Blog by Sil Lai Abrams
Jesse Williams’ speech was profound and emblematic of what it means to be “truly woke,” yet for some it wasn’t enough. While many tweeted their adoration for his message, there was a vocal group of people expressing their frustration that Williams — a light-skinned, biracial Black man, was being given center stage as “the face” for the Black Lives Matter movement. While criticizing his appearance, they conveniently ignored that there are plenty of prominent Black folks with darker complexions who haven’t said a damn thing their entire lives about social justice, stars with platforms even bigger than Williams.
Those of us with light-skin privilege who speak up about the injustices that we all face as Black people should not have their message minimized while being vilified for their appearance. Our skin color is our birthright, one that no one has control over receiving. We do however, have control over how we acknowledge the advantages or disadvantages of our color.
Loretta Devine is a national black treasure. In addition to being practically everyone’s imaginary auntie, Devine is also one of the hardest working actresses in the entertainment industry. Her career spans decades, with television and movie roles in everything from “A Different World” to “Crash.”
Devine, who currently stars on the hit NBC sitcom “The Carmichael Show,” says she’s happy about the current influx of black woman on television like Kerry Washington, Viola Davis, and Gabrielle Union, even though she feels like she’s missing out: “If you’re a black woman in your 20s or 30s, you can be a leading lady.”
This Politician Wants Congress To Fight Gentrification
State Sen. Adriano Espaillat faces a crowded and contentious Democratic primary election Tuesday for the open seat in New York’s 13th Congressional District. If he beats out his opponents and goes on to win retiring U.S. Rep. Charlie Rangel’s seat, he would represent neighborhoods in Manhattan and the Bronx.
Three of those, Central Harlem, East Harlem and Morningside Heights, are some of the most rapidly gentrifying neighborhoods in New York City, according to a May report from New York University’s Furman Center. Harlem, historically a center of black culture, has undergone significant changes. In Central Harlem, rents climbed 53 percent between 1990 and 2014. Since 2000, the black population fell from 77 percent to 55 percent, as the white population increased from 2 percent to 15 percent. The Hispanic population also increased, from 17 percent to 24 percent.
“Gentrification and income inequality and affordability are such an important issue for New Yorkers,” Espaillat said. “New York [is] becoming more and more expensive, and many families are having a hard time making ends meet, or are just moving elsewhere, because they just can’t afford to live here.”
Damon Dash says he wasn’t initially fazed by the controversy surrounding his ex-wife, Rachel Roy, and the lyrics on Beyoncé’s visual album, “Lemonade,” until his daughters were drawn into the drama.
On Monday, the music mogul appeared on an episode of “Access Hollywood Live,” where he shared his thoughts on rumors surrounding Roy — who is the mother of his two daughters — being called out as “Becky with the good hair” on Bey’s hit song, “Sorry.”
Dash stated that he doesn’t care about the rumors, but he did take issue with fans harassing his daughters on social media in response to the backlash against Roy.
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