She Deserves Every Penny and More!

An excerpt from Deadline - 

‘9-1-1’ Cast Gets Raises Ahead Of Season 5 With Angela Bassett Eyeing New Benchmark For Actresses Of Color

By Nellie Andreeva 

Angela Bassett - 911 on FOX

After lengthy negotiations for some, all series regulars on Fox’s flagship drama 9-1-1 have secured pay increases ahead of Season 5, I have learned.

Series star Angela Bassett led the way with a major bump that I hear takes her to north of $450,000 an episode. That is believed to be among the top salaries on network television for any actor — male or female — and could be the highest ever for an actress of color on a broadcast drama series.

For Oscar-nominated Bassett, it encompasses other services beyond acting. She was involved in the development of 9-1-1, whom Ryan Murphy created for her. She serves as an executive producer on 9-1-1 as well as spinoff 9-1-1: Lone Star.

https://deadline.com/2021/08/9-1-1-cast-raises-season-5-angela-bassett-deal-1234796117/

Pharmaceutical Companies Have Gotten Rich From Her Cells. Her Family Has Gotten Nothing.

An excerpt from Newsonyx - 

Henrietta Lacks’ Family Will Sue Pharmaceutical Companies Who’ve Gotten Rich From Her Cells

Her HeLa cells have been used in research for decades without consent.

By Aziah Kamariby

Photo Courtesy of Baltimore Magazine (Mike Morgan)

The family of Henrietta Lacks has hired a prominent civil rights attorney, Ben Crump, who plans to seek compensation for them from big pharmaceutical companies across the country that have made fortunes off medical research with the use of Lacks’ famous cells.

On January 29, 1951, doctors at The Johns Hopkins Hospital took a biopsy from Henrietta Lacks, who had an aggressive form of cervical cancer.

She died eight months later, but the tissue was taken without her consent eventually established the cell line HeLa. The cells were the first immortal human cells to live outside of the body and be grown in culture.

For the next 70 years, cells taken from Lacks are the most widely used human cells in scientific research and helped lead to a multitude of medical treatments and advances, including the COVID-19 vaccine. However, neither Lacks nor her family gave consent.

Now, her descendants seek compensation from big pharmaceutical companies that profited from HeLa cells, and they hired the infamous Crump to help them do so.

https://www.newsonyx.com/henrietta-lacks-family-will-sue-pharmaceutical-companies-whove-gotten-rich-from-her-cells/

Are We Cheering For Everyone? If Not, Why Not?

An excerpt from Deadspin - 

America is determined to focus on the white women’s Olympic team that’s losing, instead of the Black women’s Olympic team that always wins

Even on the world’s biggest stage, this country has no shame showing off its prejudices

By Carron J. Phillips

Where’s the love for Tina Charles and the U.S. Women’s hoops team
that’s continuing their domination at the Olympics. Image: Getty Images

From the Confederacy to Jim Kelly’s Buffalo Bills teams in the early ’90s, and even the consistent coverage of Donald Trump and his supporters, throughout history, America has proven that it’s fascinated with losers… who are white.

And while the U.S. National Women’s National Soccer Team is the furthest thing from ever being considered losers, the predominantly white squad is, in fact, losing. Their semifinal loss to Canada was their second of the tournament (Sweden). A gold medal is now out of the picture, as a bronze medal is the only thing they can win, but even that isn’t a guarantee.

“If I could just say something, I just think the players have a lot to look at ourselves about,” said Megan Rapinoe after her team’s loss to Canada. “It’s not like, ‘Oh, we didn’t play better,’ and getting on each other, but we need to perform better, period. We don’t have juice because the ball’s banging off our shins and we’re not finding open passes and doing the simple things.”

But do you know who is winning in the Olympics, as usual?

The predominantly Black U.S. National Women’s Basketball Team, which is going for its seventh consecutive gold medal. To date, the team has only lost four games in the Olympics since 1976, and they’ve been undefeated in Olympic play since the 1996 Summer Games in Atlanta. During that time, we’ve seen the men’s team stumble to a bronze, rebuild itself into a global power, and stumble again under coach Gregg Popovich. The women’s soccer team only has four gold medals since 1996, while the women’s basketball team is primed to win their seventh.

https://deadspin.com/america-is-determined-to-focus-on-the-white-women-s-oly-1847407798

Oldest Tuskegee Airman Still Flying High

From Blavity - 

Oldest Living Tuskegee Airman Takes Grandson And Aspiring Aviator With Him On Flight

Who says 101-year-old can't have fun, too?

by Sìmone Stancil

The oldest living Tuskegee Airman Brigadier General Charles McGee, who is 101 years old, took flight last Sunday with a host of family members for the EAA AirVenture, one of the largest aviation events in the world. 

“I’ve been here many, many times, but to get back here again as I approach 102 is marvelous,” McGee said at the event’s headquarters in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, Local 5 reported.

“Being able to come here and share with people that just like to look at airplanes or maybe kick the tires or maintain them, you can’t beat that,” he added.

McGee was joined on the flight by famous aviator Shaesta Waiz, who is known for piloting a single-engine aircraft across the globe in 2017, and his military pilot son, Ron McGee. Along with other family and friends, the 101-year-old’s great-grandson 15-year-old Lain Lanphier also joined on the journey from Dulles International Airport.

“It was an honor," Lanphier said. “I’ve never flown with him before, and although he’s very old, 102 almost, it’s amazing...he has a legacy to live up to and I strive to achieve that every day.”

The Tuskegee Airmen, given the title for training at the Tuskegee Army Airfield in Alabama, were the first Black aviators in the military serving under the U.S. Army Air Corps (AAC) in the early 1940s. Their contributions include flying more than 15,000 individual sorties in Europe and North Africa during World War II, earning them more than 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses. Ultimately, the airmen joined the U.S. Air Force, which inspired the integration of the U.S. military.

https://blavity.com/oldest-living-tuskegee-airman-takes-grandson-and-aspiring-aviator-with-him-on-flight?category1=news

FAMU Paid Off Student Debt

From ABC News -  

Florida HBCU doles out $16 million to pay off student debt

Florida A&M University used federal money to help students.

By Ivan Pereira

Jeff Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images, FILE

 Florida A&M University entrance sign.

Students at a historically Black college received a huge parting gift from their school during commencement ceremonies Saturday.

Larry Robinson, the president of Florida A&M University, announced the school spent over $16 million to cover fees, tuition and unpaid student account balances during the 2020-2021 school year.

"This is an indication of our commitment to student success and our hope that your time on the 'Hill' has been transformative as you take on the challenges of the day, go out and make a difference," he told the graduates.

The university was able to use money from the federal Cares Act, which provides COVID-19 relief to organizations, to pay for the students' costs.

https://abcnews.go.com/US/florida-hbcu-doles-16-million-pay-off-student/story?id=79205464

Welcome To A New Day

From CNN - 

All the Black women in us are tired

Analysis by Lisa Respers France, CNN

Naomi Osaka, Simone Biles, and Sha'Carri Richardson

(CNN)The other day I shared a meme that stoked a lot of emotion.

In it, there are pictures of three superstar athletes -- tennis player Naomi Osaka, gymnast Simone Biles and track and field sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson -- along with a sign that reads, "Y'all Not Gone Stress Us Out -- Black Women Everywhere."

They are women of color (Osaka has a Japanese mother and a Haitian father while Biles and Richardson are African American) and have made headlines recently due to decisions they made to support their mental health.

All three also have something in common which I very much understand -- the struggle women of color face in exercising self-care.

As I wrote in the caption of the meme I shared on Instagram, it's hard being a Black woman.

"We are supposed to save relationships, families, elections, communities, democracy and basically the world all while exhibiting "black girl magic," but y'all mad when we save ourselves?" I wrote. "Welcome to a new day."

https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/01/entertainment/biles-osaka-richardson-self-care/index.html

Equestrian or Horse Crip Walking? | Olympic Highlights With Kevin Hart a...

Funeral Crashers - Just Stop!

An excerpt from The Mirror - 

Funeral 'crashers' actually quite common - and they have different reasons for doing it

It turns out that funeral crashers really do exist, whether they're hungry or just a tad lonely, they could be coming to a funeral near you

By Emily Sleight 

You’ve heard of the film Wedding Crashers, right? To be honest, it’s a pretty good movie, and in some cases, they actually do exist. But, have you heard of funeral crashers?

Yes, you read that correctly. Individuals that turn up to funerals of people they don’t even know, just because...well, why not?

They are quite obviously known as ‘funeral crashers’ and there are actually many weird and wonderful reasons as to why people decide to get dressed up and attend a funeral of someone they don’t know.

Take Theresa Doyle for example, as reported by The Metro a few years back. This peckish funeral crasher in Slough made headlines for turning up at strangers' wakes, enjoying the free buffet, and taking anything else she fancied home in a Tupperware.

At the time, her neighbour said: “Theresa has been doing this for about 14 years now, but the bizarre thing is, she gate-crashes people's funerals and then is completely brash about it.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/funeral-crashers-actually-quite-common-24634130

The First Black Woman to Have a Hair Fragrance Made in France

An excerpt from Essence - 

Alexia P. Hammonds Is The First Black Woman To Have A Hair Fragrance Manufactured In Grasse, France

GRASSE IS THE PERFUME CAPITAL OF THE WORLD. 

By Brooklyn White

KELLY WILLIAMS PHOTOGRAPHY

Alexia P. Hammonds has made history.

Her hair fragrance, Eat.Sweat.Undress, launched in October 2020 and established her as the first Black woman to have a hair fragrance manufactured in Grasse, France, the world’s perfume capital. She’s ecstatic about breaking new ground.

“I love that. Like, no matter what happens or how I transition in my fragrance business, I love knowing that I’ll be able to tell my kids, mommy was the first Black woman to do something,” Hammond said to ESSENCE.

What makes her product unique is that in addition to freshening the hair, it nourishes as well, which is key when creating products with a range of hair types in mind. “I have two luxury haircare benefits in my hair perfume,” she said. “So I have keratin and…I have the highest percentage of fragrance oil and the least amount of ethanol alcohol, which is the safe alcohol to having in a hair product for your hair so it doesn’t dry it out.”

https://www.essence.com/beauty/alexia-hammonds-hair-fragrance-exclusive/

Yesterday (The Beatles) - Fingerstyle

Gabby Thomas: An Elite Sprinter and So Much More

An excerpt from the Washington Post -

The world is about to meet sprinter Gabby Thomas. She’s ready to change it. 

By Adam Kilgore

Gabby Thomas always has wanted more. Achievements other people dream about, she collects. Thomas may win a gold medal on the track at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and in her vision, that personal triumph would furnish only a portion of the grand gifts she wants to share. Thomas is one of the fastest women in the world. She also intends to change it. Her biography could be abridged to one word: “And.”

At last month’s U.S. Olympic trials in Oregon, Thomas was a revelation. Hoping to run 200 meters faster than 22 seconds for the first time, she sprinted halfway around the Hayward Field oval in 21.61 seconds, which made her the second-fastest woman ever at the distance. Thomas crossed the line with her hands above her head, unable to process what she had done. Only Florence Griffith Joyner had ever run faster, and she did so just twice.

And: As she became an elite sprinter, Thomas earned a Harvard degree in neurobiology. In her studies, she gained a deep understanding of the health-care disparities Black people confront in the United States. Her passion led her to enroll in a master’s program in public health with a focus on epidemiology at the University of Texas.

And: Thomas attends Texas not only for its academic offerings but also its proximity to the training group she joined with clear intent. The Buford Bailey Track Club is a group of Black women helmed by three-time Olympian Tonja Buford-Bailey. The skill of her coach and the shared experience of her partners empower her. “It’s given me a greater degree of comfort I haven’t had before,” Thomas said.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/2021/07/30/gabby-thomas-200-meters-tokyo-olympics/

Rihanna's New Lingerie Line Features All-Black Motorcycle Crew

From Scary Mommy - 

Rihanna Casts All-Black Motorcycle Crew For Her New Inclusive Fenty Line

by Maggie Clancy 

SAVAGE X FENTY LINGERIE BY RIHANNA/YouTube

The new line is modeled by Caramel Curves, an all-Black women’s motorcycle gang

Any time we wonder if Rihanna can get any cooler, she does something like this. Her lingerie brand Savage X Fenty has always been size-inclusive (and gender-inclusive), but the multi-hyphenate has stepped up her game and just introduced a brand new line with over 100 pieces — all modeled by members of New Orleans motorcycle gang Caramel Curves. The motorcycle crew is comprised entirely of Black women who are mommas, small business owners, and overall badass babes that are community leaders.

https://www.scarymommy.com/savage-x-fenty-rihanna-motorcycle-gang-caramel-curves/

Meet the 7-Year Old Illustrator

From Black Enterprise - 

A BLACK FATHER PENS A BOOK AND HIS 7-YEAR OLD SON IS THE ILLUSTRATOR

by Andrea Blackstone

Facebook – Booksbybalas

A father and son team in Oakland, Ca. took the initiative to joyfully deviate from what is typically said about Black boys being disinterested in books.

Omar Bala noticed that his son, Khalil Bala showed an aptitude for creating cartoon characters as early as four years old. Omar ultimately assisted Khalil to publish his illustrated work in their two books, “Why Dogs Chase Cats” and “The Lost Baby Spinosaurus,” according to  BlackNews.com.

“I tell Khalil all the time, you’re an artist. Whatever you do and whatever people may say, don’t ever stop drawing,” Omar told BlackNews.com. “I know if he sees his work in a book, that will drive his pursuit to chase his dream in the art industry.”

https://www.blackenterprise.com/a-black-father-pens-a-book-and-his-7-year-old-son-is-the-illustrator/?test=prebid

https://booksbybalas.com/

RESPECT | Official Clip: Jennifer Hudson as Aretha Franklin Performs "Re...

Son sells cheesesteaks from home to take mom to Egypt

Stylin' Toddlers

An excerpt from Black Enterprise - 

A BLACK-OWNED BABY SHOE BRAND FOUNDER LANDS A PARTNERSHIP WITH NEIMAN MARCUS 

by Andrea Blackstone

Yolandra Rodgers (Photo BlackNews)

Toddlers deserve to wear good-looking, comfortable shoes, just like adults do.

With this in mind, Yolandra Rodgers—the founder and CEO of Tippy Tot Shoes—landed a partnership with Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman stores, according to BlackNews.com. Both Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman are high-end retail brands under the Neiman Marcus Group brand, according to the company’s website.

In 2013, Rodgers started Tippy Tot Shoes after realizing that toddlers, who were beginning to become mobile, were in need of baby shoes offering superb construction, and a cozy feel to promote their ability to take better strides in getting around, BlackNews.com reported.

After “scaling up,” by participating in a FedEx Small Business Competition to raise awareness of brands and help underserved communities see sustainable business growth, Rodgers kept pushing to expand her enterprise. She also sold her shoe brand online, while spreading the message that today’s toddlers who are learning to step confidently can do so with much happier feet.

https://www.blackenterprise.com/a-black-owned-baby-shoe-brand-founder-lands-a-partnership-with-neiman-marcus/

Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak, Silk Sonic - Skate [Official Music Video]

Know Someone Like This?

From Buzzfeed - 

People Are Pointing Out Signs That Someone Was Raised Poorly, And There Are No Lies Detected

"The way they argue. If it's an endless shouting match with no chance for the opposing party to speak, it's a good sign they were spoiled."

by Morgan Sloss

https://www.buzzfeed.com/morgansloss1/signs-that-someone-was-raised-poorly-reddit

Young, Gifted and Black

From Black Enterprise - 

USING HER MAGIC: 10-YEAR-OLD GIRL CREATES BROWN SKIN CRAYON LINE PROMOTING SKIN TONE DIVERSITY

by Andrea Blackstone

Bellen Woodard started an art-focused product line after she was inspired
to give away art kits which made all kids feel represented
through crayon colors beyond only peach.
Facebook- Bellen's More than Peach Project

A  skin-colored crayon could turn out to be just about any hue, since the world is made up of diverse shades of people.

That’s exactly the point that Bellen Woodard was trying to make to her classmates, when they asked for the “skin color” crayon to be handed to them — but they wanted a peach-colored crayon since they were white, according to The Washington Post. 

The spunky kid took issue with a peach-colored crayon being the go-to skin color, especially since it didn’t match the beautiful brown-skinned girl.

So Bellen, along with the support of her mom, started selling a host of products through an art-infused line called More Than Peach. Bellen’s crayon company has blossomed into a mission that has the young activist hosting a series of events which fueled a conversation around equity and diversity.

More Than Peach was created in spring 2019 by then an 8-year-old Bellen to “get multicultural crayons in the hands of every student and every classroom,” according to information that was provided on Bellen’s website.

https://www.blackenterprise.com/using-her-magic-10-year-old-girl-creates-brown-skin-crayon-line-promoting-skin-tone-diversity/

Like Mother, Like Daughter

An excerpt from PilotOnline - 

“Just smiling the whole way”: Navy mom, daughter get rare chance to serve on same ship

By DAVE RESS 

Master Chief Tanya McCray and daughter Seaman Racquel McCray
have a rare opportunity to serve on the same ship, USS Gerald R. Ford.

Over nearly 30 years in the Navy, Master Chief Tanya McCray had to be apart from her two daughters and sailor husband, Sheridan, plenty of times — but this month, she’s had a chance to do her job at sea alongside her oldest daughter.

Over nearly 30 years in the Navy, Master Chief Tanya McCray had to be apart from her two daughters and sailor husband, Sheridan, plenty of times — but this month, she’s had a chance to do her job at sea alongside her oldest daughter.

Racquel McCray, who just joined the Navy and picked the same specialty her mother did, has been temporarily assigned to her ship for some at-sea training.

Tanya McCray is the leading chief petty officer of USS Gerald R. Ford’s supply department — the group that makes sure there’s food for the ship’s company, that they are paid, that the spare parts are at hand and that the laundries, barbering and recreation facilities needed to help keep the crew healthy and happy are working properly.

She’s proud that her daughter picked the Navy and picked her specialty, after going to college.

https://www.pilotonline.com/military/dp-nw-navy-mom-daughter-20210725-ezmkg6xihrbynakdi7ws4oroca-story.html