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Post by Admin on Jun 7, 2020 6:27:53 GMT
Tucker Carlson went on another strange rant Friday night, in which he misrepresented the current uprising against endemic racism in American society as the work of “looters and rioters.”
After sneering at “cynical, soulless, craven corporations” that have donated money to organizational efforts, Carlson hilariously called out celebrities who have also cut a check. With his grouchy, faux-alarmed face in one rectangle and an image of flames in another, names like Steve Carell, Don Cheadle, Harry Styles, Seth Rogen, Patton Oswalt, Cynthia Nixon, Rob Delaney, Kehlani, Nick Kroll and others scrolled by alongside their pictures.
Surely those watching at home must have dropped their monocles in their soup to learn that Janelle Monae and Colin Kaepernick are donating money. I hope they had a defibrillator on hand.
Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds got a shout-out (though no pic!) for giving $200,000 to the NAACP’s legal defense fund, and Lil Nas X was chastised for urging hisMany people who give money have misgivings about trumpeting the act too widely. There is a certain nobility in making a donation and keeping it anonymous. There is, however, the added dimension with celebrities. If the cast of Brooklyn 99 acts, it may cause fans of that show to think differently about police tactics and institutional injustice. It may even inspire them to cough up a few bucks themselves, despite Carlson’s to-the-fainting-couch suggestion that the new incarcerated are “people who may very well have attacked those [that Brooklyn 99 cast members] portray on TV!” followers to give to bail funds after Carlson stated that the rapper was culpable for inciting riots.
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Post by Admin on Jun 10, 2020 0:15:51 GMT
Taylor Swift is once again using her platform to advocate for change.
On Tuesday, the star, 30, shared a Tweet thread encouraging people to vote in order to fight against police brutality and racism.
"Racial injustice has been ingrained deeply into local and state governments, and changes MUST be made there," she wrote in her first tweet. "In order for policies to change, we need to elect people who will fight against police brutality and racism of any kind. #BlackLivesMatter."
"This article written by @barackobama is a fascinating read about changing policy at the state and local levels," she continued in her next tweet, which included a link to former President Barack Obama's article on Medium titled "How to Make this Moment the Turning Point for Real Change."
In the article, Obama, 58, highlighted the importance of voting and participating in electoral politics in addition to protesting.
"The point of protest is to raise public awareness, to put a spotlight on injustice, and to make the powers that be uncomfortable; in fact, throughout American history, it’s often only been in response to protests and civil disobedience that the political system has even paid attention to marginalized communities," he wrote. "But eventually, aspirations have to be translated into specific laws and institutional practices — and in a democracy, that only happens when we elect government officials who are responsive to our demands."
In the last tweet of her thread, Swift shared a similar sentiment by urging people to fight for access to mail-in voting for the 2020 election since ongoing concerns about the novel coronavirus, COVID-19 might hinder some from going to the polls.
"We need to fight for mail-in voting for the 2020 election. No one should have to choose between their health and having their voice heard," she wrote.
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Post by Admin on Jun 12, 2020 0:38:03 GMT
As the saying goes, the celebs are at it again. On Thursday a PSA starring A-listers including Kristen Bell, Kesha, Aaron Paul, Stanley Tucci, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Debra Messing launched a new campaign called #ITakeResponsibility. Launched by entertainment production company Confluential Content, in partnership with the NAACP, the campaign aims to call on white people to call out racism and support black lives through various causes. But its somber black-and-white production, combined with some very Actorly Performances from certain celebs, might hurt the initiative more than it helps.  The video’s script is clear and laudable. Stars take turns reading, in part, “I take responsibility for every unchecked moment, for every time it was easier to ignore than to call it out for what it was. Every not-so-funny joke. Every unfair stereotype. Every blatant injustice no matter how big or small. Every time I remained silent. Every time I explained away police brutality or turned a blind eye. I take responsibility. Black people are being slaughtered in the streets. Killed in their own homes. These are our brothers and sisters. Our friends. Our family. We are done watching them die. We are no longer bystanders; we will not be idle. Enough is enough.” But the celebrities’ performed earnestness during their line reads has drawn widespread mockery online, as Twitter users note some Emmy-baiting performances and, in some cases, ask why white celebrities are talking instead of simply donating some of their millions to the cause. |
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Post by Admin on Jun 13, 2020 7:34:41 GMT
Taylor Swift is doing her part in the fight against racial injustice.
On Tuesday, Minneapolis residents Yasmine Norman and Grace Norman shared a video on Instagram explaining that they would be going out on a "big haul" to purchase hair and skincare products to bring to a local church requesting the items for people and families of color in need.
“I know that haircare and skincare for people of color can be both more expensive and harder to find in the stores," Yasmine said in the video, explaining why she was inspired to help the cause.
The clip — which was set to Swift's activist anthem "Only the Young" — caught the attention of the singer, who then donated $1,300 to go towards the purchasing of additional products.
"Yasmine and Grace, thank you SO MUCH for everything you're doing to help people. Here's a gift for this run, please let me know about anything in the future! Love, Taylor," the note from Swift, which was posted to Yasmine's Twitter page, read.
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Post by Admin on Jun 14, 2020 5:49:49 GMT
 Taylor Swift is calling on Tennessee lawmakers to remove racist monuments, arguing “villains don’t deserve statues”. “As a Tennessean, it makes me sick that there are monuments standing in our state that celebrate racist historical figures who did evil things,” tweeted Swift, who owns a home in Nashville. “Edward Carmack and Nathan Bedford Forrest were DESPICABLE figures in our state history and should be treated as such.” Swift’s outrage comes after demonstrators toppled a statue of Carmack that sat outside the Tennessee Capitol on 30 May. Carmack was a prominent attorney and newspaperman in Tennessee and served in the state senate from 1901 to 1908. His statue was first erected in 1927. Swift noted Carmack was known for writing pro-lynching articles and promoted violent attacks against the trailblazing Black journalist Ida B Wells. Tennessee has said it would replace the statue. But Swift argued that would be “a waste of state funds and a waste of an opportunity to do the right thing”. She suggested Carmack’s statue be replaced with a memorial to Wells “for her pioneering work in journalism and civil rights”. |
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