Again, There Is No Reforming This

If you are still claiming police needed to kill a child I don't have anything to say to you. Because you're clearly okay with the state murdering kids & that's so far down the road to hell there's no turning back. We can't agree to disagree, we can't discuss it. You have to go.

— Mikki Kendall (@Karnythia) April 21, 2021

This is my foster sister Ma’Khia I want her to be remembered as the sweet full of life young girl she was, not as what people are painting her out to be. I refuse for her to be painted as anything but the amazing girl she was #MakiahBryant pic.twitter.com/ayJsMcTwz0

— Asia (@itsasiiiaaa_) April 21, 2021

Casually suggesting a taser as a de-escalation tool – especially on a child – is depraved.

— blackness everdeen 🐺 (@traceyecorder) April 21, 2021

this is makhia bryant, the teenager that was just shot and killed by cops in columbus. my heart hurts so bad. https://t.co/LeuSM0NEhg

— no (@afroelven) April 21, 2021

Police killed at least 5 people today. This morning they killed someone in Lakewood, CO. Police killed two people in San Antonio this afternoon. Then they killed someone in Detroit and killed #makhiabryant in Columbus. https://t.co/GfRHZzTZvP

— Samuel Sinyangwe (@samswey) April 21, 2021

This happened at Ohio State University in Columbus, OH. The kids who did it were overwhelmingly white. No police showed up, no tear gas or "less-than-lethal munitions deployed. Police in that same city just murdered 16 year old Black girl #makhiabryant. https://t.co/Dcyo0wgj3h

— No (@MattStofflet) April 21, 2021

A Black girl is dead because the cops brought a gun to a damn knife fight. If you don’t know how to de-escalate teen girls who are fighting, you should not be a police officer. I said what I said. #MakhiaBryant

— Brittney Cooper (@ProfessorCrunk) April 21, 2021

https://twitter.com/ProfessorCrunk/status/1384849582157352964

We’ve literally seen cops apprehend, ARMED white teens, MOMENTS after the teens/young adults murdered people. Let’s not play this game. Short, short memories. Some even get taken to Burger King. Humanity is something not afforded to Black youth. Even when calling 4 help.

— Reagan Gomez (@ReaganGomez) April 21, 2021

Finding Common Ground

Barack and I want to help more people see their own story in someone else’s. It’s why we started Higher Ground Productions, and it’s what we talked about with Julia Reichert and Steven Bognar, who directed @afactoryfilm. Check out their documentary, now streaming on @Netflix. https://t.co/8xjX7t9HL4

— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) August 21, 2019

****

****

A good story gives you the chance to better understand someone else’s life. It can help you find common ground. And it’s why Michelle and I were drawn to Higher Ground’s first film, American Factory. Take a look at our conversation with the directors, and check it out on Netflix. pic.twitter.com/KzkYFqjrFV

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 21, 2019

Call It What It Is: White Supremacy

pic.twitter.com/nNOVtQ50O4

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 5, 2019

Until all of us stand up and insist on holding public officials accountable for changing our gun laws, these tragedies will keep happening: https://t.co/reTnmcg3xo

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 5, 2019

Richey v. Alabama

in case you missed it. @GovernorKayIvey @realdonaldtrump 🤮 pic.twitter.com/JmcOPlzcHk

— CHIKA (allegedly)🌪 (@oranicuhh) May 23, 2019

****

Choice Means Freedom

“You can’t tell me what to do with my body.” – @Lesdoggg #SNLFinale pic.twitter.com/0g1tviKPxp

— Saturday Night Live - SNL (@nbcsnl) May 19, 2019

Abortion Saves Lives

https://twitter.com/laurenarankin/status/1129735698859347970

https://twitter.com/laurenarankin/status/1129166563393908736

****

https://twitter.com/laurenarankin/status/1128497203654348800

I wanted to see if anyone from our industry would speak out about the abortion bill, but I guess people are too scared. This isn't just an issue for women, it's one for every human being. We fight for equality and this is something men should fight for and not hide away from.

— Héctor Bellerín (@HectorBellerin) May 17, 2019

****

A long time ago an ex of mine got pregnant. We had used birth control but it still happened. We thought we were being safe enough. It was her choice to abort and I supported her. I'm so grateful we had access to abortion. Men, tell your side of the story. #ProChoice

— Kristian Bruun (@MrKristianBruun) May 17, 2019

it's weird how little we as men talk about how abortions have saved our lives...

— 𝕔𝕒𝕣𝕧𝕖𝕝𝕝 (@carvellwallace) May 16, 2019

****

when i was 22 my partner found out she was pregnant in the bathroom of the Tisch building. I did not know what to do. I was terrified. She knew right away she did not want to have a baby now. I knew that what she knew was clearer and made more sense than the mess in my brain

— 𝕔𝕒𝕣𝕧𝕖𝕝𝕝 (@carvellwallace) May 16, 2019

i went with her to a place in an office building in midtown. i remember people yelling at us as we walked in. I remember thinking, how can you be pro-life and also yelling at a woman who is in this much fear and distress? I don't get it.

— 𝕔𝕒𝕣𝕧𝕖𝕝𝕝 (@carvellwallace) May 16, 2019

****

the point of this story is that we did not have a child until we were ready, which was about six years later. We traveled, worked, experienced the death of parents, got married. I started working in youth non-profit where i started writing more seriously, she found her career

— 𝕔𝕒𝕣𝕧𝕖𝕝𝕝 (@carvellwallace) May 16, 2019

who knows what my life would have been like if I, a skinny 23 year old aspiring artist and writer would have become a father? I think a lot of dudes need to do more than claim solidarity and outrage. We need to admit culpability and involvement. We need to admit responsibility.

— 𝕔𝕒𝕣𝕧𝕖𝕝𝕝 (@carvellwallace) May 16, 2019

****

who knows what my life would have been like if I, a skinny 23 year old aspiring artist and writer would have become a father? I think a lot of dudes need to do more than claim solidarity and outrage. We need to admit culpability and involvement. We need to admit responsibility.

— 𝕔𝕒𝕣𝕧𝕖𝕝𝕝 (@carvellwallace) May 16, 2019

anyway i donated to yellowjacket and signed up to volunteer at PP. Instead of thinking about to say fellas i encourage us to think about what to do.

— 𝕔𝕒𝕣𝕧𝕖𝕝𝕝 (@carvellwallace) May 16, 2019

****

lol i meant YELLOWHAMMER. not yellowjacket. https://t.co/PXvehQfNoM

— 𝕔𝕒𝕣𝕧𝕖𝕝𝕝 (@carvellwallace) May 17, 2019

https://twitter.com/CakesHc19/status/1128883711938838528

****

A white woman wrote the law. A white woman governor will sign it. 62% of non-college educated white women voted Republican in 2016. This is a powerful and disgusting image, but we also have to address the complicity of white women. https://t.co/3mmNLqhQGB

— Alice Anderson (@AlicePoet) May 15, 2019

22 Senators voted against including an exception for rape or incest in Alabama’s new draconian abortion law.

Notice any similarities? pic.twitter.com/QNxFC1JU2u

— Simran Jeet Singh (@simran) May 15, 2019

Anne Hathaway calling out her white sisters pic.twitter.com/9JBieHC4Li

— Elsbeth Tashioni (@THISisLULE) May 18, 2019

****

I had an abortion when I was 19. It wasn’t traumatic or particularly interesting. I just didn’t have any money. My partner wasn’t someone I could parent with. I wanted to finish school. I wouldn’t have been a very good mother.

— this abortion ass bitch (@martinsheen_) May 17, 2019

I am the happiest, most authentic version of myself I have ever been. I learned vulnerability and patience through my abortion. I learned to truly take care of myself.

— this abortion ass bitch (@martinsheen_) May 17, 2019

****

I wanted to share this because so much of the narrative surrounding abortion right now is that it must be under traumatic circumstances to be “ok.” But abortion is a right. We do not need to dramatize abortion to make it more appealing to anti-choice.

— this abortion ass bitch (@martinsheen_) May 17, 2019

We need to normalize abortion - it is nuanced and uncomfortable and sad and lifesaving and empowering and a of these things can exist together. We need to throw our support behind people who need AND want abortions.

— this abortion ass bitch (@martinsheen_) May 17, 2019

****

Remember the story of that guy who was upset because he knocked up a woman, forced her to have the baby thinking he could trap her. She signed away her parental rights to him but pays CS faithfully. I hope that queen is having a wonderful day.

— Ordinary Monica (@FentyBrows) May 17, 2019

https://twitter.com/BlackGalThinks/status/1129737028218884097

A Witness To Success

Another good story worth sharing: From one "kid from Akron" to a new generation of Akron kids, some remarkable early achievements at @IPROMISESchool. Great work, @KingJames—and even better work by those students. Proud to be a witness to their success: https://t.co/ctWfKnA5GL

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) April 12, 2019

THANK YOU‼️‼️ Means so much to my kids. They’re BEYOND AMAZING https://t.co/hKGTF1e58Y

— LeBron James (@KingJames) April 13, 2019

****

PROUD ‼️‼️‼️ is an understatement. Kids you are smart, amazing, talented, and nothing short of INSPIRATIONAL! Teachers & all the staff ❤️❤️ ya’ll are the right ones, the real ones on this journey changing lives & numbers don’t lie 🤷🏾‍♂️ Let’s keep GROWING 💪🏾 @ipromiseschool 🚀 pic.twitter.com/fQcmcNRBKQ

— LeBron James (@KingJames) April 12, 2019

****

So incredibly proud of these students! Everyone at @IPROMISESchool—teachers, staff, and of course those incredible young people—is showing what can happen when we believe and invest in our kids. @KingJames https://t.co/JApeAYyiOu

— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) April 14, 2019

Thank you so much First Lady!! Means so much to my kids!!! 🙏🏾‼️‼️‼️❤️ https://t.co/kNVmrqyHHu

— LeBron James (@KingJames) April 15, 2019

Shooting For The Stars

.@BarackObama and I are so proud of @KingJames and @IPROMISESchool. Kids in Akron and across the US are lucky to have you as a role model on and off the court. Keep using your platform for good and giving our kids a chance to shoot for the stars. 🌟🏀 #ReachHigher #BetterMakeRoom pic.twitter.com/hyS6UM2A7b

— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) July 31, 2018

Behind The Lens: Pete Souza

Early Bird Chat