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Saturday, July 4, 2020

Driver runs over two women protesters on Seattle highway

Two women were struck by a car in the early hours Saturday while protesting on a highway in Seattle, Washington.

The incident was captured on video by a fellow protester and posted to social media, but the user has since taken the video down.

According to The Associated Press, the women, Summer Taylor of Seattle and Diaz Love of Bellingham, were demonstrating with a crowd on the Interstate 5. Diaz was live-streaming the scene on Facebook under the title: “Black Femme March takes I-5.”

READ MORE: Man drives his car into Seattle protest for George Floyd, shoots man

As seen in a video captured by a bystander, the highway had been blocked off by a vehicle barrier. At 1:40 AM, a white Jaguar went through the blockade and ran through the crowd, hitting both Taylor and Love, sending them airborne in the process.

In the Facebook live stream, people can be heard screaming “Car!” as the camera shook prior to the strike, AP reports.

A Twitter user who goes by Larry and posted the footage to the social media site says he has since taken it down “out of respect for the victims.”

Taylor, 24, and Diaz, 32, were taken to Harborview Medical Center, according to Washington State Patrol spokeswoman Susan Gregg. Both are in critical condition with multiple injuries.

READ MORE: I was on the ground for Minneapolis protests. Here’s what I saw.

The driver has been identified as 27-year-old Seattle resident Dawit Kelete. Washington State Patrol Captain Ron Mead stated that, although Kelete has not been charged as of Saturday morning, he is currently in custody.

Mead stated in a press conference that the Interstate had been shut down for 19 consecutive days by protesters. Seattle has been the site of several demonstrations since the May 25 killing of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man who died at the hands of Minneapolis police officers.

“My hope is, as a result of this tragedy, protesters will reconsider their desire to be on the interstate because I cannot guarantee their safety, plain and simple,” Mead said.

In another Twitter post, Larry claimed that the incident was a “purposeful attack.”

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Black Twitter users celebrate Malia Obama’s birthday in lieu of Independence Day

July 4 has been celebrated as the United States’ Independence Day since 1776.

While millions will be waving the American flag and watching fireworks to celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence, others are taking to social media to commemorate another event deemed important: Malia Obama‘s birthday.

The eldest daughter of former President and First Lady Barack and Michelle Obama, Malia turned 22 on Saturday and Black Twitter is taking full advantage in lieu of Independence Day.

READ MORE: Malia and Sasha Obama to break silence in Neflix’s ‘Becoming’

Due to the racial unrest sparked by the unwarranted killings of unarmed Black citizens George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery, national protests have also sparked more enlightenment on the paradoxes of topics like American Independence.

Those choosing not to celebrate the holiday, which recognizes when the 13 American colonies gained independence from Great Britain making way for the founding of the United States, in opposition to America’s past institution of slavery and ongoing denial of equal opportunity and protection for Black Americans have decided to uplift Malia Obama on Twitter.

This outpouring of appreciation to Malia, currently a Harvard University student, is similar to when people dubbed June 14th as Obama Day to praise the former president in an effort to take attention away from current President Donald Trump‘s birthday, as reported by Variety.

As her father has been making public statements denouncing the government’s leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing unrest caused by police brutality, the public is pining for days when the Obama family resided in the White House.

READ MORE: Obama called back into politics due to the Trump campaign

Some of the posts that celebrate the eldest Obama daughter are direct in their intentions of rebelling against Independence Day:

“Today is a great day for our country. Today, we celebrate a day that means a lot to a lot of people around the world… the birth of Malia Obama,” Timaal Bradford wrote in a tweet.

Another user who goes by @yes_indee_d is in favor of renaming and repurposing the holiday as Malia Obama Day.

“We, black people, are NOT celebrating amerikka’s ‘Independence day,'” user @PardonMyFro said, rifting on the country’s troubled history with the KKK and white supremacy.

Some are commenting on the performance of the current President, including one user who goes by Mrs. Krassenstiein.

Others are also highlighting other important events that happened on July 4:

There are those who are praising Malia’s accomplishments:

How will you be spending your Malia Obama Day?

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Alabama mall shooting leaves child dead, three others injured

An 8-year-old boy was killed and three others injured after shots were fired in an Alabama shopping mall Friday afternoon.

The shooting took place at the food court inside the Riverside Galleria in Hoover, Alabama. Royta Giles, Jr., who was a student at Jonesboro Elementary School, was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at a local hospital, as reported by WVTM 13.

Giles is the only reported casualty. The conditions of the other three victims — identified only as a man, a woman, and a juvenile girl — are unknown at this time.

READ MORE: Alabama cop caught on video punching Black store owner who called for help

Dr. Autumn Jeter, superintendent of Bessemer City Schools, made a statement about Giles’ death.

“Our hearts are simply broken at the tragic loss of Royta,” Jeter said. “We are here for the family in every way possible, and we ask that everyone lifts the mother, family, and our school community in your prayers. This is tough.”

The Riverside Galleria also issued a statement addressing the shooting:

“We are heartbroken by the tragic, senseless incident that took place in our shopping center this afternoon. Riverchase Galleria was evacuated immediately and will remain closed while the Hoover Police Department conducts their investigation,” the statement read.

The shopping center remains closed Saturday, July 4.

READ MORE: A call to remove J. Edgar Hoover’s name from the FBI headquarters

As reported by WBRC 6, police say that the reason for the shooting is unknown at this time and no suspects have been apprehended.

“We don’t know at this point what led to the shooting or how many gunmen were involved,” the police department said.

Prior to the shooting, Riverside Galleria had reopened on May 5 as part of Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey’s plan to reopen the state from the coronavirus lockdown.

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Trump says protesters targeting statues are trying to erase history in divisive Mount Rushmore speech

On the eve of Independence Day in America, President Donald Trump gave a speech at the foot of Mount Rushmore. His speech was more about the protection of monuments and statues than about uniting the country during a time of racial unrest.

With several thousand attendees at the South Dakota rally, the president used this time to mostly address the demonstrators during the George Floyd protests, implying that these “angry mobs” possess malicious intent under the guise of Black Lives Matter.

“The radical ideology attacking our country advances under the banner of social justice. But in truth, it would demolish both justice and society,” the president stated in his Friday address.

“It would transform justice into an instrument of division and vengeance and turn our free society into a place of repression, domination and exclusion. They want to silence us, but we will not be silenced.”

READ MORE: Trump angrily responds to Black Lives Matter mural to be painted in front of Trump Tower

While invoking the names of the former presidents depicted on Mount Rushmore – George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt – the president said that the monument would never be defaced and accused those who were destroying statues across the country of trying to erase history.

“Make no mistake, this left-wing cultural revolution is designed to overthrow the American Revolution,” the president continued. “In so doing, they would destroy the very civilization that rescued billions from poverty, disease, violence, and hunger, and that lifted humanity to new heights of achievement, discovery, and progress.”

READ MORE: Donald Trump Jr.’s girlfriend Kimberly Guilfoyle tests positive for COVID-19

According to The Hill, most of the statues that have been removed by protesters have been of people with a history of tyranny against people of color, such as explorer Christopher Columbus, Confederate officer Albert Pike, Confederate general J.E.B. Stuart and Confederate Navy captain Charles Linn. 

As reported by The Washington Post, the President recently signed an executive order aimed at punishing those who deface or forcibly remove statues and refused to consider renaming U.S. military bases named for Confederate officers.

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Somalia restaurant attack: Six killed by al-Shabab

Militant group al-Shabab said it carried out the bomb explosion in the town of Baidoa.

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Acting student’s TikTok reel impresses Disney’s Bob Iger: ‘The world’s gonna know your name’

Julian Bass is a student at Georgia State University, majoring in theater. It looks like his TikTok may be just as effective in getting him acting work as his classes after one of his videos caught the attention of a Disney big wig.

The 20-year-old made a TikTok video of himself transforming into some of his favorite superheroes. In 20 seconds, Bass makes himself a Jedi from Star Wars after he pulls out a lightsaber. He slices through the screens with the laser sword to reveal his now Ben-10’s Ben Tennyson, the long-running cartoon hero who can transform into 10 different aliens.

From Ben-10, he becomes Miles Morales’ Spider-Man, in the style of the Oscar-winning animated feature, Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse. He posted his clip on Twitter with the caption: “if y’all can retweet this enough times that Disney calls, that’d be greatly appreciated.”

READ MORE: TikTok star Tabitha Brown gets her own show on Ellen Degeneres digital network

Well, his wish came true.

The video went viral, garnering over 1.2 million likes and 524,000 retweets. He got a reply from Disney Executive Chairman Bob Iger.

“The world’s gonna know your name!!!” the former chief executive said in a tweet response.

The Disney executive wasn’t the only one who was impressed with Bass’ video clip. The official Sony Twitter account also replied with wide-eye and wow-face emojis. Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn joined in as well, replying with a hand clap emoji. Actor Zach Braff of Scrubs fame replied to Gunn with, “Hire this man, Gunn!”

READ MORE: TikTok protests urge support for Black creators in honor of Malcolm X

While Bass and the world await to see if a collaboration comes out of this, things look promising for the young student. Other popular TikTok users have parlayed their platform into Hollywood success.

Popular TikTok star Tabitha Brown recently signed with top talent agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and is set to have her own show “All Love” on television host Ellen Degeneres‘ digital network.

Have you subscribed to theGrio’s new podcast “Dear Culture”? Download our newest episodes now!

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Artist Hebru Brantley Collaborates With Bombay Sapphire Gin For Limited Edition Bottle To Support Black Lives Matter Chicago

Hebru Brantley
Since the start of the protests sparked by the viral video of a police officer suffocating George Floyd, corporations and public figures have been more public with their support for the Black Lives Matter movement and have been pressured by consumers to work toward social change and combatting racial injustice. One Chicago artist decided to use his art to help the cause with a collaboration for a limited edition gin to support the Black Lives Matter movement.
Chicago artist Hebru Brantley has his Afro-futuristic designs displayed in galleries all around the world including Hong Kong, London, and Basel, Switzerland. His work has earned some celebrity collectors including Jay-Z, LeBron James, and Swizz Beatz. This week he unveiled a new collaboration with Bombay Sapphire for a limited-edition bottle to benefit the Chicago chapter of Black Lives Matter. The design would be the company’s first ever artist collaboration.
“[My partnership with Bombay] started [a couple] years back,” says Brantley in an interview with BLACK ENTERPRISE. “Folks [at Bombay] watched my growth as a visual artist [over] the years [and] they reached out to see if I was interested in participating in some of their [projects moving forward]. I had participated in their Young Artisan series [previously]…There was an idea that we could do some collaboration together and the bottle was [a part of that].
Hebru Brantley
Image via Bombay Sapphire
“The inspiration arrived from when I was a part of the Artisan series years ago,” explains Brantley. “The piece [that won] for Chicago was one of my profile heads with this loose abstraction surrounding it. For me, it was [a] full-circle moment [in] thinking about what I wanted for the design to be [about]. I thought it would be cool for me to go back to how it all started for me with Bombay. With this particular design, I appreciate it because it expresses for me a lot more than one single thought but multiple ideas and to encapsulate a few different feelings and emotions.”


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Black Father and Son Launch Online Summer Camp to Teach Financial Literacy and Investing

online summer camp

Kevon Chisolm, founder and president of Black Wallstreeter Consultation Services, is teaming up with his 13-year old son, Kamari, to launch an online summer camp that teaches African American teens how to invest. The camp is great for preventing learning loss and offers a fun environment for students to learn financial concepts while simultaneously learning about African American history.

Kevon comments, “In addition to topics like budgeting, banking, and investing in the stock market, our camp goes beyond others by exploring community wealth building through investment clubs.”


The course, Junior WallStreeters: Empowering Youth with Financial Wellness, will teach students life-long financial education skills and discipline through 10 lessons with an emphasis on African American history and culture.

Kevon has witnessed how these same financial lessons have changed how his son understands money and his goal is to help other young people. Kamari, although only 13-years old, understands investing so well that he currently manages his own portfolio of stocks and ETFs.

“Simply put, our goal is to teach financial knowledge to eliminate the wealth gap by showing young people how to properly use money as a tool,” he adds. The online camp will primarily be taught by Isaiah Cromwell, a high school teacher who helped Kevon develop the curriculum.

The camp will be held for two weeks between July 13-24 from 11:30am to 3:30pm with a 1-hour lunch break. Students must be between the ages of 14-18 and have a computer with Internet access. The cost of the two-week camp is just $250. This fee includes course materials such as an electronic student handbook, Junior Wallstreeters Envelope Budgeting System with tracking sheets, and a Stock Tracker Notebook.

A few scholarships are available for low-income students to attend the camp. “We want to give as many students the opportunity to obtain a financial education regardless of their financial situation,” Kevon says. Interested sponsors should contact the company for more information.

Limited spaces are available. Register today online at:
www.theblackwallstreeter.com/shop/campregistration

For additional information, visit their website at TheBlackWallstreeter.com or contact Kevon Chisolm, Esq. at kevon@theblackwallstreeter.com

This article was originally written by BlackNews.com.



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Encryption-Busting EARN IT Act Advances in Senate

Plus: A massive crime bust in Europe, a warning from US Cyber Command, and more of the week's top security news.

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Investors Buying Entire Blocks in Houston to Revitalize and Bring in Black-Owned Businesses

black_investors_buying_blocks_houston_to_build_black-owned_businesses

Real estate developer Chris Senegal and broker Jay Bradley are teaming up to buy several blocks to renovate and revitalize in Houston. Together with Cocoa Collective Xchange, they are helping bring back Black-owned businesses into the Fifth Ward community through a Buying the Block campaign.

The project was started by buying abandoned properties and turning them into new construction homes. It has, so far, attracted a number of young Black professionals to be homeowners as well. New homes for families who have lived in the Fifth Ward for decades will also be built in some of the redeveloped blocks.


More than that, the main purpose of the Buying the Block campaign is to attract more investors into the community in order to fund long-term rentals for businesses such as restaurants, coffee shops, and office space. The campaign has raised more than $720,000 from over 1,100 investors.

“I have enough to complete the project,” Senegal told Chron. “Additional investor funds will be used to acquire adjacent properties to expand the scope of the project.”

For Senegal, the project has been beneficial to alleviate the damage caused by flipping houses. Bradley, who owns the Equinox Realty Group, shares the same sentiments, believing better opportunities come with having strong ties within the community.

“You create opportunities to have something better in the community,” Bradley said. “At this point, it’s really about helping people who are trying to do good things with the community.”

For more information about Buying the Block campaign, visit BuytheBlock.com

This article was originally written by BlackBusiness.com.



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A Bird’s Epic Migration Stuns Scientists and Wins Online Fans

As researchers tracked his flight over 27 countries, a cuckoo became a celebrity and raised questions about how climate change could affect his species’ travel.

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DJI Mavic Air 2 Review: The Best Drone for Taking Photos and Videos

With a major camera upgrade, new automated flight modes, and longer flying times, this is the drone we recommend you get.

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The Producer of 'Foundation' on Asimov, Covid-19, and Race in Sci-Fi

Leigh Dana Jackson, the co-executive producer on Apple TV+'s forthcoming show, believes genre fiction has a role to play in addressing injustice.

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How to Host a Virtual Watch Party

Still sheltering in place? Good. Here’s how to watch movies with friends, even when you’re apart.

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Friday, July 3, 2020

Hamilton’s Daveed Diggs asks what 4th of July means to Black people

Actor Daveed Diggs is calling on Black Americans to examine the meaning of Independence Day as we celebrate the 4th of July holiday. 

“What to my people is the Fourth of July?” the Hamilton star asks in a video that depicts historical images of slaves compared with visuals of some of the violence that has erupted at nationwide protests over police brutality and racial injustice. 

Inspired by Fredrick Douglass’ 1852 speech What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?, Diggs recites in the clip “My people who are failed every day by every country … terrorized by fire … we have cried salt baths for our kids.” 

The Oakland-born artist and activist hit up CBS This Morning to discuss the video and Douglass’ powerful message. He told host Gayle King the speech captures “the desire to hold America accountable.”

Watch his 4th of July message via the clip below.

READ MORE: ‘Hamilton’ hits record sales after Trump supporters boycott

During his conversation with King, Diggs recalled his emotions the first time he read Douglass’ words.

“I had the opportunity to play Frederick Douglass for an upcoming piece for Showtime called The Good Lord Bird, and as part of that performance, I performed excerpts from the Fourth of July — from his “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July” speech,” he explained.  

“And so I remember the first time I read that speech and how poignant and how contemporary, really, a lot of the points still felt 170 years later… modernizing it, I jumped at the opportunity. And what they came up with was brilliant,” Diggs continued. 

He went on to note that the message “manages to capture a lot of the feeling of the moment and a lot of the desire to hold America accountable, and to keep those kind of discussions going beyond just the moment that we’re in.”

Diggs then recalled his own experiences with law enforcement, and one specific encounter before he moved to Los Angeles to perform in Hamilton.

“I got snatched off of my bicycle by police officers and thrown up against a fence because I fit a description,” he said. 

READ MORE: EXCLUSIVE: Daveed Diggs and Rafael Casal on their masterpiece ‘Blindspotting’

He previously told The Guardian that his Jewish mother and Black father warned him early on that police would treat him differently than many of his peers. 

“Between the ages of 22 and 25, I got pulled over maybe almost 40-something times, never got a ticket,” he shared with King. 

Diggs believes the Black Lives Matter movement and anti-police brutality demonstrators are in response to a system “that is trained to treat Black life differently.”

Do you agree? Sound off in the comments below.

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Donald Trump Jr.’s girlfriend Kimberly Guilfoyle tests positive for COVID-19

Kimberly Guilfoyle, the girlfriend of Donald Trump Jr. and a top official for President Donald Trump‘s campaign, has reportedly tested positive for COVID-19.

Guilfoyle, who is a former Fox News host and attorney, tested positive on Friday before a Fourth of July campaign event at Mount Rushmore, the New York Times reported. She was routinely tested as a member of Trump’s inner circle, and reportedly had no symptoms of the virus.

READ MORE: Trump’s personal valet tests positive for COVID-19

Guilfoyle and Trump Jr. had traveled to South Dakota for the campaign event, however, they are expected to return to the east coast given Guilfoyle’s health status. They reportedly did not travel on Air Force One.

Kimberly Ann Guilfoyle and Donald Trump, Jr. speak with reporter Brahm Resnik at a rally at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum on February 19, 2020 in Phoenix, Arizona. President Trump says he will be visiting Arizona frequently in the lead up to the 2020 election. (Photo by Caitlin O’Hara/Getty Images)

This new revelation is the third time a person in Trump’s orbit tested positive for the novel coronavirus, even as the president continues to give mixed signals on the seriousness of the virus in the United States and how the country should respond to its crippling grip on the country’s public health and economy.

READ MORE: Trump hits the golf course as US reopens, coronavirus cases death toll surpasses 100,000

Previously, Trump’s personal valet tested positive for COVID-19, as did the press secretary for Vice President Mike Pence.

Guilfoyle is pretty close to the Trump family, in fact, according to the Times, staff aides consider her a part of the family. Last month, she attended President Trump’s indoor rally in Tulsa, Okla.

Just yesterday, former Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain was hospitalized due to the virus. Cain had also attended the Tulsa rally and was not wearing a mask or face covering, based on photographs of him at the event.

Despite several states seeing alarming spikes of COVID-19 across the country, the Trump administration and Republican leaders have seemingly downplayed the virus threat to American lives.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country’s top infectious disease expert, warned that the United States is “not in total control” of the coronavirus pandemic and predicts the nation could eventually see 100,000 new COVID-19 cases a day.

Have you subscribed to theGrio’s new podcast “Dear Culture”? Download our newest episodes now!

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Tina Lawson defends daughter Beyoncé against ‘appropriation’ claims

Beyonce’s mother Tina Lawson had to get the haters right together this week over their criticism of Queen Bey’s new ‘Black Is King’ visual album. 

The project, released July 31 on the Disney+ streaming service, is based on the songs from the 2019 album, “The Lion King.” As reported by Variety, Bey’s latest work was announced in a joint statement from Disney and her Parkwood Entertainment production company.

“Black Is King is a celebratory memoir for the world on the Black experience,” the joint statement reads. The visuals will follow a new narrative based on a young king’s “transcendent journey through betrayal, love and self-identity.”

Immediately after the trailer dropped earlier this week, the singer was accused of “appropriating” African culture, even though the visual album is a celebration of the motherland, That Grape Juice reports. 

READ MORE: Mathew Knowles says colorism made him think ex-wife Tina Lawson was a white woman

The singer’s mother responded to the nonsensical chatter on Instagram, calling out folks for criticizing the film “before they even see it,” she wrote in a post on her official IG account. 

Ms. Tina also acknowledged some of the amazing African contributors on ‘Black Is King,’ while praising her daughter’s passion, dedication and unwavering work ethic. 

View this post on Instagram

#Repost @hova_bey.carter with @get_repost ・・・ Joshua and Blitz are Ghanaian, KC is Nigerian, Hannah worked on Lemonade with B, Trevor is South African…There's way, way more involved in the making of Black Is King but my point in posting this is simply that those who are criticizing the film (before they even see it) saying it's unauthentic, upset that B doesn't actually go to Africa or say that Bey is simply using African cultures for gain are wrong because 1. She makes less with her Afrocentric content. 2. She's actually taken the time studied African costumes and such and didn't just throw this together. She's worked with actual African dancers, film makers, directors etc on this project so for some African Americans and Africans to say it's a facade is truly discrediting the work of their own people. 3. While people whine about her not touring in Africa yet beg for more African representation in entertainment but are mad that they're getting it from one the world's greatest stars is strange to me. They'd rather have B come and they spend their money for a show once or twice every few years rather than have someone of African descent work with African creatives to create art that celebrates them that will last forever and it be done at no cost to them.) #Beyonce #Beyoncé #BeyonceKnowles #BeyonceKnowlesCarter #QueenB #MrsCarter #Jayz #jigga #jiggaman #Hov #Hova #KingHova #ShawnCarter #TheCarters #beyonceandjayz #Jayonce #MrCarter #JayZandBeyonce #beyhive🐝 #hovandb #JayandB #african #nigeria #blackexcellence #heritage #ghana #africa #director #

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Lawson noted that Beyonce made time to study African costumes and she specifically worked with African dancers, filmmakers and directors on this project.

She rejected accusations that Bey’s love of the culture is nothing more than a “façade” and that it’s really all about the money. 

When one fan pointed out that Beyonce’s “Lemonade” (considered her “Black” album) is one of her lowest selling offerings, Lawson co-signed the message. 

“It’s really sad that the women who shout the loudest the “protect the black woman” that they are the ones that are trying to tear her down” she wrote in the caption of the post.

“Sisters wake up!!!! Beyonce was taught from a little girl to lift other women up not to tear them down,” she added.

View this post on Instagram

@_alphaa_ (Twitter handle) you could not have said it better. It’s really sad that the women who shout the loudest “protect the black woman” that they are the ones that are trying to tear her down. Sisters wake up!!!! Beyonce was taught from a little girl to lift other women up not to tear them down. She minds her own business , does not criticize anyone, Gives of her time and money , and dedicates her art to Boldly show the Royalty and beauty of our heritage and journey ! Her work is to change the narrative! To show that we did not start off as slaves , but that we were kings and queens before we were forced into slavery . Don’t you want to see something that shows that ! Aren’t you sick and tired Of seeing us as slaves ! She employs African and African-American people , fights for many “first” in the fashion and film world . Take an inventory of yourself and your hate . Where is it coming from ? I ask you to examine your heart and really take a look at what your motive is and what it’s fueled by! Then take that energy critiquing, and tearing down and put it to into an action that is fighting against the systemic racism that is going on right now and has been going on forever . The time that you take to tear her down you could be using that time to do that!! Critique and tear down the systems that hurt and suppress us. Use your social media platform to work on getting people out to vote to change the laws critique the frigging laws!! Stop being a social media terrorist to the wrong people ! Redirect that passion for change in that !!! Use your energy and great intelligence to fight people who choose to be oppressors. Beyonce is not your enemy!! But you would swear that she was! I love what this post said which is the honest to God truth. She sold more records before lemonade. I have one question for you too that I’m confused about “how do you appropriate the black culture when you are black?? “She has a right to her heritage as well as anyone else in the world. Just consider young sisters i love you🙏🏾🙏🏾❤❤ and brothers thankyou for your balance and speaking up. 🙏🏾❤

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Lawson went on to admit that she finds it “strange” how “people whine about her not touring in Africa yet beg for more African representation in entertainment but are mad that they’re getting it from one the world’s greatest stars.”

She said her daughter’s so-called fans would “rather have B come and they spend their money for a show once or twice every few years rather than have someone of African descent work with African creatives to create art that celebrates them that will last forever and it be done at no cost to them,” Lawson wrote.

She went on to urge the trolls to “sop being a social media terrorist to the wrong people.”

“Redirect that passion,” Lawson added. “Use your energy and great intelligence to fight people who choose to be oppressors.”

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Kellyanne Conway’s anti-Trump teen daughter claims she’s being silenced

White House adviser Kellyanne Conway had an awkward moment on TikTok with her teen daughter over freedom of speech.

Claudia Conway, 15, made headlines this week after she shared her political views with the world through a series of TikTok videos, Complex reports. 

While her mother is very much pro-Trump, and her father is anti-Trump conservative, George Conway, the high schooler is a liberal activist and supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement. 

The Conways, understandably, are not pleased with the media attention that their teen daughter is getting over her stance on certain social issues. The minor and her mother recently sparred on TikTok, with Kellyanne demanding that she end the stream but Claudia refuses.

READ MORE: Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley tells Kellyanne Conway ‘Keep my name out of your lying mouth’ for a very good reason

“You’re literally not letting me use my freedom of speech,” she tells her mom, who appears to keep calm as she insists Claudia “shut it all down,” because “not everyone’s following is well-meaning.”

Watch the moment go down via the YouTube clip below:

George, meanwhile, has demanded all journalists cease communication with the minor. 

Taking to Twitter on Friday (July 3), he wrote, “ “To journalists:  @kellyannepolls and I do *not* consent to any communications between you and any of our minor children, including our daughter Claudia.  So desist.”

The teen claims her parents are trying to silence her by shutting off her phone and pressuring her to delete her social media accounts. 

“Please stop supporting my dad because he’s trying to take down my social media accounts too,” she said during the live stream with her famous mother.  

Claudia claims she has “been bullied and badgered her entire life because of her parents,” so she’s now using her platform to speak her truth. 

“I grew up in a very, very conservative family, so I was only exposed to those views for a very long time. I decided to educate myself and think for myself,” Claudia told Insider 

“I’m still a kid, of course. I took the time to educate myself and took the time to branch out and be exposed to other sides and other biases and whatnot. We do get into arguments a lot — I’m not going to lie.”

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Hachalu Hundessa: 'My friend the hero who was gunned down'

The BBC's Amensisa Ifa was close to Ethiopian protest singer Hachalu Hundessa, who was shot dead on Monday.

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Facebook employee files complaint: ‘We have a Black people problem’

A Black man, Oscar Veneszee, Jr. has filed an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint against social media giant, Facebook.

In the complaint, Veneszee says that the social network does not give Black workers equal opportunities in their careers.

READ MORE: A Black filmmaker seeking a Black editor triggers Facebook group for ‘racial discrimination’

In an interview with NPR, Veneszee said that “We have a Black people problem.”

The man, who has worked for the company since 2017, says that Facebook “set goals to increase diversity at the company, but we’ve failed to create a culture at the company that finds, grows and keeps Black people at the company.”

Veneszee, a Navy veteran, was hired to recruit other veterans and people of color to the company. Also listed in the complaint is Howard Winns, Jr. and Jazsmin Smith, who were both recruited by Veneszee, but not hired by the company.

Winns and Smith allege that they were not hired because they are Black.

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Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg (C) greets Facebook employees before speaking at a news conference at Facebook headquarters on October 6, 2010 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

According to the complaint, Veneszee states that while he is regularly praised by his supervisor, he has not been given opportunities to be promoted within the organization.

That lack of promotion has cost him the opportunity to earn “tens of thousands of dollars more” in salary as well as a higher bonus and more stock options, he claims.

In a statement, Facebook responded saying, “We believe it is essential to provide all employees with a respectful and safe working environment. We take any allegations of discrimination seriously and investigate every case.”

READ MORE: A Black filmmaker seeking a Black editor triggers Facebook group for ‘racial discrimination’

The complaint is not the first allegation of racial bias at Facebook. In November of 2019, a group of Black employees at the company wrote an anonymous Medium post that alleged that “Facebook empowers racism against its employees of color.”

The post read, “We may be smiling.” It said of their outward social media presence, but, it continued, “On the inside, we are sad. Angry. Oppressed. Depressed. And treated every day through the micro and macro aggressions as if we do not belong here.”

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Hummingbirds Can See Colors We Can’t Even Imagine

When humans see purple, we’re really seeing a blend of red and blue light. Hummingbirds see purple plus ultraviolet—and lots of other nonspectral colors.

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Alabama Students Throwing ‘COVID Parties’ as a Contest to See Who Gets Coronavrius

COVID-19 Parties

There have been reports that there are students in Tuscaloosa, Alabama who are attending parties featuring known students who have been recently diagnosed with the coronavirus, staging contests to see who can also catch the virus, a city council member told ABC News earlier this week.

As rumors of these parties started to spread, Tuscaloosa City Councilor Sonya McKinstry informed the city council that these students have been organizing “COVID parties” to intentionally infect each other with the coronavirus.

“They put money in a pot and they try to get COVID. Whoever gets COVID first gets the pot. It makes no sense,” McKinstry said. “They’re intentionally doing it.”


Tuscaloosa Fire Chief Randy Smith also spoke of the parties to the City Council earlier this week as he has also confirmed the behavior of the students. Smith spoke to council members and said that there have been parties held throughout the city and surrounding Tuscaloosa County, “where students, or kids, would come in with known positive.”

“We thought that was kind of a rumor at first,” Smith told the council members. “We did some research. Not only do the doctors’ offices confirm it but the state confirmed they also had the same information.”

Tuscaloosa, which is the seventh-largest city in Alabama, is also home to The University of Alabama and several other colleges.

“We’re trying to break up any parties that we know of,” McKinstry told ABC News. “It’s nonsense. But I think when you’re dealing with the mind frame of people who are intentionally doing stuff like that and they’re spreading it intentionally, how can you truly fight something that people are constantly trying to promote?”

Arrol Sheehan, the spokesperson for the Alabama Department of Public Health, said the state’s “Safer at Home Order” states that people who test positive “shall be quarantined to their place of residence for a period of 14 days.”

Sheehan said that the violation of the heath order is a misdemeanor and fines for each violation can be up to $500.

“Suspected violations of the home quarantine order should be reported to law enforcement and the local health department,” she said in a statement to ABC News.



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ABC reportedly set to cancel ‘Strahan, Sara and Keke’ TV show

Strahan, Sara, and Keke is set to be canceled by ABC, according to industry insiders.

The show has been on hiatus since March when it was replaced by Pandemic: What You Need to Know, a daily show providing updates on the coronavirus.

READ MORE: Keke Palmer makes emotional plea to national guard soldiers: ‘March beside us’

Hosted by Amy Robach, the new show has featured appearances from medical professionals and politicians addressing the widespread issues caused by the global pandemic and offering solutions on how to adjust to a new way of life.

Strahan, Sara and Keke starred Michael Strahan, former co-host of The View, Sara Haines, and actress Keke Palmer.

According to Page Six, Strahan, Sara, and Keke will not be returning from its hiatus. The report notes that the cancelation has not been confirmed by the network. But, an insider said that the show will be replaced by GMA 3: What You Need to Know.

The new show will be the third hour of Good Morning America, where Strahan remains a host.

Michael Strahan
(Photo: Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

“It’s unfortunate, but the hope is that they’ll be a big part of [GMA 3] down the road,” an insider told Page Six. “Everyone was feeling good about their show. It was nominated for three Daytime Emmys. It finally found its rhythm. Ratings were stabilized and were starting to tick up when they went off-air.”

Palmer joined the show last year injecting youthful energy into the programming. The 26-year-old recently went viral for pleading with National Guard members to “march with us,” during a protest against police violence in Los Angeles on June 2.

“Let the revolution be televised. March beside us, and show us that you’re here for us. Make history with us, please. … Come on. Be the change. Do it. Do it, please. Do it, please. We are good people. March with us.”

READ MORE: Keke Palmer on perfecting her pole-dancing skills for ‘Hustlers’ and scoring ‘GMA: 3’ gig

The guardsmen told Palmer that while he could not leave his post, he would march with her down the street. He also took a knee with her in solidarity.

Strahan, Sara, and Keke was in its second season.

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