SUNDANCE 2020: Russell Simmons accusers go ‘On The Record’ in controversial doc

Amy Ziering and Kirby Dick unveiled their highly-anticipated and equally controversial documentary On The Record at Sundance and the crowd that gave it two standing ovations didn’t seem to mind that Oprah Winfrey pulled out of the project weeks before its debut.

The first film to dive into the numerous allegations of sexual assault against music mogul Russell Simmons lost its backing from Winfrey and its distribution deal with Apple+ on January 10 when Winfrey revealed she didn’t think it was ready. Producers persisted despite the highly-publicized fall out that threatened to call its credibility into question before anyone ever laid eyes on it.

‘I cannot be silenced by a Russell Simmons’: Oprah explains REAL reason she backed out of #MeToo doc

The documentary isn’t just about Russell Simmons and the numerous accusations against him but also highlights the troubling position Black women find themselves in when it comes to the #MeToo movement. Through several interviews from accusers, industry insiders, editors and #MeToo founder, Tarana Burke we see that the rules that have governed the movement don’t always apply to Black women.

Aside from enduring the trauma of the assaults, we’re forced to reckon with the damage done to the culture when a successful Black man is taken down. The film points out the ways Black women have put the protection of the Black man and the culture in front of their own needs for centuries and how that innate desire to hold up our men contributes to them getting away with atrocities against us.

On The Record also indicts a system that doesn’t believe Black women the way they believe white accusers. No one listens when a Black woman says no and no one listens when a Black woman says she was raped. Why and how that trend persists is traced back to slavery in one particularly poignant moment, but the film seems to go an inch deep and a mile wide with many of its assertions.

The same goes for the stories we get from Simmons’ accusers. There are certainly enough cringe-worthy details shared from the likes of former Def Jam exec Sil-Lai Abrams, Mercedes Ladies member Sherri Hines, and others to conclude that Simmons is a serial offender, but their stories seem rushed, their appearances limited, and the details scarce. It’s easy to understand why Oprah Winfrey felt the film wasn’t ready.

It’s strong, but not as strong as it could be. Perhaps not as strong as it needs to be to chip away at the rampant subjugation of women in the music industry. There could have been more. More women, more details, more examples of who covered this up and how. Also missing are the voices of men who undoubtedly witnessed, participated, or supported this toxic culture. In the 90-minute flick, we only hear from two men and I can’t help but wonder why the filmmakers felt the need to confine this very layered story into such a tight package. Why not make it a series a la Surviving R. Kelly?

Russell Simmons and 50 Cent accuse Oprah of bashing Black men in sexual misconduct documentary

We watch as Drew Dixon, a former A&R executive at Def Jam Recordings who accused Russell Simmons of numerous aggressions ranging from exposing himself to full-blown rape, wrestles with coming forward ahead of her 2017 New York Times interview. The Stanford graduate chronicles her rise to the top of the music game and how much she respected and admired Simmons as a mentor who believed in her talents. We hear how she endured so much and let so many wrongs slide for the greater good of the culture and her career, and we see the havoc her decision to share her experiences with Simmons has wreaked on her life.

On The Record is an important step in the right direction when it comes to giving voices to Black women. For many, it will illuminate just how deep these issues go and how race plays a part in our reluctance to come forward against our tormentors. It also barely scratches the surface when it comes to demanding justice and changing a long-established system of oppression.

 

 

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SUNDANCE 2020: Justin Simien’s ‘Bad Hair’ is a wild, hair-raising horror flick

Justin Simien premiered his sophomore feature film Bad Hair on opening night at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival to a packed house at midnight.

The star-studded follow up to his first feature film, Dear White People, is another example of the director’s knack for satire and social commentary, but this time it was Black women, (or more specifically, the mainstream pressure for them to assimilate to mainstream beauty standards) that he put on blast.

5 reasons we know Sundance 2020 will be lit AF: Kerry Washington, Issa Rae, Lena Waithe to take over

In a film that features Lena Waithe, Vanessa Williams, Kelly Rowland, Robin Thede, Ashley Blaine Featherson, Laverne Cox, Blair Underwood, Jay Pharoah and MC Lyte, among others; there are plenty of hilarious moments and poignant points made about the way society has brainwashed Black women into believing their natural hair is a problem to be corrected at any cost.

The film’s breakout star, Elle Lorraine, is certainly a bright spot and her performance proves she’s poised to make a major mark in Hollywood. Her starring role as Anna Bludso,  an ambitious young woman is pressured into getting a weave in order to succeed in 1989’s image-obsessed world of music television, serves as the foundation of the film that highlights how Black women have been forced to assimilate if they want to make it.

Culture is the fledgling music network where she has worked tirelessly for four years, making little progress toward her dream of becoming an on-air personality despite her hard work and groundbreaking ideas. When the network undergoes an overhaul mandated by the new boss Zora ( Vanessa Williams) it’s clear that the folks who don’t look the part will be terminated. The network’s authentic approach to highlighting Black culture wasn’t working, and Zora, with her straight hair, light skin, and lighter eyes, is the prototype of the look the employees should aim for. She and the rising pop star Sandra (played by Kelly Rowland) are setting the tone for what Black women should look like.

Anna is reluctant to fall in line thanks to a horrifying at-home relaxer she endured as a child left her mentally and physically scarred for life. Still, she wants to make her dreams a reality and that means forking over money she doesn’t have to get a weave from the renowned stylist Virgie (Laverne Cox).

While the rest of the film is peppered with full-blown horror sequences like people running through dark hallways and having their blood sucked out; the most horrifying moments of the movie happen when Anna is getting her first weave. Several squirm-inducing moments of watching those cornrows getting pulled so tight it breaks the skin, and the dreaded curved needle moving through the scalp as the weave is sewn in is a reminder of the pain we endure to feel good enough.

From there, we get into the ridiculous consequences and learn that this blood-thirsty weave will kill anyone in its path. At first, the weave is a bit of a vigilante, murdering Anna’s landlord who recently raped her in her apartment.  Later, it sets its sights on anyone who gets in its way, including Anna.

Although this story is thoroughly entertaining it does get a little messy and when compared to the work of Jordan Peele (whose inspiration seems to be all over this project) Bad Hair falls a bit short. Still, it’s an innovative approach to demonstrating the horrors of what it means to be a Black woman in America and the price we all pay to play a game that is inevitably rigged against us.

 

 

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England in South Africa: Joe Root moves tourists closer to series win

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Ndayishimiye: Burundi government's presidential hopeful

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An Origin Story, Smart Headlights, and Other Car News

General Motors' Cruise unit shows off its self-driving concept vehicle, while Hyundai smothers road noise. 

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The 'Book Murderer' Tops This Week's Internet News Roundup

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Gunmen raid a military camp in the centre of the country, as witnesses tell of "complete chaos".

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African Champions League: Holders Esperance confirm quarter-final place

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How to Be Humane to a Lab-Grown Brain

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Houdini Power Air Houdi Review: An Environmentally-Friendly Hoodie

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New Safety Gizmos Are Making Car Insurance More Expensive

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Finding solutions amidst fractal uncertainty and quantum chaos

Semyon Dyatlov calls himself a “mathematical physicist.”

He’s an associate editor of the journal Probability and Mathematical Physics. His PhD dissertation advanced understanding of wave decay in black hole spacetimes. And much of his research focuses on developing new ways to understand the correspondence between classical physics (which describes light as rays that travel in straight lines and bounce off surfaces) and quantum systems (wherein light has wave-particle duality).

So it may come as a surprise that, as a student growing up in Siberia, he didn’t study physics in depth.

“Much of my work is deeply related to physics, even though I didn’t receive that much physics education as a student,” he says. “It took when I started working as a mathematician to slowly start understanding things like general relativity and modern particle physics.”

A math-loving family, and inspiring mentors

His mathematical education, however, has been extensive — and started early.

Dyatlov was raised in a family of mathematicians. One of his two brothers is an applied mathematician. Both of his parents have math degrees. He grew up a five-minute walk away from the campus of Novosibirsk State University (NSU), a major academic research center in Siberia, where his father still teaches.

“From a young age I was exposed to all kinds of mathematics,” he says. “There were journals and books lying around our house. I was very lucky that I both liked mathematics and was born into a family where a lot of mathematics was going on.”

He can even trace his interest in microlocal analysis — his field of specialty today as an associate professor of mathematics at MIT — to conversations with his older brother decades ago. These talks sparked a fascination with partial differential equations, which Dyatlov studied as an undergraduate at NSU, where both his brother and father received their PhDs.

Dyatlov went on to pursue graduate studies at the University of California at Berkeley. There his trajectory was influenced by a course he took during his first year with Professor Maciej Zworski on the theory of scattering resonances, which he explains are “pure states for systems in which energy can scatter to infinity.”

It would prove to be a fruitful encounter. Zworski became Dyatlov’s dissertation advisor; a decade later, they are still collaborating. In addition to the many papers that they have written together, they co-authored a new textbook published by the American Mathematical Society in September.

Zworski, who received both his bachelor’s degree and PhD in math from MIT, gave Dyatlov a particular problem to tackle early in his graduate studies.

“There was back then a bit of a mystery surrounding how to apply scattering theory methods to black holes,” he recalls. The problem, which related to this mystery, grew into his dissertation’s detailed exploration of exponential wave decay in the context of general relativity.

Of luck, collaboration, and “trapped trajectories”

In December 2013, Dyatlov began a postdoc at MIT; by 2015 he had been hired as an assistant professor of mathematics. He is now an associate professor and was awarded tenure in 2019.

“I sometimes feel I just got lucky many times,” Dyatlov says of his professional journey, from growing up in a family of mathematicians to finding influential mentors and collaborators like Zworski.

Dyatlov is now studying how the behavior of quantum systems over long time periods corresponds to that of classical systems. Some of his recent research focuses on spectral gaps for open quantum chaotic systems.

To help beginning students conceptualize it, he offers the analogy of striking a bell: “How does the shape of a bell determine how long its sound is sustained?” (Sometimes he uses MIT math department mugs instead.)

The shape of the bell determines how long the sound is sustained. The difference lies in both the pitch of the sound, and in how long it can be heard. “You can study both,” he says, “but a natural question to ask is, no matter how you hit the bell, how long does it take for the sound to die out?”

Classical physics might characterize what’s happening with the bell (or mug) as a phenomenon similar to light bouncing off a mirror: The sound bounces once off the bell and then escapes to infinity.

“Mathematically what you hope to see is some exponential decay of energy, of the solution to a corresponding wave equation,” he explains. What interests Dyatlov is the rate of this decay, and whether, in some situations, there may not be any exponential decay at all.

His recent work delves into what happens with these trajectories under conditions of “quantum chaos.”

“Say you have waves bouncing off, and everything else escapes but you have a system — say the inside of a bowl — where these classical trajectories never leave. The thing that I study is a situation where you have in your system a fractal set of trapped trajectories,” he says.

These trapped trajectories form a fractal set that appears “out of nowhere,” he says. “The fact that fractal sets appear from this was known well before my work, but it was still a surprise to me when I looked at it. Here, a fractal set appears naturally in a problem where you didn’t put in a fractal set.”

That work led to his development of what he terms the “fractal uncertainty principle.” The classical uncertainty principle says you can’t pinpoint both the position and momentum of a quantum particle. Dyatlov posited a form of this principle for this fractal set of trapped trajectories.

“I figured out one might be able to solve this wave decay question — this question about partial differential equations, about classical-quantum correspondence, about wave dynamics, and chaotic dynamics — but the component you need is this new kind of fractal uncertainty principle,” he says.

Translation and toolboxes

Pursuing this question required him to branch out into different fields of math, which lay outside his own training. In that pursuit, he caught another “lucky break:” MIT professor of mathematics Larry Guth suggested he talked with Joshua Zahl, a postdoc who had been thinking independently about a related question, from his own field of additive combinatorics. Applying their respective techniques, they developed a proof for exponential decay in some specific fractal sets and wrote a paper together on the subject. A couple years later — in yet another “lucky” collaboration — Dyatlov worked with the late Jean Bourgain, a renowned mathematician at the Institute for Advanced Study, to prove the fractal uncertainty principle for the general case of these sets.

“You have your toolbox, and you try to get as much out of it as you can for a problem,” he says, but sometimes you have to seek out new tools. “MIT is a great place for that.”

That act of reaching across fields is fundamental to the practice of mathematics, he says. The book that he recently published with Zworski opens with a quote from Goethe: “Mathematicians are Frenchmen of sorts: Whatever one says to them they translate into their own language and then it becomes something entirely different.”

Dyatlov sees a connection between this epigraph and his own forays into the correspondence between math and physics.

“It’s an ironic take on that,” he says. “There’s a natural repelling force for math and physics to diverge into separate fields, because we do things so differently. Experimental physicists have to respect the reality of situation, and have to think about what you can model in a lab. As a mathematician, you focus on things you can prove. You have to distill and translate the physical phenomena into theorems.”

“It’s up to people in communities to create an attracting force to work together and bridge this divide.”

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A murder mystery, the PM and his estranged wife

Lesotho's prime minister and his wife are caught up in an investigation into the death of his former partner.

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PHOTOS: Kelly Rowland, Kerry Washington, Issa Rae and more at Sundance 2020

The 2020 Sundance Film Festival is in full effect and tons of beautiful, Black stars have hit the slopes for some snow-covered fun. So far, we’ve spotted so many celebs and content creators, it’s hard to keep up.

7 films we can’t wait to see at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival

Superstars like Kerry Washington, Issa Rae, Robin Thede, Lena Waithe, Kelly Rowland, and more have been mixing and mingling with film lovers from far and wide.

Immersive experiences, star-studded events, and countless film screenings make the annual film festival the place to be.

5 reasons we know Sundance 2020 will be lit AF: Kerry Washington, Issa Rae, Lena Waithe to take over

Check out a few of our favorite photos:

Lena Waithe & Cara Sabin

Cara Sabin and Lena Waithe speak onstage during the Macro Lodge and Shea Moisture present “Leaving The Door Open Behind You Panel” with Lena Waithe and Cara Sabin in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Tasia Wells/Getty Images for MACRO Lodge)

The Next Generation

Strayer University, in partnership with The Blackhouse Foundation announced the winner, Donald Dankwa Brooks of ScriptED, a nationwide competition to discover a talented, up-and-coming scriptwriter who can help bring real perspectives to Strayer’s Criminal Justice program.

Issa Rae

The Insecure star was just one of several famous faces at the HERstory presented by Our Stories to Tell at Firewood on Friday night. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for HBO)

Yvonne Orji

(Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for HBO)

Yvonne Orji stopped in the star-studded HERstory dinner presented by Our Stories to Tell and HBO on Friday night.

Robin Thede

(Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for HBO)

The Black Lady Sketch Show creator who also appears in Justin Simien‘s Bad Hair was all smiles as she worked the room at the HERstory dinner on Friday night.

Bevy Smith & Folake Olowofoyeku 

(Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for HBO)

Folake Olowofoyeku (Bob Loves Abishola) and Bevy Smith held court at the Our Stories To Tell dinner presented by HBO on Friday night.

Zola 

(Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)

Zola stars Nicholas Braun, Aziah King, Janicza Bravo, Riley Keough, Taylour Paige, and Colman Domingo attend the premiere of their almost-true story on Friday.

Taylour Paige & Jesse Williams

(Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)

The Grey’s Anatomy star was on deck to support his girlfriend Taylour Paige as she took on the starring role in the highly-anticipated flick, Zola. 

Justin Simien 

(Photo by Presley Ann/Getty Images for Pizza Hut)

The Bad Hair director hit up the Pizza Hut x Legion M Lounge at the 2020 SUndance Film Festival.

Kelly Rowland

(Photo by Presley Ann/Getty Images for Pizza Hut)

Kelly Rowland, who has a pretty big role in Bad Hair, looked like a lovely snow bunny when she stopped by the Pizza Hut x Legion M Lounge.

Kendrick Sampson & Nicole Behari

(Photo by Presley Ann/Getty Images for Pizza Hut)

The stars of Miss Juneteenth seemed to be in good spirits while celebrating their fantastic film that premiered at Sundance on Friday.

Ashley Blaine Featherson 

(Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for WarnerMedia and AT&T )

The darling Dear White People star who also steals scenes in Justin Simien’s Bad Hair stopped by the WarnerMedia Lodge: Elevating Storytelling with AT&T  on Friday.

Kerry Washington

(Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for HBO)

The Fight star Kerry Washington was looking fierce and fabulous in her long, beaded braids at the HERstory dinner presented by HBO on Friday night.

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11th annual AAFCA Awards honor Matthew Cherry, Lupita Nyong’o and Eddie Murphy

The 11th annual AAFCA Awards was a star-studded event that honored Jamie Foxx, Eddie Murphy, Lupita Nyong’o and other luminaries. All the big names made sure to be there for a night of Black excellence.

Garcelle Beauvais, Sterling K. Brown, Clarence Avant, Tichina Arnold, Jon Platt, Lena Waithe, and honoree Foxx were among the heavy hitters at The African American Film Critics Association’s 11th Annual AAFCA Awards held on January 22 at Taglyan Cultural Complex in Hollywood, Calif. Actor-comedian Lil Rel Howery who has broken out in a major way hosted the good times.

Last night was really fun thanks for letting me host @theaafca #GreatTimes #AAFCAawards #Own #Deadline @ West Hollywood, California https://t.co/DWOUznr0zo

— Lil Rel Howery (@LilRel4) January 23, 2020

 

Matthew A. Cherry, a first time Oscar nominee for his short film Hair Love, was shown love as Breakthrough Filmmaker. He noted the importance of our community honoring each other. He described the night as a “dream”.

Last night felt like a dream. Huge thanks to @gilrobertson & @theaafca for honoring me with their Breakthrough Filmmaker Award. It’s important to show love to each other. Big thank you to @pramsey342 for a great intro and to my @SonyAnimation family for the support. #HairLove pic.twitter.com/bSJ42UKlDA

— Matthew A. Cherry (@MatthewACherry) January 23, 2020

Kenny Leon, one of the leading directors of Broadway, was awarded the Innovator Award during the ceremony.

Congratulations to the inspiring Kenny Leon on receiving the Nissan Innovator Award! Your creativity is changing the game. #NissanDiversity #AAFCA cc: @theaafca pic.twitter.com/dB2zICTtXT

— Nissan (@NissanUSA) January 24, 2020

Jordan Peele’s “Us” which grossed $255 million globally was awarded the Best Film. The director was also recognized for Best Director and Lupita Nyong’o highlighted for Best Actress. Gil Robertson, AAFCA President, and Co-Founder, explained to Deadline that Peele had raised the bar in film and horror.

READ MORE Black Film Critics group honors outstanding works in television

“With ‘Us,’ he once again upended the horror genre. His centering of a black nuclear family determined to survive in a complex storyline in a genre where black family units have historically been unseen is extraordinary,” Robertson said.

Murphy got AAFCA’s Best Actor honor for “Dolemite Is My Name” and Foxx was in the winning circle for Best Supporting Actor for his role in “Just Mercy”. Da’Vine Joy Randolph earned Best Supporting Actress for Dolemite. The wide range of movies and performances selected reflected Robertson’s desire to showcase the full range of Black talent.

“This year’s (eleven) best films reflect a wide spectrum of diversity and creativity. Many of them tackle social injustice and challenge the criminal justice system in the United States specifically,” Robertson said.

READ MORE AAFCA announces 2019 Special Achievement Awards honorees

“AAFCA members, who put in their ballots from as far away as Australia and Jamaica, cast a wide net to recognize films made in the U.S. and beyond. Their choices truly reflect the best of cinema in 2019.”

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Ugandan climate activist cropped out of photo

Vanessa Nakate, a 23-year-old Ugandan climate activist, was one of the many activists who took part in the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland but pictures told a different story. 

Nakate was present alongside teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg during a new conference as reported by the Associated Press on Friday ahead of a scheduled protest in Swiss town. However, she was initially cropped out of photos showing her in attendance. 

Nakate was upset to learn that Associated Press new agency that featured only Thunberg, Luisa Neubauer, Isabelle Axelsson, and Loukina Tille. 

Everyone saying that I should position myself in the middle is wrong!

Does an African activist have to stand in the middle just because of fear of being cropped out?

It shouldn't be like this! pic.twitter.com/PR544GIv7g

— Vanessa Nakate (@vanessa_vash) January 25, 2020

 

AP later updated the photo to include Nakate after she tweeted the story with criticism.

READ MORE Weather Channel owner Byron Allen wants to highlight climate change’s impact on Black communities

According to Buzzfeed, in an exchange of private messages with Buzzfeed News, she was “heartbroken.” The cropping only echoes the visibility to white climate activists, an argument that was discussed in an opinion piece with The Guardian in October 2019. 

Writer Chika Unigwe pointed out the media’s deliberate oversight of many activists of color who are active in their causes and the “white savior” narrative.

“This tendency of the media to present Thunberg as the one who calls, and the others existing only to heed her call, is problematic, especially for those black and brown activists who media invisibility leads to invisibility to organisations whose help they could greatly benefit from.”

READ MORE Lizzo teams up with FOMO Festival to raise funds for devastating Australian wildfire crisis

“I cried because it was so sad not just that it was racist. I was sad because of the people from Africa,” Nakate told Buzzfeed. “It showed how we are valued. It hurt me a lot. It is the worst thing I have ever seen in my life.”

The activist posted an emotional 10-minute video about her experience at the summit as well as her reaction to the cropping. Thunberg, tweeted in support of Nakate, expressing her gratitude and how she’s “the last one who would deserve that.” Axelsson also tweeted her criticism towards AP.

I’m so sorry they did this to you… you are the last one who would deserve that! We are all so grateful for what you are doing and we all send love and support!!❤️❤️💖💖💖hope to see you soon again!!

— Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) January 24, 2020

We did a press conference today wrapping up the week at #WEF2020

It has come to my attention that more than one article has cut @vanessa_vash out of the photos. That is unacceptable, her voice is just as, if not more, valuable than ours in a place like this. #ClimateJustice pic.twitter.com/8kjkNVgVhU

— Isabelle Axelsson🌍 (@isabelle_ax) January 24, 2020

“There was no ill intent. AP routinely publishes photos as they come in and when we received additional images from the field, we updated the story. AP has published a number of images of Vanessa Nakate,” a spokesperson from the AP said.

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Antonio Brown released from jail after $110k bond

NFL wide receiver Antonio Brown was released from jail after posting a $110k bond. 

Brown, 31, formerly of the New England Patriots and who is currently a free agent, was picked up by his lawyer after a bond was posted for a felony burglary with battery charge. According to ESPN, these charges stem from an alleged assault “of a moving truck driver. Brown will be monitored by GPS and required to relinquish his passport and guns, participate in drug and alcohol testing and a mental health evaluation within 10 days.

READ MORE Hollywood Florida police say they are through with Antonio Brown

Eric Schwartzreich, one of Brown’s attorneys, didn’t feel that his client had any mental issues despite his erratic behavior. In recent months, he has lashed out at the NFL and been involved in confrontations with the police. Nonetheless, Schwartzreich did not believe Brown was out of control. He likened the athlete to starring in a reality TV show.

“He is misinterpreted and misunderstood. He’s not guilty of these charges,” Schwartzreich said.

The NFL wide receiver turned himself into police at the Broward County Jail on Thursday in Miami, Florida on a warrant on burglary and criminal mischief charges. Brown, along with trainer, Glen Holt, 35, was arrested after allegedly battering a truck driver at Brown’s home on Tuesday at 2 p.m. as first reported by NBC Miami.  

READ MORE Antonio Brown reportedly locked in his home while under investigation

The current charges carry a potential life sentence. His lawyers argued that he was overcharged.

“Once a thorough investigation is done, we believe the charges filed will most likely be very different than they are right now,” Lorne Berkeley said.

Brown’s legal team promised a vigorous defense of their client.

“He turned himself in. He did the right thing. He surrendered. He’s concerned for the charges and rightfully so,” Schwartzreich said. “He’s ready for this fight. He’s ready for his vindication. It’s going to take some time, but we are going to put the train on that track.”

 

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Second Black Texan teen told to cut dreadlocks

Kaden Bradford is now the second Black Texan teen being told to cut off his dreadlocks or else he won’t graduate.

ABC News reported the 16-year-old has been on suspension since last week according to his mother Cindy Bradford because he refuses to cut his hair. Kaden is Trinidadian and it is part of their culture to wear their hair in this manner. It is a celebration of identity and culture.

Cindy stated that her son has worn his hair in its natural state for years. She said it only became an issue last year and officials at his son warned him about pulling it back. If he did not do so, it would be in violation of their hair policy that dictates hair for males must be “gathered or worn in a style that would allow the hair to extend below”.

READ MORE Texas school forces Black teen to choose between wearing locs or attending graduation

He pinned his dreads back to comply and Cindy offered to have her son’s hair braided but that did not satisfy administrators who wanted his dreads cut off. Cindy said that the school’s principal, Rick Kana, told her that “the only way Kaden can come back to school is if he cuts his hair.”

“He had [dreads] last year,” she said. “He took a headband, and pushed them off his shoulders. [The school] said if he kept them up like that it was no problem.”

She is now considering suing, believing that her son is being targeted due to his race just as his cousin, DeAndre Arnold. The senior at Barbers Hill Independent School has been at the center of controversy for similar reasons.  He drew mainstream press after being told that he would not be able to walk during graduation unless he cut his dreads.

READ MORE Denver mom claims natural hair caused daughter to be kicked off her cheerleading squad

“My son is having the same issue (as Deandre),” Bradford said. “He’s a sophomore, he’s been growing his dreads out since sixth grade.”

Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, who also wears dreadlocks, tweeted in support of Arnold.

Never cut your locks Deandre Arnold.

— Deandre Hopkins (@DeAndreHopkins) January 22, 2020

On Friday, Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., expressed his support for the young teens, tweeting, “No one should be punished for expressing who they are.” Booker also introduced The CROWN Act in New Jersey that will ban discrimination based on hair.

School officials have denied that race has played a factor.

“The policy is not about cornrows or ethnicity,” Poole said. “There is no injustice being done.”

Cindy and her sister Sandy Arnold, DeAndre’s mother, are considering lawsuits because their children have done nothing wrong. Arnold said the school “never called me because Deandre was being disrespectful or because of his grades, but because of his hair.”

 

 

 

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The Sneaky Simple Malware That Hits Millions of Macs

How the Shlayer Trojan topped the macOS malware charts—despite its “rather ordinary” methods.

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Angelica Ross is the new face of Louis Vuitton campaign

Angelica Ross, actress and transgender advocate, continues to make her mark in the entertainment industry as she now adds model to her growing list of accomplishments. 

In the new 2020 ad campaign for fashion brand Louis Vuitton, the Pose star is shown against a backdrop in a vintage horror movie-inspired poster, a nod to her appearance on FX’s American Horror Story: 1984.

The ad reads, “When the future knocks, open the door!”

Louis Vuitton | Pre-Fall 2020 pic.twitter.com/6j2xcQitGb

— Angelica Ross (@angelicaross) January 22, 2020

According to NBC News, Anthony Ramos, head of talent at the LGBTQ media advocacy group GLAAD, believes that Ross’ inclusion in the campaign is a “major step forward” for visibility among the community but “specifically for trans women of color.”

READ MORE Trans actress Angelica Ross shares how Oprah helped her mother accept her

Ross is best known for her breakout role as Candy in the groundbreaking series FX’s Pose. She left the show in its second season after the character was killed off to spotlight the violence that transgender women of color face.

“I must applaud @angelicaross for her tour de force of a performance as Candy Abundance Ferocity. It has been a gift to watch her blossom as a true star and undeniable talent. Though she will always be our Candy, and our show suffers this incredible loss, I am elated that the world will get much more Angelica,” Ryan Murphy, showrunner of Pose, declared on social media at the time.

Murphy was true to his word as Ross made history, becoming the first trans actress to star as a series regular on two television shows when she joined the cast of American Horror Story: 1984. Her TV debut was in 2015, starring in Caitlyn Jenner‘s E! reality series I Am Cait and she then moved on to Her Story, Claws, Doubt and Transparent. 

READ MORE GLAAD taps ‘Pose’ star Angelica Ross to host presidential candidate forum on LGBTQ Issues 

Ross tweeted that she asked the company if she could wear her natural hair and was embraced to do so. Pose co-star Indya Moore tweeted her excitement that the fashion brand featured a “dark skin trans women talent” and said it’s “giving us what we literally have been looking for.”

I asked @LouisVuitton if I could rock my natural hair in an Afro and they came back with an enthusiastic YES 🖤✊🏿 RBF on 💯 pic.twitter.com/sbOpPkTDkT

— Angelica Ross (@angelicaross) January 22, 2020

I ❤❤❤❤❤!!! SO many positive emotions wrapped up in my joyful tears. So so happy. https://t.co/cwcTMkBAod

— Gabrielle Union (@itsgabrielleu) January 23, 2020

The post Angelica Ross is the new face of Louis Vuitton campaign appeared first on TheGrio.

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Gabrielle Union responds after Terry Crews praises AGT diversity

Terry Crews cast doubt on Gabrielle Union‘s claims that she was fired from America’s Got Talent after speaking against the racism and sexism she endured. 

During an appearance on the TODAY, Crews insisted that he never witnessed nor was subjected to any racism or discriminatory behavior behind the scenes of AGT in contrast to Union’s statements. 

.@TerryCrews speaks out about Gabrielle Union leaving "America's Got Talent," after her claims of a toxic work environment.

"I can't speak for sexism…but I can speak on any racism comments. That was never my experience," he says. pic.twitter.com/XEoxn7gvWP

— 3rd Hour of TODAY (@3rdHourTODAY) January 23, 2020

“That was never my experience. In fact, it was the most diverse place I have ever been in my 20 years of entertainment,” the actor told TODAY. “When you look at what the allegations were about, it was given by an unnamed source. It’s funny because I believe you should listen to women, you should always believe women, so I asked my wife what I should do. She was like, ‘first of all if it’s coming from an unnamed source – because Gabrielle Union has not made any statement to this day about any of these allegations publicly. If she hasn’t made a statement, why would you?'”

READ MORE Gabrielle Union warns against being the ‘happy negro’ bowing to the status quo

Love B. Scott and Variety exclusively reported last November of Union’s firing from the NBC show. Union alleged a hostile work environment where the texture of her hair was criticized and racial jokes were made about contestants. In 2017, Nick Cannon made similar complaints after he left the show and stated, “My soul won’t allow me to be in business with corporations that attempt to frown on freedom of speech, censor artists, and question cultural choices.”

According to Variety, who released the exclusive report of Union’s firing in November, celebrities and supporters rallied behind the actress. NBCUniversal launched “a third-party investigation to look into the accounts of racial insensitivity and a hostile climate for AGT’s women judges.” The results of that investigation are due later this month.

Union broke her silence in regards to Crews’ in a series of tweets. She praised the “multiple witnesses who bravely came forward to let everyone know” that her criticism was true and criticized “those who enthusiastically will throw you under the bus.” The actress had been one of the many to offer the former NFL player support when he alleged that WME agent Adam Venit sexually assaulted him in February 2016 at a party. Crews sued but the complaint was ultimately rejected by the D.A.’s office. 

READ MORE Gabrielle Union has ‘productive’ meeting with NBC execs over AGT toxic workplace complaints

Can someone please ask abt what happens to all that diversity folks are talking about BEHIND THE SCENES. Like, legit… where the hell is all that diversity in the production though homie? In the decision making ranks who control the fate of the diversity in front of the camera?

— Gabrielle Union (@itsgabrielleu) January 24, 2020

Union continued to challenge Crews’ comments on the show’s overall climate with many people weighing in.

Why anyone would gleefully get up on TV and tell lies that NO ONE disputed… But we already know. https://t.co/8MAfmzSgmI

— Gabrielle Union (@itsgabrielleu) January 24, 2020

If Terry Crews wanted to protect his own interests by remaining silent and not supporting Gabrielle Union, it would have merely been unprincipled. But the fact that he actively contradicts her claims —when he could have just said nothing— is deplorable.

— Marc Lamont Hill (@marclamonthill) January 24, 2020

Crews has not yet responded to Union’s comments or clarified his.

The post Gabrielle Union responds after Terry Crews praises AGT diversity appeared first on TheGrio.

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Benefits Offered Through AARP Medicare

A Brief Overview of Medicare and AARP Medicare Plans

Medicare is a federal insurance program with four parts—Part A, Part B, Part C and Part D. Part A and B are known as Original Medicare. AARP Medicare Supplement plans help pay for some of the costs not covered by Original Medicare. Part C, also known as Medicare Advantage, offers insurance coverage through private companies such as AARP. In order to sign up for AARP Medicare plans you must be enrolled in Original Medicare.

Part D provides prescription drug coverage. Prescription drug coverage is available to AARP members through the prescription drug plans (PDPs).AARP offers Medicare plans insured by UnitedHealthcare Company. UHC is a private insurance company that contracts through Medicare to provide coverage to beneficiaries. Below are the Medicare health insurance plan offerings through AARP.

Medicare Advantage Plans Offered Through AARP

AARP Medicare Advantage plans, insured through UnitedHealthcare, include Medicare Part A (hospital stays), Medicare Part B (doctor visits) and, in most cases, Medicare Part D (prescription drug coverage). 

Every plan has its own unique benefits. Additional plan benefits may include:

• Preventive services—some plans offer a $0 copay when you visit your in-network primary care provider to receive preventive services. Below is a list of the preventive services offered through AARP Medicare Advantage: 

Alcohol misuse screening and counseling Bone mass measurement (for those at high risk) Breast cancer screening (2D and 3D mammograms) Cardiovascular disease (behavioral therapy) Cardiovascular screening Cervical and vaginal cancer screening (Pap test and pelvic exam) Colorectal cancer screening Depression screening Diabetes screening Flu shots Glaucoma tests (for those at high risk)

Hepatitis B immunization Hepatitis C screening HIV screening Human papillomavirus (HPV) test Lung cancer screening Medical nutrition therapy services Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program (MDPP) Obesity screening and counseling Pneumococcal shot Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) screening and counseling Smoking cessation (counseling to stop smoking)

• Disease management programs —these programs are designed to help members who have chronic conditions, such as diabetes or certain types of heart disease. 
• Health management programs—these mail-based programs focus on self-care and are designed to provide members with guidelines on how to stay healthy and avoid disease. 
• Alternative care services—some plans offer alternative therapies in preventing and treating disease, healing illness, and promoting health. Covered therapies include acupuncture and/or chiropractic care in some areas under some plans.
• Dental — dental coverage is now available with most Medicare Advantage plans. All plans that include a dental benefit cover exams, annual X-rays, cleanings, and fluoride for a $0 copay with in-network dentists. Many plans may also include dental coverage for fillings, crowns, bridges, dentures, and certain types of root canals.
• Vision—nearly all Medicare Advantage plans offer $0 copay annual eye exams. Many plans also offer an eyewear allowance on contacts or frames. Lenses may be covered in full, including designer-quality prescription glasses such as Warby Parker. 
• OTC (over-the-counter)—this benefit will help you save 40% or more on OTC medications and products. 
• Hearing—many Medicare Advantage plans offer $0 annual hearing exams and low copays on name brand and private-label hearing aids. Through UnitedHealthcare Company, AARP has a nationwide network of over 5,000 hearing provider locations and online ordering with home delivery.
• Virtual medical visits—this benefit gives you the ability to live chat with a licensed virtual provider from the comfort of home or any location. You have unlimited access to these visits for a $0 copay. Many plans also offer virtual behavioral health visits for a low or no copay.

Medicare Prescription Drug Plans

Most AARP Medicare Advantage plans (Part C) include Part D coverage. Medicare Part D, also known as a Medicare prescription plan, helps cover the cost of your medication. 

All plans include brand and generic drugs, but vary in terms of which specific drugs it covers. The list of drugs a plan covers is known as its formulary. Within the formulary, there are tiers of drugs. The higher the tier, the more expensive the drug.  

Tier Type	Tier 1	Tier 2	Tier 3	Tier 4	Tier 5
Drug Type	Preferred Generic Drugs	Non-PreferredGeneric Drugs	Preferred Generic and Brand Drugs	Non-Preferred Generic and Brand Drugs	Specialty Drugs
Copay Cost	$	$$	$$$	$$$$	$$$$$

Medicare Supplement Plans Through AARP

Medicare Supplement insurance plans, also known as Medigap, help pay for some of the healthcare costs not covered by Medicare Part A and Part B. These costs include coinsurance, copays, and deductibles. 

In addition to covering healthcare costs, some of AARP’s supplement plans include the following benefits:

• Renew Active —through some Medicare Advantage plans, you will receive access to various gyms and fitness locations at no additional cost. And rewards for remaining physically active.
• AARP Staying Sharp– this online program includes a brain health assessment, brain exercises, recipes and activities designed to nurture a healthy brain.
• Hearing Care Program by HearUSA—through this program you receive a discount on hearing aids and access to screenings by certified HearUSA hearing care providers.
• AARP Vision Discounts provided by EyeMed—with this benefit you save on eyewear purchases and routine exam exams
• NurseLine Plan—with this benefit you receive 24/7 phone access to a registered nurse. The nurse can help answer medical questions and/or guide you to outside help if necessary. In addition to registered nurses, NurseLine also has a health information library with recorded messages on more than 1,700 health topics. This service is intended for non-emergency needs.
• Wellness coaching—with this benefit you receive access to trained coaches to reach their health and fitness goals.
• Foreign travel—some plans cover emergency care services during a portion of your trip(s) outside of the United States 

To be eligible to apply for a Medicare Supplement plan, you must be an AARP member or spouse of a member, enrolled in both Part A and Part B of Medicare, and not covered under any other Medicare Supplement plans. 

If you are not yet age 65, you are only eligible to apply if you do not have end-stage renal disease and then you may only apply for A, B, C, F or K, unless you are in your birthday Open Enrollment Period and replacing a Medicare Supplement plan. 

You must apply within six months after enrolling in Medicare Part B or receiving notification of your retroactive eligibility for Medicare Part B, unless you are entitled to Guaranteed Issue.

What Are The Costs Of AARP Medicare?

All AARP Medicare Advantage plans include the following payments:

1. A monthly premium
2. A deductible
3. A copay
4. Coinsurance

The amount of each payment varies based upon the plan you choose and your state or region. The payments associated with PDP plans depend upon the tier of the drugs as described above in the Medicare prescription drugs section.

When Can You Enroll AARP Medicare?

In order to enroll into AARP Medicare, you must:

1. Be an AARP member
2. Be enrolled into Original Medicare (Medicare Part A and Part B) and 

To apply to be an AARP member, visit AARP.org/membership. On their site you will also find the monthly payment information and a full list of the benefits provided to members. In addition to healthcare insurance, AARP also offers car, vehicle, and property insurance, as well as a plethora of other benefits offered to members.

The second step is to be enrolled into Original Medicare. You will be automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A once you qualify for federal retirement benefits. If you are not automatically enrolled, you will need to enroll during your Initial Enrollment Period. The initial enrollment period begins three months before your 65th birthday and ends three months after your birthday. If you miss this period, you can enroll during the general enrollment which runs from January 1 to March 1.

You can enroll into Medicare Part B during the same time periods. This can be the Initial Enrollment Period or the General Enrollment Period if you happen to miss the initial. In the event of a life change such as your employer or spouse health insurance ends, you will have access to a special enrollment period. 

When enrolling in medicare, you can consult an insurance agent or utilize free resources. In order to enroll, you can choose one of the three following options: 

1. You can apply by visiting your local Social Security office or
2. Calling Medicare at 1-800-772-1213 or 
3. By filling out a simple application at the Social Security Administration website. Note if you have Medicare Part A and wish to add Medicare Part B, you will not be able to fill out an online form to do this. You will have to call the above number or visit your local Social Security office. 

Once you are enrolled into Original Medicare, review the plans offered by AARP to determine which one(s) are the best fit for your situation. These plans have a lot of information, so feel free to request a free quote for more information. Call toll-free at 888-OUR-AARP (888-687-2277) or email member@aarp.org. 

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NFL Hall-of-Famer Terrell Davis Tells Young Athletes: ‘Write Your Own Checks’

The financial tips just keep coming from older athletes. This time, NFL Hall-of-Famer Terrell Davis gives excellent money advice to young athletes: “Write your own checks,” according to CNBC.

Before retiring from an on-the-field injury, Davis, who played for the Denver Broncos from 1995 to 2001, made approximately $19 million in his eight seasons in the NFL, according to Sportrac. One of his biggest regrets was letting other people write checks for him during the height of his career. He is now encouraging young players to make sure they keep track of their own finances.

“Don’t have anybody writing your checks or paying your bills for you,” Davis tells CNBC Make It. ″[I] don’t care how busy you get. You can never get too busy to write your own checks or pay your own bills,” Davis says. “You’ve got to see what’s coming in and what’s going out.”

Davis also told CNBC last year that one of his biggest money mistakes was putting money into a project in Atlanta before it was green-lighted by the city. The deal didn’t meet the expectation, it ended up floundering, and he lost his entire investment in the project. It’s one of the reasons he urges young players to not take every deal that is placed in front of them. “I’d look at a deal and if it was a good deal, I’d jump on it, and that didn’t always work out. A couple of times, I’ve been in bad deals,” he said. “I would just say to take more time. There’s always going to be another that comes on the table.”

“Really do your due diligence on things and make sure that it is what it is,” Davis said. “There’s a saying … trust but verify.”

Davis helped create Defy, a CBD-infused performance drink geared toward athletes. The idea for Defy was born in 2017 when Davis first used hemp extract to recover after workouts and to ease his joint pain. It officially launched in May of last year. “You’ve got to have the drive. You’ve got have goals. You’ve got to be able to take some risk.”

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Danielle Johnson Will Launch the First Black Woman-owned Digital Radio Station in Boston

People of color in the media industry face many challenges when trying to get their foot in the door. There is a certain way that you must look, carry yourself, and speak. In fact, everything from appearance to professional nature can be found in many media professionals contracts when working for major publications and outlets.

And, a number of those clauses coupled with barriers to entry keep many people seeking to enter the industry out.

That is why Boston-based radio personality Danielle Johnson founded Spark FM. After applying for countless positions with big-name broadcast companies and not being hired, Johnson decided to create an opportunity for herself and other media professionals by creating her own radio station.

Related: Sam Sylk: Radio Personality Has A Heart For His Community

“It’s really hard to get that urban voice in there that actually has a foot on the ground in the local community,” Johnson said. “There’s not a lot of resources that the urban community knows about that can help them with generational wealth, local politics, community events and engagement volunteer opportunities and all of our entertainment,” Johnson told the Daily Free Press, the independent student newspaper at Boston University.

She went on to say, “I saw the need for a platform that actually caters to the demographics that are oftentimes overlooked and under-represented from the bigger names in media platforms.”

Johnson is set to launch Spark FM, the first digital radio station owned by a black woman, this spring in Boston.

Related: Meet Radio Industry Vet and Community Leader Patricia Robinson

As Johnson prepares for the launch of the station, she is seeking financial support on Kickstarter to fund her dream. As outlined online, Spark FM hopes to amplify more urban voices on the radio.

• Spark FM will be a platform for urban voices and talent in a way that specifically caters to that under-served and under-represented community
• Spark FM will allow small and local black business owners to advertise their businesses in an affordable and accessible way
• Spark FM will be “logistically local” but have a global impact as a legal, professional, small market alternative to mainstream media
• Spark FM will be housed in a state-of-the-art facility that people can feel proud of and that represents the artistic creativity and skill of our diverse community and culture
• Spark FM will invest in the community by way of community events, live remotes broadcasts, and community sponsorships
• Spark FM will provide mentorship opportunities to younger radio talent (on-air-personalities, DJ’s, etc..) to give them professional training and experience if they desire to pursue big-market goals in the future
• Spark FM will provide relatable news that directly correlates to the people, places, and things in the urban community
• Spark FM will provide programming that matters on topics that are important to this community: educational, political, financial, and entertainment.

In addition to amplifying urban voices, Johnson plans to help marginalized people in Boston’s inner-cities learn about generational wealth and ownership.

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