Empowering Kamala Harris: How Black Women in Entertainment Are Leading the Charge

By Nikki Reese | August 22, 2024
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Resilience & Mindset Mastery
Lahaina’s Iconic Banyan Tree: Resilience Personified or a Colonial Footprint?

In the year since the Maui wildfires, Lahaina’s iconic banyan tree has been seen by many as a symbol of the town's resilience and strength. However, this sentiment has also faced growing opposition. The 151-year-old tree, once 60 feet tall and covering nearly an acre, has shrunk significantly due to fire damage, though the remaining parts are thriving. Maui County Arborist Tim Griffith notes that new growth is occurring, with some branches even producing fruit. Restoration will be a long-term effort, potentially spanning decades. Despite this, there is increasing criticism of the tree’s symbolic value. Critics argue that it represents colonialism and the erosion of Native Hawaiian rights, pointing out that it was planted by William Owen Smith in 1873 to mark the anniversary of Protestant missionaries and that he later played a role in the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy.

Health
Congress Investigates 'Troubling' Health Insurance Practices with Regulators

On Tuesday, lawmakers urged health insurance regulators to address “troubling practices” that have increased costs for both patients and employers. In a letter to a top Labor Department official, Representatives Bobby Scott and Mark DeSaulnier cited a New York Times report on MultiPlan, a data firm that collaborates with insurers to determine medical payment amounts. The investigation revealed that lower payments to providers could result in higher fees for employers and unexpected bills for patients. MultiPlan’s business model, which includes algorithm-based payment recommendations, has led to significant discrepancies in billing and fees. The lawmakers called for transparency and enforcement of rules intended to prevent conflicts of interest and unreasonable charges, while expressing concerns that some companies might be profiting unfairly.

Entertainment
Empowering Kamala Harris: How Black Women in Entertainment Are Leading the Charge

On July 21, 44,000 people joined the historic Win With Black Women Zoom call, raising over $1.5 million to support Vice President Kamala Harris' bid for the Democratic presidential nomination. Janine Sherman Barrois, a writer and producer involved since the organization’s inception in August 2020, has been a longtime supporter of Harris, dating back to her successful campaign for California Attorney General in 2010. Barrois sees the current political climate as urgent and dire, likening it to a post-apocalyptic scenario. “We’re living in that,” she says, stressing the choice between progress and regression.

This sentiment will be reinforced at the 2024 Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago, where prominent figures like Kerry Washington and Mindy Kaling will host nightly events. The Win With Black Women organization will also feature a Sisterhood Lounge in collaboration with other Black women-led groups, hosting discussions with influential Black women leaders. We emphasize the importance of recognizing entertainment figures as active voters who contribute significantly to the democratic process.