Lizz Winstead, founder of Lady Parts Justice League, is taking a troupe of comedians and musicians on the road with the Vagical Mystery Tour. They are helping out abortion clinics by combining entertainment with community engagement. Winstead talked with MTV News about the inspiration behind the comedy tour and some of the ways her organization is making a difference for reproductive rights.
French Mayor Threatens To “Stop” Black Feminists Festival For Excluding Non-Black People Organizers of an event called Nyansapo Festival in France intended for Black feminist s caught a lot of grief from Anne Hidalgo, the mayor of Paris this week. The mayor threatened to halt the festival for it’s lack of permission for ‘all’ to engage in certain parts of the event, according to France 24 . The event organizers say it is important to restrict access to certain sessions so that black women can engage in open, honest conversations about their unique struggles, without judgement from others, according to the report. The non-black mayor did not like that, at all. The Nyansapo festival has divided its events into four categories– those open exclusively to black women (which account for 80% of activities), those open to both black women and black men, those open to women of colour and those open to everyone. The majority of events are reserved for black female participants. An outcry of white tears commenced on twitter, where people openly condemned the event. Even a French ‘race’ organization called LICRA says Rosa Park would’ve had a fit if she saw the ‘discriminatory’ festival guidelines. Festival “interdits aux blancs”: #RosaParks doit se retourner dans sa tombe. Le combat antiraciste devenu l'alibi d'un repli identitaire. pic.twitter.com/XXgvyQHOTh — LICRA (@_LICRA_) May 26, 2017 “Forbidden to whites” Festival: # RosaParks must be turning in his grave. The anti-racist struggle become the alibi of a rising nationalism. The mayor then reposted the flyer and added her disgust with the exclusion of white women from certain areas of the festival. In translation, she says: I condemn with firmness the Organization to # Paris event “forbidden to whites”. Je condamne avec fermeté l'organisation à #Paris de cet événement “interdit aux blancs”. https://t.co/DKJmdPry5v — Anne Hidalgo (@Anne_Hidalgo) May 28, 2017 Since a part of the event took place in the city hall, Hidalgo threatened to stop the event altogether. “I am asking for this festival to be banned,” the mayor said, adding she also reserved the right “to prosecute the organizers for discrimination”. Later in the day, Hidalgo tweeted that she had found a “solution” to the problem. The festival organized in a public space will be open to everyone. Workshops with restricted participation will be held on a strictly private basis. But, the gag is…that was the plan for the organizers all along. The therapeutic session were being held privately and off of municipal grounds in the first place, according to reports. Thoughts?
Its Triiiiiigggggggggaaaaaaaaaa!!!! Trey Songz talked to The Breakfast Club about the NY Giants on his boat, Keke Palmer being angry about being in his music video, the rumors of smashing Khloe Kardashian, and more.
Dr. Altha Stewart Named First Black President Of American Psychiatric Association Dr. Altha Stewart has been named the FIRST African-American president of the American Psychiatric Association . The doctor will lead the 37,000-member association, a first in the organization’s 173-year-old history according to Memphis Business Journal : Stewart will be the fourth consecutive woman to lead the organization. She will begin her tenure as president-elect in May and become president in May 2018. “My role will be standing at the intersection of race and gender in a national organization,” Stewart said. “It’s a unique position. … It’s an honor. I’m humbled and I’m happy to serve.” Stewart is the chief of Social and Community Psychiatry at University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC). She was among the first class of women to what is now Christian Brothers University. She graduated from Temple University Medical School and was a resident at Hahnemann University Hospital, both in Philadelphia. Congratulations to Dr. Altha Stewart on this tremendous achievement! #BlackExcellence
Shortly after Amber Heard filed for divorce from Johnny Depp , it became clear that the situation would be much uglier than your typical celebrity split. Depp was accused of domestic violence , and Heard’s camp painted a picture of the beloved actor as a drunken abusive monster. As is often the case in high-profile celebrity breakups, Heard was accused of going after Depp’s bank account. She responded to those accusations in deft fashion by promising to donate her divorce settlement to two charities: the ACLU and Los Angeles Children’s Hospital. The move was interpreted by many as a middle finger to both Depp and his supporters, Heard’s way of deflecting criticism and sending a clear, unmistakable message that she wasn’t in this for the money. There were even reports that Heard was broke and essentially homeless as a result of her pledge, but remained unwavering in her intentions. Now, however, TMZ is reporting that more than three months after the divorce was settled, neither charity has received the $7 million that Heard was awarded. The site claims that each organization did receive an initial installment of $200,000, but that money was apparently sent to them directly by Depp, not Heard. After Heard declared her plan to donate her settlement, Depp’s lawyers stated that the actor would cut out the middle man by issuing checks directly to the Children’s Hospital and the ACLU. Heard was reportedly furious, as she not only felt that the move was Depp’s way of making himself out to be the good guy, she also saw it as an effort to score a massive tax write off. Her attorneys put the kibosh on Depp’s plan to donate the cash himself, and neither organization has seen a dime in the months since. It remains unclear, however, if the money dried up because it’s in Amber’s possession, or because it’s tied up in the appeals process. Heard’s lawyers claim the couple has not signed settlement deal, but that they’re expected to do so this week. After months of PR nightmares, we’re sure they’ll be signing some iron-clad non-disclosure agreements, as well, so we may never find out exactly how this plays out. But whatever the case, two worthy organizations are about to receive two very large checks. View Slideshow: Johnny Depp Domestic Abuse Allegations: Stars React
Katy Perry passionately donates $10,000 to Planned Parenthood, and not just because she supports the organization: She’s benefitted from their services and understands how crucial they can be.
Philadelphia 76ers Apologize To Sevyn Streeter Remember when Sevyn Streeter put the Philly 76ers on blast for refusing to let her sing the national anthem over her “racially charged” BLM jersey? Well apparently in addition to some vocal outraged fans…a few players made it clear that they weren’t happy with indirectly being told that Black people shouldn’t declare that they matter. Via TMZ Sports : We know several players are upset. One player who wishes to remain anonymous says the decision to not let Sevyn sing has rubbed him the wrong way. It’s not like there’s a locker room revolt in the works — but as one team source puts it, “The organization owes Sevyn an apology and we hope that happens soon.” Well it looks like the organization heard them loud and clear…because next thing you know, the 76ers realized the error of their ways and shot an apology — and an invitation to return — to Sevyn for cutting her from the pre-game activities: “We are sorry that this happened. After receiving feedback from our players, basketball operations staff and ownership group, we believe that the wrong decision was made, and Sevyn should have been welcomed to sing. We apologize to her, and in an effort to move the conversation forward, we have reached out to offer her an opportunity to return and perform at a game of her choice. We are waiting to hear back.” We hope she accepts…and shows up in FULL Black Panther regalia next time, and performs “Lift Every Voice” instead of the anthem, with her fist up, while taking a knee… Instagram
Via HotSpotATL.com: Several high school students and teachers are protesting at North Springs Charter High School after a white Assistant Principal demanded a black female student to remove her “Black Lives Matter” t-shirt, citing that the organization is a terrorist […]
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently reviewed their suggested guidelines on the sexual activity for those who travel to or from areas where the Zika virus is prevalent and came up with a new recommendation. WHO now advises travelers to be abstinent or have protected sex for at least six months after they return to the United States. This advisement was updated after WHO learned the virus can live in sperm for up to the same about of time. Initially, the organization suggested people abstain from sex for eight weeks, prior to learning that the virus can remain dormant in the human body without any signs or symptoms along with the possibility of infants being born with birth defects… [ MadameNoire ] This Is Where Your Luggage Goes When You Don’t Claim It Have you ever wondered where your lost luggage goes when you don’t collect it? Well, it makes a trip down south to Scottsboro, Alabama, where the ultimate thrift store known as the Unclaimed Baggage Center (UBC) is stationed, selling lost and found items from airlines. Doyle Owens established the store in 1970 when he decided to purchase unclaimed bags from the local bus station, reports The Thrillist. After selling lost items a few days a week, Owens decided to expand the business to airline companies, and since then the store has expanded to more than 40,000 square feet over the past 46 years. But before you think employees at the bus or airline companies are stealing your personal belongings for Owens to sell, think again… [ MadameNoire ] Dr. Dre Is The Top Hip-Hop Earner Of The Last Ten Years Dr. Dre is richer than your favorite rapper. According to Forbes, the OG “n*gga with attitude” has raked in $923 million over the last ten years. Forbes has been reporting on finance [i.e. “pocket watching”] for decades and they have had their sights on Hip-Hop for the last ten years. According to their research, Jay Z, Diddy and Dr. Dre were the top earners on their first ever Hip-Hop Cash Kings list in 2007. A decade later, those three names are still at the top of the list, but not in that order. Per Forbes: The highest-earning hip-hop act of the last decade: Dr. Dre. He accounted for one fifth of that cumulative total, banking $923 million pretax–and more than any other rap star–thanks largely to Apple $3 billion Beats buyout in 2014. Jay Z is the genre’s second-ranked all-time earner, banking $501.5 million from diversified interests including his entertainment company Roc Nation, Armand de Brignac champagne and D’ussé cognac… [ HipHopWired ] Damon Dash Calls Beyonce & Jay Z ‘Cowards’ Over Rachel Roy Controversy [ iHeart Radio ] Steph Curry Supports Colin Kaepernick’s National Anthem Protest [ HuffingtonPost ] Rumor Alert: Could Ciara Be Carrying Russell Wilson’s Baby? [ Baller Alert ] Teyana Taylor Gets Hype Like Nobody’s Watching [ TMZ ] Continue reading →
Nonprofit Organization BMe Deposits $1 Million To Nation’s Largest Black-Owned Bank A nonprofit organization has deposited more than a million dollars in the nation’s biggest Black-owned bank according to The Root : BMe Community, a national network dedicated to strengthening communities with the help of black men, is redirecting $1 million of its deposits into OneUnited, the nation’s largest black-owned bank, making BMe the “preferred nonprofit” for the bank, while OneUnited has become the “preferred bank” for the organization. “When you try to get folks positively engaged in their communities and you think about building up the assets of the community, then it only makes sense that groups that say they care about the black community also bank black,” Trabian Shorters, the CEO of BMe, tells The Root. “And our network is in six cities. We have 165 BMe leaders that we’ve funded. Their work helps about half a million people every year, and it occurred to me that if we want other folks to invest in our communities, then we should lead by example.” Both BMe and OneUnited hope to encourage the whole community to move its money and its mindset toward collective economics, as well as building wealth within the community. “I think this #BankBlack movement is about more than us moving our money; it is about us moving our minds or just sort of opening up our minds to appreciating the power of our $1.2 trillion in spending power, and for us to start connecting with each other and using our money in a more purposeful way,” Teri Williams, president and chief operating officer of OneUnited, tells The Root. Check out BMe Community by clicking HERE .
