theroot--2020-05-21--Happy(?) Memorial Day: Here Are Some Virtual Events to Turn That Frown Upside Down This Weekend

This weekend is Memorial Day weekend , which typically serves as the kickoff to summer with barbecues , parties , and more .
However ... you know what ’ s up this time around .
If you don ’ t have any plans to keep yourself occupied this particular weekend , social media is chock full of entertainment at your fingertips , and The Root is here with options .
Not only do these virtual events cover the entertainment aspect we need , but many of them are philanthropic , as well .
Check out a few events happening this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a little something to do .
Also , make sure to take a walk !
• , , and more will perform during a charity concert to benefit Philadelphia ’ s PHL COVID-19 Fund .
According to , the fund has raised over $ 16 million already “ and assisted nearly 400 nonprofits working on the front lines ” of the pandemic ; it ’ s primarily focusing on aiding senior citizens , low-income residents who don ’ t have healthcare , the disabled , and those who are experiencing homelessness .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
ET , airs on local ABC , NBC and CBS affiliates .
It will also be streamed at Inquirer.com and Radio.com .
• Hawaiian multi-instrumentalist soul musician Ron Artis II will perform during a partnership with The Recording Academy ’ s MusiCARES Foundation .
Concert a Day aims to bring together music lovers in order to “ bring hope , foster community , and encourage mental health.
” The concert begins at 4 p.m .
ET , and will stream on YouTube , Twitch , and Facebook .
• will be airing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Liturgy and Carousel ( A Dance ) at 8 p.m .
ET on their website .
From April 21 to May 29 , the legendary dance company is presenting two ballets a week “ along with a full slate of other online programming , including new podcast episodes and live-streamed movement classes for all ages , to coincide with the dates of our now-canceled Spring 2020 performances at Lincoln Center.
” • Jamaicans , stand up !
Beenie Man and Bounty Killer were announced as the next battle in the series , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ET on Instagram Live .
Nothing says summer quite like a bashment , so this will hopefully be a great event with some great music .
• Washington State arts organizations Wa Na Wari and LANGSTON will highlight a hidden gem on the hip-hop scene— Seattle .
2 ( 06 ) The Break will honor local hip-hop from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. PST .
The weekly event kicked off on May 16 , and it will run through June 27 .
“ Each week , Jazmyn Scott , a Seattle hip-hop supporter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Seattle Hip-Hop exhibit at MOHAI , will pair two Pacific Northwest hip-hop DJs to collaboratively program and record a set composed exclusively of songs by local hip-hop artists of a specific era , from the 1980s to the present , ” writes the South Seattle Emerald .

This weekend is Memorial Day weekend, which typically serves as the kickoff to summer with barbecues, parties, and more. However...you know what’s up this time around. If you don’t have any plans to keep yourself occupied this particular weekend, social media is chock full of entertainment at your fingertips, and The Root is here with options. Not only do these virtual events cover the entertainment aspect we need, but many of them are philanthropic, as well.
Check out a few events happening this weekend if you’re looking for a little something to do. Also, make sure to take a walk!
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May 21
Charity
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The event, which begins at 7 p.m. ET, airs on local ABC, NBC and CBS affiliates. It will also be streamed at Inquirer.com and Radio.com.
Music
Hawaiian multi-instrumentalist soul musician Ron Artis II will perform during Pickathon’s Concert a Day,
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The concert begins at 4 p.m. ET, and will stream on YouTube, Twitch, and Facebook.
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MAY 22
Dance
The New York City Ballet will be airing a performance of Christopher Wheeldon’s Liturgy and Carousel (A Dance) at 8 p.m. ET on their website. From April 21 to May 29, the legendary dance company is presenting two ballets a week “along with a full slate of other online programming, including new podcast episodes and live-streamed movement classes for all ages, to coincide with the dates of our now-canceled Spring 2020 performances at Lincoln Center.”
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MAY 23
Music
Jamaicans, stand up! Beenie Man and Bounty Killer were announced as the next battle in the Verzuz
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Washington State arts organizations Wa Na Wari and LANGSTON will highlight a hidden gem on the hip-hop scene— Seattle. 2(06) The Break will honor local hip-hop from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. PST. The weekly event kicked off on May 16, and it will run through June 27.
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“Each week, Jazmyn Scott, a Seattle hip-hop supporter and co-curator of the 2015 Legacy of Seattle Hip-Hop exhibit at MOHAI, will pair two Pacific Northwest hip-hop DJs to collaboratively program and record a set composed exclusively of songs by local hip-hop artists of a specific era, from the 1980s to the present,” writes the South Seattle Emerald.


theroot--2020-05-23--Study Finds Supreme Court Almost Always Rules in Favor of Police In Excessive Force Cases

It ’ s a widely accepted belief that the legal system will almost never hold police officers accountable for their actions , and now , recent study has provided the numbers to back that claim .
An investigation conducted by Reuters examined 500 cases to see if the Supreme Court proves Justice Sonia Sotomayor ’ s assertion that the court acts as “ an absolute shield ” against police accountability .
The study found that “ qualified immunity ” has acted as a barrier that prevents officers from even being tried for excessive force .
Qualified Immunity is a doctrine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Supreme Court to protect government officials from unnecessary litigation .
The doctrine provides that a police officer can ’ t even be put on trial for using excessive force unless the person suing proves that : 1. the evidence shows or could convince a jury that the officer used excessive force ; and 2.the officers should have known they were violating “ clearly established ” law , because a prior court case had already deemed similar police actions to be illegal .
This two-part test means that even if a court finds that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will grant immunity if the facts don ’ t match an earlier case finding the same conduct to be illegal .
The “ clearly established ” law requirement makes it hard to win against the police , Reuters found , because courts are increasingly requiring a nearly identical case to use as precedent—and a court can almost always find or make up a factual difference between the case it ’ s reviewing and an earlier case .
Since 2009 , judges have been allowed to ignore altogether the question of whether an officer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they avoid setting a precedent for future cases , which allows the same conduct to repeatedly go unpunished .
The study also found that the Supreme Court was 3.5 times more likely to intervene on behalf of a police officer than a civilian .
In those cases , the court almost always rules in favor of the officer .
Chief Justice Sotomayor has been critical of this approach in recent years .
In a 2018 dissent , she said that the “ one-sided approach to qualified immunity transforms the doctrine into an absolute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the deterrent effect of the Fourth Amendment.
” The federal government doesn ’ t keep track of the number of people killed or seriously injured by police .
Reuters estimated that 1 , 000 people are killed each year at the hands of the police .
Very few , if any of them , will get the justice they deserve .

It’s a widely accepted belief that the legal system will almost never hold police officers accountable for their actions, and now, a recent study has provided the numbers to back that claim.
An investigation conducted by Reuters examined 500 cases to see if the Supreme Court proves Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s assertion that the court acts as “an absolute shield” against police accountability. The study found that “qualified immunity” has acted as a barrier that prevents officers from even being tried for excessive force. Qualified Immunity is a doctrine that was introduced in 1967 by the Supreme Court to protect government officials from unnecessary litigation.
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From The Equal Justice Initiative:
The doctrine provides that a police officer can’t even be put on trial for using excessive force unless the person suing proves that: 1. the evidence shows or could convince a jury that the officer used excessive force; and 2.the officers should have known they were violating “clearly established” law, because a prior court case had already deemed similar police actions to be illegal.
This two-part test means that even if a court finds that the officer used excessive force, it will grant immunity if the facts don’t match an earlier case finding the same conduct to be illegal. The “clearly established” law requirement makes it hard to win against the police, Reuters found, because courts are increasingly requiring a nearly identical case to use as precedent—and a court can almost always find or make up a factual difference between the case it’s reviewing and an earlier case. Since 2009, judges have been allowed to ignore altogether the question of whether an officer used excessive force. That way, they avoid setting a precedent for future cases, which allows the same conduct to repeatedly go unpunished.
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The study also found that the Supreme Court was 3.5 times more likely to intervene on behalf of a police officer than a civilian. In those cases, the court almost always rules in favor of the officer. Chief Justice Sotomayor has been critical of this approach in recent years. In a 2018 dissent, she said that the “one-sided approach to qualified immunity transforms the doctrine into an absolute shield for law enforcement officers, gutting the deterrent effect of the Fourth Amendment.”
The federal government doesn’t keep track of the number of people killed or seriously injured by police. Reuters estimated that 1,000 people are killed each year at the hands of the police. Very few, if any of them, will get the justice they deserve.
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theroot--2020-05-22--TGIF Playlist: Alt R&B

TGIF Playlist: Alt R&B

Thank goodness it ’ s Friday .
It ’ s Memorial Day weekend , which means most of y ’ @ @ @ @ @ your family or designated quarantine squad .
What better soundtrack to celebrate with than Alt @ @ @ @ @ ’ s like R & B , but alternative !
You can sit back and @ @ @ @ @ FKA Twigs , Thundercat , and more .
Make sure to tune into Amazon Music @ @ @ @ @ .
They ’ re still doing 3 months of FREE listens .
5 .
“ @ @ @ @ @ Dat ) ” — SZA 10 .
“ It Gets Better ( With Time ) @ @ @ @ @ here ’ s the completed playlist on Amazon Music for your enjoyment :

Ignacia on The Inventory, shared by Gabe Carey to The Root

3 Months Free | Amazon Music Unlimited
Thank goodness it’s Friday. It’s Memorial Day weekend, which means most of y’all will be BBQ-ing with your family or designated quarantine squad. What better soundtrack to celebrate with than Alt R&B? It’s like R&B, but alternative! You can sit back and jam to Ms. SZA, FKA Twigs, Thundercat, and more. Make sure to tune into Amazon Music Unlimited for the full version. They’re still doing 3 months of FREE listens.
1. “Biking (Solo)” — Frank Ocean
2. “holy terrain” — FKA twigs ft. Future
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3. “Too Much” — Sampha
4. “Two Weeks” — FKA twigs
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5. “Garden (Say It Like Dat)” — SZA
6. “Them Changes” — Thundercat
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7. “CPR” — Summer Walker
8. “Hallucinations” — dvsn
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9. “Ascension” — Jhené Aiko ft. Brandy
10. “It Gets Better (With Time)” — The Internet
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11. “Don’t Touch My Hair” — Solange
12. “Can I” — Kehlani ft. Tory Lanez
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And here’s the completed playlist on Amazon Music for your enjoyment:
Until next week, everyone.


theroot--2020-05-22--Dennis Rodman Checks Former Teammates Offended By The Last Dance: 'I Don’t Think They Were Strong En

Dennis Rodman Checks Former Teammates Offended By The Last Dance: 'I Don’t Think They Were Strong Enough to Handle That'

In the aftermath of ESPN ’ s The Last Dance , there have been quite a few ruffled feathers .
Reports have surfaced about Scottie Pippen being “ beyond livid ” at his portrayal and another former teammate , Craig Hodges , ripped Michael Jordan for statements that he made about the team he joined as a rookie .
“ One of the things as players we call this a fraternity , ” Hodges told Fox Sports Radio .
“ So I ’ m watching the first episode and I was upset about the ‘ cocaine circus.
’ That bothered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brothers who are on that picture with you who have to explain to their families who are getting ready to watch this great Michael Jordan documentary event and they know you ’ re on the team , and now you ’ ve got to explain that to a 12-year-old boy.
” In response to all this , Dennis Rodman , who anchored the paint during the Chicago Bulls ’ second three-peat in the 90s , has one thing to say : shut that shit up .
“ The players were a little upset @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under the bus .
‘ You guys wasn ’ t [ sic ] doing what I want you to do , I ’ m the greatest , I ’ m determined to win no matter what , ’ ” he told Good Morning Britain .
“ The next thing you know , Michael starts to talking [ sic ] about the whole team… the teammates I played with .
He continued , “ Mentally , I don ’ t think they were strong enough to handle that , because [ former Chicago Bulls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ laid-back coach .
Michael is more like , ‘ I ’ m going to do it , watch me be famous.
’ I didn ’ t care because I was already famous.
” Rodman ’ s stance is interesting because he had significant leeway during the Bulls ’ final champion run in 1998 .
Not only was he allowed to take a mid-season vacation to Las Vegas , but he skipped practice during the NBA Finals to go participate in a World Wrestling Championship event .
Yet despite all this , and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the film , he takes no issue with how he was portrayed .
But then again , he wasn ’ t called “ selfish ” like Pippen was , or part of a “ cocaine circus ” like Hodges .
Horace Grant is another former teammate who ’ s taken issue with Jordan since The Last Dance aired .
On Tuesday , he tore into His Airness for continuing to “ completely lie ” about Grant ’ s involvement in the 1992 book The Jordan Rules , which features anonymous quotes that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ If M.J. had a grudge with me , let ’ s settle it like men , ” Grant told ESPN Radio in Chicago .
“ Let ’ s talk about it , or we can settle it another way .
Yet and still , he puts out this lie out that I was the source behind it .
[ ... ] He says I was the snitch , but still after 35 years he brings up his rookie year , going into one of his teammates rooms and seeing coke and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , why did he want to bring that up ?
What does that got to do with anything ?
If you want to call somebody a snitch , that ’ s a damn snitch right there.
” Rodman is obviously entitled to his opinion , but considering all the heat that Jordan is unnecessarily bringing onto himself , he might wan na sit this one out .

Jay Connor on The Grapevine, shared by Jay Connor to The Root

In the aftermath of ESPN’s The Last Dance, there have been quite a few ruffled feathers. Reports have surfaced about Scottie Pippen being “beyond livid” at his portrayal and another former teammate, Craig Hodges, ripped Michael Jordan for statements that he made about the team he joined as a rookie.
“One of the things as players we call this a fraternity,” Hodges told Fox Sports Radio. “So I’m watching the first episode and I was upset about the ‘cocaine circus.’ That bothered me because I was thinking about the brothers who are on that picture with you who have to explain to their families who are getting ready to watch this great Michael Jordan documentary event and they know you’re on the team, and now you’ve got to explain that to a 12-year-old boy.”
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In response to all this, Dennis Rodman, who anchored the paint during the Chicago Bulls’ second three-peat in the 90s, has one thing to say: shut that shit up.
“The players were a little upset because they felt Michael was throwing them under the bus. ‘You guys wasn’t [sic] doing what I want you to do, I’m the greatest, I’m determined to win no matter what,’” he told Good Morning Britain. “The next thing you know, Michael starts to talking [sic] about the whole team… the teammates I played with.
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He continued, “Mentally, I don’t think they were strong enough to handle that, because [former Chicago Bulls head coach] Phil Jackson is a laid-back coach. Michael is more like, ‘I’m going to do it, watch me be famous.’ I didn’t care because I was already famous.”
Rodman’s stance is interesting because he had significant leeway during the Bulls’ final champion run in 1998. Not only was he allowed to take a mid-season vacation to Las Vegas, but he skipped practice during the NBA Finals to go participate in a World Wrestling Championship event. Yet despite all this, and the fact that they were both brought up in the film, he takes no issue with how he was portrayed. But then again, he wasn’t called “selfish” like Pippen was, or part of a “cocaine circus” like Hodges.
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Horace Grant is another former teammate who’s taken issue with Jordan since The Last Dance aired. On Tuesday, he tore into His Airness for continuing to “completely lie” about Grant’s involvement in the 1992 book The Jordan Rules, which features anonymous quotes that created a schism within the Bulls organization.
“If M.J. had a grudge with me, let’s settle it like men,” Grant told ESPN Radio in Chicago. “Let’s talk about it, or we can settle it another way. Yet and still, he puts out this lie out that I was the source behind it. [...] He says I was the snitch, but still after 35 years he brings up his rookie year, going into one of his teammates rooms and seeing coke and weed and women. My point is, why did he want to bring that up? What does that got to do with anything? If you want to call somebody a snitch, that’s a damn snitch right there.”
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Rodman is obviously entitled to his opinion, but considering all the heat that Jordan is unnecessarily bringing onto himself, he might wanna sit this one out.


theroot--2020-05-22--Quavo Walked It Like He Talked It Across the Class of 2020 Virtual Stage and Is Now a High School Gr

Quavo Walked It Like He Talked It Across the Class of 2020 Virtual Stage and Is Now a High School Graduate

While he was busy “ in the kitchen , wrist-twistin ’ like a stir fry , ” the Migos member was also completing an important goal : graduating high school .
According to Vulture , the 29-year-old graduated from Berkmar High School in Linburn , Ga. Quavo hopped on Instagram on Thursday to share the most endearing graduation pictures , with the caption , “ Finally can say I graduated high school Class Of 2020 , we lit !
Now what college should I go to ?
” In natural Quavo fashion , he celebrated with his own kind of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ night , he released “ Need It , ” featuring NBA Youngboy .
The value of education is not a game , but Quavo is diving into the gaming world with UK retailer boohooMAN , who released their first-ever app game to celebrate the launch of their Huncho Szn II clothing line , which dropped today .
The addictive game is based on the iconic platform style whereby you can run Quavo ’ s character over the rooftops of LA to grab coins and pieces from the boohooMAN x Quavo Season 2 collection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ promotions and prizes .
The game is free and available on the boohooMAN app on IoS and Android .
For the prizes , if you score 2,000 points and you ’ ll be entered into a draw for a chance to win $ 1000 .
Score over 3,000 points to win in app prizes and the chance to win a t-shirt from the collection signed by Quavo himself .
In a straight-to-the-point statement , Quavo exclaimed , “ boohooMAN are changing the game , literally !
” Congrats to Quavo and we ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ college you choose !
I ’ m sure each and every one of his fans is already suggesting their own alma maters .

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

Quavo is officially a 2020 high school graduate, y’all.
While he was busy “in the kitchen, wrist-twistin’ like a stir fry,” the Migos member was also completing an important goal: graduating high school. According to Vulture, the 29-year-old graduated from Berkmar High School in Linburn, Ga.
Quavo hopped on Instagram on Thursday to share the most endearing graduation pictures, with the caption, “Finally can say I graduated high school Class Of 2020, we lit! Now what college should I go to?”
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In natural Quavo fashion, he celebrated with his own kind of graduation afterparty—a new song release! That night, he released “Need It,” featuring NBA Youngboy.
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The value of education is not a game, but Quavo is diving into the gaming world with UK retailer boohooMAN, who released their first-ever app game to celebrate the launch of their Huncho Szn II clothing line, which dropped today.
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From the app’s press release:
The addictive game is based on the iconic platform style whereby you can run Quavo’s character over the rooftops of LA to grab coins and pieces from the boohooMAN x Quavo Season 2 collection. Scoring points allows you to unlock promotions and prizes. The game is free and available on the boohooMAN app on IoS and Android. For the prizes, if you score 2,000 points and you’ll be entered into a draw for a chance to win $1000. Score over 3,000 points to win in app prizes and the chance to win a t-shirt from the collection signed by Quavo himself.
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In a straight-to-the-point statement, Quavo exclaimed, “boohooMAN are changing the game, literally!”
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Congrats to Quavo and we’ll keep an eye out on what college you choose! I’m sure each and every one of his fans is already suggesting their own alma maters.


theroot--2020-05-22--Headphones, PlayStation, and TVs: The Best Sony Deals of the Day

The best Sony electronics deals of May 2020 are here .
Whether it ’ s wireless earbuds , headphones , PlayStation gaming , or a new TV you seek , Sony is delivering on the deals right now .
We ’ ve picked out hot current deals for all of those items and more , including $ 150 off the Sony Xperia 1 smartphone ... and even thousands off an enormous 8K TV , if that ’ s what you ’ re into .
Here ’ s a look at the best Sony deals going on right now .
Sony @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AirPods Pro might not be as slim or sleek , but they ’ re super comfortable , sound great , and have excellent noise-canceling capabilities : “ The digital noise canceling in this model is simply the best I ’ ve encountered in any truly wireless earbuds , ” wrote Gizmodo ’ s Adam Clark Estes in his review last summer .
The Sony WF-1000XM3 Wireless Earbuds are $ 32 off the normal price right now , putting a wide enough gulf between them and Apple ’ s alternative to maybe make your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Buy it now for $ 198 Sony ’ s flagship phones are among the highest of the high end , and last year ’ s Xperia 1 certainly fits that bill .
It ’ s one of the rare handsets to squeeze a ridiculously crisp 4K screen onto a phone , and it ’ s ultra-tall too at a 21:9 aspect ratio .
It also has great cameras and a speedy Snapdragon 855 chip onboard , and this purple color scheme is very striking ( the black one , less so ) .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 152 off the list price right now .
• None Buy it now for $ 798 Sony has a reputation for excellent headphones , and these wireless noise-canceling over-ear headphones look to be one of the best picks on the premium end of the price scale .
Amazon customers think so , at least , with a 4.6-star rating with more than 8,000 reviews .
With active noise-canceling to block out the world , up to 30 hours of battery life , and built-in Amazon Alexa support , you can really jam with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Right now , they ’ re $ 72 off of the list price whether you opt for black or silver .
• None Buy it now for $ 278 Look at this adorable little Bluetooth speaker .
It ’ s about four inches tall and weighs just over half a pound , but Sony says that it packs a punch with extra bass capabilities .
This easily-portable speaker can connect to your smartphone , tablet , or other devices and lasts up to 16 hours on a charge .
It also has waterproof @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all , it ’ s $ 22 off the list price right now at Amazon and available in a handful of different colors • None Buy it now for $ 38 Also known as “ Lil ’ baby PlayStation , ” the PlayStation Classic is basically Sony ’ s take on the tiny NES and Super NES that Nintendo released a couple years back , packing 20 original PSone games into a pint-sized , plug-and-play console .
It ’ s pretty no-frills in execution , but legendary games such as Final Fantasy VII @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3 onboard , you can get a lot of fun out of it—especially now that it ’ s $ 47 off the list price .
• None Buy it now for $ 53 A PlayStation Plus membership is essential if you want to play PS4 games online , but at $ 60 a year , it might seem a bit steep .
Luckily , you can grab a yearlong membership now for just $ 31 through CDKeys .
The subscription also grants you free games to download each and every month , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your Plus plan stays active .
• None Buy it now for $ 31 Traveling might not be on the agenda for a while , but if you ’ re eager to spend some social distancing time exploring the world around you and documenting its suddenly sparse beauty , Sony has a seriously sweet camera for you .
The Sony Alpha a6500 Mirrorless Digital Camera has a 24.2MP Exmor CMOS sensor and BIONZ X image processor that ’ s ideal for pristine shots and stellar video alike , and B & H ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lens , but also an accessory kit with a 64GB memory card , spare battery , and camera bag .
The entire kit is $ 600 off of the individual list prices .
• None Buy it now for $ 899 The Alpha a6000 is a little bit older than the Alpha a6500 above , and this is just for the camera and 16-50mm lens without the bonus accessories—but it may also be a better bargain overall .
This well-reviewed camera has a 4.4-star rating from Amazon customers , and though it lacks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ processing than the a6500 , it still seems to be an impressive digital camera for today .
• None Buy it now for $ 500 Looking for a nice new pair of earbuds with a bit of extra thump ?
Sony ’ s MDR-XB50AP earbuds come with an “ Extra Bass ” tag in their title , with 12mm Neodynium drivers putting a bit more force into your tunes .
Right now , the blue and black versions are down $ 20 off of the list price at Amazon , but check on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen it fluctuate .
• None Buy it now for $ 30 Should you buy an 8K television right now ?
More pressingly , should you spend $ 6,699 on a TV right now ?
Look , we can ’ t make that decision for you—but when you consider that Sony ’ s Z9G Master Series 8K LED TV is $ 6 ,3 00 off the original list price right now , that might be easier to justify .
Ripe for your wild early-adopter needs , this enormous 4320p TV has Sony ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ IMAX-enhanced , while the backlight master drive adjusts light levels in parts of the screen for amplified contrast .
• None Buy it now for $ 6,699 If you ’ re playing a lot more games online these days , whether it ’ s Fortnite , Rocket League , or something else entirely , then you should have a headset to strategize with your squad ... or maybe trash-talk your foes .
We ’ re fans of Sony ’ s official PlayStation Gold wireless headset , which easily connects to the console , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sound .
It ’ s $ 31 off right now in Black , but Amazon has other colors coming in and out of stock here and there .
• None Buy it now for $ 69 If , much like the Black Eyed Peas , you love that boom boom boom ( sorry ) , then Sony ’ s “ Extra Bass ” wireless headphones ( XB950B1 ) are probably for you .
In addition to packing an extra punch on the low end , these app-controllable cans provide up to 18 hours @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % off the list price right now .
• None Buy it now for $ 117 Given how much time we ’ re all spending at home right now , it might be the time that you realize that your TV ’ s built-in speakers just aren ’ t cutting it .
Luckily , you don ’ t need to spend a bundle to get a nice boost over the default .
Sony ’ s HT-S100F is an entry-level soundbar without any external surround speakers or a subwoofer , but with 120W output @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , you ’ ll surely hear the advantage .
It ’ s $ 30 off of the list price right now .
• None Buy it now for $ 98

Andrew Hayward on Roundups, shared by Gabe Carey to The Root

The best Sony PlayStation deals are here.
The PS5 has been out in the wild for some months now, but good luck finding one: they’ve been popping in and out of stock at retailers, and they’re likely to remain scarce for months to come. It’s the usual console launch routine, but we wish you well if you’re still on the hunt.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for deals on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 games alike, along with accessories, then you’ll find stellar savings below.
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Amazon has a PlayStation 5 bundled with Horizon Forbidden West for $550. However, in order to purchase, you need to request an invitation to be allowed to buy. This has been coming in waves. If you’ve been trying to get a PS5 for nearly two years now with no luck, this is a pretty decent bet. There’s no harm in making the request. Even if you end up finding one elsewhere first, this acts as a reservation and there is no obligation to move forward with the purchase.
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As a lifelong Xbox player who decided to get the PS5 after not having a Sony console since the PS2, I have to say I am impressed with the DualSense controller. It’s been my de facto way to play through Elden Ring on PC and since the relaunch of the PS+ service, I’ve been dipping into Returnal which shows off the haptic feedback and adaptive triggers as being way more than a gimmick and actually enhancing the way the game works. If you’re looking for some extras but don’t want to shell out too much for them, GameStop has refurbished DualSense controllers for just $40.
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The absolute juggernaut of multiplayer live-service games, Grand Theft Auto V, is down to $20 on PS5. This is the game’s third console generation to be released on in a row. Folks speculated we would never be getting the sixth installment in the franchise, but rumors have been spreading around and most people figure we may hear an announcement sometime this year. Even so, I wouldn’t expect a release date until at least 2024. So in the meantime, why not upgrade ol’ reliable and start playing GTAV on your PS5 for just $20.
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Alan Wake was originally released as part of the Xbox 360 generation and is thought of to be one of the best games of its time so it’s only natural it got a remaster. From the same developer as Control, you can tangibly feel the dreamlike worlds they’ve created. If Stephen King and Twin Peaks-inspired media is your jam, you’ll love this horror writer exploring the Pacific Northwest and confronting his nightmares. And now with Alan Wake 2 approaching in 2023 and this remaster being $10 off, there’s no better time to check it out.
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One of the first big game releases of last year was a hit… and it’s about hits, no less. Hitman 3 is trilogy-capping assassination sandbox, and it has scored rave reviews from critics for pairing a stronger narrative focus with the consistently entertaining contract-killing antics of Agent 47. Save 19% over at Amazon right now.
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Grab a friend! It Takes Two is out and it’s an excellent co-op experience. The latest from Josef Fares and the team at Hazelight is a platforming rom-com that’s wickedly clever. Every level introduces inventive new mechanics that keep the game fresh. It’s a rare co-op game where both players always have something to do and player two isn’t just a sidekick. Considering how many delays are happening this year, it could end up being one of the year’s top games. If that all sounds appealing, you can get it on PS4 for $20 which comes with free upgrades to the current-gen. The game does not come with a friend, so you will need to find that yourself. Though, your friend will get to play for free as the game only requires one of the two players to own it—even when playing online.
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Square Enix’s new adaption of Guardians of the Galaxy follows their middling take on Marvel’s Avengers. While the latter brought on some mixed feelings about a decent single-player experience with a poor attempt at a live service game, Guardians of the Galaxy drops any and all live service elements in favor of a single-player story taking on the role of solely Star-Lord. And it’s actually looking pretty dang good! As Captain of the Guardians, you will be making decisions regarding squabbles among the crew in a morality system not dissimilar to Mass Effect or a Telltale game. What isn’t a moral dilemma is purchasing the game for only $30 on PS4 and PS5.
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The Souls games have been a powerhouse of the past decade of gaming—inspiring an entirely new genre of games all thanks to the first game in the franchise, Dark Souls. What’s that? There was a game before Dark Souls? Interesting. Coming in under the radar, the 2009 release Demon’s Souls sold an estimated 1.7 million while its follow-up, Dark Souls, sold over 25 million copies worldwide. By my calculation, that still leaves at least 23.3 million of you fans who still haven’t played this game. Now is the perfect time to play the game the that started it all in its upgraded glory as the price has dropped by $23 since launch.
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Ubisoft’s latest open-world sandbox is here, upping the anty once again by casting Giancarlo Esposito as the entry’s villain, Antón Castillo. This is now the second actor of the Breaking Bad Universe to show off his evil chops in the series as Michael Mando provided the voice and look of Far Cry 2's Vaas, then went on to join Breaking Bad spinoff, Better Call Saul as Nacho. Anyway, I’ve yet to play any of the Far Cry games so pretty much all I know here is Giancarlo Esposito. And that seems to be exactly what the marketing department is going for. My mom saw the commercial and thought he was starring in a new movie coming out. The game is out now and Amazon has the game for $21 on PS5.
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The PlayStation 5 comes with an 875GB SSD. At first glance, that may sound like a lot. But after factoring in the system software, you’re looking at about 667.2GB of usable space. Then when you consider Call of Duty games are coming in at over 100GB a pop, that SSD is going to fill up fast. Thankfully, the internal storage can be expanded with SSDs available from third parties. WD_BLACK is having a sale at the moment on their SN850 solid-state drives. You can currently get a 1TB SSD for $145. Now you’ll maybe even be able to house both Call of Duty: Vanguard and Battlefield 2042.
This post was originally published by Andre Hayward on 04/02/2020 and updated by Joe Tilleli with new information on 08/23/2022.


theroot--2020-05-22--Trailer Roundup: The Pageant Question for Miss Juneteenth Is...WTF Is TENET About?

It ’ s Friday and we ’ re headed into a holiday weekend .
This week is a pretty robust one for trailers ( we already gave some special love to Da 5 Bloods and Body Cam ) , so let ’ s get right to it !
First Impressions : Within the first few seconds of the trailer I hear the narrator say , “ Your best fighters come from hard backgrounds.
” Following the lives of Kenneth Sims Jr. and Destyne Butler Jr. ( and their fathers who train them ) , this immediately gives me the gritty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ T-Rex documentary , which I loved .
I ’ m looking forward to watching this .
Through The Night Official festival trailer / YouTube First Impressions : A selection at the 2020 Tribeca Film Festival , Through the Night is a gripping peek into the economic and emotional challenges of Americans through the eyes of a 24-hour daycare center in Westchester , NY .
Along with highlighting this very important and currently relevant story , director Loira Limbal also launched the Essential Care Fundraiser on GoFundMe .
The trailer is extremely effective as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m in .
First Impressions : Described as “ trap music meets film noir , ” P-Valley is created by Katori Hall ( Tina : The Tina Turner Musical ) and based on her play , Pussy Valley .
This drama will take us deep into the Mississippi Delta and with all the scandals and conflict , it looks like it ’ ll keep us there .
And I spy the walking eye candy known as Tyler Lepley ( The Have and The Have Nots ) .
First Impressions : It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ iteration of this documentary premiered ( 2011 ) and unfortunately , I ’ m not sure we ’ re any closer to reconciliation when it comes to colorism in our community .
Especially given the recent conversations that have happened around Kenya Barris and # BlackAF , it may be time we step into that highly uncomfortable spot once again .
Filmmaker D. Channsin Berry returns for this sequel and I ’ m hoping that it tackles what has been a pretty circular argument in a new and challenging way .
We shall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Oh , I see we ’ re already popping off with an eye-catching story—a priest who identifies as gay .
Fans of the Queer Eye guys will be happy to know that the fifth season will showcase more of their well-known tear-inducing stories ( this time , in Philly ) , such as a young black woman who feels insecure about her tall height .
Get out your Kleenex .
The Old Guard Official Trailer / Netflix ( YouTube ) First Impressions : After just recently celebrating the 20th anniversary of Gina @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we get to look forward to something new and exciting from her , as well .
In The Old Guard , we ’ re following a bunch of mercenaries who with Wolverine-like regenerative abilities .
Plus , we get to see KiKi Layne in a badass role .
First Impressions : When I first heard of this series , the concept alone inspired me—we ’ re showcasing a myriad of talented people as they read the letters from the people they ’ ve inspired .
As someone who definitely wrote letters to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the mere thought of them responding always thrilled me .
Featuring the likes of Oprah Winfrey , Spike Lee , Yara Shahidi , Stevie Wonder , Misty Copeland and more , this looks like quite the endearing series .
First Impressions : Let me get this out of the way—this is a Nicole Beharie stan Kinja account .
Her most recent portrayal in Black Mirror ’ s “ Striking Vipers ” episode had people remembering just who the fuck she was in this acting game and I ’ m excited to see more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unfortunately , one of the films I missed at Sundance so I ’ m glad that we ’ ll get to stream it ... and yes , the release date is perfect , for obvious reasons .
First Impressions : Despite pretty much every other movie pushing back their release date during the pandemic , director Christopher Nolan is holding firm on keeping the original July release date and it looks like Warner Bros. is letting him do it ... at least at the time of this post .
Anything could change .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ was certainly filmed to be displayed on an IMAX screen ( in 75mm ) , so I know Nolan would never resort to premiering it on a streaming platform , but I thought he ’ d at least compromise on the release date .
Nope !
Anyway , aside from my excitement about John David Washington leading a Nolan film , wtf is this movie about ?
Washington ’ s character rejects the notion that it ’ s simply about time travel , but “ inversion.
” Yeahhhh , I ’ m predicting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And yet , I still want to see it , badly .
Don ’ t ask me if I ’ m going to rush to an IMAX theater during this time , though ... That ’ s all , folks !
I know your Memorial Day BBQing function will be a tad lonelier during social distancing and cookouts over Zoom aren ’ t the same , but I hope you have a joyful long weekend .
Wash those hands .

It’s Friday and we’re headed into a holiday weekend. This week is a pretty robust one for trailers (we already gave some special love to Da 5 Bloods and Body Cam), so let’s get right to it!
Ringside (Showtime; Release Date: June 12, 2020, at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT)
RINGSIDE (2020) Official Trailer / Showtime Sports (YouTube)
First Impressions: Within the first few seconds of the trailer I hear the narrator say, “Your best fighters come from hard backgrounds.” Following the lives of Kenneth Sims Jr. and Destyne Butler Jr. (and their fathers who train them), this immediately gives me the gritty yet heartwarming feel of Claressa Shields’ T-Rex documentary, which I loved. I’m looking forward to watching this.
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Through The Night (PBS; Release Date: May 10, 2021)
Through The Night Official festival trailer / YouTube
First Impressions: A selection at the 2020 Tribeca Film Festival, Through the Night is a gripping peek into the economic and emotional challenges of Americans through the eyes of a 24-hour daycare center in Westchester, NY. Along with highlighting this very important and currently relevant story, director Loira Limbal also launched the Essential Care Fundraiser on GoFundMe. The trailer is extremely effective as it already has me tearing up. I’m in.
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P-Valley (Starz; Release Date: July 12, 2020, at 8 p.m. ET/PT)
P-Valley Official Teaser #2 / STARZ (YouTube)
First Impressions: Described as “trap music meets film noir,” P-Valley is created by Katori Hall (Tina: The Tina Turner Musical) and based on her play, Pussy Valley. This drama will take us deep into the Mississippi Delta and with all the scandals and conflict, it looks like it’ll keep us there. And I spy the walking eye candy known as Tyler Lepley (The Have and The Have Nots).
Advertisement
Dark Girls 2 (OWN; Release Date: June 30, 2020, at 10 p.m. ET/PT)
Trailer: “Dark Girls 2" / OWN (YouTube)
First Impressions: It seems so long ago since the first iteration of this documentary premiered (2011) and unfortunately, I’m not sure we’re any closer to reconciliation when it comes to colorism in our community. Especially given the recent conversations that have happened around Kenya Barris and #BlackAF, it may be time we step into that highly uncomfortable spot once again. Filmmaker D. Channsin Berry returns for this sequel and I’m hoping that it tackles what has been a pretty circular argument in a new and challenging way. We shall see how it goes.
Advertisement
Queer Eye 5 (Netflix; Release Date: June 5, 2020)
Queer Eye: Season 5 Official Trailer / Netflix (YouTube)
First Impressions: Oh, I see we’re already popping off with an eye-catching story—a priest who identifies as gay. Fans of the Queer Eye guys will be happy to know that the fifth season will showcase more of their well-known tear-inducing stories (this time, in Philly), such as a young black woman who feels insecure about her tall height. Get out your Kleenex.
Advertisement
The Old Guard (Netflix; Release Date: July 10, 2020)
The Old Guard Official Trailer / Netflix (YouTube)
First Impressions: After just recently celebrating the 20th anniversary of Gina Prince-Bythewood’s Love & Basketball, we get to look forward to something new and exciting from her, as well. In The Old Guard, we’re following a bunch of mercenaries who with Wolverine-like regenerative abilities. Plus, we get to see KiKi Layne in a badass role.
Advertisement
Dear... (Apple TV+; Release Date: June 5, 2020)
Dear... — Official Trailer / Apple TV (YouTube)
First Impressions: When I first heard of this series, the concept alone inspired me—we’re showcasing a myriad of talented people as they read the letters from the people they’ve inspired. As someone who definitely wrote letters to the writers and filmmakers who inspired me, the mere thought of them responding always thrilled me. Featuring the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Spike Lee, Yara Shahidi, Stevie Wonder, Misty Copeland and more, this looks like quite the endearing series.
Advertisement
Miss Juneteenth (Digital and On-Demand; Release Date: June 19, 2020)
Miss Juneteenth Official Trailer (HD) / Vertical Entertainment US (YouTube)
First Impressions: Let me get this out of the way—this is a Nicole Beharie stan Kinja account. Her most recent portrayal in Black Mirror’s “Striking Vipers” episode had people remembering just who the fuck she was in this acting game and I’m excited to see more of her. Miss Juneteenth was, unfortunately, one of the films I missed at Sundance so I’m glad that we’ll get to stream it...and yes, the release date is perfect, for obvious reasons.
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TENET (IMAX Theaters; Release Date: July 17, 2020)
TENET - NEW TRAILER / Warner Bros. Pictures (YouTube)
First Impressions: Despite pretty much every other movie pushing back their release date during the pandemic, director Christopher Nolan is holding firm on keeping the original July release date and it looks like Warner Bros. is letting him do it...at least at the time of this post. Anything could change. I know one thing: this movie was certainly filmed to be displayed on an IMAX screen (in 75mm), so I know Nolan would never resort to premiering it on a streaming platform, but I thought he’d at least compromise on the release date. Nope! Anyway, aside from my excitement about John David Washington leading a Nolan film, wtf is this movie about? Washington’s character rejects the notion that it’s simply about time travel, but “inversion.” Yeahhhh, I’m predicting some Inception-level head-scratching awaits us, here. And yet, I still want to see it, badly. Don’t ask me if I’m going to rush to an IMAX theater during this time, though...
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That’s all, folks! I know your Memorial Day BBQing function will be a tad lonelier during social distancing and cookouts over Zoom aren’t the same, but I hope you have a joyful long weekend. Wash those hands.


theroot--2020-05-22--Better Together: This Mother-Daughter Duo Earned MDs in the Same Year and Residencies in the Same Ho

Better Together: This Mother-Daughter Duo Earned MDs in the Same Year and Residencies in the Same Hospital

Yes , we know Mother ’ s Day was nearly two weeks ago , and that we ’ re now well into graduation season .
We also know feel-good moments have sadly been far and few between , as of late—so bear with us , because this mother-daughter graduation story is a bright spot .
Jasmine Kudji grew up around medicine .
Her mother Cynthia Kudji was an RN and nurse practitioner for nearly a decade , and after becoming pregnant with Jasmine in her early 20s , she often brought her daughter along as she treated patients throughout rural @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cynthia , a Tulane graduate with a Master ’ s of Science in Nursing from Loyola , decided to become a physician , enrolling in medical school at the University of Medicine and Health Sciences ( UMHS ) in St. Kitts and Maine at the same time her daughter was pursuing her medical degree at LSU School of Medicine .
Both graduated this spring .
“ I remember when we were young there were TV shows like ‘ The Cosby Show ’ and ‘ A Different World , ’ ” Cynthia told the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ college or being successful was like firsts , ” So , for me it wasn ’ t like ‘ Oh , yes , I want to be a physician ’ .
It was more like , ‘ Oh , no , can I really do this ?
Or , ‘ Am I smart enough to do it ?
’ ” She may have been a nontraditional student , but Cynthia was certainly smart enough .
The UMHS Endeavor reports that “ these groundbreaking women are the first mother and daughter to attend medical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the same institution.
” On July 1 , 2020 , the newly minted Dr. Cynthia Kudji will begin her residency in Family Medicine at LSU Health in Louisiana , while Dr. Jasmine Kudji will work at LSU in General Surgery .
Personally , we think they should go into Genetic Research since Cynthia clearly cloned herself ; in fact , the two are often mistaken for sisters .
“ All the time , ” Cynthia laughed .
“ I ’ ll take it .
I ’ ll take it.
” “ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ came to lunch with me my freshman year of college and the guys were like ‘ who ’ s this new girl ?
’ ” Added daughter Jasmine , who also attended LSU for undergrad .
Of her return to matriculation as an older student and parent , Cynthia told the Endeavor : It ’ s a lot .
So , if you haven ’ t been in school for a while , it takes some getting used to the volume of material .
The second thing is you still have the responsibilities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mom or a dad or whatever you are .
So even though I was in medical school , I was still Jasmine ’ s mom .
So , if she needed something financially or she needed someone , I still had to be there as mom regardless of whether I was in medical school or not .
Those were some of the challenges that you face as an older student versus being in your 20s in medical school without all those additional responsibilities .
The mother and daughter also shared that their closeness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; the duo relied on FaceTime and Skype to communicate and support each other from afar .
“ I always tell people we laugh together , we study together , we cry together , ” said Jasmine .
“ I think medical school is one of those experiences that you don ’ t truly understand until you ’ re in it .
Sometimes people struggle to find someone who relates to their struggles , so for that person to be my mom was extremely helpful.
” Of course , all human interest warm-and-fuzzies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amid a global pandemic and will now be working in areas already deemed a hotspot for COVID-19 .
While each has justifiable concerns about exposure , both see the crisis as an opportunity to educate our community about overall health as a mechanism for protection against the coronavirus .
“ I think this is a great opportunity for us to show that physicians are true leaders ...
This is the point where we get to educate our patients , ” said Cynthia , who has so far only administered tests as a nurse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a more holistic approach to addressing the risks .
“ Due to events such as the Tuskegee Experiment that occurred in the not-so-distant past , there is a lack of trust of medicine in the African-American community .
Because they don ’ t know whether or not you are telling them the truth , ” she continued .
“ One thing about the African-American community that I will say is when they pick up on the sincerity of what you are telling them , they will protect themselves and their families .
You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so vulnerable and really bring it home.
” “ I also think that this is really an important time to explain why African Americans are more likely to have serious complications from COVID-19 , ” daughter Jasmine agreed , noting the multiple disparities that put our population in jeopardy .
“ I think it ’ s a great time to shine a light on the causes of diabetes and high blood pressure and heart disease in our communities and show that our daily actions and diet contribute to our health disparities and how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our own health and try to prevent anything like this from happening again.
” It ’ s a daunting moment to be starting careers as doctors , but the Kudjis are comforted by the fact that they ’ ll at least have mutual support .
“ I feel so blessed because she has been my security blanket and my best friend and it ’ s amazing to know that I can drive down to a different city and not just have to Skype her .
I can talk to her .
I can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cynthia .
“ The other thing is going through this together we really depend on each other for information ... we help each other and understand whatever it is that we are going through , so to be able to continue that while you ’ re learning and while you ’ re going into residency is a huge blessing .
”

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

Yes, we know Mother’s Day was nearly two weeks ago, and that we’re now well into graduation season. We also know feel-good moments have sadly been far and few between, as of late—so bear with us, because this mother-daughter graduation story is a bright spot.
Jasmine Kudji grew up around medicine. Her mother Cynthia Kudji was an RN and nurse practitioner for nearly a decade, and after becoming pregnant with Jasmine in her early 20s, she often brought her daughter along as she treated patients throughout rural Louisiana. But eventually, the Ghana-born Cynthia, a Tulane graduate with a Master’s of Science in Nursing from Loyola, decided to become a physician, enrolling in medical school at the University of Medicine and Health Sciences (UMHS) in St. Kitts and Maine at the same time her daughter was pursuing her medical degree at LSU School of Medicine. Both graduated this spring.
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“I remember when we were young there were TV shows like ‘The Cosby Show’ and ‘A Different World,’” Cynthia told the publication. “Seeing African Americans in college or being successful was like firsts,” So, for me it wasn’t like ‘Oh, yes, I want to be a physician’. It was more like, ‘Oh, no, can I really do this? Or, ‘Am I smart enough to do it?’”
She may have been a nontraditional student, but Cynthia was certainly smart enough. The UMHS Endeavor reports that “these groundbreaking women are the first mother and daughter to attend medical school at the same time and match at the same institution.” On July 1, 2020, the newly minted Dr. Cynthia Kudji will begin her residency in Family Medicine at LSU Health in Louisiana, while Dr. Jasmine Kudji will work at LSU in General Surgery. Personally, we think they should go into Genetic Research since Cynthia clearly cloned herself; in fact, the two are often mistaken for sisters.
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“All the time,” Cynthia laughed. “I’ll take it. I’ll take it.”
“I’ll never forget when my mom came to lunch with me my freshman year of college and the guys were like ‘who’s this new girl?’” Added daughter Jasmine, who also attended LSU for undergrad.
Of her return to matriculation as an older student and parent, Cynthia told the Endeavor:
It’s a lot. So, if you haven’t been in school for a while, it takes some getting used to the volume of material. The second thing is you still have the responsibilities of an older individual, of a mom or a dad or whatever you are. So even though I was in medical school, I was still Jasmine’s mom. So, if she needed something financially or she needed someone, I still had to be there as mom regardless of whether I was in medical school or not. Those were some of the challenges that you face as an older student versus being in your 20s in medical school without all those additional responsibilities.
Advertisement
The mother and daughter also shared that their closeness made living and studying far apart challenging; the duo relied on FaceTime and Skype to communicate and support each other from afar.
“I always tell people we laugh together, we study together, we cry together,” said Jasmine. “I think medical school is one of those experiences that you don’t truly understand until you’re in it. Sometimes people struggle to find someone who relates to their struggles, so for that person to be my mom was extremely helpful.”
Advertisement
Of course, all human interest warm-and-fuzzies aside, the two women are graduating amid a global pandemic and will now be working in areas already deemed a hotspot for COVID-19. While each has justifiable concerns about exposure, both see the crisis as an opportunity to educate our community about overall health as a mechanism for protection against the coronavirus.
“I think this is a great opportunity for us to show that physicians are true leaders...This is the point where we get to educate our patients,” said Cynthia, who has so far only administered tests as a nurse, but is looking forward to taking a more holistic approach to addressing the risks.
Advertisement
“Due to events such as the Tuskegee Experiment that occurred in the not-so-distant past, there is a lack of trust of medicine in the African-American community. Because they don’t know whether or not you are telling them the truth,” she continued. “One thing about the African-American community that I will say is when they pick up on the sincerity of what you are telling them, they will protect themselves and their families. You have to explain why this population is so vulnerable and really bring it home.”
“I also think that this is really an important time to explain why African Americans are more likely to have serious complications from COVID-19,” daughter Jasmine agreed, noting the multiple disparities that put our population in jeopardy. “I think it’s a great time to shine a light on the causes of diabetes and high blood pressure and heart disease in our communities and show that our daily actions and diet contribute to our health disparities and how going forward we can try to improve our own health and try to prevent anything like this from happening again.”
Advertisement
It’s a daunting moment to be starting careers as doctors, but the Kudjis are comforted by the fact that they’ll at least have mutual support.
“I feel so blessed because she has been my security blanket and my best friend and it’s amazing to know that I can drive down to a different city and not just have to Skype her. I can talk to her. I can be around her,” says mom Cynthia. “The other thing is going through this together we really depend on each other for information...we help each other and understand whatever it is that we are going through, so to be able to continue that while you’re learning and while you’re going into residency is a huge blessing.”