Category: African-American

Essence Magazine:

Jas Waters, best known for being a staff writer on This Is Us and Kidding, has died. She was 39.

The news was confirmed by the NBC series. A statement shared on Twitter Wednesday read: “The entire #ThisIsUs family was devastated to learn of Jas Waters passing. In our time together, Jas left her mark on us and ALL over the show.”

“She was a brilliant storyteller and a force of nature,” the somber statement continued. “We send our deepest sympathies to her loved ones. She was one of us. RIP @JasFly.”

So far, there’s no word on the writer’s cause of death.

The entire #ThisIsUs family was devastated to learn of Jas Waters passing. In our time together, Jas left her mark on us and ALL over the show. She was a brilliant storyteller and a force of nature. We send our deepest sym>@JasFly. pic.twitter.com/cmrh2OO8of

— ThisIsUsWriters (@ThisIsUsWriters) June 10, 2020

Waters began her career in entertainment as a hip-hop journalist, writing for Vibe among other publications. Throughout her decades-long career, she also lent her talents to the Taraji P. Henson-led film, What Women Want.

Many in the hip-hop community remembered Waters on social media. Here are just a few tributes to the late journalist and writer:

I will miss you and will see you soon. RIP @JasFly

— Low (@LowKeyUHTN) June 10, 2020

If you are in the industry, you know @JasFly … a motivating energy and dope woman in hip-hop. Today hurts

— Sowmya Krishnamurthy (@SowmyaK) June 10, 2020

Rest In Peace @JasFly Truly a Brilliant Soul

— RAVEN B. (@RAVIEB) June 10, 2020

Sending my condolences to the family & friends of @JasFly

— Karen Civil (@KarenCivil) June 10, 2020

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Waters’ family and friends at this time. May she rest in peace.

The post ‘This Is Us’ Writer Jas Waters Dead appeared first on Essence.

Essence Magazine:

At an alarming rate COVID-19 has affected at least 2 million people, making medical supplies including mask and gowns hard to come by. During the beginning of the crisis, essential workers along with citizens had a hard time finding protective material, and some online orders were backed up for months. No one would’ve guessed at the beginning of March that the entire world would be dealing with a pandemic yet, here we are. Most cities are getting ready to implement plans to open up however wearing a mask is almost mandatory everywhere you go.

With the scarce number of supplies, a few Black designers have stepped up by providing masks to alleviate the shortage. Last month, Kerby Jean-Raymond used his Instagram platform to announce his plans for providing aid to Covid-19 victims. The Brooklyn-based creator turned his New York studio into a donation center and granted small businesses with financial support, while independent brand

The post 20 Black Designers Providing Effective Face Masks appeared first on Essence.

Essence Magazine:

It’s hard believing it’s only been a little over two weeks that George Floyd brought America to its knees. The video clip of his May 25 arrest and murder ignited massive Black Lives Matter marches from Seattle, Washington to Perth, Australia.

Floyd’s unlawful death—along with the racially motivated killings of Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor—became the tipping point of globally dismantling systemic racism. Conversations around race relations are at a fever pitch, from protest rallies to podcasts.

According to the weekly newsletter “Hot Pod,” it states that “podcasts about race, or featuring race as a primary theme, have bubbled up its ranks” on the charts of Apple Podcasts. One look at the chart today, the New York Times 1619 podcast from Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones, sits at number 1. The series, which is the digital component to the 1619 Project, is an extensive examination of how slavery has impacted America until today. (If you haven’t listened to the five-part series, do so immediately.)

Amanda Seales, host of Small Doses with Amanda Seales / photo courtesy of subject

Other podcast voices digging deep on racial injustice right now include Amanda Seales, Rebecca Carroll, Shereen Marisol Maraji and Gene Demby from NPR’s Code Switch and DeRay McKesson from Pod Save the People. Below are 10 episodes we’ve tuned into examining America’s 401-year-old problem with race. Take a listen.

1. NPR’s Code Switch episode — A Decade of Watching Black People Die

2. Jemele Hill Is Unbothered episode — John Legend, Polite Raunch

3. Small Doses with Amanda Seales episode — Uprising, A Small Doses Forum

4. What Matters episode — #SayHerName, a Conversation with Tamika Mallory and the Taylor Family Attorney Lonita Baker

5. The Nod episode — We’ve Been Here Before

6. The United States of Anxiety episode — ‘I Did Not Watch the Video’

7. Larry Wilmore: Black on the Air episode — Thoughts on George Floyd and the Virus of Racism in America

8. Truth Be Told episode — Protesting for the Soul of America: The New Civil Rights Movement

9. Higher Learning with Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay episode — The Importance of Nationwide Protests Over George Floyd’s Death

10. Pod Save the People episode — Keep the Fight with Justine Barron and Amelia McDonell-Parry

The post 10 Podcasts Examing America’s 401-Year-Old Problem With Race appeared first on Essence.

Essence Magazine:

Ever the outspoken pundit, Harvard professor Cornel West went on Sean Hannity’s Fox News show on Tuesday night and did not hold back. During a segment on defunding the police, West unloaded on civil rights attorney and frequent Fox contributor Leo Terrell.

The sparring match started after Hannity opened up the conversation by rattling off a few of the headlines that deal with extreme cases of police interactions with protesters. He then asked West if he supports “this madness” of defunding the police.

West started his response by recognizing the heaviness of the day, stating that hours before the segment, George Floyd was laid to rest in Houston two weeks after his death at the hands of four Minneapolis police officers. He went on to say that he believes police interactions with protesters and within communities boils down to respect. 

“You have to have police who respect the community,” West asserted. “There has to be some community control, accountability of both citizens and police and recognizing that the deeper issues of poverty, dilapidated schools, housing, shattered families, communities, not enough jobs with a living wage — that generates a despair that the police do have to come to terms with. But there has to be democratic control over the police.” 

Hannity countered with an oft-used Republican talking point, saying that the majority of liberal cities have for decades been run by democrats who have allowed the education systems to decline. West concurred in the case of Chicago’s former mayor Rahm Emanuel, of whom he says he was not a critic. But he also stated that it goes beyond that. 

WATERLOO, IA – FEBRUARY 1:Academic Cornel West, a supporter of Democratic Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, speaks during an event with local campaign volunteers at a field office located in a residence on February 1, 2020 in Waterloo, Iowa.On the penultimate day of campaign before the Iowa Caucus, Democratic Presidential candidates and their supporters are traversing the state to greet prospective voters.(Photo by Mark Makela/Getty Images)

When Hannity looked to Terrell to get his take on Democrat-run cities and where they’ve “failed America’s children,” Terrell focused his response on West saying that the professor won’t answer Hannity’s question because he’s just interested in “giving old talking points.” After Terrell told West he wanted to speak to him “Black man to Black man” the segment went completely left.

West asked Terrell what his talking points are and showed disdain over the fact that the attorney had chosen to “disrespect” him on the day “Brother Floyd is put in his grave.” At one point West asked Terrell who he was tied to, and questioned, “Who do you think you are my brother?” The show had completely gone off the rails by the time West told Terrll, “Check yourself negro.”

Hannity concluded the interview after Terrell asked several times for producers to cut West’s mic. Earlier in the night West appeared on Anderson Cooper where the civil rights activist shared his deep respect for the Floyd family and the Black people who have chosen love despite their oppression.

The post Cornel West Unloads On Sean Hannity And Fox News Guest appeared first on Essence.

Essence Magazine:

Taking her talents to TikTok, Lizzo shared some receipts with people who consistently hate on her body. The takeaway: She loves her body and doesn’t care if you don’t.

The singer, who is known for openly embracing her curves, debunked the myth that full-figured women don’t exercise. In a series of video clips, she shares her various workout methods, which including cycling, doing squats and jumping rope.

“So I’ve been working out consistently for the last five years,” Lizzo says in her narration of the video, “and it may come as a surprise to some of y’all that I’m not working out to have your ideal body type. I’m working out to have my ideal body type. And you know what type that is? None of your f–king business. Because I am beautiful, I am strong, I do my job and I stay on my job.”

Preach, sis!

Lizzo is 100% that BITCH and she did not stutter y’all better put respect on her namepic.twitter.com/dB9oo9vVvZ

— K I E R A (@quackquackhoes) June 10, 2020

Lizzo then went on to put the body-shamers, who assume she’s unhealthy because of her weight, in their place: “So next time you want to come to somebody and judge them—whether they drink kale smoothies or eat McDonald’s or work out or not work out—how ’bout you look at your own f–king self and worry about your own goddamn body. Because health is not just determined on what you look like on the outside. Health is also what happens on the inside, and a lot of y’all need to do a f–king cleanse for your insides. Namaste. Have a great day.”

Lizzo exudes confidence not only on social media but also through her music. Songs like “Truth Hurts” and “Soulmate” talk about her decision to love herself unconditionally and not needing permission from the outside world to do so. In her ESSENCE digital cover story interview, Lizzo doubled down on herdecision to embrace the parts of herself that mainstream society has deemedimperfect.

“I love creating shapes with my body,” she said. “I love normalizing the dimples in my butt or the lumps in my thighs or my back fat or my stretch marks. I love normalizing my Black-ass elbows. I think it’s beautiful.”

We stan an unapologetic queen!

The post Lizzo Claps Back At Her Body-Shamers In A New Workout Video appeared first on Essence.

Essence Magazine:

Taking her talents to Tik Tok, Lizzo shared some receipts with people who consistently hate on her body. The takeaway: she loves her body and doesn’t care if you don’t.

The singer, who is known for openly embracing her curves, debunked the myth that full-figured women don’t exercise. In a series of video clips, she shares her various workout methods which including cycling, squats and jumping rope.

“So I’ve been working out consistently for the last five years,” Lizzo says in her narration of the video, “and it may come as a surprise to some of y’all that I’m not working out to have your ideal body type. I’m working out to have my ideal body type. And you know what type that is? None of your f–king business. Because I am beautiful, I am strong, I do my job and I stay on my job.”

Preach, sis!

Lizzo is 100% that BITCH and she did not stutter y’all better put respect on her namepic.twitter.com/dB9oo9vVvZ

— K I E R A (@quackquackhoes) June 10, 2020

Lizzo then went on to put the body shamers, who assume she’s unhealthy because of her weight, in their place. “So next time you want to come to somebody and judge them — whether they drink kale smoothies or eat McDonalds or work out or not work out — how ’bout you look at your own f–king self and worry about your own goddamn body. Because health is not just determined on what you look like on the outside. Health is also what happens on the inside, and a lot of y’all need to do a f–king cleanse for your insides. Namaste, have a great day.”

Lizzo exudes confidence not only on social media, but through her music. Songs like “Truth Hurts” and “Soulmate” talk about her decision to love herself unconditionally and not needing permission from the outside world to do so. In her ESSENCE digital cover story interview, Lizzo doubled down on herdecision to embrace the parts of herself that mainstream society has deemedimperfect.

 “I love creating shapes with my body,” she said. “I love normalizing the dimples in my butt or the lumps in my thighs or my back fat or my stretch marks. I love normalizing my Black-ass elbows. I think it’s beautiful.”

We stan an unapologetic queen!

The post Lizzo Claps Back At Her Body-Shamers In A New Workout Video appeared first on Essence.

Essence Magazine:

Nearly two weeks ago, as companies within the fashion and beauty industries began to get called out for their silence while protestors took to the streets to fight racial inequality and injustice, Aurora James took to Instagram to challenge those brands. She charged them to commit to buying 15 percent of their products from Black owned businesses. She specifically called on Target, Saks, Net-A-Porter, and Sephora amongst other companies to make what she called the 15% Pledge.

“So many of your businesses are built on Black spending power…This is the least you can do for us. We represent 15% of the population and we need to represent 15% of your shelf space,” James wrote.

Today, Sephora announced that it is making the footwear designer’s pledge. The retailer is committing to all three stages of the pledge which includes auditing in order to take stock of where they currently are in representation, looking at their existing shelves, boardrooms and receipts, taking inventory of how many Black-Owned businesses they are buying from and how many Black women are in their C-Suite. The stages also include taking ownership and planning to hold themselves accountable to the pledge, and taking direct action with a planned strategy while updating the community along the way.

View this post on Instagram

We’re joining @15percentpledge and @aurorajames. We recognize how important it is to represent Black businesses and communities, and we must do better. So, we’re starting now.

A post shared by Sephora (@sephora) on Jun 10, 2020 at 10:02am PDT

“We were inspired to make the 15% Pledge because we believe it’s the right thing to do, for our clients, our industry and for our community,” says Artemis Patrick, EVP and CMO Sephora. “Ultimately, this commitment is about more than the prestige products on our shelves, it starts with a long-term plan diversifying our supply chain and building a system that creates a better platform for Black-owned brands to grow, while ensuring Black voices help shape our industry. We recognize we can do better and this pledge builds on our ongoing work to use our resources to drive meaningful and long-term change for Sephora and our industry.”

The company outlined several steps of the plan, including “building capacity for businesses through partnerships with funders and the VC community, bringing all of Sephora’s knowledge freely to the table so aspiring founders can start on the right foot, incubating companies to thrive and ensure long-term success, and evolving Sephora’s own programs, including their Accelerate program,” which was started to help more female founders get access to funding and successful launches.

Today the program includes nine Black-owned brands out of 50, and will shift next year to focus on women of color and create an advisory group that will serve as a counsel for the retailer.

Sephora explicitly said that making this pledge means taking on more Black-owned brand partners. And while a rep for the company explained that it is still in the planning stages for the advisory group, James has already agreed to participate. Additionally, Sephora will be looking to include founders of Black-owned prestige brands to the counsel—the final list will be shared with the community once established.

The company had also been called out by consumers just days ago on Sharon Chuter’s Pull Up For Change campaign, which challenged beauty brands to be transparent about how many—or how few—Black employees they have in corporate and leadership positions.

Campaign followers had a lot to say after Sephora revealed that it has 14 percent Black representation across the United States, and six percent in leadership including on the store level, at distribution centers and in its corporate office.

View this post on Instagram

@sephora Pulled up! Data includes stores – 14% black representation across the USA and 6% in leadership including store and warehouse.#pulluporshutup

A post shared by PULL UP OR SHUT UP! (@pullupforchange) on Jun 7, 2020 at 2:03pm PDT

“Would love to see these numbers six months from now to see if they really back up what they say,” wrote one follower. “Everyone wants to do better and accepts the accountability but let’s see what it looks like in a couple of months. And I won’t even give them a year ‘cause it doesn’t take that long for these changes.”

This pledge looks like Sephora’s way of saying challenge accepted. So we’re looking forward to seeing what changes we’ll see in the coming months, and whether or not the retailer can influence other industry giants to join them.

The post Sephora Pledges 15 Percent Of Shelf Space To Black-Owned Brands appeared first on Essence.

Essence Magazine:

Branden Michael Wolfe, a 23-year-old from St. Paul, Minnesota is facing charges in connection with the fires that were set to Minneapolis Police Department’s Third Precinct during early protests two weeks ago following the police-involved killing of George Floyd.

According to WCCO, Wolfe is facing charges of aiding and abetting arson.

Wolf, according to investigators, was taken into custody while wearing body armor and a law enforcement duty belt and wielding a baton—items he is accused of taking from the precinct—as he attempted to get into a home improvement store in St. Paul.

The emblem from the front-facing of the Third Police Precinct is tossed into a fire on May 28, 2020, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. As unrest continues after the death of George Floyd police abandoned the precinct building, allowing protesters to set fire to it. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

Employees at the store say that Wolfe was working as a security guard, but had been fired earlier in the day on May 28 for referencing social media posts talking about stealing items from the Third Precinct.

Officials also recovered other items, including a police radio and a riot helmet from Wolfe’s apartment.

Wolfe reportedly admitted to being inside the Third Precinct the night of the fires, as well as pushing a wooden barrel into the flames, knowingly feeding the fire. He also admitted to taking items from the precinct.

The post 23-Year-Old Arrested In Connection With Fire At Minneapolis Police Station appeared first on Essence.