theroot--2020-07-31--15% off Sitewide at Juicy Couture Beauty and Free Shipping Until Mid-August

15 % off and Free Shipping | Juicy Couture | Use Code LUXE15 As a girl of a certain age , I grew up in the heyday of Juicy .
I ’ ve had several of their fragrances over the years and have to tell you they are still making some beautiful scents .
From now until mid-August take 15 % off your entire order and get free shipping with the code LUXE15 .
I will say personally I still really like the I am Juicy line .
With notes of passion fruit , gardenia , and cashmere it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ playfulness .
You can ’ t go wrong with Viva La Juicy Pink either .
It ’ s jasmine , fuschia , and vanilla to unleash your inner heiress .
It ’ s super understated yet really soft smelling .
But it ’ s not all perfumes , there ’ s plenty of makeup to pick from too from this very girly but adorable and flirty company .
Classic fragrance never goes out of style , we are however thankful sweatsuits with words on the butt did .
This deal runs until August @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the code .

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

15% off and Free Shipping | Juicy Couture | Use Code LUXE15
As a girl of a certain age, I grew up in the heyday of Juicy. I’ve had several of their fragrances over the years and have to tell you they are still making some beautiful scents. From now until mid-August take 15% off your entire order and get free shipping with the code LUXE15.
I will say personally I still really like the I am Juicy line. With notes of passion fruit, gardenia, and cashmere it’s got an air of sophistication and playfulness. You can’t go wrong with Viva La Juicy Pink either. It’s jasmine, fuschia, and vanilla to unleash your inner heiress. It’s super understated yet really soft smelling. But it’s not all perfumes, there’s plenty of makeup to pick from too from this very girly but adorable and flirty company. Classic fragrance never goes out of style, we are however thankful sweatsuits with words on the butt did.
This deal runs until August 15 and everything ships for free with the code.


theroot--2020-07-31--Doc Rivers Draws Parallels Between NBA Players Taking a Knee During the National Anthem, the Death o

Doc Rivers Draws Parallels Between NBA Players Taking a Knee During the National Anthem, the Death of George Floyd

Following a 103-101 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night , Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers drew parallels between his team deciding to take a knee during the national anthem and the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police .
“ How long do you think the national anthem lasted ?
” he asked members of the media .
“ Two minutes ?
So the hardest thing that happened to me in the game today was kneeling for two minutes .
My knee was hurting !
In the middle of it I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knee is hurting , yet there is a guy that had his knee on someone ’ s neck for eight minutes .
“ Think about that .
The national anthem took two minutes .
There were guys who needed towels and things to get under their knees .
And yet , someone kneeled on another human being ’ s neck for eight minutes .
That ’ s nuts when you think about it.
” As we reported at The Root , on May 26 , four Minneapolis police officers involved in the death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after an investigation was launched by the FBI .
During Floyd ’ s arrest , which civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump called “ abusive , excessive and inhumane , ” officer Derek Chauvin was found to have kneeled on Floyd ’ s neck for eight minutes and forty-six seconds .
He was subsequently charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter .
Shoutout to Doc Rivers for keeping proper perspective as he pursues the Clippers ’ first NBA title .
Join the discussion !
The Root is hosting its first-ever , virtual Root Institute , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the leading minds in our community talking about politics , culture , health , community building and social impact .
Subscribe for updates today !

Following a 103-101 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night, Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers drew parallels between his team deciding to take a knee during the national anthem and the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police.
“How long do you think the national anthem lasted?” he asked members of the media. “Two minutes? So the hardest thing that happened to me in the game today was kneeling for two minutes. My knee was hurting! In the middle of it I’m thinking, ‘In two minutes my knee is hurting, yet there is a guy that had his knee on someone’s neck for eight minutes.
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“Think about that. The national anthem took two minutes. There were guys who needed towels and things to get under their knees. And yet, someone kneeled on another human being’s neck for eight minutes. That’s nuts when you think about it.”
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As we reported at The Root, on May 26, four Minneapolis police officers involved in the death of George Floyd were relieved of duty after an investigation was launched by the FBI.
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During Floyd’s arrest, which civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump called “abusive, excessive and inhumane,” officer Derek Chauvin was found to have kneeled on Floyd’s neck for eight minutes and forty-six seconds. He was subsequently charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter.
Shoutout to Doc Rivers for keeping proper perspective as he pursues the Clippers’ first NBA title.
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Join the discussion! The Root is hosting its first-ever, virtual Root Institute, presented by Target, featuring several of the leading minds in our community talking about politics, culture, health, community building and social impact. Subscribe for updates today!


theroot--2020-07-31--The Root's Clapback Mailbag: Errors and Ommissions

To be fair , my Aunt Earlene has been married to a Pentecostal preacher , my Uncle Otis , since the mid-196os , so she knows very little about Black Thought—who has never spat even a mediocre bar .
She might not also be aware of Michaela Coel ’ s cheekbones , which were obviously constructed by God ’ s own hands .
But I get my aunt ’ s point .
Everyone makes mistakes .
And sometimes , instead of vehemently defending one ’ s missteps , a person can buttress their credibility by admitting that they , too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Mailbag is dedicated to correcting a few of the errors that we have made .
Our first correction concerns our article about the new political group , Our Black Party .
From : Machete Once Again To : The Root Black people are 13 % of the population and can not elect officials in non-black-majority areas without allies .
Officials elected from such areas would be unable to leverage political capital beyond Black voting power in at most regional elections .
All of this is assuming 100 % Black alignment with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on candidates , which I am in enough black-only spaces of specific intersections to assure you is not going to be the case .
In this situations , Black becomes the virtue metric that people display performatively while questioning the authenticity of it in others ( e.g .
if you support trans rights , you ’ re anti Black family and anti Black male .
If you oppose trans rights , you are anti Black and ashy and don ’ t represent Black people .
and so on . )
There is no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t involve our participation in the political scrum , and cooperation with those that don ’ t look like us .
I would rather continue to wrestle with the imperfect allies ( and expose faux allies ) in the machinery of the Democratic party than establish a new machinery with the same attendant infighting but with only a percentage of the power for what is still at best regional power .
From : Wall of Omas To : The Root This election is unlike any before .
We are 100 days away from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from an autocracy .
News Flash : Biden does not have to earn any votes .
He could sit in his basement and watch Blacks tell him that they will hold their vote , listen to Progressives saying that he has to earn their vote or else they will write in Jill Stein and your communities will suffer not his .
Joe Biden is a white man in America .
Even if Blacks hold their votes hostage , the progressives vote for Mickey Mouse and Donald Trump win re-election , Biden and his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s those black and brown communities that will suffer more drastically than they are suffering right now .
Being left to die of COVID because this administration doesn ’ t give a damn .
Four more years of Trump and the black vote will mean absolutely nothing because Trump and the GOP will find a way to make him president for life and he will burn what ’ s left of the country down to the absolute ground and the Senate ( if the Senate is not taken back by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do you plan to hold hostage then ?
Your country is 98 days away from no longer being a democracy .
I implore you , please wake up and realize that this election is a binary choice whether we like it or not .
We ’ ve got former Republicans and Vets putting more advertising out there than the entire DNC because they know what ’ s at stake .
Most of then are responsible for this Frankenstein and they know the gravity of the situation .
If we do not have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just an election will be lost especially with Ruth Bader Ginsberg sick again .
She passes away and the Supreme Court will have a 6-3 conservative advantage and the United States will not be a country that you will want your children to have to be raised in .
When I tell people that I grew up poor , they sometimes assume that I didn ’ t have designer shoes or cable television , which is true .
But there were times that my family didn ’ t have water or lights .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ proud woman , also didn ’ t like to ask people for anything , which is something I inherited .
But my mother had one friend from church , Sister Wilma , who was also poor .
Because our telephone was frequently disconnected , whenever my mother had a financial emergency , she would write a note asking Sister Wilma for a few dollars .
I would walk the three blocks to Sister Wilma ’ s house and deliver the note , after which , the entire family would scrounge around the house @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s husband , Uncle Charles , was almost an exact replica of Redd Foxx ’ s character Fred Sanford .
He was a self-taught repairman who would fix old appliances ( refrigerators , washing machines , televisions , etc . )
and resell them .
Sometimes business was good .
Sometimes business was bad .
But if business was good , he would send a few dollars to my mom without her even asking .
But times weren ’ t always hard .
Between January and April every year , we were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taxes for damn near every Black person in town .
So , during “ tax time ” was when my sisters and I went clothes shopping , shoe shopping , etc .
During those times , whenever my went to the grocery store , we would also buy food and clothes for Sister Wilma , Uncle Charles and their kids .
I always thought that we could get more clothes , shoes and food if my mother didn ’ t split her tax-time bounty between two families .
But , whenever I suggested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same response : “ We ’ d still be broke , ” she ’ d say .
“ We ’ d just be broke all by ourselves.
” In the article , I should have explained that the idea of Our Black Party is not to form an independent third party .
The idea is to form a coalition of people with shared values that gain power through unity and holding candidates accountable .
For instance , instead of just following the Democratic template , a candidate for Congress would have to ask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members in their district .
There are a number of examples of small minority groups who have an outsized effect on politics by coalescing their united power , including : These coalitions exercise their power by forming a united front that politicians have to cater to in order to be elected .
A Republican can ’ t dream of getting elected without acknowledging the pro-life movement or evangelical Christians .
Democrats seek the endorsements of labor unions every election cycle .
Black people outnumber the number of people who are members of labor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the size of the NRA and six times the total number of Jewish Americans .
But there is a good reason that Black voters don ’ t employ the same proven strategy that these groups use to influence the national political narrative : One time , my cousin and I rode our bikes to a local hood store to buy some candy .
When we went to the store , the neighborhood bully , Cooter , was outside with his crew .
We knew Cooter ’ s crew was gon na steal our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would make my mom and my aunt kick our asses .
We also knew that if we didn ’ t go inside , they ’ d assume we thought they were gon na steal our bikes and kick our asses .
So Tyran and I went inside .
Man , that was the slowest , most agonizing walk home ever .
When we arrived back home , as we walked into the yard , we noticed our bikes were in the yard .
It was a Christmas miracle !
We walked into the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ table was Michael , Terrance , George , Dean and Calvin—Aunt Wilma and Uncle Charles ’ kids—sipping glasses of Kool-Aid .
We didn ’ t have any reward for them , so we shared our haul from the candy store .
As we sat outside , they explained that Dean , the oldest one , had seen our bikes , so they just took them back from Cooter ’ s crew , who didn ’ t even put up a fight .
The reason politicians won ’ t accede to our demands is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who believe holding politicians accountable amounts to “ holding our votes hostage.
” There ’ s not a single serious person who has threatened to do that .
But you know who ’ s being held hostage ?
Black people .
They steal our votes because they know we are afraid .
And the reason we are afraid to pool our resources and fight our way out of this system is because we have been led to believe that there aren ’ t enough of us to cause change .
We keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how bad thing could be instead of trying to change the way things already are .
Instead of asking them to acknowledge our existence , a united black front would show them that the proverbial black vote is stronger than the assortment of gun-toting , bible-thumping semi-racist vagina controllers .
But we ’ re not all by ourselves .
And then there was this response on Instagram about Tom Cotton and Black Lives Matter : I could write a lengthy response about Black-on-Black crime or Black Lives Matter , but I ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wondered why you would write this without looking up a response .
Then , I realized that you were just trolling .
Perhaps you are an actual reader .
I ’ ve heard that the comment section of The Root is filled with dumb white people who are sure they know what they are talking about .
The reason I don ’ t read the comments from unapproved commenters is that I know that stupid white trolls predate the internet .
Before I consider replying to someone bellyaching about Black people being racist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ myself of the history of dumb white people by reading an excerpt from a New York Times article from September 21 , 1964 .
Two months after the Civil Rights Act was passed and a year before the Voting Rights Act became law , the Times went to Times Square to survey progressive white New Yorkers .
So , you see , there is nothing that a white person can ever tell me about equality , justice or protest .
In fact , if I discover a widely held belief among the white @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is either a misconception or an outright lie .
White people are the ones who lie about police brutality .
White people are the ones who lie about receiving government benefits .
White people lie about racism .
White people lie about reverse racism .
But nice try , though .
You ’ re right .
I think you have the perfect strategy .
We should test it out .
First , all of the companies , families and institutions that profited off slavery should give back the money they earned ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Then the money every white person made who went to whites-only schools built with the government money paid by Black taxpayers should give us a percentage of their savings .
Then all of the people whose families got Social Security , guaranteed mortgages , business loans and other government money that Black people were barred from receiving should give it back and let us redistribute it .
Then , the veterans who received the GI bill should give back their money so it can be distributed equally .
I ’ m not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just want white people to learn how to survive on their own without white supremacy .
I don ’ t want them to be dependent on racism and government handouts .
I want them to learn how to provide for their families and educate them without stealing from Black people .
If you don ’ t rob a bank but help launder the money , you are still complicit in the crime .
Ultimately , if you are willing to silently receive the benefits of white supremacy without acknowledging how you got it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ person who knowingly receives stolen property .
I don ’ t want you to suffer ...
I just want you to be a good person .

“There ain’t been a perfect person on earth since Jesus took to the sky; and there won’t be none until he comes back” — Aunt Earlene
To be fair, my Aunt Earlene has been married to a Pentecostal preacher, my Uncle Otis, since the mid-196os, so she knows very little about Black Thought—who has never spat even a mediocre bar. She might not also be aware of Michaela Coel’s cheekbones, which were obviously constructed by God’s own hands.
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But I get my aunt’s point. Everyone makes mistakes. And sometimes, instead of vehemently defending one’s missteps, a person can buttress their credibility by admitting that they, too, are not infallible.
So today’s Mailbag is dedicated to correcting a few of the errors that we have made.
Advertisement Advertisement
Our first correction concerns our article about the new political group, Our Black Party.
From: Machete Once Again
To: The Root Black people are 13% of the population and cannot elect officials in non-black-majority areas without allies. Officials elected from such areas would be unable to leverage political capital beyond Black voting power in at most regional elections. All of this is assuming 100% Black alignment with this third party and 100% agreement on candidates, which I am in enough black-only spaces of specific intersections to assure you is not going to be the case. In this situations, Black becomes the virtue metric that people display performatively while questioning the authenticity of it in others (e.g. if you support trans rights, you’re anti Black family and anti Black male. If you oppose trans rights, you are anti Black and ashy and don’t represent Black people. and so on.) There is no equation of Black power that doesn’t involve our participation in the political scrum, and cooperation with those that don’t look like us. I would rather continue to wrestle with the imperfect allies (and expose faux allies) in the machinery of the Democratic party than establish a new machinery with the same attendant infighting but with only a percentage of the power for what is still at best regional power.
From: Wall of Omas
To: The Root This election is unlike any before. We are 100 days away from a banana republic and 99 days away from an autocracy. News Flash: Biden does not have to earn any votes. He could sit in his basement and watch Blacks tell him that they will hold their vote, listen to Progressives saying that he has to earn their vote or else they will write in Jill Stein and your communities will suffer not his. Joe Biden is a white man in America. Even if Blacks hold their votes hostage, the progressives vote for Mickey Mouse and Donald Trump win re-election, Biden and his entire family will be absolutely fine. It’s those black and brown communities that will suffer more drastically than they are suffering right now. Being left to die of COVID because this administration doesn’t give a damn. Four more years of Trump and the black vote will mean absolutely nothing because Trump and the GOP will find a way to make him president for life and he will burn what’s left of the country down to the absolute ground and the Senate (if the Senate is not taken back by the Democrats) will let him. What do you plan to hold hostage then? Your country is 98 days away from no longer being a democracy. I implore you, please wake up and realize that this election is a binary choice whether we like it or not. We’ve got former Republicans and Vets putting more advertising out there than the entire DNC because they know what’s at stake. Most of then are responsible for this Frankenstein and they know the gravity of the situation. If we do not have a unified vote in November, more than just an election will be lost especially with Ruth Bader Ginsberg sick again. She passes away and the Supreme Court will have a 6-3 conservative advantage and the United States will not be a country that you will want your children to have to be raised in.
Advertisement
Dear Wall and Omas,
When I tell people that I grew up poor, they sometimes assume that I didn’t have designer shoes or cable television, which is true. But there were times that my family didn’t have water or lights. But my mother, who was a proud woman, also didn’t like to ask people for anything, which is something I inherited.
Advertisement
But my mother had one friend from church, Sister Wilma, who was also poor. Because our telephone was frequently disconnected, whenever my mother had a financial emergency, she would write a note asking Sister Wilma for a few dollars. I would walk the three blocks to Sister Wilma’s house and deliver the note, after which, the entire family would scrounge around the house and find the money.
Sister Wilma’s husband, Uncle Charles, was almost an exact replica of Redd Foxx’s character Fred Sanford. He was a self-taught repairman who would fix old appliances (refrigerators, washing machines, televisions, etc.) and resell them. Sometimes business was good. Sometimes business was bad. But if business was good, he would send a few dollars to my mom without her even asking.
Advertisement
But times weren’t always hard. Between January and April every year, we were OK, because my mom did the taxes for damn near every Black person in town. So, during “tax time” was when my sisters and I went clothes shopping, shoe shopping, etc. During those times, whenever my went to the grocery store, we would also buy food and clothes for Sister Wilma, Uncle Charles and their kids.
I always thought that we could get more clothes, shoes and food if my mother didn’t split her tax-time bounty between two families. But, whenever I suggested that, my mother always had the same response:
“We’d still be broke,” she’d say. “We’d just be broke all by ourselves.”
I made a mistake.
In the article, I should have explained that the idea of Our Black Party is not to form an independent third party. The idea is to form a coalition of people with shared values that gain power through unity and holding candidates accountable. For instance, instead of just following the Democratic template, a candidate for Congress would have to ask for the support of Our Black Party members in their district.
Advertisement
There are a number of examples of small minority groups who have an outsized effect on politics by coalescing their united power, including:
The Tea Party
The evangelical christian movement
AIPAC
Pro-life movement
The NRA
The AARP
The labor movement
The environmental movement
The LGBT movement
These coalitions exercise their power by forming a united front that politicians have to cater to in order to be elected. A Republican can’t dream of getting elected without acknowledging the pro-life movement or evangelical Christians. Democrats seek the endorsements of labor unions every election cycle.
Advertisement
Black people outnumber the number of people who are members of labor unions. We are probably 10 times the size of the NRA and six times the total number of Jewish Americans. But there is a good reason that Black voters don’t employ the same proven strategy that these groups use to influence the national political narrative:
They’re scared.
One time, my cousin and I rode our bikes to a local hood store to buy some candy. When we went to the store, the neighborhood bully, Cooter, was outside with his crew. We knew Cooter’s crew was gonna steal our bikes if we went inside, which would make my mom and my aunt kick our asses. We also knew that if we didn’t go inside, they’d assume we thought they were gonna steal our bikes and kick our asses. So Tyran and I went inside.
Advertisement
Cooter nem stole our bikes.
Man, that was the slowest, most agonizing walk home ever. When we arrived back home, as we walked into the yard, we noticed our bikes were in the yard. It was a Christmas miracle!
Advertisement
We walked into the house and sitting at our dining room table was Michael, Terrance, George, Dean and Calvin—Aunt Wilma and Uncle Charles’ kids—sipping glasses of Kool-Aid. We didn’t have any reward for them, so we shared our haul from the candy store. As we sat outside, they explained that Dean, the oldest one, had seen our bikes, so they just took them back from Cooter’s crew, who didn’t even put up a fight.
The reason politicians won’t accede to our demands is that there are too many fearful black people who believe holding politicians accountable amounts to “holding our votes hostage.” There’s not a single serious person who has threatened to do that. But you know who’s being held hostage?
Black people.
Advertisement
They steal our votes because they know we are afraid. And the reason we are afraid to pool our resources and fight our way out of this system is because we have been led to believe that there aren’t enough of us to cause change. We keep trying to run from the possibility of how bad thing could be instead of trying to change the way things already are. Instead of asking them to acknowledge our existence, a united black front would show them that the proverbial black vote is stronger than the assortment of gun-toting, bible-thumping semi-racist vagina controllers.
And that’s how politics works.
Black might be poor...
But we’re not all by ourselves.
And then there was this response on Instagram about Tom Cotton and Black Lives Matter:
Advertisement
Dear Shaunking_debunked:
I could write a lengthy response about Black-on-Black crime or Black Lives Matter, but I’ve done that so many times that I wondered why you would write this without looking up a response.
Advertisement
Then, I realized that you were just trolling.
Perhaps you are an actual reader. I’ve heard that the comment section of The Root is filled with dumb white people who are sure they know what they are talking about. The reason I don’t read the comments from unapproved commenters is that I know that stupid white trolls predate the internet.
Advertisement
Before I consider replying to someone bellyaching about Black people being racist and getting handouts, I always remind myself of the history of dumb white people by reading an excerpt from a New York Times article from September 21, 1964. Two months after the Civil Rights Act was passed and a year before the Voting Rights Act became law, the Times went to Times Square to survey progressive white New Yorkers.
Here’s how they felt:
A majority of white New Yorkers questioned here in the last month in a survey by The New York Times said they believed the Negro civil rights movement bad gone too far. While denying any deep-seated prejudice against Negroes, a large number of those questioned used the same terms to express their feelings. They spoke of Negroes’ receiving “everything on a silver platter” and of “reverse discrimination” against whites.
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So, you see, there is nothing that a white person can ever tell me about equality, justice or protest. In fact, if I discover a widely held belief among the white community, then I immediately know that it is either a misconception or an outright lie. White people are the ones who lie about police brutality. White people are the ones who lie about receiving government benefits. White people lie about racism. White people lie about reverse racism.
But nice try, though.
And finally a comment on this:
From: Sandy
To: Michael
Subject: Good white people Hi, I read your article on whether good white people exist and wanted you to know that being a good person doesn’t equate to being a social justice warrior or a democrat. There are people who want black people to learn how to survive on their own without help from the government. If they educated themselves and kept their families together, they would get more equality than marching in the streets. I didn’t vote for Trump bit I think that saying only Democrats and libs are good people is dumb.
Advertisement
Dear Sandy,
You’re right. I think you have the perfect strategy.
We should test it out.
First, all of the companies, families and institutions that profited off slavery should give back the money they earned (plus interest) from free Black labor. Then the money every white person made who went to whites-only schools built with the government money paid by Black taxpayers should give us a percentage of their savings. Then all of the people whose families got Social Security, guaranteed mortgages, business loans and other government money that Black people were barred from receiving should give it back and let us redistribute it. Then, the veterans who received the GI bill should give back their money so it can be distributed equally.
Advertisement
I’m not blaming white people, Sandy.
I’m not even asking for a handout.
I just want white people to learn how to survive on their own without white supremacy. I don’t want them to be dependent on racism and government handouts. I want them to learn how to provide for their families and educate them without stealing from Black people.
Advertisement
If you don’t rob a bank but help launder the money, you are still complicit in the crime. Ultimately, if you are willing to silently receive the benefits of white supremacy without acknowledging how you got it, you are no better than a person who knowingly receives stolen property.
Give me your money, Sandy.
I don’t want you to suffer...
I just want you to be a good person.


theroot--2020-07-31--'Justice Will Never be Justice for Me, Because My Child Is Gone': Korryn Gaines' Mother Speaks Out o

'Justice Will Never be Justice for Me, Because My Child Is Gone': Korryn Gaines' Mother Speaks Out on the Anniversary of Her Daughter's Killing

“ If she was a white girl , I think things would have been different .
They would have handled her differently , they would have probably not taken her out to Burger King ...
But I think she would have walked out .
I think she would ’ ve walked out and she would still be here.
” — Rhanda Dormeus , mother of Korryn Gaines On Aug. 1 , 2016 the Baltimore County police arrived at the home of Korryn Gaines to serve an arrest warrant for a traffic violation .
Gaines was killed after a six-hour standoff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kodi was shot in the cheek .
At 23-years -old , Korryn Gaines sadly became one of the countless Black women who are killed by state sanctioned violence .
Approaching her daughter ’ s death anniversary , retired nurse Rhanda Dormeus , feels weary .
“ This time of year , I could feel my energy changing .
More solemn , sad , ” Dormeus says .
“ The feeling of dread , coming upon Aug. 1st.
” After several tumultuous years , life has become no easier for the family of Korryn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hopeful note , an appeals court recently found that a judge wrongfully overturned a $ 38 million ruling to the family of Korryn Gaines .
Dormeus says that this still isn ’ t enough .
No amount of money will bring her daughter back .
“ They couldn ’ t pay enough money to make me happy , ” Dormeus says .
“ You already took the great love of my life , my baby away.
” A mother ’ s love in indescribable—watch Rhanda Dormeus tell the story of her beloved fallen @ @ @ @ @

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Black News and Black Views with a Whole Lotta Attitude


theroot--2020-07-31--City of Tulsa Will Remove BLM Mural After Local Republican Party Chairman Asks to Paint Pro-Police M

City of Tulsa Will Remove BLM Mural After Local Republican Party Chairman Asks to Paint Pro-Police Message

The city of Tulsa has ordered that a Black Lives Matter mural , painted on a street in the district where the Black Wall Street massacre happened nearly 100 years ago , be painted over .
The Wednesday night decision came after chairman of the Tulsa Republican Party , Bob Jack , emailed his city councilor last week , stating interest in having a pro-police “ Back the Blue ” mural painted , reports KJRH TV .
According to the local news station , Jack posed it as a rhetorical question— ” he said he was already aware the city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Jack also proposed a mural that read “ Baby Lives Matter , ” the Washington Post writes .
The painting was never officially approved by the city of Tulsa ; Jack ’ s request forced council members to consider how they could allow the BLM message to stand , but not a “ Back the Blue ” or other right-wing , pro-police message .
“ I applaud it , ” Councilor Connie Dodson said regarding the BLM mural at Wednesday ’ s meeting , the Post reports .
“ It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it comes down to : Yes , if you allow one , then you have to allow all of them.
” The mural , painted on the street in bold yellow block letters in Tulsa ’ s Greenwood district ( similar to how Black Lives Matter Plaza looks in Washington , D.C. ) , was painted by artists and volunteers on June 18 , one the eve of Juneteenth and two days before President Donald Trump ’ s scheduled visit to the city , according to CNN .
Ryan Rhoades , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ KOKI TV that he never meant for the mural to last a long time .
In fact , when painters purchased the chalk-based paint , they were told it would wash away with the rain .
But the mural endured , becoming the site of demonstrations and selfies in a neighborhood with a rich , fraught history .
The Greenwood district , also known as Black Wall Street , was the most prosperous Black neighborhood of its time .
As the Post notes , the community was unique for its concentration of Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doctors and lawyers there , dine at Black-owned restaurants , see films in Black-owned theaters and buy luxury items from Black-owned stores .
But after a white mob violently attacked the district in 1921 , the neighborhood was burned to the ground and more than 10,000 residents were displaced .
Nearly a 100 years later , Greenwood is still fighting to get proper investment back into the neighborhood .
A “ Rebuild Greenwood ” GoFundMe launched at the beginning of the year by the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce sought to raise $ 1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to historic buildings .
It has raised just under $ 35,000 as of July 31 .
Briana Shea , who helped organize the Black Lives mural painting , told Tulsa World she was disheartened by the decision-making process the city went through .
“ I am kind of disappointed that it was left up to a city vote , not a community vote , because it was all based around community and community ( donated ) dollars , not city dollars , ” Shea said .
To her , the mural provided a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the city ’ s Black residents .
“ Having that painted there as Trump flew into Tulsa and he was able to see that , I think it says a lot about Tulsa and our history here and how we are not proud of the history but we wanted to make it known that 99 years later we ’ re still healing from it , and I thought that mural that we did bring healing.
” Jack , whose rhetorical question led to the impending removal of the BLM mural , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ painting itself .
“ An appropriate manner is go on your building , go on your property , ” he said .
“ Go someplace that is not public property and voice your opinion.
” Join the discussion !
The Root is hosting its first-ever , virtual Root Institute , presented by Target , featuring several of the leading minds in our community talking about politics , culture , health , community building and social impact .
Subscribe for updates today !

The city of Tulsa has ordered that a Black Lives Matter mural, painted on a street in the district where the Black Wall Street massacre happened nearly 100 years ago, be painted over.
The Wednesday night decision came after chairman of the Tulsa Republican Party, Bob Jack, emailed his city councilor last week, stating interest in having a pro-police “Back the Blue” mural painted, reports KJRH TV. According to the local news station, Jack posed it as a rhetorical question—”he said he was already aware the city had no set process regarding street paintings.”
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Jack also proposed a mural that read “Baby Lives Matter,” the Washington Post writes.
The painting was never officially approved by the city of Tulsa; Jack’s request forced council members to consider how they could allow the BLM message to stand, but not a “Back the Blue” or other right-wing, pro-police message.
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“I applaud it,” Councilor Connie Dodson said regarding the BLM mural at Wednesday’s meeting, the Post reports . “It’s great. But at the same point, it comes down to: Yes, if you allow one, then you have to allow all of them.”
The mural, painted on the street in bold yellow block letters in Tulsa’s Greenwood district (similar to how Black Lives Matter Plaza looks in Washington, D.C.), was painted by artists and volunteers on June 18, one the eve of Juneteenth and two days before President Donald Trump’s scheduled visit to the city, according to CNN. Ryan Rhoades, the artist who organized the painting, told KOKI TV that he never meant for the mural to last a long time. In fact, when painters purchased the chalk-based paint, they were told it would wash away with the rain.
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But the mural endured, becoming the site of demonstrations and selfies in a neighborhood with a rich, fraught history.
The Greenwood district, also known as Black Wall Street, was the most prosperous Black neighborhood of its time. As the Post notes, the community was unique for its concentration of Black wealth: Black Tulsans could visit Black doctors and lawyers there, dine at Black-owned restaurants, see films in Black-owned theaters and buy luxury items from Black-owned stores. But after a white mob violently attacked the district in 1921, the neighborhood was burned to the ground and more than 10,000 residents were displaced.
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Nearly a 100 years later, Greenwood is still fighting to get proper investment back into the neighborhood. A “Rebuild Greenwood” GoFundMe launched at the beginning of the year by the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce sought to raise $1 million to go toward urgent structural updates to historic buildings. It has raised just under $35,000 as of July 31.
Briana Shea, who helped organize the Black Lives mural painting, told Tulsa World she was disheartened by the decision-making process the city went through.
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“I am kind of disappointed that it was left up to a city vote, not a community vote, because it was all based around community and community (donated) dollars, not city dollars,” Shea said. To her, the mural provided a necessary rallying point during a difficult time for the city’s Black residents.
“Having that painted there as Trump flew into Tulsa and he was able to see that, I think it says a lot about Tulsa and our history here and how we are not proud of the history but we wanted to make it known that 99 years later we’re still healing from it, and I thought that mural that we did bring healing.”
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Jack, whose rhetorical question led to the impending removal of the BLM mural, said he wasn’t opposed to the painting itself.
“An appropriate manner is go on your building, go on your property,” he said. “Go someplace that is not public property and voice your opinion.”
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_______________________________________________
Join the discussion! The Root is hosting its first-ever, virtual Root Institute, presented by Target, featuring several of the leading minds in our community talking about politics, culture, health, community building and social impact. Subscribe for updates today!


theroot--2020-07-31--Save up to $125 on an iPhone 11 and Get 4 Months of Apple Music When You Activate on Verizon

Got an iPhone 8 that ’ s nearing retirement ?
The iPhone 11 represents the third generation in Apple ’ s new design language , and most major hardware and software kinks associated with that transition have been worked out by now .
It ’ s the perfect phone to eye for a l ong due upgrade .
Whether you ’ re with Verizon or thinking of making the switch , you can save up to $ 125 on your purchase of an iPhone 11 at Best Buy when activating it on the Big Red carrier , bringing your starting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 24 per month for 24 months .
This offer extends to both the iPhone 11 Pro ( $ 900 , or $ 37 per month ) and iPhone 11 Pro Max ( $ 1,000 , or $ 42 per month ) , too .
Each purchase comes with four months of Apple Music and Apple News .
Better yet , Best Buy can help you activate the device in-store with safety precautions to prevent the spread of , well , you know .
If you ’ re not comfortable with that , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you through the process over the phone .
This deal was originally published by Quentyn Kennemer on 7/21/2020 and updated with new information on 7/31/2020 .

Quentyn Kennemer on Kinja Deals, shared by Jordan McMahon to The Root

Got an iPhone 8 that’s nearing retirement? The iPhone 11 represents the third generation in Apple’s new design language, and most major hardware and software kinks associated with that transition have been worked out by now. It’s the perfect phone to eye for a l ong due upgrade.
6.1-inch Liquid Retina HD LCD display
Water and dust resistant (2 meters for up to 30 minutes, IP68)
Dual-camera system with 12MP Ultra Wide and Wide cameras; Night mode, Portrait mode, and 4K video up to 60fps
12MP TrueDepth front camera with Portrait mode, 4K video, and Slo-Mo
Face ID for secure authentication and Apple Pay
A13 Bionic chip with third-generation Neural Engine
Fast-charge capable
Wireless charging
iOS 13 with Dark Mode, new tools for editing photos and video, and brand new privacy features
Whether you’re with Verizon or thinking of making the switch, you can save up to $125 on your purchase of an iPhone 11 at Best Buy when activating it on the Big Red carrier, bringing your starting price down to $575 outright or $24 per month for 24 months. This offer extends to both the iPhone 11 Pro ($900, or $37 per month) and iPhone 11 Pro Max ($1,000, or $42 per month), too. Each purchase comes with four months of Apple Music and Apple News.
Better yet, Best Buy can help you activate the device in-store with safety precautions to prevent the spread of, well, you know. If you’re not comfortable with that, they’re also happy to walk you through the process over the phone.
This deal was originally published by Quentyn Kennemer on 7/21/2020 and updated with new information on 7/31/2020.


theroot--2020-07-31--Trailer Roundup: Does Love in the Time of Corona Feel Like Jazz on a Summer's Day?

This is the last week of July ... hell , it ’ s the last day of July—can you believe it ?
!
Time is a construct , blah blah blah .
We are firmly in a place where most of 2020 is behind us ... let that marinate .
When you ’ re done allowing the seasoned thoughts to sit , let ’ s get into these trailers !
First Impressions : Here goes ARRAY scooping up even more Black excellence—it ’ s what they do .
Speaking of excellence , Merawi Gerima directed , wrote , produced and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ filmmaker Jay ( Obinna Nwachukwu ) who returns to his hometown of Washington , D.C. , only to have to grapple with the effects of gentrification .
Relevant as hell , right ?
Yeah .
This looks intriguing and I ’ m looking forward to being introduced to Gerima ’ s work ( he ’ s the son of Sankofa filmmaker Haile Gerima and filmmaker/producer Shirikiana Aina ) as well as Nwachukwu , who looks like a star just from the trailer .
First Impressions : We ’ ve already championed the allyship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already covers half of my excitement to see this .
The other half ?
The potential Black-ass guests , of course !
In this teaser , we see Nikole Hannah-Jones ( who is joined by Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez and Hasan Minhaj ) and in true Rapinoe fashion , we ’ re getting gritty with the critical issues facing today ’ s society ... in this country .
It ’ s a pivotal time for this kind of stuff , y ’ all .
First Impressions : So , I ’ m cheating a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ premiered , but I wanted to highlight a particular upcoming episode .
In the Black community , we ’ ve discussed having “ The Talk ” as a Black child ’ s rite of passage in regards to police interaction , but we also acknowledge that the overall talk of race and racism needs to happen across racial lines .
With this episode , PBS Kids ( a 24-hour channel ) is making that happen .
Make sure the kiddies in your life tune in ( so y ’ all can discuss afterward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Corona ( Freeform ; Release Date : Aug. 22 , 2020 , at 8 p.m. ET/PT ) Love in the Time of Corona trailer / Freeform ( YouTube ) First Impressions : We all pretty much called it .
As soon as the coronavirus pandemic became mainstream news and our lives were regulated to lockdowns and social distancing , we knew film/TV writers would be typing furiously away at their laptops to whip up the next big corona-era project .
Cue Freeform .
This concept looks adorable as fuck and we get to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jr. ( Hamilton ) , Nicolette Robinson ( The Affair ) , L. Scott Caldwell ( Lost ) and more .
Swoon !
This will be a two-night event starting on Aug. 22 and continuing the next night on Aug. 23 .
First Impressions : So , this isn ’ t exactly a new project ( it ’ s from 1959 ) , the trailer is new !
It ’ s a re-release event ( due to the 4K restoration ) !
As a Chicago native , I ’ m naturally raised by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This is a documented recap of legendary photographer Bert Stern ’ s ( who directed this doc ) visit to the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival .
We ’ re talking live performances by Louis Armstrong , Thelonious Monk , Chuck Berry , Dinah Washington , Mahalia Jackson , and more !
Plus the stirring images of the music genre ’ s spirited fans .
I ’ m tuning in !
On the Trail : Inside the 2020 Primaries ( HBO Max ; Release Date : Aug. 6 , 2020 ) First Impressions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CNN Films and highlighting primaries is especially important in this presidential election year .
This film particularly follows the female reporters ( including Video Producer Jasmine Wright ) of the leading news network and showcases what it means to profile and document a high-profile campaign—particularly one that is unprecedented as 2020 ( imagine having to be Trump ’ s correspondent , as a woman ) .
“ People can think what they want about me because I ’ m still gon na get the job done—and better than most of y ’ all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the trailer .
Girl , yes !
!
!
Potty Break ( Digital Screening via Zoom ; Release Date : Aug. 11 , 2020 , at 7 p.m .
ET ) First Impressions : Written by , directed by and starring British actress Donna Augustin , this web series explores the adventurous world into the public women ’ s bathroom .
You know , the place where you make lifelong friends that you may never see again over drunken affirmations and tampon donations .
This came across my slew of press releases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do roundups like this—so much content !
!
! )
and it definitely caught my eye .
This looks hilarious .
You can RSVP for the virtual screening here .
Well , that ’ s all , folks !
See y ’ all in August .
Join the discussion !
The Root is hosting its first-ever , virtual Root Institute , presented by Target , featuring several of the leading minds in our community talking about politics , culture , health , community building and social impact .
Subscribe for updates today @

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

This is the last week of July...hell, it’s the last day of July—can you believe it?! Time is a construct, blah blah blah. We are firmly in a place where most of 2020 is behind us...let that marinate. When you’re done allowing the seasoned thoughts to sit, let’s get into these trailers!
Residue (Netflix; Release Date: Sept. 17, 2020)
Residue trailer / ARRAY (YouTube)
First Impressions: Here goes ARRAY scooping up even more Black excellence—it’s what they do. Speaking of excellence, Merawi Gerima directed, wrote, produced and edited this joint. This film follows filmmaker Jay (Obinna Nwachukwu) who returns to his hometown of Washington, D.C., only to have to grapple with the effects of gentrification. Relevant as hell, right? Yeah. This looks intriguing and I’m looking forward to being introduced to Gerima’s work (he’s the son of Sankofa filmmaker Haile Gerima and filmmaker/producer Shirikiana Aina) as well as Nwachukwu, who looks like a star just from the trailer.
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Seeing America (HBO; Release Date: Aug. 1, 2020, at 10 p.m.)
Seeing America teaser / HBO (YouTube)
First Impressions: We’ve already championed the allyship of soccer phenom Megan Rapinoe so that already covers half of my excitement to see this. The other half? The potential Black-ass guests, of course! In this teaser, we see Nikole Hannah-Jones (who is joined by Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez and Hasan Minhaj) and in true Rapinoe fashion, we’re getting gritty with the critical issues facing today’s society...in this country. It’s a pivotal time for this kind of stuff, y’all.
Advertisement Advertisement
PBS KIDS Talk About: Race and Racism (PBS Kids; Release Date: Oct. 9, 2020)
PBS KIDS Talk About! / PBS (YouTube)
First Impressions: So, I’m cheating a bit here because this series has already premiered, but I wanted to highlight a particular upcoming episode. In the Black community, we’ve discussed having “The Talk” as a Black child’s rite of passage in regards to police interaction, but we also acknowledge that the overall talk of race and racism needs to happen across racial lines. With this episode, PBS Kids (a 24-hour channel) is making that happen. Make sure the kiddies in your life tune in (so y’all can discuss afterward)!
Advertisement
Love in the Time of Corona (Freeform; Release Date: Aug. 22, 2020, at 8 p.m. ET/PT)
Love in the Time of Corona trailer / Freeform (YouTube)
First Impressions: We all pretty much called it. As soon as the coronavirus pandemic became mainstream news and our lives were regulated to lockdowns and social distancing, we knew film/TV writers would be typing furiously away at their laptops to whip up the next big corona-era project. Cue Freeform. This concept looks adorable as fuck and we get to see some Black Love with Leslie Odom Jr. (Hamilton), Nicolette Robinson (The Affair), L. Scott Caldwell (Lost) and more. Swoon! This will be a two-night event starting on Aug. 22 and continuing the next night on Aug. 23.
Advertisement
Jazz on a Summer’s Day (Virtual Cinemas; Release Date: Aug. 12)
Jazz on a Summer’s Day / Kino Lorber (YouTube)
First Impressions: So, this isn’t exactly a new project (it’s from 1959), the trailer is new! It’s a re-release event (due to the 4K restoration)! As a Chicago native, I’m naturally raised by jazz so this one caught my eye. This is a documented recap of legendary photographer Bert Stern’s (who directed this doc) visit to the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival. We’re talking live performances by Louis Armstrong, Thelonious Monk, Chuck Berry, Dinah Washington, Mahalia Jackson, and more! Plus the stirring images of the music genre’s spirited fans. I’m tuning in!
Advertisement
On the Trail: Inside the 2020 Primaries (HBO Max; Release Date: Aug. 6, 2020)
On the Trail trailer / HBO Max (YouTube)
First Impressions: This doc is in collaboration with CNN Films and highlighting primaries is especially important in this presidential election year. This film particularly follows the female reporters (including Video Producer Jasmine Wright) of the leading news network and showcases what it means to profile and document a high-profile campaign—particularly one that is unprecedented as 2020 (imagine having to be Trump’s correspondent, as a woman). “People can think what they want about me because I’m still gonna get the job done—and better than most of y’all,” Wright says toward the end of the trailer. Girl, yes!!!
Advertisement
Potty Break (Digital Screening via Zoom; Release Date: Aug. 11, 2020, at 7 p.m. ET)
Potty Break trailer / Potty Break (YouTube)
First Impressions: Written by, directed by and starring British actress Donna Augustin, this web series explores the adventurous world into the public women’s bathroom. You know, the place where you make lifelong friends that you may never see again over drunken affirmations and tampon donations. This came across my slew of press releases (which is why I even have to do roundups like this—so much content!!!) and it definitely caught my eye. This looks hilarious. You can RSVP for the virtual screening here.
Advertisement
Well, that’s all, folks! See y’all in August.
Join the discussion! The Root is hosting its first-ever, virtual Root Institute, presented by Target, featuring several of the leading minds in our community talking about politics, culture, health, community building and social impact. Subscribe for updates today!


theroot--2020-07-31--I Just Want to Hit the Brunch LeBron James Apparently Went to Last Night

So the NBA bubble thing is weird .
And the social justice messaging on the jerseys is dumb .
So dumb .
SO DUMB .
But I am also weird and dumb , and I am fascinated by the uncanny valley of the NBA ’ s reboot .
The crowds are computer-generated avatars !
Some people in the gyms are wearing masks and some aren ’ t , which seems not productive at all !
Joe Ingles has “ Ally ” on his jersey .
This is strange as fuck , and I love it !
But let ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ let ’ s talk about brunch !
I miss it so much .
And no , I don ’ t give many shits about brunch culture , which is different than brunch .
Brunch culture is business cards with too many titles .
It ’ s waiting in a line only because you assume the place must be lit if there ’ s a line .
It ’ s bottomless .
It ’ s bigen .
It ’ s D.C. niggas , basically .
No , I ’ m a brunch purist .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ brunch too , but for me brunch is about the food .
I don ’ t give a shit who ’ s there .
I don ’ t even give a shit about who ’ s with me .
I ’ ll brunch all by myself .
I treat brunch like how female protagonists in Tyler Perry movies treat life .
I DON ’ T NEED NO MAN WITH ME ...
UNLESS HE ’ S A GOD-FEARING , LIGHT-SKINNED MECHANIC !
Just point me to the waffle station , the omelette station , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shit station , and I ’ m good .
Which is why I need to hit whichever brunch spot LeBron James was headed to last night .
How do I know he went to brunch somewhere ?
Because this is the optimal brunch-fit .
Fashionable , but breezy and comfortable enough to stuff your stomach with beignets .
It is also the walk of someone who just got a text telling him his table is ready .
He looks both urgent and UNBOTHERED .
And also maybe hungry !
Plus , last summer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enough to wear above-the-knee shorts in public .
And now there ’ s nowhere to wear above-the-knee shorts anymore !
I ’ m not going to bare my thigh meat in Giant Eagle .

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

So the NBA bubble thing is weird. And the social justice messaging on the jerseys is dumb. So dumb. SO DUMB. But I am also weird and dumb, and I am fascinated by the uncanny valley of the NBA’s reboot. The crowds are computer-generated avatars! Some people in the gyms are wearing masks and some aren’t, which seems not productive at all! Joe Ingles has “Ally” on his jersey. This is strange as fuck, and I love it!
But let’s forget about that right now. Instead let’s talk about brunch! I miss it so much. And no, I don’t give many shits about brunch culture, which is different than brunch. Brunch culture is business cards with too many titles. It’s waiting in a line only because you assume the place must be lit if there’s a line. It’s bottomless. It’s bigen. It’s D.C. niggas, basically.
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No, I’m a brunch purist. I like to wear nice clothes to brunch too, but for me brunch is about the food. I don’t give a shit who’s there. I don’t even give a shit about who’s with me. I’ll brunch all by myself. I treat brunch like how female protagonists in Tyler Perry movies treat life. I DON’T NEED NO MAN WITH ME...UNLESS HE’S A GOD-FEARING, LIGHT-SKINNED MECHANIC! Just point me to the waffle station, the omelette station, and the niggas who cut meat and shit station, and I’m good.
Which is why I need to hit whichever brunch spot LeBron James was headed to last night. How do I know he went to brunch somewhere? Because this is the optimal brunch-fit. Fashionable, but breezy and comfortable enough to stuff your stomach with beignets. It is also the walk of someone who just got a text telling him his table is ready. He looks both urgent and UNBOTHERED. And also maybe hungry!
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Plus, last summer was the first time I was confident enough to wear above-the-knee shorts in public. And now there’s nowhere to wear above-the-knee shorts anymore! I’m not going to bare my thigh meat in Giant Eagle.
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Anyway, I miss brunch food. I miss brunch-fits. I miss post-brunch naps. I need brunch back!


theroot--2020-07-31--Another Day, Another MLB Game Postponed Due to the Coronavirus

Say what you want about the NBA bubble , commissioner Adam Silver—and Disney exec Rosalyn Durant—has not only sidestepped a global pandemic , but has delivered the game we all know and love while preserving the health and safety of some of the most popular athletes in the world .
Major League Baseball , however , hasn ’ t been nearly as lucky .
The structure and format of its game make things a bit more difficult to contain .
So with no bubble in place , it wasn ’ t exactly a surprise to learn that prior to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least 11 players tested positive for the coronavirus—derailing a season that had barely even begun .
And now days later comes the news that Friday ’ s game between the St. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers has been postponed .
The culprit , as you can suspect , is COVID-19 .
This brings the number of teams being held out of action on Friday to six , as the Marlins , Philadelphia Phillies , Washington Nationals and Toronto Blue Jays have all been benched due to positive tests .
As you can suspect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the NFL , who will deploy a similar bubble-less strategy—and even larger rosters—that will unquestionably be derailed at some point by the coronavirus .
Hell , training camp just started and the Buffalo Bills had to send rookies home on Thursday as a result of five positive tests .
“ As we were informed by medical experts as training camp opened , we expected to have positive tests for COVID , ” the team said in a statement .
“ With five since the beginning of the testing period last Tuesday , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and preventative approach to hopefully eliminate additional cases within our team.
” It ’ s looking more and more like NFL players who decided to opt-out of playing this season—six from the New England Patriots alone ; three of which are starters—made the right call .
And in the weeks leading up to the NFL season , expect even more players to do the same thing .
As for Major League Baseball , commissioner Rob Manfred has no plans to suspend its season , but at this rate , it ’ s a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ won ’ t have a choice .

Say what you want about the NBA bubble, commissioner Adam Silver—and Disney exec Rosalyn Durant—has not only sidestepped a global pandemic, but has delivered the game we all know and love while preserving the health and safety of some of the most popular athletes in the world.
Advertisement
Major League Baseball, however, hasn’t been nearly as lucky. The structure and format of its game make things a bit more difficult to contain. So with no bubble in place, it wasn’t exactly a surprise to learn that prior to the Florida Marlins’ home opener, at least 11 players tested positive for the coronavirus—derailing a season that had barely even begun. And now days later comes the news that Friday’s game between the St. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers has been postponed. The culprit, as you can suspect, is COVID-19.
From ESPN:
The St. Louis Cardinals have had multiple members test positive for the coronavirus, resulting in Major League Baseball postponing Friday afternoon’s game at the Milwaukee Brewers, a source told ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
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This brings the number of teams being held out of action on Friday to six, as the Marlins, Philadelphia Phillies, Washington Nationals and Toronto Blue Jays have all been benched due to positive tests.
As you can suspect, this does not bode well for the NFL, who will deploy a similar bubble-less strategy—and even larger rosters—that will unquestionably be derailed at some point by the coronavirus. Hell, training camp just started and the Buffalo Bills had to send rookies home on Thursday as a result of five positive tests.
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“As we were informed by medical experts as training camp opened, we expected to have positive tests for COVID,” the team said in a statement. “With five since the beginning of the testing period last Tuesday, we decided to take a disciplined, proactive and preventative approach to hopefully eliminate additional cases within our team.”
It’s looking more and more like NFL players who decided to opt-out of playing this season—six from the New England Patriots alone; three of which are starters—made the right call. And in the weeks leading up to the NFL season, expect even more players to do the same thing.
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As for Major League Baseball, commissioner Rob Manfred has no plans to suspend its season, but at this rate, it’s a real possibility that sooner or later he won’t have a choice.


theroot--2020-07-31--Protect Yourself at All Times With a Pepper Spray Key Chain for $11

While this product is marketed toward women , there ’ s no good reason anyone can ’ t pick up @ @ @ @ @ .
It ’ s non-lethal protection against humanity ’ s shortcomings , and it ’ @ @ @ @ @ buy a Mace key chain holding up to 20 burst shots of the peppery substance @ @ @ @ @ to 12 feet , too , which should be ample room to send your assailant @ @ @ @ @ a baby .

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

Mace Pepper Spray | $11 | Amazon
While this product is marketed toward women, there’s no good reason anyone can’t pick up a vial of pepper spray. It’s non-lethal protection against humanity’s shortcomings, and it’s only $11 to buy a Mace key chain holding up to 20 burst shots of the peppery substance. The spray reaches up to 12 feet, too, which should be ample room to send your assailant to the floor crying like a baby.


theroot--2020-07-31--The Root Jams Weekly (7/31/2020): 'Soundtrack Jams'

We all have movies that resonate with us .
And in those movies , there are usually songs that help @ @ @ @ @ become part of our lives .
Today ’ s list is full of our favorite @ @ @ @ @ Why You Get Funky On Me ” Paramore “ Decode ” ( The Twilight soundtracks @ @ @ @ @ Brandy “ Sittin ’ Up In My Room ” Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston “ @ @ @ @ @ When You Believe ) “

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

We all have movies that resonate with us. And in those movies, there are usually songs that help flesh out the story that become part of our lives. Today’s list is full of our favorite soundtrack jams.
Maiysha Kai
Al Jarreau “Moonlighting”
Johnny Mathis & Deniece Williams “Without Us”
Labrinth “All for Us”
Bob James “Angela”
Pointer Sisters “Pinball Number Count”
Tonja Stidhum
Moses Sumney “Doomed”
Frank Ocean “Moon River”
The Doors “The End”
Meshell Ndegeocello “Fool of Me”
Nina Simone “Wild Is the Wind”
Seal “Kiss from a Rose”
Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglová “Falling Slowly”
A. R. Rahman “Jai Ho”
Jay Connor
Today “Why You Get Funky On Me”
Tony Toni Tone’ “Boys and Girls”
Jeff Redd “You Called And Told Me”
Joe Jurado
Seal “Kissed by a Rose”
Paramore “Decode” (The Twilight soundtracks are good, actually)
Prince “I Would Die 4 U”
Sherman’s Showcase “Runnin’”
Ashley Velez
Lauryn Hill “The Sweetest Thing”
Brandy “Sittin’ Up In My Room”
Boyz II Men “I Will Get There”
Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston “The Prince of Egypt (When You Believe)“
J’Na Jefferson
SOBxRBE “Pandemic”
Prince “Darling Nikki”
Phil Collins “Son Of Man”
Rick Ross “100 Black Coffins”
Dick Dale and his Del-Tones “Miserlou”
Billy Joel “Why Should I Worry”
Panama Jackson
2pac “Pour Out a Little Liquor”
Dogg Pound “Big Pimpin’”
Goo Goo Dolls “Iris”
DJ Quik “Dollaz + Sense”
Rell “Love For Free”
Jay Rock featuring Future, Kendrick Lamar and James Blake) “King’s Dead”
Kendrick Lamar and SZA “All The Stars”


theroot--2020-07-31--Remember the 'Haute Omelette' Moment Rihanna Gave Us at the 2015 Met Gala? She Almost Chickened Out!

It was a moment instantly cemented in fashion history—and one of many that reaffirmed that Rihanna is a bonafide fashion icon .
At the 2015 Met Gala , the bad gal ascended the red-carpeted steps of the Met in a couture fur-trimmed and embroidered canary-colored velvet cape—with an epic train—by Chinese designer Guo Pei .
It was a show-stopping entrance , after which I ’ m not sure anyone recalls what any of the other celebrities wore that night—but as Rihanna revealed this week to Access while promoting her upcoming Fenty Skin launch , the moment almost didn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scared to get out of that car because I felt like , ‘ I ’ m doing too much , ’ ” she admitted while reviewing some of her most memorable fashion looks ( including that now-legendary naked Swarovski-crystal dress she wore to the CFDAs ) .
“ I was driving past the red carpet and I was just seeing , like , gowns , and I was like , ‘ Oh my God , I ’ m a clown ; people are gon na laugh at me , ” she added .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I circled like three times .
I ’ m not even joking , ” she added .
“ And finally , it was like , ‘ Whatever , let ’ s just go.
’ ” And we were all the better for it ( omelette memes included ) In fact , the star disclosed that the garment—and its yards of heavily embroidered fabric—required strategic planning on the part of her team .
“ The choreography of getting in the car and getting out—like , we had to choreograph it , ” she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doors ?
Where does the coat go ?
Where do I sit ?
” Thankfully , Rih figured it out , got over her fear , and gave us all a fashion moment we ’ ll never forget .
And if that is what a clown looks like , “ Well , then sign us up for the circus , ” as HuffPost tagged its post on the disclosure .
But with all this talk about fashion and beauty , Rih ’ s Navy is still waiting impatiently for the near-mythical R9 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ alone !
” she laughs , before adding that her ninth studio album is “ probably going to be sooner than my fans think.
” ( Sure , Rih—we ’ ve never heard that before .
But first , Rihanna ’ s dropping her unisex Fenty Skin , which has already garnered a slew of reviews ahead of its official July 31 drop ( apparently , our samples got lost in the mail—damn it , Trump ! )
and has reportedly already made it to the resale market at ridiculous markups ( like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So , we ’ ll be reserving our reviews until later ... you know , like R9

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

It was a moment instantly cemented in fashion history—and one of many that reaffirmed that Rihanna is a bonafide fashion icon. At the 2015 Met Gala, the bad gal ascended the red-carpeted steps of the Met in a couture fur-trimmed and embroidered canary-colored velvet cape—with an epic train—by Chinese designer Guo Pei.
It was a show-stopping entrance, after which I’m not sure anyone recalls what any of the other celebrities wore that night—but as Rihanna revealed this week to Access while promoting her upcoming Fenty Skin launch, the moment almost didn’t happen.
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“I remember being so scared to get out of that car because I felt like, ‘I’m doing too much,’” she admitted while reviewing some of her most memorable fashion looks (including that now-legendary naked Swarovski-crystal dress she wore to the CFDAs). “I was driving past the red carpet and I was just seeing, like, gowns, and I was like, ‘Oh my God, I’m a clown; people are gonna laugh at me,” she added. “This is too much.’”
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“I circled like three times. I’m not even joking,” she added. “And finally, it was like, ‘Whatever, let’s just go.’”
And we were all the better for it (omelette memes included) In fact, the star disclosed that the garment—and its yards of heavily embroidered fabric—required strategic planning on the part of her team.
Advertisement
“The choreography of getting in the car and getting out—like, we had to choreograph it,” she recalled. “Who sits at the doors? Where does the coat go? Where do I sit?”
Thankfully, Rih figured it out, got over her fear, and gave us all a fashion moment we’ll never forget. And if that is what a clown looks like, “Well, then sign us up for the circus,” as HuffPost tagged its post on the disclosure.
But with all this talk about fashion and beauty, Rih’s Navy is still waiting impatiently for the near-mythical R9.
Advertisement
“They don’t leave me alone!” she laughs, before adding that her ninth studio album is “probably going to be sooner than my fans think.” (Sure, Rih—we’ve never heard that before.
But first, Rihanna’s dropping her unisex Fenty Skin, which has already garnered a slew of reviews ahead of its official July 31 drop (apparently, our samples got lost in the mail—damn it, Trump!) and has reportedly already made it to the resale market at ridiculous markups (like, hundreds of dollars more). So, we’ll be reserving our reviews until later...you know, like R9


theroot--2020-07-31--The President’s Boy Is Messing Up the Postal Service, and Trump Wouldn’t Have It Any Other Way

The U.S .
Postal Service was out there minding its business until the bully-in-chief took aim at the public service , calling it a joke , demanding it increase prices and claiming that mail-in voting would be compromised .
When he was done with all his orange unhinged ranting , Trump did what he ’ s done throughout his presidency , which is to make sure someone was in place to do his dirty work .
Trump ’ s boy Louis DeJoy became the postmaster general in May .
Besides mailing letters and buying the stamps of the Confederacy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ position , but he did have one quality that has always been impressive to Trump : DeJoy is a huge Republican donor , and more specifically , a Trump donor .
Since taking over the U.S .
Postal Service , DeJoy is either so inept that he ’ s fucking things up , or he is actively working to create mail delays and possibly a clusterfuck during election time .
Either way , whether accidental or intentional , he ’ s doing a great job that only benefits the president .
According to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new cost-saving measures that have created a huge backlog of mail , which is coming right around the time that coronavirus numbers are forcing states to consider expanding mail-in voting and around the time that the president has floated the idea of delaying the November election ( which he can ’ t do , by the way ) , just as the president ’ s polling numbers show him trailing the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden like a kite string .
This year could likely see a record number of mail-in ballots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fucking up the mail system something awful .
DeJoy , a North Carolina logistics executive who donated more than $ 2 million to GOP political committees in the past four years , approved changes that took effect July 13 that the agency said were aimed at cutting costs for the debt-laden mail service .
They included prohibiting overtime pay , shutting down sorting machines early and requiring letter carriers to leave mail behind when necessary to avoid extra trips or late delivery on routes .
The new policies have resulted in at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country , even for express mail , according to multiple postal workers and union leaders .
Letter carriers are manually sorting more mail , adding to the delivery time .
Bins of mail ready for delivery are sitting in post offices because of scheduling and route changes .
And without the ability to work overtime , workers say the logjam is worsening without an end in sight .
As states look to dramatically expand the use of mail-in ballots this fall , postal workers across the country said the changes could lead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ m actually terrified to see election season under the new procedure , ” said Lori Cash , president of the American Postal Workers Union ( APWU ) Local 183 in Western New York .
David Partenheimer , spokesman for the U.S .
Postal Service , said the recent changes aim to stabilize the agency after decades of financial woes .
The procedures are not meant to slow the delivery of ballots or any other mail , he said , also asserting that any problems will be short-lived .
“ Of course we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
.
.
but any such impacts will be monitored and temporary , ” Partenheimer said .
During a recent meeting with DeJoy , “ the head of one of the nation ’ s largest postal workers unions said he shared the ‘ deep concerns ’ of postal workers that the new procedures are causing mounting backlogs that could affect the election.
” “ I vehemently weighed in that this is wrong , ” Mark Dimondstein , president of the APWU , which represents more than 200,000 postal employees and retirees , told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrong for the people of the country , it ’ s wrong for the public Postal Service .
It drives away business and revenue .
And it ’ s wrong for the workers.
” Some Michigan voters have already filed complaints with the Postal Service because despite having an Aug. 4 primary , some haven ’ t even received their ballots as of this week .
Election clerks are even asking Michigan voters to drop off ballots Tuesday instead of mailing them because they are afraid that they might not be received in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t think it ’ s a widespread issue , but anytime we get mail delayed , especially first-class , or not delivered at all , it becomes a concern , ” Phil Kerns , the city clerk of Frankenmuth , in the central part of Michigan , told the Post .
Former President , and current president of Black people worldwide , Barack Obama even took a swing at Trump ’ s attempts to muddy up mail-in voting during the election while speaking at civil rights icon John Lewis ’ funeral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doing their darndest to discourage people from voting .
.
.
even undermining the Postal Service in the run-up to an election that ’ s going to be dependent on mail-in ballots so people don ’ t get sick , ” the Post reports .
Sens .
Charles E. Schumer ( D-N.Y. ) , Gary Peters ( D-Mich. ) , Amy Klobuchar ( D-Minn. ) and Thomas R. Carper ( D-Del . )
, authored a letter demanding DeJoy—who has aptly been nicknamed “ DeLay ” —share information about new procedures he ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Your failure to provide Congress with relevant information about these recent changes or to clarify to postal employees what changes you have directed as Postmaster General , undermines public trust and only increases concerns that service compromises will grow in advance of the election and peak mail volumes in November , ” they wrote .
Also from the Post : Weeks after DeJoy took over , agency officials released an internal memo announcing a “ pivot ” for all employees .
Traditionally , postal workers are trained not to leave letters behind and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mail is delivered on time — which can incur extra costs in overtime hours , transportation and more .
Officials laid out a shift away from this approach , saying that such practices cost the organization about $ 200 million in added expenses , according to the memo , which was obtained by The Post .
Among the changes is a new , strict cutoff time in the morning for mail carriers to pick up items to deliver that day , several postal employees from three different states said .
The machines that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pickup by carriers are being shut down earlier in some areas to cut costs , requiring carriers to sort more mail by hand once they arrive in the morning .
That means any mail that is not ready by cutoff time waits at least another day .
And if there is any error in hand-sorted mail , it needs to be rerouted to another carrier — which could lead to three to four extra days of waiting .
As a result of these changes , guaranteed shipping dates are not being met , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forced .
These are things that don ’ t have to happen , ” one worker from Pennsylvania said .
Unless , of course , these delays—these self-inflicted delays—help the man who you ’ ve given campaign donations steal an election .
Then , it all makes sense .
Join the discussion !
The Root is hosting its first-ever , virtual Root Institute , presented by Target , featuring several of the leading minds in our community talking about politics , culture , health , community building and social impact .
Subscribe for @ @ @

The U.S. Postal Service was out there minding its business until the bully-in-chief took aim at the public service, calling it a joke, demanding it increase prices and claiming that mail-in voting would be compromised. When he was done with all his orange unhinged ranting, Trump did what he’s done throughout his presidency, which is to make sure someone was in place to do his dirty work.
Trump’s boy Louis DeJoy became the postmaster general in May. Besides mailing letters and buying the stamps of the Confederacy, DeJoy has absolutely no qualifications for this position, but he did have one quality that has always been impressive to Trump: DeJoy is a huge Republican donor, and more specifically, a Trump donor.
Advertisement
Since taking over the U.S. Postal Service, DeJoy is either so inept that he’s fucking things up, or he is actively working to create mail delays and possibly a clusterfuck during election time. Either way, whether accidental or intentional, he’s doing a great job that only benefits the president.
Advertisement Advertisement
According to the Washington Post, DeJoy has implemented new cost-saving measures that have created a huge backlog of mail, which is coming right around the time that coronavirus numbers are forcing states to consider expanding mail-in voting and around the time that the president has floated the idea of delaying the November election (which he can’t do, by the way), just as the president’s polling numbers show him trailing the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden like a kite string. This year could likely see a record number of mail-in ballots and President Trump’s boy is fucking up the mail system something awful.
From the Post:
DeJoy, a North Carolina logistics executive who donated more than $2 million to GOP political committees in the past four years, approved changes that took effect July 13 that the agency said were aimed at cutting costs for the debt-laden mail service. They included prohibiting overtime pay, shutting down sorting machines early and requiring letter carriers to leave mail behind when necessary to avoid extra trips or late delivery on routes. The new policies have resulted in at least a two-day delay in scattered parts of the country, even for express mail, according to multiple postal workers and union leaders. Letter carriers are manually sorting more mail, adding to the delivery time. Bins of mail ready for delivery are sitting in post offices because of scheduling and route changes. And without the ability to work overtime, workers say the logjam is worsening without an end in sight. As states look to dramatically expand the use of mail-in ballots this fall, postal workers across the country said the changes could lead to chaos in November. “I’m actually terrified to see election season under the new procedure,” said Lori Cash, president of the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 183 in Western New York. David Partenheimer, spokesman for the U.S. Postal Service, said the recent changes aim to stabilize the agency after decades of financial woes. The procedures are not meant to slow the delivery of ballots or any other mail, he said, also asserting that any problems will be short-lived. “Of course we acknowledge that temporary service impacts can occur . . . but any such impacts will be monitored and temporary,” Partenheimer said.
Advertisement
During a recent meeting with DeJoy, “the head of one of the nation’s largest postal workers unions said he shared the ‘deep concerns’ of postal workers that the new procedures are causing mounting backlogs that could affect the election.”
“I vehemently weighed in that this is wrong,” Mark Dimondstein, president of the APWU, which represents more than 200,000 postal employees and retirees, told the Post. “It’s wrong for the people of the country, it’s wrong for the public Postal Service. It drives away business and revenue. And it’s wrong for the workers.”
Advertisement
Some Michigan voters have already filed complaints with the Postal Service because despite having an Aug. 4 primary, some haven’t even received their ballots as of this week. Election clerks are even asking Michigan voters to drop off ballots Tuesday instead of mailing them because they are afraid that they might not be received in time to be counted.
“I don’t think it’s a widespread issue, but anytime we get mail delayed, especially first-class, or not delivered at all, it becomes a concern,” Phil Kerns, the city clerk of Frankenmuth, in the central part of Michigan, told the Post.
Advertisement
Former President, and current president of Black people worldwide, Barack Obama even took a swing at Trump’s attempts to muddy up mail-in voting during the election while speaking at civil rights icon John Lewis’ funeral.
“Those in power who are doing their darndest to discourage people from voting . . . even undermining the Postal Service in the run-up to an election that’s going to be dependent on mail-in ballots so people don’t get sick,” the Post reports.
Advertisement
Sens. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Thomas R. Carper (D-Del.), authored a letter demanding DeJoy—who has aptly been nicknamed “DeLay”—share information about new procedures he’s implemented since taking over.
“Your failure to provide Congress with relevant information about these recent changes or to clarify to postal employees what changes you have directed as Postmaster General, undermines public trust and only increases concerns that service compromises will grow in advance of the election and peak mail volumes in November,” they wrote.
Advertisement
Also from the Post:
Weeks after DeJoy took over, agency officials released an internal memo announcing a “pivot” for all employees. Traditionally, postal workers are trained not to leave letters behind and to make multiple delivery trips to ensure mail is delivered on time — which can incur extra costs in overtime hours, transportation and more. Officials laid out a shift away from this approach, saying that such practices cost the organization about $200 million in added expenses, according to the memo, which was obtained by The Post. Among the changes is a new, strict cutoff time in the morning for mail carriers to pick up items to deliver that day, several postal employees from three different states said. The machines that typically sort mail and prepare them for pickup by carriers are being shut down earlier in some areas to cut costs, requiring carriers to sort more mail by hand once they arrive in the morning. That means any mail that is not ready by cutoff time waits at least another day. And if there is any error in hand-sorted mail, it needs to be rerouted to another carrier — which could lead to three to four extra days of waiting. As a result of these changes, guaranteed shipping dates are not being met, the employees said. “This is forced. These are things that don’t have to happen,” one worker from Pennsylvania said.
Advertisement
Unless, of course, these delays—these self-inflicted delays—help the man who you’ve given campaign donations steal an election. Then, it all makes sense.
Join the discussion! The Root is hosting its first-ever, virtual Root Institute, presented by Target, featuring several of the leading minds in our community talking about politics, culture, health, community building and social impact. Subscribe for updates today!


theroot--2020-07-31--St. Louis County Prosecutor, Who Campaigned on Criminal Justice Reform, Will Not Charge Darren Wilso

St. Louis County Prosecutor, Who Campaigned on Criminal Justice Reform, Will Not Charge Darren Wilson in Mike Brown’s Death

Wesley Bell , St. Louis County ’ s top prosecutor , announced Thursday that his office would not bring charges against Darren Wilson , the former Ferguson , Mo.
, police officer who shot and killed 18-year-old Mike Brown in 2014 .
“ Although this case represents one of the most significant moments in St. Louis ’ s history , the question to this office is a simple one : Could we prove beyond a reasonable doubt that when Darren Wilson shot Michael Brown , he committed murder or manslaughter under Missouri law ?
After an independent and in-depth review @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prove that he did , ” Bell said in a news conference yesterday , according to NPR .
The decision comes after a five month long independent review of the case .
Bell , the county ’ s first Black prosecutor , called the decision “ one of the most difficult things I ’ ve had to do as an elected official , ” reports The Washington Post .
Brown , a recent high school graduate , was gunned down by Wilson on Aug. 9 2014 , after Wilson responded to a call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Wilson ended up shooting Brown six times ; police left his body in the street for hours afterward .
Bell cautioned that his office ’ s decision , “ does not exonerate Wilson.
” “ The question of whether we can prove a case at trial is different than clearing him of any and all wrongdoing , ” said Bell .
“ There are so many points at which Darren Wilson could have handled the situation differently .
And if he had , Michael Brown might still be alive .
But that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The only question is whether we can prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a crime occurred .
The answer to that question is no.
” Bell won election in 2018 on promises of reform , ousting longtime St. Louis County Prosecutor Robert McCulloch .
McCulloch was widely criticized for his handling of Wilson ’ s case , declining to press charges against the officer and sending it to a grand jury instead .
The jury did not return an indictment against Wilson , who resigned from the Ferguson police department shortly after .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ justice reform could reach the same conclusions as McCulloch shows the limits of “ progressive ” prosecutors , particularly when laws are written in such a way that make it difficult to press charges against officers .
The decision also comes at a time when a growing number of social justice activists are moving away from the goals of “ reforming ” criminal justice systems , and seeking more transformative change .
At Thursday ’ s press conference , one man in the audience , wearing a shirt that read , “ Wesley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people , ” gave voice to this frustration .
“ Five months .
Six years .
People out on the street—nothing ?
” he said , referring to the length of the investigation , and the length of time since Brown was killed .
“ It ’ s over .
One term !
” He shouted as police walked him out of the room .
ArchCity Defenders , a social justice advocacy group based in St. Louis , wrote in a statement shared on Twitter , “ For many , this news has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” “ In a moment during which many thousands of people are taking to the streets to demand we build a society in which Black lives matter , we are reminded yet again that all too often , in the eyes of our criminal legal system , they do not , ” it continued , quoting Audre Lorde ’ s famous words , “ the master ’ s tools will never dismantle the master ’ s house.
” “ We now recommit to the work of transforming our communities to honor the life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the homegrown movement that he inspired.
” Aug. 9 will mark the sixth anniversary of Brown ’ s death , which gave rise to the Black Lives Matter movement .
In a recent op-ed for The Root , Brown ’ s mother , Lezley McSpadden Head , called for reparations to the families impacted by police brutality and police killings , noting “ people and institutions that harm Black people should take concrete action to repair the harm done .
”

Wesley Bell, St. Louis County’s top prosecutor, announced Thursday that his office would not bring charges against Darren Wilson, the former Ferguson, Mo., police officer who shot and killed 18-year-old Mike Brown in 2014.
“Although this case represents one of the most significant moments in St. Louis’s history, the question to this office is a simple one: Could we prove beyond a reasonable doubt that when Darren Wilson shot Michael Brown, he committed murder or manslaughter under Missouri law? After an independent and in-depth review of the evidence, we cannot prove that he did,” Bell said in a news conference yesterday, according to NPR.
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The decision comes after a five month long independent review of the case. Bell, the county’s first Black prosecutor, called the decision “one of the most difficult things I’ve had to do as an elected official,” reports The Washington Post.
Brown, a recent high school graduate, was gunned down by Wilson on Aug. 9 2014, after Wilson responded to a call regarding a theft from a convenience store. Wilson ended up shooting Brown six times; police left his body in the street for hours afterward.
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Bell cautioned that his office’s decision, “does not exonerate Wilson.”
“The question of whether we can prove a case at trial is different than clearing him of any and all wrongdoing,” said Bell.
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“There are so many points at which Darren Wilson could have handled the situation differently. And if he had, Michael Brown might still be alive. But that is not the question before us. The only question is whether we can prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a crime occurred. The answer to that question is no.”
Bell won election in 2018 on promises of reform, ousting longtime St. Louis County Prosecutor Robert McCulloch.
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McCulloch was widely criticized for his handling of Wilson’s case, declining to press charges against the officer and sending it to a grand jury instead. The jury did not return an indictment against Wilson, who resigned from the Ferguson police department shortly after.
That a prosecutor who campaigned on criminal justice reform could reach the same conclusions as McCulloch shows the limits of “progressive” prosecutors, particularly when laws are written in such a way that make it difficult to press charges against officers. The decision also comes at a time when a growing number of social justice activists are moving away from the goals of “reforming” criminal justice systems, and seeking more transformative change.
Advertisement
At Thursday’s press conference, one man in the audience, wearing a shirt that read, “Wesley Bell doesn’t care about Black people,” gave voice to this frustration.
“Five months. Six years. People out on the street—nothing?” he said, referring to the length of the investigation, and the length of time since Brown was killed.
Advertisement
“It’s over. One term!” He shouted as police walked him out of the room.
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ArchCity Defenders, a social justice advocacy group based in St. Louis, wrote in a statement shared on Twitter, “For many, this news has unearthed painful memories and reopened still-unhealed wounds.”
“In a moment during which many thousands of people are taking to the streets to demand we build a society in which Black lives matter, we are reminded yet again that all too often, in the eyes of our criminal legal system, they do not,” it continued, quoting Audre Lorde’s famous words, “the master’s tools will never dismantle the master’s house.”
Advertisement
“We now recommit to the work of transforming our communities to honor the life and loss of Michael Brown, Jr. and the homegrown movement that he inspired.”
Aug. 9 will mark the sixth anniversary of Brown’s death, which gave rise to the Black Lives Matter movement.
Advertisement
In a recent op-ed for The Root, Brown’s mother, Lezley McSpadden Head, called for reparations to the families impacted by police brutality and police killings, noting “people and institutions that harm Black people should take concrete action to repair the harm done.”