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Although it might be pretentious for a white dude, in one of the whitest states in the union, weighing in on Black Lives Matter on the cusp of Black History Month, I think my concern is legitimate. Im sure Ill hear about it, in any case. My particular yank concerns Barre Citys questionable decision to fly the Black Lives Matter flag and then, after a month, replace it with the other BLM flag Blue Lives Matter subsequently replacing that one as well, creating what is essentially a flag of the month club for the remainder of the year, transparently ducking responsibility to unequivocally condemn racism wherever it appears.

Taking this approach, the Granite City zeroes in on the low hanging fruit, theoretically pleasing everyone by creating a kind of balance that, however well-intentioned, trivializes Black Lives Matter and unwittingly contributes to widening the abyss between two politically charged movements. BLM is a mostly reasonable, even, dare I say, toned down response to hundreds of years of racial discrimination and violence perpetrated on African-Americans in this country. Although burned into the nations consciousness after the live-streamed murder of George Floyd, the movement actually emerged after the 2012 killing of Trayvon Martin.

After being ordered by Sanford, Florida, police not to follow Martin, George Zimmerman, a self-styled neighborhood watch captain, perceived the Black teen who was visiting his father to be in the wrong place, followed anyway, subsequently shooting him dead, and eventually being acquitted based on the states stand your ground laws. In death, Martin joined the growing contingent of young Black men three times more likely to be shot than their white peers.

But the movement really came into its own as America watched, horrified, as the last eight minutes and 40 seconds of George Floyds life ebbed away under the knee of a Minneapolis policeman, appalling in the ghastly reality of just how casual police-murders of Black men had become. Expressionless, one hand in his pocket, officer Derek Chauvin appeared as calm and collected as he might be squishing a bug. The stomach churning footage was a clear illustration of the police brutality African-Americans have alleged for decades, galvanizing the world as people took to the streets in 2,000 cities nationally and 60 additional countries, as far away as New Zealand.

As it became apparent the protests were diverse and largely peaceful a Harvard research study found 97.7% of all the demonstrations were without violence the movement was nonetheless demonized. While the data clearly showed the small number of violent episodes were directed toward BLM supporters rather than instigated by them, the far-right fog machine was already up and running, with the president and Fox News depicting the country as either burning down or completely taken over by violent, Black, left-wing socialists bent on destroying our way of life. However politically convenient, this assessment was a racially motivated fabrication.

Also coming to light at that time was the often too close association between police departments, violent militia groups and white supremacists, many of whom have adopted the Blue Lives Matter flag and its cousin, the Thin Blue Line flag, as potent symbols not only in opposition to the BLM movement, but as a show of solidarity focused on intimidating people of color into silence and submission. According to the Brennan Center for Justice, the FBI has warned of White supremacist infiltration of law enforcement and along with Homeland Security pointed to racist groups as the most lethal domestic terrorist threat to the United States.

None of this is intended as an intimation the Barre City Police are anything but honorable public servants, showing up every day to do the incredibly difficult and dangerous work protecting the community. I appreciate the work they do, and although I dont support blanket defunding, I do believe in reallocation of resources are necessary to address some of the problems for which police are untrained that can frequently result in tragedy such as domestic issues or mental illness.

My issue is with city government and the apparent belief that a poignant entreaty by African-Americans not to be murdered based on their skin color, somehow needs to be balanced, especially with what has become a controversial symbol on its own, frequently used to justify the precise institutional racism that BLM and its supporters are aligned against.

Like much of our politics these days, this is complex, rife with nuance yet still requiring a clear decision, firmly denouncing racism without equivocation. In this, Barre missed the mark, in effect, limiting their support of Black Lives Matter to 30 days and subsequently promoting a movement diametrically opposed to everything BLM stands for. They cant have it both ways.

Earlier this week, as Congress prepared to make him the first president in U.S. history to be impeached twice, Donald Trump put an even finer point on centuries of racial strife, in his first public remarks since the deadly Capitol insurrection he incited. As usual, dodging any responsibility and voicing no regrets, he claimed his remarks preceding the siege were totally appropriate, instead blaming racial justice protests as the real problem, suggesting If you look at what other people have said, politicians at a high level about the riots during the summer, the horrible riots in Portland and Seattle and various other places, that was a real problem.

Think about that. According to the president, African-Americans demanding the bare minimum racial equality would offer the privilege of not being shot is the real problem. The sheer audacity of that statement as the nation recoils from MAGA goons, Proud Boys and yes, white supremacists, violently storming an enduring symbol of democracy the U.S. Capitol should be the catalyst for every state, city, town and hamlet to proudly raise the Black Lives Matter banner and commit to leaving it up for as long as it takes to flush this poison from our system.

Walt Amses lives in North Calais.

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Amses: Red, white, black-and-blue | Perspective | rutlandherald.com - Rutland Herald

Lamar OdomImage: Getty Images

TMZ reports that Lamar Odom, yes, that one, will compete in a boxing match on June 12:

TMZ Sports has learned that the 41-year-old ex-NBA star has inked a deal with Celebrity Boxing ... and will step into the ring on June 12 at the Showboat Casino in Atlantic City, N.J.

The 6-foot-10 Odom doesnt currently have an opponent ... but CB creator Damon Feldman tells us hes working on a big-name celeb to duke it out with Lamar.

In a 17-second video posted by TMZ, Odom says, Im real excited. I just signed a deal with Celebrity Boxing. Who do you guys think I should fight?

No one, Lamar. No one.

Celebrity Boxing is also advertising former child-star Aaron Carter (yup, that one), who now has tattoos everywhere, as well as actor Ojani Noa vs. Joe Giudice of Real Housewives of New Jersey, with Buster Douglas (yes, that one, too) as the referee. Odom, a former two-time NBA champion and one of the most unique players of his time, might have the most checkered past of everyone here. (Except for the Celebrity Boxing promoter: Well get to him in a bit.)

Actual boxing promoter Lou DiBella points out Odoms health history, including his many heart attacks and strokes. (And the fact that he was dropped by the Big 3 for his poor play.)

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Odom is six years removed from overdosing at a Nevada brothel, and less than two from admitting he has horrible memory loss, in a quote recovered from boxingscene.com:

I have horrible memory loss, Odom told People (Magazine) in a May 2019 interview. And my long-term memory was affected as well. Athletically, my balance is poo. I was shocked how weak my body became. [The overdose] made me realize I couldnt live the way Id been living. Life is too good.

Odom doesnt yet have an opponent, and we also dont know if he could fight, but whoever it is, the name will likely sadden and or worry us.

Whats also worrisome is this Celebrity Boxing league in general.

The operator is Damon Feldman, a former professional boxer from 1988-1992, who went 9-0 with four knockouts. He not only refers to himself as the 16-Minute Man, but on the official Instagram for Celebrity Boxing, the bio reads: Official Celebrity Boxing Page. We make you Famous. Or get you your 16th Minute. The Hollywood Hustle.

Feldman also made headlines for beating his girlfriend (photos included), telling Philly Mag it was a lie, then admitting to the act while promising no recollection. Feldman also attempted to piece together a bout between DMX and George Zimmerman in 2014, and was labeled King Of The D-List by Philly Mag 12 years ago.

In lesser words, the shit is just weird, and its all part of the dangerous omen, Odom especially.

These celebrities dont need fights, they need help.

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Lamar Odom boxing is even sadder and more dangerous than you think - Deadspin

The opening of One Night in Miami tells viewers the story is inspired by true events, but the relationship between truth and fiction in the drama is more complicated. Kemp Powers, who recently co-directed Pixars Soul, originally wrote the play in order to fill in the gaps about what happened behind closed doors when Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X, Sam Cooke and Jim Brown met in a hotel room in Miami in 1964.

The new film adaptation of the story, directed by Regina King and written by Powers, similarly probes the imagined private conversation of four men whose public demeanours have been mythologised. In Malcolm X we see quiet moments of doubt and fear creep in, while in Muhammad Ali there are scenes of contemplation and questioning faith. Largely confined to a hotel room we watch these four men wrestling, both with their own demons and verbally with one another.

Earlier this week, Esquire spoke to Powers over Zoom to discuss weaving fiction from history, the need to write a love letter to Black men in popular culture, and the unfortunate, endless relevance of the story.

Esquire: The story is a fictional account of a real evening, what was the spark which inspired the original play you wrote?

Kemp Powers: It was the fact that evening did happen. About 15 years ago I was reading a book on the intersection between professional sports and the civil rights movement. The focus was Muhammad Ali and it mentioned that specific night and the fact that when Cassius Clay beat Sonny Liston, he went back to Malcolm Xs hotel room with Sam Cooke and Jim Brown. The next morning he announced that he was a member of The Nation of Islam to the press. I already knew about the relationship between Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X, but for some reason the idea of the four of them together in a room really sparked my imagination. My initial intention was to write a book about their friendship but the thing that stumped me was that I couldnt get a lot of details about what they discussed in the room. It seems to me like perfect grist for the mill for a dramatic piece where these four titans are trapped in a room together, the idea being that the room becomes a ring with this four-way match.

Is there anything known about what they did speak about?

Little details of the night show up in various biographies, one little fact thats true is that all they had was vanilla ice cream. Sometimes you read something about what was discussed on the night and it contradicts something else that was written. When you read a biography on Muhammad Ali everything is from his perspective and how it affects him, whereas when you read a biography on Sam Cooke, everything is from his perspective. Often you get details on the night that dont align with one another which makes me feel even better about this fictionalised conversation that takes place.

Amazon Prime

When reports contradict each other, how do you find a path forward?

90 per cent of what is said is stuff that is my creation, but its based on what they believed and who they really were. If you do a cursory bit of research into Sam Cooke youll know he was inspired to write A Change Is Gonna Come after hearing Bob Dylans Blowin in the Wind, and he literally said, A Black man should have written that song. Generally speaking when things contradict each other I try to do a little bit more reporting and research to understand what the truth was, but its always going to be like [the] Rashomon [effect], where, depending on who you ask about any given moment youre going to get ten different stories, so whatever serves the story Im trying to tell the best.

You mentioned about it being like a boxing match in the room, and there is a sense of them sparring with their words. How did you inhabit each of their voices, did you read their speeches and listen to their music?

All of the above, but listening to them in public is just a small part of it because so much of what I was trying to do was show the private, unseen version of each of these men. So many of the videos you see of Malcolm X are him on a podium being fiery, or him involved in a debate with someone who hates his guts, so much of Ali is him being performative. What I wanted to show was the version of each man that manifested itself when you did a holistic view. When you hear about how Malcolm loved taking photos or how shy he was, the fact he would leave his daughters little hidden notes when he left town and then call them and send them on scavenger hunts. I wanted to focus on those human things which in many ways allow me to connect more to them than the many great things they did.

On this night, at least, Cassius Clay was still a 22-year-old man who was growing up and just coming into adulthood. He was on the precipice of so many great things, but he didnt know what he was going to do yet. Jim was only 28-years-old on this night and unsure if he wanted to stay in the NFL, Sam was in his early thirties and unsure what to do with his career. Malcolm was in his late thirties and felt like he was going to die any day now.

Amazon Prime

Is it hard to contend with the mythic status that these people have?

The very first draft of the stage play that I wrote was terrible because it was just a book report. I was so excited that Id discovered all these things about these men that people didnt know that I felt I had to make sure I got all of them in there. But then I went back to the drawing board and realised that my job is to take all this information and use it as fuel to feed the characterisation. Its not about the characters regurgitating all these interesting things, its about using them to inform their behaviour, and thats the job with any biopic.

Theres a certain amount of fictionalisation in all of it, if you see something that says Based on a true story you could easily start poking holes in the truth behind it, because its never 100 per cent true. In fact if its Hollywood and it says Based on a true story, half the time its more fiction than things that say their fiction. If anything, I used a lot more reality and fact in this story but I didnt want it to be burdened by that. I want the debate to wash over you, I dont want someone to be focused on whether something really happened.

Regina King has described the story as a love letter to Black men, is that what you intended in writing it?

Its a complex issue to me because I feel that regular Black men showing their friendship is something you dont see very often. Our innate humanity and vulnerability is so rarely on display, but its a part of who we are. On the Pixar film Soul I got to tell this universal story through the prism of a Black man and usually we dont get to do that. People wrongly often assume we dont have feelings or are superhuman because they dont get to see it very often, so it was absolutely a goal to put Black mens humanity on display.

Damu Malik

Theres a moment where Malcolm X challenges Sam Cooke about what he is doing to help the movement, do you think there is still that pressure on Black people to be a spokesperson on racial justice?

Absolutely, the central debate is what, if any, social responsibility do we have as a Black artist, athlete, singer because its always going to come up. Its something I believe that any famous Black person at some point is going to have on their mind, thats kind of the crux of the debate in the film. I think the conflict between Sam and Malcolm was the first bit that I wrote and was the foundational part of the argument.

Theres also a discussion about the tension between men with different shades of Black skin, is that something that was hard to voice?

It was a very important part of the play as a reference to colourism and it landed so well with Regina. Casting the film was challenging and there was a certain point where the casting directors asked, Is it absolutely necessary for the actor to be light-skinned? and even I was like, Do you know what it doesnt matter, I can rewrite the line', but Regina said, No, it has to be a light-skinned actor, because theres no way were losing that line, its too important. Its been a nice surprise to see how much that line has resonated, particularly amongst Black people, because colourism is an issue that has always gone on. The word might perceive us all as quote-unquote Black, but within that there is a subset based on complexion.

Amazon Prime

The final shot of Malcolms house burning and the knowledge he is assassinated is such a powerful ending, were you always writing toward that sad eventuality?

Ive always viewed this story as a tragedy, because as great as these men were I couldnt help but think of how much further they could have gone together if things had gone differently. Malcolm and Sam were both dead less than a year from this night, Sam within a matter of months. Malcolm didnt live to see the publication of his autobiography which is what opened him up to a lot of people. Sam didnt live to see the impact of A Change Is Gonna Come. Weeks after this night Malcolm and Ali split and they never spoke to each other again. The tragedy of all that always hung over me.

The play ends on a very sad note, and what I like about the film is that we ended on much more of a note of hope, because even knowing Malcolm and Sam are going to die, you know they have had a positive effect on generations that have come after.

Are you still surprised by how many themes in the film remain part of our present day?

Not anymore, because every production of the play we had over the years was always seen as representative of what was going on. In 2013 Trayvon Martin got killed and George Zimmerman got off, in 2015 there was Freddie Gray. Its been ever-present. So Im no longer surprised at all to be honest, and thats unfortunate.

'One Night in Miami' is on Amazon Prime Video now

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The History Behind the Legendary Meeting in 'One Night in Miami' - esquire.com

Former first lady Michelle ObamaMichelle LeVaughn Robinson ObamaMichelle Obama reflects on Black Lives Matter movement this year: 'We've endured so much' Michelle Obama to appear by video at Georgia drive-in voting event Obama releases annual list of his favorite movies, TV shows MORE reflected on the Black Lives Matter movement that was reignited earlier this year following the police killing of George Floyd.

In an Instagram post on Tuesday, Obama noted the tumultuous events of 2020,writing, "Weve endured so much this past year, from the devastation of the pandemic to the ups and downs of a hard-won election."

But what has perhaps stayed with me most is the passionate message of justice and empathy that has defined the Black Lives Matter protests around the world, she added.

The Black Lives Matter movement began years agoin response to the 2013 acquittal of George Zimmerman in the killing of Florida teen Trayvon Martin. While the movement has seen widespread protests inthe U.S. and other parts of the worldin the years since following the police killings of Black Americans, the push against racial inequality exploded worldwide after death of Floyd in late May.

Floyd, a Black man, died at the age of 46 after a white Minneapolis police officer, Derek Chauvin, was seen kneeling on his neck for more than 8 minutes during an arrest. His death sparked months of protests against racism and police brutality across the world.

In her post, Obama highlighted the story of Patrick Hutchinson, a Black man who went viral earlier this year when he was seen in London carrying a white protesterwho had been injuredduring a local demonstration to safety.

Hutchinson said the man, an apparent counterprotester, was still getting hit by protesters as he carried him away. My real focus was on avoiding a catastrophe, all of a sudden the narrative changes into 'Black Lives Matters, Youngsters Kill Protesters.' That was the message we were trying to avoid, Hutchinson said then.

Obama, who includedfootage of the moment in her post, said she wanted to highlight Hutchinsons story because its difficult for her to see so many people distort the unity and righteousness of these protests.

Theyve been sowing seeds of division, misrepresenting those crying out for justice as troublemakers or criminals. The truth is the millions around the world who showed up with their homemade signs were marching with the same kind of compassion that Mr. Hutchinson shows here, she wrote.

Theyre folks who face discrimination on a daily basis because of the color of their skin. And theyre just asking to be shown the same level of humanity that our consciences demand we show anyone else in need, she continued.

I hope more people can find it in their hearts to meet these cries for decency not with mistrust, but with love and a willingness to listen. Because as the COVID-19 crisis has made clear, our fates are inextricably bound. If the least of us struggles, we all in some way feel that pain, she added.

Obama said that unless people continue to speak out and march for equality,none of us will ever truly be free.

For the year ahead, Obama said she hopes more people will reach out to understand the experiences of those who dont look, or vote, or think like we do.

I pray that we learn to pause when we're tempted to react in anger or suspicion. And I pray that we choose generosity and kindness over our worst impulses. That isnt always easy. But its a place to start, she added.

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Michelle Obama reflects on Black Lives Matter movement this year: 'We've endured so much' | TheHill - The Hill

Epic government failings in 2020 paved way for memorable campaigning. Heres seven of the best campaigns in a year fraught with government-imposed chaos.

To say 2020 has been a year like no other is almost a truism. The unparalleled social, economic and political upheaval triggered by a health crisis the size of Covid-19 lit the touchpaper for some amazing campaigning this year.

Campaigners from diverse walks of life stood up to what they believed in, eager to defuse the many shambolic and dire consequences of leaders responses to the challenges.

LFF takes a look at some of the most successful campaigns this year, led by impassioned campaigners, compelled to make amends for epic government failings and neglect.

Marcus Rashford Free meals for children

Marcus Rashford became a national inspiration following, not one, but two school meals campaigns.

The Manchester United strikers powerful campaigning to extend free meals for children into the school holidays, pushed the neglected issue of child poverty onto the front pages of the national newspapers, exposing the Tories for what they really are. Such was the outpouring of public support behind Rashfords campaigns that Johnson was forced to do a humbling U-turn and provide food vouchers for some of Englands poorest families during the school holidays.

This was just one of many a sheepish U-turn made by the government this year.

#BlackLivesMatter

The #BlackLiveMatters movement began in July 2013, following the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the shooting of African American teenager Trayvon Martin in 2012. 2020 saw the movement gather unprecedented momentum and global recognition, in response to the shocking death of George Floyd in the hands of the US police.

Six days after launching a fundraising drive, Black Lives Matter UK said donations towards combating the causes and consequences of racism had exceeded 1m.

RCN Fair Pay for Nursing campaign

The nursing workforce continues to make a huge contribution in the Covid-19 public health emergency. Long-term investment is essential to support the profession, including giving the countrys heroic nurses a pay rise.

The Tories dont have a good track record in giving nurses the pay rise they deserve. We all remember that sickening sound of Tory MPs cheering as they blocked a pay rise for nurses and firefighters in 2017.

Taking the issue into their own hands, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) launched a Fair Pay for Nursing campaign. The campaign demanded a 12.5% pay rise for nursing staff across the UK.

Failing to deliver a pay rise in his spending review, the campaign urges the Chancellor to give nurses what they deserve. As it stands, nursing staff continue to be worse off than they were ten years ago.

Funding our health and care system is a political choice. After years of inadequate support for the largest health and social care workforce, the UK government must take immediate action and fully fund a substantial pay rise for nursing, says the RCN.

Crisis In This Together campaign

Reports of people sleeping rough increased sharply during the first national lockdown, despite government claims that more than 90% of homeless people have been helped off the street during the pandemic.

In late March, Crisis launched a campaign called In This Together. It calls on the public to make donations to help people who are homeless and vulnerable to the Coronavirus outbreak.

The campaign was so effective, that it was able to fund more than 215 local charities throughout the nation to provide direct and localised support to homeless people.

James Yucel Refund Us Now campaign

If we wanted to do an online degree, we would have done Open University, said James Yucel, a second-year student at Glasgow University.

So aggrieved was Yucel at the treatment of students at universities nationwide this year, that he launched a campaign demanding universities pay students their tuition fees back. Citing a Canadian study, Yucel argues that online teaching is 15% less effective, hence students many of whom have been locked inside shoebox accommodation for much of the first term should have their tuition fees reimbursed.

Sharing similar aggrievances were the 353,129 signatures garnered on a petition sent to the government, calling to reimburse all students of this years tuition fees in light of inferior teaching and ongoing disruption, including online classes, cancelled field trips, and extended strikes.

IWGB #ClappedAndScrapped campaign

Another campaign success story this year falls to the efforts the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB) and its #ClappedAndScrapped campaign. The campaign is focused on fighting against unfair terminations of key workers by the likes of Deliveroo and Uber. These key workers have worked throughout the crisis and are, as IWGB states, being stripped of their livelihoods in a time of crisis, often with no evidence of wrongdoing on their part.

The campaign seeks justice for key workers by encouraging supporters to ask their MPs to sign an Early Day Motion, opposing the dismissal or app-based courier and private hire driver workers.

As of mid-November, a cross-party group of 60 MPs had signed the Motion.

UVW End outsourcing at Great Ormond Street Childrens Hospital

At the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, cleaners working at Great Ormond Street Childrens Hospital (GOSH), almost all of whom are black, brown and/or migrants, joined the cleaners union United Voices of the World (UVW), in protest of what they described as Institutional racism.

The cleaners were employed by a multinational contractor OCS and receive significantly lower pay rates and less favourable terms and conditions compared to their majority white in-house colleagues.

Following the successful campaign to stamp out outsourcing at the hospital, GOSH declared it will end outsourcing and bring hundreds of outsourced workers into the direct employment of the NHS.

Commenting on the victory, GOSH cleaner, Evelyn:I am very, very happy with this victory. After 11 years of service in this hospital it is my great joy for my colleagues and me to become NHS staff thanks to UVW. With UVW we have protection, freedom, solidarity, and respect

Gabrielle Pickard-Whitehead is a freelance journalist and columnist for Left Foot Forward.

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Taking matters into their own hands: Some of the best campaigns of 2020 - Left Foot Forward