$27M Settlement after Black Woman Killed In Police Chase. Oscars Recap. BET+ Shutdown |#TheBreakdown
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖The city of Chicago settled for $27 million with the family of Sa Stacy von Harrell, killed in a 2017 police chase where officers allegedly failed to use sirens and did not assist her injured daughter.
- ❖The 98th Academy Awards saw "Sentinels" make history with 16 nominations and wins for Best Original Screenplay (Ryan Coogler, second Black person), Best Cinematography (Autumn Durald Arkapaw, first woman), and Best Lead Actor (Michael B. Jordan, sixth Black person).
- ❖Tiana Taylor's film "One Battle After Another" won Best Picture at the Oscars.
- ❖BET Plus is shutting down and merging its content with Paramount+ starting in June, with Paramount acquiring Tyler Perry's 25% minority ownership stake.
- ❖A Target boycott, which began on March 5, 2023, resulted in a $12.4 billion loss in market value for the corporation.
- ❖Pastor Jamal Bryant apologized for calling an early end to the Target boycott, acknowledging community disappointment and denying any payment from Target.
- ❖A Virginia Chick-fil-A owner, Shalita Meadows, went viral after a locksmith refused to believe she was the owner, highlighting the questioning of Black women's authority.
- ❖A 33-pound timber piece from the sunken slave ship São José Paquete d'Africa, on loan to the Smithsonian, is returning to its home museum in South Africa by July 1.
Insights
1Chicago Pays $27M in Police Chase Fatality, Revealing Systemic Cover-Up
The city of Chicago agreed to a $27 million settlement with the family of Sa Stacy von Harrell, a 47-year-old Black woman killed in a 2017 police chase. New evidence, including video footage not seen in the initial trial, showed officers pursuing a vehicle without sirens and failing to assist von Harrell's injured daughter, Kimberlin Meyer, after the crash. The family's attorney described the police actions as 'cowboys' violating department policy and engaging in a 'wide, systemic' cover-up, leading the city to settle to avoid a larger payout.
The initial 2023 jury awarded $10 million, finding the city responsible. New evidence and video footage surfaced during an appeal, showing officers allegedly nearby but not helping Kimberlin Meyer. City attorneys reassessed the case, recommending the $27 million settlement, with $20 million from taxpayers and $7 million from insurance.
2Historic Wins for Black Creators at the 98th Academy Awards
The 98th Academy Awards marked a significant night for Black actors and filmmakers, particularly with the film "Sentinels." Ryan Coogler became the second Black person to win Best Original Screenplay (following Jordan Peele), Autumn Durald Arkapaw became the first woman to win Best Cinematography, and Michael B. Jordan became the sixth Black person to win Best Lead Actor. These wins, alongside Tiana Taylor's Best Picture win for "One Battle After Another," underscore the growing recognition and impact of Black storytelling and talent in Hollywood.
"Sentinels" received 16 nominations. Ryan Coogler won Best Original Screenplay. Autumn Durald Arkapaw won Best Cinematography. Michael B. Jordan won Best Lead Actor. Tiana Taylor's film won Best Picture.
3FCC Commissioner Threatens Broadcaster Licenses Over War Coverage
Brendan Carr, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and a Trump appointee, issued a warning to TV broadcasters, threatening to revoke their licenses over their coverage of the US-Israeli war against Iran. This warning followed former President Donald Trump's social media criticism of 'fake news media' for 'intentionally misleading headlines' regarding the expanding conflict in the Middle East. Carr's comments suggest a potential for government intervention in media content, specifically targeting broadcast networks like ABC, CBS, and NBC, which fall under FCC licensing authority.
Brendan Carr repeated his warning over the weekend after President Donald Trump heavily criticized media coverage. Carr boasted Trump's comments on X, threatening broadcasters 'running hoaxes and news distortions' to 'correct course before their license renewals come up.' The FCC licenses TV and radio networks but not cable or internet news.
4BET Plus Shuts Down, Content Merges with Paramount+, Tyler Perry's Stake Acquired
Black Entertainment Television's streaming service, BET Plus, is shutting down, with its content merging into the flagship Paramount+ streamer starting in June. This change, under Paramount SkyDance's ownership, also involves Paramount acquiring media mogul Tyler Perry's 25% minority ownership stake in BET Plus, which he held as a result of a 2019 production deal.
BET Plus will merge content with Paramount+ starting in June. Paramount is acquiring Tyler Perry's minority ownership stake. Perry held a 25% stake from a 2019 production deal.
5Black Woman Chick-fil-A Owner Confronts Bias, Advocates for Women's Authority
Shalita Meadows, a Black woman and owner of a Chick-fil-A in Chesapeake, Virginia, shared a viral story about a locksmith who refused to believe she was the owner, despite her name tag. The locksmith insisted the person who called him was a man and even phoned her husband for confirmation. Meadows used the incident to deliver a powerful message to women: 'Don't shrink yourself in rooms that you help build,' emphasizing the importance of respect and acknowledging women's leadership.
Meadows' name tag read 'owner operator.' The locksmith insisted on speaking to 'the owner' who he believed was a man, calling her husband for confirmation. Her husband clarified, 'Sir, that's not my restaurant. That's my wife's restaurant.' Meadows then refused the locksmith's service.
6Dr. Carla Barry Champions Diversity and Representation in STEM
Dr. Carla Barry, founder of Noir STEMinus Educational Consulting and co-founder of Black in Engineering and Black in Robotics, is dedicated to making science and robotics accessible for Black and brown students and girls. She emphasizes that STEM fields must reflect the diverse world they serve to create inclusive solutions, citing examples of bias in AI and facial recognition systems that fail to recognize people of color. Barry creates relatable STEM content, including children's books with diverse characters and romance novels featuring STEM professionals, to break stereotypes and inspire future creators.
Dr. Barry launched Noir STEMinus in 2020. She co-founded Black in Engineering and Black in Robotics. She writes children's books (e.g., with characters named Raheem, Rashida, Malachi) and romance novels centered around STEM professionals. She states, 'If we don't reflect the world in which we live, we get solutions that don't work for everyone.'
Opportunities
Develop culturally relevant STEM educational materials and platforms.
Inspired by Dr. Carla Barry's work, create and distribute children's books, online courses, and interactive tools that feature diverse characters and narratives, making STEM relatable and engaging for underrepresented youth. Focus on showcasing Black and brown professionals and addressing specific cultural contexts.
Consulting service for businesses on implicit bias and diversity in customer interactions.
Offer training and consulting to businesses, particularly service-oriented ones, on recognizing and addressing implicit biases in customer interactions. The Chick-fil-A owner's experience highlights a need for staff and vendor training to ensure respectful and equitable treatment of all customers and business owners, regardless of race or gender.
Lessons
- Support initiatives like Dr. Carla Barry's Noir STEMinus to expand access and representation for Black and brown students and girls in STEM fields.
- Advocate for stronger police accountability measures and independent oversight to prevent misconduct and cover-ups, as highlighted by the Chicago settlement.
- Actively seek out and support original stories and content created by Black filmmakers and artists to foster greater representation and diversity in media.
- Challenge and address implicit biases in professional and customer service settings, ensuring that authority and competence are not questioned based on race or gender.
- Participate in consumer activism and boycotts when appropriate, recognizing their potential to impact corporate behavior and market value, as demonstrated by the Target boycott.
Notable Moments
The recreation of a juke joint scene during the Oscars performance, celebrating Black film and culture.
This performance was highlighted as a significant cultural moment that brought the energy and authenticity of Black culture to the forefront of the Academy Awards, emphasizing celebration and recognition.
Autumn Durald Arkapaw becoming the first woman to win Best Cinematography at the Oscars.
This moment was celebrated as a historic breakthrough for women in a traditionally male-dominated technical field within Hollywood, with Arkapaw honoring women who came before her.
Michael B. Jordan's standing ovation for his Best Lead Actor win.
The standing ovation underscored the industry's recognition and respect for his performance and contributions, highlighting a collective appreciation for his achievement as the sixth Black actor to win in this category.
Ryan Coogler's Oscar acceptance speech, focusing on humanity and family.
His speech resonated by emphasizing the importance of relationships and the human element behind the film's creation, connecting with the audience and reflecting the core themes of 'Sentinels.'
Quotes
"What happened that day was not the work of heroes. It was the work of cowboys who decided they were not only going to pursue a vehicle in violation of department policy. They decided they were going to cover it up. The cover up was wide. The coverup was systemic."
"I don't care if you are a doctor, a nurse, an entrepreneur, a student, a soldier in the military, a teacher, a preacher, or just a woman trying to find her way. You are a boss. You were born a boss. You've already been chosen. Don't shrink yourself in a room that you helped build. God didn't stop at Adam for a reason. Remember that."
"If we don't reflect the world in which we live, we get solutions that don't work for everyone. We get bias in artificial intelligence. We get facial recognition systems that don't recognize black and brown faces. We get hand and soap dispensers that can't dispense the dark skin."
"It's great to be recognized. It's great to win these awards, but the most important part is being able to make the films about our culture."
"There's always has there always has to be the first and I can imagine, you know, the burden that she probably had to carry, the racism that she had to endure, the labor, all of, you know, the the work that went into her, you know, one being a part of that film, but also winning an award for supporting actress in 1940."
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