Is Loretta Lynch the new Rosa Parks? Well, that’s what Sen. Dick Durbin said on the floor of the Senate this week: “Loretta Lynch, the first African-American woman nominated to be attorney general, is asked to sit in the back of the bus when it comes to the Senate calendar.”
Sen. Tim Scott, the sole African American Republican in the Senate, swat back by accusing Durbin of “race baiting.” Case in point, it doesn’t look like Lynch will get her vote anytime soon.
Raven-Symoné, the “colorless” actress, set off another wave of controversy this week when she sided with the recently fired Univision TV anchor Rodner Figueroa while on "The View." Figueroa, if you recall referred to First Lady Michelle Obama as an ape. Symoné said, “I don’t think he was saying it racist… not Michelle Obama. Michelle, don’t fire me from this right now, but some people do look like animals.” I know that while most kids were in school, she was already working, but Symoné is in desperate need of a history lesson and stat! Check it at the 8:31 point.
About The Other Night: Wednesday's finale of Empire was a lesson in how not to throw rocks when your mansion is made out of glass. SPOILER ALERT! Shakespeare couldn’t have written a better finale himself. From Cookie’s epic smackdown of “Boo Boo Kitty” to Hakeem’s lyrical diss to his father and Luscious’s Wizard of Oz like presentation of gifts—Empire has set the bar for frothy, delicious dramas and officially solidified itself as the new Dynasty. How long will Luscious stay in jail? Will the brothers come for Jamal next? Did Cookie move into Luscious’s mansion? Sadly, we’ll have to wait until January 2016 to find out.
Pop Off of the Week: “I’m actually Black.” Those were the words that cultural commentator Jay Smooth uttered to Nancy Giles of CBS Sunday Morning when she accused him of co-opting blackness. YIKES! It’s important to at least do a little Google search of whom you’re going on TV with—for this very awkward reason. I’m pretty sure this is what a “Race Together” conversation will look like with your Starbucks Barista—good luck.
Poliwood Round-Up: Trending Topics in the #BlackTwitterverse This Week
Trend of the Week: #NewStarbucksDrinks
I nearly spit out my Oprah Chai tea when I saw these tweets. In a questionable move, Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz has launched a new campaign entitled “Race Together.” The campaign is an attempt to spark conversations on race while you sip your coffee.
Now, unless someone is trained in coalition building, race relations, conflict resolutions etc., this should not be attempted—let alone by your local barista while you grab your morning cup of java. It was like school let out early when #BlackTwitter created this hashtag, enjoy.
THREE: Pimping Butterflies
"To Pimp a Butterfly" has been hailed by many media outlets as the blackest album of all time. Lamar unlike his contemporaries Drake, Nikki Minaj and others is considered the "thinking person's rap." He uses his story telling technique on his latest achievement to challenge racism and discuss race in America. With tracks like King Kunta and Mortal Man it's clear that Lamar isn't in the game for the clicks or chains but instead the conversation. If you haven't heard "To Pimp A Butterfly" yet you're sleeping.
TWO: Mini Mogul
Mo'ne Davis, the 13-year-old Little League star, has added another title to her name, designer. The Sports Illustrated cover girl has teamed up with shoe company M4D4 to design a line of sneakers to benefit underprivileged girls. The designs are multi-colored high tops with baseball style stitching on them. Mo’Ne said this about her latest accomplishment, "I never thought at the age of 13 I'd be a role model, but having young girls look up to me is pretty cool. If I can inspire them to reach their goals, that would be even cooler."
ONE: Brawling Teens
On Sunday a group of teenage girls were caught on camera “jumping” another girl inside of a Brooklyn McDonalds. Instead of dialing 911 idle customers whipped out their phones to record the vicious attack that had six girls stomping another one to the ground. The girls range in age from 14-16 years old.
Aniah Ferguson is said to be the ringleader. She is being charged as an adult and held on $500,000 bail. According to police records, Ferguson has been arrested numerous times over the past eight months one of which had her attacking a pregnant woman in the emergency room and another for assaulting her own grandmother. The only people to call for her help were the McDonald’s employees. Sadly, there is no law on the books that compels people to be Good Samaritans.
