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Jada Pinkett’s Not A Fan Of All Eyez On Me: “The Reimagining Of My Relationship To Pac Has Been Deeply Hurful”

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jada pinkett tupac All Eyez On Me

Credit: Getty

Most people are aware that Jada Pinkett-Smith and Tupac shared a special relationship. Over the years, Jada has shared aspects of that relationship with the public from time to time, but the actress says the way she and Pac were portrayed in All Eyez on Me does not do either of them any justice.

As you know, All Eyez on Me hit theaters worldwide today on the birthday of the late rapper. And upon seeing the film, Jada had some harsh truths to expose about the biopic which she shared on Facebook and Twitter.

Forgive me… my relationship to Pac is too precious to me for the scenes in All Eyez On Me to stand as truth.

Pac never read me that poem. I didn’t know that poem existed until it was printed in his book.

Pac never said goodbye to me before leaving for LA. He had to leave abruptly and it wasn’t to pursue his career.

I’ve never been to any of Pac’s shows by his request. We never had an argument backstage.

The reimagining of my relationship to Pac has been deeply hurtful.

To Kat and Demetrius this is no fault of yours. Thank for bringing so much heart and spirit to your roles. You both did a beautiful job with what you were given. Thank you both.

Happy birthday Pac, you are cradled in my heart for eternity. I love you.

While neither Kat Graham, who plays Jada in the movie, and Demetrius Shipp Jr., who took on the role of the Pac have yet to address the tweets, fans responses to Jada’s message were mixed, with many questioning why the movie was made without her input and others declaring they still plan to see the film.

https://twitter.com/Canadianlka/status/875752481266876416

What do you think about Jada’s reaction? Will you still see All Eyez on Me?

The post Jada Pinkett’s Not A Fan Of All Eyez On Me: “The Reimagining Of My Relationship To Pac Has Been Deeply Hurful” appeared first on MadameNoire.


Tinashe’s Colorism Controversy And Sasha Obama’s Birthday Slay | Did Y’all See?

“I Didn’t Notice It At First” Model Stephen Cone Talks Developing Vitiligo Mid-Career

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stephen cone talks struggles with vitiligo

When late pop star Michael Jackson first opened up about his struggles with vitiligo, the skin condition that causes white patches to appear on various parts of the body due to depigmentation, many people made jokes about his condition and assumed it was just an excuse for insecurities about his race and African-American features. Today thanks to famous faces like model, Winnie Harlow and child model, Angel Star we now know that vitiligo is something many people live with and learn to accept and embrace. But male model, Stephen Cone is reminding us that struggles with skin color and black beauty isn’t something American culture has a monopoly on. BET reports that the 23-year-old shared that growing up in London with dark skin wasn’t easy:

“Growing up I was bullied and teased for being ‘dark skin’ and not just from kids and other classmates, but teachers as well.”

“It really affected me. I didn’t know how to process it at a young age and embrace and love myself and my skin.”

Eventually, Cone began to be inspired by actors like Lance Gross and Idris Elba, actors in whom he saw reflections of himself in popular culture, but his awakening self-love was almost interrupted by a diagnosis of vitiligo. He shares he wasn’t exactly sure what was happening at first:

“I didn’t notice it at first.”

“Really, I thought it was a rash of some sort but my friend on our way to class pointed it out, and I joked around and said I had vitiligo. Which at the time I didn’t know I did. I was just trying to cover up the fact that I was actually embarrassed about what was going on.”

He says the diagnosis momentarily brought back feelings of isolation and self-hate:

“I felt like my younger self before the confidence.”

“When I first got the news I was hurt. The first dermatologist made it seem like there wasn’t much I could do. I was like, ‘Man, I just got comfortable in my skin. And now this is happening?!’ How are people going to look at me? How can I stand in front of a camera like this? I felt like I was just starting to look OK to people and now I look worse.”

Instagram Photo

Cone says thanks to his girlfriend he was able to overcome those feelings by sharing his story on social media, and giving a voice to black men who aren’t very vocal about building confidence and struggling with their appearance. He says her support along with other factors like God, friends and people who were familiar with his situation encouraged him to continue pursuing his dreams.

Instagram Photo

The unsigned model says forces in the fashion industry like Winnie Harlow are bringing an awareness to the public about vitiligo which he appreciates:

“First off she is beautiful; vitiligo or no vitiligo. And from what I know about her, I think she is an amazing voice and model for those who have vitiligo. I mean it! Because of people like her, we have even more awareness about this skin condition.”

Cone also expresses that there’s beauty in vulnerability and expressing masculine emotion, something that often isn’t highlighted in African-American culture:

“My advice to men is to continue to be strong because that is our identity; to be strong and to be leaders but in that we have to show emotion. It’s through our emotional experiences that we connect with others. That’s what I’ve learned with sharing my story.”

Cone is giving us all kinds of black boy joy with his message and a little “Kofi Siriboe” flavor. We have no doubt he’ll be the face of somebody’s national campaign in the near future.

Do you or does anyone you know have vitiligo?  In what ways do you embrace your beauty despite public opinion?

 

The post “I Didn’t Notice It At First” Model Stephen Cone Talks Developing Vitiligo Mid-Career appeared first on MadameNoire.

Apparently Coconut Oil Isn’t As Healthy As We All Thought… Or Is It?

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For the past few years, there’s been a craze over coconut oil, with many dubbing it  the ultimate multi-tasker and natural beauty staple. You can use it for everything from a makeup remover, moisturizer, shaving balm, to even cooking with it as a healthy alternative to butter and other cooking oils.

However, The Dietary Fats and Cardiovascular Disease advisory of the American Heart Association found that coconut oil increases LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol), explaining that 82 percent of its composition is saturated fats. In comparison, it’s 19 percent more saturated fats than butter and 32 percent more than pork lard.

Marie-Pierre St-Onge, associate professor of nutritional medicine at Cornell University Medical School, shared her thoughts on why intaking coconut oil in particular isn’t good for you.

“The reason coconut oil is so popular for weight loss is partly due to my research on medium chain triglycerides,” she told TIME. “Coconut oil has a higher proportion of medium-chain triglycerides than most other fats or oils, and my research showed eating medium-chain triglycerides may increase the rate of metabolism more than eating long-chain triglycerides.”

Nevertheless, St-Onge’s research actually turns out to be a little misleading, as it’s been reported that the coconut oil she used was filled 100 percent medium-chain triglycerides, or MCT. In comparison, the coconut oil most people buy from the grocery story typically only contains 13 to 15 percent MCT.

The verdict? We’re definitely still using coconut oil in our daily beauty routine, but we’ll skip out on it in the kitchen.

The post Apparently Coconut Oil Isn’t As Healthy As We All Thought… Or Is It? appeared first on MadameNoire.

Meet The Ladies Who “Got In Formation” And Are The First Recipients Of Beyoncé’s Scholarship Fund

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formation scholarship recipients announced

On Thursday, the Beygood Foundation announced that four phenomenal women got in formation and will receive $25,000 towards their education because of it. To receive the woman-only scholarship the women had to maintain a 3.5 GPA and write about how Beyoncé’s Lemonade inspired them in their educational pursuits.

Huff Post reports that four black women were chosen. Maya Rogers and Bria Paige both attend historically black colleges and universities. Rogers is a graduate student studying music therapy at Howard University and Paige is an English major currently enrolled at Spelman College. The other two recipients are artists in their own right. Sadiya Ramos is a sophomore studying dance at Berklee College of Music and second-year student, Avery Youngblood is studying graphic design at Parsons School of Design.

In a press release, Paige said Lemonade was behind her decision to “pursue doctoral studies centered on black feminist thought”:

“As I prepare to enter into my junior year at Spelman College, I walk with new purpose as I work to redefine and transform academia, specifically infusing creativity, innovation and popular culture into scholarship.”

“Similar to Beyoncé, I aim to merge two worlds, considered to be complete opposites, to create my own genre of scholarship.”

Congrats ladies! The women will all receive $25,000 towards their education. You can learn more about The Formation Scholarship and this year’s recipients here.

The post Meet The Ladies Who “Got In Formation” And Are The First Recipients Of Beyoncé’s Scholarship Fund appeared first on MadameNoire.

Judge Declares Bill Cosby Sexual Assault Case A Mistrial

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Bill Cosby’s sexual assualt case has come to a close.

After the jury – made up of seven men and five women – underwent six days of deliberations and were unable to come to a unanimous verdict on any of the three counts of felony aggravated indecent assault  that Cosby had been charged with, the judge has declared it a mistrial.

But the comedian who plead not guilty isn’t off the hook just yet. According to ABC News, “Kevin R. Steel, the district attorney from Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, who brought the charges, has announced he will retry the case.”

CNN, who has been live reporting the happenings of the case, shared that a spokeswoman for Cosby read a statement from his wife, Camille Cosby, who criticized prosecutors, the judge and the media.

In addition, they reported that Gloria Allred, the attorney representing many of Cosby’s accusers, said she hopes the court will allow other “prior bad act witnesses” to testify at the next trial. “If the court allows more accusers to testify … it might make a difference. In other words, it’s too early to celebrate Mr. Cosby.”

 

The post Judge Declares Bill Cosby Sexual Assault Case A Mistrial appeared first on MadameNoire.

No Nap Time, Stay Woke: Are You Scared Of Your Children Having White Friends?

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scared of children having white friends

I’m terrified at the thought of sending my toddler to daycare. In fact just the other night, as my daughter sat in my lap with her head nestled in my chest, avoiding eye contact with cousins she hadn’t seen in months, I told a relative, “My baby is perfectly fine stepping into the ‘classrooms’ of her two sets of grandparents each week. She won’t step foot into a daycare until it’s time for Pre-K.” Like many new parents that I’m sure have felt this way, survived and soon found themselves asking their kids to tuck and roll their way into school from a moving car, I know these feelings are a part of the process and will pass. The idea of my daughter leaving the protection of her close relatives and entering a world where daycare workers throw children down steps gives me all kinds of anxiety.

But what worries me just as much is the cruelty of other children and my baby entering a world where racism exists and knowing that her classmates won’t all be returning to a household where dinner is served regularly with parents who have a decent idea about boundaries, acceptance and respect. I also know that all those kids won’t be taught about diversity and tolerance and I worry about whose feelings I may have to hurt in the event that they’re careless with those of my child.

Although my daughter is only two, the dilemma my partner I find ourselves facing is whether we want to put up private school tuition and continue to live in Philadelphia or put up tax payments to get our daughter an admittedly better education in the suburbs. Of course as we browse Trulia.com and even occasionally drive through neighborhoods in the county while doing our dose of weekly shopping we jokingly ask each other, “Are there any black folks out here? Will our daughter find herself having to be the class expert on hip-hop, cornrows and African-American culture even if she’s listening to Halsey with the rest of her classmates.” It’s also important to her father that she gets her fair share of “struggle” and at least have an understanding that no matter how fortunate she is that many of her blessings come from humble beginnings. I didn’t realize how real the fears of my daughter facing intolerance were until I came across an article by a woman named Margaret Jacobsen called, “Honestly, Sometimes I’m Uncomfortable With My Children Making White Friends”. In the piece Jacobsen recalls a moment when her bi-racial daughter handled an awkward moment with a “You Tried It” reaction Tamar Braxton would be proud of. Jacobsen was at a friend’s house when a child proceeded to question her daughter about her hair:

“Why did God give you this gross hair? Why didn’t he give you princess hair like mine?’ I just stared at her, because I couldn’t fathom why she would ever say something like that. But thankfully, my daughter didn’t get upset. Instead, she retorted, ‘My hair is perfect. I have a black mom and a white dad, so it actually makes my hair better than your straight hair.’ Then she went back to playing.”

Jacobsen says the moment was the first of many in which she realized other parents weren’t having the same conversations with their kids as she had with her own:

“It was the moment that I realized that not everyone talks to their children about race, which can put my children in an uncomfortable position — and I want to avoid putting them in that position whenever possible.”

Although Jacobsen’s kids are half black and white, she mentions race and respect for other cultures and backgrounds is a conversation that she suspects may not be as prevalent in white households as it is for minorities. She notes that when parents make remarks like, “I don’t see color,” it makes her nervous for her children, because when you don’t see color, you don’t see or appreciate diversity. When you don’t see color you aren’t having conversations with your children that “princess hair” doesn’t just mean straight and blonde, it can be black and curly or red and wavy. I don’t want my daughter to make friends’ with kids’ parents who pull out the dashikis every February to prove that they celebrate all cultures, but I do want other children to know that black is different and wonderful and not something my daughter needs to defend or give a PowerPoint on every time they tune in for an episode of black-ish.

Jacobsen mentions that she finds herself doing a sort of “vetting process” when it comes to her kids’ classmates and their parents to see exactly how “woke” they are. With her kids attending a suburban school outside of a major city, 90% of their classmates are white so for many it’s their first time having any sort of connection to a part of African-American culture. Jacobsen says discussing her work helps to navigate other parents’ ideas on race:

“I’m a photographer and a writer. I write about raising black children, being a black parent, and what it’s like to be black in America.”

For Jacobsen, this her subtle way of expressing how important race is in the life of her family and letting other parents know that her kids are prepared for these types of conversations, but are theirs?

As a parent, all I know is that I don’t want my daughter’s feelings hurt. I know that in the political and cultural climate we live in, that’s a tall order, but I don’t believe it’s impossible. The first time I ever had the subtle scent of racism and stereotyping fill my nostrils was during my freshman year of college when one of my white roommates stated matter-of-factly, “You’re so nice for a black girl.” I wasn’t offended, but I was awoken to the fact that there are plenty of Caucasian kids in Middle-Of-Nowhere, USA towns like where I attended undergrad who believe that every black girl from the city whose name ends in an “A”, will be popping gum, and twerking in some box braids ready to beat a broad’s behind. I know I won’t be able to prevent my daughter from having these types of encounters, but what I can do is teach her to own who she is in the face of ignorance, whether she’s rocking box braids or a bundle of Malaysian down her back. Because as much as parents of all colors may be intimidated by conversations about race, they are necessary. And in Jacobsen’s opinions conversations about race and respect go hand in hand:

“We talk about it. We talk about being black, about the white side of the family, about what it means to have light skin privilege, which my children have. We make sure that whoever comes over is respected and loved, but who they are is never neglected or ignored. We honor the cultures, traditions, and stories that are carried into our home by those who visit us.”

How are you preparing your children to defend themselves against racism and maintain tolerance in today’s world?

Toya Sharee is a Health Resource Specialist who has a  passion for helping young women build their self-esteem and make well-informed choices about their sexual health. She also advocates for women’s reproductive rights and blogs about  everything from beauty to love and relationships. Follow her on Twitter @TheTrueTSharee or visit her blog, Bullets and Blessings.

 

 

 

The post No Nap Time, Stay Woke: Are You Scared Of Your Children Having White Friends? appeared first on MadameNoire.

Pat McGrath Is Releasing A Game-Changing Collection Of Matte Lipsticks Next Month

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Ladies, our favorite makeup guru Pat McGrath is back with yet another product that you’ll want to get your hands on.

After bestowing some really, really cool smokey eye kits upon us in April, she’s now focusing on fleeting our pout with nine-piece collection of beautifully pigmented matte lipsticks. Dubbed Lust MatteTrance, it features three various color palettes to compliment all skin tones. There’s Skin Show, which boasts of nudes; Colour Blitz, which stuns with vibrant hues of red; and Vicious Venoms, which offers striking tones of purple.

In addition to it’s inclusiveness, this matte offering stands out for the fact that it promises to hydrate your lips. And we know how notorious matte lipsticks are for drying out your lips.

In a recent press conference, McGrath spoke about the fascinating creamy yet matte formula and how she developed it, explaining,  “We’d make the perfect matte, and it felt like concrete. Or we’d come up with something that was super comfortable, and it would look oily. So it was just that search for the ultimate matte that was comfortable, but then at the same time gave that feel that you’ve seen in all of my editorials. Our mattes are really bright, but not really masking the beautiful natural texture of your own lip.”
Sounds like a must-have to us! The lipsticks will set you back $38 each or $95 for kits of three, but you’ve got time to save. Or if you’re really, really feeling the collection you can cop a box set that includes every shade for $275.
 McGrath’s MatteTrance collection is limited-edition will launch on PatMcGrathLabs.com at 12 p.m. ET on July 13, and then on Sephora.com (and in seven select Sephora brick-and-mortar stores) on July 28.

The post Pat McGrath Is Releasing A Game-Changing Collection Of Matte Lipsticks Next Month appeared first on MadameNoire.


Keke Palmer Shares The Inspiration Behind Her Latest ‘Do

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she a lil’ street but she so suhweet

A post shared by K E K E (@keke) on

While we all know Keke Palmer as an actress and budding songstress, in recent times she’s emerged as a hair chameleon. Not even a month ago, she was spotted rocking burgundy box braids and now she’s popped up on Instagram sporting a head turning purple buzzcut.

“As you can see from my track record, I love trying new things,” Palmer told Refinery29 in an exclusive interview, where she went on to explain the reason why she chopped off her mane. “I wanted to start over. My texture has changed quite a bit over the years from all the things I’ve done to it. I really want to be able to let my hair rest and become its own thing. I also really wanted to be bald!”

In addition to starting from scratch, Keke offered, “I love trying new things. I love finding new versions of myself. It just makes me feel super inspired.”

She’s the wildcard you wanna be holding.

A post shared by K E K E (@keke) on

With hair being an accessory, Palmer also gushed about changing her wardrobe to compliment her new ‘do. “For me, style is all about self-expression. I’m in a place in my life where I realized I don’t have anything stopping me from expressing myself in any facet, and that makes me happy.”

Check out the entire article here.

The post Keke Palmer Shares The Inspiration Behind Her Latest ‘Do appeared first on MadameNoire.

Here’s How To Say Goodbye To Cystic Acne Without The Help Of A Prescription

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If anyone is privy to the horror that is cystic acne, you’ll want to listen up closely.

Byrdie recently spoke to doctors Gary and Kristina Goldenberg of Goldenberg Dermatology in New York City about the severe type of acne that many women of all ages have encountered at some point in their lives. Surprisingly, the doctors explained that while the infection that forms deep below skin tissue is tough to crack it can actually be managed effectively at home.

Yes, you heard right. Instead of running up a bill at your doctors office, there’s a few steps you can take to get rid of your cystic acne with the help of a prescription.

To begin, the Goldenbergs believes that cystic acne is heavily correlated to diet, explaining, “Diet is very important in development and progression of acne.” Therefore, it’s a good idea to make some modifications to your diet, in particular, cutting out all dairy products. However, they do recommend eating only organic dairy products if you have to. “We recommend a daily probiotic and ask patients to consume more anti-inflammatory foods,” they further offered. “A diet that produces an alkaline state is also important.” In addition to the aforementioned, the duo also believe in lowering your alcohol consumption if you feel like you’ve been indulging too much.

Next, they advise that simply keeping your skin clean will aid in keeping it clear. That means showering immediately after a work out, as you run the risk of “bacteria sitting on your skin. So, instead, just get up and shower and wash your face to keep your pores clean. Pillowcases are also a big deal, too. Keeping them clean is a must. By regularly washing your pillowcases, you’ll avoid irritation and infection.

When it comes to products, the Goldenbergs love peels. “Peels helps acne, and to some extent cystic acne,” say the Goldenbergs. “Peels containing retinoids or glycolic acid can be used alone or in combination with other treatments, such as prescription creams and pills.” But be sure to pick the right one that will suit your skin type well because it could make things worse. So, if you’ve got sensitive skin don’t go for something scented or including harsh ingredients. 

As most know, your stress levels can dictate cystic acne. Therefore, it’s best to as stress free as possible. That means self-care practices and simply taking time out for yourself. According to the Goldenbergs, you’ll see an improvement in your skin by doing such.

Check out the full article here, and kiss cystic acne goodbye!

The post Here’s How To Say Goodbye To Cystic Acne Without The Help Of A Prescription appeared first on MadameNoire.

Warner Bros. Is Reportedly Making A Movie About Mike Brown

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It’s been nearly three years since the untimely death of Mike Brown. The then 18-year-old was gunned down in Ferguson, Missouri by white police officer Darren Wilson. Brown’s death sparked much conversation about race relations in America and the Black Lives Matter movement. Now, Brown’s story is reportedly being developed into a film by Warner Bros.

 

According to The Root, Warner Bros. has acquired the rights to “Tell the Truth & Shame the Devil: The Life, Legacy, and Love of My Son Michael Brown, a memoir co-written by Brown’s mother, Lezley McSpadden, and novelist Lyah Beth LeFlore.

It was also reported that there was a bidding war amongst a number of studios who were interested in making the movie. With Warner Bros. coming out successful, it’s being said that the studio is searching for a writer of color to take on the task of adapting the racially sensitive topic into a screenplay.

Tracking Board also reported that the film will thematically play out like Oscar-winning motion picture, Crash. 

For a refresher, Brown was not armed during the shooting with witnesses saying he had his hands up in the air when Wilson shot him. When taken to court, a St. Louis grand jury didn’t indict Wilson. The U.S. Department of Justice also determined that the witnesses who said Brown’s hands were up were not credible, and Wilson shot Brown in self-defense, ultimately being exonerated.

Stay tuned for the latest developments on Warner Bros. bringing Mike Brown’s story to the big screen.

The post Warner Bros. Is Reportedly Making A Movie About Mike Brown appeared first on MadameNoire.

Ring The Alarm! Take The Chains Off The Doors! This Is Not A Drill. The Carter Twins Are Here!

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beyonce gives birth to twins

Just in case you took a short nap, lost signal in a subway tunnel or got momentarily blinded by a stray eyelash, you may have missed the news that the Carter’s are now officially a family of five.

Multiple news sources have reported that Beyoncé and husband Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter welcomed the twins in Los Angeles recently. TMZ reports that sources close to the family have confirmed that the Lemonade singer gave birth to a boy and girl on Monday in Cedars-Sinai hospital in L.A., but a minor issue has kept the newborns in the hospital and doctors do not feel comfortable releasing them just yet.

So why almost a whole week for the blessed B-day news? A family representative apparently broke the news Saturday to People magazine:

“Bey and Jay are thrilled and have started sharing the news with their family and closest friends.”

The 35-year-old performer announced her pregnancy back in February posting pics of her blossoming belly in a Virgin Mary type photo shoot surrounded by flowers and lingerie. Queen Bey also literally glowed in all her maternity glory at the Grammy’s in the same month to perform songs from her Lemonade album and slayed per usual, despite having to postpone her performance at the Coachella festival in which she was announced as a headliner only a few weeks before (we all know that busy bee will pick up right where she left off and give her fans the performance of a lifetime next year). We also witnessed the couple surrounded by family and friends at an African themed “Carter Push Party”  with guests like Lala Anthony and Serena Williams in attendance. Let’s not forget she also announced she was going to help young women change the world one boss move at a time with her “Formation Scholarship” program.

All I did during my pregnancy was put together an IKEA shelf and develop an expensive Talenti Southern Butter Pecan Gelato habit. What you thought creating two lives was going to slow the almighty Bey down? Congrats to the Carter family!  We know Blue Ivy is going to be the best big sister and Jay-Z just received the greatest Father’s Day gifts ever.

The post Ring The Alarm! Take The Chains Off The Doors! This Is Not A Drill. The Carter Twins Are Here! appeared first on MadameNoire.

This Rapper Wants To Call Out The Bail Bond Industry By Bailing Out Men For Father’s Day

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national geographic picks up race with jay-z

On Friday (June 16), TIME published an op-ed written by none other than lauded recording artist, philanthropist and father Jay Z. The topic? Father’s Day and his idea to use the celebration honoring fathers and celebrating fatherhood, paternal bonds, and the influence of fathers in society to reveal the crooked nature of America’s bail bond industry.

“If you’re from neighborhoods like the Brooklyn one I grew up in, if you’re unable to afford a private attorney, then you can be disappeared into our jail system simply because you can’t afford bail,” he wrote.

Jay Z  went on to explain that big bail companies prosper by the over-policing and arresting black and brown people, in which turns into them being “forced to pay for their freedom before they ever see trial.” A devastating reality for many families, the rapper went on to drop staggering statistics.

In particular, he reported that “One in 9 black children has an incarcerated parent. Families are forced to take on more debt, often in predatory lending schemes created by bail bond insurers. Or their loved ones linger in jails, sometimes for months—a consequence of nationwide backlogs. Every year $9 billion dollars are wasted incarcerating people who’ve not been convicted of a crime, and insurance companies, who have taken over our bail system, go to the bank.”

To further lament the dangerous nature of the bail industry, he references the tragic deaths of Kalief Browder and Sandra Bland, who served as as examples of how not being able to make bail can end horribly.

To show his support and effort, the Magna Carta Holy Grail artist shared that he will be partnering with  Southerners on New Ground and Color of Change, who recently did a major fundraising drive to bail out 100 mothers for Mother’s Day, ” to bail out fathers who can’t afford the due process our democracy promises.”

“As a father with a growing family, it’s the least I can do, but philanthropy is not a long fix, we have to get rid of these inhumane practices altogether,” he concluded. “We can’t fix our broken criminal justice system until we take on the exploitative bail industry.”

Salute, Jay Z! Head over to TIME.com to read Jay Z’s full op-ed.

The post This Rapper Wants To Call Out The Bail Bond Industry By Bailing Out Men For Father’s Day appeared first on MadameNoire.

Kerry Washington Is Urging Women To Be Financially Literate…Their Lives May Depend On It

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kerry washington urging financial literacy for women

Last Tuesday, Kerry Washington addressed an audience as a panelist at the Forbes Women’s Summit and there wasn’t anything the least bit scandalous in her message. In fact, the only thing the actress is hoping to fix is what seems to be some women’s lack of financial literacy.

Washington is an ambassador for the AllState Purple Purse campaign which works to fight against financial abuse particularly for women who are experiencing domestic violence. Author Janet Mock, Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards and journalist Tamron Hall were also present on the panel.

The actress sat down with Refinery 29 to expand on her message and also talk about why she hasn’t tuned in to A Handmaid’s Tale just yet:

“I’m not sure I can handle it, particularly in these times.”

She may have a point as the show takes a sobering look at a world where women have almost completely been stripped of their independence. Washington is working to make sure nothing even close to that ends up happening in reality. Her first step is raising awareness around one of the major reasons women stay in abusive relationships. The National Domestic Violence Hotline reports 19% of their contacts reported some form of economic or financial abuse. Allstate’s senior vice president of corporate responsibility, Vicky Dinges says not having financial freedom is something that many couldn’t begin to imagine:

“Imagine not being able to pay for a cab ride because you don’t have money, or not having access to a bank account or the use of a credit card because your partner won’t allow it.”

“Financial abuse is a powerful and invisible form of domestic violence that keeps victims trapped, but we can do something about it: We can stand up to abusers, speak out on behalf of victims, and support survivors in their recovery.”

Purple Purse is working to create a chain of support by awarding grants to local grassroots organizations that provide financial literacy services, job training, and entrepreneurship guidance to survivors. The project  also provides a digital financial and career curriculum that survivors can reference, using expertise that keeps their circumstances in mind.

Washington says a part of healing and making progress for the survivors is eliminating stigma:

“I think a big part of it is lifting the veil of shame. A lot of times we say, why does she stay? Why do they stay? We know from our work that the number-one reason people stay is because they don’t feel like they have the tools to go. And all of us, rather than shaming and blaming, can use our resources to lend a hand to people who don’t have access to that information to be able to transform their lives.”

She also states in her own childhood home, money was rarely discussed in detail:

“I know how disempowering it can feel to not feel financially literate. Sometimes, as women, we just don’t want to be involved in the details and don’t want to ask the questions. And because it’s not something that we’re necessarily taught, we’re not sure if it’s something we should know. Abuse is a multi-layered issue, so there are obviously sociological and psychological issues that need to be addressed, but when you can at least give a woman the tools to walk away, then you can start to do that bigger work.”

Washington is also helping work on a limited-edition purse for the third year in a row to which portions of the proceeds will go towards the project.

You can learn more about the Purple Purse Foundation here.

 

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Camille Cosby Had Some Words For D.A. And Judge After Mistrial

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Yesterday (June 18), the verdict of Bill Cosby’s sexual assault case was announced. Ending in a mistrial, Cosby’s wife Camille spoke out about the case, boldly blasting not only the D.A. and judge but the lawyers of her’s husband’s accusers.

“How do I describe the District Attorney? Heinously and exploitively ambitious,” she stated “How do I describe the judge? Overtly and arrogantly collaborating with the District Attorney. How do I describe the counsels for the accusers? Totally unethical. How do I describe many, but not all, general media? Blatantly vicious entities that continually disseminated intentional omissions of truths for the primary purpose of greedily selling sensationalism at the expense of a human life.”

The 73-year-old producer and author went on to say express gratitude towards the jurors who  “tenaciously fought to review the evidence,” exclaiming that they used the “rightful way to make a sound decision.”

“Ultimately, that is the manifestation of justice, based on facts, not lies,” the comedian’s wife continued. “As a very special friend once stated, ‘truth can be subdued, but not destroyed.”

Camille concluded by thanking her friends, family, staff members, and supporters. Cosby’s legal team even got a shout out for their “hard work,” and “powerful articulations of truth.”

 

The post Camille Cosby Had Some Words For D.A. And Judge After Mistrial appeared first on MadameNoire.


Watch Zoë Kravitz Nail The #NickiMinajChallenge

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#PressPlay: did #ZoeKravitz nail the #NickiMinajChallenge, #Roommates!?

A post shared by The Shade Room (@theshaderoom) on

For the past week, we’ve seen social media spin Nicki Minaj’s theatrical, Prague-boasting PSA into a viral challenge dubbed the #NickiMinajChallenege. From single parents holding down their personal and professional lives to chicks schooling all how to pull up to the super market after collecting food stamps at the welfare office, everyone is getting in on the fun — including Zoë Kravitz.

“Attention, this is how a bad b***h leaves her hotel to go do Good Morning America,” Kravitz boasted in the clip, where she’s seen holding a miniature tea cup while decked out in a fancy, blush-tone frock from Sies Marjan, a velvet The Row bag, and large black sunglasses. “Y’all b***hes can’t even spell Good Morning America,” she concluded, sauntering off down the hallway with a fierce strut.

We see you, Kravitz. Share with us some of your favorite videos from the #NickiMinajChallenege in the comment section below.

The post Watch Zoë Kravitz Nail The #NickiMinajChallenge appeared first on MadameNoire.

How People Might Respond To Your Open Marriage, Just So You’re Prepared

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[caption id="attachment_833846" align="alignleft" width="1068"] Bigstockphoto.com/Beautiful thinking african american couple in the city[/caption] There’s a reason large hotels put on three-day-weekend events for people in open marriages and that there are social groups targeting those in open arrangements—it can be hard to find people who lead your lifestyle, or at least accept it, if you’re in an open marriage. An open marriage certainly isn’t for everyone, but if you and your spouse have decided it’s for you, you may feel like you have to come out to your friends and family. And when you do, you could meet a long list of invasive questions, judgmental comments or—the worst—total silence followed by a change of subject. Some people can think that your choice to go into an open marriage means that your values have changed, or you’re not the people they once knew. Here is how the world can respond to your open marriage. [caption id="attachment_702085" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Friends think you’re hitting on them

Some of your friends will think you’re swingers. When you have them over for dinner, they might wonder if this is a spouse-swapping event. You’ll have to explain to them that you and your partner date other people away from each other. It isn’t a group activity and you wouldn’t want to derail your friendships by hitting on your friends.   [caption id="attachment_704914" align="alignleft" width="420"] Shutterstock[/caption]

They judge your parenting

Your parenting skills may be in question when you come out in an open marriage. Some friends might think that you are exposing your children to your other partners, confusing them and traumatizing them. People don’t know the effort you make to keep your children unaware of the situation.     [caption id="attachment_700070" align="alignleft" width="420"] Woman in therapy. Photo: Shutterstock[/caption]

They suggest counseling

Many friends will think that you and your partner are no longer happy together, but rather than go through the trouble of a divorce, you’d rather just go into an open marriage. For this reason, some people might suggest you seek counseling to fix what they believe to be broken.       [caption id="attachment_626767" align="alignleft" width="420"] Corbis[/caption]

They assume somebody already cheated

Don’t be surprised if a friend pulls you aside and asks, “So who cheated?” It’s common for people to assume that going into an open marriage is just your way of retroactively correcting infidelity.       [caption id="attachment_700530" align="alignleft" width="420"] Shutterstock[/caption]

They think you’re headed for divorce

Some friends may not take your marriage seriously after you tell them it’s an open one. They can think that this is a last-ditch effort to save an unsalvageable marriage. For that reason, they may not really listen when you talk about your marriage anymore.           [caption id="attachment_713716" align="alignleft" width="420"] Shutterstock[/caption]

They think you’re sex addicts

The close-minded friends may believe you and your partner are total sex addicts and just can’t get all the sex you want in your marriage. They may not trust you alone with their spouses anymore, either.         [caption id="attachment_694799" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

They think it’s all about sex

This is a common misconception; that open marriages are all about the sex. But many people in open marriages date and have well-rounded relationships with other people. It’s about connecting with other people on several levels.         [caption id="attachment_711204" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Friends think they can hit on you

Some friends may think that you’re coming out as being in an open marriage is an open invitation for them to hit on you. You may have to tell a few friends that you’d like to just stay friends—sorry.         [caption id="attachment_718323" align="alignleft" width="415"] Shutterstock[/caption]

You’re hippies, drug users, into orgies…

The more conservative of your friends will think that if you lead an alternative marriage, you must lead a totally alternative lifestyle. Some friends might assume you and your partner do drugs, host orgies, and worship some spirit animal.       [caption id="attachment_621190" align="alignleft" width="479"] Shutterstock[/caption]

It was the man’s idea

Some people project their misogyny onto open marriages, assuming this was the man’s idea, and that the woman is just going along with it because she has to. But plenty of women are the first to suggest an open marriage.       [caption id="attachment_717911" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Your parents might reject it

You may want to reconsider telling your family. It can be very hard for your parents to accept that you’re in an open marriage, and they may not like your partner as much if they know he sleeps with other women.         [caption id="attachment_710708" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Some people won’t want their kids around you

Some friends won’t want to send their kids over to your home anymore to play with your kids. They might think that you’ll have your other partners over and confuse their children.         [caption id="attachment_608142" align="alignleft" width="420"] Corbis[/caption]

People ask what the end game is

People may be genuinely confused as to why you go into an open marriage. Are you starting serious relationships with these other people? Would you consider leaving your husband for one of the other people? What are the rules? What is the end game?       [caption id="attachment_700481" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Your friends will be cautious about other men

Your friends will be a bit confused as to how to talk to you about the new men you are seeing. Should they treat this like a serious relationship? Are they supposed to invest in the guy? Are they even allowed to ask you about it? Is it rude if they don’t ask you about it? You may need to give your friends some guidelines.   [caption id="attachment_702818" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

You and your spouse no longer have sex

Many people believe that couples in an open marriage no longer have sex with each other. On the contrary, many couples in open marriages are very attracted to each other and still have a very active sex life.

The post How People Might Respond To Your Open Marriage, Just So You’re Prepared appeared first on MadameNoire.

Clothes Shopping When You Love Your Body, And When You Don’t

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[caption id="attachment_833933" align="alignleft" width="1068"] Bigstockphoto.com/Two African American women shopping for clothes[/caption] For women who love their bodies, shopping can be one of their favorite activities. When they’re brainstorming things to do with their girlfriends on a Saturday, shopping is a natural choice. In fact, most women who feel great in their skin usually need to restrict themselves to only shopping so often, and try not to walk down the street with the cute boutiques on their way to work. So it can be hard for women with body confidence to understand how any woman on the planet could hate the act of trying on clothes. But for women who don’t love their bodies, clothing shopping is a nuisance, full of struggles and awkward moments. If you have that one friend who never joins in on the trip to the mall, it could be because she doesn’t feel happy in her skin. Here’s what clothing shopping is like when you love your body versus when you don’t. [caption id="attachment_707609" align="alignleft" width="495"] Shutterstock[/caption]

Love it: shopping is social!

For women who love their bodies, shopping is a social activity. They go with friends, want their friends opinions on the items they pick out, come out of the changing room to show their buddies each thing they try on and discuss all the ways they could wear it. No item of clothing comes home without extensive discussion. [caption id="attachment_617901" align="alignleft" width="500"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Don’t love it: shopping is private

For women who don’t love their bodies, shopping tends to be a private event. They even do most of it online. They do not want some friend standing outside the dressing room, urging them to come out and show them what they have on. Nobody gets to see them in something until they have decided, privately, that it covers up all their insecurities. [caption id="attachment_693324" align="alignleft" width="420"] Shutterstock[/caption]

Love it: the body is your canvas

Ladies who love to shop can see clothing shopping like their visual art. Their bodies are their canvases, and the clothes are the paint. They love the endless possibilities of what might show up on the canvas today! What flirty little top will surprisingly go with a more urban, rugged looking pair of jeans. Shopping lets them creatively play.       [caption id="attachment_702584" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Don’t love it: the body is a problem and clothes are the solutions

Women who don’t love their bodies don’t see their bodies as canvases; they see them as problems, and they see clothes as things that can semi-fix them. Rather than using clothes to highlight their body and show it off in unique ways, clothes are more like tools used to patch this up, tighten that up, and seal this away.     [caption id="attachment_701068" align="alignleft" width="420"] Shutterstock[/caption]

Love it: every style is an option

When you feel great about your figure, you can get adventurous in what you try on. Halter top? V-neck? Babydoll shape? Empire waist? Backless? No problem! Each style just shows off a different feature of the body that the woman loves.         [caption id="attachment_677822" align="alignleft" width="461"] YouTube[/caption]

Don’t love it: styles are limited

For the females who aren’t nuts about their figure, style options are limited. They won’t even consider strapless, baby doll, halter or some of the more playful styles. They’ve widdled clothing down to about three types of tops and three types of bottoms that they feel cover up their flaws and they b-line it for those racks. If the salesperson so much as hints they try on the mini frock, they give her a sharp don’t-talk-to-the-hand.     [caption id="attachment_619449" align="alignleft" width="420"] Corbis[/caption]

Love it: positive words

Women who love to shop describe the clothes they pick out with fun, positive, vibrant words. If you ever listen to two women who love their bodies chat about the clothes they’re trying on, you’d think they were writing a novel. You’ll hear things like, “You look like you’re ready for a yacht party in that!” and “Palm Springs, here we come!” and “That is so retro chic.” Their imaginations run wild.       [caption id="attachment_611719" align="alignleft" width="406"] Shutterstock[/caption]

Don’t love it: negative words

Women who don’t love their bodies don’t look for clothes they can go to a yacht party in. They look for clothes they, in their opinions, “Don’t look too bad in.” They’ll say things like, “I don’t hate it,” “It’ll do” or “Whatever. I have to wear something.”         [caption id="attachment_620632" align="alignleft" width="500"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Love it: every store is an option

When you love your body, every store is an option! Even if some stores have clothes that run small, you don’t mind wearing the size large there—you know your body is tight. As for clothes with larger sizes, you’ll throw a waist belt on a kaftan and think it’s gorgeous. [caption id="attachment_609505" align="alignleft" width="500"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Don’t love it: stores are limited

When you aren’t nuts about your body, there are some stores that are just out of the question. You know—stores where the size small is clearly a size XXXS by universal standards and where the material is so cheap that if you stretch it at all it will break. When your friends want to pop into those stores, you wait on the bench outside with an Orange Julius. [caption id="attachment_699926" align="alignleft" width="468"] Shutterstock[/caption]

Love it: you can buy the cheap stuff

You don’t mind buying the little rag tops that seem like they were sewn together in a hurry and that you’ll only wear once or twice to go clubbing before they fall apart. You actually don’t spend that much money per piece. In fact, you don’t want to, because you love to diversify your wardrobe. You’d rather have 100 cute, unique tops (that aren’t the best quality) than just a couple of expensive tops. Your wardrobe is your playground!     [caption id="attachment_697920" align="alignleft" width="468"] Shutterstock[/caption]

Don’t love it: shopping is expensive

First and foremost, if you are a plus size woman, then you know that well-made plus size clothing is expensive. Second, you hate to shop, so you want to do whatever you can to limit your shopping trips this year. That includes not purchasing cheap things that you can only wear twice—that just means you need to shop again. So your clothes cost a pretty penny.       [caption id="attachment_713605" align="alignleft" width="415"] Shutterstock[/caption]

Love it: you’re addicted to shopping

Okay admit it; if you love your body, you’re a little bit addicted to shopping. You find yourself making excuses for doing it, like any other type of addict: “It’s just one top” and “I really did need it I swear!”           [caption id="attachment_611081" align="alignleft" width="423"] Corbis Images[/caption]

Don’t love it: people have to drag you

You know you need a dress for the wedding. You’ve known for months. But you have found every way in the world to procrastinate. You have filled your weekends with pointless tasks, just to have a reason to get away from the mall. Your friends need to bate you into shopping with some reward, like buying you a cocktail after or visiting the pet adoptions.       [caption id="attachment_618197" align="alignleft" width="426"] Shutterstock[/caption]

Love it: you have too many clothes

When you love your body, you feel like you look good in everything! So it’s very hard for you to walk away from things. That’s why the things hanging in your closet can barely budge an inch—they have no room! That’s why you’ve purchased every type or organizer and compressed storage bag on the market—you have clothes hiding around every corner and under every piece of furniture in your house.     [caption id="attachment_704373" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Don’t love it: your closet could be a guest room

Your closet is so cavernous you’re thinking you should rent it out to someone who needs a place to live. The dresser you bought for tops and sweaters has turned into DVD and book storage. You’ve ended up using most of your clothing hangers for DIY art projects around the home. Maybe you should actually rent out some of your closet space to someone who loves their body and love to shop!

The post Clothes Shopping When You Love Your Body, And When You Don’t appeared first on MadameNoire.

10 Times Keke Wyatt Slayed A Vocal

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WENN  There's no question that Black women who actually do R&B and soul music don't get the shine or attention they deserve.

If Only You Knew

Great Is Thy Faithfulness

Is My Living In Vain

His Eye Is On The Sparrow

In an interview a while back, KeKe said this was her favorite song because after all she's endured in life, she knows God's been watching over her.

My First Love

Though she is a vocal powerhouse, she also knows how to play the background.

Tell Me Something Good

When Chaka Khan stands for you, while you're singing her song, it's real.

I'm Going Down

What's Going On

I know her mother can sing. Another one of her brother's was the worship leader at my church in Indianapolis and here is yet another member of the family who can blow. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNUnETT29tI

Diamonds and Pearls

Tis So Sweet To Trust in Jesus

The post 10 Times Keke Wyatt Slayed A Vocal appeared first on MadameNoire.

Is it Just Me, Or Are Black Men Less Romantic When It Comes To Dating?

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“And then, oh my God, he took me to Central Park, laid down a picnic blanket, and then he had ready-made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches – it was literally the sweetest thing anyone’s ever done for me!”

My friend was gushing about the whimsical first date she had last week. While I was all heart-eyed along with her, my guy friend was unmoved and asked her one question:

“Is he white?”

“Yeah,” she replied.

He threw his hands up and scoffed as if to say, “How did I know?” Under his breath, he then muttered, “simp.”

My guy friend, a Black man, didn’t have to spell it out for us. It was clear what he was hinting at – in his eyes, it’s more typical of a non-POC man to go through all the trouble to win over a woman’s heart. “Picnics in Central Park? Pfft, he damn sure ain’t black! I ain’t doin’ all that,” was what he was really saying.

I opened my mouth to protest, but looking back at my own dating experiences – from Irish and Italian to Nigerian and Haitian – he might be on to something. There really might be a trend of some Black men, well, “holding back” when it comes to putting their best romantic foot forward.

To be real, it seems as if they’re far more afraid of being “taken advantage of” by women. And so to alleviate that uneasiness, they play this odd game of, “Let’s see if I can get away with giving her next to nothing, but still charm her into giving me everything.

They don’t want to be vulnerable.

More often than not, I’ve had Black men invite me into their mama’s homes, late at night when she’s sleeping, for a little “Netflix and chill” (ugh, I know the phrase is so passé, but it’s true) – and this is the first date! If I am dumb enough to accept, he’s the victor. There’s no investment on his part at all: I’d be the fool paying for the Uber to sneak inside and, if I open my legs, that’s free punani for him, too.

A W for him and an L for me – well, theoretically. I always RSVP hell no to those types of “first dates” anyway.

But the most absurd part of this is, after I “ghost” em, they swamp me with questions about why I disappeared. When I tell them the truth, they always say, “What?! But I was serious about you.” First of all, bull crap. Secondly, if it is true, what book of stupidity did you read that you thought inviting a woman to your house on a first date was appropriate?

On the other hand, in my experience, fewer (emphasis on “fewer,” not “all,” so as to not generalize) non-POC men – spoiling me with salsa dance lessons, romantic hibachi dates, and tickets to Broadway plays – have this unsound, debilitating fear of women running off saying “peace out sucker!” after milking ’em of all they’ve got.

As a woman who prefers Black men, I find that this one–upmanship mentality to be crippling AF. It’s as if Black men constantly need reassurance that they have the upper hand in terms of who is putting in the least amount effort, but getting the greatest ROI. This dynamic doesn’t bode well for any situationship.

It might just be a coincidence that, in my personal experience, most Black men I’ve encountered have an aversion to being vulnerable and romantic, but if it isn’t just happenstance, one must wonder, “Where the hell does this backwards thinking comes from?”

My friend Amy, a psychology professor whose experience with dating Black men parallels with mine, says it’s a “cultural” thing.

What does she mean by that exactly?

Is it those darned ’90s hood movies that aren’t doing any favors to the malleable young Black male mind when it comes to their perception of women and how they should be treated?

Perhaps it’s those unrealistic hip-hop music videos where the rap artists kick their feet up while video vixens follow ‘em around half-naked?

That and,” Amy began, “society already takes so much from Black men, so perhaps, as a result, they just can’t fathom giving any more of themselves away,” which she says accounts for the romantic disparity between Black men and non-POCs.

Meh, I don’t know. I mean, I get it. All of us don’t like being vulnerable to an extent – we don’t want to get hurt and we want to protect our hearts. And, of course, there certainly are romantic Black men and non-romantic non-POCs. But I can’t help but notice a greater trend of Black men not wanting to risk it – putting their fragile hearts out on the line – in comparison to non-POCs.

Have you guys noticed it, too?

The post Is it Just Me, Or Are Black Men Less Romantic When It Comes To Dating? appeared first on MadameNoire.

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