theroot--2020-08-27--Fenty Skin Anointed My Face With Its Goodness, and It's Only $40

As soon as Rihanna dropped the news of Fenty Skin on Instagram I knew I had to buy and review it .
My group chat was lit the hell up and giving praise to Robyn Fenty for doing it for the Black girls once again .
Being accustomed to the beauty space , I knew some of my beauty editor friends already received free samples .
I ’ m still waiting to get on the PR list , so I paid the full $ 75 for the Total Cleans ’ r , Fat Water Toner , and Hydra Vizor moisturizer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ isn ’ t too bad when you compare it to other skincare lines that charge way more .
Because of everything going on right now with the USPS , my package took forever to arrive , but once it did I tested it right away .
My close friend , Jake , had already impulse-bought the trio back in July like the Aries he is , so he humored me while I excitedly texted him about the process .
First off , the cleanser .
Obviously , washing your face is the most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rihanna agrees .
It ’ s a 2-in-1 cleanser that also removes makeup without drying out your skin .
Besides the packaging , which is gorgeous , the cleanser itself is thick and luxurious .
After washing my face with it , my skin felt soft and especially dirt-free .
Because the cleanser is so thick , it did take a while to rinse off with water , so you know , just be aware .
The Fat Water toner was ... well ...
FAT .
It ’ s so thick and you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to spread on your whole face ( yes , I ’ m aware of the unintentional sexual innuendo ) .
It should be said that you don ’ t necessarily need a toner in your skincare routine , however , it is always nice to try things out to see how your skin responds .
Anyway , the Fat Water toner was refreshing and added extra moisture to my already clean skin .
Although I will say that the toner might be a bit better for winter since it made my T-zone a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outside in the sun .
Last was the Hydra Vizor moisturizer with broad-spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen .
Rihanna did a solid for the environment by designing a refillable cartridge , which is better for the Earth , according to our friends at Gizmodo .
At least somebody is trying to save the planet .
The sunscreen itself is almost as thick as the cleanser but given it ’ s also a moisturizer , it makes sense .
To all my lovelies with dark skin , it doesn ’ t leave a white cast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been traumatized by in the past .
Those are the little details you get when a Black woman develops a skincare line ( support Black businesses , please ) .
I was a little scared when I worked it into my skin , but once I did my face was dewy AF and ready for the rest of the day .
A lot of influencers on Twitter and Instagram mentioned the addition of fragrance in the Total Cleans ’ r and Hydra Vizor moisturizer .
It ’ s true .
You do smell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s really light , so it won ’ t make you queasy if you ’ re sensitive to smells .
Your skin , however , might be another story , especially if you have sensitive skin .
I don ’ t have issues with sensitivity , but my face did feel a little tingly a couple of hours after I did my routine .
Jake , however , was living , and his skin is more sensitive than mine .
Another thing worth mentioning is that the cleanser actually doesn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Like yes , it ’ ll remove dirt and shit , but it won ’ t prevent pimples from coming in .
My battle has never been with acne since I have pretty clear skin , so that wasn ’ t an issue for me .
All in all , I think this is a great debut for Fenty Skin .
The products give your skin a good cleansing without making your skin super dry .
Personally , I ’ m loving this trend of having a fresh face , especially during a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ full face of makeup is at an all-time low .
I can ’ t wait for whatever else Ms. Fenty has in store .

Ignacia on The Inventory, shared by Ignacia to The Root

Fenty Skin Start’r Set | $40 | Fenty Beauty
Fenty Skin Start’rs Full-Size Bundle | $75 | Fenty Beauty
As soon as Rihanna dropped the news of Fenty Skin on Instagram I knew I had to buy and review it. My group chat was lit the hell up and giving praise to Robyn Fenty for doing it for the Black girls once again. Being accustomed to the beauty space, I knew some of my beauty editor friends already received free samples. I’m still waiting to get on the PR list, so I paid the full $75 for the Total Cleans’r, Fat Water Toner, and Hydra Vizor moisturizer with SPF 30 sunscreen, which honestly isn’t too bad when you compare it to other skincare lines that charge way more.
Because of everything going on right now with the USPS, my package took forever to arrive, but once it did I tested it right away. My close friend, Jake, had already impulse-bought the trio back in July like the Aries he is, so he humored me while I excitedly texted him about the process.
First off, the cleanser. Obviously, washing your face is the most important part of having clear skin. Rihanna agrees. It’s a 2-in-1 cleanser that also removes makeup without drying out your skin. Besides the packaging, which is gorgeous, the cleanser itself is thick and luxurious. After washing my face with it, my skin felt soft and especially dirt-free. Because the cleanser is so thick, it did take a while to rinse off with water, so you know, just be aware.
Advertisement
The Fat Water toner was ... well ... FAT. It’s so thick and you really only need a squirt or two to spread on your whole face (yes, I’m aware of the unintentional sexual innuendo). It should be said that you don’t necessarily need a toner in your skincare routine, however, it is always nice to try things out to see how your skin responds. Anyway, the Fat Water toner was refreshing and added extra moisture to my already clean skin. Although I will say that the toner might be a bit better for winter since it made my T-zone a little oily, especially when I was outside in the sun.
Last was the Hydra Vizor moisturizer with broad-spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen. Rihanna did a solid for the environment by designing a refillable cartridge, which is better for the Earth, according to our friends at Gizmodo. At least somebody is trying to save the planet.
Advertisement Advertisement
The sunscreen itself is almost as thick as the cleanser but given it’s also a moisturizer, it makes sense. To all my lovelies with dark skin, it doesn’t leave a white cast like other sunscreens we’ve all been traumatized by in the past. Those are the little details you get when a Black woman develops a skincare line (support Black businesses, please). I was a little scared when I worked it into my skin, but once I did my face was dewy AF and ready for the rest of the day.
Advertisement
A lot of influencers on Twitter and Instagram mentioned the addition of fragrance in the Total Cleans’r and Hydra Vizor moisturizer. It’s true. You do smell a faint floral scent, but it’s really light, so it won’t make you queasy if you’re sensitive to smells. Your skin, however, might be another story, especially if you have sensitive skin. I don’t have issues with sensitivity, but my face did feel a little tingly a couple of hours after I did my routine. Jake, however, was living, and his skin is more sensitive than mine.
Another thing worth mentioning is that the cleanser actually doesn’t include any ingredients to fight acne. Like yes, it’ll remove dirt and shit, but it won’t prevent pimples from coming in. My battle has never been with acne since I have pretty clear skin, so that wasn’t an issue for me.
All in all, I think this is a great debut for Fenty Skin. The products give your skin a good cleansing without making your skin super dry. Personally, I’m loving this trend of having a fresh face, especially during a pandemic where the morale for wearing a full face of makeup is at an all-time low. I can’t wait for whatever else Ms. Fenty has in store.
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This story was originally published by Ignacia Fulcher on 08/27/2020 and updated by Gabe Carey with new information on 02/18/2021.


theroot--2020-10-02--After 2 Years, No Charges Will Be Filed Against Chicago Cop Who Fatally Shot Black Security Guard

In 2018 , Jemel Roberson , a Black security guard , was restraining an active shooter when he was shot and killed by a Chicago police officer .
Two years later , the office of Cook County State ’ s Attorney Kim Foxx has announced no charges will be filed against the officer , CNN reports .
“ After an extensive and thorough review of the police-involved shooting resulting in the 2018 death of Jemel Roberson , the Cook County State ’ s Attorney ’ s Office ( CCSAO ) has concluded that the totality of the evidence is insufficient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Officer Ian Covey , ” a news release from the attorney ’ s office states .
Foxx acknowledged that this decision comes during a year of unrest surrounding police killings of unarmed Black people and follows the controversial decision to not charge any of the officers involved with the shooting death of Breonna Taylor .
“ I am acutely aware in this age of civil unrest that police-involved shootings are viewed under a microscope , as they very well should be , ” Foxx said in a statement .
“ The death of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while it might feel to some people like justice was not served here , I have both an ethical and legal obligation to make charging decisions based on the law and the evidence.
” Roberson was a security guard at Manny ’ s Blue Room , a bar in Chicago .
In November 2018 , a gunman entered the bar and began to open fire .
Roberson bravely subdued the shooter and pinned him to the ground .
Covey arrived shortly after and opened fire on Roberson , killing him .
“ Everybody @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ He was a security guard , ” Adam Harris , a witness , told WGN9 in 2018 .
“ And they still did their job , and saw a black man with a gun , and basically killed him.
” The CCASO said their investigation interviewed over 100 witnesses and took into account physical evidence as well as other information surrounding the shooting .
The Office of the Illinois State ’ s Attorney Appellate Prosecutor conducted a secondary review of the investigation and also found that no charges should be filed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ officer himself and had an infant son at the time of his death .
His mother , Beatrice Roberson , has continually advocated for her son to receive justice .
“ Jemel was my baby , ” she told the Chicago Tribune during a protest this summer .
“ He was a good guy .
From the time he was a child , he was a protector and it ’ s a shame his life was taken .
”

In 2018, Jemel Roberson, a Black security guard, was restraining an active shooter when he was shot and killed by a Chicago police officer.
Two years later, the office of Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx has announced no charges will be filed against the officer, CNN reports. “After an extensive and thorough review of the police-involved shooting resulting in the 2018 death of Jemel Roberson, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office (CCSAO) has concluded that the totality of the evidence is insufficient to support criminal charges against Midlothian Police Officer Ian Covey,” a news release from the attorney’s office states.
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Foxx acknowledged that this decision comes during a year of unrest surrounding police killings of unarmed Black people and follows the controversial decision to not charge any of the officers involved with the shooting death of Breonna Taylor.
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“I am acutely aware in this age of civil unrest that police-involved shootings are viewed under a microscope, as they very well should be,” Foxx said in a statement. “The death of Jemel Roberson is tragically heartbreaking, and while it might feel to some people like justice was not served here, I have both an ethical and legal obligation to make charging decisions based on the law and the evidence.”
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Roberson was a security guard at Manny’s Blue Room, a bar in Chicago. In November 2018, a gunman entered the bar and began to open fire. Roberson bravely subdued the shooter and pinned him to the ground. Covey arrived shortly after and opened fire on Roberson, killing him.
The shooter survived.
“Everybody was screaming out, ‘Security!’ He was a security guard,” Adam Harris, a witness, told WGN9 in 2018. “And they still did their job, and saw a black man with a gun, and basically killed him.”
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The CCASO said their investigation interviewed over 100 witnesses and took into account physical evidence as well as other information surrounding the shooting. The Office of the Illinois State’s Attorney Appellate Prosecutor conducted a secondary review of the investigation and also found that no charges should be filed.
Roberson had dreams of becoming a police officer himself and had an infant son at the time of his death. His mother, Beatrice Roberson, has continually advocated for her son to receive justice.
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“Jemel was my baby,” she told the Chicago Tribune during a protest this summer. “He was a good guy. From the time he was a child, he was a protector and it’s a shame his life was taken.”


theroot--2020-10-02--Donald Glover Gives Most Lowkey New Dad Announcement Ever: ‘You Know, I Had (a Kid) During the Coron

Donald Glover Gives Most Lowkey New Dad Announcement Ever: ‘You Know, I Had (a Kid) During the Coronavirus’

In a conversation with I May Destroy You ’ s Michaela Coel , Atlanta creator Donald Glover revealed that he had his third son during the pandemic .
The revelation came organically , as Coel and Glover chatted about his 4-year-old son , Legend , during a talk recently published by GQ .
“ He ’ s very grown up now , ” Glover observed , before adding , “ You know , I had [ a kid ] during the coronavirus.
” This spring was a turbulent time for many , and especially so for parents welcoming children into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flux .
But the timing was even stranger for Glover : not only was his son born just hours before he watched the George Floyd video for the first time , but his thoughts also turned to his father , who died in late 2018 .
“ It was such a weird moment , ” Glover told Coel .
“ It was such an intense , weird moment , because I ’ m watching that video and it ’ s like eight minutes long , so you ’ re sitting there and I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , expanding moment , plus my dad had passed away recently , so ( my son ) was named after my father ...
I don ’ t even know what , really , the word is to describe it .
It was just expanding : the empathy and compassion and the terror and the joy of it.
” “ Oh , God , ” said Coel .
“ And then having the future in your hands !
” “ Having the future in your hands !
” Glover responded .
“ And then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was just in here [ Legend ] — ‘ Why are people angry ?
Why are people marching ?
’ ‘ Well , you look like this… ’ It ’ s just heavy.
” The two multihyphenate stars have shared comparisons to each other because of their critically acclaimed and surreal work , as well as for the broad range of talents they bring to their projects ( Glover directs , writes , produces , and acts in Atlanta , as does Coel in her shows ) .
But the two also bonded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ revealed that she hadn ’ t thought much about having children of her own , but was open to adoption or freezing her eggs , in case she changes her mind .
Glover said that he had considered getting a vasectomy to “ just freeze those assets.
” But he ’ s also open to expanding his family with longtime partner Michelle White .
“ Adopting kids ... we actually have been talking about [ it ] , because we have three boys so I ’ m like , ‘ Oh , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in there.
’ So I think all those are great options .
”

Anne Branigin on The Grapevine, shared by Anne Branigin to The Root

In a conversation with I May Destroy You’s Michaela Coel, Atlanta creator Donald Glover revealed that he had his third son during the pandemic.
The revelation came organically, as Coel and Glover chatted about his 4-year-old son, Legend, during a talk recently published by GQ.
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“He’s very grown up now,” Glover observed, before adding, “You know, I had [a kid] during the coronavirus.”
This spring was a turbulent time for many, and especially so for parents welcoming children into a world where so much was in flux. But the timing was even stranger for Glover: not only was his son born just hours before he watched the George Floyd video for the first time, but his thoughts also turned to his father, who died in late 2018.
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“It was such a weird moment,” Glover told Coel. “It was such an intense, weird moment, because I’m watching that video and it’s like eight minutes long, so you’re sitting there and I had just had this amazing, joyful, expanding moment, plus my dad had passed away recently, so (my son) was named after my father... I don’t even know what, really, the word is to describe it. It was just expanding: the empathy and compassion and the terror and the joy of it.”
“Oh, God,” said Coel. “And then having the future in your hands!”
“Having the future in your hands!” Glover responded. “And then having to explain to him—the one who was just in here [Legend]—‘Why are people angry? Why are people marching?’ ‘Well, you look like this…’ It’s just heavy.”
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The two multihyphenate stars have shared comparisons to each other because of their critically acclaimed and surreal work, as well as for the broad range of talents they bring to their projects (Glover directs, writes, produces, and acts in Atlanta, as does Coel in her shows). But the two also bonded over their thoughts on family: Coel revealed that she hadn’t thought much about having children of her own, but was open to adoption or freezing her eggs, in case she changes her mind.
Glover said that he had considered getting a vasectomy to “just freeze those assets.” But he’s also open to expanding his family with longtime partner Michelle White.
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“Adopting kids...we actually have been talking about [it], because we have three boys so I’m like, ‘Oh, it might be nice to get a girl in there.’ So I think all those are great options.”
“But,” he cautioned, “it is hard.”


theroot--2020-10-02--Trailer Roundup: October Has Two Full Moons—Someone Summoned The Witches and The Craft

Brandy Norwood once said , “ That must be a full moon , felt like one of those nights.
” Then October 2020 responded , “ Oh bih , you mean TWO full moons.
” Girl .
The month is already full of chaos and covfefe , so here ’ s some trailers to tickle your fancy !
Before I start , make sure you check out the Sincerely , Camille trailer , which we got an exclusive look at .
OK , let ’ s get it ... First Impressions : Tamara Smart leads this cast as Kelly Ferguson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Halloween but things get wacky when she ’ s enlisted in a secret society of babysitters who protect kids with special powers from monsters .
Wow , these babysitters better increase their rates .
Hopefully , we won ’ t be telling mom the babysitter ’ s dead .
The series also stars Troy Leigh-Anne Johnson as one of the society ’ s babysitters ( Berna Vincent ) and Indya Moore is playing one of the monsters ( Peggy Drood ) !
First Impressions : Featuring the voices of Mahershala Ali , Idris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A World of Calm is exactly what we need right now—an escape into a world where we can just breathe and be .
This virtual TV experience is piggybacking off of the success of Sleep Stories on the Calm app , which is basically the grownup version of bedtime stories .
I ’ ll definitely be checking this out when I need those mellow vibes .
First Impressions : Now , I must start this off by saying that The Root ’ s Corey Townsend is on his Ps and Qs and wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aren ’ t part of the Navy and didn ’ t immediately jump on this one , I got you on the sneak peek .
Not because you need an additional reason to watch—no one is ever undecided about Rihanna ( except when it comes to guessing when her album is finally coming out ) .
When Rihanna happens , we say yes ... emphatically .
First Impressions : This satirical comedy with the timely and relevant name stars Eddie Griffin as the Devil who is in search of someone who has very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his minions suggests MAGA No-Masked Donald Trump without hesitation because ... duh .
Thus , this is the story of how the Devil helped Trump become president of this shithole country .
Chaos !
Plus , Stormy Daniels will portray herself .
First Impressions : The “ light as a feather , stiff as a board ” energy is back with The Craft : Legacy , Blumhouse ’ s continuation of the 1996 film , The Craft .
Lovie Simone is taking the torch from Rachel True with the Black witch representation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the slowed-down version of a popular song trend—this time , it ’ s a spooky rendition of Cyndi Lauper ’ s “ Girls Just Want to Have Fun.
” First Impressions : Let ’ s lead with the only part that matters—this film stars Earl “ DMX ” Simmons .
WHAT ?
!
Yes .
*dog growl* This trailer was like sitting on the edge of my seat trying to unveil a mystery because I kept watching frames and frames of white folks while thinking , “ WHERE IS DMX ?
!
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mark delivering his lines all , “ girl , I guess.
” LOL .
This is exactly what I came for .
First Impressions : Directed by Remi Weekes , His House stars Sopé Dìrísù , Wunmi Mosaku ( !
!
! )
and Matt Smith .
The film follows a young refugee couple from South Sudan who move into a house in a small English town , and that house can not be trusted because it ’ s super-duper haunted .
This looks creepy as fuck and I want to watch it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Yes that ’ s right , we have yet another project on the topic of social distancing .
Netflix was able to score the most obvious and most Googleable title—Social Distance .
Like most of the lockdown content , this anthology series boasts an ensemble cast .
It stars Danielle Brooks , Asante Blackk , Mike Colter , Lovie Simone and more .
Oh , and shout-out to the excellent views of the crib—the beautiful Chicago .
First Impressions : Ilmar and Aldo López-Gavilán are virtuoso Afro-Cuban musicians , but first , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had parallel lives but due to life circumstances ( Ilmar was sent to the U.S.S.R. as a teen to learn violin while Aldo remained in their birthplace of Cuba and was taught by the country ’ s leading pianists ) , they were separated by many many miles .
Thus , they ’ ve never gotten to do what they always wanted—to perform live together .
Yeah , this is going to bring the waterworks .
First Impressions : Executive produced by Steph Curry , Benedict Men chronicles the life of the students @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Preparatory School in Newark , N.J .
Specifically , the film follows the school ’ s nationally ranked basketball team as they strive to uphold the institution ’ s motto , “ Whatever hurts my brother , hurts me.
” Teamwork making the dream work !
First Impressions : Digitally remastered for IMAX , this film is celebrating 20 years since its debut and this rerelease is a perfect choice for folks still salivating for more MJ after The Last Dance .
Similarly , this doc , narrated by Laurence Fishburne , follows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Do I have interest in seeing MJ take flight on a 70+ foot screen ?
Yes , I do .
Will the lockdown make me hesitate to actually do it ?
Yes , it will .
No Ordinary Love ( Drive-In Theatres in Select Cities ; Release Dates : Oct. 24 and 25 , 2020 ; Additional Screenings Expected in 2021 ) First Impressions : October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month so this film is extra relevant .
Writer-Director Chyna Robinson presents No Ordinary Love ( which of course , makes me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the primary intention of continuing to spread awareness .
Belly of the Beast ( Theaters and Virtual Cinemas ; Release Date : Oct. 16 , 2020 ) First Impressions : We covered this film as part of the Human Rights Film Festival earlier this summer and now the doc , which chronicles the reproductive and human rights violations occurring at Central California Women ’ s Facility .
From horrors such as sexual assault to illegal sterilization , those who are most impacted are women of color .
Mary J. Blige lends her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ original song , “ See What You ’ ve Done.
” First Impressions : Remember that group of friends I referenced earlier who loved to engage in live commentary with me ?
Well , we actually recently revisited the 1990 film The Witches and enjoyed the most hilariously confusing night .
Why was that film ever shown to kids ?
!
Anyway , this new joint stars Jahzir Bruno ( with adult narration by Chris Rock ) and Octavia Spencer ( who plays the little boy ’ s grandma ) .
Also , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group effort from an ensemble of filmmakers including Kenya Barris , who co-wrote the screenplay .
From the trailer , it ’ s looking to be just as ridiculous as its predecessor .
I can ’ t wait to watch with the same group of friends .
First Impressions : As I clicked the link to this trailer , I immediately spied Omari Hardwick in the thumbnail—then I pressed play and was all , “ ... WHATTHEFUCKWASTHAT ?
!
” And there ’ s Loretta Devine !
Ah , it seems like she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ?
!
get it ?
?
!
! )
on a voodoo doll because Hardwick ’ s character didn ’ t respect his elders or something ( this is a guess ) .
This is a nigga Misery !
Shenanigans ensue !
First Impressions : In this Nollywood film , ( which was just released globally ) Sharon Ooja portrays the titular character , a journalist who goes undercover to expose the world of human trafficking .
This looks to be a powerful and raw look into sex workers from the lens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Òlòturé is directed by Kenneth Gyang and co-written by Yinka Ogun and Craig Freimond .
Annnnnnd that ’ s all for this week !
Catch you next Friday !

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

Brandy Norwood once said, “That must be a full moon, felt like one of those nights.” Then October 2020 responded, “Oh bih, you mean TWO full moons.” Girl. The month is already full of chaos and covfefe, so here’s some trailers to tickle your fancy! Before I start, make sure you check out the Sincerely, Camille trailer, which we got an exclusive look at.
OK, let’s get it...
A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting (Netflix; Release Date: Oct. 15, 2020)
A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting trailer / YouTube
First Impressions: Tamara Smart leads this cast as Kelly Ferguson, who reluctantly babysits this kid on Halloween but things get wacky when she’s enlisted in a secret society of babysitters who protect kids with special powers from monsters. Wow, these babysitters better increase their rates. Hopefully, we won’t be telling mom the babysitter’s dead. The series also stars Troy Leigh-Anne Johnson as one of the society’s babysitters (Berna Vincent) and Indya Moore is playing one of the monsters (Peggy Drood)!
Advertisement
A World of Calm (HBO Max; Now Streaming)
A World of Calm trailer / YouTube
First Impressions: Featuring the voices of Mahershala Ali, Idris Elba, Zoë Kravitz and more, A World of Calm is exactly what we need right now—an escape into a world where we can just breathe and be. This virtual TV experience is piggybacking off of the success of Sleep Stories on the Calm app, which is basically the grownup version of bedtime stories. I’ll definitely be checking this out when I need those mellow vibes.
Advertisement Advertisement
Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 2 (Amazon Prime Video; Now Streaming)
SAVAGE X FENTY SHOW VOL. 2 trailer/ YouTube
First Impressions: Now, I must start this off by saying that The Root’s Corey Townsend is on his Ps and Qs and wrote a review/recap already, but if you aren’t part of the Navy and didn’t immediately jump on this one, I got you on the sneak peek. Not because you need an additional reason to watch—no one is ever undecided about Rihanna (except when it comes to guessing when her album is finally coming out). When Rihanna happens, we say yes...emphatically.
Advertisement
Bad President (Video On Demand; Release Date: Oct. 12, 2020)
Bad President trailer / YouTube
First Impressions: This satirical comedy with the timely and relevant name stars Eddie Griffin as the Devil who is in search of someone who has very, very dark energy. One of his minions suggests MAGA No-Masked Donald Trump without hesitation because...duh. Thus, this is the story of how the Devil helped Trump become president of this shithole country. Chaos! Plus, Stormy Daniels will portray herself.
Advertisement
The Craft: Legacy (On Demand; Oct. 28, 2020)
The Craft: Legacy trailer / YouTube
First Impressions: The “light as a feather, stiff as a board” energy is back with The Craft: Legacy, Blumhouse’s continuation of the 1996 film, The Craft. Lovie Simone is taking the torch from Rachel True with the Black witch representation. This trailer is also a continuation of the slowed-down version of a popular song trend—this time, it’s a spooky rendition of Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.”
Advertisement
Chronicle of a Serial Killer (On Demand; Release Date: Oct. 5, 2020)
Chronicle of a Serial Killer trailer / YouTube
First Impressions: Let’s lead with the only part that matters—this film stars Earl “DMX” Simmons. WHAT?! Yes. *dog growl* This trailer was like sitting on the edge of my seat trying to unveil a mystery because I kept watching frames and frames of white folks while thinking, “WHERE IS DMX?!” and then he appeared at the 2-minute mark delivering his lines all, “girl, I guess.” LOL. This is exactly what I came for.
Advertisement
His House (Netflix; Release Date: Oct. 30, 2020)
His House trailer / YouTube
First Impressions: Directed by Remi Weekes, His House stars Sopé Dìrísù, Wunmi Mosaku (!!!) and Matt Smith. The film follows a young refugee couple from South Sudan who move into a house in a small English town, and that house cannot be trusted because it’s super-duper haunted. This looks creepy as fuck and I want to watch it with my live-commentary-enthusiast friends.
Advertisement
Social Distance (Netflix; Release Date: Oct. 15, 2020)
First Impressions: Yes that’s right, we have yet another project on the topic of social distancing. Netflix was able to score the most obvious and most Googleable title—Social Distance. Like most of the lockdown content, this anthology series boasts an ensemble cast. It stars Danielle Brooks, Asante Blackk, Mike Colter, Lovie Simone and more. Oh, and shout-out to the excellent views of the crib—the beautiful Chicago.
Advertisement
LOS HERMANOS / THE BROTHERS trailer / YouTube
First Impressions: Ilmar and Aldo López-Gavilán are virtuoso Afro-Cuban musicians, but first, they are brothers. They’ve had parallel lives but due to life circumstances (Ilmar was sent to the U.S.S.R. as a teen to learn violin while Aldo remained in their birthplace of Cuba and was taught by the country’s leading pianists), they were separated by many many miles. Thus, they’ve never gotten to do what they always wanted—to perform live together. Yeah, this is going to bring the waterworks.
Advertisement
Benedict Men (Quibi; Now Streaming)
Benedict Men trailer / YouTube
First Impressions: Executive produced by Steph Curry, Benedict Men chronicles the life of the students at all-boys school St. Benedict’s Preparatory School in Newark, N.J. Specifically, the film follows the school’s nationally ranked basketball team as they strive to uphold the institution’s motto, “Whatever hurts my brother, hurts me.” Teamwork making the dream work!
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Michael Jordan To The Max (IMAX; Release Date: Oct. 9, 2020)
First Impressions: Digitally remastered for IMAX, this film is celebrating 20 years since its debut and this rerelease is a perfect choice for folks still salivating for more MJ after The Last Dance. Similarly, this doc, narrated by Laurence Fishburne, follows MJ’s grand finale NBA championship. Do I have interest in seeing MJ take flight on a 70+ foot screen? Yes, I do. Will the lockdown make me hesitate to actually do it? Yes, it will.
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No Ordinary Love (Drive-In Theatres in Select Cities; Release Dates: Oct. 24 and 25, 2020; Additional Screenings Expected in 2021)
First Impressions: October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month so this film is extra relevant. Writer-Director Chyna Robinson presents No Ordinary Love (which of course, makes me think of Sade) a romantic thriller with the primary intention of continuing to spread awareness.
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Belly of the Beast (Theaters and Virtual Cinemas; Release Date: Oct. 16, 2020)
Belly of the Beast trailer / YouTube
First Impressions: We covered this film as part of the Human Rights Film Festival earlier this summer and now the doc, which chronicles the reproductive and human rights violations occurring at Central California Women’s Facility. From horrors such as sexual assault to illegal sterilization, those who are most impacted are women of color. Mary J. Blige lends her voice to the new trailer with the original song, “See What You’ve Done.”
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Roald Dahl’s The Witches (HBO Max; Release Date: Oct. 22, 2020)
Roald Dahl’s The Witches trailer / YouTube
First Impressions: Remember that group of friends I referenced earlier who loved to engage in live commentary with me? Well, we actually recently revisited the 1990 film The Witches and enjoyed the most hilariously confusing night. Why was that film ever shown to kids?! Anyway, this new joint stars Jahzir Bruno (with adult narration by Chris Rock) and Octavia Spencer (who plays the little boy’s grandma). Also, it looks like this will be a group effort from an ensemble of filmmakers including Kenya Barris, who co-wrote the screenplay. From the trailer, it’s looking to be just as ridiculous as its predecessor. I can’t wait to watch with the same group of friends.
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Spell (Digital; Release Date: Oct. 30, 2020)
Spell trailer / YouTube
First Impressions: As I clicked the link to this trailer, I immediately spied Omari Hardwick in the thumbnail—then I pressed play and was all, “...WHATTHEFUCKWASTHAT?!” And there’s Loretta Devine! Ah, it seems like she placed a “spell” (get it?! get it??!!) on a voodoo doll because Hardwick’s character didn’t respect his elders or something (this is a guess). This is a nigga Misery! Shenanigans ensue!
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Òlòturé (Netflix; Now Streaming)
Òlòturé trailer / YouTube
First Impressions: In this Nollywood film, (which was just released globally) Sharon Ooja portrays the titular character, a journalist who goes undercover to expose the world of human trafficking. This looks to be a powerful and raw look into sex workers from the lens of a determined Black female lead. Òlòturé is directed by Kenneth Gyang and co-written by Yinka Ogun and Craig Freimond.
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Annnnnnd that’s all for this week! Catch you next Friday!
Correction: 10/6/2020, 9:03 a.m. ET: An earlier version of this story stated that the release date of The Craft: Legacy was Oct. 31. However, the correct release date is Oct. 28. The correct release date is now reflected above.


theroot--2020-10-02--Fashioning a Community: Pyer Moss Debuts Its Collaborative Open Studio 2 Campaign, 'Sister'

If there is one thing a year full of social distance coupled with global outcries in support of Black lives has made clear , it is the power and beauty of the Black community .
We have shown up .
We have shown out .
We have continued to show the world what we have always known : that Black lives matter as much as anyone else ’ s—and that Black creativity and ingenuity are a wonder to behold .
Founded and helmed by 2019 The Root 100 honoree , 2020 CFDA Menswear Designer of the Year , and new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moss has always centered Black lives and creativity in its imagery and presentations .
Launched in 2013 , the label ’ s runway presentations are regularly among the most coveted invites each Fashion Week , each show treating its guests to not only beautiful clothes but a crash course in largely unknown Black history ( coupled with Jean-Raymond ’ s personal history ) through its “ American , Also.
” trilogy .
As the label explained in a release provided to The Glow Up : The three-part collection series “ American , Also.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the stories of Black people ’ s contribution to popular American culture , stories that have been overlooked by mainstream American culture .
The brand has become known for telling stories of the erased and deftly uses fashion , film and fine art to reverse that erasure .
In 2018 , Pyer Moss launched the thesis with the runway show “ Cowboy , ” which paid homage to those black men and women who served as labor hands and crafted the cowboy and rodeo culture .
They followed that runway show with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day cowboys , pioneers , educators and activists in NYC , Chicago , Compton and Baltimore .
For the second installment of “ American , Also.
” named “ Normal ” the brand focused on telling stories of the normalcy in the black family experience .
That installation was led with a runway show at the historic Weeksville Heritage Center followed by runway shows in Shanghai and Lagos .
As if that wasn ’ t enough , the brand then followed up with the Director X led film “ Seven Mothers.
” A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Kerby Jean-Raymond and the 7 women who raised him after his mother passed away in 1994 .
The third and final installment of that trilogy , “ American , Also : Lesson 3 '' titled “ Sister , ” opened last September with a Fashion Week presentation at the landmark King ’ s Theater in Brooklyn , N.Y. , near where Jean-Raymond grew up .
In May of this year , the label released the trailer for a documentary chronicling that show and collection , which was inspired by and named for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who invented rock ‘ n ’ roll .
In anticipation of the trilogy ’ s completion , marked by the collection ’ s drop on October 3 , Pyer Moss turned to its following and friends , putting out an open casting call for the campaign for “ Collection 3 : Sister , ” as part of an ongoing collaborative concept called Open Studio .
“ ‘ Open Studio ’ is our way of having our audience help create this art project I like to call Pyer Moss , ” says Kerby Jean-Raymond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long , hard year and it was important for us to find a way to reconnect and reunite .
I am so grateful to the models , stylists , photographers , set designers , designers and glam teams who helped us conduct ‘ Open Studio 2 ’ and for helping us create history , welcome to the family .
I can ’ t say enough how much I appreciate your continued support and collaboration .
These images will serve as our official Collection 3 Campaign .
We look forward to showing the results @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to creative direction by Jean-Raymond himself and an all-Black cast , the production team includes photography by 2020 Glow Up 50 honoree Micaiah Carter ; artistic direction by Anthony Konigbagbe ; production by Adbur Rahman ; styling by Sakinah Sela and Antoine Gregory ; hair direction by Jawara with hairstyling by Latisha Chong , Matt Benns , Mideyah Chong , Allie Jackson , Shamicka Williams , Roddi W. and Helena Moke ; makeup by 2020 Glow Up 50 honoree Raisa Flowers ( who also walked the runway of Rihanna ’ s Savage X @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2 ) ; set design by Natalie Hoffman ; moving images by Alex Ashe and casting by Katherine Mateo .
With so much art being generated across mediums , one might become distracted from the fact that Pyer Moss is still , in fact , a fashion label .
But the clothes remain the star attraction ; tomorrow , Saturday , October 3 at 12 pm ET , Pyer Moss will drop Collection 3 , the collection shown in the Open Studio .
To evoke the indelible influence of Sister Rosetta Tharpe and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the collection features artwork by recently exonerated artist Richard Phillips to commemorate Tharpe ’ s life , says the label .
And in a rare departure from its collaboration with Reebok , Pyer Moss will also release its first in-house shoe this Saturday , the Sculpt 1 .
Both the collection and the new shoe will exclusively be available at PyerMoss.com .

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

If there is one thing a year full of social distance coupled with global outcries in support of Black lives has made clear, it is the power and beauty of the Black community. We have shown up. We have shown out. We have continued to show the world what we have always known: that Black lives matter as much as anyone else’s—and that Black creativity and ingenuity are a wonder to behold.
Founded and helmed by 2019 The Root 100 honoree, 2020 CFDA Menswear Designer of the Year, and new Reebok Global Director Kerby Jean-Raymond, Pyer Moss has always centered Black lives and creativity in its imagery and presentations. Launched in 2013, the label’s runway presentations are regularly among the most coveted invites each Fashion Week, each show treating its guests to not only beautiful clothes but a crash course in largely unknown Black history (coupled with Jean-Raymond’s personal history) through its “American, Also.” trilogy.
Advertisement
As the label explained in a release provided to The Glow Up:
The three-part collection series “American, Also.” was created to uncover and tell the stories of Black people’s contribution to popular American culture, stories that have been overlooked by mainstream American culture. The brand has become known for telling stories of the erased and deftly uses fashion, film and fine art to reverse that erasure. In 2018, Pyer Moss launched the thesis with the runway show “Cowboy,” which paid homage to those black men and women who served as labor hands and crafted the cowboy and rodeo culture. They followed that runway show with a 9-part documentary that uncovers stories of modern day cowboys, pioneers, educators and activists in NYC, Chicago, Compton and Baltimore. For the second installment of “American, Also.” named “Normal” the brand focused on telling stories of the normalcy in the black family experience. That installation was led with a runway show at the historic Weeksville Heritage Center followed by runway shows in Shanghai and Lagos. As if that wasn’t enough, the brand then followed up with the Director X led film “Seven Mothers.” A film that focuses on the family life of Kerby Jean-Raymond and the 7 women who raised him after his mother passed away in 1994.
Advertisement Advertisement
The third and final installment of that trilogy, “American, Also: Lesson 3" titled “Sister,” opened last September with a Fashion Week presentation at the landmark King’s Theater in Brooklyn, N.Y., near where Jean-Raymond grew up. In May of this year, the label released the trailer for a documentary chronicling that show and collection, which was inspired by and named for Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the Black woman who invented rock ‘n’ roll. In anticipation of the trilogy’s completion, marked by the collection’s drop on October 3, Pyer Moss turned to its following and friends, putting out an open casting call for the campaign for “Collection 3: Sister,” as part of an ongoing collaborative concept called Open Studio.
From Pyer Moss:
Open Studio is the brand’s way of involving its customers and community in the creative process of the Collection 3 Campaign. Collaborators include models, stylists, set designers, hairstylists, and makeup artists just to name a few—all the necessary ingredients required to not just create editorial content, but content that portrays the brand’s ethos, showing the luxury in Black Liberation.
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“‘Open Studio’ is our way of having our audience help create this art project I like to call Pyer Moss,” says Kerby Jean-Raymond. “It’s been a long, hard year and it was important for us to find a way to reconnect and reunite. I am so grateful to the models, stylists, photographers, set designers, designers and glam teams who helped us conduct ‘Open Studio 2’ and for helping us create history, welcome to the family. I can’t say enough how much I appreciate your continued support and collaboration. These images will serve as our official Collection 3 Campaign. We look forward to showing the results in the coming days.”
In addition to creative direction by Jean-Raymond himself and an all-Black cast, the production team includes photography by 2020 Glow Up 50 honoree Micaiah Carter; artistic direction by Anthony Konigbagbe; production by Adbur Rahman; styling by Sakinah Sela and Antoine Gregory; hair direction by Jawara with hairstyling by Latisha Chong, Matt Benns, Mideyah Chong, Allie Jackson, Shamicka Williams, Roddi W. and Helena Moke; makeup by 2020 Glow Up 50 honoree Raisa Flowers (who also walked the runway of Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty Vol. 2 presentation on Oct. 2); set design by Natalie Hoffman; moving images by Alex Ashe and casting by Katherine Mateo.
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Photo : Micaiah Carter for Pyer Moss Photo : Micaiah Carter for Pyer Moss Photo : Micaiah Carter for Pyer Moss Photo : Micaiah Carter for Pyer Moss Advertisement You can skip ad after 1 second You can go to the next slide after 1 second Continue Photo : Micaiah Carter for Pyer Moss Photo : Micaiah Carter for Pyer Moss Photo : Micaiah Carter for Pyer Moss Photo : Micaiah Carter for Pyer Moss Advertisement You can skip ad after 1 second You can go to the next slide after 1 second Continue Photo : Micaiah Carter for Pyer Moss Photo : Micaiah Carter for Pyer Moss Photo : Micaiah Carter for Pyer Moss Photo : Micaiah Carter for Pyer Moss Advertisement You can skip ad after 1 second You can go to the next slide after 1 second Continue Photo : Micaiah Carter for Pyer Moss Photo : Micaiah Carter for Pyer Moss Photo : Micaiah Carter for Pyer Moss Photo : Micaiah Carter for Pyer Moss Advertisement You can skip ad after 1 second You can go to the next slide after 1 second Continue Photo : Micaiah Carter for Pyer Moss Photo : Micaiah Carter for Pyer Moss Photo : Micaiah Carter for Pyer Moss Photo : Micaiah Carter for Pyer Moss Advertisement You can skip ad after 1 second You can go to the next slide after 1 second Continue Photo : Micaiah Carter for Pyer Moss Photo : Micaiah Carter for Pyer Moss Photo : Micaiah Carter for Pyer Moss Photo : Micaiah Carter for Pyer Moss Advertisement You can skip ad after 1 second You can go to the next slide after 1 second Continue Photo : Micaiah Carter for Pyer Moss Photo : Micaiah Carter for Pyer Moss Photo : Micaiah Carter for Pyer Moss Photo : Micaiah Carter for Pyer Moss Advertisement You can skip ad after 1 second You can go to the next slide after 1 second Continue Photo : Micaiah Carter for Pyer Moss Photo : Micaiah Carter for Pyer Moss Photo : Micaiah Carter for Pyer Moss 1 / 31
With so much art being generated across mediums, one might become distracted from the fact that Pyer Moss is still, in fact, a fashion label. But the clothes remain the star attraction; tomorrow, Saturday, October 3 at 12 pm ET, Pyer Moss will drop Collection 3, the collection shown in the Open Studio. To evoke the indelible influence of Sister Rosetta Tharpe and consistent with its ongoing spirit of collaboration, the collection features artwork by recently exonerated artist Richard Phillips to commemorate Tharpe’s life, says the label.
Advertisement
And in a rare departure from its collaboration with Reebok, Pyer Moss will also release its first in-house shoe this Saturday, the Sculpt 1. Both the collection and the new shoe will exclusively be available at PyerMoss.com.


theroot--2020-10-02--Katanas and X-Wings Top This Week's Good-Ass Games at Good-Ass Prices

Well .
This has been a week .
What better way to end it than by indulging your vice of choice , firing up your console and getting down on some good ass games ?
This week ’ s list includes a brand spankin ’ new game as well as one of the best games to be released this year .
Star Wars : Squadrons tops this week ’ s list as it came out today and at a reduced price no less .
Don ’ t let the budget price fool you though ; this is a fully fleshed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both an online multiplayer component and single-player narrative .
While I ’ m still very early in the game as it only came out last night , so far it ’ s actually been more than I wanted .
I was going to be content with a simple arcade-y dogfighting game in the vein of Star Wars : Battlefront II ’ s star fighter assault mode .
With its cockpit only first-person view and controls that ride a solid line between simulation and arcade , there seems to be a depth here that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The game is cross-platform too , meaning you can play its multiplayer mode with your friends whether or not you have the same console .
If you miss the days of solid dogfighting games , Star Wars : Squadrons should satisfy that itch and at a solid price to boot .
Ghost of Tsushima may very well be my game of the year .
While much of the hype ( and rage ) this summer surrounded The Last of Us Part II , I found Ghost of Tsushima to be a far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ story of Jin Sakai ’ s quest to reclaim his home from Khotun Khan and the Mongol Empire is filled with a surprising level of melancholy .
The main quests and the side stories all present portraits of people driven by loss and how that loss drastically changes the course their lives take .
On top of its engrossing story , developer Sucker Punch presents a truly beautiful interpretation of 13th century Japan .
Instead of a traditional waypoint , the wind guides you to your next destination .
Riding your horse across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shimmers on the horizon is just as thrilling an experience as going toe-to-toe with a group of soldiers .
The combat is great and manages to present a unique approach to the Souls-like combat that has slowly infected action games of the current generation .
If you can ’ t tell by my exuberant praise , I really recommend playing Ghost of Tsushima .
It ’ s a fun , affecting , and occasionally heartbreaking ride .
I can already hear you saying , “ Nigga , another Final Fantasy game ?
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ANYBODY ’ S ASS WHO HAS A PROBLEM WITH IT .
If you have a curiosity about Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games ( MMORPG ) but don ’ t have access to a good enough PC to play one , this is honestly your best bet .
Having played FFXIV on PS3 back in college , the controller inputs actually work pretty well .
The complete edition will get you the base game as well as the Heavensward , Stormblood and Shadowbringers expansion packs .
While there is a $ 14.99 monthly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I can honestly say it ’ s worth it .
When I have time I put aside a few hours to play the game on PC and I ’ m always entertained .
An extensive class system , solid combat and a banger of a score make this a worthy buy .
Also , seeing as the dev team here will be responsible for the upcoming Final Fantasy XVI on PS5 , this might be a solid preview of what ’ s to come .
Fun fact : I bought a PS4 in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remember being so struck by the art style and battle system that I decided to dip into my graduation money to cop a console and a copy of this little indie game .
It was totally worth it .
The story of Transistor follows Red , a singer in Cloudbank CIty who you meet standing over a dead man with a sword impaled through him .
The man ’ s consciousness is absorbed into the blade , called a Transistor , and the attack that killed him also took Red ’ s voice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two go on a mission to find who attacked them and why these attacks are occurring .
The art style is a gorgeous blend of art deco , sci-fi and comic book aesthetics .
The combat is a really cool blend of action game and real time strategy .
At any point during combat you can freeze time and chain a limited series of moves together to take out your opponents .
Also , killing certain enemies will result in their consciousness being absorbed into the Transistor and giving you access to new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my favorite games of this generation , and I go back to it almost yearly .
For only 4 bucks it ’ s a steal , and I can ’ t recommend it enough .
That ’ s about it for today .
In terms of general deals , Xbox users can currently subscribe to game pass for only one dollar .
I use the service and it basically pays for itself with the amount of quality games available .
Playstation is currently running its Games of a Generation sale which has some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nintendo ’ s Sega sale also has a few gems in there .
As always , stay safe , play more video games , and I ’ ll see y ’ all next Friday with more good ass games at good ass prices .

Well. This has been a week. What better way to end it than by indulging your vice of choice, firing up your console and getting down on some good ass games? This week’s list includes a brand spankin’ new game as well as one of the best games to be released this year.
Star Wars: Squadrons (Xbox One, PS4, PC)- $39.99
Advertisement
Star Wars: Squadrons tops this week’s list as it came out today and at a reduced price no less. Don’t let the budget price fool you though; this is a fully fleshed out title. The game comes with both an online multiplayer component and single-player narrative.
While I’m still very early in the game as it only came out last night, so far it’s actually been more than I wanted. I was going to be content with a simple arcade-y dogfighting game in the vein of Star Wars: Battlefront II’s star fighter assault mode. With its cockpit only first-person view and controls that ride a solid line between simulation and arcade, there seems to be a depth here that I’m very excited to explore. The game is cross-platform too, meaning you can play its multiplayer mode with your friends whether or not you have the same console.
Advertisement Advertisement
If you miss the days of solid dogfighting games, Star Wars: Squadrons should satisfy that itch and at a solid price to boot.
Ghost of Tsushima (PS4)- $45.99
Advertisement
Ghost of Tsushima may very well be my game of the year. While much of the hype (and rage) this summer surrounded The Last of Us Part II, I found Ghost of Tsushima to be a far more affecting meditation on loss. The story of Jin Sakai’s quest to reclaim his home from Khotun Khan and the Mongol Empire is filled with a surprising level of melancholy. The main quests and the side stories all present portraits of people driven by loss and how that loss drastically changes the course their lives take.
On top of its engrossing story, developer Sucker Punch presents a truly beautiful interpretation of 13th century Japan. Instead of a traditional waypoint, the wind guides you to your next destination. Riding your horse across a field of chrysanthemums as the sunset shimmers on the horizon is just as thrilling an experience as going toe-to-toe with a group of soldiers. The combat is great and manages to present a unique approach to the Souls-like combat that has slowly infected action games of the current generation.
Advertisement
If you can’t tell by my exuberant praise, I really recommend playing Ghost of Tsushima. It’s a fun, affecting, and occasionally heartbreaking ride.
Final Fantasy XIV: Complete Edition (PS4)- $29.99
Advertisement
I can already hear you saying, “Nigga, another Final Fantasy game?” YES GODDAMMIT, AND I WILL BEAT ANYBODY’S ASS WHO HAS A PROBLEM WITH IT.
That’s all cap, y’all. I’m sorry. I can’t beat anybody’s ass.
I can recommend Final Fantasy XIV, though!
If you have a curiosity about Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games (MMORPG) but don’t have access to a good enough PC to play one, this is honestly your best bet. Having played FFXIV on PS3 back in college, the controller inputs actually work pretty well. The complete edition will get you the base game as well as the Heavensward, Stormblood and Shadowbringers expansion packs. While there is a $14.99 monthly subscription fee to play the game, I can honestly say it’s worth it. When I have time I put aside a few hours to play the game on PC and I’m always entertained. An extensive class system, solid combat and a banger of a score make this a worthy buy.
Advertisement
Also, seeing as the dev team here will be responsible for the upcoming Final Fantasy XVI on PS5, this might be a solid preview of what’s to come.
Transistor (Nintendo Switch)- $3.99
Advertisement
Fun fact: I bought a PS4 in 2014 to play this game. I remember being so struck by the art style and battle system that I decided to dip into my graduation money to cop a console and a copy of this little indie game.
It was totally worth it.
The story of Transistor follows Red, a singer in Cloudbank CIty who you meet standing over a dead man with a sword impaled through him. The man’s consciousness is absorbed into the blade, called a Transistor, and the attack that killed him also took Red’s voice. Red takes the transistor and the two go on a mission to find who attacked them and why these attacks are occurring.
Advertisement
The art style is a gorgeous blend of art deco, sci-fi and comic book aesthetics. The combat is a really cool blend of action game and real time strategy. At any point during combat you can freeze time and chain a limited series of moves together to take out your opponents. Also, killing certain enemies will result in their consciousness being absorbed into the Transistor and giving you access to new abilities.
This is easily one of my favorite games of this generation, and I go back to it almost yearly. For only 4 bucks it’s a steal, and I can’t recommend it enough.
Advertisement
That’s about it for today. In terms of general deals, Xbox users can currently subscribe to game pass for only one dollar. I use the service and it basically pays for itself with the amount of quality games available. Playstation is currently running its Games of a Generation sale which has some pretty quality deals across all genres and Nintendo’s Sega sale also has a few gems in there.
As always, stay safe, play more video games, and I’ll see y’all next Friday with more good ass games at good ass prices.


theroot--2020-10-02--Take a Stand Against Cable Clutter With $10 off the Anker PowerWave+ Qi Wireless Charging Pad

Whether you ’ re running out of outlets or you just don ’ t want another thing to plug in @ @ @ @ @ plenty of charging pads to cover all your multi-device needs .
If , after a @ @ @ @ @ thing , you need to give your phone and Apple Watch a boost , the @ @ @ @ @ do the trick .
It has a pad for one smartphone , plus a dedicated @ @ @ @ @ Normally it ’ s $ 60 , but Best Buy has it for $ 10 @ @ @ @ @ snag it while you can .

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

Anker PowerWave+ Qi Wireless Charging Pad | $50 | Best Buy
Whether you’re running out of outlets or you just don’t want another thing to plug in, Anker’s got plenty of charging pads to cover all your multi-device needs. If, after a long day of doing your thing, you need to give your phone and Apple Watch a boost, the PowerWave+ wireless charging pad will do the trick. It has a pad for one smartphone, plus a dedicated stand for your Watch. Normally it’s $60, but Best Buy has it for $10 off right now, so snag it while you can.


theroot--2020-10-02--Ananda Lewis Reveals She Has Stage 3 Breast Cancer, Urges Mammograms for Early Detection

If you are a person of a certain age , there ’ s a high likelihood that you once either emulated or had a full-blown obsession with one-time MTV veejay and host of BET ’ s Teen Summit , Ananda Lewis .
Now 47 , the former daytime talk show host has been laying low as of late , but on Thursday , she gave fans and followers some insight as to why—for the past two years , she has been battling stage 3 breast cancer .
As reported by Vibe , Lewis shared the news via an emotional video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in tandem with the start of October , which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month .
The revelation no doubt came as a surprise to many of those in Lewis ’ inner circle as well , as she apologized for keeping the news to herself , acknowledging that the toll of a cancer diagnosis and her subsequent efforts to combat it were as much stress as she was willing to undergo as she wages the battle of her life .
“ That phrase ‘ Don ’ t talk about it be about it , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for almost two years and honestly there ’ s nothing any of you could have done so I apologize if you felt like I excluded you , ” she said .
“ It wasn ’ t personal , it was just something I needed.
” Now , Lewis feels the need to share her diagnosis with others , as she admits her own reluctance to get mammograms at the recommended age of 40 was “ a mistake.
” For context , Lewis explains she ’ d watched her mother have mammograms for nearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diagnosed with breast cancer .
Noting the correlation between the radiation exposure generated during a mammogram and other x-ray procedures and certain cancers , Lewis refused to undergo the annual exam herself until a self-exam and thermography revealed that she did , in fact , have a tumor Now a mother of a 9-year-old son herself , Lewis still maintains that there is danger in repeated exposure to radiation , and has been heavily relying upon alternative and natural treatments and protocols to contain the spread of the disease .
However , she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her a crucial early diagnosis .
“ What I didn ’ t understand , and what I need you to understand , the reason why I ’ m here telling you my business is because I would have had three or four mammograms by the time they caught it , ” she says ( h/t Vibe ) .
“ Instead , I ’ ve had to have 2 PET [ positron emission tomography ] scans so far .
Guess how many mammograms worth of radiation a PET scan is .
Anyone ?
30 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You do the math.
” There ’ s no telling how Lewis ’ prognosis will develop from here , but what she now asserts is that she potentially cost herself years in treatment , as she “ still [ has ] a lot of work to do ” to eradicate the cancer cells from her body .
“ If I had done the mammograms from the time they were recommended when I turned 40 , they would ’ ve caught the tumor in my breast years before , ” she continues , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a place where it was more manageable .
Where the treatment of it would have been a little easier .
It ’ s never easy , but I use that word in comparison to what I ’ m going through now .
Instead , what I ’ m dealing with is stage 3 breast cancer that is in my [ lymph nodes ] .
” “ I need you to get your mammograms , ” she urges .
Lewis isn ’ t wrong .
The National Breast Cancer Foundation reports ( pdf ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cancer is the most common cancer among American women , comprising 30 percent of female cancer diagnoses , and meaning that one in eight women in the United States will develop breast cancer in her lifetime .
In 2020 alone , the NBCF reports “ an estimated 276,480 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women in the U.S. as well as 48,530 new cases of non-invasive ( in situ ) breast cancer , ” adding that an estimated 42,170 women will die of the disease this year .
For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high ; though comprising just under 14 percent of the total female population ( h/t Catalyst , Inc. ) the Susan G. Komen Foundation reports that Black women nearly equal white women in the highest rate of breast cancer occurrences , with a 12 percent likelihood of diagnosis in their lifetimes .
Black women under 40 also have higher rates of breast cancer compared to white women , and at every age , are most likely to be diagnosed with more aggressive triple-negative breast cancers ( TNBC ) , which spread more quickly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cancel cells throughout the body ) and are more difficult to survive .
This is why , as Lewis implores , early detection is key in not only identifying the presence of cancer but preventing its spread .
While mammograms can be frightening—as can breast and lymph node biopsies , as this writer can personally attest after her own irregular mammogram—they are still the best forms of identifying what could be a life-threatening disease in its earliest and most vulnerable stages .
“ I wish I could go back , ” says Lewis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she went wrong .
“ I don ’ t want to leave my kids , my friends , my family .
Hell , I don ’ t want to leave myself !
I like being here !
” But Lewis doesn ’ t want our sympathy ; she wants our awareness and action .
“ I need you to share this with the women in your life , ” she says.
“ I need you to tell [ your friends and family members ] that they have to do it .
Early detection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your outcome .
It can save your life .
”

If you are a person of a certain age, there’s a high likelihood that you once either emulated or had a full-blown obsession with one-time MTV veejay and host of BET’s Teen Summit, Ananda Lewis. Now 47, the former daytime talk show host has been laying low as of late, but on Thursday, she gave fans and followers some insight as to why—for the past two years, she has been battling stage 3 breast cancer.
As reported by Vibe, Lewis shared the news via an emotional video posted to her Instagram page, timed in tandem with the start of October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The revelation no doubt came as a surprise to many of those in Lewis’ inner circle as well, as she apologized for keeping the news to herself, acknowledging that the toll of a cancer diagnosis and her subsequent efforts to combat it were as much stress as she was willing to undergo as she wages the battle of her life.
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“That phrase ‘Don’t talk about it be about it,’ that’s been my life for almost two years and honestly there’s nothing any of you could have done so I apologize if you felt like I excluded you,” she said. “It wasn’t personal, it was just something I needed.”
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Now, Lewis feels the need to share her diagnosis with others, as she admits her own reluctance to get mammograms at the recommended age of 40 was “a mistake.” For context, Lewis explains she’d watched her mother have mammograms for nearly 30 years, only to still be diagnosed with breast cancer. Noting the correlation between the radiation exposure generated during a mammogram and other x-ray procedures and certain cancers, Lewis refused to undergo the annual exam herself until a self-exam and thermography revealed that she did, in fact, have a tumor
Now a mother of a 9-year-old son herself, Lewis still maintains that there is danger in repeated exposure to radiation, and has been heavily relying upon alternative and natural treatments and protocols to contain the spread of the disease. However, she now admits that her initial stubbornness cost her a crucial early diagnosis.
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“What I didn’t understand, and what I need you to understand, the reason why I’m here telling you my business is because I would have had three or four mammograms by the time they caught it,” she says (h/t Vibe). “Instead, I’ve had to have 2 PET [positron emission tomography] scans so far. Guess how many mammograms worth of radiation a PET scan is. Anyone? 30! 30! So 60 mammograms! You do the math.”
There’s no telling how Lewis’ prognosis will develop from here, but what she now asserts is that she potentially cost herself years in treatment, as she “still [has] a lot of work to do” to eradicate the cancer cells from her body.
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“If I had done the mammograms from the time they were recommended when I turned 40, they would’ve caught the tumor in my breast years before,” she continues, “and they would have caught it at a place where it was more manageable. Where the treatment of it would have been a little easier. It’s never easy, but I use that word in comparison to what I’m going through now. Instead, what I’m dealing with is stage 3 breast cancer that is in my [lymph nodes].”
“I need you to get your mammograms,” she urges.
Lewis isn’t wrong. The National Breast Cancer Foundation reports (pdf) that aside from skin cancers, breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women, comprising 30 percent of female cancer diagnoses, and meaning that one in eight women in the United States will develop breast cancer in her lifetime.
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In 2020 alone, the NBCF reports “an estimated 276,480 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women in the U.S. as well as 48,530 new cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer,” adding that an estimated 42,170 women will die of the disease this year. For Black women, the risk is especially high; though comprising just under 14 percent of the total female population (h/t Catalyst, Inc.) the Susan G. Komen Foundation reports that Black women nearly equal white women in the highest rate of breast cancer occurrences, with a 12 percent likelihood of diagnosis in their lifetimes. Black women under 40 also have higher rates of breast cancer compared to white women, and at every age, are most likely to be diagnosed with more aggressive triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC), which spread more quickly to lymph nodes (which can distribute cancel cells throughout the body) and are more difficult to survive.
This is why, as Lewis implores, early detection is key in not only identifying the presence of cancer but preventing its spread. While mammograms can be frightening—as can breast and lymph node biopsies, as this writer can personally attest after her own irregular mammogram—they are still the best forms of identifying what could be a life-threatening disease in its earliest and most vulnerable stages.
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“I wish I could go back,” says Lewis, tearing up as she admits where she went wrong. “I don’t want to leave my kids, my friends, my family. Hell, I don’t want to leave myself! I like being here!”
But Lewis doesn’t want our sympathy; she wants our awareness and action. “I need you to share this with the women in your life,” she says.“I need you to tell [your friends and family members] that they have to do it. Early detection, especially for breast cancer, changes your outcome. It can save your life.”


theroot--2020-10-02--The Root's Clapback Mailbag: You Might Be a White Supremacist If...

Some people believe that white supremacists spew the n-word , burn crosses on lawns and spend their spare time practicing their Nazi salute .
I wish all white supremacists were all scraggly white men who could be identified by their Nazi armbands or their evil mustaches .
If only they wore name tags or had a universally recognized logo .
But , if that were the case , white supremacy wouldn ’ t be so pervasive or effective .
So , today ’ s M ailbag is dedicated to the people who smile in your face , say all the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to uplifting the white race .
This M ailbag honors the beloved and respected members of your community who write to us using benign and affable language that cloaks the same brand of hatred and racism of a KKK member .
Today , we salute the whitest hero of them all : The best examples of this phenomenon are the VMI grads whose panties are in a bunch because Black VMI students think VMI is racist .
While I must express disagreement with virtually all of the content of your article on VMI @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our opinions , no matter how far from the truth they may be .
VMI has produced citizen soldiers who have selflessly served their country both in the military and as civilians since 1839 .
Among the alumni are General George C. Marshall , creator of the Marshall Plan for the post-war European recovery , General George S. Patton and arctic explorer Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd to namee but a few .
Seven VMI alumni have been awarded the Medal of Honor .
VMI alumni have served with distinction in every war @ @ @ @ @ @ @ newly commissioned officers to the US Army than any other college other than West Point .
No institution is perfect , and tradition changes slowly , but no one is more critical of VMI that those who have attended the college .
I walked away after my graduation in 1978 quite bitter and very disillusioned .
But in the decades that followed I came to appreciate my time at VMI and it ’ s history , as dark as some of it may appear to those of us in the 21st century .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ vocal critics will defend it from attack from those who would seek its demise .
It is not the place of those that have not endured the “ VMI experience ” to criticize that which they have not experienced nor understand .
VMI forges bonds of friendship that bridge all differences in race , sex , religion and economic circumstance .
Attend a VMI reunion , read the Alumni Review , speak to cadets and alumni of all backgrounds before you pass judgement .
I would encourage you to watch the 1989 PBS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the First Black at VMI Cadets ” I would also offer one other suggestion ... .. Before you publish any more of your grievances and assumptions on VMI , for Heaven ’ s sake , get the college ’ s name straight .
It ’ s the VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE , not the Virginia Military Academy as you state in the opening sentence of your article .
One would think that the letters V-M-I would have tipped you off , but apparently not .
Thank you for respectfully submitting your differences with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inform you that I am not a racist .
To prove it , I can share a— Do you guys think I attacked your beloved institution ?
Are you under the impression that I was sitting around contemplating on my next plan of attack against God-fearing American white people and said : “ I know !
I should attack this school I ’ ve never thought about a day in my life !
Oooh , and they have ‘ citizen soldiers !
’ Seeing as how America hates the troops , I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ !
” After I came up with my racist idea , I got a DM on Twitter from a Black student at VMI I ’ ve never met , who said he ’ s like me to write an article about how VMI was a pro-Black utopia that treated all of its students equally .
At first I was skeptical , so I talked to eight Black alums , two former professors and five current students .
And after every single one of those people said VMI was racism- free , I decided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nt of VMI informing him that I was about to make some shit up .
In response , the school actually emailed me back and essentially said : “ Some of our students have said we were racist , so we wrote three different letters to address it.
” Still , I was not satisfied .
So I talked to my editor , who said : “ Well , maybe you should include the perspectives some B lack women .
I bet they know about the racism at VMI.
” And when I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black women to ever graduate from the school , I found out that she had already been interviewed by the Washington Post , who wrote : And then my editor asked : “ Well , what about the B lack people who like VMI ?
Did you include their voices ?
” Goddamn , I tried .
If there is a B lack VMI student or alum that have never experienced or witnessed racism at the school , I could not find them .
And it ’ s not because I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In fact , the Virginia Pilot wrote about the same issue .
The Richmond Times-Dispatch wrote about VMI ’ s Black alumni pushing for change .
WSLS reported that the school ’ s first B lack students felt the same way years after they graduated .
But I ’ m the anti-white racist who strong- armed every single one of VMI ’ s Black students into making stuff up about a school I couldn ’ t care less about .
The most insane thing about white supremacy is not the hate , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Perhaps the craziest thing about it is the way it affects white people .
You can talk about climate change , the existence of aliens and Elvis all you want .
But , I would submit to you that there is nothing else in the entire universe for which more people have seen more evidence of its existence and have still concluded : “ I don ’ t care about these actual people who shared their real-life experiences that I wouldn ’ t know about because I ’ m white .
Nah @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I know I ’ m right.
” And if that ain ’ t white supremacy , then what is ?
Then there are the people who insist that talking nice about racism is better than being truthful about racism because ... you know ...
I hate white people .
Thank you for reminiscing about your negro-adjacent experiences with good , decent white folks .
I , too , slept , ate and played with many a white folk , like my white family , the Seavers .
( Not their real names .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ up , every B lack family was adopted by a good , decent white family who they freely gave money to in exchange for odd jobs like babysitting , cleaning their homes , etc .
I know it seems like remnants of slavery but , seriously , this was a thing in my hometown .
I remember my cousin Patricia , whose white family had a doctor , was so proud that they let her drive their convertible Mustang to church so she could come right over after service and watch their kids @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know they went to Hawaii because most people were proud of their white families where I grew up .
Well , when I was younger , my white family was the Commoners .
My mom was essentially their two son ’ s nanny and their maid when I was young .
I slept at their house , ate their food and they even stayed at our house sometimes .
Greg , who was the oldest son , was two years older than I was and we called each other “ brothers.
” He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my mother found another white family , the previously mentioned Seavers .
Tim Seaver was a nuclear scientist at the local power plant and his wife , Grace , taught at a local Christian School .
My mother moonlighted with them for years and raised their children .
By the time I graduated high school , she had stopped .
Well , after I graduated from high school , my mother essentially adopted my cousin ’ s child , Nikey , and , of course , she wanted her to go to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ age as the Seaver ’ s son , Patrick .
And like me , Nikey and Patrick called themselves brother and sister .
Because the two kids loved each other so much , Grace got Nikey in so she could be with her dear brother , Patrick .
She was the only B lack kid at the school but Patrick was also there .
What happened next is infamously disputed in the Harriot family lore .
It is true that my sisters and I taught Nikey a song that we made up called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ true that we tortured her by making her sing it every Friday .
But when it was time for Nikey to perform in her class talent show , I definitely didn ’ t advise her to sing “ Black is Beautiful.
” When Nikey sang the song , there was an uproar .
The school said it was inappropriate for first-graders .
While I disagree , I ’ m also not crazy .
I know how white people feel about anything that even comes close to mentioning race .
Need I remind you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A few days after the talent show , There was a meeting where all of the parents asked the school to do something about the incident .
My mom was there but Nikey was not and neither was I .
But when my mom came home , she was happy because the principal said he would leave the decision up to Grace .
She knew what the answer would be .
Grace was her family .
Patrick and Nikey were brother and sister .
Everything was handled .
Grace kicked Nikey out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Nikey blames me for getting her kicked out of that school .
I don ’ t argue with her because I know she doesn ’ t remember correctly because she was so young .
Plus , she was distraught about leaving Patrick , so I didn ’ t exacerbate her sadness by pointing the finger at Patrick ’ s mother .
But there ’ s another part of the story that neither Nikey nor my mother knows .
My mother stopped caring for the Commoners when I began going to public school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the C ommoners moved away when I was about 12 .
Years later , when I was in high school , the Commoners moved back to town .
My mother found out and told me over the summer of my senior year .
By then , I had skipped two grades .
I walked into my AP Calculus class and guess who I saw ?
My mother thought this was the coolest thing !
I would always tell her how he asked about her and she would always ask me how he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Greg ’ s younger brother , Kevin , was a freshman and he spoke to me every time he saw me .
He even signed my yearbook , “ From your brother Kevin.
” At my high school graduation , my mother fawned over him like he was her own son .
It was halfway embarrassing .
And here ’ s why : To this day , Greg has never acknowledged that he knew who the fuck I was .
Now , logically , I believe that it had to have come up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t be sure .
Maybe too much time had passed between ages 12 and 16 .
Maybe he didn ’ t just like me .
I can ’ t even ascribe it to racism .
But after reading your letter , I can ’ t help but think : Does Greg think I ’ m a racist , too ?
I should ask Nikey ’ s brother Patrick if he thinks I ’ m racist .
But he never spoke to Nikey again .
See , that ’ s how I like @ @ @ @

Some people believe that white supremacists spew the n-word, burn crosses on lawns and spend their spare time practicing their Nazi salute.
I wish.
I wish all white supremacists were all scraggly white men who could be identified by their Nazi armbands or their evil mustaches. If only they wore name tags or had a universally recognized logo. But, if that were the case, white supremacy wouldn’t be so pervasive or effective.
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So, today’s M ailbag is dedicated to the people who smile in your face, say all the right things and live their lives dedicated to uplifting the white race. This M ailbag honors the beloved and respected members of your community who write to us using benign and affable language that cloaks the same brand of hatred and racism of a KKK member.
Today, we salute the whitest hero of them all:
Your friendly neighborhood white supremacist.
The best examples of this phenomenon are the VMI grads whose panties are in a bunch because Black VMI students think VMI is racist.
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From: James
To: Michael Harriot. While I must express disagreement with virtually all of the content of your article on VMI, all of us are entitled to our opinions, no matter how far from the truth they may be. VMI has produced citizen soldiers who have selflessly served their country both in the military and as civilians since 1839. Among the alumni are General George C. Marshall, creator of the Marshall Plan for the post-war European recovery, General George S. Patton and arctic explorer Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd to namee but a few. Seven VMI alumni have been awarded the Medal of Honor. VMI alumni have served with distinction in every war since its founding and currently provides more newly commissioned officers to the US Army than any other college other than West Point. No institution is perfect, and tradition changes slowly, but no one is more critical of VMI that those who have attended the college. I walked away after my graduation in 1978 quite bitter and very disillusioned. But in the decades that followed I came to appreciate my time at VMI and it’s history, as dark as some of it may appear to those of us in the 21st century. But even the school’s most vocal critics will defend it from attack from those who would seek its demise. It is not the place of those that have not endured the “VMI experience” to criticize that which they have not experienced nor understand. VMI forges bonds of friendship that bridge all differences in race, sex, religion and economic circumstance. Attend a VMI reunion, read the Alumni Review, speak to cadets and alumni of all backgrounds before you pass judgement. I would encourage you to watch the 1989 PBS presentation entitled “Integration-25 Year Anniversary of the First Black at VMI Cadets” I would also offer one other suggestion..... Before you publish any more of your grievances and assumptions on VMI, for Heaven’s sake, get the college’s name straight. It’s the VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE, not the Virginia Military Academy as you state in the opening sentence of your article. One would think that the letters V-M-I would have tipped you off, but apparently not. Best regards, James VMI ‘78
Name: William
To: Michael Harriot I read your hateful article on VMI. After doing some research on you and your magazine, I certainly now know why you are so biased on your metaphors concerning The Institute. If anyone is a racist, you sir, are at the head of the line. I had never heard of you or The Root. Knowing that both of you exist in America, I am not blessed.
From: Robert
To: Michael Harriot Being “ bucketed” as a racist institution must be like being profiled as a black: Just to educate you, but this doesnt fit your binary narrative.. Signed: -Eager to make that ultimate sacrifice for your rights in 1996 so i chose the racist place where Patton went and they had no Air conditioning.. Jonathan Myrick Daniels was an Episcopal seminarian and civil rights activist. In 1965, he was murdered by a shotgun-wielding special county deputy, Tom Coleman, who was a construction worker, in Hayneville, Alabama, while in the act of shielding... Wikipedia Born: March 20, 1939, Keene, NH Assassinated: August 20, 1965, Hayneville, AL Feast: August 14 Education: Keene High School, Virginia Military Institute, Harvard University, and more “.....Coleman aimed his gun at sixteen year old Ruby Sales; Daniels pushed her to the ground in order to protect her, saving her life. The shotgun blast killed Daniels instantly;”
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Dear VMI alums,
Thank you for respectfully submitting your differences with the article. I must, however, inform you that I am not a racist. To prove it, I can share a—
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Wait...
Do you guys think I attacked your beloved institution? Are you under the impression that I was sitting around contemplating on my next plan of attack against God-fearing American white people and said:
“I know! I should attack this school I’ve never thought about a day in my life! Oooh, and they have ‘ citizen soldiers!’ Seeing as how America hates the troops, I’m sure people will eat that up!”
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After I came up with my racist idea, I got a DM on Twitter from a Black student at VMI I’ve never met, who said he’s like me to write an article about how VMI was a pro-Black utopia that treated all of its students equally. At first I was skeptical, so I talked to eight Black alums, two former professors and five current students.
And after every single one of those people said VMI was racism- free, I decided to send an email to the superintende nt of VMI informing him that I was about to make some shit up. In response, the school actually emailed me back and essentially said: “Some of our students have said we were racist, so we wrote three different letters to address it.”
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Still, I was not satisfied.
So I talked to my editor, who said: “Well, maybe you should include the perspectives some B lack women. I bet they know about the racism at VMI.”
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And when I reached out to one of the first Black women to ever graduate from the school, I found out that she had already been interviewed by the Washington Post, who wrote:
One African American graduate who always felt offended by the college’s racist traditions is Del. Jennifer D. Carroll Foy (D-Prince William), a 2003 VMI graduate who is running for governor. (Virginia’s current governor, Democrat Ralph Northam, is also a graduate of VMI.) Carroll Foy was proud to be a member of the school’s third class that included women, she said. But when her first-year roommate tried to hang a Confederate flag in her dorm room, she immediately stopped her and explained why the image was hurtful. Whenever she had to walk past the Jackson statue as a “Rat,” she chose not to salute and instead turned her gaze in a slightly different direction, toward the adjacent American flag. And when she served as the president of the school’s multicultural club, she led a boycott against the requirement that cadets charge across the New Market battlefield. “They were asking us to commemorate people on the wrong side of history and to celebrate people who wanted African Americans in bondage, raped and enslaved,” Carroll Foy said. She said that she was constantly told Jackson and other Civil War celebrations at the school were simply part of the campus’s “heritage.”
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And then my editor asked: “Well, what about the B lack people who like VMI? Did you include their voices?”
Goddamn, I tried. If there is a B lack VMI student or alum that have never experienced or witnessed racism at the school, I could not find them. And it’s not because I’m a shitty reporter. Others have tried.
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In fact, the Virginia Pilot wrote about the same issue. The Richmond Times-Dispatch wrote about VMI’s Black alumni pushing for change. WSLS reported that the school’s first B lack students felt the same way years after they graduated. But I’m the anti-white racist who strong- armed every single one of VMI’s Black students into making stuff up about a school I couldn’t care less about.
The most insane thing about white supremacy is not the hate, the inequality or the trauma it inflicts. Perhaps the craziest thing about it is the way it affects white people. You can talk about climate change, the existence of aliens and Elvis all you want. But, I would submit to you that there is nothing else in the entire universe for which more people have seen more evidence of its existence and have still concluded:
“I don’t care about these actual people who shared their real-life experiences that I wouldn’t know about because I’m white. Nah, th ese niggers are crazy. I know I’m right.”
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And if that ain’t white supremacy, then what is?
Then there are the people who insist that talking nice about racism is better than being truthful about racism because...you know... I hate white people.
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And Tim Scott:
Name: Rob
Subject: Sow Hope, Not Hate Message: Mr. Harriot, I have read some of your writings. You are persuasive. Your words are powerful. Words may be weapons to destroy or may be bricks with which to build. It appears that your choice has been to weaponize your words. I hope you may consider, for a moment at least, looking at what weaponized words are doing to our nation and to our civilization. It is possible to achieve great things without violence and hatred. I hope that you will take four minutes and view this news story. It is about a great man, my friend and brother Reverend Dr. Michael McDonald, Esq. I hope that you might consider writing about him and provide hope for a generation which is becoming lost in rage. I wish you the best of weekends. Rob Mitchell
From: Robert
To: Michael Harriot
Subject: tribalism Message: ...every once in awhile I stumble across some of your racist bullshit. Growing up in your beloved SC, I slept, ate and played with a many black folk. And yes I’m gonna just say it how I feel it. Cause God knows your just gonna say, see see i knew you were a racist!!!! ....it was oh, around high school that my black brothers started turning there backs on me. Why, tribalism. There black associates all of a sudden said to them oh no you can’t be friends with the cracker anymore. Racism ,yeah it definitely exists.
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Dear Robert,
Thank you for reminiscing about your negro-adjacent experiences with good, decent white folks. I, too, slept, ate and played with many a white folk, like my white family, the Seavers. (Not their real names.)
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In the town where I grew up, every B lack family was adopted by a good, decent white family who they freely gave money to in exchange for odd jobs like babysitting, cleaning their homes, etc. I know it seems like remnants of slavery but, seriously, this was a thing in my hometown. I remember my cousin Patricia, whose white family had a doctor, was so proud that they let her drive their convertible Mustang to church so she could come right over after service and watch their kids while they went to Hawaii. I know they went to Hawaii because most people were proud of their white families where I grew up.
Well, when I was younger, my white family was the Commoners. My mom was essentially their two son’s nanny and their maid when I was young. I slept at their house, ate their food and they even stayed at our house sometimes. Greg, who was the oldest son, was two years older than I was and we called each other “brothers.” He was my big brother.
Advertisement
Eventually, my mother found another white family, the previously mentioned Seavers. Tim Seaver was a nuclear scientist at the local power plant and his wife, Grace, taught at a local Christian School. My mother moonlighted with them for years and raised their children. By the time I graduated high school, she had stopped.
Well, after I graduated from high school, my mother essentially adopted my cousin’s child, Nikey, and, of course, she wanted her to go to a good school. Nikey was the same age as the Seaver’s son, Patrick. And like me, Nikey and Patrick called themselves brother and sister. Because the two kids loved each other so much, Grace got Nikey in so she could be with her dear brother, Patrick. She was the only B lack kid at the school but Patrick was also there.
Advertisement
What happened next is infamously disputed in the Harriot family lore.
It is true that my sisters and I taught Nikey a song that we made up called “Black is Beautiful.” It is true that we tortured her by making her sing it every Friday. But when it was time for Nikey to perform in her class talent show, I definitely didn’t advise her to sing “Black is Beautiful.”
Advertisement
When Nikey sang the song, there was an uproar. The school said it was inappropriate for first-graders. While I disagree, I’m also not crazy. I know how white people feel about anything that even comes close to mentioning race. Need I remind you that I grew up in South Carolina.
A few days after the talent show, There was a meeting where all of the parents asked the school to do something about the incident. My mom was there but Nikey was not and neither was I. But when my mom came home, she was happy because the principal said he would leave the decision up to Grace. She knew what the answer would be. Grace was her family. Patrick and Nikey were brother and sister. Everything was handled.
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Grace kicked Nikey out of the school.
To this day, Nikey blames me for getting her kicked out of that school. I don’t argue with her because I know she doesn’t remember correctly because she was so young. Plus, she was distraught about leaving Patrick, so I didn’t exacerbate her sadness by pointing the finger at Patrick’s mother.
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But there’s another part of the story that neither Nikey nor my mother knows.
My mother stopped caring for the Commoners when I began going to public school; she got a better job and the C ommoners moved away when I was about 12. Years later, when I was in high school, the Commoners moved back to town. My mother found out and told me over the summer of my senior year. By then, I had skipped two grades. I walked into my AP Calculus class and guess who I saw?
Advertisement
Greg!
My mother thought this was the coolest thing! I would always tell her how he asked about her and she would always ask me how he was doing. The brothers were reunited! Greg’s younger brother, Kevin, was a freshman and he spoke to me every time he saw me. He even signed my yearbook, “From your brother Kevin.”
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At my high school graduation, my mother fawned over him like he was her own son. It was halfway embarrassing. And here’s why:
To this day, Greg has never acknowledged that he knew who the fuck I was.
Now, logically, I believe that it had to have come up between Greg and Kevin but I can’t be sure. Maybe too much time had passed between ages 12 and 16. Maybe he didn’t just like me. I can’t even ascribe it to racism. But after reading your letter, I can’t help but think:
Does Greg think I’m a racist, too?
I should ask Nikey’s brother Patrick if he thinks I’m racist.
But he never spoke to Nikey again.
And finally:
From: Blow me
To: Michael Harriot
Subject: Uh no Message: Oh stfu you whining bitch. The po’ black man, the po’ black. How about your black ass pay for some of the damage done by blm to seattle and Portland!! Prick.
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See, that’s how I like my white supremacists!