5 Things Friday
An emotional homecoming, a Black Panther Party primer and a fact check of all that good news from this week.
The Black Panther Party: A Graphic Novel History by David F. Walker and Marcus Kwame Anderson
Let me start by acknowledging that we are a glass-half-full kinda crew. We love to celebrate the small wins and the imperfect victories. And right now, after the 4 years we have collectively been through, all news coming out of the White House can seem like MAGNIFICENT news (Cancelling the Keystone XL pipeline! Rejoining Paris Climate Agreement! Repealing the transgender militay ban! Rescinding the Muslim ban! Extending the eviction moratorium! Ending private prisons!). But think of it like stand-up comedy: it's way easier for your act to kill when you follow a total dud. And there is pretty much no worse act to follow than Donald Trump. So our advice for this week? Don't just sit there and whoop it up like you've blown past your 2 drink minimum. Be critical, understand the details....and then ask for more. Here are your 5 things.
KNOW THIS. Biden went big this week, posting on the official @potus Insta a slide reading "End Private Prisons" with the caption: "No one should be profiteering off of our criminal justice system. That’s why today, I ordered the Department of Justice to end the use of private prisons by the federal government." Um, amazing right? The internet thought so, and the virtual applause filled our feed. But this is one of those cases where details really matter. Here's the reality: The order will impact less than 9% of the prison population. The other 91% are locked up in state prisons or local jails—which are still free to contract with private companies. It would also not apply to all federal prisons—agencies including Immigration and Customs Enforcement would continue to contract with private companies to detain thousands of undocumented immigrants. Finally, while the new policy is somewhat expanded, it is essentially reverting back to a policy that existed under Obama. Trump of course reversed it...setting the stage for Biden's standing ovation.
LISTEN TO THIS. While we are digging into the nitty gritty, listen to this podcast where leaders within the BLM movement (including our fave Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson, co-executive director of the Highlander Research and Education Center and an organizer with the Movement for Black Lives and The Frontline) breakdown Biden's Racial Equity agenda, which he announced early this week.
DONATE TO THIS. One of our very favorites, the Vegan Hood Chefs, are ready to produce their first cookbook, and we need your help! REP CO is helping these incredible women raise $5,000 to cover the cost of photographing their first cookbook. We have until February 28 to make it happen. If everyone who gets this email donated $5 we would blow past it. Let's go.
BUY THIS. Graphic novels are currently the book genre of choice in our house because the format works for every age (3 to 44 over here). And we are LOVING The Black Panther Party: A Graphic Novel History by David F. Walker and Marcus Kwame Anderson. This gripping illustrated history explores the impact and significance of Black Panther Party for Self-Defense from their social, educational, and healthcare programs that were designed to uplift the Black community to their battle against police brutality through citizen patrols and frequent clashes with the FBI, which targeted the Party from its outset. Add to your bookshelf now!
WATCH THIS. Big thanks to everyone who wrote a note last week to Michael Thompson. Today he is finally free! At 4 a.m. early on Thursday morning he was released from prison in Jackson, Michigan, and reunited with family and loved ones that he hadn’t seen in over 25 years (for selling a small amount of cannabis, which is now legal in the state). Watch Michael speak to his supporters as he steps out of prison and embarks on the rest of his life.