For two straight weeks, protesters across the country have taken to the streets to demand justice and equality after George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, was killed by police in Minneapolis. People of color in America have called upon the rest of us to broaden our understanding of what it means to be treated differently in this country and how the major social, cultural, and economic institutions perpetuate inequality via insidious and long-standing policies and practices that stack the deck.

Social media has been flooded with pieces that help explain what privilege really means and how it is ingrained in our culture, and numerous pro athletes have used their clout and their influence to bring greater awareness to a problem that still persists despite incremental progress.

Lakers star Kyle Kuzma added his voice to the mix via The Players’ Tribune on Tuesday, offering his own analogy of what white privilege means to him.

That’s why white people have to realize, it’s not just about your “heart” or your individual mindset. Like how some people say, “I don’t have a racist bone in my body.”

Well, the system does, and you can’t see it because it benefits you.

The best analogy I’ve heard that explains white privilege is that it’s like an invisible backpack that every white person wears. If you’re white and you’re ever in a situation where you might need help, you can take that backpack off, open it up, and pull out all sorts of sh*t.

Kuzma, who is biracial, also talked about what it was like growing up in an environment where he was caught between two worlds. Other athletes throughout the country have joined rallies and/or spoken out via social media and will continue to do as the protests now enter their third week.

(The Players’ Tribune)

As the U.S. enters its third week of protests over racial injustice and police brutality, some Americans still don’t fully understand the “why” behind them. Some are still under the impression that the protests are about justice for George Floyd, but that’s only part of it. Some think they’re about police brutality, but that’s just part of it too.

The fact that so many Americans don’t understand the scope of the problem at the heart of these protests, or why they are playing out the way they are, is a symptom of the problem itself.

With a quick history lesson and Monopoly metaphor, Kimberly Latrice Jones powerfully explained a crucial element of what we’re seeing in a video that has gone viral on social media—the economic element that is often overlooked or not well understood by those outside of the group impacted by our nation’s economic history. This element gives important context to some of what we’re seeing, in addition to painting the bigger picture within which these protests are happening.

Watch:

If you’re unfamiliar with Jones’ reference to Tulsa and Rosewood, here’s some additional education.

Tulsa’s Black Wall Street massacre of 1921:

Tulsa’s Black Wall Street massacre

www.youtube.com

And a brief overview of the Rosewood massacre:

Jan. 5, 1923 – Rosewood, Fla., Destroyed by White Mob

www.youtube.com

The horrible truth is that most Americans don’t know our own history, especially when it comes to race. So much of what we learn about racism in our history is couched in problematic language that favors white sensibilities or is completely omitted. How many of us learned that the Confederate states didn’t just want to keep slavery for economic reasons, but because they believed that God intended for Black people to be subservient to the white race and that it was wrong to believe otherwise? How many of us learned about Black Wall Street in school, much less voter suppression, redlining and other ways Black Americans have been systematically oppressed in modern history beyond Jim Crow?

How many of us have truly internalized the fact that the massive exploitation of Black bodies over hundreds of years required massive violence to carry out, and that the only way for that exploitation and violence to continue was to legitimize it by creating a massive, dehumanizing justification for it—thus the enduring legacy of anti-blackness that permeates not only our history but so much of our current society?

Yes, some progress has been made. But every step forward has been fought for tooth and nail, and every advancement has been met with resistance and resentment by far too many fellow Americans. Until we get that, until our nation truly comes to terms with the depth and breadth of the injustices being called out and decides to take real, concrete steps toward restoration, reconciliation and reparation, we’re going to keep finding ourselves at this same crossroads.

Of all of the powerful points Jones made in that video, perhaps one should give us the most pause: America is lucky that black people are just looking for equality and not revenge. She is right, because the scope of that payback would be mighty indeed.

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Anna Kendrick was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Jason Reitman’s Up in the Air, but she almost wasn’t able to take the role due to obligations for another film she was in: a little vampire feature called Twilight.

“I was shooting Up in the Air by the time that we were making that second movie,” the Love Life star told CinemaBlend, referring to The Twilight Saga: New Moon (what a delightfully silly title). “They rearranged a lot of scheduling stuff. Because it would have been a real dick move, but legally they had the right to stop me from doing Up in the Air. So shout out to those guys.” Not that I make a habit of watching Breaking Dawn – Part 1 (easily the second-best Breaking Dawn movie), but every time I catch five minutes of it on TV, I’m always surprised to see Anna Kendrick as Bella’s friend, Jessica. “You are far too famous for this,” I think. And eventually, she was, largely because of her Oscar nomination.

But while the Twilight team did her a solid, that doesn’t mean shooting the movies was a grand ol’ time. “The first movie we filmed in Portland, Oregon, and I just remember being so cold and miserable,” Kendrick said. “Although, it was also kind of bonding. There was something about it, like if you go through some trauma event. Like you imagine people who survive a hostage situation, and you’re kind of bonded for life.”

Anna Kendrick in an A24 movie with Robert Pattinson, when?

(Via CinemaBlend)

If nothing below suits your sensibilities, check out our guide to What You Should Watch On Streaming Right Now.

Shirley (Hulu movie) — Following the VOD success of Invisible Man, Elisabeth Moss is back in the horror game, this time as renowned author Shirley Jackson. She’s struggling in her marriage, and while living in close proximity to some newlyweds, this leads to a cycle of twisted games. Moss has been singled out for another masterful performance in an increasingly decorated career following her Mad Men and The Handmaid’s Tale turns.

The Last Days of American Crime (Netflix film): Based upon the graphic novel from Rick Remender and Greg Tocchini, this futuristic movie stars Edgar Ramirez and Michael Pitt. The pair hope to pull off a great American heist before an interfering government signal is due to halt all crimes from being committed. This sounds like a hit for the Extraction crowd that’s looking for a new action fix.

The Vast Of Night (Amazon Prime movie) — Our own Josh Kurp called this movie a “fun, genre-heavy, impressively acted, darkly-but-beautifully lit throwback that starts slow, but once you realize what going on, things begins to click like an old-fashioned remote control.” The story takes place in 1950s New Mexico as a mysterious frequency descends upon a small community. It’s a tense and entirely watchable movie.

The Lovebirds (Netflix movie) — Kumail Nanjiani might have a lot to say about The Beastmaster and Krull, but his movie with Issa Rae is also sliding onto Netflix. They portray a couple who get sucked into a murder mystery, and god only knows if they and their relationship will make it though this (hilarious) ordeal.

A few theatrical releases are worth revisiting as well:

Uncut Gems (Netflix, Monday) — Now, home audiences can absorb the full gravitational effect of Adam Sandler in the most intense performance of his career. The Sandman arguably got robbed of an Oscar nod for his turn in Josh and Benny Safdie’s electrifying crime thriller that accelerates tension to a fever pitch. He’s superb as a charismatic New York City jeweler who grows increasingly desperate while walking a tight-wire amid relentlessly threatening adversaries, and keep your eyes open for a supporting turn from the always great LaKeith Stanfield.

Rocketman (Hulu, Friday) — Taron Egerton’s fantastic turn as Elton John is finally home on a streaming service. Enjoy the spectacle and emotion of Bernie Taupin’s rise to iconic status, including his 1970s breakthrough and the subsequent fantastical transformation.

And here are a few of tonight’s TV highlights:

Dirty John (USA 10:00 p.m.) — The Betty Broderick Story kicks into a more desperate gear as the irresistibly trashy series continues. Betty’s working hard to stay afloat, and this latest chapter is even dirtier than last year’s podcast-based entry.

Stargirl (CW, 8:00 p.m.) — Courtney’s making new recruits for the Justice Society of America while one of the town’s residents is freaking Pat out following a bizarre conversation.

The Last O.G. (TBS, 10:30 p.m.) — Tray’s dealing with bully maneuvers from his girlfriend’s ex husband, who happens to be a cop, and Cousin Bobby’s prison release is spawning unexpected problems.

The Late Show With Stephen Colbert — Chris Wallace

The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon — Christian Slater, Sia

Jimmy Kimmel Live — Josh Gad

The Late Late Show With James Corden — Josh Groban

Late Night With Seth Meyers — Brad Paisley

It’s been a busy 2020 for Adam Copeland: The WWE Hall Of Famer, best known to millions around the globe as Edge, made a surprise return to the ring at the 2020 Royal Rumble, officially unretiring himself in the process. He then competed in (and won at) WrestleMania 36, and is currently gearing up for “The Greatest Wrestling Match Ever” this Sunday at WWE Backlash.

But Copeland is also gearing up for the release of Money Plane, a new feature film with the WWE Superstar in the starring role. Acting alongside Copeland are Kelsey Grammer of Frasier fame, Denise Richards of the puberty-defining Wild Things movie, and Thomas Jane from Boogie Nights and Deep Blue Sea, among countless others. Here’s the plot:

A professional thief with $40 million in debt and his family’s life on the line must commit one final heist – rob a futuristic airborne casino filled with the world’s most dangerous criminals.

But don’t take their word for it, watch the trailer, which among other things features Kelsey Grammer doing his best Scarface impression, yelling “BRING ME MY MONEY!” whilst carrying a machine gun:

The poster for the movie looks equally amazing:

Money Plane will be released in theaters, digital and VOD on July 10, and you can bet your ass we’ll be watching it ASAP.

If there was a more perfect timing for a video game release than Animal Crossing: New Horizons, we dare you to find it. The Nintendo Switch title hit just as the global pandemic forced lockdowns across America, and it instantly became a go-to escape for bored quarantiners from all walks of life.

Case in point, Danny Trejo loves the game so much, he’s now starring in a YouTube series called “Danny’s Diary” where he takes host Gary Whitta on a tour of his personalized island. Of course, Trejo has a reputation for being a tough-as-nails badass with a heart of gold, but that juxtaposition really comes out when you see an Animal Crossing version of the actor run around his own little Muscle Beach as butterflies burst out of his pocket. Trejo’s character even wakes up every morning and knocks back protein powder before going on adorable adventures.

But the real hook of the video is listening to Trejo’s constant chuckle as he visits the game’s colorful characters, manning his Anthony Bourdain-endorsed taco stand — Trejo’s words, not ours! — and fighting with wasps. You can tell the Machete star absolutely loves tooling around the game world; he’s hip to which animals are trying to scam him, and which ones are smart enough to stay away from his money.

Did we mention Danny Trejo keeps his money in a tree out front? Danny Trejo keeps his money in a tree out front. (Don’t touch it.)

(Via Gary Whitta)

NASCAR was, along with UFC, one of the first major American sports leagues to return to action amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, it is set to be the first to bring fans back to the events, albeit in a very limited capacity.

NASCAR announced on Tuesday that they would be inviting 1,000 service members from the Homestead-Miami area to the Dixie Vodka 400 on June 14 and 5,000 locals from the area around Talladega, Alabama to the Geico 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on June 21, along with a few reserved camper spots outside the track. They also offered some details on what precautions will be taken, including temperature checks and the requirement of facemasks to be worn.

NASCAR’s modified event procedures, protocols and number of attendees have been finalized with guidance from public health officials, medical experts and local, state and federal officials. All guests in attendance will be screened before entering, required to wear face coverings, mandated to social distance at 6 feet, and will not have access to the infield, among other revised operational protocols. NASCAR will continue to adapt and improve its procedures to ensure they are effective and can be scaled to support an increased number of fans in the future.

NASCAR’s massive outdoor grandstands make them uniquely prepared to introduce small numbers of fans while still maintaining distancing guidelines, but how strictly (and, just generally, how) they enforce those regulations will be worth watching. NASCAR has been pretty quiet about plans beyond the near future for some time, as they have made sure not to over-extend themselves, and as such we don’t know how races beyond June’s race at Talladega will be handled regarding fans in attendance.

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Kitchen tools, skincare essentials, and nifty gadgets to help you out.

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