheless .
For his third wish—standard issue genies usually come with 3 , as per Genie in Aladdin—he stops short and lets us know that he ’ d be okay if he got one .
But then this nigga Ray goes balls to the wall with his requests .
And again , I really have no idea which wish he wants .
I can ’ t decide if there are four wishes here where every wish is a subset of the main wish or if these are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how many wishes he puts on the table here , I really do not believe that he ’ d be okay if he just got one .
If I had one wish , we would be best friends ( 1 ) Love would never end ( 1 or 2 ) , it would just begin ( 1 or 3 ) If I had one wish , you would be my boo ( 2 or 4 ) Promise to love you ( 2 or 5 ) , trust me I ’ ll trust you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had one wish , we would run away ( 3 or 7 ) Making love all day ( 3 or 8 ) , have us a baby ( 3 or 9 ) If I had one wish , I ’ ll make you my whole life ( 4 or 10 ) And you ’ ll be my wife ( 4 or 11 ) , make it right this time ( 4 or 12 ) Now you might think my bringing up the confusion or lack of transparency on just how many wishes he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s not .
This elevates the song because we know he ’ s trying to re-woo his woman and he ’ s making it up as he goes , which is why she probably left him in the first place which makes this shit an allegory .
Ray J allegorized a whole song where he says he only needs one wish to get his woman back , but he ’ s lying ( he ’ s asking for many wishes ) which is why in the video she doesn ’ t answer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him to dance in the rain when he doesn ’ t really have to .
“ One Wish ” is a song about the real reason relationships break up : promises you don ’ t intend to keep .
Ray J is out here putting his game down flipping it and reversing it in the name of relationship psychologists , which proves that Ray is a thinker like none other .
GOAT .
Song .
Happy 15th birthday , “ One Wish , ” you crafty motherfucker you .
And salute to Ray @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even when we were just trying to watch a Black man dance in the rain .

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

On July 25, 2005, William Ray Norwood, Jr. better known to the world as Ray J, released his classic single, “One Wish.” Whether you agree or not with this next statement doesn’t matter, for its truth is indisputable: “One Wish” is one of the greatest songs of all time of ever.
Fifteen years later, “One Wish” still sounds as prescient and as necessary as it did on that warm July day in 2005 when it was unleashed upon the world. I hear you looking at me, possibly saying to yourself, “what is wrong with this fool, ‘One Wish’ is cool and all but you bein’ real hyperbolic, P!” Am I? Maybe. But allow me to present a case. Or don’t, but I will anyway. It’s my one wish. Do you see what I did there? You probably do. Let’s keep it movin’, yeah yeah to the K.I.M.
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Here are 6 reasons why Ray J’s “One Wish” is one of the greatest songs of all time of ever.
1. Let’s just start at the top, the Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins production is top-notch. It’s just a good damn piece of music. There’s some solid piano work, some solid MIDI-orchestra work leading into the hook, it has a nice swing to it. I mean, if you were trying to make one of the best songs of ever, that’s not a bad place to start. I needed to start here because we’re about to go on a Ray J-a-thon in the next 5 bullets. Buckle up, Buttercup.
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2. Woooooo chile, this nigga Ray spittin’. Let’s call a spade a spade, his vocals are so bad on this song that they’re actually really good. I know that makes no sense but it is also clearly by design. And I don’t mind Ray J’s vocals at all, like, in general. Would I ask Ray J to sing at my wedding (or funeral), probably not, but if he promised to sing “One Wish” I might. Also, I’ve never seen Ray live. I cannot imagine him trying to sing this song live. Half of the notes don’t even sound like you could chart them. There’s some straining. But even through the somewhat strained Amerie-esque vocalizing, he is dropping bars. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves, just know like the meme says, this motherfucker spittin’.
3. You know why this song is also so good? You literally cannot hear anybody else singing it. It’s such a signature song that Ray is literally the only human being I can imagine performing this song. I think it’s a testament to the vocal stylings provided on the record. I mean, Ray J, a nigga who was not birthed to sing and do vocal runs, does runs. His runs sound painful, almost like he had tried to cry though some pain to get to them. I love it. I mean there is a real, true to life vocal run that he does here that I’m almost entirely sure you could put in a museum as the only distinct performance of its kind. No cap (as the kids say), I love this shit. I have tried to do it twice this morning and while I cannot land them shits, Ray J can’t either but he makes me believe I can. At the same time, this nigga had a top 2o hit doing it so who am I to judge, really? Ray J da Gawd.
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4. Perfect. Karaoke. Song. This is indisputable. You know how there can only be one Diamond at the strip club and that should go to the best dancer? Well, that’s how I feel about “One Wish.” Only the person who truly gives 110 percent at all times should be able to sing “One Wish” at karaoke night. You can’t be a person who gives, say, 75 percent. You need body gyrations and movements to hit those notes.
5. The video. ZOMG THE VIDEO is the most wonderful thing ever. For one, I would argue that it is the last good dancing in the rain video. I don’t even have post-2005 comparisons off the top of my head, but I’m so sure that they don’t come close that I’m ready to die on this hill. Rihanna’s “Umbrella”? Eh. Child’s play. Plus, for half of the video they’re throwing CGI-water at her. It’s just not the same. I mean, this nigga Ray J is ticking during the video. Doing whole foot stomps and shit. Also, there’s really no good reason to be outside singing in the rain in this video. For one, pneumonia. For two, that shit is stalkerish and probably not exactly going to increase his chances of seeing one of his 6 (or 14) wishes through (we’re getting there). Also, did he go back on a rainy day just to dance in the rain in front of her house in hopes that she’d see his dedication? Because it’s not raining when he’s calling her trying to get into the house and dream sequencing successfully getting that second chance. Just saying, there’s no reason to be dancing in the rain, but Ray J believes that rain-dancing takes it to the next level. I agree. I love it.
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6. The song is called “One Wish.” By my count, Ray asks for 6 wishes (I could make a case that he asks for 14) even though he says he’ll be okay if he gets one, but he never quite points out which one he would prefer. Also, calling a song “One Wish” where you say “here’s my wish list” is banoodles. For starters, assuming that there’s a genie present, he offers up 2 wishes—a heart-changing love and a….let’s talk about this second one. He says, “second one, I’ll take yours and fill it all up.” I don’t know if he means he’ll take her heart and fill it all up, which, morbid. Or if he means he’ll take her wish and fill it all up, which, selfish. Also, I don’t know how you fill up her wish. Maybe her wish is a balloon. Either way, it’s a wish. An odd one, but a wish nonetheless. For his third wish—standard issue genies usually come with 3, as per Genie in Aladdin—he stops short and lets us know that he’d be okay if he got one.
But then this nigga Ray goes balls to the wall with his requests. And again, I really have no idea which wish he wants. I can’t decide if there are four wishes here where every wish is a subset of the main wish or if these are all separate wishes. Also, considering how many wishes he puts on the table here, I really do not believe that he’d be okay if he just got one.
If I had one wish, we would be best friends (1) Love would never end (1 or 2) , it would just begin (1 or 3) If I had one wish, you would be my boo (2 or 4) Promise to love you (2 or 5), trust me I’ll trust you (2 or 6) If I had one wish, we would run away (3 or 7) Making love all day (3 or 8), have us a baby (3 or 9) If I had one wish, I’ll make you my whole life (4 or 10) And you’ll be my wife (4 or 11), make it right this time (4 or 12) If I had one wish.
Now you might think my bringing up the confusion or lack of transparency on just how many wishes he wants would be a knock, it’s not. This elevates the song because we know he’s trying to re-woo his woman and he’s making it up as he goes, which is why she probably left him in the first place which makes this shit an allegory.
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Ray J allegorized a whole song where he says he only needs one wish to get his woman back, but he’s lying (he’s asking for many wishes) which is why in the video she doesn’t answer the phone and leaves him hanging requiring him to dance in the rain when he doesn’t really have to.
“One Wish” is a song about the real reason relationships break up: promises you don’t intend to keep. Ray J is out here putting his game down flipping it and reversing it in the name of relationship psychologists, which proves that Ray is a thinker like none other.
Advertisement
GOAT. Song. Happy 15th birthday, “One Wish,” you crafty motherfucker you. And salute to Ray J da Gawd for learning us something even when we were just trying to watch a Black man dance in the rain.


theroot--2020-07-27--Zap Fry Invisible Bacteria Anywhere You Go With This $29 Sanitizing Wand

Keeping things clean right now is a new stressor and chore for most of us .
We ’ ve covered UV sanitizers before and how effective they are in killing just under 100 % of germs .
These wands from MorningSave today fits right into that category .
These wands use UV-C light to kill bacteria and are 71 % off the original price .
UV sanitizers can be used on a multitude of surfaces and items .
If you have kids keeping their toys clean is surely at the top of your list and this easy to charge and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that .
You only need to use it for a few seconds to get its optimum power .
It ’ s lightweight and portable so ideal to try out all over your house , office , car , or even if you have to travel .
Plus , it lights up !
It comes in black , white , or pink .
If you ’ ve read a few of our pieces on MorningSave before and you like what you ’ ve seen they offer a $ 5 monthly fee to get free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ matter how many .
Otherwise , it ’ s a flat rate of $ 8 .

Sheilah Villari on Kinja Deals, shared by Jordan McMahon to The Root

2-Pack Portable UV-C Sanitizing Wands | $20 | MorningSave
Keeping things clean right now is still a stressor and chore for most of us. We’ve covered UV sanitizers before and how effective they are in killing just under 100% of germs. These wands from MorningSave today fit right into that category. These two wands use UV-C light to kill bacteria and are 67% off the original price, bringing your total to just $20 .
UV sanitizers can be used on a multitude of surfaces and items. If you have kids keeping their toys clean is surely at the top of your list, they are easy to charge . You only need to use it for a few seconds to get its optimum power. They’re lightweight and portable, so ideal to try out all over your house, office, car, or even if you have to travel.
If you’ve read a few of our pieces on MorningSave before and you like what you’ve seen, they offer a $5 monthly fee to get free shipping on all of your orders, no matter how many. Otherwise, it’s a flat rate of $8.
This deal was originally published in July 2020 and updated with new information on 4/1/2020.


theroot--2020-07-27--WNBA Players Walk Off Court During Anthem; Kyrie Irving Commits $1.5 Million to Support Those Who Op

WNBA Players Walk Off Court During Anthem; Kyrie Irving Commits $1.5 Million to Support Those Who Opt-Out This Season

WNBA athletes continue to make it clear that they are all about justice for Breonna Taylor .
Over the weekend , members of the Seattle Storm and New York Liberty teams walked off the court as the national anthem was being played ahead of their game in Florida .
The players were wearing shirts bearing the words ‘ Say Her Name ’ in honor of Breonna Taylor , who was killed by police in Louisville in March of this year .
“ We ’ re dedicating this season to Breonna Taylor , an outstanding EMT who was murdered over 130 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said New York Liberty player Layshia Clarendon .
“ We will say her name.
” The walk-off is an example of how far professional athletes have come in explicitly advocating for racial justice since Colin Kaepernick first began kneeling in 2016 , a silent protest that sparked controversy throughout the sports world .
Before walking off the court , the players also observed 26 seconds of silence to mark each year of Taylor ’ s life : The action was part of a season-long initiative between the WNBA and the Women ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to raise awareness about social justice , reports Buzzfeed .
Their ongoing badassery in the name of Black women and other victims of police violence is now being supported in a big way by NBA player Kyrie Irving .
The Brooklyn Nets player has committed $ 1.5 million in funds from his own foundation to supplement the income of any WNBA athlete who chooses not to play this season due to health reasons or issues of social justice .
Irving said that with the help of WNBA players Natasha Cloud—who chose to sit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several WNBA players who discussed with him the challenges they faced in deciding whether to play .
The season began Saturday and will be played entirely at the IMG Academy in Bradenton , Florida .
He decided to help with the financial burden in a league where the top annual salary is a little more than $ 200,000 .
“ Whether a person decided to fight for social justice , play basketball , focus on physical or mental health , or simply connect with their families , this initiative can hopefully support their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in a statement .
It ’ s beautiful to see players using their platforms to speak out in these powerful ways—and to see them embrace their ability to affect change when they band together .

WNBA athletes continue to make it clear that they are all about justice for Breonna Taylor. Over the weekend, members of the Seattle Storm and New York Liberty teams walked off the court as the national anthem was being played ahead of their game in Florida.
The players were wearing shirts bearing the words ‘Say Her Name’ in honor of Breonna Taylor, who was killed by police in Louisville in March of this year.
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“We’re dedicating this season to Breonna Taylor, an outstanding EMT who was murdered over 130 days ago in her home,” said New York Liberty player Layshia Clarendon. “We will say her name.”
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The walk-off is an example of how far professional athletes have come in explicitly advocating for racial justice since Colin Kaepernick first began kneeling in 2016, a silent protest that sparked controversy throughout the sports world.
Before walking off the court, the players also observed 26 seconds of silence to mark each year of Taylor’s life:
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The action was part of a season-long initiative between the WNBA and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) to raise awareness about social justice, reports Buzzfeed.
Their ongoing badassery in the name of Black women and other victims of police violence is now being supported in a big way by NBA player Kyrie Irving. The Brooklyn Nets player has committed $1.5 million in funds from his own foundation to supplement the income of any WNBA athlete who chooses not to play this season due to health reasons or issues of social justice.
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From ESPN:
Irving said that with the help of WNBA players Natasha Cloud—who chose to sit out—and Jewell Loyd, he connected with several WNBA players who discussed with him the challenges they faced in deciding whether to play. The season began Saturday and will be played entirely at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. He decided to help with the financial burden in a league where the top annual salary is a little more than $200,000. “Whether a person decided to fight for social justice, play basketball, focus on physical or mental health, or simply connect with their families, this initiative can hopefully support their priorities and decisions,’’ Irving said in a statement.
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It’s beautiful to see players using their platforms to speak out in these powerful ways—and to see them embrace their ability to affect change when they band together.


theroot--2020-07-27--History of Medical Abuse, Neglect Pose Challenges for Researchers Seeking Black Participants in Coro

History of Medical Abuse, Neglect Pose Challenges for Researchers Seeking Black Participants in Coronavirus Vaccine Trials

It ’ s no secret by now that the coronavirus has had its most outsized impact on marginalized communities : Throughout the country , African American , Latinx and Native communities have suffered disproportionately from the coronavirus , as structural inequities have magnified the virus ’ deadly impact .
With a rush to get a vaccine to market , it will be important to have these groups represented in clinical testing to ensure that the treatment works effectively for those most affected by the virus .
But as the Washington Post reports , this kind of participation will be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to proper medical care , distrust medical professionals , or both .
First , there ’ s the sheer number of volunteers needed—according to the Post , this could be as many as 30,000 volunteers from diverse communities for each trial .
“ It ’ s a scientific necessity , but also a moral imperative , as younger people of color die of coronavirus at twice the rate of white people , and Black , Hispanic and Native Americans are hospitalized at four to five times the rate of white people in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Post .
This being the case , if vaccine trials comprise mostly 20-somethings or white college graduates , as is the case in other medical trials , “ it will not give us the information we need , ” Director of the National Institutes of Health Francis Collins said .
But to do this , there needs to be special engagement with communities of color , particularly Black communities .
Researchers leading the vaccine effort are convening community advisory boards to understand how to tailor messages and communicate respectfully with a number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Blacks , Latinos and older people .
Small details will be critical .
Brochures or ads for clinical trials must be available in multiple languages .
They must depict minorities , but not just as test subjects .
Materials prepared for tribal leaders and ethics specialists in one Native American community may need to answer different questions than those prepared for another , said Michele Andrasik , a senior staff scientist in the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center .
Early engagement is key , say experts who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the past .
There are also recent examples of what this kind of engagement should look like and what it can accomplish .
The Oakland , Calif.-based Reverend Rob Newells , an HIV activist and Black AIDS Institute ’ s new Director of National Programs , points to the HIV/AIDS epidemic of the early ’ 90s for lessons .
Early breakthrough trials for HIV treatment regimens were dominated by white , gay men .
Subsequently , their communities were first in line when these drugs started becoming more widely available .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really know about it , hadn ’ t been learning about it for a couple years , ” Newells told the Post .
“ We know from that experience that we have to engage people early in the research end of it , so by the time something gets approved , it ’ s not something brand new .
I think it ’ s going to take time to talk to people about vaccine research.
” But therein lies one challenge : W ith so many trial details being finalized , it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conversations .
The unprecedented focus on speed also leaves many questions open—like whether people from Black communities are helping to shape and layout priorities for these trials .
This is needed to help overcome a built-in distrust of the medical community , one the profession has earned through centuries of harm enacted on Black bodies in the name of science .
Enslaved Africans who ran away from plantations suffered amputations to treat “ drapetomania , ” or “ runaway slave syndrome.
” A recent ProPublica investigation found a disproportionate number of Black Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this day .
The Tuskegee syphilis study famously administered syphilis to Black men without their consent , subsequently denying them treatment for the disease .
In Puerto Rico , low-income women died while participating in early testing of the birth control pill ; as another Washington Post article notes , no autopsies were conducted to see if their deaths were linked to the drug , “ which was given in much higher doses than it is today.
” Roshon Green , who works as a diversity educator for a health plan , perfectly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ communities now , after generations of neglect .
“ Now , all of a sudden , you come up with the vaccination and it ’ s supposed to work , and work well , and you want to try it on us ?
You haven ’ t paid attention to us for years , ” Green said .
“ You never care about us , and all of a sudden , you have a vaccination and you want to save us ?
No way.
” Like many others , Green plans to wait @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before she signs up for any coronavirus treatments .
In order for researchers and scientists to build the kind of trust necessary to ensure Black people are represented in the trials , open communication and targeted messaging , delivered by trusted figures within Black communities , will be key .
But , she adds , there also needs to be an acknowledgment of the inequality that has plagued America ’ s healthcare system , and how that has contributed to the disproportionate suffering African Americans have endured with regard to COVID-19 .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but it needs to be done .
As Consuelo H. Wilkins , Vanderbilt University ’ s Vice President for health equity research at Vanderbilt University Medical Center told The Post : “ It ’ s more important now than ever that we have minorities included .
We should be jumping over mountains to try and make this work .
”

It’s no secret by now that the coronavirus has had its most outsized impact on marginalized communities: Throughout the country, African American, Latinx and Native communities have suffered disproportionately from the coronavirus, as structural inequities have magnified the virus’ deadly impact.
With a rush to get a vaccine to market, it will be important to have these groups represented in clinical testing to ensure that the treatment works effectively for those most affected by the virus. But as the Washington Post reports, this kind of participation will be a challenge for groups who already lack access to proper medical care, distrust medical professionals, or both.
Advertisement
First, there’s the sheer number of volunteers needed—according to the Post, this could be as many as 30,000 volunteers from diverse communities for each trial.
“It’s a scientific necessity, but also a moral imperative, as younger people of color die of coronavirus at twice the rate of white people, and Black, Hispanic and Native Americans are hospitalized at four to five times the rate of white people in the same age groups,” writes the Post.
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This being the case, if vaccine trials comprise mostly 20-somethings or white college graduates, as is the case in other medical trials, “it will not give us the information we need,” Director of the National Institutes of Health Francis Collins said.
But to do this, there needs to be special engagement with communities of color, particularly Black communities.
Advertisement
From the Post:
Researchers leading the vaccine effort are convening community advisory boards to understand how to tailor messages and communicate respectfully with a number of at-risk groups, including Native Americans, Blacks, Latinos and older people. Small details will be critical. Brochures or ads for clinical trials must be available in multiple languages. They must depict minorities, but not just as test subjects. Materials prepared for tribal leaders and ethics specialists in one Native American community may need to answer different questions than those prepared for another, said Michele Andrasik, a senior staff scientist in the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center.
Advertisement
Early engagement is key, say experts who have done outreach to marginalized communities in the past. There are also recent examples of what this kind of engagement should look like and what it can accomplish. The Oakland, Calif.-based Reverend Rob Newells, an HIV activist and Black AIDS Institute’s new Director of National Programs, points to the HIV/AIDS epidemic of the early ’90s for lessons. Early breakthrough trials for HIV treatment regimens were dominated by white, gay men. Subsequently, their communities were first in line when these drugs started becoming more widely available.
“The Black people in Oakland didn’t really know about it, hadn’t been learning about it for a couple years,” Newells told the Post . “We know from that experience that we have to engage people early in the research end of it, so by the time something gets approved, it’s not something brand new. I think it’s going to take time to talk to people about vaccine research.”
Advertisement
But therein lies one challenge: W ith so many trial details being finalized, it’s been difficult to have these early conversations. The unprecedented focus on speed also leaves many questions open—like whether people from Black communities are helping to shape and layout priorities for these trials.
This is needed to help overcome a built-in distrust of the medical community, one the profession has earned through centuries of harm enacted on Black bodies in the name of science.
Advertisement
Enslaved Africans who ran away from plantations suffered amputations to treat “drapetomania,” or “runaway slave syndrome.” A recent ProPublica investigation found a disproportionate number of Black Americans receive amputations in those same counties to this day. The Tuskegee syphilis study famously administered syphilis to Black men without their consent, subsequently denying them treatment for the disease. In Puerto Rico, low-income women died while participating in early testing of the birth control pill; as another Washington Post article notes, no autopsies were conducted to see if their deaths were linked to the drug, “which was given in much higher doses than it is today.”
Roshon Green, who works as a diversity educator for a health plan, perfectly articulated the issue with appealing to Black communities now, after generations of neglect.
Advertisement
“Now, all of a sudden, you come up with the vaccination and it’s supposed to work, and work well, and you want to try it on us? You haven’t paid attention to us for years,” Green said. “You never care about us, and all of a sudden, you have a vaccination and you want to save us? No way.”
Like many others, Green plans to wait at least until vaccine trials are done before she signs up for any coronavirus treatments. In order for researchers and scientists to build the kind of trust necessary to ensure Black people are represented in the trials, open communication and targeted messaging, delivered by trusted figures within Black communities, will be key. But, she adds, there also needs to be an acknowledgment of the inequality that has plagued America’s healthcare system, and how that has contributed to the disproportionate suffering African Americans have endured with regard to COVID-19.
Advertisement
That kind of work will be difficult, but it needs to be done. As Consuelo H. Wilkins, Vanderbilt University’s Vice President for health equity research at Vanderbilt University Medical Center told The Post:
“It’s more important now than ever that we have minorities included. We should be jumping over mountains to try and make this work.”


theroot--2020-07-27--Biz Markie Has Been Hospitalized for Weeks Due to Diabetes Complications

Legendary rapper , beatboxer and DJ Biz Markie has reportedly been in the hospital for weeks being treated for an illness triggered by complications of Type 2 diabetes .
Per TMZ , a rep for the musician says that he is in a Maryland-area hospital , and the status of his condition is unclear .
“ He is receiving the best care from an amazing team of medical professionals and we remain positive about the outcome , ” the rep told the site .
Some of Markie ’ s musical contemporaries have offered their support via social media for his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Elliott , Fat Joe and Questlove .
“ Please get better Bizmark i love you , ” Fat Joe wrote on Twitter over the weekend with a prayer hands emoji .
The “ Just A Friend ” emcee has battled diabetes for quite some time and dropped over 140 pounds in 2014 in order to combat its effects .
In 2013 , he became the spokesperson for the sugar-free soda company Zevia .
“ I looked up in the mirror and said I had to make a change if I was going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a statement during promo for the product in 2013 .
However , he said he still has his moments where he sneaks “ junk food.
” “ Don ’ t get it twisted , I still cheat ; I just cheat less , ” he explained .
Thoughts and well wishes going to Biz and his loved ones .

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

Legendary rapper, beatboxer and DJ Biz Markie has reportedly been in the hospital for weeks being treated for an illness triggered by complications of Type 2 diabetes. Per TMZ, a rep for the musician says that he is in a Maryland-area hospital, and the status of his condition is unclear.
“He is receiving the best care from an amazing team of medical professionals and we remain positive about the outcome,” the rep told the site. Some of Markie’s musical contemporaries have offered their support via social media for his recovery, including Ice T, Missy Elliott, Fat Joe and Questlove.
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“Please get better Bizmark i love you,” Fat Joe wrote on Twitter over the weekend with a prayer hands emoji.
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The “Just A Friend” emcee has battled diabetes for quite some time and dropped over 140 pounds in 2014 in order to combat its effects. In 2013, he became the spokesperson for the sugar-free soda company Zevia.
“I looked up in the mirror and said I had to make a change if I was going to continue to live,” Markie said in a statement during promo for the product in 2013. However, he said he still has his moments where he sneaks “junk food.”
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“Don’t get it twisted, I still cheat; I just cheat less,” he explained.
Thoughts and well wishes going to Biz and his loved ones.
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theroot--2020-07-27--WFH Cluttering Your Living Space? This Storage Bedframe Upgrades Your Under-Bed Storage for $150 Les

WFH Cluttering Your Living Space? This Storage Bedframe Upgrades Your Under-Bed Storage for $150 Less Today

I didn ’ t know clutter until I moved into a Manhattan studio apartment with my partner and our two @ @ @ @ @ a half ago .
In our various excursions to Ikea leading up to our cohabitation @ @ @ @ @ investments was under-bed storage .
And I haven ’ t looked back .
Folks , @ @ @ @ @ there ’ s nothing like shoving shit you don ’ t know what to d @ @ @ @ @ and out of sight .
On sale for just over $ 500 on Amazon , @ @ @ @ @ bed from Modus Furniture is elegant and understated , but best of all , it @ @ @ @ @ 23 % and see for yourself what all the fuss is about .

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

Modus Furniture Simple Platform Storage Bed | $503 | Amazon
I didn’t know clutter until I moved into a Manhattan studio apartment with my partner and our two pets about a year and a half ago. In our various excursions to Ikea leading up to our cohabitation, one of our first investments was under-bed storage. And I haven’t looked back. Folks, let me tell you, there’s nothing like shoving shit you don’t know what to d o with under the bed and out of sight. On sale for just over $500 on Amazon, the queen-size Simple Platform storage bed from Modus Furniture is elegant and understated, but best of all, it’s practical. Save 23% and see for yourself what all the fuss is about.


theroot--2020-07-27--Tracee Ellis Ross Partners With Nonprofit PushBlack to Uplift Black Stories

These days ( well , every day if you ’ re really about that life ) , the M.O .
is to uplift Black people , our stories and our accomplishments .
Via Instagram last weekend , actress and entrepreneur Tracee Ellis Ross announced her new partnership with the nonprofit PushBlack in order to highlight outstanding Black people throughout history each and every day .
On Sunday , the Black-ish star posted a photo of the stunning Josephine Premice , a Haitian-American star of stage and screen .
She was nominated for two Tony Awards : one in 1957 for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and then in 1966 for the off-Broadway play A Hand is on the Gate .
She also made appearances on television shows including The Jeffersons , The Cosby Show and A Different World , and in films such as The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman .
“ Ms .
Premice was at once dressed by Givenchy , sculpted by Alexander Calder and was one of the reigning queens of Manhattan society ( unheard of for a Black woman at that time ) —yet rejected by casting agents time and time again because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote in the caption accompanying a photo slideshow of Brooklyn native Premice , who died in 2001 at the age of 74 .
Notably , she is also the mother of television producer , screenwriter and author Susan Fales-Hill .
“ Her story is just like many Black actresses of her day : supremely talented , multifaceted and complex , but either pigeonholed into maid roles or just plain overlooked by mainstream Hollywood , ” she continues .
“ So let ’ s uplift her.
” Ross then directs her followers to start @ @ @ @ @ @ @ daily Black history lessons .
According to their website , their dedication to sharing stories pertaining to the intersectionality of Black news and history has garnered them more than 4 million subscribers .
The site relies on small donations from readers to keep it up and running , so to learn more , click here .

These days (well, every day if you’re really about that life), the M.O. is to uplift Black people, our stories and our accomplishments. Via Instagram last weekend, actress and entrepreneur Tracee Ellis Ross announced her new partnership with the nonprofit PushBlack in order to highlight outstanding Black people throughout history each and every day.
On Sunday, the Black-ish star posted a photo of the stunning Josephine Premice, a Haitian-American star of stage and screen. She was nominated for two Tony Awards: one in 1957 for her work in Jamaica alongside Lena Horne, and then in 1966 for the off-Broadway play A Hand is on the Gate. She also made appearances on television shows including The Jeffersons, The Cosby Show and A Different World, and in films such as The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman.
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“Ms. Premice was at once dressed by Givenchy, sculpted by Alexander Calder and was one of the reigning queens of Manhattan society (unheard of for a Black woman at that time)—yet rejected by casting agents time and time again because of her dark skin,” Ross wrote in the caption accompanying a photo slideshow of Brooklyn native Premice, who died in 2001 at the age of 74. Notably, she is also the mother of television producer, screenwriter and author Susan Fales-Hill.
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“Her story is just like many Black actresses of her day: supremely talented, multifaceted and complex, but either pigeonholed into maid roles or just plain overlooked by mainstream Hollywood,” she continues. “So let’s uplift her.”
Ross then directs her followers to start following PushBlack, a Black-led nonprofit offering daily Black history lessons. According to their website, their dedication to sharing stories pertaining to the intersectionality of Black news and history has garnered them more than 4 million subscribers.
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The site relies on small donations from readers to keep it up and running, so to learn more, click here.
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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--2020-07-28--Not So De-Generous: Ellen's Long-Running Talk Show Is Under Investigation for Workplace Toxicity and

Not So De-Generous: Ellen's Long-Running Talk Show Is Under Investigation for Workplace Toxicity and Allegations of Racism

On her Emmy-winning daytime talk show , Ellen DeGeneres often ( if not always ) ends an episode with the sign-off “ be kind to one another.
” However , it ’ s been a not-so-secret secret that the set of her long-running show is a toxic , unfriendly environment to work in .
I n an exclusive report Monday from Variety , the workplace at The Ellen DeGeneres Show is the subject of an internal investigation .
Per the site , “ WarnerMedia ’ s employee relations group and a third-party firm ” will be interviewing current and former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the show .
The third-party group ’ s name has not been disclosed .
On July 16 , Buzzfeed News released a report about the culture behind-the-scenes of The Ellen DeGeneres Show .
Black employees came forward with allegations of “ microaggressions and racism ” at the hands of producers and other coworkers , and a story about an employee being fired for taking medical leave after a suicide attempt was one of the many jarring instances of toxicity chronicled in the damning write-up .
If you have the time ( and let @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) , I definitely recommend reading it .
In the exposé , former employees also called out DeGeneres herself for not calling out the toxicity if she is aware of what happens to those working under her .
“ If she wants to have her own show and have her name on the show title , she needs to be more involved to see what ’ s going on , ” one former employee proclaims .
“ I think the executive producers surround her and tell her , ‘ Things are going great @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and she just believes that , but it ’ s her responsibility to go beyond that.
” While DeGeneres herself has not commented on the report , producers at the show issued a statement to USA Today last week .
“ We are truly heartbroken and sorry to learn that even one person in our production family has had a negative experience , ” the statement read .
“ It ’ s not who we are and not who we strive to be , and not the mission Ellen has set for us.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ DeGeneres ’ 30 person stage crew was experiencing poor communication over “ the status of their working hours , pay , or inquiries about their mental and physical health ” during the beginnings of the pandemic , and hadn ’ t heard from producers for over a month at that point .
Well , there are a lot of people who are reportedly dancing a jig over the report , noting that public interest in the open secret has been years in the making .
( Full disclosure : I ’ d heard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Us Weekly , a source “ connected to the talk show ’ s production ” claims that employees have been gleefully going back and forth about “ the truth ” finally coming out .

On her Emmy-winning daytime talk show, Ellen DeGeneres often (if not always) ends an episode with the sign-off “be kind to one another.” However, it’s been a not-so-secret secret that the set of her long-running show is a toxic, unfriendly environment to work in.
In an exclusive report Monday from Variety, the workplace at The Ellen DeGeneres Show is the subject of an internal investigation. Per the site, “WarnerMedia’s employee relations group and a third-party firm” will be interviewing current and former staff members about their experiences working on the show. The third-party group’s name has not been disclosed.
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This development comes after Buzzfeed News released a report on July 16 about the culture behind-the-scenes of The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Black employees came forward with allegations of “microaggressions and racism” at the hands of producers and other coworkers, and a story about an employee being fired for taking medical leave after a suicide attempt was one of the many jarring instances of toxicity chronicled in the damning write-up. If you have the time (and let’s be real, you do), I definitely recommend reading it.
In the exposé, former employees also called out DeGeneres herself for not calling out the toxicity if she is aware of what happens to those working under her.
Advertisement Advertisement
“If she wants to have her own show and have her name on the show title, she needs to be more involved to see what’s going on,” one former employee proclaims. “I think the executive producers surround her and tell her, ‘Things are going great, everybody’s happy,’ and she just believes that, but it’s her responsibility to go beyond that.”
While DeGeneres herself has not commented on the report, producers at the show issued a statement to USA Today last week.
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“We are truly heartbroken and sorry to learn that even one person in our production family has had a negative experience,” the statement read. “It’s not who we are and not who we strive to be, and not the mission Ellen has set for us.” In April, Variety reported that DeGeneres’ 30 person stage crew was experiencing poor communication over “the status of their working hours, pay, or inquiries about their mental and physical health” during the beginnings of the pandemic, and hadn’t heard from producers for over a month at that point.
Well, there are a lot of people who are reportedly dancing a jig over the report, noting that public interest in the open secret has been years in the making. (Full disclosure: I’d heard about it long ago). Per Us Weekly, a source “connected to the talk show’s production” claims that employees have been gleefully going back and forth about “the truth” finally coming out.
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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--2020-07-29--'Umbrella Man' Seen Causing Property Damage During Early Minneapolis Protests Believed to be White S

'Umbrella Man' Seen Causing Property Damage During Early Minneapolis Protests Believed to be White Supremacist

In May , as protests over the death of George Floyd initially got underway in Minneapolis , a video went viral showing a man dressed in all black and carrying an umbrella , smashing windows at a AutoZone with a sledgehammer .
After months of investigation , Minneapolis police now believe the man may be a white supremacist .
The Star Tribune reports that an anonymous tip sent via email has identified the man as a member of the Hell ’ s Angels biker gang who was there to exacerbate racial tensions and incite violence .
An arson investigator for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s actions set off a chain reaction and were responsible for the looting and property damage seen during the early days of the protests .
The man spray painted “ Free Shit For Everyone , ” on the glass doors of the AutoZone before smashing it ’ s windows ; the store was later burned down .
“ This was the first fire that set off a string of fires and looting throughout the precinct and the rest of the city , ” Erika Christensen wrote in a search warrant affidavit filed in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actions of the person your affiant has been calling ‘ Umbrella man , ’ the protests had been relatively peaceful .
The actions of this person created an atmosphere of hostility and tension .
Your affiant believes that this individual ’ s sole aim was to incite violence.
” Police identified the suspect thanks to a tip that came via email last week , Christensen said .
At least two people died in the subsequent riots , which eventually spread as far as north Minneapolis and South St. Paul , and caused an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Police have also connected the 32-year-old man to a widely publicized incident in Stillwater late last month , in which a Muslim woman was confronted by a group of men wearing white supremacist garb .
Christensen says in the affidavit that she had spent countless hours watching videos across TikTok , YouTube , Snapchat , and various other social media platforms to try and identify the man , to no success .
Further investigation revealed that the man was also connected to an incident in June where a Muslim woman was harassed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a white supremacist gang based in Minnesota and Kentucky .
As protests against systemic racism and police brutality have continued through the summer , reports of white supremacists trying to sabotage them have grown in frequency .
This past weekend in Richmond , Ala. , police allege that a group of white supremacists masqueraded as Black Lives Matter protesters and began destroying property to derail what had been a peaceful protest .
Last month , an alleged ‘ Boogaloo Boy , ” was charged with murder in the death of a federal officer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oakland , Calif. 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 !

In May, as protests over the death of George Floyd initially got underway in Minneapolis, a video went viral showing a man dressed in all black and carrying an umbrella, smashing windows at a AutoZone with a sledgehammer. After months of investigation, Minneapolis police now believe the man may be a white supremacist.
The Star Tribune reports that an anonymous tip sent via email has identified the man as a member of the Hell’s Angels biker gang who was there to exacerbate racial tensions and incite violence. An arson investigator for the Minneapolis police believed the man’s actions set off a chain reaction and were responsible for the looting and property damage seen during the early days of the protests. The man spray painted “Free Shit For Everyone,” on the glass doors of the AutoZone before smashing it’s windows; the store was later burned down.
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From the Star Tribune:
“This was the first fire that set off a string of fires and looting throughout the precinct and the rest of the city,” Erika Christensen wrote in a search warrant affidavit filed in court this week. “Until the actions of the person your affiant has been calling ‘Umbrella man,’ the protests had been relatively peaceful. The actions of this person created an atmosphere of hostility and tension. Your affiant believes that this individual’s sole aim was to incite violence.” Police identified the suspect thanks to a tip that came via email last week, Christensen said. At least two people died in the subsequent riots, which eventually spread as far as north Minneapolis and South St. Paul, and caused an estimated $500 million in damage.
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Police have also connected the 32-year-old man to a widely publicized incident in Stillwater late last month, in which a Muslim woman was confronted by a group of men wearing white supremacist garb.
Christensen says in the affidavit that she had spent countless hours watching videos across TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat, and various other social media platforms to try and identify the man, to no success. Further investigation revealed that the man was also connected to an incident in June where a Muslim woman was harassed by members of the Aryan Cowboy Brotherhood, a white supremacist gang based in Minnesota and Kentucky.
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As protests against systemic racism and police brutality have continued through the summer, reports of white supremacists trying to sabotage them have grown in frequency. This past weekend in Richmond, Ala., police allege that a group of white supremacists masqueraded as Black Lives Matter protesters and began destroying property to derail what had been a peaceful protest. Last month, an alleged ‘Boogaloo Boy,” was charged with murder in the death of a federal officer during a Black Lives Matter protest in Oakland, Calif.
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--2020-07-28--Five Sex Toy Wipes for Every Need and Every Budget

Toy cleaning wipes are an incredibly convenient product for people who use sex toys in their regular life .
They can be stashed in a bedside table drawer , packed in a Dopp kit for use when traveling , and they ’ re the perfect thing to use for quick cleaning a toy in between uses .
The convenience factor makes toy cleaning wipes one of the best toy cleaning products you can buy .
Liquid or foam toy cleaners are great but work no better or worse than a mild hand soap and aren ’ t strictly necessary .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a big “ How to Travel With Your Sex Toys ” kick .
Might as well round it out with portable toy cleaner since , even on vacation , your toys will need to be cleaned .
One of the great things about toy wipes as a product type is that they can be used to clean sex toys , and they can also be used to clean body parts and fluids .
Aneros unscented antibacterial wipes come in a pack of 25 wipes and get high marks for being unscented and non-irritating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 5 '' by 4 '' and has a tight-sealing top that stays closed to keep the wipes from drying out when not in use .
AfterGlow toy t issues come 20 to a flat pack , which has a resealable flap closure .
They have a light citrus scent and are infused with aloe to soothe irritated and sensitive skin .
These wipes aren ’ t a stand-in for deeper cleaning—no wipes are , and you ’ ll always want to give toys a thorough washing with soap or toy cleaner and water @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very valuable addition to your toy chest , bedside table , or overnight bag .
While dedicated toy wipes exist , you ’ re not bound by product marketing when making this kind of purchase—other “ personal ” wipes can be pressed into service as a toy wipe .
But there are some important things to know about this !
The first is this : Don ’ t use anything to clean a toy that you wouldn ’ t also use to clean yourself .
That means that household cleaning wipes like Clorox @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used as toy cleaning wipes .
Also , give the ingredient list a once- over and avoid any products that contain alcohol or silicone , which can cause degradation in silicone and latex toys .
Cora pH b alanced b amboo f eminine w ipes fit the bill on all counts and come in neutral-looking packaging that doesn ’ t announce its purpose to the world .
Now then , as far as I can tell there ’ s no especially good reason that personal wipes need to be gendered products but I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these things and so for now , we ’ ll simply have to live with it .
The Cora wipes , while marketed for “ feminine ” use , come in neutral-looking packaging but they ’ re scented ; Gronk Fitness s hower w ipes , by contrast , are unscented , which many people , regardless of their gender identity will prefer .
More significant , however , is the size of the Gronk w ipe ( what a world , eh ? )
which is , well , Gronk-sized .
So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cover more area , whether that area is made of flesh or of Fleshlight , is what you need , the Gronk w ipes are the ticket .
If you ’ re a regular user of toy wipes looking for the most economical way to maintain your stock , look no further than adult bathroom wipes .
Yup !
Good ole butt wipes , like Cottonelle FreshFeel f lushable w et w ipes , will work just fine as toy cleaning wipes .
HOWEVER .
There is an important thing to say about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like them—toy wipes , personal wipes , butt wipes , household cleaning wipes , all of them : They are not flushable .
No matter what the packaging says !
NOT .
FLUSHABLE .
Thank you for your attention to this matter !

Jolie Kerr on The Inventory, shared by Gabe Carey to The Root

Toy cleaning wipes are an incredibly convenient product for people who use sex toys in their regular life. They can be stashed in a bedside table drawer, packed in a Dopp kit for use when traveling, and they’re the perfect thing to use for quick cleaning a toy in between uses. The convenience factor makes toy cleaning wipes one of the best toy cleaning products you can buy. Liquid or foam toy cleaners are great but work no better or worse than a mild hand soap and aren’t strictly necessary. Plus, we’ve been on a big “How to Travel With Your Sex Toys” kick. Might as well round it out with portable toy cleaner since, even on vacation, your toys will need to be cleaned.
One of the great things about toy wipes as a product type is that they can be used to clean sex toys, and they can also be used to clean body parts and fluids. Aneros unscented antibacterial wipes come in a pack of 25 wipes and get high marks for being unscented and non-irritating for sensitive skin. The package is 5" by 4" and has a tight-sealing top that stays closed to keep the wipes from drying out when not in use.
Advertisement
AfterGlow toy t issues come 20 to a flat pack, which has a resealable flap closure. They have a light citrus scent and are infused with aloe to soothe irritated and sensitive skin. These wipes aren’t a stand-in for deeper cleaning—no wipes are, and you’ll always want to give toys a thorough washing with soap or toy cleaner and water before storing them again—they’re a very valuable addition to your toy chest, bedside table, or overnight bag.
Advertisement Advertisement
While dedicated toy wipes exist, you’re not bound by product marketing when making this kind of purchase—other “personal” wipes can be pressed into service as a toy wipe. But there are some important things to know about this! The first is this: Don’t use anything to clean a toy that you wouldn’t also use to clean yourself. That means that household cleaning wipes like Clorox or Lysol w ipes should NOT be used as toy cleaning wipes. Also, give the ingredient list a once- over and avoid any products that contain alcohol or silicone, which can cause degradation in silicone and latex toys. Cora pH b alanced b amboo f eminine w ipes fit the bill on all counts and come in neutral-looking packaging that doesn’t announce its purpose to the world.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Now then, as far as I can tell there’s no especially good reason that personal wipes need to be gendered products but I’m not i n charge of these things and so for now, we’ll simply have to live with it. The Cora wipes, while marketed for “feminine” use, come in neutral-looking packaging but they’re scented; Gronk Fitness s hower w ipes, by contrast, are unscented, which many people, regardless of their gender identity will prefer. More significant , however, is the size of the Gronk w ipe (what a world, eh?) which is, well, Gronk-sized. So! If a larger wipe that can cover more area, whether that area is made of flesh or of Fleshlight, is what you need, the Gronk w ipes are the ticket.
If you’re a regular user of toy wipes looking for the most economical way to maintain your stock, look no further than adult bathroom wipes. Yup! Good ole butt wipes, like Cottonelle FreshFeel f lushable w et w ipes, will work just fine as toy cleaning wipes. HOWEVER. There is an important thing to say about these specific wipes and all other wipes like them—toy wipes, personal wipes, butt wipes, household cleaning wipes, all of them: They are not flushable. No matter what the packaging says! NOT. FLUSHABLE. Thank you for your attention to this matter!


theroot--2020-07-28--Florida's Youngest to Die From COVID-19 Is a Little Black Girl

Health officials in Florida say that a 9-year-old girl is the youngest person in the state to die from COVID-19 .
Kimora “ Kimmie ” Lynum from Gainesville died from coronavirus complications on July 17 .
According to a GoFundMe created by her family to cover medical bills and funeral expenses , Kimmie was taken to hospital with a high fever about a week before she died but was not tested for COVID-19 at the time .
The young girl started feeling ill on July 11 and was brought to a local hospital days later , Young-Holmes said .
Though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ degrees , Kimmie was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection and sent home , according to the mom .
“ We took her to the hospital , the children ’ s pediatric , ” Young-Holmes recalled , telling local new station WCJB that Kimmie was not tested for coronavirus while they were at the hospital .
“ I thought they would have jumped on that when they saw her fever.
” Young-Holmes said her daughter was diagnosed with coronavirus after her death .
She is the fifth minor in the state to die @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Local authorities are still trying to determine how the little girl may have gotten infected and say she did not have any underlying health conditions that would make her more susceptible .
Kimme ’ s death comes as Florida ’ s Health Department continues to record increases in the number of children there with COVID-19—at last count , 31,000 have been infected , and hospitalizations have increased by double digits in the past week .
Despite this , Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis is still marching in lockstep with the Trump administration on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in-person instruction , reports Bay 9 News .
“ I really believe that the teachers and the administrators that are there , they serve so many functions in the lives of our kids , particularly those who come from disadvantaged backgrounds , ” he said in a press conference with Vice President Mike Pence on Monday .

Health officials in Florida say that a 9-year-old girl is the youngest person in the state to die from COVID-19.
Kimora “Kimmie” Lynum from Gainesville died from coronavirus complications on July 17. According to a GoFundMe created by her family to cover medical bills and funeral expenses, Kimmie was taken to hospital with a high fever about a week before she died but was not tested for COVID-19 at the time.
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From People:
The young girl started feeling ill on July 11 and was brought to a local hospital days later, Young-Holmes said. Though her daughter’s temperature was 103 degrees, Kimmie was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection and sent home, according to the mom. “We took her to the hospital, the children’s pediatric,” Young-Holmes recalled, telling local new station WCJB that Kimmie was not tested for coronavirus while they were at the hospital. “I thought they would have jumped on that when they saw her fever.”
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Young-Holmes said her daughter was diagnosed with coronavirus after her death. She is the fifth minor in the state to die from COVID-19, according to CNN. Local authorities are still trying to determine how the little girl may have gotten infected and say she did not have any underlying health conditions that would make her more susceptible.
Kimme’s death comes as Florida’s Health Department continues to record increases in the number of children there with COVID-19—at last count, 31,000 have been infected, and hospitalizations have increased by double digits in the past week.
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Despite this, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is still marching in lockstep with the Trump administration on the issue of opening schools up for in-person instruction, reports Bay 9 News.
“I really believe that the teachers and the administrators that are there, they serve so many functions in the lives of our kids, particularly those who come from disadvantaged backgrounds,” he said in a press conference with Vice President Mike Pence on Monday.


theroot--2020-07-28--Calls Grow for Republican Alabama State Representative to Resign After Celebrating the Birthday of K

Calls Grow for Republican Alabama State Representative to Resign After Celebrating the Birthday of KKK Leader

Man , white people aren ’ t even trying to hide it anymore .
Which , I suppose , is a good thing , right ?
We should want the racists to expose themselves .
Still , there ’ s something surreal seeing white people shamelessly indulging their racist beliefs .
Take for instance Alabama state Rep. Will Dismukes ( R-Prattville ) , who posted on Facebook that he had a “ great time ” celebrating the birthday of Confederate General and Ku Klux Klan leader Nathan Bedford Forrest .
According to AL , the Alabama Democratic Party has called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is the second time the party has called on Dismukes to resign , the first being in late June when Dismukes advocated for the state to continue funding the Confederate Memorial Park .
Dismukes is a chaplain for the Prattville Dragoons , a chapter of the Sons of the Confederacy , and gave the invocation for the event , held at Fort Dixie in Selma , Ala. A picture posted by Dismukes shows him standing behind a podium with a Confederate flag and portrait of Forrest behind him .
Alabama Democratic Party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an “ extremist ” that is “ unfit to hold office ” as a result of the incident , AL notes .
“ Will Dismukes has demonstrated yet again why he is unfit to hold public office .
Americans don ’ t celebrate racists or traitors .
Nathan Bedford Forrest was both .
And a founder of the Klan .
The Alabama Democratic Party renews our call for Dismukes to resign .
It ’ s 2020 and it ’ s time for racial extremists like Will Dismukes to go away , ” Perry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Party Chairwoman Terry Lathan has said that it should be up to the voters to decide what happens to Dismukes while also condemning the post .
“ It is one thing to honor one ’ s Southern heritage , however , it is completely another issue to specifically commemorate the leader of an organization with an indisputable history of unconscionable actions and atrocities toward African-Americans , ” Lathan said .
Alabama House Speaker Mac McCutcheon co-signed with Lathan .
” The Alabama House can not police the beliefs , statements , & activities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that is a job best assigned to voters , ” McCutcheon tweeted on Monday .
I kind of have a big problem with that logic .
A person ’ s actions , typically , are guided by what their belief system is .
What is politics if not a group of people doing what they believe is right ?
If you got a dude who clearly believes it ’ s OK to celebrate one of the leaders of the KKK , in 2020 , during a period of immense racial upheaval , you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ check dude .
You can ’ t say “ this is completely unacceptable !
” and then turn around and do nothing .
Dismukes deleted the post and said he “ was in no way glorifying the Klan or disrespecting the late Rep. John Lewis , ” the civil rights leader and congressman from Georgia who died over a week ago and was honored on Sunday as his casket was carried across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma , Ala. , the site of the 1965 “ Bloody Sunday ” march .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Dismukes swears he ’ s not a racist .
He just says racist things and goes to racist events .
During our interview , Dismukes worked to distance the Confederate Army from the Klan , which evolved after the Confederacy lost the Civil War .
He stated it was Forrest ’ s choice to join the Klan , which is labeled as a white supremacist hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center .
Dismukes declined to answer whether this changed his perspective on Forrest and whether he would attend the event @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a racist but doesn ’ t see the need for the current movement for racial reconciliation , calling the Black Lives Matter movement a communist organization .
Dismukes says it ’ s time to focus on equality for all .
“ We no longer drink from separate water fountains , and we no longer have segregated schools , ” he explained .
“ You know there ’ s abundant work opportunities for all colors , there ’ s abundant scholarship opportunities for all colors .
So what are you asking that needs to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ child .
This mans really said , “ What are you even mad about ?
You can drink from water fountains !
” I ’ m just saying , don ’ t be surprised if Dismukes changes his last name to Cotton and starts arguing the necessity of slavery .
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 .
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Man, white people aren’t even trying to hide it anymore. Which, I suppose, is a good thing, right? We should want the racists to expose themselves. Still, there’s something surreal seeing white people shamelessly indulging their racist beliefs. Take for instance Alabama state Rep. Will Dismukes (R-Prattville), who posted on Facebook that he had a “great time” celebrating the birthday of Confederate General and Ku Klux Klan leader Nathan Bedford Forrest.
According to AL, the Alabama Democratic Party has called on Dismukes to resign from office. This is the second time the party has called on Dismukes to resign, the first being in late June when Dismukes advocated for the state to continue funding the Confederate Memorial Park. Dismukes is a chaplain for the Prattville Dragoons, a chapter of the Sons of the Confederacy, and gave the invocation for the event, held at Fort Dixie in Selma, Ala. A picture posted by Dismukes shows him standing behind a podium with a Confederate flag and portrait of Forrest behind him.
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Alabama Democratic Party Executive Director Wade Perry has labeled Dismukes an “extremist” that is “unfit to hold office” as a result of the incident, AL notes. “Will Dismukes has demonstrated yet again why he is unfit to hold public office. Americans don’t celebrate racists or traitors. Nathan Bedford Forrest was both. And a founder of the Klan. The Alabama Democratic Party renews our call for Dismukes to resign. It’s 2020 and it’s time for racial extremists like Will Dismukes to go away,” Perry said in a statement.
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Alabama Republican Party Chairwoman Terry Lathan has said that it should be up to the voters to decide what happens to Dismukes while also condemning the post. “It is one thing to honor one’s Southern heritage, however, it is completely another issue to specifically commemorate the leader of an organization with an indisputable history of unconscionable actions and atrocities toward African-Americans,” Lathan said.
Alabama House Speaker Mac McCutcheon co-signed with Lathan. ”The Alabama House cannot police the beliefs, statements, & activities of its members outside the Legislature as that is a job best assigned to voters,” McCutcheon tweeted on Monday.
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I kind of have a big problem with that logic. A person’s actions, typically, are guided by what their belief system is. What is politics if not a group of people doing what they believe is right?
If you got a dude who clearly believes it’s OK to celebrate one of the leaders of the KKK, in 2020, during a period of immense racial upheaval, you might, you know, want to check dude. You can’t say “this is completely unacceptable!” and then turn around and do nothing.
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Dismukes deleted the post and said he “was in no way glorifying the Klan or disrespecting the late Rep. John Lewis,” the civil rights leader and congressman from Georgia who died over a week ago and was honored on Sunday as his casket was carried across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Ala., the site of the 1965 “Bloody Sunday” march. In an interview with WSFA about the post, Dismukes swears he’s not a racist. He just says racist things and goes to racist events.
From WSFA:
During our interview, Dismukes worked to distance the Confederate Army from the Klan, which evolved after the Confederacy lost the Civil War. He stated it was Forrest’s choice to join the Klan, which is labeled as a white supremacist hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. Dismukes declined to answer whether this changed his perspective on Forrest and whether he would attend the event again. Dismukes denies he’s a racist but doesn’t see the need for the current movement for racial reconciliation, calling the Black Lives Matter movement a communist organization. Dismukes says it’s time to focus on equality for all. “We no longer drink from separate water fountains, and we no longer have segregated schools,” he explained. “You know there’s abundant work opportunities for all colors, there’s abundant scholarship opportunities for all colors. So what are you asking that needs to be racially reconciled?”
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Whew, child. This mans really said, “What are you even mad about? You can drink from water fountains!” I’m just saying, don’t be surprised if Dismukes changes his last name to Cotton and starts arguing the necessity of slavery.
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theroot--2020-07-28--The NFL Unveils Its Master Plan to 'Help Conquer Racism' With a Stencil. No, Really

Here I was thinking that I ’ d have to spend the rest of my days ducking from disproportionate jail sentences , Donald Trump ’ s Twitter feed and the KKK , but it would appear that after hundreds of years of torment and generational trauma , the NFL might ’ ve finally found the cure for racism .
ESPN reports that as the NFL continues to pull down our pants and kiss our collective asses as part of its ever-evolving social justice campaign , the league will stencil “ It Takes All of Us ” and “ End Racism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each home opener .
Now , as to why the NFL is going to such extraordinary lengths to flaunt its commitment to addressing racial inequality , the league insists that it ’ s to demonstrate “ how football and the NFL brings people together to work as one ” and “ use our example and our actions to help conquer racism.
” That ’ s right .
The NFL is conquering racism , dammit .
We ’ ve previously reported that the NFL will also feature prerecorded performances of “ Lift Every Voice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and allow players to wear helmet decals to commemorate victims of systemic racism and police violence , such as George Floyd , Tamir Rice and Breonna Taylor .
Oh , and don ’ t forget that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is now encouraging players to peacefully protest during the national anthem—but only after a bit of prodding , of course .
On the surface , this sounds all well and good , but it ’ s almost as if the league is doing just about everything humanly possible to make us forget that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exact same thing almost four years ago .
But that would be revisionist history .
And the NFL would never do that , right ?
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 !

Here I was thinking that I’d have to spend the rest of my days ducking from disproportionate jail sentences, Donald Trump’s Twitter feed and the KKK, but it would appear that after hundreds of years of torment and generational trauma, the NFL might’ve finally found the cure for racism.
ESPN reports that as the NFL continues to pull down our pants and kiss our collective asses as part of its ever-evolving social justice campaign, the league will stencil “It Takes All of Us” and “End Racism” along the end zone borders for each home opener. Now, as to why the NFL is going to such extraordinary lengths to flaunt its commitment to addressing racial inequality, the league insists that it’s to demonstrate “how football and the NFL brings people together to work as one” and “use our example and our actions to help conquer racism.”
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That’s right. The NFL is conquering racism, dammit.
Thanks, NFL!
We’ve previously reported that the NFL will also feature prerecorded performances of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” during Week 1 games and allow players to wear helmet decals to commemorate victims of systemic racism and police violence, such as George Floyd, Tamir Rice and Breonna Taylor.
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Oh, and don’t forget that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is now encouraging players to peacefully protest during the national anthem—but only after a bit of prodding, of course.
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On the surface, this sounds all well and good, but it’s almost as if the league is doing just about everything humanly possible to make us forget that Colin Kaepernick was exiled for doing the exact same thing almost four years ago.
But that would be revisionist history. And the NFL would never do that, right?
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--2020-07-28--Big Beauty Tuesday: When It Comes to Magazine Covers, What's the Line Between Art and Insult?

By now , you ’ ve likely seen them , heard about them , and maybe even participated in the conversation about two of August ’ s most striking—and controversial—magazine covers : Simone Biles photographed by Annie Leibovitz for the cover of Vogue and Viola Davis atop Vanity Fair , photographed by Dario Calmese—remarkably the first Black photographer to shoot a cover for the 37-year-old magazine ( which , coincidentally , have most frequently been shot by Leibovitz since the magazine ’ s genesis in 1983 ) .
It ’ s a bittersweet triumph to be celebrating in 2020 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Calmese ’ s achievement is loaded , as is his portrait of Davis , very deliberately posed to evoke the famous “ Scourged Back ” photograph depicting the scarred back of Private Gordon , a formerly enslaved man who ran 80 miles to freedom to join the Union Army in 1863 .
As Calmese told the New York Times of his history-making opportunity : “ I did know that this was a moment to say something ...
I knew this was a moment to be , like , extra Black.
” Some felt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a progressive way .
Specifically , there was concern that the reference exploited the darkness of Davis ’ skin in a way that never would ’ ve occurred were the subject lighter-skinned .
Since this was Calmese ’ s first shot at a cover , it ’ s an impossible question to answer .
But it ’ s a valid one ; particularly when one also considers that Davis is only the 25th black person to appear solo on a cover of Vanity Fair , according to current editor-in-chief Radhika Jones .
Notably @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have appeared since Jones assumed the role in late 2017 .
“ For her , the image represented the strength it takes to tell your own story , she said , ” the Times writes .
“ For Mr. Calmese , it is about rewriting an old story.
” Like slavery narratives in general , it ’ s a story many of us have become weary of hearing and seeing—and one that threatens to exoticize trauma .
But it is a story Calmese has the right to tell , and one in which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agency and thoughtful participation in producing .
In his defense , Calmese gave further context to his blue-scaled cover image in an Instagram post last week , crediting the numerous Black women creatives who influenced the image in addition to Davis , writing .
The Other References : Of course we are more than our past .
Walking into this shoot as a cis-gendered male commissioned to shoot a Black woman ...
I knew there would be blind spots ( shoutout to @ samiranasr & @ chapoteau for your voices ) .
So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for clues in how they chose to represent themselves : 1 .
“ Source Notes , 2019 ” by @ lornasimpson .
2 .
“ Starry Night and the Astronauts , 1972 ” by Alma Thomas , which I first encountered in 2016 at @ studiomuseum ( @ thelmagolden 🙏🏽 ) .
3 .
“ Back ( Eyes in the Back of Your Head ) , 1991 ” by @ lornasimpson .
4 .
“ Museums , 2006 ” by @ carriemaeweems .
The blues .
The back .
The disregard .
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of context ?
The two Vogue covers of Biles produced by Leibovitz in her signature style—a desaturated approach many felt did a disservice to the diminutive Olympian powerhouse .
In fact , some questioned the veteran photographer ’ s ability to light brown skin—a suggestion not only insulting to Leibovitz , but also to the aesthetic she has so deliberately developed and diplomatically adhered to throughout her now 50-year career .
As a widely celebrated fine art portrait photographer , Leibowitz has had subjects of all hues before her lens—should she be expected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , should Black skin be the predominant consideration when we ’ re photographed—despite the fact that such an approach could arguably be as fetishizing as some feel Calmese ’ s portrait was ?
Or is it simply that without enough visible and varied Black images and Black image-creators , we ’ re not able to simply observe , assess and enjoy art for art ’ s sake , because we so rarely see ourselves represented in it ?
It ’ s a discussion worth having—and what we ’ re talking about this Big @ @ @ @ @ @ @

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

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