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Tuesday, November 19, 2019

T.I.’s daughter deletes her social media weeks after ‘hymen’ comment

It’s probably safe to say that Deyjah Harris is over the embarrassment that her dad-mandated hymen check has caused her, once her father spilled the news all across the Internet for all the world to see.

READ MORE: T.I. says half of his wife’s private parts belong to him

First rapper T.I.‘s daughter took her frustration out by unfollowing her dad, step-mom Tiny and sister Zonnique Pullins on Instagram. Complex reports that she has now deleted her own social media altogether.

Before she deleted her social media, Deyjah did thank her fans for their support. She also reportedly liked a series of tweets that called her father’s actions “disgusting,” “possessive” and “controlling,” before leaving Twitter.

READ MORE: After ‘intact hymen’ backlash, Deyjah unfollows dad T.I. on Instagram, parties in Mexico

Recently, rapper T.I. sparked public backlash after admitting in an interview that he accompanies his 18-year-old daughter to her gynecologist to make sure her “hymen is still intact.” Recently Deyjah was spotted in Mexico with the daughter of another famous rapper, Lil Wayne’s daughter, Reginae Carter, probably getting away from all the chatter about her private parts.

The blowback from the hymen controversy all started when T.I appeared on a podcast and revealed a little too much information.

“Right after the birthday, we celebrate… usually the day after the party. She’s enjoying her gifts. I put a sticky note on the door: ‘Gyno, tomorrow, 9:30,'” Tip said on the Ladies Like Us podcast.

“We’ll go and sit down, and the doctor will come and talk, and you know, the doctors maintain a high level of professionalism. He’s like, ‘Well, you know, sir: In order for me to share information…’ I say, ‘Deyjah they want you to sign this…so we can share information. Is there anything that you would not want me to know?'” He then recalled asking the doctor to “just check the hymen please and give me back my results, expeditiously.”

READ MORE: New York state legislator’s bill seeks to outlaw hymen exams

T.I has yet to comment further on the matter, but let’s hope he’s learned his lesson not to police his daughters’ bodies.

The post T.I.’s daughter deletes her social media weeks after ‘hymen’ comment appeared first on theGrio.



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Opinion: Websites Ask for Permissions And Attack Forgiveness

Web pages are increasingly powerful—asking for notifications, webcam access, or location—but this great power comes with great vulnerabilities.

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Kanye West partners with Dr. Dre to produce ‘Jesus is King Part II’

Kanye West has enlisted legendary Hip-Hop rapper and producer Dr. Dre for the second coming of his Jesus is King album.

READ MORE: Kanye West brings Sunday Service to Dayton, Ohio in honor of mass shooting victims

This record that Dr. Dre will work on will be the sequel to Ye’s newly released album is a Christian-themed collection of songs, Jesus is King, which was also accompanied by an IMAX film. This new project comes on the heels of the news that West will also drop yet another album on Christmas Day, his Sunday Service-inspired Jesus Is BornBillboard reports.

Complex reports that one of the reasons that West plans on releasing Jesus is King II, along with Dre, an award-winning producer that he hasn’t worked with before, is because he has had a well documented admiration of his work.

West gushed before about his affection for Dr. Dre.

“I first met Dre in December of 2003. He asked me to produce a track for the Game. At first I was star-struck, but within 30 minutes I was begging him to mix my next album,” Kanye recalled. “He’s the definition of a true talent: Dre feels like God placed him here to make music, and no matter what forces are aligned against him, he always ends up on the mountaintop,” he said in Rolling Stone’s piece on 100 Greatest Artists.

West is moving not so silent with all his new life plans.

READ MORE: Kanye West says that he’s the ‘Greatest artist that God has ever created’

On Sunday, famed Lakewood Church pastor Joel Osteen stood beside Kanye West and let him finish all his thoughts about his newfound affection for the Christian faith.

The Jesus Is King rapper took to the pulpit at the megachurch in Houston for a powerhouse Sunday Service, PEOPLE reports.

West gave his personal dissertation about why he’s walking with Jesus now, and putting Hip-Hop on the back burner. And in West’s signature style, he was unapologetic about designating himself as the “Greatest artist that God has ever created.”

West is also gearing up for an opera event called Nebuchadnezzar, which is directed by Vanessa Beecroft, on Nov. 24.

The post Kanye West partners with Dr. Dre to produce ‘Jesus is King Part II’ appeared first on theGrio.



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Nigeria's Edo State to pay women and men teams equally

The Edo State government in Nigeria announces it will now pay its women's team the Edo Queens the same as its men's side Bendel Insurance.

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LeBron James Announces ‘Transitional Housing’ For Students in Need At His I Promise School

The ‘King’ has officially added real estate developer to his résumé. According to CNN, Los Angeles Laker LeBron James is renovating a building for transitional housing for families in need at his I Promise School.

James announced that his I Promise School in Akron, Ohio, is partnering with Graduate Hotels to launch the I Promise Village, a transitional housing opportunity for families in need. The public school is operated by the LeBron James Family Foundation and Akron Public Schools. The school opened in 2018 and currently has more than 340 students in third, fourth, and fifth grades.

The I Promise School announced the plan via Twitter.

The I PROMISE Village by Graduate Hotels will begin renovations immediately and will be fully operational by the start of the I PROMISE School’s next school year in July 2020. 

James also announced the renovation of the building through his Twitter account, “Proud of this!!!!! There’s always more to be done when it comes to giving my kids an opportunity to be successful in life. Every barrier we remove can possibly change their family’s life and we’re never going to stop!!”

“Initially, our work was focused on helping these kids earn an education. But we’ve found that it is impossible to help them learn if they are struggling to survive — if they are hungry, if they have no heat in the freezing winter, if they live in fear for their safety,” James expressed to CNN. “We want this place to be their home where they feel safe, supported, and loved, knowing we are right there with them every step of the way as they get back on their feet.”

Related: 5 Major Power Moves Made by LeBron James

“The I Promise Village by Graduate Hotels will be a monumental next step for us and LeBron and his Foundation’s commitment to the future of the students and their families,” said Graduate Hotels founder and CEO Ben Weprin in a statement. “It’s humbling to see the change they are affecting on a daily basis and we’re honored to be a part of the journey.”

According to the LeBron James Family Foundation’s website, its mission is to “positively affect the lives of children and young adults through education and co-curricular educational initiatives. We believe that an education and living an active, healthy lifestyle [are] pivotal to the development of children and young adults.” 



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Google Shakes Up Its 'TGIF'—and Ends Its Culture of Openness

Amid leaks and protests, CEO Sundar Pichai is drastically shrinking the company-wide meeting that was once a symbol of Google's idealism.

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DuckDuckGo Will Automatically Encrypt More Sites You Visit

If a site offers HTTPS, DuckDuckGo's Smarter Encryption will take you there.

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The Most Iconic Space Movies Get a Very Grounded Fact-Check

Astronaut Nicole Stott unpacks (and debunks) some of the more memorable Hollywood depictions of outer space.

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Can Fake Horns Save the Rhino? That's … Extremely Thorny

Scientists can now flood the black market for rhino horns with horsehair fakes. Conservationists, however, have serious concerns.

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Every Startup Needs to Prepare for Its Downfall

Silicon Valley lives in denial, so nobody plans for the inevitable.

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Wish List 2019: 52 Amazing Gift Ideas You'll Want to Keep for Yourself

The best gadgets and gear for all your family, friends, and unindicted co-conspirators.

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What It Takes to Turn a Vintage F-16 Into a Drone

The US Air Force is resurrecting old fighter jets from a boneyard in Arizona as moving targets for live-fire exercises in the Gulf of Mexico.

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The Pride and Prejudice of Online Fan Culture

Why 'Star Trek' and 'Game of Thrones' nerds owe a debt to Jane Austen obsessives.

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Oh My God, Netflix, Please Chill Out!

The carousel of hair-trigger auto-plays is now my nightmare reality.

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Six-Word Sci-Fi: Sketch the Plot of ‘Star Wars: Episode XXI’

Each month we publish a six-word story—and it could be written by you. 

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Microtasks Might Be the Future of White-Collar Work

Microsoft is experimenting with inserting small Word doc jobs into people's Facebook feeds, letting them get work done while trying to procrastinate.

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Monday, November 18, 2019

MIT Energy Initiative report charts pathways for sustainable personal transportation

In our daily lives, we all make choices about how we travel and what type of vehicle we own or use. We consider these choices within the constraints of our current transportation system and weigh concerns including costs, convenience, and — increasingly — carbon emissions. "Insights into Future Mobility," a multidisciplinary report released today by the MIT Energy Initiative (MITEI), explores how individual travel decisions will be shaped by complex interactions between technologies, markets, business models, government policies, and consumer preferences — and the potential consequences as personal mobility undergoes tremendous changes in the years ahead.

The report is the culmination of MITEI’s three-year Mobility of the Future study, which is part of MIT’s Plan for Action on Climate Change. The report highlights the importance of near-term action to ensure the long-term sustainability of personal mobility. The researchers ultimately find that continued technological innovation is necessary and must be accompanied by cross-sector policies and changes to consumer behavior in order to meet Paris Agreement targets for greenhouse gas emissions reductions.

“Understanding the future of personal mobility requires an integrated analysis of technology, infrastructure, consumer choice, and government policy,” says MITEI Director Robert C. Armstrong, a professor of chemical engineering at MIT. “The study team has examined how these different dimensions will develop and interact, and the report offers possible pathways toward achieving a more sustainable personal transportation system.”

The study team of MIT faculty, researchers, and students focused on five main areas of inquiry. They investigated the potential impact of global climate policies on fleet composition and fuel consumption, and the outlook for vehicle ownership and travel, with a focus on the U.S. and China. They also researched characteristics and future market share of alternative fuel vehicles, including plug-in electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, and infrastructure considerations for charging and fueling, particularly as they affect future demand. Another main area of focus was the future of urban mobility, especially the potentially disruptive role of ride-hailing services and autonomous vehicles.

The researchers find that there is considerable opportunity for reducing emissions from personal mobility by improving powertrain efficiency and deploying alternative fuel vehicles in the coming decades. These changes must be accompanied by decarbonization of the production of the fuels and electricity that power these vehicles in order to reach global emissions mitigation targets and achieve cleaner air and other environmental and human health benefits.

“Our analysis shows that reducing the carbon intensity of the light-duty vehicle fleet contributes to climate change mitigation goals, as part of the larger solution,” says Sergey Paltsev, deputy director of the MIT Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change and senior research scientist at MITEI. “If we are to reach international goals for limiting temperature rise and other climate change-related impacts, we will need comprehensive climate policies that promote the adoption of alternative fuel vehicles in the transportation sector and simultaneously decarbonize the electricity sector.”

Several factors influence an individual’s decision to adopt an alternative fuel vehicle, such as a battery electric vehicle. The researchers found that the most important, interrelated factors that impact alternative vehicle adoption include cost, driving range, and charging convenience. They conclude that as production volumes increase, battery costs and the purchase price of electric vehicles will decrease, which will in turn drive sales. Improved batteries would extend the vehicle range, reinforcing the attractiveness of alternative fuel vehicles to consumers. Greater deployment of electric vehicles creates a larger market for publicly available charging infrastructure, which is critical for supporting charging convenience. Early government support for alternative fuel vehicles and charging and fueling infrastructure can help launch a self-reinforcing trajectory of adoption — and has already contributed to an increase in alternative fuel vehicle deployment.

“We found that substantial uptake of battery electric vehicles is likely and that the extent and speed of this transition to electrification is sensitive to evolving battery costs, availability of charging infrastructure, and policy support,” says William H. Green, a professor of chemical engineering at MIT and the study chair. This large-scale deployment of battery electric vehicles is expected to help them reach total cost-of-ownership parity with internal combustion engine vehicles in approximately 10 years in the U.S. It should also lead to new business opportunities, including solutions for developing cost-effective methods of recycling batteries on an industrial scale.

The researchers also examined the role of consumer attitudes toward car ownership and use in both established and emerging economies. In the U.S., the researchers analyzed trends in population and socioeconomic factors to estimate future demand for vehicles and vehicle travel. While many have argued that lower car ownership and use among millennials may lead to a reduced personal vehicle fleet in coming decades, the study team found that generational differences could be completely explained by differences in socioeconomics — meaning that there is no significant difference in preferences for vehicle ownership or use between millennials and previous generations. Therefore, the stock of light-duty vehicles and number of vehicle-miles traveled will likely increase by approximately 30 percent by 2050 in the U.S. In addition, the analysis indicates that “car pride” — the attribution of social status and personal image to owning and using a car — has an effect on car ownership as strong as that of income. An analysis of car pride across countries revealed that car pride is higher in emerging vehicle markets; among established markets, car pride is highest in the U.S.

The adoption of new technologies and business models for personal mobility at scale will require major shifts in consumer perceptions and behaviors, notes Joanna Moody, research program manager of MITEI’s Mobility Systems Center and a coordinating author of the report. “Symbolic and emotional attachments to car ownership and use, particularly among individuals in emerging economies, could pose a significant barrier to the widespread adoption of more sustainable alternatives to privately owned vehicles powered by petroleum-based fuels,” Moody says. “We will need proactive efforts through public policy to establish new social norms to break down these barriers.”

The researchers also looked at China, the largest market for new vehicle sales, to analyze how cities form transportation policies and to estimate how those local-level policies might impact the future size of China’s vehicle stock. To date, six major Chinese cities and one province have implemented car ownership restriction policies in response to severe congestion and air pollution. Our researchers found that if the six megacities continue with these restrictions, the country’s light-duty vehicle fleet could be 4 percent (12 million vehicles) smaller by 2030 than it would be without these restrictions. If the policies are adopted in more of China’s cities facing congestion and air pollution challenges, the fleet could be up to 10 percent (32 million vehicles) smaller in 2030 than it would be without those restrictions.

Finally, the team explored how the introduction of low-cost, door-to-door autonomous vehicle (AV) mobility services will interact with existing modes of transportation in dense cities with incumbent public transit systems. They find that introducing this low-cost mobility service without restrictions can lead to increased congestion, travel times, and vehicle miles traveled — as well as reduced public transit ridership. However, these negative impacts can be mitigated if low-cost mobility services are introduced alongside policies such as “first/last mile” policies (using AVs to transport riders to and from public transit stations) or policies that reduce private vehicle ownership. The findings apply even to cities with vastly different levels of public transit service.

Building on the research started under the Mobility of the Future study, MITEI has now launched a new Low-Carbon Energy Center, the Mobility Systems Center. Approaching mobility from a sociotechnical perspective, the center identifies key challenges, investigates current and potential future trends, and analyzes the societal and environmental impacts of emerging solutions for global passenger and freight mobility.

The Mobility of the Future study received support from an external consortium of international companies with expertise in various aspects of the transportation sector, including energy, vehicle manufacturing, and infrastructure. The report, its findings, and analyses are solely the work of the MIT researchers.

For more information or to access the "Insights into Future Mobility" report, visit energy.mit.edu/insightsintofuturemobility.



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Black-Owned Manufacturing Company Brings in $25K a Month

As a black woman, Pandwe Gibson knew that creating a new manufacturing company and providing circular economy goods through reusing what some consider trash to make products in a $300 billion industry wouldn’t be easy.

However, the startup founder of EcoTech Visions has fulfilled her incredible goal of acquiring 16 business clients in the first six months of starting her smart manufacturing company, gaining about $25,000 in revenue each month.

According to Atlanta Black Star, Gibson genuinely hopes that her business will develop into a large network of smart manufacturing facilities that help small business owners run their businesses.

Gibson says, “think of us like Kinkos but eco-friendly.”

Part of the goal of Gibson’s services is to provide entrepreneurs with eco-friendly packaging. Even better is that her ‘smart company’ can help entrepreneurs get access to eco-friendly materials for an affordable price. Gibson also started a nonprofit version of her company in 2015 called EcoTech Visions Foundation in which she trains aspiring workers, helping them to create green businesses.

Gibson’s road to EcoTech Visions wasn’t an easy one. It was reported that her first start-up was a charter school network called ReNEW Schools and was growing in her career when tragedy struck and one of her students was murdered. Not only did it devastate her, but it also caused her to lose faith in the education system.

She then decided to provide both young people and adults with help to be able to prepare them for the world with knowledge that most schools couldn’t offer. After leaving ReNEW Schools, she was able to move to Miami and apply the same skill set she used while working in education to help support and grow three of her friends’ businesses before moving on to develop a plan to create her own business.

Gibson hopes to expand her company by 2025.



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Eliud Kipchoge: The man, the methods & controversies behind 'moon-landing moment'

Eliud Kipchoge made history in October by becoming the first person to run a marathon in under two hours. Here's how he did it.

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LGBT refugees: Life in Kenya after fleeing Uganda

Mbazira Moses and his friends are trying to rebuild their lives after fleeing anti-gay discrimination.

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Philando Castile’s girlfriend sues mayor over ‘crack cocaine’ tweet

Diamond Reynolds, who was front and center sitting beside her boyfriend Philando Castile when he was shot and killed by a cop in 2016, is suing the Elysian, Minn. Mayor for a tweet she says attacked her character.

READ MORE: Sheriff’s deputy tweets Diamond Reynolds will blow settlement on ‘crack cocaine’

According to the suit, Tom McBroom, a former Rice County sheriff’s deputy, launched a callous tweet back in 2017 aimed at Reynolds, saying that “she needs to come off County and State Aid now that she has some cash. It’ll be gone in 6 months on crack cocaine,” The Star-Tribune reports.

Reynolds, who is Black, live-streamed the aftermath of his shooting and received $800,000 in settlements. McBroom is white and was elected to mayor in 2018.

“The Defendant was alleging that Plaintiff is an abuser of serious drugs, has an addiction that causes her financial stress, and is someone who bases her entire existence in terms of her costs of daily living on support from municipalities and other state of Minnesota entities,” the suit said.

According to the suit, McBroom’s comments are “defamatory, false and racially motivated.”

When McBroom was previously asked why he assumed that Reynolds, who did not have a history of drugs, was a crack user, he replied, “History,” according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

McBroom has since tried to defend himself by claiming that his words were being misinterpreted, saying that he meant that he had seen a “history” of people blowing the money they got in settlements, according to City Pages.

McBroom was under fire and ultimately demoted for “misconduct” according to the outlet.

“His comments were not the beliefs of our agency, and we’re trying to move forward in a positive manner,” Sheriff Troy Dunn said. “I hope that [the public] just trusts that we’re in this to do the right thing and that we’re trying to provide great training and great people to do a job here.”

READ MORE: Philando Castile’s girlfriend receives $800,000 settlement

The suit contends that Reynolds is suffering from “pain, emotional distress and damage to her reputation.”

“The conduct of the Defendant delineated herein was intentional and constitutes intentional inflection of emotional distress …,” the suit said.

She is seeking $50,000 in damages and attorney’s fees.

The post Philando Castile’s girlfriend sues mayor over ‘crack cocaine’ tweet appeared first on theGrio.



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Oakland Pays Unprecedented Tribute to CEO and Hometown Hero Bernard Tyson

“Don’t ask permission to help improve the lives of the people and communities you’ve pledged to serve. Instead, march through the doors of red tape, make bold moves, and usher in access for your communities to be served.” — Bernard Tyson, 1959-2019

If the measure of a man can be taken by the outpouring of genuine sorrow and respect once he is gone, then the late CEO of Kaiser Permanente, Bernard J. Tyson, was without question among the rarest of revered corporate leaders.

On Sunday morning, Tyson’s flag-draped casket was placed in the center of the palatial circular lobby of the Rotunda, one of the most impressive and distinctive spaces in the city of Oakland, as a steady stream of admirers filed past.

Some, like Raymond McGuire, Citi’s Global Head of Corporate and Investment Banking, had flown in from New York in time to pay his respects a day before Tyson’s invitation-only memorial service, which will take place this afternoon at none other than the new San Francisco home of the Oakland Warriors.

For McGuire, Tyson was more than a professional peer, he was a friend.

To others, he was a mentor and a boss. Asked what set Tyson apart as a leader, John Nelson, Kaiser’s vice president of communications, struggled to compose himself before answering. He spoke first of Tyson’s deep humanity, his sense of humor, and how “he loved to laugh and to make people laugh.”

But Nelson, who worked closely with Tyson for the last decade, went on to laud the CEO for his constancy in pressing the organization to live up to its mission, “and not just in a trite way,” Nelson pointed out, “in a real way. One of his broadest accomplishments is that it feels like public service to work at Kaiser Permanente.”

Great Speaker, Oakland Champion, and Jay-Z Fan

While Tyson was outspoken in his advocacy of making healthcare affordable, it was in part his affection for and commitment to the city of Oakland that led Kaiser to hold Sunday’s public viewing. It was an unprecedented gesture, and Nelson admits the team of about 20 volunteers wasn’t sure what to expect.

By Nelson’s estimate, about 2,000 people paid their respects, gently directed by a team of hostesses, all volunteers from Kaiser’s African American Professional Association, which Tyson helped launch several years ago.

Among the personal friends like McGuire, and colleagues like Nelson, were those who didn’t know Tyson. They only knew of him but were nonetheless moved to come to the Rotunda to pay their respects.

A local kid (Tyson hails from another Bay area city, Vallejo) who began working at Kaiser as an intern while pursuing his M.B.A. at Golden Gate University, he became the model smart, young black male who could start at the bottom and make it to the top. The fact that he did so without losing himself or his ties to the black community is a primary aspect of what many say set him apart.

“My favorite thing about Bernard was his authenticity and how comfortable he was with himself and how down to earth he was,” said Dr. Linda Oubre, president of Whittier College. “He believed not only in climbing up the ladder of success, but also made sure to pull up others with him. He was as comfortable giving a speech to corporate executives or playing Jay-Z at a business meeting.”

Oubre and her husband, Nate Oubre, a Kaiser executive, attended Harvard Business School with Tyson’s widow, Denise Bradley-Tyson, and have known him for almost 30 years. “Today’s repose was quintessential Bernard: warm, loving, calm, and respectful. It was beautiful to see so many people whose lives were touched by Bernard come together.”

Many of Kaiser’s 200,000 employees came. Some knew and worked with him during his more than 30-year career at the healthcare provider. Others only knew of him but, with heads bowed and in hushed tones, they expressed their appreciation for his work and their shock at his sudden death on November 10.

Tyson, who knew he had a heart condition, died in his sleep mere hours after speaking at Afrotech, which he attended with his family.

Paying Honor, Shedding Tears for Bernard Tyson

Patricia J. Titus is a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge who attended Stanford University as an undergraduate with Bradley-Tyson. A second marriage for both, the Tysons recently celebrated their 10th anniversary.

“A lot of our peers from Stanford are Kaiser doctors,” Titus noted. “They’re devastated. You expect the family to be devastated, but the reaction of the staff has been unprecedented.”

Without question, she added, Tyson made an indelible impact not only on his peers in corporate America, healthcare, and the nonprofit world, but also on average people—especially African Americans in California, where this native son is revered as much for being a hometown hero as a giant in business.

“Today’s ceremony was done with such excellence,” Titus said. “It was very befitting a man of his stature.

“It was important for me to be here,” she added, “and not just as a friend. He took his job seriously and he did so much good. It’s important to pay honor to whom honor is due.”



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Star Wars News: There Might Be a New ‘Star Wars Holiday Special’

Jon Favreau is into the idea, so it’s definitely possible.

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Opinion: AI For Good is Often Bad

Trying to solve poverty, crime, and disease with (often biased) technology doesn’t address their root causes.

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JAY-Z is hot with Colin Kaepernick for not ‘playing ball’ on NFL’s terms

Once again, the NFL is  pissed with Colin Kaepernick.

READ MORE: As Jay-Z is reportedly linked to Kaepernick’s NFL workout, some issues with the league surface

Many people had concerns about whether or not the NFL’s workout offer was a legit opportunity for the former quarterback to show his best moves in front of the league’s coaches. Even the principled quarterback had reservations about the gesture. And so when Saturday’s “opportunity” arrived, Kaep flipped the script and changed the location of his NFL workout from the Falcons facility to a local high school, in a move that gave him more control over the narrative.

That move didn’t sit well with the league, Sports Illustrated reports.

Earlier in the week, Kaepernick learned that the NFL has opened up an opportunity for him to be evaluated by teams at a private workout over the weekend. During this session, teams would be able to assess his readiness to play professionally once again.

But then questions surfaced over the legitimacy of the opportunity, after it was reported many of the team head coaches and scouts wouldn’t even be in attendance and no media was invited to capture the moment.

Also, JAY-Z’s name was raised as having a hand in opening up the chance for Kaepernick to be scoped out.

Initially the rapper received a ton of flack not just from fans but also from members of Kaepernick’s inner circle after it was announced that through his company Roc Nation, JAY-Z would be co-producing the Super Bowl Halftime show and also contribute to Inspire Change, a foundation the NFL started in response to public outrage over their mishandling of Kaepernick’s peaceful #TakeTheKnee protest.

Now a source revealed that JAY-Z is “disappointed with Colin’s actions and believes he turned a legitimate workout into a publicity stunt.”

Kaepernick told the league instead that he opted to move the workout to Charles R. Drew High School in Riverdale, Ga on Saturday. A handful of scouts were on hand. However, Hue Jackson, who was leading the first NFL workout, instead returned to the airport and didn’t attend.

“From the outset, Mr. Kaepernick requested a legitimate process and from the outset the NFL league office has not provided one,” his agent, Jeff Nalley, and attorney, Ben Meiselas, said in a statement.

“Most recently, the NFL has demanded that as a precondition to the workout, Mr. Kaepernick sign an unusual liability waiver that addresses employment-related issues and rejected the standard liability waiver from physical injury proposed by Mr. Kaepernick’s representatives.”

Mike Florio from Pro Foot Ball Talk, a site powered by NBC Sports believes that what makes this clause even more sinister is that if signed, it would have legal prohibited Kaepernick from ever addressing the collussion allegation in the courts again.

However journalist Mark Maske of the Washington Post, received a tip from an anonymous source from the NFL that contends that “[t]he employment clause in the waiver that the NFL wanted Colin Kaepernick to sign was related to potential worker’s compensation issues if he’d been injured and was not related to any of Kaepernick’s collusion-related claims, in the league’s view.”

READ MORE: Colin Kaepernick posts video of private workout session with Odell Beckham Jr.

The NFL has responded in a length post saying they were “disappointed” Kaepernick didn’t show up for the Falcons facility 2:30p.m. workout to show his football readiness.

Kaepernick even wore a “Kunte Kinte” shirt, alluding to the fact that he is not a slave who is willing to turn into a Toby.

We stan(d) for Kaep.

The post JAY-Z is hot with Colin Kaepernick for not ‘playing ball’ on NFL’s terms appeared first on theGrio.



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Hundreds gather to honor and celebrate Alexis Crawford’s life at her funeral

On Saturday, hundreds of people paid tribute to Alexis Crawford, the young Clark Atlanta University student who was killed earlier this month.

READ MORE: MISSING: Clark Atlanta student hasn’t been seen in almost a week

The funeral for Crawford was held nearly a week after her body was recovered, following the filing of a missing person’s report by her family members.

Crawford, 21, was killed allegedly by her roommate, Jordyn Jones, and the roommate’s boyfriend Barron Brantley. Jones was reportedly Crawford’s best friend, and both suspects have since been arrested and charged with murder.

Family and friends gathered at Cornerstone Church in Athens and remembered Crawford as a “smart” and “bright” student who touched many lives, 11 Alive reports.

“Alexis Janae Crawford was just a quintessential college student from a small town,” the Rev. Markel Hutchins said. “She was smart and brilliant and beautiful.”

Kelly Girtz, the mayor of Athens where Crawford’s family lives, embraced the CAU student known as “Lex,” as everyone’s daughter.

“Alexis is every one of our daughters,” Girtz said. “Alexis is every one of our friends.”

Crawford’s friend Deajia Kershaw reminisced about how the two would dream about their future.

“We would just sit and just talk about how we are going to be so rich,” Kershaw said. “How we’re going to be so rich and have a big house. So, Lex, for the both us, I’m going to get that degree.”

Alexis’ sister Alexandria Crawford shared an intimate moment, which would be the last that two would share.

“I would like to share with you all, one of her last texts with me. On Monday, she texted ‘All of this is in God’s plan, it will work out for me. Praying it will,’” Alexis’ sister said at the funeral.

“I will never forget you. I remember your love forever, said Crawford’s friend Khadijah Grier, said.

“I can rest better now, knowing she’s in heaven,” her brother said.

Crawford and Jones reportedly got into a fight in their off-campus apartment, after they went out to buy alcohol. Warrant documents states that Brantley, Jones’ boyfriend, then got involved in the altercation.

READ MORE: Murder suspect has been charged in Clark Atlanta University student case

“Something is broken and I’m going to fix it as chairman of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners,” Fulton County Commissioner Robb Pitts promised. “Crawford family, you have my word.”

“It hurts to the core,” said Dr. George French Jr. the president of Clark Atlanta University.

“But God still loves this family. God still has your back.”

One of Crawford’s friends also promised to start aa scholarship on her name.

The post Hundreds gather to honor and celebrate Alexis Crawford’s life at her funeral appeared first on theGrio.



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The Real ID Is Nearly Here, and You Can’t Fly Home Without It

Next October, the TSA will stop accepting standard driver's licenses as ID. Here’s how to get the Real ID—and why some people hate the idea.

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15 Delightful Gifts for Music Lovers and Audiophiles

From headphones and speakers to accessories for their vinyl LPs, these gift ideas will appeal to any audio lover.

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Dwyane Wade Launches Sock Line PKWY at Target Stores Nationwide

Retirement isn’t really retiring when you’re still working. According to BET, former Miami Heat basketball player Dwyane Wade has launched a sock line.

Wade’s sock line, PKWY, which was founded back in 2013,is now be available nationwide at Target stores. Dwyane is a co-founder of the company and hopes this new venture will breathe new life into the brand. PKWY, which launched last year in February, was co-founded by Wade in a partnership with Stance. Wade and Stance have worked together since 2013 when he became the first NBA athlete to represent the company and co-created an ongoing collection that carried his name.

“I’ve always loved socks as a fashion piece because they add a true layer of personality to your style,” Wade shared in a press release. “This new joint venture is the perfect next step in what’s been an amazing partnership, and it only makes sense that the first lifestyle socks to come out under the PKWY umbrella pay tribute to a city I love so much.”

Dwyane Wade PKWY Target

PKWY at Target (Image: Dwyane Wade/Facebook)

As Wade says on the PKWY website, “We don’t just make socks, we make true colors. New collections to reveal the uniqueness of your voice. New styles to amplify the passion in your heart. The world is full of expression, so don’t be afraid to put it out there. What you believe can unite us in our diversity. If it can inspire us through our differences. It can elevate us through our uniqueness. Because it all belongs on your sleeve … or your feet … or your anywhere.”

Wade is a retired three-time NBA Champion (2006, 2012, and 2013) and 12-time All-Star selection. In 2006, three years after first joining the Heat as the No. 5 overall draft pick, he led the team to Miami’s first-ever NBA Championship and was named MVP of the Finals. In 2012 and 2013, Dwyane won his second and third NBA Championships. In 2004, he created the Wade’s World Foundation, which provides support to various educational, health, and family service programs, in particular, those that benefit underserved communities in Miami and his hometown of Chicago. In 2011, Wade was appointed to President Obama’s Fatherhood Task Force. In September 2012, he became a New York Times best-selling author, with the release of his first book, A FATHER FIRST: How My Life Became Bigger than Basketball.



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Kanye West says that he’s the “Greatest artist that God has ever created”

On Sunday, famed Lakewood Church pastor Joel Osteen stood beside Kanye West and let him finish all his thoughts about his newfound affection for the Christian faith.

READ MORE: Kanye West brings Sunday Service to Dayton, Ohio in honor of mass shooting victims

The Jesus Is King rapper took to the pulpit at the megachurch in Houston for a powerhouse Sunday Service, PEOPLE reports.

West gave his personal dissertation about why he’s walking with Jesus now, and putting Hip-Hop on the back burner. And in West’s signature style, he was unapologetic about designating himself as the “Greatest artist that God has ever created.”

“I know that God’s been calling me for a long time and the devil’s been distracting me for a long time,” West confessed.

The rap artist also spoke candidly about his mental health issues.

“When I was in my lowest points, God was there with me and sending me visions and inspiring me, and I remember sitting in the hospital at UCLA after having a mental breakdown and there’s documentation of me drawing a church and [wanting to] start a church in the middle of Calabasas,” he added.

West continued, “all of that arrogance and cockiness that y’all have seen from me, God is now using for him,” he said.

“Because every time I stand up, I feel that I’m standing up and drawing a line in the sand and saying, ‘I’m here in service to God and no weapon formed against me shall prosper,’ ” he said.

“Jesus has won the victory. I told you about my arrogance and cockiness already. Now the greatest artist that God has ever created is now working for him,” he added.

West still, however, had some of that cockiness on deck when he silence someone off camera. He told them to stop talking while he was speaking because sometimes he gets a stream of consciousness, and needed to concentrate.

READ MORE: Kanye West performed two secret concerts for Harris County jail inmates

“I go into these streams of consciousness when I’m talking, and when you speaking in the middle of it, it distracts me,” he told someone. “I really appreciate the support, but I would like for everybody to be completely silent so I can let God flow through me as I speak to you guys today.”

Some 15,000 free tickets were distributed for the service which were gone in a record seven minutes.

The church itself welcomes some 50,000 people a week, Chron.com reports.

Kim Kardashian, West’s wife, was front and center smiling watching him from the audience.

“He reaches people that we will never reach in the church world,” Osteen told ABC after the service.

The post Kanye West says that he’s the “Greatest artist that God has ever created” appeared first on theGrio.



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Burglars Really Do Use Bluetooth Scanners to Find Laptops and Phones

Bluetooth scanners are readily available and easy to use—which means that smash-and-grab car break-in might not have been pure chance.

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How Earnest Research Into Gay Genetics Went Wrong

When a well-intentioned study led to a dubious DNA test for same-sex attraction, it exposed the need for safeguards on research in the age of big genetic data.

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Today’s Cartoon: Streaming Dreams

Subscription fatigue is real.

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Al Hilal begin Libyan bid to host international games

Al Hilal play Kenya's Gor Mahia in Benghazi to start a bid for Libya to once again host international matches.

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Blind Ghana student 'violently' pulled from UK university

Ebenezer Azamati says he felt "unwelcome" in Britain after being "violently removed" from the Oxford Union.

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Star Wars: Beyond the *Rise of Skywalker*

The franchise hasn't really been about the movies for a long time. Three writers explore the outer edges of the Star Wars storyverse.

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Padmé Amidala, Queen of Empty Space

Her full story isn't found in the Star Wars movies—but in the fragments left behind.

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Everybody Loves Rey, a Star Wars Story

Daisy Ridley's character is a misfit scavenger, with a no-nonsense wardrobe to match. That's why cosplaying rebels have embraced her outfit—and her power.

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A Journey to Galaxy's Edge, the Nerdiest Place on Earth

How Disney's Imagineers created a whole new part of the Star Wars universe.

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France returns Omar Tall's sword to Senegal

It belonged to 19th Century leader Omar Saidou Tall who fought French imperial forces in Senegal.

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Sunday, November 17, 2019

Letter from Africa: The great train safari from Tanzania to Zambia

Taking the Tazara line, built in the 1970s by the Chinese, is like travelling in a bygone era.

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Ever tried revenge honey? It tastes good

Justin Rowlatt is attacked by bees in Ethiopia's Tigray province, where vast tracts of land have been regreened.

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How Ford Created the Mach-E, Its Fully Electric Mustang SUV

The Mach-E, Ford's first serious attempt at a zero emissions car, came to life in a two-year sprint to catch up with an electrifying industry.

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Solange Knowles hosts ‘Bridge-s’ art installation at the Getty Museum

Solange Knowles hosted an immersive art piece at the Getty Museum in Los Angeles on November 16 and 17 titled Bridge-s.

The art display featured singers in silk orange attire, musicians playing trombones and trumpets, and dancers who crafted human displays of art and moved through the crowd all in an effort to promote black unity.

READ MORE: Solange Knowles addresses rumors that she cheated with manager

The art piece is stated to have created an experience that spanned across the the Getty Museum’s open courtyard, according to The Guardian.

“Composing the music for this piece and directing it, alongside [choreographers] Gerard & Kelly, has been so fulfilling for me as I enter new planes as a composer and writer,” Knowles said of the performance installation. “I just thank you guys for allowing me the space to evolve and experiment and express new frontiers.”

The Los Angeles Times detailed the performance, which is described as a “transition through time,” was held in front of 400 people for the preview before being open to the general public on Saturday and Sunday.

The crowd for the preview included Tyler, the Creator and Blood Orange’s of Dev Hynes.

At the conclusion of the performance, Solange took a bow with the cast of 24 and spoke to the crowd, thanking them for “allowing me the space to evolve and experiment and express new frontiers.”

Previous art experiences from Solange included performances at Hammer Museum and in Marfa, Texas, and, in 2018, the singer performed live at New York’s Guggenheim Museum, where she brought in the assistance of Black dancers and musicians.

READ MORE: Mathew Knowles says Beyoncé & Solange have given him ‘love and care’ through his battle with breast cancer

The art installation is a part of The Getty Research Institute’s effort to improve the representation and inclusion of Black personalities, resulting in $5 million to source more Black artists.

“We have long been inspired by the unique performances Solange has staged in various iconic art and architectural spaces, and her ability to both inhabit a locale, while simultaneously pushing its boundaries,” a spokesperson for the Getty Museum told The Guardian. “Her bridging of cultural worlds is especially full of potential at the Getty, a cultural center that stands within the diverse city of Los Angeles.”

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Benny Emeri: Food Artist Bakes In Fashion And Pop Culture For Unique Desserts

BE Modern Man: Benny Emeri

Food artist; 31; Co-founder, EatGoodNYC

Twitter: @eatgoodnyc; Instagram: @eatgoodnyc

I am a food artist and the co-founder of EatGoodNYC, a speciality food art company in New York City. We are known for our unique dessert gifts and our even more unique style of incorporating pop culture, art, and fashion in the mix. In 2014, we created the selfie cookie and five years later, it’s a trend in the culinary world, including a show involving creating selfie cookies on the Food Network. Our clients not only are people looking for a unique gift or dessert, they are also looking for a unique experience and relationship through our customer service.

WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF IN LIFE?

Being a respected black entrepreneur means the world to me. Reading Black Enterprise since I was a teenager and seeing respected businessmen that looked like me inspired me to be the man I am today.

HOW HAVE YOU TURNED STRUGGLE INTO SUCCESS?

With EatGoodNYC being an online-based company, I had to find a way to attract clientele and show people my art. Aside from using social media to my advantage as a food artist, I would head to Manhattan from Queens to network and meet with people. My big break was when I took a selfie cupcake (our signature item) of [English model, actress, and singer] Cara Delevinge to an event she was part of. I couldn’t get into the event, so I waited outside with paparazzi for two hours just for the opportunity to maybe see her. When she finally came out, I pulled out my selfie cupcake and just waved at her. She looked at me and screamed, “WTF is that?!” She came over and asked to see it and if she could take a picture of it. The next day I woke up to that picture of her with the cupcake in Vogue, the Daily Mail, and other big publications.

WHO WAS YOUR GREATEST MALE ROLE MODEL AND WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM HIM?

Not really having a father figure around, and growing up in the era when rap moguls were a big thing in the early 2000s, I looked up to guys like Dame Dash, Jay Z, and P. Diddy. To this day, you can hear me referencing a Jay or Diddy rap line in my everyday experiences. My favorite line that I live by is from Jay Z: “All I got is dreams. Nobody else believes. Nobody else can see. Nobody else but me.” I remember telling someone I was going to start baking and they laughed. Honestly, It didn’t even affect me because I saw the vision; I always knew I was going to be here.

WHAT’S THE BEST ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED?

A Brooklyn poet once said, “Keep low and keep firing.” In my head, that means keep focused and turn these crazy dreams into reality.

HOW ARE YOU PAYING IT FORWARD TO SUPPORT OTHER BLACK MALES?

I’m paying it forward through open communication and always lending a hand, by being always willing to help anyone no matter how big or small the task may be. I have a special place in my heart for my people, because I know firsthand how hard it is to acquire certain opportunities and experiences.

HOW DO YOU DEFINE MANHOOD?

I’m replacing the word “manhood” with “adulthood,” because I try not to hold men and women to different standards on account of their gender. Adulthood to me is about taking responsibility for your own actions and decisions and taking control of your destiny in a manner befitting you and those who have a stake in your decisions. Adulthood is knowing it’s not always about you, and you must take responsibility for making society better around you.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT BEING A BLACK MAN?

We the sh*t!!! Pardon my French, but we are the most stereotyped and the most feared, and with the chips against us we thrive and show the world how great we are. You give us the ghettos and we create hip-hop, you give us a ball and we take over every major sport. That’s what we do!


BE Modern Man is an online and social media campaign designed to celebrate black men making valuable contributions in every profession, industry, community, and area of endeavor. Each year, we solicit nominations in order to select men of color for inclusion in the 100 Black Enterprise Modern Men of Distinction. Our goal is to recognize men who epitomize the BEMM credo “Extraordinary is our normal” in their day-to-day lives, presenting authentic examples of the typical black man rarely seen in mainstream media. The BE Modern Men of Distinction are celebrated annually at Black Men XCEL (www.blackenterprise.com/blackmenxcel/). Click this link to submit a nomination for BE Modern Man: https://www.blackenterprise.com/nominate/. Follow BE Modern Man on Twitter: @bemodernman and Instagram: @be_modernman.

 



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Will.i.am says racist flight attendant had police waiting on his arrival

Black Eyed Peas frontman will.i.am said he and members of his team were victims of a flight attendant’s racism.

Will.i.am and his crew were on board a flight when the police were called on them.

READ MORE: Will.i.am mocks Trump with ‘Grab ’em by the Pu$$y’ music video

The “Boom Boom Pow” musician would head to Twitter to express his feelings toward the incident. He detailed what occurred on the Qantas flight that was scheduled to travel from Brisbane to Sydney.

CNN detailed will.i.am was wearing noise-canceling headphones when an announcement as made to put away electronics, including laptops. He did not hear the announcement due to his headphones and had his computer out, which led to the encounter.

Will.i.am was asked about the laptop by the flight attendant directly, and though he put the computer away, the police were still called and waiting on his arrival.

According to the New York Daily News, will.i.am. stated the flight attendant also gave another person of color a “hard time” during the duration of the flight, and was rude to him in their interaction. The flight attendant allegedly told will.i.am that he had two minutes to put the device away or be met with consequences.

The artist stated he was “pulled away” and “intimidated” by five officers when he landed. He was eventually released by officers after a fellow passenger corroborated what occurred during the flight. The passenger would describe the interaction with the flight attendant as “out of control.”

“I was intimidated by 5 police officers when I landed…for what? I put away my laptop when she asked…why would she feel threatened by me to call the police? What did I do wrong? I wasn’t out of hand.. I was polite & did what she asked… now you’re asking me to take abuse?” will.i.am. tweeted.

“I was on the same flight and couldn’t believe the appalling behaviour of the flight attendant. My apologies on behalf of Australia,” fellow passenger Kate Selway tweeted, according to the Daily News.

READ MORE: Will.i.am tweets angrily at United after airline gave away his seat

“There was a misunderstanding on board, which seems to have been exacerbated by will.i.am wearing noise canceling headphones and not being able to hear instructions from crew,” the airline said in a statement to the Daily News.

“We completely reject the suggestion this had anything to do with race. We’ll be following up with will.i.am and wish him well for the rest of the tour.”

The post Will.i.am says racist flight attendant had police waiting on his arrival appeared first on theGrio.



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Gospel Hip-Hop Artist Lecrae Invests in Audio Mixing Company MXD

The hip-hop world continues to get technical. According to The Source, gospel hip-hop artist Lecrae Devaughn Moore has invested in an audio mixing company.

The artist/businessman has invested in a company called MXD. MXD was started by Jacob “Biz” Morris, a Grammy Award-winning engineer and audio mixer. MXD allows independent artists, A&Rs, producers, podcasters, film composers, and just about any other type of creator to upload their tracks to the website and through a variety of costs and services, receive a professionally mixed recording in 48 hours or less. The price of the lowest package for a single track costs just $95.

“We’re in a time in history where technology is providing solutions for nearly every field. The entertainment world needs these solutions and I’m committed to making sure they are affordable and accessible,” says Lecrae, as quoted on Gospel Music Association’s website.

“Before MXD my inbox was flooded with requests for services, but at rates I couldn’t commit to,” explains Morris. He shared the number of direct messages and emails requesting audio engineering services with Lecrae, who introduced him to Oust founder Dan Duncan to help create a solution. Through the Oust Labs Accelerator and startup studio program, Morris went from ideation to execution within three months. Morris says Oust’s support has been instrumental in launching his brand. “Their team pushes the boundaries on creativity,” he said. ”Oust’s branding is amazing and the team is phenomenal!”

“Building a record label from the ground up has given me a deeper appreciation for what it takes to put out your music independently,” explains Lecrae. “Although I’m now partnered with a major label, I started out as an indie artist and still run an independent label. I wish technology like MXD was available when I started out.”

Lecrae is the president, co-owner, and co-founder of the independent record label Reach Records. Lecrae has received nominations for Artist of the Year at the 43rd, 44th, 45th, and won the award at the 46th GMA Dove Awards. He was also nominated for a BET Award for Best Gospel Artist in 2013 and in 2015, became the first hip-hop artist to win that award.



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Guggenheim Museum hires Ashley James as its first Black curator

The Guggenheim Museum in New York City has officially hired the first full-time Black curator in its history, Ashley James.

James will occupy the position of associate curator of contemporary art at the notable museum, which has been around since 1959.

READ MORE: Acclaimed novelist Ernest Gaines dies at 86

Art News detailed James began her position at the Guggenheim in the past week. Previously, she was the assistant curator of contemporary art at the Brooklyn Museum in New York. During her tenure, she lead the Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power exhibition.

“Ashley is a curator who has demonstrated incisive and intersectional thinking about contemporary artistic practice,” Nancy Spector, the Guggenheim’s artistic director and chief curator, said in a statement. “Her work complements the Guggenheim’s mission to present the art of today, which we understand as a deep and expansive view of art history.”

The New York Times said James served as Mellon Curatorial Fellow in the Museum of Modern Art’s drawings and prints department, focusing on artists Adrian Piper and Charles White. She also previously worked at the Studio Museum in Harlem and Yale University Art Gallery. She will receive a Ph.D. from Yale in English Literature, African-American Studies and women’s gender and sexuality studies this coming spring.

READ MORE: Real reason why Solange pulled out of this year’s Coachella

“I am eager to begin work with my colleagues to develop new research, explore new ideas for exhibitions, programs and publications and continue to expand and shape such a vital collection,” James said in statement.

The hire of James follows an art show curated by Chaédria LaBouvier, which made her the first Black woman to curate a solo exhibition in the history of the Guggenheim. Prior to the solo exhibition, Nigerian curator Okwui Enwezor contributed to a group exhibition of African photography in 1996.

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Former NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg says ‘I Was Wrong’ for stop-and-frisk policy

Former New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg is currently planning his Democratic presidential run and looking to get ahead of detractors by apologizing for his support of the “stop-and-frisk” strategy, employed by the New York Police Department.

The strategy was supported for a decade by Bloomberg and led to the stopping of numerous Black and Latino citizens across the city.

READ MORE: Chicago top cop connected to Jussie Smollett case under investigation

In a speech, the first since expressing his interest as a presidental candidate, Bloomberg stated “I was wrong” and “I am sorry” to potential supporters.

Bloomberg went on to say that he understands he “can’t change history,” and “I apologize” to anyone that was wrongly stopped as a part of the policing efforts.

The New York Times cites the 77-year-old billionaire publicly backtracked on a component of his mayoral tenure that gained him the most notability.

The speech occurred at the Christian Cultural Center in Brooklyn, a location that was considered to be one of the targeted communities, largely African-American, for the policing that was impacted by the strategy.

CNBC details the tactic was enacted in 2002, the same year Bloomberg took over as mayor. In the “stop-and-frisk” strategy, the NYPD would target those who they had reasonable suspicion of breaking the law. Results of the practice did lead to weapons being confiscated, but also a greater number of innocent residents stopped for no reason.

Prior to this Sunday’s apology, Bloomberg was considered to be stubborn in his defense of the practice during his runs for mayor. He would also stand by the efforts during a 2013 court case, which ruled he violated the constitutional rights of minorities.

READ MORE: ‘The Squad’ members reportedly plan to endorse Bernie Sanders’ 2020 run

The apology from Bloomberg was stated to be an effort to regain the trust of Black and Latino communities.

The practices were found to be humiliating and degrading, and were a central focus of the  Mayor Bill de Blasio‘s run for office.

The post Former NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg says ‘I Was Wrong’ for stop-and-frisk policy appeared first on theGrio.



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The Roots’ Black Thought to Teach the First-Ever Hip-Hop Master Class at Carnegie Hall

How do you get to Carnegie Hall? “Practice, practice, practice,” the saying goes. According to Okayplayer, The Roots frontman, Tariq Luqmaan Trotter aka “Black Thought” will be making his way to the famed concert space in New York City.

From February 3rd through the 5th, the Philadelphia emcee will host the first-ever hip-hop master class at Carnegie Hall. Any interested artists between the ages of 18-35 can apply starting now until December 6th.

Carnegie Hall announced via its Twitter account, “Just announced!@BlackThought will host #CarnegieHall’s first hip-hop master class this February. Working with rising MCs from around the country,@TheRoots frontman will lead free workshops on lyricism, flow, and delivery. Learn more: http://bit.ly/372jdsu.”

Found on the Carnegie Hall website, “Legendary hip-hop artist Black Thought leads a three-day workshop for rising and professional MCs ages 18–35 that culminates in a showcase by the invited participants. Over the course of the workshop, participants will explore the history of hip-hop and examine the technical skills employed by the genre. Invited MCs should come prepared to workshop their music, focusing on lyricism, flow, style, and delivery. Black Thought will equip participants with tangible exercises to improve their overall artistry. This exploration will give participants the opportunity to hone their technical abilities and continue to craft their individual sounds. The workshop will also provide participants with invaluable insight into Black Thought’s outstanding career of more than two decades, as well as opportunities to reflect on how one can achieve and sustain excellence as an artist.”

Info for the Master Class:

Timeline

  • Application Open: November 13, 2019
  • Application Deadline: December 6, 2019
  • Invited Participants Notified: December 18, 2019
  • Program Duration: February 3–5, 2020

Application Requirements

All materials should be submitted electronically through Acceptd, a digital audition platform for performing arts schools and programs.

  • Biography (100–150 words)
  • Current Headshot
  • Audition Videos 
    • In a one-minute video, address the question “Why music?” and showcase your lyricism, flow, style, and delivery. You are also welcomed to share this video on your social media channels using the hashtag #CarnegieHallBlackThoughtMC.
    • In a video of two minutes or less, tell us how you want to improve your artistry and what you hope to get out of the Black Thought Master Class.
    • In a video of two minutes or less, share some of your aspirations and long-term goals as an artist.


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Lizzo sued by Postmates driver she accused of stealing her food

A former food delivery driver is suing Lizzo over threats from the rapper’s fans after she put the driver’s photo on social media and accused her of stealing her food.

Tiffany Wells is a Massachusetts resident and former driver for Postmates. This past Friday (Nov. 15), she filed a federal lawsuit in the Central district of California accusing the “Truth Hurts” artist of intentional infliction of emotional distress and invasion of privacy.

READ MORE: Lizzo gives ‘Truth Hurts’ songwriting credit to singer who coined “100% That B*tch”

According to NBC, Wells received an order from Lizzo, who used the alias “Bonnie V, ” to deliver food from Luke’s Lobster to the Revere Hotel in Boston on Sept. 16. There was not a room number posted to the order.

Wells, 27, stated to have “made multiple calls to the phone number that the customer provided to Postmates, yet each call went unanswered.” In addition to finding requesting information on the guest from the front desk of the hotel, but a guest by the name went unfounded.

“Plaintiff went back outside where she lingered for five minutes before finally departing,” the lawsuit reads. It also states she spent over 10 minutes attempting to contact the person who ordered the food.

A day after the incident, Lizzo would blast the driver on Twitter, which Wells found out about after she was alerted by her family members. Mass Live details Lizzo would delete the tweet after she was criticized by her fan base and more.

“I apologize for putting that girl on blast,” said Lizzo on Twitter after the ridicule. “I understand I have a large following and that there were so many variables that could’ve put her in danger.”

READ MORE: Lizzo’s mom and sister dish about her fame, while serving on food truck

The lawsuit also states Well is a “relatively private person” and also felt “shocked” to the attack online by Lizzo.

“Plaintiff was even more shocked to find out that her picture was accompanied by text accusing her of being a thief,” the lawsuit states.

Lizzo is also facing a lawsuit over her number one single “Truth Hurts” reportedly for stealing the words of the single from a meme.

The post Lizzo sued by Postmates driver she accused of stealing her food appeared first on theGrio.



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How Iran's Government Shut Off the Internet

After years of centralizing internet control, Iran pulled the plug on connectivity for nearly all of its citizens.

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2021 Africa Cup of Nations: Diedhiou hat-trick earns Senegal victory

A hat-trick from Famara Diedhiou earns Senegal victory in eSwatini in 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying as Burkina Faso, Mali, Uganda, SA and Benin also win.

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Space Photos of the Week: 2019 Transit of Mercury

Our solar system's innermost planet just passed between the sun and Earth. It won't happen again for more than a decade.

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Inside the Hyper-Organized World of Wedding Planning Spreadsheets

Planning a wedding is less about “I do” and more about “to do.”

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Lady Gaga's Tweet About 'Artpop' Tops This Week's Internet News Roundup

This admission, unsurprisingly, had Little Monsters on Twitter in a tizzy.

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2019 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations: Nigeria coach Amapakabo prepares to fight on

Imama Amapakabo defends his position as Nigeria's U-23s coach after the team missed out on a chance to compete in the 2020 Olympic football tournament.

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The 9 Best Gifts for the PC Gamer in Your Life

It's dangerous to go alone! Take these. They're our favorite headsets, keyboards, and other PC gaming gear for the holidays.

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How to Lock Down Your Health and Fitness Data

Apps like FitBit and Apple Health collect some of the most sensitive data you have. Here's how to control what they can see, and what they can do with it.

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The 16 Best Wireless Headphones for Everyone (2019)

WIRED's favorite wireless headphones and earbuds for taking phone calls, listening to music, working out, and more.

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Why Is Google Slow-Walking Its Breakthroughs in AI?

The company’s new facial-recognition service comes with limitations to prevent abuse, which sometimes lets competitors take the lead.

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Bloodhound land speed racer blasts to 628mph

The British jet-powered car goes faster still during trials on a dried-out lakebed in South Africa.

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Cumbria fire engine donated to The Gambia to help save lives

Watch manager Willy Watson raised funds to pay for the fire engine to be shipped to West Africa.

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TP Mazembe chief Katumbi named as vice president of World Football Club Association

Moise Katumbi, president of DR Congo club TP Mazembe, is named by Fifa as vice president of the newly formed World Football Club Association (WFCA).

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Saturday, November 16, 2019

Genevieve Nnaji's rise from Nollywood to Netflix

Her film's disqualification from the Oscars may well act as a springboard for future success.

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Igbo community in Liverpool: 'Like a home from home'

Liverpool's Igbos are working to rebuild their community centre.

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