Category Archives: Black Lives Matter

The premise was simple: An hour-long TV show to examine whether - after the killing of George Floyd, all those toppled statues and tensions on the streets of major cities - anything has really changed for black people in Britain over the last six months.

The idea for a second Race And Revolution show actually followed the airing of another TV show on another channel - the Black Lives Matter-inspired dance performance on Britain's Got Talent that prompted 24,000 complaints.

Ofcom did not investigate, but the fallout begged the question: What does the fury the performance clearly roused tell us about attitudes to racial inequality in the UK?

Race and Revolution was not designed to produce a definitive answer, or as something to quote on the same social media feeds that were plastered with black squares at the start of June.

But anyone watching will have seen and heard some harsh truths being laid bare. These are some of the key takeaways:

1. When a Christmas advert can provoke a racist response, there is still more to be done

Audience member Jannett Walker pointed out that it is still not the "norm" to see black families on TV - and that until it starts to happen, we will not see a change in attitudes.

She referenced a Sainsbury's Christmas advert which featured a black family and sparked a negative backlash on social media, with one user writing: "Where are the British people? I'm dreaming of a white Christmas."

Panel member Patrick Hutchinson, who went viral when he carried a far-right protester to safety, said it "beggars belief" how people could find the advert distasteful.

A black father himself, he said he had enjoyed seeing a family much like his own represented.

Chi-Chi Nwanoku, founder of Chineke! orchestra, said she believed racist attitudes were "passed down from parents through generations".

"It's just alarming and distressing to think that still the visual aspect of anyone and anything goes before even hearing a single word from anybody," she said.

2. Social media means we have never known so much about what is happening - but there is also a dark side

As the Black Lives Matter movement picked up momentum again this year, many people were taking part in "social media activism" - with thousands posting black squares on their Instagram pages for "Blackout Tuesday".

But audience member Zen Addai asked whether the rise of social media activism trivialises issues of race.

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Lord Simon Woolley, the founder of Operation Black Vote, said social media has allowed people to know more about what is going on than ever before.

"We've never had such a conversation about our history," he said, referencing how people were able to see protests and the toppling of imperialist statues.

But criminal barrister Alexandra Wilson, who was mistaken for a defendant three times in one day, said she believed there was a "dark side" to social media.

"Social media now provides this platform where you can hide behind a screen," she said.

Ms Wilson said she had personally experienced abuse on social media from anonymous bots.

3. Damning statistics

Some of the numbers produced on the show were stark: Black women are five times more likely to die during childbirth and four times more likely to be the subject of a mental health detention; they occupy just 1.5% of top management jobs and, shockingly, only six FTSE 100 companies and two FTSE 250 companies have signed up to a Confederation of British Industry (CBI) call for UK firms to appoint one non-white board member by 2021.

And we know now that these inequalities, which has always been a reality for black people in the UK and beyond, are even more profound during a pandemic.

4. The shame of UK sport

The players may take the knee before every Premier League game, but football, our national game, still has so much to do.

It's a fact that the Premier League does not have a single black owner, chairperson or chief executive - it is a fact too that there is only one black board member in the entire English Football League.

The picture is replicated in the women's game. England international Lianne Sanderson was asked for the show if anything had changed since George Floyd's death almost six months ago to the day.

"Companies, teams, are now thinking hold on a minute, we're not really giving equal opportunity here," she said.

"One thing that really stands out for me is the lack of black players and ethnic minority players in the women's top league.

"We have to look at why that is the case. I think sometimes there's a combination of things. I think sometimes people do know, sometimes there's subconscious systematic racism, sometimes it's ignorance.

"I've definitely seen a lot more people that have woken up during this time which is fantastic to see and we must continue the conversation."

But this problem is not just confined to football.

5. Without visible protests, black people fear nothing will change

The Black Lives Matter movement was born out of police brutality in the United States, and with vast inequalities remaining in the UK's own criminal justice system, the show got the view of one of the country's most senior black police officers, Detective Chief Inspector Karen Geddes. Does she see change happening within the force?

"We are still underrepresented within policing around recruitment, there's still a disproportionality around stop and search - that's not going to go away in six months," she told the programme.

"There's been some change in regards to how I feel as a senior officer.

"What I've noticed is there's more acceptance there is a problem and acknowledgment and a willingness to talk about race.

"But the danger is when you don't see the protests, you don't see the statues falling, we lose that visible message and then we go back to that position of comfort.

"So it's important we continue that conversation and it's important we generate the energy for change because otherwise we go back.

"My fear is we go back and in 10 years' time we're discussing the same question about what concrete changes have been made."

6. Black university students can expect lower pay and fewer prospects

Black people seem to face barriers in all areas of their lives, and some say the education system is inherently racist.

Melz Owusu has managed to get into one of the UK's top universities, Oxford, but says they "feel like I don't belong here".

"I studied philosophy and politics as my first degree [at Leeds University], and in my entire three years studying, I never once read somebody that wasn't white in the philosophy side of my degree," they said.

"I'd flick a page and they're saying black people are less than human, like literally. If I'm reading Kant in philosophy, like Kant's in every single philosophy degree across the country, all you have to do is flick a page and you'll be met with ideas about yourself, about your humanity that are fundamentally harmful."

The problems continue even after graduation.

Department of Education figures show that, five years after graduating, white people are on higher average wages and are more likely than their black counterparts to be in sustained employment or further education.

7. Beyond this, black people say they aren't seeing much change in the workplace

When presenter Gillian Joseph asked how many audience members had noticed change at their places of work in the last six months, less than a third put their hands up.

One of them, Asher Prower, wanted to know whether we might see companies reporting their ethnicity pay gaps, as they now have to for their gender pay gap.

While Ms Nwanoku said she had not experienced such issues in the entertainment industry, Mr Hutchinson said he had personal experience of being paid less than his colleagues.

"I would say definitely when I was working in the City, I used to have discussions with my work colleagues regularly and on several occasions I found I was paid less, along with some of my Asian colleagues," he said.

"It definitely exists, it's not a fantasy."

So has Britain changed? We will give the last word to Patrick Hutchinson, whose life turned upside down after a now-iconic image of the Black Lives Matter supporter carrying a rival protester to safety during violent clashes in London went viral.

Half a year on from the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the global rallies that followed, Patrick said that many people are yet to accept the level of systemic racism and unconscious bias in society.

He said: "Have things changed? I know there are a lot of things that haven't, and we still feel like there's been no change, but in all honesty there has been change - because I don't watch out and out racism on the TV anymore."

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Giving examples, Patrick mentioned 1970s sitcoms Love Thy Neighbour and Til Death Us Do Part, featuring the fictional character Alf Garnett, saying "just watching it on YouTube, going back and looking these things up on YouTube, you just can't believe this stuff was on TV".

"Back then, things were really, really overtly racist," he said. "And you heard the N-word and the P-word against Asian people almost every single day out of children's mouths when playing out, and from their parents - things like that don't happen anymore.

"So the overt racism has really, really died down, although it still exists in pockets. But it's the covert racism now that we're having to deal with, the stuff that's embedded and systemic, and that's embedded in our society. That's what we're fighting now.

"But I do believe eventually we will get there.

"How long it will take, who knows."

The rest is here:

Black Lives Matter: Will Britain change? Hard facts laid bare in Race And Revolution TV show - Sky News

The New Zealand and West Indies cricket teams will both take a knee in support of the Black Lives Matter movement before their Twenty20 match at Eden Park in Auckland later on Friday, New Zealand captain Tim Southee has said.

Both teams met on Thursday to discuss how they would recognise the anti-racism movement after the West Indies knelt to show their support before their matches in England this year.

We agreed we will support West Indies and will take a knee after the umpires call play, Southee said.

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It's something that is very important to the West Indies and something we will support over their tour while they're here.

West Indies Twenty20 captain Kieron Pollard said their team were pleased to have the support of the New Zealand side.

It's something we feel very strongly about, Pollard said. It's something we want to inculcate around the world because it has impacted a lot of lives all around the world.

AUS vs IND: T Natarajan added to India's squad for Australia ODI series

It's something we will continue to do to make gestures that is positively geared towards that. We have come together with the Black Caps and we thank them for their support.

It means a lot to us as individuals and hopefully over time everyone will understand how serious this matter is.

West Indies Test captain Jason Holder and the team were given an award for their efforts to spread the anti-racism message that was amplified by the death of George Floyd in the United States this year.

While England knelt during the West Indies series, it did not repeat the gesture during games against Pakistan and Australia, prompting some criticism.

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NZ, Windies teams to take a knee in Black Lives Matter gesture - Sportstar

Black Lives Matter activists, presumptive president-elect Joseph R. Biden, and White House Coronavirus Task Force member Dr. Anthony Fauci are all contenders for Time magazines Person of the Year award.

The publications long-running distinction will be determined by editors for a Dec. 10 unveiling, although readers are expressing their picks via online voting.

Voting as of Friday favors activists organizations and political leaders over a handful of entertainers.

Teenage climate change activist Greta Thunberg of Sweden won the award in 2019 and was the youngest recipient since its beginning in 1927.

This years online voting has heavily skewed in favor of figures associated with BLM activism and efforts to control the coronavirus pandemic, particularly those on the left side of the political spectrum.

President Trump, for instance, has failed to crack double-digits among Time readers, while Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts garnered 17% yes votes.

Other notable nominations include: Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey; Pope Francis; Vice President Mike Pence; Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett; Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell; New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo; and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

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Black Lives Matter activists, Biden, and Fauci nominated for Time's 'Person of the Year' award - Washington Times

NEW YORK (AP) Twelve things worth noting about Tuesdays nominations for the 2021 Grammy Awards, from snubbed singers to posthumous nominees to famous folks competing for awards.

The Weeknd sings about being a star boy but the Grammys response to his latest album? Bye boy.

The pop star was severely snubbed this year despite having one of the years biggest albums with After Hours and topping the Billboard Hot 100 chart with Blinding Lights and Heartless.

Luke Combs also walked away without a single nomination though he was country musics most successful musician this year. Morgan Wallen also had a great year in country music, but didnt earn any nods. And the Chicks first album in 14 years was not recognized.

A group of young R&B female acts moving the needle also missed out on nominations, including Summer Walker, Teyana Taylor and Kehlani. Late rapper Juice WRLD, Brandy and Chris Brown were also snubbed.

Though they received nominations in their genre categories, acts such as Lady Gaga, Fiona Apple and Harry Styles didnt pick up bids for album, song or record of the year.

For years, BTS have said their dream is to be Grammy-nominated. And theyve finally achieved it.

The K-pop band is nominated for best pop duo/group performance with Dynamite, their first song to hit the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Others who scored their first-ever nominations include Harry Styles, Megan Thee Stallion, the Strokes, Jay Electronica, Michael Kiwanuka and Mickey Guyton.

Dr. Luke marked a major comeback this year, producing hits for Saweetie, Juice WRLD and Doja Cat, who is signed to his record label. And it earned him his first Grammy nomination in six years.

The hit Say So marked a breakthrough for Doja Cat and Dr. Luke, who last launched a No. 1 smash with Katy Perrys Dark Horse in 2014, the same year his former collaborator Kesha accused him of sexual assault during their yearslong partnership. Dr. Luke has vigorously denied the allegations.

Say So is nominated for record of the year, an award given to the songs artist and producer, helping Dr. Luke earn a nomination. But instead of using his known name on the credits for the song, hes listed as Tyson Trax.

Other monikers Dr. Luke has used are Loctor Duke and MADE IN CHINA.

Reflecting the current times, Black artists released songs this year about the Black Lives Matter movement and the international protests that took place following the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and others.

And those songs are nominated for Grammys.

Beyoncs Black Parade, released on Juneteenth, is up for four awards including record and song of the year. The protest song I Cant Breathe by H.E.R. is nominated for song of the year and best R&B song, while Lil Babys The Bigger Picture which reached the No. 3 spot on the pop charts is up for best rap song and best rap performance. And Anderson .Paaks Lockdown, about police brutality and racial injustice, is up for best melodic rap performance and best music video.

Country singer Mickey Guyton wrote Black Like Me a year before Floyds death, but rushed to release the song because she said the time was right. The poignant track earned a nomination for best country solo performance.

John Prine died of complications of the coronavirus in April, but his spirit is all over the Grammy Awards.

The icon earned two posthumous nominations, including best American Roots performance and best American Roots song for I Remember Everything.

Breakthrough rapper Pop Smoke died this year but his hit song Dior, a double platinum success, is nominated for best rap performance. Nipsey Hussle, who died last year and won two posthumous Grammys earlier this year, scored a nomination for best rap performance for his guest appearance on Big Seans Deep Reverence.

Leonard Cohen has earned multiple posthumous nominations since his death in 2016 and is nominated for best folk album with Thanks for the Dance, his fifteenth and final studio album.

And songwriter LaShawn Daniels, who died last year and won a Grammy for co-writing Destinys Childs Say My Name, is competing for best gospel performance/song with Come Together by his close friend Rodney Darkchild Jerkins. Daniels and Jerkins started writing the song about the world coming together 17 years ago but Jerkins released it this year during the pandemic to offer healing and hope to listeners.

Oscar winners Meryl Streep and Rene Zellweger are vying for Grammy gold.

Streep is nominated for best spoken world album for Charlottes Web, pitting her against MSNBCs Rachel Maddow, journalist Ronan Farrow and Jeopardy! record-holder Ken Jennings, who is nominated for reading Alex Trebex The Answer Is

Zellweger won her second Academy Award for Judy and her performance on the soundtrack earned her a nomination for best traditional pop vocal album.

Cynthia Erivo, a Grammy, Emmy and Tony winner, scored a nomination for best written song for visual media with Stand Up from Harriet. The song, which she co-wrote with Joshuah Brian Campbell, also earned an Oscar nomination earlier this year.

And the best comedy album award is stacked with famous folks, including Tiffany Haddish, Jerry Seinfeld, Patton Oswalt, Jim Gaffigan and Bill Burr.

Female acts dominate in the best rock song and best rock performance categories, with performers like Fiona Apple, Brittany Howard, HAIM, Grace Potter, Phoebe Bridgers and Big Thief led by Adrianne Lenker in contention.

And while country radio is overloaded with male artists, the Grammys best country album category is packed with women, including Miranda Lambert, Brandy Clark, Ashley McBryde and Ingrid Andress.

Brittany Howard has already won four Grammys with her talented band Alabama Shakes, but her first solo album is getting tons of Grammy love.

Jaime was released last year and is one of those rare albums competing for multiple genres at the Grammys. The album is nominated for best alternative music album, her song Stay High is up for best rock song and best rock performance, the track Goat Head is nominated for best R&B performance, and Short and Sweet is competing for best American Roots performance.

Happy wife, happy life: Jay-Z has lent his songwriting hand to his wife Beyonc and hes earned Grammy nominations for it.

Jay-Z co-wrote Beyoncs Black Parade and Savage with Megan Thee Stallion, and now hes nominated for song of the year, best R&B song and best rap song categories reserved for songwriters.

Jay-Z and Beyonc have won five Grammys together.

Despite rap music being todays most popular genre, no rap albums are nominated for the top prize, album of the year.

Expected nominees included Roddy Ricchs Please Excuse Me for Being Antisocial, Lil Babys My Turn and DaBabys Blame It on Baby or Kirk.

But those albums didnt even score nomination in the best rap album category. Instead, nominees were focused on rap purists and respected lyricists instead of the young performers dominating the pop charts.

Nominees for best rap album include Nas Kings Disease, Jay Electronicas A Written Testimony, Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemists Alfredo, The Allegory by Royce Da 59 and D Smokes Black Habits.

Paul McCartney scored his 79th Grammy nominations this year as an art director.

The former Beatle is nominated for best boxed or special limited edition package for the collectors edition of his 10th solo album, Flaming Pie. Hes listed as one of the art directors on the project, and shares his nomination with Linn Wie Andersen, Simon Earith and James Musgrave.

McCartney is the owner of 18 Grammys.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Best Immersive Audio Album Craft Committee was unable to meet to decide winners for the best immersive audio album Grammy. The judging of the entries has been postponed, and the nominees will be announced next year. The winners for the 2021 award will be announced at the 2022 show.

Heres a list of nominees in the top categories at the 63rd annual Grammy Awards, announced Tuesday by The Recording Academy.

Album of the year: Chilombo, Jhen Aiko; Black Pumas (Deluxe Edition), Black Pumas; Everyday Life, Coldplay; Djesse Vol. 3, Jacob Collier; Women In Music Pt. III, HAIM; Future Nostalgia, Dua Lipa; Hollywoods Bleeding, Post Malone; folklore, Taylor Swift.

Record of the year: Black Parade, Beyonc; Colors, Black Pumas; Rockstar, DaBaby featuring Roddy Ricch; Say So, Doja Cat; Everything I Wanted, Billie Eilish; Dont Start Now, Dua Lipa; Circles, Post Malone; Savage, Megan Thee Stallion featuring Beyonc.

Song of the year (songwriters award): Black Parade, Beyonc, Jay-Z, Derek Dixie, Denisia Andrews, Stephen Bray, Brittany Coney, Akil King, Kim Kaydence Krysiuk and Rickie Caso Tice; The Box, Roddy Ricch and Samuel Gloade; cardigan, Taylor Swift and Aaron Dessner; Circles, Post Malone, Louis Bell, Adam Feeney, Kaan Gunesberk and Billy Walsh; Dont Start Now, Dua Lipa, Caroline Ailin, Ian Kirkpatrick and Emily Warren; Everything I Wanted, Billie Eilish and Finneas; I Cant Breathe, H.E.R., Dernst Emile II and Tiara Thomas; If the World Was Ending, Julia Michaels and JP Saxe.

Best new artist: Ingrid Andress; Phoebe Bridgers; Chika; Noah Cyrus; D Smoke; Doja Cat; Kaytranada; Megan Thee Stallion.

Best pop solo performance: Yummy, Justin Bieber; Say So, Doja Cat; Everything I Wanted, Billie Eilish; Dont Start Now, Dua Lipa; Watermelon Sugar, Harry Styles; cardigan, Taylor Swift.

Best pop duo/group performance: UN DIA (ONE DAY), J Balvin, Dua Lipa, Bad Bunny and Tainy; Intentions, Justin Bieber featuring Quavo; Dynamite, BTS; Rain on Me, Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande; Exile, Taylor Swift featuring Bon Iver.

Best pop vocal album: Changes, Justin Bieber; Chromatica, Lady Gaga; Future Nostalgia, Dua Lipa; Fine Line, Harry Styles; folklore, Taylor Swift.

Best traditional pop vocal album: Blue Umbrella, Burt Bacharach and Daniel Tashian; True Love: A Celebration of Cole Porter, Harry Connick, Jr.; American Standard, James Taylor; Unfollow the Rules, Rufus Wainwright; Judy, Rene Zellweger.

Best dance/electronic album: Kick I, Arca; Planets Mad, Baauer; Energy, Disclosure; Bubba, Kaytranada; Good Faith, Madeon.

Best rock album: A Heros Death, Fontaines D.C.; Kiwanuka, Michael Kiwanuka; Daylight, Grace Potter; Sound & Fury, Sturgill Simpson; The New Abnormal, the Strokes.

Best alternative music album: Fetch the Bolt Cutters, Fiona Apple; Hyperspace, Beck; Punisher, Phoebe Bridgers; Jaime, Brittany Howard; The Slow Rush, Tame Impala.

Best progressive R&B album: Chilombo, Jhen Aiko; Ungodly Hour, Chloe x Halle; Free Nationals, Free Nationals; F Yo Feelings, Robert Glasper; It Is What It Is, Thundercat.

Best R&B album: Happy 2 Be Here, Ant Clemons; Take Time, Giveon; To Feel Loved, Luke James; Bigger Love, John Legend; All Rise, Gregory Porter.

Best rap album: Black Habits, D Smoke; Alfredo, Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist; A Written Testimony, Jay Electronica; Kings Disease, Nas; The Allegory, Royce Da 59.

Best country album: Lady Like, Ingrid Andress; Your Life Is a Record, Brandy Clark; Wildcard, Miranda Lambert; Nightfall, Little Big Town; Never Will, Ashley McBryde.

Best jazz vocal album: ONA, Thana Alexa; Secrets Are the Best Stories, Kurt Elling featuring Danilo Prez; Modern Ancestors, Carmen Lundy; Holy Room: Live at Alte Oper, Somi with Frankfurt Radio Big Band; Whats the Hurry, Kenny Washington.

Best jazz instrumental album: On the Tender Spot of Every Calloused Moment, Ambrose Akinmusire; Waiting Game, Terri Lyne Carrington and Social Science; Happening: Live at the Village Vanguard, Gerald Clayton; Trilogy 2, Chick Corea, Christian McBride and Brian Blade; RoundAgain, Redman Mehldau McBride Blade.

Best gospel album: 2econd Wind: Ready, Anthony Brown & group therAPy; My Tribute, Myron Butler; Choirmaster, Ricky Dillard; Gospel According to PJ, PJ Morton; Kierra, Kierra Sheard.

Best contemporary Christian music album: Run to the Father, Cody Carnes; All of My Best Friends, Hillsong Young & Free; Holy Water, We the Kingdom; Citizen of Heaven, Tauren Wells; Jesus Is King, Kanye West.

Best Latin pop or urban album: YHLQMDLG, Bad Bunny; Por Primera Vez, Camilo; Mesa Para Dos, Kany Garca; Pausa, Ricky Martin; 3:33, Debi Nova.

Best Latin rock or alternative album: Aura, Bajofondo; Monstruo, Cami; Sobrevolando, Cultura Proftica; La Conquista del Espacio, Fito Pez; Miss Colombia, Lido Pimienta.

Best reggae album: Upside Down 2020, Buju Banton; Higher Place, Skip Marley; It All Comes Back to Love, Maxi Priest; Got to Be Tough, Toots and the Maytals; One World, The Wailers.

Best spoken world album: Acid for the Children: A Memoir, Flea; Alex Trebek The Answer Is, Ken Jennings; Blowout: Corrupted Democracy, Rogue State Russia, and the Richest, Most Destructive Industry on Earth, Rachel Maddow; Catch and Kill, Ronan Farrow; Charlottes Web (E.B. White), Meryl Streep (and full cast).

Best comedy album: Black Mitzvah, Tiffany Haddish; I Love Everything, Patton Oswalt; The Pale Tourist, Jim Gaffigan; Paper Tiger, Bill Burr; 23 Hours to Kill, Jerry Seinfeld.

Best compilation soundtrack for visual media: A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood; Bill & Ted Face the Music; Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga; Frozen 2; Jojo Rabbit.

Best score soundtrack for visual media: Ad Astra, Max Richter; Becoming, Kamasi Washington; Joker, Hildur Gunadttir; 1917, Thomas Newman; Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, John Williams.

Producer of the year, non-classical: Jack Antonoff; Dan Auerbach; Dave Cobb; Flying Lotus; Andrew Watt.

Best music video: Brown Skin Girl, Beyonc; Life Is Good, Future featuring Drake; Lockdown, Anderson .Paak; Adore You, Harry Styles; Goliath, Woodkid.

Best music film: Beastie Boys Story, Beastie Boys; Black Is King, Beyonc; We Are Freestyle Love Supreme, Freestyle Love Supreme (including Lin-Manuel Miranda); Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice, Linda Ronstadt; That Little Ol Band from Texas, ZZ Top.

Read more here:

BTS, snubbed singers and Black Lives Matter: Here are 12 things to know about this year's Grammy Award nominees - MarketWatch

Dr. Melina Abdullah is Professor of Pan-African Studies at Cal State LA and co-founder of Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles.

Tyler Boudreaux is a Los Angeles writer and creative and a member of Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles.

2020 is a year that the world has cracked wide open. As the Spirits of #AhmaudArbery, #BreonnaTaylor, and #GeorgeFloyd resonated globally, they were met by the spiritual energy of #DijonKizzee, #FrederickWilliams, and dozens of others whose lives were stolen by police violence right here in Los Angeles. In the midst of the most catastrophic health pandemic and economic fallout of our lifetimes, the significant of these murders weighed on us differently and challenged us to respond in a manner that made Black Lives Matter the largest racial and social justice movement in history. As the year comes to a close, it is imperative that we use our collective economic power to transform systems and make Black Lives Matter.

The global pandemic forced the world to recalibrate. Stay-at-home orders, travel restrictions, business shutdowns, school closures, and new ordinances were rolled out to protect us from a virus, also slowing us down from our normal, often frenzied and distracted lives. We were forced to confront the hunting and murder of #AhmaudArbery by the father-son-white-supremacist-duo-with-law-enforcement-backgorund. We had time to contemplate what it means that Minneapolis police officer Derrick Chauvin took eight-minutes-and-forty-six seconds to kill #GeorgeFloyd. We heaved, and grieved, and mourned the murder of a sleeping #BreonnaTaylor.

We rose up in Los Angeles when County Sheriffs criminalized #DijonKizzee for riding a bike to justify shooting him dead and leaving his body uncovered and in the gutter for at least 18 hours. And the video of a deputy pulling up on small gathering of young Black men in Mona Park, then chasing and shooting #FrederickWilliams in the back seven times, is a stark reminder of the slave patrol origins of policing in this country.

2020 is also marked by the harrowing statistics of life for African Americans in the pandemic. According to the Centers for Disease Control, Black people are more than twice as likely to get the virus, four times as likely to be hospitalized, and twice as likely to die from COVID. It is estimated that nearly 48% of African Americans are unemployed or have reduced employment under the pandemic, but only 13% receive unemployment benefits. Black households are twice as likely to be evicted as White households. In Los Angeles, Black people officially account for 34% of the homeless population, despite only being 8% of the total population. Data like this shines a light on the potential devastation this financial disaster could have on the future of our community. All of these issues were presented to and ignored by many of the leaders of Los Angeles under the banner of #BlackLADemands, including Mayor Garcetti (who is now being vetted for a Biden-Harris cabinet appointment).

Nonetheless, Black people voted and organized, serving as the driving force to usher Trump out of the White Houseand District Attorney Jackie Lacey out of the Hall of (In)Justice. We are witnessing our power produce waves of change. As we come into the 2020 holiday season, which will look and feel unlike any other, our dollars translate into power.

From November 27, 2020 to January 1, 2021, Black Lives Matter calls for the harnessing of our economic power with even greater urgency under the banner of #BlackXmas. The murder of #JohnCrawford inside a Walmart store in Beaver Creek, Ohio in 2014 first inspired #BlackXmas as an acknowledgement of the white-capitalist complicity in the state-sanctioned murder of Black people. The police did not murder #JohnCrawford and #StevenTaylor inside Walmart stores, #SkyYoung inside Walgreens, #YuvetteHenderson at Home Depot, or #GrecharioMack inside the Crenshaw Mall as rogue state agents; they did so as protectors of white-capitalism. The economic system that requires racism and violence must be held accountable through conscious divestment.

We must also invest in the principle of ujamaa cooperative economics. Our dollars can be used as a form of collective resistance. As we divest from entities that profit from our murder and devalue Black life, we also invest in the building of Black community by committing to: #BuildBlack, #BuyBlack and #BankBlack. #BuildBlack means staving off the white-capitalist attempt to lure us into rampant consumerism and instead using our dollars to support Black-led/Black-serving organizations. When we choose to buy, #BuyBlack intentionally spending our dollars with Black-owned businesses that benefit our community. We must also refuse to allow our money to be used to finance our oppression and withdraw our dollars from white-owned corporate banks that finance private prisons, environmental degradation, and gentrification; and consider Black banks like One United and Broadway Federal.

While large corporations like Amazon, Target and Walmart doubled their profits during the pandemic and individuals like Jeff Bezos quadrupled their wealth, about 41% of Black-owned businesses have closed for good. This demonstrates just how important it is to spend intentionally this holiday season with Black-owned businesses that provide vital services, jobs and other community benefits.

Consumers spend over 700 billion dollars each year on holiday shopping. Together, we can work to strengthen the remaining Black-owned businesses and help establish blossoming ones.

This is a moment that the world has cracked wide open. As the portal threatens to close, we must not let it do so without honoring the lives of those whose names we hashtag and the Ancestors who we call upon, by doing all that we can to remake the world. Our money is a form of power. Its not enough to say Black Lives Matter, we must build, buy, and bank like Black Lives Matter.

Additional resources are available at blackxmas.org.

Link:

The Urgency of Black Lives Matters #BlackXmas in the Midst of Pandemic - Lasentinel

Oxford Languages named a whole list of words as Word of the Year this year, calling it words of an unprecedented year.

The English language, like all of us, has had to adapt rapidly and repeatedly this year, Oxford Languages state. Given the phenomenal breadth of language change and development during 2020, Oxford Languages concluded that this is a year which cannot be neatly accommodated in one single word.

The words include COVID-19, Black Lives Matter, superspreader, mail-in, cancel culture and more.

What was genuinely unprecedented this year was the hyper-speed at which the English-speaking world amassed a new collective vocabulary relating to the coronavirus, and how quickly it became, in many instances, a core part of the language, the organization said. Even back in April we noted that the frequency of the word coronavirus had exceeded one of the most frequently used nouns in the English language, time, as detected by our corpus data.

Oxford Languages said that by March coronavirus was one of the most frequently used nouns in the English language but its not the only word influenced by the pandemic.

The World Health Organization announced that it was characterizing COVID-19 as a pandemic, and since then pandemic has become one of the most significant words of the year its frequency has increased over 57,000% since last year, Oxford Languages said.

The presidential election, the environment and remote working all influenced the list too.

See below for some of the listed terms and definitions.

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COVID-19, Black Lives Matter, Superspreader: Oxford names 2020 words of the year, saying this year cannot be - MassLive.com

The West Indies team kneel in support of Black Lives Matter at Eden Park. Photo / Photosport

The global Black Lives Matter campaign came to Eden Park tonight as the New Zealand and West Indian teams took a knee before their season-opening T20 cricket international.

The gesture of solidarity was warmly received by the crowd, who applauded throughout.

Taking a knee has become a silent, powerful and yet in some quarters controversial, act to highlight racial injustice.

While the movement's origins lie in the protest by San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who originally sat during the pre-game playing of the American national anthem in protest against police brutality, it has mushroomed into a global effort to fight systemic racism.

It has gained significant traction since the murder of unarmed black man George Floyd in Minneapolis was caught on camera.

Sport continues to provide the tip of the spear in the fight against racism.

"Earlier this year, on the test tour of England, the team took the decision to take the knee and wear the BLM logo on the shirt," West Indies captain Kieron Pollard said.

"This was a powerful demonstration in the fight for equality and against injustice, and we want to continue to show our commitment and raise awareness during this series as well."

It was an easy decision to show solidarity alongside the Windies, said Black Caps T20 captain Tim Southee.

"It's something that is close to [the hearts] of the West Indies side and something that we're happy to support along with the 'Give nothing to racism' campaign from the New Zealand Human Rights Commission," said Southee.

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"The two work well together."

The "take a knee" movement has been topical in the cricket world, with South Africa opting not to do so during an upcoming series against England.

"As a team, we have unanimously chosen not to take the knee at the upcoming matches, but to continue to work together in our personal, team and public spaces to dismantle racism," the South African players said in a joint statement.

"This decision was taken by the team collectively ... This is not a decision compelled on us by either our management or our coaches."

The decision has been criticised as "tone deaf" by some as the Proteas were excluded from international cricket from 1970 until 1991 due to the country's apartheid policy.

Australia was also criticised for not taking a knee during a recent tour of England.

The Windies are wearing a BLM emblem on their sleeves for the T20 series, which will revert to the collar for the two tests, starting next week. It was designed by Alicia Hosannah, partner of Watford professional footballer Troy Deeney, who is of Jamaican heritage.

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Cricket: West Indies and Black Caps take knee for Black Lives Matter - New Zealand Herald

What was it like recording a solo project? Was it almost cathartic?

It was like looking through a microscope under a magnifying glass from 30,000 feet. It was a challenge I hadn't expected. I thought I'd be able to play this thing front to back, but there's no lyrics to hide behind - no singing, no band. To be that exposed caught me off-guard. It's one thing to record a song or two as an instrumental, as I've done over the years - but I've never recorded a 30-plus-minute piece in one go with no lyrics. As much as I thought I was going to breeze through it, it took a few passes - full disclosure.

For people who may discover you through this record, what do you hope new listeners will take away from it? Is there a specific journey you had in mind?

I've always approached my music as if every single record I make is my first. If this is the first record of mine that people will hear, that's exciting. It introduces who I am and my commitment to the lap steel very clearly. There's a part of me that loves the fact that [this record] will be my introduction to some people.

Ideally, I would like it to bring out people's individual emotions, and they can use the music as the soundtrack to those emotions. I don't want to sound overly earnest or tell anyone what to feel... but anything that makes you feel - I mean, I go through my day trying to feel something.

With the current climate, it doesn't look like people will be enjoying live music anytime soon. What's your plan with promotion?

I don't know. By the end of the year, if there's nothing possible, I'll probably do one event online. As far as getting out in front of people, that probably won't happen until next American summer.

I just know I want to contribute to whatever is most safe.

Ben Harper's Winter Is For Lovers is available to download on all streaming platforms.

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Ben Harper talks Winter Is For Lovers, Black Lives Matter and special relationship with New Zealand - Newshub

The poll worker, stationed at a Memphis early voting site, had told voters last week to turn their shirts inside out before allowing them to vote, said Shelby County Election Commission spokeswoman Suzanne Thompson.

But the fired poll worker, who the election commission didn't name, "brought his personal bias into the job" when he asked the voters to turn their Black Lives Matter shirts inside out, Thompson told CNN.

Poll workers are trained in what voters can and cannot wear -- clothing with "Make America Great Again" or "Biden-Harris" wouldn't be allowed since they're directly affiliated with candidates and could influence other voters.

Black Lives Matter is not directly affiliated with a political party as the fired poll worker suggested, and Shelby County poll workers are explicitly trained not to discriminate against voters wearing clothing with a message of social justice, Thompson said.

"That is in your handout in training that that is an acceptable thing to wear," Thompson said.

Two other voters were challenged for 'I Can't Breathe' clothing, state rep says

The Memphis polling place where the fired poll worker was stationed is located in Tennessee Rep. Antonio Parkinson's district, which Parkinson said is an area where a majority of residents are Black.

The congressman said the same polling place has seen previous incidents of voters being told not to wear clothing associated with Black Lives Matter.

"This didn't even just start," he told CNN. "It was happening in the primary first."

The first incident occurred in the primary election in early 2020, when a woman wearing an "I Can't Breathe" shirt told Parkinson she wasn't allowed to vote until she turned her shirt inside out, he told CNN.

Another woman, who voted at the same location this month, was wearing an "I Can't Breathe" mask when a poll worker began to follow her around the voting location, eventually putting a hand on her shoulder. The woman felt she was being followed because of the message on her mask, though she refused to remove it, Parkinson said.

The women, both Black, felt "intimidated" and "threatened" by the poll worker, Parkinson said.

He said he believes the poll worker who was fired is the same worker who challenged the women for their "I Can't Breathe" shirt and mask, but the Shelby County Election Commission has not publicly identified the poll worker or the voters involved.

Thompson said she didn't know if the poll worker was involved in the incidents Parkinson described. It's possible, she said, since the same poll workers tend to work multiple elections.

"If he was accused of that, it never reached the administrative level," she told CNN. "(If it had), we would've done the same thing."

An improved voting experience

When the election commission received the complaint last week, an operations manager visited the voting site, questioned the poll workers there and dismissed the worker who'd asked voters to turn out their shirts, Thompson said.

Since the incident, the Shelby County Election Commission has reminded workers at all 26 polling places in the county that it's acceptable for voters to wear clothing with social statements on them as long as they're not linked to a political candidate, she said.

Voters who believe they're being unfairly denied the right to vote because of something they're wearing can call the Election Protection coalition's hotline (866-OUR-VOTE) or the the Department of Justice's voting rights hotline (800-253-3931).

CNN's Faith Karimi contributed to this report.

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A poll worker was fired for telling voters to turn their 'Black Lives Matter' shirts inside out - CNN

A Starbucks customer in San Diego said "F--- Black Lives Matter" to a Black barista when asked to put on a mask Saturday.

The barista, 19-year-old Alex Beckom, spoke out about the incident that took place in Santee Saturday, 18 miles northeast of San Diego, local NBC affiliate KNSD reported.

"I'm Black in America, so I've dealt with these kinds of situations before, so I am able to stay calm and collected in these types of situations because I don't want to risk my job," Beckom said in an interview with the station.

Footage from the incident shows a disgruntled customer with her mask at chin-level standing next to the coffee bar, as Beckom requests the woman to wear her mask the next time she enters the store.

"When you talk to me like that, I know it's because you're discriminating against me because I'm a Trump supporter," the customer says. "F--- Black Lives Matter. I need a straw."

A white female disrespects a black barista after she asks her to pull her mask up.pic.twitter.com/yQGwRGYdZo

Beckom handed the customer a straw, saying, "Here you are."

"Thank you," the customer says. "And I need sugar, too, please, the raw sugar, like, two packets, please."

As Beckom grabs the sugar, she reiterates that the woman customer should wear her mask the next time she visits the store.

"It's not a law," the customer said in a louder volume. "It's a hoax, I don't have to wear a mask, I'm not going to wear a mask," she shouts. "This is America. I don't have to do what you say! Trump 2020!"

As the customer walks out, Beckom adds, "You need leave, thank you." The customer then leaves, but not before yelling through a cracked door "F--- Black Lives Matter" another time.

KNSD reported the customer repeatedly took down her mask to speak to another shop barista.

Beckom said when she asked the woman to keep a mask on in the store, she at first complied but later took it off.

"Even the president got [COVID-19], so I don't understand how now it's something that's turned into such a them or me situation when it should be everyone coming together to make sure we all don't get sick or get hurt," Beckom added.

Starbucks released a statement condemning the behavior of the customer, saying, "This behavior is not welcome in our stores," adding, "Our focus right now is providing support to our partner who demonstrated tremendous composure during a very difficult interaction."

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Starbucks customer says 'F--- Black Lives Matter' when asked to put on mask | TheHill - The Hill