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‘Seeking Mavis Beacon’: Why Informed Consent Matters with AI – Essence

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Courtesy of Neon

raises questions on AI, ethical storytelling, and the importance of informed consent. Directed by Jazmine Jones and co-produced by Olivia McKayla Ross, the film explores the true Black woman behind the avatar who helped a generation learn to type on a QWERTY keyboard.

The duo explores the story of Renée L’Espérance, who was the face of the software. She was paid as a model, but her warmth and sweetness helped her construct a fortune. Her powerful presence caused an enormous Mandela event, which made people imagine Mason Beacon was an actual person. Jones and Ross open up about their feelings about L’Espérance being almost completely erased from her contribution to culture.

“I love being uncomfortable and trying to find a way to deal with that discomfort,” Jones tells ESSENCE. “That’s something I was trained to do as a film student. But I also think that being uncomfortable can often have ethical consequences, and sometimes filmmakers sacrifice ethical integrity.”

“It was through collective organizing that I learned all about the work of heart-centered care,” Jones added. “I came from the school of thought that if you’re a filmmaker, put yourself into the work.”

‘Seeking Mavis Beacon’ Reminds Us Why Informed Consent Matters When It Comes to AI
Courtesy of Neon

Jones and McKay interact with Renée L’Espérance’s character with a caring presence in her absence that black women don’t all the time get in a virtual world rife with digital blackface. Ross feels comfortable “choosing to abandon the objective voice” that other documentarians present as gospel. “I think it’s important to give audiences people who need to be held accountable, because you so rarely get that in the media,” she explains. The film argues that “truth is actually fluid as hell.”

Behind L’Espérance’s radiant face is a trio of tech entrepreneurs. It’s unclear whether she understood what she was agreeing to when she agreed to a photograph shoot for the quilt of a software box. Their collaboration got young black kids excited concerning the web. But was it ethical? Was it fair?

“We can compare it to Aunt Jemimas and Uncle Bens. There are countless examples of how this has affected black people,” Jones says. The ambiguity reflects the confusion within the contracts of lots of the apps we are able to’t live without today. It looks as if we’ve got a alternative, but will we? Did L’Espérance have one?

“Our consent was fabricated for us,” Ross says.

The hidden details of the creative process affect many sorts of people. It identifies intersectionality within the shadows. It examines what gets neglected of a story when it’s told by a hoodie-wearing tech-bro or a wise suit. It doesn’t demonize the boys behind the software. It illuminates how narratives can puncture holes. L’Espérance wasn’t asked to look on talk shows or give TED talks.

According to Jones, the main focus is on “the struggles and erasure that black women experience,” but “there are also parallels and reflections of how the glass ceiling of Silicon Valley affects all women.”

At one point, a former partner of one in every of the executives behind the software has the chance to set the record straight, not only about L’Espérance but about himself. “Everyone sees the erasure of Renee, but I think it’s very rare that we get to talk about Sandra Blake’s contribution, and she didn’t get any compensation for her involvement,” Jones says.

‘Seeking Mavis Beacon’ Reminds Us Why Informed Consent Matters When It Comes to AI
Courtesy of Neon

McKay sees the digital landscape as the ultimate frontier of capitalist-inspired colonialism, and she or he told the audience that she plans to assist Jones clean up her digital footprint throughout the screening, organized by Stop Six Stories.

“This is the final frontier; we’re running out of land, we’re running out of resources, at least renewable resources,” Jones tells ESSENCE. “They can’t imprison people fast enough to use their bodies, so they’re kind of creating these systems, these behavior modification systems, to hypnotize you through social media and other apps and things that we use to give them things that are really valuable for free.”

Jones commented on her complicated connection to the fertile battlefield. “I really appreciate that work,” she says. “They really shaped the landscape of educational software that I grew up with.” As she fondly remembers their work, she grapples with the way it ended up on and off the screen.

“It’s also hard not to look at photos of employees and not notice that there isn’t a single black person in them.”

n is in select theaters now. Watch the trailer below.

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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Black love was everywhere on the red carpet at the 2024 Emmys

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Idris Elba and Sabrina Dhowre Elba attend the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Peacock Theater on September 15, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images)

The 2024 Emmys took place in Los Angeles on Sunday, September 15. And while no Black stars swept the Emmys this 12 months (congrats to Leo’s LaMorne Morris for taking home the trophy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series), the event brought out a few of our brightest stars and their partners. There were Idris and Sabrina Elba, Niecy Nash and wife Jessica Betts, Viola Davis and Julius Tennon, and more. As we do for each major event, we’ve rounded up all the Black love moments from the 2024 Emmys. Scroll right down to see who showed up and showed out at TV’s biggest night.

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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Meet Tricia Lee, Real Estate Champion: Rising Star of Netflix’s ‘Owning Manhattan’ – Essence

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Tricia Lee was a lady. Long before she wowed Netflix viewers along with her enviable style, personable personality, and savvy business acumen on the hit series, which was just renewed for a second season, she was giving her elementary school friends bathroom makeovers. As she grew, so did her entrepreneurial spirit. “In college, I would do other students’ makeup before parties in my dorm room,” Lee recalls with a smile. “I always wanted to be an entrepreneur.”

Lee, who’s of Jamaican descent, was born in Brooklyn, New York, raised in Arizona, and moved back to the Big Apple after college, where she’s lived for 23 years. A proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Lee desired to work in the wonder and fashion industry—and she or he did. After climbing the ranks at cosmetics giant Estée Lauder, Lee joined cult favorite makeup brand MAC Cosmetics within the brand’s early days and quickly rose through the ranks. Then, in 2005, Lee opened The Polish Bar in the center of Brooklyn. Her chic beauty salon also offered waxing, makeup, and lashes to her trendy clientele. In 2016, Lee desired to try her hand at a brand new field: real estate. The small-time powerhouse closed her beauty business to pursue real estate full-time and concentrate on learning a brand new craft. Her drive paid off. Eight years later, it’s winning the hearts of people around the globe because of the Netflix series.

We managed to squeeze in a bit interview with this savvy businesswoman about her daring profession moves, the realities of working along with her husband – and the surprising the explanation why buying real estate is more attainable than most of us realize.

ESSENCE: Congratulations in your success ! The show was ranks in the highest 10 in over 40 countries worldwide. What have your opinions been for the reason that series debuted?
TRICIA LEE: Most of the feedback is, “I need to watch more of you! They don’t show you enough.” Sometimes that annoys me because it isn’t my show. It’s Ryan [Serhant] show. My family, people near me, usually are not surprised by the show and the general public opinion I receive. I also discovered that I’m superb in front of the camera. [laughs]

ESSENCE: We discovered that you just work along with your husband, Jeffrey St. Arromand. You each have even been guests on ! What does constructing a business along with your spouse appear like?

LEE: I believe we may very well be rather a lot more decoupled from our marriage. We haven’t got all of it discovered yet. We’ve set some boundaries. But it’s hard. I don’t need to be the boss on a regular basis. I need to be soft. I don’t need to must select. I attempt to separate it. We’re kind of like yin and yang in relation to strengths. Jeff is more of a curious type. He can sense the energy of the client or the vendor. Whereas once I walk right into a house, I take a look at the interiors and the aesthetics. I believe, “Oh, this needs to change. Or this needs to change.” He doesn’t take a look at those things. When a client works with us, they get two different strengths, but they’re only paying for one.

ESSENCE: You are such a refreshing example of a successful black woman on reality TV. How does that make you are feeling?

LEE: Honestly, I just desired to be myself. You’ll see some attitude. You’ll see some humor. You’ll see some gentleness. You’ll see all of that, because that is all I’m. I’ll talk my mind, because I even have every reason on the earth to be confident. And sometimes I’ll be nervous, because I’m beginning to tackle parts of this business which might be recent to me. I can not control how people perceive me. It’s not my business. I don’t need to own it. I believe it’s great that individuals have accepted me so well. I believe it’s higher that I do not live and die by this, like most individuals would.

ESSENCE: Amen! Speaking of women and property, what are some creative ways we will get into the true estate game with lower than ideal funds or resources?

LEE: How much does it cost you to attend to own a house? More single women are buying homes now than single men. Imagine that. Forty years ago, you could not even get a mortgage with no man’s signature. So owning a house must be viewed as an asset-constructing issue, similar to where you reside. But sometimes we wish to examine off other things first. For example, you wish to get married, you wish to have a baby, and you wish to buy a house. Well, how much does that waiting cost you in the true estate conversation?

When we girls take a look at buying real estate as constructing assets, we’re more prone to do it with our mom, our sister, our greatest friend. So possibly you may’t afford a Bed-Stuy brownstone that you just buy by yourself. But possibly you and I should buy it together. Maybe in five years we’ll have 2 or 3 of them. Too often we devalue our own communities. But we’re seeing a revival in places like Detroit and Baltimore. Thankfully, individuals are starting to grasp that. Don’t underestimate the proven fact that you begin where you might be.

GIST: I’d like more advice for first-time home buyers.

LEE: Credit, money, and criteria! What is your credit rating? How much money do you might have not just for the down payment, but in addition for closing costs. Criteria: You must know the way much your needs and needs will cost you. When buying a house, your budget is the deciding factor. What are your criteria for must-haves and negotiables? For example, the very first thing I normally ask my clients is: What is your timeline? 2 months or 2 years? What are your criteria? Type of home (apartment, single-family, multifamily), size, price, and site. Here’s a tip… Budget and site are the true questions on this case.

THE ESSENCE: How do you already know if you’re ready to begin searching for a house?

LEE: If you do not know if you’ll be able to buy a house, nevertheless it’s a brief-term goal (about 18 months), contact a mortgage lender for a financial assessment. You must know the way much you may save in that point, what you may afford based in your credit rating and income. You’ll have a plan of motion. The house hunt starts if you’re able to shop.

ESSENCE: We hear rumors about unusual 40-12 months mortgages. What do you think that?

LEE: 40-12 months mortgages can work, especially in case you plan to purchase and hold for some time. They can dramatically offset the monthly maintenance fees. That’s an enormous help with current rates of interest, nevertheless it also lets you buy more home at a cheaper monthly cost. That’s in case you plan to carry for some time.

ESSENCE: You are captivated with empowering women, especially black women, in some ways. How can people be told about your upcoming projects?

LEE: Yes, the following Money Matters event with Tricia Lee will likely be this fall at Serhant [in New York City]. I also organize a luxury event called Dinner in Noir. People can follow me on social media to get updates on @lovetricialee.


This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Arrested in New York After Grand Jury Indictment – Essence

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Sean 'Diddy' Combs arrested in New York after grand jury indictment

Photo credit: Shareif Ziyadat/Getty Images

Sean “Diddy” Combs was arrested Monday night on the Park Hyatt Hotel in Manhattan after being indicted by a grand jury, authorities said. Combs, who has faced multiple sexual assault lawsuits and a federal human trafficking investigation over the past 12 months, was detained by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents, CNN reports.

The specific charges against the music mogul remain unclear, but U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams confirmed the arrest in a press release. “Earlier this evening, federal agents arrested Sean Combs on a sealed indictment filed by the SDNY,” he said. “We expect to file a motion to unseal the indictment in the morning and will have more to say at that time.”

Combs’ attorney, Marc Agnifilo, criticized the choice to file charges, calling the indictment “unfair.” According to the report, Agnifilo said, “We are disappointed with the decision to bring what we believe is an unfair indictment against Mr. Combs by the United States Attorney’s Office. Sean “Diddy” Combs is a music icon, a self-made entrepreneur, a loving family man, and a proven philanthropist who has spent the last 30 years constructing an empire, adoring his children, and dealing to uplift the black community.”

Agnifilo continued by emphasizing his client’s cooperation with investigators, adding, “To his credit, Mr. Combs has cooperated with this investigation and voluntarily moved to New York last week in anticipation of these charges. Please reserve judgment until you know all the facts. These are the actions of an innocent man who has nothing to hide and is eager to clear his name in court.”

Combs, 54, has been under intense scrutiny in recent months, and the arrest is the most recent in a series of legal challenges he has faced. The federal investigation features a human trafficking probe and a series of sexual assault lawsuits. In one in all the most recent cases, former Danity Kane member Dawn Richard filed a lawsuit on Sept. 10 accusing Combs of verbal abuse, sexual assault and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Earlier this 12 months, Homeland Security agents raided Combs’ properties in Los Angeles and Miami as a part of a human trafficking investigation. HSI confirmed the searches in a press release, saying, “Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York conducted the law enforcement action as part of an ongoing investigation, with assistance from HSI Los Angeles, HSI Miami, and our local law enforcement partners.”

Combs also got here under fire in May when CNN released a video of him physically attacking his then-girlfriend, singer Cassie Ventura, in 2016. The video was consistent with allegations made in lawsuit filed by Ventura in November 2023. Although the lawsuit was settled the day after it was filed, it added to a growing list of legal issues the entrepreneur has faced.

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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