Politics and Current
Herrana Adisu’s ‘River’ Addresses Ethiopian Beauty Standards – Essence
Courtesy of Kendall Bessent
What does visibility appear to be? Growing up in Ethiopia, SheaMoisture Grant– Filmmaker and artist Herrana Adisu’s work is devoted to shedding light on women in conflict and sweetness standards in her home country. This can also be the case in her latest film, supported by Tina Knowles. “[River is] “It’s a story that I’ve been writing in my head my whole life because it’s the foundation of my life and my livelihood as a child,” Adisu tells ESSENCE.
After winning the Blueprint Grant last August, SheaMoisture has taken on the role of a creative agency Chucha Studio to provide a movie that might bring to life a narrative that the black community could relate to. Focusing on culturally and politically sensitive topics—from access to water and education to ancestral lessons, forced marriages, and sweetness standards—Adisu took the funds back to Ethiopia (to work with a neighborhood production house Dog Movies) tell her story.
“I wanted the film to have these complicated conversations that we don’t always have in this day and age,” she says. For example, Ethiopian stick-and-poke tattooing (often known as “Niksat”) is a standard tradition that runs through each of her pieces. “Growing up, I always thought it was beautiful,” she says. “But there’s a certain reluctance to do it, because a lot of women don’t feel like they’re consenting to have a permanent tattoo.”
Referencing cultural and traditional views of beauty, she cites spiritual icons of black hair within the church as a central theme. “Our old Bibles and paintings that I grew up seeing are of black angels and they have mini afros,” says Adisu, who placed them on the actors alongside cornrows, scarves and hairstyles. “My blackness was so obvious to me that I wanted to show that in the film as well.”
But as an artist, she also embodies the sweetness she captures. After shooting in Ethiopia, Adisu returned to New York to take part in the series alongside .[Photographer] Kendall Bessant I had the thought to check my limits in doing this cone on my head,” she says. “It’s very easy to push those limits to a certain extent whenever you’re behind the lens after which in front of it.”
In one photo, she props her chin on a jewellery stand, her hair bouffant, and in one other, her curls are in front of a riverscape, alluding to the source of life within the film. “Water flows in the global South, especially in the rivers of Utopia, are very important not only in rural communities but also in urban ones,” she says.
But the river can also be a source of vulnerability for girls, who’re exposed to violence, kidnapping and trafficking as they carry water. “I thought that was a powerful catalyst that brought the whole aspect of the film together.”
Politics and Current
Harris writes in Vogue magazine, talks about the ‘complexity’ and ‘nuances’ of Israel’s war in the Middle East
Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris once more appears on the cover of Vogue magazine in the latest digital edition of the Fashion Bible.
The cover portrait of Harris, his second since his election as vp, was shot by legendary photographer Annie Leibovitz. Harris, 59, was photographed sitting at her Washington, D.C. residence, Naval One Observatory, wearing a monochrome brown suit and shirt by Gabriela Hearst. Vogue also notes that the vp is wearing Tiffany earrings.
The magazine’s cover story follows Harris on the campaign trail as she travels across the country to drum up votes in an unusually short period of time for a presidential campaign. The vp found himself much more in the highlight after President Joe Biden selected July 21 not to hunt re-election and to support Harris as his successor.
“It was a dramatic turn of the day,” Harris said of the moment she received the call from Biden, who delivered the shocking and historic news.
Now Harris is just 4 weeks away from potentially being elected the first woman, first Black woman and first South Asian president of the United States.
Harris spoke live with Vogue’s Nathan Heller about a number of topics, including what her first call from the Oval Office can be like if elected on November 5.
“One of my first calls – outside of my family – will be to the team that is working with me on our plan to lower costs for the American people,” Harris told Vogue. “It’s not just about publishing something in a respected journal. It’s not about the speech. It’s literally about how does it get onto the streets? How do people actually experience this work in a way that benefits them?”
Harris also reflected on perhaps the biggest international issue that has proven uncertain for the Biden-Harris administration: the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
The presidential candidate said the United States should create “incentives” for Israel and Hamas – and now Hezbollah in Lebanon – to show to de-escalation.
“The Harris administration – referring to myself in the third person, which makes me quite uncomfortable – would be to articulate these issues and hopefully use language that reflects the complexity and nuance of what’s happening in the region,” he said Harris .
The vp stressed that the conflict in the Middle East is “not” binary, telling Vogue: “You’re neither for this nor for that.”
Harris reiterated her position that Israel has the right to defend itself following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, but in addition emphasized: “Far too many Palestinians have been killed.”
The vp called for a two-state solution and said it was essential for stakeholders not to desert “the sense of hope that it is possible – even if it does not seem imminent.”
Vogue’s cover story also includes interesting reflections from individuals who know Harris personally or who’ve worked together with her over the many years of her profession as a former prosecutor, San Francisco District Attorney, California Attorney General, U.S. Senator, and now, Vice President.
U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, an influential Democrat and former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, spoke to a reporter about how Harris masterfully secured the party’s nomination in a matter of days.
“It was a beautiful thing,” said Pelosi, who noted that she believed there can be an open nominating convention at the Democratic National Committee Convention.
“I haven’t really talked about who’s next,” Pelosi insists she’s interested in a renewed ticket, then adds, “but I always thought if they had an open convention, she would win it.”
The cover story also highlights Harris’ commitment not only to public service, but in addition to private appearance.
Matthew Rothschild, described as a friend, former colleague of Harris and an LGBTQ supporter, reflected on Harris’s knack for being “perfectly organized” – even during visits to the dentist.
“I remember seeing her coming out of the dentist’s office one time and she looked great,” Rothschild recalled.
He said Harris said something that stuck with him perpetually when he went outside: “You’ve got to look the part.”
“Sometimes when I’m making a choice about what to wear – will I choose something more formal or a little more casual? “I hear Kamala’s voice in my head saying, ‘You have to look the part,’” Rothschild said. “…(It) doesn’t help me make a decision. Literally to this day. And that was 17 years ago.”
You can read Kamala Harris’s entire article Vogue.com.
More history
Politics and Current
Harris-Walz Campaign Joins Forces with Black Faith Leaders for ‘Souls To The Polls’ Voter Engagement Initiative Nationwide – Essence
Photo: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
The Harris-Walz campaign has launched a brand new initiative aimed toward mobilizing Black voters in key battleground states ahead of the Nov. 5 Election Day.
The Souls to the Polls voter engagement campaign, which begins on Sunday, October 13, will encourage Black voters of all faiths to indicate up on the polls, with the support of outstanding religious leaders and native congregations.
The initiative, led by the National Advisory Council of Black Faith Leaders, is a key a part of the campaign’s broader efforts to attach with Black voters, a key demographic within the upcoming election. Vice President Kamala Harris is predicted to make appearances at churches in battleground states as a part of an effort to extend voter turnout.
Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie, a member of the National Advisory Council and the 117th elected bishop of the African Methodist Church, emphasized the high stakes of the election for Black Americans. “Vice President Harris, guided by faith every day, is committed to building a better future for all Americans,” McKenzie shared a press release with ESSENCE. “The stakes in this election are too high for any of us not to do everything we can to save the soul of this nation.”
The Souls to the Polls initiative will officially launch with a nationwide invitation that may feature gospel performances, appearances by religious leaders, senior elected officials and deputies. The campaign says the initiative goals to create “authentic moments of engagement” with Black voters and emphasize the importance of civic participation.
Vice President Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, have made voter engagement a cornerstone of their campaign, especially in Black communities. The Souls to the Polls initiative is a component of a series of outreach efforts, including a nationwide tour of HBCUs and a Black Maternal Health town hall.
The Harris-Walz Campaign’s National Black Faith Leaders Advisory Council is leading the Souls to the Polls mobilization efforts, and leaders include: Bishop McKenzie, Bishop Reginald T. Jackson, Presiding Prelate of the 2nd Episcopal District, Bishop Leah Daughtry, National Presiding Prelate of House of the Lord Churches in Washington, D.C. The Reverend Dr. Frederick D. Haynes III, Senior Pastor of Friendship-Western Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas
In a joint statement, the advisory board highlighted Vice President Harris’ commitment to the Black Church and her work in Black communities. “Vice President Harris has been a faithful servant of both God and the American people throughout her life. The vice president is a woman of faith and principle and the only candidate who has always been a friend and champion of the Black Church and faith communities across the country.”
As the election approaches, the Harris-Walz campaign is ramping up efforts like Souls to the Polls to spur turnout amongst Black voters, highlighting the important thing role Black voters will play in determining the consequence of the election.
Politics and Current
Wisconsin man fired after video shows him making racist threats while wearing uniform at a McDonald’s restaurant
A security guard was fired from his job immediately after a video appeared on the Internet showing him making racial threats and verbally abusing a McDonald’s worker.
According to Wisconsin State JournalAdam Rivers was fired from his entry-level position at the private security agency Star Protection and Patrol after he was caught on camera at a McDonald’s in Madison, Wisconsin, threatening to call a fast food worker to call federal immigration agents.
The video was posted to Reddit by user ActualMikeQuieto, who explained that he began recording Rivers when he noticed him threatening employees.
“(Employees) were understaffed and worked as fast as they could.” Quieto wrote within the caption. “This guy came out of the driveway, parked, went back behind the counter into the kitchen and announced, ‘I’m getting ICE.’ I started filming when I realized that he hadn’t just been inappropriate and bought his own frozen water. He treated me brutally for filming him.”
The video shows Rivers complaining concerning the service and threatening to call Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents at the McDonald’s, before threatening to fight Quieto.
“You will have ICE here today. I hope everyone here has their papers, bro, because I’m sick of this shit,” Rivers could be heard telling the worker.
Heading for the exit, Rivers quotes web personality Bhad Bhabie and tells Quieto, “Put the food down and catch me outside, how about this! Do you desire to catch me on these streets?
Rivers is a latest worker at Star Protection and Patrol, which reportedly works with local government agencies once in a while. He worked there for lower than three weeks before he was fired. He was off duty at the time the video was recorded.
“Putting racism into a work uniform is wiiilllllldddddd,” one person commented.
“Thank you for posting this and bringing awareness to the community. It’s a shame you and others had to deal with this. How terrible,” one other Reddit user added.
The agency posted a statement on its Facebook page the identical day the video was posted to Reddit, confirming that Rivers had been fired from his position.
“Star Protection and Patrol was informed of an incident that occurred on the morning of October 10, 2024 at the McDonald’s restaurant on Park Street in Madison, Wisconsin. Due to this incident, Star Protection and Patrol has decided to immediately terminate this employee,” the statement reads reads.
“At Star Protection and Patrol, we are committed to maintaining a respectful, professional and safe environment both within our company and in the communities we serve. We take these values seriously and do not tolerate any behavior that undermines the trust and safety of others. The actions of employees do not reflect the core values of Star Protection and Patrol, and we have taken immediate steps to address the situation. As a result, this person is no longer employed by the company.”
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