Sorry to break it to you, but charging Betty Shelby with the manslaughter of Terence Crutcher won"t change anything

Protests Call for Arrest of Tulsa Police Officer Betty Shelby for Fatal Shooting of Terence Crutcher

Last week the fatal police shooting of Terence Crutcher made him the latest in an immeasurably long line of black men and women murdered by the police. And after footage of the shooting went viral, news broke recently that the officer who shot Crutcher will face charges of first degree manslaughter. For many, it appears this is something to celebrate. Although it will not bring Crutcher back, and there is certainly no guarantee of a conviction, this charge represents hope of justice and redemption. Perhaps this shows that the US has a racial conscience after all.

But while this charge is certainly better than no charge at all, we should be wary of seeing it as a quick-fix solution. If attention is only focused on charging an individual officer, we surely lose sight of the much bigger picture. Through this lens we might see Crutchers murder as only the fault of one trigger-happy police officer who does not see the value of black life, rather than a system that devalues black lives all over America.

This sort of discourse is in the interest of the US power structure. We are encouraged to see the murder as the fault of an individual bad cop rather than the foreseeable and predictable realities of a rotten system and a rotten police force. With the footage having gone viral, and racial inequality in the spotlight, those in power will be only too happy to individualise the problem, making this one officer the scapegoat. The charges are necessary to maintain the illusion of a racially just society.

The story of an individual bad cop helps to maintain the myth of a tolerant and post-racial society, one that doesnt need a Black Lives Matter movement. The charges create an illusion of progress, without doing the meaningful work needed to bring about real change. Rather than engaging in the introspection that the US (and the UK) so desperately needs, attention is shifted conveniently, the whole issue can then be dismissed after a single court case.

Individual manifestations of racism are part of the picture, but not the whole picture. Systemic racism permeates the police force particularly, and society generally. We shouldnt be given convenient excuses to forget that.

When we consider that black Americans are killed by police on an almost daily basis, it should be clear that Crutchers death is not an isolated occurrence. Black deaths at the hands of the police are so frequent that, in a news cycle that seems to be permanently on repeat, Crutchers murder is already becoming old news. As attention turns to the Charlotte killing of Keith Lamont Scott, the names might change, but the narrative remains a disturbingly familiar one.

We will not see an end to racial oppression if we only charge officers, but never change the system from which their actions arise. As the Macpherson report and subsequent reports have shown us in the UK and as is so patently obvious in the US our police forces are institutionally racist.

With the genealogy of US police forces stretching back to the need to control and oppress black populations through slave patrols, it should not be a surprise that racism remains deeply ingrained. Police continue to harass, abuse and murder black people every day and although this is certainly more prevalent in the US, its a problem in the UK too.

Terence Crutcher: Unarmed black man with his hands up killed by Tulsa police

Anti-racist efforts must remain focused on institutional change. Of course there is no reason why this cannot be reached alongside individual prosecutions, but we must see the bigger picture. Nothing hampers racial progress more than the illusion of racial progress.

So let us not be distracted by the quick (and often attractive) fix of persecuting an individual. For real racial justice, and a future where black lives matter, our efforts must focus on the disease, not just the symptoms.

Reuse content

Source: http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/terence-crutcher-betty-shelby-police-charged-first-degree-manslaughter-charlotte-riots-black-lives-a7326001.html

Continue Reading ..

Defense, not Tom Brady, might be real reason to fear Patriots

Jacoby Brissett Leads Patriots To 27-0 Victory Over Texans

Pressed into action, rookie quarterback Jacoby Brissett helped guide the Patriots to a 27-0 shellacking of the Texans. Time Sports

New England Patriots outside linebacker Jamie Collins (91) celebrates a touchdown against the Houston Texans during the first half at Gillette Stadium.(Photo: Winslow Townson, USA TODAY Sports)

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. Jimmy and Jacoby. And then, of course, theres Tom.

But for all the headlines, articles, and print the New England Patriots quarterbacks generate, its something else that has the team looking like legitimate Super Bowl contenders through three games.

A championship-caliber defense.

The unit smothered and confused the Houston Texans Thursday night, 27-0, in the ninth shutout of the Bill Belichick era to put New England at 3-0. That was without starting middle linebacker Donta Hightower, who was inactive with a knee injury.

So even as rookie third-string quarterback Jacoby Brissett started his first game while backup Jimmy Garoppolo healed from a shoulder sprain and Tom Brady watched from home serving his four-game Deflategate suspension, the Patriots kept rolling.

We have confidence in Jacoby. We have confidence in Jimmy. And we have confidence in that other guy thats coming back pretty soon, Patriots defensive end Chris Long told USA TODAY Sports after the game. So its up to us as a defense to execute. We know how good our offense can be so we just want to hold up our end of the bargain.

Thatthey did.

The Patriots limited Texans quarterback Brock Osweiler to 24completions on 41 attempts for 196 yards with no touchdowns and one interception.

The first time the Texans crossed midfield came with 1:27 left to play in the third quarter on the 43rd play from scrimmage for Houston.

The Patriotslimited star receiver DeAndre Hopkins and standout rookie Will Fuller to seven catches and 87 yards, combined.

That New England and head coach Bill Belichick did all of this on just three days rest and preparation should turn heads around the rest of the NFL.

Let me tell you, man, Bills game plan each week is the best game plan, Patriots safety Duron Harmon said after the game. He just he continues to amaze you with the things that come up in his mind to attack the offenses weakness.

Said Texans tight end Ryan Griffin: We were shocked.We couldnt get anything going.

So as the Patriots prepare to face a struggling Buffalo Bills (0-2) team next Sunday, theres a good chance New England emerges from the Brady absence undefeated. They already have a lead in the AFC East, and it might only get wider.

Our coaches arent like Hey, youre great, just take it easy, cornerback Logan Ryan told USA TODAY Sports after the game. Were practicing hard. Were in pads. Were doing all the work that it takes. When youre doing all that work, the games should be fun. Right now, thats the case for us. When you see an outcome like this, you believe.

Follow Lorenzo Reyes on Twitter @LorenzoGReyes.

PHOTOS: Best of NFL Week 3

Autoplay

Show Thumbnails

Show Captions

Last SlideNext Slide

Source: http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/patriots/2016/09/23/new-england-defense-jamie-collins-houston-texans/90888478/

Continue Reading ..

Notorious premiere recap: "Pilot"

Best Of The Notorious B.I.G. Old School Hip Hop (90s Rap Biggie Mix By Eric The Tutor)

Women reign supreme over at the kingdom that is ABC Thursday Night, and a newbie has emerged. But does a non-Shondaland production even stand a chance? Notorious is trying its darndest to be the next Scandal, and it seems to be workingfor now.

It begins with a bang. And I mean that literally. Thats what I call a homecoming, says an anonymous male, and I can tell I already hate him. Before our blonde heroine Julia George (Piper Perabo) can kick him out (thats what she was going to do, right? He made a s*x pun, for crying out loud), she realizes its 4:46 p.m. and shes running late. She bids her boyfriend, who we learn has just been promoted to federal judge, goodbye and swoops in to save the day as her PA Megan (Sepideh Moafi) tells her Louise is locked in her office.

Were soon introduced to Julias boss: Louise Herrick (Kate Jennings Grant), star of Louise Herrick Live, the no. 1 cable news program in the country. Louise isnt actually locked in her office; shes lounging on a chaise wearing lingerie and entertaining a boy toy, who tells Julia, I like your vibe. Hey boss lady, how do you like your meat? OMG with the sexual puns.

Even though it has Louises name, the show is clearly Julias baby. Shes like the Leslie Knope of the news world. (Theres even confusion in her office as to whether a guest is named Gary or Jerry!) The guest on tonights LHL is Jake Gregorian (Daniel Sunjata), a smooth-talking criminal-defense attorney with a car worthy of a Ferris Bueller joy ride, aviators probably worth more than your house, and best of all, dimples you could swim in.

As the show-within-the-show is about to begin, we get some breaking news that is pretty much going to set the tone for the entire episode (and possibly the whole first season): Internet mogul Oscar Keaton (Kevin Zegers as a hot Mark Zuckerberg, basically) has been issued an arrest warrant for fleeing the crime scene of a hit-and-run. And what do you know, Jake Gregorian is his friend and lawyer. How convenient!

Louise appears to ambush him, breaking the news that Oscar is surrendering to police live on air, and Jake angrily storms out in a fit of rage at the thought of being set up. But its all an act! OMG (again!), what a twist. This is just like Fight Club. I had to plant the seeds of doubt before the country rushed to judgment, Jake explains to Julia. LHL got the scoop and theyre trending, so everyones happy. As for the Jake/Julia duo, Im hesitant to give in to this will-they-or-wont-they vibe going on its being shoved pretty ferociously down our throats but I will say the two have great chemistry, so eventually, maybe, we can root for them.

Anyway, Jake heads to the police station to visit Oscar, who vehemently denies any involvement even though it was his car. He does, however, admit to oooone little thing: Despite the fact that hes supposed to be sober, there did happen to be a secret stash of cocaine in the car used in the hit-and-run. You know, for a friend. Before Jake can comment, the episode drops bomb no. 2: The hit-and-run victim has died and Oscars being charged with second-degree murder. Dun dun duuuun.

Meanwhile, back at Gregorian & Gregorian, Jakes law office that he runs with his brother Bradley (J. August Richards), bomb no. 3 drops: Jake is in love with Oscars wife, Sarah (Dilshad Vadsaria). May I suggest a new drinking game called Notori-Shots: Take a shot every time an unexpected twist is revealedor dont. It could get ugly. So, yeah, there is so much backstory we need now: How did Oscar and Jake become friends? Was it before or after his affair with Sarah? Even though Sarah pays Oscars bail, the awkward hand placement between the two says a lot about the state of their marriage. Jake must be low-key thrilled.

NEXT: Secrets and lies

Source: http://www.ew.com/recap/notorious-series-premiere

Continue Reading ..

Why Pitch"s Mark-Paul Gosselaar Relates to His New Character Way ...

AMAZING pretty girl playing | Muscle queen, Choi Seol Hwa Baseball Pitch

Zack Morris who? Mark-Paul Gosselaar is suiting up for Pitch. And by suiting up we mean he grew a big ol" bushy beard, packed on some weight and threw on the baseball cleats to play Mike Lawson, the catcher for the San Diego Padres on the Fox series. Yeah, it"s a far-cry from the blonde days of Saved By the bell.

"The script was a scriptthat I just couldn"t put down," Gosselaar told E! News" Carissa Culner at the Pitch premiere. "I just knew that the team, no pun intended, was one that could make this a special project."

Pitch tells the story of San Diego Padre"s pitcher Ginny Baker (Kylie Bunbury), the first female to play in Major League Baseball, and her teammates who all have their own thing going on.

"I can relate more to this character. Zack Morris to me was a true character that I played with the fake blonde hair. Zack Morris is what I wanted to be in high school "cause I was not that kid in high school. I was the kid that was on the steps doing other thing besides schoolwork and I saw the cool kids acting like Zack Morris," Gosselaar said. "Mike Lawson, the character that I play now, is probably how I would conduct myself now if I were a professional ballplayer."

Despite the intense training Gosselaar"s gone through to play a convincing baseball player, don"t expect him to trade professions anytime soon.

"h**l noit"s a lot harder than they make it look," he said about giving baseball a try for real. "On television they make it look like it"s a graceful slow sportthese guys are getting beaten upit"s a brutal sport."

Pitch premieres Thursday, Sept. 22 at 9 p.m. on Fox.

Source: http://www.eonline.com/news/796887/why-pitch-s-mark-paul-gosselaar-relates-to-his-new-character-way-more-than-zack-morris

Continue Reading ..

50 Cent, Future, Gucci Mane & More Rappers� 50 Cent, Future, Gucci Mane & More Rappers Mourn Shawty Lo After ...

Blac Youngsta COPS HALF A MILLION DOLLAR CAR!! Shawty Lo Candle Light and more!!
Rappers Mourn Shawty Lo: See Tributes From Gucci Mane, 50 Cent & More - Hollywood Life

Click to Skip Ad

Closing in...

Courtesy of Instagram

So devastating! Legendary Atlanta rapper Shawty Lo was killed in a tragic crash in his native city early on Sept. 21, and the rap world is in total mourning. The star and record label chief was absolutely beloved by his peers who are reeling at his sudden passing. Keep reading for the heartfelt tributes from Gucci Mane, Future, 50 Cent and more.

The rap world is united in stunned sadness over the sudden passing of Shawty Lo, 40, real name Carlos Walker. The King of Bankhead star was driving on a freeway outside his hometown when he was hit by another car, causing his vehicle to careen over the guardrail and into some trees, killing him instantly. He leaves behind 11 kids nine daughters and two sons by ten moms so theres a lot of sadness in his own large family, as well as his among peers.

The4DL record label founder had so much love and respect, and the Westside Atlanta rap/hip hop community is bonding together to remember the talented rapper and businessman. The likes of fellow ATL rappers Gucci Mane, Future,T.I., Lil Yachty,ILoveMakonnen, Ludacris, and more have been posting moving tributes to social media about his untimely passing.

HollywoodLifers, share your thoughts on Shawty Los tragic passing in the comments.

JavaScript is required to load the comments.

{{ result.published_at | date: "%h %d, %Y" }}

Source: http://hollywoodlife.com/2016/09/21/rappers-mourn-shawty-lo-dead-tributes-messages/

Continue Reading ..

Taraji P. Henson: Why the "Empire" Star Digs Donning Different Hats

Rhonda Lyon In Memoriam | Season 3 | EMPIRE

The relationship between Taraji P. Henson and her Empire persona of Cookie is a complicated one if only because while Henson has been nominated three times for her work as Best Actress in a Drama, she feels like her best skills lie in comedy.

READ MORE:Taraji P. Hensons Empire Highlight Reel Has to Be Seen to Be Believed

I come to drama from a comedy background, she told IndieWire during the Television Critics Association press tour. And from her point of view, thats what not only fuels her, but many other comedians as well as they explore the boundary between laughter and pain.

Its a boundary that Henson has explored a great deal thanks to the Empire sets openness to ad-libbing which shes been able to keep going on other projects, such as the upcoming awards season contender Hidden Figures, in which she plays a 1960s mathematician, a role that she found to be the polar opposite of Cookie.

Of course, the power of Cookie cannot be denied even if Season 2 skimped on the hats. Dont worry. Below, Henson promises to fix that.

From the beginning of the series, I was a huge fan of Cookies hats

She hasnt been doing many hats! The second season I had that Le Snob hat, and I had a face veil.

That was cool.

But I dont think I tried on one hat this year. Hey, you know what, Ill bring that up to [costume designerPaolo Nieddu]. More hats.

As a character detail, what does a great accessory like that give you?

It helps with my character. I mean I lovewhenPaulothrows meprops. I love to work with props. Ive never been afraid to work with props. I was Prop Mistress in college.

[Nieddu]gave me those Le Snob glasses that flip up and down were such a great tag team because h**l give me something: Honey, I know youll work it into the scene. So h**l give me like a fabulousJudithLeiberbagand Ill like fiercely put it downwith a nail, or,you know, flip the glasses down, or walk in with the shades and take them.

Taraji P. Henson in Empire.

Chuck Hodes/FOX

I know there are some actors who cant stand watching themselves on camera.

I used to be like that. I cant watch myself during the process, but its easier to do now with social media, because its like youre watching with the audience, you know? So its not me sitting there like oh G*d, why did you turn this way? Why did you do your eyes like that? Why did you say it like that? You know what I mean? So I have the distraction of the real world to go, okay, you did hit that beat, theyre picking it up, I see theyre tweeting that line, oh my G*d that ad-lib worked. It gets me out of my head, to watch it with an unbiased audience.

Ive heard you speak before about how you really value the ability to be able to ad-lib, and you said that it comes from being in a safe environment. Was that something that happened right away, or did the world of Empire start feeling safe over a period of time?

It felt that way from the beginning. It felt that way when I went to read with Terrence for Lee and Danny. It just, thats how it started. They just let me go. I mean, thats how Boo Boo Kitty was born. That was in the pilot. That was like one of the first scenes we shot and it just came out and they were like, Were gonna keep it! Were gonna keep it! So the more they kept saying, Were gonna keep it, I was like, You wanna keep this too? You know? Its just good to play. I dont do it a lot, I only do it when its called for, because you dont want to have a scene full of ad-libs then wheres the scene going? It has to be its like comedic, the timing has to be right and if youre not feeling it, chances are you shouldnt ad-lib. [laughs]

Do you feel like youve gotten to do a lot of comedy?

Thats my strongest talent. I did a lot of musical theater in college, and thats a lot of comedy, a lot of timing. And thats really my strong suit I think. But also, in having said that, Ive noticed growing up in my life Ive watched a lot of comedians and they were able to transition into dramatic roles gracefully. Because comedians deal with pain thats why theyre so cynical, thats why they can laugh at each other. At themselves. Because the world has been throwing rocks at them all their lives, so now theyve turned those rocks into something funny, you know? So their pain is layered. When they play these dramatic roles, they can bring you those highs and lows because theyve had that comedic timing.

And to me they make better dramatic actors, so, I come [at]drama from a comedy background. Not that I did standup a lot, I was just great and gifted in the comedic timing. Just in life. Just the way I tell stories with friends, you know? So I think thats really where my talent lies. I have yet to be able to really do a comedy butwell get to it.

What kind of comedy would you like to do?

I mean, not the comedy where youre like HERE COMES THE JOKE! YOU READY? CATCH IT! More like situational things. Just comedy happening out of real life situations. Like the Judd Apatow films, you know its not really setting up the jokes, its just out of these circumstances you laugh. I try to bring a lot of the comedy elements to Cookie. I want to make her a multi-dimensional character, as we all are as humans. Were not one dimension. There are layers, we keep pulling back the onion. The layers of the onion, you know.

Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson in Empire.

Chuck Hodes/FOX

I feel like a lot of time, actors talk about characters coming from themselves as a person. Do you feel that Cookie is a separate entity from yourself?

Oh, absolutely. Like, I mean, I grew up in the hood, I didnt sell drugs. You know, I chose another path. I chose education, you know, working. I see the pitfalls, I can understand why her back, her and Lucius, their backs was against the wall. They were young parents, you know it happened. Um they had no education, you know, they made the best they could with the cards dealt to them, you know? And coming from the hood I remember when crack got dropped off I remember entire families being destroyed. I grew up in a broken home. And now Im looking at my friend who had both parents at home now crack is here, theyre divorced, and living in the street. Yall are homeless what? I remember that era, so things like that I was able to pull and draw from to make her real. But shes totally different from me. I cant go around flying off the handles saying what I want to say, I would get railed for it (laughs). So shes actually my Sasha Fierce, my alter ego.

At some point, one presumes, Empire will end. Do you feel like it will be hard to transition from this to a completely different character?

No. Ive been doing it. I have a movie coming out [Hidden Figures] its very important for me because Im an artist, Im a character actor, so its very important for me to keep my instrument working. Lubed up, if you will. And so whenever Im not doing Cookie, I race to something thats the polar opposite of her, and I couldnt get more polar opposite than a mathematician. I mean shes literally glassesshe doesnt say muchhappy about her math, you know?

Was there room for ad-libbing on that side?

Its a different way of ad-libbing. Its not boisterous and loud. Theres one part that I saw of the trailer, a scene with myself, Janelle Monae and Octavia Spencer, where my characters first meeting her next husband to be. Theyre being introduced for the first time and we ad-libbed this whole thing about Oh my G*d, whys he looking, whys he coming over here? And shes like, Im gonna go get some pie, and I said, You already have pie, Dorothy. It was cute little moments like that, but they allowed for it.

Empire Season 3 premieres Wednesday at 9pm on Fox.

Stay on top of the latest TV news! Sign up for our TV email newsletter here.

Source: http://www.indiewire.com/2016/09/taraji-p-henson-interview-empire-cookie-1201728880/

Continue Reading ..

Artist Unveils a 2500-Square-Foot John Lennon Painting For International Peace Day

Ukraine: Over 1,000 march in Kiev on International Peace Day

In 2001, painter Eric Waugh broke the world record for the largest painting by a single artist. His stunning 41,400-square-foot painting, entitled Hero,was revealed on World AIDS Day. Now, in honor of the 45th anniversary of John Lennons song Imagine, Waugh has created a 2500-square-foot painting of the musician thatwillbe displayed today in New York City to commemoratethe United NationsInternational Day of Peace.

It is my hope that people surround the painting and pay tribute to John and his dream for a world without strife, war, and conflict, Waugh wrote on his website. Recent events, at home and abroad, show that Johns vision remains as important as ever. The painting,created at his warehouse in Austin, Texas,is five stories highand took more than a month to complete.

Waugh will unveil and display the painting today in the heart of New York Citys Central Park, directly in front of the Naumburg Bandshell amphitheater. The bandshell is located near the Strawberry Fieldsmemorial to Lennonand across the street from The Dakota, the apartment complex where Lennon was assassinated in 1980. According to Waugh, its the perfect location to imagine again.

Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&ct2=us&usg=AFQjCNF5WEKzD59aZcg9ghxSY4pMp89PZA&clid=c3a7d30bb8a4878e06b80cf16b898331&cid=52779217698606&ei=1-3jV4imKsO4pwfw2oXgAg&url=https://www.good.is/articles/imagine-peace-in-central-park

Continue Reading ..