theroot--2020-12-18--Everyone Else Better ‘Walk On By’ Because Dionne Warwick Has Handpicked Teyana Taylor to Play Her in

Everyone Else Better ‘Walk On By’ Because Dionne Warwick Has Handpicked Teyana Taylor to Play Her in a Biopic

Someone get the Psychic Friends Network on the phone and ask them if they saw this coming !
Specifically , asking them if they saw it going down this way !
What the hell am I talking about ?
Y ’ all , I think we just watched a Hollywood deal go down on Twitter—which actually seems to be happening more often lately since more and more creators have direct access to celebrities and other powerful people who can make shit happen .
Still , you know what ’ s not typical ?
Dionne Warwick ’ s Twitter page .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cut to today and the latest happening in Dionne-palooza involves Teyana Taylor possibly portraying the iconic singer in a biopic .
It all started around Dec 15 when Warwick tweeted a photo of Taylor with the caption , “ It runs in the family.
” Taylor ’ s response ?
“ Period.
” Then , in the only thing better than a Dionne Warwick tweet—a Dionne Warwick tweet accompanied by a Dionne Warwick video—Warwick posed a hypothetical : If she developed a series , would anyone watch ?
DOES DIONNE WARWICK PUT ON @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Yes , yes .
Hurry up and take our money—or at least our bingeing attention .
Speaking of bingeing , Warwick figured Netflix would be the best source to potentially move forward .
“ This is a case for @ netflix .
Please don ’ t ask who I would cast to play me as it would obviously be @ TEYANATAYLOR , ” Warwick tweeted the next day , clearly not playing any games with y ’ all .
Naturally , that tweet got a lot of attention—including Netflix ’ s .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ streaming platform ’ s official Twitter account responded .
Then , Warwick replied , “ I ’ ll call ya !
” And the rest is Hollywood history .
OK , in real life the rest is a waiting game until we see an official announcement from the trades—or hey , we ’ ll take an exclusive , Auntie Dionne !
On Thursday evening , Warwick tweeted , “ Just had a lovely chat with @ TEYANATAYLOR .
It ’ s official .
Welcome to the Warwick family.
” Yaassss !
We can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Black Twitter joy , for sure .

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

Someone get the Psychic Friends Network on the phone and ask them if they saw this coming! Specifically, asking them if they saw it going down this way!
What the hell am I talking about? Y’all, I think we just watched a Hollywood deal go down on Twitter—which actually seems to be happening more often lately since more and more creators have direct access to celebrities and other powerful people who can make shit happen. Still, you know what’s not typical? Dionne Warwick’s Twitter page. We already explained why, though.
Advertisement
Cut to today and the latest happening in Dionne-palooza involves Teyana Taylor possibly portraying the iconic singer in a biopic.
Advertisement Advertisement
It all started around Dec 15 when Warwick tweeted a photo of Taylor with the caption, “It runs in the family.” Taylor’s response? “Period.”
Advertisement
Then, in the only thing better than a Dionne Warwick tweet—a Dionne Warwick tweet accompanied by a Dionne Warwick video—Warwick posed a hypothetical: If she developed a series, would anyone watch? DOES DIONNE WARWICK PUT ON OUR MAKEUP THE MOMENT WE WAKE UP? Yes, yes. Hurry up and take our money—or at least our bingeing attention.
Advertisement
Speaking of bingeing, Warwick figured Netflix would be the best source to potentially move forward. “This is a case for @netflix. Please don’t ask who I would cast to play me as it would obviously be @TEYANATAYLOR,” Warwick tweeted the next day, clearly not playing any games with y’all.
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Naturally, that tweet got a lot of attention—including Netflix’s. “Taking notes,” the popular streaming platform’s official Twitter account responded. Then, Warwick replied, “I’ll call ya!”
And the rest is Hollywood history.
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OK, in real life the rest is a waiting game until we see an official announcement from the trades—or hey, we’ll take an exclusive, Auntie Dionne! On Thursday evening, Warwick tweeted, “Just had a lovely chat with @TEYANATAYLOR. It’s official. Welcome to the Warwick family.”
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Yaassss! We can always count on Dionne Warwick to bring the Black Twitter joy, for sure.


theroot--2020-12-18--GTFOH Trump Watch: Why the $2,000 Trump Stimulus Check Is Bullshit

My homeboy Lavelle and I had this thing we did when a kid wanted to fight me and I didn ’ t want to fight .
I would act like I was taking off my shirt and Lavelle knew that was his cue to jump in and act like he was breaking it up .
I was rail-thin growing up .
I reached my full man height ( 6 foot , 2 inches ) as a teen but was probably 150 pounds soaking wet , so the last thing I ever wanted was to be outside with no shirt on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then I did so with my shirt on .
For some reason , in junior high school I got into a lot of fights and Lavelle broke up his fair share .
To me it was an opportunity to save face and it worked most of the time .
Until one day this kid Andre moved Lavelle out the way .
I was literally fake taking off my shirt when Lavelle did his whole routine and then out of nowhere came Andre , who was a few years older than us , like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fight.
” I kept my shirt on .
We fought .
I lost .
The larger point in this is that I know what the kids call “ pump faking ” when I see it .
Hell , I was Charles Smith in Game 2 of the 1993 NBA Eastern Conference Finals all the way through junior high school , so let ’ s just say I ’ m a scholar .
So when news emerged that President Trump wanted to give the people a $ 2,000 stimulus check , I immediately called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lavelle ’ s and my fake fight move , in which the president wanted to interrupt congressional haggling over a stimulus package while aides had to hold him back .
White House aides intervened Thursday to prevent President Trump from issuing a statement calling for substantially larger stimulus payments for millions of Americans , according to two people who spoke on the condition of anonymity to share details of the private exchange .
On a phone call Thursday afternoon , Trump told allies that he believes stimulus payments in the next relief package @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1,200 per person and possibly as big as $ 2,000 per person , the officials said .
Congressional leadership is preparing a stimulus package that would provide checks of $ 600 per person .
Trump was in the middle of formally drafting his demand for the larger payments when White House officials told him that doing so could imperil delicate negotiations over the economic relief package , the officials said .
Congressional Republicans have insisted that the relief bill remain less than $ 1 trillion , and it ’ s currently designed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stimulus checks could push the package ’ s total over $ 1 trillion .
The whole thing is self-serving AF .
Trump gets to look like he wanted to give the people more money but it was stubborn-ass Congress that wouldn ’ t go for it .
Look at how generous Trump wanted to be if only Congress would listen !
And isn ’ t that just like Trump to run out in the eleventh hour to look like the hero ?
The whole thing is bullshit .
America has been without financial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ truly at the top of Trump ’ s agenda , he would ’ ve made it happen .
Trump has barely tweeted about it , besides the random : “ Go big , or go home ” Twitter blast .
The reality is that Congress , more specifically Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-Ky. ) with his Mitch-ass , has failed America and Trump doesn ’ t get to be the hero .
Plus when is the last time that aides have held the president back ?
They can ’ t even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ night to keep him off Twitter .
MAGA people love old history .
They love slavery times and old loser flags and old laws that no one has ever heard of .
Apparently there is some law from 1807 , the Insurrection Act , that can be invoked in crazy times that allows for troops to be deployed on citizens to prevent an uprising .
Wait , haven ’ t they already deployed this act during the Black Lives Matter protests ?
Anyway , MAGA has been calling for this because some white @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like , “ It ’ s time for bed ” and “ Your racist president didn ’ t win the election.
” At its core , the Insurrection Act gives the president authority to send military and National Guard troops to quell local rebellions and violence , offering an exemption to prohibitions against using military personnel to enforce domestic laws .
Historically , it has been used in moments of extreme national strife — the Civil War , the rise of the Ku Klux Klan , violent labor disputes , desegregation battles , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s death .
Only once , however , has it been used in the wake of an election — and that was to stop a literal militia from seizing the Louisiana government on behalf of John McEnery , a former Confederate officer who had lost the 1872 governor ’ s race .
Nonetheless , in the minds of some authoritarian-leaning and conspiracy-minded Trump supporters , the Insurrection Act has become a needed step to prevent President-elect Joe Biden from assuming the presidency .
Their evidence-deficient reasoning : Democrats illegally rigged the election and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must send in the troops to undo this conspiracy .
What MAGA fails to understand is that there is no uprising .
Our guy–as hapless as he may be–won .
We aren ’ t mad , y ’ all are .
We are good over here .
In fact , we ’ ve just been drinking water and exfoliating and waiting for the new year , but go off , sis .
Want to See a Sexless Robot Get Vaccinated ?
On Friday morning , sexless robot Vice President Mike Pence rolled up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of America with his untanned arm to receive the COVID-19 vaccine on live TV proving that his role in the White House will forever be as a crash test dummy .
To date , the vice president has attended an NFL football game just so he could walk out after players kneeled during the national anthem .
He has jumped into at least seven pools just to tell the president how cold the water is .
He ’ s also allowed the president to try several different styles of kicks against the area @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he ’ s gotten a vaccine for COVID-19 to prove that the shot is safe .
Because Pence doesn ’ t do anything without his handler , Karen Pence–her real name is Karen , but yes , she ’ s totally a Karen–also took the shot , and Surgeon General Jerome Adams also got the vaccine at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building near the White House , the New York Post reports .
“ I didn ’ t feel a thing , well done , ” Pence said afterward .
“ Make no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a medical miracle.
” He added , “ Today , Karen and I wanted to step forward and take this vaccine to assure the American people while we cut red tape , we cut no corners.
” Adams noted that he ’ s higher risk for a serious case of COVID-19 with his history of asthma and high blood pressure .
“ I am acutely aware of my own increased risk of COVID-19 exposures and the comorbidity that increase my risk of complications , ” he said .
“ As the US surgeon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ am equally aware of the symbolic significance of my vaccination today.
” “ The last thing I would say to every American is be confident that we have cut red tape , but we ’ ve cut no corners when it comes to the development of this vaccine , ” he said .
President Trump didn ’ t receive the vaccine but is reportedly going to monitor Pence and make sure he doesn ’ t experience any malfunctions before he decides whether or not to get the shot .

My homeboy Lavelle and I had this thing we did when a kid wanted to fight me and I didn’t want to fight. I would act like I was taking off my shirt and Lavelle knew that was his cue to jump in and act like he was breaking it up. I was rail-thin growing up. I reached my full man height (6 foot, 2 inches) as a teen but was probably 150 pounds soaking wet, so the last thing I ever wanted was to be outside with no shirt on. If I really wanted to fight then I did so with my shirt on. For some reason, in junior high school I got into a lot of fights and Lavelle broke up his fair share. To me it was an opportunity to save face and it worked most of the time. Until one day this kid Andre moved Lavelle out the way. I was literally fake taking off my shirt when Lavelle did his whole routine and then out of nowhere came Andre, who was a few years older than us, like, “Nah Lavelle, let them fight.”
I kept my shirt on. We fought. I lost.
The larger point in this is that I know what the kids call “pump faking” when I see it. Hell, I was Charles Smith in Game 2 of the 1993 NBA Eastern Conference Finals all the way through junior high school, so let’s just say I’m a scholar.
Advertisement
So when news emerged that President Trump wanted to give the people a $2,000 stimulus check, I immediately called bullshit. The news literally sounded like Lavelle’s and my fake fight move, in which the president wanted to interrupt congressional haggling over a stimulus package while aides had to hold him back.
From the Washington Post:
White House aides intervened Thursday to prevent President Trump from issuing a statement calling for substantially larger stimulus payments for millions of Americans, according to two people who spoke on the condition of anonymity to share details of the private exchange. On a phone call Thursday afternoon, Trump told allies that he believes stimulus payments in the next relief package should be “at least” $1,200 per person and possibly as big as $2,000 per person, the officials said. Congressional leadership is preparing a stimulus package that would provide checks of $600 per person. Trump was in the middle of formally drafting his demand for the larger payments when White House officials told him that doing so could imperil delicate negotiations over the economic relief package, the officials said. Congressional Republicans have insisted that the relief bill remain less than $1 trillion, and it’s currently designed to cost around $900 billion. Larger stimulus checks could push the package’s total over $1 trillion.
Advertisement Advertisement
The whole thing is self-serving AF. Trump gets to look like he wanted to give the people more money but it was stubborn-ass Congress that wouldn’t go for it. Look at how generous Trump wanted to be if only Congress would listen! And isn’t that just like Trump to run out in the eleventh hour to look like the hero?
The whole thing is bullshit. America has been without financial assistance for months and if this was truly at the top of Trump’s agenda, he would’ve made it happen. Trump has barely tweeted about it, besides the random: “Go big, or go home” Twitter blast.
Advertisement
The reality is that Congress, more specifically Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) with his Mitch-ass, has failed America and Trump doesn’t get to be the hero. Plus when is the last time that aides have held the president back? They can’t even take his cell phone from him at night to keep him off Twitter.
MAGA? More Like GTFOH, Amirite?
MAGA people love old history. They love slavery times and old loser flags and old laws that no one has ever heard of.
Advertisement
Apparently there is some law from 1807, the Insurrection Act, that can be invoked in crazy times that allows for troops to be deployed on citizens to prevent an uprising. Wait, haven’t they already deployed this act during the Black Lives Matter protests?
Anyway, MAGA has been calling for this because some white children have trouble being told simple things like, “It’s time for bed” and “Your racist president didn’t win the election.”
Advertisement
From Politico:
At its core, the Insurrection Act gives the president authority to send military and National Guard troops to quell local rebellions and violence, offering an exemption to prohibitions against using military personnel to enforce domestic laws. Historically, it has been used in moments of extreme national strife — the Civil War, the rise of the Ku Klux Klan, violent labor disputes, desegregation battles, rioting following Martin Luther King Jr.’s death. Only once, however, has it been used in the wake of an election — and that was to stop a literal militia from seizing the Louisiana government on behalf of John McEnery, a former Confederate officer who had lost the 1872 governor’s race. Nonetheless, in the minds of some authoritarian-leaning and conspiracy-minded Trump supporters, the Insurrection Act has become a needed step to prevent President-elect Joe Biden from assuming the presidency. Their evidence-deficient reasoning: Democrats illegally rigged the election and are attempting a coup, and Trump must send in the troops to undo this conspiracy.
Advertisement
What MAGA fails to understand is that there is no uprising. Our guy–as hapless as he may be–won. We aren’t mad, y’all are. We are good over here. In fact, we’ve just been drinking water and exfoliating and waiting for the new year, but go off, sis.
Want to See a Sexless Robot Get Vaccinated?
On Friday morning, sexless robot Vice President Mike Pence rolled up his sleeve and blinded damn near half of America with his untanned arm to receive the COVID-19 vaccine on live TV proving that his role in the White House will forever be as a crash test dummy.
Advertisement
To date, the vice president has attended an NFL football game just so he could walk out after players kneeled during the national anthem. He has jumped into at least seven pools just to tell the president how cold the water is. He’s also allowed the president to try several different styles of kicks against the area where his testicles would be and now he’s gotten a vaccine for COVID-19 to prove that the shot is safe.
Because Pence doesn’t do anything without his handler, Karen Pence–her real name is Karen, but yes, she’s totally a Karen–also took the shot, and Surgeon General Jerome Adams also got the vaccine at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building near the White House, the New York Post reports.
Advertisement
“I didn’t feel a thing, well done,” Pence said afterward. “Make no mistake about it. It’s a medical miracle.”
He added, “Today, Karen and I wanted to step forward and take this vaccine to assure the American people while we cut red tape, we cut no corners.”
Advertisement
Adams noted that he’s higher risk for a serious case of COVID-19 with his history of asthma and high blood pressure.
“I am acutely aware of my own increased risk of COVID-19 exposures and the comorbidity that increase my risk of complications,” he said. “As the US surgeon general and a black man, I am equally aware of the symbolic significance of my vaccination today.”
Advertisement
Earlier this week, Pence toured a vaccine production facility in Indiana.
“The last thing I would say to every American is be confident that we have cut red tape, but we’ve cut no corners when it comes to the development of this vaccine,” he said.
Advertisement
President Trump didn’t receive the vaccine but is reportedly going to monitor Pence and make sure he doesn’t experience any malfunctions before he decides whether or not to get the shot.


theroot--2020-12-19--This 50-inch TCL 4K Smart TV is Down to Only $230 Right Now

Look , we should all be staying home and staying put for the next several weeks .
You know it @ @ @ @ @ Best Buy knows it too .
This 50-inch TCL LED 4K smart TV is down @ @ @ @ @ you can snuggle up on the couch with all your favorite shows , movies , @ @ @ @ @ for less right now .
Since it ’ s a smart TV , it has @ @ @ @ @ all the other popular streaming options .
This price is a $ 12 0 discount @ @ @ @ @ can find it for on Target and even Amazon .
This story was originally published @ @ @ @ @ and was updated with new information on 12/19/2020 .

Elizabeth Lanier on Kinja Deals, shared by Elizabeth Lanier to The Root

TCL 55" LED 4K Smart Android TV | $430 | Best Buy
Look, we should all be staying home and staying put for the next several weeks. You know it, I know it— and Best Buy knows it too. This 55-inch TCL LED 4K smart Android TV is down to $430 so you can snuggle up on the couch with all your favorite shows, movies, or your console of choice for less right now.
Since it’s a smart TV, it has built-in access to Netflix and Hulu all the other popular streaming options. Grab it while it’s $70 off!
This deal was originally published by Elizabeth Lanier on 11/22/2020 and was updated with new information on 7/18/2021.


theroot--2020-12-19--Family of Man Who Was in Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment Say They Will Take COVID-19 Vaccine

The relatives of one of the men who were in the Tuskegee syphilis study say they will take the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as they can get it .
During the study , which researchers from the Public Health Service and Tuskegee Health Institute ran from 1932 to 1972 , hundreds of Black men who were told they would recei ve treatment for syphilis were instead left deliberately untreated and kept in the dark when penicillin became available as a remedy for the disease .
The infamous experi ment has frequently—and arguably erroneously—been referenced by Black people this year arguing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But Lille Tyson Head and Carmen Head Thorton , the daughter and grand d aughter of one of the men who was involved in the experiment , say it shouldn ’ t be used as a reason to forgo protection against the coronavirus .
“ The men in the study didn ’ t get a vaccine .
You are comparing men not getting a vaccine to a vaccine that is available , ” Head said in an interview with Zora magazine this week .
“ How can you compare not having something @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Head ’ s father , Freddie Lee Tyson , found out decades after participating in the study that researchers had deliberately kept him from being treated .
Head added that she would take the COVID-19 vaccine “ without hesitation ” as soon as it becomes available to her , reports ABC News .
Thorton , meanwhile , pointed out that many of the misconceptions people have about what actually happened in the study—like the claim that participants where injected with syphilis by the government— are fueled by the Black community having a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that isn ’ t wholly unjustified .
“ History has not been kind to African Americans , ” Thornton said .
“ It has not been kind , and because of misperceptions that are connected to what happened in the study … I think it helps to grow mistrust , and that ’ s one of the things that we deal with.
” The two women helped launch the Voices for Our Father ’ s Legacy Foundation in 2014 , in part to promote and advocate for more ethical treatment amid worsening disparities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Though people continue to argue over whether or not they will take the COVID-19 vaccines that have recently become available , the first doses of those deve loped by Pfizer and Moderna only began going out to front line workers and members of government in the U.S. this week .
O fficials have said that it likely won ’ t be until spring 2021 , at the earliest , that members of the general public are able to get access to a vaccine .

The relatives of one of the men who were in the Tuskegee syphilis study say they will take the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as they can get it.
During the study, which researchers from the Public Health Service and Tuskegee Health Institute ran from 1932 to 1972, hundreds of Black men who were told they would recei ve treatment for syphilis were instead left deliberately untreated and kept in the dark when penicillin became available as a remedy for the disease .
Advertisement
The infamous experi ment has frequently—and arguably erroneously—been referenced by Black people this year arguing against taking the recently developed COVID-19 vaccines.
But Lille Tyson Head and Carmen Head Thorton, the daughter and grand d aughter of one of the men who was involved in the experiment, say it shouldn’t be used as a reason to forgo protection against the coronavirus.
Advertisement Advertisement
“The men in the study didn’t get a vaccine. You are comparing men not getting a vaccine to a vaccine that is available,” Head said in an interview with Zora magazine this week. “How can you compare not having something to the opportunity to have something?”
Head’s father, Freddie Lee Tyson, found out decades after participating in the study that researchers had deliberately kept him from being treated.
Advertisement
Head added that she would take the COVID-19 vaccine “without hesitation” as soon as it becomes available to her, reports ABC News.
Thorton, meanwhile, pointed out that many of the misconceptions people have about what actually happened in the study—like the claim that participants where injected with syphilis by the government— are fueled by the Black community having a degree of suspicion in the health system that isn’t wholly unjustified .
Advertisement
“History has not been kind to African Americans,” Thornton said. “It has not been kind, and because of misperceptions that are connected to what happened in the study … I think it helps to grow mistrust, and that’s one of the things that we deal with.”
The two women helped launch the Voices for Our Father’s Legacy Foundation in 2014, in part to promote and advocate for more ethical treatment amid worsening disparities in America’s health care.
Advertisement
Though people continue to argue over whether or not they will take the COVID-19 vaccines that have recently become available, the first doses of those deve loped by Pfizer and Moderna only began going out to front line workers and members of government in the U.S. this week. O fficials have said that it likely won’t be until spring 2021, at the earliest, that members of the general public are able to get access to a vaccine.


theroot--2020-12-19--Boston Cop Seen on Body-Cam Footage Bragging About Driving Into Protestors During Police Brutality D

Boston Cop Seen on Body-Cam Footage Bragging About Driving Into Protestors During Police Brutality Demonstrations

In the midst this year ’ s national protests against the police killings of George Floyd , Breonna Taylor , and numerous other Black Americans , video clips posted by reporters and other people on social media showed police across the country responding to the protests with violence that exhibited much of the brutality that had brought people out in the streets .
The recent release of body camera footage worn by police officers in Boston , one of the many cities where protests took place this June , now backs up the stories shared by protestors—that cops were beating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pepper spray indiscriminately , and even deliberately running into them with vehicles .
The unearthed video footage was provided to The Appeal by Carl Williams , an attorney representing protestors arrested in Boston this summer .
Among other disturbing incidents of police brutality , the footage shows a Boston Police Department sergeant joyfully bragging about hitting people with his car .
“ Dude , dude , dude , I fuckin ’ drove down Tremont—there was an unmarked state police cruiser they were all gathered around , ” says the sergeant , laughing .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep coming , fucking running , ” he continues .
“ I ’ m fucking hitting people with the car , did you hear me , I was like , ‘ get the fuck— ’ ” At this point the officer behind the camera pushes the sergeant ’ s head away and walks off in the other direction .
He comes back a few seconds later , saying , “ it ’ s on , ” about the camera .
The sergeant quickly changes his story .
“ Oh , no no no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying is , though , that they were in front , like , I didn ’ t hit anybody , like , just driving , that ’ s all , ” he says .
“ My windows were closed , the shit was coming in.
” “ I have placed a Sergeant involved in this incident on administrative leave , ” said Boston Police Commissioner William Goss in a statement on Friday following the public reveal of the footage on Friday .
Other videos from the night show a police force that is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to answer to anyone for their actions—while brutalizing members of the public .
An officer uses his baton to forcefully hit a Black woman in the chest , though she is holding her hands up .
After she collapses to the ground , he callously walks over her body .
“ I ’ ve used two of these already—I ’ ve got a little left , I want to hit this kid , ” says another officer in the compiled body-cam footage , referring to his liberal use of pepper spray on protestors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a demonstrator who has his hands up .
In multiple clips , the cops are seen spraying in the faces of individual demonstrators .
In his statement , the police commissioner said that he opened an investigation into the videos “ as soon as they were brought to his attention.
” That response isn ’ t all that reassuring in terms of there being meaningful consequences for the officers seen in the videos , since they are still employed and collecting tax-payer funded paychecks though the footage is from over six months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police Department ’ s own devices .
“ This callous behavior further stresses the importance of advancing police reform in our state , particularly when it comes to use of force standards and accountability , ” said Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey in response to the videos .
Each day it gets harder to believe ‘ reform ’ will be sufficient to tame the loosed beast that is American police .
What ’ s also hard to believe is that though we have have more video evidence than ever that cops routinely harm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such pushback to the idea of giving them less of our money .

In the midst this year’s national protests against the police killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and numerous other Black Americans, video clips posted by reporters and other people on social media showed police across the country responding to the protests with violence that exhibited much of the brutality that had brought people out in the streets.
Advertisement
The recent release of body camera footage worn by police officers in Boston, one of the many cities where protests took place this June, now backs up the stories shared by protestors—that cops were beating them with batons, spraying them with pepper spray indiscriminately, and even deliberately running into them with vehicles.
The unearthed video footage was provided to The Appeal by Carl Williams, an attorney representing protestors arrested in Boston this summer. Among other disturbing incidents of police brutality, the footage shows a Boston Police Department sergeant joyfully bragging about hitting people with his car.
Advertisement Advertisement
From The Appeal:
“Dude, dude, dude, I fuckin’ drove down Tremont—there was an unmarked state police cruiser they were all gathered around,” says the sergeant, laughing. “So then I had a fucker keep coming, fucking running,” he continues. “I’m fucking hitting people with the car, did you hear me, I was like, ‘get the fuck—’” At this point the officer behind the camera pushes the sergeant’s head away and walks off in the other direction. He comes back a few seconds later, saying, “it’s on,” about the camera. The sergeant quickly changes his story. “Oh, no no no no no, what I’m saying is, though, that they were in front, like, I didn’t hit anybody, like, just driving, that’s all,” he says. “My windows were closed, the shit was coming in.”
Advertisement
“I have placed a Sergeant involved in this incident on administrative leave,” said Boston Police Commissioner William Goss in a statement on Friday following the public reveal of the footage on Friday.
Other videos from the night show a police force that is gleeful and unbridled—with no fear of having to answer to anyone for their actions—while brutalizing members of the public.
Advertisement
An officer uses his baton to forcefully hit a Black woman in the chest, though she is holding her hands up. After she collapses to the ground, he callously walks over her body.
“I’ve used two of these already—I’ve got a little left, I want to hit this kid,” says another officer in the compiled body-cam footage, referring to his liberal use of pepper spray on protestors and his eagerness to deploy some more on a demonstrator who has his hands up.
Advertisement
In multiple clips, the cops are seen spraying in the faces of individual demonstrators.
In his statement, the police commissioner said that he opened an investigation into the videos “as soon as they were brought to his attention.”
Advertisement
That response isn’t all that reassuring in terms of there being meaningful consequences for the officers seen in the videos, since they are still employed and collecting tax-payer funded paychecks though the footage is from over six months ago and was captured on the Boston police Department’s own devices.
“This callous behavior further stresses the importance of advancing police reform in our state, particularly when it comes to use of force standards and accountability,” said Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey in response to the videos.
Advertisement
Each day it gets harder to believe ‘reform’ will be sufficient to tame the loosed beast that is American police. What’s also hard to believe is that though we have have more video evidence than ever that cops routinely harm people’s safety, there is such pushback to the idea of giving them less of our money.


theroot--2020-12-19--Wrapping Paper Roll Call: In Celebration of the Essentials

What do you get the person who has given so many so much—in many cases , the gift of care , comfort and survival—this year ?
As 2020 comes to a close , the indisputable heroes in our midst are essential workers , especially those who ’ ve risked their own health , lives , and constant burnout to care for those with COVID-19 .
If you have an essential worker in your life , you know better than most the sacrifices they ’ ve made for so many others on a daily basis ; sacrifices we can not ever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they may really want this holiday is for all of us to wear our masks and socially distance , perhaps one of the following tokens of appreciation will at least remind them that we see them , are thinking of them , and thank them—for everything .
They ’ ve been putting in countless hours with little to no relief ; a kit of travel-sized luxury-level skincare will help them refresh and feel cared for , even between shifts .
Better yet , get them a full-sized set for home , too .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ their breakroom with a lunch tote and thermos from this lifestyle brand ... and help bring a little pick-me-up to their shift .
This Black-owned coffee and tea brand has philanthropy built into its ethos—it gives 5 percent back to underserved youth .
As the COVID crisis emerged , Blk & Bold also gifted their convenient single-use steeped coffee bags to frontline workers—and you can , too .
Yes , we know medical workers are issued medical-grade protection , but those essential workers outside of the medical field ( even at-home healthcare workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own goods , and we love the bonnet-mask combos ( complete with filter pocket ) from this Black female-owned brand .
No , they may not be able to take a vacation now ( or feel safe doing so ) , but should they need to catch a nap between shifts , a luxe blanket and mask set from E-Marie travel is the ideal escape—and will conveniently roll up to fit in a handbag or tote once they ’ ve refreshed .
Taking care of others doesn ’ t always translate to taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they have the boost they need by gifting her vitamins by this cult-favorite , woman-centric brand created by Tonya Lewis-Lee ( producer , entrepreneur and wife of Spike ) .
They ’ re carrying the world on their shoulders ; help them decompress and de-stress with the help of meditation , specifically crafted with our needs in mind .
You can gift a friend or family member longterm benefits via this app designed for the Black experience .
Balance .
Rest .
Energy .
For essential workers , these may all be in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your part to help with the gift of specific blends from this wellness-focused tea brand .
Oprah ’ s favorite will likely be theirs , too , providing relief after a day spent on their feet .
With a variety of blends and fragrances ( yes , for men , too ) , you can give them some much-needed pampering .
This sportswear brand was created with champion Kenyan runners in mind—which means it can more than handle the demands of a day spent on their feet .
With thoughtful details like extra @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will help keep them running .
If they ’ re wearing scrubs or a uniform all day , help them ease into something more comfortable at home with a luxury cotton gauze or velvet caftan from this wellness-centered marketplace—which offers plenty of other gift options , too .
If the stress is understandably overwhelming them , help them unwind with a series of private sessions or unlimited monthly group classes at Stretch 22 ’ s Virtual Stretch Lounge , which range from $ 40- $ 99 .
2020 The Root 100 honoree Ajon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as # NikesForNurses ) to support those we ’ ve depended on most during this crisis—which is unfortunately ongoing .
Donate to the cause , or put in a request of your own to get a pair of kicks for a frontline hero .

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

What do you get the person who has given so many so much—in many cases, the gift of care, comfort and survival—this year? As 2020 comes to a close, the indisputable heroes in our midst are essential workers, especially those who’ve risked their own health, lives, and constant burnout to care for those with COVID-19. If you have an essential worker in your life, you know better than most the sacrifices they’ve made for so many others on a daily basis; sacrifices we cannot ever adequately thank them for. While all they may really want this holiday is for all of us to wear our masks and socially distance, perhaps one of the following tokens of appreciation will at least remind them that we see them, are thinking of them, and thank them—for everything.
They’ve been putting in countless hours with little to no relief; a kit of travel-sized luxury-level skincare will help them refresh and feel cared for, even between shifts. Better yet, get them a full-sized set for home, too.
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Help them bring a little flavor to their breakroom with a lunch tote and thermos from this lifestyle brand...and help bring a little pick-me-up to their shift.
Advertisement Advertisement
This Black-owned coffee and tea brand has philanthropy built into its ethos—it gives 5 percent back to underserved youth. As the COVID crisis emerged, Blk & Bold also gifted their convenient single-use steeped coffee bags to frontline workers—and you can, too.
Advertisement
Yes, we know medical workers are issued medical-grade protection, but those essential workers outside of the medical field (even at-home healthcare workers) are often required to supply their own goods, and we love the bonnet-mask combos (complete with filter pocket) from this Black female-owned brand.
Advertisement
No, they may not be able to take a vacation now (or feel safe doing so), but should they need to catch a nap between shifts, a luxe blanket and mask set from E-Marie travel is the ideal escape—and will conveniently roll up to fit in a handbag or tote once they’ve refreshed.
Advertisement
Taking care of others doesn’t always translate to taking care of oneself, so make sure they have the boost they need by gifting her vitamins by this cult-favorite, woman-centric brand created by Tonya Lewis-Lee (producer, entrepreneur and wife of Spike).
Advertisement
They’re carrying the world on their shoulders; help them decompress and de-stress with the help of meditation, specifically crafted with our needs in mind. You can gift a friend or family member longterm benefits via this app designed for the Black experience.
Advertisement
Balance. Rest. Energy. For essential workers, these may all be in short supply, but you can do your part to help with the gift of specific blends from this wellness-focused tea brand.
Advertisement
Oprah’s favorite will likely be theirs, too, providing relief after a day spent on their feet. With a variety of blends and fragrances (yes, for men, too), you can give them some much-needed pampering.
Advertisement
This sportswear brand was created with champion Kenyan runners in mind—which means it can more than handle the demands of a day spent on their feet. With thoughtful details like extra cushioning for longterm wear, these runners will help keep them running.
Advertisement
If they’re wearing scrubs or a uniform all day, help them ease into something more comfortable at home with a luxury cotton gauze or velvet caftan from this wellness-centered marketplace—which offers plenty of other gift options, too.
Advertisement
Stretch22
If the stress is understandably overwhelming them, help them unwind with a series of private sessions or unlimited monthly group classes at Stretch 22’s Virtual Stretch Lounge, which range from $40-$99.
Advertisement
2020 The Root 100 honoree Ajon Crump created this GoFundMe (formerly known as #NikesForNurses) to support those we’ve depended on most during this crisis—which is unfortunately ongoing. Donate to the cause, or put in a request of your own to get a pair of kicks for a frontline hero.