Happy Sunday! Whether you're a new subscriber or an existing subscriber, welcome back. Here are a few articles you should check out from this week!
The Met Gala theme this year will be Superfine: Tailoring Black Style. The museum invited Tyler Mitchell to shoot the exhibit. Instead of shooting it, Tyler decided to do a photo essay that showcases different generations of Black men. Tyler put together a series of photos with the pieces not on mannequins but on real people and took the opportunity to showcase the portrait of a modern Dandy truly. Last year, Ebony Magazine wrote about what a dandy is and some of its origins. “A dandy is a man who places special importance on his physical appearance, particularly the look and fit of his clothing.” The origins of Black dandyism are in the slave trade. Dr. Monica Miller explains that “exceptionally dapper Black slaves became fixtures of wealth for white slave owners.” It will be amazing to see how the different stars and stylists collaborate to stay on the theme this year.
At some point in November 2024, there were rumblings of the dismantling of the Department of Education. We covered this in Law and Culture. This past week, it seems the end of the Department of Education is closer to a reality. An executive order was signed this week calling for the end of the agency. The plan that’s been revealed so far, is for certain core elements of the agency to remain. When you begin firing staff, an important question to ask is what happens to the work. Department of Education currently deals with student loans, grants, children with disabilities, and the distribution of money to students in low-income areas. Although dismantling the Department of Education will not solely affect Black students, they will be part of the ever-growing student population that will be inevitably affected by this dismantling. As of 2022, there are 49.6 million students enrolled in public k-12 education. In 2024, college enrollment nationwide was 19.28 million for undergraduate education.
In what has seemed like the longest and most drawn-out rap feud ever, Drake and Kendrick Lamar’s issues have persisted into the courts. As we know, some time ago Drake filed a defamation suit against Universal Music Group (UMG) for their participation in promoting and distributing the diss song “Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar. This week, UMG filed a motion to dismiss the case. They are essentially saying that Drake provoked the feud, the lyrics Kendrick wrote were hyperbole and no one believed them, and that the lawsuit is only happening because Drake lost. UMG is arguing that no one believes Drake is actually a pedophile, and Drake’s legal team is arguing the exact opposite. If this moves forward, and they do discovery, we’ll find out more about the claims of boosting the song as well as the pedophilia claims.
This week on Pause for a Moment, we’re tackling the generational divide within Black culture. At SXSW, a panel discussion between a Boomer, a Millennial, and a Gen Z representative exposed just how deep the disconnect runs—especially when one panelist bluntly declared that he simply didn’t care about younger generations. His statement sucked the air out of the room, but it also raised an important question: What’s fueling this divide, and what does it mean for Black culture, activism, and progress? From differing values shaped by historical moments to the role of technology in shaping activism, we’ll break down the roots of this generational gap, the frustrations on both sides and what it will take to move forward—together. Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Amazon!
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Texas Southern University debate team wins a world title.
A Snowfall spinoff starring Gail Bean and Isaiah John has been given an FX pilot order.
WNBA Superstar A’ja Wilson’s first signature sneaker with Nike will be released this weekend.
Conversations this week
Severance stars Zach Cherry and Tramell Tillman sit down with TIFF Studios to speak about the hit TV series.
Check out our Malindi Press Play playlist that’s updated weekly!
Song of the Week: “Blanco” Wale (USA)
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