Houston Style Magazine Vol 32 No 30 by Houston Style Magazine (HSM)

July 22– July 28, 2021

Houston’s Premiere Weekly Publication, Since 1989

Volume 32 | Number 30

Complimentary

Jesse Jackson

Leonard Pitts Jr.: Ignorance Is Death

See What Mayor Turner Does 3 Times This Week! #GETVAX H STAYSAFE

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The Delta Variant: New Opponent Against the Spread COVID

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Maria Taylor Leave ESPN: No Contract Agreement

Regina King

Pushes For Diversity At Cannes Film Festival

Falyn M. Davis

Tips for Buyers and Sellers Homeownership

STYLE HAUTE SHOTS

N E W S | C O M M E N TA R I E S | S P O R T S | H E A LT H | E N T E R TA I N M E N T Support Black Owned Businesses

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Publisher Francis Page, Jr. fpagejr@stylemagazine.com Associate Publisher Lisa Valadez lisa@stylemagazine.com Managing Editor Jo-Carolyn Goode editorial@stylemagazine.com Social Media Editor/Videographer Reginald Dominique reggiedominique@me.com Sports Editor Brian Barefield

NATIONAL WRITERS

Jesse Jackson jjackson@rainbowpush.org Roland Martin www.rolandmartin.com Judge Greg Mathis www.askjudgemathis.com

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Vicky Pink vhpink@gmail.com William Ealy Williamealy1906@gmail.com Semetra Samuel semetra@artistikrebelcreative.com Mike Munoz artrepreneur91@gmail.com Robert Franklin editorial@stylemagazine.com

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Biden said, "The only pandemic we have is among the unvaccinated." www.BuildBackBetter.com

Photo Credit: AP Photo/Patrick Semansky

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July 22, 2021 - July 28, 2021

COMMENTARY

LEONARD PITTS JR.: IGNORANCE IS DEATH By Jesse Jackson, National Political Writer W

e live in ignorant times.

By now, surely this is obvious beyond argument to anyone who's been paying attention. From the Capitol insurrectionist who thought he was storming the White House to Sen. Tim Scott's claim that "woke supremacy is as bad as white supremacy" to whatever thing Tucker Carlson last said, ignorance is ascendant. Yet, even by that dubious standard, what happened recently in Tennessee bears note. According to a story by Brett Kelman of the Tennessean newspaper in Nashville, the state, under pressure from Republican lawmakers, fired its top immunization official, Dr. Michelle Fiscus, and shut down all vaccine outreach to young people. Fiscus' sin? Doing her job, working to increase access to the COVID-19 shot among kids. Specifically, she sent a letter to healthcare providers reminding them that under the state's "Mature Minor Doctrine," they are legally allowed to vaccinate children 14 years or older without parental consent. According to Fiscus, the letter, written in response to requests for guidance made by those administering the shots, utilized language drafted by an attorney for the department of health and was vetted by the governor's office. All that notwithstanding, it infuriated some state lawmakers. They used words like "extreme disappointment" and "reprehensible" and talked of closing the health department. Some anonymous person even sent Fiscus a dog muzzle. Then she was fired, and the state shut down all vaccine publicity efforts targeting young people. This means no postcards sent out to remind kids to get their shots, no nudges on social media, no flyers or advertisements, no events at schools, no outreach whatsoever. And not just for COVID, mind you, but for everything -- measles, mumps, tetanus, diphtheria, hepatitis, polio. In a pandemic. In a state with a less-than-stellar COVID vaccination rate. At a time when experts are tracking the rise of a deadlier new COVID

Covid-19 deaths during the pandemic (Dreamstime) variant.

It is hard to imagine behavior dumber, more dangerous, more short-sighted and more downright bass-ackward than that exhibited by Tennessee and its lawmakers. Which is, unfortunately, right on brand for this country in this era. It was in the 2000s that Stephen Colbert coined the term "truthiness" to describe the right wing's secession from objective fact, and some of us began to speak of them as living in an "alternate reality." How, we wondered in newspaper columns and speeches, can we have meaningful discourse if we cannot agree on basic facts? Years later, that concern feels too abstract. The threat turns out to be more visceral and urgent than any of us could have imagined. Yes, some people live in alternate realities. What's worse, though, is when they have power to impose those realities on the rest of us. That's what we're

July 22, 2021 - July 28, 2021

seeing in Tennessee and elsewhere, and the results will be as tragic as they are predictable and preventable.

it isn't.

Ignorance is bliss, they say. But

Ignorance is fever. Ignorance is chills. Ignorance is trouble breathing. Ignorance is an empty seat at the table, a bedroom come suddenly available. Because ignorance is death.

You can write to the Rev. Jesse Jackson in care of this newspaper or by email at jjackson@rainbowpush.org. Follow him on Twitter @RevJJackson.

Follow him at: Twitter @RevJJackson Share this story online at:

And while the aphorism isn't true, can you imagine if it were, if ignorance really were bliss? Disney theme parks would have to find a new slogan.

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Right now, Tennessee would be the happiest place on Earth. Leonard Pitts Jr. is a columnist for the Miami Herald, 3511 NW 91st Ave., Miami, Fla., 33172. Readers may contact him via e-mail at lpitts@miamiherald.com

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July 22, 2021 - July 28, 2021

7/7/21 1:52 PM

NATIONAL NEWS: ON CHICAGO VISIT, TRANSPORTATION

SECRETARY BUTTIGIEG PROMOTES BIDEN INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN By wwwStyleMagazine.com – Newswire

Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg tours the 95th/Dan Ryan Red Line CTA station with Mayor Lori Lightfoot, CTA President Dorval Carter, Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, and Democratic members of Illinois’ congressional delegation to promote President Joe Biden’s infrastructure plan on July 16, 2021. Image | Photo WTTW News

ransportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says he’s confident the Biden administration’s infrastructure bill will pass Congress, touting on Friday its bipartisan support and saying both the president and the public are impatient to see the deal finalized. But he wouldn’t offer a timeline for when it will clear the House and Senate, both narrowly controlled by Democrats. “There will be more twists and turns, there’s no question,” Buttigieg said. During his visit to Chicago, the former presidential candidate toured the 95th/Dan Ryan Red Line station with CTA President Dorval Carter, who called the renovated transit hub a “jewel in the CTA crown.” They were also joined by Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, and Democratic members of Illinois’ congressional delegation, who all touted what they say are the infrastructure effort’s potential impacts on equitable transit, job creation and environmental improvements. Lightfoot called the $3.5 trillion proposal a step toward prioritizing “reduction of car congestion downtown and combating climate change.” She and Carter both talked up the transit agency’s plans to extend the Red Line to 130th Street, and said money from Washington is key to the success of that project and other CTA renovation efforts. “Federal funding is the only way that CTA can continue to modernize a system that, in some places, is more than 100 years old,” Carter said. The Red Line Extension is currently in a two-year project development phase necessary to get federal money, which the CTA hopes will pay for about half of the

July 22, 2021 - July 28, 2021

project. Asked if he was confident the project will win approval from Washington, Carter responded with a smile. “Those of you who know me know that I’m really good at getting money from the federal government,” he said. The proposed Red Line extension is aimed at bringing transit equity to the Far South Side. Buttigieg applauded that effort, saying it shouldn’t take as long to get from Altgeld Gardens to downtown Chicago by public transit as it does to get from his former home of South Bend, Indiana, to downtown Chicago by car. Buttigieg visited the 95th Street station to highlight nearly $50 billion in public transit investments included in the infrastructure plan. The bill is also set to have $66 billion in funding for Amtrak and passenger rail. Buttigieg was asked repeatedly about the oft-discussed idea of creating high-speed rail in the U.S. He mentioned the idea of three “showcase” lines, though declined to suggest where they might be located, but said that he and the president share an enthusiasm for the idea. “In this administration, I know that I can only ever be the second-biggest passenger rail enthusiast, but I work hard to make it a close second,” Buttigieg said. “We as a country shouldn’t put up with being unable to access the level of rail service that people in most developed countries take for granted.” Buttigieg stopped in Illinois on a tour of three states to promote the infrastructure proposal. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer plans to call the massive bill for a vote next week, Politico reported

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Thursday, even though text of the legislation has yet to be finalized. Durbin, the Democrats’ majority whip, expressed confidence that the deal will clear the Senate. He also took a swipe at former Pesident Donald Trump, saying he’d like to compare Biden’s infrastructure plan to his predecessor’s. “But I can’t, because there was no infrastructure program in the previous administration,” he said. Duckworth, who often uses a wheelchair to get around after losing her legs in Iraq War combat, highlighted funding in the infrastructure bill to make legacy transit stations around the country ADA-compliant, calling it “long past time.” While the bill contains billions to repair aging automobile infrastructure, Buttigieg also said the investments in transit will be a benefit both to passengers and to the country’s environmental health as a whole. “It doesn’t have to be called a climate bill to be a climate bill,” Buttigieg said. “Transportation is the biggest emitter of greenhouse gases in the U.S. economy … we (want to) give somebody a choice to take quality, safe, and effective public transit, instead of having to drag two tons of metal with them to wherever they’re going and park it somewhere.”

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NATIONAL NEWS: I AM A BLACK PERSON NOT A “BLACK” By wwwStyleMagazine.com – Newswire

With history and current society in mind, it would be best if when referring to Black people you just called them Black people, African-American or their names and if you’re not sure, ask with common sense. Illustration by Donyá Collins

top calling Black people “Blacks”. It’s sad we even have to touch on this issue because common sense should tell you why this won’t fly. I am more than my color. You should not refer to anyone as just a color, especially not a Black person. I am a Black person, not a Black. Do not reduce Black people to their color; we are more than our skin tone. Calling Black people “Blacks” is the same as calling me a negro. Both negro and the N-word came from the incapacity to correctly pronounce the color black in various languages and

using black as a slur. Negro came from the Spanish word for black and the N-word came from the Latin word for black, niger. Starting with Post Reconstruction and the rise of the KKK and continuing in the Jim Crow era, the words “negro”, the n-word and “colored” were used on various mediums to openly discriminate against the Black community in public spaces like bathrooms, entrances to restaurants, drinking fountains and more. The history of denoting the Black community to its color does not make it appropriate to

call Black people “Blacks” today. Black people don’t even call each other “Blacks”. People even pretend to be Black while committing a crime. Usually adding they hate minorities at the same time, as if that makes sense. A person in Lakewood, California, who claimed to be Black, said they would shoot every minority in sight. This turned out to be non-credible and a possible swatting, which is the act of calling the police on an innocent person with a false claim. With history and current society in mind, it would be best if

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when referring to Black people you just called them Black people, African-American or their names and if you’re not sure, ask with common sense. I think America and the world has done enough demoting people to just their color to last a millennia.

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July 22, 2021 - July 28, 2021

OPINION: A PREVENTABLE BLUNDER ON

THE BLACK FARMERS IN AMERICA By Philip Gruber, Lancaster Farming – www.StyleMagazine.com – Newswire

Lancaster Farming’s Phil Gruber discusses how USDA’s $4 billion loan forgiveness program for socially disadvantaged farmers may leave Black farmers disappointed yet again.

hen I was in college and preparing for a volunteer trip to a rescue mission, I read a book called “When Helping Hurts.” Authors Brian Fikkert and Steve Corbett argue that charitable work sometimes unintentionally reinforces the problems of poverty or does not do as much as it could to alleviate them. For example, if a remote village in a foreign country wants to build a church, a group of Americans could fly in to do the work. But it might be a better use of resources for the Americans to simply send money that pays locals to do the construction themselves. Here in the U.S., the Democratic Party appears to be serving up the latest backfiring do-gooder project, and it’s no little chapel in the rainforest. I’m thinking of USDA’s $4 billion loan forgiveness program for socially disadvantaged farmers, which is careening toward legal ruin. On June 23, a federal court in Florida granted a preliminary injunction that freezes activity on the program. The lawsuit is technically still active. But as Audry Thompson, a Penn State ag law researcher, said in a podcast last month, “This is probably the end of this program.” A preliminary injunction reflects the judge’s belief that the plaintiff — in this case, the white farmer challenging the program — will succeed on the merits of the case.

“A judge isn’t going to say, ‘Yeah, I granted that preliminary injunction X number of months ago, but now I’m going to reverse myself and say that I was wrong then,’” Brook Duer, a staff attorney at the Penn State Center for Agricultural and Shale Law, said in that podcast. The loan forgiveness program was created in the American Rescue Plan, a ponderous pile of putative pandemic aid programs that passed in March with only Democratic votes. Out of everything funded in that $1.9 trillion whopper, the loan forgiveness in particular stunk of pork-barrel politics. The program sought to redress problems that well predated COVID-19, and the nascent Biden administration had recently declared racial issues a top priority. Biden’s ag secretary nominee, Tom Vilsack, was also at pains to appease Black activists, who were riding high after last summer’s protests and who said Vilsack hadn’t done enough for civil rights during his previous tenure at USDA. Black farmers certainly have faced disadvantages in accessing USDA programs in the past — reportedly including loan officers who rejected applications with theatrical rudeness. But as Duer said in an earlier podcast episode, federal programs that treat people differently based on race

July 22, 2021 - July 28, 2021

must clear a high bar. Such programs must be carefully targeted in response to specific episodes of intentional discrimination by the government. Statistics that merely show disparate outcomes do not suffice. For reasons unknown, USDA’s attorneys defended the case with exactly the kinds of justifications that courts have previously rejected, Duer said. Fault also lies with elected Democrats who tossed together such a vulnerable program in the first place. “Congress moved with great speed to address the history of discrimination, but did not move with great care,” U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard wrote in her opinion. Over Before It Started In its opening months, the Biden administration has rarely been this slapdash. In fact, Biden came in with an unusually coordinated plan, which involved passing certain big pieces of legislation and putting climate change on the agenda of every federal agency. But on Black farmer aid, it seems the Democrats were going for a quick win. In so doing, they blindsided farmers with a program that needs a lot of explanation. USDA should have done advance work explaining to white farmers that the program was not meant to spite them. It was simply an attempt to make

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up for the decades when white farmers could get loans but farmers of color were often unfairly blocked. White farmers, in other words, had already received the benefits for which they were eligible; many Black farmers had not. To head off jealousy, USDA also needed to clarify ahead of time why the program would pay more than 100% of outstanding loans. (The extra bit was to cover the tax consequences of the loan forgiveness.) Had the Dems allowed time for thorough debate, they might also have reconsidered whether they had chosen the best way to help minority farmers. Loan forgiveness helps only those who have certain current USDA direct or guaranteed loans. Minority farmers are out of luck if they had already paid off their loans, never pursued federal financing or, more to the point, failed to get USDA loans because of discrimination. Even if it had been thoroughly vetted before passage, the debt relief program might have proved unpopular. But now that Congress will likely need to decide what to do with its $4 billion botch job, a new and improved aid package for Black farmers could be downright radioactive. For the moment, the flawed program may have served its purpose and shown that Democrats care about Black farmers. And the American Rescue Plan will still deliver $1 billion for outreach and Extension training for minority farmers. But farmers of color aren’t going to be happy with “we tried” for long, especially if something as consequential as loan forgiveness slips out of their grasp. The federal government has fumbled aid for Black farmers before, from the Reconstruction-era Freedmen’s Bureau to the Pigford settlement of the early 2000s. Now, in their haste to help Black farmers, Democrats may have left them in the lurch yet again.

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LOCAL NEWS: STRENGTHEN

CHEMICAL DISASTER REGULATIONS By David Yates Special to www.StyleMagazine.com

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t a public comment session hosted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Thursday, Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee proposed reinstatement of chemical disaster rules rolled back by the Trump administration, and enhancing rules to address Harris County’s unique vulnerability to chemical disasters. Menefee stated: “Harris County has the largest petrochemical complex in the US and a history of severe weather events—we’re vulnerable to large scale chemical disasters that impact residents. Our communities weathered through Arkema, ITC, Watson Grinding, and other incidents, and we saw that these explosions and fires impact people’s lives. People die. Homes are destroyed. "Communities are forced to evacuate because toxic chemicals are in the air. The EPA must enact rules strong enough to ensure that industry is doing its part to prevent these events, and that when the smoke is in the air, emergency responders have all the information they need to mitigate the damage and save lives.” The listening sessions come after years of fighting by the Harris County Attorney’s Office and several state Attorneys Generals for regulations to reduce the number of explosions and other incidents at chemical facilities and improve communication with surrounding

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communities and emergency responders. The Obama administration’s EPA had imposed several rules in response to the fertilizer plant explosion in West, Texas. In 2019, the Trump administration rolled back many of these commonsense requirements, including requiring chemical companies to determine the root cause of spills and explosions, and training requirements chemical plant supervisors. In response, Harris County, 14 states, and two cities sued the Trump administration to invalidate the rollbacks. Harris County was the only governmental entity in Texas involved in the lawsuit. Harris County Attorney Menefee also proposed additional enhancements to the rules, including expanding the list of chemicals covered by the rules, requiring facilities to have safety plans in place to endure severe weather, and improving coordination with first responders. The Harris County Attorney’s Office will also submit written comments to the EPA, detailing proposed enhancements to the rules.

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July 22, 2021 - July 28, 2021

New Opponent Against the Spread Of COVID19 By Jo-Carolyn Goode, Managing Editor - www.StyleMagazine.com

In Texas, the COVID-19 positivity rate is now at 10%. Just a month ago, on June 16, the positivity rate was 2.85% Photo Credit: AP

or months, the cornavirus has overtaken our words, our actions, our thoughts, and our entire world. People are craving to get back to a sense of normalcy. Right when the world is starting to see the light, darkness starts to loom again. Our new dark cloud is the Delta variant of COVID-19. In learning about the new variant, the keyword to know is more. The Delta variant is more powerful, more contagious, and has more severe symptoms. As many states have loosen their restrictions, it is important to know everything about the new strain of the coronavirus as it has the potential to be even more devastating than any other strain in the United States. The Delta variant was first identified in India in early February 2021. This was during the same month in which officials thought they had a handle on COVID-19 since new cases of the virus had fallen by 90%. It seemed that the first wave was over when it was only making room for the entrance of the second wave. Approximately 30,000 new cases of COVID-19 are reported a day in India. Hospitals are low on supplies. Patients are asked to bring their own oxygen to hospitals. The sick are being

July 22, 2021 - July 28, 2021

turned away because the hospitals are full. People are dying by the hundreds and are being placed in makeshift morgues. It is utterly devastating in India. No longer able to keep the variant just contained in India, the variant has spread to close to 100 countries including the United States. What does this mean for the United States? Many causes are floating around as to why the Delta variant has taken over India. The top 3 are 1) people not getting vaccinated 2) opened up too early, 3) social distancing and isolation became impossible in a country with 70 million people. No matter the cause the universal most effective way to stop the spread of COVID-19 is 1) social distance 2) wash your hands, and 3) wear a mask. Vice President Kamala Harris said via Twitter that the Delta variant was no joke. Dr. Anthony Fauci called it a "formidable opponent." Citizens of the US better be careful because it doesn't matter what we call it the variant has already made its entry into the US and is sweeping across the nation. Data indicates that the Delta variant accounts for 83% of all US cases. Most cases are attributed to the unvaccinated population. Focusing on our own backyard with the Texas Medical Center, Houston Methodist Hospital released informa-

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tion that they had a 70% of COVID hospitalizations. They are seeing all kinds of strains including the first case of the Lambda variant. Memorial Hermann has also seen a rise in COVID cases, which has prompted them to change their visitors' policy at all locations to assist with stopping the spread. "We are seeing an increase in the overall amount of virus in the wastewater. We are seeing an increasing percentage of that which is Delta variant. We are seeing a decreasing percentage of Alpha variant,” said Dr. David Persse, medical director of the Houston Health Department. He went on to speak about how testing numbers have taken a drop as more and more people go outside to resume life as normal. Booster Shots Those who have had the COVID vaccine are being protected fairly well. The vaccine everyone is getting was designed to help with the Alpha variant mainly. However, the Delta variant, being the most lethal, has lower immunity. Individuals with just one dose of the vaccine have 33% immunity while those with two doses of the vaccine have 88% immunity. These numbers and the way, in which the Delta variant is moving so quickly has caused talks

of a COVID vaccine booster shot. Israel is already offering booster shots to its most at-risk adults. Those adults include individuals with immunocomprised systems such as transplant recipients. It is the hope that antibody production will increase for these people. The Center for Disease Control and Food and Drug Administration has said "Americans who have been fully vaccinated do not need a booster shot at this time." However, they have not ruled out a booster shot. In a joint statement, the two have stated, "This process takes into account laboratory data, clinical trial data, and cohort data – which can include data from specific pharmaceutical companies, but does not rely on those data exclusively. We continue to review any new data as it becomes available and will keep the public informed. We are prepared for booster doses if and when the science demonstrates that they are needed." Americans are highly encouraged to get vaccinated as variants continued to be discovered and their identification in the US is a threat. Please continue to mask up, wash your hands, and practice social distancing. The biggest tool to stop COVID is YOU!

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July 22, 2021 - July 28, 2021

LOCAL NEWS: MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER WAS

THE COOLEST MAYOR 3 TIMES THIS WEEK By Tierra Smith, Special to www.StyleMagazine.com – Newswire

3. Mayor Sylvester Turner freestyles, dances to Southside by lil Keke for 713 Day in Houston

ayor Sylvester Turner never shies away from a moment to remind the world that Houston is in his blood. While supporting the return of a number of local events this week, Turner was seen dancing, freestyling and profiling across the city. On Tuesday, also known as 713 Day in Houston, Turner dropped a freestyle to the impromptu diss verse at Houstonopoly.

Here’s what he said: I wanted you to chill But you ain’t keep it real You talk about the fo-fo’s But we’ll show you the door. Turner was also captured doing the ‘SouthSide,” a popular local dance where you wave your hands side to side while doing a little dip the opposite way to the beat. The 1997 H-town anthem is by Lil’ Keke of Screwed Up Click. On Friday, the mayor’s office released a photo of Turner as Spiderman to promote Comicpalooza, which is

happening this weekend at the George R. Brown Convention Center. He also took the moment to encourage Houstonians to get vaccinated. “As we laugh and enjoy this monumental event. We want to remind everyone, vaccinations save lives and protect fellow Houstonians! So make sure to #takeyourbestshot,” he wrote on Instagram.

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ETHAN PINDER CREATED MURAL FOR THE NEW STARBUCKS CAFE IN TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY'S LIBRARY! W

hen you walked into the newest Starbucks on Texas Southern University's campus, you may stop in your tracks and ask, “Who did that?” In front of you is a massive mural wrapping around two walls, from floor to ceiling. In the Starbucks Cafe Located In The New Library-Learning Center At 3100 Cleburne Street This is the kind of connection to the community and is exactly why district manager asked Ethan to create the mural for the store, which has its grand opening Thursday. It’s the latest in a group of stores Starbucks is building in underserved communities that could benefit from economic development. Each store is built by women or minority-owned contractors, staffed by partners from the community and sells product made by local, diverse vendors.

July 22, 2021 - July 28, 2021

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July 22, 2021 - July 28, 2021

ENTERTAINMENT: REGINA KING REVEALS HER PLAN TO PUSH DIVERSITY AT CANNES FILM FESTIVAL R

egina King declared Friday she will keep fighting for diversity in Hollywood, even when the audience is an obstacle. “We do have a ways to go but part of it is going to be, even though the audience doesn’t want to hear it, the conversations have to continue,” the director and Oscar-winning actor said during Kering’s Women In Motion talk at the Cannes Film Festival. “We have to keep shining a light on the fact that things aren’t reflective of what the rest of the world looks like, especially in America. That’s our export to the world ― movies. We have to continue to want to see stories told by and from different perspectives. ” Noting that directing nods for women were down by 10% for this week’s Emmy nominations, she added: “We just have to keep talking about it and pushing.” King had a small part as a sympathetic U.S. marshal in Sean Penn’s “Flag Day,” which premiered in competition at the festival. After a lauded feature-directing debut last year with “One Night In Miami,” she’s slated to return behind the camera for an adaptation of the Harlem monster-hunters comic book series “Bitter Root.” The Oscar-winning “If Beale Street Could Talk” star offered sage advice for young women filmmakers. “Don’t let your fear silence you,” she said. “I would ask questions and listen to the answers.” “Never feel like there’s such thing as a dumb question,” she said. King, who stars in the upcoming Netflix Western “The Harder They Fall,” is already seeing positive signs from a future generation of filmmakers. She said she didn’t have the “moxie” she sees when talking to 9-year-olds, many of whom are unaware of the “like a girl” insult often used to diminish young women, she said. “I love that moxie ... that chutzpah.”

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The director and Oscar-winning actor discussed the path to a more inclusive Hollywood at the prestigious movie gathering. | Getty Images

ENTERTAINMENT: DAVE CHAPPELLE IS RETURNING TO THE KENNEDY CENTER IN AUGUST BY Damare Baker www.StyleMagazine.com - Newswire

ave Chappelle is back at the Kennedy Center next month, but it’s not for a standup performance. The award-winning comedian will be screening his new documentary, Untitled, in the Concert Hall on August 1. The feature focuses on Chappelle’s rural Ohio hometown and how it dealt with pandemic-related economic challenges and emotional turmoil following the murder of George Floyd. The film follows Chappelle as he provides economic and comedic relief through live comedy shows in his neighbor’s cornfield. Chappelle was born and raised in the DC area, but later moved to rural Ohio after his parents separated. He received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the Kennedy Center in 2019, and has been awarded four Emmys and three Grammys.

July 22, 2021 - July 28, 2021

Dave Chappelle, Photograph by Tracey Salazar courtesy the Kennedy Center.

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July 22, 2021 - July 28, 2021

SPORTS: NFL SET TO UNVEIL MORE SOCIAL JUSTICE INITIATIVES DURING 2021 SEASON By Alyssa Wilson - wwwStyleMagazine.com – Newswire

ccording to Front Office Sports, the league pledged $250 million to combat systemic racism over the next ten years. This includes promoting social justice with on-field signage, decals on player helmets and PSAs that will play in the stadium. The league also plans to make the Black national anthem, Lift Every Voice and Sing, a key part of league events. Victims of racial injustice will be highlighted with a project called “Say Their Stories.” Despite this, the 2021 season will proceed with the theme “It Takes All of Us,” and stadium messaging will focus on the theme of “Inspire Change.”

The efforts will begin in the preseason that starts on August 5. NFL end zones will include messages that read “End Racism” and “Inspire Change.” Roc Nation, owned by rapper and billionaire Jay-Z, is advising the NFL’s “Inspire Change” initiative and working with it to provide high-profile performers for large-scale NFL events. In addition to these efforts, NFL players will be allowed to take a knee or protest on the field during the United States national anthem. While the NFL has not disciplined players for kneeling during the anthem, Black quarterback Colin Kaepernick was famously blackballed by the league

after kneeling to protest racial injustice in 2016. Other leagues are also stepping up their initiatives to combat systemic racism. The National Basketball Association and its players’ union launched the National Basketball Social Justice Coalition to help fight systemic racial inequality. Major League Basketball also announced a $150 million commitment to increase Black representation in baseball.

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SPORTS: MARIA TAYLOR LEAVING ESPN AFTER RACHEL NICHOLS ‘DIVERSITY’ COMMENTS www.StyleMagazine.com – Newswire

aria Taylor is moving on from her time at ESPN, the network announced Wednesday afternoon. Taylor became the center of unwarranted controversy when her white colleague Rachel Nichols made comments about Taylor being selected to cover the 2020 NBA finals because of the network’s “crappy longtime record on diversity.” The comments Nichols made were leaked publicly, causing candid conversations about the workplace culture at ESPN. According to The New York Times, the leaked comments had a major impact on the network, prompting ESPN’s parent company Disney to get involved. Nichols, who did not threaten to sue, said the “content of the conversation did not warrant any discipline.” After the incident, Taylor sent an email to network executives saying, “I will not call myself a victim, but I certainly have felt victimized and I do not feel as though my complaints have been taken seriously.”

Her contract was originally set to expire before the end of the NBA Finals, but she reached an agreement with the network to continue until the Finals were over, Yahoo! Sports reported. Now that the season has concluded, Taylor is taking her talents to another network. According to the New York Post, she is reportedly expected to work for NBC and cover the Olympics. Jimmy Pitaro, the Chairman of ESPN and Sports Content, said, “Maria’s remarkable success speaks directly to her abilities and work ethic. There is no doubt we will miss Maria, but we remain determined to continue to build a deep and skilled talent roster that thoroughly reflects the athletes we cover and the fans we serve. While she chose to pursue a new opportunity, we are proud of the work we’ve done together.”

Maria Taylor is leaving the network after the two sides failed to reach an agreement on a contract extension

July 22, 2021 - July 28, 2021

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elcome back to The Open House. This week I will continue to share tips that will prepare you to buy your dream home or sell your current home. Buyer Tip #1 - Talk to a lender or credit specialist and find out your true credit score. If it isn't quite what you will need to finance a home purchase, start making adjustments now to boost your score. Your goal should be to pay things off to get your debt to income ratio smaller than 36%. Buyer Tip #2 - Select a real estate agent carefully. This is one of the biggest transactions of your life, so you want to make sure this person is professional, knowledgeable and trustworthy. Remember, working with a realtor is risk-free to you as a home buyer. The realtor doesn't get any financial benefit until they help you close on your new home. Buyer Tip #3 - Before beginning your home search, make a list of all the things you need and want in a new home. Think about how many bedrooms and bathrooms your family will need. Do you want a big kitchen or is a large primary suite more important to you? Seller Tip #1 - Before putting your home on the market, you want to make sure you price it right.

The Open House: With Realtor Falyn Davis

Tips For Buyers And Sellers:

Falyn M. Davis

BUYING H SELLING H LEASING H APT. LOCATING Licensed Professional Realtor

Remember your home is only worth what buyers are willing to pay for it. If you price your home competitively, you will have a much higher chance of it selling quickly. Seller Tip #2 - Consider having your home staged by a professional. There are different levels of staging, you could hire a professional or do something on your own. Studies show that staged homes sell 25% quicker than non-staged ones.

Seller Tip #3 - Once your home is ready to sell, you want to market it to as many buyers as possible. Your home should be listed on multiple listings services. Remember, the best marketed homes have beautiful photos and compelling listing descriptions that draw in potential buyers. If you have any questions about these tips or would like my expertise in buying and selling,

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Cell Phone: 832-396-6276 Email: FalynMDavis@gmail.com Social Media: @FalynDavis

July 22, 2021 - July 28, 2021

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July 22, 2021 - July 28, 2021

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July 22, 2021 - July 28, 2021