culture

During a recent interview with BBC Radio 4, Roald Dahl’s widow, Liccy Dahl, revealed that the main character in his beloved classic Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was meant to be a black child. The classic children's book was adapted into two films--- 1971's Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and 2005's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory---- and featured a white actor for the main protagonist Charlie Bucket in both. In the Sept. 13 interview, Liccy Dahl said that the book was originally conceived with “a little black boy.” As to why that was changed, she said, “I don’t know. It’s a great pity.” Liccy also revealed that Dahl was not too happy about the original adaptation of his book either. "He wasn't very happy about Charlie, the original with Gene Wilder," she said of the film, released in 1971. No one knows why he disliked the film though. *raises hand for movie adaptation* https://t.co/mhIHybhl2W— Ava DuVernay (@ava) September 14, 2017According to The Huffington Post, the character change came about because of Dahl's book agent Sheila St. Lawrence convinced him on the belief that white readers would not understand why Charlie Bucket was black. “She said people would ask ‘Why?’” Dahl’s biographer Donald Sturrock told Vanity Fair in 2014.This revelation means that it is quite possible the whole Bucket family was meant to be black too. Liccy Dahl hinted in the BBC interview that the character's race should be fixed.But that wasn't the only racial controversy surrounding the book. When the book was first released, the Oompa Loompa characters were meant to be African pygmies that were eventually changed into the orange -colored workers we now know.“I saw them as charming creatures, whereas the white kids in the books were ... most unpleasant,” Dahl said.  Now knowing this, don't you agree that we need a reboot? It's only...

Facebook will pay Bleacher Report millions to create a reality TV show featuring Super Bowl winning Oakland Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch.As part of the social media juggernaut's new "Watch" initiative, Facebook announced that the company will pay video creators $10,000 to $35,000 for short-form shows and up to $250,000 for some longer-scripted shows, according to Reuters.The first episode of No Script will feature Lynch taking race car driving lessons and will see him ultimately ruining the tires of the car.“We think we have a big hit on our hands,” said Rory Brown, president of Bleacher Report, declining to comment on how many millions Facebook is paying Bleacher Report for the show. “People are going to spend more time on Facebook because of it.”The player, also called "Beast Mode" by adoring fans, has already shown his talent for reality TV during an appearance on Running Wild with Bear Grylls. Unfortunately, there is no news about the series' exact release date, but The Fader reports that No Script will begin streaming this month.Facebook has given No Script an eight-episode first season, with each episode running between 10 and 15 minutes.Lynch's new show is just one of many set to come out on the social media platform. Facebook reportedly plans to spend up to $1 billion on exclusive shows for its new...

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools will receive a $2 million grant that will help close the education achievement gap between black and white students in the district. The grant given by the National Institute of Justice will be divided between CMS and the nonprofit research group, Research Triangle Institute, to create solutions that will help African-American students succeed. According to the school district, the numbers paint a grim picture between black and white students academic success.Only 36 percent of black students are ready for college in math compared to the 79 percent of white students who are prepared. In the area of reading, only 31 percent of black students are prepared for college while 73 percent of their white counterparts are ready.  Next school year, the Research Triangle Institute will roll out a program at 10 high schools per WSOCTV. Parents will be taught coaching and student achievement to help in this endeavor. "The parents have to buy in. There's no doubt,” family advocate Eugene Stitt told the local news outlet. “The parents have to be a part of the child's education from day one."As parents get more involved, black boys, the most vulnerable group, can reap the benefits of the substantial grant. Ultimately, the program is supposed to help a total of 20,000 students, academically and with behavioral issues to reduce suspensions and...

When you think New York Fashion Week, the first thing that comes to mind most likely isn't little black girls. However, don't sleep because for the second year in a row, the babies are killing it. 11-year-old Kheris Rogers became one of the youngest designers to showcase during NYFW. I just made history as #NYFW youngest fashion designer EVER! I am only 11 years old and made it while encouraging people to love their skin. pic.twitter.com/ZV68saZkbH— Kheris Rogers (@KherisPoppin) September 11, 2017Rogers' fashion line "Flexin' In My Complexion" came about after she was bullied for her beautiful dark skin. Even noting that on one occasion, a teacher handed her a black crayon to draw herself. Instead of letting the pain and resentment of people's nasty words and actions fester, she decided to embrace her skin. Now the fashion line that was a product of resilience has been featured at NYFW.Rogers joins the ranks of another young fashion designer who was featured at NYFW last year. 10-year-old Egypt “Ify” Ufele debuted her plus size fashion line during Fashion Week back in 2016. Ify started her fashion line to cope with bullies who taunted her about her weight at her school in the Queens borough of New York. What began as making clothes for her dolls turned into her own line of clothing, called Chubiiline. She became a trailblazer as possibly the only child designer to dress plus-size models at one of the world's most prestigious fashion shows.Sewing for a cause. #bullychasers. Taste the Sweet.A post shared by Bullychasers Inc/Chubiiline (@bullychasers) on Jan 24, 2016 at 3:17pm PSTIt's amazing to see two young queens making something beautiful out of something as ugly as bullying. There's no doubt that we will be seeing more from these lovely ladies. Their future is looking bright with the light of black girl magic shining through. Great job, continue to make your people...

Love truly does conquer all!Meet Jennifer Meyerink and Stephen Walbert who have basically lived a life only told through the movies! According to the Associated Press, the couple spent a half of century apart after first meeting and falling in love ... only to be reunited after years of searching for one another. This week, in a hospital of all places, they finally married.Back in 1965, Walbert was an Elvis-record spinning U.S. Navy radio station D.J. and sailor stationed in Trinidad and Tobago. Meyerink was a local woman whose brother worked at Walbert's  base.Meyerink's brother thought Walbert and his sister might get along, and introduced the two.They got along, alright."That eternal flame turned into a bonfire, and it's still roaring today," said 73-year-old Walbert during the Rochester General Hospital nuptials ceremony filled with family and friends."Eternal" is the right word.Sadly, not after the two had fallen in love, Walbert was transferred back to the United States. In a romantic gesture of epic proportions, Walbert gave his dog tags to Meyerink with the words, "Darling, I'll be back one day for this."Walbert never did make it back. There were no phones back then, and the lovers lost touch. Each eventually married someone else, and started their own families.Meyerink settled in Ontario, Canada while Walbert made his home in Wisconsin.After the death of Meyerink's husband, her sister found Walbert via Facebook, who — turns out — was also a widower. The two began chatting via email in 2015, and Walbert moved to Canada to be with Meyerink in March 2016."I never stopped loving him. I realized that," said 72-year-old Meyerink.Walbert was diagnosed with leukemia in October 2016, and has returned to the States for treatment. This time, however, Meyerink wasn't about to be left behind!She came with him, and they married in Walbert's hospital room.Oh, and those dog tags Walbert gave Meyerink all those years ago? Meyerink kept them, and Walbert wore them during the hospital ceremony. One thing is for sure, love has kept him alive and strong. "I haven't given up hope on myself yet," Walbert said. "I never will. But I have her back. And that gives me all the strength I need to get through the rest of my...

With everything that is going on in the world, life can get really heavy and a bit depressing. It's always nice to have little pick me ups that add balance to the negativity. If you're in need of a laugh, check out these babies re-enacting a black funeral. This may be one of the funniest videos I've seen in awhile. From the alto 2 version of Fred Hammond's classic "No Weapon" to the little boy killing the pastor-like mannerisms, you can tell these children live in the church. Let's just hope grandma didn't catch them playing with her placemats on her good couch.Check out the video below.ROFL these kids are role playing a black funeral. I'm screaming 💀 pic.twitter.com/0scN3CiFcx— dejon. (@_Chickenist) September 8, 2017Everyone have a fabulous...

Entertainers Janet Jackson, Beyoncé and Kevin Hart have already made a real impact on the lives of Hurricane Harvey survivors with their most recent acts of charity.On Friday, Sept. 8, Jackson met with evacuees at the George R. Brown Convention Center with Mayor Sylvester Turner at her side. That was the first stop on her Houston visit, which included a visit with more evacuees at NRG Stadium with her brother, Randy Jackson.In wake of the devastation stemming from Hurricane Harvey, extreme flooding displaced thousands of Houston residents forcing many to leave their homes and belongings behind.The 51-year-old singer kicked off her 56-city State of the World Tour  that included Houston as her second stop. Despite the floodwaters, Jackson will perform as scheduled at Houston's Toyota Center Saturday night and will donate proceeds to local flood relief efforts. As we visit shelters here in Houston, our thoughts are with those affected by the e.quake in Mexico, H.Irma & storms in S. Asia & Africa.A post shared by Janet Jackson (@janetjackson) on Sep 8, 2017 at 5:33pm PDTSimilarly, Beyoncé met survivors at St. John’s Church in Houston along with her daughter Blue Ivy, mother Tina Knowles, and friend and former Destiny's Child member Michelle Williams by her side. She gave evacuees words of encouragement after Tina and Michelle served lunch to nearly 400 people earlier that day, according to US Magazine.Beyoncé speaking to the #Harvey survivors in Houston today. 💙 #BeyGOOD pic.twitter.com/Vkjf2N4RZW— BEYONCÉ LEGION (@Bey_Legion) September 8, 2017"I just wanna say that I’m home. This church is my home. I was maybe nine or 10 years old the first time I sat there where my daughter is sitting,” the superstar told the crowd. "I sang my first solo here and I just wanna thank you for lifting my family up, for praying for me and for being such an incredible example of what light and love is. This today is a celebration of survival.“Y'all are my family. Houston is my home. I thank God that you're safe, your children are safe. I think what really matters is your health and your children and your family,” she continued. “I just wanna say I love you. I’ve been blessed so that I can bless other people and I ask of God to continue to do that for other people."Other celebrities were also very active giving back on Friday.For instance, comedian Kevin Hart – keeping to his pledge – teamed up with incoming Houston Rockets player Chris Paul to pass out donations at a local food bank in the ravaged city. Hart documented his efforts on his personal Instagram with videos and a few photos:  In Houston making sure that the money that was raised is being used properly... #LiveLoveLaughA post shared by Kevin Hart (@kevinhart4real) on Sep 8, 2017 at 1:26pm...