Last year, a report found that the median wealth for a Black family in America was just $1,700 compared to $116,800 for a typical white family. Even more startling, if these trends continue, by 2053 the median wealth for Black families will be zero. The gap between those who have it and those who don’t can be felt across America, but more acutely in urban areas where the cost of living has increased. While cities like New York, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, and Atlanta are experiencing a resurgence as people flock to rapidly gentrifying areas, residents of color are often priced out. In New Orleans, the median income of Black families fell from $32,332 in 2000 to $27,812 in 2013, while the income of their white counterparts remained steady, going from $61,117 in 2000 to $60,070 in 2013. While many people don’t give this reality a second thought, Chef Tunde Wey’s latest experiment is helping to further the conversation about the growing income divide. At the end of February, Wey opened a pop up restaurant called Saartj. The booth sold Nigerian entrees for $12 a plate, but when white patrons placed their order they’d be schooled on New Orleans’ growing racial income gap and asked if they’d pay $30 for the food so that the additional $18 would be redistributed to Saartj’s customers of color. The experiment had surprising results. “Some of [the white customers] are enthusiastic, some of them are bamboozled a bit by it,” Wey told NPR. “But the majority of white folks, nearly 80 percent, decided to pay.” Wey conducted the experiment with the assistance of Tulane University graduate student Anjali Prasertong, who also helped him collect data. Prasertong said the high numbers of white customers who were willing to pay more than twice the price of the meal surprised her. “That was definitely higher than we expected,” Prasertong admitted. She also said that the experiment made her realize was that people of color think about the wealth disparity a lot more than their white peers. “One of the things I took away from interviewing people was a greater awareness that people of color have thought about wealth disparity and how it has touched their lives and the kinds of things they've lost out on because they didn't have access to the resources their white friends did,” Prasertong said. “Not that [white people] weren't aware,” she continued, “but they never really thought about how ... that might have affected where they are in the world in relation to people of color. They never stopped to think, 'Oh, that car my parents gave me in college allowed me to drive across town to get a good job.' ” Wey—who named the pop up stall Saartj after the 19th century South African woman Sara “Saartjie” Baartman who was paraded around Europe as a “freak of nature” because of her large buttocks—said he hoped the experiment helped people think about issues like  racism and inequality as more than just systematic problems they could do little about. “We think of this as a systemic issue, like something that happens outside of ourselves, when in fact the aggregate sum of all of our actions and choices exacerbates or ameliorates the wealth gap,” he said. Wey said he wants people to consider “where we choose to send our children to school, where we choose to buy a home and critically, how we choose to spend our money and where we choose to spend our money.”

WBTV is back for WonderCon!  Check out the press release below for shows that will be coming and which ones will be doing screenings.  Is your fave on the list? Are you looking forward to new shows Krypton and animated series Constantine? Sound off below in the comments!

HEROES, ANTIHEROES & ANIMATED KITTIES UNLEASHED IN ANAHEIM

WHEN WARNER BROS. TELEVISION AND WARNER BROS. ANIMATION

BRING THEIR SUPER SERIES TO WONDERCON 2018

Q&A Panels with The 100, Black Lightning, Krypton, Teen Titans Go! and Unikitty!,

Plus a New Episode of Lucifer and the World Premiere Screening of Constantine

on WonderCon Weekend in Anaheim March 23–25

BURBANK, Calif. (February 28, 2018) — Warner Bros. Television (WBTV) and Warner Bros. Animation (WBA) unleash their heroes, DC Super Heroes and antiheroes (both animated and live action), as well as a fully sparkled Unikitty, when four WBTV series and three WBA series attend the fan fest in Anaheim March 23–25. Special Video Presentations, panels and Q&A sessions with The 100 (premiering Tuesday, April 24 at 9/8c The CW), DC Super Hero series Teen Titans Go! (Fridays 6/5c Cartoon Network) and Unikitty! (Fridays 6:30/5:30c Cartoon Network) take place on Friday, March 23. Fans will be treated to the exclusive world premiere screening of the new animated digital series Constantine, followed by an out of-this-world session for the new super series Krypton (premiering Wednesday, March 21, at 10/9c on SYFY) on Saturday, March 24. The weekend finishes with electrifying sizzle on Sunday, March 25, with exclusive sneak peek screenings of upcoming episodes of Lucifer (Mondays 8/7c FOX) and Black Lightning (Tuesdays 9/8c The CW).

Stars and producers scheduled to attend WonderCon 2018 include:

• The 100 stars Eliza Taylor, Bob Morley, Christopher Larkin, Lindsey Morgan, Richard Harmon and Tasya Teles along with executive producer Jason Rothenberg.

• Krypton stars Cameron Cuffe, Georgina Campbell and Shaun Sipos along with executive producer Cameron Welsh and DC Entertainment’s Dan Evans.

• Black Lightning executive producer/showrunner Salim Akil with series writers Jan Nash, Pat Charles, Adam Giaudrone and Lamont Magee.

• Constantine star Matt Ryan, along with series writer J.M. DeMatteis and Blue Ribbon Content & Warner Bros. Animation’s Peter Girardi.

• Teen Titans Go! producers Michael Jelenic and Aaron Horvath, along with Beast Boy voice actor Greg Cipes.

• Unikitty! producers Ed Skudder, Lynn Wang and Aaron Horvath, along with art director Andrea Fernandez, animation director Anna Hollingsworth and voice cast Eric Bauza, H. Michael Croner and Roger Smith.

The cast and producers of all series will be signing autographs. For more information about participating, please visit https://www.comic-con.org/wca/exclusive-signings

For more information about the Studio’s plans at WonderCon, please follow us on Twitter at @warnerbrostv.

Following are the WBTV panel dates and times for WonderCon 2018 (panelists and panel times may be subject to change).

Friday, March 23

2:30–3:30 p.m. Unikitty! Special Video Presentation and Q&A — WonderCon attendees will be transported to a joyous kingdom full of sparkle matter, happy thoughts and the occasional rage-out when Unikitty! takes the stage.  Bring your positive vibes and join our panel of producers and members of the voice cast for a behind-the-scenes look at the hit animated series starring your favorite character from The LEGO^® Movie.  Produced by Warner Bros. Animation, Unikitty! airs Fridays at 6:30/5:30c on Cartoon Network. Follow Cartoon Network on Twitter at @CartoonNetwork.  Room: North 200B

3:30–4:30 p.m. Teen Titans Go! Special Video Presentation and Q&A — The Titans are back at WonderCon and they’re bringing all the fun, laughs and hilarious hijinks that are part of every Teen Titans Go! panel.  You only need to bring your questions (and maybe some waffles and pie) for producers Michael Jelenic, Aaron Horvath and voice actor Greg Cipes who will answer your questions about all things Titans.   Produced by Warner Bros. Animation, Teen Titans Go! airs Fridays at 6/5c on Cartoon Network.  Become a fan of the show on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TeenTitansGo, and follow Cartoon Network on Twitter at @CartoonNetwork.  Room: North 200B

6:00–7:00 p.m. The 100 Special Video Presentation and Q&A — With season five premiering on Tuesday, April 24 at 9/8c on The CW, The 100 makes its return to Anaheim for a special appearance at WonderCon with a sneak peek into the new season. More than six years have passed since Praimfaya has ravaged the planet and killed most of the human race. As Clarke waits to hear from the group on the Ark, or in the bunker, a prison ship drops from the sky. Are they friend or foe?  And what do they want? Join us for a special video presentation followed by a Q&A with series stars Eliza Taylor, Bob Morley, Christopher Larkin, Lindsey Morgan, Richard Harmon and Tasya Teles and producer Jason Rothenberg. From Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Alloy Entertainment and Warner Bros. Television, The 100: The Complete Fourth Season is available on Digital, Blu-ray and DVD. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CWThe100, and follow the show on Twitter @CWThe100. Room: North 200A

Saturday, March 24

10:00–11:00 a.m. Constantine World Premiere Screening — A WonderCon Anaheim exclusive! Don’t miss the world premiere screening of the first episodes of the animated Constantine series for CW Seed!  This new series from Blue Ribbon Content and Warner Bros. Animation follows DC’s popular comic book character John Constantine (voiced by the live action series star Matt Ryan), a seasoned demon hunter and master of the occult.  Constantine is executive produced by David S. Goyer (The Dark Knight trilogy, Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, Constantine, Krypton), Greg Berlanti (The Flash, Arrow, Supergirl, Black Lightning), and Sarah Schechter (Blindspot, Riverdale, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, Black Lightning).  Join series star Matt Ryan, plus series writer J.M. DeMatteis (Justice League Dark, Batman vs. Robin) and Blue Ribbon Content & Warner Bros. Animation’s Peter Girardi for a Q&A session after the screening.  The first season of Constantine begins streaming March 24 at http://www.cwseed.com.  Room: North 200A

2:00–3:00 p.m. Krypton Special Video Presentation and Q&A — The never-before-told story of Superman’s ancestors, set two generations before the destruction of his home planet, Krypton follows Superman’s grandfather, Seg-El (Cameron Cuffe) as he’s faced with a life or death conflict – to save his home planet or let it be destroyed in order to restore the fate of his future grandson. Join showrunner and executive producer Cameron Welsh (Ash vs. Evil Dead), DC Entertainment executive Dan Evans, and stars Cameron Cuffe (The Halcyon), Georgina Campbell (Black Mirror) and Shaun Sipos (Melrose Place) as they provide exclusive insight into this highly-anticipated new series from executive producer David S. Goyer, Warner Horizon Scripted Television, DC Entertainment and SYFY.  Krypton premieres March 21 and airs Wednesdays at 10/9c on SYFY. Room North 200A

Sunday, March 25

10:30–11:15 a.m. Lucifer Exclusive Screening of Brand New Episode — Consider this your deal with the devil! Lucifer fans will not only have the opportunity to screen an upcoming episode of the devilish drama, but also a special video message from series stars Tom Ellis, Lauren German, Tom Welling and Aimee Garcia.  From Jerry Bruckheimer Television in association with Warner Bros. Television, and based upon the characters created by Neil Gaiman, Sam Kieth and Mike Dringenberg for Vertigo from DC Entertainment, Lucifer airs Mondays at 9/8c on FOX. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LuciferonFOX and follow the show on Twitter @LuciferonFOX.  Room: Arena

12:45–1:45 p.m. Black Lightning All-New Episode and Q&A — Where there is darkness, there is…Black Lightning. Jefferson Pierce made his choice: he hung up the suit and his secret identity years ago. But with crime and corruption spreading like wildfire, and those he cares about in the crosshairs of the menacing local gang, The One Hundred, he must return as Black Lightning — to save not only his family, but also the soul of his community. Join series producers and writers to watch the electrifying never-before-seen “Sins of the Father” episode of Black Lightning, followed by a Q&A session.  Based on the DC character created by Tony Isabella with Trevor Von Eeden, Black Lightning is produced by Berlanti Productions and Akil Productions, in association with Warner Bros. Television. Black Lightning airs Tuesdays at 9/8c on The CW. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CWBlackLightning and follow the show on Twitter @blacklightning.  Room: Arena

The post WBTV Coming to WonderCon 2018! appeared first on The Nerd Element.

Two decades ago, the movie voyages of the Star Trek: The Next Generation crew continued with Star Trek: Insurrection, and the ensuing years have not been kind. While the cast members looked like they were having fun as their characters turned on a corrupt Starfleet admiral and his alien allies, the story plays out like a slightly bigger version of the TV series, and Insurrection is considered to be one of the more forgettable chapters in the franchise. But what if there were a way to make the film better? One fan recently released an extremely condensed cut of the film that features only the starships in action.



Via io9, the “Star Trek: Insurrection – Just the Ships” edit was created by Weekly Equation, and it does have a few areas of interest. This was the first Star Trek feature film to solely utilize CGI for the ships and the space battles. Some of the new designs, including the Son’a Collector ship and the Federation Scout ship, are very eye-catching. This was also one of the few opportunities for fans to see the Enterprise-E in action.

However, even though the film’s story was less than stellar, the climatic space sequences simply don’t play as well without context. Despite what some may believe, the characters are Star Trek‘s greatest assets, and aside from a brief glimpse of Data, the presence of the Enterprise’s crew is not felt in this footage. Without that human touch, it’s impossible to care about the action. Ironically, it makes the film better by making us appreciate the original cut more.

Do you think the “ships only” cut improves Star Trek: Insurrection? Let us know in the comment section below!

Images: Paramount

Story-Trekkin’, across the nerdy ‘verse…

• The most essential Deep Space Nine episodes.
• You probably won’t want a ships-only cut of Quentin Tarantino’s Star Trek.
• The history of the mirror universe.

It’s International Women’s Day (and Women’s History Month), which means that in addition to showing some extra love and support to the Women of Power in and around your circle, it’s a good time to binge on some enriching TED Talks by phenomenal influencers.

You can extract some major life inspiration from such thought-provoking speakers as Jedidah Isler, the first black woman to earn a Ph.D. in astrophysics from Yale, who expresses her deep belief in the value of diversity in STEM fields; Nobel Peace Prize winner Leymah Gbowee, who stresses the untapped potential of girls around the world; author Luvvie Ajayi, who encourages women of color to speak their mind; and Joy Buolamwini, the MIT grad student fighting bias in machine algorithms.

The passionate women featured here are fearlessly creating magic, disrupting paradigms, and sparking change with their transformational ideas and actions. Each woman is making a sizable impact in her field and each talk is bound to fill you with insight and motivation to last throughout this entire Women’s History Month and beyond.

These are the eight TED Talks by exceptional black women that you cannot miss.

Jedidah Isler, Astrophysicist – “The Untapped Genius That Could Change Science for the Better”

Luvvie Ajayi, Author – “Get Comfortable With Being Uncomfortable”

Joy Buolamwini, Coder, Founder, The Algorithmic Justice League – “How I’m Fighting Bias In Algorithms”

Leymah Gbowee, Peace Activist, Nobel Peace Prize Winner – “Unlock the Intelligence, Passion, Greatness of Girls”

T. Morgan Dixon and Vanessa Garrison, CEO and COO, GirlTrek – “When Black Women Walk, Things Change”

Elizabeth Nyamayaro, Political Scientist, Executive Director, UN Women – “An Invitation to Men Who Want a Better World for Women”

Mellody Hobson, Investment Expert, President, Ariel Investments – “Color Blind or Color Brave?”

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Novelist – “We Should All Be Feminists”

Honorable mention: Shonda Rhimes, Writer, Producer – “My Year of Saying Yes To Everything”

The post 8 TED Talks by Exceptional Black Women You Didn’t Know You Needed appeared first on Black Enterprise.