Mike Sonko is a divisive politician known for his love of gold jewellery and clothing.
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Intro Video
Friday, December 6, 2019
Thursday, December 5, 2019
R. Kelly charged with bribing official for fake ID to marry Aaliyah when she was 15
It looks like music fans may finally get an answer to a long-winded question about R. Kelly and Aaliyah. For years, folks have wondered how the singer managed to marry his protege in 1994 when she was just 15 years old.
R. Kelly sits in solitary while allegations eat away at him, lawyer says
According to the New York Times, the Grammy winner has been accused of bribing an Illinois government employee on August 30, 1994 in order to obtain a fake ID for the underaged girl so he could marry her. Sources told the outlet that the ID was used to obtain a marriage license that listed her age as 18. The marriage was eventually annulled.
Dame Dash claims JAY-Z tried his best to get with Aaliyah
During an interview with Good Morning America, Kelly’s attorney Steven Greenberg claimed that the singer had no idea Aaliyah was underage when they wed. (Which seems crazy, considering he produced her debut album entitled Age Ain’t Nothin But a Number.)
“My understanding is that she did not claim to be 15, and in order to get married, she had to lie about her age,” Greenberg said at the time.
R. Kelly’s girlfriend Joycelyn Savage says Patreon page is fake
On Thursday, the lawyer suggested that the new indictment “does not appear to materially alter the landscape.”
R. Kelly is already facing federal charges for racketeering and has been charged in several other jurisdictions for sexual abuse.
The post R. Kelly charged with bribing official for fake ID to marry Aaliyah when she was 15 appeared first on theGrio.
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Issa Rae will write, produce, and star in ‘Perfect Strangers’
Issa Rae is one busy lady and it looks like the latest addition to her growing resume will include yet ANOTHER remake of sorts.
According to reports, the Insecure star has signed on to write, produce, and star in the upcoming comedy flick, Perfect Strangers. The film is an adaptation of the award-winning Italian film Perfetti Sconociuti, directed by Paolo Genovese in 2016.
Via Deadline:
The plot centers around a dinner party where a group of friends decide to play a risky game where they place their phones face-up on the table and agree to make all texts and phone calls public in an attempt to prove they have nothing to hide. The comedy about friendship, love and betrayal forces the friends to confront and discover they may actually be “perfect strangers.”
Vivica Fox has advice for Issa Rae on news of ‘Set It Off’ remix: ‘It’s a classic, leave it alone’
This isn’t the only remake Rae is tackling these days. In September, news broke that she is developing a reimagining of the 1996 hit, Set It Off.
The original film that starred Kimberly Elise, Queen Latifah, Vivica A. Fox, and Jada Pinkett Smith is considered a classic and some folks didn’t take too kindly to the idea of a reboot.
Issa Rae launches new record label ‘Raedio’ with Atlantic Records
Fox, who played bank teller, Frankie, was unapologetic in her criticism when she told ET Live‘s Melicia Johnson that there is no need to reimagine the crime thriller during an interview last month.
“It’s a classic, leave it alone,” Fox said.
“There’s absolutely no reason to try to redo it. It’s been done, and we did it so well, that people are absolutely going to compare it to that and I think that’s her taking on a tremendous chore because that film has become a cult classic and some things are just better left.”
The post Issa Rae will write, produce, and star in ‘Perfect Strangers’ appeared first on theGrio.
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Yara Shahidi channels Beyonce and teases baby news in ‘Grownish’ trailer
It looks like fans of Grownish are in for some sweet surprises when the show that stars Yara Shahidi returns to Freeform for a third season.
In the first full-length trailer for the upcoming season, we see Shahidi serve her best Beyonce swag in an outfit emulating the outfit she wore at the epic Beychella performance. She’s flanked by her homies, (played by Chloe and Halle Bailey) and we can’t wait to see what that’s all about.
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A couple weeks back, the show released a teaser that seemed to suggest that someone will have baby on board.
new semester. first trimester. whose is it?
don’t miss the @grownish season 3 premiere thursday, january 16th at 8/7c on @freeformtv. pic.twitter.com/T4hMYvvqdd
— grown-ish (@grownish) November 25, 2019
We have no idea who will be facing parenthood this season, but considering Ryan Destiny has signed on as a series regular, the possibilities are endless.
Check out the trailer:
The star-studded cast of the black-ish spin-off that follows Dre (Anthony Anderson) and Rainbow’s (Tracee Ellis Ross) popular, entitled, stylish and socially active daughter from black-ish, in college includes Trevor Jackson, Jordan Buhat, Emily Arlook, Francia Raisa, Diggy Simmons, Luka Sabbat, and Deon Cole.
No word on when season 3 of Grownish will hit Freeform, but we’ll keep you posted.
The post Yara Shahidi channels Beyonce and teases baby news in ‘Grownish’ trailer appeared first on theGrio.
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Viola Davis shows off her comedic skills in ‘Troop Zero’ trailer
Viola Davis has proven time and again that when it comes to delivering the drama, she’s a force to be reckoned with and now she’s ready to show off her funny bone.
In the just-released trailer for Troop Zero, we see her comedy skills on full display and it’s not to be missed.
The flick that first showed at last year’s Sundance Film Festival also stars Mckenna Grace, Jim Gaffigan, Mike Epps, Edi Patterson, and Charlie Shotwell.
7 films we can’t wait to see at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival
Peep the official description:
In a tiny Georgia town in 1977, a motherless girl dreams of life beyond the confines of her trailer-park home in Troop Zero. When her quest for connection leads her to reach for the stars in a competition to be included on NASA’s landmark Golden Record, it becomes clear she will have to depend on some new friends to take her the last mile. Every night, Christmas Flint (Mckenna Grace) sits under a starry sky with a flashlight, signaling to extraterrestrial visitors that never arrive. Sensitive, imaginative and deeply lonely, Christmas and her equally eccentric best friend Joseph are the ultimate misfits in their rural hometown of Wiggly, Georgia. When Christmas learns that the winners of the annual Birdie Scout Jamboree talent contest will be included on a recording to be sent into space for posterity, her mission in life becomes to join the Scouts and win Jamboree. When she is blackballed by the snobbish local Birdie Scout troop and their uptight leader Miss Massey (Allison Janney), Christmas rallies a group of elementary-school outliers to start their own chapter. With grudging help from her dad’s irascible office manager, Miss Rayleen (Viola Davis), Christmas and her crew have to bypass every roadblock Miss Massey can find in the fine print of the Birdie bylaws in order to reach the Jamboree and their chance at immortality. From Christmas’ solitary late-night vigils to a final show-stopping musical performance, Troop Zero is an endearing and magical tale set against a backdrop of beloved hits of the ’70s, as Christmas forges friendships that will change her life and help her find a real family.
Check out the trailer:
The post Viola Davis shows off her comedic skills in ‘Troop Zero’ trailer appeared first on theGrio.
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Understanding the impact of deep-sea mining
Resting atop Thomas Peacock’s desk is an ordinary-looking brown rock. Roughly the size of a potato, it has been at the center of decades of debate. Known as a polymetallic nodule, it spent 10 million years sitting on the deep seabed, 15,000 feet below sea level. The nodule contains nickel, cobalt, copper, and manganese — four minerals that are essential in energy storage.
“As society moves toward driving more electric vehicles and utilizing renewable energy, there will be an increased demand for these minerals, to manufacture the batteries necessary to decarbonize the economy,” says Peacock, a professor of mechanical engineering and the director of MIT’s Environmental Dynamics Lab (END Lab). He is part of an international team of researchers that has been trying to gain a better understanding the environmental impact of collecting polymetallic nodules, a process known as deep-sea mining.
The minerals found in the nodules, particularly cobalt and nickel, are key components of lithium-ion batteries. Currently, lithium-ion batteries offer the best energy density of any commercially available battery. This high energy density makes them ideal for use in everything from cellphones to electric vehicles, which require large amounts of energy within a compact space.
“Those two elements are expected to see a tremendous growth in demand due to energy storage,” says Richard Roth, director of MIT’s Materials Systems Laboratory.
While researchers are exploring alternative battery technologies such as sodium-ion batteries and flow batteries that utilize electrochemical cells, these technologies are far from commercialization.
“Few people expect any of these lithium-ion alternatives to be available in the next decade,” explains Roth. “Waiting for unknown future battery chemistries and technologies could significantly delay widespread adoption of electric vehicles.”
Vast amounts of specialty nickel will be also needed to build larger-scale batteries that will be required as societies look to shift from an electric grid powered by fossil fuels to one powered by renewable resources like solar, wind, wave, and thermal.
“The collection of nodules from the seabed is being considered as a new means for getting these materials, but before doing so it is imperative to fully understand the environmental impact of mining resources from the deep ocean and compare it to the environmental impact of mining resources on land,” explains Peacock.
After receiving seed funding from MIT’s Environmental Solutions Initiative (ESI), Peacock was able to apply his expertise in fluid dynamics to study how deep-sea mining could affect surrounding ecosystems.
Meeting the demand for energy storage
Currently, nickel and cobalt are extracted through land-based mining operations. Much of this mining occurs in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which produces 60 percent of the world’s cobalt. These land-based mines often impact surrounding environments through the destruction of habitats, erosion, and soil and water contamination. There are also concerns that land-based mining, especially in politically unstable countries, might not be able to supply enough of these materials as the demand for batteries rises.
The swath of ocean located between Hawaii and the West Coast of the United States — also known as the Clarion Clipperton Fracture Zone — is estimated to possess six times more cobalt and three times more nickel than all known land-based stores, as well as vast deposits of manganese and a substantial amount of copper.
While the seabed is abundant with these materials, little is known about the short- and long-term environmental effects of mining 15,000 feet below sea level. Peacock and his collaborator Professor Matthew Alford from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the University of California at San Diego are leading the quest to understand how the sediment plumes generated by the collection of nodules from the seabed will be carried by water currents.
“The key question is, if we decide to make a plume at site A, how far does it spread before eventually raining down on the sea floor?” explains Alford. “That ability to map the geography of the impact of sea floor mining is a crucial unknown right now.”
The research Peacock and Alford are conducting will help inform stakeholders about the potential environmental effects of deep-sea mining. One pressing matter is that draft exploitation regulations for deep-sea mining in areas beyond national jurisdiction are currently being negotiated by the International Seabed Authority (ISA), an independent organization established by the United Nations that regulates all mining activities on the sea floor. Peacock and Alford’s research will help guide the development of environmental standards and guidelines to be issued under those regulations.
“We have a unique opportunity to help regulators and other concerned parties to assess draft regulations using our data and modeling, before operations start and we regret the impact of our activity,” says Carlos Munoz Royo, a PhD student in MIT’s END Lab.
Tracking plumes in the water
In deep-sea mining, a collector vehicle would be deployed from a ship. The collector vehicle then travels 15,000 feet down to the seabed, where it vacuums up the top four inches of the seabed. This process creates a plume known as a collector plume.
“As the collector moves across the seabed floor, it stirs up sediment and creates a sediment cloud, or plume, that’s carried away and distributed by ocean currents,” explains Peacock.
The collector vehicle picks up the nodules, which are pumped through a pipe back to the ship. On the ship, usable nodules are separated from unwanted sediment. That sediment is piped back into the ocean, creating a second plume, known as a discharge plume.
Peacock collaborated with Pierre Lermusiaux, professor of mechanical engineering and of ocean science and engineering, and Glenn Flierl, professor of Earth, atmospheric, and planetary sciences, to create mathematical models that predict how these two plumes travel through the water.
To test these models, Peacock set out to track actual plumes created by mining the floor of the Pacific Ocean. With funding from MIT ESI, he embarked on the first-ever field study of such plumes. He was joined by Alford and Eric Adams, senior research engineer at MIT, as well as other researchers and engineers from MIT, Scripps, and the United States Geological Survey.
With funding from the UC Ship Funds Program, the team conducted experiments in consultation with the ISA during a weeklong expedition in the Pacific Ocean aboard the U.S. Navy R/V Sally Ride in March 2018. The researchers mixed sediment with a tracer dye that they were able to track using sensors on the ship developed by Alford’s Multiscale Ocean Dynamics group. In doing so, they created a map of the plumes’ journeys.
The field experiments demonstrated that the models Peacock and Lermusiaux developed can be used to predict how plumes will travel through the water — and could help give a clearer picture of how surrounding biology might be affected.
Impact on deep-sea organisms
Life on the ocean floor moves at a glacial pace. Sediment accumulates at a rate of 1 millimeter every millennium. With such a slow rate of growth, areas disturbed by deep-sea mining would be unlikely to recover on a reasonable timescale.
“The concern is that if there is a biological community specific to the area, it might be irretrievably impacted by mining,” explains Peacock.
According to Cindy Van Dover, professor of biological oceanography at Duke University, in addition to organisms that live in or around the nodules, other organisms elsewhere in the water column could be affected as the plumes travel.
“There could be clogging of filter feeding structures of, for example, gelatinous organisms in the water column, and burial of organisms on the sediment,” she explains. “There could also be some metals that get into the water column, so there are concerns about toxicology.”
Peacock’s research on plumes could help biologists like Van Dover assess collateral damage from deep-sea mining operations in surrounding ecosystems.
Drafting regulations for mining the sea
Through connections with MIT’s Policy Lab, the Institute is one of only two research universities with observer status at the ISA.
“The plume research is very important, and MIT is helping with the experimentation and developing plume models, which is vital to inform the current work of the International Seabed Authority and its stakeholder base,” explains Chris Brown, a consultant at the ISA. Brown was one of dozens of experts who convened on MIT’s campus last fall at a workshop discussing the risks of deep-sea mining.
To date, the field research Peacock and Alford conducted is the only ocean dataset on midwater plumes that exists to help guide decision-making. The next step in understanding how plumes move through the water will be to track plumes generated by a prototype collector vehicle. Peacock and his team in the END Lab are preparing to participate in a major field study using a prototype vehicle in 2020.
Thanks to recent funding provided by the 11th Hour Project, Peacock and Lermusiaux hope to develop models that give increasingly accurate predictions about how deep-sea mining plumes will travel through the ocean. They will continue to interact with academic colleagues, international agencies, NGOs, and contractors to develop a clearer picture of deep-sea mining’s environmental impact.
“It’s important to have input from all stakeholders early in the conversation to help make informed decisions, so we can fully understand the environmental impact of mining resources from the ocean and compare it to the environmental impact of mining resources on land,” says Peacock.
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Larry, Sergey, and the Mixed Legacy of Google-Turned-Alphabet
Africa's top shots: 29 November - 5 December 2019
U.S. Senate Passes Amendment Mandating $255 Million in Annual Funding to HBCUs
The Senate on Thursday approved a bipartisan amendment to restore millions of dollars in federal funding to historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and other minority-serving institutions (MSIs). Known as the FUTURE Act, the bill proposes a 10-year mandatory extension of $255 million in annual funding to HBCUs. It continues Title III funding for HBCUs and MSIs under the Higher Education Act of 1965, which previously expired at the end of September.
To offset costs for the bill, lawmakers would simplify the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) financial aid application and loan repayment processes. In turn, this would save an estimated $2.8 billion. If passed by the U.S. House of Representatives and signed by President Trump, the bill would also allow for direct data sharing between the Internal Revenue Service and the Department of Education.
According to a press release:
The bill amends both the Internal Revenue Code and the Higher Education Act to keep applicant information more secure by allowing for the direct importing of IRS tax data to the FAFSA. Direct data sharing would also streamline enrollment in and renewal of income-driven repayment (IDR) plans for borrowers by removing the need for students to self-certify their income to prove eligibility for federal IDR plans. This safeguards the integrity of the federal student aid programs without creating overly burdensome bureaucratic barriers for students who rely on these programs. The bill also takes meaningful steps to reduce verification burden, a process that remains overly complex, disproportionately affects low-income students, and is burdensome for students and aid administrators.
The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) president & CEO Harry L. Williams praised elected officials for approving the bill and encouraged the House of Representatives to pass it as well without delay. “TMCF is appreciative of all of the Senators who came together, in a bipartisan way, to reaffirm the importance of and work to renew this material investment in our Nation’s post-secondary students,” he said in a press release.
Likewise, Dr. Austin A. Lane, president of Texas Southern University said, “The bipartisan support of this bill is clear validation of the value that HBCUs like Texas Southern University brings to so many first-generation college students. Thanks to the lawmakers involved, as well as the tireless support from Dr. Harry Williams and the TMCF, the passage of this bill, will help thousands of more students reach their goals – and without the financial barriers that so often get in the way.”
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R. Kelly’s girlfriend Joycelyn Savage says Patreon page is fake
Joycelyn Savage, one of R. Kelly’s live-in girlfriends, said someone else set up a Patreon account in her name and she vehemently refutes abuse claims made on the site against the singer.
In her first public comments since news broke about the Patreon page, Savage said she is still firmly in Kelly’s corner, according to a video obtained by TMZ. However, even as she defends Kelly, a judge has set a Sept. 14 court date for Kelly on four sex abuse cases, according to The Chicago Sun-Times. Prosecutors were given until Jan. 22 to release which of the four cases they would start with.
READ MORE: REPORTS: Joycelyn Savage claims R. Kelly forced her to have a surgical abortion at home
“I am truly tired of all the lies they are saying about the man we love so much and our best friend, R. Kelly,” Savage says on the video. “It has been said that I have left him and he has abused me and all kinds of nonsense. I have said before none of it is true.”
Joycelyn read her comments from her cell phone.
“It is a shame how they are treating him,” she says. “It is so wrong on so many levels, and he does not deserve this. I am not going to be a part of the assassination of R. Kelly’s name, music career, and his character.”
Joycelyn then ponders how Kelly can get a fair trial under these circumstances.
“How will we ever be able to get a fair trial anywhere in the world with all of these lies that are being told on him,” Joycelyn reads.
But if she didn’t set up the Patreon account, who did? Joycelyn blamed the phony Patreon page set up in her name, as well as another phony Instagram page, on an imposter.
“Please do not believe what you see and hear on social media. That is not my Instagram. Someone is impersonating me. I just want everyone to know we still support and will never betray him,” Savage said, referring to her and Azriel Clary, R. Kelly’s other live-in girlfriend.
“I’m just really heartbroken for all of this that is going on,” Savage added.
Patreon closed the questionable account after the company could not verify who set it up.
Gerald Griggs, the lawyer for Joycelyn’s family, said they are “saddened and disappointed” to learn that Joycelyn was not the one posting the comments to the account bearing her name.
READ MORE: R. Kelly’s lawyer says Joycelyn Savage’s claims are lies and just an attempt ‘to make money’
“We deeply desired to hear her story and in her own voice outside of the presence of Robert Sylvester Kelly or anyone associated with him. For nearly three years, Joycelyn Savage has not been able to speak outside of a controlled environment created by Mr. Kelly. Her video today was not any different,” Griggs said, according to TMZ.
Griggs added that while the Patreon and IG accounts may be fake, the allegations and child sexual abuse indictments against Kelly still stand.
The post R. Kelly’s girlfriend Joycelyn Savage says Patreon page is fake appeared first on theGrio.
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OPINION: We’ve all been Gabrielle Union and we have her back
“Lord, you KNOW I’m tryin… whew and breathe. Support is everything.”—Gabrielle Union Wade
This was the Instagram caption that introduced me to the controversy swirling around the abrupt firing of actress, author, advocate, mom, designer, producer and entrepreneur Gabrielle Union from her role as a judge on the popular competition show, America’s Got Talent.
I admit that I somehow missed it all the days before. But, even without context, this caption, combined with the picture of Union, eyes closed, looking beautiful-yet-exhausted, laid back on her husband’s shoulder with him kissing her lovingly on her forehead, immediately felt familiar. As a Black woman, I knew, some bullshit had just gone down.
“Now what?” is what I said out loud.
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Lord, you KNOW I’m tryin… whew 🥴 and breathe. Support is everything. ❤ @dwyanewade
A post shared by Gabrielle Union-Wade (@gabunion) on
And, I was right. Some bullshit, all too familiar bullshit, had definitely gone down.
You can do a Google search and find any number of outlets reporting on Union’s recent dismissal from NBCUniversal’s AGT, which seems wholly unfair and straight-up messy. A dismissal — which was first reported on the blog, lovebscott.com that appears, from the outside, to have been a punitive act against a talented, more than capable, courageous Black woman, who called out racism, sexism and other problematic issues at the workplace and rightfully stood up for herself and for others.
READ MORE: TIME’S UP Now CEO offers unwavering support for women challenging toxic workplace cultures
On top of that, Union was a fan favorite! Variety reported that she was the most popular judge on America’s Got Talent stating, “The 18-episode season that wrapped in September generated 25 million social media impressions, approximately half of which engaged directly with Union, according to figures from Nielsen Social, effectively making her the most popular judge.”
It didn’t matter though. To us, she’s a hero; to them, she’s difficult. (And to Jay Leno, she’s a “great girl,” a perhaps unknowingly condescending choice of words — yet condescending nonetheless — that the comedian made when asked what he thought of Union, who reportedly flagged one of his jokes to the producers of AGT as racist toward the Korean community and requested that they mention it to human resources. They didn’t. Although they did remove the joke from the final airing of the show.
READ MORE: Q&A with April Reign: Serena, diversity, and lessons for Black women in the workplace
Unfortunately, this is what often happens to Black women in the workplace — whether you’re a celebrity pointing out issues and problematic behavior on a major television show or you’re a manager at your company, trying to keep your head down, and working hard in hopes of proper recognition or a promotion.
The constant barriers, the micro-aggressions, the insensitivity, the questioning of your position or authority, the disregard for your very real concerns and the lack of support in those environments are enough to have any of us laid out, calling on the Lord and needing a gentle kiss on the forehead.
This is why — just as Gabrielle has expressed through her effusive gratitude for the support that she has received since the news broke — support, especially from other women, is crucial. But, for Black women, it’s not always so easy for us to accept.
Glass vs. Concrete
In a 2019 study by Catalyst called “Advancing African-American Women in the Workplace,” there is mention of the “glass ceiling” white women encounter versus the “concrete ceiling” that women of color endure and bang their heads up against every day.
The study found that: “Whereas white women frequently reference the ‘glass ceiling’ as blocking their advancement up the career ladder, women of color often characterize the barriers they encounter as compromising a ‘concrete ceiling’ — one that is denser and less easily shattered. The underpinning of these barriers includes stereotypes, visibility, and scrutiny; questioning of authority and credibility; lack of “fit” in the workplace; double outsider status; and exclusion from informal networks.”
The report goes on to say that, because of this, African-American women in particular sometimes “set boundaries and use ‘guardedness’ in response to work challenges.”
As Black women, I believe we often don’t realize how much we have put our guards up and shielded ourselves from the very support we need to circumvent those concrete ceilings and take the best care of ourselves physically, mentally and emotionally.
I get it, though. Sometimes, we simply don’t trust it. In fact, I’ve found that many of the successful and ambitious Black women I know fear that accepting support, when you’re supposed to be the “strong one” or the “boss,” would be a sign of weakness or incompetence.
Meanwhile, our white counterparts may be celebrated for their collaborations and outreach. So, instead of reaching out and being open to the support that may show up for us, we choose to declare “I got this!” and struggle to handle whatever it is alone in order to prove ourselves. As a result, we end up stressed, anxious, sometimes ill, and often isolated and at a disadvantage.
Tearing the walls down
This adverse reaction to support is something that I didn’t realize was a blindspot for me until I attended a transformative, personal development workshop in 2015 called Momentum. The experience changed my life.
Not asking for support had been a learned behavior for me since childhood — coming from a family of generous folks who were always ready to give to members of our extended family and our community, especially when those individuals were having a hard time. I wrongfully associated this with support because to me it meant you’re having a hard time, you’re helpless and you can’t do it on your own.
Not only did this narrative cause me to not know how to ask for support when I was in need, but it also forced me to repel it even when it was offered, personally nor professionally. This revelation is what led me to create the Support is Sexy podcast and community, a space where I coach unapologetically ambitious women on how to get over what I call “I got it!” Syndrome and realize having it all doesn’t mean doing it all alone.
Because, you know what? A lot of times, you don’t have it and that’s okay! Yes, maybe you’re putting on a brave face and boldly standing up for what’s right and enduring tone-deaf comments about your appearance or other parts of who you are as a Black woman (Gabrielle was reportedly told repeatedly that her hair and changing styles were a problem for the AGT producers.)
Can we be honest? That shit hurts! And we have to make room for those feelings and get support — whether that’s from your girlfriends, your partner, your coach or your therapist. Don’t dismiss it as “small stuff.” It matters.
According to a “Women in the Workplace” report by McKinsey & Company and Lean In, micro-aggressions can have macro impact on us as Black women.
“Although they can seem small in the moment, these negative experiences add up…” the report says. “Women who experience micro-aggressions are three times more likely to regularly think about leaving their job than women who have not experienced this form of discrimination.”
Here’s the thing, though. Gabrielle, from what it appears, wasn’t leaving. Even though it was a toxic environment (literally! Hello, Simon Cowell, smoking indoors? Ugh!). Even though the micro-aggressions appeared to be pretty blatant at times. Even though — in spite of her repeated requests — problematic issues around race were not taken to HR no matter how many times she asked, she wasn’t leaving.
Again, from what it seems, she was staying, fighting, doing her job and standing up for herself and others in a workplace environment that clearly did not support her, respect her contribution nor respect her thoughts and feedback. She was doing what a lot of Black women do: be the best you can at your job, no matter how they treat you and stand up for what’s right.
As a result, she was fired for it. And as I know — and every Black woman knows — that had to hurt, no matter how strong you think you are.
This is why, when you look through the comments of Gabrielle’s recent social media posts, you will see an overwhelming number of positive comments, affirmation and praise from thousands of Black women (and allies) showing their support by saying versions of “we got you, we see you, we love you, we’re behind you, we appreciate you, we understand.”
We are Gabrielle.
And, with that knowledge, we must remember — during times like these and always — support is everything.
Elayne Fluker, a business coach + connector for unapologetically ambitious Black women, is host of the Support is Sexy podcast and creator of the Support is Sexy community, where women learn that having it all doesn’t mean doing it all alone.
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Lil Wayne Launches Premium Cannabis Brand
It looks like Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. aka Lil Wayne is taking notes from his labelmate Aubrey “Drake” Graham. The Young Money rapper has launched GKUA Ultra Premium Cannabis.
The new cannabis brand sets out to celebrate the best cannabis in the world, with some of the highest natural levels of THC available. GKUA Ultra Premium flower is made from the most experienced growers who make sure the strains are incredibly potent and difficult to find.
“The combination of our incredible products, market knowledge and commitment to quality, paired with the unmatched fanbase of Lil Wayne, the ultimate cannabis connoisseur, creates an unprecedented opportunity to create a cannabis brand that values creativity and the artistic pursuit,” said Beau Golob, president and co-founder GKUA Inc in a press release. “It’s an honor to lead this company along with Lil Wayne, curating a premium line of products that inspires people and feeds their creativity. This is historic and really exciting!”
“I used to just want to get high, now I smoke to get inspired,” said Lil Wayne. “With GKUA, I’m sharing a feeling that I love.” GKUA will be offering customers free tickets to the hottest party of the year. The first GKUA VIP PARTY will feature a once in a lifetime performance with Lil Wayne and friends which will be scheduled in 2020.
GKUA Ultra Premium products will be sold in select Los Angeles dispensaries with plans for a larger roll-out across the state in 2020.
- GKUA Ultra Premium Flower: Sourced from the most experienced growers, GKUA will produce strains that are very limited, incredibly potent and impossibly difficult to find…truly the best flower! Available at launch is HOLLYGROVE a unique strain for Lil Wayne and GKUA and UPROAR a very limited strain.
- GKUA Ultra Premium Battery Technology: This new proprietary ceramic heating element and cutting-edge design is optimized to efficiently deliver vape in easily controllable doses while elevating the user experience. The battery technology combined with GKUA Ultra Premium THC or CBD oil is the future of vape.
- GKUA THC Vape: Sourced from the best cannabis with all organic inputs, GKUA’s THC Vape is an exclusive formulation that carefully transforms the highest quality cannabis into potent THC vape oil. Independently lab tested and certified for purity. GKUA Ultra Premium vape oil, pure and potent.
- GKUA Ultra Premium Concentrates: Intensely potent and flavorful, GKUA Ultra Premium Concentrates are sourced from the finest cannabis flower with off-the-chart THC levels created for dabbing or adding to flower. Potency you can taste and feel.
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McDonald’s Joins the Chicken Sandwich Wars
We officially have a new entry in the chicken sandwich wars! According to CNBC, McDonald’s is testing a new chicken sandwich in two markets.
The popular burger chain is testing out a fried Crispy Chicken Sandwich, made with a fried chicken filet topped with butter and crinkle-cut pickles on a potato roll. There is also a Deluxe Crispy Chicken Sandwich, which has tomatoes, lettuce, and mayo. The sandwiches are being tested in Knoxville, Tennessee, and Houston, Texas, from now until January 26.
“The Crispy Chicken Sandwich and the Deluxe Crispy Chicken Sandwich will be tested beginning December 2 through January 26, 2020,” a McDonald’s representative said in a statement to Business Insider. “Houston and Knoxville are getting a sneak peek, everyone else should stay tuned for what’s to come in 2020.”
To kick off that latest Crispy Chicken Sandwich campaign, McDonald’s took to its Twitter account, “Houston. Knoxville. Lunch tomorrow? No beef.”
Although McDonald’s already serves the McChicken and spicy version of the McChicken, the taste doesn’t compare to the tastes of Popeyes and Chick-fil-A chicken sandwiches.
Related: R&B Legend Eddie Levert Scolds Black Folks Over Popeyes Chicken Sandwich
“A favorite, that our customers want, is a chicken sandwich. Unfortunately, they have to go to Chick-fil-A for it,” the board of the National Owners Association, a group of McDonald’s franchisees that formed in 2018, wrote in a July letter obtained by CNN. “Chick-fil-A’s results demonstrate the power of chicken. Yes, we have great Chicken McNuggets and our McChicken is a very good product. But we do not compete in the premium chicken sandwich category, either grilled or crispy,” the letter continued.
Following the franchise operators’ request and then after the success of Popeyes’ fried chicken sandwich, McDonald’s made the move to add a new addition to the menu. In October, McDonald’s told CNN Business that “we are inspired by the customer demand for premium chicken sandwiches, and are working closely with our franchisees to deliver what our customers want. Stay tuned.”
Related: Meet the Women With 13 McDonald’s Franchises…and Counting
The suggested price of the Crispy Chicken Sandwich is $3.49 and the price of the Deluxe Crispy Chicken Sandwich is $4.09. Of course, prices can vary by restaurant.
The new Crispy Chicken sandwiches may be McDonald’s answer to the Popeyes and Chick-fil-A chicken sandwiches as they throw their hat into the fried chicken sandwich wars.
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White CNN employee allegedly threatened to kill Black co-worker over lawsuit
A Black employee is again suing CNN, alleging he was threatened by his boss after he filed a race discrimination lawsuit against the company.
DeWayne Walker, who worked as the manager of integrated marketing for CNN, said his boss, Whit Friese, vice president, and group creative director, threatened him in the restroom this past August. Last month, Walker filed a new lawsuit as a result of the alleged encounter, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
READ MORE: CNN employees stunned by the use of Morgan Freeman’s voice in video
In this latest suit, Walker said Friese told him to “just drop it” referring to the earlier lawsuit, which was filed in May.
Walker said he responded: “Or?”
This is when he says Friese approached him at a urinal and whispered to him: “If you f–k with my money, I will kill you,” according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Walker said he informed human resources of the incident five days later. As a result, he was given administrative leave with pay the next day.
Now Walker has filed the new suit and is questioning why Friese was never punished for the alleged threat against him.
“It’s a travesty and a sham,” said Walker’s attorney Mario Williams told the newspaper. “You’re using an administrative process to punish a person who made the complaint. The next best thing to firing someone is keeping him out of the office on administrative leave with pay even though he’s the victim.”
Walker, who has worked for the Atlanta-based company for 16 years, has now been on leave with pay for more than three months.
CNN did not respond to The Atlanta Journal Constitution’s requests for an interview.
On Dec. 11, a court hearing is set and Williams will ask a judge to reinstate Walker to his job.
Back in 2014, Walker filed a complaint against CNN alleging he was skipped over for promotions because he’s Black. He went to file a federal racial discrimination lawsuit in 2015. That lawsuit was dismissed, with a federal judge ruling that he wasn’t qualified for seven of the nine positions he put in for. The eighth position, Walker reportedly never applied to and the judge ruled there was no evidence of discrimination for the 9th position.
READ MORE: Don Lemon sued for alleged harassment in Hamptons bar; CNN issues response
This past May, Walker hired Williams, who filed another racial discrimination suit that alleges that out of the 28 positions that Walker has applied for during his stint at CNN, he has never been contacted for a vast majority of his applications. He alleges pervasive discriminatory practices at the company.
In 2016, a separate class-action lawsuit was filed against CNN also alleging pervasive discrimination. That too was thrown out by a judge.
The post White CNN employee allegedly threatened to kill Black co-worker over lawsuit appeared first on theGrio.
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