Cole Rise sold a startup, designed the first Instagram logo, and became obsessed with creating a copy of the Apollo 11 camera.
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Monday, August 12, 2019
Kamala Harris says Trump enjoys inciting hateful speech, actions
Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris said Friday that President Donald Trump “seems to derive joy” from provoking some Americans to hateful speech and actions, and she says that goes to issues deeper than whether the president is a white supremacist.
“I’ve not said this out loud, but I think it and I feel it,” Harris told The Associated Press during an interview traveling across Iowa. “He seems to derive joy from the response he gets when he talks this way. It seems he derives some element of joy in inciting people around, around outrageous and hateful rhetoric.”
Trump’s recent series of racist remarks toward women of color in Congress, as well as the ties between his anti-immigrant rhetoric and the deadly mass shooting in El Paso, have sparked a debate in the 2020 Democratic field over whether the president is a white supremacist.
Harris, like former Vice President Joe Biden and Montana Gov. Steve Bullock, has stopped short of using the label. Meanwhile, former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke and South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg have said it applies.
Harris, on a weekend-long campaign trip to the early caucus state, said that debate misses the point.
“It literally oversimplifies the issue, because it’s almost that the conversation begins and ends with that,” Harris said on her tour bus traveling across rural northwest Iowa. “The lens through which I think about it is so much broader than a label.”
Harris cited Trump’s 2017 ban on travelers from six largely Muslim countries, his 2018 order banning transgender individuals from serving in the armed forces except under limited circumstances, and his constant degradation of immigrants entering the U.S. from the Southern border. She said they are part of a pattern Trump has followed to feed his own psyche instead of encouraging acceptance at a time of increased hate crimes.
By ascribing personal motives to Trump’s rhetoric, Harris’ comments go further than most candidates, who have not shied from connecting Trump’s rhetoric and the El Paso shooting Saturday, when 22 people were killed by a man who admitted to police he had targeted Mexicans.
“Democrats have spent every moment trying to overturn the election of 2016,” Trump campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh said. “So now they’ve moved on to calling (Trump) and his supporters racist. Those are the real divisive tactics.”
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Ferguson: 5 years after Mike Brown police shooting, racial tension lingers nationally
Michael Brown’s death at the hands of a white Missouri police officer stands as a seismic moment in American race relations. The fledgling Black Lives Matter movement found its voice, police departments fell under intense scrutiny, progressive prosecutors were elected and court policies revised.
Yet five years after the black 18-year-old was fatally shot by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson on a steamy August day, racial tension remains palpable and may be even more intense. From the march on Charlottesville to President Donald Trump’s tweets attacking congressional Democrats of color and Colin Kaepernick’s kneeling at NFL games, the country often seems more divided than ever.
Ferguson “drew attention to the practices of police violence and a lot of the stereotypes and viewpoints that people had about black Americans,” said Adia Harvey Wingfield, a Washington University sociologist and expert on race relations. “I wish I could be a little more optimistic about its overall implications, but I am not sure yet that there is too much reason for optimism. I think that we’re in a place where we kind of see some progress coupled with some steps backward.”
The suburban St. Louis community has changed, though to some, not fast enough. The government for the city of 21,000 is now more reflective of its populace, which is two-thirds black. Four of the six City Council members are black, compared with just one in 2014. The police force that was overwhelmingly white in 2014 is now far more diverse.
The town has seen sweeping changes in the way the Police Department and municipal court operate. An ongoing agreement with the Justice Department requires even more reforms, and the monitor overseeing the agreement wants the pace to accelerate.
Behind all of that, a father still grieves.
“We share the same name,” Michael Brown Sr., 41, said of his son. “We have the same blood. He has no voice. I have the voice for him so I have to keep pushing.”
The cascade of events on Aug. 9, 2014, began with a chance encounter on the street.
Wilson had just left a home after a call about a sick baby when he drove by Brown and a friend, who were walking in the middle of Canfield Drive, a busy two-lane street. Wilson told them to use the sidewalk.
Words were exchanged, then Wilson noticed a pack of cigarillos in Brown’s hand. A radio dispatch had just reported the theft of cigarillos from a market. Wilson confronted Brown, who was unarmed.
The situation escalated in a flash. Brown reached into Wilson’s SUV, and a fight began. Wilson’s gun went off. Brown ran. Suddenly, the 6-foot-4, 290-pound teenager turned back toward Wilson, who later told investigators that Brown looked “psychotic” and “hostile.”
Wilson fired several shots, but Brown kept coming, the officer said, until the final shot to the head felled him.
Some people in the Canfield Green apartment complex initially said Brown had his hands up in surrender, stories that quickly spread on social media. Brown’s bloodied body lay on the street in the August heat for four hours, inciting even more anger.
The next night, as thousands attended a prayer vigil on Canfield, a much larger and angrier crowd gathered on nearby West Florissant Avenue. A QuikTrip convenience store was set on fire and soon, dozens of other businesses were looted, damaged or destroyed. Rocks and bottles were hurled at police officers. Police were so outnumbered they could only stand and watch.
Subsequent protests were met with a far larger police presence. Officers from throughout the St. Louis region showed up in armored vehicles, wearing riot gear and carrying military-style weapons.
Chris Phillips, a filmmaker who lived in Canfield Green at the time, was among many whose livestream video captured images of police using pepper spray, tear gas and batons in their clashes with protesters.
“I just think that the big presence of heavy artillery, with that kind of response, really upset people,” said Phillips, now 38.
Several months later, on Nov. 24, 2014, St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Bob McCulloch announced that a grand jury had declined to indict Wilson, and the violent protests started anew.
The anger in Ferguson went much deeper than Michael Brown’s death. Racial tension that simmered for decades began to boil.
Few metropolitan areas have suffered worse “white flight” than St. Louis. As white residents moved farther out, northern suburbs — known locally as North County — became increasingly populated with African Americans.
By 2014, two-thirds of Ferguson’s 21,000 residents were black, but the city’s leadership was virtually all white. The police force had just three black officers among 53 officers on the force. Black residents were far more likely to be pulled over and arrested than whites, and far more likely to face burdensome fines and court costs.
The following spring, in March 2015, the Justice Department also declined to indict Wilson but issued a report citing racial bias in Ferguson’s policing. The report also found that the municipal court used ticketing and court fees to generate revenue. Police Chief Tom Jackson was among the top leaders who resigned.
A year later, the City Council reached an agreement with the Justice Department requiring massive reforms overseen by a court-appointed monitor. That process is ongoing.
Among the changes: About half of the police force is now made up of black officers, and they’re led by a black chief, Jason Armstrong.
The problem is finding enough officers. Ferguson has 13 vacancies. Many departments across the country face similar shortages, but Mayor James Knowles III said the challenge is especially daunting in Ferguson, where police remain under a microscope.
“There are a lot of people, especially some of the best and brightest, who might have thought they may want a career in policing,” Knowles said. “They’re going to ask themselves the question, ‘Do I want to go through this, put my family through this?'”
Ferguson has seen a spike in homicides — nearly 30 in the past five years in a town where killings were once uncommon. Knowles believes criminals have become more brazen knowing police are hesitant to make traffic stops — the so-called “Ferguson effect.”
“When you’re not pulling people over, you’re not getting these guns off the street, you’re not seizing contraband and illegal weapons,” Knowles said.
Not everyone is sure that Ferguson is embracing change. Many black residents were angered when the longtime finance director, Jeffrey Blume, was appointed interim city manager earlier this year. The Justice Department report singled out Blume’s role in encouraging traffic fines as a revenue source.
“As a community we hear you loud and clear: You don’t care,” Felicia Pulliam, 54, told the City Council last month.
Knowles believes the agreement with the Justice Department sometimes hinders, rather than promotes, progress. He said the city has paid out more than $600,000 in monitor fees, and the hundreds of thousands of dollars spent on legal costs would be better spent on improving policing.
“Instead of spending money on a $300-an-hour law firm, why shouldn’t I be spending that money on sending those officers to additional training?” Knowles asked.
The city’s monitor, Boston attorney Natashia Tidwell, gave Ferguson mixed reviews in a June report. She lauded the city for implementing a police use-of-force policy and cited progress in use of body-worn and in-car cameras. The review also gave generally high marks for municipal court reforms.
But Tidwell cited “sluggish” progress in community policing, officer training and data collection.
Ferguson is starting to look different. On West Florissant, the burned-out QuikTrip is long gone, replaced with a new $4 million building housing the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis is building a teen center nearby, and a large new health care facility is also planned. Still, vacant lots and empty storefronts abound.
Susan Ankenbrand and her husband moved their family to Ferguson 44 years ago, at a time when other whites were heading the other direction, because they wanted to raise their kids in a diverse community. She acknowledged that the events of 2014 drove a racial wedge through the heart of Ferguson, leaving a wound that’s a long way from healed.
“We need to be able to talk to each other,” said Ankenbrand, 76. “So tell me how to do that.”
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Black woman awarded $725k in suit against neo-Nazi who harassed her at school
The first black woman to serve as American University’s student government president won a lawsuit Friday against a neo-Nazi website operator who orchestrated an online harassment campaign against her.
A federal judge granted default judgment to Taylor Dumpson and awarded her more than $725,000 after The Daily Stormer founder Andrew Anglin and a follower failed to respond to her lawsuit.
The judge awarded Dumpson compensatory damages of $101,429.28, punitive damages of $500,000, and attorneys’ fees and costs of $124,022.10. The judge also entered a restraining order against Anglin, his Moonbase Holdings limited liability company, and Brian Andrew Ade.
After Dumpson became student government president in 2017, someone hung nooses with bananas containing derogatory messages on the university’s campus. Anglin posted an article about the incident and directed followers to “troll storm” Dumpson on social media.
“This ruling should send a strong message to other white supremacists that they can and will be held accountable for hateful activity that constitutes unlawful discrimination, no matter whether it occurs online or in the real world,” said Kristen Clarke, the president and executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. The organization represented Dumpson in the case.
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Sunday, August 11, 2019
“Hobbs & Shaw” slams box office second week in a row
The “Fast & Furious” spinoff “Hobbs & Shaw” starring Dwayne “Rock” Johnson and Jason Statham was the top movie for at the domestic box office for the second week in a row.
The spinoff has raked in $25.4 million this weekend and $108 million in ten days since its domestic release, according to Forbes.
With over 10 movies premiering this week audiences definitely had a variety of films to choose from. Ranging from a mob thriller called “The Kitchen” with Melissa McCarthy and Tiffany Haddish or new children’s movie “Dora and the Lost City of Gold” with Eva Longoria. But “Hobbs & Shaw” managed to remain in the top spot.
READ MORE: Blair Underwood, Tiffany Haddish and more join cast of anticipated Madame C.J. Walker series
“There are always going to be casualties when there are this many,” says Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for box-office tracker Comscore. “They cannot always be lined up in the top four rankings.”
Although fans reported to be underwhelmed, the second place movie was PG-13 horror film “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark,” produced by Guillermo del Toro, coming in with $20.8 million on its opening weekend, according to USA Today.
In a very close third place “The Lion King” brought in $20 million in its fifth weekend in box offices. The film has now surpassed the highest-grossing live-action Disney release, “Beauty and the Beast.”
READ MORE: Family members in epic Disneyland fight video charged by police
“The Lion King” has grossed $1.3 billion globally, Forbes reported.
Even though some movies had a great weekend at the box office for the first time, this wasn’t the case for all movies. Newcomers like “The Art of Racing in the Rain,” with Milo Ventimiglia, of “This is Us”, came in sixth place with $8.1 million.
“The Kitchen” also flopped with only $5.5 million, coming in at seventh place and it seems like critics agreed. The film has a score of 20% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Distribution head Jeff Goldstein says Warner Bros. wasn’t happy with the results.
“The filmmakers took a very bold approach to their choice with the movie and … it just didn’t resonate with the viewers,” Goldstein says.
Viewership at the movies is down 6.3% this year.
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“Miracle Baby,” Phoenix Da’Vine celebrates first birthday
All before her first birthday, infant Phoenix Da’Vine, experienced heart surgery, a heart attack and severe brain damage. Doctors thought being taken off of life support was her ending, but it’s just her beginning.
In April, Phoenix’s mom, Monique Goldring, took her off life support at only 8-months-old, but Goldring’s “miracle baby” survived, and is set to celebrate her first birthday on August 25, according to CNN.
“I still have my baby with me,” Goldring said. “I didn’t think I would be able to see that milestone.”
READ MORE: Tyra Banks welcomes 'miracle baby boy' via surrogate
At just two months old Phoenix was gearing up for her first surgery. She was born with a heart defect called double outlet right ventricle, this means her heart couldn’t properly circulate oxygen around her body. Doctors had to perform two of four palliative surgeries she needs and put a shunt in her heart.
Five months later, the then 7-month-old began bleeding rapidly from her nose. Goldring rushed Phoenix to the emergency room but en route Phoenix lost oxygen and began to turn blue.
“I knew that she was gone,” Goldring said when thinking of that day.
READ MORE: Mom whose baby was ripped from arms by cops sues NYC
Phoenix was going into cardiac arrest, this left her with a lot of brain damage causing her to stay at the hospital on life support for almost a month. Goldring said Phoenix appeared tired and decided to take her off of life support. She waited with her daughter for over 6 hours anticipating her last breath, but Phoenix kept fighting CNN reported.
She watched and waited for six hours after Phoenix was taken off life support, the time doctors said they expected it would take for her to die. But six hours came and went, and the infant was still fighting, she said.
“From that point on, she just continued to thrive,” Goldring said.
Although Phoenix is alive, she still requires a lot of medical attention. When she was released in May it was on hospice status because doctors believed she may not survive much longer.
Doctor’s told her mother she’ll likely die if they performed the remaining two surgeries to reroute blood flow. Phoenix will also soon outgrow the shunt in her heart, which will be fatal, Goldring said.
Phoenix’s lifespan is uncertain but her mother plans to still celebrate her first birthday.
“Falling apart about it is not going to change the circumstances,” she said. “She’s clearly not falling apart about it, so I get my strength from her daily.”
Her family has also created GoFundMe page for people to donate to the family to help cover her medical expenses.
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Kamala Harris says Trump is running a “Campaign on Terror”
Presidential hopeful Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., accused President Trump of running a campaign of terror in the US against illegal immigrants.
While on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” on Sunday, Harris made the comment when questioned about last week’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in Mississippi, Fox News reported.
READ MORE: Democratic candidate Kamala Harris once dated this TV show host
“This administration has directed DHS to conduct these raids as part of what I believe is this administration’s campaign of terror. Children are afraid to go to school for fear that when they come home, their parents won’t be there,” Harris said on “Meet the Press.”
Over 600 undocumented workers were arrested in Mississippi. This left hundreds of children stranded without parents on the first day of school and people without work. Over half were released from custody the next day with a court date, CNN reported.
READ MORE: ‘Mind-blowing’: Kamala Harris’ campaign slams media claims of Taylor Swift feud
Harris also made mention that Trump failed his voters. She said he made promises to them that he failed to follow through with.
“Here’s the thing. There are people who voted for him for a variety of reasons,” she said.
“And a lot of it had to do with the promises he made, which he has not delivered on because they were false promises.
“And he betrayed a lot of people. He came in saying he was going to help working families. Everyone from farmers to auto workers.”
However Trump defended his actions in the mandated ICE raids.
“I want people to know that if they come into the United States illegally, they’re getting out. They’re going to be brought out. And this serves as a very good deterrent,” he said to reporters outside the White House on Friday.
U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst also made a statement about the raids.
“The execution of federal search warrants today was simply about enforcing the rule of law in our state and throughout our great country.”
“I commend these federal agents, our state and local law enforcement partners, and our federal prosecutors for their professionalism and dedication to ensure that those who violate our laws are held accountable.”
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Bill Cosby appeals accusers’ testimony
Bill Cosby will be back in a Pennsylvania court again on Monday to appeal his sexual assault conviction.
Other celebrities such as Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey have also been named in the #MeToo era, but Cosby is the first to stand trial and be convicted.
READ MORE: Bill Cosby’s legal team prepares his appeal and wheels 348-pages of paperwork to court
The purpose of this appeal is for the court to consider over a half-dozen alleged trial errors, according to Fox News.
“If it’s reversed, I worry that it’s going to play into the narrative that stories of people subjected to gender-based violence are not going to be believed. I’ve been struck by … the power of the backlash against #MeToo,” said Professor Margaret Johnson, from University of Baltimore School of Law.
Cosby, was first charged in June 2017, for an incident that occurred in 2004. This went to trial just months before accusations against movie producer Harvey Weinstein hit social media and began the #MeToo movement.
After the jury was in deadlock for six days, Cosby was still able to walk free of all charges. But nine months later District Attorney Kevin Steele asked to call 19 of Cosby accusers to the stand. Judge Steven O’Neill allowed five to testify. The women that took the stand recalled being drugged and molested by what was once “America’s Favorite Black Dad” for his leading role as Dr. Cliff Huxtable on “The Cosby Show“.
READ MORE: Bounce TV to air ‘The Cosby Show’, ending network ban
This time the jury only took 14 hours to convict Cosby of all three felony sex-assault charges.
When asked if the #Metoo movement swayed their opinion in the decision, the jury said,”Not once were race or the #MeToo movement ever discussed, nor did either factor into our decision.”
But this time around, the appellate court is focused on the alleged trial errors that Cosby’s legal team says happened. One includes the promise Cosby had from a former prosecutor that he would never be charged in the case. This promise led Cosby to give deposition testimony that was later used against him when the documents became unsealed.
Cosby, who is now 82-years-old still sits in jail serving a three to 10 year sentence.
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Bodybuilding makes debut at Pan Am Games
A new sport debuted at the Pan American Games on Saturday in Lima,Peru – Bodybuilding.
Muscle precision, symmetry and harmony were just some of the things judges looked for in the first ever bodybuilding competition.
Leading up to this day many competitors had a strict diet and trained their muscles hard, but only one person could win. The Games’ first gold medals in men’s classic bodybuilding and women’s bikini fitness were awarded to El Salvador‘s Yuri Rodriguez and Paulina Zamora, according to ESPN.
READ MORE: 13 Black athletes you should be following during the 2018 Winter Olympics
“Our sport is hard. I’m not going to lie telling you that you enjoy the pain of weights. This hurts, but when you achieve something like this, you say to yourself: ‘I can do it and I would give much more.’ We’ve made history. My name is immortal. I’m the first Pan American bodybuilding champion,” Rodriguez said.
El Salvador is a small country in Central America with a population of about 6.3 million people. Although it’s small, the country is known for its poverty and gang affiliation with MS-13. However these factors didn’t set Rodriguez back.
“El Salvador is a country that has gone through so much suffering, so many injustices. Maybe not enough has been given to the sport because of these injustices, so these types of achievements bring much-deserved joy to my country.”
The competition consisted of 16 women and 32 men from all over the world. But the women’s and men’s categories differed. According to The Washington Post, the women competed in the fitness category with choreography and acrobatics to music with eye catching outfits. The men however competed in a classic bodybuilding contest with heavy spray tans and swim trunks.
READ MORE: ‘N-word style’: Ex-LA Fitness worker files complaint after racist comments about hair
For the women, Mexico’s Xyomara Valdivia won silver and Belen Figueroa of Chile earned bronze; and for the men Colombia’s Carlos Giraldo won silver and Guatemala’s Jonathan Martinez was awarded bronze.
Although bodybuilding was added as an official sport this year to the Pan Am Games, in the 2015 Toronto games it was used as a demonstration sport and as of now it may not be back for the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, ESPN reported.
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Why Black Entrepreneurs Should Add Toronto to Their Bucket List
Have you been to Toronto yet? If you’re looking for a vibrant city that applauds itself on having diversity as its strength, you have to visit Canada and see what Toronto has in store. Toronto has been recognized as one of the most multicultural cities in the world, boasting over 200 ethnic groups with over 140 languages spoken. It’s now the fourth-largest city in the world and continues to attract people who are seeking a community where they can fit in while standing out. Black entrepreneurs and professionals will find a rich, welcoming culture that will expose you to life beyond the space you currently occupy.
The captivating city scene provides a perfect way to unwind after a long day of work or relaxation. Whether you’re in Toronto for business, pleasure, or have a long layover, here are some things you can do to see why Toronto is ranked at the top of the list for diversity.
[RELATED: AMERICAN BLACK WOMEN ARE MOVING IN DROVES TO THIS ONE COUNTRY]
Great Canadian Food Tour
One way to get a world-class crash course on a city’s diversity is by exploring a variety of cultures through the food. Food is where cultures typically connect. Local entrepreneur Jusep Sim curated the Chopsticks + Forks Great Canadian Food Tour to expose travelers from around the world to the most authentic cuisines in the city.
In less than three hours, you can get a taste of the best bites in Toronto while getting a tour of Kensington Market. This neighborhood is known as one of the most eclectic and diverse spots in the city, representing over 25 countries and captivating street art. It’s the perfect way to get a glimpse of the entire city in one neighborhood.
Enjoy these multi-cultural bites while learning fascinating historical facts and stories:
- Ojibwe-inspired taco from Pow Wow Café
- Peameal bacon sandwich from Bacon Nation
- Montreal-style bagel from Nü Bagel
- Butter tart from Wanda’s Pie in the Sky
- Nanaimo Bar from Moonbean Coffee Company
Are you hungry yet? Head on over to Chopsticks + Forks to learn more, because a trip to Toronto isn’t complete without diving into the different flavors available at the family-owned businesses in Kensington Market.
CN Tower
If you’re looking for a breathtaking view to spark creativity and new ideas in your business or career, then check out the Canadian National (CN) Tower. It’s one of the top-rated attractions of Toronto. The CN Tower, which held the record for being the tallest freestanding tower for 32 years, is a great way to see the city at an elevated level.
If you’re meeting with clients or seeking exclusive dining, the 360 Restaurant at the top of the tower provides an unforgettable food experience and a revolving view of Toronto. For all travel adventurers who want to walk on the “wild side,” the CN Tower provides the “edge walk” experience which gives visitors the ability to walk along the edge while the wind is blowing all around you. Now you can truly experience what it’s like to have no barriers in life!
Are you coming directly from Toronto Pearson International Airport? Take a short trip (less than 30 minutes) to CN Tower. It’s conveniently located by other city attractions, so you’ll be inches away from the best pictures your camera can take by the popular Canada sign. This location also puts you steps away from the Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, Steam Whistle Brewery, Rogers Centre, and The Rec Room–Eats & Entertainment.
Hotel X Toronto by Library Hotel Collection
While you’re in Toronto, you’ll experience a different side of life when you escape to Hotel X Toronto by Library Hotel Collection, one of the newest hot spots for celebrities and booming business professionals. The hotel has been recognized as “the city’s first resort-style hotel” by Toronto Star. Hotel X offers amenities that provide the perfect level of comfort, creativity, and luxury for you and your family.
What’s fascinating about this hotel is that it was intentionally created with different personalities in mind. The hotel offers a variety of activities to help you schmooze with others while providing intimate spots throughout the hotel for relaxation. This spacious gem boasts four indoor tennis courts, a tech-savvy workout gym, and various studios for spin class and hot yoga–plus unrivaled sports and wellness facilities. You can experience all this while enjoying the most exquisite views from the rooftop Falcon SkyBar and taking advantage of the array of books that can be found all around.
Toronto is a special place that moves to a beat that can’t be matched by any other city in North America. Most importantly, its cultural diversity attracts people all over the world who can find a place for them in the city–no matter who they are and where they come from.
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Cardi B Publicist Patientce Foster Shares What It Takes To Succeed In Entertainment
Cardi B has made it clear that she doesn’t need more press–-and it’s in large part due to her amazing publicity team at The Cream Agency, headed by Patientce Foster.
Foster plays multiple roles for Cardi, which includes being her independent publicist. She shared, “We work very closely with Ashley Kalmanowitz, our label publicist, who has done an amazing, consistent job in bringing an immense amount of press opportunities to the table. I am also head of her brand partnerships, and day-to-day operations. [Cardi] has honestly allowed me to be a part of almost every conversation pertaining to her career, including creative, her music, her vision, her ambitions.”
Behind the Scenes of Celebrity Publicity
While onlookers get to appreciate the beautiful glossy images, energetic performances, and humorous interviews Cardi B dishes, each of these requires lots of preparation. Foster shared that the most challenging part of the job is having to work under a constant pressure that never seems to let up. You must make yourself available for everyone else while still trying to be emotionally available for yourself.
“It’s easy to lose yourself and your mind while trying to keep up with the demands and obligations of the job,” she says with a laugh.
[RELATED: WE’RE ALL DEGREES OF SEPARATION FROM CARDI B: THE UBIQUITY OF HIP-HOP’S CURRENT IT GIRL]
The industry has its perks too. Foster loves being able to work with kind-hearted people with brilliant minds and genuine souls. Noting, “The best part of my job is having a voice, being able to be vocal about what we’re doing, where we’re going, how to evolve and remain consistent.”
Getting into the Industry
Foster recommends that anyone interested in pursuing this career look to build in every direction that could align with their end goal.
“Don’t be so specific in your direction that you turn down opportunities that will help you to build a Rolodex or increase your experiences. Place yourself in rooms that will help you to build contacts. Place yourself at tables that will open your ears to conversation and educate you. Become so well-versed in the industry so that when your time does come you’re equipped with education, contacts, and networks. Those elements are essentially what the person/brand hiring you wants–your reach and your experience.”
Rubbing Shoulders with Celebrities
Rubbing shoulders with celebs is a dream for many, but there are unspoken rules. Foster advises that your approach and intent are everything. “Some people want to rub a shoulder for a photo opp, rub a shoulder to be able to post on social media and caption the moment as if they are acquainted with the celeb and use the visual for their own leverage. My pet peeve would be how the approach is made. Complimenting a celeb, asking them to possibly look at their art, listen to their music or [ask] for a photo is always OK, but how it’s done is what bothers me. The sense of false entitlement is what bothers me.”
Patientce Foster’s Journey to Becoming Cardi B’s Publicist
While Foster cannot forget her Southern roots being born in Charlotte, North Carolina, she credits her upbringing to Wilmington, Delaware, where she moved at the tender age of 7.
“The city of Wilmington has played a major role in my development as a person and as a professional. The fact that Delaware is the second-smallest state, makes Wilmington even smaller. There’s no radio station, sports team, little to no representation. We are often overlooked. It takes a certain consistency, determination, and tenacity to be visible, to be seen, to be recognized. It’s easy to feel defeated when you’re counted out, or always coming in last. Wilmington lent me a fearless mind, a tough skin, and a confidence I wouldn’t have been able to get from anywhere else.”
Leaving her job at Hertz to start a full-service salon is what led her to Cardi. Foster’s pivots may seem haphazard to some, but she had a clear vision.
“I left Hertz to open a full-service salon in 2013, Vixated. Vixated was able to fuel my ambitions and my journey to being a publicist by allowing me freedom, time, and funds to travel and take unpaid opportunities to build my resume and experience. It was in my second year of business (2015) that I was introduced to Cardi by a friend at the time, and now my partner. She needed hair and beauty services and my Wilmington salon location provided that. God made it so that we met again a month later during a Fashion Week PR internship, and it was then that I was hired. I went from working in Hertz, to building a business that paved the way to a career in publicity.”
On top of being a ‘small town girl’ who took a leap of faith to start her own business, Foster is also a single mother. This responsibility helped to mold her in a massive way,
“Being a single mother is a responsibility like no other. You can’t go out and a build a team to assist you, or ask just anyone to help you, or expect anyone to love and care for your child the way you do. That baby is yours, and yours only, your responsibility and forever obligation. Nothing is about you anymore, everything is about your baby. Every decision you make is for that baby. Every goal you make and plan you execute has one end goal, that baby, and the baby’s future.
“That mindset has become the fuel that burns my fire, it has become the motivation and intent behind every decision I make. It has made me a more aware woman, a more direct woman, a more assertive woman. There’s no time for question, doubt, or error. I have become a more decisive woman. I have to go get what I want, and ask for what I want, and make what I want happen–not for me anymore, but for the future, and well-being of my child.”
Millennials Changing the Game
Foster, a Millennial herself, does not buy into the dialog that Millennials are lazy and entitled.
“I believe that we are in a new era of new approach. How the generation before us achieved success, and the paths they took has changed. Times have changed.
“I believe that this generation is innovative, fearless, doesn’t hear the word ‘no’ [and] will make something out of nothing. This generation has been revolutionary. We have single-handedly changed the world as they once knew it. This generation has changed the digital age, how we listen to music, how we purchase items, how we socialize, how we look for and obtain jobs. This generation has given the power to individuals in becoming whatever they want to be.”
The Cream Agency
Foster is so grateful in what she has been able to accomplish. “[I’m] so humbled to be a part of one of the greatest, most consistent teams in the game. My contributions, my work, and my results have allowed me to build one of the fastest-growing PR and creative marketing/branding boutique agencies in the business. The Cream Agency has only begun to make its mark. The impression we make will be one that will last to the end of time. I’m standing on that!”
Black Enterprise Contributors Network
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