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Tupac Amaru Shakur, " I'm Loosing It...We MUST Unite!"
Showing posts with label Black America Web. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Black America Web. Show all posts

Sunday, July 14, 2019

Trump Tells Freshman Congresswomen Of Color To ‘Go Back Where They Came From’

WASHINGTON (AP) — Starkly injecting race into his criticism of liberal Democrats, President Donald Trump said Sunday that four congresswomen of color should go back to the “broken and crime infested” countries they came from, ignoring the fact that all of the women are American citizens and three were born in the U.S. His attack drew a searing condemnation from Democrats who labeled the remarks racist and breathtakingly divisive.

 

Following a familiar script, Republicans remained largely silent after Trump’s morning broadsides against the four women. But the president’s nativist tweets caused Democrats to set aside their internal rifts to rise up in a united chorus against the president.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Trump wants to “make America white again.” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, after jousting for days with Pelosi, said Trump “can’t conceive of an America that includes us.”

Trump, who has a long history of making racist remarks, was almost certainly referring to Ocasio-Cortez and her House allies in what’s become known as “the squad.” The others are Reps. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan. Only Omar, from Somalia, is foreign-born.

Ocasio-Cortez swiftly denounced his remarks . “Mr. President, the country I ‘come from,’ & the country we all swear to, is the United States,” she tweeted, adding that “You rely on a frightened America for your plunder.” Omar also addressed herself directly to Trump in a tweet, writing: “You are stoking white nationalism (because) you are angry that people like us are serving in Congress and fighting against your hate-filled agenda.”

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York, chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, summed up the Democratic response: “Racial arsonist strikes again. Shut. Your. Reckless. Mouth.”

With his tweet, Trump inserted himself further into a rift between Pelosi and Ocasio-Cortez, just two days after he offered an unsolicited defense of the Democratic speaker. Pelosi has been seeking to minimize Ocasio-Cortez’s influence in the House Democratic caucus in recent days, prompting Ocasio-Cortez to accuse Pelosi of trying to marginalize women of color.

“She is not a racist,” Trump said of Pelosi on Friday.

On Sunday, Trump’s tone took a turn.

“So interesting to see ‘Progressive’ Democrat Congresswomen, who originally came from countries whose governments are a complete and total catastrophe, the worst, most corrupt and inept anywhere in the world (if they even have a functioning government at all), now loudly and viciously telling the people of the United States, the greatest and most powerful Nation on earth, how our government is to be run,” he tweeted.

“Why don’t they go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came. Then come back and show us how it is done.”

He added: “These places need your help badly, you can’t leave fast enough. I’m sure that Nancy Pelosi would be very happy to quickly work out free travel arrangements!”

The attacks may have been meant to widen the divides within the Democrat caucus, which has been riven by internal debate over how far left to go in countering Trump and over whether to proceed with impeachment proceedings against the president. Instead, the president’s tweets, which evoked the trope of telling black people to go back to Africa, brought Democrats together.

“Let’s be clear about what this vile comment is: A racist and xenophobic attack on Democratic congresswomen,” tweeted Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a Democratic presidential candidate.

Another 2020 contender, former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke, tweeted at the president: “This is racist. These congresswomen are every bit as American as you — and represent our values better than you ever will.”

Few Republicans weighed in on the president’s comments. Congressional leaders, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, did not respond to requests for comment, nor did Sen. Tim. Scott of South Carolina, the only Republican black senator.

Mark Morgan, the acting commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, in a previously scheduled appearance on “Face the Nation” on CBS, said only: “You’re going to have to ask the president what he means by those specific tweets.”

Shortly after the tweets, and a later presidential post defending the harsh scenes at a border detention facility where hundreds of migrant men are being held in sweltering, foul-smelling conditions, Trump left the White House to go golfing at his Virginia club.

Trump appeared unbowed Sunday night when he returned to Twitter to say it was “so sad” to see Democrats sticking up for the women. “If the Democrat Party wants to continue to condone such disgraceful behavior,” he tweeted, “then we look even more forward to seeing you at the ballot box in 2020!”

It was far from the first time that Trump has been accused of holding racist views.

In his campaign kickoff in June 2015, Trump deemed many Mexican immigrants “rapists.” In 2017, he said there good people on “both sides” of the clash in Charlottesville, Virginia, between white supremacists and anti-racist demonstrators that left one counter-protester dead. Last year, during a private White House meeting on immigration, Trump wondered why the United States was admitting so many immigrants from “shithole countries” like African nations.

Repeatedly, Trump has painted arriving immigrants as an “infestation” and he has been slow in condemning acts of violence committed by white supremacists. And he launched his political career with false claims that President Barack Obama was not born in the United States.

Despite his history of racist remarks, Trump has paid little penalty in his own party.

Though a broad array of Republicans did speak out against his reaction to Charlottesville, they have largely held their tongues otherwise, whether it be on matter of race or any other Trump provocation. Fearful of his Twitter account and sweeping popularity among Republican voters, GOP lawmakers have largely tried to ignore the provocative statements.

Sen. Kamala Harris, a Democratic presidential hopeful from California, tweeted, “Let’s call the president’s racist attack exactly what it is: un-American.”

Ocasio-Cortez, who is of Puerto Rican descent, was born in the Bronx, New York, and raised in suburban Westchester County.

Pressley, the first black woman elected to the House from Massachusetts, was born in Cincinnati.

Omar, the first Somali native elected to Congress and one of its first Muslim women, was born in Somalia but spent much of her childhood in a Kenyan refugee camp as civil war tore apart her home country. She immigrated to the United States at age 12, teaching herself English by watching American TV and eventually settling with her family in Minneapolis.

Tlaib was born in Detroit.

___

Associated Press writer Hope Yen contributed to this report.

PHOTO: AP


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Thursday, July 11, 2019

Report: Russell Westbrook Going To Rockets For Chris Paul

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Russell Westbrook and James Harden are together again, and Chris Paul is leaving Houston to make that reunion happen.

A person with knowledge of the situation says the Oklahoma City Thunder have traded Westbrook to the Houston Rockets for Paul in a swapping of top point guards. The Thunder also are getting first-round picks in 2024 and 2026, plus the right to swap first-rounders in two other seasons, according to the person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Thursday because the trade has not been announced.

ESPN first reported the agreement.

Paul is a nine-time All-Star, Westbrook an eight-time selection. Paul has 9,181 career assists, the most among active players. Westbrook has 138 triple-doubles, tied with Magic Johnson for second-most in NBA history behind only Oscar Robertson’s 181. Both members of Houston’s new glitzy backcourt are recent MVPs: Westbrook won it in 2017, Harden won it in 2018. And the trade means that the NBA’s two highest scorers over the last five seasons — Harden with 11,958 points, Westbrook with 10,025 — are now teammates.

Westbrook and Harden were Thunder teammates for three seasons, the last of those being the 2011-12 campaign when that duo and Kevin Durant took Oklahoma City to the NBA Finals. They lost in five games to LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat, and Harden departed that summer for Houston — where he’s been an All-Star ever since.

But when the Thunder agreed last week to trade Paul George to the Los Angeles Clippers — in a move that essentially sealed 2019 NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard’s decision to leave Toronto for the Clippers — it became clear quickly that Westbrook would be on the move as well. And this trade, when completed, will mean that Thunder general manager Sam Presti has added eight first-round picks to the team’s stockpile in the last week or so.

Oklahoma City got five first-round future selections as part of the George trade. The Thunder are getting two more in this trade, and got a 2020 first-round pick in the deal completed earlier this week that sent Jerami Grant to Denver.

It’s the latest bold transaction in a wild offseason of movement that already saw Leonard become the first reigning Finals MVP change teams in the offseason after winning that award, Anthony Davis get traded from New Orleans to the Los Angeles Lakers, All-Star point guards like Kyrie Irving (Boston to Brooklyn), Kemba Walker (Charlotte to Boston) and D’Angelo Russell (Brooklyn to Golden State) change teams, Durant leave the Warriors for Brooklyn, Jimmy Butler go from Philadelphia to Miami in a sign-and-trade, Al Horford move from Philadelphia from Boston.

“Craziest NBA summer by far,” longtime NBA guard Jamal Crawford tweeted.

Paul and Harden were teammates for two seasons in Houston. The Rockets had a 3-2 lead over Golden State in the 2018 Western Conference finals when Paul injured a hamstring, and the Warriors rallied to win that series in seven games on the way to the NBA title. This past season, Houston was ousted in the second round by the Warriors.

The 34-year-old Paul is owed roughly $125 million over the final three years of his contract, including a $44.2 million option for 2021-22. Westbrook, who turns 31 early next season, is owed $171 million over the final four years of his existing deal.


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Turbulence Injures Dozens On Air Canada Flight To Australia

HONOLULU (AP) — Intense turbulence struck an Air Canada flight to Australia on Thursday and sent unbuckled passengers flying into the ceiling, forcing the plane to land in Hawaii.

The flight from Vancouver to Sydney encountered “un-forecasted and sudden turbulence,” about two hours past Hawaii when the plane diverted to Honolulu, Air Canada spokeswoman Angela Mah said in a statement.

“The plane just dropped,” passenger Stephanie Beam told The Associated Press. “When we hit turbulence, I woke up and looked over to make sure my kids were buckled. The next thing I knew there’s just literally bodies on the ceiling of the plane.”

A woman behind her hit the ceiling so hard that she broke the casing of an oxygen mask, said Beam, of Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Of the 37 passengers and flight crew members injured, nine had serious injuries, emergency responders said. Thirty people were taken to hospitals.

Honolulu Emergency Medical Services Chief Dean Nakano said the injured ranged in age from children to the elderly. Customs agents and emergency responders met passengers at the gate at the Honolulu airport to ensure they could get medical attention quickly.

Honolulu Emergency Services Department spokeswoman Shayne Enright said injuries included cuts, bumps, bruises, neck pain and back pain. More than two dozen people were taken to hospitals, she said.

Llyn Williams was traveling with his wife Erica Daly back to their home in Sydney, Australia. His wife was injured and taken to the hospital.

He said when they hit the violent turbulence, “Everybody who was not seated and belted in hit the roof, almost everybody in our cabin.”

Williams described the cabin afterward as frightening, with plastic lying around and oxygen masks dangling. “A lot of blood everywhere,” he said. “It was really quite scary.”

Andrew Szucs, originally from Ontario but now living in Sydney, was not injured.

There had been turbulence before the abrupt drop and he was awake, bracing himself.

“Then all of a sudden the plane dropped and went sideways,” Szucs said. “And that’s when the people who were strapped in flew, hit the ceiling.”

He said the pilot came on the radio and said they didn’t see the turbulence on radar and had “no warning this kind of air drop was going to happen.”

Babies and children were crying as crew members went through the cabin assessing injuries. About 15 minutes later, there was an announcement asking for passengers who are medical professionals to help, Beam said.

Sandy Marshall of Sydney was injured, with her two children unhurt.

“I didn’t have my seat belt on at the time. My child was sleeping on me, and I went straight up into the ceiling,” she said.

Most of the impact was to her head, but she also suffered a laceration under her right eye, bruising and muscular pain in her neck.

The turbulence happened at 36,000 feet (10,973 meters) about 600 miles (966 kilometers) southwest of Honolulu, said U.S. Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor.

The Boeing 777-200 was carrying 269 passengers and 15 crew members, according to Air Canada spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick.

Air Canada was arranging hotel accommodations and meals in Honolulu and options for resuming the flight.

“If we’re going to be stuck somewhere, I can think of worse places,” said Beam, traveling with her 10- and 11-year-old children.

PHOTO: AP


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Michelle Obama Rents Luxurious Hollywood Hills Home

The former First Lady of the U.S. has rented a super exclusive and luxurious pad in the Hollywood Hills, according to TMZ.

Michelle Obama, according to TMZ’s real estate sources, rented the home, which is up for sale for $23 million, this past Monday and Tuesday. The site notes that it’s newly built and other than a rental here and there, it’s never been lived in.

The house has spectacular views of the city. It’s called Shark House because there’s a tank inside with a bunch of them.

According to sources, there was “incredible security” present and the owner had to have all security cameras turned off.

(Click here and here for pics of the home.)

One realtor, who’s very well-connected in the area, tells TMZ the buzz is that Michelle might be scoping out the neighborhood and/or that particular house to set down roots. Now that she and the former Prez are empty nesters, there’s nothing keeping them in D.C., and L.A. makes a lot of sense given their recent Netflix deal and other entertainment projects.

Hmm, makes sense to us. Either way, if it’s temporary or permanent, welcome to L.A., Michelle and Barack, too, (we assume)!

PHOTO: AP


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Taraji P. Henson Plans To Launch Haircare Brand

Wednesday, July 10, 2019

Former NFL Star Albert Haynesworth Says He Needs Kidney Transplant

BET Founder Bob Johnson Says Trump’s Been Great For Business

BET founder Bob Johnson is getting pressed like a panini after recent comments he made which appear to shine a positive light on Donald Trump.

In a Tuesday interview with CNBC’s Hadley Gamble, Johnson who was a lifetime Democrat, said he no longer found a home in his political party.

“The party in my opinion, for me personally, has moved too far to the left,” Johnson said. “And for that reason, I don’t have a particular candidate (I’m supporting) in the party at this time,” he said. “I think at the end of the day, if a Democrat is going to beat Trump, then that person, he or she, will have to move to the center and you can’t wait too long to do that.”

Johnson became the first Black billionaire in 2001 when he sold BET to Viacom for $2.3 billion in stock and needless to say seems more concerned with Trump’s “ability” to manage the economy over his divisive rhetoric and policies. “I think the economy is doing great, and it’s reaching populations that heretofore had very bad problems in terms of jobs and employments and the opportunities that come with employment … so African-American unemployment is at its lowest level, ” Johnson said.

“I give the president a lot of credit for moving the economy in a positive direction that’s benefiting a large amount of Americans,” he continued. “I think the tax cuts clearly helped stimulate the economy. I think business people have more confidence in the way the economy is going.”

Just like Trump, Johnson seems to believe that the low unemployment rate for African-Americans cancels out all the other many ways in which Black people struggle daily to be seen and heard in America, under the racist regime of Trump’s presidency. Johnson’s comments also point to the large-scale disconnect which can occur when the comfortability of money overshadows the greater good.

PHOTO: PR Photos

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‘Queen Sugar’ Season 4, Episode 5: “Blue’s Blues”

This week’s episode of ‘Queen Sugar’ is officially called “Face Speckled” (who names these episodes anyway) but after watching it, I’ve dubbed it “Blue’s Blues” for what should be obvious reasons. The reckoning for Ralph Angel (Kofi Siriboe) and Darla (Bianca Lawson) has come. Because of Nova’s book, they have to tell Blue the truth about his paternity, even if they likely wanted more time to do so.

Among the fallout from the book is Aunt Vi’ s (Tina Lifford) continuing depression. She can’t shake Jimmy Dale’s (David Alan Grier) “visit.” It has brought up difficult memories for her, as any woman whose been abused can relate to. Hollywood (Omar Dorsey) – he’s such a gem – is a supportive listener, but as Vi tells him, he can’t fix what’s inside her. But he sure can love her and that’s about all that he can do. Vi will have to, at some point, find her own healing. This almost made me believe that Nova (Rutina Wesley) has done some good, getting people to face their demons, but once again, whose choice should that be?

Nova has to face some demons of her own. Is this a book tour or is a reunite-with-old -lovers tour? Cree Summer guest stars in this episode as Octavia, one of Nova’s former professors who she had an (inappropriate?) relationship with. Octavia is no joke, either, coming for Nova’s neck publicly about her lack of scholarship in the book. Nova explains it’s a memoir, not a scholarly research project.

Turns out this is just foreplay for these two, as they quickly end up in bed. My goodness, Nova moves fast. It’s interesting how Nova’s told everyone else’s business but this professor is only a mention in her book. Octavia’s not too happy about NOT being mentioned more. How funny, when everyone else is mad at Nova for saying too much.

One person who’s doing too much these days is Micah (Nicholas Ashe). He’s getting drunk and getting tattoos. Lawd. What is going on with him these days? Charley is disgusted but basically tells him, “If you’re not going to listen to me, just tel me who you will listen to.” Smart of her, but the problem may be that Charley is not allowing Micah to be an almost grown man and make some decisions on his own. While any mother can understand that she’s protective of him, at the same time, he’s both coddled and entitled and that’s not playing out too well in his life.

Of course, Davis West (Timon Kyle Durrett) isn’t helping. He’s looking for help himself from Charley because the revelations in Nova’s book have hurt his post-NBA career. Protestors don’t want him coaching at their school. Yeah, that job is probably a wrap. But he’s asking Charley to do some crisis-handling for him anyway. She tells him to admit his culpability in the rape and maybe, given the always churning news cycle, he’ll be spared. Charley is a strong woman but she’s made the men in her life too dependent on her.

At least Romero (Walter Perez) can figure things out for himself, even if his character is as dry as old saltines. Sorry, their chemistry is tepid, at best. Kinda wishing that Charley and Remy (Dondre Whitfield) would get back together because at least he was a stronger personality. But he’s leaving St. Josephine, because he’s gotta go find himself. Um, OK, I think this just means that he’s outlived his usefulness on the show, which is too bad, because he’ll be missed.

Sometimes I think “Queen Sugar” doesn’t go far enough with its male characters. They are either always nice like Hollywood, or a hot mess like Davis or crazy AF like Jimmy Dale. However, the evolution of Ralph Angel is nice to see. (Also, is it my imagination or is he getting finer each episode?) He’s taking women on real dates. He and his new boo, Deesha, (Erica Tazel) even go on a picnic. But just when you think RA has the chance at new love…bam, he’s gotta handle his business with Blue. It seems Blue has found out from a school friend about what’s in the book.

Ralph Angel rushes over to Darla’s and they two finally have the talk with Blue that had to happen. Ralph Angel explains that while he’s not Blue’s biological father (did you choke up when Blue innocently asked what that meant?) they are tied at the heart. If you didn’t cry during this scene, you must be missing tear ducts. It’s been a rocky road, but Ralph Angel is truly turning into a man.

Charley’s man is finding out that things aren’t easy when you’re connected to the Bordelons. Seems like more than just the Landrys are her enemies. She and Romero’s sanctuary clinic for undocumented workers is raided by ICE. That should be against the law, but someone has gotten around it. Turns out some folks wanted that jail – remember, a lot of small towns depend on them. They are big mad at Charley. What does she do? She decides she might have to run for City Council. Girl, you take on a whole lot.

NOTE: ‘Queen Sugar’ skips a week next week and will be back on Wednesday, July 24th.

And that’s that for this week’s edition of ‘Queen Sugar?’ What did you think of the episode?

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Monday, July 8, 2019

Little Known Black History Fact: Frederick Morrow

Frederic Morrow made history on July 9, 1955 after he was appointed as the first Black executive to serve in the White House. Under President Dwight Eisenhower, the New Jersey native was the Administrative Officer for Special Projects from 1955 to 1961.

Morrow was born in 1909 in Hackensack, attending high school in the Bergen County city. He attended Bowdoin College from 1926 to 1930 but didn’t complete his studies in order to work and help support his family. He took work at the National Urban League before becoming a field secretary for the NAACP.

In 1942 during World War II, Morrow enlisted in the U.S. Army but was never deployed. He achieved the rank of Major before he was discharged in 1946. Two years later, Morrow earned a law degree from Rutgers University; he was also awarded an L.L.D. degree from Bowdoin in 1970, according to historical accounts.

In 1952, the Alpha man began working under President Eisenhower in a low-level position. When the opportunity came in 1955 for him to become the first Black aide to a president, the road ahead would prove tough, as race relations were tense, along with the fact Morrow was the lone African-American White House employee of significance.

After leaving the post, Morrow went on to eventually become the first Black vice president for  Bank of America before retiring in 1975. Morrow passed in 1994.


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Thomas Jefferson’s Birthday Celebration Cancelled In Charlottesville

Thomas Jefferson’s city-sanctioned birthday celebration has been formally terminated.

In a controversial decision during a recent meeting of the Charlottesville, Virginia City Council, local leaders voted to remove an April 13  city holiday honoring former U.S. President Thomas Jefferson, who was widely recognized as a scholar and scientist, an architecture and agricultural enthusiast – and, of course, a slave owner.

Lawmakers decided to replace Jefferson’s holiday with “Freedom and Liberation Day,” on March 3 to commemorate the day enslaved African people in Charlottesville were officially emancipated in 1865 It’s a pivotal part of American history that’s been ignored and overlooked by some members of Charlottesville’s Southern society.

In fact, the decision to deprive conservative Charlottesville residents the formal celebration of Jefferson’s April 13th birthday has sent some right-wing citizens completely over the edge. Some blame “liberals” for suppressing Jefferson’s history and robbing residents and youngsters an opportunity to celebrate Charlottesville’s most famous citizen.

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Residents of Charlottesville – young and old – should learn about the emancipation of enslaved African people, especially in the context of the Civil War. Their liberation from shackles sought to right a horrific wrong – the enslavement of a generation of Black people. It was a courageous move by the Charlottesville City Council to put the issue of slavery front and center and not sweep it under the rug as many conservatives would like.

Many Charlottesville residents don’t want to be reminded that Jefferson enslaved 400 African men, woman and children at his 5,000-acre mountaintop plantation at Monticello –  and a total of 607 black people over his lifetime. Some Charlottesville residents are angry that Jefferson, their hero, has been marginalized by a council of lawmakers. And neighbors who still wave the Confederate flag from their front porches refuse to admit that the Civil War was fought over slavery.

“Thomas Jefferson already has 365 holidays and I do think that is the case here in Charlottesville,” Charlottesville Councilor Wes Bellamy told reporters. “You literally can’t go anywhere within our city without hearing or seeing a reminder of Thomas Jefferson.”

Bellamy is right.

Abolishing Thomas Jefferson’s birthday as a city holiday will not diminish Jefferson’s legacy and his place in history as the nation’s third President, founder of The University of Virginia, and author of The Declaration of Independence.

And if Charlottesville residents seriously want to teach their kids about all aspects of Jefferson’s life—from science to slavery — then I would suggest driving just a few miles up the mountain to visit Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello for a thorough, educational and intriguing portrayal of Jefferson and his many compelling contributions to America.

Monticello tells Jefferson’s complete story. The Mountain Top Project at Monticello ended in 2018, a five-year, $35-million effort to restore Monticello as Jefferson knew it, and to tell the stories of the people — enslaved and free — who lived and worked on the 5,000-acre Virginia plantation.

Monticello unveiled the restoration of Mulberry Row in 2015, which includes the re-creation of two slave-related buildings, the “storehouse for iron” and the Hemings cabin. In May 2015, more than 100 descendants of enslaved families participated in a tree-planting ceremony to commemorate the new buildings.

Archaeologists also excavated an area of the Monticello mansion that revealed the living quarters of Sally Hemings, the enslaved woman who, historians believe, gave birth to six of Jefferson’s children. In an effort to bring transparency to the grounds’ difficult past, there are tours that focus solely on the experiences of the enslaved African people who lived and labored there, as well as a Hemings Family Tour.

Gayle Jessup White, Monticello’s Community Engagement Officer, is a descendant of the Jefferson and Hemings families and an integral part of Monticello’s African-American legacy: Sally Hemings was White’s great-great-great-great aunt. White said balancing Jefferson’s achievements and flaws makes for a complex but much-needed discussion.

“We respect the city’s process for resolving questions around its official holidays. At Monticello we hold Jefferson’s immense achievements and deep flaws in tension. We have those discussions with guests every day,” White told The Richmond Times Dispatch. “We are committed to sharing an honest, complicated and inclusive view of our history — including the history of race and slavery at Monticello — and the commemoration of Jefferson’s birthday is an important time for these tensions to be engaged.”

On a sunny weekday two summers ago, Monticello tour guide Tom Nash spoke to a group of white tourists and shared stories about slavery on the sprawling Jefferson plantation.

“This is a spectacular view from this mountaintop,” Nash said. “But not for the enslaved people who worked these fields. This was a tough job and some of them — even young boys 10 to 16 years old —felt the whip.”

Questions for Nash from tourists were wide-ranging and there are still similar queries today:

Why was Jefferson a slave owner when he wrote that all men are created equal?

How many enslaved people did Jefferson set free?

How many hours a day did enslaved people work on Jefferson’s plantation?

“Working in the fields was not a happy time,” Nash said. “There were long days on the plantation. Enslaved people worked from sunup to sundown six days a week. There was no such thing as a good slave owner.”

Eliminating a one-day city holiday honoring Thomas Jefferson should not infuriate conservatives if they’re truly committed to learning more about Jefferson and educating Charlottesville’s children. Just up the road is a convenient and proper alternative: Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, open seven days a week.

What do you think?

PHOTO: Public Domain


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As The NBA Turns: New L.A. Clipper Paul George Once Dated Doc Rivers’ Daughter Who He Allegedly Cheated On

Viral Family Brawl At Disneyland Sparks Police Investigation [WATCH]

To say this is not a good look is an understatement. On Saturday, at what’s supposed to be the happiest place on Earth, a vicious, nasty family feud broke out.

What makes it all the sadder is that the incident went down in the Toontown section of Disneyland. Witnesses say it began with an argument between family members and escalated into an all-out brawl.

“All participants in the fight were identified after the fight broke out and APD responded to a call of a fight in Disneyland Park, ” according to the Anaheim Police Department.

WARNING: GRAPHIC FOOTAGE/LANGUAGE

A spokesperson for APD added this:

“When we arrived, the parties were separated. It was determined they were all family members who were related to one another and they were all uncooperative and did not want anything done.”

Supposedly, a report was taken and everyone involved in the fight was asked to leave the park.

The video, which has been viewed thousands of times on YouTube, shows the altercation between two men, which quickly spirals out of control and ends with women being punched and spit on, and one of the aggressors getting choked out by a bystander.

In the four-minute video, a man in a pink shirt says, ‘Don’t disrespect my daughter…I don’t give a f**k b***h’, leading a woman in a white shirt to spit in his face.

 

Several people in the park filmed the fight on cellphones as Disneyland employees and security scrambled to break up the incident.

“There was no video available at the time. We became aware of the video late last night. Now that we have the video, detectives will be following up to see if any criminal charges can be filed,” police said.

The video will be a key piece of evidence, according to investigators.

“Now we can use the video to piece together who did what to who since none of them would cooperate at the time.”

Twitter, predictably had its own response to the family brawl caught on tape.

 

 



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Twitter User Brags About His Wife-To-Be’s Support, Gets Dragged For It

Top Dems Invite Women’s World Cup Soccer Champs To Capital

WASHINGTON (AP) — The World Cup champion U.S. women’s soccer team is being invited to the Capitol, Congress’ top Democrats said Monday.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wrote to colleagues Monday that “by popular demand on both sides of the aisle,” she has invited the players to the Capitol “to celebrate their inspiring victory.” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said he, too, has invited them as he lauded them on the Senate floor for their “sustained level of excellence.”

There was no immediate indication of when or if a visit might occur. Alex Morgan, who scored six goals in the tournament, said the players hadn’t discussed the invitation.

“Of course, it would be great to do something as a team together like that, but we haven’t even had time to talk about that,” she told reporters in New York on Monday.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., also praised the team’s “grit and teamwork and talent.”

The U.S. team has captured the last two World Cups and has won four, more than any other country.

Many players have been leading advocates of gender equity. Star Megan Rapinoe has said she would not visit the White House if invited by President Donald Trump.

PHOTO: AP


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Dictionary.Com To Update The Definition Of ‘Black’ After Being Slammed For Racism

Dictionary.com has announced plans to update their definition of ‘black‘ after being branded racist by New Jersey-based artist Nyshayla Barnes.

The 21-year-old took to Twitter recently to share his annoyance at the negative descriptors associated with the term.

She posted a screengrab of the synonyms alongside ‘black’, which include ‘dark, dingy, depressing, devilish and sinful.’

As reported by the Mail Online, Nyshayla wrote: “There are offensive words in the dictionary associated with the definition of ‘Black’. It is vital that we have more positive meanings for this word because how we define words shapes our perception of them.”

She also noted: “We are not taking offense to the word ‘Black’. That is our identity. We have a problem with the other words that are associated with Black that don’t need to be associated with it at all.”

“Rather than making words, such as ‘depressing’, ‘threatening’ and ‘foreboding’ synonymous to ‘Black’, we should instead use words that do not insinuate a biased undertone to a word that is commonly used to describe people of Black race and culture.”

Many praised Barnes for speaking out, with one social media user writing: “Well done for speaking up and seeking a positive change!”

Another added: “You’ve done a great thing. Good job!”

Meanwhile, the haters and racists are not having it.

One hater wrote: “This is seriously stupid! It silly stuff like this that the real issues with race get no justice. You are just looking for something to be offended by!”

“You only think it’s offensive, because you’re attaching yourself to that word. Have not moaned about yellow for cowardly, or blue for ‘feeling down’. No, of course you haven’t. Black, blue and yellow are colours,” another argued.

Another added: “As a black man, it’s embarrassing what we as black Americans cry about. If dictionarycom changes this they don’t deserve respect. Next white people can not wear cloths that are black. Get in the real fight for justice and not have a Trump (simple) mindset.”

“Now people are offended by the dictionary?? Good lord… So many sensitive snowflakes,” read one comment.

“Let’s also change synonyms associated with the color red,” another user added. “Both words have been used to describe communists/native Americans in a derogatory fashion. How about yellow? Means cowardly and has been used to describe Asians.”

Dictionary.com replied to the online conversation, revealing plans to update the definition.

“We agree! We are making some updates and revisions that will be rolled out later this year,” the company tweeted.

An article on their page noted that “’When it comes to the language of identity, the words we use are especially important. This is why when My Black Is Beautiful reached out to Dictionary.com about ‘Redefine Black,’ we saw an opportunity to revisit our current entry of the word.”

Synonyms associated with the term will no longer be “soiled or stained with dirt” but rather defined as a “mark of respect,” the report states.

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North Carolina Barber Erases Lunch Debt For 14 High Recent School Graduates

Season Bennett, a popular barbershop owner from North Carolina, says she was so inspired by the billionaire Robert F. Smith generous gift to the 2019 graduating class of Morehouse — that she was moved to raise thousands to help high schoolers in her area.

Bennett has reportedly raised $4500 to clear the debts of seniors at East Mecklenburg High School, who would not have graduated without her financial blessing, Essence reports.

Bennett was called to act after hearing about Smith’s generous $40 million pledge last month to clear the student loan debts of recent Morehouse grads.

“I thought, ‘Wow, that is just such a powerful thing for anybody,’” Bennett told CBS affiliate WBTV. “So many students go into so much debt just trying to get an education.”

She then contacted East Mecklenburg High School to inquire about the debts of seniors who wouldn’t be able to graduate until the outstanding amount was settled. She was reportedly given the names of 14 students whose balances totaled $4500.

Bennett launched a GoFundMe page to raise the funds, which received a significant boost from North Carolina Panthers’ Thomas Davis.

“He said, ‘You know what, whatever need you have left over, we’re going to make sure these students graduate.’ ”

Davis’ donation allowed her to reach the goal.

“Thank you to everyone who donated to the EMHS fundraiser,” Bennett posted on the GoFundMe page. “We surpassed our goal and now our students will all be able to walk in their graduation ceremony and receive their diplomas.”

The fundraiser is still ongoing, and any remaining funds will be donated to the high school’s Anti-Suicide Program, the report states.

“We’ve proven that together we can change lives just a few dollars at a time,” said Bennett.

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Sunday, July 7, 2019

Billionaire, Trump, Clinton Associate And Alleged Sex Trafficker Jeffrey Epstein Arrested

NEW YORK (AP) — Wealthy financier and registered sex offender Jeffrey Epstein is due in court following an arrest in New York on new sex-trafficking charges involving allegations that date to the early 2000s, according to law enforcement officials.

Epstein, a wealthy hedge fund manager who once counted as friends former President Bill Clinton, Great Britain’s Prince Andrew, and President Donald Trump, was taken into federal custody Saturday and is expected to appear Monday in Manhattan federal court, three law enforcement officials told The Associated Press.

One of the officials said Epstein is accused of paying underage girls for massages and molesting them at his homes in Florida and New York.

The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the pending case.

A message was sent to Epstein’s defense attorney seeking comment. Epstein is being held at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons website.

Epstein’s arrest, first reported by The Daily Beast, comes amid renewed scrutiny of a once-secret plea deal that ended a federal investigation against him.

That deal, which is being challenged in Florida federal court, allowed Epstein, who is now 66, to plead guilty to lesser state charges of soliciting and procuring a person under age 18 for prostitution.

Averting a possible life sentence, Epstein was instead sentenced to 13 months in jail. The deal also required he reach financial settlements with dozens of his once-teenage victims and register as a sex offender.

Epstein’s deal was overseen by former Miami U.S. Attorney Alexander Acosta, who is now Trump’s labor secretary. Acosta has defended the plea deal as appropriate under the circumstances, though the White House said in February that it was “looking into” his handling of the deal.

U.S. District Judge Kenneth Marra of Florida ruled earlier this year that Epstein’s victims should have been consulted under federal law about the deal, and he is now weighing whether to invalidate the non-prosecution agreement, or NPA, that protected Epstein from federal charges.

It was not immediately clear whether the cases involved the same victims since nearly all have remained anonymous.

Federal prosecutors recently filed court papers in Florida case contending Epstein’s deal must stand.

“The past cannot be undone; the government committed itself to the NPA, and the parties have not disputed that Epstein complied with its provisions,” prosecutors wrote in the filing.

They acknowledged, however, that the failure to consult victims “fell short of the government’s dedication to serve victims to the best of its ability” and that prosecutors “should have communicated with the victims in a straightforward and transparent way.”

The victims in the Florida case have until Monday to respond to the Justice Department’s filing.

According to court records in Florida, authorities say at least 40 underage girls were brought into Epstein’s Palm Beach mansion for what turned into sexual encounters after female fixers looked for suitable girls locally and in Eastern Europe and other parts of the world.

Some girls were also allegedly brought to Epstein’s homes in New York City, New Mexico and a private Caribbean island, according to court documents.

Saturday’s arrest also came just days after a federal appeals court in New York ordered the unsealing of nearly 2,000 pages of records in a since-settled defamation case involving Epstein.

U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse released a statement Saturday calling for Epstein to be held without bail pending trial.

“This monster received a pathetically soft sentence last time and his victims deserve nothing less than justice,” Sasse, R-Nebraska, said in the statement. “Justice doesn’t depend on the size of your bank account.”

___

Sisak reported from Port St. Lucie, Florida. Associated Press writers Colleen Long, Curt Anderson and Tom Hays contributed to this report.

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Friday, July 5, 2019

The Latest: Police Seek 2 In Stabbings At Chicago Fireworks

CHICAGO (AP) — The Latest on three stabbings and a stampede at the Navy Pier’s annual fireworks show.(all times local):

7:20 a.m.

Chicago police are searching for two male suspects in a fight that led to panic and a stampede which injured more than a dozen people at the Navy Pier’s annual fireworks show.

Police say two teenage boys and a man suffered non-life-threatening injuries when they were stabbed after a group of young males flashed gang signs at Thursday night’s fireworks show that draws thousands of people to the Lake Michigan shoreline each year.

Police say panic ensued when someone threw what’s believed to be firecrackers, creating a stampede. Chicago Police Spokesman Rocco Alito says 14 people were taken to hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries after being trampled during the rush of people fleeing the scene.

__

1:06 a.m.

More than a dozen people have been injured after Chicago police say a fight at the annual fireworks show caused panic at Navy Pier.

Chicago police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi says three people were stabbed during the fight that followed the Fourth of July display, which draws thousands of people to the Lake Michigan shoreline each year. Guglielmi says 16 others were taken to hospitals after being trampled during the rush of people fleeing the scene.

The spokesman adds that initial reports of a shooting were inaccurate. It’s unclear if anyone has been arrested.

Police are investigating.

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That’s What I Think: Weed Should Have Been Legal Before Alcohol

The governor of Illinois just signed a bill that will make Weed legal in Illinois, and expunge records of weed offences. Which Damon is very excited about because there was a “lil thing from 1982,” that he’d like off of his record.  This legalization makes perfect sense to Damon, and he actually thinks weed should have been legal before alcohol. Way more bad things have happened as a result of alcohol than weed. Like waking up next to somebody you didn’t want to go home with. After a little gin “lil dusty might get it.”

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Top Of The Morning: Police Have Found The Ice-Cream Licker

The young lady seen in the viral video licking ice-cream has been identified by police and they’re looking to press charges. Madelyne is such an ice-cream lover that this whole situation has been stressing her out and she wants the police to take action. Then to make matters worse there have been copy cats!

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Black Faith

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