Category: African-American

Essence Magazine:

In a whitewashed media landscape, there are only two Black people who have the privilege of hosting their own talk shows, bringing viewers across the country the issues and triumphs not only meaningful to the Black community but to us all.

One of those women is Tamron Hall, who launched her very own daytime talk show last year. Before COVID-19 shut down her New York City studio, we saw the former Today anchor dig into another college admissions scandal, speak with our favorite celebrities from Real Housewives’ Kandi Burruss to Tracee Ellis Ross and even wed one of ESSENCE’s very own in a virtual ceremony.

But back in March, Hall empowered another Black women to lead her show, tapping Candi Carter as showrunner and executive producer. Carter replaced Talia Parkinson-Jones.

“You always need a coach,” the former trackrunner said last month to a group of journalists on a Zoom call. “I don’t care how good you are, you need a coach.”

“She is my Phil Jackson,” Hall said of Carter, who left her post at The View, where she became the first Black woman to be an executive producer, to join the daytime talk show. “I know this show is in great hands and I know the quality of what we’re seeing right now in this makeshift studio is because of her. Point blank, period.”

Carter told ESSENCE that it was a no-brainer to join Tamron Hall, even if she did raise a few eyebrows when leaving The View, a long-running ABC series known for hard-hitting interviews with politicians, during a presidential election.

“It feel great being back to my storytelling roots,” Carter explained. “That’s what I did for 15 years and it was exciting.”

“Tamron Hall” (Credit: ABC)

The mother of two isn’t new to this. She’s true. Before making history at The View, the Emmy Award-winning producer spent 15 years as a senior/supervising producer for The Oprah Winfrey Show, which went off the air back in 2011.

“To me, it’s a really exciting prospect to take a new show, with somebody who’s so smart and amazing and game for anything, and to see what we can create and build for the next decade,” Carter continued. “I joined a 19-year-old show and shockingly, we were able to create something really incredible and now we’re at the beginning of this journey and I’m excited to jump on this train because I actually think we’re going to blow people out of the water.”

Plus, “everything is political,” Hall chimed.

It’s why the Tamron Hall show will host “Hear Us Now” on Friday, a special to highlight young protesters demanding change after George Floyd’s murder. Not only will political analyst Bakari Sellers and his dad Cleveland Sellers, Jr. join, but I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness author Austin Channing Brown and White activist Jenny Booth Potter will be part the discussion as well.

The post Candi Carter Talks Transforming ‘Tamron Hall’ appeared first on Essence.

Essence Magazine:

With each day in quarantine bringing us something new, it’s been hard to keep track what month we’re in. But somehow, June is here meaning Father’s Day is right around the corner. If you’re lucky, the city you’re in has started to implement plans to open back up so a quick socially distant run to the store is easy however, if you don’t wait to wait in line or still skeptical to hang outside, there is still enough time to online shop.

For the Dad’s who love their fashion, this is the perfect time to introduce them to a designer who may not be in their closet. The Telfar Shopping Bag stands as a New York Citfy fashion staple however, the brands also released a fun button up which can be catered to the business casual Dad. Brother Vellies released its Huarache sandal in mens allotting for a comfy select and serves as a great cook-out shoe for the summer. For the Dad who is always in suits to the sweatsuit lover, scroll through stylish selects below perfect for Father’s Day.

The post Father’s Day Gifts For The Dad Who Loves Fashion appeared first on Essence.

Essence Magazine:

We love when celebrities share their beauty secrets and especially when they include affordable products that work. 

On Monday, Cardi B shared the moisturizing hair mask she uses on both herself and her daughter Kulture, and it checks all of the boxes. 

The “I Like It” rapper created the hair treatment from scratch using ingredients that many of us already have in our kitchen.

And not only will the hair mask hydrate your locks, but “it’s just a good hair mask to help your hair grow,” Cardi explained in an Instagram video. 

The hair mask recipe requires 7 ingredients: avocado, argan oil, black castor oil, olive oil, mayonnaise, eggs and honey.  And if you want extra nutrients for your tresses, the rapper suggests adding a banana.  “All the good things you put in your body, you’ve got to put in your hair,” she said

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. . Believe it or not, I currently have this mask on while I steam my hair. I’m finna grow this hair! Who else is trying this? #inspired . . . #thatgidigirl #thatgidigirlphoenix #cardib #cardi

A post shared by ThatGidiGirl (@thatgidigirlphoenixx) on Jun 9, 2020 at 8:48am PDT

Photo: Instagram/@thatgirlphoenix

Cardi, who frequently wears wigs, showed off the results of using the DIY treatment on her natural hair in a photo on Instagram, noting that it helps with hair growth a lot.

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The end results of all that shit I put on my hair earlier.Treat your hair ladies …and don’t let a nikka tell you shit bout wearing wigsIt helps with hair growth ALOT !

A post shared by Cardi B (@iamcardib) on Jun 8, 2020 at 10:11pm PDT

Photo:Instagram/@

The photo shows the rapper’s straight hair sweeping below her shoulders, and it looks “nice and shiny.”

For healthy-looking hair, a la Cardi B, try this recipe at home.

The post Watch Cardi B Make Her Hair Mask From Scratch appeared first on Essence.

Essence Magazine:

Javier Ambler, 40, died while in police custody last March, however, it was only on Monday that body camera footage was released by the Austin Police Department, showing the father of two sons telling officers multiple times that he couldn’t breathe, that he had congestive heart failure, and pleading “Save me.”

According to USA Today, Ambler was just on his way back home from a friendly poker game, when Williamson County sheriff’s deputy J.J. Johnson decided to stop him for failing to dim the headlights of his vehicle to the oncoming traffic. A chase lasting a little over 20 minutes ensued after Ambler didn’t stop when the deputy put on his flashing lights, ending in in the city of Austin. During the chase, Ambler hit a stationary object four times, before crashing one last time near East St. Johns and Bethune avenues.

Johnson had no backup at the time and drew his gun, ordering Ambler out of the vehicle. Ambler got out and showed his hands as requested. Johnson put away his gun and instead pulled out his Taser, ordering Ambler to get down.

According to USA Today, when Ambler appeared to turn toward the car door, Johnson deployed his Taser, causing the 40-year-old to fall to his knee and then roll onto his back and stomach.

“You’ll get it again,” Johnson declared.

At that time, another Deputy, Zachary Camden, showed up, and also pushed his Taser into Ambler’s upper back “in a drive-stun motion,” the report notes.

Ambler is Tased a third time, although it is not clear which deputy used his weapon.

As the struggle continues and officers try to handcuff Ambler, he is heard pleading with them.

“I have congestive heart failure,” Ambler said. “I have congestive heart failure. I can’t breathe.”

“I am not resisting,” her later insists. “Sir, I can’t breathe. … Please. … Please.”

A deputy demands that Ambler follow instructions, to which he says he can’t, pleading “Save me.”

One of the deputies deploys their Taser a fourth and final time. Ambler falls unconscious as his pulse stops. He would never wake back up.

Ambler’s death was ruled a homicide due to congestive heart failure, hypertensive cardiovascular disease associated with morbid obesity “in combination with forcible restraint,” according to CNN.

Johnson and the assisting deputies were found to have “acted in accordance with the guidelines set in the WCSO policy,” the Office of Professional Standards in the Williamson County Sheriff’s Department ruled.

However, there is still a lot to be uncovered about Ambler’s case. Johnson, USA Today reports, was with a film crew from the reality show “Live PD” in which he was regularly featured. A “Live PD” crew also accompanied Camden when he arrived at the scene, however, according to the report, it is not clear what steps investigators took to gain access to the footage from “Live PD.”

Travis County District Attorney Margaret Moore noted her concerns that the show has not produced any video.

Moore intends to take the case to a grand jury, noting that the coronavirus pandemic restricted her ability to have a grand jury hear the case in March. Right now she is hoping to get permission to convene a grand jury before August.

“It’s important, in today’s climate with the heightened response to officer-involved incidents, that the public know we are prosecuting this case, are taking it to the grand jury and we will do everything within our power to see that justice is done here,” she said, according to CNN.

The post Javier Ambler: Black Man Pleaded ‘I Can’t Breathe’ Several Times During Texas Arrest appeared first on Essence.

Essence Magazine:

Niecy Nash may be an actress and comedian—but she’s a Black mother just like the rest of us. Even more, she’s a Black mother with a Black son.

And in the wake of George Floyd’s death, she’s speaking out about her concerns as a Black mother, because even being the son of a celebrity mom doesn’t make you exempt from “living while Black” in America.

The 50-year-old Claws star revealed that just days ago, her own 28-year-old son Dominic had a taser pulled on him by police officers after he was pulled over for a small traffic infraction.

“My son got stopped leaving my house last Sunday,” she shared with The Hollywood Reporter. “And they pulled a taser on him for a rolling stop. And then proceeded to question him and ask him, ‘You have on a T-Mobile shirt. Do you work there? Because if you do, how did you afford this car? Because this is a 2020.’”

Nash continued, “They don’t know if he was a manager. They don’t know if he was an owner. They don’t know if he had a rich mama. But what they probably felt like was, ‘How did this young Black boy get a car that I don’t even have?’ And we fitting to make you suffer for it.”

The actress said she’s received many questions, asking what to do to support the Black community, but Nash said she’s still “trying to figure out what to tell my own son” to ensure he’s get home safely. 

Nash is also a mother to two daughters, Dia and Donielle, with her ex-husband Don Nash.

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Sending out love & virtual hugs from our family to yours on this Resurrection Sunday! #HeHasRisen

A post shared by Niecy Nash (@niecynash1) on Apr 12, 2020 at 12:04pm PDT

“While I receive phone calls where people are saying, ‘What can White people do? What can non-Black people do?’ I’m trying to figure out what to tell my own son,” she said. “I used to say, if you just comply, get home, and if there was a wrong that happened, we’ll right it later.”

But Nash said after Floyd’s murder at the hands of White former police officer Derek Chauvin, she’s not even sure that’s the right advice “because he complied. He was in handcuffs. He was on the ground with his hands behind his back. So I don’t even know.”

Still, the actress and her Reno 911 castmates are doing their part as they collectively donated $10,000 toward Floyd’s funeral, being held Tuesday in Houston.

The post Niecy Nash Reveals Police ‘Pulled A Taser’ On Son During Traffic Stop appeared first on Essence.

Essence Magazine:

Ava DuVernay has long been on the frontlines, teaching moviegoers about the perils of the prison industrial complex through documentaries and docuseries such as 13th and When They See Us. It’s clear the director has dedicated her career to amplifying Black issues, and she continues to keep her foot on the gas. 

DuVernay’s latest project will finance new stories about police brutality through her latest initiative, the Law Enforcement Accountability Project. LEAP aims to hold police officers accountable, whether or not they have been charged for their crimes. 

LEAP will fund 25 projects over the next two years, spanning from movies, theater, photography, music, poetry, dance, and sculpture,

The post Ava DuVernay Launches Initiative To Hold Police Officers Accountable For Their Actions appeared first on Essence.

Essence Magazine:

Quickly, the consumer’s priorities in fashion are changing. Comfort, functionality, and the ability to mix and match a piece to get the best bang for your buck are fueling the demand for loungewear. Where the category of cozy apparel was once reserved for inside the home, we’re now incorporating the look into our everyday essentials.

As streetwear continues to merge with luxury fashion, you’re hard pressed to find a brand that hasn’t caught on and introduced their own collections that cater to the consumers’ need for comfort infused with style. The brands rising to the forefront of the movement come at lounge and athleisure from an innovative perspective, creating products that stand out above the rest. Philadelphia-based brand, Lovello Elizabeth, is a leader of the pack.

Alnika Lovello launched the brand in 2014, and it has since garnered over 68,000 followers on Instagram as customers flock to the brand’s signature ZENTAI jumpsuit. The Lovello Elizabeth look is reminiscent of a 90’s or early 2000’s aesthetic, begging for a pair of vintage Chanel shades and a multicolored Louis Vuitton pochette to finish off the look. But what stands out is Lovello’s attention to quality and her ability to combine modernity (the brand embodies an overall minimalistic feel, characterized by solid color ways and clean lines) and hints of streetwear.

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Rose Romper 5/29 12PMORANGE, PINK, NUDE, OLIVE, HEATHER GREY & BLACK XXS-XL. $125 ONLINE ONLY.MODEL SHOWN WEARING: XS

A post shared by LOVELLO ELIZABETH (@lovelloelizabeth) on May 28, 2020 at 8:05pm PDT

Coming from an African-American and Italian background, Lovello takes a unique approach to her brand that effortlessly fuses masculine and feminine, marries urban with high end, and introduces two cultures to one line to “forge a new path towards diversity in fashion.”

Self-taught, Lovello grew her brand from what was a slow start, to now, one with loyal customers anticipating its next drop. “The jumpsuit was ahead of its time. It took almost three years for it to sell, now it’s non-stop orders,” she told PHILADELPHIA. She recently released a mix and match capsule of fresh, pastel colored short sets with the option of a cozy hoodie or a low neckline, ribbed crop-tank. And just as it seems the brand was set on raising the bar for loungewear-meets-everyday, Lovello drops a hint on her website that Lovello Elizabeth could soon be taking a turn into contemporary fashion.

ESSENCE got to speak with Lovello about how she’s created a brand with quality first and a mission to not become boxed in.

Essence: What was the process of starting your brand like?

Lovello: I started out in January 2014 with 24 screen printed t-shirts. Everything was all just for fun. I had no experience in fashion— just Google as my best friend. A few months later, I found a manufacturer and started making handcrafted items that were sold out of my trunk. Things were slow at first, but after some killer items, business really started picking up. Fast forward about 5 more years, we have a studio, a creative space, and a full warehouse for inventory.

Quality seems to be a prominent characteristic of Lovello Elizabeth. How important is the clothing’s material to you?

Quality has been the top priority since day one. It’s very important to me to make sure that fabric is the right fit for the design, that sizing is perfect in terms of range and fit, and that details are well put together. Sometimes collections take longer to release because I’m really focused on making sure we deliver on the quality.

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Let’s start the spring off right #BTS3/6 11AM EST IN-STUDIO & ONLINE

A post shared by LOVELLO ELIZABETH (@lovelloelizabeth) on Mar 4, 2020 at 8:27am PST

Would you describe Lovello Elizabeth as streetwear?

I have a hard time labeling the brand, and I say that because of what’s to come from us. Right now, we may sell comfortable loungewear or athleisure, but in the future I’d like for the brand to be seen more as an overall lifestyle brand, giving options to the type of style the consumer is looking to achieve. I’d like for us to cover all the needs of our consumer. I love streetwear, but I don’t want to box Lovello Elizabeth in.

What makes a good sweatsuit?

The first thing I ask myself is “Is it comfortable? Does it fit well?” I also make sure it’s something I can get more than one wear from and style in different ways. Sustainability, longevity and functionality are always in the back of our minds when designing our pieces.

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New Arrivals | The OSH Hoodie and OSH Leggings. Offered in 5 colors. Items sold separately! Releasing 2/14, in-studio and on lovelloelizabeth.com.  #LovelloElizabeth

A post shared by LOVELLO ELIZABETH (@lovelloelizabeth) on Feb 11, 2020 at 2:54pm PST

Was Lovello Elizabeth at all impacted by COVID-19?

We’ve mostly been impacted internally, as our team is working from home. We really enjoy coming in and spending time together everyday, but our main focus has been making sure everyone is able to stay safe. We’ve had to work on new strategies for marketing, like most businesses, and we’re using this time to work on creating more timeless collections and all-around functionality.

What’s next for your brand?

We’re creating a new brand experience on the website for customers shopping online. We’re also working on expansion, pop-up shops, exclusive collections and collaborating with some dope people and brands. We’re excited for what’s to come and think everyone will really enjoy what’s next.

The post Lovello Elizabeth Is The Go-To For Minimalistic Loungewear appeared first on Essence.

Essence Magazine:

A Black store owner who called the cops to report a robbery at his shop was punched by an officer who apparently mistook him for the suspect.

According to AL.com, the incident occurred on March 15, but has only caught attention after surveillance footage made its way to social media over the weekend.

Kevin Penn, 47, the owner of Star Spirits & Beverages in Decatur called police to report a robbery, noting that he was holding the suspect at gunpoint.

Decatur Police Chief Nate Allen told AL.com that because Penn was armed and officers were responding to a robbery, he was mistaken for the suspect.

Body camera footage that police played during a press conference on Monday showed officer telling Penn to put his gun down, and Penn apparently refused. As AL.com notes, the body camera footage does not seem to clearly show what happened and was edited with captions and delayed at certain parts.

Allen says Penn then moved his hand over the gun that was next to him, adding that he was holding a magazine (ammunition) in his other hand, which an officer may have mistaken for a gun.

“We do know there was a gun there, we do know that the magazines were there, we do know that he was reloading the magazine,” Allen said at the news conference.

Penn’s lawyer, Carl Cole told AL.com that he had shown the gun to officers so that they would know he was armed and then took out the clip and removed the bullet from the chamber.

An officer who was just walking into the store is seen walking straight up to Penn and punching him hard in the face.

That officer has not been publicly identified, but Allen said that he was placed on desk duty pending an internal investigation. The incident has been under investigation since it first occurred, AL.com notes.

Penn sustained serious injuries from the punch, including having his teeth knocked out and a broken jaw. His mouth was wired shut for several weeks, his lawyer told the news site.

And even though Penn was the one who called officers to report the robbery, he was arrested for obstructing governmental operations for hampering the investigation of the robbery, according to the report.

The post Black Store Owner Gets Punched By Officer Responding To Robbery At His Shop appeared first on Essence.