Saturday, October 10, 2020
Saturday, October 3, 2020
A Family Photo at the Door
An excerpt from the Washington Post -
I keep a family photo at my front door. It’ll stay there until toxic attitudes toward Black lives go away.
Opinion by Michele L. Norris
I keep a framed family photo next to my front door, positioned on a table, so you see it as soon as you enter. It captures a moment of joy while on vacation. We’re leaning on each other, smiling wide. Family Strong.
I keep that picture by the entry in case police ever enter my home, they know that the people in that photo belong in the house where they live.
That paragraph you just read is a litmus test. Some of you will read these words and wonder, “Why would she ever do that?”
But some of you will read this and nod your head in recognition. Or perhaps conclude, “Maybe I should do that, too.”
Those of us in that second category are not worried about police entering our home because we’re engaged in criminal behavior. We worry — actually, we know, that we could be seen as criminals or intruders in our own homes even if we consistently and even obsessively live by the rules. A steady stream of raids-gone-wrong buttresses those fears and yet it goes far beyond all that.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/i-keep-a-family-photo-at-my-front-door-itll-stay-there-until-toxic-attitudes-toward-black-lives-go-away/2020/09/28/0e9027fe-01bb-11eb-a2db-417cddf4816a_story.html
Swearing Birds
An excerpt from CNN -
Parrots in wildlife park moved after swearing at visitors
By Rob Picheta
London (CNN) — Five parrots have been removed from public view at a British wildlife park after they started swearing at customers.
The foul-mouthed birds were split up after they launched a number of different expletives at visitors and staff just days after being donated to Lincolnshire Wildlife Park in eastern England.
"It just went ballistic, they were all swearing," the venue's chief executive Steve Nichols told CNN Travel on Tuesday. "We were a little concerned about the children."
"I get called a fat t**t every time I walk past," Nichols complained.
The African grey parrots -- named Eric, Jade, Elsie, Tyson and Billy -- were given to the park from five different owners within the same week, and shared a quarantining facility together before being placed on display.
But staff immediately noticed that the birds shared a propensity to fly off the handle.
https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/swearing-parrots-moved-park-scli-gbr-intl/index.html
Monday, September 21, 2020
Sunday, September 20, 2020
Is Racism the Reason?
An excerpt from Deadspin -
Racism is Why Your Favorite Team Might Have Drafted a Sorry White Quarterback
By Carron J. Phillips
This is not a story about Black quarterbacks.
It’s a story about how your favorite team may have a mediocre, on his best day, white quarterback because your general manager drafted him over the really good Black quarterback you could have had.
Life is all about decisions.
When Deshaun Watson signed his four-year, $177.54 million deal on Saturday, with over $111 million guaranteed, it meant that, for now, no one in the NFL will make more than him over the next four years.
That led to Field Yates dropping these staggering numbers in this tweet.
The highest-paid QB in the NFL on average money per new year:
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) September 5, 2020
1. Patrick Mahomes: $45M
2. Deshaun Watson: $39M
3. Russell Wilson: $35M
4. Ben Roethlisberger: $34M
T-5. Aaron Rodgers: $33.5M
T-5. Jared Goff: $33.5M
Due to be paid soon QBs include: Lamar Jackson & Dak Prescott.
Of the six highest-paid quarterbacks on average money per year, the top three are all Black, and the list doesn’t even include the large paydays that Lamar Jackson and Dak Prescott are headed for.
But this isn’t about the Haves. It’s about the Have Nots.
Here’s a look at some of the franchises that blew it all because they wanted basic white guys to lead their teams instead of the Black quarterbacks that are rolling in the dough.
https://deadspin.com/racism-is-why-your-favorite-team-might-have-drafted-a-s-1844970698
Black-Owned Bulletproof Vests
From Black Enterprise -
BLACK-OWNED LINE OF BULLETPROOF VESTS FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN SEES 400% INCREASE IN SALES
by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors
Thyk Skynn, a Black-owned line of fashionable bulletproof vests for men, women, and children, has seen a nearly 400 percent increase in sales over the past few weeks as Americans continue to grow concerned about their protection from police shootings and other random acts of violence.
Mike Tyree, the founder and CEO of Thyk Skynn, was a police officer in the city of Atlanta for 9 years. He says he left his career and decided to start the business to give innocent people a safe way to peacefully protect themselves.
https://www.blackenterprise.com/black-owned-line-of-bulletproof-vests-for-adults-and-children-sees-400-increase-in-sales/
For more information about Thyk Skynn, visit www.thykskynn.com or follow the brand on Instagram @ThykSkynn
Young, Black, and Rich
From Women's Health Magazine -