A Detroit festival charged white people $20 and black people $10, then they got hit with backlash
(CNN) — An Afrofuturist group says it reversed its decision to charge white people more for tickets to its Detroit festival than black and brown people because they received threats, an artist dropped out and a ticketing website threatened to unpublish their event.
The Eventbrite page for “AfroFuture Fest,” hosted by Afrofuture Youth, advertised an “Early Bird POC Ticket” for $10 — with POC meaning “people of color” — and an “Early Bird NONPOC Ticket” for $20. The group defined “NONPOC” as white people.
News of the group’s charging practices hit social media last week when rapper Tiny Jag said she was unknowingly added to the August event ” but agreed to support and perform. Once the rapper caught wind of the prices, she said she was “triggered.”
“A non-POC friend of mine brought to my attention that AfroFuture is requiring non-people-of-color to pay twice the amount to attend the festival as POC,” she tweeted on July 2. “This does not reflect the views of myself or the Tiny Jag team. I will not be playing this show. I apologize for anyone who may have been triggered or offended.”
Eventbrite said in a statement to CNN they don’t “permit events that require attendees to pay different prices based on their protected characteristics such as race or ethnicity.”
“In this case, we have notified the creator of the event about this violation and requested that they alter their event accordingly,” their statement read. “We have offered them the opportunity to do this on their own accord; should they not wish to comply we will unpublish the event completely from our site.”
The group says its reasoning for doubling ticket prices for white people was because white people have the privilege to attend festivals in “POC populated cities.” In other words, the group says, white people can afford tickets to any event in any city, while black and brown people cannot.
“This cycle disproportionately displaces black and brown people from enjoying entertainment in their own communities,” the group said on Eventbrite.
Afrofuture Youth’s website says they are a youth program that looks to uplift black children “through the lens of Afrofuturism,” which is a philosophy looking at the intersection of African culture and technology.
After all the backlash, the group tweeted Sunday night that they had reversed their decision on ticketing prices because they “received threats from white supremacists” and children were “subjected to seeing racist comments” on social media.
The ticketing formula they came up with included a $20 general admission fee and a “suggested donation for nonPOC.”
“Events often designed for marginalized Black and Brown communities can be easily co-opted by those with cultural, monetary, and class privileges,” Afrofuture Youth wrote in its explanation on Eventbrite. The group added that they’re promoting “equity over equality” for black youth.
“Non-POC individuals are encouraged to provide additional donations as acknowledgment of this historical inequity,” the group said.
CNN has reached out to Afrofuture Youth and Tiny Jag for comment, but has not heard back.
Photo Credit: kmov.com
36 year old man was caught on camera licking Blue Bell ice cream in a store – is arrested
Louisiana police say a 36-year-old man was inspired by a viral video of a teenager licking a tub of Blue Bell Ice Cream to seek his own 15 minutes of fame.
Assumption Parish Sheriff’s deputies arrested Lenise Martin III on Saturday after receiving a tip from a grocery store in Belle Rose, Commander Lonny Cavalier told CNN.
Someone recorded Martin pulling a carton of Blue Bell Ice Cream from a freezer, opening it, licking the frozen dessert and poking it with his finger before putting it back on the shelf, Cavalier said.
Detectives found evidence that Martin posted the video on Facebook, suggesting that he was seeking attention for the alleged misdeed, Cavalier said.
Martin is being held on charges of unlawful posting of criminal activity for notoriety and publicity and criminal mischief for allegedly tampering with property — in this case, the ice cream, Cavalier said.
He is in custody until a judge sets bond, Cavalier said. CNN was unable to reach Martin or known relatives under numbers listed for them.
Martin showed detectives a receipt for the purchase of Blue Bell Ice Cream, suggesting that he bought the contaminated ice cream, Cavalier said. But the purchase doesn’t absolve him of wrongdoing, Cavalier said, “because at any rate it’s a terrible thing to do.”
“Taking into consideration that he eventually purchased the same container is one thing,” Cavalier said.
“However he puts it on Facebook to gain this notoriety and at the end of the day, it gives other people ideas that are not the best interest of public health,” Cavalier said.
Based on comments Martin allegedly made to detectives, the sheriff’s office believes he was inspired by a video of a juvenile who opened a carton of ice cream at a Texas Walmart, licked it and put it back, Cavalier said.
“We believe it’s a copy cat incident,” Cavalier said.
“He did it and he did want to create some notoriety for himself by posting it on Facebook and that’s exactly what he did.”
Photo Credit: Getty Images
A woman was trying to shoot someone in a road rage incident, police say, but shot her husband instead
Nicholas Cole is in intensive care after being shot in the head during a road rage incident Saturday.
Unfortunately, police say it was his wife, Erica, who accidentally shot him.
According to the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office, there was a road rage episode on Highway 69 in Dodge City, Alabama, about 6:45 p.m. Saturday. It carried over to a home on County Road 160 in Bremen.
“During the incident, an altercation occurred in which, the offender, Erica Cole, attempted to shoot a second party but shot her husband, Nicholas Cole, striking him in the head,” Cullman County Deputy Brad Williams said in a statement.
Nicholas Cole was taken to the ICU at UAB Hospital, where he remained Monday.
Erica Cole was arrested on charges of attempted murder, second-degree assault and reckless endangerment. Her bail has been set at $30,000, and she is being held at the Cullman County Detention Center.
Photo Credit: Cillman County Sheriff Dept
About 1.3 million workers could lose their jobs if federal minimum wage is hiked to $15 an hour
WASHINGTON — Gradually raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2025 would boost pay for as many as 27 million workers, according to a new report.
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office also said Monday some 1.3 million workers could lose their jobs with the higher wage.
The analysis came as House Democrats prepare to vote in Congress this month on legislation to raise the wage.
Democratic Rep. Bobby Scott of Virginia is the chairman of the Education and Labor Committee. Scott says the report shows the benefits of raising the wage would far outweigh the potential loss of jobs.
Now at $7.25 an hour, the federal minimum has not been raised since 2009, though several states and municipalities have set their minimum wage above that level.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil Trailer #2
Angelina Jolie returns as the dark fairy in the sequel, out Oct. 18, 2019.
Man, woman steal refrigerator and washer from Bronx building
CONCOURSE VILLAGE, the Bronx — Police are searching for a man and woman that they say stole a refrigerator ad washing machine from a commercial building Saturday night.
It happened at 8 p.m. Saturday at 1181 Sherman Avenue in the Bronx. Police say the man and woman entered the building through the side door, and removed the often-heavy appliances using a hand truck.
The man was seen wearing a baseball cap, a black tank top and black pants. The woman was wearing a blue and red shirt and gray sweat pants.
Submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting www.nypdcrimestoppers.com, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Spanish-speaking callers are asked to dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).
via: https://pix11.com/2019/07/08/man-woman-steal-refrigerator-and-washer-from-bronx-building/
Photo Credit: pix11.com
Teenager arrested for sexual incidents involving 10-year-old, 70-year-old
NASSAU COUNTY — A teenager has been arrested in two separate sexually related incidents, one involving a 10-year-old male victim, and another involving a 70-year-old female victim.
A 10-year-old boy in Hicksville told his parents, and later Nassau County police, that while he was walking along Gables Drive, a man driving by got his attention and made sexual advances toward him, according to police.
Police identified the man as Petar Dunat, 18, of Bethpage.
Dunat was arrested on June 27 for a separate incident in Hicksville, where police say he touched himself inappropriately in his car while asking a 70-year-old woman for directions.
He was arrested and charged with Public Lewdness and was previously arraigned. The new incident comes with charges of endangering the welfare of a child.
Photo Credit: pix11.com
2 men sitting on park bench shot by bicyclist in Manhattan
HARLEM, Manhattan — Police are looking for a man who allegedly fired shots at two people while he was riding a bike in Manhattan Saturday night.
Two men. ages 42 and 43, were sitting on a park bench along Central Park North near Fifth Avenue around 11:50 p.m., police said.
According to authorities, they were then shot by a man riding a bicycle.
The victims were taken to St. Luke’s Hospital for their injuries. They are both expected to survive.
The park bench where it happened is just steps away from a playground where kids were playing Sunday. People in the park say they’d like to see a larger police presence.
It was not immediately known if the shooter and the victims knew each other. Police have no information on a motive behind the shooting.
via: https://pix11.com/2019/07/07/2-men-sitting-on-park-bench-shot-by-bicyclist-in-manhattan-police/
Photo Credit: Getty Images
The Bobby DeBarge Story What The Movie Didn’t Tell You
The Bobby DeBarge Story on TV One starts right off with Bobby DeBarge as a successful singer. For those of you who might not know how he started and did not live through his tumultuous rise and fall, we help fill in some of the gaps for you. Here’s what The Bobby DeBarge Story didn’t tell you and just some more details you can use to tie up the story.
DeBarge Children
Bobby DeBarge was the oldest male of the DeBarge children, born to Robert and Etterlene DeBarge over the course of their marriage, which lasted 21 years. Etterlene Louise was a gospel singer who really pushed her children and helped them hone their talent. She is also the author of Other Side of the Pain, which highlighted many of the family issues and put a spotlight on the abuse. Robert Sr. was a white man, which helped him get away with much of the abuse.
Etterlene “Bunny” DeBarge (born March 10, 1955
Robert “Bobby” DeBarge, Jr. (March 5, 1956 – August 16, 1995)
Thomas “Tommy” DeBarge (born September 6, 1957)
William “Randy” DeBarge (born August 6, 1958)
Mark “Marty” DeBarge (born June 19, 1959)
Eldra “El” DeBarge (born June 4, 1961)
James DeBarge (born August 22, 1963)
Jonathan Arthur “Chico” DeBarge (born June 23, 1966)
Darrel “Young” DeBarge (born June 5, 1969); fraternal twin of Carol.
Carol “Peaches” DeBarge (born June 5, 1969); fraternal twin of Darrel.
It is reported that Robert Sr. had 5 other children from separate relationships, while he was still dating Etterlene.
Robert Sr. died in 2009.
SWITCH
Bobby DeBarge came up with his brother Tommy as part of the group Switch, but before that Bobby was part of Barry White’s background group, going by the name White Heat. When Barry broke the group up, some of the members reemerged to form a group named Hot Ice and they released an album in 1976. The group didn’t spark as much interest as they had hoped and the members broke up once again. Greg Williams, who is portrayed in the film by Lloyd, eventually formed what would become known as Switch in 1977, featuring the DeBarge brothers along with several other members who don’t appear in the film: Phillip Ingram, Jody Sims, Eddie Fluellen, MC Clark and Arnett Hayes. The group connected with Jermaine Jackson and signed to Motown Records.
It is believed that Bobby was already addicted to heroin and other drugs well before Switch became the official group. His battle with drugs would continue for years to come.
Counting the two albums they released under different names, Bobby DeBarge released 6 albums with Greg Williams and the Switch members. The last Switch album was released in 1980.
Bobby DeBarge Arrest
Bobby DeBarge ended up being sentenced to 5 years on drug trafficking charges for his role in trying to smuggle drugs across the country. He was arrested in Grand Rapids Michigan in 1988 and served time until in a Wisconsin prison until 1993.
James DeBarge
In the scene where James and Bobby argue outside the club, James hints at abuse but doesn’t come out and say it. Bobby physically and sexually abused his brother. James admitted to such on an episode of Lifechangers with Dr. Drew. Bobby was physically and sexually abused by his father and in turn Bobby did the same to James.
No surprise this James DeBarge abuse and torment led to some troubling times for James as well. Yes, he did marry Janet Jackson, becoming her first husband, but that was his height of good times and it was short lived. The couple eloped back in 1984, but the marriage was over less than a year later and they divorced in 1985.
Other DeBarge Family Struggles
El DeBarge has 12 children. Despite solo success he has also battled addiction and has been in and out of prison for cocaine and heroin possession. He was first arrested in 2001 and in and out of jail until 2009, when he wrapped up his longest sentence of 13 months. He returned to music in 2010 with his comeback album, Second Chance. The album was nominated for a Grammy Award.
Most recently, last July, the then 57 year old El was arrested for felony vandalism.
Bunny DeBarge is the only family member we see Robert Sr. sexually abuse in the film, but at least the oldest 5 children were also sexually abused by Robert according to Greg from Switch and other stories. She dropped out of school at 17, had her first child and a short time later married her first husband, Tony Jordan (aka Muttley) from White Heat. They quickly had their first child, but she was still able to work as a part of DeBarge. She went on to have another child before she divorced Tony. She remarried, after meeting Stephen Knight. She has also dealed with heroin addiction throughout her adult life.
Bunny DeBarge is the only family member we see Robert Sr. sexually abuse in the film, but at least the oldest 5 children were also sexually abused by Robert according to Greg from Switch and other stories. She dropped out of school at 17, had her first child and a short time later married her first husband, Tony Jordan (aka Muttley) from White Heat. They quickly had their first child, but she was still able to work as a part of DeBarge. She went on to have another child before she divorced Tony. She remarried, after meeting Stephen Knight. She has also dealed with heroin addiction throughout her adult life.
Chico DeBarge was never a member of DeBarge or Switch, but started his career as a solo artist in 1986. He had to serve 6 years on drug trafficking charges, which derailed his career.
Tommy DeBarge stopped making music after Switch and focused instead on mentoring the DeBarge members. He also served as a paid consultant for Motown. He too fell victim to drug addiction and battled it for years. He was married 2 times and has 9 children from 3 known women. He talks about his battles and those of his family in the book, There’ll Never Be: A Story of Forgiveness.
Tommy also speaks about being raped by Bobby DeBarge in his book.
Bobby Solo Career
Despite an amazing voice, Bobby didn’t release a solo album until 1995, titled It’s Not Over. The album was released just before he passed, but he wasn’t alive for promotion of the project. Prior to that he didn’t officially become a member of DeBarge until 1986 after El DeBarge and Bunnie DeBarge left the group. He was only involved in one DeBarge album, titled, Bad Boys, featuring Bobby, James, Mark and Randy DeBarge.
Was Bobby DeBarge Bi-Sexual???
While we can’t say for sure, because Bobby never came out, there are rumors that he had several relationships with men before he married Teri. The movie overlooks this completely. Officially, Bobby contracted HIV from intravenous needles from his drug use, but rumors have long swirled that he contracted that virus from sexual relations with men.
Teri DeBarge
Teri DeBarge was born Teri Lee Gayle. She had two children with Bobby DeBarge, two sons, Bobby DeBarge Jr., and Christian DeBarge (the oldest son). Bobby and Teri DeBarge were married on December 10, 1990.
Bobby DeBarge Jr.
Bobby DeBarge Jr. is part of the rnext generation of DeBarge’s that is making music, along with Kristinia DeBarge (James’ daughter), Andrew DeBarge (Tommy’s son) and Eldra Debarge Jr. (El’s son).
At the end of the film, you are enjoying the sounds of Bobby’s son, Bobby DeBarge, III, who’s voice showcases a familiar falsetto.
Orginal Article ——-> https://www.parlemag.com/2019/06/the-bobby-debarge-story-what-the-movie-didnt-tell-you/
Power Season 6 | Official Trailer
Check out the last season trailer of Power…