theroot--2020-11-30--David Perdue Campaign Mocks Opponent Jon Ossoff for Eating at Black-Owned Slutty Vegan Restaurant

Over the weekend , Democratic Senate runoff candidate Jon Ossoff visited Black-owned vegan restaurant Slutty Vegan in Atlanta during a tour to support small businesses .
Despite the fact that Republicans often champion themselves as fighters for small businesses , current Georgia Sen. David Perdue ’ s campaign decided it was a good look to mock the senator ’ s opponent for eating a vegan burger by posting a photo of Perdue and his wife sitting over a plate of Waffle House ’ s good-old American non-veggies because , for whatever reason , that ’ s the right-wing version of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Democratic candidate for Senate Jon Ossoff kicks off a Small Business Saturday tour with a stop at Slutty Vegan , a vegan burger joint , ” Judd wrote accompanied by a photo array of Ossoff ’ s visit .
“ ‘ We got Jon Jon running for Senate in the building !
’ a staffer calls out as Ossoff enters , prompting cheers.
” Perdue ’ s campaign posted a photo of Perdue and his wife sitting in what looks like the Waffle Housiest Waffle House in the Atlanta area , aka @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the photo reads , “ @ ossoff can have the plant burger , we ’ ll take the all-star special .
Pick your side , Georgia.
” First of all : For those who don ’ t know , Slutty Vegan is a vegan burger joint that first opened in 2018 and has since opened two additional locations in Atlanta .
The restaurant ’ s founder and CEO is Pinky Cole , a Black woman who started out “ making moves from her two-bedroom apartment in July of 2018 , selling Slutty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order via Instagram…yep , Instagram !
” according to the restaurant ’ s website .
I suppose we can ’ t just jump to the assumption that Perdue ’ s campaign knew Slutty Vegan is a Black-owned business or that it had anything to do with the Perdue platform being used to throw shade at the burger chain .
Then again , Perdue definitely knew how to pronounce the name of Vice President-elect Kamala Harris—who he served with on the Senate Budget Committee for years—but still opted to woo his racist-ass constituents by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or Kah-ma-la or Kamala-mala-mala , I don ’ t know , whatever.
” But even if racism had nothing to do with the campaign ’ s post , why go after a small business in favor of a large restaurant chain like Waffle House ?
It ’ s especially hypocritical given that , in August , Perdue called small businesses “ the backbone of our economy ” during a small business roundtable the senator hosted in Smyrna , Ga. Also , for people who champion themselves as the anti-snowflake , conservatives sure do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ idea of veganism .
Imagine a campaign seeing a man minding his own business and eating a vegan burger as an opportunity to attack a political opponent .
And what ’ s with all this “ pick your side , Georgia ” shit ?
Only in the out-of-touch Republican mind are vegans and meat-eaters the Capulets and Montagues of the runoff electorate .
Imagine seeing an opponent eating much healthier than you as a reason to go full gang gang .
Seriously , has the Perdue campaign just officially come out as pro-heart @ @ @ @ @

Over the weekend, Democratic Senate runoff candidate Jon Ossoff visited Black-owned vegan restaurant Slutty Vegan in Atlanta during a tour to support small businesses. Despite the fact that Republicans often champion themselves as fighters for small businesses, current Georgia Sen. David Perdue’s campaign decided it was a good look to mock the senator’s opponent for eating a vegan burger by posting a photo of Perdue and his wife sitting over a plate of Waffle House’s good-old American non-veggies because, for whatever reason, that’s the right-wing version of a flex.
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Perdue’s campaign retweeted a post from CNN political reporter Donald “DJ” Judd.
“Back in Atlanta, Democratic candidate for Senate Jon Ossoff kicks off a Small Business Saturday tour with a stop at Slutty Vegan, a vegan burger joint,” Judd wrote accompanied by a photo array of Ossoff’s visit. “‘We got Jon Jon running for Senate in the building!’ a staffer calls out as Ossoff enters, prompting cheers.”
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Perdue’s campaign posted a photo of Perdue and his wife sitting in what looks like the Waffle Housiest Waffle House in the Atlanta area, aka Waffle House, Georgia. The caption on the photo reads, “@ossoff can have the plant burger, we’ll take the all-star special. Pick your side, Georgia.”
First of all: For those who don’t know, Slutty Vegan is a vegan burger joint that first opened in 2018 and has since opened two additional locations in Atlanta. The restaurant’s founder and CEO is Pinky Cole, a Black woman who started out “making moves from her two-bedroom apartment in July of 2018, selling Slutty Vegan’s signature burgers fresh to order via Instagram…yep, Instagram!” according to the restaurant’s website.
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I suppose we can’t just jump to the assumption that Perdue’s campaign knew Slutty Vegan is a Black-owned business or that it had anything to do with the Perdue platform being used to throw shade at the burger chain.
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Then again, Perdue definitely knew how to pronounce the name of Vice President-elect Kamala Harris—who he served with on the Senate Budget Committee for years—but still opted to woo his racist-ass constituents by referring to her as, “Kah-mah-la or Kah-ma-la or Kamala-mala-mala, I don’t know, whatever.”
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But even if racism had nothing to do with the campaign’s post, why go after a small business in favor of a large restaurant chain like Waffle House? It’s especially hypocritical given that, in August, Perdue called small businesses “the backbone of our economy” during a small business roundtable the senator hosted in Smyrna, Ga.
Also, for people who champion themselves as the anti-snowflake, conservatives sure do seem to be offended by the very idea of veganism. Imagine a campaign seeing a man minding his own business and eating a vegan burger as an opportunity to attack a political opponent.
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And what’s with all this “pick your side, Georgia” shit? Only in the out-of-touch Republican mind are vegans and meat-eaters the Capulets and Montagues of the runoff electorate. Imagine seeing an opponent eating much healthier than you as a reason to go full gang gang.
Seriously, has the Perdue campaign just officially come out as pro-heart disease, or nah?


theroot--2020-11-30--Democrats Have a Messaging Problem. Will They Do the Work to Fix It?

More than three weeks after Democrats ’ disappointing showing on Election Day , party leadership is still arguing over what went wrong .
Beyond winning the White House—and activists argue that had it not been for their activism and street-level organizing , Democrats would have lost that race , too—there aren ’ t too many bright sides .
They expected to expand on seats , not lose them .
Local Democrats hoped to take over state legislatures and failed .
In fact , Republicans flipped New Hampshire .
Democrats believed that the economic fallout and death toll resulting from Donald @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic would work against the White House occupant and his party .
As some experienced organizers wrote in Politico , Democrats depended on bad polling data and underestimated Republicans ’ organizing and campaigning skills—especially with Latinx voters .
In short , Democrats were strategically lazy .
But the main reason Democrats woke after Nov. 3 with less power than they expected is because of a weak national messaging strategy and leadership ran away from the radical base of their party instead of embracing it , activists told The Root .
They were especially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Whip Jim Clyburn blamed “ defund the police , ” socialism and other progressive platforms as reasons why Democrats underperformed .
And while some members of Congress who spoke with The Root sympathized with Clyburn and Spanberger ’ s comments , they also admitted that voters do not know what the party stands for , making GOP-counter messaging very effective in not only gaining an advantage with under-engaged voters but causing infighting between moderate and liberal members of Congress .
“ Too often , we allow the Republicans to define us , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the condition of anonymity to speak candidly .
“ They get their message out and it ’ s consistent .
The problem that we have in the Democratic Party is that we ’ re a big tent .
Give us your tired , your poor , your huddled masses yearning to breathe free .
We have the Me Too movement , we have the Black Lives Matter movement , we have the gay rights marriage issue in our tent .
So , it ’ s a lot more difficult to hone our message @ @ @ @ @ @ @ member said his colleagues need to take more responsibility for their campaigns .
“ My opponent called me a socialist , ” said another Democratic House member , also on the condition of anonymity .
“ I pushed back .
When my opponent tried to suggest that I would recall law and order , I pushed back .
And at the same time , I was able to articulate to the activists that I understood their complaints .
I supported bills like the George Floyd Justice and Policing Act .
So a lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign .
I could understand if we didn ’ t have the resources .
I think some of us probably just made bad choices.
” Melina Abdullah , co-founder of Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles , said Democrats spend more time fighting activists over defund the police instead of working with them to understand the platform .
She and other activists interviewed for this story say that Democrats have a messaging problem and too often cave in to Republican fear-mongering and disinformation tactics instead of defining exactly what they stand for .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in order to create what they call a bigger tent , ” she said .
“ We ’ re not trying to make friends with people who don ’ t understand why we absolutely want to defund the police .
We ’ re not trying to find a happy medium with those who say that they want to pour more police into our neighborhoods .
Abdullah added : “ So if you don ’ t like what we ’ re saying , we ’ re going to continue to talk with you .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ water down our message in order to make people who don ’ t understand feel more comfortable .
As a Black mother of Black children , I ’ m working for a world where they can live and walk freely .
I ’ m not going to soften that to make some white suburban mothers feel more comfortable.
” Activists and politicians have historically butted heads and that antagonism predates the BLM movement .
Making the two sides ’ relationship even more fractious is their approaches to reaching the same communities clash because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The question , though , is whose messaging is most impactful .
Activists who spoke with The Root say had it not been for their radical calls for defunding the police and other platforms , Georgia , Pennsylvania and Michigan would not have shifted blue in favor of Biden .
“ I think they have an identity problem , ” said Angela Peoples , co-founder of The South , which organizes around social and political justice issues .
“ Unfortunately , the leadership , the folks who speak for the Democratic Party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who vote for the Democratic Party .
This notion that their base of voters is more centrist is just not true .
It ’ s not what we see at rallies .
It ’ s not what we see in our one-on-one community meetings , in the moments between election cycles , when organizers and community leaders are trying to keep people engaged and pass policies that actually improve our lives.
” Peoples added that any suggestion by Democratic leadership that defund the police or any progressive slogan cost them races is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a Nov. 11 tweet when she wrote , “ The idea that politicians can control activist messaging doesn ’ t make sense .
They don ’ t work for us .
Our job is to listen and develop our message , own it , win , & lead .
Civil rights movement didn ’ t poll well at the time either .
MLK was disliked .
Does that mean he wasn ’ t effective ?
” There are signs that candidates running to lead the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee ( DCCC ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
DCCC ’ s main function is to provide campaign strategy and tone for successful congressional races , something that outgoing-DCCC chair Rep. Cheri Bustos ( D-Ill. ) did poorly and is stepping down as a result .
Rep. Tony Cárdenas ( D-Calif. ) , who is running to replace her in this week ’ s election , told Axios that Democrats dropped the ball on Latinx voter outreach and that “ you can ’ t talk to a community without having culturally competent people who are doing the messaging and getting the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maloney ( D-N.Y. ) wants to do away with the DCCC ban against political consultants who worked for candidates who challenged Democrats preferred choices .
The ban blocks vendors who work with primary challengers from tens of millions of DCCC contracts , a move that infuriated progressives when it was enacted in 2019 .
Maloney says the ban “ separated ourselves from some of the most creative and diverse people working in politics , particularly in the area of digital and social media , ” he told Axios .
Maloney ’ s call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ activists and progressive House members are more likely to support primary challengers , as well as work with BLM-leaning strategists who have the digital and mobilization skills Democrats are accused of lacking .
In the same Axios interview , Majority Whip Clyburn said Democrats “ were not able to discipline ” themselves and that they should “ stop sloganeering ” if they want to perform better in national races .
In an interview with The Root , Clyburn doubled down on “ defund the police ” as a problem , but he did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to invest more resources outside of urban areas .
“ We ’ re getting our butts kicked in rural communities , ” he said .
“ Democrats are losing badly in rural communities .
That ’ s why a state like South Carolina and North Carolina , we lose those congressional districts and we can ’ t help but lose them .
I lost four counties this year .
I ain ’ t never lost a county in my district until this year and I lost four of them .
One of them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never lost it before .
So I ’ d ask you why I lost those counties .
In 26 years , never lost a county , but this year I lost those four counties.
” After I pushed him on why he lost those counties , he said , “ Because we do not have a good program for rural communities .
Rural hospitals are closing , they ’ re going to blame somebody and they ’ re blaming us.
” The irony , though , is that there are activists who organize @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and gaining ground in rural communities and red states , starting with Georgia .
Nse Ufot , whom Stacey Abrams tapped as CEO of the New Georgia Project to help her flip Georgia , said she attracted new voters with bold messaging that included Medicare for all , free rent and defunding the police .
While Clyburn and other Democrats offer up external excuses for losses , Ufot believes they need to do some soul-searching .
“ They are going to keep losing and it ’ s going to be a problem , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had direct face-to-face conversations with Democratic leaders , people who hold leadership positions .
And I don ’ t know if Clyburn ’ s position is reflected across the ecosystem .
There are people who get it and who know .
Now there are folks still trying to figure out how to humble themselves , to ask community organizers how they can do better .
But there is a growing recognition that the status quo ain ’ t working .
And it ’ s definitely not going to allow us to grow power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ little power that they have.
” Another issue is that national Democrats tend to run away from activist-minded candidates instead of embracing them .
Then-state Senator Charles Booker , who ran against well-funded Amy McGrath in the Democratic primary on defunding the police and showed up at BLM marches while she was absent , barely lost to her after his campaign got national attention just weeks before the primary .
McGrath , who every mainstream Democrat-backed , lost by a landslide to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in one of the most expensive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but what he proved was that a Black man in a white-ass state running on a Black-ass message could attract white voters .
Booker told me earlier this year that he campaigned on “ defund the police ” in the whitest parts of Kentucky , where people “ put their fists in the air saying ‘ no lives matter until Black Lives Matter.
’ “ They were marching in the streets with white supremacists watching .
They ain ’ t care .
I think we ’ re at a point where we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ structural issues that hurt everybody.
” Again , he lost .
But what closed the gap between him and McGrath was that he took bold positions that were well-articulated and easy to distinguish .
No one knows what would have happened had national Democrats coalesced around Booker sooner , but what we do know for sure is that Black progressives who incorporate BLM language into their campaign can be competitive .
Anywhere .
What Trump does well , and what GOP leadership exploited , is his clear and focused messaging to the innermost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump is a racist , xenophobic and sexist but that makes for excellent campaigning .
He gained more than 10 million additional votes this year than in 2016 on the same message of division when ( white ) political onlookers expected much of his base to flee over his handling of the pandemic .
Not only is Trump wildly popular at the state level , candidates running for office literally run based on loyalty to Trump .
Cameron Webb , who lost his congressional race in Virginia , commended his opponent ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being “ radical.
” Democrats will never admit this publicly , but the GOP ’ s racist messaging works and they saw results with record turnout .
Republicans may not have won the White House , but they won many of the local races , which—because of the 2020 census—will determine the legislative branch of government for the next decade through redistricting .
Neal Carter , a political strategist who has led campaign messaging on statewide campaigns , said part of the problem is that Democrats traditional leadership tend to look down on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needle towards anything radical and end up backing middle-of-the-ground Democrats who don ’ t advance any new ideas that could attract new voters and gain the respect of the BLM movement “ Leadership does need to be shifted a little bit , ” he said .
“ There are a significant number of legislators who have either served one or two terms that don ’ t get the same opportunities and are kind of treated as just an additional vote in a district , and not as actual thought leaders on legislation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the Democratic body , and that ’ s it.
” Members of Congress who have taken on the thought leader roles of Congress but get criticized for it are Congresswomen Ocasio-Cortez ( D-NY ) , Ilhan Omar ( D-Minn ) , Ayanna Pressley ( D-Mass ) , and Rashida Tlaib ( D-Mich ) .
For all of the heat the establishment directs at them , the four lawmakers sure know how to win elections and get reelected .
No matter how aggressively Trump tried to paint them as terrorists , un-American and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it to undermine the integrity of their campaigns—nor , did they play blame games for their primary challenges .
For all of the blame directed at them , albeit indirectly , for causing their fellow members to lose elections because of their platforms , they each won their reelections by large margins .
While Congress members interviewed for this story say the ideological debates will not break their party , the reality is that party leadership and moderates are too fast to blame The Squad and their radical platforms for their problems .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ at risk of losing even more ground if they don ’ t figure out how to work better with BLM activists and their more radical colleagues on messaging instead of blaming them for their problems .
A Midwest House member put the whole finger-pointing game in context .
“ Republicans down ballot won all across this country , ” the member said .
“ So I don ’ t necessarily blame the party for losing those seats .
I think that the mistake that the party has made is not cultivating these various @ @ @ @ @ @ @ run an election .
People don ’ t know who we are or what we stand for .
Once we tell people , they say ‘ Great !
I didn ’ t know that you all were doing that.
’ But we don ’ t do it well .
We don ’ t let people know who we are and what we stand for .
That ’ s the one thing about The Squad : people know where they stand , and they ’ re not afraid to say it .
Even if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respect that they stand for something .
”

More than three weeks after Democrats’ disappointing showing on Election Day, party leadership is still arguing over what went wrong. Beyond winning the White House—and activists argue that had it not been for their activism and street-level organizing, Democrats would have lost that race, too—there aren’t too many bright sides.
They expected to expand on seats, not lose them. Local Democrats hoped to take over state legislatures and failed. In fact, Republicans flipped New Hampshire. Democrats believed that the economic fallout and death toll resulting from Donald Trump’s poor handling of the pandemic would work against the White House occupant and his party.
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The opposite happened.
As some experienced organizers wrote in Politico, Democrats depended on bad polling data and underestimated Republicans’ organizing and campaigning skills—especially with Latinx voters. In short, Democrats were strategically lazy.
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But the main reason Democrats woke after Nov. 3 with less power than they expected is because of a weak national messaging strategy and leadership ran away from the radical base of their party instead of embracing it, activists told The Root. They were especially offended when Rep. Abigail Spanberger and Majority Whip Jim Clyburn blamed “defund the police,” socialism and other progressive platforms as reasons why Democrats underperformed. And while some members of Congress who spoke with The Root sympathized with Clyburn and Spanberger’s comments, they also admitted that voters do not know what the party stands for, making GOP-counter messaging very effective in not only gaining an advantage with under-engaged voters but causing infighting between moderate and liberal members of Congress.
“Too often, we allow the Republicans to define us,” said one Democrat, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to speak candidly. “They get their message out and it’s consistent. The problem that we have in the Democratic Party is that we’re a big tent. Give us your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free. We have the Me Too movement, we have the Black Lives Matter movement, we have the gay rights marriage issue in our tent. So, it’s a lot more difficult to hone our message down to three points.”
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Another Congress member said his colleagues need to take more responsibility for their campaigns.
“My opponent called me a socialist,” said another Democratic House member, also on the condition of anonymity. “I pushed back. When my opponent tried to suggest that I would recall law and order, I pushed back. And at the same time, I was able to articulate to the activists that I understood their complaints. I supported bills like the George Floyd Justice and Policing Act. So a lot of this is how you package your campaign. I could understand if we didn’t have the resources. I think some of us probably just made bad choices.”
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Melina Abdullah, co-founder of Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles, said Democrats spend more time fighting activists over defund the police instead of working with them to understand the platform. She and other activists interviewed for this story say that Democrats have a messaging problem and too often cave in to Republican fear-mongering and disinformation tactics instead of defining exactly what they stand for.
“We can’t soften what we mean in order to create what they call a bigger tent,” she said. “We’re not trying to make friends with people who don’t understand why we absolutely want to defund the police. We’re not trying to find a happy medium with those who say that they want to pour more police into our neighborhoods.
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Abdullah added: “So if you don’t like what we’re saying, we’re going to continue to talk with you. But we’re not going to water down our message in order to make people who don’t understand feel more comfortable. As a Black mother of Black children, I’m working for a world where they can live and walk freely. I’m not going to soften that to make some white suburban mothers feel more comfortable.”
Activists and politicians have historically butted heads and that antagonism predates the BLM movement. Making the two sides’ relationship even more fractious is their approaches to reaching the same communities clash because their messaging isn’t the same. The question, though, is whose messaging is most impactful. Activists who spoke with The Root say had it not been for their radical calls for defunding the police and other platforms, Georgia, Pennsylvania and Michigan would not have shifted blue in favor of Biden.
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“I think they have an identity problem,” said Angela Peoples, co-founder of The South, which organizes around social and political justice issues. “Unfortunately, the leadership, the folks who speak for the Democratic Party, are not in tune with the people who vote for the Democratic Party. This notion that their base of voters is more centrist is just not true. It’s not what we see at rallies. It’s not what we see in our one-on-one community meetings, in the moments between election cycles, when organizers and community leaders are trying to keep people engaged and pass policies that actually improve our lives.”
Peoples added that any suggestion by Democratic leadership that defund the police or any progressive slogan cost them races is “shortsighted.”
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Ocasio-Cortez put it simply in a Nov. 11 tweet when she wrote, “The idea that politicians can control activist messaging doesn’t make sense. They don’t work for us. Our job is to listen and develop our message, own it, win,& lead. Civil rights movement didn’t poll well at the time either. MLK was disliked. Does that mean he wasn’t effective?”
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There are signs that candidates running to lead the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) are at least beginning to realize issues. DCCC’s main function is to provide campaign strategy and tone for successful congressional races, something that outgoing-DCCC chair Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-Ill.) did poorly and is stepping down as a result. Rep. Tony Cárdenas (D-Calif.), who is running to replace her in this week’s election, told Axios that Democrats dropped the ball on Latinx voter outreach and that “you can’t talk to a community without having culturally competent people who are doing the messaging and getting the truth out to them.”
Rep. Patrick Maloney (D-N.Y.) wants to do away with the DCCC ban against political consultants who worked for candidates who challenged Democrats preferred choices. The ban blocks vendors who work with primary challengers from tens of millions of DCCC contracts, a move that infuriated progressives when it was enacted in 2019. Maloney says the ban “separated ourselves from some of the most creative and diverse people working in politics, particularly in the area of digital and social media,” he told Axios.
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Maloney’s call for lifting the ban is important because activists and progressive House members are more likely to support primary challengers, as well as work with BLM-leaning strategists who have the digital and mobilization skills Democrats are accused of lacking.
In the same Axios interview, Majority Whip Clyburn said Democrats “were not able to discipline” themselves and that they should “stop sloganeering” if they want to perform better in national races.
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In an interview with The Root, Clyburn doubled down on “defund the police” as a problem, but he did take some responsibility, saying Democrats need to invest more resources outside of urban areas.
“We’re getting our butts kicked in rural communities,” he said. “Democrats are losing badly in rural communities. That’s why a state like South Carolina and North Carolina, we lose those congressional districts and we can’t help but lose them. I lost four counties this year. I ain’t never lost a county in my district until this year and I lost four of them. One of them, I lost pretty good. I never lost it before. So I’d ask you why I lost those counties. In 26 years, never lost a county, but this year I lost those four counties.”
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After I pushed him on why he lost those counties, he said, “Because we do not have a good program for rural communities. Rural hospitals are closing, they’re going to blame somebody and they’re blaming us.”
The irony, though, is that there are activists who organize around defund the police who are winning and gaining ground in rural communities and red states, starting with Georgia. Nse Ufot, whom Stacey Abrams tapped as CEO of the New Georgia Project to help her flip Georgia, said she attracted new voters with bold messaging that included Medicare for all, free rent and defunding the police. While Clyburn and other Democrats offer up external excuses for losses, Ufot believes they need to do some soul-searching.
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“They are going to keep losing and it’s going to be a problem,” she said. “I have had direct face-to-face conversations with Democratic leaders, people who hold leadership positions. And I don’t know if Clyburn’s position is reflected across the ecosystem. There are people who get it and who know. Now there are folks still trying to figure out how to humble themselves, to ask community organizers how they can do better. But there is a growing recognition that the status quo ain’t working. And it’s definitely not going to allow us to grow power, let alone hold on to the little power that they have.”
Another issue is that national Democrats tend to run away from activist-minded candidates instead of embracing them. Then-state Senator Charles Booker, who ran against well-funded Amy McGrath in the Democratic primary on defunding the police and showed up at BLM marches while she was absent, barely lost to her after his campaign got national attention just weeks before the primary. McGrath, who every mainstream Democrat-backed, lost by a landslide to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in one of the most expensive ass-kickings this election cycle. Booker lost, but what he proved was that a Black man in a white-ass state running on a Black-ass message could attract white voters.
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Booker told me earlier this year that he campaigned on “defund the police” in the whitest parts of Kentucky, where people “put their fists in the air saying ‘no lives matter until Black Lives Matter.’
“They were marching in the streets with white supremacists watching. They ain’t care. I think we’re at a point where we can build new coalitions that speak to structural issues that hurt everybody.”
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Again, he lost. But what closed the gap between him and McGrath was that he took bold positions that were well-articulated and easy to distinguish. No one knows what would have happened had national Democrats coalesced around Booker sooner, but what we do know for sure is that Black progressives who incorporate BLM language into their campaign can be competitive. Anywhere.
What Trump does well, and what GOP leadership exploited, is his clear and focused messaging to the innermost fears of his base. Sure, Trump is a racist, xenophobic and sexist but that makes for excellent campaigning. He gained more than 10 million additional votes this year than in 2016 on the same message of division when (white) political onlookers expected much of his base to flee over his handling of the pandemic.
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Not only is Trump wildly popular at the state level, candidates running for office literally run based on loyalty to Trump. Cameron Webb, who lost his congressional race in Virginia, commended his opponent’s pro-Trump messaging, which attacked Webb for being “radical.” Democrats will never admit this publicly, but the GOP’s racist messaging works and they saw results with record turnout. Republicans may not have won the White House, but they won many of the local races, which—because of the 2020 census—will determine the legislative branch of government for the next decade through redistricting.
Neal Carter, a political strategist who has led campaign messaging on statewide campaigns, said part of the problem is that Democrats traditional leadership tend to look down on progressive thinking, refuse to push the needle towards anything radical and end up backing middle-of-the-ground Democrats who don’t advance any new ideas that could attract new voters and gain the respect of the BLM movement
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“Leadership does need to be shifted a little bit,” he said. “There are a significant number of legislators who have either served one or two terms that don’t get the same opportunities and are kind of treated as just an additional vote in a district, and not as actual thought leaders on legislation. They’re just expected to vote with the Democratic body, and that’s it.”
Members of Congress who have taken on the thought leader roles of Congress but get criticized for it are Congresswomen Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn), Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass), and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich). For all of the heat the establishment directs at them, the four lawmakers sure know how to win elections and get reelected. No matter how aggressively Trump tried to paint them as terrorists, un-American and all racist slurs, they never allowed it to undermine the integrity of their campaigns—nor, did they play blame games for their primary challenges.
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For all of the blame directed at them, albeit indirectly, for causing their fellow members to lose elections because of their platforms, they each won their reelections by large margins . While Congress members interviewed for this story say the ideological debates will not break their party, the reality is that party leadership and moderates are too fast to blame The Squad and their radical platforms for their problems. And that is going to put them at risk of losing even more ground if they don’t figure out how to work better with BLM activists and their more radical colleagues on messaging instead of blaming them for their problems.
A Midwest House member put the whole finger-pointing game in context.
“Republicans down ballot won all across this country,” the member said. “So I don’t necessarily blame the party for losing those seats. I think that the mistake that the party has made is not cultivating these various constituencies until it’s time to run an election. People don’t know who we are or what we stand for. Once we tell people, they say ‘Great! I didn’t know that you all were doing that.’ But we don’t do it well. We don’t let people know who we are and what we stand for. That’s the one thing about The Squad: people know where they stand, and they’re not afraid to say it. Even if I disagree with them sometimes, I respect that they stand for something.”


theroot--2020-11-30--They Came, They Saw, They Grandpa'd. Tyson-Jones Bout Ends In Highly Questionable Draw

After a stressful year that ’ s oftentimes felt like a nightmare , Saturday night felt like a dream come true .
For months , the scheduled ( and delayed ) bout between former heavyweight champs Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr. promised boxing fans a taste of nostalgia—with a dab of attrition—and while the undercard had its share of surprises , the main event did not disappoint .
In the hours leading up to the fight , I ’ ll be the first to admit that I began to have some reservations .
Much like everyone else , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exhibition match between two gladiators who were well-past their primes—they ’ re a combined 105 years old , after all—but what gave me pause wasn ’ t the potential for a “ brawl ” that would be better suited for Bingo Night at a senior center , but the rules each combatant was contractually bound to .
Specifically , that there was a no knockout clause ( how in the fuck do you put Mike Tyson in the ring and not expect him to lay somebody out ? )
and that the referee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plug on the fight if either boxer sustained a cut .
If you punch somebody in the face enough times , one of two things is guaranteed to happen : Either they ’ re gon na bleed or they ’ re gon na get slumped .
Sooooooo were they not supposed to punch each other ?
Sure , the requirements of 12-once gloves and two-minute rounds were obviously imposed to mitigate damage , but I watch boxing to see niggas get laid out—and these rules sounded bogus as hell .
But once Iron @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actually got in the ring , it was a much more competitive bout than I anticipated .
Considering Jones has been washed up since Homeboys In Outer Space was still a thing , I was 274 percent positive that his jaw would hold up about as well as Kevin Hart ’ s homophobic tweets did .
But lo and behold , Mr. Y ’ all Must ’ ve Forgot actually held his own .
Traces of his signature flair and showmanship were still on display—that no-look jab will still happily put somebody on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t as explosive as he was in a past life , he still caught Iron Mike slipping a few times .
Unfortunately for Jones , his body remembered it was 51 years old in the middle of the fight , which left him gasping for air halfway into the 3rd round .
As for Tyson , his combos might ’ ve been limited to one or two punches , but he still delivered quite a few clean shots that tested Jones ’ mettle .
He poured the pain on early before eventually running @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to return fire despite his lack of lateral movement—or endurance .
When the dust settled , the fight was somehow called a draw—only a compulsive liar like Donald Trump would tell you that Jones came even remotely close to winning—and each fighter had different opinions on the decision .
While Tyson gave less than a shit about the fight ’ s outcome ( “ I ’ m good with that , ” Tyson told Jim Gray after their bout ) , Jones kept it a buck : “ I wear draws , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , much love to Snoop Dogg for stepping in for Lil ’ Wayne at the 11th hour and delivering not only a dope performance but the type of boxing commentary typically reserved for the barbershop .
Between singing church hymns , comparing Jones and Tyson ’ s scrap to “ two of my uncles fighting at the barbecue ” and yelling “ OH LAWD !
!
!
” when Jake Paul helped Nate Robinson win his fourth Slam Dunk Contest , Snoop did what Snoop does best : Bring the entertainment value .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ delivered on its promise to entertain , and I look forward to what Tyson ’ s Legends Only League and video platform Triller produce together in the future .

After a stressful year that’s oftentimes felt like a nightmare, Saturday night felt like a dream come true.
For months, the scheduled (and delayed) bout between former heavyweight champs Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr. promised boxing fans a taste of nostalgia—with a dab of attrition—and while the undercard had its share of surprises, the main event did not disappoint.
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In the hours leading up to the fight, I’ll be the first to admit that I began to have some reservations. Much like everyone else, I was well aware that this was an exhibition match between two gladiators who were well-past their primes—they’re a combined 105 years old, after all—but what gave me pause wasn’t the potential for a “brawl” that would be better suited for Bingo Night at a senior center, but the rules each combatant was contractually bound to. Specifically, that there was a no knockout clause (how in the fuck do you put Mike Tyson in the ring and not expect him to lay somebody out?) and that the referee was under strict instructions to pull the plug on the fight if either boxer sustained a cut.
What?!
If you punch somebody in the face enough times, one of two things is guaranteed to happen: Either they’re gonna bleed or they’re gonna get slumped. Sooooooo were they not supposed to punch each other? Sure, the requirements of 12-once gloves and two-minute rounds were obviously imposed to mitigate damage, but I watch boxing to see niggas get laid out—and these rules sounded bogus as hell. But once Iron Mike and what’s his face actually got in the ring, it was a much more competitive bout than I anticipated.
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Considering Jones has been washed up since Homeboys In Outer Space was still a thing, I was 274 percent positive that his jaw would hold up about as well as Kevin Hart’s homophobic tweets did. But lo and behold, Mr. Y’all Must’ve Forgot actually held his own. Traces of his signature flair and showmanship were still on display—that no-look jab will still happily put somebody on their ass—and while he obviously wasn’t as explosive as he was in a past life, he still caught Iron Mike slipping a few times.
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Unfortunately for Jones, his body remembered it was 51 years old in the middle of the fight, which left him gasping for air halfway into the 3rd round.
As for Tyson, his combos might’ve been limited to one or two punches, but he still delivered quite a few clean shots that tested Jones’ mettle. He poured the pain on early before eventually running out of gas, which allowed Jones to return fire despite his lack of lateral movement—or endurance.
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When the dust settled, the fight was somehow called a draw—only a compulsive liar like Donald Trump would tell you that Jones came even remotely close to winning—and each fighter had different opinions on the decision. While Tyson gave less than a shit about the fight’s outcome (“I’m good with that,” Tyson told Jim Gray after their bout), Jones kept it a buck: “I wear draws, I don’t do draws.”
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Well, alrighty then.
Also, much love to Snoop Dogg for stepping in for Lil’ Wayne at the 11th hour and delivering not only a dope performance but the type of boxing commentary typically reserved for the barbershop. Between singing church hymns, comparing Jones and Tyson’s scrap to “two of my uncles fighting at the barbecue” and yelling “OH LAWD!!!” when Jake Paul helped Nate Robinson win his fourth Slam Dunk Contest, Snoop did what Snoop does best: Bring the entertainment value.
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All in all, the Tyson-Jones card delivered on its promise to entertain, and I look forward to what Tyson’s Legends Only League and video platform Triller produce together in the future.


theroot--2020-11-30--Make It Feel a Little More Festive in Your Socially Distant Home With This Lighted Pine Tree, Now 65

Make It Feel a Little More Festive in Your Socially Distant Home With This Lighted Pine Tree, Now 65% Off

I have a friend that as soon as November 1 hits her tree is up .
And this year she told me it ’ s the one thing she ’ s been looking forward to and has kind of helped her cope with not being able to see her family .
That ’ s deep .
There ’ s no shame in finding comfort in things like this and if a big ole pine tree is going to bring you joy you might as well buy one that ’ s deeply discounted .
This 6.5 ft. Winchester pine with clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a good home .
With the lights already on it , half the work is done .
I used to have to put a version of this tree up for my mom when would visit .
Once you figure out where all the connections are it ’ s quite a sight to behold .
There are 400 pre-strung lights on this one .
These trees actually do feel authentic and definitely look real .
It ’ s a pretty full tree and the branch tips are mixed for optimum ornament hanging .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to assemble and comes with a folding metal stand .
If you ’ re ready for the holidays to be here then hop on this sale .
This will ship for free .
This deal was originally published by Sheilah Villari in November and was updated on 11/30/20 .

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

6.5 Ft. Winchester Pine Tree With Clear Lights | $189 | Macy’s
I have a friend that as soon as November 1 hits her tree is up. And this year she told me it’s the one thing she’s been looking forward to and has kind of helped her cope with not being able to see her family. That’s deep. There’s no shame in finding comfort in things like this and if a big ole pine tree is going to bring you joy you might as well buy one that’s deeply discounted. This 6.5 ft. Winchester pine with clear lights is 65 % off and needs a good home.
With the lights already on it, half the work is done. I used to have to put a version of this tree up for my mom when would visit. Once you figure out where all the connections are it’s quite a sight to behold. There are 400 pre-strung lights on this one. These trees actually do feel authentic and definitely look real . It’s a pretty full tree and the branch tips are mixed for optimum ornament hanging. I can tell you it is rather easy to assemble and comes with a folding metal stand. If you’re ready for the holidays to be here then hop on this sale.
This will ship for free.
This deal was originally published by Sheilah Villari in November and was updated on 11/30/20.


theroot--2020-11-30--GTFOH Trump Watch: Old Man Trump Just Keeps Babbling to Himself

It ’ s hard to let go of the past .
Napoleon Dynamite ’ s uncle was so enamored by his own football past that he once offered to throw a football over a mountain .
George Jefferson would tell anyone who listened that he came from nothing to owning seven , that ’ s right , seven dry cleaners .
And don ’ t let any of this distract you from the fact that in 1966 , Al Bundy scored four touchdowns in the championship game .
The past can be a bitter mistress haunting every turn .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eviction notice is on the door .
His goose has been cooked and now he ’ s a lame duck .
And none of this has stopped the old coot from reminiscing about his 2016 election win ( just think about how many times in the past four years we had to hear about Hillary ) and his bogus claims of election fraud .
At this point , the president isn ’ t even getting dressed .
He ’ s just walking around the White House in a robe and house shoes talking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election was stolen from him .
And when the plants stop listening to him , he takes to Twitter .
President Trump did get one thing right in this tweet .
Brian Kemp is a hapless governor , but he ’ s also a Trump sycophant , and if anyone was willing to break the rules to help Trump win , it would be Kemp , and even he was like , “ Nah , playboy.
” The election is over .
So over that Melania is already on Craigslist looking for an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s so over that South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham has broken down his sleeping cage and put it into his Honda Civic .
It ’ s so over that even Republican PornHub , aka Fox News , is hitting Trump with the “ Really , playboy ?
This again ?
” face when he calls into to rehash his claims of rampant voter fraud with no actual proof .
In his first interview since his humiliating election loss , Trump called into some stone-faced white woman ’ s show on Republican SpankBang and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anything ” from the DOJ or the Federal Bureau of Investigation on investigating the 2020 election .
“ You would think if you ’ re in the FBI or Department of Justice , this is the biggest thing you could be looking at , ” Trump said .
“ Where are they ?
I ’ ve not seen anything .
“ They just keep moving along and they go on to the next president , ” he continued .
Yes , because that ’ s kind of how elections work when there are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ basically , everyone in the White House is doing exactly what the rest of America does when the old man starts spouting out crazy shit about his past ; we are walking away until he has no one left to talk to .

It’s hard to let go of the past.
Napoleon Dynamite’s uncle was so enamored by his own football past that he once offered to throw a football over a mountain. George Jefferson would tell anyone who listened that he came from nothing to owning seven, that’s right, seven dry cleaners. And don’t let any of this distract you from the fact that in 1966, Al Bundy scored four touchdowns in the championship game.
The past can be a bitter mistress haunting every turn. The president has lost the election. The eviction notice is on the door. His goose has been cooked and now he’s a lame duck. And none of this has stopped the old coot from reminiscing about his 2016 election win (just think about how many times in the past four years we had to hear about Hillary) and his bogus claims of election fraud. At this point, the president isn’t even getting dressed. He’s just walking around the White House in a robe and house shoes talking to the house plants about how the election was stolen from him.
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And when the plants stop listening to him, he takes to Twitter.
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President Trump did get one thing right in this tweet. Brian Kemp is a hapless governor, but he’s also a Trump sycophant, and if anyone was willing to break the rules to help Trump win, it would be Kemp, and even he was like, “Nah, playboy.”
The election is over. So over that Melania is already on Craigslist looking for an apartment near her boyfriend. It’s so over that South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham has broken down his sleeping cage and put it into his Honda Civic. It’s so over that even Republican PornHub, aka Fox News, is hitting Trump with the “Really, playboy? This again?” face when he calls into to rehash his claims of rampant voter fraud with no actual proof.
Advertisement
In his first interview since his humiliating election loss, Trump called into some stone-faced white woman’s show on Republican SpankBang and claimed that he has “not seen anything” from the DOJ or the Federal Bureau of Investigation on investigating the 2020 election.
“You would think if you’re in the FBI or Department of Justice, this is the biggest thing you could be looking at,” Trump said. “Where are they? I’ve not seen anything.
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“They just keep moving along and they go on to the next president,” he continued.
Yes, because that’s kind of how elections work when there are no signs of voter fraud. So basically, everyone in the White House is doing exactly what the rest of America does when the old man starts spouting out crazy shit about his past; we are walking away until he has no one left to talk to.
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theroot--2020-11-30--Long Live Our King: Disney+ Honors Chadwick Boseman With Special Tribute in Black Panther Opening Cr

Long Live Our King: Disney+ Honors Chadwick Boseman With Special Tribute in Black Panther Opening Credits

Over Thanksgiving weekend , Disney Chairman Bob Iger announced in a tweet that the company ’ s streaming platform , Disney+ , would pay tribute to its beloved Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman .
“ To all fans of # BlackPanther : watch the film on # DisneyPlus late tonight , for a special tribute to someone that was and will always be near and dear to our hearts , ” he wrote .
The tribute comes just in time for what would ’ ve been the late actor ’ s 44th birthday , and as expected , heartwarming photos @ @ @ @ @ @ @ honor of Boseman ’ s memory .
Chadwick Boseman died on August 28 at the age of 43 after a four-year battle with colon cancer .
The news of his death dealt a shocking blow to folks around the world as many , even his closest colleagues , were unaware of his diagnosis .
If I ’ m honest , Boseman ’ s death is one that still rocks me to my core every time I think about it .
I still remember what I did hours before the news hit , even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on and what I ate for dinner .
Up until that moment , I couldn ’ t tell you the last time I cried—I mean like , real-deal , snot-nosed , UGLY cried .
But on that night and the days following , that ’ s all I did—only breaking to rewatch all of Chadwick ’ s films ( Get On Up is my personal favorite ) .
As time passed and reality began to set in , the tears slowly began to stop and watching Boseman ’ s work and various videos @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a moment for joy and light .
This viral clip in particular of him alongside Black Panther co-star Michael B. Jordan was especially uplifting .
Like most , it was and will always be the laugh for me .
As of now , filming for Black Panther 2 is set to begin in July of next year and will last for about six months in Atlanta .
Marvel Studios has made no mention of exactly how it will incorporate the late actor into the sequel but has strongly denounced any use of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news , check out the special tribute from Disney to our forever king .

Shanelle Genai on The Grapevine, shared by Shanelle Genai to The Root

Over Thanksgiving weekend, Disney Chairman Bob Iger announced in a tweet that the company’s streaming platform, Disney+, would pay tribute to its beloved Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman. “To all fans of #BlackPanther: watch the film on #DisneyPlus late tonight, for a special tribute to someone that was and will always be near and dear to our hearts,” he wrote.
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The tribute comes just in time for what would’ve been the late actor’s 44th birthday, and as expected, heartwarming photos and videos took over the timeline in honor of Boseman’s memory.
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Chadwick Boseman died on August 28 at the age of 43 after a four-year battle with colon cancer. The news of his death dealt a shocking blow to folks around the world as many, even his closest colleagues, were unaware of his diagnosis. If I’m honest, Boseman’s death is one that still rocks me to my core every time I think about it. I still remember what I did hours before the news hit, even down to the exact outfit I had on and what I ate for dinner. Up until that moment, I couldn’t tell you the last time I cried—I mean like, real-deal, snot-nosed, UGLY cried. But on that night and the days following, that’s all I did—only breaking to rewatch all of Chadwick’s films (Get On Up is my personal favorite). As time passed and reality began to set in, the tears slowly began to stop and watching Boseman’s work and various videos became less of a struggle and more of a moment for joy and light. This viral clip in particular of him alongside Black Panther co-star Michael B. Jordan was especially uplifting. Like most, it was and will always be the laugh for me.
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As of now, filming for Black Panther 2 is set to begin in July of next year and will last for about six months in Atlanta. Marvel Studios has made no mention of exactly how it will incorporate the late actor into the sequel but has strongly denounced any use of digital technologies. While we await further news, check out the special tribute from Disney to our forever king.


theroot--2020-11-30--'We Have a Right to Walk in the Park': Laverne Cox Recalls Recent Transphobic Attack

Laverne Cox ( Bad Hair , Promising Young Woman ) recently shared details of a transphobic attack that occurred while she and her friend were walking at Griffith Park in Los Angeles .
Content Warning : The following article contains an account that includes transphobic language and anti-trans violence .
“ We were just attacked in Griffith Park .
We are fine .
Be careful out there .
# TransIsBeautiful ” Cox wrote in the caption of an Instagram video she posted on Sunday ( after she went on Instagram Live to first tell the story ) .
In the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in shock and was feeling “ triggered ” after an attack from a man who “ aggressively ” asked for the time .
Cox , who was masked and had a hoodie on during the walk , didn ’ t think too much of it until she heard the man ask “ Guy or girl ?
” to her friend to which her friend responded “ fuck off.
” From there , things got physical as she explained that the man started to fight with her friend .
Cox was taken aback by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ altercation seemed to have finished as fast as it started .
The attacker disappeared from the scene .
“ I don ’ t know why , I don ’ t know why it matters .
At the end of the day , it ’ s like who cares ?
” Cox said .
“ I ’ m in a hoodie and yoga pants , I ’ m completely covered up , I ’ ve got my mask on .
Who cares if I ’ m trans ?
How does this affect your life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not shocked by this bigoted behavior and other forms of street harassment as it is , unfortunately , a part of her life , stressing , “ it never fails to be shocking.
” She also noted that—along with the pandemic—the incident made her hyper-aware of leaving the house .
According to Human Rights Campaign , “ at least 39 transgender or gender non-conforming people [ have been ] fatally shot or killed by other violent means , the majority of which were Black and Latinx transgender women ” this year .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20 was Trans Day of Remembrance , which honors the memory of transgender people who have lost their lives due to anti-transgender violence .
“ The biggest obstacle we face is that as we increase our visibility , we also embolden the ongoing transgender backlash , ” trans journalist and founder of the multimedia platform TransLash media , Imara Jones recently told The Root .
“ This means that there ’ s a long way to go to achieve liberation with a lot of battles left ahead.
” “ It doesn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ noted .
“ You can be Laverne Cox , you know , or whatever that means .
If you ’ re trans , you ’ re going to experience stuff like this .
It ’ s not your fault that there are people not cool with you existing in the world .
We have a right to walk in the park.
” Cox recently teamed up with Citi for its “ True Name ” initiative , “ a first among major banks , offering transgender and nonbinary customers the ability to use their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or deadname.
” We ’ re relieved Cox and her friend are safe and send both of them our well wishes .
For a list of resources and support for transgender people and allies , please visit glaad.org .

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

Laverne Cox (Bad Hair, Promising Young Woman) recently shared details of a transphobic attack that occurred while she and her friend were walking at Griffith Park in Los Angeles.
Content Warning: The following article contains an account that includes transphobic language and anti-trans violence.
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“We were just attacked in Griffith Park. We are fine. Be careful out there. #TransIsBeautiful” Cox wrote in the caption of an Instagram video she posted on Sunday (after she went on Instagram Live to first tell the story).
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As Deadline reports:
In the video, she admits that she was in shock and was feeling “triggered” after an attack from a man who “aggressively” asked for the time. Cox, who was masked and had a hoodie on during the walk, didn’t think too much of it until she heard the man ask “Guy or girl?” to her friend to which her friend responded “fuck off.” From there, things got physical as she explained that the man started to fight with her friend. Cox was taken aback by the fight and called 9-1-1 but the altercation seemed to have finished as fast as it started. The attacker disappeared from the scene.
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“I don’t know why, I don’t know why it matters. At the end of the day, it’s like who cares?” Cox said. “I’m in a hoodie and yoga pants, I’m completely covered up, I’ve got my mask on. Who cares if I’m trans? How does this affect your life?”
Cox noted that though she is not shocked by this bigoted behavior and other forms of street harassment as it is, unfortunately, a part of her life, stressing, “it never fails to be shocking.” She also noted that—along with the pandemic—the incident made her hyper-aware of leaving the house.
Advertisement
According to Human Rights Campaign, “at least 39 transgender or gender non-conforming people [have been] fatally shot or killed by other violent means, the majority of which were Black and Latinx transgender women” this year. Just over a week ago on Nov. 20 was Trans Day of Remembrance, which honors the memory of transgender people who have lost their lives due to anti-transgender violence.
“The biggest obstacle we face is that as we increase our visibility, we also embolden the ongoing transgender backlash,” trans journalist and founder of the multimedia platform TransLash media, Imara Jones recently told The Root. “This means that there’s a long way to go to achieve liberation with a lot of battles left ahead.”
Advertisement
“It doesn’t matter who you are,” Cox noted. “You can be Laverne Cox, you know, or whatever that means. If you’re trans, you’re going to experience stuff like this. It’s not your fault that there are people not cool with you existing in the world. We have a right to walk in the park.”
Cox recently teamed up with Citi for its “True Name” initiative, “a first among major banks, offering transgender and nonbinary customers the ability to use their chosen names instead of their legal name or deadname.”
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We’re relieved Cox and her friend are safe and send both of them our well wishes. For a list of resources and support for transgender people and allies, please visit glaad.org.


theroot--2020-12-02--Nasdaq Pushing Corporations to Do the Bare Minimum When It Comes to Diversity on Their Leadership Bo

Nasdaq Pushing Corporations to Do the Bare Minimum When It Comes to Diversity on Their Leadership Boards

Alright , LLC Twitter , this one ’ s for you : Nasdaq has announced plans to push for corporations to do the absolute bare minimum in ensuring diversity in their boardrooms .
According to ABC News , a proposal submitted Tuesday by Nasdaq to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission would require companies listed on the stock exchange to publicly detail the diversity statistics of their leadership boards .
Not only that , the proposal would mandate that company ’ s have at least one “ underrepresented minority , ” ( LGBTQ or non-white ) and one woman on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t have either it could run the risk of being delisted from the exchange .
The new rules would ultimately need to be approved by the SEC in order to take effect .
Companies based in other countries can meet the proposed diversity requirements by having at least two women on its board .
Under the proposal , however , Nasdaq-listed companies will be required to publicly disclose its board diversity statistics within one year of the SEC ’ s approval of the new rules .
From then , all companies will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ within two years of the SEC ’ s approval of the rule .
Companies listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market and Nasdaq Global Market will be expected to have two diverse directors within four years and companies listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market will be expected to have two diverse directors within five years .
If companies do not meet the diverse board requirements within the timeframes , they will have to provide a public explanation for why or face possible delisting from the exchange .
The folks at Nasdaq seem to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Our goal with this proposal is to provide a transparent framework for Nasdaq-listed companies to present their board composition and diversity philosophy effectively to all stakeholders , ” Adena Friedman , Nasdaq ’ s president and CEO , said in a statement .
“ We believe this listing rule is one step in a broader journey to achieve inclusive representation across corporate America.
” Even the ACLU is all about it , with its Executive Director Anthony Romero praising NASDAQ for “ heeding the call of the moment.
” What do I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ simple nigga in a Green Lantern shirt , my understanding of stocks and corporate America is limited .
I do know what looks like a well-meaning bad idea when I see one , though .
Look , pushing for diversity in all echelons of public and private businesses is a noble and necessary goal ; I ’ ll never argue otherwise .
I can ’ t help but feel , though , that this is really just setting up folks to be token hires and could create potentially unpleasant work environments for whoever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ain ’ t the first one to say it , but the table wasn ’ t built for us .
These systems weren ’ t built for us .
It feels like they ’ re trying to fix a problem without addressing the root causes , and the culture that made a proposal like this even seem necessary .
I mean , y ’ all really don ’ t think we ’ re going start to seeing corporations coming out like “ Hey , we didn ’ t just hire a Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And he watched all of Naruto , including the filler episodes .
That ’ s like three things right there , run us our praise.
” Again , I ’ m just a nigga on a laptop , so I could just be looking for storm clouds on a sunny day .
Then again , given what we know about corporate America , this seems like it could be just another half measure that makes them feel good for “ doing their part , ” without them actually having to do their @ @

Alright, LLC Twitter, this one’s for you: Nasdaq has announced plans to push for corporations to do the absolute bare minimum in ensuring diversity in their boardrooms.
According to ABC News, a proposal submitted Tuesday by Nasdaq to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission would require companies listed on the stock exchange to publicly detail the diversity statistics of their leadership boards. Not only that, the proposal would mandate that company’s have at least one “underrepresented minority,”(LGBTQ or non-white) and one woman on their board. If a company doesn’t have either it could run the risk of being delisted from the exchange.
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The new rules would ultimately need to be approved by the SEC in order to take effect. Companies based in other countries can meet the proposed diversity requirements by having at least two women on its board.
From ABC News:
Under the proposal, however, Nasdaq-listed companies will be required to publicly disclose its board diversity statistics within one year of the SEC’s approval of the new rules. From then, all companies will be expected to have one diverse director within two years of the SEC’s approval of the rule. Companies listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market and Nasdaq Global Market will be expected to have two diverse directors within four years and companies listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market will be expected to have two diverse directors within five years. If companies do not meet the diverse board requirements within the timeframes, they will have to provide a public explanation for why or face possible delisting from the exchange.
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The folks at Nasdaq seem to be really gung-ho about the push.
“Our goal with this proposal is to provide a transparent framework for Nasdaq-listed companies to present their board composition and diversity philosophy effectively to all stakeholders,” Adena Friedman, Nasdaq’s president and CEO, said in a statement. “We believe this listing rule is one step in a broader journey to achieve inclusive representation across corporate America.”
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Even the ACLU is all about it, with its Executive Director Anthony Romero praising NASDAQ for “heeding the call of the moment.”
What do I think? Well, as just a simple nigga in a Green Lantern shirt, my understanding of stocks and corporate America is limited. I do know what looks like a well-meaning bad idea when I see one, though.
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Look, pushing for diversity in all echelons of public and private businesses is a noble and necessary goal; I’ll never argue otherwise. I can’t help but feel, though, that this is really just setting up folks to be token hires and could create potentially unpleasant work environments for whoever takes those seats at the table.
I ain’t the first one to say it, but the table wasn’t built for us. These systems weren’t built for us. It feels like they’re trying to fix a problem without addressing the root causes, and the culture that made a proposal like this even seem necessary.
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I mean, y’all really don’t think we’re going start to seeing corporations coming out like “Hey, we didn’t just hire a Black guy. He’s gay too. And he watched all of Naruto, including the filler episodes. That’s like three things right there, run us our praise.”
Again, I’m just a nigga on a laptop, so I could just be looking for storm clouds on a sunny day. Then again, given what we know about corporate America, this seems like it could be just another half measure that makes them feel good for “doing their part,” without them actually having to do their part.


theroot--2020-12-01--Get Your Coconut Beauty Fix With 30% off at Kopari

A few companies are letting their Cyber Monday deals roll over into December for a few days and bless them for that .
Kopari is a great clean beauty brand and ideal for anyone who loves coconut which is the active ingredient across their line .
If 100 % organic coconut is your jam Kopari is for you .
For the rest of the day take 30 % off anything with the code SWEET30 .
If you ’ ve never tried or even heard of Kopari I can say they ’ re pretty quality .
Kopari ’ s got a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you try a few of their offerings to see which is best for you .
For just $ 53 you ’ ll receive their top 4 items .
I got to try the Coconut Exfoliant Crush Scrub in a sample box and have to say it ’ s a great e xfoliator for winter , it left my face and arms super smooth .
The coconut scent i sn ’ t overwhelming either .
You ’ ll also get the Hydrating Shower Oil Body Wash for a fresh island clean .
The Organic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of things beyond just moisturizing .
I ’ ve seen a few of these on the market and this one can be used in hair , under the eyes , even to help soothe chapped skin which is great for the cold weather .
Lastly is Coconut Deo .
This one is awesome for folks with sensitive skin looking for a d eodorant that will protect the underarms and Kopari uses coconut and sage to do just that .
This bundle will ship for free .
Otherwise , any order over $ 20 @ @ @

20 % off Sitewide | Kopari Beauty
Kopari is a great clean beauty brand and ideal for anyone who loves coconut, the active ingredient across their line. If 100% organic coconut is your jam Kopari is for you. Take 20 % off anything in their huge sitewide friends and fam ily sale. If you don’t see this discount right away don’t worry, it will appear at check out.
If you’ve never tried or even heard of Kopari I can say they’re pretty quality. Kopari’s got a bundle of their best sellers to help you try a few of their offerings to see which is best for you. For just $69 you’ll receive their top 4 items.
I got to try the Coconut Exfoliant Crush Scrub in a sample box and have to say it’s a great exfoliator for winter, it left my face and arms super smooth. The coconut scent isn’t overwhelming either. You’ll also get the Hydrating Shower Oil Body Wash for a fresh island clean. The Organic Coconut Melt is great for a multitude of things beyond just moisturizing. I’ve seen a few of these on the market and this one can be used in hair, under the eyes, even to help soothe chapped skin which is great for the cold weather. Lastly is Coconut Deo. This one is awesome for folks with sensitive skin looking for a deodorant that will protect the underarms and Kopari uses coconut and sage to do just that.


theroot--2020-12-02--To Close for Comfort: The CW’s All American Won’t Address COVID-19 in Its Upcoming Season

Though fans of the hit football drama All American will have to wait until mid-January for its return , they can rest assured that they ’ ll be spared a pandemic-themed season of television .
In a Variety exclusive , showrunner Nkechi Okoro Carroll admitted that while the episodes themselves won ’ t directly deal with COVID-19 , the reality of the virus played a defining role in how the season was shot .
“ The biggest thing is we are a young adult show that loves to throw parties—homecoming , everybody ’ s birthday , ” Okoro Carroll tells @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s just like , ‘ Uh uh , what three people are getting together to have coffee and a chat ?
We started writing the season end of February—I rolled directly from Season 2 into Season 3 .
So by the time the pandemic hit and it was like it was here to hang out for a while , we went back and did our COVID pass on [ scripts ] and flagged scenes with too many extras in it.
” She continued , “ Football ’ s full contact ; socially distanced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not for games and it ’ s their senior year so it just felt crazy [ not to have football ] if we weren ’ t addressing COVID on the show .
Effectively what we created was a football bubble , modeled after what the NBA did.
” Despite the unconventionality , Okoro Carroll remains confident in not only the outcome of this new season , but the innovation that will come because of it .
“ The kind of collaborations and thinking outside of the box that we ’ re seeing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make it all happen , this whole idea of working on a production where the No .
1 goal is looking out for each other has been amazing.
” Season Three of All American will premiere January 18 , only on The CW .

Though fans of the hit football drama All American will have to wait until mid-January for its return, they can rest assured that they’ll be spared a pandemic-themed season of television.
In a Variety exclusive, showrunner Nkechi Okoro Carroll admitted that while the episodes themselves won’t directly deal with COVID-19, the reality of the virus played a defining role in how the season was shot. “The biggest thing is we are a young adult show that loves to throw parties—homecoming, everybody’s birthday,” Okoro Carroll tells Variety. “And now it’s just like, ‘Uh uh, what three people are getting together to have coffee and a chat? We started writing the season end of February—I rolled directly from Season 2 into Season 3. So by the time the pandemic hit and it was like it was here to hang out for a while, we went back and did our COVID pass on [scripts] and flagged scenes with too many extras in it.”
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She continued, “Football’s full contact; socially distanced football works for drills at practice but not for games and it’s their senior year so it just felt crazy [not to have football] if we weren’t addressing COVID on the show. Effectively what we created was a football bubble, modeled after what the NBA did.”
Despite the unconventionality, Okoro Carroll remains confident in not only the outcome of this new season, but the innovation that will come because of it. “The kind of collaborations and thinking outside of the box that we’re seeing, the way everyone is working together to make it all happen, this whole idea of working on a production where the No. 1 goal is looking out for each other has been amazing.”
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Season Three of All American will premiere January 18, only on The CW.


theroot--2020-12-02--Department of Education Finally Starts Processing COVID-Related Discrimination Cases 9 Months Into P

Department of Education Finally Starts Processing COVID-Related Discrimination Cases 9 Months Into Pandemic

Y ’ all , we all know the Department of Education under Betsy DeVos ain ’ t shit .
The RC Cola version of Dolores Umbridge has decided that nine months into the pandemic and one month before she ’ s out of a job is the perfect time to start processing discrimination cases related to COVID .
According to HuffPost , the department ’ s Office for Civil Rights has finally begun processing discrimination complaints related to the ongoing pandemic .
Attorneys in the office told HuffP ost in November that they ’ ve not been allowed to pursue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic .
A spokesperson for the department told HuffP ost that those attorneys were lying-ass liars who didn ’ t know what they ’ re talking about .
“ This information is categorically false and represents the viewpoint of a low-level employee who has not been fully informed or brought up to speed on the clear directive given by HQ to move forward on all COVID cases without delay , ” spokesperson Angela Morabito told HuffPost in early November .
Morabito ’ s statement , like most statements from the Trump administration , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A email HuffPost obtained from a regional manager within the department said that “ discrimination complaints related to COVID-19 ” would need to be overseen by “ the highest levels of management.
” This was the opposite of moving “ forward on all COVID cases without delay , ” and essentially put a hold on all pandemic-related cases .
A good amount of these cases focused on children with disabilities who were unable to receive the resources needed to continue their education throughout the pandemic .
Several families who work with disability rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that their discrimination cases were moving forward .
These families say that their children have failed to receive the education services they ’ re entitled to during the pandemic .
In one instance , a family told the Education Department in August that their child was being discriminated against on the basis of disability because their school district had failed to provide mandated speech and language services from March 2020 until the end of the school year .
The Education Department didn ’ t respond to the complaint until late November .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would open an investigation into whether the school district had failed to provide a free and appropriate public education , in violation of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act , which bans discrimination based on disability .
Who knows how many disabled kids have lost an entire year of education because the Department of Education didn ’ t feel like doing their job .
Truly doing the lord ’ s work , those folks .
Lipsitt told HuffPost that when she contacted an attorney at the Office for Civil Rights in the fall about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases related to COVID-19 are subject to a increased scrutiny , and rewriting the allegations with no mention of COVID-19 might help them get processed faster .
Stephanie Onyx , a mother who filed a similar complaint , told HuffP ost the office gave her similar advice .
What I find most frustrating is that there is a lack of clarity of what this increased scrutiny means .
There ’ s also no explanation on why it ’ s been put in place to begin with .
Maybe it ’ s just me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help people then it would make more sense to streamline that process than to add more roadblocks .
Despite Morabito bizarrely telling HuffP ost that no change has been made to the processing of cases , attorneys told HuffP ost that they have been given authorizations to pursue certain claims on a case-by-case basis .
The Department of Education has yet to release an official statement on the matter , because , well , look who ’ s in charge y ’ all .

Y’all, we all know the Department of Education under Betsy DeVos ain’t shit. The RC Cola version of Dolores Umbridge has decided that nine months into the pandemic and one month before she’s out of a job is the perfect time to start processing discrimination cases related to COVID.
According to HuffPost, the department’s Office for Civil Rights has finally begun processing discrimination complaints related to the ongoing pandemic. Attorneys in the office told HuffP ost in November that they’ve not been allowed to pursue these cases for the entirety of the pandemic. A spokesperson for the department told HuffP ost that those attorneys were lying-ass liars who didn’t know what they’re talking about.
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“This information is categorically false and represents the viewpoint of a low-level employee who has not been fully informed or brought up to speed on the clear directive given by HQ to move forward on all COVID cases without delay,” spokesperson Angela Morabito told HuffPost in early November.
Ah, yes, “low-level employee. ” W hat class.
Morabito’s statement, like most statements from the Trump administration, was undermined by some simple facts. A email HuffPost obtained from a regional manager within the department said that “discrimination complaints related to COVID-19” would need to be overseen by “the highest levels of management.”
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This was the opposite of moving “forward on all COVID cases without delay,” and essentially put a hold on all pandemic-related cases. A good amount of these cases focused on children with disabilities who were unable to receive the resources needed to continue their education throughout the pandemic.
From HuffPost:
Several families who work with disability rights advocate Marcie Lipsitt got word last month that their discrimination cases were moving forward. These families say that their children have failed to receive the education services they’re entitled to during the pandemic. In one instance, a family told the Education Department in August that their child was being discriminated against on the basis of disability because their school district had failed to provide mandated speech and language services from March 2020 until the end of the school year. The Education Department didn’t respond to the complaint until late November. In its response, the department said it would open an investigation into whether the school district had failed to provide a free and appropriate public education, in violation of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act, which bans discrimination based on disability. Who knows how many disabled kids have lost an entire year of education because the Department of Education didn’t feel like doing their job. Truly doing the lord’s work, those folks.
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Lipsitt told HuffPost that when she contacted an attorney at the Office for Civil Rights in the fall about the delays, the attorney told her that cases related to COVID-19 are subject to a increased scrutiny, and rewriting the allegations with no mention of COVID-19 might help them get processed faster. Stephanie Onyx, a mother who filed a similar complaint, told HuffP ost the office gave her similar advice.
What I find most frustrating is that there is a lack of clarity of what this increased scrutiny means. There’s also no explanation on why it’s been put in place to begin with. Maybe it’s just me, but if your job is to help people then it would make more sense to streamline that process than to add more roadblocks.
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Especially in a damn pandemic.
Despite Morabito bizarrely telling HuffP ost that no change has been made to the processing of cases, attorneys told HuffP ost that they have been given authorizations to pursue certain claims on a case-by-case basis. The Department of Education has yet to release an official statement on the matter, because, well, look who’s in charge y’all.


theroot--2020-12-01--So I Watched the 'Y'all Can't Twerk in Here' Video Again, and That Guy's Short-Sleeved Turtleneck St

So I Watched the 'Y'all Can't Twerk in Here' Video Again, and That Guy's Short-Sleeved Turtleneck Still Makes No Sense

It is below freezing in Pittsburgh today , with wind chills in the teens .
I ’ ve spent much of the day indoors , shielded from the weather and protected by the central heating in our house , but inside still feels the effects of the cold .
Sitting next to a window , for instance , feels like sitting next to a deep freezer .
T o further insulate myself , I ’ m dressed appropriately .
On my torso is a gray hoodie—a clothing item specifically engineered to keep arms , chests , and necks warm .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of that .
If I feel more of a chill , I can place the hood on my head .
Or I can put my hands in its gut-level , open-ended pocket .
On my head is a black Paper Planes snapback .
Because it is warm .
And also because I had a Zoom meeting this afternoon , and my hair—which has gone nine months without being cut—looks like Sam Jackson ’ s in Unbreakable .
I am also wearing sweatpants and a pair of UGGs slippers that were a Christmas gift @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way about wearing them for a while , because I am toxic , but it feels like I ’ m wearing pillows , and pillows always win .
The clothes we decide to wear on our bodies are intended to make either practical or fashionable sense .
Most adults make an effort to do both .
( The amount of effort , obviously , varies from person to person and from circumstance to circumstance . )
Today , for instance , I ’ m leaning hard into practical , although hoodies are somewhat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ understanding of why we decide to put certain things on our bodies is why I ’ m having so much trouble understanding why Kevin Kelley , the sassy owner of the alliterative TRUE Kitchen + Kocktails , decided it was prudent to choose to purchase a turtleneck with short sleeves , and then wear it in front of people at his place of employment .
There ’ s no practical mission of a short sleeve turtleneck .
No earthly situation where your neck is cold but your forearms are somehow overheated .
Unless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issues , which is possible for people with anemia and various other medical conditions .
But I presume Kelley ’ s decision was less about iron deficiency and more about an effort to be fashionable .
This deeply perplexes me , because the only sleeveless turtlenecks that work are form-fitting and completely san sleeves , like what Meghan Markle has here .
Or like something I can imagine Aaron Hall wearing in 1991 .
Kelley ’ s , however , is baggy enough to play flag football or smuggle a medium- sized squash @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I don ’ t like to assign personality traits to sentient objects , because that ’ s weird , but a baggy , short-sleeved , turtleneck sweater is insecure as shit .
I want to grab it by the shoulders and tell it to just be what it really wants to be .
You only live once , baggy short-sleeved turtleneck sweater , so make it count .
It ’ s not your fault .
It ’ s not your fault .
It ’ s not your fault .
Anyway , I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ little chill ) , so I think I ’ m going to make some tea .
Goodbye !

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

It is below freezing in Pittsburgh today, with wind chills in the teens. I’ve spent much of the day indoors, shielded from the weather and protected by the central heating in our house, but inside still feels the effects of the cold. Sitting next to a window, for instance, feels like sitting next to a deep freezer. T o further insulate myself, I’m dressed appropriately.
On my torso is a gray hoodie—a clothing item specifically engineered to keep arms, chests, and necks warm. And it usually does a fine job of that. If I feel more of a chill, I can place the hood on my head. Or I can put my hands in its gut-level, open-ended pocket. On my head is a black Paper Planes snapback. Because it is warm. And also because I had a Zoom meeting this afternoon, and my hair—which has gone nine months without being cut—looks like Sam Jackson’s in Unbreakable. I am also wearing sweatpants and a pair of UGGs slippers that were a Christmas gift two years ago. I felt a way about wearing them for a while, because I am toxic, but it feels like I’m wearing pillows, and pillows always win.
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The clothes we decide to wear on our bodies are intended to make either practical or fashionable sense. Most adults make an effort to do both. (The amount of effort, obviously, varies from person to person and from circumstance to circumstance.) Today, for instance, I’m leaning hard into practical, although hoodies are somewhat fashionable too. This context and general understanding of why we decide to put certain things on our bodies is why I’m having so much trouble understanding why Kevin Kelley, the sassy owner of the alliterative TRUE Kitchen + Kocktails, decided it was prudent to choose to purchase a turtleneck with short sleeves, and then wear it in front of people at his place of employment.
There’s no practical mission of a short sleeve turtleneck. No earthly situation where your neck is cold but your forearms are somehow overheated. Unless, of course, you have circulation issues, which is possible for people with anemia and various other medical conditions. But I presume Kelley’s decision was less about iron deficiency and more about an effort to be fashionable. This deeply perplexes me, because the only sleeveless turtlenecks that work are form-fitting and completely san sleeves, like what Meghan Markle has here. Or like something I can imagine Aaron Hall wearing in 1991. Kelley’s, however, is baggy enough to play flag football or smuggle a medium- sized squash, and also has short sleeves. I don’t like to assign personality traits to sentient objects, because that’s weird, but a baggy, short-sleeved, turtleneck sweater is insecure as shit . I want to grab it by the shoulders and tell it to just be what it really wants to be. You only live once, baggy short-sleeved turtleneck sweater, so make it count. It’s not your fault. It’s not your fault. It’s not your fault.
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Anyway, I’m still confused (and getting a little chill), so I think I’m going to make some tea. Goodbye!


theroot--2020-11-30--Save Hundreds on Furniture and Kitchen Gear During Wayfair’s Cyber Monday Sale

Upset that you missed out on those Black Friday deals ?
Never fear because Cyber Monday is still raging on and Wayfair has put together one mean sale for your liking .
The home decor retailer is knocking off up to 80 % on thousands of their most luxurious and coveted items .
In fact , some Wayfair devotees would argue that it ’ s the best sale of the year ( *wink* , *wink* ) .
For one day only , shoppers can cash in on the retailer ’ s deals on everything from chairs to mattresses to coffee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kitchen appliances , and plenty more—even Christmas trees .
To make the mad , socially distanced cyber dash a bit easier , we at Kinja Deals have picked out some of our favorite items across the entire sale .
But let ’ s quit talking about it , and get showing you !
Does lugging your clothes to the local laundromat tire you out ?
We can ’ t blame you .
Luckily , Wayfair has some serious deals on appliances , including a great Hotpoint 6.2 cu .
ft. electric dryer .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 40 % off the original price on this great product , which has three heat cycles , a four-way vent , and a large bath towel capacity .
It ’ s perfect for the singles out there !
Once you ’ ve gotten your hands on Wayfair ’ s mattress sale , pair it up with the Drusilla Tufted Upholstered Low Profile Standard Bed .
Touting a solid wood frame , this headboard has a beautiful rectangular shape and is upholstered in a soft polyester blend , perfect for resting your head @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Does Joanna Gaines have you wishing your home had that rustic flair ?
Well , you ’ re in luck The Trent Austin Kinsella Coffee Table with Storage is the perfect item to complete your living room transformation .
Not only is it available in three beautiful finishes , but its metal accents will be the perfect accent for that farmhouse chic look you ’ re going for .
This table even comes with a shelf for extra storage space .
Use the promo code COOK10 for an additional 10 % off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the kitchen with Rachael Ray ?
Hey , me too !
Now we can both snag a 13-piece aluminum non-stick cookware set from her line for just $ 90 , a savings of over 60 % off the list price .
This price includes the promo code COOK10 , which ensures you get the additional 10 % off an already impressive kitchen sale .
This set is currently available three different color options .
Who doesn ’ t love a boho-chic footrest ?
This beautiful pouf is made with 100 % cotton and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flash deal of a maximum 60 % off , this item proves that you should never compromise style to meet your budget .
It comes in five color , each of which vary in price .
Give your work-from-home set-up an upgrade with this elegant and affordable L-shape executive desk from Zipcode Design .
With a dark wood finish and a black metal base , this desk ’ s design has a sleek look that will get you ready to face whatever challenges that work has to throw your way .
It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ laptop , monitor , and lamp with plenty of storage space left .
If you ’ re looking for a fancier flusher than you have in your home right now , this Swiss Madison St. Tropez elongated one-piece toilet is a striking throne .
It has a slim back and a long seat , complete with a dual-flush system and a quiet-close seat .
Best of all , it ’ s a whopping 69 % off the $ 916 list price .
This is a serious , serious deal on a new bed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ big savings on this bed , which pairs a popular frame with linen upholstery and an adjustable headboard .
Go ahead and add a memory foam mattress from the Wayfair mattress sale while you ’ re at it !
Come one step closer to dreaming your 2020 problems away .
Who doesn ’ t love a lounge chair with a touch of midcentury inspiration ?
Made from solid wood and upholstered in a polyester blend , this item available in several different color options , including orange and yellow .
Not only are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re super comfy too !
Can ’ t beat it .
Why spend money on a new tree every year when you can buy one artificial tree to last for ages ?
We were thinking the same thing .
This Grande Green Fir Artificial Christmas Tree is a great option and even comes with clear lights pre-strung around the branches .
Slim in profile , this tree is a great display option for those snug corners of the house with limited floor space .
Add more vertical storage to your space with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stands just over 4.5 feet tall and is two feet wide .
With four shelves that get longer as they get closer to the ground , you ’ ll save over 55 % off the list price .
Not only are books perfect accents for your home but you can join the fight against misinformation .
While the changing seasons may make outdoor furniture less practical in the coming months , this massive deal might tempt you to invest in a set for next summer .
Three Posts ’ Burruss patio sectional with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the list price right now , giving you a cozy place to relax when the weather ’ s nice .
After all , who doesn ’ t love a sofa sale ?
This deal was originally published by Sheilah Villari on 06/05/2020 and updated by Juliana Clark on 11/30/2020 .

Sheilah Villari and Juliana Clark on Roundups, shared by Gabe Carey to The Root

Featured Deal: Hurst Steel Wood Burning Outdoor Fire Pit | $17 0
Are you ready to cash in on one of Wayfair’s biggest sales of the year? That’s right, I’m talking about the Memorial Day Sale, where you can save up to 70% off on the website’s best-selling products.
Be sure to cash in on all of the summer essentials and everything you’ll need to host BBQs seamlessly. Spice up your indoor and outdoor spaces with the latest styles in decor and furniture!
While you’re at it, why not finance your sale with the Wayfair Mastercard? When you open a Wayfair credit card, not only will you get $40 off your first qualifying order of $250.
Here are some of the best discounts that Wayfair has to offer!
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How many of you are tired of heading off to your dingy local laundromat? Why not treat yourself to an in-unit laundry appliance, starting with the Samsung 4.5 Cubic Feet Cu. Ft. Front Load Washer. This washer is Energy Star Certified and highly efficient (because Samsung is looking out for your electrical bill). At 4.5 cubic feet, the drum will allow you to wash more in a single load to spend more time focusing on work, friends, and family. It also features an improved drum pattern to extract more water, more quickly during the rinse cycle and prevent snags during washes.
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At a whopping 59 % off, the Sealy 12" Plush Memory Foam Mattress provides the medium firmness to keep you snug at night. The knit cover is luxuriously soft, so you can enjoy the full benefits of this premium mattress. It also has low-motion transfer, so you won’t wake up when your partner rolls over at night. It’s even hypoallergenic and works well with adjustable bases for the ultra-sensitive sleeper.
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Does Joanna Gaines have you wishing your home had a rustic flair? Well, you’re in luck the Sand & Stable Laguna Coffee Table with Storage (Natural Pine Brown) is the perfect item to complete your living room transformation. Not only is it available in three beautiful finishes, but its metal accents will be the perfect accent for that farmhouse chic look you’re going for. This table even comes with a shelf for extra storage space.
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This Rachael Ray Cucina bakeware set is a must for your kitchen. This set is non-stick and PFOA and PTFE free for the ultimate ease and safety. Each baking pan is oven safe to 450°F and even has heat-safe silicone grips at the top and bottom of the handles to protect your hands. Just note that these pans are not dishwasher safe.
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Get the perfect chair to rock your baby to sleep with the Sand & Stable Baby & Kids Albie Upholstered Manual Glider Recliner. Available in Gray linen, beige, and dark gray, this product has a full 360°swiveling, reclining, and gliding capabilities. And the poped trim gives it a coastal farmhouse chic look! Note that the frame is built from solid and engineered wood with scooped arms and a wingback.
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For those lucky enough to experience warm weather year-round, it might be time to upgrade your outdoor decor. The Zipcode Design Wicker/Rattan 4 - Person Seating Group is perfect for chilling poolside or catching up with friends over drinks and a charcuterie board. Crafted from a steel frame, each piece is constructed with wicker rattan and is designed to outlast harsh sun and relentless rainstorms. This set also comes with removable cushions for your cleaning needs.
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Did you know that a fire pit can really tie an outdoor space together? At 59 % off, the Hurst Steel Wood Burning Outdoor Fire Pit is a great, high-quality option. Constructed from durable steel, this pit is guaranteed to outlast years of use. It’s also stylish and practical, complete with a mesh screen and handles that make it easy to lift and dump ashes.
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Finding the right tv stand that can pull a whole room together can definitely be a challenge. But not with the Three Posts Lorraine. This stand makes curling up on the couch such a cozy experience with a fireplace included. It even has two cabinets with shelves included, so you can organize your belongings as you see fit.
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Perfect your bedroom or sitting room with the Dmitry Tall Drawer End Table. This table’s bright color and compact design are great for sprucing up any room in your home. The drawers and lower shelf also provide some really handy storage and display options.
This article was originally published by Sheillah Villari on 5/19/22 and was updated by Miranda Martin on 9/7/22.