Former Governor of Illinois Rod Blagojevich who was just granted clemency by Donald Trump is currently on his press run. He stopped by CNN to voice his concern when it comes to prison reform.
Anderson Cooper was not feeling him. Blagojevich asked Anderson to join him in the fight to reform the criminal justice system. Anderson Cooper called BS and tore him a new one.
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Former NBA player Ben Gordon submitted an essay to The Players Tribune. In that essay he details the struggles he has with mental health. He also speaks to a failed suicide attempt.
In 2004 Gordon made himself eligible for the NBA draft after winning a national championship with the University of Connecticut. He was picked by the Chicago Bulls.
In 2005 Gordon won Sixth Man of the year as a rookie. His NBA career ended with the Charlotte Bobcats in 2017.
“There was a point in time where I thought about killing myself every single day for about six weeks.” Gordon wrote
He shared that in the season right after his last year in the league he would start having panic attacks.
Gordon details the feelings of despair and loss of identity he was plagued with daily. He shared that he felt as though he was in purgatory. Describing the feeling like a black cloak suffocating his soul.
When it became unbearable Gordon took matters into his own hands. “I took one of those heavyweight jump ropes — the thick rubber ones — and I tied it around my neck. Got a chair. And I hung myself, for real.” Gordon wrote.
He did not die in the attempt because in the midst of it he recognized that he wanted to live.
Gordon admits that this illness has been with him since he was a child. He was left wondering who created God since God created everything. He shared that it was a loop going on in his mind.
Gordon has since gone to therapy and appreciates being able to share his thoughts.
“It helped me work some things out. But more than anything, I think it helped me embrace the fact that — it’s like, Yo, B, you’re different. And that’s alright.” wrote Gordon
According to The National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities Among men aged 18–44 who had daily feelings of anxiety or depression, non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic men (26.4 percent) were less likely than non-Hispanic White men (45.4 percent) to have used mental health treatments.
The NIH also report that suicide is the third leading cause of death for African American males ages 15 to 24.
The national suicide hotline website is below.
suicidepreventionlifeline.org
For help with mental illness go to nami.org
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President Trump just commuted the 14 year prison sentence of former Governor of Illinois Rod R. Blagojevich.
Blagojevich was convicted for trying to sell Barak Obama’s vacated Senate seat. He was trying to make some coin off of it.
Blagojevich was sentenced for his crimes on August 17, 2010 after an investigation that lasted over 2 years. Blagojevich had a retrial in 2011 but he was not successful. Many of Blagojevich’s supporters felt his sentence was too high.
It seems as though Trump felt the same way and he did something about it. While boarding Air Force One on his way to a four-day trip to the west coast Trump simply stated “Yes, we commuted the sentence of Rod Blagojevich.” Trump continued “He served eight years in jail, a long time. He seems like a very nice person, don’t know him.”
Illinois is no stranger to corruption. Four of the last seven governors went to prison. Rod Blagojevich (Governor 2002-2009), George Ryan (Governor 1999-2003), Dan Walker (Governor 1973-1977) and Otto Kerner (Governor 1961-1968) all share this distinction.
I’m curious to know what Blagojevich is feeling right now. What do you think is the first thing he will do upon his release?
Share in the comments.
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The NBA got it right on a few fronts this year. They held the All-Star game in the greatest city in the world, they leveraged the greatest artists for entertainment and they finally gave Jalaiah Harmon credit for her TikTok dance craze. Two days ago I didn’t know who 14 year-old Jalaiah Harmon was. Today she is a young Black girl getting the credit she deserves.
TikTok is the latest social media platform to take over the world. The app is like a mash up of Youtube, Instagram, Facebook and Vine. It’s biggest users are pre-teens and teenagers. It is the platform Lil Nas X can credit his meteoric rise. Someone heard his song “Old Town Road”, made a challenge out of it and it took on a life of its own. Lil Nas X uploaded his song to TikTok in 2018 and by 2019 he was breaking all kinds of records, getting kicked off the country music charts and collaborating with Billy Ray Cyrus. By 2020 he was one of the biggest artists in the world winning Grammy’s. You can trace his success directly back to the app.
K Camp’s song “Lottery” is the latest song to make it’s rounds around the popular app. His song sparked the Renegade Challenge. A challenge created by Jalaiah Harmon a young Black girl but popularized by White teen TikTok influencer Charli D’Amelio.
Jalaiah created the dance back in 2018 alongside her friend in 2018. But, as these things usually do they take on a life of their own. They get catapulted into pop culture and someone else not only gets credit but gets paid for it.
A New York Times Writer Torey Lorenz did some digging around the dance craze and discovered that Jalaiah was responsible. She interviewed her for the publication and the word started to spread. Black Twitter caught wind of this and it was a wrap.
K Camp took notice and filmed a video with Jalaiah and her friend doing the dance to his song and posted it to twitter with a message. on Valentines day. “Thank you Jalaiah and Skylar for helping make lottery the BIGGEST song in the world,” he tweeted.
Now, lets fast forward a bit. I go to cover the NBA All-Star celebrity game and I see a group of 3 young White girls being followed around the Wintrust Arena. Kids were going crazy for them. Evidently they are social media influencers known as the TikTok girls who were flown out to reap the rewards of their influence. They probably were not aware of the swell of support Jalaiah was getting to be recognized for her creation.
The NBA took notice and flew Jalaiah out on a days notice to receive her due in front of one of the biggest audiences in the world.
In a world where Black people have routinely been overlooked for their accomplishments, this one social media moment feels like a win. This moment makes Black History Month that much sweeter. Justice moving at the speed of social media is sweet.
Jalaiah deserves this and hopefully this grows into a monetized opportunity. In the meantime at the speed of social media she made her debut at All-Star 2020 then connected with the TikTok girls. This may not be what Dr. King was speaking of directly, but it kind of is.
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Kanye and his Sunday Service choir came to Chicago to bless the people with Yeezy’s and the word during All-Star weekend. Kanye performs “Follow God” with his choir.
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Chicago was the most gracious host to the NBA All-Star Game this year. Chance the Rapper gave a spirit filled performance during halftime. He even brought out a few surprise guests. The mood of the evening was beautiful. Chance really did an amazing job. Check out the video to see who came out.
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R&B songstress and legend Chaka Khan is getting read the riot act for her rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner” at All-Star 2020 in Chicago. The ten time Grammy winner hit her own notes and she has every right to.
Twitter and the rest of the internet had jokes.
These days all the non-doers have something to say. Chaka deserves her respect and her version is original and powerful. Check the video below and see for your self.
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Common continues to represent the excellence Chicago creates. A few days after winning MVP at the celebrity game he performs a tribute that is uplifting and tear jerking. The love Common has for Chicago comes through his poetic bars. The feeling is motivation for greatness. Check out the video for yourself.
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Tiffany Haddish is an intelligent, talented and beautiful black woman. Her energy is infectious and it seems like she would be great to be around. Now, is her stand up funny? That has yet to be determined.
Haddish among a host of other guests including JB Smoove, Gary Payton and Dwayne Wade were guests on Inside the NBA All Star Roast. Guests come on to Roast the hosts of the show Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, Shaquille O’Neal and Ernie Johnson. Tiffany came out to do her job and all of her jokes fell flat. Twitter wasted no time sharing their opinions and they were not nice.
Haddish has established herself as a box office star since her break out role on “Girl Trip” that came out in 2017. In 2018 she was Kevin Hart’s co-star in “Night School”. She also stars as Tracy Morgans ex-girlfriend on “The Last OG”. Her most recent role was in “Like a Boss” that was released in theaters in January of 2020. Where she may lack in stand up ability she surely makes up with charisma and energy. Those qualities shine on the screen.
Do you think Tiffany should stop doing stand up and focus on acting? share in the comments below.
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Common represented for the home team by winning MVP at this year’s All Star Celebrity Game. Chicago showed love on February 14, 2020 at the Wintrust Arena. Common’s team coached by Michael Wilbon crushed Chance the Rapper’s team coached by Stephen A. Smith 62-47.
Common wore number 25 as a tribute to Ben Wilson a high school basketball star who was gunned down as a teenager in Chicago. Common is no stranger to the game. As a child he was a ball-boy for the Chicago Bulls. In 2010 he played an NBA athlete who was injured during the 2009 All Star game in the movie Just Wright alongside Queen Latifah.
Lil Rel, Hannibal Burress, Spice Adams and NBA legends Darius Miles and Quentin Richardson were all there on behalf of their hometown Chicago. Former Chicago Bulls’s Horace Grant and Nate Robinson were unlocked as secret players during the course of the event. Arnie Duncan the former secretary of education showcased his exceptional skills during the night’s festivities. Ultimately the night belonged to Common and his team.
Team Wilbon (Home)
Captain: Common (rapper, actor)
Bad Bunny (recording artist)
Hannibal Buress (actor, comedian)
Kane Brown (four-time AMA Award-winning artist)
Jon Batiste (musician, bandleader of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert”)
Alex Moffat (actor and comedian, “Saturday Night Live”)
Chef José Andrés (chef and humanitarian)
Famous Los (comedian, social media influencer)
Jidenna (recording artist)
Chelsea Gray (WNBA)
Quentin Richardson (NBA legend)
Team Stephen A. (Away)
Captain: Chance The Rapper (rapper)
Quavo (rapper)
Taylor Bennett (rapper)
LaRoyce Hawkins (actor, “Chicago PD”)
Anthony “Spice” Adams (Aka, Cream E. Biggums, actor, comedian, former NFL defensive tackle)
Marc Lasry (co-owner, Milwaukee Bucks)
Ronnie 2K (marketing director at 2K Sports)
Katelyn Ohashi (gymnast)
Lil Rel Howery (actor-comedian)
A’ja Wilson (WNBA)
Darius Miles (NBA legend)
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