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Black Lives Matter Plaza is once again open only to pedestrians, starting today. All traffic lanes are closing to car traffic while the city undertakes work to make the plaza a permanent installation. Construction is expected to run through October.

Sidewalks and access to businesses will remain open during the project. But all northbound and southbound lanes will be closed on 16th Street NW between H and K streets NW.

While the lanes are closed, the Districts transportation department will install roadway pavers, bollards, and the permanent BLM mural. A rendering of the design, below, shows two exterior lanes for car traffic, and an interior pedestrian plaza sectioned off by the bollards.

The Plaza was previously opened to traffic in March, and then paved over in May when the yellow paint began to fade.

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Construction to Make Black Lives Matter Plaza Permanent Is Starting Today - Washingtonian

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The ongoing mass protests in Cuba are a clarifying thing and not just about the brutal nature of that countrys communist regime. They have equally shown the true colors of Black Lives Matter in the United States.

As the past few days have demonstrated, the supposed social justice group cares far more about advancing the red banner of Marxism than protecting Black and Brown people.

The truth became clear on Thursday morning, when Black Lives Matter (BLM) released its official statement about the Cuban protests. Its telling that it took so long for the group to issue any statement at all the protests started Sunday, and the regime crackdown not long after. Whats more telling is what the statement said. It was full of blame for the United States, and full of praise for Cuban communism.

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BLM minced no words: "The people of Cuba are being punished by the U.S. government." Apparently, through a decades-long embargo, the U.S. has "instigated suffering for the countrys 11 million people of which 4 million are Black and Brown." The group simultaneously claimed that "Cuba has historically demonstrated solidarity with oppressed peoples of African descent."

Both claims are false obviously so.

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To start, the United States is not oppressing the Cuban people. That distinction belongs to the communist regime founded by Fidel Castro and the U.S. embargo is a response to Cubas tyranny.

For more than 60 years, the countrys leaders have denied all basic freedoms, imprisoned people for their political views, and systematically pillaged the countrys wealth. And while the BLM statement claimed the U.S. is "undermining Cubans right to choose their own government," it is in fact the Cuban authorities that protect the communist regime at any cost even violence toward the countrys citizens.

Thats whats happening right now, and it directly disproves BLMs second claim. The Cubans marching in the streets want nothing more than libertad, yet the regimes response has been to shoot at protesters, raid homes, and kill at least one person, though my sources in Cuba tell me the true number of deaths is much higher.

And who, pray tell, are authorities punishing in this crackdown? Among others, Black and Brown Cubans. These are the very people for whom BLM claims to advocate. Yet the arbiters of racial justice cant muster a word of criticism against the communist regime.

The question is why BLM tolerates such obvious injustice. The answer is the same ideology that animates the Cuban regime Marxism.

Two of Black Lives Matters founders are trained Marxist agitators, according to one of them, and the organization itself reflects it. Its operational agenda is essentially to overthrow American society, which it deems irredeemably unjust, and build a new one in its place.

If Black Lives Matter truly cared about Black and Brown people, it would condemn the Cuban regime with same fervor it currently reserves for the United States.

It has made perfectly clear what it wants in this brave new world: A state with the power to punish anyone it pleases, and penitents forced to publicly repent their privilege.

What is that vision, if not a Marxist state with struggle sessions? Such countries already exist, like China. Another example is the country BLM refuses to denounce: Cuba.

Theres a reason the groups recent statement condemns the U.S. for trying to "crush [Cubas] Revolution." Its the same reason one of BLMs founders has stood side-by-side with Nicolas Maduro, the dictator who has brought Cuban-style socialism and oppression to Venezuela.

If Black Lives Matter truly cared about Black and Brown people, it would condemn the Cuban regime with same fervor it currently reserves for the United States. That it refuses to do so points to its real goal the same goal that Marxists have sought since the Russian Revolution and in every Marxist movement since. They want nothing less than power, and theyre willing to obtain it by any means.

The proof is playing out on the streets of Havana, Santiago, Camaguey and countless other Cuban cities. In the fight to tear down the U.S., what does it matter if Black and Brown Cubans must be killed in the streets?

Josef Stalin may not have actually said "you cant make an omelet without breaking a few eggs," but that sentiment animates the leadership of BLM. For them, the suffering of minorities on that communist island nation is not in vain, because it provides an opportunity to further undermine the locus of liberty in the world.

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By backing Cuba and bashing the U.S., Black Lives Matter is standing in the way of Cubas liberation. So are BLMs allies, like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., who make similar arguments. Their defense of the indefensible and criticism of their own free country have dangerous effects. It intimidates Americans from supporting the Cuban people and may even block the Biden administration from punishing the Cuban regime for its oppression.

Whether Black, Brown or any other color, the Cuban people deserve the libertad for which theyre chanting in the streets. The same is true for the American people, who also deserve better than dangerous hypocrisy of Black Lives Matter.

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Marion Smith: Marxist Black Lives Matter here's why it supports Cuba's communists over the protesters - Fox News

"Why are you out here protesting?"

It's a question local videographerKyle Gordon asked over and over to protestors in the summer of 2020. After spending 30 days protesting alongside those same people,he picked up his camera to make a series of videos focusedon the Black Lives Matter movement in Louisville and the protests following the death of Breonna Taylor.

Itturned into "Voices of the Movement,"the first major videoproject Gordon produced by himself.

"I wanted to be out there for them and not exploit the movement. I didn't feel like it was my story to tell. I was supposed to be just a body on the ground," Gordon told the Courier Journal.

Last summer, protestors swept across America in response to the death of both Taylor and George Floyd and while amajor spotlight was placed on the protests, often they were portrayed in a negative light. Many people, like Gordon,countered that narrative with their own footage of the peacefulness they witnessed during the movement.

"I feel through personal stories and being able to have conversations with one another that we can understand each other more," Gordon said.

In the beginning,the project didn't have a direction and evolvedas Gordon interacted with people.

"I let the project take me where I want it to take me. I had no expectations, so I set little goals," Gordon said. The project now consists of 50 videos across a variety of social media platforms.

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A father of mixed-race children, Gordon originally joined the protest movement in Louisville to help make the world a better, safer place for his twokids. He could often be spotted at the protests wearing his signature "Best Dad" hat,a reminder to himself to be the best dad and best version of himself he can be.

That hat, which he wears to gigs all around town, has become part of his brand.

"That kind of went into the business. I started getting tagged as the 'Best Dad' video guy. Like rappers, especially would tag me and say things like 'just go to work with the best dad' and things like that," Gordon said. "It kind of branded itself."

Gordon embraced the moniker andBest Dad Mediawas born.His family helps operate the business his children designed the logo and help him get things togetherand shoot videos. His partner also helps him with the back-end of the small business, which has fewer than five employees.

The mission of Best Dad Media is simple. "I would say, we really want to help people that don't get to tell their story," Gordon said.

Gordon has more than 10 years of video experience working alongsidemany Louisvillerecording artists such as The Real Young Prodigy's andMarc DiNero.His work can also be found in Oprah Magazine, TIME Magazine and other major media outlets.

Hestarted his career path while working full-time at a local church. He was in charge of anything creative, fromgraphics and paintings tostage design and more. The pastor eventually asked him to create a video and he began to learn as much as he could about videography.

"I was in a unique place where I really got to know things. They invested in me and helped me learn the craft. Once I started picking it up, I kind of went down the route of church videography, kind of like documentary-style testimony videos," Gordon said.

He then transitionedinto wedding videography and in 2018, he went into full-time videography with an emphasis onentertainment, like music videos and commercials.

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That's how he met Antonio Taylor and his wife, Nyree Clayton-Taylor. Theycreated a non-profit organization called Hip-Hop into Learningand hired Gordon to shoot a video for its social justice group,The Real Young Prodigy's. He helped film its first project called Raparations, which was about getting reparations,the making of amends for a wrong one has done, by paying money to or otherwise helping those who have been wronged, and is often part of the conversation surrounding the descendants of formerly enslaved Black people.

"He has worked on every project we have done since 2019. We love that Kyle has a passion for the kids, passion for the kid's voices and he has a real passion for the community as well," Taylor told the Courier Journal.

Gordon helped create The Real Young Prodigy'slatest video called Crown, a project that inspiredLouisville Metro Councilman, Jecorey Arthur (D-4),to file anordinance for the CROWN Actor 'Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair'in Louisville.

The ordinance, which was signed into law by Mayor Greg Fischer in mid-July,bansdiscrimination against a person based on their natural hair or hairstyles

"Kyle played a big role in that. He helped create a lot of concepts for the video. He was a big part of helping the kids reach their goal," Taylor said.

Gordon has been involved in many paid projects, but his passion projects, like the one at the recent protests, are what he enjoys the most.

"The projects that nobody was paying me to do. Nobody told me to do it. I wanted to do it," Gordon said of his work.

When COVID-19 and the death of Breonna Taylor overtook the city in 2020, Gordon took a step back to revaluate the path he wanted to take with videography.

"I was following the path of all these people before me, and they all kind of paved the path that I don't want to take," Gordon said."I don't want to shoot movies. I don't want to shoot commercials for Churchill Downs or Woodford Reserve. I just want to make videos that tell stories that matter."

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He was looking for things to shootand came up with the idea for his Stories of COVID-19video series.

"In the beginning, I was just going out and documenting. I like to document, that's how I process things," said Gordon. The series kicksoff with local artist Jaylin Monet Stewart, doing sidewalk chalk art by Norton Women and Children's Hospital andNorton Children's Hospital of healthcare workers during COVID-19.The videos also highlight a group of skaters, social media influencers, a nurse and more.

To him, the project was a great way for people to see something positive during a dark time.

"... and that was during a time where there wasn't a lot of smiles on people's faces, so it's just beautiful to see humanity on display in different ways," Gordon said.

He also started doing more videosfor non-profit organizations, likeUnity Runners, whichwas created byGina Wickstead and Nicol Hodges on June 11 of last year.

The duo, each avid runners, began to run in downtown San Diego to spread awareness about Breonna Taylor and racial inequality. They eventuallycreated "Run for Breonna," where multiple runners come together to run and spread awareness about Taylor,wearing bibs that read #RunForBreonna Justice for Breonna Taylor. The run has been held in more than 45 places in the US, Canada and Brazil.

According to Wickstead, they have raised $15,000 for the Breonna Taylor foundation and helped raise $44,000 for Until Freedom,an intersectional social justice organization rooted in the leadership of diverse people of color to address systemic and racial injustice.

The mission of the Unity Runners is to help give a voice to Black women who don't have one. Much like Gordon's videos,the group wants to spread awareness in their own way about social justice issues.

"That was tremendous work (Gordon) did highlighting all the people who do the Louisville group. We are really thankful for him," Wickstead said of the videos he shot ofthe Louisville branch of Unity Runners. "It's so important to keep Breonna's name out there because she's another personthat people need to pay attention to."

Gordon says his work differs from other videographers because of his rawness. He doesn't like to control certain things, like telling people to look at the camera, talking with their hands or using giant microphones.

"I think sometimes things can be overproduced and you can lose some of the rawness," Gordon said.

To watch Stories of COVID-19 and Voices of the Movement, go tobestdadmedia.com/.

Reach Features Intern Gabby Bunton at gbunton@courier-journal.com.

See more here:
'Why are you protesting?' Videographer captures the changing voice of Louisville - Courier Journal

As a follow up to our previous special recorded in October 2019, we took another look at race issues within football last June, following the tragic death of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the subsequent Black Lives Matter protests across the world.

We hear from Troy Townsend of Kick It Out, Jordan Jarrett Bryan of Its All Blakademik and Elliott Ross of The Correspondent, exploring the football worlds reaction and incidents of racism in the game since the last podcast tackling the subject.

We ask why the punishments from footballs governing bodies for racial abuse arent anywhere near tough enough, and why black representation in positions of football leadership is still so low.

Finally, we ask tough question about black representation in the sports media world including in this podcast.

Books and articles about race recommended by the panel:

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From the archive: Black Lives Matter and tackling racism Football Weekly - The Guardian

By Hope ORukevbe Eghagha

All lives matter. Black, white, brown, or yellow lives do matter. This means that life matters. It is not an abstraction. It is practical. If you witness life go out of somebody and you are not moved, it means that you are not a human being. No matter the colour of the skin, blood, red blood flows in the veins of everyone. There is nothing like blueblood in the real sense of the word. It is a social construct that is predicated on perception or social stratification. For, we are all children of God, created equal. We are all equal products of nature. We do not choose our skin colour. We do not choose where to originate from. No one life is more important than the other. All the major religions subscribe to this. Life is life. The life of a poor local farmer is equal to the life of a king! Life is life to a slave and life is life to a king. Life is life to a White-skinned person. Life is life to a black-skinned person. Life is life to a Christian. Life is life to a Muslim. It is ignorance to celebrate the death of a person because they practice a religion different from ours. Anyone with such a mentality should not go near the corridors of power.

The common denominator for humanity is not the colour of the skin. It is character. It is man in action, both in word and deed. It is his belief system, his culture and his regard for fellow human beings and the other creatures of nature. To protect animals from extinction and strive to eliminate the other race is convoluted thinking. To love dogs and hate black or brown people or Jews is a form of illness. Social illness. Prejudice. Stupidity. Ignorance. Why should an ignorant person preside over the affairs of the majority? My people perish because of lack of knowledge, the good book says! To have an ignorant or bigoted leader is the death of a clan or a country!

When we say black lives matter it is within a context. A socio-political context. And a historical context too! When we say all lives matter it is also within a context. In a white-privileged world, black lives matter both as a slogan and as an affirmation is fundamental. It is a reaction to oppressive policies, especially acts of injustice that are institutionalized. It is reminiscent of the Im Black and Proud Black Movement slogan of the 1960s, popularized by the singer James Brown. The song stood for black empowerment and self-reliance. The political climate in which he wrote the song couldnt have been more timely. If James Brown was the Godfather of Soul, he was also the musical expression of the black power movement. Say It Loud, Im Black and Im Proudis a landmark, groundbreaking song. The Western world is yet to rid itself of racism.

It was in this spirit that African-American poet Langston Hughes had written in his seminal poem titled I too Im America: I am the darker brother/They send me to eat in the kitchen/When company comes,/But I laugh,/And eat well,/And grow strong./Tomorrow,/Ill be at the table/When company comes./Nobodyll dare/Say to me,/Eat in the kitchen,/Then./Besides,/Theyll see how beautiful I am/And be ashamed/I, too, am America.

Black lives Matter! As a slogan and as a philosophical if activist reaction to racism it captures the imagination. It drives home the point especially against police brutality. Yet our history shows that black lives have never really mattered to us as black people. This accounts for our people being sold into slavery by our own people, our leaders and rulers. For two hundred years, writes Kevin Sieff, powerful kings in what is now the country of Benin captured and sold slaves to Portuguese, French and British merchants. Here in the territory that became Nigeria, Efunsetan Aniwura as Iyalode of Ibadan, made a name, now notorious, for being a slave dealer.To be sure she was not the only one. There were other merchants in most of Africa who sold their brothers and sisters into slavery.

In postcolonial Africa, the manner governments have treated their citizens does not subscribe to the fanciful notion of black lives matter! Apart from negative economic and political policies, there has been outright neglect of all that make life happy for the black man. If black lives matter to African leaders they would not make the continent inhospitable to their citizens. If Black lives mattered to rulers in Nigeria, they would not be so cavalier about the number of people who lose their lives daily to bandits or kidnappers. When former American President Donald Trump referred to some s..thole countries, the language and sentiment were considered unbecoming of a world leader. Yet in practical terms, we have created countries which cannot guarantee the survival of the black race. Europe and the Americas have become so attractive to our young men and women. Sadly, when they arrive in those well-structured countries, they are treated as second class citizens.

Too many Black lives have been lost to the belief that the death of a Black man does not really matter. Across the world and over the ages, the colour of the skin and the self-negation which some Black people subscribe to have contributed to promoting notions of inferiority. The point must be made that once any human being has a tinge of Black ancestry, no matter how light their skin colour, they are classified as Black. Black is a taint in this regard. This is the result of inferior thinking. So, our sisters who bleach their skin to look white or advertisers who promote fair-skinned ladies over Black ones are guilty of racism, of self-abnegation. Why is my skin so Black or so dark, they seem to say.

In the real sense of the words, no one has a white or black skin. Early Africans thought Caucasians were pale skinned. They thought that their coffee-skin was superior. They never aspired to be white. Black is not pejorative even if we associate black colour with things that are not pleasant or evil. It has nothing to do with the character of every black person. A time will come when African will sponsor a motion at the UN that they should be referred to as Africans and not Black. But before then, let African leaders and rulers prove to their people and people of the world that Black Lives Matter to them.

*Professor Eghagha can be reached on 08023220393

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Do Black lives really matter? - The News