Ava DuVernay Partners With Google To Create Feature Film Grant For Underrepresented Creatives
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

June 7, 2021

Ava DuVernay Partners With Google To Create Feature Film Grant For Underrepresented Creatives

Award-winning filmmaker Ava DuVernay has teamed up with Google to launch a $500,000 grant program aimed at bringing more diverse creatives into the industry.Ava DuVernay has teamed up with Google to launch a $500,000 grant program aimed at bringing more diverse creatives into the industry.

DuVernay’s Array Now has partnered with Google to create The Array + Google Feature Film Grant for aspiring filmmakers from underrepresented communities, Deadline reported. The endowment will aid recipients in creating their first full-length feature film and serve Array and Google’s efforts to highlight the voices within marginalized spaces.

An indie film advisory council will select the recipients who will have their productions “powered by the Array Crew,” a database the When They See Us creator developed to help execs easily locate underrepresented talent in TV and film, according to The Wall Street Journal.

“Having started my filmmaking journey by self-funding projects, this is a full-circle moment,” DuVernay said of the new venture. “I’m pleased to partner with Google and Array’s grant advisory committee to identify an emerging writer/director to bring their vision to the screen. Inclusive storytelling is at the heart of Array’s mission and we’re proud to also provide access to Array Crew in order to further ensure that the set of the grantee’s film reflects the full array of the world around us.”

DuVernary has been a strong advocate for social justice and women’s rights and is often included in the ongoing debates centered around diversity in the entertainment industry.

“We’re hearing a lot about diversity,” DuVernay told the ‘New York Times’ in 2016. “I hate that word so, so much. I feel it’s a medicinal word that has no emotional resonance, and this is a really emotional issue. It’s emotional for artists who are women and people of color to have less value placed on our worldview.”

Five years later, and DuVernary is proving that she can put her money where her mouth is. After launching her new recruitment tool back in February, the 13th director is staying true to her mission of creating a more equitable and inclusive community for underrepresented artists.

Google’s partnership with Array follows a fellowship program through The Black List that offers financial and creative support to underrepresented writers.

“We’re honored to help Array showcase talented creatives from underrepresented communities and to add volume to more diverse voices,” said Elle Roth-Brunet, Google Assistant’s entertainment partnerships lead, the producer behind the project. “The Array x Google Feature Film Grant is intrinsically aligned with Google Assistant’s commitment to speak with a diverse set of voices, and connect with more people to help in their everyday lives.”

Using Zoom Helped A Business Owner To Raise Funds to Open a Storefront Featuring Cocktails
by Andrea Blackstone

June 7, 2021

Using Zoom Helped A Business Owner To Raise Funds to Open a Storefront Featuring Cocktails

Creativity led to a business owner being able to afford a bigger dream. Axios reported that Tamu Curtis will open a storefront in Charlotte as the pilot location for The Cocktailery, which is a cocktail supply and beverage lifestyle shop. Curtis—who conducts cocktail classes through Liberate Your Palate—will also introduce The Cocktailery to customers who want to become immersed in a complete adult beverage experience. Axios said that the shop will carry Curtis’ own line of home bar supplies, including glassware, strainers, bitters, cocktail kits, apparel, trays, and other home goods, in addition to being a space for hands-on cocktail classes.

For Curtis, determination led to having access to the next phase of an exciting journey. Curtis runs a blog and website that also offers a series of in-person cocktail classes called “Liberate Your Palate. Axios reported that when the pandemic hit, the ambitious entrepreneur generated approximately $250,000 last year by leading virtual cocktail classes which were geared toward corporations. This is enabling Curtis to open the 1,500-square-foot space without bank loans or investors, according to Axios.

Travel Noire stated that Curtis is an Oakland, California, native who relocated to Charlotte.

“I’ve always been a food and cocktail kind of girl,” Curtis said to Travel Noire. “That’s what we did in LA; great dinners, great drinks all night long. I moved here, and it was a different culture.”

Instagram photo credit – @tamucurtis

Curtis’s endeavors aligned with what intuitively spoke to her spirit and personality. Travel Noire added that Curtis started hosting cocktail classes in 2016. She even brought in Charlotte-area bartenders to lead the instruction, before the pandemic unfolded. Her classes sold out.

Axios reported that Curtis wanted to open a storefront to complement her cocktail classes. Plus, she could also share her mixology expertise with others there.

“Because of her successful pivot, she had the funds to do it,” Axios said, noting her successful generation of funds.

At a time when many businesses were struggling to stay afloat in 2020, Curtis told thirsty how she used Zoom in an ingenious way.

“I started doing my first paid virtual cocktail classes on Zoom by the end of March of last year, which really gave me a head start in that space. I was able to refine my offerings to adapt quickly to this virtual world and the needs of my corporate clients. My early start allowed me to grow a very robust roster of repeat customers and clients,” Curtis said.

According to the website, The Cocktailery opens in July.

 

 

 

 

 

Excavation Launched to Resume Search For Possible Mass Graves From Tulsa Race Massacre
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

June 7, 2021

Excavation Launched to Resume Search For Possible Mass Graves From Tulsa Race Massacre

The city of Tulsa, Oklahoma, has launched an excavation to resume a previous search for mass graves associated with the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.

Just on the heels of the centennial anniversary of the burning of Black Wall Street, a group of archeologists and historians planned a full excavation and exhumation of a mass grave found in Oaklawn Cemetry on Tuesday, News On 6 reports. Researchers are working to find out if the bodies found in the mass grave are related to the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.

The mass grave was located last October near the headstones of two known massacre victims, Reuben Everett and Eddie Lockard. During the test excavation, archaeologists found 12 coffins. Now they believe if the dimensions of the mass grave are correct, there could be more than 30 unmarked graves at the site.

Scientists will conduct their research on-site. But it will reportedly take weeks and months to determine if the remains are from those murdered during the 1921 attack.

“I hope that even though it’s not going to be tomorrow and it’s going to take us some time, I hope that we have answers and that I hope we can lend something to learning more about who these individuals are, who are in this unmarked mass grave that we didn’t know about previously,” Dr. Kary Stackelbeck with the Oklahoma Archeological Survey said.

The excavation kicked off on Tuesday morning and is expected to continue Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. until the work is done.

Most recently, an art gallery commemorating the Tulsa Race Massacre in New York City was vandalized, The New York Times reports.

“We are neither shocked nor surprised that merely three days after opening on 26 Mercer Street, in celebration of our ancestors, that we would find a literal whitewashing of Black Wall Street on our front window,” owner and director Ricco Wright said on Thursday.

Michelle and Barack Obama’s ‘We The People’ Cartoon To Teach Children About Government
by Derek Major

June 7, 2021

Michelle and Barack Obama’s ‘We The People’ Cartoon To Teach Children About Government

Netflix has teamed with former President Barack and former first lady Michelle Obama to create a cartoon aimed at teaching children civics.

We The People is a 10-episode cartoon featuring three-minute music videos covering civic topics such as taxes, citizenship, elections, and bills. The show was created by Chris Nee and the Obamas will executive produce the show under their Higher Ground Productions company along with Kenya Barris (who created Blackish), Tonia Davis ,and Priya Swaminathan.

A bevy of top recording artists have lent their voices and talent to the show, including Janelle Monáe, Bebe Rexha, Lin-Manuel Miranda, H.E.R., Daveed Diggs, YBN Cordae, Andra Day, Adam Lambert, and Brittany Howard .

The show is drawing comparisons to Schoolhouse Rock, which ran from 1973 through 2002.

The trailer was released this week; the show will premiere (appropriately) on July 4. The trailer refers to the show as a civics remix. The show will give young children insight into government and the part citizens play in it. While many children learn about the branches of government and what they do in middle school, there are many specifics of government that are omitted, including taxes and the different taxes that exist and the U.S. immigration system and how to become a U.S. citizen.

Michelle Obama’s puppet show Waffles and Mochi, which teaches kids how to discover, cook and eat food, was released in March by Netflix and has a 4.7 rating out of five on Google.

“Kids will love it, but I know that adults will also get plenty of laughs—and some tips for the kitchen,” Obama wrote ,according to The Seattle Times. “In many ways, this show is an extension of my work to support children’s health as first lady—and to be quite honest, I wish a program like this had been around when my girls were young.”

Hotels, Restaurants And Other Businesses Are Raising Salaries In An Effort To Recruit Workers
by Derek Major

June 7, 2021

Hotels, Restaurants And Other Businesses Are Raising Salaries In An Effort To Recruit Workers

Reuters – Hotels, restaurants and other businesses are boosting pay as they try to recruit workers  \and meet increasing demand from Americans ready to venture out as pandemic-related restrictions are lifted and more people are vaccinated.

But it is unclear if the increases will be sufficient to entice enough workers back to close the employment gap remaining in the sector hit hardest by COVID-19 job losses.

Average hourly earnings for workers in leisure and hospitality rose to $18.09 in May, the highest ever and up 5% from January alone, according to Labor Department data released on Friday. Pay rose even faster for workers in non-manager roles, who saw earnings rise by 7.2% from January, far outpacing any other sector.

Graphic: Pay surges for workers in leisure and hospitality – https://graphics.reuters.com/USA-ECONOMY/WAGES/yzdvxmxgjpx/chart.png

That higher pay could be a sign that companies are lifting wages as they seek to draw people back to work after more than a year at home. Some businesses are struggling to keep up with higher demand as more consumers, now fully vaccinated, get back to flying, staying in hotels and dining indoors. Job gains in leisure and hospitality this year have so far outpaced gains in other sectors.

But it is too soon to know whether the boost will be enough to help speed up hiring at a time when many workers are still facing other obstacles, including health concerns and having to care for children and other relatives.

“The fact of the matter is, the pandemic is still going on,” said Daniel Zhao, a senior economist for Glassdoor. “The economy is running ahead of where we are from a public health situation.”

Graphic: Where wages are growing fastest – https://graphics.reuters.com/USA-ECONOMY/WAGES/gjnvwmabnvw/chart.png

Some 2.5 million people said they were prevented from looking for work in May because of the pandemic, according to the Labor Department. And just about 40% of Americans are now fully vaccinated, meaning that many workers may still be concerned about the health risks they might face on the job, Zhao said.

STILL IN A HOLE

Employment in leisure and hospitality is still in a deep hole when compared with pre-pandemic levels.

The industry added 292,000 jobs in May, with about two-thirds of that hiring happening in restaurants and bars. But overall employment is still down 2.5 million jobs, or 15% from pre-pandemic levels, more than any other industry.

If job gains continued at the pace seen in May, it would take more than eight months to replace the jobs lost. And it’s not yet clear that all of the jobs will be recovered, especially if business travel remains depressed or if other habits change after the pandemic.

Some people who previously worked at hotels or restaurants moved on to other types of jobs during the pandemic, such as packaging goods at a warehouse, and it’s too soon to know whether they will switch back as more of the economy reopens, said Zhao.

Some Republicans and businesses struggling to find workers say generous unemployment benefits are slowing down the labor market recovery by making it easier for workers to stay home. Others say the benefits may be helping workers cover the bills while they wait for schools to reopen, receive vaccinations and resolve other obstacles that made it difficult for them to work during the pandemic.

“People were making decisions based on those other factors, but they had the wherewithal to make those choices because of the extended unemployment benefits,” Cleveland Federal Reserve Bank President Loretta Mester said during an interview with CNBC.

Either way, any frictions caused by unemployment benefits may be resolved over the next several months as those benefits are reduced. About half of states are putting an early end to a $300 federal supplement to weekly unemployment benefits, winding them down as soon as June 12. The supplement expires nationwide on Sept. 6.

(Reporting by Jonnelle Marte and Ann Saphir; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Jonathan Oatis)

by Charlene Rhinehart

June 6, 2021

Kanye and Kim Kardashian’s Daughter, North West, Makes It On The List of Richest Kids in America

Kanye West and Kim Kardashian’s oldest daughter, North West, is only 7-years-old and is already a kid multi-millionaire.

The young model and social media personality has an estimated net worth of $10 million, according to the U.S. Sun. Although sources say that North’s wealth is due to a trust fund, her parents are already preparing her for fame and fortune. At only four years old, she made her first interview appearance alongside her mom.

Kanye West and Kim Kardashian are positioning their children to have a lifetime of wealth and opportunities by setting an example. In April 2021, Kim earned a spot on Forbes’ World’s Billionaire List. Forbes estimates that Kim’s net worth has skyrocketed to $1 billion due to her KKW Beauty and Skims business. She’s also receiving money from endorsement deals, reality television, and investments.

Last year, Forbes announced that Kanye West was officially a billionaire. The music mogul has been dominating the fashion industry with his popular sneaker brand, Yeezy. It’s the main reason he has amassed a billion-dollar fortune. In March, Kanye released his new Yeezy’s. The shoes sold out within 60 seconds.

North West is Among the Richest Kids in America

North isn’t the only kid in her family with an eight-figure net worth.

North’s cousin, True Thompson, is also listed as one of the richest kids in America. She has an estimated net worth of $10 million. True is the daughter of reality television star Khloe Kardashian and NBA player Tristan Thomas.

The Kardashians have been basking in riches for years, setting up trust funds to ensure the long-term financial security of their heirs. Sources say that Khloe Kardashian’s mom, Kris Jenner, forced Tristan to put $10 million into a trust fund for True, The Hollywood Life reported. A trust can be a tax-efficient way to transfer wealth to the next generation.

North and True may never have to worry about working a job during their lifetime. Their family is full of millionaires and are increasing their billionaire status every day. Even Auntie Kylie Jenner is breaking records with her wealth status. She’s achieved phenomenal success with her Kylie Cosmetics brand. In 2019, Forbes named then 21-year-old Kylie the world’s youngest self-made billionaire.

by Keka Araújo

June 6, 2021

Did Ray J Inadvertently Start The Beef Between Tupac and Biggie? The Internet Thinks So

On June 4, Beyoncé’s internet was set aflame with a rumor that “Wait A Minute” singer Ray J may have started the notorious beef between Tupac and Biggie. 

The founder of Launch Magazine, Steven James, shared his thoughts regarding Brandy’s little brother and Snoop Dogg’s little cousin’s involvement in the East Coast vs. West Coast beef that ultimately led to hip-hop’s most tremendous losses– the deaths of Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G.

“25 years ago today, Tupac drops Hit Em Up. Faith says nothing happened. Snoop’s cousin is running around Death Row. He’s only 15. He says he saw Faith sitting on Tupac’s lap in the studio.

Wait a minute, ain’t that…,” James wrote on Twitter.

During a 2008 interview, Ray J allegedly confirmed the rumored affair between Biggie’s then-wife, Faith Evans, and Tupac.

“We walked in one day, and Faith was sitting on Pac’s lap while Pac was writing a verse. It was like, ‘What the f–k is going on? That was one of the craziest sights, dog. Faith was in Pac’s lap. I was like, ‘What the f–k? I know I’m not? Is that? It can’t?’ Three weeks later, ‘Hit Em Up’ came out,” the “One Wish” singer detailed.

He even alluded to chilling with Biggie a couple of days before he was tragically killed. 

“I was with B.I.G. two days before he died,” he explained. “I smoked two or three blunts with B.I.G. We watched a Lil Kim video,” Ray J said. “He talked to me about some real sh**. He was gonna get on the remix for ‘Everything That You Want’ off my album, and then two days later, he was dead.”

Of course, Twitter users went nuts over the conspiracy theory.

 

Faith has vehemently denied having an affair with the “Hit ‘Em Up” rapper. She even weighed in on the infamous photo of the two that fueled the rumors. 

“I was out here to make money as a writer, and that had nothing to do with Tupac whatsoever. That was really just a chance meeting at a club. Actually, Treach — who I knew already — was with him that night, and that’s who actually came and made the introduction.”

Ray J isn’t the only entertainer to insinuate that Faith lied about her affair with Tupac. Producer Delray Richardson appeared in a December 2020 interview and backed up the Love & Hip Hop: LA star’s claim.

You can watch the video below.

by Keka Araújo

June 6, 2021

Candace Owens Implies That White Actors Could Portray The Obamas, Twitter Users Determined That Was A Lie

Conservative pick-me Candace Owens caught heat on Twitter after claiming that Black actress Jodie Turner-Smith was an appropriate pick for lead in a new miniseries highlighting Anne Boleyn’s life. The staunch Republican commentator made an absurd comparison of Turner-Smith’s portrayal of a white woman to white entertainers’ ability to portray Black figures.

“I’m actually totally fine with Jodie Turner playing the role of Anne Boleyn so long as the radical left promises to keep their mouth shut if in the future Henry Caville is selected to play Barack Obama and Rachel McAdams can play Michelle. Not double standards- K?” she wrote.

Owens’ asinine tweet was met with disdain, facts and hilarity. 

Anne Boleyn aired on Channel 5 on June 1. Turner-Smith’s spoke about her portrayal of Boleyn in the three-part miniseries with the Radio Times in May.

“It’s much more approachable and appealing to a contemporary audience when you cast this way because we are distilling this down to a human experience,” the actress explained. “If you ask anyone to watch a film or to observe any art, you are asking them to suspend their beliefs.”

She added: “I am aware it’s going to be a stretch for some people because they will feel too distracted by that, but I think for a lot of other people who are finally ready to see the world in a different way, they’re going to see that this is a human story we are telling, and a fascinating one at that.”

Cincinnati-Area Walmart Employee Fired After Allegedly Racially-Profiling Black Patron, Anternitia O’Neal
by Keka Araújo

June 6, 2021

Cincinnati-Area Walmart Employee Fired After Allegedly Racially-Profiling Black Patron, Anternitia O’Neal

A Cincinnati- area Walmart employee has been terminated after a Black store patron alleged that the white associate racially profiled her. According to Fox-19, Anternitia O’Neal purchased groceries on May 18. Upon using the self-checkout to pay for the items, she was approached by the unidentified associate and accused of stealing. 

During the incident, O’Neal expressed that when the Walmart employee questioned her– she explained that she had paid for the groceries. The employee even called security on O’Neal. Walmart managers also showed up to assess the situation. 

“I just feel that words can’t even explain how belittled they made me feel, less of a human, and that’s unfair,” the patron told Fox-19.

To add insult to an already humiliating situation, O’neal’s transaction was viewed via security footage, and management determined that she had purchased all of her groceries. 

Walmart told the news outlet that the employee wasn’t fired for racially profiling O’neal– but for not following protocol.

Ironically, Customers aren’t legally obligated to show Walmart greeters their receipts on their way out to verify purchases. According to Legal Definitions, the common practice doesn’t mandate that customers comply. 

“Do I have to show my receipt?”

“The short answer is no. At most retailers like Walmart, an employee can’t force you to show them your receipt or allow them to search your bag,” the site explained. “And make no mistake: when a greeter is asking to check your receipt, he is actually asking for permission to search your bags or seize your person.”

Although a patron isn’t obligated to show the receipt, the site does state that it makes things easier. 

“It’s not always a great idea to do something even though you have the right. In certain circumstances, store employees are justified in holding you until the police arrive. Known as the Shopkeeper’s Privilege, the store employee can stop you from leaving if they believe that you shoplifted. What’s more, you could be barred from the premises or lose your membership card if you fail to comply.”

 

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Welcome Baby Girl And Reveal Daughter’s Name to the World
by Charlene Rhinehart

June 6, 2021

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Welcome Baby Girl And Reveal Daughter’s Name to the World

Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle and Prince Harry welcomed a baby girl this month. The couple’s second child was born on Friday, June 4th at 11:40 a.m. at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. She weighed 7 lbs 11 oz.

“Both mother and child are healthy and well, and settling in at home,” according to a statement released on Sunday.

Harry’s brother, Prince William, and sister-in-law, Catherine shared their congratulatory remarks on their Twitter page.

“We are all delighted by the happy news of the arrival of baby Lili. Congratulations to Harry, Meghan and Archie.”

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Reveal Name of Baby Girl

After months of anticipation, the couple has announced their daughter’s royal name: Lilibet “Lili” Diana Mountbatten-Windsor. Lili’s name honors Harry’s mother, Princess Diana. Her name also pays tribute to his grandmother Queen Elizabeth II. Lilibet will be eighth in line to the throne, USA Today reported.

“Lili is named after her great-grandmother, Her Majesty The Queen, whose family nickname is Lilibet. Her middle name, Diana, was chosen to honor her beloved late grandmother, The Princess of Wales,” according to the statement.

Lilibet is Queen Elizabeth’s 11th great-grandchild, CBS News reported. The Duchess of Sussex gave birth to her first son, Archie, on May 6, 2019, at Portland Hospital in London. Lilibet is the first member of the Royal Family to be born outside of the United Kingdom.

Meghan Markle Inspires Many With Her Story

The couple announced that Archie was going to be a big brother on Valentine’s Day. This news came after Meghan revealed her miscarriage. In November 2020, she wrote an article for the New York Times sharing her story.

“I knew, as I clutched my firstborn child, that I was losing my second,” she wrote. “Losing a child means carrying an almost unbearable grief, experienced by many but talked about by few. In the pain of our loss, my husband and I discovered that in a room of 100 women, 10 to 20 of them will have suffered from miscarriage. Yet despite the staggering commonality of this pain, the conversation remains taboo, riddled with (unwarranted) shame, and perpetuating a cycle of solitary mourning.”

Many women can relate to Markle’s story. She’s an inspiration for women all over the world who are trying to find hope after pain. Lili’s life is already impacting the world in a major way.

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