Haiti is suffering the effects of $4 billion in unaccounted development funds, as 78 inmates escape prison in Aquin following anti-government protests and understaffed prisons. The Guardian reported that four lives have been claimed due to violent demonstrations. The anti-government protests stem from the unregulated allocation of development funds set aside for economic and infrastructure development, as a part of the Petrocaribe deal, a Venezuelan government energy cooperation agreement that provides some Caribbean and Latin American countries with subsidized petroleum products and financing spread over a 25 year period. The deal led to Haiti building up billions in debt to Venezuela.According to the Guardian, months of violent demonstrations surge with protesters using the slogan“Kot kòb Petrocaribe a?” (“Where’s the Petrocaribe money?”) as Haitian President Jovenel Moise confirms that the alleged misuse of funds will be investigated. Jovenel tweeted, "no one will escape justice. It’s a moral and judicial duty.”The Guardian also reported that prison guards have patrolled nearby demonstrations leading to unmonitored prisons, leading to 78 prisoners recently fleeing after a scheduled shower. Intertwined with Haiti's recovery efforts from both the 2010 earthquake that rocked Port-au-Prince and Hurricane Matthew that struck southwestern Haiti near Les Anglais in 2016, is the backdrop of Venezuela's political and economic turmoil, which the deal was originally intended to alleviate and help with the overall political influence of the nation. Instead, President Maduro, who has been criticized for his alleged authoritarian leadership style has sought to tighten the terms of the agreement, with the implosion of Venezuela's oil market and the decline of oil production from 3.4 million barrels a day to less than 1.4 million barrels in 2018. Make sure you're following Blavity:Politics on Instagram and join our daily newsletter to stay engaged and informed.Back in 2017, a special Haitian Senate commission accused more than 12 former government officials and heads of private firms of embezzling $2 billion in Venezuelan oil loans which could have helped to rebuild efforts after the 2010 earthquake. Moise has responded to this by backing efforts to remove all forms of corruption within the Haiti government and attempting to end fuel subsidies, which was then reversed due to public discontent. “What we are enduring today is because of Jovenel [Moise] … they are hungry,” said Joseph to the Guardian. His stock of fish was ransacked by looters during a recent demonstration.According to the World Bank, despite international efforts, Haiti is the most impoverished country in the Americas with 59 percent of Haiti’s population living below the national poverty line of $2.41 a day and approximately 24 percent of the population living in extreme poverty on less than $1.23 a day. Joseph continued, “We don’t have good leaders: if there was work in the country, this would never have happened.”Liking this story? Check these out:This Twitter Thread Of Black Women Posing In Front Of The Mona Lisa Is A Work Of Art On Its OwnU.S. Accuses Ghana Of Refusing Deported Citizens, Hits Country With SanctionsAt Least 21 Haitians Dead After Men Dressed In Police Uniforms Massacre Port-au-Prince...

Dave Chappelle recently helped right a wrong when he personally gave North Carolina fans tickets to his show.CBS News reports Deidra Dickens intended to surprise her husband, Eddie Dickens, with tickets to Chappelle's set at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center on Valentine’s Day in Charlotte, North Carolina. In an attempt to find wheelchair-accessible seats for her husband, Dickens scoured Craigslist and picked up what she thought was a great deal.Deidra reportedly paid a Craiglist seller $500 for four tickets. But Deidra told WBTV she couldn't reach the seller after she'd transferred the money.Deidra filed a report with the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department following the incident, and her story was picked up by local news outlets.Chappelle got word of the news story and reached out to WBTV in order to set up a surprise for the couple.In an attempt to smooth over the disappointment, the Dickenses and the couple who'd planned to join them at Chappelle's show opted to celebrate Valentine's day with a double dinner date. The popular comedian crashed that dinner, personally delivering four tickets to his show.Last night we told you this Charlotte couple was scammed out of hundreds of dollars trying to buy @DaveChappelle tickets on Craigslist. Tonight we were there as DAVE HIMSELF hand-delivered the group tickets! Awesome! @WBTV_News pic.twitter.com/tHMElvDcZE— Alex Giles WBTV (@AlexGilesNews) February 15, 2019Blavitize your inbox! Join our daily newsletter for fresh stories and breaking news."Always get your tickets from reliable sources," Chappelle advised after surprising the group. As the couples thanked him for his generosity, he responded, "It's my pleasure, man, I'm so glad it worked out.""It felt good," Chappelle later said about his good deed. "It felt like I just got to make something that was wrong right. And it didn't hurt me or cost me anything to do it, so I'm just happy it worked out." The couples were more than grateful for the irreplaceable moment. "Holy moley," said Deidra. "Dave Chappelle handing us tickets to the show. I cannot even describe how I'm feeling right now."Now, check these out:R. Kelly, Who Seems To Lack In Both Morals And Sense Of Humor, Allegedly Wanted To Fight Dave Chappelle After Infamous SkitColin Kaepernick And Dave Chappelle Honored With Harvard University's W.E.B. DuBois Black Culture AwardWhy Dave Chappelle Is Now Being Sued By The Heckler Who Threw A Banana Peel At...

We were all pissed when Gucci released their egregiously tacky Blackface-like balaclava turtleneck.As Blavity reported, the brand apologized for the item, but the damage was already done. Now, Marcus “Mars” Simpson has developed the best possible clapback to the luxury brand’s supposed accident: a similar sweater that uses stereotypically white features as its starting point.Speaking with Blavity, the Only The Brave co-founder said his thin-lipped sweater started out as a way for him to use his creativity to express his outrage. View this post on Instagram Fight back! • • • #paleface #turtleneck #gucci #guccibelt #guccishoes #blackface #womensfashion #picoftheday #fuckracism #onlythebrave #black #blackhistorymonth #blackexcellence #kollegekidd #melaninA post shared by Only The Brave (@onlythebrave.life) on Feb 14, 2019 at 8:22am PST“I wanted others to experience this anguish, this frustration,” Simpson told Blavity via email. “I felt maybe they’d understand how wrong it is if I could create something that put them in our shoes. So basically, I flipped it on them. I played a game of opposites. In my own crazy way, I went high because they went low. I changed the white woman to black woman, the black shirt to beige, the big lips to tiny lips and I posted it with a pounding heart.”The creator said he knew he could face backlash, but he couldn’t hold it in. His determination paid off when the picture went viral.Blavitize your inbox! Join our daily newsletter for fresh stories and breaking news.“I knew it’d resonate with my people, I knew it’d offend white fragility, and I also knew I’d madden some people of color, and also receive support from some white people,” Simpson said. “I just wanted us to be heard and felt. And I think it came through!”Only The Brave sells shirts with a message, but the artist said he did not intend to sell the turtleneck when he posted it on Instagram. He changed his mind after receiving a lot of positive feedback. And don’t worry, you won’t have to use your rent money.“The piece was not initially intended to sell,” he said. “But I have since reached out to a manufacturer who is willing to co-produce the Pale Face Turtleneck. We are gauging demand to see how feasible it’d be. And we definitely would not exploit people with the ridiculous price of $890. It’d be closer to $50.”Check out Simpson’s other work on Only The Brave’s website.Now, check these out:Chicago Police Arrest Two Brothers In Connection With Alleged Attack On Jussie SmollettTulsa Officials React To Calls To Fire Employee With Alleged KKK Ties: 'Our Hands Are Tied'Florida Rapper YNW Melly Turns Himself In After Being Charged In The Killings Of His Best...

Happy Discount Candy Day! Valentine’s Day is over and done with, but we still have a gift for you: the tweets of the week.The 2019 Grammys were full of Forever FLOTUS and Motown surprises, and had everyone feeling a way. Good morning to Deloris Van Cartier only whose Motown tribute will remain undefeated pic.twitter.com/NPKB9DDC1Y— viserra targaryen 🌺 (@targaryin) February 11, 2019"Girl you should see this bullshit, they got JLo doing a damn Motown tribute"#GRAMMYs pic.twitter.com/99u0r2SxAQ— Mr.Hide&GoSeek (@LiveLoveHustle) February 11, 2019Drake: If you have broke bums with REGULAR jobs scraping their last dollars to come see your show, even though their broke ass missed two student loans payments, maxed out their credit card and can’t afford food, YOUVE MADE IT. #grammys Me, feeling seen: pic.twitter.com/W23D4ZeAcc— lack toast and tolerance (@shanejbernard) February 11, 2019Ashanti in the back during Jlo’s Grammys tribute https://t.co/QZSx3jp8Tz— m stan (@chamoniIIe) February 10, 2019As one Twitter user pointed out, men who don't believe in Valentine's Day do believe in avoiding the silent treatment:All the men who “don’t believe in Valentine’s Day” putting last minute stuff together for their woman. pic.twitter.com/WfFaIHcQVJ— Natalie C. (@Natalie_Cee_) February 13, 2019Not everyone is anti-Valentine's Day, however. For example, Russ is a walking Mahogany card. We stan. This the nigga the main character marry at the end of every Tyler Perry movie. https://t.co/feq1IGhVet— Money Mani (@broadwaytail) February 14, 2019President Trump declared a national emergency Friday, kicking off what could be a Constitutional crisis. Which led White House correspondent Jim Acosta to introduce President Pot to former President Kettle: 👀 https://t.co/dmj5CpgoMf— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) February 14, 2019Blavitize your inbox! Join our daily newsletter for fresh stories and breaking news.Drug kingpin El Chapo's trial wrapped up this week, but we think the court artist sketched the wrong guy ... #freepops!Now wait a minute!?!? https://t.co/rcSLMkMd0b— John Witherspoon (@John_POPS_Spoon) February 13, 2019Twitter had some fun with this clip. Can you imagine knocking a whole car into a river and driving off like nothing happened? Imagine chilling in your car smoking a blunt scrolling on twitter then the next thing boom u drowning 😭 https://t.co/1TexVqsERZ— HABIBTI (@vintagegvld) February 13, 2019It's never too early to learn that issa crab eat crab world out there: Fuck them kids https://t.co/xXnrsZdudI— Bria Celest (@55mmbae) February 14, 2019It really isn't right Black History Month is usually only 28 days. Which is why we like this proposal. Red, black and green instead of red, white and blue? We dig it.  Hear me out y’all: let’s do the 2019 Black History Month do-over in July: 1) The weather will be lovely 2) We’ll have time to prepare 3) We can make the 4th of July count for more than PTO and barbecues for the first time in our lives RT if you’re down and I’m dead serious— Jamilah the Millennial (@JamilahLemieux) February 15, 2019This Twitter user wondered what happened to all of the scammers he once saw on the platform. We know exactly where they are. They're off selling Skintea. Haven’t seen any “Wanna turn $300 into $3000” posts in a minute... Y’all in jail?— Quan🐺 (@titttieslover_) February 12, 2019We were reminded once again this week there only one Queen Bey. No one can step into those high heels. Beyoncé is def gonna have to do the Beyoncé tributes— Jamilah the Millennial (@JamilahLemieux) February 11, 2019Cardi B picked up some historic Grammys wins. This sound like Cardi to the staaaaaage ... Three years ago, Cardi worked her last shift as a stripper on her 23rd birthday. Today is now a Grammy award winning artist. pic.twitter.com/IzoMvRUCp3— Fan Account (@BardiUpdatess) February 11, 2019Spelling and grammar are important. Buzz buzz, bruh. YOU MISSPELLED ONE WORD ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND HERE COME AKEELAH AND THE BEE— Torrence De los Santos (@Istrutt_) February 9, 2019Last, but certainly not least, a great Black mystery was solved this week:The genie that appears when you “wish a nigga would” https://t.co/kT8R4wHEaE— #BardiBoyz (@_DuncanOnEm) February 11, 2019That's it for this week. Remember: whether you have a bae or not, we love you fam.Don’t each too much candy, okay?Now, check these out:A Millennial Love Story: How This Couple Found Love Organically And Maintains It Without DistractionsThese 9 Black Power Couples Remind Us Of The Resiliency Of Black LoveSixth-Grade Milwaukee Teacher Has Students Recreate Iconic Black Books To Teach Them About Their...

Colin Kaepernick and Eric Reid have settled their collusion cases against the NFL.The players’ legal teams and the NFL announced the decision on Friday, according to ESPN."For the past several months, counsel for Mr. Kaepernick and Mr. Reid have engaged in an ongoing dialogue with representatives of the NFL," both parties said in a joint statement. "As a result of those discussions, the parties have decided to resolve the pending grievances. The resolution of this matter is subject to a confidentiality agreement so there will be no further comment by any party."The saga started in 2016 when Kaepernick began to kneel during the national anthem to protest police brutality. Reid was the first player to join him in protest. Their actions sparked an outcry from conservatives who believed they were disrespecting the country.Blavitize your inbox! Join our daily newsletter for fresh stories and breaking news.Kaepernick has not played for the NFL since his contract with the San Francisco 49ers ended in 2017.Reid also completed his contract with the 49ers that same year and didn’t get signed again until the Carolina Panthers picked him up in October 2018. Reid has continued to protest during his time with Carolina and signed a new three-year contract with the Panthers this week.After Kaepernick's protest spread to other players, the NFL attempted to ban anthem protests but was shot down after backlash, according to The Hill.Following the announcement of the settlement, the NFL Players Association released a statement supporting Kaep, even though the organization does not currently represent him."We continuously supported Colin and Eric from the start of their protests, participated with their lawyers throughout their legal proceedings and were prepared to participate in the upcoming trial in pursuit of both truth and justice for what we believe the NFL and its clubs did to them," the statement read. "We are glad that Eric has earned a job and a new contract, and we continue to hope that Colin gets his opportunity as well."Now, check these out:Chicago Police Arrest Two Brothers In Connection With Alleged Attack On Jussie SmollettWhite Man Sentenced To 10 Years In Prison For Shooting Black Men Trying To Escape Hurricane Katrina21 Savage Appears On 'Good Morning America' In First Interview Since ICE...

Vogue Brazil's style director Donata Meirelles has resigned after being accused of hosting a slavery-themed party for her 50th birthday.According to CNN, the celebration was a star-studded event in Brazil. When photos of the party hit the internet, critics pointed out it seemed to make light of the country's history of slavery. Following this criticism, Meirelles decided to resign.The whole ordeal began when commenters began critiquing a now-deleted photo of the party posted by journalist Fabio Bernardo that showed Meirelles sitting in a throne-like chair bracketed by Afro Brazilian women. The Black women were dressed in high-rising head wraps and were wearing white-and-gold traditional gowns.Vogue Brazil confirmed Meirelles' resignation and said her position would no longer exist, "since it has been designed specifically to her.""We understand and respect her resignation and will be eternally grateful for all the passion and talent she has dedicated to every page she has edited," the magazine's statement on the issue read.Meirelles claimed the party was not slavery-themed and argued the photo was taken out of context, News.AU reports."It was not a theme party," Meirelles claimed. "Since it was Friday and the party was in Bahia, many guests and the receptive[s] were in white, as tradition says. But it is also worth clarifying: in the published photos, the chair was not a Sinha chair, but a candomblé chair, and the clothes were not a maid, but party dresses from Bahia. Still, if it looked otherwise, I'm sorry."Blavitize your inbox! Join our daily newsletter for fresh stories and breaking news.Rita Batista, an Afro Brazilian journalist and television host, responded to the apology in a post on Instagram, comparing the photo to a historical 19th-century image in which two enslaved Black men stood on each side of a similar chair with a woman in the middle. View this post on Instagram A post shared by ritabatista (@ritabatista) on Feb 9, 2019 at 4:39am PST"The slaves of wealthy houses were adorned by their own masters," Batista wrote in Portuguese. "When they went out into the streets with their ladies or children, they were displayed in fine, jeweled garments. The slave herself was an object of the owner's ostentation, a luxury object to be shown publicly."Vogue has formally apologized and promised to do better."Vogue Brazil apologizes profusely for what happened and hopes that the discussions generated have served as a learning opportunity," the iconic fashion magazine said in a statement. "We take the reflection generated to broaden the voices within the team and create, on a permanent basis, a forum formed by activists and scholars who will help define contents and images that combat these inequalities."Now, check these out:This Text Thread From Michelle Obama's Mom On Her Grammys Appearance Is Peak Black Mama TalkJussie Smollett Brought To Tears Discussing Alleged Racist, Homophobic Attack On 'GMA'White Supremacist Who Killed Black Man With A Sword Sentenced To Life In Prison Vinciane...

LeBron James isn't ready to retire from the NBA but said Friday when he does hang up his jersey that he plans to buy an NBA franchise.“Ain’t no maybe about it, I’m going to do that s**t,” James told The Athletic.According to Yahoo Sports, team ownership has long been a goal of the three-time NBA champion. Forbes reports the average NBA team was worth $1.65 billion in 2018; in a separate report, the magazine noted James' net worth is currently about $450 million.James did not give any further details about how he'd bridge that gap, but his dear friend, colleague and previous teammate Dwayne Wade gave a hint, stating he shares the Lakers star's goal."Obviously, [the Heat] organization is the first one I would love to talk about when the time is right," Wade said according to Newsweek.Blavitize your inbox! Join our daily newsletter for fresh stories and breaking news.However, Wade also said he'd be willing to buy teams outside of Miami."I live on the West Coast as well," Wade continued. "I would definitely love Seattle to come back and be a part of the NBA because it's a great sports town.”Whether the two would pool their wealth to buy a team together (or to create their own) will likely be revealed in the years to come.Should James and Wade be successful, they would follow in the footsteps of other NBA giants such as Michael Jordan, majority owner of the Charlotte Hornets, and Magic Johnson, president of the Los Angeles Lakers.Johnson said he's all about James' ownership dreams.“Having Michael in Charlotte is great and it’s special, but we need more,” Magic told The Athletic. “LeBron would be outstanding as the second player to be an owner in our league. We need more African Americans, for sure, and LeBron would just be fantastic to become the next owner — after he leads the Lakers to an NBA championship, of course.”Johnson signed James to a three-year deal with the Lakers just last summer, as Blavity reported. The team has yet to find its footing, however, with a record of 28-29 thus far this season.Now, check these out:LeBron James Opens STEM-Based School For At-Risk Students In Hometown Of Akron, OhioLeBron James Compares NFL Owners To Slave Owners For Their Anti-Protest SentimentsLeBron James Showers Black Women In Love and Ends Up Stepping In Puddles Of White...

Black Twitter is more than just a central location for people of African descent. It's a meeting of the minds. A place for social commentary, laughter, social justice and the overall black experience. We come together to discuss major events from huge moments during the reality star's presidential inauguration to a live tweet session of major TV events and everything in between. There's never a dull moment. We are the life of the party. Twitter arrived on the tech scene in 2006 and truly hit notoriety in late 2009 continuing to 2010 becoming the fastest growing social network site for information. By late 2014, the term "Black Twitter" was coined for our dynamic discussions and shade throwing sessions.Remember life before Twitter?Photo: ImgrLife was different. Breaking news took a few hours, even a few days to circulate. Imagine if Twitter was around back in the day. Here are 19 historical moments that would have been trending for days on Black Twitter.1. Nat Turner's RebellionNat Turner, the focus of Nate Parker's 2016 film The Birth of a Nation, was the mastermind behind one of America's bloodiest slave revolts. Turner led nearly 70 armed slaves and freedmen to kill dozens of white families throughout Virginia. Following his capture, Turner admitted in a jailhouse confession that he was led by spiritual visions. Turner and several individuals in his mob were executed.1831 Black Twitter: "Welp."Photo: Tenor2. When Abraham Lincoln Signed the Emancipation ProclamationIn late 1862, during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln urged rebellious states to return to the Union by January 1. If not, Lincoln threatened to grant freedom to slaves within those Confederate states. The war continued with no compromise in sight. Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863 promising freedom to the enslaved. There was a small caveat, though. The proclamation only pertained to slaves living in the 10 states outside of Union control.  1863 Black Twitter: "Abraham Lincoln does not care about black people."Photo: Oprah3. The Plessy v. Ferguson RulingIn 1892, Homer Plessy was arrested for sitting in a Louisiana railroad car designated for white passengers. Under the state's law, he was required to sit in the "colored" section. Plessy entered in a legal battle arguing his 13th and 14th Amendment rights were in violation. Eventually, the case entered the Supreme Court ending in the court upholding Louisiana's law of separate accommodations for blacks and whites, which in turn birthed Jim Crow.1896 Black Twitter: "Separate is not equal. They tried it."Photo: OWN4. The Great MigrationOnce the Civil War ended and the Reconstruction era began, freed slaves and a new generation faced a number of challenges to make a living. With threats and intimidation from white Southerners and unfair labor practices, the way of life seemed ultimately impossible. Approximately six million African-Americans migrated from the South to Northeastern and Midwest regions from 1915 to 1970 known as the Great Migration. As the industrial revolution led to a boom in America's economy, more opportunities were made available for black families.1915 Black Twitter: "Calling out sick tomorrow for good. #weout"Photo: "Forrest Gump"5. The Stock Market Crash of 1929Wall Street investors traded a record 16,410,030 shares on the New York Stock Exchange known as Black Tuesday. Stock tickers lagged because the machinery was not equipped for the heavy trading traffic. Billions of dollars eventually went down the drain. As a result millions became unemployed and stock prices fell. Meet the Great Depression, an economic downturn leveling the playing field for all. Everyone suffered in this crisis.1929 Black Twitter: "Two centuries of free labor and ya'll can't balance America's checkbook. Unbelievable."Photo: CBS6. The Entire Harlem RenaissanceAs black communities thrived in Northern regions as a result of the Great Migration, an artistic and intellectual movement was born. Poets, writers, scholars, musicians and great thinkers were free to express themselves during a time known as the Harlem Renaissance. An explosion of vibrancy and black pride filled the streets of Harlem from the late 20's to mid-30's.1931 Black Twitter: "#cottonclub #nicholasbrotherschallenge #LIT #SupportBlackBusiness #BuyBlack #BlackOut #newnegrowhodis"Photo: Martin7. When Jesse Owens Won The OlympicsJesse Owens made history at the 1936 Berlin games winning four gold medals, setting three world records. Adolf Hitler’s theory of Aryan superiority was quickly dispelled.1936 Black Twitter: "Hey Nazis, you mad?"Photo: Reddit8. Hattie McDaniel Becoming the First African American to Win An OscarIn the 1930's, Black entertainers entered into uncharted territory in Hollywood. For her performance as Mammy in Gone With the Wind, actress Hattie McDaniel became the first African-American to win an Oscar. A favor was called in to allow McDaniel to attend the ceremony at the hotel. A non-black hotel.1940 Black Twitter: "Hattie won, but she couldn't sit at the table with her white co-stars? #OscarsSoSegregated"Photo: "How to Get Away With Murder"9. America Entering World War IIThe 1941 bombing of Pearl Harbor began the American involvement in World War II. President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared war on Japan also entering into conflict with Germany and Italy.1942 Black Twitter: "When your President invades other countries and denounces Hitler but won't do anything about Jim Crow down South."Photo: Tenor10. Elvis Presley Gets TV Shine TimeIn the early 1950's radio continued to be a powerhouse medium. More programming premiered on TV, but with limitations. Elvis' risque pelvic thrusts were once deemed too hot for TV with censors warning that his performances be filmed from the waist up. His upbeat music and signature moves quickly became a fan favorite for sex crazed teens. Elvis became the "King of Rock and Roll" and controversially known as one of America's greatest offenders of cultural appropriation. 1956 Black Twitter: "When white people plagiarize, you get a B and they get an A."Photo: PopKey11. Martin Luther King Jr. Delivers "I Have A Dream"Civil Rights legend Martin Luther King Jr. delivered a riveting message on equality, thus exposing America's ugly truths in his stirring and iconic "I Have a Dream" speech during the March on Washington.1963 Black Twitter: "Me when MLK said ''We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality.'"Photo: Oxygen12. The Voting Right's Act of 1965After decades of poll taxes, intimidation and literacy tests, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Right's Act into law, enforcing 15th Amendment rights for African-Americans at every level.1965 Black Twitter: "How me and the squad are showing up to vote, flexin' on the Klan."Photo: Awesomely Luvvie13. Shirley Chisholm Runs for PresidentBefore America was "with her", Shirley Chisholm became the first African-American and woman to seek a major party nomination for President of the United States.1972 Black Twitter: "#blackgirlmagic #theymad #shirleydidthat"Photo: Tumblr14. The Vietnam War EraAn estimated 60,000 American soldiers became casualties in the Vietnam War. The conflict between South Vietnam and North Vietnam began in the 1940's with the war taking shape in 1954. The U.S., prime ally to South Vietnam, entered combat by 1965. Two years later the total of American troops in Vietnam hit 500,000 as men were soon recruited by the Selective Service System, also known as the draft. Anti-war protests broke out in the U.S. and draft dodgers were punished.1969-1973 Black Twitter: "When the feds want you to fight for them but they won't fight for you. #draftcardiscanceledparty"Photo: Prince.org15. The Attempted Assassination of President Ronald ReaganJohn Hinckley Jr. shot at President Reagan, the U.S. press secretary and two law enforcement officers outside a Washington hotel. A scary time for the President who vetoed an anti-apartheid bill for South Africa, ignored the AIDS crisis and put a dent in the American debt.1981 Black Twitter: "My coworkers are crying about #Reagan... sooo who's live tweeting Diff'rent Strokes with me tonight? #reaganomics #warondrugs #notmypresident"Photo: Tumblr16. The O.J. Simpson TrialDisgraced NFL hall of fame honoree O.J. Simpson is charged with the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman in June 1994. The media saturated and high-profile trial quickly became a case about race, dividing the masses on whether Simpson was capable of murder.Mid-1995 Black Twitter "Me when the glove didn't fit. #OJTrial"Photo: 4GIFs17. The OJ Simpson VerdictAfter compelling closing arguments from the defense, a jury acquits Simpson in October 1995.Late 1995 Black Twitter: "That moment when you're the only black person in the room and the juror says 'not guilty'. #OJTrial #OJDidIt #JohnnieStillTheGOAT #datmurda #HTGAWM"Photo: ABC Family18. President Clinton's Affair with Monica LewinskyPresident Bill Clinton began a secret affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky in 1995, but the scandal wouldn't be made public for nearly three years. An investigation began and Clinton lied under federal oath about engaging in a sexual relationship with Lewinsky ultimately resulting in his impeachment. Years of embarrassment and shame would follow the Clinton administration.1998 Black Twitter: "Me when he said, "I did not have sexual relations with that woman" but I knew it was a lie. Good luck if Mrs. Clinton ever runs for POTUS. #thatsover #thatscancelled" Photo: gifrific19. George W. Bush's 2nd TermTwo words; Hurricane Katrina.2005 Black Twitter: "FAM, let's turn up at the polls in 2008."Photo: NFLWe transcend time. Black people are resilient, history proves it.Photo: ABCWhat moments do you wish Black Twitter was around for? Let us know below in the comments. Get your Blavity fix. Sign up for our daily...

A Louisiana man has been sentenced to a decade in prison for shooting at three Black men while they were trying to escape Hurricane Katrina.Roland J. Bourgeois Jr. received his sentence 13 years after he committed the crime because he was deemed incompetent to stand trial six times, according to The New York Times. He was finally considered competent in 2018.FBI New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Eric Rommal believes the outcome was worth the wait, according to a press release from the Justice Department.“Mr. Bourgeois’ cowardly, unprovoked, and racially based violent acts were unjustly carried out upon his victims over a decade ago, leaving the victims, their families, and our community torn by hate," Rommal said. "We hope his sentencing will help the healing process and serve notice that violence especially borne from hate, will never be tolerated and the FBI remains committed to upholding the Constitution and protecting civil rights.”Bourgeois was a member of a militia of armed white men who patrolled their neighborhood during Hurricane Katrina to prevent Black people from entering. Three Black men crossed a humanmade barricade of fallen trees to reach a government evacuation site on a ferry landing. Bourgeois, armed with a shotgun, opened fire. One of the men was hit in the neck and back while the other two suffered injuries to their arms, backs and legs.Blavitize your inbox! Join our daily newsletter for fresh stories and breaking news.Bourgeois considered the incident a victory, telling other vigilantes he “got one” and said he would “kill that n****r” if the men he'd shot survived.When he was indicted in 2010, Bourgeois claimed the men were looters but later admitted the victims were innocent. According to court papers, he told a neighbor, “Anything coming up this street darker than a brown paper bag is getting shot.”Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband said he hopes other white supremacists will take note of Bourgeois’ sentencing.“This sentence sends a clear message to those who attempt to divide our community with violence and fear that the Department of Justice will work tirelessly to prosecute perpetrators of hate-motivated violence,” said Dreiband.Bourgeois was facing five felony counts and life in prison but received a plea deal. He pleaded guilty to two counts as part of that deal: interference with the rights of the men he targeted and use of a firearm during a violent crime. He was sentenced to five years for each count and will be under supervised release for five years when he leaves prison.Now, check these out:Mom With Biracial Child Slams Cindy McCain For Accusing Mom With Kid Of Seemingly Different Ethnicity Of Human TraffickingTulsa Officials React To Calls To Fire Employee With Alleged KKK Ties: 'Our Hands Are Tied'Cops Called On Group Of Black People During Birthday Celebration After Waitress Gets...

T.I. dropped a vicious diss track following Floyd Mayweather's announcement that he's supporting Gucci regardless of its racist product.TMZ reported the song titled "F**k N***a" does not explicitly say the famous boxing champ's name, but it does feature a photo of him donning a black ski mask with red lips, similar to the one created by Gucci. The Atlanta rapper took to Instagram to share the new song, which is linked in the bio of his profile.  View this post on Instagram Link in bioA post shared by TIP (@troubleman31) on Feb 14, 2019 at 2:47pm PSTOn Tuesday, Mayweather told the publication that he does not care about the boycott and is not going to stop shopping at Gucci. He also took to his Instagram page to share a statement where he calls out people for "playing hopscotch" around issues like the NFL, R. Kelly and the famous luxury brand.  Blavitize your inbox! Join our daily newsletter for fresh stories and breaking news."I'm not no follower, I do what the f**k I wanna do," he said.  View this post on Instagram These people are playing hopscotch. First, they're supposedly boycotting the NFL but as soon as the Super Bowl came around, they were either at the game, watching it on TV or throwing Super Bowl parties. Last week, it was R Kelly, this week it’s Gucci. People boycott for trend but turn around and still shop at H&M and watch the NFL.A post shared by Floyd Mayweather (@floydmayweather) on Feb 14, 2019 at 3:56pm PST   "These people are playing hopscotch. First, they're supposedly boycotting the NFL but as soon as the Super Bowl came around, they were either at the game, watching it on TV or throwing Super Bowl parties," the undefeated fighter said.Gucci came under fire on February 6 after releasing images of a model wearing the brand's balaclava knit top on social media. The sweater style which mimics blackface was a part of the Fall/Winter 2018 collection."Last week, it was R Kelly, this week it’s Gucci. People boycott for trend but turn around and still shop at H&M and watch the NFL," Mayweather continued.50 Cent also threw his thoughts into the ring, poking fun at the long-time rumor about Mayweather's inability to read. "Champ must have heard that TI song he big time mad. LOL," he captioned an Instagram post. View this post on Instagram 😆champ must have heard that TI song he big time mad. LOL #bransoncognac #lecheminduroi #bellatorA post shared by 50 Cent (@50cent) on Feb 15, 2019 at 7:00am PSTThe song reignites the feud between Mr. Harris and Mayweather after he accused the "Money Team" leader of sleeping with his wife, Tameka "Tiny" Harris. You can listen to the song below:  Now, check these out:Floyd Mayweather Somehow Diverted The #MeToo Movement Conversation Into How Much Money He HasFloyd Mayweather Calls President Trump A 'Real Man' For Grabbing 'Em By The P*ssy'Jussie Smollett Addresses Cynics While Discussing Alleged Racist, Homophobic Attack On 'GMA': 'I'm Pissed...

Democratic Sens. Cory Booker and Kamala Harris gained Senate support to pass bipartisan anti-lynching legislation that will criminalize lynching in America for the first time. In December 2018, the motion to approve the Justice for Victims of Lynching Act, which was introduced by Booker, Harris and Republican Sen. Tim Scott, was passed unopposed. The act also has the support of NAACP, the Anti-Defamation League and the Equal Justice Initiative.According to the NAACP, from 1882-1968, 4,743 lynchings occurred in the United States, 3,446 of those people being Black and accounting for nearly 73 percent of the American population. This legislation would ensure that the history of America's past is criminalized during the present-day. In a press release from Booker's campaign staff, he expressed the "painful past" and "pernicious evil" lynching caused and how this legislation would help to criminalize all acts of racially motivated acts. According to the Equal Justice Initiative, this is monumental considering how Congress failed to pass anti-lynching legislation 200 times between 1882 to 1986. Make sure you're following Blavity:Politics on Instagram and join our daily newsletter to stay engaged and informed.“Today’s Senate passage of the Justice For Victims of Lynching Act is a historic step towards acknowledging a long and painful history and codifying into law our commitment to confronting bias-motivated acts of terror in all of its forms," said Booker. "I urge the House of Representatives to take up this bill so that after over 100 years and 200 attempts, we can finally make lynching a federal crime."Harris agreed with those sentiments, noting how lynchings were "horrendous acts of violence" and "motivated by racism."“With this bill, we finally have a chance to speak the truth about our past and make clear that these hateful acts should never happen again," Harris said in the press release. "We can finally offer some long overdue justice and recognition to the victims of lynching and their families.”Scott also agreed that the legislation would send a "strong signal that this nation will not stand for the hate and violence" and welcomes President Trump to sign the bill into law. “I look forward to this important legislation ending up on the President’s desk for signature,” Scott said.Now, check this out: Charlamagne Tha God Clears Up Controversy Surrounding Kamala Harris And Her Musical PreferencesDemocratic Party Chair Hakeem Jefferies Introduces Bill To Inform Formerly Incarcerated On Voting RightsThere's A Black Florida Mayor Who May Be Looking To Shake Up The 2020 Presidential...

Audre Lorde, the “Black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet,” changed my life immensely with her work. Her truth coated words pierced my soul and created a lasting shift in how I tell my story. "Your silence will not save you," she reminds us in a piece given at a Lesbian and Literature panel in Chicago on December 28th, 1977. In her sermon, Lorde reflected upon her premature diagnosis of breast cancer, in which she was set to have surgery for what doctors thought was a malignant tumor. Between the time of medical concern and operation, the presence of her mortality waved heavy on her, prompting her to accomplish a personal "transformation of silence into language and action." The bold declaration became my creed as well."What are the words you do not yet have? What do you need to say?" Spoken like a sincere mother of sages, the questions Audre posed help bring life to the stories buried inside of me.  My fear will not keep me silent. The visibility of my words will survive so that I am not just merely seen, but my ancestors and future generations will also be recognized. Mother Lorde gave way to self-identify and was unapologetic in how she classified herself. Her assurance offers other women, and me, the power to distinguish how we show up in the world. As a Black woman, Audre relished in the pride of being the daughter of the Carriacou island. The relationship with her mother, which she documents perfectly in the biomythography, Zami: A New Spelling of My Name, shows the lineage of Black women strength from which she descends. The courage of being a woman of color also gave her insight into the world around her. The unique experience of being a "sister outsider," amongst the women of her community showed that although we may have similarities in our identity, we cannot ignore our differences. Because it is our difference that makes room for the change that benefits us all.As a warrior, she taught us the essence of intersectionality. Asking us not to be barred by the limitations of how we identify. Because yes, who we are can be intersected in ways that the outside world may not understand, but we show up anyway. We ban together to bring the change that we need to see. And Audre's fighter spirit served her well in doing so.A prominent native of the Black and queer community, Audre often contended with her white women-loving sisters on how her blackness amplified many of the struggles that she faced. In a country that didn't value her melanin, it was hard for them to conceptualize that her conflict was different from theirs. Yes, they shared a commonality in their sexuality, but her race was not one she could hide at any given time. The world saw her dark skin before they saw her queerness.As a lesbian, she helped open the doors for other Black women coming after her. Owning her sexuality and being comfortable in saying, yes I love women, gave courage to others who felt similar sentiments. Daring to break free from the confines of a patriarchal definition of femininity, coming into her sexuality took determination. However, agony laid juxtaposed to her freedom. Mother Lorde gave words from the masses when she pens a memory of what being "... young, and black and gay and lonely," felt like — an emotion that resonates with many. But fighting her way through the loneliness to create communities of other sisters is what make Audre a gem. The pain of isolation felt from not seeing full representation in the spaces we occupy should never stop us from creating them.Let us not forget that all of Ms. Audre's identities were wrapped up in her role as a poet. To her "poetry was not a luxury," but it was essential to us like air. Our stories carry the power that can move us to action. This action is what we need to better our lives and community. And as women, we have a tremendous advantage regarding our sensuality. Our femininity gives way to a world of feelings that can be transmitted into words and movement. The words in our poetry provide a mirror to our inner world which, in turn, can strengthen our society. Writing them, speaking them, giving them life is vital to the existence of ourselves and the environment around us.So once again, I pose the questions from Mother Lorde. The ones I ponder on each time I sit down and explore my inner world through writing. I leave them to you so that you may give thought and ask, "What are the words you do not yet have? What do you need to...