theroot--2020-11-25--The Weeknd Says His Grammys Snub Is 'Corrupt'; Recording Academy Chair Harvey Mason Jr. Responds

We are coming up on Thanksgiving weekend and the streets are buzzing about another Saturday/Sunday namesake—The Weeknd ( born Abel Tesfaye ) .
The Grammys nominations are always the talk of the town when they ’ re announced and usually , the snubs get most of the attention .
This year , that attention went primarily to The Weeknd .
The “ Heartless ” artist received exactly zero nominations for the 2021 ceremony , which surprised fans and industry folks alike , given his successful awards run so far .
Following the Grammy nominations announcement , The Weeknd took to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about it .
“ The Grammys remain corrupt , ” he tweeted .
“ You owe me , my fans and the industry transparency… ” Hmmm , wonder what they had to be “ transparent ” about ?
According to TMZ , it apparently had something to do with the artist ’ s upcoming Super Bowl halftime show performance .
Sources familiar with the situation tell us The Weeknd ’ s team was in talks for weeks with Grammy brass , who issued the ultimatum—us or Super Bowl LV .
We ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agreement where Abel could do both , but not without negotiations getting very testy .
Our sources say there ’ s growing suspicion Abel ’ s decision to perform at this year ’ s Super Bowl cost him Grammy noms because the bitter back-and-forth talks pissed off Grammy honchos .
Wow .
Right on time , though , the Recording Academy Chair and interim president and CEO Harvey Mason Jr. stepped in to clear up any misconceptions .
“ We understand that The Weeknd is disappointed at not being nominated , ” Mason @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I was surprised and can empathize with what he ’ s feeling .
His music this year was excellent…We were thrilled when we found out he would be performing at the upcoming Super Bowl and we would have loved to have him also perform on the Grammy stage the weekend before…To be clear , voting in all categories ended well before The Weeknd ’ s performance at the Super Bowl was announced , so in no way could it have affected the nomination process.
” In fact , Mason didn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actually sat down for a Q & A with Billboard to expand on his statement .
In response to The Weeknd using the word “ corrupt ” to describe the Grammys and Recording Academy , Mason said : Mason also confirmed that while he has not had a conversation with The Weeknd directly , he did speak with his representatives and label , a conversation which he chose to keep private .
As for whether or not The Weeknd will still perform at the ceremony taking place on Jan. 31 , 2021 ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the Academy has respected , ” Mason noted .
“ I think a decision of that magnitude as far as the show would be made by Ben Winston .
We ’ ve had him on the show [ twice ] in the past , and he ’ s always done incredible performances for us.
” The Weeknd hasn ’ t gone into detail himself so we ’ re still unclear whether the “ corrupt ” comment had anything to do with a reported ultimatum from The Grammys or if it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ transparency ” comment , Billboard did offer some additional insight into what it could possibly refer to .
Though The Weeknd ’ s team entered After Hours into the Best Progressive R & B Album category , the Academy moved it to Best Pop Vocal Album after a screening process .
The Recording Academy declined to say whether “ Blinding Lights ” was among the top 20 vote-getters from rank-and-file voting members in the record and/or song of the year categories , or whether The Weeknd ’ s album After Hours was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the year .
If they were , those entries would have been presented to the Nominations Review Committee .
If they weren ’ t , they would not have been ( per an Academy explanation of their process ) .
The Academy has never divulged who is on the initial lists from which the committee picks the final nominees , despite calls for greater transparency .
I have a feeling this drama won ’ t be going away anytime soon , though .
The Root has reached out to The Weeknd ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including Mason ’ s statement and subsequent interview .

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

We are coming up on Thanksgiving weekend and the streets are buzzing about another Saturday/Sunday namesake—The Weeknd (born Abel Tesfaye).
The Grammys nominations are always the talk of the town when they’re announced and usually, the snubs get most of the attention. This year, that attention went primarily to The Weeknd.
Advertisement
The “Heartless” artist received exactly zero nominations for the 2021 ceremony, which surprised fans and industry folks alike, given his successful awards run so far.
Advertisement Advertisement
Following the Grammy nominations announcement, The Weeknd took to Twitter to express just how he felt about it.
Advertisement
“The Grammys remain corrupt,” he tweeted. “You owe me, my fans and the industry transparency…”
Hmmm, wonder what they had to be “transparent” about? According to TMZ, it apparently had something to do with the artist’s upcoming Super Bowl halftime show performance.
Advertisement
TMZ reports:
Sources familiar with the situation tell us The Weeknd’s team was in talks for weeks with Grammy brass, who issued the ultimatum—us or Super Bowl LV. We’re told both sides eventually came to an agreement where Abel could do both, but not without negotiations getting very testy. Our sources say there’s growing suspicion Abel’s decision to perform at this year’s Super Bowl cost him Grammy noms because the bitter back-and-forth talks pissed off Grammy honchos.
Advertisement
Wow. Right on time, though, the Recording Academy Chair and interim president and CEO Harvey Mason Jr. stepped in to clear up any misconceptions.
“We understand that The Weeknd is disappointed at not being nominated,” Mason said in a statement issued to Billboard. “I was surprised and can empathize with what he’s feeling. His music this year was excellent…We were thrilled when we found out he would be performing at the upcoming Super Bowl and we would have loved to have him also perform on the Grammy stage the weekend before…To be clear, voting in all categories ended well before The Weeknd’s performance at the Super Bowl was announced, so in no way could it have affected the nomination process.”
Advertisement
In fact, Mason didn’t stop at the statement. He actually sat down for a Q&A with Billboard to expand on his statement. In response to The Weeknd using the word “corrupt” to describe the Grammys and Recording Academy, Mason said:
It saddened me. I try to empathize with where that came from, but it was difficult to hear. I can understand he’s disappointed [at being shut out]. Everybody at the academy understands that he’s disappointed. I was personally surprised that he was not nominated.
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Mason also confirmed that while he has not had a conversation with The Weeknd directly, he did speak with his representatives and label, a conversation which he chose to keep private.
As for whether or not The Weeknd will still perform at the ceremony taking place on Jan. 31, 2021?
Advertisement
“The Weeknd has always been someone that the Academy has respected,” Mason noted. “I think a decision of that magnitude as far as the show would be made by Ben Winston. We’ve had him on the show [twice] in the past, and he’s always done incredible performances for us.”
The Weeknd hasn’t gone into detail himself so we’re still unclear whether the “corrupt” comment had anything to do with a reported ultimatum from The Grammys or if it’s something else entirely. As for the “transparency” comment, Billboard did offer some additional insight into what it could possibly refer to. Though The Weeknd’s team entered After Hours into the Best Progressive R&B Album category, the Academy moved it to Best Pop Vocal Album after a screening process.
Advertisement
Billboard further writes:
The Recording Academy declined to say whether “Blinding Lights” was among the top 20 vote-getters from rank-and-file voting members in the record and/or song of the year categories, or whether The Weeknd’s album After Hours was among the top 20 vote-getters in album of the year. If they were, those entries would have been presented to the Nominations Review Committee. If they weren’t, they would not have been (per an Academy explanation of their process). The Academy has never divulged who is on the initial lists from which the committee picks the final nominees, despite calls for greater transparency.
Advertisement
I have a feeling this drama won’t be going away anytime soon, though. The Root has reached out to The Weeknd’s team for comment on this matter, including Mason’s statement and subsequent interview.


theroot--2020-11-25--Wrapping Paper Roll Call: The Deliciousness We All Deserve

Okay , okay , okay ... we know this is a loaded topic this year , trust .
Too many of us will not be partaking in the home cooking of our nearest and dearest this Thanksgiving ( and arguably , too many are risking it all by doing exactly that , but that ’ s another post ) , and in an already incredibly difficult year , yes , that stings more than a little bit .
But in the end , it ’ s simply a day and a meal—and those of us choosing not to share it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because we hope to have many more ... and know too many of us won ’ t have anymore .
So , how about we become less fixated on the more traditional trappings of the holiday ( since those are out the window , whether you ’ re celebrating with family or not ) , and focus on the aspect of gratitude and creating a feeling of abundance ?
There are so many other ways we can indulge our need for comfort this season ... perhaps with the gift of a little comfort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you about the gift we ’ re giving ourselves this Thanksgiving , avoiding the crowds ( and potential contamination ) at the grocery store and leaning into the joy of not hosting by cooking up one of two-time James Beard Award-winning Chef Edouardo Jordan ’ s Thanksgiving boxes for Blue Apron , which promises ample decadence with far less effort .
But as the chef-owner of Seattle ’ s Junebaby and Salare recently told us , the project is also a reflection of years spent adjusting to life far from his family .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the opportunity to gather and hang out and just celebrate the way that we used to , so it has been difficult , ” said the St. Petersburg , Fla. native .
“ So , I have to figure out new ways to entertain myself and entertain the people that are around me , and now with the pandemic , it ’ s going to be doubly hard .
So , you know , this Blue Apron box is an easy way to get four or five people together ... build a meal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ having a feast , but it ’ s not all the work .
Yes .
So , yeah , it ’ s just kind of bringing joy during this dark time.
” The Thanksgiving kit is just the first of four boxes Chef Jordan produced for the brand , rolling out through December 14—meaning his acclaimed recipes ( with ingredients included ) are a gift you can give as an early holiday present , to give them a much-needed break .
What other sweet , spicy and savory flavors do we have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chocolate-maker is a perennial favorite on our list , and for good reason : Ashley ’ s innovative flavors elevate the traditional chocolate box to a true work of art .
We ’ re curious about the Memphis-based chocolatier ’ s collaboration with fellow Tennesseans Uncle Nearest whiskey , but while his curated boxes are sublime , should you worry about your recipient hitting the odd flavor or unwanted gooey center , you can build them a box .
Since they were already on the tip of our tongue , the whiskey lovers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taste of Uncle Nearest , the Black-owned brand based on the recipes of Nathan “ Nearest “ Green , the once-enslaved man whose distilling methods made Lynchburg , Tenn. famous for the spirit loved worldwide .
For the brown liquor-lovers in your life , a gift set is likely exactly the holiday spirit they ’ re hoping for .
The Spice Suite is that rare bird that is primarily accessible to the Washington , D.C. locals who can access the brick-and-mortar shop .
But each month , Angel Anderson hand selects and releases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time curating a different combination of her in-demand spices , mixes , condiments and kitchen tools .
Boxes go on sale the first day of each month , so we highly recommend getting in line now to gift one !
We recently profiled Pernell Cezar and Rod Johnson , the Midwestern makers of this expansive line of coffees and teas , and aside from the delicious blends , we are entirely into their brand ethos , which is built upon giving back .
“ We were disadvantaged youths , ” Cezar explained to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of BLK & Bold ’ s profits go to nonprofit organizations that support at-risk youth—not a small amount , when you consider that the brand is now sold nationwide in Target , Whole Foods and Amazon .
If that ’ s not a wake-up call , a subscription to their blends will be ; right now the entire site is 20 percent off with the code “ BLK20 '' .
Okay , so not everyone is into truffles , but if you know , you know ... and Oprah knows , too , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Ranch gift set one of her famed “ Favorite Things ” of 2020 .
There are more gift sets to choose from , but proving that this New York-based brand is for evolved palates , it also offers actual truffles for our shaving pleasure , as well as its own line of high-quality caviar , sporting names like “ Notorious ” and “ Nefertiti ” .
Since we ’ re clearly into the finer things , how about gifting us a case ( okay or just a bottle or three ) of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rosé vintage from the first Black- and woman-owned winery in Maryland ?
Since this label also mentors future generations of female winemakers , we ’ d call that paying it forward .
Okay , hear us out : not every gift has to be upscale—frankly , we like our snacks like our music : classy , bougie and ratchet .
Enter the 24-year-old Rap Snacks , which is exactly what it sounds like : tasty , crunchy and spicy treats ( or all of the above ) inspired by rap artists who are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the most refined of gift offerings , but in a year when snacks are requisite for our ceaseless streaming habits , a box of these campy delights may be far more welcome than you think—plus , who doesn ’ t enjoy a little Cardi with their crunch ?
If your family hails from the Caribbean , no doubt sorrel is a familiar and sentimental flavor—and even if you can ’ t reunite with family this year , you can gift the flavor of this hibiscus-and-spiced favorite , endorsed by none other than Queen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ endorsements for Nzinga Knight ’ s recipe are ringing , also making this an ideal choice for the non-drinkers on your list .
A new year will be here before we know it ( we promise ) ... why not toast to the start of what will hopefully be a much happier new year with a glass of Black-founded champagne ?
Yes , this is the real deal , harvested in France , but named in tribute to one of our favorite predominantly Black neighborhoods in Brooklyn by Marvina Robinson .
These varietals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the year we ’ ve had , we deserve .
Since we ’ re already in a New York state of mind ( and chocolate goes so well with champagne ) , how about completing your gift with a set of edible gilded chocolate brownstones , currently on sale from this uptown chocolatier ?
For those of us unable to travel to the city that never sleeps this year , this will be a delicious placeholder .
If baked goods are more their flavor , they ’ ll love the flavors of Auzerais @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which will ship its upscale bite-sized brownies to their door ( including gluten and vegan options ) .
Or , if you really want to make the season celebratory , go all-in on “ The Cake , ” an 11-layer tower of absolutely delicious decadence which one reviewer calls “ likely the best dessert I have ever eaten.
” Now , there are cake people , and there are pie people—and if they ’ re the latter , no doubt they ’ ll love one of the “ Butta ” pies from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are few but perfected : their new Mother ’ s Apple Butta Pie ( topped with salted caramel and loaded with Michigan Apples , of course ) , Peach Butta Cobbler ( enough said ) , and our favorite , the Lemon Butta ( described as “ a decadent mix between cheesecake and lemon meringue pie ” ) .
And proving our good taste , they ’ re currently 20 percent off with the code “ Oprah.
” Everyone knows we don ’ t skimp on flavor , and if there ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you can upgrade their seasoning game with these ingenious and gorgeously packaged flavor combinations .
( Red Wine Sea Salt ?
Come on ! )
And because this entire mood is fabulous , your recipient can revisit the site to try out the incredible recipes suggested there .
Now , we promised you comfort food , and few things are most comforting than freshly baked biscuits ( you know , for those of us still eating carbs ) .
To give your loved one the taste of homemade without the mess and effort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mama ’ s Biscuits are available in a variety of flavors , from classic buttermilk to seasonally appropriate gingerbread and pumpkin ( below ) —all deeply discounted through Nov. 29 .
If you ’ ve got biscuits , you might as well have jam , and Trade Street Jam Co ’ s inventive flavors will make you want to try them all .
Frankly , we can ’ t think of anything more delicious to wake up to on Christmas morning—and don ’ t tell Mama , but their Sweet Potato Biscuit Mix @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , vegan can be verrrrrry delicious—just ask fans of Huungry Bunny , the Wichita , Kansas-based virtual donut shop serving cake-based treats so delicious , the fact that they ’ re cruelty-free is the icing on top ( literally ) .
Oh—and for added fun , certain flavors feature edible glitter .
Given the financial stress too many folks have been under this year , this aptly named brand feels like just the right amount of decadence to treat them to something special , and inspire hope—in fact , its founders were furloughed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ baked goods .
With seven delicious flavors starting below $ 20 , you can watch your spending , too .
They ’ re gon na need something to put all this food on—and if they ’ ve yet to invest in a set of elegant plates , may we suggest the gift of a posh set from Zimbabwe , Senegal or Jamaica , courtesy of 54 Kibo ?
Honestly , this incredible African-sourced home marketplace is so incredible it could ’ ve led last week ’ s home-focused gift guide , but we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can the ceramics and Limoge porcelain dinnerware on their site .

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

Okay, okay, okay...we know this is a loaded topic this year, trust. Too many of us will not be partaking in the home cooking of our nearest and dearest this Thanksgiving (and arguably, too many are risking it all by doing exactly that, but that’s another post), and in an already incredibly difficult year, yes, that stings more than a little bit. But in the end, it’s simply a day and a meal—and those of us choosing not to share it with our loved ones are doing so because we hope to have many more...and know too many of us won’t have anymore.
So, how about we become less fixated on the more traditional trappings of the holiday (since those are out the window, whether you’re celebrating with family or not), and focus on the aspect of gratitude and creating a feeling of abundance? There are so many other ways we can indulge our need for comfort this season...perhaps with the gift of a little comfort food? We already tried to tell you about the gift we’re giving ourselves this Thanksgiving, avoiding the crowds (and potential contamination) at the grocery store and leaning into the joy of not hosting by cooking up one of two-time James Beard Award-winning Chef Edouardo Jordan’s Thanksgiving boxes for Blue Apron, which promises ample decadence with far less effort. But as the chef-owner of Seattle’s Junebaby and Salare recently told us, the project is also a reflection of years spent adjusting to life far from his family.
Advertisement
“I don’t now get the opportunity to gather and hang out and just celebrate the way that we used to, so it has been difficult,” said the St. Petersburg, Fla. native. “So, I have to figure out new ways to entertain myself and entertain the people that are around me, and now with the pandemic, it’s going to be doubly hard. So, you know, this Blue Apron box is an easy way to get four or five people together...build a meal that still feels like you’re having a feast, but it’s not all the work. Yes. So, yeah, it’s just kind of bringing joy during this dark time.”
Advertisement Advertisement
The Thanksgiving kit is just the first of four boxes Chef Jordan produced for the brand, rolling out through December 14—meaning his acclaimed recipes (with ingredients included) are a gift you can give as an early holiday present, to give them a much-needed break.
What other sweet, spicy and savory flavors do we have a taste for this season?
This luxury chocolate-maker is a perennial favorite on our list, and for good reason: Ashley’s innovative flavors elevate the traditional chocolate box to a true work of art. We’re curious about the Memphis-based chocolatier’s collaboration with fellow Tennesseans Uncle Nearest whiskey, but while his curated boxes are sublime, should you worry about your recipient hitting the odd flavor or unwanted gooey center, you can build them a box.
Advertisement
Since they were already on the tip of our tongue, the whiskey lovers in your life deserve to get a taste of Uncle Nearest, the Black-owned brand based on the recipes of Nathan “Nearest “ Green, the once-enslaved man whose distilling methods made Lynchburg, Tenn. famous for the spirit loved worldwide. For the brown liquor-lovers in your life, a gift set is likely exactly the holiday spirit they’re hoping for.
Advertisement
The Spice Suite is that rare bird that is primarily accessible to the Washington, D.C. locals who can access the brick-and-mortar shop. But each month, Angel Anderson hand selects and releases 400-500 SpiceBoxes on her site, each time curating a different combination of her in-demand spices, mixes, condiments and kitchen tools. Boxes go on sale the first day of each month, so we highly recommend getting in line now to gift one!
Advertisement
We recently profiled Pernell Cezar and Rod Johnson, the Midwestern makers of this expansive line of coffees and teas, and aside from the delicious blends, we are entirely into their brand ethos, which is built upon giving back. “We were disadvantaged youths,” Cezar explained to The Root; now, 5 percent of BLK & Bold’s profits go to nonprofit organizations that support at-risk youth—not a small amount, when you consider that the brand is now sold nationwide in Target, Whole Foods and Amazon. If that’s not a wake-up call, a subscription to their blends will be; right now the entire site is 20 percent off with the code “BLK20".
Advertisement
Okay, so not everyone is into truffles, but if you know, you know...and Oprah knows, too, making this line’s truffle-based Sriracha and Ranch gift set one of her famed “Favorite Things” of 2020. There are more gift sets to choose from, but proving that this New York-based brand is for evolved palates, it also offers actual truffles for our shaving pleasure, as well as its own line of high-quality caviar, sporting names like “Notorious” and “Nefertiti”.
Advertisement
Since we’re clearly into the finer things, how about gifting us a case (okay or just a bottle or three) of the historic limited edition “Reign” Rosé vintage from the first Black- and woman-owned winery in Maryland? Since this label also mentors future generations of female winemakers, we’d call that paying it forward.
Advertisement
Okay, hear us out: not every gift has to be upscale—frankly, we like our snacks like our music: classy, bougie and ratchet. Enter the 24-year-old Rap Snacks, which is exactly what it sounds like: tasty, crunchy and spicy treats (or all of the above) inspired by rap artists who are often likewise. It may not be the most refined of gift offerings, but in a year when snacks are requisite for our ceaseless streaming habits, a box of these campy delights may be far more welcome than you think—plus, who doesn’t enjoy a little Cardi with their crunch?
Advertisement
If your family hails from the Caribbean, no doubt sorrel is a familiar and sentimental flavor—and even if you can’t reunite with family this year, you can gift the flavor of this hibiscus-and-spiced favorite, endorsed by none other than Queen Bey herself. But seriously, the endorsements for Nzinga Knight’s recipe are ringing, also making this an ideal choice for the non-drinkers on your list.
Advertisement
A new year will be here before we know it (we promise)...why not toast to the start of what will hopefully be a much happier new year with a glass of Black-founded champagne? Yes, this is the real deal, harvested in France, but named in tribute to one of our favorite predominantly Black neighborhoods in Brooklyn by Marvina Robinson. These varietals aren’t cheap, but after the year we’ve had, we deserve.
Advertisement
Since we’re already in a New York state of mind (and chocolate goes so well with champagne), how about completing your gift with a set of edible gilded chocolate brownstones, currently on sale from this uptown chocolatier? For those of us unable to travel to the city that never sleeps this year, this will be a delicious placeholder.
Advertisement
If baked goods are more their flavor, they’ll love the flavors of Auzerais Bellamy’s virtual bakery the Blondery, which will ship its upscale bite-sized brownies to their door (including gluten and vegan options). Or, if you really want to make the season celebratory, go all-in on “The Cake,” an 11-layer tower of absolutely delicious decadence which one reviewer calls “likely the best dessert I have ever eaten.”
Advertisement
Now, there are cake people, and there are pie people—and if they’re the latter, no doubt they’ll love one of the “Butta” pies from this celebrity-loved Detroit-based bakery. The flavors are few but perfected: their new Mother’s Apple Butta Pie (topped with salted caramel and loaded with Michigan Apples, of course), Peach Butta Cobbler (enough said), and our favorite, the Lemon Butta (described as “a decadent mix between cheesecake and lemon meringue pie”). And proving our good taste, they’re currently 20 percent off with the code “Oprah.”
Advertisement
Everyone knows we don’t skimp on flavor, and if there’s an amateur chef in your life, you can upgrade their seasoning game with these ingenious and gorgeously packaged flavor combinations. (Red Wine Sea Salt? Come on!) And because this entire mood is fabulous, your recipient can revisit the site to try out the incredible recipes suggested there.
Advertisement
Now, we promised you comfort food, and few things are most comforting than freshly baked biscuits (you know, for those of us still eating carbs). To give your loved one the taste of homemade without the mess and effort, say no more, Fam. Mama’s Biscuits are available in a variety of flavors, from classic buttermilk to seasonally appropriate gingerbread and pumpkin (below)—all deeply discounted through Nov. 29.
Advertisement
If you’ve got biscuits, you might as well have jam, and Trade Street Jam Co’s inventive flavors will make you want to try them all. Frankly, we can’t think of anything more delicious to wake up to on Christmas morning—and don’t tell Mama, but their Sweet Potato Biscuit Mix is the jam, too.
Advertisement
Yes, vegan can be verrrrrry delicious—just ask fans of Hungry Bunny, the Wichita, Kansas-based virtual donut shop serving cake-based treats so delicious, the fact that they’re cruelty-free is the icing on top (literally). Oh—and for added fun, certain flavors feature edible glitter.
Advertisement
Given the financial stress too many folks have been under this year, this aptly named brand feels like just the right amount of decadence to treat them to something special, and inspire hope—in fact, its founders were furloughed when they created their now-successful brand of baked goods. With seven delicious flavors starting below $20, you can watch your spending, too.
Advertisement
They’re gonna need something to put all this food on—and if they’ve yet to invest in a set of elegant plates, may we suggest the gift of a posh set from Zimbabwe, Senegal or Jamaica, courtesy of 54 Kibo? Honestly, this incredible African-sourced home marketplace is so incredible it could’ve led last week’s home-focused gift guide, but we like to mix it up—just like you can the ceramics and Limoge porcelain dinnerware on their site.


theroot--2020-11-25--14-Year-Old Honestie Hodges, Handcuffed at Gunpoint by Michigan Police as a Child, Dies From COVID-1

14-Year-Old Honestie Hodges, Handcuffed at Gunpoint by Michigan Police as a Child, Dies From COVID-19

In 2017 , 11-year-old Honestie Hodges made national headlines after a horrific confrontation with Grand Rapids , Mich. , police , in which they handcuffed the little girl at gunpoint at her home .
The incident led to a new policy dictating how the department would interact with minors .
A little less than three years later , Honestie has died from the coronavirus , her family says .
She was just 14 years old .
According to the New York Times , Honestie died this past Sunday after falling ill on her birthday on Nov. 9 .
After the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , she was taken to the hospital , where she tested positive for the novel coronavirus .
She was sent home for several hours but returned to the hospital ’ s intensive care unit later that night as her condition worsened .
Honestie went through a series of iron and blood transfusions before being put on a ventilator on Nov. 14 .
She never recovered .
Local NAACP leaders recently drew attention to her death in a plea for the public to take the risks of COVID-19 seriously , as cases spike nationwide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MLive.com .
“ All of the folks who showed up and expressed interest when Honestie was held at gunpoint , this is an opportunity to really honor her life fully , honor her life by doing what is necessary , what is needed , and that is limit your movement , limit your movement , ” Cle Jackson , president of the Greater Grand Rapids branch of the NAACP branch , said on Tuesday .
“ We have to.
” While children have been less susceptible to the worst symptoms of COVID-19 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Recent studies have shown that Latinx , Native and Black children , much like the adults in their communities , are at higher risk of being hospitalized for COVID-19 .
The Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention found that between Feb 12 and July 31 , Latinx , Native and Black children comprised 78 percent of all recorded deaths of juveniles .
“ Folks , we have to take this extremely , extremely serious , ” Jackson continued .
“ We have to take this personal .
This is personal to us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we lost one of our own : a 14-year-old young princess who had an incredible and remarkable life ahead of her.
” At a young age , and after being subjected to a traumatizing ordeal , Honestie had already been a voice for change .
She was handcuffed by Grand Rapids police officers on Dec. 17 as law enforcement was investigating an incident involving her aunt , who is white .
Despite the fact that Honestie ’ s mother , Whitney , pleaded with the cops not to handcuff her 11-year-old daughter , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ along with two other women who had left the house .
Footage from the police visit to her home shows police ordering her to walk backward toward them with her hands in the air .
As the cops placed cuffs on her hands , Honestie shouted , “ No , No , No !
” and pleaded with the officers not to arrest her .
After being cuffed , police placed her in the back of a cruiser ; the whole time , she can be heard screaming in fear .
Grand Rapids @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that hearing her cries made him feel nauseated .
“ They go to your heart , ” Rahinsky said about her cries as the tape was played .
“ You hear the mother yelling from the steps , ‘ That ’ s my child !
’ That ’ s our community ’ s child .
That ’ s someone who lives in Grand Rapids .
That ’ s someone who should feel safe running to an officer.
” Though the department acknowledged that the officers shouldn ’ t have treated Honestie that way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ result of the incident because they weren ’ t found to have explicitly violated any department policies .
The furor over the interaction led to the Honestie Policy , adopted in March 2018 , that advised police to consider the “ most reasonable and least restrictive ” options when interacting with juveniles .
Honestie herself spoke out about the incident , publicly questioning the role her race played in the cops ’ decision-making .
“ I have a question for the Grand Rapids police : If this happened to a white child , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She ’ s 11 , ’ would you have handcuffed her and put her in the back of a police car ?
” she said at the time .
According to Times , which cited local news outlet WOOD-TV , Honestie and her family were negotiating with the city to settle a claim related to the incident .
Honestie ’ s family has created a GoFundMe page to collect donations for her mother , Whitney Hodges , who stopped working in order to care for Honestie and her four other children .
Alissa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ started the fundraising effort when Honestie was intubated on Nov. 14 , and gave regular updates on Honestie ’ s condition .
Eight days after starting the GoFundMe , Niemeyer delivered the news of her granddaughter ’ s death .
“ It is with an extremely heavy heart that I have to tell all of you that my beautiful , sassy , smart loving granddaughter has gone home to be with Jesus .
”

In 2017, 11-year-old Honestie Hodges made national headlines after a horrific confrontation with Grand Rapids, Mich. , police, in which they handcuffed the little girl at gunpoint at her home. The incident led to a new policy dictating how the department would interact with minors.
A little less than three years later, Honestie has died from the coronavirus, her family says. She was just 14 years old.
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According to the New York Times, Honestie died this past Sunday after falling ill on her birthday on Nov. 9. After the teenager came down with severe stomach pains, she was taken to the hospital, where she tested positive for the novel coronavirus. She was sent home for several hours but returned to the hospital’s intensive care unit later that night as her condition worsened.
Honestie went through a series of iron and blood transfusions before being put on a ventilator on Nov. 14. She never recovered.
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Local NAACP leaders recently drew attention to her death in a plea for the public to take the risks of COVID-19 seriously, as cases spike nationwide and the Thanksgiving weekend approaches, reports MLive.com.
“All of the folks who showed up and expressed interest when Honestie was held at gunpoint, this is an opportunity to really honor her life fully, honor her life by doing what is necessary, what is needed, and that is limit your movement, limit your movement,” Cle Jackson, president of the Greater Grand Rapids branch of the NAACP branch, said on Tuesday. “We have to.”
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While children have been less susceptible to the worst symptoms of COVID-19, they are by no means immune. Recent studies have shown that Latinx, Native and Black children, much like the adults in their communities, are at higher risk of being hospitalized for COVID-19. The Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention found that between Feb 12 and July 31, Latinx, Native and Black children comprised 78 percent of all recorded deaths of juveniles.
“Folks, we have to take this extremely, extremely serious,” Jackson continued. “We have to take this personal. This is personal to us, more now-so than ever, because we lost one of our own: a 14-year-old young princess who had an incredible and remarkable life ahead of her.”
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At a young age, and after being subjected to a traumatizing ordeal, Honestie had already been a voice for change. She was handcuffed by Grand Rapids police officers on Dec. 17 as law enforcement was investigating an incident involving her aunt, who is white.
Despite the fact that Honestie’s mother, Whitney, pleaded with the cops not to handcuff her 11-year-old daughter, the police officers arrested her anyway, along with two other women who had left the house.
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Footage from the police visit to her home shows police ordering her to walk backward toward them with her hands in the air. As the cops placed cuffs on her hands, Honestie shouted, “No, No, No!” and pleaded with the officers not to arrest her. After being cuffed, police placed her in the back of a cruiser; the whole time, she can be heard screaming in fear.
Grand Rapids Police Chief David Rahinsky said shortly afterward that hearing her cries made him feel nauseated.
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“They go to your heart,” Rahinsky said about her cries as the tape was played. “You hear the mother yelling from the steps, ‘That’s my child!’ That’s our community’s child. That’s someone who lives in Grand Rapids. That’s someone who should feel safe running to an officer.”
Though the department acknowledged that the officers shouldn’t have treated Honestie that way, no cops were fired as a result of the incident because they weren’t found to have explicitly violated any department policies. The furor over the interaction led to the Honestie Policy, adopted in March 2018, that advised police to consider the “most reasonable and least restrictive” options when interacting with juveniles.
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Honestie herself spoke out about the incident, publicly questioning the role her race played in the cops’ decision-making.
“I have a question for the Grand Rapids police: If this happened to a white child, if her mother was screaming, ‘She’s 11,’ would you have handcuffed her and put her in the back of a police car?” she said at the time.
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According to Times, which cited local news outlet WOOD-TV, Honestie and her family were negotiating with the city to settle a claim related to the incident.
Honestie’s family has created a GoFundMe page to collect donations for her mother, Whitney Hodges, who stopped working in order to care for Honestie and her four other children.
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Alissa Niemeyer, Honestie’s grandmother, started the fundraising effort when Honestie was intubated on Nov. 14, and gave regular updates on Honestie’s condition. Eight days after starting the GoFundMe, Niemeyer delivered the news of her granddaughter’s death.
“It is with an extremely heavy heart that I have to tell all of you that my beautiful, sassy, smart loving granddaughter has gone home to be with Jesus.”


theroot--2020-11-25--The 10 Best Deals of November 25, 2020

The 10 Best Deals of November 25, 2020

It ’ s November 25 , and we at Kinja Deals are here to bring you the top 10 deals of the day .
Grab Meh ’ s 5-pack knit cap bundle to fend off the holiday chill .
Buy JACHS NY ’ s 3 Stretch Pant Bundle in anticipation of Thanksgiving dinner .
And make sure your lashes are popping above your holiday face mask with Too Faced 2-piece Better Than Sex mascara .
If you ’ re still craving more deals , take a peek at Wednesday ’ s best deals overall .
It is Cyber Wednesday my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ line his pockets with another year of deals on Amazon ’ s own devices .
Through Black Friday , you can talk to Alexa on your choice of the latest Echo Dot Kids Edition ( or the regular Echo Dot if you hate fun ) , the 4th Gen standard Echo , the 3rd Gen Echo Dot , the Echo Auto , the Echo Show 5 , and the Echo Show 8 if you ’ re so inclined , for up to 60 % off the sticker prices .
That ’ s right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ add smart features to your car or adorn your nightstand with a friggin ’ sweet tiger , uhh , for the kids , you can ’ t go wrong with an Amazon Echo smart speaker .
In her review of the 2020 upgrade , Gizmodo ’ s Victoria Song had this to say : This deal was originally published by Gabe Carey .
Before you come at me for insulting our own readers , please see my Kinja avatar then read the headline again .
I WEAR GLASSES .
Like , all the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most of my glasses from GlassesUSA and always have , ever since I found out you could buy glasses online .
One pair I own are these firetruck red Ray-Bans that are apparently sold out and which you can see me wearing here from when my wife and I took a trip to Governor ’ s Island over the summer .
For a limited time , you can cop a pair of Ray-Bans yourself ( just not the ones I did ! )
for 30 % off at the same place I got @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not all !
Oakleys are also on sale , at the same discount .
So if you ’ re more of a Coach Taylor type and Ray-Bans aren ’ t your thing , you ’ re in luck .
There ’ s a wide selection of both brands to scope out including these Harry Potter-ass hipster round bois I ’ m now realizing I wear on a daily basis ( wow , turns out I really like Ray-Bans ) and these more traditionally angular frames .
Whatever your style or preference , GlassesUSA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and considering how rare it is for designer brands like these to go on sale , you ’ ll want to take advantage while the deal ’ s still active through November 30 .
Now , to the fun part : redeeming your discount .
First , stop on by the GlassesUSA website here , where we ’ ve already done the work of filtering by Ray-Ban and Oakley .
Then , pick your frames , any frames .
Once you ’ ve done that , it ’ s time to customize @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vision pair is free , you can also add an anti-reflective coating , blue light blockers , anti-scratch , and protection against UV rays at an extra cost .
After that all you have to do is enter the code BRANDS30 at checkout and watch the numbers drop 30 % .
Shipping is free , so you don ’ t have to worry about a gotcha at the end .
This deal was originally published by Gabe Carey .
Man , JACHS is really out here making y ’ all as stylish as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another great Black Friday deal for you .
Today grab and any 3 Stretch Pants for just $ 75 .
All you need to do is use the code 3BF at checkout .
And considering one pair is up to $ 99 this discount is criminal .
You can mix and match any 3 from their stretch collection .
This includes chinos , travelers , canvas , and tech pants .
There are 53 colors and styles to pick from within that so load up on the traditional hues like black , navy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with yellow , red , or olive .
I ’ ll recommend the traveler pant as the best value and most comfortable .
They have a sleek finish and the 4-way stretch flex twill makes them perfect for pretty much anything .
Long zoom calls , biking , running errands , or just chilling on the sofa .
The travelers are as versatile as the name would suggest .
But no matter which you choose it ’ s an excellent sale to give your wardrobe the classy boost it ’ s been craving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sheilah Villari .
As we roll onto the December holidays gifts are on the mind especially if you ’ ll be sending those to loved ones instead of seeing them in person .
Saving money is a premium factor this year as well , so here ’ s an ideal collection to help cross off that extra present you ’ ve been contemplating .
In this 5 pack knit cap bundle you ’ ll get the perfect winter accessory for men or women for just $ 15 .
There are a few groupings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be met .
There ’ s a light multicolor , a dark multicolor , an all black , or an all charcoal pack to pick from .
You also get the option of pom-pom or just a sleek slouchy knit .
Made from faux fur , yarn , and acrylic each sure to keep you warm while snuggly fitting your head no matter the elements .
They also just look very cute and are masters of hiding bad hair days .
They ’ re easy to wash by hand if needed and give @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looks .
The beauty is at this price you can keep for yourself or just buy a bundle for the whole family .
If you ’ ve read a few of our pieces on Meh before and you like what you ’ ve seen they offer a $ 5 monthly fee to get free shipping on all of your orders no matter how many .
Otherwise , it ’ s a flat rate of $ 8 .
This deal was originally published by Sheilah Villari .
Macy ’ s is ringing in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kicking things off with a sale on small kitchen appliances bound to relieve your wallet of any unwanted stress in the holiday shopping months .
Make waffles with your swamp-residing ogre friend in this stainless steel waffle iron for 55 % off the list price , then save even more when you fill out the form under the Special Offers tab and mail it in to claim your rebate—fear not , Nathan for You fans , you won ’ t have to climb to the top of a mountain to secure this prize @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , you could revamp your entire kitchen for just $ 48 , assuming you ’ re game to send in a sextet of forms .
Level up your breakfast game with a 10.5 x 20 '' nonstick electric griddle , keep your bread nice and toasty with a four-slice stainless steel convection oven , improve your work-from-home lunches with an electric panini grill , drink your fruits and veggies with a 12-piece 13330 Rocket blender set , and whip up something quick for dinner with a 12 '' round nonstick electric skillet .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ & Decker 12-cup coffee maker delivers your daily dose of caffeine for the price of a grande latte at Starbucks , probably .
As a straightforward alternative to Bella ’ s Rocket blender set , Black & Decker ’ s 10-speed blender promises the comfort of simplicity at no extra cost .
I recently picked up this blender myself , and I have to say it gets the job done .
As an amateur mixologist , an ordinary blender like this is much more effective at crushing ice than the more nutrition-focused options @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eat rice that doesn ’ t suck , now ’ s your chance to buy the damn rice cooker on the cheap .
However casual your cooking , however tight your budget , Macy ’ s is bringing the heat with the kitchenware to beat .
This deal was originally posted by Gabe Carey .
One of the struggles of working from home is dealing with the sounds that are out of your control : a roommate fighting with their partner , neighbors who must make a living slamming doors , or even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all make it tough to focus and get things done .
A good pair of headphones , like the Beats Solo 3 on-ear headphones , can help alleviate some of that pain .
And you can get them right now for $ 149 from MorningSave .
These headphones sound great , they ’ re stylish , and with up to 40 hours of battery life per charge , you can be sure your new cans won ’ t die on you in the middle of your Zoom happy hour .
This deal was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you were hoping for a quick Assassin ’ s Creed Valhalla price drop this Black Friday , your patience has paid off .
Walmart now has the brand new release ( like , really brand new ) down to $ 50 .
That even includes the PlayStation 5 version , though Walmart will ask you to enter your name and email to reveal the price like it ’ s doing some sort of retail magic trick .
The price cut is pretty surprising given just how new Valhalla is , but Ubisoft appears @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this Black Friday season .
Both Watch Dogs : Legion and Just Dance 2021 are heavily discounted at the moment less than a month after their release .
Valhalla probably won ’ t drop to half price any time soon like Watch Dogs , so this might be one of the lowest prices you ’ ll be able to get it at this year .
Happy raiding , Vikings .
This deal was originally published by Giovanni Colantonio .
Looking for a high-end , wireless gaming headset that will let you hear ever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has Logitech ’ s G935 down to $ 120 , which is $ 50 off its usual price .
The headphones feature DTS Headphone : X 2.0 Surround Sound , creating a more immersive experience .
It ’ s also got 12 hours of wireless life , which is perfect for an extended Overwatch binge .
Most exciting , however , is that the 6mm microphone displays a red light when you ’ re muted .
That means that you ’ ll never accidentally blow your cover during a round of Among Us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how they light up to match your rig .
There ’ s a lot of bells and whistles to play around with here , giving the G935 more of a gadget vibe than your average headphones .
This deal was originally published by Giovanni Colantonio .
There are a few beauty snobs who look down on Too Faced for this lash beautifier but there is a reason it ’ s the best-selling prestige mascara in America .
I was a convert a few years ago when I got a sample in a bag @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of my favorites and I highly recommend Better Than Sex Mascara .
This set is usually $ 40 so this holiday deal is a great one .
You will see the results instantly .
I ’ m always blown away by how long my lashes look after one application .
Paint them as black as can be all while separating and lifting .
( I swear I wasn ’ t trying to make it sound like a bra . )
They really do give a volume boost and intensifies your eyes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the standard size and the travel size so you can touch up on the go .
Although I will say it wears really well throughout the day .
Peptides condition each lash while acacia Senegal tree extract gives them the appearance of extension .
And film-forming polymers curl them to the heavens giving the illusion of falsies without having to use nasty glue .
This is a set you will not be let down by .
Is it better than sex , well you can decide for yourself .
But for me , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the market hands down .
This deal was originally published by Sheilah Villari .
This is my favorite sweatshirt of the season .
As a space nerd , I love anything NASA and this official crewneck sweatshirt is one of the most comfortable I ’ ve owned in a very long time .
This shirt and everything else is currently 20 % off for Black Friday week , just use the code HOLIDAY20 .
As a small person ( 5 ' 3 '' ) I love oversized sweatshirts and while this is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ small one was perfect for me .
It ’ s beautifully made , very soft , and washes wonderfully .
It ’ s a cotton/polyester mix and pretty warm at that .
Alpha has its applique on the sleeve by cuff for an extra fancy touch .
The light heather gray is classic and so is the fit cutting at the hip for someone not vertically challenged .
I actually wear this as a long shirt with just a pair of tights and boots .
Alpha Industries has an eye for detail and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This deal was originally published by Sheilah Villari .

Juliana Clark on Kinja Deals, shared by Gabe Carey to The Root

Wednesday’s Best Deals | Kinja Deals
It’s November 25, and we at Kinja Deals are here to bring you the top 10 deals of the day. Grab Meh’s 5-pack knit cap bundle to fend off the holiday chill. Buy JACHS NY’s 3 Stretch Pant Bundle in anticipation of Thanksgiving dinner. And make sure your lashes are popping above your holiday face mask with Too Faced 2-piece Better Than Sex mascara.
If you’re still craving more deals, take a peek at Wednesday’s best deals overall.
#1: amazon echo devices
It is Cyber Wednesday my dudes, and Bezos is back to line his pockets with another year of deals on Amazon’s own devices. Through Black Friday, you can talk to Alexa on your choice of the latest Echo Dot Kids Edition (or the regular Echo Dot if you hate fun), the 4th Gen standard Echo, the 3rd Gen Echo Dot, the Echo Auto, the Echo Show 5, and the Echo Show 8 if you’re so inclined, for up to 60% off the sticker prices. That’s right, whether you’re looking to add smart features to your car or adorn your nightstand with a friggin’ sweet tiger, uhh, for the kids, you can’t go wrong with an Amazon Echo smart speaker. In her review of the 2020 upgrade, Gizmodo’s Victoria Song had this to say:
“If you’re on an OG Amazon Echo or a second-generation Echo, you could probably do with the boost in audio quality. Other than the improved audio quality and the new round design, many of the upgrades just aren’t that noticeable. At the end of the day, I’m left feeling, like, ‘Well, this is the round Echo with surprisingly decent audio that does pretty much what my other Echo speakers do.’ Like I said, it’s round. That’s the story.”
This deal was originally published by Gabe Carey.
#2: Ray-ban & oakley glasses
Before you come at me for insulting our own readers, please see my Kinja avatar then read the headline again. I WEAR GLASSES. Like, all the time! In fact, I buy most of my glasses from GlassesUSA and always have, ever since I found out you could buy glasses online. One pair I own are these firetruck red Ray-Bans that are apparently sold out and which you can see me wearing here from when my wife and I took a trip to Governor’s Island over the summer.
For a limited time, you can cop a pair of Ray-Bans yourself (just not the ones I did!) for 30% off at the same place I got mine from. But that’s not all! Oakleys are also on sale, at the same discount. So if you’re more of a Coach Taylor type and Ray-Bans aren’t your thing, you’re in luck. There’s a wide selection of both brands to scope out including these Harry Potter-ass hipster round bois I’m now realizing I wear on a daily basis (wow, turns out I really like Ray-Bans) and these more traditionally angular frames. Whatever your style or preference, GlassesUSA is bound to have something for you, and considering how rare it is for designer brands like these to go on sale, you’ll want to take advantage while the deal’s still active through November 30.
Now, to the fun part: redeeming your discount. First, stop on by the GlassesUSA website here, where we’ve already done the work of filtering by Ray-Ban and Oakley. Then, pick your frames, any frames. Once you’ve done that, it’s time to customize your lenses. While a basic single vision pair is free, you can also add an anti-reflective coating, blue light blockers, anti-scratch, and protection against UV rays at an extra cost. After that all you have to do is enter the code BRANDS30 at checkout and watch the numbers drop 30%. Shipping is free, so you don’t have to worry about a gotcha at the end.
This deal was originally published by Gabe Carey.
#3: jachs ny stretch pants
Man, JACHS is really out here making y’all as stylish as possible this winter. Here’s another great Black Friday deal for you. Today grab and any 3 Stretch Pants for just $75. All you need to do is use the code 3BF at checkout. And considering one pair is up to $99 this discount is criminal.
You can mix and match any 3 from their stretch collection. This includes chinos, travelers, canvas, and tech pants. There are 53 colors and styles to pick from within that so load up on the traditional hues like black, navy, and khaki, or go bold with yellow, red, or olive. I’ll recommend the traveler pant as the best value and most comfortable. They have a sleek finish and the 4-way stretch flex twill makes them perfect for pretty much anything. Long zoom calls, biking, running errands, or just chilling on the sofa. The travelers are as versatile as the name would suggest. But no matter which you choose it’s an excellent sale to give your wardrobe the classy boost it’s been craving.
Free shipping for orders over $100.
This deal was originally published by Sheilah Villari.
#4: Knit caps
As we roll onto the December holidays gifts are on the mind especially if you’ll be sending those to loved ones instead of seeing them in person. Saving money is a premium factor this year as well, so here’s an ideal collection to help cross off that extra present you’ve been contemplating. In this 5 pack knit cap bundle you’ll get the perfect winter accessory for men or women for just $15.
There are a few groupings to pick from so different tastes can be met. There’s a light multicolor, a dark multicolor, an all black, or an all charcoal pack to pick from. You also get the option of pom-pom or just a sleek slouchy knit. Made from faux fur, yarn, and acrylic each sure to keep you warm while snuggly fitting your head no matter the elements. They also just look very cute and are masters of hiding bad hair days. They’re easy to wash by hand if needed and give you some nice options for different yuletide looks. The beauty is at this price you can keep for yourself or just buy a bundle for the whole family.
If you’ve read a few of our pieces on Meh before and you like what you’ve seen they offer a $5 monthly fee to get free shipping on all of your orders no matter how many. Otherwise, it’s a flat rate of $8.
This deal was originally published by Sheilah Villari.
#5: Macy’s countertop appliances
Macy’s is ringing in the season a little earlier this year, kicking things off with a sale on small kitchen appliances bound to relieve your wallet of any unwanted stress in the holiday shopping months. Make waffles with your swamp-residing ogre friend in this stainless steel waffle iron for 55% off the list price, then save even more when you fill out the form under the Special Offers tab and mail it in to claim your rebate—fear not, Nathan for You fans, you won’t have to climb to the top of a mountain to secure this prize.
In fact, if you wanted, you could revamp your entire kitchen for just $48, assuming you’re game to send in a sextet of forms. Level up your breakfast game with a 10.5 x 20" nonstick electric griddle, keep your bread nice and toasty with a four-slice stainless steel convection oven, improve your work-from-home lunches with an electric panini grill, drink your fruits and veggies with a 12-piece 13330 Rocket blender set, and whip up something quick for dinner with a 12" round nonstick electric skillet.
Need a morning boost? This Black & Decker 12-cup coffee maker delivers your daily dose of caffeine for the price of a grande latte at Starbucks, probably. As a straightforward alternative to Bella’s Rocket blender set, Black & Decker’s 10-speed blender promises the comfort of simplicity at no extra cost. I recently picked up this blender myself, and I have to say it gets the job done. As an amateur mixologist, an ordinary blender like this is much more effective at crushing ice than the more nutrition-focused options.
And for those who want to eat rice that doesn’t suck, now’s your chance to buy the damn rice cooker on the cheap.
However casual your cooking, however tight your budget, Macy’s is bringing the heat with the kitchenware to beat.
This deal was originally posted by Gabe Carey.
#6: beats solo 3 headphones
One of the struggles of working from home is dealing with the sounds that are out of your control: a roommate fighting with their partner, neighbors who must make a living slamming doors, or even just the weekly trash pickup. They all make it tough to focus and get things done. A good pair of headphones, like the Beats Solo 3 on-ear headphones, can help alleviate some of that pain. And you can get them right now for $149 from MorningSave.
These headphones sound great, they’re stylish, and with up to 40 hours of battery life per charge, you can be sure your new cans won’t die on you in the middle of your Zoom happy hour.
This deal was originally published by Jordan McMahon.
#7: Assassin’s creed valhalla
If you were hoping for a quick Assassin’s Creed Valhalla price drop this Black Friday, your patience has paid off. Walmart now has the brand new release (like, really brand new) down to $50. That even includes the PlayStation 5 version, though Walmart will ask you to enter your name and email to reveal the price like it’s doing some sort of retail magic trick. The price cut is pretty surprising given just how new Valhalla is, but Ubisoft appears to be quick on the price slashes this Black Friday season. Both Watch Dogs: Legion and Just Dance 2021 are heavily discounted at the moment less than a month after their release. Valhalla probably won’t drop to half price any time soon like Watch Dogs, so this might be one of the lowest prices you’ll be able to get it at this year. Happy raiding, Vikings.
Save $40 Assassin's Creed Valhalla (PS4) Become a Viking Legend
Take on this beautiful open-world set against England's Dark Ages in Ubisoft's latest in the Assassin's Creed series. Buy for $20 at Best Buy
This deal was originally published by Giovanni Colantonio.
#8: Logitech g935 gaming headset
Looking for a high-end, wireless gaming headset that will let you hear ever little detail in your games? Amazon has Logitech’s G935 down to $120, which is $50 off its usual price. The headphones feature DTS Headphone:X 2.0 Surround Sound, creating a more immersive experience. It’s also got 12 hours of wireless life, which is perfect for an extended Overwatch binge. Most exciting, however, is that the 6mm microphone displays a red light when you’re muted. That means that you’ll never accidentally blow your cover during a round of Among Us. Oh, and you can customize how they light up to match your rig. There’s a lot of bells and whistles to play around with here, giving the G935 more of a gadget vibe than your average headphones.
This deal was originally published by Giovanni Colantonio.
#9: too faced mascara set
There are a few beauty snobs who look down on Too Faced for this lash beautifier but there is a reason it’s the best-selling prestige mascara in America. I was a convert a few years ago when I got a sample in a bag from Sephora. It’s still one of my favorites and I highly recommend Better Than Sex Mascara. This set is usually $40 so this holiday deal is a great one.
You will see the results instantly. I’m always blown away by how long my lashes look after one application. Paint them as black as can be all while separating and lifting. (I swear I wasn’t trying to make it sound like a bra.) They really do give a volume boost and intensifies your eyes. In this pack, you get both the standard size and the travel size so you can touch up on the go. Although I will say it wears really well throughout the day. Peptides condition each lash while acacia Senegal tree extract gives them the appearance of extension. And film-forming polymers curl them to the heavens giving the illusion of falsies without having to use nasty glue. This is a set you will not be let down by. Is it better than sex, well you can decide for yourself. But for me, it’s better than other mascaras on the market hands down.
Free shipping on orders over $25.
This deal was originally published by Sheilah Villari.
#10: alpha industries sitewide
This is my favorite sweatshirt of the season. As a space nerd, I love anything NASA and this official crewneck sweatshirt is one of the most comfortable I’ve owned in a very long time. This shirt and everything else is currently 20% off for Black Friday week, just use the code HOLIDAY20.
As a small person (5'3") I love oversized sweatshirts and while this is a unisex style I found even a small one was perfect for me. It’s beautifully made, very soft, and washes wonderfully. It’s a cotton/polyester mix and pretty warm at that. Alpha has its applique on the sleeve by cuff for an extra fancy touch. The light heather gray is classic and so is the fit cutting at the hip for someone not vertically challenged. I actually wear this as a long shirt with just a pair of tights and boots. Alpha Industries has an eye for detail and has produced some beautifully stylish duds.
Free shipping on orders over $150.
This deal was originally published by Sheilah Villari.


theroot--2020-11-25--This Holiday Season, Be Thankful You're Not Jason Whitlock

“ It could be worse ” seems to have overtaken the many versions of “ I ’ m fine ” on the list of the most common responses to “ How are you doing ?
” Understandable , considering that we ’ re in a global pandemic and just responding with “ I ’ m fine ” feels both disingenuous and insensitive .
But while “ It could be worse ” is sufficiently sober , it ’ s vague , ominous , and boring , and I believe it would be much more precise with a slight alteration : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be Jason Whitlock.
” Why does this work ?
Why is Whitlock such a fitting baseline ?
Well , imagine what must lurk inside of you—which demons you must be battling ; which slot machine replaced your soul—for posting this transparently bad faith inquiry after someone experienced an unspeakable tragedy .
Seriously , how fucked up must you be to do that ?
And yes , I know we ’ re all fucked up in some capacity .
But not that fucked up .
I don ’ t even know who you are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re less fucked than this !
You , person reading this , are a better person than the motherfucker who tweeted this .
I ’ m sure of it !
I also don ’ t know what you do for a living !
Perhaps you ’ re a plumber .
Or a lawyer .
Or a school bus driver .
Or maybe you hold boom mikes on porn sets .
I don ’ t know !
But I know—I am certain—that you have at least one professional colleague who respects your work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among them .
So imagine how terrible you must be at your job—and at the basic functions of humanity—to work in the same field for 30 years and have no one who looks like you still fuck with you .
No one who ’ d publicly claim you as a friend .
No one who ’ d recommend you .
No one who ’ d engage with your work unless it ’ s to say “ Guess what this wack nigga did ?
” Fam , do you realize how shitty you must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dog Whistle in Charge ) at Fox Sports and get fired from there ?
Where motherfucking Fox ( Fox ! )
Drop Squad-ed you ?
Shit , look at this screenshot !
And this one !
How fat must the worms in your brain be to put your name on this shit ?
I ’ d be embarrassed for him if he still possessed the capacity to feel shame .
Imagine getting invited to your 12-year-old nephew ’ s career day , being introduced as a “ famous writer , ” and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you say ?
Of course , I ’ m not the first person to say any of this .
And I doubt I ’ ll be the last .
I ’ m just taking stock of things we all should be thankful for .
While stuck in the muck and the morass of everyday life , it can be easy sometimes to forget our blessings .
So , if you believe in God ( which I do ) , please spend a moment today to thank Him for making you you and not @ @ @

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

“It could be worse” seems to have overtaken the many versions of “I’m fine” on the list of the most common responses to “How are you doing?” Understandable, considering that we’re in a global pandemic and just responding with “I’m fine” feels both disingenuous and insensitive. But while “It could be worse” is sufficiently sober, it’s vague, ominous, and boring, and I believe it would be much more precise with a slight alteration: “It could be worse. I could be Jason Whitlock.”
Why does this work? Why is Whitlock such a fitting baseline? Well, imagine what must lurk inside of you—which demons you must be battling; which slot machine replaced your soul—for posting this transparently bad faith inquiry after someone experienced an unspeakable tragedy.
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Seriously, how fucked up must you be to do that? And yes, I know we’re all fucked up in some capacity. But not that fucked up. I don’t even know who you are, but I’m certain you’re less fucked than this! You, person reading this, are a better person than the motherfucker who tweeted this. I’m sure of it!
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I also don’t know what you do for a living! Perhaps you’re a plumber. Or a lawyer. Or a school bus driver. Or maybe you hold boom mikes on porn sets. I don’t know! But I know—I am certain—that you have at least one professional colleague who respects your work. Perhaps you even have some friends among them. So imagine how terrible you must be at your job—and at the basic functions of humanity—to work in the same field for 30 years and have no one who looks like you still fuck with you. No one who’d publicly claim you as a friend. No one who’d recommend you. No one who’d engage with your work unless it’s to say “Guess what this wack nigga did?” Fam, do you realize how shitty you must be to be the HDWIC (Head Dog Whistle in Charge) at Fox Sports and get fired from there? Where motherfucking Fox (Fox!) Drop Squad-ed you?
Shit, look at this screenshot!
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And this one!
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How fat must the worms in your brain be to put your name on this shit? I’d be embarrassed for him if he still possessed the capacity to feel shame. Imagine getting invited to your 12-year-old nephew’s career day , being introduced as a “famous writer, ” and the teacher showing this slide? What would you say?
Of course, I’m not the first person to say any of this. And I doubt I’ll be the last. I’m just taking stock of things we all should be thankful for. While stuck in the muck and the morass of everyday life, it can be easy sometimes to forget our blessings. So, if you believe in God (which I do), please spend a moment today to thank Him for making you you and not that guy.


theroot--2020-11-24--Macy's Fires up Early Black Friday Deals With Countertop Appliances for $8, After Rebate

Macy ’ s is ringing in the season a little earlier this year , kicking things off with a sale on small kitchen appliances bound to relieve your wallet of any unwanted stress in the holiday shopping months .
Make waffles with your swamp-residing ogre friend in this stainless steel waffle iron for 55 % off the list price , then save even more when you fill out the form under the Special Offers tab and mail it in to claim your rebate—fear not , Nathan for You fans , you won ’ t have to climb to the top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In fact , if you wanted , you could revamp your entire kitchen for just $ 48 , assuming you ’ re game to send in a sextet of forms .
Level up your breakfast game with a 10.5 x 20 '' nonstick electric griddle , keep your bread nice and toasty with a four-slice stainless steel convection oven , improve your work-from-home lunches with an electric panini grill , drink your fruits and veggies with a 12-piece 13330 Rocket blender set , and whip up something quick for dinner with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Need a morning boost ?
This Black & Decker 12-cup coffee maker delivers your daily dose of caffeine for the price of a grande latte at Starbucks , probably .
As a straightforward alternative to Bella ’ s Rocket blender set , Black & Decker ’ s 10-speed blender promises the comfort of simplicity at no extra cost .
I recently picked up this blender myself , and I have to say it gets the job done .
As an amateur mixologist , an ordinary blender like this is much more effective at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And for those who want to eat rice that doesn ’ t suck , now ’ s you chance to buy the damn rice cooker on the cheap .
However casual your cooking , however tight your budget , Macy ’ s is bringing the heat with the kitchenware to beat .
This deal was originally published by Gabe Carey on 11/13/2020 and updated with new information on 11/24/2020 .

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

Countertop Appliances | $8 After Rebate | Macy’s
Macy’s is ringing in the season a little earlier this year, kicking things off with a sale on small kitchen appliances bound to relieve your wallet of any unwanted stress in the holiday shopping months. Make waffles with your swamp-residing ogre friend in this stainless steel waffle iron for 55% off the list price, then save even more when you fill out the form under the Special Offers tab and mail it in to claim your rebate—fear not, Nathan for You fans, you won’t have to climb to the top of a mountain to secure this prize.
In fact, if you wanted, you could revamp your entire kitchen for just $48, assuming you’re game to send in a sextet of forms. Level up your breakfast game with a 10.5 x 20" nonstick electric griddle, keep your bread nice and toasty with a four-slice stainless steel convection oven, improve your work-from-home lunches with an electric panini grill, drink your fruits and veggies with a 12-piece 13330 Rocket blender set, and whip up something quick for dinner with a 12" round nonstick electric skillet.
Need a morning boost? This Black & Decker 12-cup coffee maker delivers your daily dose of caffeine for the price of a grande latte at Starbucks, probably. As a straightforward alternative to Bella’s Rocket blender set, Black & Decker’s 10-speed blender promises the comfort of simplicity at no extra cost. I recently picked up this blender myself, and I have to say it gets the job done. As an amateur mixologist, an ordinary blender like this is much more effective at crushing ice than the more nutrition-focused options.
And for those who want to eat rice that doesn’t suck, now’s you chance to buy the damn rice cooker on the cheap.
However casual your cooking, however tight your budget, Macy’s is bringing the heat with the kitchenware to beat.
This deal was originally published by Gabe Carey on 11/13/2020 and updated with new information on 11/24/2020.


theroot--2020-11-25--Pope Francis Shouts Out NBA Players for Their Work in Addressing Racial Injustice: 'You're Champions

Pope Francis Shouts Out NBA Players for Their Work in Addressing Racial Injustice: 'You're Champions'

When the NBA made its triumphant return in July after COVID-19 tried its best to steal our joy , it looked like nothing we ’ d ever seen before .
Not only were there virtual fans in the stands , but players were adorned in “ VOTE ” t-shirts , “ Black Lives Matter ” was etched onto the court and coaches and players alike capitalized on the moment and kept social justice at the forefront—even going as far as to stage a strike in response to the officer-related shooting of Jacob Blake .
Much like the rest of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an eye on this new-look NBA too .
Because on Monday , when a group of NBA players visited the Vatican , he made it a point to shout them out for doing their part to combat racial injustice , according to The Guardian .
The delegation of NBA players on hand included Marco Belinelli of the San Antonio Spurs ; Sterling Brown of the Houston Rockets ; Jonathan Isaac of the Orlando Magic ; Kyle Korver of the Milwaukee Bucks and Anthony Tolliver of the Memphis Grizzlies .
They were joined by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the National Basketball Players Association , and two other union executives , Sherrie Deans and Matteo Zuretti .
Per Roberts , it was the pope who requested an audience with the players , and that his request “ demonstrates the influence of [ the NBA ’ s platform ] .
” “ We ’ re here because , frankly , we ’ re inspired by the work that you do globally , ” Roberts told Pope Francis during their meeting .
Players used the time to discuss their “ individual and collective efforts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occurring in their communities.
” Belinelli , who ’ s from Italy , also spoke to the pope in his native tongue , while the group gave the pope some early Christmas gifts : a commemorative basketball and an Orlando Magic jersey .
During a particularly powerful moment , Brown reflected on what it was like when his team , the Milwaukee Bucks , refused to play against the Magic in response to the officer-related shooting of Jacob Blake .
“ It was raw and emotional for our team , ” Brown told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ champions , ” Pope Francis told the players .
“ But also giving the example of teamwork , you ’ ve become a model , giving that good example of teamwork but always remaining humble [ ... ] and preserving your own humanity.
” The trip seems to have left a profound impact on the players who attended .
“ We are extremely honored to have had this opportunity to come to the Vatican and share our experiences with Pope Francis , ” Korver said .
“ His openness and eagerness to discuss @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that our work has had a global impact and must continue moving forward.
” As we previously reported at The Root , since the conclusion of the 2019-20 season , NBA commissioner Adam Silver has openly admitted that this “ super-woke ” incarnation of the NBA was a direct reflection of our unprecedented climate and that the upcoming season will be more of a return to form .
“ I would say , in terms of the messages you see on the court and our jerseys , this was an extraordinary moment in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the players and what we all lived through this summer , ” Silver said on ESPN ’ s NBA Countdown in October .
“ My sense is there ’ ll be somewhat a return to normalcy—that those messages will largely be left to be delivered off the floor.
” So while Korver and other players have every desire to keep that same energy this upcoming season , it will be interesting to see how or if it will be conveyed when the NBA resumes play in December .

When the NBA made its triumphant return in July after COVID-19 tried its best to steal our joy, it looked like nothing we’d ever seen before.
Not only were there virtual fans in the stands, but players were adorned in “VOTE” t-shirts, “Black Lives Matter” was etched onto the court and coaches and players alike capitalized on the moment and kept social justice at the forefront—even going as far as to stage a strike in response to the officer-related shooting of Jacob Blake.
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Much like the rest of the world, apparently Pope Francis was keeping an eye on this new-look NBA too. Because on Monday, when a group of NBA players visited the Vatican, he made it a point to shout them out for doing their part to combat racial injustice, according to The Guardian.
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The delegation of NBA players on hand included Marco Belinelli of the San Antonio Spurs; Sterling Brown of the Houston Rockets; Jonathan Isaac of the Orlando Magic; Kyle Korver of the Milwaukee Bucks and Anthony Tolliver of the Memphis Grizzlies. They were joined by Michele Roberts, the executive director of the National Basketball Players Association, and two other union executives, Sherrie Deans and Matteo Zuretti.
Per Roberts, it was the pope who requested an audience with the players, and that his request “demonstrates the influence of [the NBA’s platform].”
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“We’re here because, frankly, we’re inspired by the work that you do globally,” Roberts told Pope Francis during their meeting.
Players used the time to discuss their “individual and collective efforts addressing social and economic injustice and inequality occurring in their communities.” Belinelli, who’s from Italy, also spoke to the pope in his native tongue, while the group gave the pope some early Christmas gifts: a commemorative basketball and an Orlando Magic jersey.
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During a particularly powerful moment, Brown reflected on what it was like when his team, the Milwaukee Bucks, refused to play against the Magic in response to the officer-related shooting of Jacob Blake.
“It was raw and emotional for our team,” Brown told the pope.
“You’re champions,” Pope Francis told the players. “But also giving the example of teamwork, you’ve become a model, giving that good example of teamwork but always remaining humble [...] and preserving your own humanity.”
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The trip seems to have left a profound impact on the players who attended.
“We are extremely honored to have had this opportunity to come to the Vatican and share our experiences with Pope Francis,” Korver said. “His openness and eagerness to discuss these issues was inspiring and a reminder that our work has had a global impact and must continue moving forward.”
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As we previously reported at The Root, since the conclusion of the 2019-20 season, NBA commissioner Adam Silver has openly admitted that this “super-woke” incarnation of the NBA was a direct reflection of our unprecedented climate and that the upcoming season will be more of a return to form.
“I would say, in terms of the messages you see on the court and our jerseys, this was an extraordinary moment in time when we began these discussions with the players and what we all lived through this summer,” Silver said on ESPN’s NBA Countdown in October. “My sense is there’ll be somewhat a return to normalcy—that those messages will largely be left to be delivered off the floor.”
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So while Korver and other players have every desire to keep that same energy this upcoming season, it will be interesting to see how or if it will be conveyed when the NBA resumes play in December.


theroot--2020-11-25--County Mayor in Florida Proposes Task Force to Fight Systemic Racism

The mayor of Florida ’ s Broward County has proposed a task force that would address issues of systemic racism .
The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports that the proposal is the third from Broward County Mayor Dale Holness that attempts to address the issue of systemic racism .
Holness previously proposed a police review board that would analyze the behaviors of law enforcement , as well as expanding the county ’ s human rights protections to include ethnic hairstyles .
Holness ’ latest proposal is the creation of a racial equity task force that , according to county records , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ identified systemic racism and create greater racial equity in Broward County.
” The task force would respond to complaints from the public , “ written or otherwise , ” and would consist of up to 34 members .
Members of the task force would include Black Lives Matter activists , the Broward County Chiefs of Police Association , the New Florida Majority , members of academia , as well as a defense attorney , and prosecutor .
“ We ’ ve seen the huge disparities that exist within our societies , ” Holness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s a matter of how we fix it.
” I ’ m very curious about how the task force will work , and the exact solutions that it would propose .
As we should all know , racism is more than just someone dropping a foul slur .
It ’ s ... an attitude .
Are all of the solutions going to boil down to John Cena hitting the offender with an attitude adjustment ?
Personally , I wouldn ’ t mind seeing racists just get straight bodied , but I don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m not against the formation of the task force at all , I just there were a few more details on how it ’ s going to respond to instances of systemic racism and what tangible steps it intends to take .
Also , I can ’ t lie : i t ’ s a little sus having the chiefs of police association on the board , just saying .
While there have been calls by multiple officials in Broward County to expand the purview of the task force to include @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man , has argued that the focus should initially be only on Black citizens .
“ The crisis we face in terms of inequities vastly affect Black folks more than any other group , ” he told the Sun-Sentinel .
“ Let ’ s be mindful of that.
” You know , I do admire Holness ’ ability to keep it firmly a buck .
The proposed police review board has already been approved by commissioners , while the proposal on both hairstyles on the task force could be reviewed as soon as @ @

The mayor of Florida’s Broward County has proposed a task force that would address issues of systemic racism.
The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports that the proposal is the third from Broward County Mayor Dale Holness that attempts to address the issue of systemic racism. Holness previously proposed a police review board that would analyze the behaviors of law enforcement, as well as expanding the county’s human rights protections to include ethnic hairstyles.
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Holness’ latest proposal is the creation of a racial equity task force that, according to county records, would take “concrete steps to dismantle identified systemic racism and create greater racial equity in Broward County.” The task force would respond to complaints from the public, “written or otherwise,” and would consist of up to 34 members.
Members of the task force would include Black Lives Matter activists, the Broward County Chiefs of Police Association, the New Florida Majority, members of academia, as well as a defense attorney, and prosecutor.
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“We’ve seen the huge disparities that exist within our societies,” Holness told the Sun-Sentinel. “It’s a matter of how we fix it.”
I’m very curious about how the task force will work, and the exact solutions that it would propose. As we should all know, racism is more than just someone dropping a foul slur. It’s...an attitude. Are all of the solutions going to boil down to John Cena hitting the offender with an attitude adjustment?
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Personally, I wouldn’t mind seeing racists just get straight bodied, but I don’t know how practical that is.
I’m not against the formation of the task force at all, I just there were a few more details on how it’s going to respond to instances of systemic racism and what tangible steps it intends to take. Also, I can’t lie: i t’s a little sus having the chiefs of police association on the board, just saying.
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While there have been calls by multiple officials in Broward County to expand the purview of the task force to include all races, Holness, a Black man, has argued that the focus should initially be only on Black citizens. “The crisis we face in terms of inequities vastly affect Black folks more than any other group,” he told the Sun-Sentinel. “Let’s be mindful of that.”
You know, I do admire Holness’ ability to keep it firmly a buck.
The proposed police review board has already been approved by commissioners, while the proposal on both hairstyles on the task force could be reviewed as soon as December.


theroot--2020-11-25--Black Friday Deals Are on Deck, So Grab Some Good-Ass Games at Their Best-Ass Prices

Happy Friday-ass Wednesday , y ’ all !
This Thanksgiving is going to be kinda meh as a result of the pandemic limiting our ability to gather .
You know what isn ’ t meh though ?
Saving money on video games .
As a result of the pandemic , most sites have already launched their Black Friday deals , which means there are bangers on bangers on sale .
I ’ m going to list the best games I could find at the best prices I could find them at .
Also , this list is going to primarily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about all Playstation exclusives are currently on sale on PSN .
So if you have yet to check out games like Final Fantasy VII : Remake , Ghost of Tsushima , or The Last of Us Part II , they ’ re available for sale on your Playstation for $ 30- $ 40 .
As for Xbox heads , if you haven ’ t grabbed Game Pass Ultimate at this point , what are you doing ?
With that service you can download every Xbox exclusive to your console for $ 14.99 a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can grab a three-month subscription to the program for only $ 22.99 right now .
Most all of these deals are available online or with curbside pickup at retailers like Best Buy .
So with all that being said , let ’ s get down on some deals !
Red Dead Redemption 2 ( Playstation and Xbox ) is a game you probably already own , but hey , if you don ’ t this is the best price to pick it up at .
While the game has a slow start , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , tragic , and quite honestly might be Rockstar ’ s best campaign .
While there are some shortcomings , they ’ re easy to overlook for this price .
The expansive , detailed open-world is sure to keep you entertained for hours and hours .
Nintendo is notoriously stingy when it comes to sales , so it ’ s nice to see that they ’ ve actually put some solid exclusives on sale this week .
While Three Houses ’ tactical RPG nature might make it a more niche title , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for this price makes it a hell of a steal .
The game takes place in a kingdom with three ruling nations , and you decide which house you rep early on .
The first half sees you teaching students at a monastery , while the second has you leading your students in battle as the three nations go to war .
You can play through all three houses , each with its own unique leader and sets of students .
If you like tactics-based games and anime-ass storytelling , Three Houses is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Eternal ( PS4 , Xbox , PC ) is the sequel to 2016 ’ s Doom reboot and it ’ s basically that game , but cranked up a few notches and with more mobility options .
The game almost plays like a hybrid between a first-person-shooter and a platforming game .
So if chainsawing demons in the face sound like your idea of a Friday night , then this is where you need to be .
Also , as I said earlier , check out the marketplaces on your consoles .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I haven ’ t bought any just because I can ’ t decide .
The analysis paralysis is real , b .
So !
If there was a game you were interested in this year , you can probably find it at a discounted price this weekend .
Let me know in the comments if you got any solid pickups !
So if y ’ all will excuse me , I got snacks to eat and games to play .
As always stay safe , wash your hands , wear a mask @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Happy Friday-ass Wednesday, y’all! This Thanksgiving is going to be kinda meh as a result of the pandemic limiting our ability to gather. You know what isn’t meh though? Saving money on video games.
As a result of the pandemic, most sites have already launched their Black Friday deals, which means there are bangers on bangers on sale. I’m going to list the best games I could find at the best prices I could find them at.
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Also, this list is going to primarily focus on multi-platform games, because just about all Playstation exclusives are currently on sale on PSN. So if you have yet to check out games like Final Fantasy VII: Remake, Ghost of Tsushima, or The Last of Us Part II, they’re available for sale on your Playstation for $30-$40.
As for Xbox heads, if you haven’t grabbed Game Pass Ultimate at this point, what are you doing? With that service you can download every Xbox exclusive to your console for $14.99 a month. Lucky for you, you can grab a three-month subscription to the program for only $22.99 right now.
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Most all of these deals are available online or with curbside pickup at retailers like Best Buy. So with all that being said, let’s get down on some deals!
Red Dead Redemption 2, $20 (Best Buy)
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Red Dead Redemption 2 (Playstation and Xbox) is a game you probably already own, but hey, if you don’t this is the best price to pick it up at. While the game has a slow start, the story that eventually unfolds is engrossing, tragic, and quite honestly might be Rockstar’s best campaign. While there are some shortcomings, they’re easy to overlook for this price. The expansive, detailed open-world is sure to keep you entertained for hours and hours.
Fire Emblem: Three Houses, $34.99 (Best Buy)
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Nintendo is notoriously stingy when it comes to sales, so it’s nice to see that they’ve actually put some solid exclusives on sale this week. While Three Houses’ tactical RPG nature might make it a more niche title, the amount of content you’re getting for this price makes it a hell of a steal. The game takes place in a kingdom with three ruling nations, and you decide which house you rep early on. The first half sees you teaching students at a monastery, while the second has you leading your students in battle as the three nations go to war.
You can play through all three houses, each with its own unique leader and sets of students. If you like tactics-based games and anime-ass storytelling, Three Houses is sure to keep you satisfied.
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Doom Eternal, $19.99 (Best Buy, Gamestop, Amazon)
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Doom: Eternal (PS4, Xbox, PC) is the sequel to 2016’s Doom reboot and it’s basically that game, but cranked up a few notches and with more mobility options. The game almost plays like a hybrid between a first-person-shooter and a platforming game. So if chainsawing demons in the face sound like your idea of a Friday night, then this is where you need to be.
More deals
Fifa 21, Madden 21, NHL 21- $27.99 (Best Buy, Gamestop)
Watch Dogs: Legion- $30 (Gamestop, Best Buy)
Tony Hawk Pro Skater 1+2 -$30(Gamestop, Best Buy)
Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time- $30 (Gamestop, Best Buy)
Also, as I said earlier, check out the marketplaces on your consoles. There are so many games on sale, I haven’t bought any just because I can’t decide. The analysis paralysis is real, b.
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So! If there was a game you were interested in this year, you can probably find it at a discounted price this weekend. Let me know in the comments if you got any solid pickups! So if y’all will excuse me, I got snacks to eat and games to play.
As always stay safe, wash your hands, wear a mask, and play more video games.


theroot--2020-11-25--Arkansas Man Receives Racist Letter Over the 'Negro' Santa Claus Decoration Displayed in His Yard

Thanksgiving hasn ’ t even come yet and one Black man in North Little Rock , Ark.
, has already been on the receiving end of racism over Christmas decorations displayed in front of his home .
THV11 reports that three-year Lakewood resident Chris Kennedy said he received a letter in the mail on Tuesday afternoon that was purported to be from the Lakewood Property Owners Association .
The letter appears to have been authored by a salty and fragile white person pretending to be a very angry “ Santa Clause ” offended by Kennedy ’ s displaying of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Please remove your negro Santa Clause yard decoration .
You should not try to deceive children into believing that I am a negro .
I am a Caucasian white man to you and have been for the past 600 years .
Your being jealous of my race is no excuse for your dishonesty .
Besides that , you are making yourself the laughing stock of the neighborhood.
” The letter also included a photo of a white Santa , with two thumbs down .
Don ’ t get me wrong : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black because the way racial profiling is set up , no Black man is getting away with mass breaking and entering every year even if he is leaving gifts instead of stealing shit .
Also , Santa could totally be a racist .
Imagine Santa ’ s hat was all-white and didn ’ t have the puffy white ball at the end .
It would look just like ... You know what ?
I ’ m going to go ahead and move on from this .
Kennedy said he was pretty sure the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the homeowners association because the LPOA logo wasn ’ t right .
“ I saw that something was coming from the Lakewood Property Owners Association , but I thought it was kind of odd , ” he told THV11 .
Evan Blake , the LPOA executive director , confirmed to reporters that the association had nothing to do with the letter .
“ We reached out to him and gave him a membership just to kind of show him that we do want him in the neighborhood , ” Blake said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that wrote that letter in the neighborhood .
That ’ s what we don ’ t want.
” Kennedy said that after he posted the letter he received to social media , his neighbors and others have been showing him plenty of holiday love .
“ Our neighbors have been awesome , ” he said .
“ People have dropped off cookies and notes and I ’ ve gotten messages from Facebook.
” He also said someone left a sign in his yard that reads , “ Love your neighbor , y ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sent him the letter , Kennedy has a simple message .
“ If I ’ m a laughing stock by trying to provide joy to other families ’ children down the street going to school by having out a Santa Claus and decorating for Christmas , so be it , ” he said .
Did I mention that it ’ s not even Thanksgiving yet ?

Thanksgiving hasn’t even come yet and one Black man in North Little Rock, Ark., has already been on the receiving end of racism over Christmas decorations displayed in front of his home.
THV11 reports that three-year Lakewood resident Chris Kennedy said he received a letter in the mail on Tuesday afternoon that was purported to be from the Lakewood Property Owners Association. The letter appears to have been authored by a salty and fragile white person pretending to be a very angry “Santa Clause” offended by Kennedy’s displaying of a Black Santa decoration in his front yard.
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From THV 11:
The letter reads in full: “Please remove your negro Santa Clause yard decoration. You should not try to deceive children into believing that I am a negro. I am a Caucasian white man to you and have been for the past 600 years. Your being jealous of my race is no excuse for your dishonesty. Besides that, you are making yourself the laughing stock of the neighborhood.” The letter also included a photo of a white Santa, with two thumbs down.
Don’t get me wrong: Santa Claus couldn’t possibly be Black because the way racial profiling is set up, no Black man is getting away with mass breaking and entering every year even if he is leaving gifts instead of stealing shit. Also, Santa could totally be a racist. Imagine Santa’s hat was all-white and didn’t have the puffy white ball at the end. It would look just like...You know what? I’m going to go ahead and move on from this.
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Kennedy said he was pretty sure the letter didn’t actually come from the homeowners association because the LPOA logo wasn’t right.
“I saw that something was coming from the Lakewood Property Owners Association, but I thought it was kind of odd,” he told THV11.
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Evan Blake, the LPOA executive director, confirmed to reporters that the association had nothing to do with the letter.
“We reached out to him and gave him a membership just to kind of show him that we do want him in the neighborhood,” Blake said. “We don’t want the people that wrote that letter in the neighborhood. That’s what we don’t want.”
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Kennedy said that after he posted the letter he received to social media, his neighbors and others have been showing him plenty of holiday love.
“Our neighbors have been awesome,” he said. “People have dropped off cookies and notes and I’ve gotten messages from Facebook.”
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He also said someone left a sign in his yard that reads, “Love your neighbor, y’all.”
As for whatever bigoted Grinch sent him the letter, Kennedy has a simple message.
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“If I’m a laughing stock by trying to provide joy to other families’ children down the street going to school by having out a Santa Claus and decorating for Christmas, so be it,” he said.
Did I mention that it’s not even Thanksgiving yet?