New York (CNN Business)McDonald's is in damage control mode after a restaurant in China displayed a sign banning black people from the premises.
The sign, which recently circulated on social media, said the McDonald's location in Guangzhou has "been informed that from now on black people are not allowed to enter the restaurant."
The sign is "not representative of our inclusive values," McDonald's said in a statement. The sign was removed and the location was temporarily closed down. CNN has not yet been able to authenticate the video.
The industrial city has been steeped in racial tensions between Africans and locals. Recent warnings from Chinese officials about the rising number of imported coronavirus cases have stoked anti-foreigner sentiment. Africans in the southern Chinese city have been evicted from their homes by landlords and turned away from hotels, despite many claiming to have no recent travel history or known contact with Covid-19 patients.
McDonald's (MCD) said it will use the closure to "further educate managers and employees on our values, which includes serving all members of the communities in which we operate."
Guangzhou has long had the largest African community in China. Because many Africans in the city have short-term business visas, they travel into China several times a year, making it difficult to calculate the size of the African population the city. But in 2017, approximately 320,000 Africans entered or left China through Guangzhou, according to Xinhua.
This isn't the first time McDonald's garnered controversy overseas. Last November, it pulled an ad in Portugal that used the words "Sundae Bloody Sundae" to promote a Halloween dessert. Bloody Sunday is the name for the day in 1972 on which British soldiers shot unarmed protesters in Derry, Northern Ireland, during the Troubles -- resulting in 14 deaths.
The coronavirus has been detrimental McDonald's business this year. Last week, it reported that sales at restaurants open at least a year plunged more than 22% in March, led by a nearly 35% decline in its internationally operated markets.
Again, for those who still doubt that Black people and particularly #AfricansinChina are being targeted we feel it is our duty to share this. A sign at a @McDonalds restaurant seems to make this perfectly clear pic.twitter.com/FaveKrdQHi
After linking up on their collaborative "TIMELESS" album in 2019, V Don and Dark Lo team up yet again to bring you a new 6-track EP! “The Prophecy EP" is now available everywhere music is streamed and sold!
Nascar driver Kyle Larson recently used the word nigger while playing a video game online. He's since apologized, but that was to be expected. I hope he enjoys today's "Donkey of the Day."
Playboi Carti went all Johnny Badass on a cop who pulled him over -- according to the cop, anyway, Carti dragged the deputy's daughter into it!!!
TMZ got a hold of the police report detailing Carti's arrest about a week ago in Clayton County, Georgia -- and cops say the rapper was mouthing off big time when a Sheriff's deputy pulled him over and smelled weed.
The deputy says he asked Carti to get out, and the bad attitude started right away. Carti allegedly told the officer to take him to jail and said he didn't even care anymore.
Upon conducting a search, the deputy says he found drugs and guns inside Carti's Lambo -- specifically, marijuana, Xanax, codeine and oxycodone and 2 handguns. Carti had a pal with him and cops arrested both of them ... but the trash-talking wasn't done yet.
According to the officer, Carti told him he'd "f*** my daughter" and that he had a hot wife. He also allegedly said he didn't give a damn about his exotic sports car, cause he'd just buy another one anyway.
In the end, Carti was booked for expired tags, possession of less than an ounce of marijuana and failure to move over. His buddy ended up getting busted for the harder drug and gun possession charges.
After linking up on their collaborative "TIMELESS" album in 2019, V Don and Dark Lo team up yet again to bring you a new 6-track EP! “The Prophecy EP" is now available everywhere music is streamed and sold!
After linking up on their collaborative "TIMELESS" album in 2019, V Don and Dark Lo team up yet again to bring you a new 6-track EP! “The Prophecy EP" is now available everywhere music is streamed and sold!
Jacqueline Cruz, the mother of Minnesota Timberwolves All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns, died Monday due to complications from coronavirus (COVID-19), a family spokesperson said in a statement.
"Jackie, as she was affectionately known among family and friends, had been battling the virus for more than a month when she succumbed on April 13th," the statement said.
"Jackie was many things to many people — a wife, a mother, daughter, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. The matriarch of the Towns family, she was an incredible source of strength; a fiery, caring and extremely loving person who touched everyone she met. Her passion was palpable and her energy will never be replaced.
"The Towns family is extremely grateful for the outpouring of love and support they have received during this very difficult time."
The Timberwolves also released a statement extending their condolences and writing that "Jackie provided constant and positive energy for (Karl-Anthony) and was beloved by our entire organization and staff at Target Center."
On March 24, Towns posted an emotional video on Instagram detailing the severity of his mom’s condition. At that time, she was in a medically induced coma.
Towns said his mom "keep getting worse, she kept getting worse … she wasn't getting any better.”
"Her lungs were getting worse. Her cough was getting worse. She was deteriorating. We always thought that the next medicine would help."
Towns said her fever reached 103 degrees.
It was a harrowing explanation, and Towns was shaken, saying his mother was confused and saying things he didn’t want to hear. He called his mother “the head of the household, the boss.”
He remained positive.
"We're going to keep fighting this," he said. "We're going to beat this. We're going to win. I hope my story helps. I hope my story gives the you the correct information."
Boosie Badazz was the latest guest on The Breakfast Club and he was wild as hell. He talked about oral sex, threesomes, Instagram parties, Coronavirus controversy, fatherhood and new music.
The deadly OBH Records trio of OBH Pretty Flock, Razor and Breeze Begets combine lyrical forces to shred this new heater titled "Street Cred." Peep the official music video.
Tony Dungy reported this weekend that Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans have set an expectation similar to the New England Patriots. This raises the question, are Bucs fans setting an unrealistic expectation for 42 year old Tom Brady? Hear why Shannon Sharpe believes that Tom Brady will not be able to achieve what Tampa Bay fans are expecting.
Sada Baby checked in with Adam while quarantining. Sada Baby talks about Detroit being heavily hit by Covid, his work ethic, rappers getting comfortable after getting their first chains, how to handle yourself professionally vs ranting online like Young Chop and more.
Former 1017 Brick Squad member, Frenchie, recently went on a lengthy rant against Gucci Mane. Frenchie took his former mentor to task about his alleged issues with artists signed to his label getting shine, his beefs with Waka Flocka and Yo Gotti, allegedly not paying Frenchie his royalties, issues with his own brother and much more.
There's 2 sides to every story, so it will be interesting to see if Gucci responds.
The official music video for Praying For My Soul from Smoke Dza featuring Flipp Dinero. Stream/Download A Closed Mouth Don't Get Fed - https://smokedza.ffm.to/acmdgf
The song "Leave" by August Russell A.K.A Kindness. Kindness is August's artist's name. Kindness started performing and singing at a young age that allowed him to develop his skills as a dynamic performer. Kindness is a singer, songwriter, actor, screenwriter and developing his skills to produce plays for the theater houses.
Kindness's new song "leave" is a Christian/Gospel Hip-Hop track. This song can actually be performed in the churches as well as in the clubs. The song mixture is very unique. "Leave" has a poetic delivery, there is a verse in the song that says "give me something to believe in, I am thinking Jesus, I am leaving", Kindness's lyrical content expresses his true belief in his Christian faith. The song has conviction, great meaning, and composition. Leave has the potential to bring people who do not understand the power of Jesus some understanding, meaning, and love.
The song has a poetic feel. Listen to the song and let us know your thoughts. Get more details on the artist by visiting his website or social media.
August G. Russell is a St. Louis Native having been homeschooled and first enrolled in his local performing arts center at the age of five. He expressed a love for the performing arts from a young age, showing a natural talent and ability to be accelerated to higher levels of studies above those of his age group. During this time after having been evaluated, it was noted by a foreign vocal teacher that August had a "gift from God". At age seven, August made his first theater appearance in the Wizard of Oz as a Munchkin at America's largest outdoor theater in the Midwest. He continued to appear for many years in shows such as Peter Pan, Cinderella, Annie, The Sound of Music, The Wizard of Oz again, Oliver!, Joseph, Miss Saigon, and Godspell.
Performing was the highlight of his childhood each summer having been homeschooled. During his teenage years, August could be found in several performing arts troupes around St. Louis that catered to the Musical Theater community, but additionally performing in and also working with several different theater companies and stage-shows in the St. Louis region.
August starting having a conviction of Christianity, he felt the need to take a break from the theater scene and focus on finishing his high school education and seek God. August began attending a very Charismatic church in the city that allowed him to increase his enthusiasm and zeal. August then began to show leadership skills among his peers. He has had several different studies ranging from biblical studies at local homeschool institutions to just bible studies that he has found highly intriguing.
August is a passionate disciple of Jesus Christ. Thereafter, August became a student at St. Louis Community College where he studied basic education in a pursuit to receive his Associate's degree in music. August was accepted to a prestigious performing arts conservatory located in New York and Los Angeles for the study of musical theater in 2016. August traveled to Jerusalem and expresses "seeing the Holy land has inspired me and convicted me in my faith in a reality that I can't put into words but only in actions". August comes from a passionate family with two older sisters, a hard-working and loving mother, and a father. August's goals are to spread love and show the world that he loves God and people and the performing arts.
August been producing music independently and making a name for himself in the St. Louis music scene. August plans to put out mixtapes, and work on additional projects such as writing and producing original stage plays that for the Christians. He also wants to work on ministry or business.
Overall, August desires to spread the good news, follow the footsteps of his family who he idolizes by inspirational others as great words were spoken over his life.
CHICAGO — Smithfield Foods, the world’s biggest pork processor, said Sunday it will shut a US plant indefinitely due to a rash of coronavirus cases among employees and warned the country was moving “perilously close to the edge” in supplies for grocers.
Slaughterhouse shutdowns are disrupting the US food supply chain, crimping availability of meat at retail stores and leaving farmers without outlets for their livestock.
Smithfield extended the closure of its Sioux Falls, South Dakota, plant after initially saying it would idle temporarily for cleaning. The facility is one of the nation’s largest pork processing facilities, representing 4% to 5% of US pork production, according to the company.
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem said Saturday that 293 Smithfield employees had active cases of the new coronavirus, accounting for 55% of the state’s total. Noem and the mayor of Sioux Falls had recommended the company shut the plant, which has about 3,700 workers, for at least two weeks.
“It is impossible to keep our grocery stores stocked if our plants are not running,” Smithfield chief executive Ken Sullivan said in a statement Sunday. “These facility closures will also have severe, perhaps disastrous, repercussions for many in the supply chain, first and foremost our nation’s livestock farmers.”
Smithfield said it will resume operations in Sioux Falls after further direction from local, state and federal officials. The company will pay employees for the next two weeks, according to the statement.
The company has been running its plants to supply US consumers during the outbreak, Sullivan said.
“We have a stark choice as a nation: We are either going to produce food or not, even in the face of COVID-19,” he said.
Other major US meat and poultry processors, including Tyson Foods Inc., Cargill Inc. and JBS USA, have already idled plants in other states.
During a recent interview 50 Cent was asked about the status of Lloyd Banks. The G-Unit head honcho said he and Banks are not on speaking terms and he has no explanation as to why Blue Hefner won't communicate with him.
In this episode of People’s Party, Talib Kweli and Jasmin Leigh sit down with British-born comedian and actor Gina Yashere. The interview spans from Gina's upbringing in London to being raised by Nigerian parents to her path emerging as a globally recognized comedian.
Gina, Kweli, and Jas discuss what it was like for her to grow up as a first generation Nigerian-Brit facing racism from every angle following her from her youth through later years as an elevator engineer. They speak on American's ignorance of world culture, the contrasts of US versus UK racism, Nigerian stereotypes, and the 'Nollywood' Nigerian film industry. Eddie Murphy's 'RAW' is also brought up for a debate on if we can still laugh at comedy considered taboo by today's standards.
As the conversation progresses they touch on UK and US black entertainer's accusations of stealing talent from on-another, UK racist media coverage of Meghan Markle, white people not understanding N-word rules, gauging her own racial wokeness in comedy, Trump silver-linings, The 'Mock Of The Week' show, and her path to coming out of the closet and owning her lesbian identity.
Finally Gina gets to talk about her hugely popular, ground-breaking sitcom 'Bob Hearts Abishola' on CBS. She speaks on originally being brought in by Chuck Lorre to be a consultant, but then becoming a co-star. Gina outlines her passion for a show, with a platform that would finally shine a light on her Nigerian heritage. In closing Gina talks about her long-time love of hip hop music. The whole interview is as as insightful as it is hilarious.
TIMESTAMPS:
2:11 -- Gina reflects on what it was like growing up Nigerian in an overwhelmingly white Great Britain. She speaks on her Nigerian heritage, and all the teasing she endured, mostly from other black Caribbean kids. She spent her youth attempting to hide her 'African-ness', with no success due to her mom's flaunting of their Nigerian traditions. She also tells about the immense amount of racism she encountered when she first entered the workplace as an engineer.
9:52 -- The trio discusses America's ignorance when it comes to world culture and the multiculturalism within other countries, less than half even owning a passport. They talk about the famous district of Notting Hill originally being a black Caribbean community until gentrification occurred. Gina also compares and contrasts the history of slavery in the US versus the UK.
16:10 -- Talib speaks on how legendary musician/human rights activist Fela Kuti inspired his love for Nigerian culture. He asks Gina to break down some of the Nigerian stereotypes, including all Nigerians being wealthy, as well as being connected to email scamming rings.
20:49 -- Gina illustrates the huge, but little known 'Nollywood' Nigerian film industry. She also talks about how she would be forced to prove her heritage to other Nigerians because she was never taught her native language. Gina also depicts a hilarious story of a response her mother gave to her teacher that recommended Gina pursue acting.
25:23 -- The trio discusses the evolution of comedy, and how what was funny years ago, would now be called out as racist, sexist and homophobic. 'The Benny Hill Show' and Eddie Murphy's 'RAW' stand up special are used as examples to debate the question of if we can still laugh when viewed from a historical lens.
34:05 -- Talib brings up black British comedian Lenny Henry's comment about England hemorrhaging black talent to America, and the flip-side of actor Samuel Jackson saying America is losing actors to England. He asks Gina for her take on the matter. She responds that black entertainers need to stop fighting over crumbs, and Jasmin also asks Gina how she would compare and contrast UK versus US television.
41:03 -- Gina speaks about how the British black community's early predictions of the hell that Meghan Markle was going to endure with the British press, with headlines like "Megan being "almost" straight outta Compton'. Talib mentions his twitter run-ins with Pierce Morgan, and all of his excuses as to why he could never be considered a racist.
48:30 -- The group discusses the N-word, and white people failure to comprehend why they shouldn't use it, as it's all about context with the oppressed flipping the script and taking the power out of a word that has been used by the oppressors to denigrate for hundreds of years. Gina also speaks on gauging racial sensitivities of her own comedy by observing how jokes fly among certain communities on the road.
56:17 -- Talib asks Gina about how the UK's black community generally felt about the Brexit situation. Gina gives her take, and explains the positives that she felt came out of Trump's election.
1:00:42 -- Talib asks Gina about the 'Mock of the Week' panel show, and quotes her from an interview: "In England, I'd still be the token black face on Mock the Week". Gina reminds us she was the only British comedian that appeared on Def Comedy Jam, and discusses her path of coming out of the closet, and owning her lesbian identity.
1:09:07 -- Gina speaks on her experience with the CBS show 'Bob Hearts Abishola.' Gina starts off talking about how she first met Chuck Lorre and how the series first came about. She was brought in to meet Chuck after he discovered her stand-up set online, and she was originally brought in as a consultant. After working and pitching on the show, Gina really felt like the show could be a platform for Nigerian culture, and she put her all into it.
1:23:21 -- Talib commends Chuck Lorre for putting stock into making a show like 'Bob Harts Abishola', giving Nigerian culture such a huge platform, pushing social norms, and controversial topics never seen on prime-time television.
1:30:16 -- Talib mentions Gina's playing of Lady Of Rage's 'Afro Puffs' on the stage entrance for her Netflix special, and Gina goes on to talk about her long-time love of hip hop music.
Longtime NFL quarterback Tarvaris Jackson died Sunday night in a car crash, according to NFL Network. He was 36 years old.
Jackson played 10 seasons in the NFL, including stints as the starter for the Minnesota Vikings and Seattle Seahawks. He spent five seasons with the Vikings, who drafted him in the second round out of Alabama State in 2006. He helped lead Minnesota to the NFC North title in 2008.
Jackson was Seattle’s starter in 2011, had a stint with the Buffalo Bills and then returned to Seattle to serve as Russell Wilson’s backup from 2013 to 2015.
A few years after retiring, Jackson began his coaching career. He first worked as a graduate assistant at Alabama State before landing the quarterbacks coach job at Tennessee State. He was entering his second season at TSU.
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