Entertainment
What James Earl Jones can teach us about activism and art in times of crisis
James Earl Jones starred in “The Great White Hope,” exploring a boxer’s life reflecting race and cultural struggles, symbolizing a different form of activism.
Dominic Taylor, University of California, Los Angeles
The death of James Earl Jones has forced me to consider the end of an era.
Harry Belafonte, Sidney Poitier and Jones were giants in my industry. They were Black performers whose ascents to stardom occurred in the tumultuous 1960s, when I was an infant. All three were politically active, although each operated in a significantly different way.
In 1967, there were more than 150 riots fueled by racial tensions in U.S. cities. Many Americans worried that the nation would implode over racial conflict, and President Lyndon B. Johnson appointed the Kerner Commission to study the sources of racial turmoil.
At the time, Jones was an actor of growing renown on television and the theatrical stage. He had performed in “Danton’s Death” on Broadway and was featured on NBC’s “Tarzan,” among other projects.
Jones found himself grappling with a question that has roiled many artists, then and now: In troubling times, what is an artist to do?
He didn’t give rousing speeches, as Belafonte did. Nor did he hand-deliver cash to student activists in Mississippi during the Freedom Summer, as Poitier had done.
Instead, Jones decided to work on a play about a boxer, “The Great White Hope,” which had been written by Howard Sackler at Arena Stage, a Washington-based theater company in the growing regional theater movement.
Embodying Black power
While cities were burning all over America, why would an actor hoping to make a difference sign on to play a boxer? If they aren’t willing to put their life on the line, shouldn’t they at least work on a play about the Civil Rights Movement, racism or police brutality?
However, “The Great White Hope” wasn’t a simple, sentimental sports drama. Sackler based the play’s protagonist, Jack Jefferson, on boxer Jack Johnson, who became the first Black heavyweight champion in 1908.
African Americans riotously celebrated Johnson, who had captured the title just 45 years after the Emancipation Proclamation. In the face of virulent Jim Crow racism, Johnson stood as a man who, if given a fair shot, could beat anyone.
In his book “A Beautiful Pageant: African American Theatre, Drama and Performance in the Harlem Renaissance, 1910-1927,” theater historian David Krasner argues that Johnson’s victory was one of the key events that fueled the Harlem Renaissance, the Black intellectual and cultural movement that birthed jazz music, the poetry of Langston Hughes, the writings of Zora Neale Hurston and the sculptures of Augusta Savage.
The confidence Johnson inspired was contagious: If a Black man could handily beat a white man in a boxing ring, there was no reason Black artists and writers couldn’t fashion groundbreaking works, plumbing their lives and their histories – as Hurston did – to become champions of Black culture.
The play is written in three acts, and it follows Jefferson and his fictional white lover, Eleanor Bachman, from 1908 to 1915. After Jefferson wins the title, the government hounds the couple, in part because of their interracial romance. Officials eventually detain them as they enter Ohio under the Mann Act, a law ostensibly enacted to halt prostitution but often used to intimidate interracial couples. The government tells Jefferson that it will drop the charges if he’s willing to throw a fight to an inferior white boxer.
Jones won a Tony Award for his portrayal of a Black man possessed with talent, confidence and strength, whose biggest problem was that he simply refused to stay in his lane. https://www.youtube.com/embed/IVyvwZ_Yh0g?wmode=transparent&start=0 A scene from the 1970 film version of ‘The Great White Hope,’ which also starred James Earl Jones.
A different kind of fighter
Boxer Muhammad Ali was also a big fan of Jones’ performance.
Ali had been stripped of his heavyweight title in 1967 because he was a conscientious objector to the Vietnam War, refusing to enlist after being drafted. When Ali saw “The Great White Hope,” he felt like he was looking in the mirror.
“You just change the time, date and the details and it’s about me!” Life magazine quoted him saying.
It’s strange to think about how historical events can be distilled into emotions like fear, love, jealousy and righteousness. But James Earl Jones was somehow able to hold a Black boxer who loved a white woman in conversation with someone unable to bring himself to fight in Vietnam.
Jones probably knew that a performance on a stage seen by a few thousand people would do little to end the Vietnam War, racial inequality or police brutality.
But I think Jones was looking to change the culture. He was trying to change the country’s understanding of what it means to fight – and what a freedom fighter is.
Is a fighter someone who knocks out their opponent? Or someone who follows their heart? Is a fighter someone who takes up arms at the behest of their government? Or is a fighter someone who’s willing to risk their livelihood for their values?
Sometimes, activism can be as simple as making art to the best of your abilities – or, as W.E.B. Du Bois wrote, “to use beauty to set the world right.”
Dominic Taylor, Acting Chair of Theater, School of Theater, Film and Television, University of California, Los Angeles
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Beverages
SHUT UP! Ocean Spray® Introduces Mean Girls x Zero Sugar Collaboration in Celebration of the Film’s 20th Anniversary
Teams up with Rajiv Surendra to Just Add Cran™ to Kevin G’s memorable rap and releases limited-edition pink packaging
BOSTON /PRNewswire/ — Today, Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc., is announcing an exciting collaboration with Paramount Consumer Products to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the iconic film and pop-culture phenomenon Mean Girls with the launch of Mean Girls x Ocean Spray® Ocean Spray® Zero Sugar Cranberry and Mixed Berry Juice Drinks. Cranberry juice cocktail had a cameo in the original film – and it did have sugar, despite what Regina thought. But now 20 years later, just like the stars of the movie have evolved, Ocean Spray has too, with the introduction of Ocean Spray® Zero Sugar Juice Drinks to its product line up. It has zero sugar and no artificial sweeteners – just fierce flavor.
To celebrate, Ocean Spray teamed up with Rajiv Surendra, known for his iconic role as Kevin G and his infamous rap in Mean Girls, to reimagine it with zero sugars given. You can check out Rajiv’s bold, refreshed and a touch tart, Zero Sugars Given rap here.
“I’m grateful for fans’ continued love of the movie 20 years later and partnering with Ocean Spray to recreate the talent show rap was such a blast from the past,” said Rajiv Surendra. “Happy Mean Girls Day, everybody, and remember don’t ever let the haters stop you from doing your thang!”
Mean Girls x Ocean Spray Zero Sugar Juice Drink Cranberry and Mixed Berry flavors are available for a limited-time in-store and online nationwide at most major retailers including Walmart, Kroger and Publix for $3.65. Made with bold flavor from real fruit juice, 0 grams of sugar, and naturally sweetened with stevia, it serves as an excellent source of Vitamin C, with flavor as fresh as Surendra’s lyrics.
“Working with Rajiv and Paramount to launch our new limited-edition Mean Girls x Zero Sugar bottle has been an exciting experience,” said Trinh Le, VP of Next Generation Beverages and Omni-Channel Marketing at Ocean Spray®. “We pride ourselves in offering consumers a portfolio of choice and this partnership has been a fun and inventive way of not only spotlighting our Zero Sugar line but reminding consumers how far we’ve come in twenty years.”
Mean Girls x Ocean Spray® Ocean Spray® Zero Sugar Cranberry and Mixed Berry Juice Drinks
On October 3rd, Mean Girls Day, Ocean Spray will be providing free samples of Ocean Spray Zero Sugar Juice Drink with the limited-edition packaging around New York’s Union Square.
To learn more, visit us at OceanSpray.com and check out our socials on Instagram, X, TikTok, Pinterest, YouTube and Facebook.
ABOUT OCEAN SPRAY
In 1930, Ocean Spray was founded by three maverick farmers – bonded by bold cranberry love. Since then, we’ve grown into a vibrant global agricultural cooperative, built on the strength of roughly 700 family farmers in the United States, Canada, and Chile. Together, we’ve worked to preserve the family farming way of life for nearly 100 years, and for generations to come. Today, our cranberries show up in more than a thousand deliciously nourishing products in over 100 countries worldwide. United by passion and purpose, Ocean Spray is committed to trailblazing the power of the mighty cranberry through its offbeat taste and uncanny nutrition to feed better, happier lives for all. Born Tart. Raised Bold. ™
About Paramount Consumer Products
Paramount Consumer Products oversees all licensing and merchandising for Paramount (Nasdaq: PARA, PARAA), a leading global media and entertainment company that creates premium content and experiences for audiences worldwide. Driven by a diverse slate of consumer brands, Paramount Consumer Products’ portfolio is based on content from platforms including Paramount+, CBS (including CBS Television Studios and CBS Television Distribution), cable networks (including MTV, Nickelodeon and Showtime), and Paramount Pictures. Additionally, the division operates Paramount Game Studios. With properties spanning animation, live-action, preschool, youth and adult, Paramount Consumer Products is committed to creating the highest quality product for some of the world’s most beloved, iconic franchises. To view our range of consumer products and Paramount branded apparel, visit ParamountShop.com.
SOURCE Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc.
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Entertainment
Exploring the Impact of Black Women in Politics: “Dear America, A Letter From Black Women” Documentary
“Dear America, A Letter From Black Women” is a documentary highlighting Black women’s role in U.S. politics, aiming to mobilize 100,000 Black women to vote.
I want to bring to your attention an important upcoming documentary that focuses on a significant yet often underrepresented aspect of American politics: the role of Black women. The film, titled “Dear America, A Letter From Black Women,” is part of The Dear America Project and aims to highlight the contributions of Black women in shaping political landscapes throughout U.S. history.
Project Ready, the nonprofit organization behind this initiative, is embarking on a national tour featuring short film pre-screenings accompanied by panel discussions and special guests. The goal of this campaign is ambitious—securing pledges from 100,000 Black women to commit to voting in what is shaping up to be a historic election.
The timing of this documentary could not be more relevant. As we navigate a pivotal moment in our political history, especially with a Black woman running for president, the film’s exploration of Black women’s narratives is crucial. Shennell Barnes-McCloud, the CEO of Project Ready, states, “This film not only amplifies silenced voices but also serves as a call to action to mobilize our community.” This gives the project a sense of urgency in encouraging civic engagement.
“Dear America” promises to be a crucial commentary on the experiences of Black women, featuring voices from various scholars, activists, and changemakers such as Hill Harper, Dr. Martin Luther King III, and LaTosha Brown. The documentary aims to bring to light the untold stories that often define the struggles for rights and justice faced by Black women throughout history.
The tour will make stops in cities including Chappaqua, Durham, Newark, Atlanta, and New Orleans, creating opportunities for community engagement and discussion. For those interested in exploring the pivotal roles of Black women in America’s political narrative, the screenings will offer a platform for reflection and conversation.
As a film enthusiast, I am looking forward to the insights this documentary will provide regarding the historical and contemporary significance of Black women in politics. It’s an important topic that deserves more attention, especially during this historic election season.
If you are interested in attending a screening, you may want to keep an eye on Project Ready’s website for RSVP details as more locations are announced.
“Dear America: A Letter From Black Women” is an insightful project that holds the potential to both inform and inspire action. For those of you looking for ways to engage with important civic initiatives this election season, this documentary represents a noteworthy opportunity.
To RSVP for a showing, please click here.
About Project Ready
Project Ready works to close the opportunity gaps and improve life outcomes by powering communities through civic engagement. First started in 2018 as a grassroots advocacy organization to increase voter turnout, Project Ready has since expanded its focus to include issues related to social justice, public health, and educational inequities. Visit https://www.projectreadynj.org/.
About Dear America, A Letter from Black Women
In a world where the voices of Black women have often been marginalized and silenced, “Dear America, A Letter from Black Women” is a powerful call to action and a testament to the enduring strength and resilience of Black women. This documentary film and social impact campaign shines a light on the untold stories of Black women, from their centuries-long battle for democracy to their continued fight against the rising threats to the future of our nation. The “Dear America” project is about more than just a film – it’s a movement. It’s about Black women rising up, claiming their rightful place at the forefront of the struggle for justice and equality, and demanding a future that reflects their values, their strength, and their unwavering determination. This election season, the “Dear America” project is mobilizing Black women and allies across the nation to not just vote, but to take a stand.
The Bridge is a section of the STM Daily News Blog meant for diversity, offering real news stories about bona fide community efforts to perpetuate a greater good. The purpose of The Bridge is to connect the divides that separate us, fostering understanding and empathy among different groups. By highlighting positive initiatives and inspirational actions, The Bridge aims to create a sense of unity and shared purpose. This section brings to light stories of individuals and organizations working tirelessly to promote inclusivity, equality, and mutual respect. Through these narratives, readers are encouraged to appreciate the richness of diverse perspectives and to participate actively in building stronger, more cohesive communities.
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gaming
A Cautionary Tale: California’s New Digital Ownership Law and the Future of Gaming
California’s new law (AB 2426) aims to clarify digital ownership by prohibiting terms like “buy” for digital goods without clear warnings, emphasizing that we license rather than own them. Gaming Community
Today, I want to dive into a topic that’s been buzzing around the gaming community since PC Gamer dropped the news about California’s new law (AB 2426) concerning digital ownership. As a lifelong gamer and someone who has always been a bit skeptical about the concept of “buying” digital games, this new legislation hits home for me.
Cautionary Tale for the Gaming Community
First, let’s break down what this law entails. Starting in 2025, retailers in California will be prohibited from using terms like “buy” or “purchase” when it comes to digital goods—think video games, movies, and e-books—unless they issue a clear warning that these products can be taken away at any moment. The law aims to clarify that “ownership” of digital items is not the same as owning a physical product.
Honestly, my first reaction to this was a mix of relief and frustration. Relief because, finally, someone is calling out the elephant in the room: when we buy digital games, we’re not truly buying them, are we? We’re essentially licensing them. Frustration, on the other hand, stems from the fact that it took this long for lawmakers to recognize this issue, especially after high-profile incidents involving companies like Sony and Ubisoft.
Let’s talk about the impetus for this law. It all started when Sony announced the removal of certain content from the PlayStation Store due to expiring licenses. Players who had “bought” these digital shows suddenly found themselves locked out of content they thought they owned. Sony eventually reversed its decision, but the damage was done, and Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin decided it was time to step in.
Then came Ubisoft’s decision to pull the plug on The Crew, a racing game that became unplayable when its online servers were taken offline. Imagine investing your time and money into a game only to find out that you can’t even play the single-player mode anymore. It’s a stark reminder of how fragile our digital ownership really is.
The law itself might be dense and legalistic, but the implications are clear. It’s about time we start viewing digital purchases with a more critical lens. Sure, you can still play your games as long as the servers are up, but once those go down, what happens? You’re left with a beautiful box art in your library, but it’s just an empty shell.
The requirement for sellers to provide a warning or seek an “affirmative acknowledgment” from buyers seems like a step in the right direction. Yet, it feels more like a band-aid solution rather than a comprehensive fix. The real kicker for me is the provision that allows for a “permanent offline download” option. That’s what we need! A way to ensure that even if the digital landscape shifts, our ability to play isn’t stripped away overnight.
As gamers, we’ve been conditioned to accept the “always-online” model, but should we? This law is a wake-up call that reminds us to demand more from the companies we support. If I’m paying for a game, I want the assurance that I can keep playing it, regardless of server availability.
In conclusion, while California’s new law is a significant step forward in recognizing the nuances of digital ownership, it also highlights the ongoing battle between consumers and corporations. As we move toward an increasingly digital future, it’s crucial that we stay informed and advocate for our rights as gamers. After all, we deserve to know what we’re really “buying” when we hit that purchase button.
What are your thoughts on this new law? Do you feel more empowered as a consumer, or are you still worried about the future of digital gaming? Let’s chat in the comments!
Happy gaming, and remember to always read the fine print!
PC Gamer Article: New California law inspired by Ubisoft and Sony requires retailers to warn consumers that the digital games they buy can be taken away at any time
Welcome to the Consumer Corner section of STM Daily News, your ultimate destination for savvy shopping and informed decision-making! Dive into a treasure trove of insights and reviews covering everything from the hottest toys that spark joy in your little ones to the latest electronic gadgets that simplify your life. Explore our comprehensive guides on stylish home furnishings, discover smart tips for buying a home or enhancing your living space with creative improvement ideas, and get the lowdown on the best cars through our detailed auto reviews. Whether you’re making a major purchase or simply seeking inspiration, the Consumer Corner is here to empower you every step of the way—unlock the keys to becoming a smarter consumer today!
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