In an attempt to combat the echo-chamber effect of algorithm-driven news apps, the new iOS app Gem tries something new.
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Monday, July 8, 2019
Starbucks apologizes after Arizona cops were asked to leave shop for making customer feel “unsafe”
Starbucks is in embroiled in yet another discrimination claim, but this time it’s six Arizona police officers who are crying foul after they were asked to leave because a customer complained of not feeling safe in their presence.
—Detroit concert fights reverse racism claims after charging white people more money for tickets—
Now the coffee company, which has battled a barrage of discrimination claims, has apologized saying that it was an “unacceptable” suggestion by a barista to ask the cops to either move out of the line of sight of the griping customer or leave, USA Today reports.
“This treatment of public safety workers could not be more disheartening,” the Tempe Officers Association said. “While the barista was polite, making such a request at all was offensive. Unfortunately, such treatment has become all too common in 2019.”
Rossann Williams, a vice president at the coffee chain, apologized for the treatment of the officers and released this statement.
“When those officers entered the store and a customer raised a concern over their presence, they should have been welcomed and treated with dignity and the utmost respect by our partners (employees),” Williams said in a statement. “Instead, they were made to feel unwelcome and disrespected, which is completely unacceptable.”
—Schools still struggling with how to teach about slavery—
The situation sparked the hashtag #DumpStarbucks with people showing both support for the Starbucks barista for asking the cops to leave and support for the police.
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Detroit concert fights reverse racism claims after charging white people more money for tickets
A music festival in Detroit is fighting off claims of reverse racism after selling higher priced tickets to white concertgoers while charging people of color a fraction of the price to attend.
—Texas teen who was denied job at Six Flags for his hair could sign with modeling agency—
A biracial hip-hop artist planning to play the AfroFuture Fest called out the event and threatened to pullout and Eventbrite made a move to take down the whole event after organizers posted the controversial price structure.
People of color were charged only $20 at attend the Aug. 3 event while others were charged the full price of $40 with the explanation that they were leveling the playing field for people in marginalized communities.
“Our ticket structure was built to ensure that the most marginalized communities (people of color) are provided with an equitable chance at enjoying events in their own community (black Detroit),” the organizers said according to the festival’s Eventbrite page. “Affording joy and pleasure is unfortunately still a privilege in our society for POC and we believe everyone should have access to receiving such.”
“We’ve seen too many times orgasmic events happening in Detroit and other POC-populated cities, and what consistently happens is people outside of the community benefiting most from affordable ticket prices because of their proximity to wealth,” the Eventbrite page continued. “This cycle disproportionately displaces black and brown people from enjoying entertainment in their own communities.”
The rapper Tiny Jag, who is biracial, pulled out of the event saying her grandmother is white and she no longer supported the festival.
“A lot of the songs that I perform are from my first project called Polly – that is my grandmother’s name,” said Tiny Jag, whose born name is Jillian Graham, told the Detroit Metro Times.
“How do you want me to come to a performance and perform these songs off a mixtape that is titled after this white woman that you would have charged double to get in here? Like, it’s just outrageous from so many different angles.”
—Schools still struggling with how to teach about slavery—
Eventbrite also took issue with the organizers and the explanation they gave and said they would cancel the festival’s page if they didn’t make the pricing equal across the field.
“Our mission is to bring the world together through live experiences,” Eventbrite told The Independent. “We strive to provide a platform that enables people to gather for their chosen purpose, and that reflects diverse viewpoints, so long as they don’t violate our terms.”
Now the festival has charged $20 to all potential concertgoers with a suggested donation to people of color.
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Schools still struggling with how to teach about slavery
“They made me a slave today.”
Aneka Burton still remembers the way her then 10-year-old son, Nikko, who is black, recounted his experience to his grandfather after school one day.
It was 2011. But Burton believes the classroom exercise in which Nikko’s classmates were encouraged to examine and pretend to bid on each other during a history lesson continues to affect his life, even now as an 18-year-old high school graduate.
“He tries to act like it didn’t bother him, but I really think it changed him,” the Gahanna, Ohio, mother said.
It’s those memories that leave her shaking her head years later as reports about mock slave auctions continue to emerge, reminders that schools are still struggling with how to teach about slavery and its impacts.
There are no national standards on how to teach about slavery, although it is often recommended as a topic in curriculum at the state and local levels, according to Lawrence Paska, executive director of the National Council for the Social Studies. The guidance leaves specific lessons up to schools and teachers, who on several occasions have caused offense with attempts to bring history to life.
An investigation by New York Attorney General Letitia James found in May that a mock “slave auction” that singled out black students at the private Chapel School in Westchester County had a profoundly negative effect on all involved students.
“Lessons designed to separate children on the basis of race have no place in New York classrooms, or in classrooms throughout this country,” James said.
Other recent examples include an “Escaping Slavery” game that gave North Carolina fourth-graders a freedom punch card that read: “If your group runs into trouble four times, you will be severely punished and sent back to the plantation to work as a slave.” Families also criticized a Virginia obstacle course intended to replicate the underground railroad, navigated by third-, fourth- and fifth-graders pretending to be runaway slaves.
“Teaching about slavery is hard,” summarized a 2018 report from the Southern Poverty Law Center, which surveyed more than 1,700 social studies teachers and analyzed textbooks. “No national consensus exists on how to teach about slavery, and there is little leadership. … It is time to change this state of affairs.”
Dozens of teachers surveyed reported simulations as their favorite lessons when teaching about slavery, according to the report, though its authors and others said such re-enactments do more harm than good.
At the Chapel School, the fifth-grade teacher who led the mock auction in March was fired. The school agreed to hire a diversity officer and change its discipline practices after parents complained that black students were lined up against a wall wearing imaginary shackles and “sold” to their white peers.
Nicole Dayes complained about a similar exercise in her son’s fourth-grade class in upstate New York’s Watertown City School District in May after he described it to her.
“His whole demeanor changed,” Dayes said. “It was kind of somber and uncomfortable … It took me a while to really comprehend what he was saying to me.”
The district said in a statement the teacher had been placed on administrative leave. Superintendent Patricia LaBarr said the district has since sought expert guidance on diversity, inclusion and equity as it reviews its policies and programs.
New York’s social studies curriculum is typical in that it outlines grade-level concepts — fourth-grade students “will examine life as a slave in New York state,” for example — but does not provide specific lessons.
Ill-conceived lessons happen enough that advocates like Teaching Tolerance, a project of the Southern Poverty Law Center, offer lesson plans with suggestions for texts and discussion. Teaching Tolerance plans to publish a framework for teaching about slavery in grades kindergarten through five in August.
“It’s never OK to recreate painful oppressive events, even in the name of education,” said Mara Sapon-Shevin, a professor of inclusive education at Syracuse University, who said teachers risk harming their students’ sense of belonging, safety and inclusion. “One would never simulate an Indian massacre or having Jews march into the ovens.”
Nor should teachers “gamify” painful history, Teaching Tolerance Director Maureen Costello said, citing exercises like having students compete to remove seeds from cotton.
“Often it’s done because it’s kind of traditional, maybe they had it when they were in school or they’ve heard about another teacher who did it and they think this is a great idea: It gets the kids out of their seats, they’ll be active,” Costello said.
In one example, a 10-year-old black child was told by a white student, “You are my slave,” in 2017 when a school near Kennesaw Mountain in Georgia invited fifth-graders to dress up as characters from the Civil War, according to the black child’s parent, Corrie Davis.
For generations, teachers have wrestled with lessons on discrimination, perhaps none more famously than Jane Elliott , who led a “blue eyes-brown eyes” exercise in her Riceville, Iowa, classroom in response to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968.
Elliott separated her third-grade class of white students by eye color and unapologetically treated one group as superior, calling them smarter and rewarding them with extra recess and other perks while demeaning the other group. She flipped the roles the following school day.
She said in an interview she has been through the same backlash as the New York teachers, and she stands by her exercise, which she credits with boosting students’ academic performance.
“Every student in my classroom who went through that exercise performed at a higher level academically than they ever had before because they found out the day they were on the top in that exercise how really smart they were,” she said.
Aneka Burton, whose son did not want to be interviewed, said she eventually pulled Nikko out of the school district, when it seemed he was being singled out for discipline and passed over for sports, and she was flooded with hate mail for making the issue public. The experience drastically altered his school experience, she said.
The school principal called to apologize.
“They were able to touch and feel on the slaves. It was really crazy,” she said. “Why would you think that’s OK to do to a child?”
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Kamala Harris on race and electability in 2020
Kamala Harris can’t forget the older black woman she met in Iowa while campaigning for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama before the state’s 2008 caucus.
“I remember her saying to me, ‘They’re not going to let him win,'” Harris recalled. “She did not want to go to the caucuses. She didn’t want to be disappointed.”
For Harris, it was a revealing moment, one she says illustrated the limitations many Americans, including black Americans, place on who is considered electable for the nation’s highest office.
Twelve years later, with American politics roiled by issues of race and gender, it’s Harris asking Americans to expand their definition of electability once again.
“Sometimes it takes a while to get people to see that this is possible,” Harris said in an interview with The Associated Press in which she discussed race and her standing as the most viable black woman to seek a major party’s presidential nomination.
The 54-year-old freshman senator from California is unabashedly and unapologetically embracing that role. She’s increasingly weaving her personal history into her campaign, including in a searing debate exchange last month with former Vice President Joe Biden over school busing. Her campaign was ready for the moment, quickly tweeting a photograph of Harris as a pig-tailed child, then selling T-shirts bearing the image.
As her place in the race has strengthened, Harris has found herself the target of smears about her citizenship and ethnicity, including by one of President Donald Trump’s sons, that echo the same lies and accusations Trump and others raised about Obama, the country’s first black president.
To Harris, it’s the cost of trying to break through long-standing barriers.
“When you break things, you get hurt, you bleed, you get cut,” Harris said. “When I made the decision to run, I fully appreciated that it will not be easy. But I know if I’m not on the stage, there’s a certain voice that will not be present on that stage. Knowing that there is a perspective, there is a life experience, there is a vision that must be heard and seen and present on that stage, and that I have an ability to do that.”
Harris, the daughter of an Indian American mother and Jamaican American father , entered the 2020 race with seemingly boundless potential: a compelling personal story and polished political pedigree; a prosecutor’s skill at taking on Trump’s record; and the prospect of drawing significant voting support from black women, who are the backbone of the party.
But the opening months of Harris’ campaign have been uneven. She’s faced questions from liberals about her record as a prosecutor in California and has been criticized for appearing cautious and guarded. Her fundraising in the second quarter significantly lagged Biden and Pete Buttigieg, the mayor of South Bend, Indiana.
Harris has gained ground recently due to her debate performance, particularly her exchange over race with Biden. She condemned Biden for his comments about working with segregationists in his early years as a Delaware senator and for opposing federally mandated school busing in the 1970s, powerfully explaining that she was bused as a child. Biden appeared taken aback, and later said he wasn’t prepared for Harris’ attack.
Harris suggested he should have been.
“People want to ask what was going on on that stage. I was not going to stand there and let people rewrite history,” she said. “We can’t write the next chapter without remembering what was in the last chapter. This is not manufactured. It’s something that’s very much a part of my identity.”
The moment was striking, and not just because it dented Biden’s standing as a front-runner.
Harris’ approach and her willingness to raise on her own the deep scars of America’s history with race marked a shift from Obama’s first campaign, when he often campaigned as an almost post-racial figure. His most prominent comments on race as a candidate came when his hand was forced and questions were raised about his controversial pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright. Some Obama advisers worried at the time that the matter might sink his candidacy.
Obama, of course, went on to win two terms in the White House. But his victories did not quell America’s racial tensions; if anything, they flared anew during his tenure and have worsened under Trump’s presidency.
Harris has faced some of the same questions about her race and citizenship as Obama, prompting her rival campaigns to quickly leap to her defense, but also stirring doubts about whether America is really ready to elect a black woman.
“She still has a lot more work to do assuring the American people,” said Linda Walters, a 55-year-old from Rock Hill, South Carolina, pointing to the questions about Harris’ background as proof. “It’s Barack all over again. Kamala is going to have to relieve some people of their fear.”
Harris acknowledged the sting of such comments, saying there are moments in the race that have been “very painful.”
“For me, it’s an affirmation of what a lot of us know, which is that there’s still a lot of educating to do about who we are,” she said, adding that she is loath to constantly be in position of doing that educating herself. “In my moments of fatigue with it all, I’m like, ‘Look, I’m not running to be a history professor.'”
Jill Louis, a Dallas attorney who was Harris’ sorority sister at Howard University, said questions about her electability say more about voters than Harris as a candidate.
“When women and people of color are ready to represent themselves, all they have to do is vote and it happens,” Louis said. “People are holding themselves back. The obstacle is people’s own disbelief in their own power.”
Last month, Harris stepped up her campaign outreach to black voters, drawing particularly on her ties as a Howard graduate to historically black colleges and the country’s influential nine black fraternities and sororities. Privately, some of her advisers also acknowledge that, like with Obama in 2008, some black voters will be watching to see if Harris can win over enough white Americans in early primary contests to prove her viability as a candidate.
Harris said she knows the skepticism about her candidacy, and the country’s willingness to embrace it, exist.
“There are always going to be doubters. That’s not new to me,” she said.
After her words hung in the air, the question came: “So how do you do it?”
“You win,” she said, nodding her head. “You win.”
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Outcry over police abusing Black family accused of shoplifting pushes Phoenix to roll out body cameras for officers
A Phoenix police officer yelled obscenities and forced an unarmed black man suspected of shoplifting up against a patrol car. Another aimed his gun at the man’s pregnant fiancee, ordering her out of the car with the couple’s two small children.
Dramatic video of the confrontation stirred outcry last month, and it came from bystanders’ cellphones rather than from officer-worn body cameras.
The police weren’t wearing them.
Although body-worn cameras are becoming a police standard nationwide, Phoenix was among the last big departments to adopt their widespread use. Leaders of Phoenix, the fifth-largest U.S. city with about 1.6 million people, quickly moved to fix that after the video emerged.
“Every single precinct will have body-worn cameras by August,” Mayor Kate Gallego said after the May confrontation she called “completely inappropriate and clearly unprofessional.”
The couple said their 4-year-old daughter took a doll from a store without their knowledge and rejected police suggestions they stole, too. No charges were filed. The couple has filed a $10 million legal claim against the city, alleging civil rights violations.
The department has had several hundred cameras for years, but it wasn’t until February that city leaders approved $5 million to buy and maintain 2,000 devices for a force approaching 3,000 officers. About 950 cameras were being distributed this week.
The purchase followed a city-commissioned National Police Foundation study that says Phoenix police had more officer-involved shootings than any other U.S. department last year. A separate database that tracks fatal shootings by police showed Phoenix officers also killed more people than any other agency in 2018.
The use of body cameras has burgeoned over the past decade following several high-profile killings of black people by mostly white officers in places like Ferguson, Missouri, and Baltimore.
When a Missouri grand jury in 2014 decided not to charge a white officer who fatally shot unarmed African American 18-year-old Michael Brown, his family called for police nationwide to use cameras.
Cameras are supposed to promote accountability and transparency and reduce officers’ use of force. A survey by the Washington-based Police Executive Research Forum says U.S. law enforcement agencies overwhelmingly support using them. A third now use cameras and nearly 47% plan to adopt them.
“When body-worn cameras first came out, there was some trepidation among officers that use of cameras would have unintended consequences,” said Chuck Wexler, the group’s executive director. “The reality is working cops now feel it is an essential part of defending what they do.”
The New York Police Department, the largest in the U.S., completed its rollout of some 20,000 body cameras early this year.
Around the same time, Phoenix police said they would speed up camera distribution after the study said they opened fire more than any other department last year.
“In 2018, Phoenix police faced more subjects armed with guns (or simulated guns) than in years past, and were no more likely to shoot at an unarmed subject than in years past,” the National Police Foundation report said.
It’s legal to carry a gun in plain sight in Arizona. The study said Phoenix had 44 police-involved shootings in 2018, including 23 that were fatal. That compared with 21 total shootings in 2017, 25 in 2016 and 17 in 2015.
The study referenced the Washington Post’s “Fatal Force” database, showing Phoenix far outpaced other departments in deadly shootings by police. No other agency registered more than 14 last year. New York City had four.
The findings weren’t surprising to many Hispanics and other minorities in the Phoenix area, who remain wary of law enforcement because of past racial profiling under Sheriff Joe Arpaio. He was convicted of contempt of court two years ago for ignoring a 2011 order to stop patrols targeting Hispanics, then pardoned by President Donald Trump.
Police departments in Phoenix and a handful of other cities also are investigating a database that appears to catalog thousands of social media posts by active-duty and former officers disparaging Muslims, black people, transgender people and others.
Phoenix Police Chief Jeri Williams, a black woman, called the postings “embarrassing and disturbing.”
The recent video of the black couple left many in Phoenix’s communities of color clamoring to describe their own encounters, revealing distrust, fear and resentment of police. They have called for wider use of body cameras and an independent review board to let residents weigh in on police behavior.
City leaders this week discussed a civilian review board, a move long opposed by the powerful police union.
The Phoenix Law Enforcement Association views body cameras as a valuable tool, though they can’t show “the totality of any situation,” including nuances of body language, union president Britt London said.
Jody David Armour, a University of Southern California professor of law and criminology, said body-worn cameras “have done quite a bit of good” but only work with strictly enforced requirements.
There have been complaints of officers not keeping their cameras rolling, including an Albuquerque, New Mexico, officer fired in 2014 for repeatedly failing to turn on the device, including the night he shot and killed a 19-year-old woman.
South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg briefly pulled himself from the presidential campaign trail last month after the fatal shooting of a black man by a police officer in his city. An investigation was launched into why the officer’s body cam was not recording and the city is considering buying more cameras for the force.
But even when used correctly, “technology is not a substitute for building trust,” said Mary D. Fan, a professor at the University of Washington School of Law and author of “Camera Power: Proof, Policing, Privacy and Audiovisual Big Data.”
The experts say both sides can benefit from cameras, which are meant to push police and the public to behave better because they know they are being recorded.
The devices bring contested police actions to light, including showing an officer in the Phoenix suburb of Tempe shooting a 14-year-old burglary suspect as he ran away in January.
Another video shown to media but not publicly released shows the boy on the ground, a fake gun under his arm.
“He’s just a (expletive) kid,” Officer Joseph Jaen said. “It’s just a (expletive) toy gun.”
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Sunday, July 7, 2019
Michelle Obama reflects on road to the White House and raising her daughters
New Orleans was the weekend home for stars during the 2019 Essence Festival, one of which was Michelle Obama who sat with CBS This Morning host Gayle King to talk how the White House affected her life.
In recalling her time in and leading to the White House, Mrs. Obama spoke about the detractors who created hurdles for her and her husband’s journey.
“For a minute there, I was an angry black woman who was emasculating her husband,” Obama recalled about the campaign. “As I got more popular, that’s when people of all sides — Democrats and Republicans — tried to take me out by the knees and the best way to do it was to focus on the one thing people were afraid of the strength of a black woman.”
—Barack and Michelle Obama to release first Netflix project ‘American Factory’ next month-—
CBS News reported Mrs. Obama and President Barack Obama are both enjoying their life after the White House; however, they acknowledge their work as leaders isn’t done.
“Barack and I aren’t living our best life until we’re all living our best life,” she said.
During her time with King, Mrs. Obama shared how Black people possess what is necessary to create the stories in order to make a positive change. She stated the belief is echoed by Reverend Al Sharpton, who notes Black women have the power of voice and story.
“I’m here to tell you, there is nothing we can’t do or change when we as a collective put our minds to it,” she said. “I feel that when I’m out there. We’re the ones we are waiting for. But that means we have to roll up our sleeves and do the work every single time.”
Mrs. Obama still champions her “when they go low, we go high” statement, citing it is a long-term strategy, which delivers the real answer to problems we face opposed to in the moment reactions or having the ability to “just go off.” The statement is not to ignore what is being said or done to you, instead, focus on how do you get to where you are trying to go.
During her time in the White House, America was able to watch Mrs. Obama’s daughters grow up. One of the keys to raising Sasha and Malia Obama was having the ability to “pretend like all the craziness around them isn’t happening.” That included letting the girls know that while they are the daughters of the president of the United States, their primary focus should be school and their own lives.
—Texas teen who was denied job at Six Flags for his hair could sign with modeling agency—
She would go on to detail the complexities of having little girls, including sleepovers.
“Imagine having Malia and Sasha come to your house for a sleepover. This is the call: It’s like, ‘Hello. OK, we’re going to need your Social Security number, we’re going to need your date of birth. There are going to be men coming to sweep your house, if you have guns and drugs, just tell them yes because they are going to find them anyway. Don’t lie, they’re not going to take them, they just need to know where they are. And, uh, thank you for having Malia and Sasha over. Oh, and by the way, there is going to be a man with a gun sitting outside all night. If you let him use the bathroom, that would be nice.'”
Through all of the madness of being America’s first family, Mrs. Obama is pleased that her daughters could have friends and a sense of traditional life as girls.
You can view the entire interview from the Essence Festival here.
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Stevie Wonder set to receive kidney transplant in September
The legendary Stevie Wonder announced he will be receiving a kidney transplant surgery this upcoming fall.
Appearing onstage at the British Summer Time Festival in London over the weekend, the 69-year-old singer revealed to the crowd his forthcoming procedure.
“So what’s going to happen is this: I am going to have a kidney transplant in September of this year,” Wonder told the crowd.
—GRAMMY SPOTLIGHT: First-time nominee, MAJOR. reveals the formula for the perfect love song—
The “Ribbon in the Sky” singer promptly assured the fans that he would be fine following the procedure. “I’m all good, I’m all good, all good. I have a donor and it’s all good.”
According to PEOPLE, Wonder will perform three more shows before he puts live shows on pause in preparation for the September recovery.
“I want you to know, I came here to give you my love and thank you for your love. You ain’t got to hear no rumors, I told you what’s up, I am good,” Wonder said on stage.
Following the appearance in London, Stevie Wonder is scheduled to perform at the 3Arena in Ireland as a part of The Stevie Wonder Song Party: Celebrating Life, Love and Music. An additional tour date for Stevie Wonder is scheduled for August 3 in Las Vegas.
The moment, this evening at Hyde Park, Stevie Wonder told us why he would be taking a break from performing…. pic.twitter.com/pwfjnczGKx
— Aleem Maqbool (@AleemMaqbool) July 6, 2019
TMZ detailed the response to the announcement from Stevie Wonder as a transition from shock to applause after receiving details from him that everything will soon be fine. The news follows a report from the Detroit Free Press that Wonder was dealing with a “serious but manageable” health issue. Additional details included that he was traveling with a medical team to tend to his needs on his short list of tour dates.
—Pose’s Janet Mock and Angel Curiel are reportedly an item—
Additional rumors regarding the health of the R&B singer included already starting dialysis. That report has not been confirmed. A request for comment from Wonder’s representation to PEOPLE has not been returned.
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Millennial Moves: Removing Barriers for Young, Black Accountants
While #BlackGirlMagic is an anthem that has successfully recognized the accomplishments of black women around the world, there is still more work that needs to be done to share the story of the African American male experience. For example, millennial leaders like Jeff Wilson II are breaking boundaries for young, black accountants in the accounting industry, where African Americans represent only 8.2% of the workforce, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Wilson started his career at a ‘Big Four’ accounting firm and was immediately included on the talent pipeline list as a potential firm partner. But he knew there was more to life beyond the cubicle and was willing to do whatever it took to expand opportunities for other underrepresented CPAs in the profession.
[MORE OF BLACK ENTERPRISE’S ‘MILLENNIAL MOVES’ SERIES]
So, at the age of 23, Wilson left his corporate career, grabbed a mentor, and created a small tax practice that served as a foundation for helping others to learn the basics of wealth-building. Ten years later, his firm has grown and stands strong with a team of driven millennial leaders.
Wilson’s mission is simple: To be a top firm that develops and mentors the next generation of CPAs and builds thought leaders in the areas of Accounting, Tax, and Financial Planning.
In this interview, Wilson, who is a principal at The W2 Group and author of The Lies our Parents Were Sold and Told Us, shares the secrets behind his success as a young financial entrepreneur:
Black Enterprise: What does it take to build a successful niche practice?
Jeff Wilson II: Niche businesses are great. Niche businesses have something most open businesses don’t have: Barriers to entry—and most importantly, margins to protect them from competitors. To do a niche business, you have to understand who your client is exactly.
Second, understand your competitors. How many people are selling the same product? If a lot of competitors have the same product to sell, it’s not going to hold a lot of value.
Lastly, develop and continue to enhance your skill set. Pick a skill or product that is unique and continue developing it so you’re out in the forefront when people think of this skill or product in need.
Did you face any challenges, opposition, or doubts from others as a young black entrepreneur? How did you establish your credibility in the industry?
As a minority in a predominantly white profession from a small HBCU, there are a lot of headwinds. No question, I faced a lot of opposition.
I started a financial services organization when I was 23. Who takes advice from a 23-year-old with no born privilege? That’s a tough sell to anyone.
However, you can’t focus on that, and I never did. I was told your reputation will make it there before you will. As a result, I made sure my name was a gold standard. I did my homework when meeting clients to assure them I was competent. I was always on time and I dressed like a professional. That alone, at least, got me a conversation with decision makers.
Then, I had to explain why they should take my advice. It helped that I was a CPA at 23 who could explain finances simply and in a believable manner. It probably didn’t hurt that I mentioned my positive net worth which I knew most people over 40 couldn’t say. A report in 2008 noted that most people under-40 had a negative net worth so I had something working in my favor. So, they listened and as a result, I am still here.
What advice do you have for other individuals who want to leave their corporate job and start their own firm?
My advice is this: Don’t quit your day job if you can’t go a year or more without a paycheck. Starting a business is hard and sometimes the reward comes much later than you think. It’s a journey to create lasting wealth for you and your family. It will take a while for the returns to show, but if you’re skilled and focused on your business 24/7, I am confident the rewards will come.
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How I Landed My First TEDx Talk and How You Can Too
I often get asked this question by other entrepreneurs; “How did you get to do a TEDx talk?” My answer is simple, I pitched my idea, and after submitting my speech to the TEDx committee, I was selected as a speaker. Here are strategies you can use to share your idea and how to avoid the mistakes that I made that almost prevented me from reaching the TEDx stage.
How to Land a TEDx Talk
Shoot your shot
My goal in 2018 was to give a TEDx talk. I thought I had my talk figured out. My first talk was going to cover utilizing the power of innovation to help prevent military veteran suicides.
Although I considered myself a subject matter expert, having recently developed an award-winning mobile application that helps veterans access life-saving resources, my talk wasn’t well thought out. I pitched a local TEDx event and made it to the top seventh pick. However, I was not selected to speak and was encouraged to pitch the following year again. I was devastated, to make it that far and not have an opportunity to share my ideas.
Rather than soaking in despair, I kept the TEDx goal on my whiteboard hoping to have the opportunity to pitch my idea for another TEDx conference. In speaking with a colleague in the industry, I randomly shared an idea that I wanted to talk about. To my surprise, my colleague said my idea was a great topic to speak about and advised me to send in a speaker proposal for a TEDx event —”Shoot my shot” were her exact words. To my amazement, I was finally selected as a TEDx speaker.
Develop your idea
The TEDx organizers develop a theme for every TEDx event. Your speaking topic should reflect the theme of the event. Alter your TEDx pitch around the theme and you stand a better chance of securing your spot on the TEDx stage. TEDx themes are readily accessible on their event website.
If TEDx has been your goal, continue to stay encouraged. You never know who you will meet and present an idea to that might end with you speaking on the TEDx stage.
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Saturday, July 6, 2019
10 Reasons Why White People Think Racism Is Over
“Are we now in a post-racial America?” This is perhaps the number two question asked since President Obama has taken office.Ever since Barack and Michelle Obama were sworn into office and moved into the White House, white America has banished the thought that “the racial deck is stacked.” With many white people believing that because Obama was president, any black man can, the belief is that racism as a whole is over.
One black American’s success isn’t proof that racial barriers no longer exist, but in the spirit of the argument, here 10 reasons as to why possible some white people think that racism is over.
Reasons Why White People Think Racism Is Over
White People Say They Understood ’12 Years A Slave’
(vimeo)
When Steve McQueen’s visually stunning film hit theaters, critics argued that their understanding of the history of slavery allowed for racism to be in the past for today’s life and times.
Eminem and Macklemore Became Blockbuster Hip-Hop Stars
(Wikimedia)
A collective reason why many white people believe racism is over stems from the multi-platinum and award winning success of Eminem and Macklemore. There is a host of next-gen rap fans who believe the culture stems from Eminem, which actually proves that racism is more entrenched than what is advertised.
Michael Jordan And Dr. Dre Are Billionaires
In a study done by the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, most white people believe that one black person’s success merits the end of racism. With celebrities such as Dr. Dre and Michael Jordan recently joining the Billionaire Boys Club, it’s apparent that white people believe that the playing field has been leveled for all of the black race.
Eve Married A Billionaire
(Instagram)
If Eve can marry that Gumball Rally 3000 guy then surely we are all created equal. Not to mention Serena.
Lupita Nyong’o Won An Oscar
(Instagram)
Hollywood is notorious for making people believe that all is right in the world after a big win. Such is the case for actress Lupita Nyong’o. One Huffington Post commenter even went so far that her 2014 Oscar win means that the playing field for powerful roles is leveled now.
Anybody Can Say The N-Word
Sure, Don Lemon may have had an awkward debate about the N-word, but that hasn’t stopped white people from saying the word however they want, (remember, Micheal Richards’ of “Seinfeld” TV fame, who went on an n-word rant back in 2012)?
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America Had A Black President
(Flickr/Gage Skidmore)
Some white people suggest that if Barack Obama could become president, so could any black man. The thought that systemic racial discrimination no longer exists in America and that black men and women are sitting next to success sounds a bit far-fetched when you look at the news.
Hip-Hop Is Global Pop
(Image: Wikimedia/Creative Commons)
Like most black musical art forms, hip-hop is just the latest in becoming a global phenomenon. As the culture started by the black and brown communities is now personified by white, you can hear the chants of “Everything is Equal,” off in the distance.
Interracial Dating Is Accepted
(iStock/bernardbodo)
The faces of America’s future has gone multiracial as whites are merging their DNA with “the other” to create a new breed of offspring. If you remember what National Geographic concluded with its previous magazine cover, then you should know that most white Americans are more inviting to Jamal and Tamia becoming their in-laws.
Miley Cyrus And Justin Bieber Adopted Black Culture Successfully
(wikimedia)
The twerker and the thug have indoctrinated themselves deep within black culture. While they are accepted amidst their respective controversies, the duo are still afforded the successes that come with their skin tone. If they are accepted by both white and black, isn’t that the dream Martin Luther fought for?
The ideas and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author’s and not necessarily the opinion of Black Enterprise.
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American Black Women Are Moving in Droves to This One Country
Who would have thought that Abu Dhabi would be an “it” place for black women professionals, with all the thriving cities here, at home. It goes far beyond location, as Abu Dhabi introduces the unique ability to enhance your resume, lifestyle, and the opportunity to feel financially secure.
First, toss out any of your preconceptions about Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. This is one of the hottest locations in the world (literally and figuratively), employing a vast variety of professional talent, mostly in education, finance, and healthcare. Though it used to be “hotter,” in terms of salary and prospects, it is still not to be dismissed. It may be the one place where starting over is possible, without reminders of what once held you back.
In a nutshell, Abu Dhabi is a starting point for anyone looking for something new, especially me.
Connection Begins Before You Even Leave
Thanks to the internet, I was introduced to a network of black expats from the Caribbean, U.S., and U.K. These groups welcomed me with open arms, and through LinkedIn, I had “coffee dates” before I stepped off the plane. I found other black women from all walks of life—teachers, pilots, investment bankers, Buddhists, and artists. Many of the black women I met were starting over after a death or divorce, millennials looking for new experiences, or reinventing themselves in their mid-life.
Money, Security, and Self
Abu Dhabi is still the “best kept” secret, with its sister, Dubai nextdoor—the more liberal Emirate. With fully paid health programs, flights, and positions with higher salaries than many parts of the world, it makes it easier to thrive instead of survive. Earning more while getting fantastic benefits is a great place to be in. This financial freedom, combined with the exotic surroundings, led to a complete epiphany about my own life: I was in complete control, and it felt glorious.
Find Your Favorite Reggae Spot in Abu Dhabi
If you think having a good job and a paid-for home is everything, that’s just the start. There’s cultural fun, including reggae parties, African markets, concerts, dining at the Shangri-La, Hakkasan, Cipriani, and a must-do brunch at The Rosewood, or the familiar early morning breakfast at IHOP. There was nothing I needed that I didn’t get, even through Amazon. I had five shipping addresses all over the world, which would hand-deliver via Aramex. There are no traditional street addresses or area codes in Abu Dhabi. The delivery guy would call me, ask me where I was, and it was my job to do the best to explain, but it always worked out.
A Network of Astounding People
The women that I met every Friday at Starbucks, resulted in my writing again and publishing a new book. These new friendships offered a sense of groundedness, as we were all expats and needed the same things. I also met with a group of executive women in Abu Dhabi occasionally, to support and swap business ideas.
Broaden Your Perspective
Travel reigns supreme. Several people I knew traveled to Seychelles, Maldives, Kenya, and India. I stayed inside the U.A.E. instead of traveling nearby, because there was plenty to enjoy locally. And yes, I was always tired from work. If there were any challenges, it was my long work hours, but I made sure I had fantastic weekends: Thursdays, drinks after work; Friday, brunches; and Saturdays, a desert excursion or the beach.
What Abu Dhabi gave me was renewed courage, new skills in a global economy, and cultural awareness that helped me navigate some awkward situations. In Abu Dhabi, I learned to take pleasure in self-care, too. It’s a lifestyle that any black woman can benefit from, if she dares.
-Editors’ Note: This article was originally published in July, 2017.
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How much more money (than you) does Kamala Harris have?
Sen. Kamala Harris of California is proving to be ruthless in her pursuit of the oval office.
As TheGrio previously reported, the congresswoman was quick to shade 2020 presidential hopeful Joe Biden on issues of race and school bussing during the Democratic debate last week, and now she’s leading the pack when it comes to reaping big money.
Sen. Harris raised nearly $12 million in the last three months, according to her campaign, the Los Angeles Times reports. Her fundraising for the second quarter came from nearly 300,000 donors, and a significant portion of donations came in the 24 hours following the Democratic National Committee’s first televised debate on June 27 — during which Harris confronted the former Vice President about his past positions on public school busing.
Read More: Biden says Kamala Harris’ attack at the Democratic debate caught him off-guard
During the debate, Harris discussed her own experience with being bused in the 1970s as an elementary school student growing up in Berkeley, Calif. Her campaign later confirmed it raised nearly half a million from sales of T-shirts showing the image of the senator as a little girl and the words “That little girl was me,” referring to comments she made to Biden about her busing experience as a child.
Harris, like several of her rivals, is a wealthy presidential candidate campaigning on helping low-income Americans.
“Working families need support and need to be lifted up. And frankly, this economy is not working for working people,” Harris said at the first 2020 Democratic primary debate last week.
Read More: Did Kamala Harris backpedal a bit on the issue of school busing?
She has proposed tax credits for the working class, a pay raise for teachers, universal health care, and vows to repeal the 2017 Republican tax bill because it “benefits the top 1%” of earners and “the biggest corporations in America.”
As one of the richest contenders in the 2020 presidential race, Harris’ campaign spokesman Ian Sams said the senator is “committed to lifting up average Americans.”
“She is motivated by the thought of people up at 3:00 in the morning trying to make it all work. Her agenda is meant to address their needs and improve their lives,” Sams said.
Biden, has reportedly made millions since leaving office in 2017, but has not yet released his tax returns, according to CNBC. Meanwhile, Harris and her spouse, lawyer Douglas Emhoff, reported about $1.9 million in adjusted gross income for last year, according to returns released earlier this year.
So just how did Sen. Harris became one of the most ballerific candidates in the 2020 presidential race?
Noting that she hasn’t always been rich, here’s how cnbc.com breaks down her financials:
- As a district attorney for San Francisco, Harris typically earned between $125,000 and $225,000, the report states.
- Her household income skyrocketed in 2014 when she married Emhoff. They filed joint taxes and reported about $1.2 million in adjusted gross income that year.
- Harris has also raked in $157,000 from her job in Congress last year.
- Her biggest bag came with the reported $320,000 she netted from her memoir, “The Truths We Hold,” which was released in January.
Meanwhile, Harris surged in polling after the debate.
The post How much more money (than you) does Kamala Harris have? appeared first on theGrio.
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3 Essential Steps to Discouraging Social Loafing
Have you ever worked in a group where some members contributed and others did not? If so, then you know how frustrating it can be. The problem with social loafing—the tendency of certain members of a group to get by with less effort than if they were working alone and who operate under the assumption that others’ efforts will cover their shortfalls—is that it has the potential to negatively impact work product, damage professional relationships, and contaminate workplace culture. Most people are willing to contribute if their individual efforts are acknowledged and appreciated. Social loafing prevents this result. Herein lies the dilemma.
Want to discourage the free-riders from stealing your thunder? Use these essential strategies to increase accountability and discourage social loafing:
1. Keep the team small. When teams grow beyond three to five members, the potential for social loafing is high. If there is a good reason for allowing the group to expand beyond these parameters (such as a significant workload coupled with an extreme deadline), break the team into sub-groups of no more than three members per group. Assign each sub-group a specific theme that can be broken up by task between the individual members. This strategy will help you get the same result as if you had simply limited the original group to three to five members. The goal is to discourage individual assignments from becoming fungible–and people from not fully participating (because the others won’t notice) or doing less work because their efforts are being duplicated elsewhere.
2. Develop the rules of engagement. If you set ground rules for group conduct at the outset, you’ll get less push back. Buy-in is essential when individuals are working so closely together and need to be cohesive to achieve a desired result. Think about the importance of deadlines, accountability and deliverables to your project. How do these factors bring you closer to the desired result? Make sure that the parameters are communicated early and often. Then make sure that they are enforced. If the team thinks that you’re just bluffing, they’ll undermine your authority and you’ll lose credibility.
3. Assign separate and distinct contributions for every team member. One surefire way to make certain that tasks do not become fungible is to make assignments that are separate and distinct. If you assign tasks in this way, no one can rely on another team member to pick up the slack. Each person will have to pull their own weight, which is exactly the point. The best way to create mutually exclusive tasks is to classify project components into specific buckets. For example: financial, communication, technology, oversight and R&D. Not only will this solve the social loafing issue, but it also helps the team to create a clear roadmap for results and assure that no critical aspect has been ignored.
Remember, people are motivated to contribute if their efforts are acknowledged and appreciated. Help the process along by discouraging social loafing with these essential strategies.
Black Enterprise Contributors Network
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Chicago woman claims she was gang raped at R. Kelly’s music studio
A Chicago woman was hospitalized this week after claiming she was sexually assaulted at R. Kelly’s former music studio.
The 31-year-old woman was picked up by paramedics a few blocks from the studio around 4:00 a.m. Thursday and brought to Rush Hospital, where she was treated for the sexual assault, a spokesperson for Chicago police confirmed to the New York Daily News.
Read More: R. Kelly moved out of the infamous studio where he allegedly held under-aged girls
The Chicago Sun-Times reports that according to police, the alleged rape victim told authorities that she was leaving a bar when she met three men, and got into their car. She then accompanied them to “what she believed was a music studio,” but once there she was assaulted by the group.
The woman called 911 after leaving the building, and authorities confirm receiving a report over a city-wide scanner that a woman was raped by three men at Kelly’s music studio. But police say “authorities have been unable to determine the exact location of the alleged assault,” Page Six writes.
The Grammy-winning star vacated the building in February, after a number of reported code violations forced a judge to enforce curfew restrictions that prevented the embattled singer from using the studio outside of a 12-hour window.
“R. Kelly can never be creative and do his job under these circumstances which leaves him no choice but to leave his building,” his attorney Steve Greenberg said at the time in a statement.
Read More: R. Kelly is staying visible despite sex abuse charges
Kelly is currently facing multiple charges related to the alleged sexual abuse of numerous women and young girls. He has rejected and denied all allegations leveled against him. His publicist, Darrell Johnson, told The Chicago Sun-Times that the singer “is looking forward to his day in court.”
Johnson also confirmed R. Kelly is writing music and working on a new album.
“Right now he is looking forward to the release of his first recording [since the latest indictments] hopefully in the next few months — and being able to tour and working with artists on more spiritual songs,” he said.
The post Chicago woman claims she was gang raped at R. Kelly’s music studio appeared first on theGrio.
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Cardi B begs fans for return of her wig after hurling it into audience
Cardi B says she got carried away when she threw her wig into the crowd at Finsbury Park in London on Friday. Now the hit-maker is begging for its safe return.
The controversial Bronx rapper is making headlines yet again after she hit the stage for day one of the Wireless Festival. At the show, she snatched her own wig off — hurling it into the crowd as she continued performing.
Here is the rub…
News18.com reports that the Grammy-winning artist wants her faux mane back!
Read More: Cardi B explains what went down between her and a well-known reporter
A video from the event shows fans in the audience fighting over the wig, “I GOT CARRIED AWAY… I want my wig back:/ Dm me,” Cardi B later tweeted. Several fans advised her to check the auction site eBay to see if it’s being sold. Others noted that they would add it to their own wig collection — and proudly wear it.
I GOT CARRIED AWAY …….I want my wig back:/ Dm me . pic.twitter.com/YPAmSbb9uP
— iamcardib (@iamcardib) July 6, 2019
Meanwhile, Cardi B rocked the crowd on the first night of the festival on Friday (July 19) and the audience reportedly went wild when she introduced Lil Nas X. The duo performed his debut hit, “Old Town Road,” which continues to dominate on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Taking to Twitter after the show, Cardi B praised the rapper, who recently came out as gay.
“I’m going to bed I have such S bad headache .I want to thank @LilNasX for coming out tonight at Wireless ! It was lit keep doing your thing ,the stars is the limit …..Stream rodeo for a date with lil nas,” she wrote.
I’m going to bed I have such S bad headache .I want to thank @LilNasX for coming out tonight at Wireless ! It was lit 🔥 keep doing your thing ,the stars is the limit …..Stream rodeo for a date with lil nas.
— iamcardib (@iamcardib) July 6, 2019
Read More: A$AP Rocky arrested in Sweden after fight breaks out with his crew, held for suspected assault
The Hip-Hop festival runs until Sunday (July 7), with performances from Travis Scott, Future and Rae Sremmurd.
A$AP Rocky was due to take to the stage on Sunday, but as TheGrio previously reported, he is currently detained in Sweden after being arrested Tuesday for a suspected “gross assault” that took place on Sunday.
Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Meyers, shared two video clips of the incident on his Instagram to prove his innocence in the matter.
The post Cardi B begs fans for return of her wig after hurling it into audience appeared first on theGrio.
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Friday, July 5, 2019
The Crown Act: California becomes the first state to protect natural hair
California is now the first and only state that has created a law to protect natural hairstyles and outlaw racial discrimination based on ones hairstyle.
A bill called The Crown Act was passed unanimously in California’s Assembly and Senate and was signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday.
This bill will protect people in workplaces and K-12 public schools who choose to have natural hair styles. The new law goes into place on Jan.1, according to the LA Times.
READ MORE: California set to become first state to ban discriminating against natural hair
The Crown Act, will strictly prohibit racial discrimination based on hair that continuously effect Black people. This act specifically will stop bans on certain styles, such as Afros, braids, twists, cornrows and dreadlocks.
Gov. Newsom saw the need for a bill like this after a Black teenage wrestler was forced to cut his dreadlocks off or forfeit a match. This hard decision forced the student to choose between two things, “lose an athletic competition or lose his identity,” Newsom told the LA Times.
“That is played out in workplaces, it’s played out in schools — not just in athletic competitions and settings — every single day all across America in ways that are subtle, in ways overt,” Newsom said Wednesday morning at the Capitol in Sacramento.
READ MORE: California teens arrested for the brutal beating of a special ed student
But The Crown Act’s name didn’t just happen over night, some thought was out into it. Crown is actually an acronym meaning, Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair, Vox News reported.
Supporters of the act say its acronym is just what the work place needs to open the doors of acceptance for all types of hair.
Sen. Holly Mitchell (D-Los Angeles) who also has dredlocs, says this act will protect natural hairstyles without fear or repercussions in the work place. Students will be able to go to school, and employees can work freely without feeling the need to change their appearance for other’s “comfort level”, Mitchell said.
“For us, it is a symbol of who we are. I know when I locked 15 years ago, I knew it was both a social and political statement to the outside world,” she said.
This bill has sparked other states to create bills that are just like The Crown Act. New York and New Jersey adopted legislation similar to The Crown Act in June.
The post The Crown Act: California becomes the first state to protect natural hair appeared first on theGrio.
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Meghan Markle makes surprise appearance at Wimbledon to support friend Serena Williams
Wimbledon has had its shared of surprises so far, but Meghan Markle added one more when she showed up at the tennis championship competition on Thursday to support her friend, Serena Williams.
The Duchess of Sussex joined the crowd to cheer on Williams in her round two match against Slovenia’s Kaja Juvan, reported Entertainment Tonight.
READ MORE: Serena Williams speaks on tennis career: “I feel like nothing’s going to stop me”
Meghan smiled often and cheered Williams on. The duchess was captured laughing and getting caught up with friends Genevieve Hillis and Lindsay Roth, who both attended Northwestern University with Markle.
This was one of only a few appearances Meghan has made since giving birth to son, Archie, with her husband, Prince Harry. She looked casual yet stylish in jeans, a black t-shirt from Lavender Hill Clothing and a L’Agence white blazer. Meghan accessorized with sunglasses from Finlay & Co, Pippa Small earrings and a fedora-style hat by Madewell. The hat is reportedly still listed as available on the Madewell site, according to the fashion site Meghan’s Mirror, which provides details on Meghan’s daily attire.
READ MORE: Meghan Markle makes first appearance as new mom at Trooping the Colour
Although no one knew this would be the particular game, ET says a source told the outlet that Meghan would come out to see Serena play, adding that the only thing that would have prevented the duchess from coming to support her friend was if baby Archie kept “her home last minute.”
A few days ago, Meghan’s sister-in-law, Kate Middleton, also attended the Wimbledon tournament. Last year, Meghan and Kate attended Wimbledon together to catch the match between Serena and Angelique Kerber. Williams lost that match.
The post Meghan Markle makes surprise appearance at Wimbledon to support friend Serena Williams appeared first on theGrio.
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Nipsey Hussle’s brother and mom want co-guardianship of his young daughter
Nipsey Hussle’s mother and brother are joining are attempting to gain co-guardianship of the late rapper’s 10-year-old daughter.
Samantha Smith, Hussle’s sister who was already in a court battle for co-guardianship with Tanisha Foster, mother of Emani Asghedom, filed an amended petition with the court adding Samiel Asghedom (known as Blacc Sam), and Angelique Smith to the document, according to The Blast.
READ MORE: Nipsey Hussle’s daughter to remain with sister of slain rapper, judge rules
In the legal document, obtained by website, Samantha Smith states that she, Samiel and Angelique have been a “constant and strong presence in Emani’s life. They have participated in her care and upbringing since her birth. Since the unfortunate murder of Emani’s father in March 2019, Samiel and Angelique have assisted in providing care for Emani.”
The document adds “the request to appoint Samuel and Angelique as co-guardians is, per the recommendation of Minor’s Counsel, a form of ‘insurance policy’ so that should anything happen to one of Emani’s guardians, other guardians are already in place to continue in providing for Emani’s care without having to return to Court.”
However, Foster is against this move. In court documents, she said she is Emani’s mother and believes the “Law and Policy of this state favors the protection of the rights of natural parents and their children. Objector has statutory priority over petitioner.”
Foster said that Emani was visiting her dad on the day he was killed and that the family now refuses to return her.
Smith “unlawfully took the minor and as of this date, despite objectors demand, refused to return the minor to Objector.”
Foster adds in the document that Emani’s “best interests” are not being served by this “act of removing the minor from her mother’s custody; and by refusing contact between minor and mother.”
Hussle, born Ermias Asghedom, died intestate, meaning he did not have a will at the time of his death, leaving the issue of custody of his daughter in the air since the girl’s mother has been trying to win it back.
The post Nipsey Hussle’s brother and mom want co-guardianship of his young daughter appeared first on theGrio.
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Biden says Kamala Harris’ attack at the Democratic debate caught him off-guard
Former Vice President Joe Biden says he was shocked at the way Sen. Kamala Harris came at him during the Democratic debate.
“I was prepared for them to come after me,” Biden explained in an exclusive interview on CNN. “But I wasn’t prepared for the person coming after me the way she came after me. She knew Beau, she knows me.”
READ MORE: Did Kamala Harris backpedal a bit on the issue of school busing?
Biden’s son, Beau Biden, who died in 2015, was a state attorney general like Harris.
During the CNN interview, Biden defended his past record on race and busing.
“It’s so easy to go back 30, 40, 50 years and take (his position) completely out of context,” Biden said, adding that his campaign also gets dirt on other candidates’ pasts but vowed to not go down that road. “I get all this info about other people’s past and what they’ve done and not done and I’m just not gonna go there. We should be debating what we do from here.”
“What I didn’t want to do was get into that scrum,” Biden added.
During last week’s Democratic debate, Harris brought up that Biden was a critic of busing to desegregate schools when he was a senator in the 1970s and 80s, and Harris also mentioned previous comments Biden made about how he could work with segregationist senators.
READ MORE: New 2020 Democratic poll reveals Harris and Warren tied for third place
But Biden told Cuomo that Harris’ accusations were a distortion of his record.
Biden explained that he supports “voluntary” school busing and busing when a court could prove that there were actions to keep schools segregated, but that he was against busing that was mandated by “unelected” officials.
“Busing did not work,” he said. “You had overwhelming response from the African-American community in my state…they did not support it.”
In the 1970s and 80s, Biden was an outspoken critic of federally mandated busing. Back then, he even sponsored a congressional measure that would have imposed funding limits for federal busing.
READ MORE: Top 5 winning moments from Sen. Kamala Harris during her first 2020 Democratic Debate
During the debate, Harris discussed her own experience with being bused in the 1970s as an elementary school student growing up in Berkeley, Calif., and said busing enabled her to get a great education.
Last week, Harris seemed to favor federal power to force school districts to bus but this week, she has said the decision should be made by local school districts.
The post Biden says Kamala Harris’ attack at the Democratic debate caught him off-guard appeared first on theGrio.
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