theroot--2020-06-19--Finding Black Joy in Times of Crisis

Finding Black Joy in Times of Crisis

For some , shedding tears in times of chaos and terror seems quite normal .
Anticipated , even .
To me , it felt strange .
I am a black woman .
As a journalist and a ‘ student of the game , ’ I am keenly aware of the systems of racism that—from this country ’ s inception—were created to oppress black people .
To me , crying seemed like a luxury because moments of catharsis indicate finality , and we are not done .
History has taught us that if we do not fight , we die .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ lives of black human beings who have fallen to civilian and state-sanctioned violence—during a pandemic , no less—while my comrades were in the streets fighting for justice felt , well , wrong .
Fortunately , my breakdown was behind closed doors .
I was in the privacy of my home and stepped away from the onslaught of troubling images on my Twitter feed for a moment .
Reprieve be damned ; almost as soon as I put my phone down , I found myself entranced by the news on television .
That ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ story of a Texas man named Tye Anders : in mid-May , the 21-year-old black man , who initially ran a stop sign , found himself surrounded by police while sitting in a car parked in his grandmother ’ s driveway .
At the demand of ( what looked like ) five or so police officers , all of whom had guns drawn , Anders got out of the vehicle , .
knelt to the ground , and laid down .
His grandmother hobbled out of her home and stood in the middle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who walked with a cane , later lost her balance and fell on her grandson .
At that very moment , my tears began to flow .
I couldn ’ t understand why the bodycam footage struck a nerve .
After all , Tye Anders ’ fate would be unlike that of George Floyd , Breonna Taylor , Ahmaud Arbery , Tony McDade and countless others .
Anders is ‘ lucky ’ —he is still alive .
But the sting still stung .
Perhaps it was the absurdity of seeing a group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , surrounding Tye Anders due to a minor traffic offense ( though we also know that Sandra Bland , who died in her jail cell , was initially pulled over by police due to a failure to signal ) .
Maybe it was the sight of a black matriarch , who at 90 years old put herself in danger to protect her kin .
She reminded me of my own grandmother , who often defused confrontations .
Before passing , my ‘ Abuelita , ’ as we called her , walked with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regressed to a walker , and finally a wheelchair ) .
She fell often .
Or it could have been the sight of a black man setting aside his dignity and kneeling to the ground to prove to officers that he was not a threat , and thus worthy to live another day .
Part of me credits the emotion to black trauma overload ; there ’ s only so much pain one can witness .
I ’ d awakened from a self-induced coma of numbness , and this was the viral clip @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back .
After the breakdown , I reminded myself that despite the pain of witnessing racism manifested as terror , we—black people—can not live in a state of sorrow .
In the midst of this crisis , I decided to center black joy .
As human beings , I ’ d argue that our true essence is joy .
Some are so overtaken by hatred that , within them , joy no longer exists .
A life without joy is perilous .
As elusive as the term may appear , ‘ black joy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Diasporic black people experiencing joy—from the mundane to the extraordinary .
This idea of black joy is nothing new .
Award-winning director Ava DuVernay dedicated a sequence of her 2016 film “ 13th , ” to black joy .
Kleaver Cruz created the BlackJoyProject as a space on social media to share uplifting images of black people .
In his book , Distributed Blackness : African American Cybercultures , professor André Brock explores black joy in the digital space .
Centering black joy does not serve to quell white fears or anxieties—black joy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Make no mistake : we are rightfully enraged , but black joy serves as self-preservation .
We need black joy to nourish our souls , and to survive .
On my daily walks , I am reminded of black joy : A group of carefree , elementary-aged black boys who play touch football .
As they chase after each other with masks dangling off their faces , their guffaws make their joy palpable .
The little girl who sits between an elder ’ s legs , withstanding the tugs of getting her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in his parked car , lullabied by breakbeats .
Black joy is existing freely , with agency and expressing how one feels exactly in that moment .
I now realize that the freedom of black joy allows me the space to cry , and even wail , at the sight of another black person being threatened by the police—it means that I have the luxury of releasing grief in order to create space for an emotion like tranquility to live within me .
Joy also exists on the battlefield .
Listening to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in African oral tradition evokes the spirit of the ancestors .
It brings me joy to know that they walk with us .
Black joy exists in the realization that generations of past black freedom fighters loved us so much that they sacrificed their lives so that we can fight today .
You see , both joy and resistance exist symbiotically .
Without either , we would not survive .

The other week, I cried.
For some, shedding tears in times of chaos and terror seems quite normal. Anticipated, even. To me, it felt strange.
I am a black woman. As a journalist and a ‘student of the game,’ I am keenly aware of the systems of racism that—from this country’s inception—were created to oppress black people. To me, crying seemed like a luxury because moments of catharsis indicate finality, and we are not done. History has taught us that if we do not fight, we die. So taking a moment to mourn the lives of black human beings who have fallen to civilian and state-sanctioned violence—during a pandemic, no less—while my comrades were in the streets fighting for justice felt, well, wrong.
Advertisement
Fortunately, my breakdown was behind closed doors.
I was in the privacy of my home and stepped away from the onslaught of troubling images on my Twitter feed for a moment. Reprieve be damned; almost as soon as I put my phone down, I found myself entranced by the news on television. That’s when I was introduced to the story of a Texas man named Tye Anders: in mid-May, the 21-year-old black man, who initially ran a stop sign, found himself surrounded by police while sitting in a car parked in his grandmother’s driveway. At the demand of (what looked like) five or so police officers, all of whom had guns drawn, Anders got out of the vehicle,. knelt to the ground, and laid down. His grandmother hobbled out of her home and stood in the middle of the confrontation. The feeble 90-year-old, who walked with a cane, later lost her balance and fell on her grandson. At that very moment, my tears began to flow.
Advertisement Advertisement
I couldn’t understand why the bodycam footage struck a nerve. After all, Tye Anders’ fate would be unlike that of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade and countless others. Anders is ‘lucky’—he is still alive.
But the sting still stung.
Perhaps it was the absurdity of seeing a group of police officers, with guns drawn, surrounding Tye Anders due to a minor traffic offense (though we also know that Sandra Bland, who died in her jail cell, was initially pulled over by police due to a failure to signal). Maybe it was the sight of a black matriarch, who at 90 years old put herself in danger to protect her kin. She reminded me of my own grandmother, who often defused confrontations. Before passing, my ‘Abuelita,’ as we called her, walked with a cane (later in her life she regressed to a walker, and finally a wheelchair). She fell often.
Advertisement
Or it could have been the sight of a black man setting aside his dignity and kneeling to the ground to prove to officers that he was not a threat, and thus worthy to live another day. Part of me credits the emotion to black trauma overload; there’s only so much pain one can witness. I’d awakened from a self-induced coma of numbness, and this was the viral clip that broke this black woman’s back.
After the breakdown, I reminded myself that despite the pain of witnessing racism manifested as terror, we—black people—can not live in a state of sorrow. In the midst of this crisis, I decided to center black joy.
Advertisement
As human beings, I’d argue that our true essence is joy. Some are so overtaken by hatred that, within them, joy no longer exists. A life without joy is perilous. As elusive as the term may appear, ‘black joy’ is exactly what it seems: Diasporic black people experiencing joy—from the mundane to the extraordinary.
This idea of black joy is nothing new. Award-winning director Ava DuVernay dedicated a sequence of her 2016 film “13th,” to black joy. Kleaver Cruz created the BlackJoyProject as a space on social media to share uplifting images of black people. In his book, Distributed Blackness: African American Cybercultures, professor André Brock explores black joy in the digital space.
Advertisement
Centering black joy does not serve to quell white fears or anxieties—black joy is for the sanity of black people. Make no mistake: we are rightfully enraged, but black joy serves as self-preservation. We need black joy to nourish our souls, and to survive.
On my daily walks, I am reminded of black joy: A group of carefree, elementary-aged black boys who play touch football. As they chase after each other with masks dangling off their faces, their guffaws make their joy palpable. The little girl who sits between an elder’s legs, withstanding the tugs of getting her hair braided. The OG who sleeps in his parked car, lullabied by breakbeats. Black joy is existing freely, with agency and expressing how one feels exactly in that moment. I now realize that the freedom of black joy allows me the space to cry, and even wail, at the sight of another black person being threatened by the police—it means that I have the luxury of releasing grief in order to create space for an emotion like tranquility to live within me.
Advertisement
Joy also exists on the battlefield. Listening to the echoes of call-and-response chants that are rooted in African oral tradition evokes the spirit of the ancestors. It brings me joy to know that they walk with us. Black joy exists in the realization that generations of past black freedom fighters loved us so much that they sacrificed their lives so that we can fight today. You see, both joy and resistance exist symbiotically. Without either, we would not survive.


theroot--2020-06-17--Sport an Apple Watch Series 5 for $100 Less

Named the best smartwatch by our sister site Gizmodo , the Apple Watch Series 5 improved on its predecessor by leaps and bounds .
It may sound like a contradiction to say a smartwatch ’ s battery life was extended at the same time it was treated to an always-on display , and yet the latest Apple Watch pulls off both feats with ease .
Over at Amazon , the GPS-only models are $ 100 off today—no matter which version you pick—so whether you need a 40mm or larger 44mm face ; a Space Gray , Gold , or Silver @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pleased with the savings .
In her review , Victoria Song wrote of the Apple Watch Series 5 : The Apple Watch is hands-down the best smartwatch out there .
There , I said it .
It ’ s a boring conclusion that is nevertheless the cold , hard truth .
You can prefer a round face , or a different operating system .
You can scream about better battery life and third-party watch faces until you die , purple-faced from asphyxiation .
The Series 5 still reigns king .
That ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most of the updates are small tweaks rather than game-changers .

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

Apple Watch Series 5 (Rose Gold) | $329 | Amazon
Named the best smartwatch by our sister site Gizmodo, the Apple Watch Series 5 improved on its predecessor by leaps and bounds. It may sound like a contradiction to say a smartwatch’s battery life was extended at the same time it was treated to an always-on display, and yet the latest Apple Watch pulls off both feats with ease. Over at Amazon, the GPS-only 44mm Rose Gold model is $100 off today. Sadly, all other models sit at their MSRP, but if you don’t mind the color (the bands can be swapped out) and size, this is a deal you should jump on.
In her review, Victoria Song wrote of the Apple Watch Series 5:
The Apple Watch is hands-down the best smartwatch out there. There, I said it. It’s a boring conclusion that is nevertheless the cold, hard truth. You can prefer a round face, or a different operating system. You can scream about better battery life and third-party watch faces until you die, purple-faced from asphyxiation. The Series 5 still reigns king. That’s true even if this time around, most of the updates are small tweaks rather than game-changers.
This deal was originally published by Gabe Carey in June 2020 and updated by Quentyn Kennemer with new information on 9/17/2020.


theroot--2020-06-19--The Timeless Freedom of Miss Juneteenth

The Timeless Freedom of Miss Juneteenth

What does freedom look like ?
When you ’ re a black person in America living in a post-civil rights era world , currently suffocating from the smoke in a racist climate as the words “ I Can ’ t Breathe ” echo in the sky , the answer to that question is ... complicated , to say the very least .
June 19 , 2020 marks 155 years since the first Juneteenth was established on June 19 , 1865 .
As The Root ’ s cherished founder Henry “ Skip ” Louis Gates Jr. maps out in his forever-relevant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : “ The people of Texas are informed that , in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States , all slaves are free .
This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves , and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor .
The freedmen are advised to remain quietly at their present homes and work for wages .
They are informed that they will not be allowed to collect at military posts and that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ either there or elsewhere.
” —General Orders , Number 3 ; Headquarters District of Texas , Galveston , June 19 , 1865 When Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger issued the above order , he had no idea that , in establishing the Union Army ’ s authority over the people of Texas , he was also establishing the basis for a holiday , “ Juneteenth ” ( “ June ” plus “ nineteenth ” ) , today the most popular annual celebration of emancipation from slavery in the United States .
After all , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Department of Texas , the Confederate capital in Richmond had fallen ; the “ Executive ” to whom he referred , President Lincoln , was dead ; and the 13th Amendment abolishing slavery was well on its way to ratification .
But Granger wasn ’ t just a few months late .
The Emancipation Proclamation itself , ending slavery in the Confederacy ( at least on paper ) , had taken effect two-and-a-half years before , and in the interim , close to 200,000 black men had enlisted in the fight .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ freedom of a black community living in small town-Texas her feature film debut , Miss Juneteenth .
The film follows Turquoise ( Nicole Beharie ) , a formerly crowned Miss Juneteenth , who is so wrapped in the nostalgic glamour of the pageant that she makes it her mission to prepare her daughter Kai ( Alexis Chikaeze ) for the current competition so that she may follow in her footsteps .
But for the single mom , who got pregnant shortly after winning and could never benefit from the HBCU full-ride that came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than just a generational legacy .
It ’ s a way to steer Kai down a different path , one that doesn ’ t include working at Wayman ’ s BBQ & Lounge , or working odd jobs and dodging unpaid bills .
It ’ s a chance for Turquoise ’ s baby girl to carry on her dreams deferred .
Along with Beharie and Chikaeze , Miss Juneteenth stars Kendrick Sampson , Lori Hayes , Liz Mikel , Marcus M. Mauldin , Phyllis Cicero , Akron Watson , Lisha Hackney , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ span of two days , I sat down and talked on the phone with Peoples and Beharie on their history with Juneteenth , the central themes of the film and what true freedom looks like for black creators in Hollywood .
Though young black girls have every reason to relish in their unmatched beauty , the Miss Juneteenth pageant contestants also must ingest the holiday ’ s rich history .
Peoples , who has Texas roots , grew up with the holiday ingrained in her spirit ( also telling me that her own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ baby ” ) , but many others in the black community like myself , didn ’ t learn of the holiday until adulthood ... let alone the beloved pageant that honored it .
Thanks to a systemically diluted education system , most of us grew up believing that the Emancipation Proclamation was the end-all for American chattel slavery .
Additionally , little did I know of scholarship-based pageant that takes place in locations , even beyond Texas such as Florida and Louisiana .
I also recently learned , through a very informative Twitter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by black Mexicans , as well .
So , there is certainly so much more to learn .
“ I didn ’ t find out about it until I was in college doing a play and it was part of our research , ” Beharie recalled .
“ Even then , it wasn ’ t something that people were necessarily embracing or that ’ s on a national stage , which , I would love if this film could help with that , especially this year , in the climate .
It would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ love.
” Longtime fans of Beharie such as myself constantly experience the word “ underrated ” dancing across their lips when describing her , but no matter what project I see her in , she never fails .
Through her incredible ability to communicate limited layers of subtext via one look , Beharie commands every frame .
In Turquoise , Beharie portrays a mother ’ s eagerness for her daughter to carry her torch with the vigor and vibrancy her character ’ s name dictates .
In a standout moment in the film @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ I just want something for myself.
” In fact , Beharie muses to me that we witness a “ mini emancipation ” with Kai and Turquoise .
“ Thematically we ’ re talking about this sense of Texas finding out they got their freedom two and a half years after everybody else , so I was trying to find a way to mirror Turquoise ’ s journey with that , ” Peoples told The Root .
“ We were always asking the question , ‘ What does freedom look like for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was just a big thing for me .
I wanted to honor the ancestors if I could .
I ’ m making the movie about a woman who ’ s looking for a way to find something for herself , her own sense of freedom.
” Miss Juneteenth is a film that has the confidence to sit in the quiet moments and allow black folks to just be ... which , to me , is a sense of freedom .
Perhaps we can revel in that American Dream through this film , instead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been ... and are in now .
“ I was mimicking the pacing of the community , ” Peoples mused .
“ Fort Worth , Texas , is where I ’ m from [ ... ] and the southside of Fort Worth [ is ] where the film is set .
There ’ s a sense of timelessness in the community .
[ ... ] I also wanted the film to feel like it was lived in and that dictated everything—the pacing , the production design , the visual look , the costumes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ example , ] the bar is this multigenerational place where people just come from all generations and just sit there forever and ever and never really close .
It ’ s closed now , obviously because of the time that we ’ re in , [ but ] it ’ s just one of those things where ... the more [ things ] change , the more they remain the same.
” “ As actors , sometimes we get something out of it , too , but you ’ re ultimately stepping in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Beharie told The Root , noting she loved working with a black woman director and diving into the “ grassroots ” nature of the production .
“ I have worked with a lot of people supporting their vision and serving it , trying to make the character come alive .
[ With ] this particular script , I love the nuance .
I love the complexity of the characters , the fact that everybody was perfectly imperfect and trying to find their way , that there ’ s no black and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I love that it wasn ’ t necessarily about the white gaze , as Toni Morrison says .
It ’ s definitely about the community and the family.
” Speaking of community , there ’ s an unrelenting , fire-hot chemical bond between Beharie and Chikaeze ( the latter of whom , shines in an exquisite acting debut ) that is so strong , it ’ s hard to take your eyes off the two whenever they ’ re on-screen .
When Beharie told me she channeled the healing energy she always @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Chikaeze , it made so much sense .
“ I was raised by a single mom of two who scratched to survive and provided a better life for myself and my siblings , ” Beharie said .
“ And I think one of the best ways you can try to give back is to be like , ‘ I see you , I saw you and I ’ m going to try to show the world what your heart looks like , even though you are grinding every day.
’ So , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as I can .
[ ... ] It makes me think of the people that have been working on the front line during Corona or the people that are out there protesting .
The activists , largely , Black Lives Matter—These are women running the organization that are working closely and really hard and I don ’ t know that we tell those stories enough .
So , I wanted to be part of that .
I think that ’ s where I pull it from .
I ’ m not a superhero @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of us are superheroes .
There is a lot of power , but there ’ s also tenderness and needs that need to be met .
And I think you get to see that in this story.
” In Hollywood , black creators have long felt trapped in an endless cycle of erasure , sprinkled with tortuous teasings of diversity , inclusion and equity .
As we witness a shift in transparent accountability within this industry , will black creators truly be free to tell their vast array rich stories ?
“ Now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we hear and we see there ’ s an imbalance .
But also [ tackling ] the micro and subtle things that happen on set , ” Beharie noted .
“ You know , I ’ ve lived through some interesting things in my life , my sistaaaaaa [ ... ] I ’ ve definitely seen some inequality where everyone just kind of turns a blind eye .
And we ’ ve seen that [ with the ] Times Up and Me Too [ movements ] .
But there wasn ’ t really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of color and how that happens too .
I think people are acknowledging it.
” “ Hopefully it ’ s not a trend and something that lasts , ” Beharie continued , acknowledging that the recent “ I Take Responsibility ” PSA is “ a step.
” “ And then , hopefully , we don ’ t get penalized for asking for certain rights or just checking in and being like , ‘ Hey , I understood that this was the terms of my conditions and it seems like I ’ m getting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ ve done in the past .
And I felt the wrath of speaking up .
But hopefully ... hopefully there ’ s a real change .
I ’ m cautiously optimistic.
” “ I hope we will actually see a real change , ” Peoples noted .
“ Let this be the time where there ’ s an influx of black stories and we realize that black stories are not just a monolith .
There ’ s so many different perspectives .
We ’ re from all sorts of geographic locations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to tell .
In a time [ where ] this horrible , tragic thing is happening , this reckoning is coming out of it .
I ’ m just hoping that it ’ s a lasting change.
” Miss Juneteenth is now available via On Demand and Digital .
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity .

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

What does freedom look like?
When you’re a black person in America living in a post-civil rights era world, currently suffocating from the smoke in a racist climate as the words “I Can’t Breathe” echo in the sky, the answer to that question is...complicated, to say the very least.
June 19, 2020 marks 155 years since the first Juneteenth was established on June 19, 1865. As The Root’s cherished founder Henry “Skip” Louis Gates Jr. maps out in his forever-relevant “What Is Juneteenth?” explainer:
The First Juneteenth “The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor. The freedmen are advised to remain quietly at their present homes and work for wages. They are informed that they will not be allowed to collect at military posts and that they will not be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere.” —General Orders, Number 3; Headquarters District of Texas, Galveston, June 19, 1865 When Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger issued the above order, he had no idea that, in establishing the Union Army’s authority over the people of Texas, he was also establishing the basis for a holiday, “Juneteenth” (“June” plus “nineteenth”), today the most popular annual celebration of emancipation from slavery in the United States. After all, by the time Granger assumed command of the Department of Texas, the Confederate capital in Richmond had fallen; the “Executive” to whom he referred, President Lincoln, was dead; and the 13th Amendment abolishing slavery was well on its way to ratification. But Granger wasn’t just a few months late. The Emancipation Proclamation itself, ending slavery in the Confederacy (at least on paper), had taken effect two-and-a-half years before, and in the interim, close to 200,000 black men had enlisted in the fight.
Advertisement
Writer- Director Channing Godfrey Peoples examines the freedom of a black community living in small town-Texas her feature film debut, Miss Juneteenth. The film follows Turquoise (Nicole Beharie), a formerly crowned Miss Juneteenth, who is so wrapped in the nostalgic glamour of the pageant that she makes it her mission to prepare her daughter Kai (Alexis Chikaeze) for the current competition so that she may follow in her footsteps. But for the single mom, who got pregnant shortly after winning and could never benefit from the HBCU full-ride that came with her title, this crown is more than just a generational legacy. It’s a way to steer Kai down a different path, one that doesn’t include working at Wayman’s BBQ & Lounge, or working odd jobs and dodging unpaid bills. It’s a chance for Turquoise’s baby girl to carry on her dreams deferred.
Along with Beharie and Chikaeze, Miss Juneteenth stars Kendrick Sampson, Lori Hayes, Liz Mikel, Marcus M. Mauldin, Phyllis Cicero, Akron Watson, Lisha Hackney, Jaime Mathis and more. Over the span of two days, I sat down and talked on the phone with Peoples and Beharie on their history with Juneteenth, the central themes of the film and what true freedom looks like for black creators in Hollywood.
Advertisement Advertisement
Though young black girls have every reason to relish in their unmatched beauty, the Miss Juneteenth pageant contestants also must ingest the holiday’s rich history. Peoples, who has Texas roots, grew up with the holiday ingrained in her spirit (also telling me that her own baby daughter is “a Miss Juneteenth baby”), but many others in the black community like myself, didn’t learn of the holiday until adulthood...let alone the beloved pageant that honored it. Thanks to a systemically diluted education system, most of us grew up believing that the Emancipation Proclamation was the end-all for American chattel slavery. Additionally, little did I know of scholarship-based pageant that takes place in locations, even beyond Texas such as Florida and Louisiana. I also recently learned, through a very informative Twitter thread, that the holiday is celebrated by black Mexicans, as well. So, there is certainly so much more to learn.
Advertisement
“I didn’t find out about it until I was in college doing a play and it was part of our research,” Beharie recalled. “Even then, it wasn’t something that people were necessarily embracing or that’s on a national stage, which, I would love if this film could help with that, especially this year, in the climate. It would be great to consider giving it more love.”
Advertisement
Longtime fans of Beharie such as myself constantly experience the word “underrated” dancing across their lips when describing her, but no matter what project I see her in, she never fails. Through her incredible ability to communicate limited layers of subtext via one look, Beharie commands every frame. In Turquoise, Beharie portrays a mother’s eagerness for her daughter to carry her torch with the vigor and vibrancy her character’s name dictates.
Advertisement
In a standout moment in the film Turquoise releases a simple yet poignant proclamation, “I just want something for myself.” In fact, Beharie muses to me that we witness a “mini emancipation” with Kai and Turquoise.
“Thematically we’re talking about this sense of Texas finding out they got their freedom two and a half years after everybody else, so I was trying to find a way to mirror Turquoise’s journey with that,” Peoples told The Root. “We were always asking the question, ‘What does freedom look like for each of the characters?’ That was just a big thing for me. I wanted to honor the ancestors if I could. I’m making the movie about a woman who’s looking for a way to find something for herself, her own sense of freedom.”
Advertisement
Miss Juneteenth is a film that has the confidence to sit in the quiet moments and allow black folks to just be...which, to me, is a sense of freedom. Perhaps we can revel in that American Dream through this film, instead of the American Nightmare we’ve been...and are in now.
“I was mimicking the pacing of the community,” Peoples mused. “Fort Worth, Texas, is where I’m from [...] and the southside of Fort Worth [is] where the film is set. There’s a sense of timelessness in the community. [...] I also wanted the film to feel like it was lived in and that dictated everything—the pacing, the production design, the visual look, the costumes, all of it. [For example,] the bar is this multigenerational place where people just come from all generations and just sit there forever and ever and never really close. It’s closed now, obviously because of the time that we’re in, [but] it’s just one of those things where...the more [things] change, the more they remain the same.”
Advertisement
“As actors, sometimes we get something out of it, too, but you’re ultimately stepping in and serving someone else’s vision,” Beharie told The Root, noting she loved working with a black woman director and diving into the “grassroots” nature of the production. “I have worked with a lot of people supporting their vision and serving it, trying to make the character come alive. [With] this particular script, I love the nuance. I love the complexity of the characters, the fact that everybody was perfectly imperfect and trying to find their way, that there’s no black and white read on anybody in the story. I love that it wasn’t necessarily about the white gaze, as Toni Morrison says. It’s definitely about the community and the family.”
Advertisement
Speaking of community, there’s an unrelenting, fire-hot chemical bond between Beharie and Chikaeze (the latter of whom, shines in an exquisite acting debut) that is so strong, it’s hard to take your eyes off the two whenever they’re on-screen. When Beharie told me she channeled the healing energy she always exudes via her social media to connect with Chikaeze, it made so much sense.
“I was raised by a single mom of two who scratched to survive and provided a better life for myself and my siblings,” Beharie said. “And I think one of the best ways you can try to give back is to be like, ‘I see you, I saw you and I’m going to try to show the world what your heart looks like, even though you are grinding every day.’ So, I try to embody that as much as I can. [...] It makes me think of the people that have been working on the front line during Corona or the people that are out there protesting. The activists, largely, Black Lives Matter—These are women running the organization that are working closely and really hard and I don’t know that we tell those stories enough. So, I wanted to be part of that. I think that’s where I pull it from. I’m not a superhero. I don’t think any of us are superheroes. There is a lot of power, but there’s also tenderness and needs that need to be met. And I think you get to see that in this story.”
Advertisement
In Hollywood, black creators have long felt trapped in an endless cycle of erasure, sprinkled with tortuous teasings of diversity, inclusion and equity. As we witness a shift in transparent accountability within this industry, will black creators truly be free to tell their vast array rich stories?
Advertisement
“Now people are saying, ‘OK, we hear and we see there’s an imbalance. But also [tackling] the micro and subtle things that happen on set,” Beharie noted. “You know, I’ve lived through some interesting things in my life, my sistaaaaaa [...] I’ve definitely seen some inequality where everyone just kind of turns a blind eye. And we’ve seen that [with the] Times Up and Me Too [movements]. But there wasn’t really a conversation specifically about, just being of color and how that happens too. I think people are acknowledging it.”
“Hopefully it’s not a trend and something that lasts,” Beharie continued, acknowledging that the recent “I Take Responsibility” PSA is “a step.” “And then, hopefully, we don’t get penalized for asking for certain rights or just checking in and being like, ‘Hey, I understood that this was the terms of my conditions and it seems like I’m getting different treatment, which I personally know I’ve done in the past. And I felt the wrath of speaking up. But hopefully...hopefully there’s a real change. I’m cautiously optimistic.”
Advertisement
“I hope we will actually see a real change,” Peoples noted. “Let this be the time where there’s an influx of black stories and we realize that black stories are not just a monolith. There’s so many different perspectives. We’re from all sorts of geographic locations and we have all these different stories to tell. In a time [where] this horrible, tragic thing is happening, this reckoning is coming out of it. I’m just hoping that it’s a lasting change.”
Advertisement
Miss Juneteenth is now available via On Demand and Digital.
Miss Juneteenth trailer / Vertical Entertainment US (YouTube)
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.


theroot--2020-06-19--U.S. Sen. Cory Booker Talks Ending Qualified Immunity in Policing and More With The Root on Instagra

U.S. Sen. Cory Booker Talks Ending Qualified Immunity in Policing and More With The Root on Instagram Live

U.S. Sen. Corey Booker ’ s support for ending qualified immunity for police officers is one of the strongest calls for tackling police brutality by a high-profile elected official yet and he will join The Root on Instagram live Friday , June 19 , at 2 p.m .
ET to explain his stance in detail .
Qualified immunity shields public servants from civil legal proceedings for actions done on the job .
You can read my write up on it here .
The national uprisings stemming in reaction to police killings of black people across America have pushed lawmakers into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resources away from police departments and into social service programs that can actually help address public safety .
Booker ( D-N.J. ) will share his thoughts on the defund the police movement , the power of police unions , and if law enforcement can actually be reformed out of its racism foundation .
I also will ask the senator about incumbency and when it is appropriate to primary someone or not .
Booker will discuss COVID-19 recovery efforts , particularly current legislation in the Senate that would provide extended economic relief to Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that were distributed earlier this year .
Dozens of New Jersey towns , many of which are predominately black , have some of the worst drinking water in the country , so Booker will discuss how he ’ s addressing this .
Our conversation will explore what election protection looks like for November and much more during our 50-minute interview .
Tune in at 2 p.m .
ET , Friday , Juneteenth , on The Root ’ s Instagram ( @ the.root ) live .

U.S. Sen. Corey Booker’s support for ending qualified immunity for police officers is one of the strongest calls for tackling police brutality by a high-profile elected official yet and he will join The Root on Instagram live Friday, June 19, at 2 p.m. ET to explain his stance in detail.
Qualified immunity shields public servants from civil legal proceedings for actions done on the job. You can read my write up on it here.
Advertisement
The national uprisings stemming in reaction to police killings of black people across America have pushed lawmakers into drafting policies with real teeth and re-allocating resources away from police departments and into social service programs that can actually help address public safety. Booker (D-N.J.) will share his thoughts on the defund the police movement, the power of police unions, and if law enforcement can actually be reformed out of its racism foundation.
I also will ask the senator about incumbency and when it is appropriate to primary someone or not.
Advertisement Advertisement
Booker will discuss COVID-19 recovery efforts, particularly current legislation in the Senate that would provide extended economic relief to Americans beyond the first $1,200 stimulus checks that were distributed earlier this year.
Dozens of New Jersey towns, many of which are predominately black, have some of the worst drinking water in the country, so Booker will discuss how he’s addressing this. Our conversation will explore what election protection looks like for November and much more during our 50-minute interview.
Advertisement
Tune in at 2 p.m. ET, Friday, Juneteenth, on The Root’s Instagram (@the.root) live.


theroot--2020-06-19--30 Days of Iconic Music Video Blackness With VSB, Day 19: Public Enemy, 'Fight The Power'

For a song that came out over 30 years ago , Public Enemy ’ s “ Fight The Power ” —created for the soundtrack to Spike Lee ’ s 1989 classic film , Do The Right Thing—remains remarkably resonant even in 2020 .
We ’ re still at war with structural racism and all of the issues that existed at the time of the song ’ s creation are present today .
The need to challenge authority and demonstrate the might and will of black voices and freedom is as necessary now as it was then .
That ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Juneteenth , is Public Enemy ’ s video .
Juneteenth represents freedom in the Black Community and this song to me represents fighting for the never-ending quest for equality .
Plus it jams .
Opening up with video from the 1963 March on Washington , which was 100 years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation , “ Fight The Power ” demonstrated a different type of march , one more aggressive and less polished and respectable .
Instead of trying to show the white people that good black folks exist , Public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nationalism and looking after our own , and taking what was owed .
The imagery they conjure is nothing short of empowering and revolutionary .
So on this Juneteenth 2020 , the fight marches on in the streets of America in the aftermath of so many police shootings to the point where we have to say names of people we never met so frequently , that they ’ re all part of our beings .
From George Floyd to Breonna Taylor , we must continue to fight the power .
Meanwhile , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I do .

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

For a song that came out over 30 years ago, Public Enemy’s “Fight The Power”—created for the soundtrack to Spike Lee’s 1989 classic film, Do The Right Thing—remains remarkably resonant even in 2020. We’re still at war with structural racism and all of the issues that existed at the time of the song’s creation are present today. The need to challenge authority and demonstrate the might and will of black voices and freedom is as necessary now as it was then.
That’s why today’s video, on Juneteenth, is Public Enemy’s video. Juneteenth represents freedom in the Black Community and this song to me represents fighting for the never-ending quest for equality. Plus it jams.
Advertisement
Public Enemy “Fight The Power” (1989)
Opening up with video from the 1963 March on Washington, which was 100 years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, “Fight The Power” demonstrated a different type of march, one more aggressive and less polished and respectable. Instead of trying to show the white people that good black folks exist, Public Enemy took on the mantle of black nationalism and looking after our own, and taking what was owed. The imagery they conjure is nothing short of empowering and revolutionary. So on this Juneteenth 2020, the fight marches on in the streets of America in the aftermath of so many police shootings to the point where we have to say names of people we never met so frequently, that they’re all part of our beings. From George Floyd to Breonna Taylor, we must continue to fight the power.
Advertisement Advertisement
Meanwhile, I hope you have the day off. I do.
Fight the power.


theroot--2020-06-19--What Juneteenth and My Father Taught Me About 'Expectations'

I wouldn ’ t know Juneteenth without my father .
He ’ s the Texan .
He grew up celebrating the holiday that started on June 19 , 1865 , when slaves on Galveston Island , Texas , finally learned they ’ d been freed under the Emancipation Proclamation two years prior .
Even though he now lived in St. Louis , he ’ d always make the same jokey reference to the holiday with his brother , my Uncle Bill , asking if he was “ drinking red soadie water ” and barbecuing on June 19 .
But my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Juneteenth or my father ’ s jokes about it .
She was born in Arkansas and would often tire of my father ’ s bragging about his home state .
Like most Texans , he had a tendency from time to time to think some of the things there were better than anywhere else , even though by the time I was a teenager , he ’ d been a Missourian longer than he ’ d ever been a Texan .
Still , he was proud of the holiday , and my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they didn ’ t need Juneteenth because her people “ already knew they were free.
” “ Y ’ all found out late , ” she would mock .
She would still help season the meat , make the potato salad and fix a banana pudding , though .
Any excuse for a big meal and a party is still a good excuse .
Today my mother isn ’ t particularly helpful with meals , thanks to the dementia she suffers from , and because my father cares for her full time , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drag out the grill and barbecue .
My sisters and I , who are capable of things like cooking and even barbecuing , still like it when my father prepares a meal .
He ’ s got more than seven decades of experience of knowing what tastes best with what , and in all honesty , he ’ s a better cook than any of us .
My father , even though he is often exhausted from caring for our mom and babysitting his beloved only grandchild , will still make you a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s gotten mushy the older he ’ s gotten .
When we were children , getting an “ I love you ” out of him was arduous at times , but once we all moved out and became adults , he went full marshmallow .
When my sisters and I worry about “ the everything , ” he ’ s there as a calming force , convinced that we will all be fine .
Mostly because he believes that he ’ s capable of making anything and everything fine through his love @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He used to have problems with work !
And he has just the story that will help you solve your problem .
Worried about finances ?
He ’ s good with money and has great financial advice .
Worried you ’ re going to die alone surrounded by nothing but your cats ?
He promises he ’ s always going to be there , you know , until he isn ’ t there , and even then he ’ s planning contingency plans on what should happen if he ’ s not there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taking care of us , looking out for us , even beyond this world .
My father takes care of things .
He takes care of the people he loves .
And he has spoiled us all with this .
Because of our father , we think that you ’ re never supposed to run out of toilet paper or money and that you should always be early going anywhere .
We believe that you ’ re supposed to be honest , reliable and unwaveringly faithful to the cause—whether it ’ s career @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s a good man .
Maybe too good ?
A guy told me once that I had “ daddy issues.
” I had always assumed that this pejorative was something reserved as a catchall excuse as to why a woman seemed “ crazy ” in her relationships with men .
But as my colleague would break down , my “ daddy issues ” were not the result of abandonment or broken promises .
My issue was something he saw as even worse than stereotypical “ daddy issues.
” Expect things ?
What did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reliable and true ?
For romantic partners to show emotional support and devotion ?
What was hard about these things ?
What was terrible about them ?
What ’ s wrong with expectations ?
Juneteenth is about expectations .
Sure , it ’ s a celebration of freedom with a side of barbecue , but with that freedom came expectations .
Expectations that we would be treated equally and not as second-class citizens .
That we would be able to marry and love those of our choosing , those who would also choose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to work and live as free people .
Some said that we expected too much , too soon .
So many died fighting to have their expectations met .
You ’ re supposed to have expectations—of yourself , of others , of this world .
There ’ s nothing wrong with expecting something more , something better and fighting for that , demanding that , instead of settling for the scraps the world throws down at us , expecting us to be grateful for them .
What was true for newly free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in all aspects of our lives , romantic or otherwise .
I ’ m grateful to have a father who taught me that I was free—free to choose my own path , free to make up my own mind , free to celebrate Juneteenth , even if my mother did make fun of it .
And I expect to enjoy this freedom .
Just as I ’ m sure my father will enjoy his Father ’ s Day/Juneteenth , whether he bothers to barbecue or not .
Editor ’ s Note : This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on June 19 , 2016 .

I wouldn’t know Juneteenth without my father.
He’s the Texan. He grew up celebrating the holiday that started on June 19, 1865, when slaves on Galveston Island, Texas, finally learned they’d been freed under the Emancipation Proclamation two years prior. Even though he now lived in St. Louis, he’d always make the same jokey reference to the holiday with his brother, my Uncle Bill, asking if he was “drinking red soadie water” and barbecuing on June 19.
But my holiday-loving mother never seemed all that interested in Juneteenth or my father’s jokes about it. She was born in Arkansas and would often tire of my father’s bragging about his home state. Like most Texans, he had a tendency from time to time to think some of the things there were better than anywhere else, even though by the time I was a teenager, he’d been a Missourian longer than he’d ever been a Texan.
Advertisement
Still, he was proud of the holiday, and my mom always rebutted that in Arkansas, they didn’t need Juneteenth because her people “already knew they were free.”
“Y’all found out late,” she would mock.
She would still help season the meat, make the potato salad and fix a banana pudding, though. Any excuse for a big meal and a party is still a good excuse.
Advertisement Advertisement
Today my mother isn’t particularly helpful with meals, thanks to the dementia she suffers from, and because my father cares for her full time, he’s occasionally too tired to drag out the grill and barbecue. My sisters and I, who are capable of things like cooking and even barbecuing, still like it when my father prepares a meal. He’s got more than seven decades of experience of knowing what tastes best with what, and in all honesty, he’s a better cook than any of us.
My father, even though he is often exhausted from caring for our mom and babysitting his beloved only grandchild, will still make you a meal because he loves you. He’s gotten mushy the older he’s gotten. When we were children, getting an “I love you” out of him was arduous at times, but once we all moved out and became adults, he went full marshmallow. When my sisters and I worry about “the everything,” he’s there as a calming force, convinced that we will all be fine. Mostly because he believes that he’s capable of making anything and everything fine through his love and devotion.
Advertisement
Worried about work? He used to have problems with work! And he has just the story that will help you solve your problem. Worried about finances? He’s good with money and has great financial advice. Worried you’re going to die alone surrounded by nothing but your cats? He promises he’s always going to be there, you know, until he isn’t there, and even then he’s planning contingency plans on what should happen if he’s not there so that he’s always still taking care of us, looking out for us, even beyond this world.
My father takes care of things. He takes care of the people he loves. And he has spoiled us all with this. Because of our father, we think that you’re never supposed to run out of toilet paper or money and that you should always be early going anywhere. We believe that you’re supposed to be honest, reliable and unwaveringly faithful to the cause—whether it’s career, family or yourself. He’s a good man. Maybe too good?
Advertisement
A guy told me once that I had “daddy issues.”
I had always assumed that this pejorative was something reserved as a catchall excuse as to why a woman seemed “crazy” in her relationships with men. But as my colleague would break down, my “daddy issues” were not the result of abandonment or broken promises. My issue was something he saw as even worse than stereotypical “daddy issues.”
Advertisement
“You had a good father,” he explained. “He ‘ruined’ you.”
“How?” I said, utterly perplexed.
“You expect things,” he said.
Expect things? What did I expect? For friends to be reliable and true? For romantic partners to show emotional support and devotion? What was hard about these things? What was terrible about them? What’s wrong with expectations?
Advertisement
Juneteenth is about expectations. Sure, it’s a celebration of freedom with a side of barbecue, but with that freedom came expectations. Expectations that we would be treated equally and not as second-class citizens. That we would be able to marry and love those of our choosing, those who would also choose us, and that we would be able to work and live as free people. Some said that we expected too much, too soon. So many died fighting to have their expectations met. You’re supposed to have expectations—of yourself, of others, of this world.
There’s nothing wrong with expecting something more, something better and fighting for that, demanding that, instead of settling for the scraps the world throws down at us, expecting us to be grateful for them. What was true for newly free men and women is true for us in all aspects of our lives, romantic or otherwise. I’m grateful to have a father who taught me that I was free—free to choose my own path, free to make up my own mind, free to celebrate Juneteenth, even if my mother did make fun of it.
Advertisement
And I expect to enjoy this freedom. Just as I’m sure my father will enjoy his Father’s Day/Juneteenth, whether he bothers to barbecue or not.
Editor’s Note: This story was originally published on The Root on June 19, 2016.