#Jamilah Lemieux

[mediamattersforamerica]

Jamilah Lemieux talks about why R. Kelly's indictment took so long. She's spot on.

[gwydionmisha]

Real Black History (Abridged)

[ablackwomansurvivingrape]

In the moments after the Bill Cosby verdict, Colorlines asked six Black feminists to tell us how they felt about it. Here’s what Tarana Burke, Aishah Shahidah Simmons, Jamilah Lemieux, Salamishah Tillet, Ayana Byrd and Monifa Bandele shared.

This afternoon (April 26) a Pennsylvania jury convicted comedian Bill Cosby of three counts of aggravated indecent assault against Andrea Constand, a former Temple University employee. Each charge for Cosby’s drugging and molesting of Constand in 2004 carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison. The first Constand trial ended in a mistrial a year ago, after 50 hours of jury deliberation. In this month’s 14-day retrial, five additional accusers were allowed to testify against the star. In recent years, about 60 accusers have come forward with allegations against the ”Cosby Show” star. Some date back to the 1960s and many detail Cosby drugging them via a contaminated drink or pills and then raping or molesting them as they went in and out of consciousness. Others accuse the now-80-year-old of trying to drug them or groping them. The statute of limitations has expired for most of the alleged incidents. Cosby is the first major Hollywood figure to face criminal conviction for sexual assault since the #MeToo movement hit critical mass last year. While the hot takes stack up across the media landscape, we asked a range of Black feminist writers and activists to tell us how they feel about the verdict. Here’s what they shared:

Tarana Burke, #MeToo Movement founder:

“This feels like a victory for survivors to some degree. It feels like we might be entering a new reality where folks can come forward and be seen and heard and believed and actually see some recourse. Seeing these women running out of the courtroom overcome with emotion was heartwrenching. I hope they sleep well tonight knowing that their voices and stories and bodies matter.”

Aishah Shahidah Simmons, “NO! The Rape Documentary“director and producer and #LoveWITHAccountability creator:

“As an incest and adult rape survivor, I’m elated that Bill Cosby was found guilty of sexual assault. I also know that prison sentencing will not eradicate rape culture, nor does it equate accountability and transformative justice. In an ideal world, Cosby should be required to be in daily counseling with a Black feminist licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in sexual trauma. I also believe he should be required to listen to the testimonies of not only Andrea Costand, but his other victims/survivors. I am unwavering that Cosby should donate a significant amount of his remaining resources to organizations that have a demonstrated track record of working to end sexual violence in holistic ways that emphasize community accountability, restorative justice and transformative justice. Finally, there isn’t any doubt in my mind that Bill Cosby sexually assaulted multiple women over a span of decades. Similar to all of the individuals and institutions that looked the other way for decades while [USA gymnastics doctor] Larry Nassar committed sexual harm against children, I also believe there are at least a few, if not many, individuals and institutions who knew about the violence Cosby committed against women. We have to move beyond solely focusing on the person who commits the sexual harm because they often do not operate in a vacuum. It’s important to hold Cosby (and Nassar) accountable. But we must also hold individual and institutional silent bystanders accountable. If we do not, sexual violence will continue to permeate our society.”

Jamilah Lemieux, writer, cultural critic and vice president of programming for CASSIUSlife.com:

“I’ll admit that I was caught off guard by today’s ruling, due in part to the fact that I haven’t been watching this trial closely and also because I don’t typically expect that justice will be served to the victims of powerful predators. As people continue to struggle with the vast difference between Bill Cosby and his carefully constructed public image, I hope that they come to recognize the importance of holding abusers accountable in a way that can shift culture. There are plenty of talented Black men who are not predators, we needn’t cling to those who are in order to have ‘representation.’ As far as Mr. Cosby himself, he can rot in prison and then hell, in that order.”

Dr. Salamishah Tillet, A Long Walk Home co-founder:

“I’ve followed the Bill Cosby case since it originally surfaced in 2005 with interest, concern and compassion for Andrea Constand. Back then, it was unforeseeable that Cosby would ever be held accountable for his actions in either the court of law or public opinion. How times have changed! In this era of #MeToo, I hope this marks a turning point for survivors of sexual violence, most of whom have learned to suffer in silence with little hope for redress or redemption. I also hope this signals a shift in public consciousness in our understanding of rape, its lifelong toll on its victims, and our will to end this epidemic by any and all means.”

Ayana Byrd, author and editor:

“When I first heard the stories about Bill Cosby, I believed them. It is always my inclination to believe women who come forward about being sexually assaulted. Sexual crimes have been committed against me and against other women that I know and we have never come forward, because it is terrifying. So when I see that a woman will speak up, will name her accuser and will detail the crimes, I know she is working against her silencing terror. While I believed the women who came forward against Bill Cosby, I did not think that he would be convicted in a courtroom. I thought too many people could imagine that only a monster would be capable of doing this to the vast number of women he is accused of attacking, not a rich man who had been making us laugh for over half a century. But the #MeToo Movement has forced more people to accept that someone like Cosby does not have to be a monster to commit these crimes. He has to be a sexual predator. I worry that the face of the imprisoned post-#MeToo male celebrity will be a Black one as Harvey Weinstein walks free. But that worry is secondary for me. I am mainly relieved—a shocked kind of relieved—that after all of these years, all of these women can know someone believed that he could do what he did. I am hopeful that it can help another woman to push through her fear to tell her story.”

Monifa Bandele, MomsRising senior vice president and The Movement for Black Lives activist:

“May our daughters grow up in a new era where sexual assault isn’t a mainstay and privileged abusers are held accountable. We must create that world and we start now.”

[arcticdementor]

Dear Care and Feeding,

Yesterday, my 17-year-old daughter, a junior in high school, told us she was going to her boyfriend’s house. It turns out she lied.

I only found out because today, I casually mentioned Roe v. Wade may be overturned, and she replied, “I can’t wait. So many innocent lives will be spared.” We got into an argument in which she ended up confessing her actual whereabouts—she went to a “pro-life” rally with her boyfriend.

We’ve grounded her and taken away her phone for going behind our backs, but she’s showing no remorse. I just can’t believe it. This is the girl who dressed up as Ruth Bader Ginsburg for Halloween when she was 10. She’s heading to law school in a couple years. I seriously thought she was pro-choice and a feminist. I’ve been taking her to rallies and protests since she was a baby. We’ve been educating her about safe sex and consent. We donate to Planned Parenthood every year for Christmas. I’m fine with her disagreeing with us on other topics, but I had an abortion years ago. We live in a conservative state. I don’t want her right to choose to be taken away.

And I’m furious at her for going behind our backs. I’m suspicious of her boyfriend—I know he’s a conservative-leaning Christian and I don’t want to have raised a daughter who votes for whomever her boyfriend does. How do I convince her being pro-life isn’t helping her in the long run?

— Just Trying to Raise a Feminist

Dear Just Trying,

I suppose I should say that sometimes we raise children who have different politics from our own, and if this proves to be more than a phase, you’ll simply have to respect that. Alas, I don’t feel that way; some politics are to be challenged at every turn, and there are even those that should result in one being cut off (in adulthood, of course). Luckily, she’s still in your house and still subject to both your influence and rules. Inundate her with pro-choice content. Require her to read articles and books that explain why it is important for women to have control of their bodies. Remind her that a person can choose for themselves to never have an abortion—or at least intend not to have one—while respecting the rights of others to choose otherwise.

Hopefully, you’ve already had conversations with your daughter about how your family’s politics differ from those of many of your neighbors. It’s time those discussions got more frequent and pointed. Talk about the importance of maintaining one’s own values in a relationship, remind her (as she may have heard otherwise recently) that it isn’t the job of a woman to follow what her man does without regard to her personal thoughts and needs.

This may be a long and difficult battle. Hopefully, her interest in overturning abortion rights will be short-lived and she’ll move onto another romance. However, young love can be a hell of a drug, and she would hardly be the first girl to acquiesce to some nonsense because of a boy she liked. You need to stay on top of what sort of information she is taking home from this kid and figure out how deep his influence goes.

Don’t allow her to go to with him to any conservative events or any other environment where she’s likely to face some attempts at indoctrination, especially without telling you. You may want to limit the amount of time she spends around his family. Constantly challenge their politics without attacking them as people. Help her to connect the dots between what she (hopefully) feels deep inside and how this boyfriend’s values differ. Resist any urge to just suck it up and allow your daughter to do her own thing politically; you’re fighting for her character, her humanity, and her ability to extend empathy to others. You can’t let this boy win. Good luck to you!

— Jamilah

[benningtonwritingseminars]

“The constant awareness of what kind of treatment I’ll get for being born Black and assigned female is often more exhausting than the time it takes to get to and from my destination.” Morgan Jerkins, Fiction June ‘17, curated a collection of stories on the pains and pleasures of traveling while black. A new series on Medium.com. Jerkins is the author of the New York Times-bestselling essay collection, "This Will Be My Undoing" and two forthcoming books. https://medium.com/s/greatescape/on-getting-my-hair-checked-by-tsa-ff12392e902b

[housingworksbookstore]

Here are some photos from our event with Eve L. Ewing and Jamilah Lemieux on October 23rd!

[leguin]

slate has got to get some more gay advice columnists or fucking. hire someone to vet any of the answers about gay people to ensure that they aren’t deeply homophobic

[yasbxxgie]

[914847858758766592|h/t]

[z4howard]

Jamilah Lemieux

Black Activist 

Jamilah Lemieux is an African-American columnist, cultural critic, and editor based in New York City. In 2016, she became the vice president of news and men's programming for Interactive One, part of Radio One, Inc.

Lemieux was born in Chicago, Illinois, where she attended Whitney M. Young Magnet High School. Her father is David Lemieux, a former member of the Black Panther Party who appeared in The Spook Who Sat by the Door.

In 2011, she became the news and lifestyle editor for Ebony.com and was promoted to senior editor in 2014. In late 2015, she became the senior editor for the print magazine. 

Lemieux has contributed to numerous publications including Mic, Essence, The Nation, The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Guardian, Gawker, and her now-defunct, award-winning blog, The Beautiful Struggler.

She is a three-time Black Weblog Awards winner. Her numerous radio and TV appearances include spots on CNN, MSNBC, NPR, and ABC, and she has been a guest on Comedy Central's The Nightly Show, MTV2's Uncommon Sense, Vice's Desus & Mero, as well as Revolt/Power 105.1's The Breakfast Club. 

In 2015, she was named to The Root's annual "Root 100" list of the nation's most influential African-Americans. 

Lemieux lives in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn and is a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority and graduate of Howard University. 

Source: Wikipedia

[jmarksthespots]

[#ATI2017] AFTER THE IDEA Conference  Presented by @idontdoclubs-blog Are you ready to learn “the business behind your brand?” Review the conference schedule and reserve your spot for To register, visit idontdoclubs.com/event/ati2017! Please direct all questions to questions@idontdoclubs.com.

Speakers

GENESE JAMILAH, Founder of I DON’T DO CLUBS Instagram: @idontdoclubs | Twitter: @idontdoclubs-blog KAMERON MCCULLOUGH, CEO of TNTH LLC, Founder of HennyPalooza, and Digital Marketing Strategist Instagram: @koolestkidout | Twitter: @hennypalooza TIFFANY BALLARD, Founder of Law Office of Tiffany Ballard, P.C. and star of WeTV’s Money Power Respect Instagram: @blackellewoods | Twitter: @blackellewoods JULLIEN GORDON, Founder of Masterminds.org Instagram: @julliengordon | Twitter: @JullienGordon JAMILAH LEMIEUX, Vice President of News and Men’s Programming at Interactive One Instagram: @JamilahLemieux | Twitter: @JamilahLemieux S. TIA BROWN, Entertainment & Lifestyle Director at Ebony Magazine and Core Team Expert at The Dr. Oz Show Instagram: @tiabrowntalks | Twitter: @tiabrowntalks CLAUDIO CABRERA, Senior Digital Strategist at New York Times Instagram: @cecctc | Twitter: @cecabrera21 SUEZETTE YASMIN ROBOTHAM, Founder & Talent Coach of The Higher & Hire Group, LLC and TEDx Talks Speaker – Uncovered: Finding & Being Authentically Myself at Work Instagram: @suezette  

[librarycards]

In May 2019, Theresa May wept outside 10 Downing Street as she resigned the UK premiership. These tears did political work, creating amnesia in some quarters over May’s record as Prime Minister, and previously as Home Secretary. Perhaps most strikingly, domestic abuse charity Women’s Aid posted a (subsequently deleted) tweet thanking May for her service to women and survivors. This prompted a critical response: prior to her resignation, May had failed to guarantee that women’s refuges would not close as part of an overhaul of supported housing. In 2015, she had been accused of allowing ‘state-sanctioned’ rape and abuse of vulnerable migrant women at the Yarl’s Wood detention centre. Her government presided over the rollout of Universal Credit, the punitive benefits system that has made it more difficult for women to leave abusive relationships. It appeared that, for some, May’s tears washed these acts out of the picture (Phipps, 2020: 70).

In response to a picture of May crying, news anchor Eylon Levy tweeted: ‘this is such a haunting photo. Whatever you think about Theresa May's record as prime minister, it's impossible not to feel sorry for her as a person’. This attempt to separate the personal and political is central to white women’s tears as a strategic device. We demand to be treated as ‘just a person’ who should be granted the benefit of the doubt, who exists out- side racialised structures and power relations even as our actions perpetuate them. However, while privileged white feminists deny the relationship between the personal and the political in response to critique, in our own theory and politics this relationship (and in particular, our own personal experience or that of women like us) takes centre stage. This is more than just hypocrisy; it is white supremacy. Whether we deny or emphasise the relationship between the personal and political, white women’s tears enable us to centre ourselves and marginalise women of colour.

In an article on #MeToo, Jamilah Lemieux (2017) commented, ‘white women know how to be victims. They know just how to bleed and weep in the public square, they fundamentally understand that they are entitled to sympathy’. Lemieux was not claiming the disclosures of #MeToo were not genuine; she was highlighting the power brought to mainstream feminism by the power of white women’s tears. White-lady tears, to use Cooper’s phrase: bourgeois white women’s tears are the ultimate symbol of femininity, evoking the damsel in distress and the mourning, lamenting women of myth (Phipps, 2020: 71). It is likely that this power is not fully accessible to working-class white women, who are often figures of classed disgust (Tyler, 2008). While it might date back to the ancients, the power of bourgeois white women’s tears was solidified in the modern colonial period, as ‘women’s protection’ became key to the deadly disciplinary power that maintained racialised and classed regimes of extraction and exploitation.

Alison Phipps, White tears, white rage: Victimhood and (as) violence in mainstream feminism.

[emphases mine]

[stoop55]

On our next episode we’ll be examining and re-imagining the role of Black mothers in a “new normal” world. Episode 20: “Black Mother’s in The New Normal” with our host Dr. Cooper and special guests Jamilah Lemieux @jamilahlemieux and Janay M Garrett @janaymgarrett #Motherhood #MotherWork #MaternalPower #NewNormal #STOOP55 (at Bedford-Stuyvesant) https://www.instagram.com/p/CDhC-ziJ84g/?igshid=3r4464fltln2

[seeselfblack]

Whether you LOVE him or hate him Jay Z has had a tremendous influence — checkout this Interesting piece in celebration of his 50th EarthDay, by BET, on his cultural/social influences over the years...

Because of Jay Z: The Cultural critics...

Throughout our week-long celebration of Jay-Z’s legacy, most often praised has been his ascent to becoming a Black billionaire and hip-hop’s most successful capitalist. As Roc Nation-managed artist Wale noted: “Because of Jay-Z… A lot of young Black men are inspired to be entrepreneurs beyond just music.”

One of those young artists, Slim Jxmmi of Rae Sremmurd, went as far as to suggest he too could become a billionaire someday. Renowned novelist Jason Reynolds echoed the same sentiment. Beyond the money he’s made, Jay-Z’s affect on culture has also been a frequent topic of conversation, with journalist Jamilah Lemieux joking, “Because of Jay-Z… I’ll never know what Cristal tastes like.”

Today, though, we close our five-part, 50-tribute series recentering Jay-Z’s music within the canon of his mythology. Featuring words from ten music writers and editors throughout the industry, read on as we distill over 20 years of impeccable artistry...

[misadventuresinmisogyny]

[saskwildrose]

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