• Women

by Stacy Jackson

August 22, 2024

Voters Fired Up During Oprah Winfrey’s Speech At DNC Celebrating ‘Best Of America’

“Voting is the best of America!” Oprah hypes up Kamala Harris and tells DNC voters to vote based on values and loyalty to the Constitution.

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Oprah Winfrey had Chicago fired up as she took the podium on Wednesday during the Democratic National Convention (DNC) to speak on the night’s theme of “freedom.”

The surprise speech, which the medial mogul gave ahead of the party’s vice presidential nominee Tim Walz, addressed the “best of America” and pumped up voters to back and elect Kamala Harris as the next President of the United States. “We can’t wait to leave here and do something!” Winfrey said to voters as they held up “USA” signs. She said the “best of America” are the new freedom fighters, the men and women fighting to keep the country from going back. “When we stand together, it is impossible to conquer us.”

She shared her testimony about facing and witnessing racism firsthand in America and explained that the country is an ongoing project that requires commitment, hard work, and standing up to life’s bullies.

“I’ve seen racism and sexism and income inequality and division,” the 70-year-old television producer told voters. “I’ve not only seen it. At times, I’ve been on the receiving end of it.” Despite the adversity, Winfrey continued, “We are not so different from our neighbors.” She supported her remarks, stating, “When a house is on fire, we don’t ask about the homeowner’s race or religion. We don’t wonder who their partner is or how they voted. We just try to do the best we can to save them.”

She asserted her pride in Americans who prioritize lending a helping hand when it matters most, something the award-winning talk show host said she’s witnessed from both conservatives and liberals.

“And If the place happens to belong to a childless cat lady, well, we try to get that cat out, too.” The crowd cheered as she threw the indirect jab at Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s running mate, JD Vance, who BLACK ENTERPRISE previously mentioned, slighted Democratic leaders in 2021, describing them as “childless cat ladies.”

She spoke to the room about the present state of America, which she labeled as “complicated,” and emphasized the importance of welcoming “adult conversations” and civilized debate. 

With a cheering crowd rooting for every remark from The Color Purple actress, she directed her speech to the topic of abortion. “If you cannot control how you bring your children into this world and how they are raised and supported, there is no American dream.” Winfrey reminded voters of women like the late New Orleans native Tessie Prevost Williams, who BE previously remembered as one of four Black girls who bravely integrated New Orleans public schools in 1960 after the Supreme Court ruled segregation in schools was unconstitutional.

“Soon and very soon,” Winfrey said, the world will be teaching their children about how Harris, the daughter of two immigrants, an Indian mother and a Jamaican father, became the 47th POTUS. Bringing the crowd to chant “USA,” she said, “That is the best of America!”

Winfrey, who is registered as an Independent, said that as an American, she will vote again and again. “Voting is the best of America!” She encouraged voters to vote based on values and character. “Decency and respect are on the ballot for 2024,” she said. “Common sense tells you that Kamala Harris and Tim Walz can give us decency and respect.” She further advised supporters to contribute to the “best of America” by choosing loyalty to the Constitution over any individual, optimism over cynicism, inclusion over retribution, common sense over nonsense, and the “sweet turn of tomorrow over the bitter return of yesterday.”

“We won’t be set back, pushed back, bullied back, kicked back,” she asserted. “We’re not going back.” The crowd chanted the words after her as she urged the voters in the room to choose honor, joy, and freedom as they head to election polls this November.

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• News

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

August 22, 2024

Family Of Teenager Sues Detroit Judge Who Had Her Handcuffed And Jailed After Falling Asleep In Courtroom

Judge Kenneth King is being sued for $75,000 by the family of 15-year-old Eva Goodman.

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A judge from Detroit was temporarily removed from the bench after he had a teen girl handcuffed and threatened to place her in jail for sleeping in his courtroom. Now, the family of that young girl has stated they are filing a lawsuit against that judge for his actions.

According to The Detroit News, Judge Kenneth King is being sued after a 15-year-old girl fell asleep while he was speaking to students on a field trip organized by a nonprofit group, The Greening of Detroit. When the teen was caught sleeping, he admonished her for it, and according to a YouTube video posted by WXYZ-TV, he said, “You fall asleep in my courtroom one more time, I’m putting you in the back, understood?”

According to the lawsuit, when he realized that she fell asleep once again, he ordered her to be jailed and handcuffed. He made her take off her clothes and placed her in prison wear. He then held a “fake trial” with her classmates as jurors, which was shown live on the internet.

“Then, making a mockery of the justice guaranteed by the due process clauses of the United States Constitution, while panning the camera to focus upon his juvenile audience for the benefit of his internet fans, Defendant JUDGE KING asked (the teen’s) peers to serve as a fake jury of public opinion and decide whether to let her go home to her mother and grandmother or to serve time in the juvenile jail that he had but moments before denigrated as unfit.”

Attorney James Harrington, representing the family, stated this incident occurred on Aug. 13 when the court was not in session.

CBS Detroit identified the teenager as Eva Goodman. It stated that the family seeks $75,000 for past, present, and future pain and suffering, medical expenses, including psychological and psychiatric treatment, exemplary damages, and attorney and expert witness fees.

Goodman’s mother, Latoreya Till, said, “I just want Judge King to take accountability for the way that he humiliated my daughter. It’s hard for her to sleep at night. She’s asking me, ‘Why did the judge do me like this out of all the kids?'”

King’s attorney, Todd Perkins, issued a statement on behalf of the judge:

“He is remorseful and sorry if any young person was hurt, as any actions by Judge King would never seek to have that as an intended consequence. He only wants the best outcome for this young person and all young people. She matters. They matter. They are our future.”

According to a statement from 36th District Court Chief Judge William McConico, King has been temporarily removed from his docket and will undergo training “to address the underlying issues that contributed to this incident. “

• Entertainment

by Shanique Yates

August 22, 2024

Chick-fil-A May Soon Expand Beyond Chicken Sandwiches With Family-Friendly Streaming Platform

There are currently speculations that the casual fast-food restaurant is working alongside Glassman Media to produce a family-friendly gameshow to live on the company’s streaming platform.

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Chick-fil-A is taking its talents beyond the food industry with its streaming platform.

The fast-food giant will reportedly launch original content in the streaming world. Deadline reported that the company has already begun working with major production companies to create family-friendly shows within the unscripted, or reality television, space.

While the platform’s name and launch date have not been set, the source says Chick-fil-A will begin rolling out content toward the end of the year.

Since its inception in Hapeville, Georgia, in 1946, under its initial name, The Dwarf Grill, the casual fast-food restaurant is best known for its fried chicken sandwiches and having its doors closed on Sundays as well as meeting customers with the warm “it’s our pleasure” greeting at some point during an interaction. Today, Chick-fil-A operates more than 3,000 restaurants across the United States.

According to the source, Chick-fil-A’s foray into the entertainment industry is said to be positive for reality television, which, per Deadline, has witnessed a decline in viewership and interest in recent years. Another insider noted that this is good for the casual fast-food chain compared to branded content.

The company isn’t the only non-entertainment brand making a foray into original content; Airbnb previously produced a documentary, Gay Chorus Deep South, that aired on MTV. Ride-share company Lyft also created a game show, Lucky Lyft, hosted by Bob the Drag Queen.

There is speculation that the casual fast-food restaurant works alongside Glassman Media to produce a family-friendly gameshow on the company’s streaming platform. However, this isn’t the first time that Chick-fil-A has created content for its brand. Previously, it launched a series of short, animated films titled Stories of Evergreen Hills on its website. 

Moreover, the restaurant is no stranger to branching out beyond the food service industry, with a line of children’s puzzles and games created under its Pennycake brand imprint.

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