According to the show synopsis provided by Netflix, Bridgerton is Inspired by the bestselling novels by Julia Quinn. The series follows Phoebe Dynevor as Daphne Bridgerton, eldest daughter of the powerful Bridgerton family as she makes her debut onto Regency London’s competitive marriage market. As her pursuit of love unravels, the high society scandal sheet written by the mysterious Lady Whistledown casts criticisms on Daphne who has caught the eye of London’s most desirable duke.
Netflix
“You do not know me and never shall, but be forewarned, dear reader: I certainly know you,” Lady Whistledown, as voiced by the legendary Julie Andrews, starts off. “The social season is upon us. We shall discover which young ladies might succeed at securing a match. Let it be known, if there’s a scandal, I shall uncover it … and share every last detail.”
Created by Chris Van Dusen, Bridgerton is a romantic, scandalous, and quick-witted series that celebrates the timelessness of enduring friendships, families finding their way, and the search for a love that conquers all. The series also stars Jonathan Bailey (Anthony Bridgerton), Nicola Coughlan (Penelope Featherington), Claudia Jessie (Eloise Bridgerton), Ruby Barker (Marina Thompson), Adjoa Andoh (Lady Danbury), Golda Rosheuvel (Queen Charlotte), Luke Thompson (Benedict Bridgerton), Luke Newton (Colin Bridgerton), Ruby Stokes (Francesca Bridgerton), Will Tilston (Gregory Bridgerton), Florence Hunt (Hyacinth Bridgerton), Ruth Gemmell (Lady Violet Bridgerton), Bessie Carter (Prudence Featherington), Harriet Cains (Philipa Featherington), Polly Walker (Lady Portia Featherington), and Ben Miller (Lord Featherington).
Eve is parting ways with The Talk after four seasons.
Appearing in the studio remotely on Monday (Nov. 2), the 41-year-old rapper announced that December will be the last month she appears on the CBS daytime talk show. Eve says it’s been a great ride but she’s ready to move on to focus on building a family with her billionaire husband Maximillion Cooper.
“I’ve been so grateful that I’m able to stay here in London and do the show,” Eve told her co-hosts Sharon Osbournce, Sheryl Underwood and Carrie Ann Inaba.”But I can’t see, for me, the foreseeable future of traveling back at the moment.”
The coronavirus related lockdown in the UK has anchored Eve at her family home in London, USA Today reports.
“This is one of the hardest decisions in the world, because I wish I hated one of you, but I don’t,” she joked. “It would just make it so much easier.”
Eve went on to describe the positive impact the show has had on her since she joined as co-host in 2017.
“I have had the most beautiful experience,” she said. “I’ve grown as a woman, as a person. I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again: I never thought that being on a talk show would be this much of an opening of my spirit, soul, personality, everything. Sitting onstage with all you women has been the best thing ever. I truly love you.”
Eve then shared that she and her husband are currently focused on “expanding our family.”
Over the summer, she opened up about her interracial marriage to Cooper for an episode of TV One’s’ Uncensored.
“I don’t think about our race. I don’t. When we first got together, yeah, of course. I had never been with a white guy seriously like that. So yeah, I definitely thought about it. But we are so honest with each other that we have discussions, and that’s a beautiful thing,” she said.
‘When they don’t respect our flag, nobody wants to watch.’
President Donald Trump called out LeBron James at a rally Monday in Pennsylvania, and the crowd responded by chanting that the NBA superstar “sucks.”
A day before the 2020 presidential election, Trump made time to rant about the NBA Finals between James’ Los Angeles Lakers and the Heat.
“How about basketball? “How about LeBron?,” Trump asked the crowd assembled in the city of Avoca. “I felt badly for LeBron, very badly. Down 71% and that’s with the championship,” he continued, USA Today reports.
“I didn’t watch one shot. I get bored. Back, forth, back, forth. You know why? When they don’t respect our country, when they don’t respect our flag, nobody wants to watch,” Trump added.
James previously made clear that the NBA community does not care if Trump watches the games or not.
“I really don’t think the basketball community are sad about losing his viewership,” James told reporters during a post-game interview in August. “The game will go on without his eyes on it. I can sit here and speak for all of us that love the game of basketball, we could [not] care less.”
Trump appears to be less than impressed that the NBA superstar led the Lakers to their 17th championship last month.
“The NFL is way down,” Trump told his supporters on Monday. “You gotta stand for our flag. You gotta really be great to our flag and to our anthem and if you don’t do that, we’re not watching.”
The crowd then repeatedly chanted “LeBron James sucks.” Watch the moment via the Twitter video embed below.
Trump and James have traded jabs as far back as 2017. Last month, the president called him a “hater” during an interview on Rush Limbaugh’s radio show.
“He’s a great basketball player, but people don’t want to see a guy that’s that way. They don’t want to see that. … He’s a hater,” Trump said, according to The Hollywood Reporter. “You don’t want to sit down, watch a basketball game, and then watch somebody that hates your guts, okay.”
In a tweet earlier this year, James said Trump made hate “fashionable again” in the United States.
theGrio previously reported, back in 2017, Trump rescinded an invitation to Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors to visit the White House following their National Championship win. James famously responded by calling the president a “ bum” in a tweet.
James has not revealed support of Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election, however, he leads non-partisan voter reform efforts through charitable organizations.
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The “I Need a Girl” rapper is ready to give back after serving time in prison
Amir Junaid Muhadith, once known as Bad Boy rapper Loon has only been home from prison a few short months but he’s already helping create change for formally incarcerated individuals.
Muhadith has teamed up with Meek Mill’s organization, REFORM Alliance, which “is committed to advancing criminal justice reform and eradicating laws and policies that perpetuate injustice in the United States,” per a press release obtained by theGrio. The former rapper will now serve as an inaugural fellow in its program designed to help formerly incarcerated individuals reintegrate into society.
Muhadith was sentenced to 14 years in prison back in 2011 for “conspiracy to distribute more than one kilogram of heroin,” per Revolt.
He was released back in July due to the coronavirus pandemic and with the help of the First Step Act.
Rapper Loon appears at the Playstation 2 And The Hip-Hop Summit Present “Race To The Polls” at Hammerstein Ballroom October 14, 2004 in New York City. (Photo by Scott Gries/Getty Images)
Jessica Jackson, the chief advocacy officer for REFORM Alliance was a part of a team that helped Muhadith get released from prison through the Act. Jackson explains: “The act was the culmination of a bipartisan effort to improve criminal justice outcomes, as well as to reduce the size of the federal prison population while also creating mechanisms to maintain public safety,” per the Bureau of Prisons.
“Amir’s first-hand perspective and strategic thinking will be invaluable to helping us improve an ineffective and destructive supervision system,” Jackson said in the release. “In the short amount of time he’s been released, Amir has already impressed us with his ideas and commitment to creating positive change.”
Meek Mill sits as the co-chair of the organization along with fellow celebrities such as Jay- Z and Van Jones.
Muhadith says he can help the organization because he knows all too well the challenges of reentering society after serving time in prison.
“I can personally relate to the stress of navigating life on supervision with the risk of reincarceration, so I’m grateful for the opportunity to use my experience to help REFORM and collaborate on ways to make a lasting impact on the system,” he said, per the press release. “It’s imperative that we provide people on probation with the support, training, and counseling to truly succeed rather than resort to punitive punishment.”
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Lil Nas X’s Halloween costume had another rapper in his feelings.
The “Old Town Road” rapper took to Instagram to drop a picture of himself dressed in a Nicki Minaj costume for the holiday. The 21-year-old was dressed in a Minaj-style signature blonde wig accompanied with plentiful cleavage peeking out the top of a tight pink dress that accentuated his waist and hips.
“And y’all was mad at me about this n—” wrote Dave East per Lovebscott.com The publication says in another post, East added,
“Bati mon bun up!!!!” “I gotta move to Jamaica, @PopcaanMusic on my wayyyyy chubble.”
According to Forbes, Jamaica is a dangerous country for homosexuals and was once called the most homophobic place in the world, according to Time magazine.
“One of the Caribbean’s most popular vacation destinations for tourists worldwide, Jamaica was another shocking country to top our LGBTQ+ Danger Index,” says journalist Lyric Fergusson. “Jamaica ranks as the third-worst Caribbean nation for members of the LGBTQ+ community behind Barbados and Saint Lucia. This is largely due to Jamaica’s ‘buggery law,’ which is leftover from the colonial era and allows for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, including hard labor. In fact, Jamaica was called ‘the most homophobic place on Earth’ by Time magazine in 2006 and LGBTQ+ people are sadly still the victims of homophobic violence today.”
But Lil Nas X quickly clapped back at East with this message, caught by Lovebscott.com,
“It’s ‘batty man’ n—-s can’t even be homophobic the proper way smh butchering the hell out of the patois,” he adds. “Bro I don’t bother a soul in this industry. All I do is tweet and make bangers. Leave me alone Damn.”
it’s “batty man” niggas can’t even be homophobic the proper way smh butchering the hell out of the patois https://t.co/2PLYQvKBaA
The ‘Yelling at the Sky’ director will work with the two Emmy winners on her next film
It looks like Victoria Mahoney has a new project to helm. She’s set to direct Kerry Washington and Sterling K. Brown in the upcoming mvoie Shadow Force.
The history-making second director of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker who is the first Black woman to receive a directing credit in the Star Wars franchise, will take on the drama from writers Leon Chills and Joe Carnahan.
Made with Love Media’s Stephen “Dr.” Love will produce alongside Washington and Brown’s production companies.
Shadow Force follows an estranged couple who are being hunted by bounty killers. They must protect themselves and their son from their former shadow ops crew, now hell-bent on tracking them down.
Washington and Brown appear to be looking forward to working with Mahoney.
“We are absolutely thrilled to be working with Victoria Mahoney,” they said in a statement. “Her vision is inspiring. Her enthusiasm is infectious. Her artistry and insight have already deepened this electrifying project.”
Kerry Washington and Sterling K. Brown speaks onstage at the ‘Indie Contenders Roundtable’ presented by The Hollywood Reporter at AFI FEST 2019 presented by Audi at TCL at Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel on November 17, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for AFI)
The film is another huge accomplishment for Mahoney, one of Hollywood’s most sought-after Black, female directors.
“Like with all of her work, she will bring iconic action, warmth, style, and gravitas to Shadow Force,” Erin Westerman, the president of production for Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, said in a statement. “We know she, along with Kerry and Sterling and the talented production team will elevate this exciting production.”
Mahoney directed the 2011 film Yelling to the Sky starring Zöe Kravitz and Jason Clarke. She’s also directed episodes of Power, Queen Sugar, Lovecraft Country and Grey’s Anatomy.
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The media mogul is joined by April Ryan, Dr. Jason Johnson, Dr. Christina M. Greer, Jody Amour and David A. Love for the final installment of ‘Vote For Your Life’
With Nov. 3 imminent, theGrio’s weekly online town hall Vote For Your Life reached its climax only two days before Election Day. For its final installment, host and theGrio’s VP of Digital Content Natasha Alford is joined by what she dubbed “the dream team” panel.
Episode six features Morgan State University professor Dr. Jason Johnson, Fordham University professor Dr. Christina M. Greer, journalist and author David A. Love and author Jody Amour. Byron Allen, owner of theGrio and White House correspondent April Ryan were returning panelists.
Left to right: Dr. Jason Johnson, Dr. Christina M. Greer, Jody Amour, David A. Love, Natasha S. Alford, Byron Allen and April Ryan.
Although Election Day is finally upon us, some members of the panel have voted early, including Dr. Johnson, who feels if President Donald Trump isn’t removed, “all our freedoms are basically at risk.”
Just as with past panelists, like Tiffany Haddish and Marc Lamont Hill, Dr. Johnson talked about how the importance of other offices and how another four years of a Trump administration could impact local government.
“I like picking my leaders. I personally like having an impact on who is on the school board, what kind of judges will be giving me tickets, and which people will be determining whether or not my roads will be nice or bad,” Dr. Johnson stated. “I will lose that ability, all of us will lose that ability if Donald Trump is not removed from office.”
Dr. Greer also not only voted early for this election but said she votes “early and often, Chicago style” for all election cycles. So, she will be using Nov. 3 as some time for herself to observe the importance of and the sacrifices made for her to exercise her right to vote.
“I try to use it as a solemn day and as a day to treat myself and reflect on the hundreds and thousands of Black people who were murdered or lynched trying to get to do this thing that I get to do, even though I had to wait in line for two and a half hours,” Dr. Greer said. “I think of all the women who were raped trying to get the franchise to vote.”
Allen echoed Dr. Greer’s sentiment that voting is the least the Black community could do. Throughout each of the past six episodes of Vote For Your Life, the Entertainment Studios CEO spoke candidly about the obligation of Black American’s not only to vote but to “lean in” and donate to candidates that best serve the interests of their communities.
(Photo: Getty Images)
In this installment, Allen was unfiltered with his displeasure for those who don’t exercise their right to vote. “To me, that’s just shenanigan talk,” Allen stated. “That’s just foolishness. ‘Are you going to vote? Did you vote? How come you didn’t vote? I’m voting for the first time.'”
He continued, “As Christina said, when you think about our ancestors who died for our right to vote, it’s just inconceivable, it’s just wrong to even have that thought that ‘I’m not going to vote.'”
The panel discussed how voting is only the beginning of the process of improving life for Black Americans. Dr. Johnson used an analogy that summed up the steps that need to be taken to foster progress.
“Saying ‘go out and vote’ is kind of like saying to a person who wants to lose weight, ‘just eat better.’ You aint’ going to lose weight just by eating better. You also have to exercise, and sleep well, drink water and stop hanging out with your friends that eat lousy food.”
“Voting is the same thing. Voting is the minimal thing that you can do. You also give money. You also attend community meetings. You go to school board, you got to city council, you protest from time to time, you write letters.”
There was much talk about how many Black Americans feel unmoved about having to choose between Trump or Democratic candidate Joe Biden. Amour spoke of his own experience of fielding such ambivalence from young activists in California who believe voting for Biden and Kamala Harris won’t change much.
Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden and his running mate Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., arrive to speak at a news conference at Alexis Dupont High School in Wilmington, Del., Wednesday, Aug., 12, 2020. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
“Many of them who are marching for criminal justice are alarmed by the idea of having one the architects of mass incarceration, Joe Biden, at the top of the ticket and saying ‘that disheartens me,” Amour said. “Having a former DA and AG at the top of the ticket (Kamala Harris), that was disheartening to them. I had to bring home to them and why I went to the ballot was, even though you feel that way — I’m not going to knock anyone who feels that way, because there’s some basis for it — down-ballot is crucial.”
Allen gave his predictions for the presidential race, but the results were a double edged sword.
“We have, what I believe, is good news and bad news. The good news is I think Biden and Harris are going to win by a landslide,” Allen stated.
“The bad news is Biden and Harris are not going to win, in my humble opinion, for the right reasons. Donald Trump is going to lose to the pandemic. Donald Trump is going to lose to mother nature. And now we have a bigger problem: what is it about America that America would have re-elected Donald Trump if mother nature didn’t step in?”
April Ryan, who’s been on all but one episode, stated that one of the reasons Black Americans get so disillusioned with voting is because they aren’t provided education for how politics work and affect them in schools. She says that basic civics classes would empower Black youth and get them prepared to be a part of the process, and the importance of donating.
April Ryan speaks onstage at the ESSENCE Festival. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for 2017 ESSENCE Festival )
“We were never really taught collectively that, yes, you donate, the politicians will pay attention to you,” Ryan said. “We’ve always left it to other groups. Now, we understand, because people did not want to bring us to the table to learn so that we could own the table.”
David Love recognizes that the tactics of taking away the Black vote goes far beyond education. He concedes that this election is different and the stakes are higher than ever.
“Every four years, they tell you, ‘This is the most important election of all time,’ and this time it’s actually true. I really look at this election as the white man’s last stand, and I’m not saying that lightly,” Love said.
He added, “They see that Black and Brown folks are going to be the majority, they’re going to do whatever they can. Because they know that they can’t win fair and square, they have to do whatever they can; cheat, steal, kill, in order to stay in power.”
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As the mother to 8-year-old Blue Ivy and 3-year-old twins Rumi and Sir Carter, the singer has fully embraced motherhood as an inspiration in her life. She told British Vogue editor-in-chief Edward Enninful that after giving birth to her first child in 2012, she felt the need to empower Black and African voices.
“From that point on, I truly understood my power, and motherhood has been my biggest inspiration. It became my mission to make sure she lived in a world where she feels truly seen and valued. I was also deeply inspired by my trip to South Africa with my family,” she said. “And after having my son, Sir Carter, I felt it was important to uplift and praise our boys and to assure that they grow up with enough films, children’s books and music that promote emotional intelligence, self-value, and our rich history.”
She also shared that she empowers her children to use their voices and tries to be an example. The Lemonade singer said Blue Ivy is smart and aware of the world and she does everything to keep her in positive spirits.
Beyonce with her youngest daughter, Rumi. (Beyonce.com)
“I have become a better listener. Blue is very smart, and she is aware that there is a shift, but it is my job as a parent to do my best to keep her world as positive and safe as can be for an eight-year-old. My best advice is to love them harder than ever. I let my children know that they are never too young to contribute to changing the world. I never underestimate their thoughts and feelings, and I check in with them to understand how this is affecting them,” the 39-year-old artist remarked.
“Blue saw some of the reactions to the “Brown Skin Girl” video, as well as some of the videos from the philanthropic work I’ve done this year. When I tell her I’m proud of her, she tells me that she’s proud of me and that I’m doing a good job. It’s teeeeeew much sweetness. She melts my heart. I believe the best way to teach them is to be the example.”
Together the family has started new traditions during the quarantine, including a creative activity called Fashion Fridays.
As theGrio reported, the singer and philanthropist released her latest Ivy Park collection ‘Drip 2’ on Oct. 30. The fashion-forward athletic line included lime green, coral, tan, and green athleisure looks.
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A Louisiana police officer sought to hold Black Lives Matter activist Deray McKesson responsible for his injuries
The Supreme Court handed a victory to Black Lives Matter activist DeRay McKesson as it struck down a ruling that would’ve undermined the First Amendment.
The high court voided a lower court ruling that permitted a Louisiana police officer to move forward with a lawsuit against McKesson in response to a 2016 protest after the death of Alton Sterling, CNBC reports. An officer from Baton Rouge was hit with a rock by a still-unidentified suspect during a protest. The anonymous officer suffered injuries to his brain, teeth, and head.
The officer wanted to hold McKesson legally accountable since he organized the event where the incident took place. A federal appellate court previously granted the officer permission to continue with the suit because “a violent confrontation with a police officer was a foreseeable effect of negligently directing a protest.”
(Credit: Getty Images)
However, the Supreme Court returned the case to the lower courts for further view due to “novel issues of state law,” on Monday. The decision by the justices was 7 to 1. Justice Clarence Thomas dissented and newly appointed Justice Amy Coney Barrett did not take part in the ruling.
“The Louisiana Supreme Court, to be sure, may announce the same duty as the Fifth Circuit,” the justices wrote. However, the justices added, the 5th Circuit should not have “ventured into so uncertain an area” of law that was “laden with value judgments and fraught with implications for First Amendment rights” without guidance from the Louisiana Supreme Court on Louisiana law.
McKesson celebrated the ruling on social media. He characterized it as a “win” for activists who may have been prevented from organizing lest they be held responsible for the actions of others.
I've been in this legal battle since Nov 2016 and the Supreme Court vacated the 5th Circuit decision against me that said that individual organizers can be civilly liable for injuries/damages. This is win for every organizer & activist. Let's keep fighting. https://t.co/CPL6pWzusg
“I’ve been in this legal battle since Nov 2016 and the Supreme Court vacated the 5th Circuit decision against me that said that individual organizers can be civilly liable for injuries/damages. This is [a] win for every organizer & activist. Let’s keep fighting,” he tweeted.
The ACLU defended McKesson in the suit claiming that another outcome would’ve had a chilling consequence on speech.
“The Supreme Court has long recognized that peaceful protesters cannot be held liable for the unintended, unlawful actions of others,” said American Civil Liberties Union national legal director David Cole. “If the law had allowed anyone to sue leaders of social justice movements over the violent actions of others, there would have been no civil rights movement. The lower court’s ruling is a threat to the First Amendment rights of millions of Americans.”
Hitler’s ideas were mentioned several times throughout the document.
Training materials from The Kentucky State Police have come under fire for the promotion of violence and their embrace of both Adolf Hitler and Confederate general Robert E. Lee.
A student newspaper broke the news that the Kentucky state police were using a slide show that contained quotes from the Nazi leaderto train its cadets. The Washington Post reports that a student newspaper, Manual RedEye, run by Louisville’s duPont Manual High School discovered the 33-page slide show after a local lawyer gave them the documents they obtained to use for a lawsuit against Kentucky State Police.
“We will collect all the facts and take immediate corrective action,” Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said after the story was published Friday. He said he first heard about the report on social media.
The news comes after Louisville police have been criticized for the shooting death of Breonna Taylor, the unarmed young woman shot by police officers in her home during a botched ‘no-knock’ raid.
One of the slides entitled ‘Violence of Action’ includes a line from Hitler’s anti-Semitic manifesto, “Mein Kampf,” that reads, “The very first essential for success is a perpetually constant and regular employment of violence. ” The slide also said, “Be a loving father, spouse, and friend as well as the ruthless killer.”
A slide from a KSP training manual (Manual RedEye)
The training materials seemingly support a warrior-style police training which encourages officers to be aggressive and to use force, per the source.
Several pages in the slide show also include lines like, “A warrior must possess certain traits, protect certain things and have the courage to do both at all costs.”
Hitler is quoted three times, according to the report.
The slide show also quotes Lee, statues of whom have been the subject of removal efforts around the country.
“Private and public life are subject to the same rules; truth and manliness will carry you through the world much better than policy, or tact, or expediency, or any other word that was ever devised to conceal a deviation from a straight line,” the Lee quote reads.
Morgan Hall, communications director for the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet was quoted in the Manual RedEye story as saying that the training manuals made reference to were outdated and hadn’t been in use by the state police since 2013.
“It is unacceptable that this material was ever included in the training of law enforcement,” Hall said. “Our administration does not condone the use of this material.”
(Photo by Larry W. Smith/Getty Images)
The Anti-Defamation League is now getting involved.
“It is entirely inexcusable for the words of Hitler to be used in training Kentucky State Police,” the Anti-Defamation League said per Twitter. “ADL is actively working in the state to determine what happened and ensure it doesn’t happen again.”
It is entirely inexcusable for the words of Hitler to be used in training Kentucky State Police. ADL is actively working in the state to determine what happened and ensure it doesn't happen again. https://t.co/4XNb64TTUa
“As a Kentuckian, I am angry and embarrassed. And as a Jewish American, I am genuinely disturbed that there are people like this who not only walk among us, but who have been entrusted to keep us safe,” he tweeted. “There needs to be consequences.”
I am angry. As a Kentuckian, I am angry and embarrassed. And as a Jewish American, I am genuinely disturbed that there are people like this who not only walk among us, but who have been entrusted to keep us safe. There needs to be consequences. https://t.co/Bpu6b1eJWr
The Kentucky state police assisted Louisville police in quelling protests and prepared a ballistics report in the Taylor case.
“The focus on warriors and combat is deeply problematic. It is exceedingly rare that police officers have to fight for their lives,” Dr. Jack Glaser, a professor who studies police at the University of California Berkeley said in an email to Manual RedEye. “Even if it is sometimes necessary to use serious physical force, starting with a warrior mindset is not necessary and can make violent conflict more likely.”
According to a Washington Postdatabase, KSP has killed 16 people since 2018, the most of any law enforcement outfit in the state. None of the fatal shootings were recorded on police body cameras.
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Here are 5 songs we’ve got in heavy rotation just before the election featuring Anthony Brown, De La Soul and Rapsody
With the presidential election looming, ongoing social unrest, and the coronavirus pandemic permeating headlines tons of artists have honed in on their talent to create music for the movement.
Rap icons De La Soul have spent their entire career expanding the boundaries of hip hop. Their latest project will push those boundaries even further. “Remove 45,” is their latest single and it features Styles P, Talib Kweli, Pharoahe Monch, rap activist Mysonne, and Chuck D.
“When it comes to this president and his administration we need to exercise our right to vote and REMOVE him from office,” says POS. De La Soul dropped the single to address issues the country is facing and encourage people to vote to vote Donald Trump out of office.”
Tiffany Wilson: “America”
Memphis-born soul songstress Tiffany Wilson recently released her single, “America,” a powerful reflection on the state of the nation. The timely track addresses the gun violence epidemic, rampant injustice, racial inequality, and gross standards plaguing our country head-on. Tiffany’s voice echoes the tension, weariness, frustration, anger, and torment experienced by a generation.
“Got a little story, we’ve heard too many times about a little boy unafraid of taking lives of other little boys and girls and don’t think twice. Where was another choice where nobody paid the price?,” she sings in the opening. “The song is a question,” Tiffany says. “Is this how we keep America great?”
Rapsody ft. Bilal: “Pray Momma Don’t Cry”
9th Wonder produced the track that’s featured in the I Can’t Breathe/ Music for the Movement EP from Hollywood Records and The Undefeated. The cover is performed by Grammy-nominated Rapsody and features Bilal. The project reimagines historically significant songs as well as original songs by and for Black America with contemporary artists and producers.
Each song comes with exclusive artwork created by Black artists. In a year of reckoning on the matter of racial inequities, as well as a global pandemic and economic downturn, the music reminds and evokes the importance of standing against injustice.
Back in June, H.E.R. released “I Can’t Breathe” and the single is more timely than ever.
“Just by the title, you know that it means something very, very kind of painful and very revealing. These lyrics were kind of easy to write because it came from a conversation with what’s happening right now, what’s been happening, and the courage we need to see,” she said at the time. “I think music is powerful when it comes to change and when it comes to healing, and that’s why I wrote this song; to make a mark in history. And I hope this song does that.”
Anthony Brown/Call to Action music video (Credit: Anthony Brown)
Anthony Brown: “Call to Action”
Anthony Brown just released the video for their latest single “Call to Action” and in it, the song’s message of unity is crystal clear.
“The recent killings of unarmed people of color sent me through a range of emotions. I sat in utter shock and disbelief while watching the senseless killing of George Floyd. What was even worse to me was to see the wide range of responses and thoughts of so many of my fellow Americans who couldn’t feel the hurt and pain because their lives are so far removed from the realities of racism, bigotry, and social injustice that exist in our country,” Brown said in a statement.
“With tears in my eyes, I sat at the piano and sang my response. Call to action is not just for people of color. It’s bigger than political party. It’s bigger than gender or region. This song is about unifying ALL of us for the purpose of seeing the world we live in better for those of us in it right now and better for the generations to follow. We can’t sit on the sidelines. We all have to get in the fight for human decency, morals, and the value of human lives…whatever color they may be. This is a call to action!”
His upcoming album, Stuck in the House: The Pandemic Project, is due out November 6.
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The singer, Houston native, and philanthropist posted a boomerang video on her account in black and white which features her wearing a hat with a sticker that says, “I voted.” She also dons a mask that says, “Biden Harris.” The caption reads, “Come thru, Texas!”
In addition to the boomerang, Bey featured a second post which features a green background that says, “The Most Important Drop Is At The Ballot Box,” around the image is words like, “Vote,” “Ivy Park” and “Adidas.”
“There was a time when a woman’s opinion did not matter. If you were black, white, Mexican, Asian, Muslim, educated, poor or rich — if you were a woman, it did not matter,” she said.
CLEVELAND, OH – NOVEMBER 04: Jay Z and Beyonce welcomes on stage Democratic presidential nominee former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during a Get Out The Vote concert in support of Hillary Clinton at Wolstein Center in Cleveland, Ohio on November 4, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Duane Prokop/Getty Images)
“Less than 100 years ago, women did not have the right to vote. Look how far we’ve come from having no voice to being on the brink of making history, again, by electing the first woman president.”
“This other guy … I don’t have any ill will towards him, but his conversation is divisive and that’s not an evolved soul to me, so he cannot be my president,” he said.
Clinton went on to lose the race against Trump in the election that took place a few days later on November 8.
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The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on businesses across all industries around the world has made resilience more relevant and necessary today. A resilient leader knows how to make tough decisions for the organization and also to reach out to the team to address their changing needs. Resilience involves developing critical skills entrepreneurs need so that they can get back on their feet despite the crisis and make the necessary changes to overcome the challenges faced by their businesses.
Read on to learn the critical skills entrepreneurs need must have to stay resilient in the new normal.
7 Critical Skills Entrepreneurs Need to Become Resilient
Remote Team Management
Many workplaces abruptly adapted to a remote work arrangement, and it looks like remote work will be here for the long run. But remote work doesn’t just involve giving company laptops and internet connections to employees.
Remote work also involves recreating necessary workplace interactions and practices to encourage productivity. Why conduct an entire video conference when you could just send an email? Talk to your team about appropriate work hours to set a healthy work-life boundary even if everyone is working from home. No one should be made to respond to a work-related call when they’re about to have dinner.
Likewise, 60% of employees reallyvalue flexibility about when they work. For example, parents who are working from home may need more time to care for their children. So you can consider offering flexible remote work hours but still setting core hours if your team needs to meet up online for collaboration.
Cultural Intelligence
The companies that can quickly recover from any crisis are often the ones that have leaders who value resilience. A resilient organization designs its business structures and operations to ensure that it can accomplish its needs and meet its goals despite a crisis.
But such a perspective requires a cultural shift that starts at the top of management. Key decision-makers need to start the cultural shift and craft policies that align with the new needs brought about by COVID-19.
If you’re a team leader, it’s your duty to foster a work culture of open communication among your employees. Encourage your team to speak up, ask questions, bring up potential problems, and offer suggestions in order to become resilient in the organization.
Effective Communication
Communication is a two-way street. A good business leader knows how to listen to the needs of their employees and clients and to explain any new company processes and policies.
When you know how to listen, you get to notice details that others may have missed. You may even use this information to your advantage in order to communicate the needs of employees to upper management and even to your customers. Learn to communicate clearly, coherently, and concisely.
Goodcommunication skillsallow you to express yourself in order to ask for what you want from all major stakeholders in the company. No one wants to add to the confusion of the pandemic by offering unclear requests or instructions. Lack of communication may result in wasted resources, and waste is something businesses are avoiding during a crisis.
Shipposhares informative posts for small businesses coping with COVID-19.
Project Management
Remote work raises issues of productivity loss among employees. But that doesn’t have to be the case. You need to communicate with your team and come up with clear definitions of organizational productivity.
As you provide your team with the tools and work hours they need to accomplish their goals, you should also determine the targets you need to achieve for a specific timeline. Workplace productivity tools likeTrello,Slack, or the office suites from Google or Microsoft help you keep track of and monitor your team’s productivity.
Make the most of tools that let you save templates and processes, such assurvey templateswhen onboarding new customers or clients or automation processes from apps like Zapier. This saves you the precious time you could be using to grow your business and do work that really moves the needle.
Risk Assessment
Business leaders are all too familiar with risk, since starting your own business is a risk in itself. How you view a difficult situation can worsen the crisis worse or minimize it.
That’s why risk assessment is another one of the critical skills entrepreneurs need to stay resilient in the new normal. You should conduct abusiness risk assessmentto determine the core functions and key players in your business. This way, you will have a better understanding of the state of your business during the crisis.
Which parts are most affected? What opportunities can you seize to meet the changing demands of customers? How can you adjust work to benefit your staff and your customers?
A resilient business leader doesn’t panic during a crisis. Identify the things that you can control and take decisive action toward addressing these problems.
Trend and Data Analysis
Customer needs are changing during the crisis. It’s natural that people who are stuck at home may need things to keep them occupied and entertained at home.Searches for sanitation products, news sources, and food recipesincreased but travel and tourism searches dropped.
By keeping track of industry trends during the pandemic, you can stay on top of growingSEO trends for 2021as well and use this data to your advantage. You should plan out your marketing strategy and target trending terms to drive traffic to your website.
Time Management
Another one of the critical skills entrepreneurs need to build resilience is knowing how to respond quickly and to adapt rapidly to a disruption in your business. Plus, you must also know what decisions to make in order to restore your business to a stable functioning state. It’s not resilience if it takes you too long to adjust and make decisions, much to the loss of the organization and employees.
Key Takeaways
The good news is, every business leader can learn how to be resilient when their organization faces a crisis. Even if you lead a small team, you need to step into the role of the adaptive and forward-facing CEO. Follow the tips above to polish up your entrepreneurial skills and keep your business surviving and also thriving.
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