Blaxplaining is a very Black and somewhat informed take on today’s cultural and political news. It will include everything from a digest of this week’s top headlines, cultural observations, and policy analyses, as well as music and article recommendations. 

What’s happening?

• Despite the easing of lockdown restrictions across the U.S. and all over the world, it looks like Miss ‘Rona is here to stay. Over 4,658,651 cases and 312,239 deaths have been reported worldwide. In America, Trump’s hard-headed self continues to downplay calls for nationwide testing despite recommendations from health officials.

• After moving forward with its plan last month, the White House shelved a more restrictive set of guidelines from the CDC detailing guidance on how to safely reopen business and institutions. An anonymous CDC official said “YEET” and leaked a 63-page document following the 17-page set of guidelines leaked last week.

• Somebody’s getting fired. Well, Jennifer Santos, the Pentagon’s point person for executing the defense production act has been fired and reassigned to a role in the Navy. Trump also fired State Department Inspector General Steve Linick from office due to a lack of confidence. This is the fourth Inspector General fired within the last month. Who’s ready to blow some whistles?

• House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s $3 trillion coronavirus relief package aka HEROES Act passed the house. It includes $1 trillion for state and local governments, a second round of $1,200 payments, an extension of enhanced unemployment insurance through January, broader student loan relief, and many more goodies. In true Republican nature, Trump and Senate Republicans are against it, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch “Mitch-Ass McConnell” suggests pausing relief to curb the national debt spending. Perfect timing as 3 million Americans applied for unemployment last week bringing the total to 36.5 million. 

• The Department of Justice said that it will consider a request to review the shooting death of Ahmaud Arbery and assess whether federal hate crime charges should be pursued. In Kentucky, Breonna Taylor’s family filed a lawsuit claiming that the police entered the wrong home and killed her in a “botched police raid”. Just your daily reminder that Black lives will ALWAYS matter.

#FUBU

• We’ve lost three music greats this week: R&B soulstress Betty Wright, rock-n-roll pioneer Little Richard, and Uptown Records founder Andre Harrell. WYNC curated this amazing playlist in honor of their memory. 

• Nicholas Johnson was announced as Princeton University's first Black valedictorian ever in its 274-year history. In a New York Times interview, Johnson said that “being Princeton’s first black valedictorian is very empowering, especially given its historical ties to the institution of slavery.” Preach

• Gambian women’s rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize nominee, Jaha Dukureh, was recently named L’oreal’s newest international ambassador. Slay, sis!

• Ludacris and Nelly took me back to the days of XXL basketball jerseys and bandaid accessories as they battled it out on Instagram live. Luda was clearly the winner of this one, but both have guaranteed bops. Also, can we just go ahead and admit that the early ‘00s was a great time for fashion and music?

• Forever President Barack Obama addressed 2020 HBCU graduates through a virtual commencement and gracefully snatched Donald’s toupée while doing so. Come back, we miss you.

  

2020 Election

We are now 169 days away from the 2020 election. That being said, make sure you are registered to vote!

Things I liked this week

• If you’re wondering why it was all good just a month ago, but now wypipo people are acting up: **spoiler alert** it might have to deal with coronavirus disproportionately affecting black people.

• If you’re seeing an uptick in sappy tweets and Instagram bios, this might be the reason why.

• Can we not even jog in peace now? Read this interesting take on running and why it’s been exclusionary for black people

• For those who have depression/when the corona is tew much, read this article about keeping your life together by doing and appreciating the little things in life

• If you also shake your head when you see black people not social distancing, this guy feels the same way.

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Until next week,

Tyler