Super Falcons captain Desire Oparanozie demands Nigeria's women's team are paid the same as their male counterparts.
from BBC News - Africa https://ift.tt/2YzuDPd
via
Wednesday, July 31, 2019
Tuesday, July 30, 2019
Trump condemns slavery in Jamestown speech amid controversy over prior incendiary remarks
JAMESTOWN, Va. (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump, under fire in Washington for verbal attacks on racial minority lawmakers, condemned American slavery on Tuesday at the 400th anniversary of the first legislative assembly in Virginia and was briefly interrupted by a protesting state legislator.
Trump gave a scripted speech at the site of the first legislative assembly in Jamestown, Virginia, after touring the Jamestownchurch and a mock 1619 village.
In his remarks, he honored the first people to form a government in what would become the United States but also recognized their importation of slaves in 1619 in the same region.
“It was the beginning of a barbaric trade of human lives,” he said. “Today in honor, we remember every sacred soul who suffered the horrors of slavery and the anguish of bondage.”
Trump‘s comments, in which he also honored African Americans’ contributions to U.S. history and quoted civil rights leader Rev. Martin Luther King Junior, followed two weeks of incendiary remarks about four Democratic women of color in the U.S. House of Representatives and an African-American lawmaker, Elijah Cummings, all of whom have been sharp critics of the president.
Trump has blasted Cummings for not doing more to improve the plight of Baltimore, a largely black city, which he said is rodent-infested. Trump has faced accusations of racism and bigotry for the remarks.
A protester interrupts U.S. President Donald Trump as he speaks at an event celebrating the 400th anniversary of the first meeting (July 30, 1619) of the Virginia state legislature in Historic Jamestowne in Williamsburg, Virginia (REUTERS/Carlos Barria)
Virginia’s black state legislators had said they would boycott Trump‘s appearance after his harsh comments about the minority members of Congress. A statement from the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus said it was “impossible to ignore the emblem of hate and disdain that the president represents” while he continues to “promulgate policies that harm marginalized communities and use racist and xenophobic rhetoric.”
Trump‘s address in Jamestown was interrupted briefly by Democratic Virginia Delegate Ibraheem Samirah, who shouted and held up a sign that said: “Go back to your corrupted home. Deport hate. Reunite my family and all those shattered by systemic discrimination.”
Samirah, a Palestinian American dentist, later said in a Twitter post that he had disrupted Trump‘s speech at Jamestown “because nobody’s racism and bigotry should be excused for the sake of being polite.”
I just disrupted the @realDonaldTrump speech in Jamestown because nobody's racism and bigotry should be excused for the sake of being polite. The man is unfit for office and unfit to partake in a celebration of democracy, representation, and our nation's history of immigrants. pic.twitter.com/0okD7eRVer
— Delegate Ibraheem Samirah (@IbraheemSamirah) July 30, 2019
“The man is unfit for office and unfit to partake in a celebration of democracy, representation and our nation’s history of immigrants,” Samirah said.
The Virginia Republican Party later released a statement accusing Samirah of being anti-Semitic.
(Reporting by Steve Holland; Editing by Bill Trott)
from Black Enterprise https://ift.tt/2Znn1Ak
via
REPORTS: Cardi B forced to cancel concert for safety reasons due to threats
Cardi B fans who gathered to see her perform at The Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis were notified that the concert was cancelled just minutes before the show was scheduled to start.
According to TheBlast, the rapper was forced to cancel the concert for safety reasons after threats were made against the venue. Sources told the outlet that threats were also made against Cardi B directly, prompting officials to pull the plug.
The venue announced the cancellation about 40 minutes ahead of the start time on social media, confirming it would be rescheduled for September 11.
So far, Cardi B has not commented on the cancellation, but earlier in the day, she encouraged fans to tune in to the Democratic Debate.
Money Talks: Conservative Candace Owens challenges Cardi B to a debate for $250,000
Let’s hope the threats don’t have anything to do with the sit down she had with Sen. Bernie Sanders on Monday.
Cardi B was recently challenged to a debate with Black Trump supporter and conservative activist, Candace Owens, after the rapper recently endorsed Sanders for president in the 2020 election.
Owens took to Twitter on Monday to offer Cardi B $250,000 to debate either her or another Black conservative of her choice, according to Newsweek.
This news comes soon after the “I Like It” rapper took to social media on Monday and revealed that she spoke with the Vermont senator to discuss questions she received from her fans to ask Sanders. A few weeks ago she revealed how she felt “really sad how we let him down in 2016.”
The post REPORTS: Cardi B forced to cancel concert for safety reasons due to threats appeared first on theGrio.
from theGrio https://ift.tt/2LNAzSR
via
Taraji P. Henson scammed for thousands of dollars after identity thief hacked her email
Actress Taraji P Henson who previously spoke candidly about mental health issues affecting the African American community and even opened a foundation, found herself victimized by a mother of six diagnosed as bi-polar who allegedly stole her identity.
On Saturday, the accused woman, 29-year-old Alicia Newby was arrested in Chicago and charged with criminal activity for making fraudulent charges in other people’s names.
On Sunday, Newby appeared in court to answer charges that she stole Henson’s financial information as well as multiple people she preyed on and opened accounts and skimmed money, The Chicago Tribune reports.
Henson’s manager discovered that last year that she accumulated $4,000 in charges under an unfamiliar name and address that was not linked to the Empire actress. Henson’s other accounts were misused too by Newby and she accessed Henson’s email account. Ultimately the $4,000 in fraudulent purchases were cancelled, but Newby fled to another location with her kids when officers pursued her to make an arrest in December.
In other cases, Newby racked up in excess of $12,000 in charges on other people’s accounts either, with JP Morgan Chase, American Express and PayPal, the outlet reports.
Newby also reportedly assumed someone else’s identity and has utilities in another person’s name as well as having rented an apartment under a stolen name.
—Lizzo wants to be the next ‘Bachelorette’ and has a NSFW hot girl requests for the men—
Henson announces mental health conference
This situation is reason why Henson is so adamant about getting mental health resources to the people who need them.
In June Henson launched a two-day “Can We Talk?” mental health conference and benefit dinner, in Washington, PEOPLE reports.
The summit was organized by Henson’s Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation, set up to erase the stigma around mental health problems. The nonprofit organization is named for Henson’s father, who suffered mental health challenges as a result of serving in the Vietnam War, according to the group’s website.
“Mental health is a huge issue in the Black community,” Henson, 48, previously told PEOPLE. “We are working to normalize the conversation in our communities at a younger age to eradicate the stigma. We have to start somewhere — and I believe openly talking about it is a good place to start.”
The post Taraji P. Henson scammed for thousands of dollars after identity thief hacked her email appeared first on theGrio.
from theGrio https://ift.tt/2K5f25G
via
Lil Nas X makes history as ‘Old Town Road’ is now longest running #1 single on Billboard at 17 weeks
It’s been quite a ride on a very rocky road to the top but Lil Nas X has earned the bragging rights of securing the title as the artist with the longest ever running number one single on Billboard at 17 weeks for ‘Old Town Road.’
—Lil Nas X sued for $25 million for allegedly unauthorized sampling of song—
The breakout song of the summer is standing strong atop Billboard, and just dethroned Mariah Carey and Boys ll Men 1995’s hit ‘One Sweet Day’ and Despacito (by Daddy Yankee, Luis Fonsi and Justin Bieber) both which held the spot for 16 weeks, The Daily Mail reports.
And Mariah couldn’t wait to celebrate his success, tweeting:
“Sending love & congrats to @LilNasX on breaking one of the longest running records in music history! We’ve been blessed to hold this record with a song that means a great deal to @BoyzIIMen and myself and has touched so many. Keep living your best life!”
Sending love & congrats to @LilNasX on breaking one of the longest running records in music history! We’ve been blessed to hold this record with a song that means a great deal to @BoyzIIMen and myself and has touched so many. Keep living your best life! ❤ pic.twitter.com/3YorLCg3lx
— Mariah Carey (@MariahCarey) July 30, 2019
Nas X, whose real name is Montero Lamar Hill, is just as surprised as the rest of us given that he was homeless and sleeping on his sister’s couch, trying to conjure up a jam that he could promote that would propel him onto the music scene.
But little did he know that his success would be historic after buying a $30 beat online last October.
“Last year in october [sic], as a struggling artist [sic] starting to lose faith in what i could be, i went looking for beats on youtube [sic],” he explains.
“i remember clicking on so many generic sounding beats [sic] trying to find the right one for me [sic]. when suddenly i came across a country-trap [sic] sounding masterpiece [sic].
“i immediately knew i would make something special out of it [sic]! my sister told me i had little time left before i had to leave her house [sic] after being there for months [sic] promoting my music [sic]online [sic] and not helping [sic] her out much,” he admits.
—Lil Nas X’s Trap/Country hit ‘Old Town Road’ officially the No. 1 song in America—
Lil Nas X said he used his situation as motivation to craft a great song.
“i was so upset [sic]! i used it as motivation for the song [sic]! i jokingly/seriously saw myself as a loner [sic] cowboy[sic] needing to [sic] run away from it all [sic]! I went out [sic] on my sister’s back porch [sic] and listened to the beat [sic] OVER [sic]& OVER [sic] & OVER[sic]!!
“then it came to me[sic]!! in my best singing voice [sic] i sung [sic] “YEAHHH IM GONNA TAKE MY HORSE [sic] TO THE OLD TOWN ROAD [sic] IM GONNA RIDEEEE TIL I CANT NO MORE [sic]” I LOVED IT ALREADY!”
The 20-year-old has since been riding the wave of his success.
“i started to work on it [sic] EVERY SINGLE DAY[sic]. it needed to be funny[sic], it needed to be catchy[sic], it needed to be hip hop [sic], it needed to be country[sic], & it needed to be short[sic]!!’
“by the time i was finished [sic] setting it up [sic] i was out of my sister’s crib [sic] and at my brothers [sic] place.”
“on december 2️⃣nd i went into the studio [sic] & recorded OLD TOWN ROAD & put it out the exact same day!! did i know it would become the longest running number 1️⃣ song of all time? [sic] NO! ‼️ but i am so thankful [sic] that this blessing ✨ has been placed upon me [sic].
“this song has changed my life [sic] and the way i see the world [sic] around me [sic] in less than a year [sic]. thank you to every single person☝️ who has been apart of this journey [sic]. as i said before, it’s just the beginning! [sic]”
Congratulations Lil Nas X!
The post Lil Nas X makes history as ‘Old Town Road’ is now longest running #1 single on Billboard at 17 weeks appeared first on theGrio.
from theGrio https://ift.tt/2LPMOhs
via
Lizzo wants to be the next ‘Bachelorette’ and has a NSFW hot girl requests for the men
Blame it on the mojo that’s in Lizzo’s juice as the reason she’s so at ease and comfortable in her own skin.
—Lizzo and Missy Elliot drop high-tempo new video for ‘Tempo’—
The singer has been captivating TV screens, the radio airwaves and social media this summer with her body-positive plumpness, off-the-chain flute skills and boss lyrics.
And recently, in an interview with Cosmopolitan, Lizzo decided to shoot her shot by offering up why she’d like to be the next Bachelorette. And you better believe she wants it to be racy.
“If I was the Bachelorette, it would just be the coolest season ever,” Lizzo said about the ABC show that has only had one Black woman tackle the title role. “The men would have to be naked and they would have to wear little thong briefs and they would have to feed me grapes.”
If that’s not enough Lizzo wants her men to go all in performing oral sex on camera or “at least once on the whole season, and it would have to be filmed.”
“It can be blurred, but I would want the people to know.”
“The kids gotta learn someday.”
Clutch the pearls.
But Lizzo, whose real name is Melissa Viviane Jefferson, did admit that she didn’t know much about the popular show.
And while we all await word on whether ABC execs will grant Lizzo’s wish, fans can catch the artist starring alongside Jennifer Lopez in the upcoming Hustlers movie.
—Our new fave: 5 powerful life lessons we could all learn from Lizzo—
“She’s such a professional. She’s such a vet in the game,” she said about J Lo.
“This was my first time on camera for a feature film. So I was looking at her like, ‘Wow, you’re the leader right now.’ And she definitely did her job. She controlled the room and led the sisterhood.”
And her spirit animal Carbi B was everything Lizzo expected her to be.
“Cardi B was funny, man. She had me rolling. She had everybody cracking up. We got to improv and Cardi really took artistic liberties and just went off, and it was really cool to watch. She’s such a character.”
The post Lizzo wants to be the next ‘Bachelorette’ and has a NSFW hot girl requests for the men appeared first on theGrio.
from theGrio https://ift.tt/32YY6Fz
via
Meghan Markle pens personal letter about son Archie for British Vogue issue
In the upcoming September issue of British Vogue Meghan Markle reveals that she working tirelessly to cultivate the historic issue as guest editor while she was five months pregnant with her son Archie.
—Meghan Markle makes history as guest editor of British Vogue and interviews Michelle Obama—
In deeply personal and revealing editor’s letter, Markle outlined the tremendous support she received to bring the woman-centered issue to fruition, all while she was very pregnant and during her maternity leave after the birth of the royal baby May 6.
“I was about five months pregnant when this process began, and by the time you hold this issue in your hands, my husband and I will be holding our three-month-old baby boy in ours,” the 37-year-old wrote.
“It’s a very special time for me personally, on so many levels; working with Edward and his team, both during my pregnancy and my maternity leave, has played no small part in that joy – it has been a privilege to be welcomed and supported by this amazing team.”
The new mom stepped into a history-making role as the legendary magazine’s first guest editor in its 103-year history. And the Duchess of Sussex selected key figures for the cover as well as chose the photographer, Vogue reports.
—‘They don’t make it easy’: Meghan Markle admits struggles with being in public eye—
“So I asked the question,” she wrote. “Actually, I typed and deleted the question several times until I built up the courage to ask the question in question. ‘Edward… instead of doing the cover, would you be open to me guest editing your September issue?’
“The ellipsis… the ‘dot dot dot’ that inspires the greatest practice of patience in this digital era. And then it appeared, EE’s reply: ‘Yes! I would love for you to be my guest editor,’ ” she recalled.
“Sitting on my sofa at home, two dogs nestled across me, I quietly celebrated when the words appeared on my screen.”
She lent her creative eye to develop the “Forces for Change” issue, featuring 15 trailblazing women, including an interview with Michelle Obama.
Included in the issue are actors and models, politicians and authors, and advocates who have fought for change, mental health, voting rights and climate change, the outlet reports.
The post Meghan Markle pens personal letter about son Archie for British Vogue issue appeared first on theGrio.
from theGrio https://ift.tt/2ZfiLD3
via
‘Stranger Things’ breakout star is a spunky seventh grader
One of the breakout stars of “Stranger Things” is an actress who wants to do more action roles and maybe get behind the camera. But first, there’s seventh grade.
Priah Ferguson, a 12-year-old Atlanta middle schooler, has given season 3 of the sci-fi, back-to-the-’80s Netflix show a jolt of sassy electricity.
Priah plays Erica, a My Little Pony-obsessed, He-Man stealing, walkie-talkie intercepting little sister of Lucas, played by Caleb McLaughlin.
“She’s a very confident person and I’m confident,” Priah said. “She’s a leader. I’m a leader. So we have a lot of similarities.”
The actress, who previously has had minor roles on “Atlanta” and “Mercy Street,” had quick-or-you’ll-miss it moments in season 2 of “Stranger Things” but has roared into the new one with an action sequence and catchphrases like “You can’t spell America without Erica” and “Just the facts.”
She was handed a helmet fitted with flashlights and sent though the ventilation shafts of Starcourt Mall to discover what a secret group of Russians was hiding. For this, she earned her reward: “Free. Ice. Cream. For. Life.”
“I got to do like a little stunt. So I was like, ‘Wow this is something I’ve always wanted to do,'” she said. “That was cool.”
Her Erica has spunk and verve, liable to scream into a walkie-talkie: “Code red? I got a code for you instead. It’s called code shut your mouth.” Erica will not stand for nerdiness but there’s a little nerd in her, too.
“She’s an anti-nerd nerd,” the actress says. “A lot of people have a little nerdiness in them. I have a little nerdiness in me.”
Adjua Ferguson, her mother, said she and her husband recognized artistic potential in their daughter when she was just 2.
“She was an expressive baby— she always had the most unique expressions and reactions. She always had an old soul. She would just respond to things beyond her years, very conversational,” she said. “From there, people kept saying she had something special.”
Priah hopes to continue acting and maybe direct one day as well. But staying a kid is also a goal. She’s not planning to return to her school’s drama club this fall.
“I want to separate my acting from school. It just got to be a little too much,” she said. “It’s just too much drama.”
She’s taking that message across the country, teaming up with applesauce and yogurt-pouch maker GoGo squeeZ to encourage kids to put aside their devices and embrace unstructured play as part of the “BE Time” initiative.
“I love having free time to stay off my phone, even though I love my phone,” she said. “At times it can just be draining. You just need a time to really see the real world.”
When at home, Priah walks the dog, creates dances with her little sister, gets on her scooter, is really crafty, adores doing her nails and has lately been getting into Legos. (For the record, she does like ice cream in real life, too.)
Her life is changing — and she’s documenting it. “I’m just taking in everything and I keep a journal to know where I go and just share my experience on places that I went to.”
The post ‘Stranger Things’ breakout star is a spunky seventh grader appeared first on theGrio.
from theGrio https://ift.tt/2Kidy74
via
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)