by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

July 30, 2020

The Weeknd’s Latest Video Songchild Made By First-Ever Black Owned Anime Studio

Grammy Award-winning artist The Weeknd has just released his latest song and the video for that song, Songchild. The video blends his musical styling and vocals with the art form known as anime which was produced by the first Black-owned anime studio, D’ART Shtajio, according to We Buy Black.

Arthell Isom and his twin brother, Darnell Isom, are the co-founders of D’ART Shtajio, a 2-D animation studio located in Tokyo, established in 2016 with animator Henry Thurlow. The three started the company to create Japanese anime infused with American culture.

Prior to starting his studio, Arthell worked with animation studio Ogura Kobo as a background animator on highly acclaimed shows like Bleach, Black Butler, and Naruto. He credits working with his mentor Hiromasa Ogura, best known as the background animator on Ninja Scroll and Ghost in the Shell, for helping shape his career after spending 12 years working alongside him in Japan.

Arthell also studied art history in Italy in addition to attending art schools in San Francisco and Osaka, Japan, which greatly influenced his art and love of Japanese anime.

“The great thing is with us being here, Black creators seek us out,” said Isom in a separate interview with SyFy Wire.“It’s a great opportunity to work with them. We’ve worked with quite a few like independent manga creators with projects like Tephlon Funk and XOGENASYS; we get the opportunity to then tell more Black stories. These are storytellers who want to see their story adapted to anime form.”

According to Complex, the Snowchild video “follows Abel Tesfaye through various periods of his career as the Weeknd. From House of Balloons to After Hours, the ‘Snowchild’ visual represents each of his distinctive looks throughout his discography.”

The music video has accumulated just about 6 million views in its first week.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

July 30, 2020

Former Republican Presidential Candidate Herman Cain Dies From COVID-19

Successful businessman and former Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain has lost his battle with COVID-19, according to a statement posted on his website.


Cain, who made a presidential run on the Republican ticket back in 2011, was also ordained as a minister and has been recognized for his business prowess as one of Black Enterprise’s Most Powerful executives over the years. He tested positive for coronavirus after attending the Trump rally on June 19th in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Dan Calabrese, who is the editor of Cain’s website, HermanCain.com confirmed his death earlier today.

“You’re never ready for the kind of news we are grappling with this morning. But we have no choice but to seek and find God’s strength and comfort to deal with it.

“Herman Cain—our boss, our friend, like a father to so many of us—has passed away. He’s entering the presence of the Savior he’s served as an associate minister at Antioch Baptist Church in Atlanta for, and preparing for his reward.”

Although his Twitter account was quite active, even as of this morning, Cain’s condition wasn’t improving.

“We didn’t release detailed updates on his condition to the public or to the media because neither his family nor we thought there was any reason for that. There were hopeful indicators, including a mere five days ago when doctors told us they thought he would eventually recover, although it wouldn’t be quick. We were relieved to be told that, and passed on the news via Herman’s social media. And yet we also felt real concern about the fact that he never quite seemed to get to the point where the doctors could advance him to the recovery phase.”

Cain was 74.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

July 30, 2020

Bob Marley’s Daughter Says ‘If He Were Still Here, He Would Be On the Forefronts Protesting’

The legendary Bob Marley has been an inspiration through his music even decades after his untimely death in 1981. The essence of spirituality shone through his music and if he were alive today, his daughter stated that he would be leading the social justice protests, according to Rolling Stone.

Cedella Marley, who became a Grammy Award-winning artist as part of the band Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers, mentioned this while discussing the launch of a collaboration with Wrangler Jeans, Wrangler x Bob Marley Collection. Her father was known to wear Wranglers throughout the ’70s. Wrangler is making a $25,000 donation to the Bob Marley Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to social change through education, culture, and community development.

“My father was the voice for the voiceless,” says Cedella Marley. “If he were still here, he would be on the forefronts protesting; he would still be speaking up for those who aren’t being heard.”

“2020 has been all about celebrating daddy’s 75th birthday with a multitude of fun and thoughtful activations in honor of his legacy,” Marley says. “What we didn’t anticipate was a pandemic, and such global devastation and social unrest, so it was crucial for us to use our platform and partnerships for the greater good in helping lift others more than ever, not just with his music and message, but with real concrete actions, too.”

The Marley family worked closely with Wrangler’s design team to capture the singer’s “free spirit, as well as the strength and truth of his convictions.”

“While it has always been a focus of ours, we knew it was super important to ensure our collaborations also help provide relief to those in need,” she explains. “We are excited to continue to celebrate daddy and his message of love and unity, especially during these difficult times.”

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

July 30, 2020

NFL Player Marquise Goodwin Opts Out of NFL Season Over COVID-19 Concerns

An NFL player has decided to opt-out of the upcoming season due to concerns over the coronavirus pandemic. Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Marquise Goodwin went live on YouTube on Tuesday to announce his decision to skip the upcoming football season, which he is doing to protect his wife and newborn daughter.

He revealed that in the past he decided to leave his wife to play football right after she gave birth; their premature baby boy died, and that tragic incident played a major role in his current decision.

“Three years ago, I made a decision that affected my whole life. I chose to leave my wife at the hospital after prematurely birthing our first baby boy (due to incompetent cervix) which resulted in a fatality, to play on a football game. I felt like I had to prove to my coaches and new team that I was dedicated to winning and I wouldn’t let anything keep me from the goal, not even my family.

“Onward to February 2019, our lives changed for the better, as we finally were blessed to bring home our first living child (rainbow baby). SHE is the reason I am opting out for this season. After choosing football many times, I feel I am inclined to make the right decision by finally choosing my family first.

“I know the NFL is trying implement safety protocols to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as other professional sporting leagues, but I just can’t chance experiencing another loss because of my selfish decision making. It’s not something I’m willing to live with, so I’ve chosen to opt out of playing during the 2020 NFL season. I must protect my family, and this is the best way for me to do that.”

Goodwin went to Twitter yesterday to acknowledge that he’d gotten “many messages” from “concerned” “fans telling me how stupid I am and that this COVID-19 isn’t that serious.”

Lenny Kravitz Opens Up About the First 25 Years of His Life in Upcoming Memoir
by Von Boozier Twins

July 30, 2020

Lenny Kravitz Opens Up About the First 25 Years of His Life in Upcoming Memoir

Rock icon Lenny Kravitz‘s autobiography, Let Love Rule, will chronicle the first 25 years of the legendary Grammy-winning musician’s life. The book, published by Henry Holt and Co., is scheduled to hit shelves on October 6.

“Writing this memoir has been a beautiful and interesting experience taking me through the first 25 years of my life, from birth to the release of my first album,” Kravitz said in a statement. “That journey, full of adventure, was where I found myself and my voice. Through that experience, love was the force that paved the way and love became my message.”

Taking its title from Kravitz’s first album (and hit song), Let Love Rule covers a vast canvas of the musician’s time growing up in New York City to the years he spent living in Los Angeles, France, England, and Germany. The book unveils the story of a wildly creative kid who, despite struggles at school and extreme tension at home, finds salvation in music. Readers see him grow as a musician and ultimately a master songwriter, producer, and performer. Kravitz also details his spiritual growth—and the powerful way in which spirit informs his music.

The memoir, written with prolific biographer and songwriter David Ritz, will also touch on personal relationships with his father, Sy, a high-powered news executive; his mother, Roxie Roker, a star on The Jeffersons; and his ex-wife, TV star and sex symbol Lisa Bonet, who became his muse. Furthermore, it depicts Kravitz as he turns down record deal after record deal, until he finds the right fit.

Spoiler alert: things worked out OK. Kravitz has sold 40 million albums worldwide, become a style icon, and has enjoyed a successful career acting in television shows and movies. Oh, and his daughter, Zoë, has carved out a prolific acting career herself. She will portray Catwoman in the new Batman movie.

Reginald Hudlin Becomes The First-Ever Black Producer For The Emmy Awards
by Dana Givens

July 30, 2020

Reginald Hudlin Becomes The First-Ever Black Producer For The Emmy Awards

The 2020 Emmy award nominations were announced earlier this week with numerous Black actors and actresses earning coveted spots for the prestigious ceremony, making history in the process. Behind the scenes, there is also a lot of notable appointments with one of them being the first Black man to become an executive producer for the televised ceremony.

Variety reported that Reginald Hudlin will become the first Black person ever appointed as an executive producer of the Primetime Emmy Awards set to air in September. Hudlin will be working with Done+Dusted productions in addition to this year’s host, Jimmy Kimmel. He has previously earned an Emmy nomination for his work in producing the Oscars ceremony and has worked on numerous others like the NAACP Image Awards for close to a decade.

“I’m excited to collaborate with this outstanding team as we produce a show that celebrates the best of what we do and reflects this moment in history,” said Hudlin to Variety. There is still no confirmation if the show will be held completely virtual or where some in-person elements as the industry is still navigating around social distancing rules amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The world has been turned upside-down by a pandemic, but television has remained our steadfast friend through it all, and we want to come together to honor this friend of ours that informs, entertains and oftentimes uplifts us when we need it most,” Ian Stewart of Done+Dusted said in a statement to Variety. “How we accomplish that on Emmy night is a question we’re all grappling with, but any stumbling block can be a stepping stone, depending on how you use it.”

“Each year Done + Dusted has produced the Emmys, they’ve brought new ideas and a great collaborative spirit; and with the addition of Reggie Hudlin, it promises to be a truly exceptional night,” added Frank Scherma, Television Academy chairman and CEO tells Variety. “In this year of tremendous challenge, we look forward to the joint team innovating even more, delivering a reimagined Emmys to honor the exceptional television that has brought us together while we’ve had to remain apart.”

 

Social Media Giants Remove Video of Doctors Making False Coronavirus Claims
by Derek Major

July 30, 2020

Social Media Giants Remove Video of Doctors Making False Coronavirus Claims

A video featuring a group of doctors making false and dubious claims related to the coronavirus was removed by several social media outlets Tuesday.

According to CNN, the video was removed by Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, but not before it was viewed millions of times. The video, published by the far right Breitbart News, featured a group of people dressed in lab coats, calling themselves “America’s frontline doctors” standing in front of the U.S. Supreme Court.

In the video, the doctors made a series of unsubstantiated claims related to the coronavirus, including that “you don’t need masks” to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, and that recent studies showing hydroxychloroquine being ineffective for the treatment of Covid-19 are “fake science” sponsored by “fake pharma companies.”

“This virus has a cure, it’s called hydroxychloroquine, zinc, and Zithromax,” a woman claims. “You don’t need masks, there is a cure.”

The advice runs counter to multiple studies on the anti-malarial drug and the advice of numerous medical experts, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

A study determined neither hydroxychloroquine alone nor hydroxychloroquine plus azithromycin changed the condition of coronavirus patients after 15 days. The study did find that in coronavirus patients, the drugs did lead to unusual heart rhythms and elevated liver-enzyme levels.

The video quickly went viral on Facebook with with more than 14 million views and 600,000 shares before it was shut down, according to Crowdtangle.

“We’ve removed this video for sharing false information about cures and treatments for COVID-19,” a Facebook spokesperson told CNN, adding that the platform is “showing messages in News Feed to people who have reacted to, commented on or shared harmful COVID-19-related misinformation that we have removed, connecting them to myths debunked by the WHO.”

Twitter began to remove the video late Monday night after President Trump shared versions of the video that amassed hundreds of thousands of views. Twitter also took action on a version of the video posted by Donald Trump Jr. and others shared by Breitbart News.

“We’re taking action in line with our Covid misinformation policy,” a Twitter spokesperson told CNN
The video was also removed on Youtube where it was viewed about 40,000 times.
Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Appoints Tonya Veasey New CEO
by Dana Givens

July 30, 2020

Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Appoints Tonya Veasey New CEO

Earlier this month, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF), a non-partisan nonprofit and educational institute focused on advancing the global Black community, announced Tonya Veasey as its new president and CEO. Her hope is to create a framework to guide the community through these tumultuous political times.

After running her own businesses for over 14 years, Veasey sees her appointment as a natural progression given her connections and work with the foundation. “My husband is actually a member of Congress, so for a while I was heavily involved in the spouses organization [and] served on the [CDCF] board,” Veasey said in an interview with BLACK ENTERPRISE.

“Our [current] board chair, [Congressman Cedric Richmond,] said, ‘You could you step in on an interim basis and help us really assess what do we need to do to move the foundation forward to build a strong infrastructure.’ So, I did that for about four months and really enjoyed the work…I knew the team, so I wasn’t a stranger coming in. I not only know the members, but I also know our internal team as well as a lot of our sponsors and partners, [so] it was a great opportunity.”

In a time where public policy around Black issues is more critical than ever with the upcoming elections, Veasey plans to use her leadership skills to shape new initiatives to move the foundation forward.

“I think we have an [unique] opportunity…because people are at home and we are starting to do more virtual programs. I think we have an opportunity to connect with our community in a much broader way,” she explains.

“[We believe] that what we know is best and then it’s time for us to really listen and make sure that we are aligned [with] amazing energy with our younger brothers and sisters that are out here…I am [currently launching] a national racial equity initiative and I’m very excited about [it]. That was really in response to what we are currently facing in society.”

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

July 29, 2020

Patrick Mahomes Becomes Part-Owner of Kansas City Royals, Making Him the Youngest Sports Team Owner at 24

Super Bowl MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes is now part-owner of the Kansas City Royals, according to a press release issued by the Major League Baseball team.

“We are very proud and excited to have Patrick as our partner in the ownership group of this franchise,” said John Sherman, the team’s chairman, CEO, and principal owner. “Along with the rest of Kansas City, I have watched Patrick compete and become an extraordinary leader, both on and off the football field.


“Consistent with the entirety of our ownership group, he has a deep commitment to Kansas City and a real passion for the game of baseball–dating back to his childhood.”

“I’m honored to become a part-owner of the Kansas City Royals,” said Mahomes, who was a promising amateur baseball player as both a pitcher and hitter before switching over to football. His father, Pat Mahomes, enjoyed an 11-year career as a middle reliever for several teams, including the New York Mets.

“I love this city and the people of this great town,” the younger Mahome said. “This opportunity allows me to deepen my roots in this community, which is something I’m excited to do.”

By becoming part-owner, the 24-year-old is now the youngest owner of a team in sports history. Earlier this month, he signed a deal with the Kansas City Chiefs worth $450 million over 10 years and could be worth up to $503 million. He also has a no-trade clause, which includes a $140 million injury guarantee. As a result, Mahomes is the first athlete to sign a contract worth a half-billion-dollars. This also makes him the first NFL player to be the highest-paid athlete in professional sports. 

Earlier this year, Mahomes led the Chiefs to a 31-20 comeback win against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV.

Plainclothes NYPD Officers Throw Woman Into Unmarked Van During Peaceful Protest (Video)
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

July 29, 2020

Plainclothes NYPD Officers Throw Woman Into Unmarked Van During Peaceful Protest (Video)

According to The Gothamist,  plainclothes New York Police Department (NYPD) police officers swooped down on a young woman during a protest and swiftly placed her into an unmarked vehicle.

The arrest took place Tuesday evening as a group of peaceful protesters walked down Second Avenue at East 25th Street in Manhattan. The video, which has been viewed more than 11 million times on Twitter, shows 18-year-old Nikki Stone grabbed by police officers and forcibly placed into a waiting, unmarked van.

As this video and countless others went viral, the New York Police Department responded that the woman taken was “wanted for damaging police cameras during 5 separate criminal incidents in & around City Hall Park.”

Several politicians chimed in on the action NYPD took in broad daylight.

Stone, after being detained, was released from custody shortly after midnight on Wednesday and was charged with multiple counts of vandalism and criminal mischief for five incidents that took place in June and July. Police alleged that Stone spray-painted graffiti at various locations in Manhattan and accuse her of painting over four NYPD surveillance cameras at the intersection of Chambers and Centre Streets by the former site of the Occupy City Hall encampment.

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