theroot--2020-12-14--Baby, Let’s Cruise Away From Here and Celebrate Whatever the Hell ‘Cha-nookah’ Is With Smokey Robins

Baby, Let’s Cruise Away From Here and Celebrate Whatever the Hell ‘Cha-nookah’ Is With Smokey Robinson

First of all , let me start off by saying that Smokey Robinson is a national treasure : A gem that must be protected at all costs .
He ’ s our mama ’ s and mama ’ s mama and play-auntie ’ s favorite singer , so there will be no slanderous Smokey talk in this piece .
However , because Smokey is currently trending , I have no choice to address the elephant—or rather the “ cha-nookah ” —in the room .
You see , a Twitter user by the name of Jeff Jacobson posted a Cameo video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his brother purchased as a Chanukah gift for their mother .
Apparently , Jacobson ’ s mother lived on the same street as Smokey back in the day in Detroit and like a good son , Jacobson thought it would be cute to reunite them .
Things were going pretty good in the beginning , b ut it wasn ’ t until the 27-second mark when things turned unintentionally endearing .
The “ Cruisin ’ ” singer-songwriter adorably albeit mistakenly mispronounced the holiday Chanukah ( a more traditional way of spelling Hanukkah ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cha-nookah , ” not once but four times in the video .
Yes , that ’ s right : “ Cha-nookah.
” See for yourself .
But anyway , you ’ re living in Vancouver now and they wanted me to wish you ‘ happy Chanukah.
’ I have no idea what ‘ Chanukah ’ is but happy Chanukah because they said so .
Anyway , God bless you babe and enjoy Chanukah .
Have a wonderful time .
Now , no shade to Chanukah at all here ( because we respect all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parks ) , but me , personally—I would like to start a petition to celebrate Cha-nookah in 2021 in addition to Chanukah from this point on .
I don ’ t know what activities we ’ d engage in or even if a menorah would or should be involved , but I ’ m willing to volunteer on the Cha-nookah Committee as long we put Smokey in charge of the music .
It ’ s only right , right ?
Since we ’ re planning , we should probably also talk about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m thinking we should stay somewhere between ( baby shower staples ) Lil ’ Smokies , “ Ooh Baby , Baby ” quiches , and sufganiyot .
( The latter is a Jewish jelly doughnut , for those who may be unaware . )
That should suffice .
And as far as dress code goes , we should probably stick to our Sabbath best .
You can usually never go wrong with that .
Unless , of course , any of you plan on wearing those big hats that block other folk ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ politely ask you to sit in the back upon your arrival .
Hmm .
This is all getting to be a bit much .
I need to deliberate amongst the other members of the committee .
Let ’ s circle back to this conversation around this time next year , shall we ?

First of all, let me start off by saying that Smokey Robinson is a national treasure: A gem that must be protected at all costs. He’s our mama’s and mama’s mama and play-auntie ’s favorite singer, so there will be no slanderous Smokey talk in this piece. However, because Smokey is currently trending, I have no choice to address the elephant—or rather the “cha-nookah”—in the room.
I’ll explain.
You see, a Twitter user by the name of Jeff Jacobson posted a Cameo video from the Motown legend that he and his brother purchased as a Chanukah gift for their mother. Apparently, Jacobson’s mother lived on the same street as Smokey back in the day in Detroit and like a good son, Jacobson thought it would be cute to reunite them. Things were going pretty good in the beginning, b ut it wasn’t until the 27-second mark when things turned unintentionally endearing. The “Cruisin’” singer-songwriter adorably albeit mistakenly mispronounced the holiday Chanukah (a more traditional way of spelling Hanukkah), instead calling the eight-day celebration “Cha-nookah,” not once but four times in the video. Yes, that’s right: “Cha-nookah.” See for yourself.
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But anyway, you’re living in Vancouver now and they wanted me to wish you ‘happy Chanukah.’ I have no idea what ‘Chanukah’ is but happy Chanukah because they said so. Anyway, God bless you babe and enjoy Chanukah. Have a wonderful time.
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Now, no shade to Chanukah at all here (because we respect all religious affiliations and holidays ‘round these parks), but me, personally—I would like to start a petition to celebrate Cha-nookah in 2021 in addition to Chanukah from this point on. I don’t know what activities we’d engage in or even if a menorah would or should be involved, but I’m willing to volunteer on the Cha-nookah Committee as long we put Smokey in charge of the music. It’s only right, right?
Since we’re planning, we should probably also talk about the menu and dress code. I’m thinking we should stay somewhere between (baby shower staples) Lil’ Smokies, “Ooh Baby, Baby” quiches, and sufganiyot. (The latter is a Jewish jelly doughnut, for those who may be unaware.) That should suffice. And as far as dress code goes, we should probably stick to our Sabbath best. You can usually never go wrong with that. Unless, of course, any of you plan on wearing those big hats that block other folk’s blessings—in which case, I will politely ask you to sit in the back upon your arrival. Hmm. This is all getting to be a bit much. I need to deliberate amongst the other members of the committee. Let’s circle back to this conversation around this time next year, shall we?
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And before I forget, Happy Chanukah!


theroot--2020-12-14--'He Was Spiritually Rooted': Costume Designer Ruth E. Carter Remembers Chadwick Boseman in Poignant

'He Was Spiritually Rooted': Costume Designer Ruth E. Carter Remembers Chadwick Boseman in Poignant Op-Ed

The first time we interviewed legendary costume designer Ruth E. Carter , it was in anticipation of the 2018 release of Black Panther , the Marvel blockbuster that brought her a long-deserved Academy Award and catapulted its lead actor , Chadwick Boseman , to international fame .
It was the duo ’ s second consecutive film , having also worked together on 2017 's Marshall , where Boseman played the titular role of Thurgood Marshall .
Carter recounted the story of her meeting and subsequent creative collaboration with Boseman , who died in August of colon cancer , in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saturday .
“ On the first day of filming on Marshall I found out that I would be designing for Black Panther , which meant we ’ d be working together again , ” she wrote .
“ I wondered if I should tell him , but I decided not to .
Around two weeks before we finished , I finally told him , and he said : ‘ Oh , I already knew.
’ ” Recalling the late actor ’ s first fitting for the role of Thurgood Marshall , she wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ black-and-white videos of people in the 40s doing the lindy hop and going out partying .
He started doing some of his James Brown moves [ from 2014 's Get on Up ] in the room , to get us into the mood—I was amazed at his dancing abilities .
Thurgood Marshall would have had the tie and the pinstripe double-breasted suit and the pocket squares , so I put all of those things on Chadwick and he started to embody , maybe for the first time , what he was feeling about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work with someone who wanted to connect costume to character like that .
Boseman ’ s death was a shock to all but his closest friends and family , as it was revealed he ’ d been living with what began as a Stage 3 diagnosis since 2016 .
During that time , he made seven films , cementing his status as one of Hollywood ’ s most talented actors , but as Carter and others have noted , he was also emotionally intelligent .
“ He was a very thoughtful person , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” she wrote .
“ Once you asked him a question , he was an open book , but he wasn ’ t volunteering the information , probably because he wanted to hear what you had to say.
” Boseman was also entirely committed to his craft , and to the collaborative process that is filmmaking .
Sharing various anecdotes from their time working together , Carter explained that Boseman was always a gracious participant in the process .
He understood the process and the team effort involved in telling a story @ @ @ @ @ @ @ himself , so he was never bothered by you being there ...
He was spiritually rooted .
He was strong in his own self-assurance and mature in his approach to his work .
And he was very kind .
There are some celebrities who make you nervous , like : “ Oh , God , maybe they ’ ll get me fired because they don ’ t like their pants.
” He never seemed to be that way .
We would crack jokes about things that didn ’ t work .
It made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not so bad .
Most poignantly , Carter articulated a loss felt far beyond the insular enclave of Hollywood .
Echoing the mourning many of us have experienced , not only in response to Boseman ’ s unexpected passing but the myriad tragic events of 2020—including the deaths of Kobe and Gianna Bryant , the ongoing tragedy of COVID-19 crisis , and the extrajudicial murders of George Floyd , Breonna Taylor , Elijah McClain—she wrote : When I heard he ’ d passed away , I was stunned .
I was alone in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feels like your whole insides are empty .
Your heart doesn ’ t beat , your lungs don ’ t breathe , your blood isn ’ t turning , your mind is not focused on anything , you ’ re just in a state of disbelief .
My phone started to get a lot of text messages and calls , but I wouldn ’ t answer them because I felt , if this is true , I need to sit with it .
I wanted to fill myself up with him and just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what I did for the entire night .
The next day , I started connecting with other Marvel people and collaborators and friends , and the loss becomes more communal .
As Carter noted , Boseman will “ be remembered as an amazing actor who departed on his own terms , ” forever revered as a hero , on and off-screen .
“ I think the love of what we do really shined in him , ” she concluded .

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

The first time we interviewed legendary costume designer Ruth E. Carter, it was in anticipation of the 2018 release of Black Panther, the Marvel blockbuster that brought her a long-deserved Academy Award and catapulted its lead actor, Chadwick Boseman, to international fame. It was the duo’s second consecutive film, having also worked together on 2017's Marshall, where Boseman played the titular role of Thurgood Marshall.
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Carter recounted the story of her meeting and subsequent creative collaboration with Boseman, who died in August of colon cancer, in a heartfelt tribute published by the Guardian on Saturday.
“On the first day of filming on Marshall I found out that I would be designing for Black Panther, which meant we’d be working together again,” she wrote. “I wondered if I should tell him, but I decided not to. Around two weeks before we finished, I finally told him, and he said: ‘Oh, I already knew.’”
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Recalling the late actor’s first fitting for the role of Thurgood Marshall, she wrote:
...I showed him images and black-and-white videos of people in the 40s doing the lindy hop and going out partying. He started doing some of his James Brown moves [from 2014's Get on Up] in the room, to get us into the mood—I was amazed at his dancing abilities. Thurgood Marshall would have had the tie and the pinstripe double-breasted suit and the pocket squares, so I put all of those things on Chadwick and he started to embody, maybe for the first time, what he was feeling about the character. It was wonderful to work with someone who wanted to connect costume to character like that.
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Boseman’s death was a shock to all but his closest friends and family, as it was revealed he’d been living with what began as a Stage 3 diagnosis since 2016. During that time, he made seven films, cementing his status as one of Hollywood’s most talented actors, but as Carter and others have noted, he was also emotionally intelligent.
“He was a very thoughtful person, and quiet, but not necessarily reserved,” she wrote. “Once you asked him a question, he was an open book, but he wasn’t volunteering the information, probably because he wanted to hear what you had to say.”
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Boseman was also entirely committed to his craft, and to the collaborative process that is filmmaking. Sharing various anecdotes from their time working together, Carter explained that Boseman was always a gracious participant in the process.
He understood the process and the team effort involved in telling a story, having directed for film and theatre himself, so he was never bothered by you being there...He was spiritually rooted. He was strong in his own self-assurance and mature in his approach to his work. And he was very kind. There are some celebrities who make you nervous, like: “Oh, God, maybe they’ll get me fired because they don’t like their pants.” He never seemed to be that way. We would crack jokes about things that didn’t work. It made that feeling of having messed things up not so bad.
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Most poignantly, Carter articulated a loss felt far beyond the insular enclave of Hollywood. Echoing the mourning many of us have experienced, not only in response to Boseman’s unexpected passing but the myriad tragic events of 2020—including the deaths of Kobe and Gianna Bryant, the ongoing tragedy of COVID-19 crisis, and the extrajudicial murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Elijah McClain—she wrote:
When I heard he’d passed away, I was stunned. I was alone in my house when I heard. It feels like your whole insides are empty. Your heart doesn’t beat, your lungs don’t breathe, your blood isn’t turning, your mind is not focused on anything, you’re just in a state of disbelief. My phone started to get a lot of text messages and calls, but I wouldn’t answer them because I felt, if this is true, I need to sit with it. I wanted to fill myself up with him and just be still. And that’s what I did for the entire night. The next day, I started connecting with other Marvel people and collaborators and friends, and the loss becomes more communal.
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As Carter noted, Boseman will “be remembered as an amazing actor who departed on his own terms,” forever revered as a hero, on and off-screen. “I think the love of what we do really shined in him,” she concluded.


theroot--2020-12-14--First COVID-19 Vaccine Administered in the U.S. Goes to a Black Nurse; Officials Hope It’s ‘the Begi

First COVID-19 Vaccine Administered in the U.S. Goes to a Black Nurse; Officials Hope It’s ‘the Beginning of the End’ of the Pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic has made 2020 one long year .
Seriously , it feels like ages since media outlets first started reporting on the spread of the virus , and people in the U.S. and much of the world had no idea what impact it would have on our daily lives .
Now , as we ’ re nearing the end of 2020—and as the COVID-19 death toll nears 300,000 in the U.S.—the first batch of vaccines were administered in the states beginning Monday .
What ’ s more , a Black woman was the first to receive it .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a critical care nurse at Long Island Jewish Medical Center , became the first U.S. citizen to receive the vaccine .
The event was live-streamed , and New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo praised the nurse saying , “ You didn ’ t even flinch.
” According to CNN , Lindsay said the shot she received didn ’ t feel any different than any other vaccine .
“ I ’ m feeling well .
I would like to thank all the frontline workers and all my colleagues [ for ] doing their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world , ” she said .
“ I feel hopeful today , relieved .
I hope this marks the beginning of the end of a very painful time.
” As the Post notes , New York is the state that has been hit the hardest by the pandemic , but it ’ s far from the only state receiving the vaccine .
In fact , according to ABC News , Pfizer , the pharmaceutical company that produced the vaccine alongside German company BioNTech , shipped 2.9 million doses to 636 sites across the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Drug Administration authorized the vaccine for emergency use for citizens over the age of 16 .
Those sites include the University of Louisville Hospital in Kentucky , which received its first vaccine delivery at 9:30 a.m. , as well as other medical locations in Connecticut , Iowa , Washington , D.C. , and Michigan , according to ABC .
The Post reports that health workers also received the vaccine in Louisiana—where Democratic Gov .
John Bel Edwards called the medication “ the beginning of the end ” of the pandemic—and at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Hospital , which received 975 doses for hospital staff .
According to ABC , each patient who receives the vaccine needs two doses for full inoculation .
Pfizer said it would begin rolling out another 2.9 million doses of the vaccine shortly after the first batch is delivered .
While there is plenty of skepticism regarding the vaccine—particularly among Black and Latino communities ( and who knows if that will change with the fact that a Black woman got treated first ) —it ’ s clear that the U.S. is in desperate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine developments come as the U.S. is in the midst of the deadliest period of the pandemic , according to health data .
America leads the world with over 16 million cases and close to 300,000 deaths , according to Johns Hopkins University ’ s Coronavirus Resource Center .
The seven-day averages of new daily cases , 211,494 , hospitalizations , 106,656 , and deaths , 2,427 , were at record highs on Dec. 13 , according to health data from the COVID Tracking Project .
So here ’ s hoping for a @ @ @ @ @

The coronavirus pandemic has made 2020 one long year. Seriously, it feels like ages since media outlets first started reporting on the spread of the virus, and people in the U.S. and much of the world had no idea what impact it would have on our daily lives. Now, as we’re nearing the end of 2020—and as the COVID-19 death toll nears 300,000 in the U.S.—the first batch of vaccines were administered in the states beginning Monday. What’s more, a Black woman was the first to receive it.
The Washington Post reports that Sandra Lindsay, a critical care nurse at Long Island Jewish Medical Center, became the first U.S. citizen to receive the vaccine. The event was live-streamed, and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo praised the nurse saying, “You didn’t even flinch.”
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According to CNN, Lindsay said the shot she received didn’t feel any different than any other vaccine.
“I’m feeling well. I would like to thank all the frontline workers and all my colleagues [for] doing their job during this pandemic all over the world,” she said. “I feel hopeful today, relieved. I hope this marks the beginning of the end of a very painful time.”
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As the Post notes, New York is the state that has been hit the hardest by the pandemic, but it’s far from the only state receiving the vaccine. In fact, according to ABC News, Pfizer, the pharmaceutical company that produced the vaccine alongside German company BioNTech, shipped 2.9 million doses to 636 sites across the country one week after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized the vaccine for emergency use for citizens over the age of 16.
Those sites include the University of Louisville Hospital in Kentucky, which received its first vaccine delivery at 9:30 a.m., as well as other medical locations in Connecticut, Iowa, Washington, D.C., and Michigan, according to ABC.
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The Post reports that health workers also received the vaccine in Louisiana—where Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards called the medication “the beginning of the end” of the pandemic—and at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Children’s Hospital, which received 975 doses for hospital staff.
According to ABC, each patient who receives the vaccine needs two doses for full inoculation. Pfizer said it would begin rolling out another 2.9 million doses of the vaccine shortly after the first batch is delivered.
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While there is plenty of skepticism regarding the vaccine—particularly among Black and Latino communities (and who knows if that will change with the fact that a Black woman got treated first)—it’s clear that the U.S. is in desperate need of a medical solution.
From ABC:
The vaccine developments come as the U.S. is in the midst of the deadliest period of the pandemic, according to health data. America leads the world with over 16 million cases and close to 300,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University’s Coronavirus Resource Center. The seven-day averages of new daily cases, 211,494, hospitalizations, 106,656, and deaths, 2,427, were at record highs on Dec. 13, according to health data from the COVID Tracking Project.
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So here’s hoping for a better and healthier 2021.


theroot--2020-12-14--Black Female Lawmaker Isn't Caving in After Death Threats, Losing Committee Assignments

Michigan state Rep. Cynthia Johnson knows why she is being inundated with death threats after she confronted Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani during a Dec. 2 Michigan state oversight hearing over the 2020 election .
“ You ’ re out of order for asking a white man such a question , ” she told The Root .
“ That ’ s how I took it .
You ’ re supposed to be on this committee just to show people that we have a Black figure , but you ’ re not supposed to say anything .
‘ How dare you question @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are treated .
That ’ s how they dismiss us .
That ’ s how we don ’ t get leadership roles .
Our concerns are dismissed.
” Immediately after the hearing , hate messages and death threats followed .
It was at this point that she posted a Facebook video defending herself .
Then she started posting the racist voicemails she ’ d received from callers .
But chopped-up versions of her video started circulating and conservative outlets began misconstruing her words .
A colleague of hers called the next day telling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had gone viral .
“ I ’ m not understanding any of it , ” Johnson said .
“ I ’ m thinking , ‘ Wait a minute .
How could anybody possibly think that the video that I put out would be threatening ?
’ I didn ’ t find out until the next day , two o ’ clock in the morning , that this video had been cut up and diced up .
Why would people be so mean ?
Why are they acting like this ?
Why are they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to create a war ?
Why would you do that ?
” The threats have gotten so bad that local , state and federal agencies are investigating the threats , Johnson said .
Law enforcement is patrolling Johnson ’ s Detroit home daily .
While all of this is happening , Republican leadership has stripped her of her committee duties and launched an investigation into her video .
The following day , she got a call from her daughter-in-law that her son couldn ’ t get out of bed .
( He is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still in the throes of dealing with her son ’ s health scare , the vile messages keep coming .
“ I ’ m getting all these texts saying , ‘ You cunt.
’ I ain ’ t never been called a fucking cunt .
It ’ s got to do something to your spirit when people keep saying things like that .
And that ’ s what my staff is trying very hard to keep me from seeing .
There ’ s more .
There ’ s so much more that I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the incoming Republican house speaker , state Rep. Jason Wentworth , said he is willing to work with her in the next assembly and that she would not be stripped of her committee duties .
Wentworth didn ’ t respond to The Root ’ s request for comment about the call .
Johnson has gotten support from the Michigan Legislative Black Caucus which is calling for Michigan Republicans to apologize to her and to reinstate her to her committee assignments .
She added that prominent state Democrats have called to support her , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Secretary of state Jocelyn Benson , Lt. Gov .
Garlin Gilchrist , U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib , Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and Michigan U.S .
Senator Gary Peters .
Black women have made strides in national office , with at least 26 Black women winning their Congressional races this year .
At the state level , however , they only make up just 317 of the 7,382 lawmakers nationally .
For some , the racism they experience in the job is too much to bear .
In 2018 , Vermont ’ s only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Morris , declined to run for reelection after years of racist attacks , and what she said was a lack of serious response from local police .
Nationally , prominent Black women such as U.S. Reps. Ilhan Omar and Maxine Waters have long received death threats after challenging outgoing President Trump .
Democrats are in the minority in both chambers of the Michigan legislature , but none of that is deterring Johnson from pursuing her goals of holding Republicans accountable .
She also plans on creating a list of companies that supported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his racist rhetoric and attempts to disenfranchise millions of B lack voters .
Home Depot , whose co-founder publicly supported Trump , is at the top of her list .
“ We need to have a conversation with them , ” she said .
“ They need to lose a lot of dollars because of their support of a racist and other companies like that .
We are going to find every company that has been associated with Donald Trump .
And they will be called out , every single one of them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including in my state , including in my city .
And these are the businesses that we are giving our money to ?
Wake up , people.
” Part of her approach is to challenge the moral foundation of her GOP colleagues , starting with reaching out to Trump supporters .
“ I ’ m hoping that they can see clearly that not only have Black people been duped , but they have been duped , too .
We have been lied to by powerful white men who want to remain in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power and control our bodies .
They want to remain in control so that they can take our dollars .
They want to remain in control so they can continue to put their slip on our neck , and that ’ s not going to continue to happen.
” Her message to all of the folks sending her hate messages and threatening her life is this : She ain ’ t backing down .
She doesn ’ t care that her party isn ’ t in the minority , nor does she see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ setback .
When asked how she hopes other Black female lawmakers will respond to what she ’ s experiencing , Johnson said they should get organized and help her fight Trumpism and all forms of white supremacy that tried to undo the will of the people she represents .
“ Stand up now , ” she said .
“ We don ’ t have the luxury of sitting from the sidelines .
We have an obligation to a future .
When we ’ re dead , long and gone , I don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue to put up what we have been putting up for all these years only because of our silence .
So I say to every Black woman , ‘ stand up now .
’ ”

Michigan state Rep. Cynthia Johnson knows why she is being inundated with death threats after she confronted Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani during a Dec. 2 Michigan state oversight hearing over the 2020 election.
“You’re out of order for asking a white man such a question,” she told The Root. “That’s how I took it. You’re supposed to be on this committee just to show people that we have a Black figure, but you’re not supposed to say anything. ‘How dare you question us.’ That’s how we are treated. That’s how they dismiss us. That’s how we don’t get leadership roles. Our concerns are dismissed.”
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Immediately after the hearing, hate messages and death threats followed. It was at this point that she posted a Facebook video defending herself. Then she started posting the racist voicemails she’d received from callers. But chopped-up versions of her video started circulating and conservative outlets began misconstruing her words. A colleague of hers called the next day telling her that different versions of the videos had gone viral.
“I’m not understanding any of it,” Johnson said. “I’m thinking, ‘Wait a minute. How could anybody possibly think that the video that I put out would be threatening?’ I didn’t find out until the next day, two o’clock in the morning, that this video had been cut up and diced up. Why would people be so mean? Why are they acting like this? Why are they even saying that I’m trying to create a war? Why would you do that?”
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The threats have gotten so bad that local, state and federal agencies are investigating the threats, Johnson said. Law enforcement is patrolling Johnson’s Detroit home daily. While all of this is happening, Republican leadership has stripped her of her committee duties and launched an investigation into her video. The following day, she got a call from her daughter-in-law that her son couldn’t get out of bed. (He is better now.)
While Johnson is still in the throes of dealing with her son’s health scare, the vile messages keep coming. “I’m getting all these texts saying, ‘You cunt.’ I ain’t never been called a fucking cunt. It’s got to do something to your spirit when people keep saying things like that. And that’s what my staff is trying very hard to keep me from seeing. There’s more. There’s so much more that I have not seen.”
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Johnson said that the incoming Republican house speaker, state Rep. Jason Wentworth, said he is willing to work with her in the next assembly and that she would not be stripped of her committee duties. Wentworth didn’t respond to The Root’s request for comment about the call.
Johnson has gotten support from the Michigan Legislative Black Caucus which is calling for Michigan Republicans to apologize to her and to reinstate her to her committee assignments. She added that prominent state Democrats have called to support her, including Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Secretary of state Jocelyn Benson, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and Michigan U.S. Senator Gary Peters.
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Black women have made strides in national office, with at least 26 Black women winning their Congressional races this year. At the state level, however, they only make up just 317 of the 7,382 lawmakers nationally. For some, the racism they experience in the job is too much to bear. In 2018, Vermont’s only Black lawmaker, Rep. Ruqaiyah “Kiah” Morris, declined to run for reelection after years of racist attacks, and what she said was a lack of serious response from local police. Nationally, prominent Black women such as U.S. Reps. Ilhan Omar and Maxine Waters have long received death threats after challenging outgoing President Trump.
Democrats are in the minority in both chambers of the Michigan legislature, but none of that is deterring Johnson from pursuing her goals of holding Republicans accountable. She also plans on creating a list of companies that supported Donald Trump and demand that they denounce his racist rhetoric and attempts to disenfranchise millions of B lack voters.
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Home Depot, whose co-founder publicly supported Trump, is at the top of her list.
“We need to have a conversation with them,” she said. “They need to lose a lot of dollars because of their support of a racist and other companies like that. We are going to find every company that has been associated with Donald Trump. And they will be called out, every single one of them. They tried to disenfranchise Black voters, including in my state, including in my city. And these are the businesses that we are giving our money to? Wake up, people.”
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Part of her approach is to challenge the moral foundation of her GOP colleagues, starting with reaching out to Trump supporters.
“I’m hoping that they can see clearly that not only have Black people been duped, but they have been duped, too. We have been lied to by powerful white men who want to remain in power. They want to remain in power and control our bodies. They want to remain in control so that they can take our dollars. They want to remain in control so they can continue to put their slip on our neck, and that’s not going to continue to happen.”
Advertisement
Her message to all of the folks sending her hate messages and threatening her life is this: She ain’t backing down. She doesn’t care that her party isn’t in the minority, nor does she see Republicans’ treatment of her as a setback. When asked how she hopes other Black female lawmakers will respond to what she’s experiencing, Johnson said they should get organized and help her fight Trumpism and all forms of white supremacy that tried to undo the will of the people she represents.
“Stand up now,” she said. “We don’t have the luxury of sitting from the sidelines. We have an obligation to a future. When we’re dead, long and gone, I don’t want our families to have to continue to put up what we have been putting up for all these years only because of our silence. So I say to every Black woman, ‘stand up now.’”


theroot--2020-12-14--Black Service Members Rally Around Defense Secretary Pick Gen. Lloyd Austin as He Faces Uphill Confi

Black Service Members Rally Around Defense Secretary Pick Gen. Lloyd Austin as He Faces Uphill Confirmation Process

Black military groups are coming out in support of Gen. Lloyd Austin , President-elect Joe Biden ’ s pick as secretary of defense , as the retired four-star general faces what may be a tough confirmation process .
The issue isn ’ t necessarily Austin ’ s credentials .
Austin , if confirmed , will be the first Black secretary of defense , and the trailblazing general has accrued a deep knowledge of America ’ s armed forces during his 40 years of military service .
He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point , rising up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black vice chief of staff of the Army .
He also commanded the United States forces in Iraq , eventually overseeing the controversial and large-scale withdrawal of troops under the Obama administration .
Austin is also the former director of the joint staff , which comprises each branch of the United States military .
But , like Gen. James Mattis before him , Austin has been out of military service less than the requisite seven years needed before assuming control of the nation ’ s armed forces ( running the Pentagon was designed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , position ) .
This will require a waiver from a partisan Senate that eight years ago gave such a pass to Mattis , but grudgingly so , notes Politico .
Supporting Austin in the nomination process are Black military servicemen and women , including the National Montford Point Marine Association , a nonprofit affiliate organization named for the first African Americans to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps .
In a letter written by NMPMA President Carmen Cole , the organization applauded Austin ’ s selection , noting the historic nature of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Austin ’ s appointment could help the armed forces more directly confront systemic racism within its ranks , a longstanding issue in the nation ’ s military .
“ As a longstanding veteran service organization charged with fostering and preserving the legacy of the first African Americans to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps.
, we are concerned that there is very little Black representation in the highest ranks of the U.S. military , ” Cole wrote in the letter .
“ Racial discrimination is part of our armed forces ’ history @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Secretary of Defense is prepared to address the systemic inequalities that still exist.
” Racial discrimination “ absolutely ” still impacts servicemen and women today , Cole told The Root over the phone last week .
“ I can just say from my days of service , there were no senior Marines that I could look up to that looked like me .
So to try to navigate through the ranks , through the schools and the opportunities was always difficult.
” She noted how , today , out of 82 general officers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ And it ’ s been that way for years , ” Cole stressed .
This lack of diversity among the military ’ s leadership came to the fore again this year after Black Lives Matter protests following the in-custody death of George Floyd in Minneapolis forced a deeper racial reckoning across the country .
According to a Reuters investigation from September , stories of Black servicemen and women encountering racial bias are not unusual—the Air Force ’ s first Black chief of staff shared his own stories of discrimination recently .
Throughout @ @ @ @ @ @ @ civilians serve on bases named for Confederate figureheads .
And while civilian employees are able to file Equal Opportunity complaints to help address discrimination , Reuters found that uniformed military members were far less likely to file complaints .
The issue wasn ’ t that bias didn ’ t exist , service members told the news outlet , but that the EO complaints weren ’ t effective .
Worse , they could backfire on the person filing the paperwork : “ filing an EO complaint is often viewed as an act of defiance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This kind of discrimination is rarely framed as a national security issue , though it is worth considering how many able and talented service members find themselves sidelined for reasons that have nothing to do with their performance on the job and the larger impact this has on the nation ’ s military .
Cole and other Black current and former service members say Austin , as the first Black person to lead the Pentagon , would be both uniquely qualified and positioned to tackle systemic racism within the military .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will face a number of urgent issues on his first day in office , including overseeing distribution of crucial COVID-19 vaccines ( his supporters point to his command of the Iraq drawdown , “ the largest logistical operation undertaken by the Army in six decades , ” as Biden said , as evidence of his day-one readiness ) .
He will also need to address China ’ s growing military might , provide answers for how he would modernize the U.S. military and its operations , and establish his outlook on foreign policy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ global climate change .
Still , the issue of whether he will be granted the waiver necessary to make his confirmation possible has “ set off more hand-wringing than other Biden pick , ” Politico observes .
But for Black current and former military members like Cole , who ’ s served for 20 years , Austin ’ s nomination presents an exciting change for the military .
Nearly 20 years out of the Marines , she ’ s confident that Austin will be able to oversee the Pentagon as a civilian : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ”

Black military groups are coming out in support of Gen. Lloyd Austin, President-elect Joe Biden’s pick as secretary of defense, as the retired four-star general faces what may be a tough confirmation process.
The issue isn’t necessarily Austin’s credentials. Austin, if confirmed, will be the first Black secretary of defense, and the trailblazing general has accrued a deep knowledge of America’s armed forces during his 40 years of military service. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, rising up through the ranks to become the first Black vice chief of staff of the Army. He also commanded the United States forces in Iraq, eventually overseeing the controversial and large-scale withdrawal of troops under the Obama administration. Austin is also the former director of the joint staff, which comprises each branch of the United States military.
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But, like Gen. James Mattis before him, Austin has been out of military service less than the requisite seven years needed before assuming control of the nation’s armed forces (running the Pentagon was designed to be a civilian, not military, position). This will require a waiver from a partisan Senate that four years ago gave such a pass to Mattis, but grudgingly so, notes Politico.
Supporting Austin in the nomination process are Black military servicemen and women, including the National Montford Point Marine Association, a nonprofit affiliate organization named for the first African Americans to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps.
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In a letter written by NMPMA President Carmen Cole, the organization applauded Austin’s selection, noting the historic nature of his nomination. But, they stressed, Austin’s appointment could help the armed forces more directly confront systemic racism within its ranks, a longstanding issue in the nation’s military.
“As a longstanding veteran service organization charged with fostering and preserving the legacy of the first African Americans to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps., we are concerned that there is very little Black representation in the highest ranks of the U.S. military,” Cole wrote in the letter. “Racial discrimination is part of our armed forces’ history and it is imperative that the next Secretary of Defense is prepared to address the systemic inequalities that still exist.”
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Racial discrimination “absolutely” still impacts servicemen and women today, Cole told The Root over the phone last week.
“I can just say from my days of service, there were no senior Marines that I could look up to that looked like me. So to try to navigate through the ranks, through the schools and the opportunities was always difficult.”
Advertisement
She noted how, today, out of 82 general officers, only six are African American.
“And it’s been that way for years,” Cole stressed.
This lack of diversity among the military’s leadership came to the fore again this year after Black Lives Matter protests following the in-custody death of George Floyd in Minneapolis forced a deeper racial reckoning across the country. According to a Reuters investigation from September, stories of Black servicemen and women encountering racial bias are not unusual—the Air Force’s first Black chief of staff shared his own stories of discrimination recently. Throughout the country, Black service members and civilians serve on bases named for Confederate figureheads. And while civilian employees are able to file Equal Opportunity complaints to help address discrimination, Reuters found that uniformed military members were far less likely to file complaints. The issue wasn’t that bias didn’t exist, service members told the news outlet, but that the EO complaints weren’t effective. Worse, they could backfire on the person filing the paperwork: “filing an EO complaint is often viewed as an act of defiance in the military,” Reuters summarized.
Advertisement
This kind of discrimination is rarely framed as a national security issue, though it is worth considering how many able and talented service members find themselves sidelined for reasons that have nothing to do with their performance on the job and the larger impact this has on the nation’s military.
Cole and other Black current and former service members say Austin, as the first Black person to lead the Pentagon, would be both uniquely qualified and positioned to tackle systemic racism within the military.
Advertisement
As Politico writes, if confirmed, Austin will face a number of urgent issues on his first day in office, including overseeing distribution of crucial COVID-19 vaccines (his supporters point to his command of the Iraq drawdown, “the largest logistical operation undertaken by the Army in six decades,” as Biden said, as evidence of his day-one readiness). He will also need to address China’s growing military might, provide answers for how he would modernize the U.S. military and its operations, and establish his outlook on foreign policy and the growing security risks imposed by global climate change. Still, the issue of whether he will be granted the waiver necessary to make his confirmation possible has “set off more hand-wringing than other Biden pick,” Politico observes.
But for Black current and former military members like Cole, who’s served for 20 years, Austin’s nomination presents an exciting change for the military. Nearly 20 years out of the Marines, she’s confident that Austin will be able to oversee the Pentagon as a civilian: “His credentials speak for themselves.”


theroot--2020-12-14--Unseasoned Twitter Melts Down After the Cleveland Indians Decide to Get Rid of Its Racist-Ass Nickna

Unseasoned Twitter Melts Down After the Cleveland Indians Decide to Get Rid of Its Racist-Ass Nickname

Since establishing itself as a major league franchise in 1901 , the Cleveland Indians have won a pair of World Series championships , 10 Central Division titles , and six American League pennants .
But along the way , the team has infuriated plenty of people with its decision to perpetuate Indigenous stereotypes with its trash-ass logo and team nickname .
In July , the Washington Football Team was forced to ditch its old name after FedEx , PepsiCo , Nike , and other big-money sponsors got fed up with the racist bullshit , and now it appears that Cleveland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York Times : After years of protests from fans and Native American groups , the Cleveland Indians have decided to change their team name , moving away from a moniker that has long been criticized as racist , three people familiar with the decision said Sunday .
Cleveland could announce its plans as soon as this week , according to the three people , who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter .
As the Washington Football Team has learned , transitioning into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ damn work .
New trademarks and copyrights must be filed , as well as uniforms , stadium signage , team equipment , merchandise , and other logistical considerations also come into play .
But if they never had a racist-ass nickname in the first place , none of the above would even be a problem .
Sooooooo I ’ m a little short on sympathy .
According to the Times , Cleveland expects to retain its Indians name and uniforms during the 2021 season and hopes to have changes in place by 2022—if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a natural extension of the team ’ s decision to phase out the logos and imagery of its mascot , Chief Wahoo , and is drawing plenty of reactions on social media—particularly from baseball fans who prefer their meals devoid of adequate seasoning .
Mind you , these are the same assholes who claim Black Entertainment Television is racist , but you knew that already .
Cleveland has yet to address this matter , but expect to hear something from the team in the next few days .

Since establishing itself as a major league franchise in 1901, the Cleveland Indians have won a pair of World Series championships, 10 Central Division titles, and six American League pennants. But along the way, the team has infuriated plenty of people with its decision to perpetuate Indigenous stereotypes with its trash-ass logo and team nickname.
In July, the Washington Football Team was forced to ditch its old name after FedEx, PepsiCo, Nike, and other big-money sponsors got fed up with the racist bullshit, and now it appears that Cleveland will be following suit.
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From the New York Times:
After years of protests from fans and Native American groups, the Cleveland Indians have decided to change their team name, moving away from a moniker that has long been criticized as racist, three people familiar with the decision said Sunday. Cleveland could announce its plans as soon as this week, according to the three people, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.
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As the Washington Football Team has learned, transitioning into a new name is a lot of damn work. New trademarks and copyrights must be filed, as well as uniforms, stadium signage, team equipment, merchandise, and other logistical considerations also come into play. But if they never had a racist-ass nickname in the first place, none of the above would even be a problem. Sooooooo I’m a little short on sympathy.
According to the Times, Cleveland expects to retain its Indians name and uniforms during the 2021 season and hopes to have changes in place by 2022—if not sooner. This appears to be a natural extension of the team’s decision to phase out the logos and imagery of its mascot, Chief Wahoo, and is drawing plenty of reactions on social media—particularly from baseball fans who prefer their meals devoid of adequate seasoning.
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Mind you, these are the same assholes who claim Black Entertainment Television is racist, but you knew that already.
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Cleveland has yet to address this matter, but expect to hear something from the team in the next few days.
Your move, Atlanta Braves.


theroot--2020-12-14--Wrapping Paper Roll Call: The Kids Are Gonna Be Alright

If you live with a child , no doubt you ’ re well aware of what they want this holiday season ( they ’ ve likely been begging you for it since well before Halloween ) .
However , if you are child-adjacent—meaning , you have much-beloved youngsters in your life you regularly spend money on—you might be feeling a little torn on what to give them in this most unconventional of holiday seasons .
You see , if 2020 has taught us anything , it ’ s the difference between want and need .
With the events of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenging to students , teachers and parents alike , our kids need more than toys this year .
They need gifts that support their growth , inspire them , and give them deeper understanding and confidence in their place in this deeply confusing world .
With that in mind , we ’ ve rounded up some gift ideas from Black-owned brands with offerings that truly affirm that the children are our future—and with our help , they ’ re gon na be alright ( and yes , so will we ) .
So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fun fact : Creative Soul Photography , the Atlanta-based husband-wife duo who create gorgeous portraits of Black children celebrating the beauty of natural hair , were among the first we featured when The Glow Up launched in 2017 .
In 2020 , the couple published their first book , Glory : Magical Visions of Black Beauty , an instant New York Times bestseller full of imagery that will inspire for years to come ... but for next year , you can also cop their 2021 Calendar .
Another must-read for developing minds ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ibram X. Kendi ’ s National Book Award-winning Stamped from the Beginning .
Fellow award-winning young adult author Jason Reynolds makes the extensive history of anti-Blackness in America—and Kendi ’ s epic work—accessible and entertaining for younger readers , predicting it “ may very well be [ his ] most important contribution to children ’ s literature.
” One of our favorite famous mother-daughter duos has inspired a jewelry collection !
Serena Williams ’ luxury jewelry line also boasts a collection of “ mommy and mini ” styles to honor the precious bond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Olympia .
Serena ’ s not called the GOAT for nothing—her gift game is pretty strong , too .
In October , she made Olympia ’ s constant companion , the famous in her own right Qai Qai ( pronounced “ Quay-Quay ” ) available to the masses , exclusively on Amazon ( which means she ’ ll definitely arrive in time to make it under the tree ) .
Speaking of famous women , perhaps few have fueled the imaginations of young Black girls ( and boys ) this year than Kamala @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first woman of color to be elected vice president .
But as her niece Meena Harris reminds us , Kamala and sister Maya ( Meena ’ s mother and also a political powerhouse ) were once kids trying to make their community better—a story chronicled in this picture book for ages 4-8 .
We love this lifestyle site for its array of culturally-relevant accessories , games , apparel , and more for almost every member of the crew , but its kids ’ collection is especially out-of-this-world .
G rab some unique finds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every month with a subscription to a Brown Sugar Box .
( And while you ’ re there , grab yourself something , too . )
Just Like Me !
If they ’ re already avid readers ( or you ’ re hoping to inspire more reading ) , seeing themselves reflected in the books they pick up is always a great way to keep kids engaged—and affirmed—with a monthly selection of 2-3 books that grows with them .
For little ones , puzzles are more than a way to keep them occupied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and hand-eye coordination .
For even more impact , the aspirational scenes that emerge in Puzzle Huddle ’ s offerings make a positive impression on impressionable young minds .
We all know that socialization is crucial to children ’ s development—and opportunities to do so have been sorely lacking this year .
But did you know recent research shows that playing with dolls can heighten empathy ( in both girls and boys ) —another quality in short supply in contemporary society ?
The Fresh Dolls take the traditional fashion doll to the next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ features that our youngsters can relate to .
Is there ever an easy way to have difficult conversations with our kids ?
The A Kids Book About publishing company , founded by Black writer and father Jelani Memory , aims to help , exploring sensitive , complicated , or vital topics like racism , divorce , feminism , religion and more in hopes of helping us raise more aware and empathetic kids .
This Etsy shop is full of positive messages for all ages ( peep her Black astronaut series ) , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kids , like her “ Black Minds Matter ” tee and , are clever , creative , and bound to help build confidence .
If you ’ re reading this , there ’ s a good chance that Hilary Banks , the hilarious character immortalized by Karyn Parsons on The Fresh Prince of Bel Air , was part of your childhood or early adulthood .
Thirty years later ( ! )
, Parsons is still acting and an already-acclaimed author of two books released this year : the award-winning 1940s-era young adult novel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Free : How Bessie Coleman ’ s Dreams Took Flight , a picture book about Black aviatrix Bessie Coleman , illustrated by R. Gregory Christie .
Designed by Omar Jermaine , a dad simply looking for cool clothes for kids , apparel brand Moon/5un is not only the manifestation of that vision but the manifestation of a new career for Jermaine , who realized he had his own children ’ s story to tell through clothes and found a home for it on the all-Black marketplace BeResonant .
The result ?
Basically the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ever seen .
( Because remember : the children are our future . )
Illustrator Anderson and award-winning comics writer David F. Walker have produced a graphic novel on the Black Panther Party that will be out in time for Black History Month , but in the meantime , one of his heroic prints would be ideal inspiration for the young artist or comic book lover in your life—okay , maybe for the not-so-young ones , too .
Author , journalist and podcast host Kenyra Rankin has devoted her career to advancing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also a mom , which made her latest effort , curating a compilation of quotes from generations of leaders , thinkers and everyday folks , a labor of love intended for young readers—and a healthy reminder for us grown folks that this is an ongoing conversation .

If you live with a child, no doubt you’re well aware of what they want this holiday season (they’ve likely been begging you for it since well before Halloween). However, if you are child-adjacent—meaning, you have much-beloved youngsters in your life you regularly spend money on—you might be feeling a little torn on what to give them in this most unconventional of holiday seasons.
You see, if 2020 has taught us anything, it’s the difference between want and need. With the events of this year demanding academic pivots that have proved challenging to students, teachers and parents alike, our kids need more than toys this year. They need gifts that support their growth, inspire them, and give them deeper understanding and confidence in their place in this deeply confusing world. With that in mind, we’ve rounded up some gift ideas from Black-owned brands with offerings that truly affirm that the children are our future—and with our help, they’re gonna be alright (and yes, so will we).
Advertisement
So, what to gift this season?
Fun fact: Creative Soul Photography, the Atlanta-based husband-wife duo who create gorgeous portraits of Black children celebrating the beauty of natural hair, were among the first we featured when The Glow Up launched in 2017. In 2020, the couple published their first book, Glory: Magical Visions of Black Beauty, an instant New York Times bestseller full of imagery that will inspire for years to come...but for next year, you can also cop their 2021 Calendar.
Advertisement Advertisement
Another must-read for developing minds? Stamped, the “remix” of Ibram X. Kendi’s National Book Award-winning Stamped from the Beginning. Fellow award-winning young adult author Jason Reynolds makes the extensive history of anti-Blackness in America—and Kendi’s epic work—accessible and entertaining for younger readers, predicting it “may very well be [his] most important contribution to children’s literature.”
Advertisement
One of our favorite famous mother-daughter duos has inspired a jewelry collection! Serena Williams’ luxury jewelry line also boasts a collection of “mommy and mini” styles to honor the precious bond she shares with her own daughter, Olympia.
Advertisement
Serena’s not called the GOAT for nothing—her gift game is pretty strong, too. In October, she made Olympia’s constant companion, the famous in her own right Qai Qai (pronounced “Quay-Quay”) available to the masses, exclusively on Amazon (which means she’ll definitely arrive in time to make it under the tree).
Advertisement
Speaking of famous women, perhaps few have fueled the imaginations of young Black girls (and boys) this year than Kamala Harris, who made history as the first woman of color to be elected vice president. But as her niece Meena Harris reminds us, Kamala and sister Maya (Meena’s mother and also a political powerhouse) were once kids trying to make their community better—a story chronicled in this picture book for ages 4-8.
Advertisement
We love this lifestyle site for its array of culturally-relevant accessories, games, apparel, and more for almost every member of the crew, but its kids’ collection is especially out-of-this-world. G rab some unique finds, or surprise them with new treats every month with a subscription to a Brown Sugar Box. (And while you’re there, grab yourself something, too.)
Advertisement
If they’re already avid readers (or you’re hoping to inspire more reading), seeing themselves reflected in the books they pick up is always a great way to keep kids engaged—and affirmed—with a monthly selection of 2-3 books that grows with them.
Advertisement
For little ones, puzzles are more than a way to keep them occupied; they also help with cognitive development and hand-eye coordination. For even more impact, the aspirational scenes that emerge in Puzzle Huddle’s offerings make a positive impression on impressionable young minds.
Advertisement
We all know that socialization is crucial to children’s development—and opportunities to do so have been sorely lacking this year. But did you know recent research shows that playing with dolls can heighten empathy (in both girls and boys)—another quality in short supply in contemporary society? The Fresh Dolls take the traditional fashion doll to the next level with skin tones, hair and features that our youngsters can relate to.
Advertisement
Is there ever an easy way to have difficult conversations with our kids? The A Kids Book About publishing company, founded by Black writer and father Jelani Memory, aims to help, exploring sensitive, complicated, or vital topics like racism, divorce, feminism, religion and more in hopes of helping us raise more aware and empathetic kids.
Advertisement
This Etsy shop is full of positive messages for all ages (peep her Black astronaut series), but the select designs Trini Gee creates for kids, like her “Black Minds Matter” tee and, are clever, creative, and bound to help build confidence.
Advertisement
If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance that Hilary Banks, the hilarious character immortalized by Karyn Parsons on The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, was part of your childhood or early adulthood. Thirty years later (!), Parsons is still acting and an already-acclaimed author of two books released this year: the award-winning 1940s-era young adult novel How High the Moon, and Flying Free: How Bessie Coleman’s Dreams Took Flight, a picture book about Black aviatrix Bessie Coleman, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Designed by Omar Jermaine, a dad simply looking for cool clothes for kids, apparel brand Moon/5un is not only the manifestation of that vision but the manifestation of a new career for Jermaine, who realized he had his own children’s story to tell through clothes and found a home for it on the all-Black marketplace BeResonant. The result? Basically the coolest kids’ clothing you’ve ever seen. (Because remember: the children are our future.)
Advertisement
Illustrator Anderson and award-winning comics writer David F. Walker have produced a graphic novel on the Black Panther Party that will be out in time for Black History Month, but in the meantime, one of his heroic prints would be ideal inspiration for the young artist or comic book lover in your life—okay, maybe for the not-so-young ones, too.
Advertisement
Author, journalist and podcast host Kenyra Rankin has devoted her career to advancing the antiracism movement. But she’s also a mom, which made her latest effort, curating a compilation of quotes from generations of leaders, thinkers and everyday folks, a labor of love intended for young readers—and a healthy reminder for us grown folks that this is an ongoing conversation.


theroot--2020-12-14--Let This $29 Electric Kettle Keep Your Winter Teas Toasty

Teas the season !
If you ’ re like me you live on tea from now until the spring .
The kettle is the only way to go for an authentic sipping experience be it an afternoon brew or morning breakfast .
If you ’ re looking for a new one or are ready to make the jump from zapping water in the microwave this Secura Electric Kettle is for you .
Speed is key when it comes to your kettle and this one comes with a quick boil button and eight temperature settings .
It ’ ll also stay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of double-wall insulation which is really a thing of beauty in these chilly months .
This kettle has over a seven cup capacity so it ’ s not just your tea that ’ ll benefit coffee , ramen , oatmeal , and whatever your thirsty/hungry heart craves .
Cool Touch tech ensures no one gets burned no matter how hot it gets on the inside .
FDA approved stainless steel , 100 % BPA-free , and easy to clean .
It ’ s durable and built to last guaranteed to warm you up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ 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 .

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

Secura Cool Touch Electric Water Kettle | $29 | MorningSave
If you’re like me, you live on tea even in spring. The kettle is the only way to go for an authentic sipping experience, be it an afternoon brew or morning breakfast. If you’re looking for a new one or are ready to make the jump from zapping water in the microwave, this Secura Cool Touch Electric Water Kettle is for you.
Simplicity is key when it comes to your kettle, and this one is easy to use with one-touch operation. It’ll also stay warm for up to four hours which is really a thing of beauty in these chilly months. But don’t worry; it has an auto shut-off and is wireless for your convenience. This kettle has a 1.8-quart capacity, and it’s not just your tea that’ll benefit coffee, ramen, oatmeal, and whatever your thirsty/hungry heart craves. Cool Touch tech ensures no one gets burned, no matter how hot it gets on the inside. It’s 100% BPA-free and easy to clean. This kettle is durable and comes with a 1-year warranty.
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.


theroot--2020-12-14--Kelly Loeffler’s Campaign Claims She ‘Had No Idea’ the Man She Posed With in a Photo Is a Former KKK

Kelly Loeffler’s Campaign Claims She ‘Had No Idea’ the Man She Posed With in a Photo Is a Former KKK Leader

It must be terribly inconvenient for Republicans trying to convince America that their party isn ’ t racist , that racists keep gravitating towards the Republican Party .
Sen. Kelly Loeffler ( R-Ga. ) posed for a photo with a former KKK leader during a campaign rally in Dawsonville , Ga. , Friday , and now her campaign is claiming she had “ no idea ” who the man was .
The Washington Post reports that after the photo Loeffler took with Chester Doles—the decades-long member of the KKK and the Neo-Nazi National Alliance—went viral , Loeffler ’ s campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a photo op with a white supremacist didn ’ t hurt her chances of keeping her Senate seat in the Jan. 5 runoff election against her Democratic opponent , Raphael Warnock .
“ Kelly had no idea who that was , and if she had she would have kicked him out immediately because we condemn in the most vociferous terms everything that he stands for , ” Stephen Lawson , Loeffler ’ s campaign spokesman , told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution .
Here ’ s a little history on Doles as reported by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of white supremacism has been well documented .
In 1993 , Doles was sentenced to prison for beating a Black man at a stoplight in Maryland , and he was sentenced again on separate weapons violations in Georgia .
In a 1998 jailhouse interview with The Post , Doles , with tattoos on his hands of a swastika and the words , “ WHITE POWER , ” said he was one of five generations of family members to belong to the KKK .
“ I definitely follow the Nazis .
National Socialism is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Post in 1998 .
“ I believe in it and I look for the Fourth Reich.
” Doles had also followed the National Alliance , which the Southern Poverty Law Center has deemed for decades to be the “ most dangerous and best organized Neo-Nazi ” group in the United States , and he has been tied to the Hammerskins , a white supremacist group founded in the 1980s in Dallas .
He marched with the group in the 2017 Unite the Right rally , the deadly white-supremacist demonstration in Charlottesville .
To @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take photos with any random member of their base to show that they ’ re of “ the people.
” Still , what does it say about Republicans that they can ’ t rub elbows with their own constituents without the risk of being associated with white supremacists ?
Marjorie Taylor Greene , U.S. Representative-elect for Georgia ’ s 14th Congressional District , had Doles removed from a campaign event in September—an event Loeffler also attended , according to the AJC .
That came after Greene also posed for a photo with Doles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the boot certainly makes sense from a political perspective , but let ’ s be real : Greene is a QAnon supporter who made a whole video ranting about the “ Islamic invasion ” producing Muslim elected officials in the U.S. She also claimed that “ gangs and dealing drugs ” are all that hold Black and Hispanic men back .
She ’ s really surprised that a white supremacist is her No .
1 fan ?
“ Our friend Marjorie Greene is running for Congress , ” Doles posted in March , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s part of the Q movement .
Good friend to have.
” And Loeffler isn ’ t much different .
Despite her clinging to racists ’ favorite proverb , “ I don ’ t have a racist bone in my body , ” she tried to keep the WNBA team that she co-owns from speaking out in support of Black Lives Matter .
“ I adamantly oppose the Black Lives Matter political movement , ” Loeffler said at the time .
Well , you know who BLM haters have a lot in common @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Warnock ’ s campaign wasted no time denouncing his opponents perceived white supremacist affiliation .
“ While Kelly Loeffler runs a campaign based on dividing and misleading Georgians , she is once again trying to distance herself from someone who is a known white supremacist and former KKK leader who nearly beat a Black man to death , ” Warnock ’ s campaign spokesman Michael Brewer said , the Post reports .
“ There ’ s no acceptable explanation for it happening once , let alone a second time .
”

It must be terribly inconvenient for Republicans trying to convince America that their party isn’t racist, that racists keep gravitating towards the Republican Party. Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.) posed for a photo with a former KKK leader during a campaign rally in Dawsonville, Ga., Friday, and now her campaign is claiming she had “no idea” who the man was.
The Washington Post reports that after the photo Loeffler took with Chester Doles—the decades-long member of the KKK and the Neo-Nazi National Alliance—went viral, Loeffler’s campaign immediately started doing damage control to ensure a photo op with a white supremacist didn’t hurt her chances of keeping her Senate seat in the Jan. 5 runoff election against her Democratic opponent, Raphael Warnock.
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“Kelly had no idea who that was, and if she had she would have kicked him out immediately because we condemn in the most vociferous terms everything that he stands for,” Stephen Lawson, Loeffler’s campaign spokesman, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
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Here’s a little history on Doles as reported by the Post:
Doles’s long history of white supremacism has been well documented. In 1993, Doles was sentenced to prison for beating a Black man at a stoplight in Maryland, and he was sentenced again on separate weapons violations in Georgia. In a 1998 jailhouse interview with The Post, Doles, with tattoos on his hands of a swastika and the words, “WHITE POWER,” said he was one of five generations of family members to belong to the KKK. “I definitely follow the Nazis. National Socialism is my religion,” Doles told The Post in 1998. “I believe in it and I look for the Fourth Reich.” Doles had also followed the National Alliance, which the Southern Poverty Law Center has deemed for decades to be the “most dangerous and best organized Neo-Nazi” group in the United States, and he has been tied to the Hammerskins, a white supremacist group founded in the 1980s in Dallas. He marched with the group in the 2017 Unite the Right rally, the deadly white-supremacist demonstration in Charlottesville.
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To be fair, politicians will pretty much take photos with any random member of their base to show that they’re of “the people.” Still, what does it say about Republicans that they can’t rub elbows with their own constituents without the risk of being associated with white supremacists?
Marjorie Taylor Greene, U.S. Representative-elect for Georgia’s 14th Congressional District, had Doles removed from a campaign event in September—an event Loeffler also attended, according to the AJC. That came after Greene also posed for a photo with Doles at another GOP event.
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Giving Doles the boot certainly makes sense from a political perspective, but let’s be real: Greene is a QAnon supporter who made a whole video ranting about the “Islamic invasion” producing Muslim elected officials in the U.S. She also claimed that “gangs and dealing drugs” are all that hold Black and Hispanic men back. She’s really surprised that a white supremacist is her No. 1 fan?
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“Our friend Marjorie Greene is running for Congress,” Doles posted in March, the AJC reports. “She’s part of the Q movement. Good friend to have.”
And Loeffler isn’t much different. Despite her clinging to racists’ favorite proverb, “I don’t have a racist bone in my body,” she tried to keep the WNBA team that she co-owns from speaking out in support of Black Lives Matter. “I adamantly oppose the Black Lives Matter political movement,” Loeffler said at the time. Well, you know who BLM haters have a lot in common with? White supremacists.
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Anyway, Warnock’s campaign wasted no time denouncing his opponents perceived white supremacist affiliation.
“While Kelly Loeffler runs a campaign based on dividing and misleading Georgians, she is once again trying to distance herself from someone who is a known white supremacist and former KKK leader who nearly beat a Black man to death,” Warnock’s campaign spokesman Michael Brewer said, the Post reports. “There’s no acceptable explanation for it happening once, let alone a second time.”


theroot--2020-12-14--Jalen Hurts Is Here to Stay, Drew Lock Came to Play and Other Takeaways From Week 14 of the NFL

Another week of NFL football is in the books .
Let ’ s get to it .
To the Surprise of Everyone , Jalen Hurts the Saints As if making your first start as an NFL quarterback isn ’ t challenging enough , Eagles rookie Jalen Hurts faced the tall task of playing against the best defense in the league on Sunday .
And prior to his game against the Saints , just about every pundit on planet Earth believed his inexperience would lead to him getting obliterated .
Ideally , you want a rookie quarterback to play their first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ easier opponent—but with Carson Wentz benched after playing like he ’ s had bubble guts all season , the Eagles had no choice and decided to pull the trigger on Hurts .
So how did he play against one of the best teams in the league ?
By busting their asses .
He threw for 167 yards and a touchdown and turned the game into a track meet by running for an additional 106 yards in a surprising 24-21 upset over the Saints .
More importantly , he added a new dimension to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the play of his teammates—something Wentz has failed miserably at doing since the dawn of time—while keeping the Eagles ’ ( 4-8-1 ) playoff hopes alive .
Now the Eagles officially have the most expensive backup quarterback in the league , because Hurts is here to stay .
Have You Ever Seen a 30-Yard Sack ?
If you watched the slugfest between the Dolphins and Chiefs on Sunday , you bore witness to history .
Because never in the history of ever has something like this ever happened : 4th and 42 ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ wasn ’ t Patrick Mahomes ’ only struggle play though , as he surprisingly threw three picks on Sunday , including this gift to Xavien Howard in the red zone : But here ’ s where Mahomes differs from the norm and provides a gentle reminder that in being the best player in the league , he is not from this planet .
While most quarterbacks who throw three picks in a single game are absolutely going home with an L , Mahomes turned shit to sugar and still put up 33 points @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And nearly a year removed from his first Super Bowl win in the same stadium , the two-time Pro Bowler explained his love/hate relationship with Miami after the game .
“ Yeah , I mean obviously the love part , I mean we won the Super Bowl here and we just clinched the AFC West , ” Mahomes told reporters .
“ So it seems like every time we leave this stadium we have a hat of some type of thing we accomplished .
But then the hate part , I feel like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it seems like , at this football stadium.
” This dude is a human cheat code , for real .
Will the Real Drew Lock Please Stand Up ?
Yes , we won the Super Bowl in 2016 , but in the time since it ’ s been losing season after losing season and a revolving door of quarterbacks that include Paxton Lynch , Case Keenum and the often-times infuriating play of our current signal-caller , Drew Lock .
In only his second NFL season he ’ s tested the boundaries of my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threw at least one interception in seven consecutive games and has spent the entire year in a silent war with Sam Darnold for the dubious distinction of worst quarterback in the league—statistically at least .
But there are plenty of outside factors that have also contributed to Lock ’ s struggles on the field : His offensive line is garbage , his new offensive coordinator ( the last one got fired in the offseason ) is unquestionably worse , his top target ( Courtland Sutton ) has missed the entire year , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or real training camp , he has yet to play 16 games as a pro , etc .
These aren ’ t excuses , just facts ; although his boneheaded decision making hasn ’ t helped matters either .
So it ’ s not exactly a surprise that the Broncos entered Sunday ’ s game against the Panthers with a 4-8 record .
Much like every other game this season , I indulged in my bacon and eggs and mentally prepared myself for a bloodbath once the game began .
But to my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like a competent quarterback .
Instead of staring down receivers and hurling 80-yard bombs like a dumb ass , dude finally learned to appreciate checkdowns , finished with the second-highest completion rate of his career , and threw for 280 yards and four touchdowns ( I can ’ t believe I typed that ) in a much-needed 32-27 win .
And did you see that heat he was throwing KJ Hamler ?
I don ’ t know if this was a glitch in t he Matrix or a sign of things to come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turning the corner this is the greatest Christmas gift ever .
DeAndre Hopkins and Derrick Henry did the damn thing ( King Henry leapfrogged Barry Sanders , LaDainian Tomlinson and Jim Brown for the most 200-yard , two-touchdown games ever ) , but did you see A.J .
Brown ’ s insane one-hand catch against the Jaguars ?
!

Another week of NFL football is in the books. Let’s get to it.
To the Surprise of Everyone, Jalen Hurts the Saints
As if making your first start as an NFL quarterback isn’t challenging enough, Eagles rookie Jalen Hurts faced the tall task of playing against the best defense in the league on Sunday. And prior to his game against the Saints, just about every pundit on planet Earth believed his inexperience would lead to him getting obliterated.
Ideally, you want a rookie quarterback to play their first start under more favorable circumstances—as in an easier opponent—but with Carson Wentz benched after playing like he’s had bubble guts all season, the Eagles had no choice and decided to pull the trigger on Hurts.
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So how did he play against one of the best teams in the league? By busting their asses. He threw for 167 yards and a touchdown and turned the game into a track meet by running for an additional 106 yards in a surprising 24-21 upset over the Saints. More importantly, he added a new dimension to the team’s offense and elevated the play of his teammates—something Wentz has failed miserably at doing since the dawn of time—while keeping the Eagles’ (4-8-1) playoff hopes alive.
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Now the Eagles officially have the most expensive backup quarterback in the league, because Hurts is here to stay.
Have You Ever Seen a 30-Yard Sack?
If you watched the slugfest between the Dolphins and Chiefs on Sunday, you bore witness to history. Because never in the history of ever has something like this ever happened:
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4th and 42? Where they do that at?
That wasn’t Patrick Mahomes’ only struggle play though, as he surprisingly threw three picks on Sunday, including this gift to Xavien Howard in the red zone:
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But here’s where Mahomes differs from the norm and provides a gentle reminder that in being the best player in the league, he is not from this planet. While most quarterbacks who throw three picks in a single game are absolutely going home with an L, Mahomes turned shit to sugar and still put up 33 points to beat the Dolphins at home. And nearly a year removed from his first Super Bowl win in the same stadium, the two-time Pro Bowler explained his love/hate relationship with Miami after the game.
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“Yeah, I mean obviously the love part, I mean we won the Super Bowl here and we just clinched the AFC West,” Mahomes told reporters. “So it seems like every time we leave this stadium we have a hat of some type of thing we accomplished. But then the hate part, I feel like I have half of my interceptions, it seems like, at this football stadium.”
This dude is a human cheat code, for real.
Will the Real Drew Lock Please Stand Up?
Being a Denver Broncos fan is painful.
Yes, we won the Super Bowl in 2016, but in the time since it’s been losing season after losing season and a revolving door of quarterbacks that include Paxton Lynch, Case Keenum and the often-times infuriating play of our current signal-caller, Drew Lock.
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In only his second NFL season he’s tested the boundaries of my patience, as before Sunday, he threw at least one interception in seven consecutive games and has spent the entire year in a silent war with Sam Darnold for the dubious distinction of worst quarterback in the league—statistically at least.
But there are plenty of outside factors that have also contributed to Lock’s struggles on the field: His offensive line is garbage, his new offensive coordinator (the last one got fired in the offseason) is unquestionably worse, his top target (Courtland Sutton) has missed the entire year, the coronavirus killed any chance of a preseason or real training camp, he has yet to play 16 games as a pro, etc. These aren’t excuses, just facts; although his boneheaded decision making hasn’t helped matters either. So it’s not exactly a surprise that the Broncos entered Sunday’s game against the Panthers with a 4-8 record.
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Much like every other game this season, I indulged in my bacon and eggs and mentally prepared myself for a bloodbath once the game began. But to my shock and awe, Lock actually looked like a competent quarterback. Instead of staring down receivers and hurling 80-yard bombs like a dumb ass, dude finally learned to appreciate checkdowns, finished with the second-highest completion rate of his career, and threw for 280 yards and four touchdowns (I can’t believe I typed that) in a much-needed 32-27 win.
And did you see that heat he was throwing KJ Hamler?
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I don’t know if this was a glitch in t he Matrix or a sign of things to come, but if Drew Lock is finally turning the corner this is the greatest Christmas gift ever.
Who Balled Out
DeAndre Hopkins and Derrick Henry did the damn thing (King Henry leapfrogged Barry Sanders, LaDainian Tomlinson and Jim Brown for the most 200-yard, two-touchdown games ever), but did you see A.J. Brown’s insane one-hand catch against the Jaguars?!
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Sheesh.
See y’all next week.


theroot--2020-12-14--Oh, How We Love Dionne Warwick's Tweets—and Apparently, She Loves the SNL Sketch About Her

The moment I wake up before I put on my ( Zoom ) makeup ...
I check Dionne Warwick ’ s Twitter feed .
If you want to start your mornings with pure joy and laughter ( we especially need it this year ) , I recommend you do the same !
That ’ s what Twitter follows are for !
Whether it ’ s deftly incorporating memes into her tweets or questioning the redundancy of certain stage names , Warwick ’ s Twitter account is peak auntie .
And yes , like any Black matriarch , she definitely has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because she has addressed those of you questioning whether the newly minted octogenarian is actually typing out those tweets .
“ This has always been me .
I like being me because I like me .
Why shouldn ’ t I use it ?
It makes me happy , ” Warwick told the New York Times in a recent interview .
“ They can ’ t take my happiness away from me.
” Whether you ’ re skeptical or amused by Warwick ’ s Twitter presence , no one can stop talking about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ naturally .
Last Saturday night , the show aired a sketch titled “ The Dionne Warwick Talk Show , ” starring cast member Ego Nwodim as Warwick and featuring mock interviews with Harry Styles , Billie Eilish , Machine Gun Kelly ... and yes , there were some references thrown in about her recent tiff with Wendy Williams .
“ This was a hilarious birthday gift .
Thank you , @ nbcsnl .
That young lady ’ s impression of me was very good and who knew @ BrittaniWarrick had so many jobs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sunday , @ -ing her niece who has gained a bit of notoriety herself for helping her auntie with the technical aspects of Twitter .
She also gave props to Nwodim for her impersonation .
Warwick celebrated her 80th birthday this past Saturday with a virtual concert , encouraging those who were able to donate to the charity Hunger : Not Impossible .
Speaking of SNL , Warwick also gave a hilarious and endearing shout-out to longtime cast member Kenan Thompson .
“ Kenan Thompson has been on SNL for as long as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she tweeted .
“ A very talented and funny young man.
” Let ’ s all say a little prayer : Please , Ms. Dionne Warwick , never , ever leave Twitter .

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

The moment I wake up before I put on my (Zoom) makeup...I check Dionne Warwick’s Twitter feed.
If you want to start your mornings with pure joy and laughter (we especially need it this year), I recommend you do the same! That’s what Twitter follows are for! Whether it’s deftly incorporating memes into her tweets or questioning the redundancy of certain stage names, Warwick’s Twitter account is peak auntie.
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And yes, like any Black matriarch, she definitely has eyes in the back of her head because she has addressed those of you questioning whether the newly minted octogenarian is actually typing out those tweets.
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“This has always been me. I like being me because I like me. Why shouldn’t I use it? It makes me happy,” Warwick told the New York Times in a recent interview. “They can’t take my happiness away from me.”
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Whether you’re skeptical or amused by Warwick’s Twitter presence, no one can stop talking about her, including Saturday Night Live, naturally.
Last Saturday night, the show aired a sketch titled “The Dionne Warwick Talk Show,” starring cast member Ego Nwodim as Warwick and featuring mock interviews with Harry Styles, Billie Eilish, Machine Gun Kelly...and yes, there were some references thrown in about her recent tiff with Wendy Williams.
Dionne Warwick Talk Show - SNL/ Saturday Night Live (YouTube)
“This was a hilarious birthday gift. Thank you, @nbcsnl. That young lady’s impression of me was very good and who knew @BrittaniWarrick had so many jobs?” the legendary singer tweeted on Sunday, @-ing her niece who has gained a bit of notoriety herself for helping her auntie with the technical aspects of Twitter. She also gave props to Nwodim for her impersonation.
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Warwick celebrated her 80th birthday this past Saturday with a virtual concert, encouraging those who were able to donate to the charity Hunger: Not Impossible.
Speaking of SNL, Warwick also gave a hilarious and endearing shout-out to longtime cast member Kenan Thompson. “Kenan Thompson has been on SNL for as long as I’ve been alive,” she tweeted. “A very talented and funny young man.”
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Let’s all say a little prayer: Please, Ms. Dionne Warwick, never, ever leave Twitter.


theroot--2020-12-15--Sweet, Sweet Festivus Baby! Mariah Carey Ties Record for Most Time at No. 1 on the Hot 100 Among Hol

Sweet, Sweet Festivus Baby! Mariah Carey Ties Record for Most Time at No. 1 on the Hot 100 Among Holiday Songs

While there isn ’ t much that has been predictable or consistent this year , there is one thing that always delivers : hearing Mariah Carey ’ s “ All I Want for Christmas Is You ” over and over during the holiday season .
This year is no different .
Well , actually it ’ s a little different , but in a good way !
According to Billboard , Carey has tied the record for the most time at No .
1 on the Hot 100 among holiday songs in the chart ’ s entire history .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ history , for those keeping count !
The carol is one of a record-tying five Yuletide songs in the Hot 100 's top 10 , joined by Brenda Lee ’ s “ Rockin ’ Around the Christmas Tree , ” Bobby Helms ’ “ Jingle Bell Rock , ” Andy Williams ’ “ It ’ s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year ” and , in the top 10 for the first time , 50 years after its original release , Jose Feliciano ’ s “ Feliz Navidad.
” This week , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the most current classic Christmas song rose from No .
2 this week , making this week the 4th total week topping the Hot 100 this year .
Released on Carey ’ s Merry Christmas album in 1994 , “ All I Want for Christmas Is You ” also ties with “ The Chipmunk Song ” ( 1958 ) for the Hot 100 ’ s longest-leading holiday hit .
Here ’ s the total breakdown of numbers this year so far , via Billboard : Now , there is only one thing Carey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be for the whistle-register singer to score the record-breaking spot all by herself !
It definitely seems possible at this rate , and next week is Christmas ( seriously , how are we already here—December just started ! )
.
We ’ ll keep our eyes peeled for next week !

While there isn’t much that has been predictable or consistent this year, there is one thing that always delivers: hearing Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” over and over during the holiday season.
This year is no different. Well, actually it’s a little different, but in a good way! According to Billboard, Carey has tied the record for the most time at No. 1 on the Hot 100 among holiday songs in the chart’s entire history. That’s 62 years of Hot 100 history, for those keeping count!
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Billboard reports:
The carol is one of a record-tying five Yuletide songs in the Hot 100's top 10, joined by Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” Bobby Helms’ “Jingle Bell Rock,” Andy Williams’ “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” and, in the top 10 for the first time, 50 years after its original release, Jose Feliciano’s “Feliz Navidad.”
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This week, the universally beloved hit considered to be the most current classic Christmas song rose from No. 2 this week, making this week the 4th total week topping the Hot 100 this year. Released on Carey’s Merry Christmas album in 1994, “All I Want for Christmas Is You” also ties with “The Chipmunk Song” (1958) for the Hot 100’s longest-leading holiday hit.
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Here’s the total breakdown of numbers this year so far, via Billboard:
“Christmas” drew 31.4 million U.S. streams (up 19%) and sold 7,000 downloads (up 8%) in the week ending Dec. 10, according to Nielsen Music/MRC Data. It also tallied 27.1 million radio airplay audience impressions (up 11%) in the week ending Dec. 13.
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Now, there is only one thing Carey needs—one major present under the Christmas tree would be for the whistle-register singer to score the record-breaking spot all by herself! It definitely seems possible at this rate, and next week is Christmas (seriously, how are we already here—December just started!). We’ll keep our eyes peeled for next week!


theroot--2020-12-16--Newly Released Body Camera Footage Shows Police Questioning the McMichaels After Ahmaud Arbery Shoot

Newly Released Body Camera Footage Shows Police Questioning the McMichaels After Ahmaud Arbery Shooting

Newly released body camera footage has provided details regarding the moments following the shooting of Ahmaud Arbery in Glynn County , Ga. , on Feb. 23 .
The video shows officers questioning Greg and Travis McMichael and William “ Roddie ” Bryan directly after the shooting .
Of course , all the body-cam footage really shows us is a thing Black people have known for some time : White people always assume they ’ re in charge .
WSB-TV 2 obtained and reviewed the footage , which shows Greg on the phone with 911 dispatch .
He can be heard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s got it on film , ” before officers approach him .
“ You have any other weapons or anything on you ?
” an officer asks Greg McMichael .
“ Just that one .
If he would stop .
this wouldn ’ t have happened , ” he responds .
“ You a passerby coming through ?
” another officer asks Bryan in a different body camera video .
“ Not necessarily , ” Bryan replies .
Greg and Travis McMichael both told police they chased Arbery believing he had been breaking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ admitted to following Arbery , blocking him in and recording the shooting on his cellphone .
Prosecutors charged all three men with murder .
The defense claims the shooting was self-defense .
“ I mean we were just this close to him .
And he keeps on running , ” Greg McMichael said .
“ So I grab my 357 magnum , Glynn County PD issued by the way.
” Imagine being so confident in your nonexistent authority that you believe a citizen has an obligation to stop for you just because you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a retired investigator with the Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorney ’ s Office , but that didn ’ t stop him from mentioning where he got his gun as if that makes his retired ass any more official .
In fact , according to Channel 2 , Greg was recognized by at least one of the officers on the scene .
• First officer : “ Really ?
He was the chief investigator for the DA ’ s office.
” As The Root reported last month , when the McMichaels were denied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stated that one of the reasons he ruled against them was because he saw evidence that Greg attempted to take the law into his own hands and use his past career in law enforcement to justify it .
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that Travis—the man who shot Arbery—can be seen in the video “ splattered with blood and visibly upset.
” “ Last thing I ever wanted to do in my life , ” Travis said before echoing his father ’ s sentiments telling officers , “ If he had stopped this wouldn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Travis ] had had no choice , man , ” Greg told investigators , AJC reports .
He also said—I shit you not— “ To be honest with you if I could ’ ve shot the guy I would ’ ve shot him myself.
” Besides the shocking revelation that a bunch of white men thought they had the right to play vigilante and stop a Black man whose only real “ crime ” was not yielding to their non-authority , CBS News notes that the newly released video also reveals a contradiction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attorneys that their client was “ never more than a witness ” to Arbery ’ s death .
In the video , Bryan is heard telling officers , “ I pulled out of my driveway , was going to try to block [ Arbery ] , but he was going all around it.
” He also said , “ I made a few moves at him , you know ?
And he didn ’ t stop.
” Then Bryan said to officers , ” Should we have been chasing him ?
I don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ no , ” Bryan .
No , the hell you shouldn ’ t have .

Newly released body camera footage has provided details regarding the moments following the shooting of Ahmaud Arbery in Glynn County, Ga., on Feb. 23. The video shows officers questioning Greg and Travis McMichael and William “Roddie” Bryan directly after the shooting. Of course, all the body-cam footage really shows us is a thing Black people have known for some time: White people always assume they’re in charge.
WSB-TV 2 obtained and reviewed the footage, which shows Greg on the phone with 911 dispatch. He can be heard saying, “Travis, Roddie’s got it on film,” before officers approach him.
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From Channel 2:
“You have any other weapons or anything on you?” an officer asks Greg McMichael. “Just that one. If he would stop. this wouldn’t have happened,” he responds. “You a passerby coming through?” another officer asks Bryan in a different body camera video. “Not necessarily,” Bryan replies. Greg and Travis McMichael both told police they chased Arbery believing he had been breaking into a nearby construction site. Bryan admitted to following Arbery, blocking him in and recording the shooting on his cellphone. Prosecutors charged all three men with murder. The defense claims the shooting was self-defense. “I mean we were just this close to him. And he keeps on running,” Greg McMichael said. “So I grab my 357 magnum, Glynn County PD issued by the way.”
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Imagine being so confident in your nonexistent authority that you believe a citizen has an obligation to stop for you just because you happen to be chasing him.
(Note: Georgia actually has a citizen’s arrest law, which critics want to be repealed in light of Arbery’s death. Still, no one with a working brain would think that the McMichaels’ suspicion that Arbery was involved in a string of burglaries in the neighborhood—which was apparently based solely on the fact that they spotted him at a vacant construction site—justifies an armed chase by regular-ass citizens playing redneck Batman.)
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Greg is a retired investigator with the Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office, but that didn’t stop him from mentioning where he got his gun as if that makes his retired ass any more official.
In fact, according to Channel 2, Greg was recognized by at least one of the officers on the scene.
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More from Channel 2:
First officer: “You know Greg?”
Second officer: “No I don’t know him.”
First officer: “Really? He was the chief investigator for the DA’s office.”
Second officer: “This guy here?”
First officer: “He just retired.”
As The Root reported last month, when the McMichaels were denied bail, Superior Court Judge Timothy Walmsley stated that one of the reasons he ruled against them was because he saw evidence that Greg attempted to take the law into his own hands and use his past career in law enforcement to justify it.
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The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that Travis—the man who shot Arbery—can be seen in the video “splattered with blood and visibly upset.”
“Last thing I ever wanted to do in my life,” Travis said before echoing his father’s sentiments telling officers, “If he had stopped this wouldn’t have happened.”
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“[Travis] had had no choice, man,” Greg told investigators, AJC reports. He also said—I shit you not—“To be honest with you if I could’ve shot the guy I would’ve shot him myself.”
Besides the shocking revelation that a bunch of white men thought they had the right to play vigilante and stop a Black man whose only real “crime” was not yielding to their non-authority, CBS News notes that the newly released video also reveals a contradiction to a claim by Bryan’s attorneys that their client was “never more than a witness” to Arbery’s death.
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In the video, Bryan is heard telling officers, “I pulled out of my driveway, was going to try to block [Arbery], but he was going all around it.” He also said, “I made a few moves at him, you know? And he didn’t stop.”
Then Bryan said to officers, ”Should we have been chasing him? I don’t know.”
The answer is “no,” Bryan. No, the hell you shouldn’t have.