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Dear Sauce Gardner, Black People Cannot Afford to Be Apolitical — Andscape

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Dear Sauce,

Before I get to you Latest Posts about politicsI need to share a quote you could not have heard. No, it is not from Amber Rose, whose appearance on the Republican National Convention gave the look of a cynical attempt to win over young black voters. But on the opening night of the convention Monday, Senator Tim Scott from South Carolina — the one black Republican within the Senate — said:

“America is not a racist country.”

He pressed this rhetoric for years. An enormous round of applause from the predominantly white crowd signed the statement — not since it was historically accurate, but since it soothed their senses. But Scott disparaged black people so as to gain the approval of those that actively work to curtail our rights (just Google Project 2025). While Scott’s statement is simple to refute, it’s also incredibly rude considering how much blood has soaked American soil due to racism. Without turning this right into a full-blown Tim Scott roast session, it’s an ideal jumping-off point for explaining why I’m writing to you in the primary place, Sauce.

It’s great to be right in life. It’s okay to be improper — so long as you learn from the mistakes you inevitably make. But it’s completely unacceptable to be willfully unaware. Scott is willfully unaware. Or possibly he’s just calculating. Or possibly it’s a mixture of each. But Your tweets made an impression on me. It’s not because I believe you lack reason, logic, or mental curiosity. In fact, it’s quite the alternative. You’re young. You’re still finding your way on the earth, as I’m, and you do not know what you do not know. But feigning ignorance is not enough when it comes to matters of life and death.

First of all, nothing said here is supposed to be taken as finger wagging. And I’m not here to let you know how to do your job, since you already do it the most effective within the NFL on this. But as requested In my tweets I try to “get you started.”

I’m not here to ask you to vote Democrat or Republican, because even that’s tied to the long, complex, and ridiculously complicated history of the American political system. But it’s crucial—even for those who don’t vote—to educate yourself about politics, especially as a black man in a rustic that never intended for individuals who seem like us to even sniff at the method. Awareness is a way of survival.

After the failed assassination attempt on Donald Trump, you tweeted a photograph of the previous president raising his fist moments after a gunman in Butler, Pennsylvania, tried to take his life. Your caption read, “Ladies and gentlemen… President Donald Trump.” At first glance, you said nothing improper. He’s a former US president who could return to office in a matter of months. But Sauce, you have got to understand who Donald Trump is as an individual and as a politician.

At 23, you might be just a number of years older than the Central Park Five, now the Exonerated Five, a bunch of teenagers who were wrongly convicted and served several years in prison for the brutal attack and rape of Trishi Meili. Trump called for his or her execution in 1989 and has refused to apologize since 2019. He can be a person whose ties to racism, sexism, xenophobiaa seemingly limitless list sexual assault and rape allegationsand straight blatant rules come from the years before we were born.

That’s not to say President Joe Biden is ideal, because he’s not. He’s old (like Trump) and prone to slip-ups. The 1986 and 1994 crime bills Biden championed have devastated black communities by skyrocketing incarceration rates. He finally apologized, calling on the law “a huge mistake” that “trapped an entire generation,” however the damage stays. His administration’s handling of Israel’s ongoing bombing campaign against Gaza is one other mistake. My point is that this: politicians are human, and humans are inherently flawed, irrespective of how sincere their actions could also be. found similar attitude. But politics and politicians are two completely different conversations.

In my eyes, politicians are messengers. Politics and policy are the things that actually move the proverbial needle and have legitimate impact on our lives. So whenever you tweeted, “I think it’s weird to judge people based on who they vote for,” that resonated with me. It seems reasonable, especially for somebody who has admitted to being “politically unknown.” But people vote for politicians based on the policies they support, and never all of those policies are good or helpful, especially for black people.

Second, politics isn’t only a conversation that happens every 4 years after we vote on who gets to live at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Politics and the policies that associate with it affect every second of our lives. It affects the economic conditions in neighborhoods across the country. It affects the whole lot from local school board policies to highway funding. Politics governs police departments—how they’re funded and the way they operate. You’re a Detroit native, so please consider in things like Flint Michigan Water Crisis, supervision of public schoolsAND the role of your city in determining the end result of the 2020 election have their roots in politics.

Sports, consider it or not, are also a basis for political discussion. As an athlete, you understand the worth of your “prime period.” Boxer Muhammad Ali lost the prime years of his profession after taking over government and refusal to take part in the Vietnam War. This is what we all know in regards to the expansion Women’s sports stems from a single piece of laws called Title IX. Pools, and more importantly who could use them, were once a political issue. In 2020, WNBA players helped turn the tables on a U.S. Senate seat. The decision to allow college athletes earn money from their name, image and likeness is directly related to the economy, the employees’ movement and politics.

In short, when it comes to black life in America, politics are at all times involved.

Sauce, I hope you have got a protracted, successful profession that features winning a gold jacket in Canton, Ohio, someday. But you are going to spend most of your life off the sphere. And politics will play a task in your life whether you ever step foot in a voting booth or not.

I do not believe you have got to be one other sports legend like NBA great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar or Ali. You do not have to be an activist. I’m not even saying you have got to speak out on the problems of the day. But what you (or any black person) cannot afford to do is act like these issues don’t affect you or the people you care about. We live in a rustic that had to pass anti-discrimination laws in all areas of life, including on the ballot box, just 60 years ago. What we’ve now could be what we were never meant to have.

I return to a quote from a person who has had more influence on my life than I can truthfully express. In April 1964, Malcolm X gave a speech—probably probably the most famous of his life—titled . I suggest you look it up when you have got time. On the political philosophy of black nationalism, Malcolm X said, “…(it) only means that the black man should control the politics and the politicians in his own community. The days when white people could come into our community and make us vote for them, so they could be our political leaders and tell us what to do and what not to do, are long gone.”

Unfortunately, those times are still very close.

Sauce, you possibly can be anything you wish to be in life, and I’m rooting for you to do great this season. I’m not expecting you to be like former quarterback Colin Kaepernick who became a civil rights activist, or to develop into the following great outspoken athlete. I’m just asking you to pay attention to the world we live in. Being apolitical just isn’t an option. You cannot be willfully unaware of the history of political power, political repression, and political violence in America when it comes to black men, black women, and black children.

Most importantly, you definitely cannot be Tim Scott—a black man who would quite live a lie than ever acknowledge the reality. I don’t desire that to be a part of your legacy, Sauce. And you definitely should not be either.

The better of what

Justin Tinsley

Justin Tinsley is a senior culture author at Andscape. He believes that “Cash Money Records takin’ ova for da ’99 and da 2000” is probably the most influential statement of his generation.


This article was originally published on : andscape.com
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The art collector left his mark on TheGrio’s Masters of the Game

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In the next episode of Masters of the Game, hosted by Touré, we introduce you to Shirley and Bernard Kinsey, an influence couple who’ve dedicated their lives to preserving African American history through art and artifacts. Through greater than 50 years of marriage and a shared passion for education and history, the Kinseys have built one of the largest and most influential private collections of African American history in the world.Kinsey collection— making them true champions of history, art and cultural preservation.

Art collectors

The Kinseys have long believed in the transformative power of education. For them, educating others means sharing the wealthy history of African-American culture through art and historical artifacts. Their collection includes works by iconic artists corresponding to Ernie Barnes, Charles Alston and Beauford Delaney, nevertheless it is their collection of rare historical documents that really stands out. Among their treasures is a heartbreaking nineteenth century letter delivered by an enslaved girl who couldn’t read – she was sent from one plantation to a different under false pretenses. The next work of their collection is Zora Neale Hurston’s brave and hilarious letter to her ex-husband, through which she asks him to remain out of her life endlessly.

From humble beginnings to becoming one of the most influential black couples of our time, Toure’s conversation with the Kinsey family takes us on a journey through the depth, resilience and radiance of African-American culture. Their collection not only preserves history, but in addition inspires future generations to inform their very own powerful stories, making the Kinseys true masters of the game. Don’t miss this episode of “Masters of the Game” at 8 p.m. ET on Friday and 1 p.m. ET on Saturday on TheGrio Cable Network.

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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Simone Biles torn apart after giving George Strait’s wife a ‘vulgar look’ while fans came to her defense

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Did Olympic gymnast Simone Biles cut George Strait’s wife’s eyes on the Country Music Awards?

Some people think so after a viral video of Biles, 27, showing her frustration within the audience on the 58th annual CMA Awards on November 20.

In several clips circulating online, the 27-year-old gave Strait’s wife, Norma Strait, a “dirty look” on the annual awards show where her husband was honored with the John Paul II Lifetime Achievement Award. Willie Nelson.

The seven-time Olympic gold medalist asked viewers if she had glanced out of the corner of her eye on the Lifetime Achievement Award winner’s wife through the 2024 CMA Awards. (Photo: @simonebiles/Instagram)

“Does anyone know if there is a dispute between Simone Biles and George Strait’s wife?” – one in all the X users asked on the evening of this system.

X’s post included a clip of Biles looking nervous as Norma and other attendees danced in the gang on the Lifetime Achievement Award ceremony tribute performance.

The tribute to the “King of Country Music” featured country stars Lainey Wilson, Jamey Johnson, Miranda Lambert and Parker McCollum. Additionally, Chris Stapleton joined Strait on stage to walk through the “Honky Tonk Hall of Fame” to conclude the segment.

Speculation about Biles’ possible disdain shown on the CMA Awards has turn into a topic of debate online, with fans and critics taking sides in the controversy.

“I watched it live and wondered the same thing, and then death looked up and down, she definitely hated!” answer on X platform he stated.

Original X poster he replied“As long as I’m not the only one who saw it.”

However, the legendary gymnast had her defenders. For example, user X sent“He’s probably just watching her reaction (honestly) without thinking about the cameras.”

“Nothing happened” – another person he argued. “George Strait’s wife doesn’t care about messy things like that. It looks like Simone could have a resting face. She wasn’t the one black person either. There are many Black people in country music, from singers to musicians.

Similar entry To read“I saw it and cringed, it’s just her face, but she should politely decline if she doesn’t like country music.”

Another fan he wrote“She probably saw the camera give attention to George Strait’s wife and just looked around curiously. I do not think she’s giving a mischievous have a look at all, she just looks like she’s noticed that the camera is specializing in the people next to her.

Despite questions on Biles’ on-screen response, the multiple-time world champion expressed her excitement to attend the 2024 CMA Awards on the day of the event.

Biles reposted photos from the evening on her Instagram Story. In one photo, shared by hairstylist Justin Revenge, the Olympic gold medalist showed off the short red dress she wore to the red carpet, in addition to the silver off-the-shoulder dress she wore to the CMA Gala.

The star of the Netflix docuseries “Simone Biles Rising” appeared at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville to present the Female Vocalist of the Year award to country singer Lainey Wilson.

Lainey Wilson won the Female Vocalist of the Year category, beating out fellow nominees Kelsea Ballerini, Ashley McBryde, Megan Moroney and Kacey Musgraves.

Biles herself had a successful 12 months as an athlete. The Texas native won 4 medals on the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, bringing her profession total to a record 11 victories for an American gymnast.

However, Vice President Kamala Harris couldn’t replicate Biles’ success because the Democratic presidential candidate in 2024. Harris lost to former President Donald Trump within the nationwide election.

Biles publicly called on current Democratic President Joe Biden to take a stand on behalf of American women before Republican MAGA leader Trump enters the White House on January 20, 2025.

“Mr. Biden, you need to stand up, straighten your back and shake some things up before you go… xoxo women of America,” the Olympian wrote on Twitter on November 6 in response to the election results.


This article was originally published on : atlantablackstar.com
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What do you know about Cynthia Erivo?

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Cynthia Erivo, Wicked, Cynthia Erivo controversy, Black Hollywood, theGrio.com

With the discharge of Wicked fast approaching, it’s protected to say that Cynthia Erivo is on fire straight away.

The film adaptation of the Broadway musical (which is an adaptation of a best-selling novel based on one other novel) is about to open to over $175 million worldwide this weekend, and Erivo has just landed a significant deal.

Universal Pictures has struck a first-look cope with its production company Edith’s Daughter, Deadline reported.

“Having spent the last three years working with Donna Langley, Peter Cramer and the Universal team on Wicked, I have experienced first-hand the love and fearlessness with which they tell stories and uplift narrators,” said Erivo. “I am absolutely delighted to take the next step in our cooperation under our first-look agreement. This is not only a milestone for my production company, but also a testament to the power of storytelling and the importance of diverse voices in film. I can’t wait to bring our visions to life and share them with the world!”

However, some could also be just discovering the 37-year-old from Stockwell, London (where she was born right into a family of Nigerian immigrants) or may don’t know about her background and profession to this point. There’s quite a bit to like about the Emmy, Grammy and Tony winner – and much more to grasp beneath the surface. Below we have gathered some things you have to know about Erivo, including some very necessary ones.

He is a Broadway sensation

Before Erivo became a star of the silver screen, she made a reputation for herself on the stage. The actress’ breakthrough role was the role of Celie within the musical adaptation of “The Color Purple” on Broadway. From 2015 to 2017, she delivered critically acclaimed, groundbreaking performances, winning the 2016 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album.

She has played several iconic black characters

Aretha Franklin, Harriet Tubman and Recy Taylor are black American historical figures immortalized on screen by Erivo, who has played all of them in movies. Shortly after her Broadway run in 2017, Erivo played Taylor in “The Rape of Recy Taylor.” She then starred as Tubman within the 2019 film “Harriet.”

In 2021, Erivo played Franklin within the National Geographic anthology “Genius: Aretha”. While critics praised her performance, Franklin’s family had a special tackle the project, claiming she was never consulted and even felt “disrespected” by the production team.

He is a queer icon

Earlier this yr, Erivo received the Schrader Award from the Los Angeles LGBT Center as a self-proclaimed member for her talent and support of the queer community.

“Acknowledging that I am queer publicly – especially in the public eye – means taking a risk to claim my freedom,” she said in her speech through which she agreed to return out as queer later in life. “It seems we prefer to see the world in black and white rather than accept the difficult (but beautiful) complexities of our humanity.”

Although it has never been explicitly confirmed, Erivo has long been considered one half of a fairly powerful Black Hollywood power couple, as she is commonly seen at red carpet events alongside fellow industry heavyweight Lena Waithe.

He has a novel sense of fashion

From shaving her eyebrows to her signature long and ornamental nails, Erivo is understood for her daring sense of fashion. Her uniqueness was even incorporated into her makeup for “Wicked.” The makeup artist used stencils to attract eyebrows and add freckles. Meanwhile, a special shade of green face and body makeup was developed to make Erivo’s melaninated skin appear “clearly” on screen, and the shade was named “Cynthia Green,” the film’s makeup artist said People Magazine. It’s value noting that despite the hours-long application process required day by day for months of filming, she also said that Erivo “never, ever, ever complained.”

She doesn’t suffer fools

Social media was abuzz this week with response to actor/podcast host Dax Shepard’s invasive query about Erivo’s signature elaborate manicure, specifically how he moves through it while using the lavatory. When footage of her interview with Shepard hit the Internet, many individuals were quick to sentence its inappropriateness, asking her how she wipes herself while having very long, jeweled nails.

“My answer is that no one wipes their ass with just their fingers. You use wipes, right? And you wipe it off,” she replied calmly.

Erivo further expressed her annoyance with this query; the one she had exhibited before.

“I understand, it annoys me. Come on, guys,” she said. “I understand, but I’m a functioning adult and I’ve never walked around smelling like… you know.”

People participating within the discussion found this query rude, disgusting and invasive. It can also be, as Erivo identified, unoriginal. In response to this viral exchange, some have responded by demonstrating how they adapt these very human processes to long fingernails – and shockingly, it’s just about the identical process we have all been doing since potty training. It’s really not that complicated.

Cynthia Erivo Recalls Her Reaction to Fan-Made 'Wicked' Poster: 'I Probably Should have Called My Friends'

He has some questionable tweets in his search history

When it was announced in 2018 that Erivo would play Harriet Tubman within the biopic “Harriet,” the British actress’s seemingly problematic comments made years earlier about the language of Black Americans inevitably resurfaced. As previously reported by theGrio, this compounded existing questions about the choice to forged British-born Erivo because the historical African-American hero, given what some perceived as a disdain for African-American culture.

“As for the tweets, they were taken out of context, giving me no room to explain what they meant – and they weren’t actually mocking anyone,” she explained on the time: Complex reported. “It was not intended to be (offensive) at all. It was to celebrate a song I (wrote) when I was 16.”

Speaking further about the controversy during an event on the Toronto International Film Festival, she said: “I actually have never… never spoken negatively about people because I don’t desire to; I don’t desire this energy to be passed on to others.”

She continued: “I do not think it’s good for us in any respect; I do not think it serves any purpose apart from to bring negativity into my life and yours, and I just don’t desire that.

Perhaps he has some tension with the band in “The Color Purple.”

For unknown reasons, Erivo claims she was not invited to a special screening of the musical “The Color Purple” for family and friends, which was also attended by other members of her Broadway forged. It’s a bit strange that the Tony-winning revival star wasn’t on the guest list. When asked about her apparent rejection in the course of the interview and whether it reflected her initial considerations for Celie’s role within the film adaptation, Erivo suggested she couldn’t talk about it.

Despite every little thing, he’s capable of admit his mistake

Erivo can have had mixed emotions previously as a result of questionable comments or her unwavering passion for her craft, but she is ultimately capable of admit when she was incorrect. In the lead-up to Wicked’s premiere, fan-made art got here to light that edited the film’s poster to look more like the unique Broadway Playbill, obscuring Erivo’s direct gaze with the brim of her witch hat. The actress was initially very offended, but later admitted that she can have overreacted.

“I think for me it was a human moment…” she later explained. “I probably should have called my friends, but I’m fine.”

Cynthia Erivo accepts Los Angeles LGBT Center award for speech on freedom to 'be different'

After all, she is an expert

Say what you want, but Cynthia Erivo is robust and talented. He can also be a one that is alleged to place the nice of the team ahead of his personal glory. During a recent appearance on “Cutting room floor” podcast, she described her technique of coming into harmony together with her “Wicked” co-star Ariana Grande and the way the 2 worked together to create a unified sound fairly than resorting to diva-like behavior in an try and outshine one another.

For example, although she and Grande have very different voices, Erivo noted that what they’ve in common is way more necessary.

“I think what connects us is the way we hear music, so we can hear each other,” she explained. “And the beauty of singing with someone who can also hear is that you follow each other back and forth. We can find ways to make our textures and sounds make sense, and that’s really hard with humans.”

Erivo added: “It also signifies that you found someone completely selfless because they care about working with you, and being an element of that’s essentially the most amazing thing. When you find someone who’s committed to creating sound together, (there may be) no ego.

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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