Finding your emotional independence for yourself and loved ones.
Convention will be virtual in August.
Richmond mayor orders prompt removal of Confederate statues
“I am deeply committed to our goals of creating a more diverse, inclusive and equitable company,” Parkin, a board member, said in a statement. “While we have made progress in many areas, there is much more work to be done. However, it has become clear to me that to unify the organization it would be better for me to retire and pave the way for change.”
NEW YORK (AP) — The head of global human resources at sports apparel and shoe company Adidas resigned Tuesday following criticism from employees of what they see as the company’s failure to diversify its workforce.
Karen Parkin’s resignation comes after a group of Black employees called on Adidas’ supervisory board to investigate her and her strategy for addressing racial issues in the workplace. The employees are also pressing the company based in Herzogenaurach, Germany, to create an anonymous public channel to submit any problems about racism.
The demands from Black employees were reported by The Wall Street Journal in mid- June.
“I am deeply committed to our goals of creating a more diverse, inclusive and equitable company,” Parkin, a board member, said in a statement. “While we have made progress in many areas, there is much more work to be done. However, it has become clear to me that to unify the organization it would be better for me to retire and pave the way for change.”
Igor Landau, chairman of Adidas AG’s supervisory board, said in a statement that Parkin’s decision to leave the company reflects her belief that a new HR leader will “best drive forward the pace of change that Adidas needs at this time.”
In the wake of protests over police brutality sparked by the death of George Floyd, for which four former Minneapolis police officers have been charged, Adidas, like many other brands, took to social media in support of racial equality. But employees at Adidas and other companies like Amazon accused them of hypocrisy, saying their own workforces lacked diversity.
Following the criticism, Adidas said that it would invest $120 million toward U.S. initiatives focused on ending racial injustice and supporting Black communities through 2025. Among other initiatives, it promised that a minimum of 30% of all new positions — internal and external — will be filled with Black and Latino talent.
Adidas employs about 59,000 people around the world.
Adidas said its CEO Kasper Rorsted will assume responsibility for global human resources on an interim basis until a successor is appointed.
Parkin first joined Adidas in 1997 as sales director for Adidas UK. Since that time, she has held a number of positions of increasing responsibility at the company across customer service, business development, supply chain and human resources, culminating in heading up global human resources division over the past 5 1/2 years. She was appointed to the company’s executive board in 2017.
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A love affair between Kenny Lattimore and the DMV
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DC’s favorite son, Kenny Lattimore, charmed us all with stories about his life as a newlywed during this coronavirus pandemic. He’s now married to his best friend, TV Host, Judge Faith Nelson. We talked music, his writing style, and his love for Original The Quiet Storm on WHURfm. His told us a little about a new clothing line collaboration, and he hinted around about a possible new television show. My favorite part of the night was when he serenaded us with a gorgeous a capella rendition of his single, “Built To Last” from his Anatomy of a Love Song CD. https://youtu.be/NZbnXKQ16fk Press play to check out the interview!
@whurfm @angelastribling @kennylattimore
The couple has two adult children, 23-year-old son Truice and 19-year-old daughter Truly.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Nicole Young, Dr. Dre’s wife of 24 years, has filed for divorce.
Young filed documents seeking to end her marriage with Dr. Dre — the producer, rapper and music mogul whose real name is Andre Young — on Monday in Los Angeles County Superior Court.
Nicole Young, 50, cited irreconcilable differences as the reason for the split, and she is seeking spousal support from the 55-year-old Dr. Dre, who has amassed a major fortune in his time as an N.W.A. member, solo rapper, producer, co-owner of Death Row Records and founder and CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and Beats Electronics.
The couple has two adult children, 23-year-old son Truice and 19-year-old daughter Truly.
Dr. Dre has four children from previous relationships.
The two married in 1996. It was the first marriage for Dr. Dre. Young was previously married to NBA player Sedale Threatt.
An email to Dr. Dre’s publicist seeking comment on the divorce filing was not immediately returned.
We’re talking to Alexsis Rodgers, a civic leader, former president of the Virginia Young Democrats and mayoral candidate for Richmond, Virginia.
“Obviously that is something that is of concern. I’m not sure what went into that decision making,” Dr. Anthony Fauci told a Senate panel. “I think in the confines of an airplane that becomes even more problematic.”
The government’s top experts in infectious diseases on Tuesday criticized American Airlines’ decision to pack flights full while the coronavirus outbreak continues to grow across much of the United States.
“Obviously that is something that is of concern. I’m not sure what went into that decision making,” Dr. Anthony Fauci told a Senate panel. “I think in the confines of an airplane that becomes even more problematic.”
Several U.S. airlines say they are limiting capacity on planes to between 60% and 67% of all seats. However, United Airlines never promised to leave seats empty, and American said last week that starting Wednesday it would drop its effort to keep half of all middle seats empty.
“When they announced that the other day obviously there was substantial disappointment with American Airlines,” said Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “I can say this is under critical review by us at CDC. We don’t think it’s the right message.”
Fauci, the top infectious disease expert at the National Institutes of Health, and Redfield made the comments in response to questioning by Sen. Bernie Sanders during a Senate health committee hearing. Sanders, an independent from Vermont, pressed the officials on how full flights square with the message from public health experts that people should stay six feet apart to prevent transmission of the virus that causes COVID-19.
American Airlines spokesman Ross Feinstein said the airline has “multiple layers of protection in place for those who fly with us, including required face coverings, enhanced cleaning procedures, and a pre-flight COVID-19 symptom checklist.” He said American was also giving customers the option of changing their ticket if their flight might be full.
The CEOs of American and United have said that even with middle seats empty, it is impossible to follow 6-foot social-distancing on a plane, so airlines rely on masks, deep cleaning and air-filtration systems on planes to prevent spreading the virus.
“It’s less about social distancing and it’s more about the air and quality of air on board the airplane that makes people safe,” said United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby, who added he had not seen the health officials’ comments.
Airlines are desperate to increase revenue as they try to survive a plunge in air travel that reached 95% during April.
Many airline flights were nearly empty in the early weeks of the outbreak, with the average dipping to about 10 passengers, according to industry figures. Some days, there were fewer than 100,000 people flying in the United States, a level not seen since the 1950s, except in the days following the September 2001 terror attacks.
Air travel has increased slowly since mid-April — although it’s still down 75% from normal — and some flights have been packed.
American, which is based in Fort Worth, Texas, plans to increase flights by nearly 60% starting July 7 compared with June, which could help avoid full planes.
Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, JetBlue Airways and Alaska Airlines say they will continue to limit capacity, in some cases through September. Budget carrier Spirit Airlines does not.
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David Koenig reported from Dallas. Ricardo Alfonso-Zaldivar reported from Washington.
It’s a principle that the country seems to have taken to heart in the past month in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death. People have taken to the streets and to Twitter to call attention to injustices. They have publicly called out employers for conscious and unconscious bias. And not only are they being heard, but their concerns are being taken seriously and resulting in swift and unprecedented change.
Getting into “good trouble” is a guiding principle for John Lewis. It’s not only OK, but necessary to enact and inspire meaningful change. And it’s not just rhetoric, either. The 80-year-old congressman has the receipts to prove it. He has been arrested 45 times, five of which happened while he was a sitting representative. In the new documentary “ John Lewis: Good Trouble,” he couldn’t be prouder of that fact because it’s all been in service of his lifelong fight for civil rights. He even predicts that he’ll add to that tally.
It’s a principle that the country seems to have taken to heart in the past month in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death. People have taken to the streets and to Twitter to call attention to injustices. They have publicly called out employers for conscious and unconscious bias. And not only are they being heard, but their concerns are being taken seriously and resulting in swift and unprecedented change.
Who better to check in with than John Lewis as the country undergoes this seismic shift? But of course, “John Lewis: Good Trouble” was filmed before the past month. And thus, through no fault of its own, this historic moment makes Dawn Porter’s film feel both immensely timely and like a time capsule. At the very least it probably could have used and benefited from a postscript about what is happening right now.
Porter uses a mass of incredible archival footage to flesh out the life of this “boy from Troy” (which Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. called him), who “read everything” growing up, became a Freedom Rider, spoke at the March on Washington, crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge (where his skull was fractured) and went on to get elected to the House of Representatives where he is currently serving his 17th term.
The film, which is largely celebratory, relies heavily on talking head interviews from the late Elijah Cummings (to whom the film is dedicated), his family, Hillary Clinton and younger representatives like Ayanna Pressley, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib, and Ilhan Omar, who try to contextualize his importance.
But it stays oddly surface level, despite having what looks like a lot of access to him and his family as he goes about his business around D.C. attending speaking engagements. It opens with Lewis watching protest footage from the 1960s, which is itself a powerful image, but doesn’t lead to anything else: Reflection, introspection or even anecdotes.
The focus returns often to the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which was weakened by the 2013 Supreme Court decision Shelby County v. Holder. This remains a key topic going into the 2020 election and clearly seemed like the most important thing to focus on in depicting the John Lewis of now, before the pandemic and the protests.
Still, it is somewhat telling that one of the most memorable parts of the documentary comes not from Lewis but from Cummings, who said he was often mistaken for his peer.
“I have gotten a lot of pictures with people thinking I’m John Lewis,” Cummings said. He never wanted to embarrass anyone by correcting them, he explained.
Perhaps the most striking aspect of the film is how prophetic it is. Although it doesn’t offer any reflection on the current moment, it also won’t come as a surprise how we got here.
Georgia politician Stacey Abrams says that Lewis, “Reminds us that our past is not past.”
Lewis’s greatest fear, he says, is that he will wake up and democracy will be gone.
But, reassuringly, he’s not done yet.
“As long as I have breath in my body, I will do what I can,” he says.
“John Lewis: Good Trouble,” a Magnolia Pictures release, is rated PG by the Motion Picture Association of America for “for thematic material including some racial epithets/violence, and for smoking.” Running time: 96 minutes. Two and a half stars out of four.
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Financially Fit DC: A series of workshops to get Black Families financially fit.
Getting African American families financially fit today and beyond. The Mayor’s Office On African American Affairs is hosting a series of workshops designed to do just that. My guest is Ashley Emerson – Director of the Mayor’s Office On African American Affairs
The Mayor’s Office on African American Affairs presents Financially Fit DC: A workshop series on Black Generational Wealth. Helping to close the racial wealth gap and increase financial literacy in the African American community. Workshops will be July 21st and August 11th. More information here:
Listen to this mornings segment here:
Owner of Fish Market in Prince George’s County is accused of numerous racist incidents and patrons say enough is enough.
Restaurant owner Ricky Giovanni is being blasted for what protesters call a pattern of racist comments spanning years. The latest one has many customers fueling. Last weekend, Darryl Collins, who was a first time customer, was initially denied entrance to the Fish Market because he was wearing a “I Can’t Breathe” t-shirt. “I was shocked and saddened that in this racially sensitive 
time we are living in that he would say that to me,” said Collins.
“The owner came over to me asking why do I have that shirt on and that I could not come in his restaurant with it on.” The “I Can’t Breathe” statement has become a rallying cry for protesters across the country because it was among the last words George Floyd uttered before he died under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer.
The co-owner of the Fish Market issued an apology on Facebook. Sherry Giovanni said she was shocked and embarrassed by her husband’s behavior. She went on to blame mental illness and alcohol. But several frequent patrons and workers say racist comments are not new for Ricky Giovanni. The Fish Market has been a popular spot for decades in Prince George’s County. Walter Cosby has been one of the full-time musicians at the Fish Market. “I’ve worked their since 2006 and I have heard Ricky make numerous racist, homophobic, and other remarks that would be offensive to women,” said Cosby. “We often just brushed it off by saying that’s just Ricky. But in this new environment people can no longer ignore it.” Cosby says he’s now decided to quit the Fish Market.
Protesters want the restaurant to close permanently. They are promising to keep coming back and calling on other customers to boycott the restaurant. One of the organizers, Carla McClinton says efforts are underway to even purchase the restaurant, but at the very least to force the owners out of business. “We are saying enough is enough. We are not going to take those racist comments anymore,” added McClinton.
WHUR tried to get a direct comment from Ricky Giovanni of the Fish Market. We made several phone calls. But there was no answer and the restaurant’s voicemail was full.
Montgomery County rolling out a list of things for the kids to do this summer virtually.
Programs and activities are tailored to a variety of interests, skill levels and ages. Summer programs include arts, sports, dance, exercise and wellness and much more. In addition, week-long virtual summer experiences are available for children ages six to 12.
To view available programs, visit Montgomery County Recreation’s virtual Rec Room at www.mocorec.com/recroom.
Questions can be emailed to recreation.customerservice@montgomerycountymd.gov.
For more information on Montgomery County Recreation, go to www.mocorec.com or follow on Twitter @MoCoRec or Facebook at @montgomerycountyrecreation.
For the latest COVID-19 updates, visit the County’s COVID-19 website and follow Montgomery County on Facebook @MontgomeryCountyInfo and Twitter @MontgomeryCoMD.
Biden hammers Trump for handling of COVID-19 pandemic.
Fauci said areas seeing recent outbreaks are putting the entire nation at risk, including areas that have made progress in reducing COVID-19 cases.
“We are now having 40-plus-thousand new cases a day. I would not be surprised if we go up to to 100,000 a day if this does not turn around, and so I am very concerned,” said Fauci, infectious disease chief at the National Institutes of Health.
Fauci said areas seeing recent outbreaks are putting the entire nation at risk, including areas that have made progress in reducing COVID-19 cases. He cited recent video footage of people socializing in crowds, often without masks, and otherwise ignoring safety guidelines.
The list is to be updated every 14 days, with new countries being added or dropped off depending on whether they are keeping the pandemic under control.
BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union announced Tuesday that it will reopen its borders to travelers from 14 countries, and possibly China soon, but most Americans have been refused entry for at least another two weeks due to soaring coronavirus infections in the U.S.
Travelers from other big countries like Russia, Brazil and India will also miss out.
As Europe’s economies reel from the impact of the coronavirus, southern EU countries like Greece, Italy and Spain are desperate to entice back sun-loving visitors and breathe life into their damaged tourism industries. American tourists make up a big slice of the EU market and the summer holiday season is a key time.
Citizens from the following countries will be allowed into the EU’s 27 members and four other nations in Europe’s visa-free Schengen travel zone: Algeria, Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, Montenegro, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, Serbia, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia and Uruguay.
The EU said China is “subject to confirmation of reciprocity,” meaning it should lift all restrictions on European citizens entering China before European countries will allow Chinese citizens back in.
The list is to be updated every 14 days, with new countries being added or dropped off depending on whether they are keeping the pandemic under control.
U.S. tourists made 27 million trips to Europe in 2016 while some 10 million Europeans head across the Atlantic each year.
Still, many people both inside and outside of Europe remain wary about traveling in the coronavirus era, given the unpredictability of the pandemic and the possibility of second waves of infection that could affect flights and hotel bookings. Tens of thousands of travelers had a frantic, chaotic scramble in March to get home as the pandemic swept across the world and borders slammed shut.
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the United States has surged over the past week, and President Donald Trump also suspended the entry of all people from Europe’s ID check-free travel zone in a decree in March, making it extremely difficult for the EU to include the U.S. on their safe travel list for now.
In contrast, aside from a recent outbreak tied to a slaughterhouse in western Germany, the spread of the virus has generally stabilized across much of continental Europe.
To qualify for the list, EU headquarters said Tuesday that countries should have a comparable per capita number of COVID-19 cases to those in the 31 European countries over the last 14 days and have a stable or decreasing trend in the number of infections.
The Europeans are also taking into account those countries’ standards on virus testing, surveillance, contact tracing and treatment and the general reliability of their virus data.
According to European Commission figures, the United States is the EU’s biggest in-bound long-haul tourism market in terms of arrivals and tourist spending. In 2014, U.S. tourists accounted for 18% of the total nights spent in the EU by visitors from outside, followed by Russia at 14.9%. Tourists from China, Japan and Brazil each accounted for less than 5% of nights.
Tuesday’s decision will not go down well with all Europeans.
On the deserted Saint-Louis island in Paris, at the heart of the French capital, businesses were mourning the loss of American tourists.
“Americans were 50% of my clientele,” said Paola Pellizzari, president of the local business association and owner of a Venetian mask and jewelry shop. “We can’t substitute that clientele with another.”
European Union countries hastily slapped restrictions on who could cross their borders in February as the virus spread rapidly in Italy. Then in mid-March, the Europeans limited all non-essential travel to the 27 EU member states plus Liechtenstein, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland.
Non-EU citizens who are already living in Europe are not included in the ban.
The EU on Tuesday also recommended that restrictions be lifted on all people wanting to enter who are European citizens and their family members, long-term EU residents who are not citizens of the bloc, and travelers with “an essential function or need,” regardless of whether their country is on the safe list or not. That would allow in people like American medical experts, for example.
The EU list does not apply to travel into Britain, which left the EU in January. Britain now requires all incoming travelers — bar a few exceptions like truck drivers — to go into a self-imposed 14-day quarantine, although the measure is under review and is likely to ease in the coming weeks. The requirement also applies to U.K. citizens.
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“She’s OK, She’s OK,” Sandra Lovaina, tells two arriving officers. “It’s OK. I’m the midwife. She is going to have a baby.”
MARGATE, Fla. (AP) — This was not one of those delivery videos that some pregnant moms plan for.
A Florida birthing center says an expectant mother was a few steps from entering the building but her baby couldn’t wait. She gave birth while standing up outside, with a midwife catching the baby and a doorbell camera catching all the action.
The Miami Herald reports that Susan Anderson already felt the need to push as her husband drove them to the Natural Birthworks center in Margate. The RING video, shared on Facebook, shows what happened next.
Anderson stands in a T-shirt, maternity shorts and flip-flops, with her husband supporting her and the midwife crouching just behind.
“She’s OK, She’s OK,” Sandra Lovaina, tells two arriving officers. “It’s OK. I’m the midwife. She is going to have a baby.”
And then a moment later, out she comes — a baby girl that Lovaina catches and passes between the legs to the mom. She cradles the girl they’ve named Julia against her chest, and says “sorry” before gasping in tears and smiles.
“This momma had a super fast labor,” the center said on June 23. It said the video was being shared with permission, and both baby and mother are doing fine.
The company said in a statement Saturday that it “has decided to remove the words white/whitening, fair/fairness, light/lightening from all its skin evening products.”
PARIS (AP) — French cosmetics giant L’Oreal said Saturday that it will remove words like “whitening” from its skin care products, a move that comes amid global protests against racism sparked by the death of George Floyd in the United States.
The company said in a statement Saturday that it “has decided to remove the words white/whitening, fair/fairness, light/lightening from all its skin evening products.”
L’Oreal’s decision follows a similar move by Anglo-Dutch firm Unilever on Thursday. It is among a number of companies that have been the target of criticism in the wake of Floyd’s death following his arrest in Minneapolis.
Earlier this month, L’Oreal tweeted that that it “stands in solidarity with the Black community and against injustice of any kind. … Speaking out is worth it.” The post drew a negative reaction from people who see the company’s business model and advertising as focused on white consumers.
English model Munroe Bergdorf notably accused the beauty brand of hypocrisy for having fired her three years ago. Bergdorf was sacked as L’Oreal UK’s first openly transgender model in 2017 for decrying “the racial violence of white people.”
Flying can increase your risk of exposure to infection, but airlines are taking some precautions and you can too.
How risky is flying during the coronavirus pandemic?
Flying can increase your risk of exposure to infection, but airlines are taking some precautions and you can too.
Air travel means spending time in security lines and airport terminals, which puts you into close contact with other people. As travel slowly recovers, planes are becoming more crowded, which means you will likely sit close to other people, often for hours, which raises your risk.
Once on a plane, most viruses and other germs don’t spread easily because of the way air circulates, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Airlines also say they are focusing on sanitizing the hard surfaces that passengers commonly touch.
Some airlines like Alaska, Delta, JetBlue and Southwest are blocking middle seats or limiting capacity. But even if every middle seat is empty you will likely be closer than the recommended distance of 6 feet to another passenger now that planes are getting fuller.
American, United and Spirit are now booking flights to full capacity when they can. All leading U.S. airlines require passengers to wear masks. Lauren Ancel Meyers, an expert in disease outbreaks at the University of Texas, says that can help limit risk.
For air travel, and all other types of transportation, the CDC recommends washing your hands, maintaining social distancing and wearing face coverings.
Several airlines announced Monday that they will ask passengers about possible COVID-19 symptoms and whether they have been in contact with someone who tested positive for the virus in the previous two weeks.
Still, Meyers said you still might consider whether you need to be on that plane. “We should all be in the mindset of ‘only if necessary’ and always taking the most precautions we can to protect ourselves and others,” she said.
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The AP is answering your questions about the coronavirus in this series. Submit them at: FactCheck@AP.org.
Read previous Viral Questions:
Who would be the first to get a COVID-19 vaccine?
Is it safe to form a COVID-19 “support bubble” with friends?
The show won 11 Tony Awards, including best new musical, best book and best score. The cast album has been a blockbuster and the show has toured to packed houses.
The revolution is finally being televised, thank goodness.
The long-awaited live-capture of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s shake-the-rafters musical “Hamilton” comes out Friday on Disney+, a chance to celebrate America’s independence with some of its Founding Fathers.
The timing seems ideal. Or, given all that’s shook this nation in the past few months, could it not be quite revolutionary enough?
The show features the original Broadway cast — who Miranda has called “an incredible ’28 Yankees of actors” — and was filmed in the summer of 2016 at The Richard Rodgers Theatre in front of a raucous crowd. RadicalMedia, which taped the last night of “Rent,” recorded two performances of “Hamilton” and asked actors on their days off to come back and do close-ups.
The show won 11 Tony Awards, including best new musical, best book and best score. The cast album has been a blockbuster and the show has toured to packed houses. But only in this filmed version is the original cast once again married with Andy Blankenbuehler’s choreography and Howell Binkley’s lighting design. These were all the seeds of world-conquering greatness.
Thomas Kail, who helmed the successful “Grease: Live” on Fox and won a Tony for directing “Hamilton,” directed the filmed version. Kail’s camera captures actors’ intimate faces during key moments in a way impossible for theater-goers and incorporates audience reaction to create an electric filmed version.
The musical charts the rise and fall of statesman Alexander Hamilton and stresses his orphan, immigrant roots — “Immigrants. We get the job done!” is one line that gets huge applause — as well as his almost Greek tragedy of a fall, fed by ambition.
It’s hard to underestimate how fresh “Hamilton” was just a few years ago: A reclaiming of America’s founding story by a multicultural cast using modern music, language and themes. Based on a biography by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Ron-Chernow and developed during the presidency of the first Black president, the show was optimistic and ambitious, tweaking Broadway traditions but respecting them, too. What other show would pit two Founding Fathers in a rap battle over whether to aid France?
Many in the brilliant cast were relatively unknown to the wider world when they hit the stage: Daveed Diggs, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Jonathan Groff, Christopher Jackson, Leslie Odom Jr., Okieriete Onaodowan, Anthony Ramos and Phillipa Soo. Even Miranda, who plays Hamilton and wrote the musical’s songs and story, wasn’t yet a brand name.
The music mixes R&B, hip-hop and show tunes. There are shards of songs by Gilbert & Sullivan, Grandmaster Flash, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Jason Robert Brown, DMX and the Notorious B.I.G. It riffs on Shakespeare and the Bible. It could only come from a mind as brilliant and hungry as Miranda’s.
This version reminds us of that talent but also its absence: Broadway kept being Broadway after “Hamilton” for the most part, returning often to dusty or safe shows. It turns out Miranda’s audacious step wasn’t the sharp end of the spear — it was just a glorious one-off. “Hamilton” dangled the possibility of a brilliant future and, now five years after its debut, Broadway has clearly wasted its shot.
So with theaters idle due to the pandemic, the film version’s fast-tracked streaming arrival — it was slated to hit movie theaters in October 2021 — is welcome. But a second societal spasm — the confrontation with racial injustice — makes “Hamilton” a problematic choice in the wake of George Floyd’s death.
The nation seems different from a few years ago, ready for another revolution, this time from the streets, not from the drawing rooms where it happened in the 1700s. We are reexamining our dark history and who it really holds dear. Statues are toppling, old heroes are being interrogated and past indiscretion brought into the light.
“Hamilton” — for all its progressiveness — is not immune to this reexamination. It looked at America’s past and raised its own statues. But it skirted the nation’s white supremacist origins, despite three minority actors playing white, slave-owning current or future presidents.
Thomas Jefferson is represented as the one bad Founding Father who did participate in slavery. “Your debts are paid ’cuz you don’t pay for labor,” Hamilton teases Jefferson in a cabinet rap battle. “We know who’s really doing the planting.”
Yet George Washington’s ownership of slaves isn’t mentioned at all and Hamilton’s role as a slave owner has been whitewashed. “Hamilton” in 2020 crashes into Black Lives Matter and comes off less powerful, less revolutionary.
In the show, Miranda’s line: “Who lives, who dies, who tells your story?” was a plea to put Hamilton back into the history books, to reclaim this lost Founding Father. The genius of “Hamilton” is unchanged — how history remembers and changes.
But in 2020, the question of how we tell stories has shifted in meaning. Who tells our story? That would be white people — and the show’s lens might scramble the deck but it’s still about elite, white males. “Hamilton” once asked us to look again at the birth of America, but it’s hard not to think that it may soon face its own kind of reckoning.
It didn’t do all the work.
“Hamilton,” a Disney Plus release, is rated PG-13 for gun violence and adult themes. Running time: 161 minutes. Four stars out of four.
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MPAA Definition of PG-13: Parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
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Mark Kennedy is at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits
Prince George’s County is hosting their “100 Events of Summer” Series
Prince George’s County Office of Community Relations will host 100 Events of Summer, a series of fun, family friendly community events designed to engage and connect with the community. Many of the events will be virtual as well as pop-up giveaways events throughout the summer. More information here:
Listen to this mornings segment here:
Is the University of Maryland Medical Systems prepared in the event of a COVID-19 surge?
The Reeves Center in DC will soon be the new home of the NAACP.
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser announced today that she’s signed a letter of intent to bring the NAACP to the city. The Reeves Center is the home to a variety of city government agencies. No word yet on exactly when the move will happen.
Netflix series to dramatize Kaepernick’s path to activism
Former police officers set to go on trial March 8th for killing George Floyd
State flag in Mississippi is getting a new design without the Confederate emblem
A commission will design a new flag that will not include the confederate symbol and must have the words “In God We Trust.” Voters will get a chance to weigh-in on November 3rd.
Henry had also voiced the Latin maid named Consuela on the series.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — “Family Guy” voice actor Mike Henry said Friday he is stepping down from the role of Cleveland Brown on the Fox animated series.
Henry wrote on Twitter that he will stop playing the show’s main African American character because “persons of color should play characters of color.” The 54-year-old voice actor, who is a white man, has voiced the character since the series’ debut in 1999.
Henry had also voiced the Latin maid named Consuela on the series.
His decision comes after voice actors Jenny Slate and Kristen Bell — who are white — pulled out of their roles to recast their biracial characters with someone of color. Slate played the mixed-raced Missy on Netflix’s “Big Mouth” and Bell was voiced as Molly on Apple TV Plus’s “Central Park.”
Slate said she initially reasoned that she could play her character, because Molly’s mother is Jewish and white, just like her mom. But now, she understands that her initial thoughts were wrong.
“I acknowledge how my original reasoning was flawed,” Slate said. “That it existed as an example of white privilege and unjust allowances made within a system of societal white supremacy, and that in me playing Missy, I was engaging in an act of erasure of Black people.”
CBS’ “The Young and the Restless,” whose co-creator Lee Philip Bell died in February at age 91, earned four other trophies in technical categories.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — “The Young and the Restless” won best drama at the first virtual Daytime Emmys along with three acting trophies on Friday night, with some winners speaking out about racial injustice.
Ellen DeGeneres accepted the trophy for best entertainment talk show for her self-titled program.
“I intend to use the next two years of my show as a platform for change, to amplify voices of Black people and people of color and to educate my audience,” she said from home. “More than ever, I feel like this is a responsibility to effect change.”
CBS’ “The Young and the Restless,” whose co-creator Lee Philip Bell died in February at age 91, earned four other trophies in technical categories.
Jason Thompson, who plays Billy Abbott on “The Young and the Restless,” won his first Daytime Emmy for lead actor in a drama series. He becomes the third actor who has played the part to win. David Tom did so in 2000, and Billy Miller won in 2010, 2013 and 2014. Thompson had been nominated five previous times for his stint on “General Hospital,” but didn’t win.
Bryton James of “Y&R” earned supporting actor honors, while Eva LaRue won for guest performer on the show.
“The world is fighting against racial injustice and it’s our responsibility as the human race to educate ourselves and take action, because until we all can acknowledge and empathize with the problem there will always be a problem,” James said from his sofa.
Alex Trebek won best game show host for the second straight year and “Jeopardy!” claimed game show honors.
At 79, Trebek continues to preside over the popular quiz show while battling pancreatic cancer. In March, he announced he had survived one year of treatment. Taping of the show has since been suspended during the coronavirus pandemic, which has affected talk shows and daytime dramas.
“I’ll be honest with you, this one is a shock, very surprising to me,” Trebek said. “Speaking as one who has now been nominated 32 times and won seven times, I think I can say with some degree of authority that winning is nicer.”
Heather Tom of “The Bold and the Beautiful” earned lead dramatic actress honors for her longtime role of Katie Logan. Tamara Braun of “General Hospital” won as supporting actress.
Singer Kelly Clarkson won best entertainment talk show host for the first season of her eponymous show.
“Watch out @johnlegend I’m comin’ for that EGOT status,” Clarkson tweeted, referring to her fellow singer’s victories at the Emmys, Grammys, Oscars and Tony awards.
The team from “General Hospital” won directing honors, while best writing went to the team from “The Bold and the Beautiful.”
Other winners included ABC’s “The View” for informative talk show and NBC’s “Today” for morning show.
Olivia Rose Keegan of “Days of Our Lives” won for younger actor or actress in a drama series.
The women of “The Talk” — Sharon Osbourne, Sheryl Underwood, Eve, Carrie Ann Inaba and Marie Osmond — presided over the two-hour telecast on CBS. The 47th annual awards were back on a broadcast network for the first time since 2011 after being relegated to cable or streaming in recent years.
Nominees, presenters and hosts checked in remotely instead of gathering at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, where the show was to be held June 12.
T.I., also known as Clifford Harris, said he’s excited to work with Atlanta’s historically Black colleges and universities, and their “innovative approach” to providing an education “beyond the traditional textbook curriculum.”
ATLANTA (AP) — Atlanta rapper T.I. will soon be adding educator to his resume.
T.I will join hip-hop scholar Dr. Melva K. Williams at Clark Atlanta University this fall to teach the “Business of Trap Music,” news outlets reported.
The course will focus on the origin, culture and business of trap music, according to the university.
T.I., also known as Clifford Harris, said he’s excited to work with Atlanta’s historically Black colleges and universities, and their “innovative approach” to providing an education “beyond the traditional textbook curriculum.”
These schools have been vital in the community “and have managed to withstand even while being some of the most under-resourced institutions,” he added.
Trap music is a down South staple. The sub-genre of hip hop is cemented in Atlanta culture and can be seen at T.I.’s “Trap Music Museum,” which has become a popular destination for tourists and fans alike, news outlets reported.
A list of winners at the 2020 BET Awards, which aired virtually Sunday because of the coronavirus pandemic.
A list of winners at the 2020 BET Awards, which aired virtually Sunday because of the coronavirus pandemic.
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— Video of the year: DJ Khaled featuring Nipsey Hussle and John Legend, “Higher”
— Best female R&B/pop artist: Lizzo
— Best male R&B/pop artist: Chris Brown
— Best female hip-hop artist: Megan Thee Stallion
— Best male hip-hop artist: DaBaby
— Best new artist: Roddy Ricch
— Best group: Migos
— Best collaboration: Chris Brown featuring Drake, “No Guidance”
— Album of the year: Roddy Ricch, “Please Excuse Me for Being Antisocial”
— Humanitarian award: Beyoncé
— Dr. Bobby Jones best gospel/inspirational award: Kirk Franklin, “Just for Me”
— Best actress: Issa Rae
— Best actor: Michael B. Jordan
— Best movie: “Queen & Slim”
— Youngstars award: Marsai Martin
— Sportswoman of the year: Simone Biles
— Sportsman of the year: LeBron James
— BET HER award: Beyoncé featuring Blue Ivy Carter, Wizkid and Saint JHN, “Brown Skin Girl”
— Video director of the year: Teyana Taylor
— Best international act: Burna Boy (Nigeria)
— Viewer’s choice: Best new international act: Sha Sha (Zimbabwe)
Michelle Obama highlighted Beyoncé’s commitment to the Black community before presenting her with the humanitarian award, saying: “You can see it in everything she does, from her music that gives voice to Black joy and Black pain, to her activism that demands justice for Black lives.”
NEW YORK (AP) — The BET Awards served as an extension of the voices of Black people protesting in the streets about the inequalities Black people face daily, as artists used their performances to highlight the Black Lives Matter movement, civil rights and the lives of those lost because of police officers, including George Floyd.
DaBaby, with his face pressed against the ground as an officer’s knee crippled his neck — replicating the last moments of Floyd’s life — rapped a verse from the Black Lives Matter remix of his hit song “Rockstar.” His performance also featured images from protests, a reflection of the current world in the wake of Floyd’s death and the death of others, including Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery.
Sunday’s show, a virtual event because of the coronavirus pandemic, featured a number of highly produced, well-crafted and pre-taped performances. The BET Awards kicked off with Black artists rapping and singing anthems about the Black experience and fighting for equal rights.
The 12-year-old sensation Keedron Bryant, who turned heads on social media with his passionate performance about being a young Black man in today’s world, started the show with an a cappella performance of his poignant song “I Just Wanna Live,” which earned him a record deal. That was followed by an all-star performance of Public Enemy’s 1989 anthem “Fight the Power,” featuring Nas, Black Thought, Rapsody and YG adding new lyrics to the song, even namedropping Taylor and others.
Michelle Obama highlighted Beyoncé’s commitment to the Black community before presenting her with the humanitarian award, saying: “You can see it in everything she does, from her music that gives voice to Black joy and Black pain, to her activism that demands justice for Black lives.”
Beyoncé used her speech to encourage viewers to vote “like our life depends on it” in the upcoming election.
“I want to dedicate this award to all of my brothers out there, all of my sisters out there inspiring me, marching and fighting for change. Your voices are being heard and you’re proving to our ancestors that their struggles were not in vain. Now we have one more thing we need to do to walk in our true power, and that is to vote,” she said. “There are people banking on us staying at home during local elections and primaries happening in states across the country. We have to vote like our life depends on it, because it does.”
Sunday’s show celebrated BET’s 20th awards show and BET’s 40th year as a network. The three-hour event, which aired on CBS for the first time, was hosted by comedian, actress and TV personality Amanda Seales, who starred in several skits, including one about women who identify as “Karen,” a common stereotype and term for racist and privileged white women.
Other artists were political during their performances, including Roddy Ricch, who wore a Black Lives Matter shirt while he rapped, Alicia Keys, Anderson Paak and Jay Rock, as well as brothers SiR and D Smoke, who performed with their mother Jackie Gouché.
Lil Wayne paid tribute to NBA icon Kobe Bryant, who died in January, with a performance of his 2009 song “Kobe Bryant,” weaving in new lyrics. Wayne Brady, in a glittery suit, rolled around on top of a piano as he sang a medley of Little Richard hits.
Nipsey Hussle, who was named best male hip-hop artist and earned the humanitarian award at last year’s BET Awards, won video of the year for “Higher,” a clip he filmed with DJ Khaled and John Legend shortly before he died .
“This is for Nipsey Hussle and hip-hop,” Khaled said in a taped video. “Nipsey Hussle, thank you for working with me on this ‘Higher’ record. I appreciate you. Nipsey’s family, we love you.”
The BET Awards, one of the first awards shows to air virtually, featured performances that were sharp with artsy stage production, giving extra life to the songs being performed. It was a welcome break from the “living room” and homebound performances hundreds of artists have shared on social media since the pandemic hit in March.
Chloe x Halle, who have successfully performed for various TV shows and events during the pandemic while promoting their new album, gave an epic performance of their songs “Do It” and “Forgive Me.” R&B star Summer Walker, who played guitar and sang, was also impressive during her performance, which featured Usher.
Megan Thee Stallion went to the desert with background dancers as she twerked and rapped her No. 1 hit “Savage.” She won best female hip-hop artist, beating out Cardi B and Nicki Minaj.
“Oh my God, I probably recorded this video like 10 times. It feels so crazy doing this from my house,” she said. “I used to watch the BET Awards all the time thinking, ‘One day that’s going to be me going up there accepting my award’ — and now it is.”
Though the BET Awards are technically about handing out trophies, the awards were an afterthought. During the live telecast, Richh won album of the year for his debut “Please Excuse Me for Being Antisocial”; Lizzo was named best female R&B/pop artist; and Burna Boy won best international act. Overall, Chris Brown, Beyoncé and Ricch were the night’s big winners, taking home two honors each. Beyoncé won the BET HER award for “Brown Skin Girl,” shared with daughter Blue Ivy Carter as well as Wizkid and Saint JHN. The song also won Beyoncé and Blue Ivy a Soul Train Music Award last year.
Fountain of Praise has over 24,000 members was where the funeral of George Floyd, who was killed by police in Minneapolis, was held. Pastor Wright said when they worked with the church member who was a member of George Floyd family to prepare for the funeral at the Fountain of Praise they had no idea that the event and the church would the focus of eyes worldwide. She said the Floyd family is still recovering from the loss of their loved one.
Pastor Wright and her family are also recovering from a tragic loss. A member of her family whose mother was murdered in a Black on Black crime incident was recently murdered in a similar incident. Through his grief because of the loss of the family member, her son preached his first sermon at the church today. Pastor Wright’s book, “Unthinkable” speaks to the season of change we find ourselves in today and how we should not let outdated thoughts hold us back from what God wants for us.
Ricky Dillard talked to us from Atlanta. He is in the music ministry of the Ebenezer AME Church in Fort Washington, MD. Ricky talked about how he recorded his previous album Ebenezer AME in Fort Washington on the day of Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration and screened Ava DuVernay’s documentary “13th” before the recording to make a statement. Ricky let us know that his new album, “The Choir Master” is available and contains music just right for what the world is going through today.
We’re not only building confidence, but cultural pride as well.
#BlackGirlsMatterToo: Being WOKE is not enough! As a result, now more than ever, parents, teachers, practitioners, girl-serving organizations, and mentors need to empower Black girls not only to build confidence, but cultural pride as well. More information go here:
Listen to this mornings segment here:
Young, Gifted and Frisked is an examination of what appears to be a resurgence of stop and frisk policies by police across the nation.
We’re helping you with your next project. How you can do it smartly and cheaply.
House approves DC statehood; Senate GOP opposes
George Floyd Policing Act has cleared the House
Under the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, for the first time ever federal law would: 1) ban chokeholds; 2) end racial and religious profiling; 3) eliminate qualified immunity for law enforcement; 4) establish national standard for the operation of police departments; 5) mandate data collection on police encounters; 6) reprogram existing funds to invest in transformative community-based policing programs; and 7) streamline federal law to prosecute excessive force and establish independent prosecutors for police investigations.
The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020:
Durant ruptured an Achilles tendon a year ago for Golden State in Game 5 of the NBA Finals against Toronto.
Charlie Wilson promotes his new single and also talks about Tulsa, Ok. and the Covid-19 Pandemic
Charlie Wilson will join the show this morning to promote his new single, “One I Got” and his upcoming album. Charlie is a Tulsa, OK native and will also address Tulsa’s legacy as the “Black Wall Street,” and efforts to bring further awareness about the Covid-19 Pandemic.
The Tree of Life Christian Ministries and Employ Prince George’s are teaming for a gift card giveaway
The Tree of Life Christian Ministries are teaming up wth Employ Prince George’s to give gift cards to those who have been impacted and are struggling financially by the Covid-19 pandemic. My guest this morning is Dr. Marcia Robinson with the Tree of Life Christian Ministries.
To apply for the gift cards you must go to: www.employpgedge.com
Listen to this mornings segment here:
US virus cases near an all-time high as governors backtrack.
Audit: US sent $1.4B in virus relief payments to dead people.
Prince George’s County will move to a full phase 2 June 29th @ 5pm
“We remain cautiously optimistic as we move forward with our phased reopening and recovery of Prince George’s County,” said Alsobrooks. “I am encouraged by the progress that we have made together as a community to slow the spread of this virus, and I know that if we all continue to take certain precautions, we can continue to contain the spread of COVID-19 in this next phase of our reopening.”
As part of the full phase two reopening, residents are still encouraged to exercise caution and limit non-essential trips. A number of non-essential businesses and services will be able to reopen with modifications that protect the health and safety of employees and residents, including the following:
Finally, large gatherings may resume with capacity limits, one person/family unit per 200 square feet up to a maximum of 100 persons. Venues for large gatherings must adhere to physical distancing requirements and CDC guidelines.
For County Government, buildings will remain closed to the public. The County Government is still open and operational, adding a number of virtual services in our agencies to ensure that we can still serve our residents.
Based on the County’s data, the County Health Department believes it is safe to move to a full phase two. For the week ending June 13, there were 27 deaths with an average of 3.9 deaths per day. Deaths per week have decreased by 64% from our high of 74 deaths per week in April.
The County hospitalization rate is also declining. In early May, County hospitals had 244 COVID-19 inpatients, on average, per day. That has since decreased for seven consecutive weeks to 80 patients so far this week. That is a 67% decrease from the highest average. The County has also experienced a decrease in med/surgery bed use, as well as the number of patients with COVID-19 in hospital ICUs, which is now almost half what it was in early June. We have 58.8% of med/surgery beds available and 48.1% of ICU beds available, the County’s target is to maintain at least 30% available bed capacity.
The County has also increased its testing capacity, now operating four Health Department sponsored testing sites. The City of Hyattsville is operating a fifth testing site with supplies from the Prince George’s County Health Department. Countywide, more than 9,000 residents are tested per week, with the capacity to test more residents, as needed. The positivity rate, a marker for how effective our testing efforts are, among Prince Georgians has declined from a high of 43.1% in April, down to 7.8%. The Health Department is now offering free testing without appointments at all of its testing locations.
All of the data used to make decisions on reopening is available to the public through the County’s COVID-19 dashboard, available online here. For the latest COVID-19 updates and resources in Prince George’s County, please visit mypgc.us.
DC residents are being urged not to head downtown for fireworks display on National Mall on July 4th.
Bowser today called on city residents to stay home July 4th. “Our strong recommendation is that DC residents celebrate the 4th of July at home or near their home in small gatherings,” said Bowser. The mayor’s recommendations come as 23 other states are seeing a dramatic increase in coronavirus cases. Wednesday the US marked its biggest spike in cases with 45k infections reported.
Bowser says while the White House is moving ahead with plans for the big 4th of July celebration on the National Mall, she wants residents to resist the urge to attend. At the same time, the mayor says her administration will provide the usual support for that activity. But she’s hoping the large crowds will stay away.
DC continues to see a slow in its number of COVID-19 cases. As of today, there are 10,159 overall positive cases and 543 fatalities.
Two Dynamic Entrepreneurs
Tonight, I had the chance to chat with two dynamic entrepreneurs. It just happens that they both received their law degrees from Georgetown University.
First up, owner of The Gathering Spot, Ryan Wilson. It didn’t take us long to realize that Ryan has a sincere passion for making a difference in the African American community. The Gathering Spot is a private membership club. Deeply rooted in community and culture. The flagship store is in Atlanta, GA, and the next one will open in the fall in Washington, DC. There are already plans to open the third location in Los Angeles, CA.
Next, I had a chance to connect with longtime friend, keyboardist, Marcus Johnson. Marcus has been a celebrated darling of the DMV since he was a student at Georgetown, U. Where he received his law degree and MBA simultaneously. Marcus is using that MBA knowledge in the music business, along with marketing his own wine brand, FLO! I hear it’s delicious. As the world is slowly opening back up, Marcus talks about getting back out there performing this weekend. It’s going to look a little different, but music heals, and he’s here to do just that for us. Press play to get inpired by these two leaders.
@angelastribling @thegatheringspots @marcusjohnson360
Mary W. Jackson will now be the new name of NASA’s DC headquarters.
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine made the announcement Wednesday. Jackson, who began her career in the 1950s in a segregated computing unit at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., overcame racial discrimination and gender bias to help propel the agency at the dawn of the Space Age.
Jackson’s story was profiled in the 2016 movie “Hidden Figures,” based on a book by the same name. Last year, a portion of the street in front of NASA’s headquarters was renamed “Hidden Figures Way.”
What has happened since the first cases hit Washington state in January?
A grand jury has handed up indictments against all three men charged in the killing of Ahmaud Arbery.
Prosecutors say Arbery, an African-American man, was jogging through a Brunwsick neighborhood on February 23rd when he was chased down by the trio. The suspects, all white, claim they believed Arbery was a burglar and that’s why they pursued him. One of the suspects is accused of calling Arbery the N-word after fatally shooting him.
A Glynn County, Georgia grand jury has indicted Travis McMichael, Greg McMichael and William “Roddie” Bryan Jr.
Travelers to NY, New Jersey, Connecticut are told to isolate.
