Uber Eats partners with Cannibis company. (Google Images)
News outlets are reporting Uber Eats has partnered with cannibis retailer Tokyo Smoke to allow customers to order cannibis for pick-up using the delivery service’s platform. Kim Lyons of The Verge writes:
“The arrangement does not include delivery of weed orders, however, but makes it possible for users in Ontario to order products from Tokyo Smoke in a dedicated section on the Uber Eats app.
For customers in Ontario, in the Uber Eats app, select either the ‘cannabis’ category or search for ‘Tokyo Smoke.’ After confirming their age, the customer is directed to the menu of a Tokyo Smoke store in the area to place their order, which Uber says will be filled within an hour. The consumer then picks up their order at the Tokyo Smoke store.
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi stated in April that the company would take a look at cannabis delivery ‘when the road is clear.'”
In February, Uber acquired Boston-based alcohol delivery service Drizly for $1.1 billion. But Lantern, a cannabis delivery service Drizly launched in May 2020, was not part of that deal.
General Colin Powell (Photo: Flickr Creative Commons/Scott Ableman/National Museum of American History- 2008)
The world is mourning the passing of General Colin Powell, the United States’ first Black Secretary of State, who died today at age 84. It is being reported Powell died from complications related to Covid-19.
In a statement shared on General Powell’s Facebook page, the Powell family wrote:
“General Colin L. Powell, former U.S. Secretary of State and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, passed away this morning due to complications from Covid 19. He was fully vaccinated. We want to thank the medical staff at Walter Reed National Medical Center for their caring treatment. We have lost a remarkable and loving husband, father, grandfather and a great American.” — The Powell Family
Facebook Post – October 18, 2021
Born in Harlem, NY, General Colin Luther Powell, was the 65th United States Secretary of State (2001-2005), serving under President George W. Bush. He was the first African American appointed to that position and the first and only, African American to serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The son of Jamaican immigrants, Powell was raised in the South Bronx, where he graduated Morris High School and eventually enrolled in the City Colleges of New York where he found the path to his life’s work by joining the ROTC.
According to Biography.com, after graduation in 1958, Powell was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. While stationed at Fort Devens, Massachusetts, Colin Powell met Alma Vivian Johnson of Birmingham, Alabama, and they married in 1962. The couple has three children: son Michael, and daughters Linda and Annemarie.
General Powell, who served in Vietnam, received a Purple Heart and Bronze Star. During his second tour, he was in a helicopter crash but rescued the other members aboard the craft. For that act of heroism, he received the Soldier’s Award, eventually earning 11 military honors including the Legion of Merit. Powell went on to earn an MBA at George Washington University and served as a White House Fellow under President Nixon. In 1987, General Powell became National Security Advisor during the Reagan Administration.
In 1989, President George H.W. Bush appointed Powell to serve as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, which is the highest military position in the Department of Defense. General Powell was the first African American officer to receive that distinction. He rose to national prominence as the lead military strategist for Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in Iraq and as part of a peacekeeping mission in Haiti with former President Jimmy Carter and Congressman Sam Nunn.
In 2000, President George W. Bush appointed General Powell as Secretary of State, overseeing the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Powell later admitted he did not feel good about the initial decision to go to war and later said he regretted the decision, which was marked by controversy at the time. Nonetheless Powell supported the President and helped make the case for war based on the alleged hiding of “weapons of mass destruction.” After acknowledging there were probably few if any weapons of mass destruction after invading Iraq, Powell retired. His successor was Dr. Condoleeza Rice.
Following his retirement, General Powell spoke out against the Bush administration. In September 2006, Powell joined moderate Senate Republicans in supporting more rights and better treatment for detainees at the Guantanamo detention facility. In October 2008, the lifelong Republican made headlines when he endorsed then-Senator Barack Obama for president.
In the late 1990s, Colin and Alma Powell founded America’s Promise, an organization dedicated to uplifting youth.
General Colin Powell a the Kennedy Center after speaking at a 9/11 Commemoration concert featuring the National Symphony Orchestra and the United States Marine Band. (Photo: September 11, 2021 – Facebook)
Fully vaccinated, General Powell died of complications from COVID-19 on October 18, 2021. He is survived by his wife of 59-years Alma, children Michael, Linda and Annemarie and a host of grandchildren and relatives. General Powell was 84.
This news article was written by Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D., founder & editor-in-chief of The Burton Wire. Follow Nsenga on Twitter @Ntellectual.
Actor Omar Sy in Netflix's international hit Lupin. (Photo: Netflix Trailer)
French actor Omar Sy, the star of Netflix global smash hit Lupin, has signed a multi-year deal to develop films for Netflix, the streaming giant is reporting. It is the first such Netflix deal with a French talent or filmmaker, according to Variety.
The debut of Lupin, the French-language TV mystery, is Netflix’s third most-watched series ever after Squid Game and Bridgerton, earning 76 million views in its first month, according to The Local.
The deal announced by Netflix did not specify any financial terms or specific projects for the deal with the Trappes-born actor-comedian who is set to star in and executive produce multiple feature films.
“We look forward to working together with Omar and his team as he grows as a producer and brings more unique stories and voices to Netflix,” said Netflix France’s Gaelle Mareschi in a statement about the deal.
This news brief was written by Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D., founder & editor-in-chief of The Burton Wire. Follow Nsenga on Twitter @Ntellectual.
World-renowned Olympic runner Agnes Tirop was found dead in her home. (Photo: Sky News)
The international sports world is reeling over the murder of world-renowned Kenyan runner Agness Tirop. In what police are calling a domestic violence related death, Tirop, 25, was found dead in a pool of blood in her home after suffering from stab wounds to her body. The fatal blow appears to have been to her neck according to police, who are seeking the whereabouts of Tirop’s husband Emmanuel Ibrahim Kipleting. Kipleting is wanted for questioning in her murder.
Tirop won bronze in the 10,000 meters at the world championships in 2017 and 2019, and finished fourth in the 5,000 meters at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. Just last month, Tirop set the 10km world record for women’s only races in cross country running.
Tirop was 25. This story is developing.
*October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. If you or someone you know needs help, then visit thehotline.org. Text START to 88788; Call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) for help.
This news brief was written by Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D., founder & editor-in-chief of The Burton Wire. Follow Nsenga on Twitter @Ntellectual.
Isaiah R. Hill stars as Jace in Apple+ TV's original series Swagger, executive produced by Kevin Durant and Reggie 'Rock' Bythewood.
“Swagger,” Apple TV+’s series inspired by the real life story of NBA superstar Kevin Durant is debuting October 29, 2021. Written, directed and executive produced by veteran writer and producer Reggie “Rock” Bythewood (Dancing in September, 30 for 30, Beyond the Lights, Gun Hill), Swagger follows the life of a 14-year-old basketball phenom with his eyes on the prize — the NBA.
Executive produced by Durant, the series stars O’Shea Jackson (Straight Outta Compton, Just Mercy) Isaiah Hill, Tristan Mack Wilds (The Wire, Shots Fired, The Breaks, 90210), Academy-award nominated actress Quvenzhané Wallis (Beasts of the Southern Wild, Annie, Trolls, Black-ish) and introduces Isaiah R. Hill who stars as Jace, the basketball phenom focused on getting out of the ghetto and into the NBA.
Filmed in Richmond, VA, the series takes a hard look at what it takes to make it to the NBA when the chips are stacked against you.
Check out the trailer below:
Set a reminder to watch the series debut October 29, 2021 on Apple TV+.
This post was written by Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D., founder & editor-in-chief of The Burton Wire. Follow Nsenga on Twitter @Ntellectual.
The wait is over for one of the most highly-anticipated television shows of the Fall season. “BMF” premieres Sunday, September 26 on STARZat 9 p.m. EST. Starring Russell Hornsby, Michole Briana White, Demetrius ‘Lil Meech’ Flenory, Da’Vinchi, Wood Harris, Steve Harris, La La Anthony, Ajona Alexis and Snoop Dogg in a recurring role, “BMF” explores the complicated lives of Detroit-born brothers Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory and Terry Flenory, who turn to drug dealing to escape the poverty of post-industrial Detroit, becoming drug kingpins in the process.
Set in 1980s Detroit, the fictional series about the real lives of the Flenory brothers and their organization, the Black Mafia Family, the series focuses on the family dynamics at play when building an empire. Filmed in Atlanta and Detroit, the STARZseries is Executive Produced by 50 Cent and Randy Huggins, a writer and producer on STARZ’s “Power” and F/X’s “The Shield.” Actress/Director Tasha Smith directs the series. With powerful performances by Hornsby, White, Da’Vinchi and Lil’ Meech, the show introduces viewers to Detroit’s underground economy and culture, including Detroit House music, the bedrock of the wildly popular EDM genre of music.
“BMF” premieres worldwide on Sunday, September 26 at 9 PM ET/PT then moves to its regular time slot at 8 PM ET/PT starting on Sunday, October 3. The series will air across all STARZ platforms in the U.S. and Canada and will air internationally on the STARZPLAY premium streaming platform across Europe, Latin America and Japan.
Check local listings for STARZ channel information.
This post was written by Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D., founder & editor-in-chief of The Burton Wire. Follow Nsenga on Twitter @Ntellectual.
Melvin Van Peebles in 1968. (Photo: Google Images)
*The film world is reeling over the loss of influential filmmaker Melvin Van Peebles who passed away Tuesday, September 21 in Manhattan. Van Peebles is best known for his classic independent films Watermelon Man (1970) and Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song (1971), which offered a bold critique of racism, power and Black liberation in the United States. Van Peebles, the father of actor/director Mario Van Peebles, created the blueprint for what would become the Blaxploitation genre of filmmaking with his Sweet Sweetback’s Baaadasssss Song.
Born in Chicago in 1932, Van Peebles was the son of a tailor and homemaker. After graduating high school, he enrolled in West Virginia State University before transferring to Ohio Wesleyan University. Following graduation, the future filmmaker joined the Air Force and began writing. In 1956, he married German actress and photographer Maria Marx, who appeared with him in this iconic film Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song. They lived in Europe and Mexico before he returned to the states and worked as a cable car operator in San Francisco.
In the early 1960s Van Peebles published four novels and one-story collection in French and made a short film, Cinq cent balles (1965), about a child trying to retrieve a banc note in a tenuous world. In 1968, Van Peebles made his first feature-length film, The Story of a Three-Day Pass (La Permission). The renaissance man starred with actress Nicole Berger in the film which explored themes around interracial romance, nation and identity. Three-Day Pass was well-received by audiences and critics and put him on the map in Hollywood, many of whom thought they had discovered a French auteur instead of a talented Black man from Chicago.
In 1970, Van Peebles made his first Hollywood film entitled Watermelon Man starring Godfrey Cambridge. Released by Columbia Pictures, the film told the story of a racist White man who one day wakes up Black and the fallout from his family, friends and place of employment because of it. In interviews, Melvin Van Peebles said it was the experience of making Watermelon Man within the Hollywood film system that convinced him to work as an independent filmmaker so he could have complete control over his films.
The independent artist struck out on his own with the goal of making Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song, a film that explored themes of Black power and liberation. The auteur raised $500,000 from investments by supporters including Bill Cosby and earnings from his previous work. The film featured a soundtrack by Earth, Wind and Fire, a then up and coming jazz and R&B band and offered a gritty, unapologetic look into Black America’s underground economy. The film highlighted the story of a wrongfully accused Black man’s journey from sideshow to revolutionary. Sweetback put forth a bold Black aesthetic embracing Black fashion of the time, elements of the Black Power movement and articulating the idea of American freedom through a distinctly Black revolutionary socio-political lens.
Much like Black film pioneer Oscar Micheaux, Van Peebles’ films were celebrated and condemned for exploring controversial topics and for what some critics called technical issues. Using a distribution technique like Micheaux, Van Peebles rented out theaters in Black cities and showed his films to sold out audiences keeping all of the profits. This distribution technique practiced by Micheaux and Van Peebles is now referred to as four walling, a term coined in 1965. Through this distribution model, Van Peebles earned $10 million at the box office and Hollywood noticed. Film companies like United Artists which was on the brink of economic collapse at the time, appropriated the narrative and stylistic elements of his films, giving birth to what would become the Blaxploitation era of filmmaking. Blaxploitation films were cheaply made, featured Black casts, R&B/Soul soundtracks, highlighted Black fashion and culture of the time and explored themes of resistance. The genre turned fashion models Richard Roundtree and Tamara Dobson and aspiring actress Pam Grier into bonafide movie stars.
Known as the Godfather of Black Cinema, Van Peebles was a man of many talents, all of which were on display with the film Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song which he wrote, produced, directed, starred in and distributed. While Van Peebles continued writing and directing film, he appeared as an actor in 44 films and television shows including Boomerang, Living Single, Panther, Girlfriends and Peeples. He also continued writing and performing songs, releasing six solo albums over the years.
In 2014, Van Peebles released The Last Transmission, a spoken word and jazz collaboration with the Heliocentrics. He collaborated with other music artists, appearing in the visual album for Standing on the Corner’s single, “Angel” in 2020.
The Criterion Collection, which will release a retrospective box set of Van Peebles’ work next week, announced his death in a statement. They wrote on Twitter:
“We are saddened to announce the passing of a giant of American cinema, Melvin Van Peebles, who died last night, at home with family, at the age of 89. In an unparalleled career, Van Peebles made an indelible mark on the international cultural landscape. He will be deeply missed.”
Mario Van Peebles released a statement about his father’s passing through Criterion:
“Dad knew that Black images matter,” Mario Van Peebles offered. “If a picture is worth a thousand words, what was a movie worth? We want to be the success we see, thus we need to see ourselves being free.”
Melvin Van Peebles is survived by three children Mario Van Peebles, Megan Van Peebles and Max Van Peebles and a host of grandchildren. He was 89.
This article was written by Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D., founder & editor-in-chief of The Burton Wire. Dr. Burton is also a professor of film and media at Emory University in Atlanta, GA. Follow Nsenga on Twitter @Ntellectual.
Writing for NNPA/Black Press USA Newswire, Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D. discusses the continued marginalization of Black actors, producers and writers at the 2021 Emmy Awards. Read an excerpt below:
EXCERPT
If they love our rhythm and not our blues was an awards show, then the 2021 Emmys would fit the bill. To no surprise of media critics and audiences of color, the 2021 Emmys did what mainstream awards shows tend to do – trot out amazing Black talent and then fail to reward them.
Perhaps all of the talk about television being far ahead of film in terms of diverse programming went to the heads of the nominating committees and judges for the awards show? Maybe in the race to appear on trend, the academy publicly embraced diversity and inclusion while privately eschewing it?
Quite possibly the academy thought because they have awarded Regina King, Billy Porter, Viola Davis and RuPaul in recent years they were in the clear? Whatever they were thinking didn’t wash with many Black viewers and media critics at least according to social media.
Just how do you open an awards show hosted by Cedric the Entertainer – I repeat Cedric the Entertainer — with a play on the late, great Biz Markie’s classic rap ditty, “Just a Friend?” and then not show a Black winner for two hours? How exactly do you have Cedric, Billie Porter, L.L. Cool J, Renee Goldsberry, MJ Rodriguez and Rita Wilson rocking the mic and moving the historically stiff crowd, and then fail to reward any performers of color during the live broadcast with a few exceptions?
See the 2021 Emmys, which trotted out so many presenters of color that it vaguely resembled the NAACP Image Awards, except there were no Black winners other than RuPaul, Micaela Coel and an overdue Governor’s award for the incomparable Debbie Allen.
Presenters of color included Kerry Washington, Angela Bassett, Taraji Henson, Billie Porter, Awkwafina, MJ Rodriguez, Mindy Kaling, Anthony Andersen, Misty Copeland, Ava DuVernay, Gayle King, LL Cool J, Jada Pinkett Smith, Tracee Ellis Ross, Yara Shahidi, Ken Jeong, Vanessa Lachey, Bowen Yang, Kawennáhere Devery Jacobs and Wilmer Valderamma.
There were enough Black presenters to Cha-Cha slide at the family reunion but very few winners in the bunch. This year’s list of Emmy winners looked more like a photo of the U.S. Congress instead of reflecting the outstanding diverse programing that covered small screens. To say Black talent, stories and executives were erased by the 2021 Emmys, would be an understatement. See HBO’s “Lovecraft Country.”
To be fair, television programming has gotten increasingly plentiful and quite frankly better in recent years and there are so many shows to consider between the traditional networks, cable and over-the-top companies (Netflix, Hulu, Apple+)…
This excerpt was written and curated by Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D., founder & editor-in-chief of The Burton Wire for . Follow Nsenga on Twitter @Ntellectual.
Black people and allies worldwide are in an uproar with the unfolding news that Haitian migrants who have fled the embattled country following the assassination of Haitian president Jovenel Moise in July and a devastating 7.2 earthquake in August, are being beaten with whips by U.S.-Mexico border agents on horses trying to keep them off of U.S. soil. VICE, REVOLT.TV, AL Jazeera, MSNBC and a myriad of publications are publishing video of the inhumane practice being used against Haitian migrants, who are being sent back to Haiti on deportation flights in an attempt to stymie the flow of migrants into Texas, according to the Biden administration.
“Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota on Monday said video footage of Border Patrol agents on horseback whipping Haitian migrants attempting to cross the US-Mexico border showed ‘human rights abuses.’
‘These are human rights abuses, plain and simple.Cruel, inhumane, and a violation of domestic and international law,’ Omar said in a tweet. ‘This needs a course correction and the issuance of a clear directive on how to humanely process asylums seekers at our border.'”
The incident occurred over the weekend near Del Rio, Texas, as Haitian migrants sought to wade across the Rio Grande.
This story is developing. Follow The Burton Wire on Twitter for updates.
This news brief was written by Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D., founder & editor-in-chief of The Burton Wire. Follow Nsenga on Twitter @Ntellectual.
BOSTON, MA – September 10, 2021 – The International Black Theatre Summit, a special initiative of The CRAFT Institute, held this year in collaboration with The Billie Holiday Theatre, will celebrate the inaugural Black Theatre Day with a daylong social media campaign and a virtual Happy Hour on Friday, September 17 at 5pm ET. The event will also recognize the 200th anniversary of the opening night for the African Company, also known as the African Grove Theatre, the first known professional Black theatre company in the United States.
The Black Theatre Day social media campaign is an open call to action to all Black theatre institutions and supporters to join together to amplify the importance of Black theatre institutions by recognizing the 200 year legacy of Black theatre in the U.S.. Individuals can support by sharing, reposting and retweeting content of participating Black theaters while learning more about opportunities to support Black theaters.
On September 17, 1821, the African Theater launched their first season in New York City. They produced multiple seasons including the first extant play by a Black American and launched the career of Ira Aldridge, a Black actor who toured Europe as the greatest Shakespearean tragedian of all times. As the heirs of this illustrious legacy, 21st century Black theaters in the U.S. are still working to build sustainable, institutional wealth. Black Theatre Day is an opportunity to increase the visibility of Black Theatre institutions in support of those efforts.
“We hope to increase the visibility of Black theatre institutions in news, media and society at large in our efforts to gain and maintain economic stability for Black theatres,” said Dr. Monica White Ndounou, the Founder and Executive Director of The CRAFT Institute, “So we invite all who recognize the importance of Black Theatre to mark your calendars on September 17 and participate in our social media campaign to acknowledge Black Theatre Day as an official, annual opportunity to celebrate Black Theatre throughout the United States and around the world. Just as we did with Juneteenth before it was adopted on a national level, let’s celebrate Black Theatre Day.”
“The stories of people of African descent have, in many ways, been a moral compass in America. The Billie has stood with the largest community of African Americans in the nation to ensure those stories are told…for 50 years, in fact,” stated Sabine LaFortune, General Manager of The Billie. “We are honored to support the efforts of the International Black Theater Summit to mark this historic moment in the American theater.”
The International Black Theatre Summit is a biennial convening that brings together Black theatre institutions, film, television and related media companies and Black creatives working across platforms to network and strategize productive paths forward for Black storytelling by reimagining economic, educational and creative models.The International Black Theatre Summit is one of six networks in the cohort funded by The Black Seed Initiative, a first ever national strategic plan to fund Black theatre.
The CRAFT Institute convened The 2018 International Black Theatre Summit (IBTS) at Dartmouth College. This twenty-year anniversary celebration and reconvening of “On Golden Pond,” the 1998 National Black Theatre Summit reinvigorated legendary playwright, August Wilson’s call to action regarding the need to collectively address the lack of funding for Black theatres and support for Black artists in American theatre. Through IBTS and various other programming, The CRAFT Institute aims to activate change-agents that can revitalize the ecosystem of Black Theatre and Performance for a vibrant future.
