Six years ago, a high school student named Christopher Justice eloquently explained the multiple problems with flying the Confederate flag. A video clip of Justice’s truth bomb has made the viral rounds a few times since then, and here it is once again getting the attention it deserves.
Justice doesn’t just explain why the flag is seen as a symbol of racism. He also explains the history of when the flag originated and why flying a Confederate flag makes no sense for people who claim to be loyal Americans.
This high school student, Christopher Justice, does a great job at explaining the Confederate flag and its problems.pic.twitter.com/CcOXHCB8GQ
But that clip, as great as it is, is a small part of the whole story. Knowing how the discussion came about and seeing the full debate in context is even more impressive.
In 2015, a student at Shawnee Mission East High School outside of Kansas City came up with the idea to have student journalists document students engaging in open discussions about various topics. In support of this idea, history teacher David Muhammad helped arrange a debate about the use of the Confederate flag in American society in his classroom.
According to the Shawnee Mission Post, Muhammad had prepared a basic outline and some basic guiding questions for the discussion, but mainly let the students debate freely. And the result was one of the most interesting debates about the Confederate flag you’ll ever see—one that both reflects the perspectives in American society at large and serves as an example of how to hold a respectful conversation on a controversial topic.
The full discussion is definitely worth a watch. Justice had quite a few Confederacy defenders to contend with, and he skillfully responded to each point with facts and logic. Other students also chimed in, and the discussion is wildly familiar to anyone who has engaged in debate on this topic. For his part, Mr. Muhammad did an excellent job of guiding the students through the debate.
“I had Chris in class, so I knew he was super intelligent and that he read a lot,” Muhammad told the Shawnee Mission Post in 2018. “But that really came out of left-field. He was never out there very much socially, so I didn’t expect for him to want to speak in front of a crowd like that.”
(In case you’re wondering, according to LinkedIn, Christopher Justice is now studying political science at Wichita State University after switching his major from sports management. David Muhammad is now Dean of Students at Pembroke Middle School and also serves as a Diversity Consultant.)
Thanks, SM East, for documenting and sharing such a great discussion.
There are few things that feel more awful than being stranded at the altar by your spouse-to-be. That’s why people are cheering on Kayley Stead, 27, from the U.K. for turning a day of extreme disappointment into a party for her friends, family and most importantly, herself.
According to a report in The Metro, on Thursday, September 15, Stead woke up in an Airbnb with her bridemaids, having no idea that her fiance, Kallum Norton, 24, had run off early that morning. The word got to Stead’s bridesmaids at around 7 a.m. the day of the wedding.
“[A groomsman] called one of the maids of honor to explain that the groom had ‘gone.’ We were told he had left the caravan they were staying at in Oxwich Bay (the venue) at 12:30 a.m. to visit his family, who were staying in another caravan nearby and hadn’t returned. When they woke in the morning, he was not there and his car had gone,” Jordie Cullen wrote on a GoFundMe page.
u201cDevastated bride goes ahead with party after groom stood her up on their wedding day ud83dudc4fnn[THREAD] ud83euddf5u201d
— Manchester News MEN (@Manchester News MEN) 1664276377
Stead spoke with the groom at 4 p.m. the previous day, but they stayed the night with their respective parties to save some mystery before the big day. “The groom and I had already agreed not to speak the night before the wedding anyway, so I didn’t know what was happening on his end, I didn’t have a clue,” Stead told The Metro.
Stead was in absolute shock after hearing the news. She had paid for nearly the entire wedding herself, using up all of her life savings on the £12,000 ($13,000) affair. “As a joke, the videographer said ‘Why don’t you carry on, girls? You’ve spent all this money, you’re not getting it back, all your guests are there, why don’t you just go?’” Stead told The Metro.
So, she did just that. Stead decided that the wedding would go on without her fiance.
u201cKayley Stead made the brave decision to carry on with the celebrations without her partner of four years Kallum Norton after he ditched her before the ceremonynnhttps://t.co/BoBM7KUSOhu201d
“That’s when I was like, I’m going to do it,” she said. “I’d spent all this money, I’d been looking forward to the food, a dance with my dad, spending time with my family, so why not?”
Stead, her friends, family and even the groomsmen didn’t let things go to waste and they enjoyed her wedding entrance, food, speeches, dances and even posed for photos. “I didn’t want to remember the day as complete sadness,” she said.
“She was the most beautiful bride we had ever seen,” Cullen added.
The good news is that after the party, Cullen set up a GoFundMe page to help Stead recoup her losses and it has already reached its goal of £10,000 ($10,830). Almost two weeks after the event, Stead still doesn’t know why she was stood her up on her wedding day.
u201c”There were so many special moments, like my wedding entrance, the sparkler walk, the first dance and punching the wedding cake, so there was still happiness in the day. I’d spent all this money.” – Kayley Steadu201d
The Sun caught up with Norton and he refused to apologize. The only thing he had to say was, “I don’t want to talk about the article.”
While it’s terrible that Stead was stood up on her wedding day, she should be applauded for making the best of the worst day ever. It’s also wonderful that her bridesmaids and family stood by her side and supported her as she dealt with a serious blow. Let’s hope she finds someone better soon. It shouldn’t be too hard—standing someone up at the altar and then not even explaining yourself is a pretty low move.
(Spoilers for Gen V and The Boys will be found below.)
Anyone who’s been paying attention to Gen V‘s social media accounts and sneak-peak clips knows that Jensen Ackles was due to make an appearance, and that happened this week. Keeping this a surprise would have been almost cruel because Soldier Boy was so much fun, even if he is now essentially on ice with Vought International following that climactic battle that finally allowed Queen Maeve to secretly pursue Supe retirement.
The cameo, as well, was a true WTF moment born from within Cate’s mind, and Soldier Boy showed up and promised advice and a survival revelation before dropping a string of profanity and then evaporating. No, he did not drop trou, probably because it would take too long to remove the Supe suit, but this was the next best thing. Yet as co-showrunner Michele Fazekas and creator Eric Kripke told Variety, this monologue nearly came from…. Taylor Lautner? Yes, and here’s what Kripke clarified:
“In one of the early drafts of the script, it was meant to be a guide in Cate’s mind that shows up, lays out a couple of rules, and then explodes. If I remember correctly, in the earliest drafts it was Taylor Lautner. And the characters were wandering through the woods, and then they’re like, ‘Taylor Lautner?!’ And he’s like, ‘Ya, I’m Cate’s crush! Cate used to masturbate to me. Anyway, here’s the rules.’ And then he blows.”
The right call was ultimately made. Nothing against Taylor Lautner, but Soldier Boy needed to make an appearance to further spur on these students to get to the bottom of Gen U’s shenanigans. Also, there’s always room for the Twilight werewolf to arrive in the future, since Gen V received a Season 2 greenlight. As Kripke put it, “My secret hope is he’s going to realize his managers never brought this to him, and then make a change.” Yes, do not rule out the possibility of a super-profane Lautner, who could very well defy expectations after his recent Taylor Swift concert cameo.
Beyoncé’srecording-breaking album Renaissance was a glowing tribute to the “Cuff It” singer’s late Uncle Jonny, the LGTBQ community, and the Black musical pioneers. Across the body of work, Beyoncé sampled a wide range of musicians, including Donna Summer, Robin S, Teena Marie, and Kelis. One of the most-discussed uses of a classic song came from her track “Church Girl,” which pulled from The Clark Sisters’ 1981 record “Center Of Thy Will.”
However, Beyoncé’s “Church Girl” beat was originally made for someone else. So, who was the instrumental initially intended for? According to the song’s co-producer, No ID, he crafted the beat for his longtime collaborator, Jay-Z. During an interview with Al Shipley for Stereogum, the musician confessed that Beyoncé playfully jacked the beat from her husband.
“I was at [Jay-Z’s] house one day, and I had some equipment with me, and I just started making a beat. And he was rapping to it. It was for him. And he just put it on the computer. I never thought about it again. I literally forgot about it. And then, one day, I just got a call. When you get two to three calls from people in a row, you know it’s something,” said No ID.
He added, “‘Hey, do you have this idea? Beyonce got somethin’ to it. And Jay jokingly tells me, ‘Man, she stole my beat.’ She was like, ‘Remember that idea in the computer that you didn’t finish?”’ And I went to see [Beyoncé], talked about the record, and listened to her album.”
Renaissance is out now via Columbia Records. Find more information here.
Spears has been seeing this press coverage and she’s not a fan. In a social media post shared today (October 20), she wrote:
“My book’s purpose was not to offend anyone by any means !!! That was me then … that is in the past!!! I don’t like the headlines I am reading … that’s exactly why I quit the business 4 years ago !!! Most of the book is from 20 years ago … I have moved on and it’s a beautiful clean slate from here !!! I am here to establish it that way for the rest of my entire life !!! Either way, that is the last of it and shit happens !!! This is actually a book I didn’t know needed to be written … although some might be offended, it has given me closure on all things for a better future !!! Hopefully I can enlighten people who feel particularly alone in most cases or hurt or misunderstood !!! Again, my motive for this book was not to harp on my past experiences which is what the press is doing and it’s dumb and silly !!! I have moved on since then !!!”
Yes, Jon Stewart is suddenly in need of a platform, and The Daily Show has yet to land on a permanent host. But while those circumstances –- born from The Problem With… Jon Stewart getting cancelled reportedly after he refused to bend on creative control with Apple over stories on AI and China –- line up nice, I can’t imagine Stewart returning to the chair he held for 16 years… with one possible exception.
Let’s remember a few things about Stewart’s previous exit and his moves since. First and foremost, a daily show is a very different animal than a bi-weekly or weekly one. Notice all the Daily Show-esque shows that sprung up since Stewart left and how they have all gone toward the weekly model (most have also died, but that’s not the point, though it is a point). It’s not just about the endurance required to put on a show night after night. It’s about being able to do it in a way that stands out in the very crowded media and political comedy space and being able to sustain that.
The reason The Daily Show has been able to do that is because they have an amazing team of writers and a legendary crew of correspondents. Ronny Chieng, Desi Lydic, Jordan Klepper, Roy Wood Jr. (before his recent departure), Dulce Sloan, Michael Kosta. Each could reasonably carry their own show. Some really need to. But to do the kind of show Stewart pivoted to, with deeper cuts and a harder news focus, it’s just not possible on a nightly basis no matter the talent. You’d run out of money, angles, and energy pretty quickly.
“So why doesn’t Stewart just do the show he used to do?” First, while attitudes shift and nostalgia blooms, it’s been a very long time since Stewart’s exit and he didn’t seem like he was getting the same level of fulfillment from the job that he had previously. From a 2015 interview with The Guardian:
“It’s not like I thought the show wasn’t working any more, or that I didn’t know how to do it. It was more, ‘Yup, it’s working. But I’m not getting the same satisfaction. […] These things are cyclical. You have moments of dissatisfaction, and then you come out of it and it’s OK. But the cycles become longer and maybe more entrenched, and that’s when you realize, ‘OK, I’m on the back side of it now.’”
Second, Stewart had every opportunity to do any show he wanted to (just ask HBO) and he chose the style and format of The Problem With. If he didn’t want to keep doing The Daily Show back in 2015 or even a direct copy in 2021, why would he want to now? The fun atmosphere of the world at large?
Listen, I know it’s instinctual to say everything is worse and more complicated now vs the halcyon days of yore. But shit is objectively worse right now than when Stewart left.
We’re literally living in the scene from John Carpenter’s The Thing where Kurt Russell’s muses into a tape deck that nobody trusts anybody and that they’re all tired after a series of events where dogs and friends get taken over by some kind of parasitic creature that’s trying to learn us so it can replac… oh shit, I just described AI! Don’t tell Apple.
Universal
Why would Jon Stewart want to take a nightly tour of the depressing cycles of poverty, injustice, and hate in this country and all over the globe? Why would he want to cover daily Trump indictment updates, the DNC Presents: Weekend At Biden’s, outrage theater, conspiracies conspiracies everywhere, and two complex and brutal wars? That’s not even counting the “civil” one going on in the U.S. over guns and the real societal danger: books and drag performers. While there’s value in illuminating the crushing boulders that fall off bullshit mountain and in guiding us through the news, it’s not absolute or lasting value. Not when our attention spans are…
The Exception With Jon Stewart
I don’t think this will happen for the reasons stated above and because it’s just too clean and storybook. But… This whole speaker of the house thing has me thinking. No Daily Show guest host has been able to secure the votes to get elected perma-host. What if Jon Stewart became a temporary babysitter?
Maybe an instant, short(er) term fit where he slides back into his old gig holds appeal; some kind of hybridized cross between what The Problem With was and what The Daily Show is (because, The Daily Show is still really good, even sans host, which is a credit to showrunner Jen Flanz and the existing staff). Maybe he can even take us through the election… and whatever immediately follows (he said with fear and utter exhaustion).
Returning to The Daily Show could be exceptionally lucrative for Stewart immediately and in the future (though, it’s not like he’s going to begging for pennies after leaving Apple). It would also cut through the competition and put The Daily Show at the center of what may be (and stop me if you’ve heard this one but also it’s really true) the most consequential election in the history of this wacky country. Especially since Jon missed out on all the fun in 2016 and 2020. And what fun there was (he said with even more exhaustion).
Seriously, I don’t subscribe to this thinking, but some people feel like Stewart left business unfinished at the start of the Trump era. This is ludicrous because as much as we love and appreciate these shows, it’s not like having Jon Stewart in that chair would have had a substantial effect on those elections or on the way the country was run. The days of The Daily Show scaring powerful people are long gone, not because of a deficiency with the show but because of a shellshocked audience and news cycle that only knows maximum speed. Also, irony and satire died a few years ago, and the consequences of hypocrisy haven’t been seen more than a slap on the wrist in a long time.
With all that said, Stewart does have an unmistakeable value. He’s the security blanket of political comics, making us feel a little better, a little smarter, and a little safer when he was adding context to the issues of the moment. I bet a lot of people would celebrate the chance to feel that way again, even if it was probably a product of less chaotic times.
For Stewart, I suppose going back might represent some kind of Groundhog Day scenario of a repeating nightmare absent Andie McDowell and all you can eat breakfast food. Or maybe it’s the greatest challenge of his career and a totally thankless task (aside from the money)! It would be one of those things, definitely… maybe.
On second thought, maybe he should just run for President. Might be easier.
Community offered the definitive answer to the question to the question, “Who was the titular boss on Who’s the Boss?” It’s Angela. But for one night in the 1980s, it was Tony Danza.
In his memoir, If You Would Have Told Me, actor John Stamos wrote about finding his then-girlfriend, model and actress Teri Copley, in bed with Danza. They were dating for about a year (“I’m dumbstruck and goofy in love”) when Stamos noticed she was growing distant. “We’ve gone from talking on the phone every few hours to silence,” the Full House star wrote in excerpts provided by Entertainment Weekly. Things changed forever when Stamos drove to Copley’s home.
“A black 1957 Porsche 356 Speedster, vintage convertible. Strange. I shuffle to the car with my stomach sinking and take a quick look inside,” Stamos wrote. “There’s a hairbrush, keys, boxing gloves, and a half-unrolled poster of my girlfriend, naked, barely covered by a white sheet. Half of her butt is showing. I’ve never seen this poster before.” What happened next was what Stamos called his “worst nightmare.”
“The blinds are closed, but the door is slightly open. I take a peek inside and see four feet protruding from the shabby-chic, floral-print duvet that once kept me warm. My Tiny Dancer is in bed with Mr. Porsche Speedster. They are sleeping. I can’t tell who he is, but I recognize Teri’s ass barely covered by the sheets. It looks like her new poster.”
Stamos, who couldn’t tell who the guy in bed was, went back to the car and grabbed the poster. “I stare at the two-dimensional, half-dressed woman that I thought I knew. She’s signed the poster, with little hearts, ‘My Dear Tony, I’ll love you forever. XO, Teri.’ Tony? Who the hell is Tony?” he recalled. Then it clicked: “Hold me closer, Tony Danza.”
Stamos holds no ill will against Danza, however: “If you would have told me the day I walked into that room and caught my true love in bed with another guy that his show Who’s the Boss? would launch Full House into a bona fide hit, making me a household name… Well, what can I say? Thanks, Tony Danza.”
If You Would Have Told Me comes out on October 24th.
2023 music festival season may be mostly over, so now it’s time to start looking forward to 2024. For folks in the Phoenix, Arizona area (or adventurers looking to make a trip out there), today (October 20) brings great news: M3F Fest just announced its 2024 lineup, which is led by artists like Arlo Parks, Dominic Fike, and Bakar.
Also on the bill are Barrett, Bennett Coast, BUNT., Coco & Breezy, Dayglow, DRAMA, Duke Dumont, Edapollo, Elderbrook, Fiji Blue, GORDO, Gorgon City, Hippo Campus, It’s Murph, Jules Duke, KOL, Lane 8, Poolside, Roosevelt, SG Lewis, Shifty, Tim Atlas, Tommy Newport, Valley, Vandelux, WhoMadeWho, and Young Franco.
The event is set to go down on March 1 and 2 next year, at Phoenix’s Steele Indian School Park, a new venue for the fest. M3F is a non-profit event, so 100 percent of proceeds will be donated to charity. $2 million has been donated since 2022, while $5.2 million has been raised in total since the festival’s 2004 inception.
Uproxx’s Carolyn Droke went to this year’s fest and wrote, “Throughout the weekend, it was clear that everyone from friendly festival workers to excited attendees showed up with a chilled mindset. During the day, laid-back festival goers basked in the Southwest sun and spotted the grass with colorful picnic blankets and inflatable couches. Friendly strangers respectfully danced with each other during groovy DJ sets. Even during the most packed and popular sets people in the crowd made sure to be considerate of everyone else’s personal space. Overall, organizers achieved their goal of creating an environment for music fans to let loose and have a good time, all while giving back to their community.”
Lola Brooke and French Montana turn up at the “Pit Stop” in the pint-sized Brooklyn MC’s latest video. The titular spot is called “Lola’s Pit Stop” in the video, and while souped-up race cars burn rubber outside, inside, Lola, French, and friends party with some energetic strippers who show off some impressive pole skills. The track finds Lola Brooke goading a male addressee to spend big money at the strip club to prove he’s got it. Meanwhile, French’s verse contains the memorable missive, “Feelin’ like Jerry Jones, man, I hate you n****s.” Topical!
“Pit Stop” is the first official single from Brooke’s upcoming project Dennis Daughter, which is set for release on November 10. In addition to French Montana, the mixtape will feature Bryson Tiller, Coi Leray, Latto, Nija, and Yung Miami. A press release calls Dennis Daughter “a formal introduction of Lola’s origin story to the world” after her big break with the 2021 single “Don’t Play With It,” which went viral on TikTok in 2022, spawning a remix with Latto and Yung Miami of City Girls.
Sexyy Red’s love for the first life, cars, and money isn’t going to slow down now that she’s reportedly pregnant. In fact, the “No Panties” rapper has shifted gears in her career to speed things up. After joining several other acts on the road as opening support, including Drake, Lil Durk, and Moneybagg Yo, Sexyy Red kicked off her first headlining run on the road.
The Hood Hottest Princess Tour launched this past Monday, October 16, in Boston and will end in San Francisco at the end of November. Continue below to view the setlist, according to setlist.fm, and her remaining headlining tour dates. Find more information here.
1. “I’m The Sh*t”
2. “Sexyy”
3. “Female Gucci Mane”
4. “Chicken Chicken”
5. “Sticky Icky”
6. “I Love My Nickel”
7. “Throwin’ It”
8. “Mad at Me”
9. “Slob on My Ckat”
10. “Hood Rats”
11. “Slut Me Out” (NLE Choppa cover)
12. “MMM HMM”
13. “Shake Yo Dreads”
14. “Born By the River”
15. “Face Down”
16. “SHAKE SUMN” (DaBaby cover)
17. “Rich Baby Daddy”
18. “Peaches N Eggplants”
19. “Hellcats SRTs”
20. “Looking For The Hoes (Ain’t My Fault)”
21. “SkeeYee”
22. “Pound Town”
23. “Sexyy Walk”
10/24 – Detroit, MI @ St. Andrew’s Hall
10/26 – Cincinnati, OH @ Bogart’s
10/30 – St. Louis, MO @ The Pageant
10/31 – Chicago, IL @ House of Blues
11/01 – Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity Theater
11/04 – Nashville, TN @ Brooklyn Bowl
11/05 – Birmingham, AL @ Iron City
11/09 – Orlando, FL @ The Beacham
11/10 – Fort Lauderdale, FL @ Revolution
11/14 – Atlanta, GA @ Buckhead Theatre
11/15 – Charlotte, NC @ The Underground
11/20 – Houston, TX @ House of Blues
11/21 – Dallas, TX @ Echo Lounge & Music Hall
11/24 – Phoenix, AZ @ The Van Buren
11/25 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern
11/29 – San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore
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