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For those visiting our blog for the first time, ‘round these parts “N.O.C.” stands for Nerds Of Color (or Non-Official-Cover if you’ve just rewatched the first Mission: Impossible film). It’s a term of inclusivity that we wear with pride. And because part of our nerdy duties include ingesting a lot of TV, movies, and Twitter, […]

In terms of action films, once the name Ip Man is said, those in the know, know, it can’t possibly get any more trill. Donnie Yen carved out a new path in martial arts films with his portrayal of Bruce Lee’s teacher, Ip Man. Listen, Ip Man hands so good that even those who took an L from him can get a movie of their own. Which brings us to Master Z: The Ip Man Legacy. After a behind closed doors battle, where Ip Man put all the hands on him, Wing Chun master Cheung Tin Chi (Zhang Jin aka Max Zhang) has pulled out of the spotlight for a simpler life.

Cheung Tin Chi now leads a light moonlighting as a mercenary for hire, that he gives up as well, and a grocery store owner. Though Cheung may have tried to leave the world of martial arts, the fight hasn’t left him. A chance encounter with Julia (Liu Yan) and her friend Nana (Chrissie Chau) fleeing the wrath of a gangster Tso Sai Kit (Kevin Cheng) and Cheung’s intervention lead to an ordeal that’s going to bring them hands back out.

The Crouching Tiger Back

Michelle Yeoh comes through as Kwan, older sister of Kit and the leader of the gang. Yo, Michelle Yeoh came through just to steal scenes in this movie man. All you need to know is she is trying to make things legit and have her syndicate give up crime, but her kid brother is making that shit dumb hard. I loved seeing Yeoh in this. She plays her character so well. Where Zhang Jin has an aloof charm, Michelle Yeoh has a very extremely stoic charming to her character.

Though the story moves very fast and the fights scenes didn’t have the same emotional build and climax as Ip Man’s, what I do appreciate is how women have a more prominent role in this martial arts film. Yeoh, Yan, and Chau add more to the film by being women that have their own depth and portion of the story, especially seeing them fight and hold their own.

Bigger than Catching them Hands

Aside from the action and gang activity taking place, I found that the bigger story that shines in this movie is the British influence on the citizens portrayed in the film. We see how far corruption and misuse of police force is handled through the Brits. This is something Ip Man had shined some light on as well with foreigners looking down on Chinese citizens. I liked this element being looked at through the film, and we see more of this in the entertainment district as well. White male sailors being ashore and taking part in the nightlife in a very aggressive and indulgent way. The entertainers having to put pride aside in order to make money in dealing with these types says a lot of the time period this takes place in.

While it ain’t hard to tell that as a spin-off of the Ip Man series, Master Z: The Ip Man Legacy is different from its predecessor. There is room for improvement but with the women having a more prominent role and Zhang Jin being an aloof yet cute charmer, it’d be of interest to see just where this spin-off could go from here.

Master Z: The Ip Man Legacy hits theaters on April 12, 2019.

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The post ‘Master Z: The Ip Man Legacy’ puts a Spin on the Ip Man Franchise appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.

Perhaps no other black business person stirs up more polarizing debate than Herman Cain. The former head of Godfather’s Pizza, stepped into the political limelight in 2011 when he announced his candidacy as the Republican presidential nominee. That effort was thwarted by a series of sexual harassment allegations against Cain. Yet, he has re-emerged on the national stage as a proposed pick by President Trump to sit on the Federal Reserve Board. A success in business, yet, a failure in politics—is now the time for Herman Cain to rise to political prominence?

Herman Cain’s Business Backstory

Cain was named president of the then-failing Godfather’s Pizza chain in 1986. In an article from Black Enterprise in 1988 on Cain: “Fresh from rejuvenating Pillsbury’s Burger King chain in the Philadelphia region, the energetic, enthusiastic new president of Godfather’s went immediately to work closing weak outlets, strengthening the company’s advertising thrust, repairing relations with franchisees and swiftly resolving legal conflicts.”

Black Enterprise Magazine

Without question, Cain has proven he possesses sharp business acumen. Under his leadership, Godfather’s Pizza saw a reversal in sales decline and generated $260 million in sales.

He demonstrated business savvy early on. The Morehouse College graduate served a short period in the Navy and then went on to complete a master’s degree in Computer Science at Purdue University. His first corporate position was as a business analyst at Coca-Cola.

Cain’s business talents came to light during his next gig at Pillsbury where he advanced to vice president status within five years.

Entrepreneurial Mindset

Although he quickly ascended the corporate ladder, Cain also had an entrepreneurial spirit. He set his sights on the fast food business—even becoming a member of a Burger King kitchen crew to learn the ins and outs of the hamburger business. Within seven months, he was promoted to regional vice president.

“You’ve got to have a passion for that business, followed by a desire to make it to the top,” he said in an interview with Black Enterprise in 1988. “Then you will do whatever you need to do in order to get there.”

He eventually bought the Godfather’s Pizza chain from its parent company, Pillsbury for an estimated $50 million. The transaction was the first leveraged buyout of a major fast-food company by a black executive in business history.

Political Ambitions

Cain’s political ambitions were made clear when he ran as a Republican presidential nominee. Plagued by scandal, his campaign fell flat—perhaps one of the rare failures for the businessman.

Now, with the blessings of Donald Trump, it seems that Cain is poised to assume a prominent political and economic position at the Federal Reserve. How likely is his appointment and is he the person for the job?

No, says Catherine Rampell, a columnist for The Washington Post. And it isn’t just about the troubling sexual harassment allegations that took down his presidential run, she says.

“When it comes to understanding pretty basic policy issues, Cain isn’t able,” writes Rampell.

“Most people who remember anything about Cain’s brief political career might know him for the “9-9-9” tax rate plan. Unfortunately, neither did that plan have rates that were actually 9 percent nor did it turn out to be particularly strong in its arithmetic,” she continues.

A fellow Republican, Sen. Mitt Romney, also cast doubt about Cain’s fitness for the Fed. “I doubt that will be a nomination. But if it were a nomination, you can bet [what] the interest rates he would be pushing for,” Romney said in an interview.

“If Herman Cain were on the Fed, you’d know the interest rate would soon be 9-9-9.”

Some Republicans are more optimistic. Sen. David Perdue, a Georgia Republican, said about Cain; “He’s a business guy. He’s got a great background for it. I know him personally. I think personally he’d be a great addition,” according to Fortune.

Cain’s businesses successes have seemed to elude his success in politics. Is his appointment a serious consideration or another one of the mercurial President’s whims? And if appointed to the Fed, how effective can he be? That all remains to be seen.

Related: THE BLACK CONSERVATIVE WOMAN IN THE RUNNING TO LEAD MICHIGAN’S REPUBLICAN PARTY

The post Tapped to Sit on Fed Board, Herman Cain Straddles Fence Between Business Success and Political Controversy appeared first on Black Enterprise.