Celebrity Coverage
It’s more than just books: now is the perfect time to get back to the library
Courtesy of Mychal Threets
I used to be a “library kid.” Nothing excited me more than visiting the branches in my city, rummaging through the “young adults” section, and escaping on the journey that a book could take me on.
Over time, the library began to be related to forced labor. College classes, study groups, and dreaded team projects made the library a spot to avoid.
Now technology has given us audiobooks and digital downloads that make the look of somebody holding a physical book seem avant-garde. However, as distant work, entrepreneurship, and even homeschooling change into normal, positive interest in libraries is returning. There have been calls on social media to swap your property office for a study corner at the library, support your local branch, and fall in love with page-turning again.
Michael Trinity, also known on social media as Mychal the Librarian, has change into a guiding star in library advocacy and support. Hailed as the “Levar Burton of this generation,” Threets gained immense popularity for sharing the uplifting moments he experienced as a librarian in Fairfield, California, through Solano County Library. For students learning at home, the library was not only a classroom for Trójka, but in addition something more. “It has always been a safe space,” says ESSENCE.
Threets’ earliest memories of his “safe space” ultimately influenced him to change into a librarian. He began creating videos of his day by day interactions to meet people where they’re and remind them of the purpose of the library. He wanted to show everyone that each overlap even in today’s digitalized world.
“People don’t realize how much these two issues clash and that there is a digital divide in the world but not in libraries,” Threets says.
He added. “I think people have forgotten that the library is constantly growing, constantly improving.”
Libraries are free havens for books and a cornerstone of inclusive education. As Threets points out, chapters provide “free homework help, in person or virtually” to students who cannot afford tutoring, “free language courses,” and a few offer “free legal assistance” from lawyers who provide pro bono services.
Physical and digital libraries are the important sources of distant learning. Teachers use built-in programs and teaching tools that mechanically connect students with local departments.
Digital databases akin to Libby provide individual users with a nationwide network of libraries and catalogs at their fingertips. Readers can select a book and pick it up at their local branch, making a full circle of support.
Libraries receive funding from various sources, depending on the sort of branch and its location. Typical sources are local governments, donations, partnerships, grants and consumer levies.
As Threets takes his support to Washington, pitching a multimillion-dollar initiative to senators for funding, an Atlanta librarian Forrest Evans has an easy answer to keeping your doors open and your shelves stuffed with books for years to come.
“It’s money already spent. This is tax money already working for you,” says Evans. “So stay in the loop. This way you will be respected, seen and heard.”
Evans’ call for residents to use funds already budgeted is fueled by the rise of librarians and spaces vilified for providing historically accurate texts in the era of book bans.
“It’s now in over 20 states Senate bills criminalizing librarians and media professionals if they disseminate “harmful” materials, which is ambiguously unclear in the text of this law. “I am proposing a new federal charge that will amount to a $100,000 fine and will result in the revocation or termination of your license,” he says.
The same conservative and supremacist efforts are behind the erasure of Black history from textbooks and curricula across the country.
Location disparities in low-income areas, minority-serving departments, and on historically black colleges and universities (HBCU) campuses take many forms, akin to a scarcity of books, up-to-date support materials, and Black and brown media professionals who can create a supportive environment for readers of color.
“Not only is there no adequate funding to provide particularly undervalued and underserved institutions, organizations, or nonprofits that serve minorities or are founded by women, but they are not included in the conversation,” notes Evans.
He mentions that organizations akin to American Library Association (ALA), Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA)and Georgia Library Media Association they fight to protect the rights of readers and librarians. But Evans says it’s ultimately up to the “individual professional” to advocate for the needs of his or her location.
“That’s why representation is so important,” he says.
The value of libraries is seen in the people they look after and the relationships they develop. Kayla Rayford, Aziza Kelly, Alex Brame and Denisha Cranfield met as students at Bowie State University. These 4, from different parts of the country and with different backgrounds, were united by their love of reading. Their digital book club, Black girls readingrepresents what libraries can cultivate.
Kelly’s never-ending reading list, Rayford’s memories of her first library card that made her feel like she had “the keys to the world,” Brame’s summer reading program, and Cranfield’s science programs (memorably with the python) are small examples of how libraries can promote lifelong learning and finding opportunities between and beyond the sites.
“If you’re a library lover, you’re a book lover,” says the group’s co-founder, Cranfield. “I think the library will always be a place to find joy; you will be able to escape any reality that is thrown at you. As book lovers, I know that’s what we’re here for. Escapism. I think libraries are essential.”
Celebrity Coverage
How Diana Ross’s Halloween look was created Uche Moxama – essence
Courtesy of Cindy Romero
Halloween is the perfect time of 12 months to advertise an icon. This 12 months, for instance, Beyoncé morphed into funk rock star Betty Davis and Coco Jones referenced Donna Summer’s album covers. And for the content creator Uche Moxamrecreation of the 1969 Diana Ross film.I’ll wash this guy out of my hair” on the duvet, the immediate answer was “yes.”
“I grew up listening to great artists: Whitney, Diana, Donna Summer, the list goes on,” Moxam tells ESSENCE. “Not only were they the powerhouse of their decade, but they also provided representation of beautiful, strong and talented black women who were rarely represented in the media at the time.”
For a protracted time, Moxam had been waiting for the suitable moment to rework into Diana Ross’s mountain of curls (as if released from a set of very large curlers) from the GIT Broadway special. However, probably the most iconic a part of the look was also probably the most difficult to create. “The biggest challenge was supposed to be the hair,” she says, contacting a hair stylist Alan Schober.
“Alana managed to arrange each bundle of hair individually and artistically to achieve the effect shown in Diana’s film,” he says. “I wanted the hair texture to be three-dimensional, not just using Photoshop or a black board.” Using a 65-inch cardboard as a base and more bundles of hair than she could count interwoven with Moxam’s real hair, Schober turned her costume right into a masterpiece.
“I focus on a natural look [for everyday beauty] but Halloween is truly a time to become someone else,” she says.
However, Uche Moxam’s makeup veered away from Ross’s neutral lip with glazed lips and cheeks sculpted with blush, becoming an icon in its own right. “I’ve been wanting to bring it to life for some time and this year I managed to do it.”
Celebrity Coverage
The best beauty moments of Halloween 2024 – essence
@janellemonae / Instagram
Celebrities have been known to bring creative costumes every Halloween. From area of interest cosplay to Heidi Klum’s annual Halloween party with high-budget SFX makeup and rugged references, stars never fail to live as much as their past looks. And last night turned out to be no different.
For example, when Janelle Monaé called a surreal version of ET, it took a team of five SFX artists to create the life-size costume. Lizzo has 4 looks starting from red body paint to scissored skin: the set includes an Ozempic pack, a honey bunny, Edward Scissorhands, and a never-rejected face card.
Although Doja Cat as a sunflower is a reference to the 2001 video game, Halloween will not be limited to fictional characters. Beyoncé took on the persona of funk-rock singer Betty Davis, Winnie Harlow referenced Diana Ross, and Coco Jones referenced Donna Summer’s album covers. Meanwhile, Megan Thee Stallion proved that Halloween lasts all 12 months long by dressing up within the anime cosplay she probably would ever wear.
Below, ESSENCE rounds up our favourite beauty moments from Halloween 2024.
Celebrity Coverage
WNBA earnings are rising, but will they be enough? The real story behind the numbers – the essence
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 06: A’ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces brings the ball up the court against Betnijah Laney-Hamilton #44 of the New York Liberty in the first quarter of Game 4 of the 2024 WNBA Playoffs Semifinals at Michelob ULTRA Arena on October 6, 2024 . in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Liberty defeated the Aces 76-62, winning the series three games to 1. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that by downloading and/or using this image, User consents to the terms of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
When Angel Reese signed with the Chicago Sky and was chosen seventh overall in the 2024 WNBA draft, it entered a league completely different than five years ago. The compensation landscape has modified dramatically – but let’s be honest about whether these changes are truly transformational or simply an incremental step towards what these athletes deserve.
The raw numbers tell the story of progress. 2024 WNBA season boasts the highest earnings in the history of the leagueand top players will be capable of earn as much as $241,984. Supermax pay has increased 94% since 2019, when the league’s elite players reached $121,500. Even minimum wage for newbies increased to $64,154 – greater than double the amount in 2019. But that is where it gets complicated. While The WNBA salary cap has reached $1.4 million per team in 2024, The NBA salary cap is $140 million. Yes, you read that right. And before anyone makes the “but revenue” argument, let’s acknowledge that even after accounting for differences in league revenue, WNBA players receive about 33% of the league’s revenue, while NBA players receive about 50%.
For most WNBA players, to make it work, meaning playing year-round. According to AP, about 50% of players also compete abroad during the WNBA off-season. Stars like Breanna Stewart and A’ja Wilson can fetch top dollar in each markets, but this double duty comes at a value – physical fatigue, time away from family and the mental strain of never really having an off-season season.
Marketing dollars tell a totally different story. League Collective labor agreement for 2020 included provisions for increased marketing opportunities, but in 2023, only a handful of players have signed deals with major brands. Meanwhile, Caitlin Clark’s NIL valuation has reached $3.1 million before she even declared for the WNBA draft – highlighting each the potential and the disparity in how women’s basketball talent is valued.
The racial dynamics are particularly striking. In the league where over 60% of gamers are black womenthe conversation around fair pay is not only about gender – it’s about racial equality in sports. When we discuss WNBA salaries, we’re talking about undervaluing the work of Black women, and it is a story that reverberates far beyond the basketball court.
The league has taken steps in the right direction. The latest CBA introduces progressive elements similar to fully paid maternity leave, improved travel accommodations and potential income sharing opportunities. These changes come after years of player activism, led by women like Angel McCoughtry and Nneka Ogwumike who weren’t afraid to demand higher.
But let’s be clear, higher than before does not imply ok. When the WNBA minimum salary is barely above median household income in the USwe’re not only talking about the gender pay gap – we’re talking about the fundamental devaluation of girls’s skilled sport.
The query is not whether WNBA players should be grateful for these raises. The query is why, in 2024, we still have to make the case for fair compensation for skilled athletes who consistently produce world-class results, drive civil conversations, and encourage the next generation of athletes.
Pay rises are the starting, not the end. As viewership increased, the 2024 WNBA Finals saw: Viewership increase by 115%. in comparison with the previous 12 months – the pace of real changes is gaining momentum. The numbers are growing, yes, but until they reflect the true value these athletes bring to the game, our work isn’t done.
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