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Michael Arceneaux’s latest book is a study of grief, debt, and self-healing – Andscape

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7 months ago

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Creating content in the center of grief can have a huge impact on what you create. This is very true for authors like Michael Arceneaux, who published his third book while coping with the loss of friends and family and the devastating pain that comes with it. As Arceneaux noted, “Sadness sends the mind into many different spaces.” These experiences made him wonder how people would receive the book.

“I was really worried that I was missing the point, that this book wasn’t meeting the standards I wanted to set, because I was writing it under tremendous duress and in so much pain,” Arceneaux told Andscape. “Some people think it’s one of my best books and biggest work. I appreciate it and it was very nice to listen to it from people. It makes me feel good.”

In Arceneaux, she touches on a number of topics, equivalent to finally having enough money to take care of herself (hence the Jordans within the book’s title), writing about (and being blocked by) celebrities previously, coming to terms along with her relationship along with her family, and complicated feelings about money and coping with sadness. Overall, this is a clever, honest, and heartfelt book that invites readers to explore the various facets of Arceneaux’s world. From razor-sharp political evaluation to multi-layered stories about parenting, the bestselling writer once more challenges readers to think deeply about family, popular culture, politics, and the journey to greater economic stability.

Andscape caught up with Arceneaux to discuss his work, grief, and what he hopes all of us take away from his latest book.

You capture serious historical moments on this book while being your witty and funny self. For example, in a single chapter you wrote about (former Democratic candidate for Florida governor) Andrew Gilliam with great nuance, and in one other you mentioned your dissatisfaction with (performing oral sex). So what exactly was your review of this book and what was your standard?

The book is very different from what I originally intended, but I carried a lot of sadness with me while writing it. I lost one friend to suicide. I had one other friend with brain cancer – all this stuff were happening, and then the pandemic hit and I discovered myself in Harlem. When I finally found the space to focus and shape the book the way in which I wanted, my mother was diagnosed with cancer. At the time, I used to be ending the book and rewriting every thing, so I needed to be sure that that my writing activities would not interfere with spending time with my mother. My priority was spending time with my mom, but my mom insisted that I finish and really give attention to the book and my work. So when writing this book, I needed to be really honest about where I used to be at. I took the pressure off myself to be funny, which ultimately made the book what it was presupposed to be, and not necessarily what I had planned.

Taking the pressure off may be hard enough, considering the multi-layered grief involved in ending a book, and it just sounds brutal. How did you navigate all of this?

I needed to lean on some of the things my mother taught me. My mom all the time emphasized the importance of doing all your job, being responsible, and having a strong work ethic, so I had to construct on that and really have a lot of discipline to write down the book and really be honest about where I used to be at. , which wasn’t where I felt like being particularly funny.

Working through grief is often like showing up at book events and conducting interviews on particularly emotional days. How do you take care of it?

The love people show me during these events has truly validated me. I also enjoyed going back to bookstores – which I wasn’t in a position to do with my second book since it was published when the plague began, so every thing was closed – and connecting with readers. There was a lot love within the room at every event. Even though it is not one of the best time, I’m lucky that individuals understand my pain and show me a lot love.

Shortly after my book was published, my grandmother and two of my mother’s sisters died. One of them helped my mother raise me. I quickly learned that I needed a set of different coping mechanisms to assist me get through each moment. Is there something concerning the way you captured your mom or the stories you shared about her that offers you peace now?

One day my aunt texted me and jogged my memory of one particular chapter. I used to be in Texas during a freezing cold spell when the facility grid went down. I used to be there without water or electricity, in an Airbnb that I rented to be near my mother. (While frozen) I felt trapped within the Airbnb. My (cellphone) battery was dying and there was no electricity. I used to be on the Airbnb for about two days and my mom hadn’t heard from me. One day, once I was attempting to use the toilet without water, I heard a banging on the door. It was my mother with a flashlight saying stand up, we’re leaving. She said she got here to select up the child. Her power had returned the night before. She wasn’t going to let her son freeze to death. This chapter jogs my memory of who she was since it is the quintessence of my mother. No matter how old we’re, my mother will do anything for her children and grandchildren. She drove through the streets without electricity with a large flashlight, on the lookout for her child. This story encourages me and jogs my memory that my mother truly loved us.

You did a great job of capturing the love your mother had for you. You also perfectly captured the nuances of a complicated relationship with a parent, and for you it is your dad. What has helped you grow to a place where you may recognize his unconventional ways as a form of love?

It’s funny because now he actually says “I love you.” But I needed to learn that you’ve to fulfill people where they’re. Sometimes in your individual healing you could not achieve the result you would like, but you could achieve a result that may offer you peace or something near it. For me, I needed to learn to actually understand who my father was and how he became that person. This helped me get rid of all of the anger I had towards him. Thanks to this, I used to be in a position to observe my father’s development. If you really need to interrupt the cycle, it is advisable work out what a room might appear to be.

I do know many deeply personal stories have been shaped by your grief, but how did you choose which stories from popular culture and politics to incorporate within the book?

Some of the essays covered topics that I had not been in a position to return to in some of my online publications, so I desired to return to them on this book. I also wanted the stories to return from a real perspective of what was happening on the time (equivalent to the coronavirus pandemic). Some things I didn’t even mean to be super political, like my essay on my disdain for the mistreatment of service staff or the way in which politicians demean working-class black people. However, I used to be concerned about whether some of the events that occurred in 2020 would still apply.

Experiencing long periods of economic hardship and finally attending to a place where you may breathe financially is a very close call. A number of years ago my automobile was repossessed and once I hear a large truck slowing down near my house my heart skips a beat. Do you continue to have similar moments?

Yes, I still have those moments. I keep having to remind myself that I deserve nice things, irrespective of what I would like. Yes, I actually have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but I feel higher now.

After reading Is there one thing you would like readers to sit down down for?

I often have easy goals. I would like people to laugh. I would like people to think. Plus, I hope this book helps people not feel alone because a lot of people need to forget that 2020 even happened. And I would like to remind those that in the event you can, call your mom.

Shanita Hubbard is a author, assistant professor of sociology, fellowship scholar, and writer of the upcoming book Miseducation: A Woman’s Guide To Hip-Hop.

This article was originally published on : andscape.com
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Bishop TD Jakes’ Sunday sermon interrupted by illness scare, viewers believe he had a ‘stroke’

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32 mins ago

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November 25, 2024

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Beloved pastor and spiritual leader Bishop TD Jakes caused quite a scare amongst his faithful and online followers during his televised Sunday service on November 24 from The Potter’s House in Dallas, Texas.

The church was filled with worshipers when the 66-year-old preacher suddenly suffered a health emergency while preaching, prompting many to fear he can have suffered a stroke or heart attack.

Sitting all the way down to deliver his message, Jakes began the service by expressing his unwavering passion for service.

Bishop TD Jakes’ staff released a statement after he suffered a medical emergency during Sunday’s sermon. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images for MegaFest 2017)

“I still love preaching. I’m not uninterested in preaching,” he said, drawing thunderous applause from the congregation. He rubbed his face and admitted, “I miss you.”

Jakes then shared an analogy concerning the power of preaching. Comparing it to visiting patients within the hospital, he thought, “You think you’re giving something, but you get back more than you gave,” his voice was hoarse with emotion as he added, “I love you.”

Jakes’ hand began to shake, but at this point the shaking was not noticeable as he lowered the microphone.

His tone modified as he prayed: “Now, Lord, let the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be pleasing in Your sight. O Lord, my strength, my Redeemer, let them go in peace.”

The pastor’s body trembled much more as he dropped his handkerchief, signaling that something was fallacious to his team and the armor bearers who sprang into motion, rushing to his aid. They might be heard over microphones calling on people to “step back” and “give him some space.”

The camera recording the image moved forwards and backwards, showing people within the pews reaching out to the preacher and praying.

Page six he stated that the live broadcast was interrupted shortly thereafter, however the moment had already sparked widespread concern online.

Social media platforms were soon flooded with reactions, prayers and speculations.

“It looks like a stroke. The same thing happened to me, I sat too long with my legs dangling. I even have a blood clot. That’s exactly what happened,” one person said common.

Someone else he said“I hope it’s not pneumonia.”

Another concerned copycat he wrote“The probate was due to the stress of the allegations.”

Others chimed in with messages of support, including “Prayers for him and his family.”

As hopeful news continues to trickle in, Jakes finds himself at the middle of the storm once more – amid multiple allegations surrounding his involvement with Sean “Diddy” Combs following the arrest and indictment of the Bad Boy Records founder.

YouTuber Tasha K sent viral video of Jakes throughout the service, although reactions from her followers ranged from concern to disrespect.

“Everyone has been struggling since Diddy went down,” one person joked.

Others said, “He must repent. Rumor has it that he attended Diddy’s parties.

“I hope this wasn’t a skit! It seems strange that this happened right after all the things he said. I even have so many questions,” one person commented, adding, “Was he sick to the purpose that he had to sit down all the way down to preach? He seems exhausted, so should he have preached there? Is this some stunt he’s pulling because he knows he’s (perhaps) about to hit the fan? I hope he’s okay.

Several followers were outraged by the remark and wrote: “You should be ashamed of these comments.”

Jakes and Diddy are closer than many thought. In 2021, they announced “Kingdom Culture with TD Jakes” on Revolt, the network founded by Diddy. The following yr, Bishop was captured on video at Diddy’s 53rd birthday celebration.

While some viewed his latest statements as denials, reps claimed that Jakes only showed as much as Diddy’s party since it was a “respectful order” for the one that hosted your show on the network.

In February 2024, Jakes’ name appeared in one other lawsuit against Combs, this time filed by Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones, producer of Diddy’s “The Love Album: Off the Grid.” Jones sought $30 million in damages, claiming he was drugged, sexually harassed and possibly assaulted, and compelled into compromising situations involving prostitutes.

Although Jakes was not a defendant within the lawsuit, Jones accused Diddy of wanting to “use his relationship with Bishop T.D. Jakes to mitigate the impact on his public image” stemming from the fallout from a previous lawsuit filed by Cassie Ventura, which Diddy settled inside 24 hours of filing application in November 2023.

Since then, the Justice Department has raided Combs’ homes before bringing a series of great charges against him.

Although Jakes has not been accused of any wrongdoing, his relationship with Diddy, which dates back a few years, raises eyebrows.

In response, his team issued a blanket denial. Jordan A. Hora, executive director of public relations and communications for TD Jakes Group, TD Jakes Ministries and The Potter’s House said via statement to The Christian Post: “Recent claims circulating on social media about Bishop TD Jakes are unequivocally false and baseless.”

Jakes himself briefly touched on this topic in his sermon last Christmas, stating, “I will not use this holy day and this holy pulpit to speak of lies when I have the opportunity to preach the truth.”

Now, almost a yr later, that very same pulpit has develop into the positioning of his health scares. Hours after the incident, The Potter’s House released a statement assuring followers that Jakes had received medical attention.

“During today’s service, Bishop TD Jakes experienced a minor health incident and received immediate medical attention following his hour-long message,” the statement read. “Bishop Jakes is stable and under medical care.

“The entire Potter’s House family is grateful for the outpouring of love, prayers and support from the community. Thank you for your understanding and continued prayers.”

Singer Fred Hammond also reported the news on his Instagram: “The last news I received is that the bishop is doing well and resting!!!”

He later wrote: “Latest news. Bishop was in a position to rise up and walk to the wheelchair. And when he was near his chair (pulpit), he walked as much as the microphone and said, ‘I’ll see you next week.’

Queen Latifah was also one among many individuals to reply, writing, “God bless you Pastor Jakes! God actually heals. I already know that your assistance is on the way in which. I thank God upfront for all the things that is occurring in your behalf. Amen.”

As Bishop Jakes recovers, the church community and his hundreds of thousands of supporters unite behind him in prayer, hoping that their beloved leader will soon return to the pulpit where he inspired so many.


This article was originally published on : atlantablackstar.com
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Billionaire Jeff Bezos’ fiancée reacted harshly to marriage plans days after ‘low cost and classless’ selfie shocks fans

Published

4 hours ago

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November 25, 2024

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Journalist Lauren Sánchez resides proof that life after 50 may be filled with surprises and billionaire weddings.

The former “Good Day LA” host and current fiancée of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos stopped by “Today with Hoda Kotb and Savannah Guthrie” to talk to the hosts about some pretty essential topics, like awarding $110 million to 40 scholarship recipients to fight homelessness and her upcoming space adventure with an all-female crew.

But naturally, the conversation turned to what everyone really wants to know: When will she walk down the aisle with the third-richest man on this planet?

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 10: Lauren Sánchez and Jeff Bezos attend the 2024 Vanity Fair Oscars Party hosted by Radhika Jones at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 10, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo: Karwai Tang/WireImage)
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 10: Lauren Sánchez and Jeff Bezos attend the 2024 Vanity Fair Oscars Party hosted by Radhika Jones on the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 10, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo: Karwai Tang/WireImage)

When asked concerning the alleged winter wedding, Sánchez initially acted shy. “So you asked?” – she said with a sly smile, looking around as her face turned pink. Her nervousness made Hoda and Savannah burst out laughing.

Trying to change the situation, Sánchez began talking about her busy schedule, but eventually let her excitement get the higher of her.

“You, as far as the book tour goes, we’ve been talking about the book tour and, you know, getting grantees… takes up a lot of my time and then the holidays… That’s what I’m getting to,” she said previously, adding, “I’m very excited thinking about the dress.”

She even admitted that despite her billionaire fiancé, she is just like several other bride.

“I have to admit, I have Pinterest. I’m just like any other bride. So I have a Pinterest board,” she said. Then, reflecting on where she is now, Sánchez added: “I never thought that at the age of 54… I would become a writer, that I would get married. I mean, life is just beginning. When I was 20, I thought, “Oh my God, life ends at 50.” Let me tell you, that’s not the case, ladies. It’s not over yet. It just keeps getting better.”

While the helicopter pilot’s luck is clear, the web stays skeptical. Daily Mail readers weren’t ashamed participatory their opinions.

“There seemed to be something off about her reaction about the wedding. This is not the man of her dreams. It was hard for her to say it and she said it twice,” wrote one commenter. Another joked: “This is the bank account of her dreams.”

Some have speculated concerning the delay in wedding planning. “She is not interested in wedding issues because he has no plans to ever marry her,” one commenter suggested, while one other said: “Lawyers on either side are still negotiating and arguing concerning the terms of the marriage, details about how much money. ought to be allocated to her cosmetic surgery fund. Some are asking for thousands and thousands, others for billions.

However, it doesn’t appear that this murmuring has reached Sánchez in any respect.

In November, she gave Vogue a sneak peek at her wedding plans, or lack thereof.

“We are still thinking about getting married. What will it be? Will it be big? Will it be abroad? We don’t know yet. We’ve only been engaged for five months!” she said, hinting at a possible destination wedding.

Despite all of the talk, Lauren resides her best life. She recently posted a horny photo of herself wearing a skimpy black minidress, knee-high boots and a red trench coat, accessorized with a diamond necklace with the letter “B” on it – likely a nod to her man’s name, Bezos. But even her fashion selections have drawn criticism. Some said her appearance was tacky, while others accused her of trying too hard to flaunt her wealth and status.

Either way, the young lady who sat behind the category because she had dyslexia will now turn out to be one among the richest women on this planet, so she is going to have the last laugh. Rumors say that the marriage will happen later this yr.

Say what you would like about Sánchez, but she’s clearly benefiting from her middle-aged glow.

Whether the marriage is a small, intimate affair or a billionaire’s blunder, one thing is definite: she doesn’t let anything – or anyone – dim her shine. After all, as she says: “Life keeps getting better.”

This article was originally published on : atlantablackstar.com
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‘Wicked’ star Cynthia Erivo gets pushed aside for Ariana Grande in British newspapers despite being British

Published

7 hours ago

on

November 25, 2024

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Everywhere you switch you can find some promotion for the highly anticipated film “Wicked” starring two of its leading castmates, Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda.

However, fans on social media have noticed something strange: the British press – in fact, just some elements of it – as a substitute of highlighting Erivo – a homegrown talent and the lead in the film – appear to put Ariana Grande at the middle of their coverage.

The British press is using Ariana Grande to advertise the movie “Wicked”, not her hometown star, Cynthia Erivo. (Promotional photo)

The irony here is nearly too palpable. “Wicked” tells the story of Elphaba, who was rejected and overshadowed by Glinda due to her green skin. Replace green with black and the real-world similarities turn into inconceivable to disregard.

Elphaba Erivo, the emotional heart of the story, is once more overshadowed – this time by a blonde and white star on newspaper covers. Fans saw it as a textbook example of racial prejudice, turning what must have been a celebration of British talent into an uncomfortable reminder of persistent inequality.

Many fans find it painfully ironic that Erivo’s country is reluctant to spotlight her while supporting Grande, who, let’s face it, is not even starring.

“Cynthia Eviro has never appeared on the cover of this newspaper. She literally plays the MAIN character Elphaba and it’s so easy to find a picture of both of them. I hate what the white media is doing in the UK” – one among the X users he tweeted together with a viral video featuring the front few pages of The Times, The Daily Telegraph and The Daily Mail. All three newspapers are News Corp. publications, owned by the identical conservative-leaning media conglomerate that has subsidiaries resembling Fox News in the United States.

One newspaper only highlighted Grande’s appearance on the London premiere, but not Erivo, who was also present.

Another person sent“Cynthia Erivo is the HEAD lady, she is also British. Do you know how racist the British media is by cutting out THEIR OWN HOME LADY from photos to focus on a White American woman?! SMDH.”

Third comment To read“The British press does not show Cynthia erivo on the covers of newspapers… the aggression is not so micro.”

The irony of this lack of respect is that Erivo may be very happy with her British identity.

A couple of years ago, quite a few tweets got here to light in which she appeared to make disparaging comments about black Americans and emphasize her Nigerian and English heritage. In one tweet from 2013, she was called out for saying that she used the “ghetto America” ​​style when writing words in an African-American language.

The backlash was swift, with critics questioning her for insulting black Americans when her biggest roles were playing characters from the United States.

“Well, there’s something like this. Cynthia Ervio desires to play famous black Americans while disrespecting black Americans. That’s my problem,” one person wrote on Twitter.

For a story about difficult norms and supporting marginalized people, “Wicked”‘s media premiere struck a sour note with some fans.

Many people in America focused not on the story, but on the small size of each stars. People say that each Erivo and Grande look extremely slim, which has sparked discussion that each are competing to be smaller than the opposite.

Another controversy arose when the Nigerian-British woman complained a couple of fan-made poster posted online that appeared to cover her face but clearly featured Grande. The original artwork shows her face prominently.

“This is the wildest and most offensive thing I have ever seen, comparable to the terrible artificial intelligence of our fight… Our poster is a tribute, not an imitation. Editing my face and hiding my eyes means erasing me. This is just deeply painful,” she wrote on Twitter.

For her, it was a matter of erasure. Fans consider the identical erasure is going on in the media in her home country.

“Cynthia Erivo is an award-winning triple threat, TALENT on at least two continents” – one fan he argued before declaring: “The British press is rubbish.”

The United Nations Working Group on People of African Descent conducted a study in 2012 which found that the UK has an issue with the mistreatment of black people in the press and in on a regular basis life.

This is clearly visible in the British media’s treatment of former Duchess Meghan Markle, throwing mud at her in various headlines and, in one case, promoting that she is just not black.

While the ‘Harriet’ star is poised to deliver a shocking performance because the misunderstood Elphaba, the British press’s deal with the favored former Nickelodeon star and pop princess looks as if a missed opportunity for self-celebration.

Like Elphaba herself, Erivo can have the last word and prove that regardless of who’s on the quilt, it is the underdog’s story that counts.


This article was originally published on : atlantablackstar.com
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