Malindi Minute: Elections, Grammy Nominations, and Michael Jackson

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!

This week was a big election week across the country. There were several notable wins, and we’ll just highlight a few that we think are worth mentioning. In Detroit, Mary Sheffield became the first woman to be elected mayor. Sharon Owens became the mayor of Syracuse, marking the first time the city has had a Black mayor. Jay Jones became the first Black person to be elected as the Attorney General of Virginia. Jackie Salvatore became the first Black woman ti be elected as a county sheriff in New York State. Also in New York, Dorcey Applyrs became the first Black mayor of Albany in the city's history. Theresa Gillespie Isom was elected to the Mississippi State Senate, becoming the first Black woman and first woman to hold the position.

As notable as these wins are, only time will tell if they will translate into policy. Affordable groceries, affordable housing, and access to quality healthcare are among the major concerns that Black voters prioritize. Although some of these wins are historic, the hope is that the policies that follow will have a positive impact on the people. Symbolism can only take the needs of the voters so far.  

The Grammy nominations were announced this week, and although they didn’t get it all right, it’s still Important to talk about some of the nominees. Kendrick Lamar has nine nominations.    Clipse have five nominations, which is a great way to cap their amazing return after 16 years away. Many saw the success of their album as a sign that fans still enjoy quality hip-hop from older rappers. Doechii’s anxiety is nominated a few times, and Glorilla received a nomination for best rap album. Summer Walker, Kehlani, and Destin Conrad all received nominations in the R&B categories. Leon Thomas has six nominations after an incredible year for him in R&B.

One thing to note is that African music has been all condensed into the Best African Music Performance category. The category is a big step in the Academy’s recognition of African music, but there is still a long way to go. Similar to how the Academy had to expand to include more rap categories due to the variety of sub-genres, they need to have more African categories because the continent is too big and the music is too different across the continent for there to just be one category. So there has been progress, but there is still a long way to go.

"The Terminal": Where we navigate the vast sea of information to bring you the essential stops for our global Black audience. As a bustling terminal serves as a gateway to new destinations, our curated content will be your passport to knowledge, empowerment, and connection. Embark on this journey with us as we explore the world from a unique perspective—yours.

Conversations this week

Wale, KevOnStage, Lil Rel, and Jamal Crawford speak on The Shop about protecting peace and purpose.

Tap in to the full playlist and follow along as we update it weekly.Check out our Malindi Press Play playlist that’s updated weekly! Listen Here!

Song of the Week: “Retail Therapy” by ARDN & Férina (Canada)

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