Anthony Anderson, Marsai Martin, Omari Hardwick and more stars takeover Miami for ABFF

The American Black Film Festival is going down in Miami and TheGrio is front and center for all the festivities. Tons of famous faces headed down to the beach this week to mix and mingle with fans, creatives, and journalists as they premiered their projects and participated in panels about navigating the entertainment industry. ABFF welcomed stars like Omari Hardwick, Anthony Anderson, Marsai Martin, Robin Givens, Jemele Hill, Larenz Tate, Jacob Latimore, and more.

ABFF kicked off with the world premiere of Shaft, starring Samuel L. Jackson, Richard Roundtree, and Jessie T. Usher on Wednesday evening. The next day was filled with tons of screenings, master classes, and panels including a conversation with LisaRaye McCoy, who sat down with TheGrio’s Entertainment Director, Cortney Wills at the Capital One Cafe to discuss everything from Black beauty standards to fighting fear to pursue your dreams.

Netflix presented their incredible documentary, The Black Godfather while TVOne treated attendees to an early screening of The Bobby DeBarge Story. Netflix premiered its upcoming film, BEATS on Thursday night, followed by a private, star-studded soiree where guests dined on a gorgeous sushi spread and danced the night away.

On Friday morning, Tracy Oliver presented a first look at her highly-anticipated series First Wives Club while Kofi Siriboe, Nafeesa Williams, and D. Harris-Lawrence discussed representation at the “See Yourself In The Work We Do” panel.

Later, Karen Huger, Porsha Williams, and Dr. Jackie Walters discussed living out their personal lives on the small screen during the “Black Love & Families” panel before Porsha (sans engagement ring) started filming what looked like a scene for RHOA, (or an unspecified reality project).

TheGrio’s Cortney Wills moderated an intimate conversation with The Chi star, Jacob Latimore and discussed the award-winning series, mastering your craft, and pursuing your passions.

Meanwhile, Jemele Hill, Lala Anthony, Iyanla Vanzant, Tracy Oliver, and BET EVP, Connie Orlando shared words of wisdom about gender inequity in Tinseltown at the “About Women” panel. Next, POWER stars, Omari Hardwick, Naturi Naughton, and Larenz Tate hit the stage to discuss their hit series at the “Dream in Black” panel. The night concluded with the world premiere of OWN’s sexy new series Ambitions, starring Robin Givens and Essence Atkins, followed by a Q&A with the whole cast and the show’s creator, Jamey Giddens, moderated by TheGrio.

The 5-day festival is still in full swing, so check back for more details about ABFF throughout the weekend.

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The Marathon Continues: Nipsey Hussle to be honored at 2019 BET Awards

On Thursday (June 13) it was announced that the late, great Nipsey Hussle would be honored posthumously at the 2019 BET Awards.

In a statement made on the company’s official website from Connie Orlando, the network’s Executive Vice-President, Head of Programming, Orlando stated, “As a prolific artist and leader, Nipsey Hussle was zealous about driving change for the betterment of his community, empowering and employing those in need and being an influential and highly respected leader,” Orlando said in regards to the slain rapper and hip hop philanthropist. Nipsey is also nominated for Best Male Hip-Hop Artist.

READ MORE: BREAKING: Nipsey Hussle’s alleged killer indicted by grand jury for murder

She continued, “His passing was a tremendous loss to the entertainment industry and to the culture. We will continue to remember his advocacy and be inspired by the groundwork he set forth and his dire commitment to social change.”

Nipsey, real name Ermias Asghedom, was killed back in March outside of his Marathon Clothing store in LA. The influential artist was well known for his ardent efforts to help educate and rehabilitate low income communities, especially his own in the Los Angeles area. Prior to his untimely passing, the Nipsey was making great strides to influence others, and invest in Black businesses and neighborhoods.

READ MORE: The Crips, now making business moves, file to trademark Nipsey Hussle’s slogan

“We are forever grateful, humbled and honored to have experienced his presence and we are invested in doing our part to ensure that the marathon will indeed continue. It is an immense honor for us to recognize him with this year’s Humanitarian Award,” the statement concluded.

According to BET, the ceremony is set to include an A-list tribute in the 33-year-old’s honor, which will star DJ Khaled, singer John Legend, and rapper and friend, YG.

This year’s ceremony will be hosted by actress Regina Hall. The 2019 BET Awards is set to air on Sunday, June 23, at 8:00 p.m. ET.

The post The Marathon Continues: Nipsey Hussle to be honored at 2019 BET Awards appeared first on theGrio.

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21 Savage ups immigration reform efforts with $25K donation

21 Savage is keeping his immigration reform efforts going, as the rapper recently donated $25,000 to the Southern Poverty Law Center- the same nonprofit legal advocacy organization that helped him earlier this year when he was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

According to the 26-year-old rapper’s attorney, Charles Kuck, the donation will go towards aiding immigrants currently held in detention centers in the deep South, by helping them to obtain legal counsel.

“21 Savage is making this donation public because everyday Americans need to know that ICE is using civil immigration detention as a weapon against immigrants, many of whom, like 21 Savage, have relief from deportation and are able to fix their immigration status,” Kuck said in a statement, obtained by NBC News.

READ MORE: In new interview, 21 Savage opens up about immigration issues that seemed insurmountable

Willemijn Keizer, the organization’s director of institutional giving, told NBC that the the rapper’s donation will provide “vital resources,” for detainees.

“Only one in six immigrants detained in the Southeast has access to an attorney in removal proceedings. For an immigrant in detention, that legal representation can mean the difference between winning or losing their case — between staying with their family or being forced to return to a place that is no longer home,” Keizer said in a statement.

Back in February, the Britain-born Savage, real name She’yaa Bin Abraham-Joseph, was arrested and detained by ICE after officials said he overstayed his visa.

READ MORE: 21 Savage arrested again in Southern Georgia shortly after release from ICE custody

Although the British national was brought to the United States legally back in 2005, ICE officials claimed the rapper’s visa expired the following year, and has since been left without legal status. Legal representatives for the rapper claim that Savage has an application pending for a US visa “as a victim of a crime,” but not much has been revealed as to the circumstances surrounding his application.

On February 12th, the rapper was was released on bond from a Georgia detention center, just a little more than a week after his arrest. According to NBC News, his case is still pending with the immigration court.

 

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Chris Brown is expecting baby number 2!

Space Photos of the Week: Salt of the Jupiter Moon

Plus: gamma rays, InSight’s claw, and the Milky Way’s chill black hole.

from Wired http://bit.ly/2INXvgR
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Keep It Classy: Diddy responds to Cassie’s pregnancy announcement

Security News This Week: Telegram Says China Is Behind DDoS

Voting machine security gets a boost, Have I Been Pwned is for sale, and more of the week's top security news.

from Wired http://bit.ly/2WHu6K1
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Mariam Namukasa: Uganda 'Miss Curvy' contestant's journey

Follow 34-year-old Mariam Namukasa on her journey through the Miss Curvy Uganda 2019 pageant.

from BBC News - Africa https://bbc.in/2XLqTdz
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Sudan: Friends pay tribute to victim of Sudan protests

Social media profiles have been turning blue in tribute to Mohammad Mattar who was shot dead during protests in Sudan.

from BBC News - Africa https://bbc.in/2KgACpe
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Analogue Mega SG Review: The Sega Genesis Reborn

Analogue's Mega SG is an easy way to play old Sega Genesis game cartridges on a modern TV, no-fuss and no-frills.

from Wired http://bit.ly/31Be34c
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Caster Semenya rejects Rabat Diamond League 800m invitation

Caster Semenya declines a late invitation to race in the 800m at Sunday's Diamond League Meeting in Rabat, Morocco.

from BBC News - Africa https://bbc.in/2MMOBFt
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‘Sign In With Apple’ Earns Mixed Reactions From App Makers

Soon, you'll be able to log into third-party apps using your Apple ID. The move has its fans, but also its critics.

from Wired http://bit.ly/2IJLNnn
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Lamborghini Huracán EVO Sees the Future, Makes You Look Great

The super smart supercar predicts what you'll do next—and helps you make it happen.

from Wired http://bit.ly/31zbS11
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New York City Flexes Again, Extending Cap on Uber and Lyft

Officials want to extend the city's limit on the number of for-hire vehicles, and may consider a congestion charge.

from Wired http://bit.ly/2IF8rgA
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Gadget Lab Podcast: The Biggest News From E3

Peter Rubin joins the show this week to tell us about the major announcements made at the videogame industry’s big conference.

from Wired http://bit.ly/31AuqxW
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Kim Kardashian visits White House and announces partnership with Lyft ride-share program for ex-prisoners

Kim Kardashian West who’s become a hands-on advocate in the fight for criminal justice reform joined the Trump administration for an event at the White House and was welcomed with open arms for her newfound activism.

—Van Jones credits Kim Kardashian for prison reform bill’s landslide passage—

On Thursday Trump praised the reality TV star who has been pivotal in facilitating the release of former inmates, as a “great friend.”

“It’s really is such an honor to be here,” she said, after a standing ovation, ABC News reports.

Kardashian West explained that she was inspired to be an advocate for prisoners after visiting jails and hearing multiple stories from inmates.

“My heart just completely opened up and I wanted to do more. So, I started studying law.”

“I’d gotten to the place in my life where I wanted to make a difference. I wanted to do the right thing,” she said.

 

Kim Kardashian West speaks at White House event: “It really is such an honor to be here today, so thank you. My whole journey with criminal justice reform started about a year ago when I came to see the president” https://t.co/iCt3nF3csg pic.twitter.com/i0O26rhifA

— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) June 13, 2019

She also announced that she has teamed up with the ride-sharing company Lyft to give former inmates gift cards to help them get to job interviews.

“I’m so happy to announce today we have a rideshare partnership where formerly incarcerated people will be gifted gift cards,” she said.

“I just wanted to thank the president for standing behind this issue,” she said.

Trump discussed the First Step Act, and how it has changed the landscape, especially for Black men. Since the First Step Act was signed into law last December, more than 1,000 incarcerated people in federal prisons have already been granted sentence reductions.

—Sarah Huckabee Sanders steps down as White House Press Secretary—

“To realize America’s full potential, we must unlock the talents of every single citizen. We want to lift every American family out of poverty and into a future of hope and opportunity,” Trump said.”

In 2018, Kardashian West made headlines for her work in helping Alice Marie Johnson to become a free woman after a series of meetings with President Donald Trump.

 

Proud to partner on this initiative with @Lyft, a company with a history of taking bold action to do what’s right for our community. Thank you for providing ride share credits to formally incarcerated people when they come home.

— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) June 13, 2019

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Thousands in Haiti renew protests, clash with police

 

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Thousands of protesters demanding the resignation of President Jovenel Moïse clashed with police Thursday as some tried to storm barriers outside the National Palace while others sought shelter as heavy gunfire echoed in nearby streets.

The demonstration came a day after Moïse broke his silence over the country’s recent unrest and rejected demands that he step down over allegations of officials misusing funds from subsidized oil shipments from Venezuela under the Petrocaribe program. He denied any wrongdoing.

Among those who joined the protest, which began peacefully, was 39-year-old Carl-Henry Janvière, who recently lost his job as a delivery man after his company laid people off amid record inflation.

READ MORE: After coup, Sudan protest leaders wish to dismantle the ‘deep state’

“I’m supporting these young kids to see if we can have a change in this country,” he said. “People are corrupt and are not providing any service to the population. I’m tired of it. I don’t know what I’m going to do in the next few months to feed my family.”

Violence also broke out last week during protests in a number of Haitian cities. The latest protest followed a strike Monday and Tuesday that shuttered schools, businesses and government offices, shut down public transportation and caused a Parliament session to be suspended. Businesses and schools were slowly reopening by Thursday, but burning tires still blocked some streets and it was difficult to reach some towns outside Port-au-Prince.
The crowd initially drew hundreds of people then slowly grew throughout the day, with people like Marie Saint-Louis, a 29-year-old mother of two, joining in.

READ MORE: Sudan: Rapes took place amid the deadly attacks in Khartoum, doctors say

“My husband passed away,” she said. “I’m not getting any help from this country. Life is extremely hard around here. … You hear money is coming into this country and you don’t know what the hell they’re doing with the money. We’re getting aid from different countries, but if you look at Haiti, it looks like it never received any aid at all: garbage, no electricity, no water, no real medical center or hospital.”

A Senate investigation has said at least 14 former government officials allegedly misused $3.8 billion under the administration of former President Michel Martelly. A report that was recently released leveled new accusations against government officials.

A second protest was planned for Friday despite Moïse calling for people to stay calm in a brief speech Wednesday as he celebrated the anniversary of Haiti’s police force.

“I am not going to allow anyone to commit chaos under any pretext,” the president said. “I am asking you to stay calm.”

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Maryland has created a truth commission on lynchings – can it deliver?

Anita Hill says she could vote for Joe Biden if he becomes the nominee in 2020

Anita Hill has finally warmed up and could be ready to jump on the Joe Biden 2020 bandwagon and says she could now vote for him if he becomes the Democratic nominee.

—Sudan: Rapes took place amid the deadly attacks in Khartoum, doctors say—

Earlier this year, Hill, a law professor, was slow to give her endorsement to the former vice president because of his handling of the then-Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas confirmation hearing where she testified about sexual harassment. Hill was critical of Biden who was head of the Senate Judiciary Committee in 1991.

She said previously if Biden and the government worked back then the way it should have, more attention would have been called to sexual harassment and assault.

Hill also previously said she couldn’t support Biden for president until he fully admits his wrongdoing and takes responsibility for his conduct. That includes admitting his failure to call witnesses, other women, who were willing to testify before the Judiciary Committee and offer validation to her claims.

In a recent NBC News interview, Hill has seemingly has come around on her opinion of him.

“Of course, I could,” Hill said when asked if she could vote for Biden.

Hill said she’s more interested in knowing about Biden’s agenda for the future of this country and she’s rather focused on that rather than past apologies.

“I don’t think it’s a matter of what he could say,” Hill said. “For me it’s a matter of what we want all of our leaders to say; that is, after almost three decades now of having discovered the problem of sexual harassment, more people understanding it is a serious problem and so prevalent. I really want our leaders to stand up and say what happened in 1991 will never happen again.”

—Sarah Huckabee Sanders steps down as White House Press Secretary—

She continued: “stand up and say that ‘I understand this is a serious problem, that women are not safe in the workplace, they’re not safe in our schools, they’re not safe on our streets.'” She added that she wants leaders to “use the government’s resources to eliminate the problems.”

Biden has been on the campaign trail and is leading in the polls against other Democrats hoping to secure the nomination to run against Donald Trump in 2020.

When the Anita Hill controversy resurfaced he addressed it head-on earlier this year on The View.

Biden said, “I’m sorry she was treated the way she was treated.” But he also said, “I don’t think I treated her badly.”

Hill didn’t quite confirm who her favorite candidate is, but it’s apparent she’s open to forgiveness as part of her healing.

The post Anita Hill says she could vote for Joe Biden if he becomes the nominee in 2020 appeared first on theGrio.

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Exclusive – Elizabeth Warren: Level the Playing Field for Black Entrepreneurs

In an exclusive op-ed piece for Black Enterprise, Sen. Elizabeth Warren outlines her plan to create economic justice and to assist black entrepreneurs. 

If you work hard and have a good idea, you should be able to start a small business and build something solid — a life you and your family can be proud of. There’s just one problem with that promise: the government helped create a wealth gap with decades of sanctioned discrimination, tilting the playing field against Black and Brown communities for generations.

As a result, Black, Latinx, and Native American households have a lot less wealth than white households. That means less money for entrepreneurs of color to put into their businesses to get them going. On average, Black entrepreneurs start a business with $35,000 in capital. That’s a third of the startup capital for the typical white entrepreneur.

It’s no surprise that this disparity in startup money is the single biggest reason that promising Black-owned businesses on average are less profitable and bring on fewer employees than white-owned businesses. It’s partly why entrepreneurs of color own less than 20% of businesses with paid employees despite making up almost 40% of the population. And it’s contributing to a small business gap that costs all of us  millions of jobs and billions in economic growth.

This weekend, I will be attending the Black Economic Alliance (BEA) Forum in Charleston, South Carolina to discuss the steep challenges facing Black businesses in America, and how as President, I would remain committed to the fight for social, racial, and economic justice.

Black businesses face an uphill battle in our country; this is a fight we must all see as our own because the challenges facing Black businesses are rooted in big, structural problems. So the question is, what do we do about it?

The way I see it, there is only one way to make progress and that’s by fighting for big structural changes across the board. We have to take this problem head on and that’s why today I am proposing a new plan to help close the startup capital gap for Black and Brown entrepreneurs: a Small Business Equity Fund, run by my new Department of Economic Development,

This Fund will be equipped with $7 billion to provide grants — not loans — to entrepreneurs for startup capital so their businesses can thrive from the beginning without having to worry about ongoing interest payments or the risk of default.

The funds will be administered locally — through states, cities, and towns — but the state and local partners will need to meet federal requirements, including partnering with private parties to make investment decisions, instituting strict conflict of interest rules, and collecting data on outcomes. That way we can ensure taxpayer money is generating a strong return.

In addition to creating this new fund, we must take steps to address the lack of diversity among investors. The average Black-owned business only gets three percent of what a similar white-owned business typically receives in outside investments shortly after founding. A big reason for this disparity is the startling lack of diversity among investors: 86% of venture capitalists are white, and women and minority-owned firms make up less than 10% of the asset management industry. This hamstrings entrepreneurs of color: studies show that investors are more likely to partner with entrepreneurs that share their gender or race.

To address diversity among investment managers, I’m proposing three steps. First, states and cities will be required to partner with Black, minority, and women-owned investment managers to administer the money from my new Equity Fund. Second, on day one of my presidency, I will direct all federal pension and retirement funds to seek out a more diverse set of investment managers. And third, I will triple the budget for the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) — an organization dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs of color with access to funding networks and business advice — so it can expand on its good work.

This entire plan is paid for by my ultra-millionaire tax — a small 2% tax on giant fortunes over $50 million.

My new plan embraces the fundamental truth that we can never achieve racial justice without economic justice. We must do everything within our power to close the ever-widening racial wealth gap in America. I’ve proposed an expansion of the Community Reinvestment Act that will ensure mortgage lenders in communities of color lend to everyone on an equal basis, a student debt plan that cancels student loan debt for more than 80% of Black borrowers and invests $50 billion in HBCUs, and a new down payment assistance program that will help people in formerly redlined areas buy a home.

My plan helps level the playing field for Black, minority, and women entrepreneurs. We need to give every American the opportunity to build wealth and a bright future for themselves and their loved ones.

 

 

from Black Enterprise http://bit.ly/2KQMMVo
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