Tag Archives: White Supremacy

LaKeith and the anti-Semitism lie

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A few days ago I was in a clubhouse room that focused on the legacy of Minister Louis Farrakhan being tarnished by what some may feel is anti-Semitism. The conversations were extremely heated and contentious.

The creator of the room made it a point to say “I don’t have a dog in this fight” as he moderated the room and allowed people to speak their minds freely. Oscar- nominated actor and frequent clubhouse contributor LaKeith Stansfield joined the room and was brought to the stage and assigned a moderator badge.

It is important to note that the moderator badge is a function of the app and allows the individual to assist in the flow of the conversation. The moderator badge does not signal that the person holding it agrees with everything that is said in the room.

To say the discussion was spirited may be an understatement considering the nature of the conversation and the tone of the participants. One of the participants took to the stage incensed, directing her anger directly at LaKeith reprimanding him for being part of the room the she claimed to be anti-Semitic and not a “safe space” for Jewish people.

This discussion was shared with mainstream media and has now become a narrative that LaKeith is “…flirting with anti-Semitism”.

The Daily Beast and TMZ have all chimed in on this discussion fanning the flames of a lie.

It is my responsibility because I was in that room to say with no uncertain terms that LaKeith was NOT being anti-Semitic in any way shape or form. We can’t allow another Black man to be maligned for simply being in a space.

LaKeith has since apologized since the onslaught of inaccurate reports hit the web. As always in these type of situations we find our brother apologizing .

“At some point during the dialogue the discussion took a very negative turn when several users made abhorrent anti-Semitic statements and at that point, I should have either shut down the discussion or removed myself from it entirely,” he said in the post early Saturday morning.

Telling our own stories and controlling our narrative should be consistent across all media. Let us not allow our brother to be dragged by lies constructed to harm him. Speak up.

-Precise

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Serena Williams is proof white supremacy runs deep

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Serena Williams

Recently a picture surfaced on the internet of a woman claiming to be Serena Williams. The post was on her ig page. Her name was by the caption and when you squint your eyes really tight you might be able to make out a vague silhouette of the greatest tennis player the world has ever seen.

In all seriousness the woman in the picture above looks about 5 shades lighter and her eyes are a different color. It begs to question. Is Serena Williams bleaching her skin?

If she is then clearly it is problematic. What kind of message does this send to millions of Black girls around the world? What kind of message does this send to her own daughter?

Many are saying that this is the work of a horrible make up artist. The thought that the lighting is making Serena look like a totally different woman is also floating around. These reasons are disingenuous and misses the point as to what causes this type of action.

White supremacy is a real thing and it is embedded in the DNA of Black people around the world. The effects of torture, raping, killing and pure disregard for Black skin travel in our DNA and presents it self in so many ways.

Racism, colorism, Black men not protecting Black women, Black women not respecting Black men are all ways that this idea of White supremacy rears its ugly head.

White supremacy is not diminished by the size of someone’s bank account or their notoriety. When you are Black, white supremacy oozes out of every crevice of the world around you. It is because of this that we must call it out at every turn and work towards a healing and destroying white supremacy at its root.

Serena Williams deserves the benefit of the doubt and heaps of grace, not because she is the greatest athlete in the world but because she is a Black person who is a victim of this poison known as white supremacy.

-Precise

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Joaquin Phoenix calls BAFTA out on “systemic racism” in film

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Joaquin Phoenix attending the after show party for the 73rd British Academy Film Awards. PA Photo. Picture date: Sunday February 2, 2020. See PA story SHOWBIZ Bafta. Photo credit should read: Matt Crossick/PA Wire

Joaquin Phoenix received the best leading actor award at the British Academy Film Awards on February 2, 2020. As he received his award he gave a scathing speech that called out the film industry on it’s biases.”We send a very clear message to people of color, that you are not welcome here. I think thats the message were sending to people who have contributed so much to our medium and our industry and in ways that we benefit from.” said Phoenix

Phoenix is shining the light on an ongoing problem in the film industry. In 2016 the Oscars were called to task when an #OscarsSoWhite movement/boycott was started. In that year all 20 actors nominated in the lead and supporting acting categories are white.

The biases that exist in the film industry are engrained in the fabric of white supremacy. Phoenix addresses this in his speech “We have to really do the hard work to truly understand systemic racism.” he said. He also mentions he has been part of the problem.

The Oscars seemed to be headed down the same road this year when the nominees were being announced for the 92 annual show. Cynthia Erivo quickly shifted that narrative with her best actress nomination for Harriet. That helps the Oscars avoid the shutout but still does not fully address the lack of diversity. Many actors have require inclusion riders in their contracts to address diversity on the set before they take roles. This is a direct response to business as usual and holds studios accountable.

Actors and actresses like Ben Affleck, Frances Mcdermott, Matt Damon and Michael B. Jordan have all adopted this practice to create a more equitable and fair industry. On March 7, 2018 Michael B Jordan announced from his instagram that his company Outlier Society would be adopting the inclusion rider. “In support of the women & men who are leading this fight, I will be adopting the Inclusion Rider for all projects produced by my company Outlier Society. I’ve been privileged to work with powerful woman & persons of color throughout my career & it’s Outlier’s mission to continue to create for talented individuals going forward.” posted Jordan

Take a look at Jaoquin’s speech below.

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