Edition 001: November 5, 2018

THE O-EFFECT

POLITICS

Oprah hit the streets last week canvassing for Stacey Abrams who is running for governor in Georgia. If she wins, Abrams will become the first black woman governor in the country. Her opponent is Republican nominee Secretary of State Brian Kemp. It’s one of the only times we’ve seen Oprah publicly back a political candidate. The last time was in 2017 when she supported former President Barack Obama. Her visit follows Senator Kamala Harris’ trip to Georgia. Harris stopped at Spelman College where she implored students to fight for the country they want to create.

During two town halls, Oprah electrified audiences and encouraged them to vote. She even joked about making voting social and bringing a date to the polls. After dismissing the notion that she might run in 2020 (even though her best friend Gayle King is urging her to), Oprah adamantly stated that black people who do not vote will have done a disservice to our ancestors who were lynched and suppressed.

Late in the race, Abrams has garnered much celebrity support from stars like Michael B. Jordan, Common and former President Barack Obama. The question now, will it be enough to help her win tomorrow?

AI in AFRICA

TECHNOLOGY

It’s no doubt that artificial intelligence - a term used to describe intelligence demonstrated by machines (think Apple’s Siri) - has changed the way we live, interact, communicate and thus shapes our human experiences. Now, the technology might change the lives of many Africans. Recent studies have shown that AI can amplify sexist and racist biases from the real world. Leading AI expert Moustapha Cisse says that we must build AI expertise in Africa in order to reduce these inequalities and improve lives globally. In this op-ed, he discusses the barriers of being black in the tech space, his return to Africa to open the continent’s first AI research lab in Accra, Ghana with Google and a plan to encourage AI education and financial support across the continent. Cisse assures us that the time is now to build an AI foundation in Africa.

LEGACY OF THE 14th AMENDMENT

POLITICS

The 14th Amendment to the Constitution, ratified in 1868, guarantees United States citizenship to everyone born in this country. The Amendment was, as Martha S. Jones writes in The Atlantic, “the legacy left to us by former slaves who saw themselves as belonging by virtue of birthright long before most others did.”

Last week, in a video clip released by Axios, President Trump announced that he wants to tear down this legacy and end birthright citizenship via executive order. Although legal scholars argue that Trump cannot amend the Constitution unilaterally, Princeton Law Professor Imani Perry cautions that “Given the relatively minimal checks the House and Senate have placed on Trump’s unethical and even criminal behavior, we should expect that he will take steps to begin destroying birthright citizenship.”

A bleak view, perhaps, but also one that serves as yet another reminder about why voting is so important. If Trump does attempt to end birthright citizenship, there will undoubtedly be numerous lawsuits filed; lawsuits that could make their way up through all of the conservative judges that Trump has placed in federal courts across the country to the Supreme Court, where he has also succeeded in placing two conservative Justices. As Professor Perry points out and as the last few years have shown, if a right that seems so embedded in our country’s democracy can come under threat, imagine how much more vulnerable policies impacting policing, immigration, education, housing and more are.

You can find your polling place and info about who’s on your ballot here. You’re welcome!

GOING FOR GOLD

SPORTS

If you weren’t already a Simone Biles fan, it’s time to jump on the bandwagon. Winning her fourth World all-around title, Biles won six medals at the 2018 world gymnastics championships and has won 20 overall medals during world championships to date, tying for the most ever by a woman gymnast. Biles is also the only American to win world medals in every gymnastics event and the most decorated world champion in the sport’s history. At only 21 years old, Biles achieved these records last week while competing with a kidney stone and falling twice during her routines - once on the vault and once on the balance beam. “I think there’s a lot to be proud of, but I’m most proud of that I’m here, I made all the event finals, medaled in all of the events and I survived,” Biles said according to The New York Times. Despite acknowledging on Twitter that she had not performed to her own high standards, Biles also led the U.S. women’s gymnastics team to win the world championship, its fourth straight, which secured the team a spot at the 2020 Olympics. We’ll see you in Tokyo!

COMEDY HOUR

ENTERTAINMENT

Comedian Louis C.K. lost fans and work when he admitted to sexual misconduct in 2017. He stayed away from performing for awhile, but now, he’s back on stage. During a recent surprise set at the Comedy Cellar in New York, C.K. joked that black people were some of his most loyal fans and stuck by him during the lowest point in his career. The Atlantic gives examples of both Alec Baldwin and even President Trump making similar remarks about phantom support from the black community. But, black people aren’t monolithic and as the article explains, we “do not exist as rhetorical tools to be levied in the face of criticism.” The conversation made us think about how a few black supporters can often become the voice for the entire community. As we know, that’s one of the most dangerous tools a politician or celebrity can use. So, joking or not, Louis C.K. can leave us out of his routine next time.

MD FOOTBALL SCANDAL

SPORTS

On Wednesday, the University of Maryland fired head football coach DJ Durkin, only one day after reinstating him from administrative leave and after University President Wallace Loh announced his retirement. Durkin’s departure comes five long months after the Terrapins’ offensive lineman Jordan McNair died from heat stroke complications. During a team workout in May, trainers failed to recognize the severity of 19-year-old McNair’s condition and did not properly treat the lineman. He died in the hospital two weeks later. The decision to fire Durkin came after the University received immediate blowback for bringing back the head coach, including from Maryland’s governor, Larry Hogan. If this entire chain of events seems questionable, you’re right. This exposé details all the ways Maryland tried to protect the head coach in the aftermath of his own program’s deadly actions.

MISEDUCATION: 20 YEARS LATER

FC FAVES

Ms. Lauryn Hill is currently on tour celebrating the 20th anniversary of her classic, Grammy award winning album “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill”. In 1998, “Miseducation” established her as one of the defining artists of hip-hop and soul at only 23 years old. We’ve had a rocky relationship with Hill, who left the public eye and over the years has developed a reputation for being an unreliable performer. Despite it all, this week’s New Yorker highlights a new book about the album, by Joan Morgan, titled “She Begat This: 20 Years of the Miseducation of Lauryn Hill”, which argues that “even if Hill never released another album she will have done more than enough.”