theroot--2020-08-31--It's Been 30 Years Since Mariah Carey's 1st Album Debuted and She's Earned Over $60 Million in Royal

It's Been 30 Years Since Mariah Carey's 1st Album Debuted and She's Earned Over $60 Million in Royalties for 1 Song

Imagine that moment when Mariah Carey raises that single finger to check her pitch while singing—now , add 29 more fingers to it .
That ’ s how many years it ’ s been since the iconic singer released her debut album .
Yes , 30 !
Wow , time flies .
In a recent interview with Vulture to celebrate the momentous occasion , Carey reminisced and reflected on a few key moments of her life and career , including her biggest-ever song , “ All I Want for Christmas Is You.
” If you can believe it , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 60 million-plus in royalties since it premiered from her 1994 holiday album .
Also , since fans are anticipating her long-awaited memoir with Michaela Angela Davis , The Meaning of Mariah Carey ( which drops on Sept. 29 ) , of course , this interview served as a good preview of the even more vulnerable and unfiltered Carey .
“ There ’ s so much more dragging that could have been done , ” she tells Vulture .
“ I really didn ’ t say everything.
” The most oft-discussed thing is her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in her success .
“ The truth is I will never say I had the same experience as a darker-skinned woman , ” Carey starts in .
She acknowledges the privilege in her being accepted by white audiences and a white-run music industry , but to her , it also means “ having a white mother , and being forced to live in white neighborhoods , and feeling ashamed that there is nobody visibly Black there … and I ’ m being so real right now that I want to edit myself , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me , I ’ m not thrilled to be this skin tone all the time.
” Then she launches into the questions she has asked herself her whole life and maybe continues to ask : “ How was I supposed to fit in ?
I was , like , the only one that ’ s this weird mutant , mutt — using an antiquated phrase that I ’ m not asking anyone else to ever use again , but I ’ m embracing it — mulatto girl .
I ’ m not even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ horrible way of defining somebody .
It actually means ‘ mule.
’ ” Whatever it did for her career , she says , it also “ distanced me from the comfort of support and protection from some Black people .
Which is an even deeper kind of a pain , pile of pain , if that makes sense .
It ’ s been a lot.
” Speaking of the book , Carey also reflected on the fact that so many of her peers are gone , including Whitney Houston and Prince , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she was among the few who actually lived to write her own story made her feel .
“ Jay [ as in Z ] has that great story of when we were all there together at the club and Prince was taking so long to perform ?
Whatever , it ’ s a long story , but he didn ’ t go on until like 5 a.m. with Chaka Khan , who was having Hennessy and smoking and still singing like a trumpet , and it was amazing .
It was amazing , @ @ @ @

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

Imagine that moment when Mariah Carey raises that single finger to check her pitch while singing—now, add 29 more fingers to it. That’s how many years it’s been since the iconic singer released her debut album. Yes, 30! Wow, time flies.
In a recent interview with Vulture to celebrate the momentous occasion, Carey reminisced and reflected on a few key moments of her life and career, including her biggest-ever song, “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” If you can believe it, the song has raked in an estimated $60 million-plus in royalties since it premiered from her 1994 holiday album.
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Also, since fans are anticipating her long-awaited memoir with Michaela Angela Davis, The Meaning of Mariah Carey (which drops on Sept. 29), of course, this interview served as a good preview of the even more vulnerable and unfiltered Carey. “There’s so much more dragging that could have been done,” she tells Vulture. “I really didn’t say everything.”
The most oft-discussed thing is her biracial identity, and how colorism factors in her success.
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Vulture reports:
“The truth is I will never say I had the same experience as a darker-skinned woman,” Carey starts in. She acknowledges the privilege in her being accepted by white audiences and a white-run music industry, but to her, it also means “having a white mother, and being forced to live in white neighborhoods, and feeling ashamed that there is nobody visibly Black there … and I’m being so real right now that I want to edit myself,” she pauses. “Believe you me, I’m not thrilled to be this skin tone all the time.” Then she launches into the questions she has asked herself her whole life and maybe continues to ask: “How was I supposed to fit in? I was, like, the only one that’s this weird mutant, mutt — using an antiquated phrase that I’m not asking anyone else to ever use again, but I’m embracing it — mulatto girl. I’m not even embracing it. It’s a horrible way of defining somebody. It actually means ‘mule.’ ” Whatever it did for her career, she says, it also “distanced me from the comfort of support and protection from some Black people. Which is an even deeper kind of a pain, pile of pain, if that makes sense. It’s been a lot.”
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Speaking of the book, Carey also reflected on the fact that so many of her peers are gone, including Whitney Houston and Prince, and opened up about how the fact that she was among the few who actually lived to write her own story made her feel.
“Jay [as in Z] has that great story of when we were all there together at the club and Prince was taking so long to perform? Whatever, it’s a long story, but he didn’t go on until like 5 a.m. with Chaka Khan, who was having Hennessy and smoking and still singing like a trumpet, and it was amazing. It was amazing,” she recounted.
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Mariah’s Carey’s life is amazing.


theroot--2020-08-31--‘He Can Say It to Me, But I Can’t Say It to Him?’: White South Carolina Officer Suspended After Repe

‘He Can Say It to Me, But I Can’t Say It to Him?’: White South Carolina Officer Suspended After Repeatedly Using N-Word

It ’ s about time we have a serious discussion about one particular wypipo proverb : “ If they can say it , why can ’ t I ?
” A white South Carolina police officer has been suspended after he was recorded Saturday repeatedly using the n-word outside of a bar where he was called to enforce a state ordinance put in place due to the pandemic .
The officer ’ s excuse for using the slur multiple times ?
He heard a Black person say it first .
The Washington Post reports that Columbia , S.C. police Sgt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bar in the Five Points neighborhood to enforce the governor ’ s order to stop serving alcohol at 11 p.m .
In body camera footage released by the Columbia Police Department on Sunday , Walker can be seen walking through the bar aggressively shouting at people to put down their glasses and leave .
As he passed a Black man who was apparently still holding a glass , Walker said , “ Sir , if you drink that , you will go to jail.
” The Black guy ’ s response was mostly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the n-word as the man was responding to being told to leave .
Walker can be heard saying to the Black man , “ Your hand was on [ the glass ] , sir .
And you ’ re a little colorblind.
” Basically , Walker—who looks and behaves like a Great Value version of Vic Mackey from The Shield—implied that he couldn ’ t possibly be a nigga because he ’ s white .
In bodycam footage taken outside the bar , Walker is seen arguing with a masked patron who is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talking to people of color like they are “ less than human.
” “ Those people of color ?
” Walker asked while pointing in some direction .
“ You mean the gentleman that just called me a nigger ?
” “ Are you serious ?
” the patron asked .
Walker then continued repeating the word with the hard R knowing damn well the Black man didn ’ t say it that way .
Another person chimes in asking Walker , “ Can you stop saying that word please ?
” After @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not call Walker the n-word , Walker insists that he did and tells him “ all you ’ re doing is calling me ignorant .
That ’ s what that word means.
” After being informed that the word is in fact not synonymous with ignorant , Walker is heard arguing , “ Actually , if you look in the dictionary , that is what that means.
” For the record : No , the Merriam-Webster dictionary—or what Walker condescendingly referred to as “ the big thing you open and read ” —does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In the end , Walker ’ s question was simple and typical : “ He can say it to me , but I can ’ t say it to him ?
” Generally , when white people ask why they can ’ t say any version of the n-word when Black people say it all the time , my answer is simply , “ Because you can ’ t , nigga.
” But since writing things happens to be my job , this story presents an opportunity for me to elaborate without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of my way to educate white people .
First of all , it needs to be acknowledged that not all Black people are OK with the n-word being used by anyone , including other Black people .
I couldn ’ t count on one hand the number of Black teachers I had growing up who tried to sell us the lie that “ nigga ” is short for “ ignorant ” because they knew we didn ’ t have Google back then and couldn ’ t immediately refute them .
So white people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it because we say it is based on the false premise that Black people ’ s use of the word is universally viewed as acceptable .
Secondly , it should be considered that we use the word because it has become a part of Black vernacular .
I reject Black people ’ s explanation that it ’ s a “ term of endearment ” when we use it—because it isn ’ t always .
Certainly , “ my nigga ” is endearing in tone , but that ’ s not the only way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bodycam footage several times , I thought I heard the Black guy say , “ Damn , nigga ” to the officer as he was leaving .
( I could be wrong because the video is partially censored plus my ass is getting old . )
“ Damn , nigga ” is a Black-ass expression that can be directed at anyone of any race , sometimes positively , other times not so much .
( Honestly , it doesn ’ t even have to be a person .
The other day , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my patio and then walked right into the screen .
At that moment the screen was “ Damn , nigga.
” ) My point is , more often than not , our use of the n-word is neutral in tone .
It ’ s never neutral when white people say it—no matter the context .
However you feel about Black people saying the n-word , we should all agree that , especially in “ today ’ s climate ” ( another wypipo proverb that I ’ m going to go ahead and steal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cop has no business using the word or lecturing Black people about our use of it .
That ’ s probably why bystanders can be heard in the video shouting at Walker to “ grow up ” and “ lead by example ” and why another officer eventually pulled Walker away from the scene .
When it comes down to it , regardless of what the Black man said or didn ’ t say , it happened as he was following the cop ’ s orders and leaving the bar .
Walker didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deescalate .
He went out of his way to turn a passing comment into a problem .
“ Our officers are trained to serve as leaders and to de-escalate confrontations of potentially volatile situations , ” Police Chief W.H .
Holbrook told the Post .
“ Although I am embarrassed and disappointed in the Sergeant ’ s actions , I was encouraged to see a junior officer intervene and remove Walker from the situation , potentially stopping further escalation.
” Holbrook said in a statement that Walker was suspended Sunday .

It’s about time we have a serious discussion about one particular wypipo proverb: “If they can say it, why can’t I?”
A white South Carolina police officer has been suspended after he was recorded Saturday repeatedly using the n-word outside of a bar where he was called to enforce a state ordinance put in place due to the pandemic. The officer’s excuse for using the slur multiple times? He heard a Black person say it first.
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The Washington Post reports that Columbia, S.C. police Sgt. Chad Walker was called to a bar in the Five Points neighborhood to enforce the governor’s order to stop serving alcohol at 11 p.m. In body camera footage released by the Columbia Police Department on Sunday, Walker can be seen walking through the bar aggressively shouting at people to put down their glasses and leave. As he passed a Black man who was apparently still holding a glass, Walker said, “Sir, if you drink that, you will go to jail.”
The Black guy’s response was mostly inaudible but Walker claims he was called the n-word as the man was responding to being told to leave.
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Walker can be heard saying to the Black man, “Your hand was on [the glass], sir. And you’re a little colorblind.” Basically, Walker—who looks and behaves like a Great Value version of Vic Mackey from The Shield—implied that he couldn’t possibly be a nigga because he’s white.
In bodycam footage taken outside the bar, Walker is seen arguing with a masked patron who is simply asking him why he’s talking to people of color like they are “less than human.”
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“Those people of color?” Walker asked while pointing in some direction. “You mean the gentleman that just called me a nigger?”
“Are you serious?” the patron asked. Walker then continued repeating the word with the hard R knowing damn well the Black man didn’t say it that way. Another person chimes in asking Walker, “Can you stop saying that word please?”
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After the Black man argues that he did not call Walker the n-word, Walker insists that he did and tells him “all you’re doing is calling me ignorant. That’s what that word means.” After being informed that the word is in fact not synonymous with ignorant, Walker is heard arguing, “Actually, if you look in the dictionary, that is what that means.” For the record: No, the Merriam-Webster dictionary—or what Walker condescendingly referred to as “the big thing you open and read”—does not define “nigger” that way.
In the end, Walker’s question was simple and typical: “He can say it to me, but I can’t say it to him?”
Advertisement
Generally, when white people ask why they can’t say any version of the n-word when Black people say it all the time, my answer is simply, “Because you can’t, nigga.” But since writing things happens to be my job, this story presents an opportunity for me to elaborate without feeling like I’m going out of my way to educate white people.
First of all, it needs to be acknowledged that not all Black people are OK with the n-word being used by anyone, including other Black people. I couldn’t count on one hand the number of Black teachers I had growing up who tried to sell us the lie that “nigga” is short for “ignorant” because they knew we didn’t have Google back then and couldn’t immediately refute them. So white people’s argument that they can say it because we say it is based on the false premise that Black people’s use of the word is universally viewed as acceptable.
Advertisement
Secondly, it should be considered that we use the word because it has become a part of Black vernacular. I reject Black people’s explanation that it’s a “term of endearment” when we use it—because it isn’t always. Certainly, “my nigga” is endearing in tone, but that’s not the only way we use it.
After I replayed the bodycam footage several times, I thought I heard the Black guy say, “Damn, nigga” to the officer as he was leaving. (I could be wrong because the video is partially censored plus my ass is getting old.) “Damn, nigga” is a Black-ass expression that can be directed at anyone of any race, sometimes positively, other times not so much. (Honestly, it doesn’t even have to be a person. The other day, I opened the sliding glass door to my patio and then walked right into the screen. At that moment the screen was “Damn, nigga.”)
Advertisement
My point is, more often than not, our use of the n-word is neutral in tone. It’s never neutral when white people say it—no matter the context.
However you feel about Black people saying the n-word, we should all agree that, especially in “today’s climate” (another wypipo proverb that I’m going to go ahead and steal for a second), a white cop has no business using the word or lecturing Black people about our use of it. That’s probably why bystanders can be heard in the video shouting at Walker to “grow up” and “lead by example” and why another officer eventually pulled Walker away from the scene. When it comes down to it, regardless of what the Black man said or didn’t say, it happened as he was following the cop’s orders and leaving the bar. Walker didn’t even have a confrontation to deescalate. He went out of his way to turn a passing comment into a problem.
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“Our officers are trained to serve as leaders and to de-escalate confrontations of potentially volatile situations,” Police Chief W.H. Holbrook told the Post. “Although I am embarrassed and disappointed in the Sergeant’s actions, I was encouraged to see a junior officer intervene and remove Walker from the situation, potentially stopping further escalation.”
Holbrook said in a statement that Walker was suspended Sunday.


theroot--2020-08-31--The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid Is Only $7 at Ulta

If you ’ ve been searching for affordable skincare and serums , you should check out The Ordinary ’ s @ @ @ @ @ added B5 vitamins .
If you don ’ t know what hyaluronic acid is , @ @ @ @ @ in providing moisture and adding barrier support to your face .
The added B5 makes @ @ @ @ @ ’ s only $ 7 , so I really don ’ t know how you @ @ @ @ @ it before its gone !

Ignacia on Kinja Deals, shared by Ignacia to The Root

The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 | $7 | Ulta
If you’ve been searching for affordable skincare and serums, you should check out The Ordinary’s brand of Hyaluronic Acid with added B5 vitamins. If you don’t know what hyaluronic acid is, it basically aids your skin in providing moisture and adding barrier support to your face. The added B5 makes your skin glow! It’s only $7, so I really don’t know how you can beat it. Grab it before its gone!


theroot--2020-08-31--Herman Cain Tweets the Coronavirus Is Not That Deadly, Weeks After Dying From the Disease Caused by

Herman Cain Tweets the Coronavirus Is Not That Deadly, Weeks After Dying From the Disease Caused by the Coronavirus

I don ’ t know who is running Herman Cain ’ s account but if it is Herman Cain ’ s ghost I ’ m going to need him to go after the Republicans who didn ’ t even bother to mention his name during the Republican National Convention .
It ’ s almost as if Cain never really left since Republicans didn ’ t seem to give a shit and he ’ s still tweeting .
A now-deleted tweet claimed that the coronavirus is “ not as deadly ” as “ mainstream media ” made it out to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that shit considering the former presidential candidate and CEO of Godfather Pizza died of ... wait for it ... keep waiting ... waiting…THE CORONAVIRUS .
Cain died July 30 from COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus , just weeks after not wearing a face condom to Trump ’ s Tulsa rally .
The deleted tweet linked to an article from some bullshit site called the Western Journal , which the New York Times found was really just a conservative news site that uses fake science in its medical claims .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have questioned the ethics of Cain ’ s account still bearing its blue ‘ verified ’ checkmark , which the social-media platform uses to signify ‘ that an account of public interest is authentic.
’ ” Twitter claims that Cain ’ s account , which is now being run by the Cain Gang , is not in violation of Twitter ’ s rules because the avatar notes who is running the account .
I just wish that instead of trying to come after COVID-19 , Cain ’ s posthumous Twitter ramblings went after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t even say his name .
Not even in his death….from COVID-19 .

I don’t know who is running Herman Cain’s account but if it is Herman Cain’s ghost I’m going to need him to go after the Republicans who didn’t even bother to mention his name during the Republican National Convention. It’s almost as if Cain never really left since Republicans didn’t seem to give a shit and he’s still tweeting.
A now-deleted tweet claimed that the coronavirus is “not as deadly” as “mainstream media” made it out to be. Ummm, ask Herman Cain about that shit considering the former presidential candidate and CEO of Godfather Pizza died of...wait for it...keep waiting...waiting…THE CORONAVIRUS.
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Cain died July 30 from COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, just weeks after not wearing a face condom to Trump’s Tulsa rally. The deleted tweet linked to an article from some bullshit site called the Western Journal, which the New York Times found was really just a conservative news site that uses fake science in its medical claims.
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The Daily Beast notes that “Twitter users have questioned the ethics of Cain’s account still bearing its blue ‘verified’ checkmark , which the social-media platform uses to signify ‘that an account of public interest is authentic.’”
Twitter claims that Cain’s account, which is now being run by the Cain Gang, is not in violation of Twitter’s rules because the avatar notes who is running the account. I just wish that instead of trying to come after COVID-19, Cain’s posthumous Twitter ramblings went after all of the Republicans who wouldn’t even say his name.
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Not even in his death….from COVID-19.


Chadwick Boseman Forever

It seemed like a “ normal ” Friday night—or as normal as any day could be in 2020—and all of a sudden , the world was met with a crushing blow .
A universal , downcast silence seemed to fall as we watched our smartphones in sheer disbelief and the realization crept into our consciousness : Chadwick Boseman was gone .
We were shocked .
We were stunned .
We were heartbroken .
We were gutted .
We screamed into a void .
We were frustrated .
We were angry .
We felt all of those feelings and more—at once @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We started to see and share an influx of stories , memories and pictures—all related to Boseman and how his very existence impacted so many .
It was in that moment we knew that not only is Wakanda forever ... but Boseman is , too .
In my inexplicable mission to dive deeper into the abyss of melancholy , I decided to listen to Whitney Houston ’ s “ Who Would Imagine a King ” from The Preacher ’ s Wife soundtrack because I couldn ’ t get it out of my head @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world would be different ‘ cause you were alive.
” For anyone who had any doubts as to whether you did “ too much ” to celebrate Black Panther , you didn ’ t .
It ’ s devastating to come to grips with the fact that even the very thing we ’ ve associated with Black joy and escapism from reality is now interconnected with grief and mourning .
Still , there was something beautiful about reminiscing on that moment .
It felt amazing recounting the moment in Avengers : Endgame @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could be seen in the portal ’ s light and the crowd erupted in a theater-shaking triumph .
It proved that Black Panther is an extremely beloved character—specifically , Boseman ’ s Black Panther is beloved .
In fact , ABC managed to craft a heartwarming tribute to Boseman during the Black Panther screening the network hosted on Sunday , which was impressive given the short amount of time they had .
T ’ Challa was Wakanda ’ s king and Boseman—through his unforgettable performances—became the people ’ s king .
Boseman was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on why he chose to keep his cancer battle to himself ( as I respect his autonomy and agency ) , I focused my energy on reading the beautiful words from those who knew him .
From the peers who got to meet and engage with him to the Avengers who assembled in his honor , it was clear that Boseman ’ s energy was pure love .
Of course , the Black Panther squad ’ s words stood out in a special way , with each becoming more emotional to read .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sterling K. Brown wrote in an Instagram caption , accompanied by a beautiful video .
“ Your time was short .
Your light was exceptionally bright .
Thank you for shining for all of us.
” “ I pay tribute to a beautiful spirit , a consummate artist , a soulful brother ... ” thou aren ’ t not dead but flown afar… ’ ” Angela Bassett wrote .
“ He made everyone feel loved , heard and seen , ” Danai Gurira wrote .
“ He played great , iconic roles because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to greatness to be able to so richly bring them to life .
He had a heroic spirit , and marched to the beat of his own drum ; hence his excellence as an artist and the incredible courage and determination as he faced life ’ s challenges ; while still guiding us all.
” “ Chadwick then proceeded to show us collectively everyday on set what it was to be a leading man , ” Winston Duke wrote .
“ Not only through his work but by how he welcomed and created @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feel safe , open and bold.
” “ It is with a heavy heart and a sense of deep gratitude to have ever been in his presence , that I have to reckon with the fact that Chad is an ancestor now , ” director Ryan Coogler wrote in a statement .
Marshall co-star Josh Gad also shared a few lovely memories he shared with Boseman , including the very last text the late actor sent him , titled “ Catch the Rain , ” which served as a poignant lesson for life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left us with wise words to take with us on our own journeys , often incorporating his own life into the message .
Also , it was nice to review footage of the many times Boseman had fun on set , during an interview , at a party , and even took moments to make fun of himself .
Then , there ’ s me .
I absolutely didn ’ t know Boseman as a person , but people often ask me my impressions of a celebrity once I meet them .
With @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m often faced with during interviews—asking the tough questions .
It ’ s my job .
It ’ s my responsibility .
I went into the 21 Bridges junket with a standard bit of anxiety , knowing that my first time meeting him could be met with tension .
The interview came and went like a blur and after processing the whole experience , I came to one ultimate conclusion : he is so kind .
Not only did he answer the question with an earnest demeanor , but he opened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a way that made me feel connected to him .
He also seemed to envelop the room in his own aura and sense of calm and collective cool .
It wasn ’ t until reading different accounts by other reporters , journalists and writers who had interviewed him that I truly realized how much of an anomaly this wasn ’ t .
This is just who he was .
There ’ s a reason why I don ’ t even have the room or bandwidth to list every single social media post @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on this world .
The tributes are endless and are still actively increasing as I type this blog .
This is what Chadwick Boseman meant .
This is what he means .
He means everything .

It seemed like a “normal” Friday night—or as normal as any day could be in 2020—and all of a sudden, the world was met with a crushing blow. A universal, downcast silence seemed to fall as we watched our smartphones in sheer disbelief and the realization crept into our consciousness: Chadwick Boseman was gone.
Advertisement
We were shocked. We were stunned. We were heartbroken. We were gutted. We screamed into a void. We were frustrated. We were angry. We felt all of those feelings and more—at once.
Then, something amazing happened. We started to see and share an influx of stories, memories and pictures—all related to Boseman and how his very existence impacted so many. It was in that moment we knew that not only is Wakanda forever...but Boseman is, too.
Advertisement Advertisement
The King
In my inexplicable mission to dive deeper into the abyss of melancholy, I decided to listen to Whitney Houston’s “Who Would Imagine a King” from The Preacher’s Wife soundtrack because I couldn’t get it out of my head, particularly the line, “That the world would be different ‘cause you were alive.”
Advertisement
For anyone who had any doubts as to whether you did “too much” to celebrate Black Panther, you didn’t. It’s devastating to come to grips with the fact that even the very thing we’ve associated with Black joy and escapism from reality is now interconnected with grief and mourning. Still, there was something beautiful about reminiscing on that moment.
Advertisement
Advertisement
It felt amazing recounting the moment in Avengers: Endgame when T’Challa’s silhouette could be seen in the portal’s light and the crowd erupted in a theater-shaking triumph. It proved that Black Panther is an extremely beloved character—specifically, Boseman’s Black Panther is beloved.
Advertisement
In fact, ABC managed to craft a heartwarming tribute to Boseman during the Black Panther screening the network hosted on Sunday, which was impressive given the short amount of time they had.
Advertisement
T’Challa was Wakanda’s king and Boseman—through his unforgettable performances—became the people’s king.
Advertisement
Advertisement
The Man
Boseman was a private person. Rather than speculate on why he chose to keep his cancer battle to himself (as I respect his autonomy and agency), I focused my energy on reading the beautiful words from those who knew him. From the peers who got to meet and engage with him to the Avengers who assembled in his honor, it was clear that Boseman’s energy was pure love.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Of course, the Black Panther squad’s words stood out in a special way, with each becoming more emotional to read.
Advertisement
“Take care, brother,” Sterling K. Brown wrote in an Instagram caption, accompanied by a beautiful video. “Your time was short. Your light was exceptionally bright. Thank you for shining for all of us.”
Advertisement
“I pay tribute to a beautiful spirit, a consummate artist, a soulful brother...”thou aren’t not dead but flown afar…’” Angela Bassett wrote.
“He made everyone feel loved, heard and seen,” Danai Gurira wrote. “He played great, iconic roles because he possessed inside of himself that connection to greatness to be able to so richly bring them to life. He had a heroic spirit, and marched to the beat of his own drum; hence his excellence as an artist and the incredible courage and determination as he faced life’s challenges; while still guiding us all.”
Advertisement
“Chadwick then proceeded to show us collectively everyday on set what it was to be a leading man,” Winston Duke wrote. “Not only through his work but by how he welcomed and created a space for all of us to feel safe, open and bold.”
“It is with a heavy heart and a sense of deep gratitude to have ever been in his presence, that I have to reckon with the fact that Chad is an ancestor now,” director Ryan Coogler wrote in a statement.
Advertisement
Marshall co-star Josh Gad also shared a few lovely memories he shared with Boseman, including the very last text the late actor sent him, titled “Catch the Rain,” which served as a poignant lesson for life.
Advertisement
Speaking of which, Boseman routinely left us with wise words to take with us on our own journeys, often incorporating his own life into the message.
Advertisement
Also, it was nice to review footage of the many times Boseman had fun on set, during an interview, at a party, and even took moments to make fun of himself.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Then, there’s me. I absolutely didn’t know Boseman as a person, but people often ask me my impressions of a celebrity once I meet them. With him, I was faced with something I’m often faced with during interviews—asking the tough questions. It’s my job. It’s my responsibility. I went into the 21 Bridges junket with a standard bit of anxiety, knowing that my first time meeting him could be met with tension. The interview came and went like a blur and after processing the whole experience, I came to one ultimate conclusion: he is so kind.
Advertisement
Not only did he answer the question with an earnest demeanor, but he opened up about his own experience with police in a way that made me feel connected to him. He also seemed to envelop the room in his own aura and sense of calm and collective cool. It wasn’t until reading different accounts by other reporters, journalists and writers who had interviewed him that I truly realized how much of an anomaly this wasn’t. This is just who he was.
Advertisement
There’s a reason why I don’t even have the room or bandwidth to list every single social media post that reflects the gargantuan impact Boseman had on this world. The tributes are endless and are still actively increasing as I type this blog.
This is what Chadwick Boseman meant. This is what he means. He means everything.


theroot--2020-08-31--Lafayette, La., Where Police Recently Shot and Killed a Black Man, Says It Will Not Shelter Hurrican

Lafayette, La., Where Police Recently Shot and Killed a Black Man, Says It Will Not Shelter Hurricane Evacuees Because of ‘Outside Agitators’

In the aftermath of Hurricane Laura , hundreds of thousands of people across the state of Louisiana are still without power or water .
But those seeking shelter—either because they lack access to important resources or because they have no home to return to—will not find it in Lafayette , according to city officials .
The city was largely spared the worst of the storm , so it ’ s certainly in a position to help out its neighbors .
But on Saturday , the city ’ s chief administrative officer told humanitarian groups it was not welcoming hurricane evacuees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” at local protests .
As the Advocate reports , Lafayette—like many other cities across the country , including Minneapolis , Portland , Atlanta , Washington D.C. , New York , and most recently , Kenosha Wis. , — has seen a surge of protests this summer , as demonstrators call for an end to racist police violence in their communities .
In Lafayette , protesters have specifically called out Parish Mayor-President Josh Guillory ’ s response to the death of Trayford Pellerin .
Lafayette police officers shot and killed the 31-year-old Pellerin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Aug. 21 .
As the Lafayette Daily Advertiser reports , Lafayette police say they were responding to a call at a Circle K gas station about “ a disturbance involving a person armed with a knife.
” There , police encountered Pellerin , whom they tried to apprehend .
A witness at the scene told the local paper that Pellerin continued to walk away from officers , who followed him for half a mile before they unsuccessfully tried to stop him with a Taser .
Then , as Pellerin attempted to enter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the entire time—officers fired 11 bullets at him , killing him .
Six officers involved in the shooting were placed on leave as a result of the incident , which is being investigated by state police .
Since Pellerin ’ s killing , video of the shooting has been shared online , prompting the Louisiana ACLU to condemn it as a “ horrific and deadly incident of police violence against a Black person , ” reports The Post .
What happened next in Lafayette is not unique for this year—nor is it particularly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and mass protest in this country .
People descended to a Confederate monument downtown to carry signs and block traffic .
At another demonstration , some people lit a highway median on fire and police set off smoke canisters , the Associated Press reported .
There was a silent sit-in outside city hall , and a cookout on Mayor-President Josh Guillory ’ s front steps .
Over the course of about a week of demonstrations , police arrested dozens of people , most of them from Lafayette or nearby cities , the Advocate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outside figures were influencing protests .
“ They ’ re not our community .
They ’ re not our people , ” Scott Morgan , the interim police chief , said at a news conference Saturday .
“ They ’ re coming over here for trouble .
Don ’ t support them , don ’ t get involved with them .
Stay out of it.
” While this country has seen civil unrest in its past , the levels of violence this year are noteworthy , in no small part due to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violent conservative militias and counter-protesters .
Still , rather than tell the truth about the protests—or take responsibility for the turbulent climate city officials have helped to create—Lafayette is happy to parrot a widely-repeated and untrue talking point , at the cost of people in dire need .
Jamie Angelle , communications director for Lafayette Consolidated Government , told the Advocate that the state of Louisiana should be able to care for hurricane evacuees without aid from the city itself .
Angelle also noted that every hotel in the parish is currently booked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this will prevent anyone from getting shelter , ” Angelle said .
“ Will they have to maybe go a little farther ?
Unfortunately , that ’ s probably the case .
”

In the aftermath of Hurricane Laura, hundreds of thousands of people across the state of Louisiana are still without power or water. But those seeking shelter—either because they lack access to important resources or because they have no home to return to—will not find it in Lafayette, according to city officials.
The city was largely spared the worst of the storm, so it’s certainly in a position to help out its neighbors. But on Saturday, the city’s chief administrative officer told humanitarian groups it was not welcoming hurricane evacuees out of fears of “outside agitators” at local protests.
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From The Washington Post:
“We are not in a position to safeguard people displaced by Laura,” Cydra Wingerter, Lafayette’s chief administrative officer, wrote in an email to area humanitarian groups Saturday, according to the Acadiana Advocate. “We know that bad actors will take our hospitality and use it against us.”
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As the Advocate reports, Lafayette—like many other cities across the country, including Minneapolis, Portland, Atlanta, Washington D.C., New York, and most recently, Kenosha Wis.,— has seen a surge of protests this summer, as demonstrators call for an end to racist police violence in their communities.
In Lafayette, protesters have specifically called out Parish Mayor-President Josh Guillory’s response to the death of Trayford Pellerin. Lafayette police officers shot and killed the 31-year-old Pellerin, allegedly armed with a knife, on Aug. 21.
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As the Lafayette Daily Advertiser reports, Lafayette police say they were responding to a call at a Circle K gas station about “a disturbance involving a person armed with a knife.” There, police encountered Pellerin, whom they tried to apprehend. A witness at the scene told the local paper that Pellerin continued to walk away from officers, who followed him for half a mile before they unsuccessfully tried to stop him with a Taser.
Then, as Pellerin attempted to enter a Shell gas station—walking away from police the entire time—officers fired 11 bullets at him, killing him.
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Six officers involved in the shooting were placed on leave as a result of the incident, which is being investigated by state police. Since Pellerin’s killing, video of the shooting has been shared online, prompting the Louisiana ACLU to condemn it as a “horrific and deadly incident of police violence against a Black person,” reports The Post.
What happened next in Lafayette is not unique for this year—nor is it particularly unusual given the history of racist policing and mass protest in this country.
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From The Post:
People descended to a Confederate monument downtown to carry signs and block traffic. At another demonstration, some people lit a highway median on fire and police set off smoke canisters, the Associated Press reported. There was a silent sit-in outside city hall, and a cookout on Mayor-President Josh Guillory’s front steps. Over the course of about a week of demonstrations, police arrested dozens of people, most of them from Lafayette or nearby cities, the Advocate reported. But elected officials repeatedly insisted outside figures were influencing protests. “They’re not our community. They’re not our people,” Scott Morgan, the interim police chief, said at a news conference Saturday. “They’re coming over here for trouble. Don’t support them, don’t get involved with them. Stay out of it.”
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While this country has seen civil unrest in its past, the levels of violence this year are noteworthy, in no small part due to the responses from heavily militarized police forces and violent conservative militias and counter-protesters.
Still, rather than tell the truth about the protests—or take responsibility for the turbulent climate city officials have helped to create—Lafayette is happy to parrot a widely-repeated and untrue talking point, at the cost of people in dire need.
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Jamie Angelle, communications director for Lafayette Consolidated Government, told the Advocate that the state of Louisiana should be able to care for hurricane evacuees without aid from the city itself. Angelle also noted that every hotel in the parish is currently booked.
“I don’t think this will prevent anyone from getting shelter,” Angelle said. “Will they have to maybe go a little farther? Unfortunately, that’s probably the case.”


theroot--2020-08-31--Protect Yourself and Others From COVID-19 With 40 KN95 Masks for $39

Listen , no matter how loud the anti-maskers have a temper tantrum , masks protect yourself and others from COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ in a pandemic and you know , it requires a bit of preparation for going @ @ @ @ @ 40-Pack of KN95 masks is $ 39 .
Yes , masks are overpriced these days @ @ @ @ @ block 95 % of air particles up to .3-micron levels .
What are you waiting @ @ @ @ @ and start using them !

Ignacia and Quentyn Kennemer on Kinja Deals, shared by Gabe Carey to The Root

KN95 Masks (40-Pack) | $24 | MorningSave
Listen, no matter how loud the anti-maskers have a temper tantrum, masks protect yourself and others from COVID-19. We’re living in a pandemic and you know, it requires a bit of preparation for going out in public. This 40-Pack of KN95 masks is $24 . Yes, masks are overpriced these days, but these five-layer KN95 masks block 95% of air particles up to .3-micron levels. What are you waiting for? Grab a box and start using them!
This deal was originally published by Ignacia Fulcher in August 2020 and updated by Quentyn Kennemer with new information on 10/27/2020.


theroot--2020-08-31--It's Fine to Just Cry, Too

It's Fine to Just Cry, Too

I keep coming back to resilience .
And how I hate how we consider it to be an essential and inherent and invaluable characteristic of Blackness .
I hate it because it ’ s dehumanizing .
Being born Black don ’ t make us any more resilient than anyone else .
We ain ’ t stronger .
We ain ’ t tougher .
We ’ ve just been given more shit to carry .
Our kinship with resilience is just us convincing ourselves we can hold that weight , and them justifying how heavy they pack our bags .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Stuck to how we live and how we cope with death .
Death can ’ t be just death .
Can ’ t just be an ending of life .
There must a takeaway .
An edict .
A lesson learned .
Even the dead must rest in power .
And I get it .
We got ta be strong .
We got ta be tough .
We got ta persevere .
We always got ta we got ta .
But if that weight suffocates you , if it gets too heavy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ skin , your bones , your spirit , your soul , if it so consumes you that you can ’ t think or see or feel anything , if it makes you sad , it ’ s fine to just cry , too .
It ’ s fine to just acknowledge what ’ s been taken , and how those losses make movement harder .
It ’ s fine to feel dejected , not uplifted .
It ’ s fine to be weakened .
It ’ s fine to stop being who we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they pretend we must be—and just be human .

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

I keep coming back to resilience. And how I hate how we consider it to be an essential and inherent and invaluable characteristic of Blackness. I hate it because it’s dehumanizing. Being born Black don’t make us any more resilient than anyone else. We ain’t stronger. We ain’t tougher. We’ve just been given more shit to carry. Our kinship with resilience is just us convincing ourselves we can hold that weight, and them justifying how heavy they pack our bags.
It’s sticky as fuck, too. Stuck to how we live and how we cope with death. Death can’t be just death. Can’t just be an ending of life. There must a takeaway. An edict. A lesson learned. Even the dead must rest in power. And I get it. We gotta be strong. We gotta be tough. We gotta persevere. We always gotta we gotta.
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But if that weight suffocates you, if it gets too heavy to move, if it weakens your skin, your bones, your spirit, your soul, if it so consumes you that you can’t think or see or feel anything, if it makes you sad, it’s fine to just cry, too. It’s fine to just acknowledge what’s been taken, and how those losses make movement harder. It’s fine to feel dejected, not uplifted. It’s fine to be weakened. It’s fine to stop being who we tell ourselves we have to be—and who they pretend we must be—and just be human.


theroot--2020-08-31--Trump Calls Armed American Terrorists Who Stormed Portland ‘Great Patriots,’ Completely Ignores Thei

Trump Calls Armed American Terrorists Who Stormed Portland ‘Great Patriots,’ Completely Ignores Their Violent Actions

The president of American terrorists is doing that thing in which he celebrates violence against American protesters .
On Sunday , the president of people who believe that pajamas are appropriate to wear to Walmart called for federal forces to quell protests in American cities while a group of pickup-driving Trump loyalists , deputized by their whiteness , were captured firing paint and pellet guns at protesters in Portland , Ore .
The violence , perpetrated by those who came to a protest armed with pellet and paint guns , ended with one person being shot and killed .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man who was bearing the insignia of Patriot Prayer , a far-right group in Portland that has regularly been getting in fisticuffs with protestors on the streets.
” Literally a band of white folks went on a “ Trump cruise rally ” ( and no , this was not a normal Trump cruise rally in which old white men go to the Miss Slovakian beauty pageant ) where they drove into liberal downtown Portland to incite violence .
For weeks , downtown Portland has been the home of protesters against police violence and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and in the end , they were applauded by their lord and savior , who called the caravan of haters “ GREAT PATRIOTS !
” in a tweet .
For the record , the president of people who own pellet and paint guns had nothing to say about the peaceful March on Washington , which happened just days before , because that was calling for his removal from office .
The Washington Post notes that “ Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden ‘ unequivocally ’ condemned the Portland shooting and accused Trump of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ division in our society and using the politics of fear to whip up his supporters.
’ ” “ We must not become a country at war with ourselves ; a country that accepts the killing of fellow Americans who do not agree with you ; a country that vows vengeance toward one another , ” Biden said .
“ But that is the America that President Trump wants us to be , the America he believes we are.
” Trump is scheduled to make his way to Kenosha , Wis. , on Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote for him in the first place are unsure why the president of hate is going to an area where Jacob Blake was shot in the back by police and left paralyzed .
Maybe the president is heading to the area to personally pardon Kyle Rittenhouse , the white 17-year-old who had illegally obtained a rifle and was charged with first-degree intentional homicide after he shot and killed two protesters .
Either way , Wisconsin Gov .
Tony Evers sent a letter to Trump asking that he keep his fat , orange ass @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( I ’ m paraphrasing a bit . )
None of this stopped the White House from lying , which is just their way .
“ The only people to blame for the violence and riots in our streets are liberal politicians and their incompetent policies that have failed to get control of these destructive situations , ” White House spokesman Judd Deere said in a statement , the Post reports .
“ This president has condemned violence in all its forms .
Americans want peace in their streets and for their children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and only President Trump has shown the courage and leadership to achieve law and order and deliver results.
” This is true ; the president has condemned violence against buildings and statues and parks .
He ’ s fine with violence against people who won ’ t vote for him .
In recent months , Trump has increasingly used official White House events , along with campaign rallies , to vilify protesters as violent and to fan fears along racial lines .
During his renomination acceptance speech , delivered Thursday on the South @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican National Convention , Trump attacked Biden for failing to condemn “ rioters and criminals spreading mayhem in Democrat-run cities ” even though the former vice president had already spoken out against the violence and looting , saying the day before that “ violence that endangers lives , violence that guts businesses and shutters businesses that serve the community — that ’ s wrong.
” “ Trump has been inciting violence for years and with deadly effects , ” said author Ruth Ben-Ghiat , who studies authoritarian regimes .
She pointed to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by a gunman who cited anti-immigrant views with echoes of Trump ’ s rhetoric in a manifesto .
Ben-Ghiat believes that the violence is all a part of Trump ’ s plans to appear like a competent and strong leader .
“ Now he ’ s trained his aim on Black Lives Matter protesters and antifa , ” Ben-Ghiat told the Post .
“ So what is happening now with an escalation of violence is something beneficial to Trump .
Strongmen leaders incite crises so they can pose themselves as the law-and-order solution.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ rain boots on their dogs has always and will always be a pro-violence president , as that is what white supremacists have always believed in .

The president of American terrorists is doing that thing in which he celebrates violence against American protesters.
On Sunday, the president of people who believe that pajamas are appropriate to wear to Walmart called for federal forces to quell protests in American cities while a group of pickup-driving Trump loyalists, deputized by their whiteness, were captured firing paint and pellet guns at protesters in Portland, Ore. The violence, perpetrated by those who came to a protest armed with pellet and paint guns, ended with one person being shot and killed. “The victim appeared to be a white man who was bearing the insignia of Patriot Prayer, a far-right group in Portland that has regularly been getting in fisticuffs with protestors on the streets.”
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Literally a band of white folks went on a “Trump cruise rally” (and no, this was not a normal Trump cruise rally in which old white men go to the Miss Slovakian beauty pageant) where they drove into liberal downtown Portland to incite violence. For weeks, downtown Portland has been the home of protesters against police violence and Trump. The Trumpians came for violence, and in the end, they were applauded by their lord and savior, who called the caravan of haters “GREAT PATRIOTS!” in a tweet.
For the record, the president of people who own pellet and paint guns had nothing to say about the peaceful March on Washington, which happened just days before, because that was calling for his removal from office.
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The Washington Post notes that “Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden ‘unequivocally’ condemned the Portland shooting and accused Trump of ‘fanning the flames of hate and division in our society and using the politics of fear to whip up his supporters.’”
“We must not become a country at war with ourselves; a country that accepts the killing of fellow Americans who do not agree with you; a country that vows vengeance toward one another,” Biden said. “But that is the America that President Trump wants us to be, the America he believes we are.”
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Trump is scheduled to make his way to Kenosha, Wis., on Tuesday, although Americans who didn’t vote for him in the first place are unsure why the president of hate is going to an area where Jacob Blake was shot in the back by police and left paralyzed. Maybe the president is heading to the area to personally pardon Kyle Rittenhouse, the white 17-year-old who had illegally obtained a rifle and was charged with first-degree intentional homicide after he shot and killed two protesters. Either way, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers sent a letter to Trump asking that he keep his fat, orange ass the fuck away from his state. (I’m paraphrasing a bit.)
None of this stopped the White House from lying, which is just their way.
“The only people to blame for the violence and riots in our streets are liberal politicians and their incompetent policies that have failed to get control of these destructive situations,” White House spokesman Judd Deere said in a statement, the Post reports. “This president has condemned violence in all its forms. Americans want peace in their streets and for their children to grow up in safe neighborhoods, and only President Trump has shown the courage and leadership to achieve law and order and deliver results.”
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This is true; the president has condemned violence against buildings and statues and parks. He’s fine with violence against people who won’t vote for him.
From the Post:
In recent months, Trump has increasingly used official White House events, along with campaign rallies, to vilify protesters as violent and to fan fears along racial lines. During his renomination acceptance speech, delivered Thursday on the South Lawn of the White House for the Republican National Convention, Trump attacked Biden for failing to condemn “rioters and criminals spreading mayhem in Democrat-run cities” even though the former vice president had already spoken out against the violence and looting, saying the day before that “violence that endangers lives, violence that guts businesses and shutters businesses that serve the community — that’s wrong.” “Trump has been inciting violence for years and with deadly effects,” said author Ruth Ben-Ghiat, who studies authoritarian regimes. She pointed to a mass shooting in El Paso last summer by a gunman who cited anti-immigrant views with echoes of Trump’s rhetoric in a manifesto.
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Ben-Ghiat believes that the violence is all a part of Trump’s plans to appear like a competent and strong leader.
“Now he’s trained his aim on Black Lives Matter protesters and antifa,” Ben-Ghiat told the Post. “So what is happening now with an escalation of violence is something beneficial to Trump. Strongmen leaders incite crises so they can pose themselves as the law-and-order solution.”
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The president of people who put rain boots on their dogs has always and will always be a pro-violence president, as that is what white supremacists have always believed in.


theroot--2020-08-31--Is It Fine When It's a Fave? Adele's Bantu Knots Reveal the Subjectivity of the Appropriation vs. Ap

Is It Fine When It's a Fave? Adele's Bantu Knots Reveal the Subjectivity of the Appropriation vs. Appreciation Debate

Adele is a multi-Grammy award-winning singer whose soulful song stylings have made her a fairly universal fave ( we still think that the 2017 Best Album of the Year Grammy belonged to Lemonade , though—and seemingly , so did she .
She ’ s a Beyoncé stan , too ! )
.
She also seems to be an affable , humble and entirely relatable superstar , rising to her now-worldwide fame the old-fashioned way : on MySpace .
In fact , if you were to ask around , Adele would likely routinely be among the least problematic faves of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ understanding of the nuances of appropriation , given the fact that like fellow blue-eyed soul singers Dusty Springfield , Teena Marie and ( early-aughts ) P !
nk before her , Adele ’ s sonic style is largely based upon a vocal blueprint laid by Black women .
But what even the most ardent Black lovers of Adele likely weren ’ t prepared for was the singer ’ s spin on Caribbean carnival regalia—replete with a Jamaican flag string bikini top and her hair styled in Bantu knots—which she posted to Instagram Sunday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Notting Hill Carnival , yet another event canceled due to the COVID-19 outbreak .
“ Happy what would be Notting Hill Carnival my beloved London , ” she captioned the post .
Aside from the now-requisite ogling and commentary on the 32-year-old singer ’ s now-svelte frame ( people lose weight sometimes , folks .
Get over it ) , on Sunday , social media was a-twitter ( see what we did there ? )
over the image , sparking a debate between those crying foul on what was widely deemed to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defending the singer ’ s choice of homage as appreciation .
Most of the criticism leveled at Adele had to do with the Bantu knots atop her head , which we fully assume were created by a Black stylist or friend .
And frankly , after years of reporting on cultural appropriation and watching countless celebrities either reckon with or lowkey troll us in response to the criticism , we ’ re tired .
In fact , we ’ re less interested in the cringe-worthy gaffe ( and if you absolutely must have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s a gaffe , though far from the most offensive of the many we ’ ve seen ) than the debate around it—because let ’ s be honest : If this were a Kardashian , there ’ d be far less debate and much more vitriol .
Should Adele be exempt from the same critiques simply because she has a widely recognized and more highly respected talent ?
Most importantly , why , with yet another white woman at the center of the discussion , did the debate somehow devolve into an increasingly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black Americans and other Black people across the diaspora ?
Umm ... OK ... go awf , we guess—because last time we checked , anti-Blackness spans the globe , and hairstyles traditionally worn by Black people of every origin have been criticized , marginalized , and , in some cases , outright outlawed in deference to Eurocentric beauty ideals .
Case in point : Earlier this month , Jamaica ’ s Supreme Court ruled discrimination against dreadlocks legal—yes , in the predominantly Black country of Jamaica .
While we don ’ t believe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in fact ) , we do think it ’ s fair to observe her choice to wear this hairstyle through the lens of those who haven ’ t been able to do so as freely .
If Black people wearing hairstyles indigenous to their heritage are regularly deemed inappropriate , surely Adele can weather a bit of the same criticism ?
( We have a feeling she ’ ll be just fine—and we ’ ll likely still buy the next album , so there ’ s that . )

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

Adele is a multi-Grammy award-winning singer whose soulful song stylings have made her a fairly universal fave (we still think that the 2017 Best Album of the Year Grammy belonged to Lemonade, though—and seemingly, so did she. She’s a Beyoncé stan, too!). She also seems to be an affable, humble and entirely relatable superstar, rising to her now-worldwide fame the old-fashioned way: on MySpace.
In fact, if you were to ask around, Adele would likely routinely be among the least problematic faves of the Caucasian persuasion, presumed to have an understanding of the nuances of appropriation, given the fact that like fellow blue-eyed soul singers Dusty Springfield, Teena Marie and (early-aughts) P!nk before her, Adele’s sonic style is largely based upon a vocal blueprint laid by Black women.
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But what even the most ardent Black lovers of Adele likely weren’t prepared for was the singer’s spin on Caribbean carnival regalia—replete with a Jamaican flag string bikini top and her hair styled in Bantu knots—which she posted to Instagram Sunday in tribute to London’s annual Notting Hill Carnival, yet another event canceled due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
“Happy what would be Notting Hill Carnival my beloved London,” she captioned the post.
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Aside from the now-requisite ogling and commentary on the 32-year-old singer’s now-svelte frame (people lose weight sometimes, folks. Get over it), on Sunday, social media was a-twitter (see what we did there?) over the image, sparking a debate between those crying foul on what was widely deemed to be an appropriative “costume” and others defending the singer’s choice of homage as appreciation.
Advertisement
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Most of the criticism leveled at Adele had to do with the Bantu knots atop her head, which we fully assume were created by a Black stylist or friend. And frankly, after years of reporting on cultural appropriation and watching countless celebrities either reckon with or lowkey troll us in response to the criticism, we’re tired. In fact, we’re less interested in the cringe-worthy gaffe (and if you absolutely must have our opinion, yes, it’s a gaffe, though far from the most offensive of the many we’ve seen) than the debate around it—because let’s be honest: If this were a Kardashian, there’d be far less debate and much more vitriol. Should Adele be exempt from the same critiques simply because she has a widely recognized and more highly respected talent? Most importantly, why, with yet another white woman at the center of the discussion, did the debate somehow devolve into an increasingly nasty “us vs. them” between Black Americans and other Black people across the diaspora?
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Umm...OK...go awf, we guess—because last time we checked, anti-Blackness spans the globe, and hairstyles traditionally worn by Black people of every origin have been criticized, marginalized, and, in some cases, outright outlawed in deference to Eurocentric beauty ideals. Case in point: Earlier this month, Jamaica’s Supreme Court ruled discrimination against dreadlocks legal—yes, in the predominantly Black country of Jamaica.
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While we don’t believe Adele is anti-Black (far from it, in fact), we do think it’s fair to observe her choice to wear this hairstyle through the lens of those who haven’t been able to do so as freely. If Black people wearing hairstyles indigenous to their heritage are regularly deemed inappropriate, surely Adele can weather a bit of the same criticism? (We have a feeling she’ll be just fine—and we’ll likely still buy the next album, so there’s that.)
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Via our sister site Jezebel:


theroot--2020-08-31--‘My Environment Has Been Harmed by This African Black Person’: El Segundo Karen’s Racist Rant Record

‘My Environment Has Been Harmed by This African Black Person’: El Segundo Karen’s Racist Rant Recorded

Anti-Blackness is a special brand of racism .
It seems like everywhere in the world where Black people exist , non-Black people perceive us as a threat and will weaponize their irrational fear of us without hesitation .
Non-white people of color are not immune to this behavior .
In El Segundo , Calif. , three Black women went for a jog on the beach Sunday when they came across a Karen of color ( I know .
That was weird for me to write too ) who they recorded in the midst of a racist rant where she claimed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this African Black person.
” Brittany , Raquel and Jessyka say they were jogging near El Segundo Beach early Sunday morning when the woman passed and they believe they heard her call them the N-word .
“ I stopped and I said , ‘ What did you say to us ?
’ And she just went on kind of a racial tirade and was like , ‘ You need to go back to Africa , ’ ” said Brittany .
Said Raquel , “ I think in the beginning it was a little @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when she yelled the first racial slur at us , we were not sure of what we heard.
” The women say they continued on their jog until they passed the woman again and asked her what she had said .
“ She continued on that she was from Mexico and this was her continent and we needed to go back to our continent , ” Raquel said .
They say they started recording because the woman claimed she was being attacked .
In the video footage , the woman can be heard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police .
This woman just hit me.
” Later she can be heard saying to the Black women , “ You guys are so violent .
You Africans are so fucking violent .
You ’ re an African , right ?
I ’ m trying to get a description .
Why are you so offended by the fact that you ’ re African ?
” During the time of the recording , it ’ s clear that the woman isn ’ t being attacked , and , seeing as everyone involved in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bigot appears to be physically unscathed , it would be hard for anyone to believe any actual violence had taken place .
Perhaps that almost explains what Klan-ish Karen said once she got on the phone presumably with 911 .
“ I need a paramedic ...
I need an ambulance ’ ” she said .
“ My environment has been harmed by this African black person.
” Why Brown Hitler would need an ambulance and paramedics to tend to her injured environment is still unclear .
“ I have been harmed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” she continued before shouting , “ This African ... Black lives , Black lives !
” ( Either she was mocking the Black Lives Matter movement , or she was just really passionate about describing what she views as pests needing to be exterminated .
Or both .
Probably both . )
Listen : As much as I love to engage in a humorous Karen roast ( I ’ ve been dying to write , “ I left my racist in El Segundo ” this entire time ) , this isn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ When Karens lie to law enforcement about violent Black people attacking them , we ’ re the ones who are put in harm ’ s way .
Our environments are actually harmed and our bodies are likely to follow .
Of course , that may not matter because one of the Black women told ABC 7 that she filed a report with the Los Angeles Police Department after she was told by El Segundo police that the woman seen in the video never called them .
They recommended that she reach out to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ call to police was actually real , the racism was very real as is the harm it caused to the victims .
“ I didn ’ t think this would ever happen in Los Angeles , ” Brittany told ABC .
“ I haven ’ t experienced it .
It was a very sobering experience .
It just reminded us , as we see everything happening around us , this can happen in our backyard.
” Join the discussion !
The Root is hosting its first-ever , virtual Root Institute , presented by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minds in our community talking about politics , culture , health , community building and social impact .
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Anti-Blackness is a special brand of racism. It seems like everywhere in the world where Black people exist, non-Black people perceive us as a threat and will weaponize their irrational fear of us without hesitation. Non-white people of color are not immune to this behavior.
In El Segundo, Calif., three Black women went for a jog on the beach Sunday when they came across a Karen of color (I know. That was weird for me to write too) who they recorded in the midst of a racist rant where she claimed her “environment has been harmed by this African Black person.”
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From NBC Los Angeles:
Brittany, Raquel and Jessyka say they were jogging near El Segundo Beach early Sunday morning when the woman passed and they believe they heard her call them the N-word. “I stopped and I said, ‘What did you say to us?’ And she just went on kind of a racial tirade and was like, ‘You need to go back to Africa,’” said Brittany. Said Raquel, “I think in the beginning it was a little bit of shock. At first, when she yelled the first racial slur at us, we were not sure of what we heard.” The women say they continued on their jog until they passed the woman again and asked her what she had said. “She continued on that she was from Mexico and this was her continent and we needed to go back to our continent,” Raquel said. They say they started recording because the woman claimed she was being attacked.
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In the video footage, the woman can be heard shouting “I’m calling the police. This woman just hit me.” Later she can be heard saying to the Black women, “You guys are so violent. You Africans are so fucking violent. You’re an African, right? I’m trying to get a description. Why are you so offended by the fact that you’re African?”
During the time of the recording, it’s clear that the woman isn’t being attacked, and, seeing as everyone involved in the incident appears to be relatively calm and the bigot appears to be physically unscathed, it would be hard for anyone to believe any actual violence had taken place. Perhaps that almost explains what Klan-ish Karen said once she got on the phone presumably with 911.
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“I need a paramedic...I need an ambulance’” she said. “My environment has been harmed by this African black person.” Why Brown Hitler would need an ambulance and paramedics to tend to her injured environment is still unclear.
“I have been harmed by the environment that this African has created,” she continued before shouting, “This African...Black lives, Black lives!” (Either she was mocking the Black Lives Matter movement, or she was just really passionate about describing what she views as pests needing to be exterminated. Or both. Probably both.)
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Listen: As much as I love to engage in a humorous Karen roast (I’ve been dying to write, “I left my racist in El Segundo” this entire time), this isn’t really a joking matter. When Karens lie to law enforcement about violent Black people attacking them, we’re the ones who are put in harm’s way. Our environments are actually harmed and our bodies are likely to follow.
Of course, that may not matter because one of the Black women told ABC 7 that she filed a report with the Los Angeles Police Department after she was told by El Segundo police that the woman seen in the video never called them. They recommended that she reach out to the LAPD.
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Whether or not the call to police was actually real, the racism was very real as is the harm it caused to the victims.
“I didn’t think this would ever happen in Los Angeles,” Brittany told ABC. “I haven’t experienced it. It was a very sobering experience. It just reminded us, as we see everything happening around us, this can happen in our backyard.”
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theroot--2020-08-31--Family of Layleen Polanco Reaches History-Making $5.9 Million Settlement Over Solitary Confinement D

Family of Layleen Polanco Reaches History-Making $5.9 Million Settlement Over Solitary Confinement Death

The family of Layleen Polanco , a trans-Afro-Latina who died while in solitary confinement at Rikers Island jail last year , will receive a historic $ 5.9 million settlement—the largest New York City has ever paid out for a death in one of its city jails .
In a statement to The City , family attorney David Shanies said the settlement will allow Polanco ’ s family to move on “ without enduring years of protracted litigation and reliving their trauma.
” “ This being the largest settlement in the city ’ s history for a death in jail should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lives matter.
” Polanco was just 27 when she died from a seizure while on her ninth day of solitary confinement in the infamous jail .
She was being held on $ 500 bail for misdemeanor sex work and drug possession charges .
Melania Brown , Polanco ’ s sister , told The City the settlement was “ just the beginning of justice ” for her sister , and that the family still wanted the correction officers responsible for caring for Polanco to be fired .
“ Justice would be holding those people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sister ’ s death accountable for their actions , ” said Brown .
In June , after a scathing report released by the city jails ’ oversight board detailed the systemic failures that led to Polanco ’ s death , New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio vowed to end the practice of solitary confinement “ once and for all.
” Polanco had a documented history of seizures and schizophrenia and had recently been hospitalized to receive psychiatric treatment before being placed in solitary confinement at Rikers last summer .
According to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was placed in punitive segregation because the Department of Corrections did not want to place her in general population housing areas with cisgender women .
Before her hospitalization , Polanco was kept with other trans inmates .
The report found that while Polanco was in solitary confinement , corrections officers did not follow jail guidelines which require staffers to check inmates every 15 minutes .
On her ninth day of being isolated , corrections officers noticed she was unresponsive but did not physically check on Polanco until an hour and a half afterward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Polanco was dead .
In a statement shared with The City on Sunday night , the city Law Department called Polanco ’ s death “ an absolute tragedy.
” “ The city will continue to do everything it can to make reforms towards a correction system that is fundamentally safer , fairer and more humane .
”

The family of Layleen Polanco, a trans-Afro-Latina who died while in solitary confinement at Rikers Island jail last year, will receive a historic $5.9 million settlement—the largest New York City has ever paid out for a death in one of its city jails.
In a statement to The City, family attorney David Shanies said the settlement will allow Polanco’s family to move on “without enduring years of protracted litigation and reliving their trauma.”
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“This being the largest settlement in the city’s history for a death in jail should serve as a powerful statement that trans lives matter.”
Polanco was just 27 when she died from a seizure while on her ninth day of solitary confinement in the infamous jail. She was being held on $500 bail for misdemeanor sex work and drug possession charges.
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Melania Brown, Polanco’s sister, told The City the settlement was “just the beginning of justice” for her sister, and that the family still wanted the correction officers responsible for caring for Polanco to be fired.
“Justice would be holding those people who had something to do with my sister’s death accountable for their actions,” said Brown.
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In June, after a scathing report released by the city jails’ oversight board detailed the systemic failures that led to Polanco’s death, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio vowed to end the practice of solitary confinement “once and for all.”
Polanco had a documented history of seizures and schizophrenia and had recently been hospitalized to receive psychiatric treatment before being placed in solitary confinement at Rikers last summer. According to the report from the oversight board, Polanco was placed in punitive segregation because the Department of Corrections did not want to place her in general population housing areas with cisgender women. Before her hospitalization, Polanco was kept with other trans inmates.
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The report found that while Polanco was in solitary confinement, corrections officers did not follow jail guidelines which require staffers to check inmates every 15 minutes. On her ninth day of being isolated, corrections officers noticed she was unresponsive but did not physically check on Polanco until an hour and a half afterward. When they finally entered her cell, Polanco was dead.
In a statement shared with The City on Sunday night, the city Law Department called Polanco’s death “an absolute tragedy.”
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“The city will continue to do everything it can to make reforms towards a correction system that is fundamentally safer, fairer and more humane.”


theroot--2020-08-31--The 2020 VMAs Were Virtual and It Was Like MTV Started Playing Music Videos Again

It ’ s time for yet another awards ceremony with a virtual stage !
This time , it ’ s MTV ’ s biggest night for music—the Video Music Awards ( VMAs ) !
The actual ceremony as a whole was pretty—er—white , but here ’ s a Black-ass fact : Keke Palmer was the first-ever Black woman to host the VMAs solo !
The first VMAs debuted in 1984 , so you do the math at how long it took for this to happen .
Plus , a Black woman hasn ’ t hosted since OG MTV VJ Downtown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Keke opened Sunday night ’ s show by dedicating the ceremony to the late Chadwick Boseman , who died on Friday due to complications from colon cancer .
“ We dedicate tonight ’ s show to the man whose spirit touched so many .
He is a true hero , not just onscreen but in everything he did .
His impact lives forever , ” she said .
Keke also used the platform to speak against police brutality , noting , “ We can never tolerate police brutality or any injustice .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ systemic racism.
” Speaking of using the platform to speak out against social injustice , The Weeknd did the same when he accepted his awards for Video of the Year and Best R & B video ( “ Blinding Lights ” ) .
“ It ’ s really hard for me to celebrate right now and enjoy this moment , so I ’ m just going to say justice for Jacob Blake and justice for Breonna Taylor , ” the artist mused .
DaBaby continued the social justice spotlight via his performance as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ performance .
Going virtual actually gave most fans a feel as if they were watching music videos again ( even though , unlike its cousin BET , this ceremony added audience sound effects ) , which has long been a point of contention for the network that is an acronym where the first letter stands for “ Music.
” One particular performance highlight was the unmatched Chloe x Halle , who continuously raise the bar when it comes to taking the virtual stage .
The talented pair of sisters performed their album ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” It ’ s really like each of their virtual performances is a different music video !
Oh , and Keke wasn ’ t just slaying her hosting duties , she hit the virtual stage too , performing her own song , “ Snack.
” Last , but not least , the winners !
Megan Thee Stallion popped a celebratory bottle for her second moon man on Instagram .
The rapper won for Best Hip Hop song for “ Savage .
” Doja Cat won Best New Artist and performed on the virtual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ took home the Video For Good award , for her song “ I Can ’ t Breathe.
” Plus , there was a special Everyday Heroes : Frontline Medical Workers award presented to workers who used social media as a platform to post videos of themselves singing uplifting songs , including Dr. Elvis Francois and Dr. William Robinson ( “ Imagine ” ) , Dr. Nate Wood ( “ Lean On Me ” ) , Jefferson University Hospital ’ s Swab Squad ( “ Level Up ” ) , Jason ‘ Tik Tok @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( “ Amazing Grace ” ) .
For the full list of winners at the 2020 VMAs , head to mtv.com .

It’s time for yet another awards ceremony with a virtual stage! This time, it’s MTV’s biggest night for music—the Video Music Awards (VMAs)!
The actual ceremony as a whole was pretty—er—white, but here’s a Black-ass fact: Keke Palmer was the first-ever Black woman to host the VMAs solo! The first VMAs debuted in 1984, so you do the math at how long it took for this to happen. Plus, a Black woman hasn’t hosted since OG MTV VJ Downtown Julie Brown co-hosted in 1986 and 1987.
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Keke opened Sunday night’s show by dedicating the ceremony to the late Chadwick Boseman, who died on Friday due to complications from colon cancer.
“We dedicate tonight’s show to the man whose spirit touched so many. He is a true hero, not just onscreen but in everything he did. His impact lives forever,” she said.
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Keke also used the platform to speak against police brutality, noting, “We can never tolerate police brutality or any injustice. We must continue the fight to end systemic racism.”
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Speaking of using the platform to speak out against social injustice, The Weeknd did the same when he accepted his awards for Video of the Year and Best R&B video (“Blinding Lights”).
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“It’s really hard for me to celebrate right now and enjoy this moment, so I’m just going to say justice for Jacob Blake and justice for Breonna Taylor,” the artist mused.
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DaBaby continued the social justice spotlight via his performance as well, similar to his BET Awards performance.
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Going virtual actually gave most fans a feel as if they were watching music videos again (even though, unlike its cousin BET, this ceremony added audience sound effects), which has long been a point of contention for the network that is an acronym where the first letter stands for “Music.”
Advertisement
One particular performance highlight was the unmatched Chloe x Halle, who continuously raise the bar when it comes to taking the virtual stage. The talented pair of sisters performed their album’s titular track, “Ungodly Hour.” It’s really like each of their virtual performances is a different music video!
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Oh, and Keke wasn’t just slaying her hosting duties, she hit the virtual stage too, performing her own song, “Snack.”
Keke Palmer performs “Snack” / YouTube
Last, but not least, the winners! Megan Thee Stallion popped a celebratory bottle for her second moon man on Instagram. The rapper won for Best Hip Hop song for “Savage . ”
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Doja Cat won Best New Artist and performed on the virtual stage, as well. H.E.R. took home the Video For Good award, for her song “I Can’t Breathe.” Plus, there was a special Everyday Heroes: Frontline Medical Workers award presented to workers who used social media as a platform to post videos of themselves singing uplifting songs, including Dr. Elvis Francois and Dr. William Robinson (“Imagine”), Dr. Nate Wood (“Lean On Me”), Jefferson University Hospital’s Swab Squad (“Level Up”), Jason ‘Tik Tok Doc’ Campbell and Lori Marie Key (“Amazing Grace”).
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For the full list of winners at the 2020 VMAs, head to mtv.com.


theroot--2020-08-31--‘Larger Than Life’ Georgetown Basketball Coach John Thompson Dead at 78

Friends and family of Hall of Famer John Thompson , the architect of the Georgetown Hoyas ’ gilded age , say the legendary coach has died , reports WJLA TV .
Thompson ’ s cause of death is unknown at this time .
He was 78 years old .
The first Black coach to win an NCAA championship , the 6'10 '' Thompson was a larger-than-life figure , literally and figuratively .
He ’ s widely credited with building up the Georgetown Hoyas men ’ s basketball team from an afterthought into a perennial contender .
When Thompson took the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team had a dismal 3-23 record , reports NBC Washington .
But over his 27 years as head coach , the team would become one of the marquee teams of the Big East—and all of college basketball .
Many in the Washington , D.C. area will still recall the Hoyas ’ golden years during the ’ 80s , when Thompson led the Hoyas to three Final Fours in 1982 , 1984 and 1985 .
The team secured a title in 1984 , making Thompson the first Black head coach to win an NCAA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Hoyas would reach the NCAA Tournament 20 times .
Thompson ’ s influence rippled out across the DC region and the game of basketball .
Former WJLA TV sports anchor Lou Holder told Good Morning Washington that Thompson was a “ real-life Black Panther , ” on Monday morning .
“ He was larger than life for Black people , for mankind , for social justice , ” Holder told the local news show .
During his time at the helm , Thompson recruited and mentored some of the most influential players @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Dikembe Mutombo , Patrick Ewing and Allen Iverson—all of whom were selected into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame .
He finished his career with 596 NCAA wins .
Thompson had recently retired earlier this year from the Nike Board of Directors and has an autobiography slated for release next January .
He is survived by his three children , John Thompson III , Ron and Tiffany .

Friends and family of Hall of Famer John Thompson, the architect of the Georgetown Hoyas’ gilded age, say the legendary coach has died, reports WJLA TV.
Thompson’s cause of death is unknown at this time. He was 78 years old.
The first Black coach to win an NCAA championship, the 6'10" Thompson was a larger-than-life figure, literally and figuratively. He’s widely credited with building up the Georgetown Hoyas men’s basketball team from an afterthought into a perennial contender.
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When Thompson took the head coaching role in 1972, the team had a dismal 3-23 record, reports NBC Washington. But over his 27 years as head coach, the team would become one of the marquee teams of the Big East—and all of college basketball. Many in the Washington, D.C. area will still recall the Hoyas’ golden years during the ’80s, when Thompson led the Hoyas to three Final Fours in 1982, 1984 and 1985. The team secured a title in 1984, making Thompson the first Black head coach to win an NCAA championship. In total, Thompson and the Hoyas would reach the NCAA Tournament 20 times.
Thompson’s influence rippled out across the DC region and the game of basketball. Former WJLA TV sports anchor Lou Holder told Good Morning Washington that Thompson was a “real-life Black Panther,” on Monday morning.
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“He was larger than life for Black people, for mankind, for social justice,” Holder told the local news show.
During his time at the helm, Thompson recruited and mentored some of the most influential players in the game, including Alonzo Mourning, Dikembe Mutombo, Patrick Ewing and Allen Iverson—all of whom were selected into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He finished his career with 596 NCAA wins.
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Thompson had recently retired earlier this year from the Nike Board of Directors and has an autobiography slated for release next January.
He is survived by his three children, John Thompson III, Ron and Tiffany.


theroot--2020-09-01--Court Records Show Drug Suspect Offered Plea Deal to Name Breonna Taylor as Part of 'Organized Crime

Court Records Show Drug Suspect Offered Plea Deal to Name Breonna Taylor as Part of 'Organized Crime Syndicate'

As we continue to demand justice for Breonna Taylor , new information regarding the raid on her home and the subsequent investigation continues to surface .
It was recently revealed that the drug suspect officers were looking for when they raided Taylor ’ s home and fatally shot her , was offered a plea deal last month to name Breonna as a drug trafficker .
Jamarcus Glover , the focus of a series of Louisville police raids , including one in which officers shot and killed Breonna Taylor , was offered a plea bargain last month if he would admit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ organized crime syndicate , ” records show .
As part of the July 13 offer , Glover was to acknowledge that over a period of time through April 22 he and several “ co-defendants , ” including Taylor , engaged in organized crime by trafficking large amounts of drugs “ into the Louisville community.
” Glover , a convicted felon with a history of drug trafficking , turned down the plea offer from the Jefferson Commonwealth ’ s Attorney ’ s office .
It would have resulted in a possible 10-year prison @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drug trafficking and gun charges .
If he had taken the plea , Glover could possibly had been released on probation instead of serving prison time .
That decision would have been up to the sentencing judge .
The crime syndicate organization , according to the plea offer obtained by WDRB News , sold drugs mainly from abandoned or vacant houses on Elliott Avenue in the Russell neighborhood .
Taylor lived about 10 miles away in an apartment on Springfield Drive .
It ’ s worth mentioning that Taylor ’ s story—which happened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attention .
Even with Taylor ’ s family urging activists and mainstream media to get involved in bringing attention to the 26-year-old ’ s case , it took the death of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter explosion to finally get people chanting “ justice for Breonna.
” I ’ m not saying it ’ s anything more than a coincidence that shortly after Breonna ’ s story began receiving worldwide attention , legal officials tried to get Glover to rename her Avon Barksdale ...
I ’ m just saying .
Sam @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s family in a wrongful death lawsuit , told WDRB that the plea offer shows “ the lengths to which those within the police department and Commonwealth ’ s Attorney went to after Breonna Taylor ’ s killing to try and paint a picture of her which was vastly different than the woman she truly was .
“ The fact that they would try to even represent that she was a co-defendant in a criminal case more than a month after she died is absolutely disgusting , ” Aguiar continued .
Ted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the Kentucky Innocence Project , accuses the Jefferson Commonwealth ’ s Attorney ’ s office of trying to destroy Taylor “ because she is destroying them .
And they want Jamarcus Glover to do it for them because their efforts have failed .
So they offer him a bribe , basically .
All you have to do is smear her.
” But Glover wasn ’ t willing to play their game and has repeatedly insisted that Breonna Taylor had nothing to do with his alleged dealings .
Glover has said repeatedly in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with The Courier-Journal , that Taylor , a former girlfriend , was not involved in any drug operation and questioned why police would raid her home .
In one recorded jail call , [ Glover ] said officers “ didn ’ t have no business looking for me at no Bre house .
“ At the end of the day , I know she didn ’ t ...
I know she didn ’ t to deserve none of this sh** , though , ” he said according to the call , which is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case .
This isn ’ t the first time new information connected to Breonna ’ s case has raised eyebrows .
In July , The Root reported on newly released audio from interviews conducted during the investigation into Tay l or ’ s death that showed drastic differences between how one of the officers involved in the shooting was questioned and how Kenneth Walker—Taylor ’ s boyfriend who was arrested at the scene—was handled in questioning .
Basically , the cop got handled with kid gloves while Walker got treated like the main @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Law & Order episode before the plot twist .
But , again , these are probably all just huge coincidences .

As we continue to demand justice for Breonna Taylor, new information regarding the raid on her home and the subsequent investigation continues to surface. It was recently revealed that the drug suspect officers were looking for when they raided Taylor’s home and fatally shot her, was offered a plea deal last month to name Breonna as a drug trafficker.
From WDRB News:
Jamarcus Glover, the focus of a series of Louisville police raids, including one in which officers shot and killed Breonna Taylor, was offered a plea bargain last month if he would admit that Taylor was a member of his “organized crime syndicate,” records show. As part of the July 13 offer, Glover was to acknowledge that over a period of time through April 22 he and several “co-defendants,” including Taylor, engaged in organized crime by trafficking large amounts of drugs “into the Louisville community.” Glover, a convicted felon with a history of drug trafficking, turned down the plea offer from the Jefferson Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office. It would have resulted in a possible 10-year prison sentence for charges of criminal syndication, drug trafficking and gun charges. If he had taken the plea, Glover could possibly had been released on probation instead of serving prison time. That decision would have been up to the sentencing judge. The crime syndicate organization, according to the plea offer obtained by WDRB News, sold drugs mainly from abandoned or vacant houses on Elliott Avenue in the Russell neighborhood. Taylor lived about 10 miles away in an apartment on Springfield Drive.
It’s worth mentioning that Taylor’s story—which happened in March—took months to receive much media attention. Even with Taylor’s family urging activists and mainstream media to get involved in bringing attention to the 26-year-old’s case, it took the death of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter explosion to finally get people chanting “justice for Breonna.”
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I’m not saying it’s anything more than a coincidence that shortly after Breonna’s story began receiving worldwide attention, legal officials tried to get Glover to rename her Avon Barksdale...I’m just saying.
Sam Aguiar, an attorney who represents Taylor’s family in a wrongful death lawsuit, told WDRB that the plea offer shows “the lengths to which those within the police department and Commonwealth’s Attorney went to after Breonna Taylor’s killing to try and paint a picture of her which was vastly different than the woman she truly was.
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“The fact that they would try to even represent that she was a co-defendant in a criminal case more than a month after she died is absolutely disgusting,” Aguiar continued.
Ted Shouse, a Louisville attorney who worked for the Kentucky Innocence Project, accuses the Jefferson Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office of trying to destroy Taylor “because she is destroying them. And they want Jamarcus Glover to do it for them because their efforts have failed. So they offer him a bribe, basically. All you have to do is smear her.”
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But Glover wasn’t willing to play their game and has repeatedly insisted that Breonna Taylor had nothing to do with his alleged dealings.
Glover has said repeatedly in recorded jail phone calls and an interview with The Courier-Journal, that Taylor, a former girlfriend, was not involved in any drug operation and questioned why police would raid her home. In one recorded jail call, [Glover] said officers “didn’t have no business looking for me at no Bre house. “At the end of the day, I know she didn’t ... I know she didn’t to deserve none of this sh**, though,” he said according to the call, which is part of the evidence in his criminal case.
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This isn’t the first time new information connected to Breonna’s case has raised eyebrows. In July, The Root reported on newly released audio from interviews conducted during the investigation into Taylor’s death that showed drastic differences between how one of the officers involved in the shooting was questioned and how Kenneth Walker—Taylor’s boyfriend who was arrested at the scene—was handled in questioning. Basically, the cop got handled with kid gloves while Walker got treated like the main suspect in the first half of a Law & Order episode before the plot twist.
But, again, these are probably all just huge coincidences.