Do You Remember 2020?

by with One Comment CultureFeatured

Kobe Bryant died on January 26, 2020. That was just 5 months ago, but it seems like 5 years ago. Who knew his tragic demise would be the beginning of such a tumultuous year. Within weeks, you’d start hearing about COVID-19. What Trump once tried to dismiss soon turned into a global pandemic and the US quickly took the spotlight from Italy. At the time of this article being published, the US has more than 2.3 million cases and 123,000 deaths.

Before you knew it, unemployment skyrocketed to nearly 15% in April as 40 million people filed for unemployment over a 10-week period. The government passed trillions of dollars in stimulus relief; yet, very little of it made it to the people who needed it the most, those in poverty and small business owners. Instead, you had billion-dollar organizations like the LA Lakers giving the money back, which was intended for real small businesses.

If that wasn’t enough, the country witnessed Ahmaud Arbery, who was simply jogging in his Georgia neighborhood, being chased down and murdered in cold blood. The Breonna Taylor murder in Louisville, Kentucky began to get attention, and then on May 25th… for 8 minutes and 46 seconds the world witnessed the murder of George Floyd, and that moment was like the straw that broke the camels back. Angry citizens took to the streets. Protests and riots ensued, and they’ve been protesting ever since in just about every major city in the country. The senseless murder of Rashard Brooks has added more even tension and pain.

Now, experts are warning that a second wave of COVID-19 is damn near inevitable due to states reopening too fast, a lack of social distancing, and people flat out refusing to wear a mask.

It’s not even July yet.

Will states be forced to shut down again? Will schools open in the fall? And we can’t forget the presidential election in November, arguably one of the biggest elections of our time.

One thing for sure, in 10 – 20 – 30 years from now, people will ask do you remember 2020. Let’s hope the second half of the year is better than the first. Considering the human toll of COVID-19, record unemployment, and civil unrest which has spread throughout the world, I’m not sure we can sustain another 6 months like the 6 we just experienced.

Similar Read: Should Biden’s VP be a Black Woman?

Watching Black Men Cry Changed My Life

by with No Comment CultureFeaturedSports

Like millions of fans, Kobe’s death affected me more than I thought it would. I didn’t know him, I wasn’t even a Lakers fan, but I respected him greatly. His preparation, his tenacity to compete, and his attention to detail made me root for him even when he was playing against my team.

As a Black male, I found myself in a weird place trying to understand why I couldn’t stop thinking about Kobe and Gianna and the rest of his family who was left behind to cope with his tragic loss. We’re taught at a very young age, directly and indirectly, that showing emotions is a sign of weakness. Under no circumstances do you cry or let others see you cry. But when Kobe died, people witnessed some of the world’s most notable Black men cry and show emotions. It was tough to watch because you could tell many of them tried to hold back the tears, and literally could not. The no crying rule in public had been broken. Sad because a man and his daughter died as well as 7 others in a horrific accident, but beautiful because it humanized Black men in a world that often strips them of their humanity. 

Crying is one of the healthiest ways to cope and express emotions. According to WebMD, “Crying releases stress, and therefore is a great practice when it comes to staying mentally healthy.”

But society continues to reinforce that crying, especially in public, is a negative attribute in every way possible. Combined with America’s fascination with sports… we don’t give our athletes time or space to show emotions, to live outside of their respective sport(s); and if you’re an NBA or NFL fan, chances are the subjects of such reinforcement are young Black men. 

While the world witnessed notable Black men crying for weeks after the news broke and at the memorial service, they probably didn’t think much of it. But millions of Black men saw those same tears and raw emotions and realized it’s ok to do the same. And that’s a huge win for their long-term mental health, and ultimately their families and communities. I probably won’t immediately start crying the next time I’m hit with tragic news, but if it hits me hard… I now know it’s ok to do so. If WebMD and other studies are correct regarding crying helping our mental health, then by not doing so would do the exact opposite. Compound that by decades and decades of not crying, and you can imagine the negative impact and toll it can take on someone’s mental health and the communities they live in.

Most change isn’t easy, but most change is good, and inevitable.

We all wish Kobe and Gianna were still here. But if through Kobe’s tragic departure millions of Black men can realize that showing emotion is a strength and not a weakness, then Kobe might’ve made his biggest impact of all, and it had nothing to do with basketball. 

Thank you, Kobe. 

Similar Read: Mamba’s Gone, and We Just Can’t Believe It

Mamba’s Gone, And We Just Can’t Believe It

by with 5 Comments FeaturedSports

Nine people… including Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna, Gianna’s teammate and parent, as well as the helicopter pilot, passed away today when their helicopter crashed in Calabasas, California, shortly before 10 am PST.

One of the world’s greatest players ever, and one of the most decorated… his numbers and accolades speak for themselves…

Career statistics
Points 33,643 (25.0 ppg)
Rebounds 7,047 (5.2 rpg)
Assists 6,306 (4.7 apg)

Despite every major news source confirming the bad news, it’s still hard for his close friends and family, as well as die-hard fans around the world, to believe that Kobe has passed.

The world quickly reacted, including Michael Jordan and Barack Obama:

 

 

“I am in shock over the tragic news of Kobe’s and Gianna’s passing. Words can’t describe the pain I’m feeling. I loved Kobe – he was like a little brother to me. We used to talk often and I will miss those conversations very much. He was a fierce competitor, one of the greats of the game and a creative force. Kobe was also an amazing dad who loved his family deeply – and took great pride in his daughter’s love for the game of basketball. Yvette joins me in sending my deepest condolences to Vanessa, the Lakers organization and basketball fans around the world.” – Michael Jordan 

 

 

Many of us grew up with Kobe… we saw him mature, stumble and get back up, overcome adversity and tough injuries, and ultimately rise to become the star he was destined to be. Twenty years with the same team, we might never see that again. We either loved him or hated him; but above all, we respected him as one of the best. 

Condolences to his wife, his daughters, close family and friends, and everyone who loved him from afar.

MAMBA, YOU WILL BE MISSED! 

This article was originally published on 26 January 2020.

Respectful Journalism… and Kobe’s Past

by with No Comment CultureFeaturedSports

There’s been a lot of debate about how many journalists have chosen to focus on Kobe’s 2003 rape allegation just moments after the news broke about him and his daughter dying in a helicopter crash on the morning of Sunday, January 26, 2020.

That same afternoon, Felicia Sonmez, a political reporter for the Washington Post, tweeted a 2016 Daily Beast article entitled, “Kobe Bryant’s Disturbing Rape Case: The DNA Evidence, the Accuser’s Story, and the Half-Confession.” People were outraged and quick responded to her tweet. Sonmez deleted her initial tweet but the damage had already been done.

Tracy Grant, a managing editor at The Washington Post, released a statement on Monday (1/27):

“Sonmez was placed on administrative leave while The Post reviews whether tweets about the death of Kobe Bryant violated The Post newsroom’s social media policy… the tweets displayed poor judgment that undermined the work of her colleagues.” 

Did she display poor judgement?

Perhaps Lindsey Granger (below), a former journalist and current talk show host from the Daily Blast Live, offers a much-needed perspective on the role journalists should play in the immediate aftermath of such a conflicting and tragic incident. 

Similar Read: Mamba’s Gone, And We Just Can’t Believe It

Wastebasket Basketball Championship (My Letter to Kobe)

by with No Comment FeaturedSports

(April 13th, 2017)

Dear Kobe,

Remember Biggie’s song Long Kiss Goodnight? One of BIG’s verses… “Be broke, girls won’t date you, that’s what I relate to.” Just like BIG could relate to once being broke and needing money to get girls, I could relate to your Mamba mentality in winning our offices spring annual wastebasket basketball championship. 

It’s been a year since your final game, and we in the office still talk about it. I debate everyone that it’s the greatest final game of a legend ever! 

One we’ll never forget. We can’t remember the Bird, Kareem, MJ, or Russell’s last game… but we all remember 60. 

So yeah, my company hosts this wastebasket basketball championship every year during March madness. There’s this super Kobe fan in the office… we call her Mumba’s Munchkins cause she has your pictures and stuff up at her desk AND she’s won the championship three years in a row now. 

Not this year. 

I looked at her without flinching like you did against Matt Barnes that one time… and shot it without looking into the basket. 

No lie! I did not look. 

And when I did it… you know I had too… I yelled KOBE all the way! 

You’ll be missed Mamba.

Respectfully,

One of your millions of fans 

Similar Read: Mamba’s Gone, And We Just Can’t Believe It