Barack Obama slams U.S. COVID-19 response, says crisis highlights racial inequalities in HBCU virtual commencement speech

Former President Barack Obama took the virtual stage on Saturday to deliver two commencement speeches during an unprecedented time in the nation’s history.

The speeches were addressed to high school and college graduates of the class of 2020. The coronavirus pandemic, which has disrupted the way of life across the globe, and the U.S. response to the crisis was one central theme in the addresses.

The first speech was aimed at graduates of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Obama, who has delivered commencement speeches at Morehouse College and Howard University in the past, commended the new alumni for getting through college amid financial and personal obstacles.

READ MORE: Michelle Obama partners with MTV for Prom-athon to celebrate 2020 grads

He also quipped that students completed their last semester at “Zoom University” in reference to Zoom Video, the video conferencing program that educational institutions and businesses alike hurriedly adopted for remote learning and working due to the virus outbreak.

“These aren’t normal times. You’re being asked to find your way in a world during a devastating pandemic,” Obama stated. “A disease like this just spotlights the inequalities and extra burdens that Black communities have historically had to deal with in this country.”

Thank you @BarackObama for your support for HBCUs—and for believing in the Class of 2020 as they set out to change the world. #ShowMeYourWalk pic.twitter.com/dqgqvbmksS

— UNCF (@UNCF) May 16, 2020

Halfway thru his eight-minute speech, Obama pointedly commented on the ineptitude of the government’s actions and lack of actions during the coronavirus pandemic.

“More than anything, this pandemic has fully, finally torn back the curtain on the idea that so many of the folks in charge know what they’re doing,” Obama continued. “A lot of them aren’t even pretending to be in charge.”

Obama also used the handling of the pandemic and long-standing racial inequalities to advise the students about the importance of effective leadership. He told students that “the status quo needs fixing” because “the old ways of doing things don’t work.”

READ MORE: Mitch McConnell forgets Obama gave Trump a coronavirus playbook; Dems remind him

While the speech was intended for graduating seniors, the words reverberate throughout society.

“As young African Americans, you’ve been exposed, earlier than some, to the world as it is,” he said. “But as young HBCU grads, your education has also shown you the world as it ought to be.”

Although he didn’t mention any names, some believe he was aiming at President Donald Trump.

According to The New York Times, White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany defended the current commander in chief, claiming his “unprecedented coronavirus response has saved lives.”

The post Barack Obama slams U.S. COVID-19 response, says crisis highlights racial inequalities in HBCU virtual commencement speech appeared first on TheGrio.

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Nelly ‘Verzuz’ Ludacris battle mishap convinces Twitter women do it better

The latest “Verzuz” Instagram Live battle on Saturday between Ludacris and Nelly, like its predecessors, was highly anticipated by music fans — particularly those who came of age during the late 90s and early 2000s.

Unfortunately, the friendly music battle between the hip-hop veterans was marred by the unpredictability of the internet. Early into the battle, Nelly’s WiFi was apparently in need of a modem reset as his feed repeatedly went in and out of sound and visuals while over 300,000 people awkwardly watched.

READ MORE: Jill Scott and Erykah Badu’s ‘Verzuz’ battle breaks record and heals souls

Even Ludacris himself pointed out the obvious as Nelly did his best to keep the show going.

Though the St. Louis rapper was eventually able to resolve the technical difficulties, it didn’t take long before Black Twitter made Nelly the butt of countless jokes and memes. Many quickly compared Nelly’s internet woes to Teddy Riley‘s sound issues during his “Verzuz” battle with Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds.

Some even pointed out the irony that Riley had apparently been laughing at Nelly during his live stream mishap.

Teddy Riley looking at Nelly like, didn’t you learn from me?! #Verzuz #nellyvsludacris #nellyvsluda pic.twitter.com/ebpdGI6JQW

— Rodney No King (@Rodbez1) May 16, 2020

Bruh!! Teddy Riley laughing at Nelly having technical difficulties is 2020 in irony! #Verzuz pic.twitter.com/Eo8pobQqYm

— Okay D-book!™ 💥 (@iitsdbook) May 16, 2020

This nigga nelly WiFi got him looking like he went back in time pic.twitter.com/N2pIBLgHmm

— DisMizzinthisbich (@DisMizz_) May 17, 2020

 

Others on Twitter pointed out that of the “Verzuz” battles so far, the only successful one without any technical issues was last week’s matchup between Erykah Badu and Jill Scott — proving that women truly do it better.

“Everybody had technical difficulties in [their] verzuz but Erykah and Jill Scott. They [were] vibrating on a higher frequency u boys need to get ya chakras right. Nelly and Ludacris need some sage,” said Twitter user @iamphilhunt.

“No live battle was as calm and beautiful as Jill Scott’s & Erykah Badu’s. See why women are better,” someone else tweeted.

READ MORE: What the Erykah Badu, Jill Scott battle taught us about group economics

Everybody had technical difficulties in they verzuz but Erykah and Jill Scott. They was vibrating on a higher frequency u boys need to get ya chakras right. Nelly and Ludacris need some sage. pic.twitter.com/dfZXZwys2C

— TigerHoods (@iamphilhunt) May 16, 2020

“Erykah Badu and Jill Scott had more than double the viewers (in comparison to Luda and Nelly) on their Verzuz WITH over 1 billion impressions,” wrote Twitter user @WannasWorld. “Numbers aside, the energy was great, the storytelling was refreshing and all ego was left at the door. More women battling please.”

“Jill Scott & Erykah Badu had a verzuz without fail ….black women make everything better lol,” tweeted @askashleyp.

Thankfully, Nelly was able to resolve his WiFi issues and he and Ludacris went on to give music lovers the trip down memory lane they were hoping for, playing hits like Ludacris’ “What’s Your Fantasy” and “Southern Hospitality” to Nelly’s “Country Grammar” and “Hot In Herre.”

Naturally, the rappers’ musical catalog could not be complete without their collaborations with some of music’s leading ladies including Janet Jackson (“Call on Me”), Kelly Rowland (“Dilemma”), Mary J. Blige (“Runaway Love”), Ciara (“Oh”), Missy Elliott (One Minute Man), Nicki Minaj (“My Chick Bad”).

NELLY & KELLY! “Dilemma was a HIT!!!!🙌🏾 pic.twitter.com/qBvj5538O9

— MEFeater Magazine (@mefeater) May 17, 2020

What’s more, some took to Twitter to acknowledge Ludacris and Nelly’s contributions to music that, in addition to collaborating with some of the best women in music to date, they also celebrated Black women and their many shades and shapes of beauty in their songs.

@Nelly_Mo and @Ludacris showing love and respect to black women and our natural beauty and curves after we experienced Goddesses@JillScottJS8 and @fatbellybella is pure Magic!! Black Woman are phenomenal. Black Men are phenomenal!No matter what Black People winning regardless

— Moving The Mountains (@MovingTheMtns) May 17, 2020

“@Nelly_Mo and @Ludacris showing love and respect to black women and our natural beauty and curves after we experienced Goddesses @JillScottJS8 and @fatbellybella is pure Magic!!” tweeted @MovingTheMtns.

“Black [Women] are phenomenal. Black Men are phenomenal! No matter what Black People winning regardless.”

The post Nelly ‘Verzuz’ Ludacris battle mishap convinces Twitter women do it better appeared first on TheGrio.

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6 Black Patients Who Died From Coronavirus — After Being Denied a Test!

Nationwide — Federal data has already confirmed that most of the deadly victims of COVID-19 in the United States are African American. However, many news reports are failing to report that many of those who have died from the virus were also denied tests. In fact, some were denied a test multiple times. Here are six cases:

#1 – Bassey Offiong: a 25-year old Nigerian American college student at Western Michigan University who died from the virus just a few weeks before his graduation. Detroit News reports that he was denied a test multiple times.#2 – Gary Fowler: a 56-year old from Detroit who died at home from the virus. USA Today reports that he literally “begged” for a test, but was rejected on multiple occasions.

#3 – Rana Zoe Mungin: a 30-year old social studies teacher from Brooklyn who died from the virus after being on life support for almost a month. CBS News reports that she was rushed to the hospital three different times and was denied a test each and every time.

#4 – Kayla Williams: a 36-year old mother from London, UK with three children who died from the virus just 24 hours after she called for an ambulance. The Guardian reports that was initially told that she was not a “priority”.

#5 – Deborah Gatewood: a 63-year old from Detroit who died from the virus just two weeks after testing positive. NBC News reports that she was denied a test three times from the very hospital where she worked.

#6 – Thomas Fields Jr: a 32-year old Navy sailor who was stationed in Norfolk, Virginia, who died from the virus. However, his story is a bit different. He himself was not denied a test, but prior to him feeling sick, his mom began to show the symptoms of the virus and was denied a test. WTKR reports that Thomas took care of his mom when she was sent home untested, but sadly he contracted the virus from her. As she got better, he got worse. Had she been given a test, she would have been in the hospital and would not have exposed her son to the virus.

There’s even a song about it

As to be expected, these stories have created a national uproar within the nationwide Black community. Activists, educators, preachers and even media personalities have been speaking up about it. One musician, whose son was denied a test, even talks about it in a viral R&B song he wrote (Listen to the song at CoronavirusSong.com).

The way of delivery may be different, but their message is the same: Black and brown people are being discriminated against when it comes to who gets or doesn’t get a COVID-19 test… and it’s killing them!

The article was originally published in BlackNews.com

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Private Investigator: Companies Are Hiring Us To Make Sure Employees Are ‘Working’ From Home’

A private investigator said his businesses is experiencing a boost in customers due to companies hiring his team to check up on employees who may be skipping out on work amid the coronavirus pandemic.

According to PIX11, Dorian Bond of Bond Investigations Inc. said his phone has been ringing off the hook from employers who have had trouble reaching their workers.

“Calls started coming in from corporations saying, ‘We need you to watch an executive, or somebody [else]. They’re supposed to be working from home and we can’t get ahold of them,” Bond told PIX11.

Bond Investigations Inc. was established in 2003 and operates in the U.S. and Canada. Bond said he could not name the companies that have hired his services due to confidentially agreements. However, he did say his firm took six calls from corporations that suspect an employee may be using the coronavirus to take a vacation.

“If I get the call, usually, [the company] is pretty sure it’s happening, they just need the documentation evidence so, when they decide to go with the termination, they have the proof,” Bond told PIX11.

Bond added that in the past several weeks, he’s caught people who were supposed to be working, playing golf, fishing, or boating. Bond also said he discovered two employees who were seeing each other intimately.

“A top executive was having a relationship with a subordinate, and they were ‘Zooming’ from the same house but in different rooms,” Bond said.

Bond said it bothers him to see employees playing on the job while millions of Americans suffer through the rigors of unemployment, filing for benefits, and waiting for coronavirus stimulus checks.

Telecommuting has become such a valued resource during the pandemic that tech giants Google and Facebook have said their employees can work from home through the end of the year. Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey told his employees they could work from home forever if they choose.

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Private Investigator: Companies Are Hiring Us To Make Sure Employees Are ‘Working’ From Home’

A private investigator said his businesses is experiencing a boost in customers due to companies hiring his team to check up on employees who may be skipping out on work amid the coronavirus pandemic.

According to PIX11, Dorian Bond of Bond Investigations Inc. said his phone has been ringing off the hook from employers who have had trouble reaching their workers.

“Calls started coming in from corporations saying, ‘We need you to watch an executive, or somebody [else]. They’re supposed to be working from home and we can’t get ahold of them,” Bond told PIX11.

Bond Investigations Inc. was established in 2003 and operates in the U.S. and Canada. Bond said he could not name the companies that have hired his services due to confidentially agreements. However, he did say his firm took six calls from corporations that suspect an employee may be using the coronavirus to take a vacation.

“If I get the call, usually, [the company] is pretty sure it’s happening, they just need the documentation evidence so, when they decide to go with the termination, they have the proof,” Bond told PIX11.

Bond added that in the past several weeks, he’s caught people who were supposed to be working, playing golf, fishing, or boating. Bond also said he discovered two employees who were seeing each other intimately.

“A top executive was having a relationship with a subordinate, and they were ‘Zooming’ from the same house but in different rooms,” Bond said.

Bond said it bothers him to see employees playing on the job while millions of Americans suffer through the rigors of unemployment, filing for benefits, and waiting for coronavirus stimulus checks.

Telecommuting has become such a valued resource during the pandemic that tech giants Google and Facebook have said their employees can work from home through the end of the year. Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey told his employees they could work from home forever if they choose.

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