Up until an hour ago, I had no idea whom this Anita Hill was. My always curious mind sought to know 1.) who she was and 2.) why she was important enough to receive a movie. After picking my mothers brain and talking to a few of my elders the picture was painted clear as day for me. Anita Hill was a beacon of hope for every woman who suffered in silence while internally  dealing with the after math of a sexual assault. 

This gorgeous young woman of color took on the United States Government and was not silenced due to her own fear or the promised retaliation; I encourage all of us to be more like Ms. Hill. Far to often we are silcenced by the thoughts of our peers, the self doubt in our heart and most common of all, the vulnerability we will experience when our "private" battle is no longer private. 

-TheeBlackSocialite
Source

Eight Chicago police officers conducted illegal, open-air strip searches without probable cause, a federal lawsuit filed Wednesday claims.

The controversial searches, partially seen in video footage picked up by all the city's TV news stations this week, reportedly took place on May 23, 2013 in the 9000 block of South Laflin Street according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

The lawsuit claims police in an unmarked squad car pulled over the three plaintiffs -- two men and one women -- after the officers drove the wrong way down a one-way street, the Sun-Times reports.

The group of three -- 26-year-old Caprice Halley, 20-year-old Tevin Ford and 19-year-old Robert Douglas, who was since killed in a shooting -- were subsequently searched for drugs and one of the men was forced to strip naked in a nearby gangway, the lawsuit claims. The woman, Halley, was allegedly forced to remove her pants and a tampon by the only female officer at the scene while other officers at the scene commented about her body in an incident not seen on the video.

Read the full story HERE  (Source)

Stephen Speaks:

I am deeply offended and upset that those who have sworn to "serve and protect" have broken that oath. I'm not debating the innocence of those persons mentioned. However, how many reports of police planting evidence and pushing their boundaries will it take until action is initiated. It's sad to say, that in most cases those in power often abuse their power. The police live by a "code" of protecting each other, that's how they keep their units strong and structured. I have always wondered who enforces the laws upon the law keepers?

What are your thoughts on the situation? Have you or someone you know been a victim of unethical police behavior? Please share your story with us via Twitter (@TheBLKSocialite). Revive the art of conversation. 

"This isn't a course about Beyoncé's political engagement or how many times she performed during President Obama's inauguration weekend," says class teacher Kevin Allred, according to an interview with the campus newspaper Rutgers Today. He is a PhD student who also lectures for the Department of Women's and Gender Studies at the New Brunswick, New Jersey college. The course will compare and contrast the "Drunk in Love" singer's music videos and lyrics with important works from the Black Feminist movement, including the writings of Alice Walker and the abolitionist Sojourner Truth.

Allred says Beyoncé is a fitting candidate for this kind of course, given her larger-than-life presence in American culture. "She certainly pushes boundaries," he says. "While other artists are simply releasing music, she's creating a grand narrative around her life, her career, and her persona." Within that framework, the course will encourage students to be critical consumers. "It's important to shift students away from simply being consumers of media toward thinking more critically about what they're engaging on a regular basis," he added.

Stephen Speaks: Is out education system being made a mockery of, or do these classes modeled after TV shows and celebrities have a place in the traditional school systems? Tweet us @TheBLKSocialite and let us know. 

-TheeBlackSocialite
Source
Image: Creative Commons

That awkward moment when your costar takes off his towel and has absolutely nothing underneath... Michael B. Jordan was supposed to be wearing a modesty sock while filming a scene in That Awkward Moment where he shows Miles Teller and Zac Effron his nether regions -- there's a reason for it in the movie -- but as a practical joke of sorts, he decided to just go commando and flash them the real deal.


-TheeBlackSocialite
Source
Image: Creative Commons

A “We the People” White House petition on deporting Justin Bieber recently passed 100,000 signatures. Petitions that surpass 100,000 signatures require an official White House response.

Justin Bieber was arrested last Thursday for drag racing and driving under the influence which had some wondering if the Canadian pop star would be deported. A White House spokesman tells BuzzFeed they will be responding to the Bieber petition saying “every petition that crosses the threshold is reviewed by the appropriate staff and receives a response.”

Are we taking the Justin Beiber scenario too far? Does his green card need to be revoked as well as deportation? Tweet us @TheBLKSocialite and let us know!

-TheeBlackSocialite
Source
Image: Courtesy of Source

On Tuesday January 28 2014, President Obama made his State Of The Union Address to Congress and to the country. I have to start out by saying that this is by far my favorite State Of The Union Address that I have heard; in my opinion this was a perfectly executed speech. He started out the speech on a high note by listing some of the improvements that the country has made during his six years, such as eight million new jobs created in the past four years, the United States trying to utilize naturals oils that we have access to, to wean ourselves off of foreign oil, and the lowest unemployment rate in five years. Not to mention the deficit being nearly cut in half (impressive right?). President Obama also talked about some of the things he would like to improve upon this year. The economy and business operations in the country were a couple of the main points he talked about. 

One thing that he would like to do is to close the “loopholes” with taxes as it relates to businesses. Companies and business owners who take their businesses overseas get more of a tax break compared to those who stay in America, President Obama wants to flip that equation to keep these business rooted in the USA, thus creating more jobs. President Obama also want to do more to help small business owners since these small business owners create many jobs. One important goal is for America to lead world market in job availability. Obama said “America has the chance to beat other countries in the race in high manufacturing jobs.” 

If America became the leader in this race then we would lead the in the industry worldwide in the manufacturing and technology industry, thus boosting our economy even more. One impressive transition was how he goes from business to education by saying “The only  way to prepare our future workers is by a great education.” One accomplishment that has been made that should be applauded by all college students is that financial aid has been reformed so that more 
Americans are able to go to college and afford it, also capping student loan debt by 10 percent of a person’s income. Another thing that I enjoyed was the president saying he wanted to give money specifically for Pre-K programs to make them high quality calling it “one of the best investments.” 

Lastly, one major point was that the president  would like to see the federal minimum wage to go up to $10.10. There are three things that stuck out to me in this whole speech. 1. How he used the story of everyday people to make a point to get things done, 2. How he used points from Republican to show unity and how there are some things that agree with them on, 3. How he reached out to Congress as a whole saying that he wants to work with him, and urging him to bring him bills on these issues that he can pass, but letting it be known that if they don’t take any action that he will use his executive powers to get the job done with or without them. This address was perfectly executed all the way, President 
addressed all of the issues that Americans find important, and addressed his critics in Congress in a tactful way. 

JoNathan Collins.

Stephen Speaks:
Build a bridge and get over it. It's called P E R S O N A L life for a reason, let that man be happy!
Source
image: Courtesy Source

Up to seven students returning to classes Monday at the state University at Buffalo will learn about narrative storytelling, the drug trade and related topics through the exploits of fictional chemistry teacher turned meth kingpin Walter White and his TV show, "Breaking Bad."

"Breaking Down 'Breaking Bad,'" a graduate seminar being offered this semester, will analyze the acclaimed AMC television series' storyline, development and execution, according to the UB Reporter.

Six of of the seven seats available for the three credit-hour seminar were taken as of this morning, according to the university academic schedule.

The course was developed by Bruce Jackson, James Agee Professor of American Culture at the university's Department of English.

Jackson and his wife, Diane Christian, who also teaches English at the university, were teaching a films class when one of the students recommended they watch "Breaking Bad." They soon were hooked, the Daily Orange reported. When he told some students who also were devotees that someone should teach a seminar based on the show, they encouraged him to do it.

The show's "epic narrative" intrigued him, Jackson said.



Read the full story HERE

What are your thoughts on TV shows being used to teach our students? Tweet us @TheBLKSocialite