Category: African-American

Essence Magazine:

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Essence Magazine:

Senator Amy Klobuchar, who is currently being vetted as a potential candidate to be Joe Biden’s vice president in the 2020 elections, is facing increased scrutiny in the anger and frustration over the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police.

As the Star Tribune notes, Klobuchar was once a Hennepin County prosecutor, where her record is questionable at best. She refused to criminally charge officers involved in fatalities throughout her tenure, leaving the decision to a grand jury, which the Tribune notes, was a common practice at the time.

However, one of those officers who also slipped through her own scrutiny as a prosecutor was Derek Chauvin, the officer who was involved in Floyd’s death.

According to the report, Chauvin was one of six officers who shot at Wayne Reyes in 2006, ultimately killing him. Reyes reportedly aimed a shotgun at officers after stabbing his friend and his girlfriend.

Klobuchar declined to prosecute those involved, including Chauvin, and the case never went before a grand jury until after she became a senator.

ATLANTA – NOVEMBER 20: Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) speaks during the Democratic Presidential Debate at Tyler Perry Studios on November 20, 2019, in Atlanta. Ten Democratic presidential hopefuls were chosen from the larger field of candidates to participate in the debate hosted by MSNBC and the Washington Post. (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

“We need to close the enthusiasm gap that Biden currently faces. We need to have a VP pick that expands the capacity of the campaign to reach these key audiences. Black women are key. Brown women are key. And Klobuchar does not do that,” Aimee Allison, the president of She the People, told the news site.

This is not the first time that Klobuchar’s history as a prosecutor has come up, given that she was, at one point, a fixture in the 2020 Democratic lineup for president.

The View cohost Sunny Hostin has called Klobuchar out for her failure to prosecute a single officer who was involved in the death of someone. Hostin also brought up the fact that she sentenced Myon Burrell to life in prison as a teen in the murder of 11-year-old Tyesha Edwards. No gun was ever recovered, and there was no DNA evidence in that case. Burrell has long maintained his innocence, and another individual confessed to the crime.

Floyd’s death has once again highlighted her questionable past in these matters, and ignited calls for her to shut down any talk about her being vice president.

Amy Klobuchar needs to make a statement TODAY withdrawing herself from consideration to be Biden’s running mate.

— Charlotte Clymer (@cmclymer) May 29, 2020

If Biden wants to earn respect, he would make a statement saying Amy Klobuchar is no longer being considered. https://t.co/xSTvmrRHj8

— Frederick Joseph (@FredTJoseph) May 29, 2020

I don’t even understand what the point would be of picking Amy Klobuchar for vice president.

— Imani Gandy (@AngryBlackLady) May 29, 2020

The post Amy Klobuchar Didn’t Prosecute Cop Involved In George Floyd’s Death appeared first on Essence.

Essence Magazine:

Denzel Washington is a hero on the big screen. And now a new viral video proves he’s that dude even when Hollywood cameras aren’t rolling.

The Academy Award–winning actor was driving in Los Angeles on May 21 when he spotted a seemingly homeless man in the street and pulled over to guide him away from oncoming traffic, USA Today reports. Another individual spotted the Malcolm X star and called the police. 

The incident, captured on video, shows Washington, who’s wearing a face mask, assisting the man, who wore a light blue hoodie but didn’t have a protective face covering. In the full clip, Washington is seen talking to the man and putting his hand on his shoulder assuringly.

https://youtu.be/Cx0czLn8hSg

Rex Chapman, former NBA player and Denver Nuggets Vice President, posted the video to Twitter Thursday—showing Washington in Good Samaritan mode, talking with three police officers and acting as a go-between for the man and the cops. The man was later handcuffed as Washington put extra masks in his pocket. 

Denzel Washington saw a commotion in West Hollywood with cops and an unarmed distressed homeless man. He got out of his car and served as a barrier between the man and the police — helping to diffuse a tense situation. This man was arrested safely. pic.twitter.com/4UyYdX1vT6

— Rex Chapman (@RexChapman) May 28, 2020

In light of the recent killing of George Floyd by a White police officer in Minnesota, Washington’s act of kindness has gone viral on social media; and fans chimed in on Twitter to show gratitude and appreciation for the former Boys and Girls Club member. 

“Denzel out there in an old T-shirt, doing the good work. Maybe saving a life. Being a good example for all of us,” one user wrote.

This incident with Denzel interceding for the homeless man, just breaks my damn heart. Denzel out there in an old T-shirt, doing the good work. Maybe saving a life. Being a good example for all of us. Thank you, #DenzelWashington. https://t.co/VNKdn9CPmy

— Emily (@poppy1080) May 28, 2020

Another user tweeted, “Denzel Washington did what anybody should do in that kind of situation.”

#DenzelWashington DenzelWashington Did what anybody should do in that kind of situation I would’ve like to know that the people recording #GeorgeFloyd or Those surrounding him could’ve felt safe enough to do the same

— Bryonna Jones (@BryonnaJones) May 29, 2020

“After what happened to George Floyd, this helped take the edge off. Thank you Denzel Washington. #BlackLivesMatter,” yet another shared.

After what happened to George Floyd, this helped take the edge off. Thank you Denzel Washington. #BlackLivesMatter https://t.co/sPhoPSA1R6

— Deborah Grey (@GreyFrost) May 28, 2020

An LAPD sergeant confirmed that the man “didn’t want to be a harm to himself or others, and he was on his way, and Denzel left.”

We’re giving a shout-out to Washington for doing the good work!

The post Denzel Washington Helps Homeless Man Walking In Los Angeles Traffic appeared first on Essence.

Essence Magazine:

Tutorials have been our saving grace while adapting to life at home amid the coronavirus pandemic. The instructional videos that explain everything from how to remove a gel manicure to protective styling techniques have helped us to avert quarantine beauty blunders. If you’re wondering how to prevent a head wrap from shifting, there’s a tutorial for that too. 

On Thursday, Vogue released a new episode of Beauty Secrets starring Alicia Keys, who shows fans how she achieves her luminous glow and a foolproof method for tying head wraps.

“There are so many gorgeous ways to wrap your head,” Keys explains—but pro tip: “the less slippery the material, the better,” she says. “If it’s too silky, it falls off. So you have to get a scarf that’s probably more cotton.”

Once Keys creates a sculptural updo with her scarves (she uses two), she secures her head wrap with a hair tie for extra security, and then it stays all day. “All day!” says Keys. “My head wrap is popping and so I can just go do whatever I want to do.”

If you’re also interested in seeing how the Grammy Award–winning singer starts her morning and how she cleanses and calms her glowing skin, then check out the must-see video below.

This video was shared to YouTube by Vogue.

The post Alicia Keys’s Slip-Proof Head Wrap Tutorial Is A Must-See appeared first on Essence.

Essence Magazine:

Shameik Moore apologized Thursday for a series of controversial tweets in connection to the murder of George Floyd and other recent instances of police brutality. 

The Wu-Tang: An American Saga star wrote on the social media platform that Black people were capable of saving or protecting themselves from racist violence. 

“Look… all I’m saying is.. in the MOMENT.. when we are experiencing racism.. can we the black community find ways to avoid being killed? Or hunted,” wrote Moore in one tweet.

“See I have a very strong opinion that the black community hates to hear.. but needs to hear… we need to learn how to deal with police… and or racism… because THIS is the part of the scenario we have failed to fix,” he wrote in another tweet.

Look… all I’m saying is.. in the MOMENT.. when we are experiencing racism.. can We the black community find ways to avoid being killed? Or hunted

— Shameik Moore (@shameikmoore) May 28, 2020

See I have a very strong opinion that the black community hates to hear.. but needs to hear… we need to learn how to deal with police… and or racism… because THIS is the part of the scenario we have failed to fix. https://t.co/xEZ1SdgSUx

— Shameik Moore (@shameikmoore) May 28, 2020

The tweets, which came days after a video showing a White police officer in Minnesota murdering a Black man named George Floyd went viral, were met with swift backlash.

Hours later, Moore claimed his tweets “were taken out of context” and asked his followers to join him in an Instagram Live session where he could properly apologize “against” his “team’s advice,” he noted.

“Again, I’ll just say for the people watching: I did not mean to offend any of the Black community,” the Dope actor said while speaking on Instagram Live with his friend Jeremy Strong. 

“My heart is in a place of growth. I want us to grow,” he continued, adding that he felt the problem was “how I said it” and “when I said it.” 

“It was wrong timing,” Moore added. “I f–ked up in that way.” 

The Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse star said he failed to fully think through the implications of his statements and that these themes will be explored in his future film work. 

“I didn’t consider that what I’m saying could be taken so left, because I feel like I am Black and I feel like I do things behind the scenes people don’t even know about,” he said. “There’s scripts being formed literally about what we’re talking about, but if I had just stuck to my art then it just would have been like, ‘Oh, this movie’s dope.’ ‘Oh, this video’s dope.’ So that’s where I went wrong and I’ll apologize.” 

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