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By Essence ·Updated October 16, 2024

Early voting is starting across the nation, and that means we have another Paint The Polls Black Town Hall.

Learn how you can make a plan to vote early and use your power at the ballot box. Showing up for each other at the polls this year is crucial. Let’s use our power to fight for each other.

The post WATCH: Paint The Polls Black Town Hall — Early Voting appeared first on Essence.

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Victoria’s Secret By India Espy-Jones ·Updated October 16, 2024

Last night, the Victoria’s Secret returned with their first fashion show since 2018. In other words, New York turned into a lingerie-clad supermodel spectacle.

From Tyra Banks’s surprise appearance to Joan Smalls, Imaan Hammam and Jasmine Tookes, the catwalk served as a comeback for their scandal-driven six-year hiatus—all unveiled in front of a celebrity->Cardi B channeled Old Hollywood curls, much likeCoco Jones, with contacts and an otherwise lightweight makeup look. 

While rapper Ice Spice turned from ginger to jet black, La La Anthony, Tyla, and Teyana Taylor all matchedsrc="https://www.essence.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/GettyImages-2177920126-scaled.jpg" alt="Top Beauty Moments From The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show" width="400" height="599" />Tyra Banks on the runway at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show held at the Brooklyn Navy Yard on October 15, 2024 in New York, New York. (Photo by Masato Onoda/WWD via Getty Images) Queen Latifah and Eboni Nichols Queen Latifah and Eboni Nichols at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show held at the Brooklyn Navy Yard on October 15, 2024 in New York, New York. (Photo by Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images) Law Roach Law Roach at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show held at the Brooklyn Navy Yard on October 15, 2024 in New York, New York. (Photo by Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images) Joan Smalls Joan Smalls on the runway at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show held at the Brooklyn Navy Yard on October 15, 2024 in New York, New York. (Photo by Masato Onoda/WWD via Getty Images) Paloma Elsesser BROOKLYN, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 15: Paloma Elsesser walks the runway during the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2024 at Duggal Greenhouse on October 15, 2024 in Brooklyn, New York. (Photo by TheStewartofNY/FilmMagic) Anok Yai BROOKLYN, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 15: Anok Yai walks the runway during the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2024 at Duggal Greenhouse on October 15, 2024 in Brooklyn, New York. (Photo by TheStewartofNY/FilmMagic) Coco Jones NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 15: Coco Jones attends the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2024 on October 15, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Victoria’s Secret) Cardi B NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 15: (L-R) Cardi B and Coco Jones attend the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2024 on October 15, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Victoria’s Secret) Teyana Taylor NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 15: Teyana Taylor attends the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2024 After Party at Crane Club Restaurant on October 15, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images for Victoria’s Secret) La La Anthony NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 15: La La Anthony attends the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2024 on October 15, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Victoria’s Secret) Jodie Turner-Smith NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 15: Jodie Turner-Smith attends the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2024 on October 15, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Victoria’s Secret) Tyla BROOKLYN, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 15: Tyla attends the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2024 at Duggal Greenhouse on October 15, 2024 in Brooklyn, New York. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images) Imaan Hammam Imaan Hammam on the runway at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show held at the Brooklyn Navy Yard on October 15, 2024 in New York, New York. (Photo by Masato Onoda/WWD via Getty Images) Angel Reese and Kysre Gondrezick NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 15: (L-R) Angel Reese and Kysre Gondrezick attend the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2024 on October 15, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Victoria’s Secret) Isan Elba Isan Elba at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show held at the Brooklyn Navy Yard on October 15, 2024 in New York, New York. (Photo by Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images) Ice Spice NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 15: Ice Spice attends the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2024 on October 15, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Victoria’s Secret) Jackie Aina NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 15: Jackie Aina attends the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2024 on October 15, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Victoria’s Secret)TOPICS:  best red carpet beauty celebrity beauty runway beauty Victoria’s Secret

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X-Men ’97 reintroduced the audience to plenty of great stuff, like a fantastic animation style, the original voice cast, the classic team dynamics, the social and political commentary, and yes, the iconic theme song many of us occasionally hum while working. However, the X-Men universe is vast, and the show did leave plenty of things to be desired. Sadly, we can’t discuss them all and their potential fit within the new series, as the list is way too long even to go over. Instead, we’re here to discuss the Savage Land and its possible role in Season 2 of X-Men ’97.

When X-Men ’97 was initially announced, many die-hard fans of the show who remember it as a Saturday morning cartoon were hit by nostalgia, and many revisited the 1992 original series, X-Men: The Animated Series. In fact, the announcement resonated with Marvel and MCU audiences so much that it attracted new audiences to X-Men, which is why the successor series was so successful, at least in part. Well, many fans of TAS probably remember that Season 2 of the series had a parallel narrative in which the mutants deal with Professor X’s absence.

The other side of that parallel featured Magneto and Professor X lost in the Savage Land, with the Professor being able to walk again, but he and Magneto aren’t able to use their mutant powers due to a disruptor device planted by Mister Sinister. For those who aren’t familiar with the in-depth lore of X-Men, the Savage Land is a tropical preserve hidden in Antarctica that has appeared in many story arcs in Uncanny X-Men and other related works. It was created by the Nuwali, an extremely intelligent alien race, at the behest of the Beyonders, who sought to observe the process of evolution under controlled conditions.

To achieve the Beyonders’ request, the Nuwali set up a number of game preserves on several planets, including Earth, during the Triassic period. They chose a valley in Antarctica surrounded by active volcanos and implemented several technological solutions that would maintain the tropical climate, before introducing all sorts of planet-native life forms to the area, such as dinosaurs and early mammals — including the ancestors of Homo Sapiens, the Man-Apes. The Beyonders eventually grew bored with their little experiment after some 200 million years, causing the Nuwali to stop maintaining the “game preserves.”

However, the climate-maintaining technology was left running, causing many species that would have otherwise become extinct to continue to thrive within the Savage Land. We won’t dive into the rich history of the Savage Land that has been told throughout various Marvel Comics; as you might expect, it also features a thrilling mix of prehistoric creatures and hidden civilizations, with unique characters such as Ka-Zar and Sauron (no, not the Dark Lord from Lord of the Rings). Now, imagine such a rich and adventurous backdrop and how well it contrasts with the typical mutant storylines.

This could be another hit for X-Men ’97 purely because the full extent of the untamed and unpredictable side of the Savage Land hasn’t been explored in previous adaptations of the source material. Since its introduction in the X-Men comics in 1965—after appearing in 1941’s Marvel Mystery Comics #10, the Savage Land was the setting for numerous fantastic narratives involving X-Men and other comic book heroes, including the New Avengers, Spider-Man, and it served as home for Kraven the Hunter and a number of humanoid species.

The prehistoric setting filled with dinosaurs, exotic creatures, and unique environments provide a fresh backdrop for new adventures and conflicts within X-Men ’97. It could also introduce new characters to the animated series, like Ka-Zar and Shanna the She-Devil, which would expand the roster of both heroes and villains and provide the opportunity for future storytelling expansions.

Not only that, but introducing the Savage Lands could also drive character development, as both our heroes are drained of their mutant powers, forcing them to rely on their intellect and physical abilities for survival. And, as previously mentioned, the Savage Land is a familiar and beloved location from the comics, so bringing it back in X-Men ’97 would evoke nostalgia in die-hard fans of the franchise while still maintaining continuity with the original series.

The introduction of the Savage Land isn’t outside the realm of possibilities, considering that the X-Men are now trapped in time; Cyclops and Jean have traveled some 2,000 years into the future, while Rogue, Magneto, Xavier, and Nightcrawler are transported to Ancient Egypt in 3,000 B.C. where they just met a young version of Apocalypse. With all the time travel, the change of scenery involved in the upcoming season, and the impending limited-run comic centered on Rogue’s adventures in the Savage Lands, there’s really no reason not to include the prehistoric location in X-Men ’97.

The post Here’s Why Savage Land Featuring in X-Men ’97 Will Be a Treat appeared first on Black Girl Nerds.

from L toRKhalil Thompson, Executive Director, Win WIth Black Men, Christopher Towler, Director of the Black Voter Project and Diante Johnson, President of the Black Conservative Federation By Kizzy Cox ·Updated October 16, 2024

If you’ve opened your news feed or tuned into almost any TV news program lately, you’ve likely seen the headlines declaring how poorly Kamala Harris is doing with Black male voters. But is Kamala Harris’ standing with Black men truly dire?

Khalil Thompson, Executive Director of  Win With Black Men, says no. “We know the largest voting block that supports progressives and Democrats is Black women. Right behind that is Black men.” In 2020, 95% of Black women voted for Joe Biden, while 87% of Black men did. Research conducted by the Black Voter Project, a study that examines the political preferences and behavior of the Black community, also backs Thompson up. The study found that once Harris entered the presidential race, Black men’s favorable view of Harris rose to 61% compared to 63% among Black women.

Thompson says Black men are motivated by the prospect of putting the most qualified person in office, and he hasn’t seen misogyny play a major role in whether Black men support Harris or not. “The switch after President Biden decided to take a step back and Vice President Kamala Harris decided to run was just a no-brainer for many of us. How could we not support the most qualified candidate in the room and really amp up our communities?” That support for Harris was record-setting: the first Win With Black Men call after she entered the presidential race raised $1.3 million from about 17,000 Black donors in just a few hours.

Polls also show, however, that younger Black men are giving Donald Trump a closer look.   About one in four Black men under age 50 plan to vote for Donald Trump, according to a recent NAACP survey. 28-year-old Diante Johnson, president of the Black Conservative Federation,  is one example. As a lifelong Republican, Johnson has always felt more aligned with the traditional Republican values of limited government, freedom of speech and the second amendment right to own firearms and shared a few reasons why he thinks Trump appeals to some other Black men.

“Donald Trump, he’s a cutthroat. He’s a kind of tell-it-like-it-is type of person, and I think that is what’s attracted them to him.” Johnson said Black men are also drawn to Trump because they feel alienated by progressive stances on issues like LGBT identity, “Black men do not like the idea of their young boys being told they don’t have to conform to a gender.”

Additionally, Johnson believes that Trump’s delivering on his promises has earned him the respect of some Black voters: “I think he has been the best president for Black people, strictly because he’s done everything that he said he was going to do. What we’ve seen with criminal justice reform, my generation…we have not seen something of that magnitude before. Black Americans were thriving. We didn’t have to work three jobs…the economy was good in our communities.” He also cites increased funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and more school choice as tangible ways Trump has helped Black people.

These actions are in stark contrast to what he says is the Democratic party’s generational inaction. “As a Black community, we have been voting Democratic Party for years and we have not seen a change in our communities,” Johnson said.

However, several of the achievements that he mentioned have been bested by the Biden administration. For example, while Trump did provide $255 million annually for HBCUs through the FUTURE Act, Biden’s American Rescue Plan provided $2.7 billion to HBCUs. While Black unemployment under Trump sunk to 5.3% for two months in 2019, Black unemployment sunk to the lowest rate ever at 4.8% under Biden in April 2023; Biden has also overseen the longest stretch of Black unemployment at 6% or lower (17 months). 

While Trump’s bipartisan criminal justice reform, the First Step Act, reduced federal prison sentences by addressing the sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine offenses. It lowered mandatory minimums and allowed early release for good behavior through “good time credits.” Biden’s Safer America Plan went further, eliminating the crack vs. powder cocaine sentencing disparity and investing $5 billion in Community Violence Intervention (CVI) programs over ten years. These programs, using community messengers to reduce gun violence, have shown effectiveness of up to 60%. Biden’s American Rescue Plan also allocated $1.6 billion for workforce development and job training for formerly incarcerated people.

When ESSENCE pointed out the Biden Administration’s accomplishments, such as increased money for HBCUs, Johnson acknowledged that but credited the Republican party for the progression. “I guarantee you, if the Republican Party had not given them the space to do so, they wouldn’t have done it.”

Christopher Towler, Director of the Black Voter Project, Co-founder of Black Insights Research and Associate Professor of Political Science at Sacramento State University says while there’s always a nine or 10% core demographic of GOP-aligned Black voters who look more favorably upon Republican administrations, there’s another seven or eight percent of Black men who are eligible to vote but typically don’t  with a lack of policy awareness and are therefore more susceptible to “right-wing talking points.”

 He explained, “When you ask people what the parties have done for them, or what they think the parties will do for them, the low propensity voters are not very optimistic… They’re not politically knowledgeable, and so they don’t have this sort of deep understanding of policy nuance to understand how the Affordable Care Act might be like something helping the Black community. But when you ask them about Trump, they can make that connection far more easily.”

This is how you get people saying they’ll vote for Trump because of a pandemic stimulus check, said Thompson. “People talk about the check that he signed, the check, great, but the part they’re missing in that equation is that Congress, which means Kamala Harris, had to pass the money for the check to be signed.”

That’s key since the economy ranks high on issues that Black men are concerned about just as it does for Black women according to the latest Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll But surprisingly, it’s not the determining factor on who people vote for or even whether they’re going to vote at all. “The research we’ve been doing for the last three to four years specifically has shown that highlighting the threat that either Trump or MAGA or even the Supreme Court, other political institutions, organizations, policies, specifically highlighting the way that these are threatening to the Black community actually moves people to participate, and it’s especially effective for low propensity Black voters,” said Towler. Exit polls from ABC and the NYTimes support this research: 68% of people who voted for Joe Biden in 2020 said they were voting against Donald Trump.   

 While issues like  abortion rights, which rank high for both Black men and women, are important to Black people, a low-propensity voter is more likely to turn out and vote when the issue is framed as a community concern or a right under threat of being taken away, said Towler. “It’s far easier for people to understand how rights that they’ve worked for, that their group has worked for, for generations, can get stripped away, than to understand the process of rebuilding or changing institutions towards new rights… it’s very easy to understand how abortion is just going to disappear over time unless we get some federal action that protects it.”

Thompson agrees that abortion is important to men, too. “I think there are some massive issues with our healthcare system and why I think more brothers are concerned about this.” Citing concerns men have for their partners and children, Thompson continued, “Reproductive care and a woman’s right to choose is not just a woman’s issue.”

Though Thompson and Johnson are on opposite sides of the political aisle, they both agree that  what Black men want is to be listened to. “Black men are at the bottom when it comes to education levels, you know, college degrees, even when you look at proficiency in reading and math and job rates. They’re at the top of the incarceration list there…that hurts me as a Black man to even think about that. And we have not had that conversation,” said Johnson.

Kamala Harris has said she’s listening to Black men’s concerns and responded with a targeted  “Opportunity Agenda for Black Men.” It lists five ways she would address issues Black men specifically face.

The plan would offer forgivable loans up to $20,000 for Black entrepreneurs, create training programs to help Black men secure high-paying jobs and support a regulatory framework for Black cryptocurrency investors. It would also launch a National Health Equity Initiative addressing health issues that disproportionately affect Black men, such as  prostate cancer, diabetes, and sickle cell disease, and seek to legalize recreational marijuana with opportunities for Black men in the industry.

Trump hasn’t yet released any plans for Black people or Black men in particular. 

Come November 5th, while Thompson supports Harris, he encourages Black men to vote for their preferred candidate: “If you’re going to go vote, that’s a win for me. Clearly, I would love it if you voted for the candidate I believe in that has the best opportunity to change our community for the better, but I want you to participate in the voting process.”

He also wants Black men to be well-informed as they make that choice.  “We need to make sure that the Black men who are informed get the proper information, share it with their family members, share it in barbershops, and continue to do so,” said Thompson.

The post Black Men At The Ballot: Here’s What They Say Is Driving Their Votes In 2024 appeared first on Essence.