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Embarrassing Olympic moves, white girl’s durag raises eyebrows

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PARIS (AP) — From an Australian b-girl with a meme-worthy “kangaroo” dance to Lithuania’s silver-medal winner in a durag, breaking’s Olympic debut had several moments that left viewers wondering whether the essence of hip-hop’s art form was captured on the Paris Games.

Rachael Gunn, or “b-girl Raygun,” a 36-year-old professor from Sydney, Australia, quickly rose to web fame, but not necessarily for her Olympic-level skills. Competing against several b-girls half her age, she was swept out of the round robin without scoring a single point, her unconventional moves landing flat, no match for her opponents.

At one point, Gunn lifted one leg while standing and leaned back, her arms bent toward her ears. At one other point, lying on her side, she reached up together with her toes, rolled over, and did it again, a move often called the “kangaroo.”

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Gunn has a PhD in cultural studies, and her LinkedIn profile says she is desirous about the “cultural politics of break-up.”

“I never set out to beat these girls at what they do best — their power moves,” Gunn said. “What I bring is creativity.”

Australian Rachael Gunn, often called B-Girl Raygun, competes within the Round Robin Battle break-up competition at La Concorde Urban Park in the course of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin)

Clips of her performance went viral on TikTok and other platforms, with many individuals wincing on the sight of her moves showcased on the Olympic stage as a logo of hip-hop and breaking culture.

“It’s almost like they’re mocking the genre,” wrote one X user.

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Some of this was “strange to see”

Many black viewers, specifically, criticized Lithuanian silver medalist b-girl Nicka (legally named Dominika Banevič) for wearing a durag to every of her battles. Once worn by enslaved Africans to tie their hair up for work, durags are still worn by black people today to guard and magnificence their hair. They became a trendy symbol of black pride within the Sixties and Nineteen Seventies, and have become a preferred hip-hop style element within the Nineties and early 2000s. But when worn by individuals who aren’t black, the durag might be seen as cultural approval. Banevič is white.

Actor Kevin Fredericks responded on Instagram to Banevič donning the headgear that “it’s weird to see someone who doesn’t need a headgear for protection or waves, but wears a durag.”

The 17-year-old competitor ultimately won the silver medal, losing in the ultimate to Japanese b-girl Ami (Ami Yuasa).

Banevič, in turn, attributes his success and breaking style to Nineteen Seventies Bronx breakdancers — the OGs, or “original gangsters” of hip-hop, who created the dance.

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Lithuanian Dominika Banevic, often called Nick’s B-Girl, competes within the B-Girls quarterfinals within the breakdance competition at La Concorde Urban Park in the course of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin)

“It’s a huge responsibility to represent and raise the bar every time it comes to breaking because they did an incredible job. Big respect to the OGs and the pioneers who came up with all these moves. Without them, it wouldn’t be possible,” she said. “Without them, breaking wouldn’t be what it is today. So I’m grateful.”

Concerns about losing roots

Friday’s mishaps “may have turned off too many new viewers from getting the response they wanted from our Olympic premiere,” Zack Slusser, vice chairman of Breaking for Gold USA and USA Dance, said in a text message to The Associated Press.

“We need to change the narrative from yesterday’s initial impression of breakdancing as an Olympic sport. There were significant organizational and management shortcomings that could have been easily reconciled but unfortunately negatively impacted Breaking’s first point of contact with a new global audience.”

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The challenge for Olympic organizers was to achieve a broad audience, including many who were skeptical about adding the dance form to the Olympic list. Others feared that the subculture can be co-opted by officials, commercialized, and subjected to a rigid judging structure, while the spirit of breaking took root in local communities centered around street fights, ciphers, and street parties. Hip-hop began as a youth culture in black and brown communities within the Bronx as a method to escape socioeconomic conflict and struggles and to precise their will at a time when New York politicians labeled them as lost, lawless kids.

Refugee breaker Manizha Talash, or “b-girl Talash,” channeled that rebellious spirit by donning a “Free Afghan Women” cape during her pre-qualifying match — a defiant and private statement from the 21-year-old, who fled her native Afghanistan to flee Taliban rule. Talash was quickly disqualified for violating the Olympics’ ban on political statements on the court.

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Both American b-girls were eliminated in Friday’s round robin, a blow to the birthplace of hip-hop in what stands out as the sport’s only appearance on the Games. B-girl Logistx (real name Logan Edra) and b-girl Sunny (Sunny Choi) were ranked in the highest 12 on the earth but didn’t advance to the quarterfinals.

“Breaking for the Olympics changed the way some people dance,” Choi said, referring to a number of the flashier moves and more packed routines. “Breaking changes with the times. Or maybe I’m just old-fashioned and don’t want to change. … I think a lot of people in our community were a little afraid of that.”

B-boys will take to the stage Saturday to present Olympic breakdancing one other probability to represent the culture.

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This article was originally published on : thegrio.com

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The Spelman College competition is now the latest Tiktok madness

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TikTok, Spelman, pagents


There is spring in HBCUS throughout the country, which suggests that the competition season is right. This 12 months, the Spelman College competitions have gained a brand new audience in Tiktok as a consequence of the players’ viral movies.

The competitors presented their beauty and brains in the social application and attracted latest viewers outside traditional circles. While the Miss Spelman College competition won’t announce the winners until April 14, latest fans wrote about their favorites once they immersed in the competition.

Participants became popular for his or her excellent introduction, showing their abilities to the crown. Various competitions happen throughout the school, including Miss Black and Gold and Miss Africanidad competitions.

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“Your search for the queen is officially completed,” said player No. 4, Aziyah, a younger specialist in political sciences from Atlanta. “Because, like my institution, I start without any.”

Player No. 6 was also his own case for the Crown.

“Slow and stable, this is how queen arise,” said Madison, an English major from the third 12 months in HBCU All-Women. “So I waited patiently, but it’s my moment in the end. Oh, and trust me, I’m going to have it.”

Those who’ve never experienced the culture of HBCU competitions now taste greatness, while loving every second. One asked why public opinion would just discover about this spectacle sector.

“How should I do something,” asked the delighted Tiktker Suzanne Lambert. “And what I want to know, why no one has presented it yet?”

She added: “This is my version of March Madness now.”

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Another user has spoiled, as “encouraging” is content because he promotes black perfection.

“This competition revealing” school stunning “in the best possible way. If you know you know, “said the Couture Couture Tiktker.” And all the energy that I spent on the bama rush and breaking it should be spent on this competition. “

The enthusiasm of competitions for Tiktok is much like the previous trend “Bama Rush”, during which incoming student student girls detailed their journeys to affix the brotherhood. Now the headlight light applies to those HBCU women once they race against the crown, while paying national attention.

(Tagstotransate) Miss Spelman College (T) Spelman College (T) Tiktok (T) HBCU Pageants (T) HBCU CULTY

This article was originally published on : www.blackenterprise.com
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Own #syn son brings black mother to dating drama – literally – essence

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Thanks to the kindness of Warner Bros. Discovery

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Finding love is one. This is one other thing to do it with watching mom. From the subsequent room. OWNThe latest reality series, accepts Hashtag viral They are once celebrated black women showing an actual, intentional romance and turns it right into a full dating experiment-with only his own accent. The program premiered on Saturday, April 12, and follows three successful black men searching for love – with a really stubborn mother (or mother), who goals to go. Not figuratively. Literally. They are at home. Sitting on dates, offering unmistakable comments and, yes, sometimes throwing the entire key in a beginner connection – all within the name of affection and heritage.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7X0xK92CQ

One of the bachelor in the guts of this journey is James Hatchett, a 29-yr-old cyber security engineer with the energy of somebody who’s all the time five steps-and this also applies to his love life. “I always think about things and leads forward,” says James. “It’s just me. I am a person thinking about the future. You even know … If things become serious, I will start to wonder what your name is my name, a kind of things. So I definitely think about the future when it comes to relationships.” At the identical time, James is rooted in the current – he doesn’t waste time for vibrations that don’t equalize. “If I don’t see things that work as in the future, I will cut it out there.”

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Own #Syn son brings black mother to dating drama - literally
James Hatchett and Charlease Hatchett accept Daters within the lounge

This sort of brightness can have something to do with a girl who raised him. His mother, Charlease – Aka Charlie – shouldn’t be only present within the series; She is strength. And she has a transparent vision of a partner that her son deserves: “To be honest, honesty is crucial. Based on faith is the first. The family is really crucial,” he says. “Many people say:” Well, you do not marry their families. ” I’m begging you.

But her presence within the series is that it’s about matches – it is also about evolution. For Charlie, this experience became the moment of settlement, a reminder that parenthood is its own love story, filled with chapters of edition and reality.

He remembers the way it was to bring James to the world – after which she had to leave him within the hospital because of significant heart complications. This early separation shaped her protection, she says, although she understood the difference between protection and control. “You parents are different when they are young when they are in high school … and then you have to change,” he wonders. “Now that he is 30 years old, I just try to keep faithful to what I know. If I see red flags, I talk about them – but in a way that is not confrontational. He sits down and talk. And surprising, he received a lot.”

One of its theme rules? Communication. “I deliberately did not want to raise a male child who did not know how to communicate,” he adds. “Because the lack of communication kills everything.”

For James, being was not nearly finding love – it was also a chance to understand his mother’s perspective on real -time relationships. “I think that with my mother practically dating these women, when I date them, I could see how, when these women begin to open up and reveal things about myself, my mother processes it” – she shares. “She comments on these things and it allowed me to understand how her thought process is going. I am at home with her, I live through her and start seeing how she creates her perception of people.”

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James was not all the time easy to reconcile the comments of his mother together with his own feelings. “He has his opinions, about which he talks to my dad or something, and then draws his conclusions. And I will say:” Where does it come from? “In fact he is a very honest person. When he comes to it, he wants the best for me, but at the end of the day he wants to protect me. And I appreciate it.”

Throughout the season, he bends into the strain between generational expectations and modern dates. These women don’t need to be chosen. They also select. The series shouldn’t be only the matchmaker game; It distinguishes what happens when women-women and daters-are under one roof.

And it is not just James. Each bachelor brings its own story, its own luggage and its own version of what black love should appear like. Joshua, a 28-yr-old NFL agent, brought up by Aunt Ome, a nurse who played her mother for many of her life. He is in search of a girl who has equal ambitions and coldness – his equilibrium version. 30 -year -old Chadd, financial analyst with SEC references and a prayer list. His mother Katina, a cosmetologist and minister joins him. Together they’re in search of a girl who is prepared to construct each a house and heritage. But whatever the path, the essential message is obvious: it is not nearly chemistry – it’s about compatibility, belief and whether you might be ready for a sort of relationship that asks you to develop, and not only appear.

It stands out, as he treats black love not as a spectacle, but as a holy process-man, multi-layered and deeply common. He asks questions which can be rarely posted publicly, especially black men: what do you actually need? Who taught you ways to love you? Are you ready for the kind of relationship that occupies the village?

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There will probably be moments of awkwardness. There will probably be motherly side eyes. There could also be even a couple of tears. But at its foundation is a vacation of affection that requires work, intentions and all hearts.

Saturday evenings just happened.

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This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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The dramatic metamor of Arnold Schwarzenegger

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One of the kids of Arnold Schwarzenegger has undergone noticeable body transformation over the past few years.

The 77-year-old actor began 4 children together with his ex-wife, Maria Shriver: Katherine Schwarzenegger Pratt born in 1989, Christina Schwarzenegger born in 1991, Patrick Schwarzenegger born in 1993, and Christopher Schwarzenegger born in 1997.

Arnold also began the fifth child, Joseph Baen, together with his housewife. Baena was also born in 1997 in the course of the 25-year marriage of the previous Republican Governor of California.

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A number of days after the celebration of the National Day of Siblings on April 10, online fans still appear to talk concerning the oldest photo, Katherine, shared about herself, Christina, Patrick and Christopher on her verified Instagram account.

Most often he noticed that Christopher’s dramatic weight reduction was after the beginning of Fitness five years ago, in accordance with Daily Mail.

Arnold praised his son for obtaining a diploma at studies at Michigan on Instagram on Instagram 2020, which contained a photograph of psychology psychology before he dropped a major number of kilos.

“Christopher, you are a master and I love you. I know that your completion of Michigan was not a great holiday you dreamed of for years,” Arnold wrote In the social media application.

He continued: “But crossing the stage is not what makes me so proud of you: it’s your compassion, hard work, your vision, your critical thinking and selflessness make me burst with pride. I can’t wait to watch how you climb and success.”

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(L) Christopher seen on August 7, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo BG004/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images) (R) Christopher Schwarzenegger, for the premiere of season 3 Los Angeles “The White Lotus”, which took place at Paramount Studios on February 10, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo of Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images)

Christopher’s twenty fourth birthday in September 2021 Instagram signature. The motion movies icon emphasized that Chris is taking boxing, weightlifting, stretching and cycling.

In August 2023, Paparazzi caught Chris in a slimer frame during his hometown in Los Angeles. Usually a personal Hollywood Scion shocked observers with its slimmed figure.

#Nationalsiblingday’s image of Christopher on the web site of his sister Katherine on Instagram last week led to quite a few comments on a few years of changes in his body structure.

“Looks great, no matter how he lost weight !! handsome,” wrote the reader Daily Mail within the comments section in the shop. The second person said: “He doesn’t even look like the same person. Amazing.”

“He looked unhealthy. I am glad that he had lost some weight. A convenient lifestyle can make someone lazy and fat,” he suggested one other person. And the commentator noticed: “Now it looks amazing.”

While Chris remained within the highlight, his 4 siblings accepted being public. Patrick won a groundbreaking acting role within the third season of HBO “The White Lotus” Series of murder murders.

Katherine is the writer of kid’s books “Good Night, Sister” and “Maverick and Me”, in addition to the book “The Gift of Scority”. Like her mother, Katherine married the actor. She married the star of “Guardians of the Galaxy” Chris Pratt in 2018.

Christina produced an hourly Netflix document “Take Your Pills”, which included students and dealing adults who use hyperactivity disorders with Adderall’s attention deficit.

Christopher’s half -brother, Joseph, followed his dad, became a bodybuilder and actor. He entered the world of reality television, competing within the thirty first season of “Dancing with the Stars”.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjoz-vtwgiw

(Tagstranslate) Arnold Schwarzenegger (T) Maria Shriver

This article was originally published on : atlantablackstar.com
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